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Plan Viewer: Measuring on DXF, DWG & PDF Plans

Open engineering plans from the Files tab, set the scale, and measure distances, areas and dimensions that snap to the drawing.

5 min read

What Is the Plan Viewer?

The Plan Viewer opens DXF, DWG and PDF plans straight from a map's Files tab so you can take distance, area and dimension measurements on them — no CAD seat required. Measurements snap to the drawing geometry and are saved with the file.

Supported Formats

  • DXF and PDF open directly
  • DWG is converted to DXF automatically after upload — the file row shows "Preparing plan…" and then "Plan ready". If it shows "Could not convert DWG", use the row menu → Retry plan conversion

    • Step 1 — Upload and Open

    1. Open your map and go to the Files tab

    2. Drag the plan onto the upload zone (or use the upload button)

    3. Once the row reads "Plan ready", open the file menu and choose Open in Plan Viewer

    Step 2 — Set the Scale

    Measurements are only meaningful once the scale is right:

  • DXF / DWG: the drawing units are read from the file header automatically; override them in the scale panel if the drawing was authored in a different unit
  • Vector PDF: pick a paper scale preset (1:50, 1:100, 1:200, 1:250, 1:500, 1:1000) or enter a custom 1 : N
  • Scanned PDF or unknown scale: choose Calibrate with two points, click two points whose real distance you know, enter the Real distance between the two points and Apply calibration. Scanned PDFs must be calibrated — paper presets do not apply to raster scans

    • Step 3 — Measure

  • Distance (D) — click along a path, double-click to finish; the total length is shown
  • Area (A) — click the corners of a closed shape; the area and perimeter are shown
  • Dimension (M) — click two points to place a labelled dimension line
  • Select (V) moves or deletes an existing measurement; Pan (H) drags the view

    • Points snap to corners, midpoints, crossings and square-to positions within a few pixels — hold Shift to place a point freely. A small legend explains each snap symbol.

    Step 4 — Save and Export

    Measurements are saved with the file automatically and reopen with it. Use Export PNG (or Export PDF for PDF plans) to drop an annotated copy back into the Files tab, where it can be shared or attached to a report.

    Good Practices

  • Calibrate against the longest known distance available — calibration error shrinks with distance
  • Plan Viewer measurements inherit the accuracy of the source plan; verify critical clearances in the field
  • Replay the 2-minute Plan Viewer walkthrough any time from What's New → Replay feature tours