Wizard Mode

Layout Planner starts in Wizard Mode and presents a Welcome window to walk you through the steps required to produce a layout. Use of the Wizard is optional.

It is controlled using these buttons:

Start the Wizard from the beginning.

Go back to the previous step.

Go to the next step.

Turn off the Wizard; it can be resumed by clicking Resume Wizard in the main window.

Close the Wizard when all steps are complete.

Draw or Specify the Area

Drawing Modes

Layout Planner includes drawing modes suited to your project type such as driveways, patios, pools, etc. Fixed width shapes such as rectangles and squares can be created quickly by entering length and width or complex shapes can be drawn freehand using a mouse.

Desiging a layout for certain types of areas, such as swimming pools, requires the use of cut-outs. Cut-outs are used to exclude stone from the layout area, saving material and shipping costs.

Specify the Area

This option will create a rectangular shape based on an exact length and width.

• 
• Click Specify under Dimensions
• Enter the Height in feet and inches
• Enter the Length in feet and inches
• Click OK to use these values or Cancel

Draw the Area

This option allows free-form creation of any polygon shape.

• 
• Click Draw Using Grid under Dimensions
• Click Region under Drawing Controls
• Determine your starting point and click it on the grid (it becomes a small circle)
• Click another point on the grid to create a line segment
• Click other points to create more segments
• Click the starting point circle to finish drawing the shape

Cut-outs

To create any number of cut-outs in your shape:

• Click Cut-out under Drawing Controls
• Draw the cut-out using the same process as above

Making Changes

• Click Undo Line under Drawing Controls to erase the latest line (repeat as needed)
• Click Clear Grid under Drawing Controls to erase the entire drawing

Select the Brand, Style, Color

Choose the vendor, style, and color of the product you wish to use. You can only choose the style and color based on its availability in the product line. Only one style and one color can be used in a layout.

• Select the vendor
• Select the style
• Select the color within the style you selected

Product sizes and color may change based on the style selected. The next page will explain how to select sizes to use in your layout.

Select the Sizes

Layouts may contain some or all sizes of your selected product style. Available sizes are displayed in a horizontal list of colored icons with accompanying dimensions. By default, every size is selected for your layout because the best layouts are generated when all sizes are used¹.

• All sizes are selected by default
• To manually select sizes, click each icon under Available Sizes to be used in your layout or Use All
• Click the icon under Selected Sizes to remove it from being used in your layout or Remove All

Notes

¹ An equal distribution of sizes will be used whenever possible.

Generate the Layout

Now that the layout has been drawn on the grid and the product style has been selected, the layout is ready to be generated. To create the final, filled, layout:

• Click Create Layout under Layout Controls

The layout will be created in a matter of seconds. If you are dissatisfied with the results click Create Layout to generate another layout. There is no way to revert to a previous layout, therefore you should save the current layout before generating a new one.

To erase the entire layout (including the grid, product style, colors, etc.) and start over with a clean canvas:

• Click Clear Layout under Layout Controls

Save you work because this action cannot be undone.

Save or Export the Layout

Layouts are saved in one or two formats. The first is a report format which includes an illustration of the filled layout ("install by numbers") and a complete Bill of Materials with product code, size, and weight.

The second format is used by architects to manipulate the actual layout, stone-by-stone, within architectural design software (i.e.: blueprints).

Layouts cannot be reloaded into Layout Planner at a later date therefore they must be saved before you clear the layout or exit the program. There are two options to save a layout:

• To create a PDF Report: under Layout Controls click Save Layout PDF...; select the folder location and filename to save
• To create an AutoCAD DXF: under Layout Controls click Export to DXF...; select the folder location and filename to save

Adobe Acrobat Information

The Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) report is used for printing and viewing on your computer, including with project proposals, budget and planning, etc. Adobe Acrobat is not required to create the PDF report however you may need to install Acrobat Reader on your computer to view and print it.

NOTE: the PDF report cannot be saved once you have cleared the layout or exited the program.

Download a sample report

AutoCAD DXF Information

The AutoCAD Drawing eXchange Format (DXF) file should be saved if you intend to use your exact layout in architectural or other design software which supports the DXF format. No special software is required on your computer to create the DXF file.

NOTE: the DXF file cannot be saved once you have cleared the layout or exited the program.

Feature applies to Pro version only.

Download a sample DXF file