1Overview
Drawing Extents are project attributes expressed as SouthWest and NorthEast coordinates. ACAD and BCAD reconcile stored metadata, XData and the physical rectangle. DCAD accepts typed coordinates, native south-east/north-west Plan picks, or the extents of models displayed in the last active Plan view.
Starting a project, changing its spatial boundary, resolving an out-of-bounds audit or replacing a missing extent definition.
2Before you begin
- Work in the correct coordinate system and drawing units.
- Know the intended minimum and maximum project coordinates.
- Zoom to the project area so a newly drawn rectangle can be checked.
3Extent sources and validation
Host-specific storage differs, but audit consumes the same SouthWest/NorthEast project values.
| Feature or choice | Current behaviour |
|---|---|
| SouthWest | Stores the minimum project X and Y coordinate.It defines the lower-left audit/export boundary. |
| NorthEast | Stores the maximum project X and Y coordinate.It defines the upper-right boundary. |
| ACAD/BCAD reconciliation | Compares saved NOD data, XData and physical extents rectangle coordinates and prompts when they disagree.Stale or duplicated boundaries are not silently trusted. |
| DCAD form | Loads native project values and supports typed X,Y, Plan corner picks or displayed-model extents from the last active Plan view.12d does not depend on a DWG rectangle object. |
4Set the project boundary
Define the two project corners and save the boundary used by audit and export.
Run the command
The host checks its current extent state.
- Run
ADACDrawingExtents; DCAD can also useADACDrawingConfig. - ACAD/BCAD: allow the command to inspect saved values, XData and rectangle objects.
- DCAD: review the current values, then choose typed coordinates, Plan corner picks or Plan-view model extents.
Define the corners
SouthWest must be left of and below NorthEast.
- ACAD/BCAD: pick or enter SouthWest and NorthEast X,Y.
- DCAD corner mode: pick the south-east point followed by the north-west point in a Plan view; the form normalises these to SouthWest/NorthEast values.
- DCAD view mode: make the intended Plan view active and calculate the combined extents of its displayed models.
- Correct any reversed or invalid axis values before saving.
Save the extents
Store the selected coordinates as the project boundary.
- ACAD/BCAD: confirm the rectangle shown in the drawing represents the intended boundary.
- DCAD: confirm the SouthWest and NorthEast values in the form.
- Select Save or complete the command prompt.
5Product differences
The task is shared where possible, but selection, interface integration and model operations follow the host shown below.
Can draw, regenerate or reconcile the project extents rectangle in the AutoCAD database.
Uses the equivalent BricsCAD entities and drawing metadata.
Run ADACDrawingConfig or its ADACDrawingExtents alias. Enter coordinates, pick the south-east and north-west corners in a Plan view, or calculate extents from models displayed in the last active Plan view.
6Troubleshooting
Multiple extents rectangles are detected
Choose redraw/regenerate as prompted, then keep a single authoritative infrADAC extent object and rerun the command.
Audit says coordinates are out of bounds
Check both the project attributes and the actual design coordinate system. Do not enlarge extents merely to hide wrongly located geometry.
DCAD rejects a corner or view
Use a Plan view, accept both native corner picks and confirm the resulting axes are valid. For automatic extents, ensure the last active Plan view displays at least one model with calculable extents.