Drawings Explorer
- Last UpdatedDec 12, 2025
- 4 minute read
Provides an easy to use graphical method for exploring the drawing database and CAD image overlays.
The Drawings Explorer displays the drawing database elements, drawing sheets and CAD image overlays in a hierarchy. Click on an element in the tree view to navigate to the element in the database and make it the current element.
To expand an element hierarchy, click 
to the left of the element name. To contract an expanded element, click 
to the left of the element name.
To create a new drawing type element, right-click a drawing folder element to display a drop-down menu.
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New |
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Engineering Canvas Drawing Type |
Creates a new drawing type element below the currently selected drawing folder element. |
To create a new drawing element or to modify a drawing type element, right click on a drawing type element to display a drop-down menu.
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New |
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New Drawing |
Creates a new drawing element below the currently selected drawing type element. Use the Create new drawing window to specify the name for the new drawing.
Type the new drawing name. Create Creates the new drawing, except for auto-generated drawing types such as loop or termination diagrams, in which case use the Select Template window to select from the list of available templates.
See Create Drawing for further information. The new drawing is displayed on the Drawings Explorer and a blank sheet is created, listed below it in the Explorer. |
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Change Standard |
Changes the standard of symbols on the current drawing. |
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Attributes |
Displays the attributes that have been specified for the CE. |
To open or modify a drawing element, right click on a drawing element to display a drop-down menu.
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Open |
Displays the currently selected drawing element on the Drawings Explorer. If a drawing contains symbols that have been modified or deleted by another user, either from the grid or the database, an Information window is displayed.
Click Update to update the drawing. |
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Open Revision |
Displays a specified revision of the currently selected drawing element on the Drawings Explorer. |
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New Sheet |
Creates a new drawing sheet, listed below the drawing in the Drawings Explorer. |
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Rename |
Renames the currently selected drawing on the Drawings Explorer. Use the Rename drawing window to specify the new name for the drawing.
Type the new drawing name. Set Name Applies the new drawing name to the currently selected drawing on the Drawings Explorer. |
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Delete |
Deletes the currently selected drawing on the Drawings Explorer. |
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Attributes |
Displays the attributes that have been specified for the currently selected drawing on the Drawings Explorer. |
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Prints the currently selected drawing on the Drawings Explorer to a specified printer |
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Export |
Exports the currently selected drawing on the Drawings Explorer to a PDF file, Plot File, CAD format or a Raster image. |
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Copy Drawing |
Copies the currently selected drawing on the Drawings Explorer. The copied drawing is displayed below the drawing type element in the Drawings Explorer hierarchy. |
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Repair Drawing |
Repairs a drawing that has become corrupt and cannot be opened, or contains data inconsistency messages when opened. Note: |
To create a new overlay element, right-click the Overlays folder element to display a drop-down menu.
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Import CAD |
Imports a CAD drawing as an overlay below the currently selected Overlays folder element. |
To delete or display attributes for an overlay element, right click on an overlay element to display a drop-down menu.
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Delete |
Deletes the currently selected overlay on the Drawings Explorer. If the overlay is associated with a drawing, an Information window displays, indicating that the overlay is being used.
The overlay must be removed from the drawing before it can be deleted from the Drawings Explorer. |
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Attributes |
Displays the attributes that have been specified for the currently selected overlay on the Drawings Explorer. |
More than one node can be dragged and dropped from the Flexible Explorer onto the canvas.
See Change Standard, Attributes, Print Drawings, Export Drawings and Add CAD Overlay to Drawing for further information.