I began taking measurements in the cut shop, transferring the numbers to paper and began making a sketch of the entrances, the work doors and the existing three phase receptacles and so on. After picking up the clip board for the nth time or so, I noticed some cutting fluid and metallic finger prints on my paper. Later, I finished another sketch of the assembly building included the bathrooms, the entrances, the office, the stairs and the work doors.

To make both inaccurate sketches look better, the thought of using CorelDRAW made sense. In the October 2002 issue, I wrote a review for CorelDRAW version 11. With a gentle nudge from our editor, Clarke Bird, I’d like you to know how I’ve used CorelDRAW.

I began by drawing a small rectangle. Then in the property bar I changed the objects size to match the dimensions on my paper, 40 ft x 12=480 inches by 100 ft x 12=1200 inches. For better accuracy, I choose to work in inches. Then I clicked the zoom levels drop down arrow and selected to fit. Now I can see the 40' x 100' rectangle which represents the cut shop. This CorelDRAW program can draw large buildings. I drew another rectangle and changed the dimensions to match the entrance 32.25 inches wide by 6 inches deep to include the trim. Click the pick tool in the tool box, and select both rectangles while holding down the shift key. Let go of the shift key and then press the “T” key for top and the “R” key for right. Instantly the door aligns to the top and the right side of the cut shop rectangle. This is fun. Deselect both rectangles, use the pick tool to select an unused or empty area outside the two rectangles. On the property bar, double click the number in the nudge offset box and type 19, press the enter key, because the door is nineteen inches from the wall. With the pick tool left click the entrance door rectangle once to activate the rectangle. Press the left arrow key once and the door moves to its correct position. This is too easy.

Adding the work doors are basically the same. Draw another small rectangle. Change the dimensions to 75" x 6". Press the enter key. There are two doors. To make a quick duplication press the “CTRL” key +the “D” key. Select the pick tool, hold down the shift key, click on each door and the cut shop rectangle to highlight three rectangles. Now release the shift key. Can you guess which keys get pressed next? The “T” key for top and the “R” key for right. This, aligning of the rectangles, is easy and quick. Deselect the three rectangles by using the pick tool to select an unused or empty area outside the four rectangles. On the property bar double click the number 19 in the nudge offset box and type in 162.5, press the enter key, because this door is one hundred sixty-two-point five inches from the wall. I need to select the top door that is aligned at the top and next to the right wall. With the pick tool left click the top work door once to activate the rectangle. Press the left arrow key once and the door moves to its correct position. Again this is easy and you should see a pattern forming. To move the other work door to its correct place is of matter of nudging it with the correct dimension. For you advanced drawers, one may say, I am making simple things. For a beginner, I say, start somewhere. You may live in an apartment, a house or mansion. Who knows someday you may need a floor plan of where you reside. Don’t just think about doing it . . . start. Remember, without practice you’ll get nothing done. So, let’s practice.

Now for the electrical boxes on the wall, I want a 4" X 4" electrical box. This is a square. Hold down the CTRL key as a rectangle is drawn. Then, in the property bar, change the dimensions to 4 x 4. OK, you can try drawing any exact 4" x4" square with the mouse, but why waste time that is why I use the property bar. Double click the number in the box, press the “4” key, press the tab key, press the “4” key, and press the enter key, done.

Under the Windows menu, CorelDRAW has an object manager docker box. In the box, I can rename each rectangle as entrance door, east work door, west work, west wall 220 volt 3 phase receptacle and so on. Later on, this is where one can easily locate an object or group of objects by a specific name. You can even use “Find and Replace”, for objects and/or text, as your drawing become more complex.

After drawing the cut shop, select all the rectangles and group them as one object and saved the drawing. (Actually, by saving the drawing as you draw, is a safer way to go. We all know. San Antonio never has power failures. Oh, Yeah!) Then I copied the group of rectangles representing the cut shop (actual size) to another page in CorelDRAW. To see the cut shop printed on an 8.5" X 11" paper, shrink this one. Use the pick tool to grab the upper left handle and pull it toward the middle until all fits on the page. You’ll find that the group of rectangles is not centered on the paper. Press the “P” key. Pretty neat.

On another page, I drew the assembly building using these same simple techniques. I didn’t shrink the assembly building, because I need to add some equipment: two V-18 Hyd-Mec band saws and rails, the A7 Pedrick bender, the UH705 Heller Iron worker, and the torch cutting L-TEC. You may have guessed it. I need to draw each machine on all separate pages. The machines don’t have to be exact, but the floor space dimensions are important.

I copied the assembly building to a new page, added copies of the five machines and grouped all together. To see the assembly building and machines on an 8.5" X 11" paper, shrink it. Use the pick tool to grab the upper left handle and pull it toward the middle until all fits on the page. You’ll find that the group doesn’t stay centered on the paper. Again, press the “P” key to center the drawing.

Fortunately in CorelDRAW, you can undo many times. I want to print two copies of the assembly building with no machines. I delete the machine group. Don’t save that step. Now, I can print just the building. Next, I want to print two copies of only the machines. Click the undo icon and the machine group reappears. Delete the building group. Again, don’t save that step. Now, I can print just the machines. Click the undo icon and the building group reappears. Now you can save the file. I can cut out the equipment and paper clipped them to each building print. Upon giving a set to two supervisors, they can easily move the paper cutouts to their desired location. This is a lot easier than using the fork lift. When everyone is satisfied, I can move them in CorelDRAW and make a final copy. Finally, I will work on figuring out the proper wiring locations for each machine.