Sheet Library

The Sheet Library is where you upload and organize floor plan drawings. These drawings serve as the background for creating spaces and modeling your building.

Uploading Sheets

Supported Formats

PDF - Preferred for vector graphics and multi-page documents
DXF - CAD drawings, converted to vector PDF on upload

Upload Process

Navigate to Basis of Design > Sheet Library
Click Upload Files or drag files into the upload area
Wait for processing to complete
Check the Sheet Type, Sheet Number, and Scale that HVAKR filled in, and correct any that are wrong

During processing, HVAKR reads each page and fills in what it can:

Sheet Type — classified from the page image. DXF uploads are always set to Overall Floor Plan. HVAKR does not replace a Sheet Type that the Sheet Number already has.
Sheet Number — read from the page. When HVAKR cannot read it, the page keeps the file name and page number (for example Plans.pdf_2)
Scale — read from plan-type PDF pages, or taken from a DXF’s declared units. Otherwise the page starts at 1/8” = 1’
Default Slab-to-Slab Height and Default Ceiling Height — read from plan-type PDF pages

HVAKR keeps a Sheet Number, scale, or height that it reads from a PDF page only when it is confident in the reading. A scale that is not a standard architectural scale shows an info icon: Auto-detected scale — confirm it matches the drawing.

Multi-Page PDFs

When you upload a multi-page PDF, each page becomes a separate row. You can:

Rename the uploaded file in the group header, or set each page’s Sheet Number
Delete unused pages

Pages are sorted by Page # by default. Use a column’s header menu to sort by another column. There is no control to drag pages into a custom order.

Sheet Type

Each sheet has a Sheet Type, set from the Sheet Type column in the library table or the Sheet Type field in the sheet viewer sidebar. HVAKR fills it in during processing (see Upload Process). Change it if the classification is wrong.

Plan types — Overall Floor Plan, Enlarged Floor Plan, Reflected Ceiling Plan, Mechanical Plan, Electrical Plan, Plumbing Plan
Reference-only types — Section, Detail, Schedule, Cover, Other

Only plan types get a Scale and default heights (below) — reference-only sheets have no scale to set. Set the Sheet Type before calibrating scale.

Scale Calibration

Accurate scale is essential for correct area calculations and load estimates on plan-type sheets.

Setting Scale

Set the scale from the Scale column of the sheet’s row in the library table. Pick a standard architectural scale (for example, 1/8” = 1’) from the dropdown, or check Custom to enter a custom ratio.

To derive the scale by measuring a known distance instead, open the sheet and use the Calibrate Scale tool in the viewer toolbar:

Click Calibrate Scale
Click two points of a known distance on the drawing
Enter the real-world length
Click Apply Scale

Tips for Accurate Scaling

Use dimension lines on the drawing when available
Measure between grid lines or column centers
Verify scale by checking room dimensions
Re-calibrate if prints were resized

Scale Verification

After setting scale, check that:

Room dimensions match the drawing
Total building area is reasonable
Space areas align with specifications

Sheet Organization

Naming Conventions

Use descriptive names that identify:

Floor level (First Floor, Level 2, Roof)
Building section (Wing A, North Tower)
Drawing number (A1.1, A1.2)

Sheet Order

Pages are sorted by Page # (the PDF page number) by default. Identify a page with the file name and Sheet Number — for example A1.1 for the first-floor plan. Place each floor’s plan on its own level in Sheets, not by reordering the library.

Working with Sheets

Sheet Selection

Sheets are placed per level in the building model — use the level control in the toolbar to switch between floors. In the Sheet Library, the table already shows each page’s details and versions. Click a page to open it in the sheet viewer.

Sheet Preview

The Sheet Library shows thumbnails of all uploaded sheets. Click a sheet to open it in full view.

Sheet Details

Each sheet’s group header shows the file name and upload date. The library table shows, per page:

Sheet Type and Sheet Number
Scale (plan types only)
Default Slab-to-Slab Height and Default Ceiling Height (plan types only) — new spaces drawn on the sheet start at these values
Whether the page is placed On Canvas
Number of spaces drawn on the sheet

Managing Sheets

Replacing Sheets

HVAKR keeps sheet versions, so you update a drawing by uploading a newer revision:

Click Upload Files and upload the new drawing
When a page finishes processing, it becomes the Current Version for its Sheet Number. Earlier pages with that Sheet Number are marked Old Version in the Version column
To go back to an older revision, click the arrow button beside its Old Version tag (Use This Version). That revision becomes the one the model reads
Verify that spaces still align with the drawing

Comparing Versions

To see what changed between two uploads of the same sheet, open a page that has an older or newer version and pick it from the Compare to Version field in the sheet viewer sidebar. HVAKR overlays the two drawings: added content shows green, removed content shows red, and unchanged content stays black. Choose (Off) to turn the overlay off.

Deleting Sheets

To remove a page:

Select the page’s row in the library table
Click Delete Selection on the selection toolbar
Confirm in the dialog — This page will be permanently deleted. When you delete every remaining page, the dialog adds This is the last page, so the sheet file itself will also be deleted.

Click Delete to confirm. Deleting every page of an uploaded file removes the file from the library.

Best Practices

Use vector drawings - Vector PDFs stay crisp at any zoom level
Upload all relevant sheets - Include all floors and roof plans
Set scale accurately - Verify against known dimensions
Name sheets clearly - Use consistent naming conventions
Organize before modeling - Set up sheets before drawing spaces