Adding an Embedded Object

The Embedded Object tool is used to add external files from other programs directly into the Plan view of your landscape designs. Some supported documents include Visio drawings, Excel spreadsheets, Microsoft Word documents, and even AutoCAD drawings.

To add a new embedded object to the plan view:

1.   Click the Plan tab to switch to the Plan view.

2.   Click the Add Embedded Object button that is found near the top of the screen under the Plan Detail tab.

3.   Click the Create New button and then select the desired object type from the list.

4.   Click the OK button.

5.   The program associated with the chosen object type will now open. Create the object within this program, and click File to return to your landscape design.

6.   Click on your landscape design where you wish to place the embedded object.

To add an existing embedded object to the plan view:

1.   Click the Plan tab to switch to the Plan view.

2.   Click the Add Embedded Object button that is found near the top of the screen under the Plan Detail tab.

3.   Click the Create from File button, click the Browse button, and then open the file you would like to add. To connect the file to the embedded version, click the Link checkbox. Leave the Link option unchecked to copy the file to the landscape design without maintaining a connection to the original file.

4.   Click the OK button.

5.   Click on your landscape design where you wish to place the embedded object.

The picture below illustrates a spreadsheet created and seen in Microsoft Excel.

The picture below illustrates the spreadsheet shown above after being added to a landscape design using the Embedded Object tool.

Edit vs. Open

Two buttons are available for editing embedded objects: Edit and Open.

Clicking the Edit button will enable you to edit the embedded object directly within Realtime Landscaping Architect. This in-place editing is only available if supported by the program that originally created the embedded object. For example, clicking the Edit button would enable you to edit an embedded Excel spreadsheet without leaving Realtime Landscaping Architect.

Clicking the Open button will open the embedded object within the program used to create it. For example, clicking Open to edit an embedded Word document will open Microsoft Word in a separate window.

To edit an embedded object in-place:

1.   Click the embedded object in your landscape design to select it.

2.   Click the Edit button, found in the Properties.

3.   Edit the embedded object as desired. The editing options are determined by the type of object and the program that was used to create it.

4.   When finished, press the Esc key or click a different area of your landscape design.

To open an embedded object:

1.   Click the embedded object in your landscape design to select it.

2.   Click the Open button, found in the Properties.

3.   Edit the embedded object as desired. The editing options are determined by the type of object and the program that was used to create it.

4.   When finished, click the File menu and choose the option to close the document and return to Realtime Landscaping Architect.

Tips:

•      Embedded objects may appear blurry at times within the Plan view because a lower detail preview is used for better performance. When printing or creating screen shots, the embedded objects will be shown in full detail.

•      All plan detail objects can only be added and viewed in the Plan view, unlike other objects that are compatible with all views. See Adding Plan Detail for more information.

•      Click Edit and Embedded Object Links to edit objects that have been added using the Link option.

See also:

Embedded Object Properties
Adding Plan Detail
Setting Object Properties
Selecting Objects
Editing Objects