Step 1 – Creating a border

Each time you open Powerdraw, a new blank border opens automatically in the border window. However, you can create new blank borders at any time.

To create a new border, click . A new border window is displayed.

The new border uses the default page layout, in which the page orientation is set to portrait:

In step 2, you will change the page layout of the border.

Step 2 – Specifying the page layout

Now you have created a new border, you will select the paper size on which you want to print the border, and change its orientation to landscape.

To specify the page layout:

1. Select the Page Setup command from the File menu. You see the Page Setup dialog.
2. Select the size of paper that you currently have loaded in your printer, for example A4 or Letter, in the Paper Size field.
3. Select the Landscape radio button.
4. Depending on the paper size you select, you may see a dialog warning you that the current margins may not be valid for the new page orientation. If this dialog appears, click OK to close the dialog, then click Auto-set Margins to display the Auto-set Margins dialog. Ensure that The current printer is selected, then click OK to close the dialog and return to the Page Setup dialog.

   The margins are adjusted for printing a landscape page on your current printer.

5. Click OK to close the Page Setup dialog. The border now appears in landscape orientation:

In step 3, you will define the area that represents the place in which a chart or histogram will be placed for output.

Step 3 – Defining the chart area

Now you have ensured that the border will print in landscape on the paper loaded in your printer, you will define the area in which a chart or histogram will be placed when you print the border from Powerproject or Easyplan.

To define the chart area:

1. Click .
2. Click and drag the cursor diagonally across the border to outline the area of the border that you want to chart area to occupy.
3. Release the left mouse button when the chart area is approximately 6 inches wide by 5 inches tall – the area’s width and height is displayed in the status bar as you draw it. The chart area is displayed on the border:

Powerdraw uses the unit of measurement that is specified in your computer’s Control Panel. Refer to your Windows® documentation for details of how to change your unit of measurement.

If you are planning to use a border for printing from within Powerproject BIM, you can also define an area in which the IFC model that is currently displayed in the IFC Model pane will be printed, using the  toolbar button. This enables Powerproject BIM users to print graphical representations of IFC models alongside the corresponding project plans.

In step 4, you will draw a background for the border.

Step 4 – Drawing a background

Now you have defined the area in which a chart or histogram will be placed when you print the border from Powerproject or Easyplan, you will draw a background for the border.

To draw a background:

1. Click .
2. Click and drag the cursor to outline the size and position of the rectangle that will form the background, following the margin guidelines.
3. Release the left mouse button when the outline of the background matches that of the margins. The rectangle is displayed on the border:

   

4. The rectangle is filled with the current pattern and colours. With the rectangle still selected, drop down the Pattern control on the style bar and select a pattern to display within the rectangle:

   

5. Drop down the Foreground control on the style bar and select a foreground colour to display within the rectangle:

   

6. Select a background colour using the Background control:

   

7. Double-click the rectangle. You see the Shape tab of the Details dialog. This dialog provides you with an alternative method of formatting shapes.
8. Clear the Outline check box and click OK to close the Details dialog. The rectangle is drawn without an outline, using the pattern and colours you have selected:

In step 5, you will insert a picture into the border

Step 5 – Inserting a picture

Now you have drawn a background for the border, you will insert a picture into the border. Inserting pictures is a good way to insert your company logo into borders.

To insert a picture:

1. Click .
2. Click and drag the cursor to outline the area illustrated below:

   

3. Release the left mouse button when the outline is the required size and shape. You see the Picture tab of the Details dialog.
4. Click Filename and select PLANT.BMP from within the Powerproject or Easyplan \Clipart folder on your computer. If you cannot locate this file, locate another BMP, EMF, GIF, JPG, PNG or WMF file.
5. Select the Embed Picture and Preserve aspect ratio when sizing check boxes, then click OK to close the Details dialog. The picture is displayed on the border:

   

6. Click away from the picture, the chart area and the background rectangle so that no items are selected.

In step 6, you will add text to the border

Step 6 – Adding text

Now you have inserted a picture, you will add text to the border. Before you insert the text, you will define the attributes of the text you want to insert.

To preset the attributes of the text:

1. Use the style bar controls listed below to preset the text to the following attributes:
   • Font control: Arial.
   • Size control: 18.
   • Foreground control: Black.
   • Pattern control: Solid Black.
2. Click .
3. Click on the border below the graphic you have inserted. A flashing vertical line, the text insertion point, appears on the border, indicating the position at which the text will appear.
4. Enter the name of your company (press Enter to create line breaks if necessary). The text appears below the graphic, with the attributes you have selected:

In step 7, you will group the text you have added with the graphic.

Step 7 – Grouping items

Now you have inserted a picture and added text to the border, you will group these two items together. Grouping items makes the items behave like a single item so you can move, edit and resize them as if they were a single item.

To group the picture and text:

1. With the text still selected, hold down CTRL and click on the picture you inserted. Both items are selected.
2. Select the Group command from the Draw menu.
3. The two items are now grouped together and behave like a single item: select the grouped items and move them around the border. Notice how they move together.
4. Move the items back to their original position.

In step 8, you will draw a shadowed text box.

Step 8 – Drawing a shadowed text box

Now you have grouped together the picture and text that you added to the border, you will draw a shadowed box containing text. This will show you the way in which you can combine shapes and text to make your borders look attractive.

To draw a shadowed text box:

1. Click  and draw a rounded rectangle, as illustrated below:

   

2. The rectangle is initially filled with solid black. Use the Foreground control to change the foreground colour to white.
3. Click away so that no items are selected, preset the text attributes to Arial, size 14 with a solid red fill, then enter text inside the rounded rectangle:

   

4. Select the rounded rectangle and resize it to fit neatly around the text if necessary.
5. Draw another rounded rectangle, the same size as the first, but slightly offset from the original rectangle, as illustrated below:

   

6. Double-click on the new rectangle. You see the Shape tab of the Details dialog. Set a solid black foreground and fill style, clear the Outline check box, then click OK.
7. With the new rectangle still selected, select the To Back command from the Draw menu, then select the main background rectangle that you created in step 4, and send that to the back. The black rectangle now creates a shadow effect:

   

8. Select both rounded rectangles and the text they contain and group them together.

In step 9, you will add the project title to the border.

Step 9 – Adding the project title

Now you have added a shadowed text box to the border, you will add the project title. You do this by inserting a field into the border. A field is a string of characters representing a piece of information in a project, chart or view. When you load a border containing fields into Powerproject or Easyplan, the fields are replaced by the information they represent, taken from the project.

To add the project title:

1. Click  and click on the border below the chart area.
2. Select the Insert Field command from the Draw menu, select the Project Items submenu, then select the PROJ-TITLE command. The PROJ-TITLE field appears below the chart area.
3. Change the font, style, size and colour of this text as before using the style bar controls to make the field stand out:

When you load this border into Powerproject or Easyplan, the field will be replaced by the actual title of the project into which you load the border.

In step 10, you will save the border.

Step 10 – Saving the border

Now you have created a simple border, you will save it. You must save a border before you can load it into Powerproject or Easyplan.

To save the border:

1. Click . You see the File Save As dialog.
2. Select a location and file name for the border and click Save.

Now that you have created a simple border, you could print it to see what it looks like before you load it into Powerproject or Easyplan.

Conclusion

This tutorial has shown you the basic skills you need to work with Powerdraw. You should be able to build on these skills to create varied and attractive borders.

For further information on the more advanced features of Powerdraw, search the rest of this Help.