The preferences for the Draft Workbench can be found in the Preferences Editor. In the menu select Edit → Preferences... and then Draft.
There are five tabs: General settings, User interface settings, Grid and snapping, Visual settings and Texts and dimensions.
On the General settings tab you can specify the following:
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| Name | Description |
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| | The initial working plane when the Draft Workbench is first loaded in a FreeCAD session. The options are: |
| Default working plane | |
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| | None |
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| | : this is equivalent to the Automatic option of the Draft SelectPlane command. |
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| | - |
| | XY (Top) |
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| | - |
| | XZ (Front) |
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| | - |
| | YZ (Side) |
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| | The number of decimals used in internal coordinate operations (for example 3 = 0.001). Values between 6 and 8 are usually considered the best trade-off. |
| Internal precision level | |
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| | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. |
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| | Some internal operations use a tolerance. Values with differences below this value will be treated as the same. This preference will be obsoleted soon, the Internal precision level mentioned above will then be used for the tolerance as well. |
| Tolerance | |
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| | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. |
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| | If checked, the layers drop-down list will also show groups, allowing you to automatically add objects to groups as well. See Draft AutoGroup. |
| Show groups in layers list drop-down button | |
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| | Set the focus on the Length input box, if available, instead of the X coordinate input box. This allows to specify a direction and a distance to define the next point. |
| Set focus on Length instead of X coordinate | |
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| | If checked, the base objects are reselected after copying objects. |
| Select base objects after copying | |
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| | If checked, when creating a Draft object on top of the selected face of an existing object, the Support property of the Draft object will be set to that base object. This was standard behavior before FreeCAD version 0.19. |
| Set the Support property when possible | |
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| | If checked, commands will start with filled mode switched on. If filled mode is on, the created objects will have Make Face set to True. Changing the filled mode in a task panel will override this preference for the current FreeCAD session. |
| Fill objects with faces whenever possible | |
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| | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. |
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| | If checked, copy mode will be kept across commands. Otherwise commands will always start with copy mode switched off. |
| Global copy mode | |
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| | If checked, Draft commands create Part primitives instead of Draft objects when possible. Note that not all Part primitives are fully editable with the Draft modifier commands. |
| Use Part Primitives when available | |
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| | The default prefix added to the labels of Draft clones. |
| Prefix labels of Clones with | |
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| | The default label for the Draft construction group. |
| Construction group name | |
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| | The default color for objects drawn while in construction mode. |
| Construction geometry color | |
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On the User interface settings tab you can specify the following:
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| Name | Description |
+=========================================+===============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================+
| | These shortcuts only work when a Draft or Arch command is active. Note that not all commands support all shortcuts. |
| In-Command Shortcuts | |
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| | After changing one or more of these shortcuts you must restart FreeCAD. |
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| | Shortcut to toggle relative mode. If relative mode is on, coordinates are relative to the last point, if available, else they are relative to the coordinate system origin. |
| Relative | |
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| | Shortcut to toggle continue mode. If continue mode is on, commands will restart after finishing. |
| Continue | |
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| | Shortcut to press the Close button. |
| Close | |
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| | Shortcut to toggle copy mode. If copy mode is on, the command will create modified copies instead of modifying the original objects. |
| Copy | |
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| | Shortcut to toggle subelement mode. If subelement mode is on, the command will use the selected subelements instead of the whole objects. |
| Subelement Mode | |
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| | Shortcut to toggle filled mode. If filled mode is on, the created object will have Make Face set to True. |
| Fill | |
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| | Shortcut to press the Finish button. |
| Exit | |
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| | Shortcut to press the Select edge button. See Draft Dimension. |
| Select Edge | |
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| | Shortcut to insert a "hold point" at the current location of the cursor. See Draft Snap. |
| Add Hold | |
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| | Shortcut to change the focus from the X coordinate input box to the Length input box and vice versa. |
| Length | |
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| | Shortcut to press the Wipe button. |
| Wipe | |
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| | Shortcut to press the Set WP button. |
| Set WP | |
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| | Shortcut to change snap priority to an object that is obscured by other geometry. See Draft Snap. |
| Cycle Snap | |
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| | Shortcut to toggle global mode. If global mode is on, coordinates are relative to the global coordinate system, else they are relative to the working plane coordinate system. (v0.20) |
| Global | |
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| | Shortcut to press the Undo button. |
| Undo | |
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| | Shortcut to toggle Draft snapping. |
| Snap | |
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| | Shortcut to increase the maximum distance at which Draft Snap Grid detects the intersections of grid lines. See Draft SelectPlane. |
| Increase Radius | |
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| | Shortcut to decrease the maximum distance at which Draft Snap Grid detects the intersections of grid lines. |
| Decrease Radius | |
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| | Shortcut to constrain the movement of the cursor to the X axis. See Draft Constrain. |
| Restrict X | |
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| | Shortcut to constrain the movement of the cursor to the Y axis. |
| Restrict Y | |
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| | Shortcut to constrain the movement of the cursor to the Z axis. |
| Restrict Z | |
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| | If checked, the Draft snap widget is enabled. |
| Draft snap widget | |
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| | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. |
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| | If checked, the Draft annotation scale widget is enabled. |
| Annotation scale widget | |
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| | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. |
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Note that several grid preferences can also be changed with the Draft SelectPlane command. This command will update the grid in the current 3D view in real-time.
On the Grid and snapping tab you can specify the following:
+++ | Name | Description | +===============================================================+=======================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================+ | | If checked, snapping is activated without the need to press the Snap mod key. | | Always snap (disable snap mod) | | | | | +++ | | The Constraining modifier key. | | Constrain mod | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | The Snap modifier key. | | Snap mod | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | The Alt modifier key. The function of this key depends on the command. | | Alt mod | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | If checked, the Snap toolbar will be shown whenever a command is active. This option and the next option should both be checked or unchecked. Other combinations do not make sense. | | Show Draft Snap toolbar | | | | | +++ | | If checked, the Snap toolbar will be hidden after use. This option and the previous option should both be checked or unchecked. Other combinations do not make sense. | | Hide Draft snap toolbar after use | | | | | +++ | | If checked, a grid will appear when drawing. | | Use grid | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | If checked, the Draft grid will always be visible when the Draft Workbench or Arch Workbench is active. Otherwise only when using a command. | | Always show the grid | | | | | +++ | | If checked, an additional border is displayed around the grid, showing the main square size in the bottom left corner. | | Show grid border | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must open a new 3D view or restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | If checked, the outline of a human figure is displayed at the bottom left corner of the grid, provided Show grid border mentioned above is also checked, and the BIM Workbench is installed. (v0.20) | | Show human figure | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must use Draft ToggleGrid twice or restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | If checked, the two main axes of the grid will be colored red, green or blue if they match the X, Y or Z axis of the global coordinate system. | | Use colored axes | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must use Draft ToggleGrid twice or restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | The number of squares between main grid lines. These lines are thicker than normal grid lines. | | Main lines every | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must use Draft ToggleGrid twice or restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | The distance between grid lines. | | Grid spacing | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must use Draft ToggleGrid twice or restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | The number of horizontal and vertical lines of the grid. | | Grid size | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must use Draft ToggleGrid twice or restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | The color and the overall transparency of the grid. | | Grid color and transparency | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must use Draft ToggleGrid twice or restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | The maximum number of objects Draft Edit is allowed to process at the same time. | | Maximum number of contemporary edited objects | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | The pick radius (in pixels) of edit nodes. | | Draft edit pick radius | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++
On the Visual settings tab you can specify the following:
+++ | Name | Description | +===================================================================+=====================================================================================================================================================================================================================+ | | The symbols used to mark found snap points. The options are: | | Snap symbols style | | | | - | | | Draft classic style | | | | | | | | | - | | | Bitsnpieces style | | | | | | . | | | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | The color used for snap symbols, snap dimensions and edit nodes. | | Color | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | Not used. The color and linewidth set in the Draft Tray are always saved. | | Save current color and linewidth across sessions | | | | | +++ | | If checked, a widget indicating the current working plane orientation appears during drawing operations. | | Show Working Plane tracker | | | | | +++ | | A directory with custom SVG patterns. Select a file in the directory and then remove the filename in the preferences input box, leaving only the path. | | Alternate SVG Patterns location | | | | | | | After changing this preference you must restart FreeCAD. | | | | +++ | | Not used. | | SVG patterns resolution | | | | | +++ | | The default pattern size. Note that a higher value results in a denser pattern. | | SVG Pattern default size | | | | | +++ | | If checked, the colors of faces are preserved during downgrade and upgrade operations (splitFaces and makeShell only). | | Preserve colors of faces during downgrade/upgrade | | | | | +++ | | If checked, face names are derived from the original object names and vice versa during downgrade and upgrade operations (splitFaces and makeShell only). | | Preserve names of faces during downgrade/upgrade | | | | | +++ | | SVG linestyle definition used by the TechDraw DraftView command. | | Dashed line definition | | | | | +++ | | Idem. | | Dashdot line definition | | | | | +++ | | Idem. | | Dotted line definition | | | | | +++
These preferences are the defaults used when creating new objects. Changing them does not affect existing objects.
On the Texts and dimensions tab you can specify the following:
+++ | Name | Description | +====================================================+====================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================+ | | The font used for all Draft texts and dimensions. It can be a font name such as {{Value|Arial}}, a style such as {{Value|sans}}, {{Value|serif}} or {{Value|mono}}, a font family such as {{Value|Arial,Helvetica,sans}}, or a name with a style such as {{Value|Arial:Bold}}. | | Font family | | | | | +++ | | The height for texts and dimensions. | | Font size | | | | | +++ | | Specifies how the dimension text is displayed. The options are: | | Display mode | | | | - | | | text above (2D) | | | | | | : the dimension text is displayed in a plane defined by the Normal of the dimension. | | | | | | - | | | text inside (3D) | | | | | | : the dimension text always faces the camera. | +++ | | The number of decimal places to display for the dimension text. | | Number of decimals | | | | | +++ | | The length of the extension lines below the dimension line. See Draft Dimension. | | Extension lines size | | | | | +++ | | The length of the extension lines above the dimension line. | | Extension line overshoot | | | | | +++ | | The distance the dimension line is extended beyond the extension lines. | | Dimension line overshoot | | | | | +++ | | The symbol to display at the ends of the dimension line. The options are: | | Arrows style | | | | - | | | Dot | | | | | | | | | - | | | Circle | | | | | | | | | - | | | Arrow | | | | | | | | | - | | | Tick | | | | | | | | | - | | | Tick-2 | | | | +++ | | The size of the arrows. | | Arrows size | | | | | +++ | | Not used. The orientation of the dimension text when the dimension is vertical. The options are: | | Text orientation | | | | - | | | Left (ISO standard) | | | | | | | | | - | | | Right | | | | +++ | | The space between the dimension line and the dimension text. | | Text spacing | | | | | +++ | | If checked, the unit symbol is added to the dimension text. | | Show the unit suffix in dimensions | | | | | +++ | | By default dimensions will use the current unit defined in FreeCAD. By specifying a different unit here, such as {{Value|m}} or {{Value|cm}}, new dimensions will use that unit instead. | | Override unit | | | | | +++ | | The default font file to use. See Draft ShapeString. For Windows users: please read the Font file selection on Windows paragraph on that page. | | Default ShapeString font file | | | | | +++
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