Working with Prototype Drawings (.PPD)

In Pythagoras, you can save a drawing as a prototype document (.PPD) via File -> Save As and then select Pythagoras prototype, the .PPD extension. This allows you to use it as a standard starting point for new drawings, saving time and promoting consistency. Prototypes are often used to predefine the layout of plan sheets. This article explains how to create, open, and automate a prototype for an efficient workflow.

How a Prototype Drawing (.PPD) Works

When you save a drawing with the .PPD extension, it is stored as a prototype. When opening a document, you then have the choice to:

• Open a regular drawing (*.PYT).
• Open a prototype (*.PPD).

A prototype can be used in two ways, depending on your needs:

1. Open a copy: A new drawing is created based on the prototype. The original prototype drawing is automatically closed.
2. Open Prototype: You can modify the prototype and save the updated version as a prototype.

How you set this up depends, of course, on your chosen workflow.

TIPS

A prototype, template, or template in Pythagoras can contain various settings and elements that help automate and standardize drawings. This includes, among other things:

• Plan sheets with custom layout settings: Standard sheet sizes, title blocks, and scale settings.
• Legends and labels: Preset legends, texts, and annotations.
• Standard layer structure: Predefined layers and their properties.
• Styles and symbols: Certain line styles, hatches, and symbol sets.
• Profiles: Add a hidden point with a specific point number to determine the bottom left position of the cross-section. Write this number on the 'Layout' tab.

Shortcut to Your Prototypes via Bonus Tools

With the Bonus Tools macro, you can easily manage and add prototypes.

If your drawing or prototype is finished and saved, you can add this prototype via BonusTools:

• Go to Bonus Tools > Prototypes > Settings.
• Click the Add prototype button.
• Select the drawing (.PYT) or the prototype (.PPD) you want to add. Click the Open button.
• Click OK.

After adding, the numbers of the prototypes appear in the Macro Tools toolbar.

Click on a prototype to automatically create a new document based on this prototype.