Converting a Background Drawing into a HydraCAD Drawing

These instructions assume that the drawing in question already has sprinklers defined and/or piping drawn.

1. Start new drawing using one of our templates
2. Insert the background drawing
3. Define one HydraCAD sprinkler for each sprinkler in the background drawing
4. Insert one of each of these heads some on the drawing that is easy to get to
5. Use Change Block (CHB) to replace existing sprinklers with HydraCAD sprinklers, one for one. Use the Change Circle option if that is how the heads are drawn. Otherwise, use Change Block. The current version of HydraCAD (V50/51.7 Rev 4 will match the scale of the existing heads
6. If the background piping is constructed of Polylines, exlpode them to turn them into lines
7. Isolate the piping layer and put the branch lines in SPRKDAT2 and the mains in SPRKDAT1. Underground goes into SPRKDAT3. Use Match Properties if you find that handy
8. If the mains do not end at each line intersection, use Automain (AUM) to break them up. No gaps can be left between pipes
9. Connect the sprinkler heads to the branch lines using grips, if necessary. No gaps can be left between pipes or between heads and pipes
10. Add elevations
11. Run Checkups from the Calculations toolbar (HCH) to look for and correct drawing errors
12. Go to 3D and look for errors

If you are on the support plan, we can often help you figure out what to do with a background that you would like to convert. Just let us know.