How to import an image into a floor plan
The background of a floor plan is the drawing the pins are placed on. It has to be an SVG file, and that's what stops most people the first time.
How to import the background image
- Open the building you want to work on. See How to switch building and search for a building.
- Go to Floor plan in the sidebar.
- Open the floor plan, or create a new one.
- Click Edit.
- Click Import image.
- Select the SVG file and click Upload.
- Click Save.
While it runs it says Uploading {fileName}, and when it's done: {fileName} uploaded.
The messages you may meet
Message | Meaning |
|---|---|
Upload an SVG file. | wrong file format |
Couldn't upload {fileName}. | the upload didn't go through |
Couldn't load image | the file uploaded but can't be displayed |
Note: Only SVG is accepted. A PDF, PNG or JPG is rejected, and a screenshot of a drawing won't work. SVG is a vector format, which is exactly why the floor plan can be zoomed without going blurry.
How to get hold of an SVG file
The order worth trying:
- Ask whoever holds the drawing set — the architect, a consultant, or whoever manages the FDV documentation. An SVG or DWG is often available even when only a PDF has been circulated.
- Export from the drawing software. Most CAD and drawing tools can export SVG directly.
- Convert a vector PDF. If the PDF was produced from CAD, it can be converted. If it was scanned, it's an image and can't become a usable SVG.
If you have no drawing at all, use Add Properate design as a starting point instead.
How to change the background later
Use Import image again. The change is logged as Background changed.
Note: If you switch to a drawing with a different scale or crop, the pins stay on their old coordinates — they don't move with it. Expect to reposition them, and consider Preview before saving.
Frequently asked questions
Can I delete the background?
The file can be deleted with the confirmation Delete this file? — answer Yes or No.
Should the drawing include text and dimensions?
A clean plan outline with room boundaries works best. Lots of text and dimensioning competes visually with the pins, which are what the drawing is actually there to show.
One drawing per floor?
Yes, that's the usual approach — one floor plan per floor, with that floor's rooms.
Can I preview before saving?
Yes, use Preview.
Tip!
Ask for an SVG with room boundaries and room numbers, but without furniture, dimensioning and title blocks. The drawing is a backdrop, not a construction drawing — and the cleaner it is, the clearer the pins that are the whole purpose.