Misc. Articles
Offset Tool in SoftPlan
By Bill Wimberley
Jan 17, 2003

Additional comment Glenn Mitchell

Here are some uses for the Offset Tool

Under TOOLS you will see OFFSET. Offset does some really cool things. You can use it to copy lines an exact distance and in a direction perpendicular to the original line. For instance you have a line for the top edge of a gable and you want to draw the fascia. Without using offset you have to copy or draw in a new line and then use a dimension to set it the correct distance. With Offset you simply select the line and then click in the direction you want the copy then set the distance and number of copies you want. SoftPlan remembers the last distance you set so you can make multiple copies the same distance for other lines.

One place I use it a lot is for countertops for cabinets that are drawn in with lines. Select offset and then one of the cabinet lines. Click in the direction and set the distance to 1". Now just click each cabinet line and click a direction. With a few clicks you can draw all your countertops for the whole kitchen.

Another place that Offset shines is in Site mode. After drawing in your site lines use Offset to set your utility easements and building offsets. You can even use it to copy the arc sections such as on a culdesac. Click on the arc segment, click the direction, set the distance and poof...you have your front building line set and it even adjusts to the correct size.

Bill Wimberley

Note: Offset can also be used to fill a small circle or square by offsetting to the inside and making enough copies to fill the space.

Glenn Mitchell 2002/2003 SPLASH Editor