udesign help-all steps

Table of Contents

Screen + Navigation Explanation

Step 1: Layout Floor Plan

Step 2: Select Doors (Optional)

Step 3: Choose A Common Design

Step 4: Customize Your Design

Step 5: Review Your Design

Step 6: Print Shopping List

Screen + Navigation Explanation

This document begins with explanations for each outlined section of the design window: Toolbar, Zone A, Zone B and Zone C.

Below is an illustration of the first screen you’ll see in the design tool (Step 1).

Toolbar Buttons

Toolbar buttons (these options can also be found in the File and Edit sections at the very top of the screen). Be sure to check this toolbar while you are designing your area to see which tools become available for your use. Available tool buttons will be in color; non-active buttons will be grayed out as unavailable.

1) New Design – (Ctrl+N) click to create a new design area. Your previous work will be lost unless you have saved it.

2) Open Design – (Ctrl+O) if you have previously saved a design to your desktop or ClosetMaid account, you can retrieve it by clicking here. You will be required to enter your username and password to access your ClosetMaid account.

Toolbar

3) Save Design – (Ctrl+S) this program gives you the option of saving your design to your computer or to a MyClosetMaid account that is free and easy to set up – just follow the link to sign up. If you already have a MyClosetMaid account, you will be asked for your username and password to log in.

4) Save Design As – same functionality as Save, but allows you to change the name of your file. 5) Undo – (Ctrl+Z) clicking this will undo the last action you performed. Repeated clicking on this

button will continue to undo all previous actions. 6) Redo – (Ctrl+Y) clicking this will redo the last action that you removed with Undo. 7) Copy – (Ctrl+C) allows you to copy a selected product. 8) Cut – (Ctrl+X) allows you to cut a selected product. 9) Paste – (Ctrl+V) allows you to paste a selected product. 10) Delete – (Ctrl+D) allows you to delete designs from your saved designs within My ClosetMaid. 11) Zoom In – (Ctrl+Up) click on the button to increase the size of your image 12) Zoom Out – (Ctrl+Down) click on the button to decrease the size of your image 13) Tape Measure – use this button to measure distances. Click in the toolbar to select the correct

button, then click once in your area at the start location and click again when you reach the end location. You can now see the measure of the distance. Clicking the tape measure tool again will turn the option off.

14) Toggle Grid Overlay – helps to place objects. Select the button then click to turn the grid on and off.

15) Toggle Nearest Neighbor – displays distances between objects (objects to objects and walls to objects). Click on the button to see hidden items and click again to turn off the display.

16) Dimensional Guide – click on the button to show the length and height of an object. 17) Dimensional Indicator – click on the button to see the dimensions of an object in your area.

Zone A (Left column of screen)


START WITH A COMMON PLAN- This section is default to open and contains three floor plans you can start from; Reach In Closet, Walk In Closet and Garage.

OR DRAW YOUR CUSTOM PLAN – which is defaulted to closed. Click on the blue arrow to open. This will let you draw your own storage plan.

CHOOSE FLOOR PLAN COLORS – change the default colors of your floor, wall and background. Click the blue arrow to open this option.

Zone B (Center section of screen)

The center top section shows the six steps that move you through the design process;

The center middle section is the graph area where you click to make changes to your design.

Underneath the design graph area are tabs to add additional Storage Area designs, as well as buttons for the Previous or Next Step.

Zone C (Right column of screen)

Preview panel (top right corner) displays a three-dimensional (3-D) view of your storage area as you design.

Tips & How-To Help (bottom right section) contains helpful tips and links to the extensive Help section.

For detailed Help instructions, click here.


Below is an illustration of Step 1 followed by instructions for each section. The image below illustrates the common plan “Reach In Closet.”

Step 1: Layout Floor Plan (Zone A)

You will create your closet walls in this step and have the option to change the floor, wall and background colors

Start With A Common Plan

Click the blue arrow to drop down the menu selections.

Click on a a common plan (located in the upper left panel) for a Reach-In Closet, Walk-In Closet or Garage. The closet layout will then appear in the middle Design Graph area. You are now above your closet looking down into it (called a “top down” view)

.

Enter Dimensions Options - if you click and choose a pre-set closet layout, you can then enter the exact measurements into the Wall A - D data entry fields for your storage area.

Notes: A. Dimensions are preset to two (2) decimal places. Convert less than one (1) inch fractions:

7/8 = .88 1/2 = .50 1/8 = .13

3/4 = .75 3/8 = .38

5/8 = .63 1/4 = .25

B. To change the Design Area graph size, click on the graph and scroll to the desired dimensions of your workspace(in feet).

You may also drag the walls from the center design section to change the size of your walls. See the illustrations below:

Or Draw Your Custom Plan

To draw your own walls, click on the blue arrow for the drop down menu option. Click on the “Draw Your Own” icon below; then click on the center grid once and move your mouse to begin drawing your first wall.

Note: You will work in a clockwise manner, starting your design with the wall that has the door on it (Wall A).

Position your first wall by clicking once in the Design Graph area (Zone B) and when you have reached the desired length, click again.

Repeat clicking in a clockwise manner until you have the size and shape of the closet you want. To stop drawing, use the right mouse button and click one time.

Enter Dimensions – you have complete control to modify the walls you’ve drawn by changing the dimensions in this section once your walls are drawn on the center grid.- o Or you can drag your walls in the center grid to the size of your choice. o Note: In order to be able to insert a door in STEP 2, solid walls that connect have to

be drawn in STEP 1.

Beginners – it is probably easiest to select a pre-configured Reach-In, Walk-In, or Garage template first. Then, click on a wall and move it until the dimensions, shown in Enter Dimensions (Zone A), match your measured storage area dimensions.

Choose Floor Plan Colors

Click on the blue arrow to see the options.

Click in the Floor, Wall or Background Color box to change the color from the pop-up window options: Swatches, HSB or RGB.

Step 1: Layout Floor Plan (Zone B) Center section

Design Pane (middle graph section)

Note that Step 1 is shown in red at the top of the graph to indicate your current step

This displays a top down view of your storage area. In STEP 2, this becomes a wall view.

You can zoom in/zoom in the grid section by using the Zoom icons in the top toolbar or by

using your mouse scroll wheel.

To add another Storage Area Design, click the + tab (located beneath the middle design graph area).

You can also right click on a tab to add another storage area, remove a storage area or renaming your storage area.

To proceed, either click Step 2 (located above the middle design graph area) or click Next

Step (bottom of the design graph area).

Step 1: Layout Floor Plan (Zone C) Right column

Preview Pane (top right)

This is where you review changes to your storage area which is now shown as a 3-dimensional object.

Click and hold your left mouse button to zoom or rotate your design in this pane.

Tips & How-To Section

Quick tips and links to the in-depth Help section.

Step 2: Select Door (Optional)

Below is an illustration of Step 2 followed by a description of each section and instructions.

Step 2: Select Doors (Optional) (Zone A) Left column

This is an Optional step where you can add windows, doors, vents, switches, and wall obstacles to replicate your actual storage area.

Add Wall Fixtures

Common Floor Plans have doors and door openings by default.

If you have selected a Common Plan in Step 1 such as a Reach In Closet, Walk In Closet or Garage, when you move to Step 2: Select Doors (Optional), your design will first appear with a type of door or frame in place on the front wall.

Click on the door in the middle design graph area.

The Item Options (Zone A) list appears with the default door options listed. Click in the Door Type data entry box to select one of six options: Pivot Door, Empty Door Frame, Bi-Fold Door, By-Pass Door, French Door or Pocket Door.

If you want to change the default door, select one from the Door Type dropdown menu.

Click in the data entry box to modify the width and height of the selected door as needed.

You may also click on the black handles and resize the door until the measurements match your desired dimensions.

You may also drag the door to a different position

If you drew your own custom plan - the walls do not have doors or a door opening unless you place them in your design in this step.

Click on the correct wall from Select A Wall (middle right) if the displayed wall is not the wall on which you want to place a door.

To place a door (or other fixture), click on the item in the left pane, then click on the wall in the grid to place it. You may resize it by dragging the the sides or using the options window in the upper left corner.

Once the door is correct, then click on an object to add windows, vents, switches and/or wall obstacles.

To reposition an object, click it again and move it to the correct location.

Notice that the Toolbar options (copy, cut, paste, etc.) become active during certain steps so that you can use those tools to complete various actions, such as when windows are resized, they can be copied, pasted or deleted using the toolbar tools.

Step 2: Select Doors (Optional) (Zone B) Center section

Design graph area (middle - Zone B)

Note that Step 2 is shown in red at the top of the graph area to indicate your current step.

Displays a wall view where wall fixtures can be resized and added. (Note that a door, wall switch and vent have been placed in this example.)

To change an object’s dimensions, click on the black handles and move until the measurements match your desired size.

To delete an object, click the X at the top of the placed image in the storage area. Note the wall switch in the example which shows the X at the top of that image for deletion purposes.

Click on the Previous Step or Next Step to continue the process.

Step 2: Select Doors (Optional) (Zone C) Left column

Preview pane (top right - Zone C)

Shows a 3-D closet image that you can click to rotate. Scroll your mouse button to increase or decrease the size of the image.

Step 2 defaults to the 3rd

wall drawn or the back wall in a common plan.

Any wall fixtures added in Step 2 are visible in this pane if you rotate the design to the wall with the fixtures.

Always be certain that you have selected the correct wall to modify by glancing at the

Select A Wall pane to see which wall is highlighted in the red box.

Select A Wall (middle right – Zone C)

A new middle pane, Select A Wall, highlights in a red box the wall that is currently selected

and displayed in the center design graph pane (Zone B). You can change this wall by

clicking to select a different wall in this pane.

All changes and additions will be made to the wall inside the red box, so be sure that the

correct wall is selected.

Tips & How-To Section (bottom right – Zone C)

Helpful hints and links to the in-depth Help section appear here.

Step 3: Choose A Common Design


Step 3: Choose A Common Design (Zone A)

In this step, you will begin designing your storage system.

Start With A Common Design

Your storage shelving system choices are: Closet Laminate Designs, Closet Wire Designs, Pantry/Linen Wire Designs, and Garage Heavy Duty Shelving Designs.

Laminate Shelving: solid shelving material with a wood look (available in White or Cherry finishes).

Wire Shelving: ventilated wire shelving (available in White or Nickel finishes).

Pantry/Linen: simple 16” deep or 20” deep wire shelf designs.

Garage Wire Designs: a heavy duty wire system designed especially for areas that will store heavier items.

Click to select a folder – in this example we selected the Closet Laminate Designs (Selectives).

The next folder options are: Floor Mount Reach In Designs, Floor Mount Walk In Designs, Wall Mount Reach In Designs and Wall Mount Walk In Designs.

Reach In: such as linen, pantry, entry hall closets (24” deep x 84” wide)

Walk In: a larger storage area like a master bedroom closet (96” deep x 96” wide)

Floor Mount Systems: use products that rest on the floor (for example, a table rests on the floor).

Wall Mount Systems: are attached to walls and off the floor (for example, a cabinet mounted above a washer and dryer).

Click a folder to select the type of system to fit your storage area. In this example, the Reach In folder was clicked.

Then, a Floor Mount System was clicked to select it.

From the choices of White or Cherry, the Cherry laminate finish was selected by clicking on it.

Placing a design onto a wall

When you rollover the designs, a larger image with a description will appear.

Select the design you like by clicking on it once. Place your mouse over your wall in the center grid section. We recommend beginning on the back wall (wall opposite the door opening). If you are not on the correct wall, click on the correct wall in the “Select A Pane” section on the right side column. A shadow of the design will appear, once it appears, click on the wall to place it. If the wall is too small to accommodate all of the components in the design, only the items that fit will appear.

Step 3: Choose A Common Design (Zone B)

Note that Step 3 is shown in red at the top of the graph area to indicate your current step

This area is still displaying your wall view. Any designs you place on the wall will appear in this section. You can move them or remove them by selecting them in this design grid.

Step 3: Choose A Common Design (Zone C)

Preview pane (top right - Zone C)

Use your mouse button to scroll to increase or decrease the size of the image.

Or, click to use the Toolbar magnifying glass + or – (above the Zone B middle design graph area) to change the size of the image.

Select A Wall (middle right – Zone C)

Glance at the middle Select A Wall pane to be sure the correct wall is selected by the red box for editing. The wall that is displayed in the center grid is the wall that is selected in this section.

Step 4: Customize Your Design

Below is an illustration of Step 4 followed by instructions.

Step 4: Customize Your Design (Zone A) Left column

In this step, you will select products to accessorize your selected common design from Step 3 or design your own storage area from scratch..

The left hand navigation begins with folder options:

Closet Laminate – which then drills down to floor mount or wall mount folder which contains the respective products.

Closet Wire Shelving – contains White 12” Deep Shelving, Nickel 12” Deep Shelving, White 16” Deep Shelving, Nickel 16” Deep Shelving, Shoe Storage and Basket Storage. Each of these folders contains the respective products.

Pantry/Linen Wire Shelving – opens up to the 16” and 20” deep shelving products.

Garage Heavy Duty Wire – opens up to the heavy duty garage products.

If you are accessorizing a design from Step 3:

Select products from the corresponding folders. The illustration below shows the Closet Laminate floor mount folder of products. If there are any conflicts with where you would like to place your product, the program will flash a warning message about the conflict and you will not be allowed to place the item in that location. Click to select a different part of the system in which to place your selected product until you find a position where the item can be placed and the box around the items is blue.

Step 5: Review Your Design (Zone A) Left column

In this step, the entire view has changed. Now, the Preview pane is the middle design area and you will review your storage system and accessories. View your design from all angles, zoom in / out, pan in and out in this step.

NAVIGATION (clockwise from top middle)

1. Navigate up - tilts the design forward. 2. Zoom In - increases the size of the image. 3. Navigate Right - moves the image to the right. 4. Zoom Out - decreases the size of the image. 5. Navigate Down - tilts the design backwards.

6. Pan – moves the storage area only up/down, left or right 7. Navigate Left - moves the image to the left.

8.Turn on Examine Mode - rotates the design in a circular motion 9.Home (center) - resets the image to a centered view.

VIEWPOINTS

Default viewpoint is the last view in the preview to the right. If you change it by rotating, zooming in, zooming out, the default viewpoint will be the last one on the screen.

If you want to create other views to save and print in the final step, use Create a Viewpoint.

Change the view of your design in by using the navigation and collecting a side view, close up view or what view you have in mind.

Enter a name for the viewpoint in the “Name” field and click create. You have now created an additional view that can be seen on your shopping list in step 6. The example below has a name “Right Wall” and the view is rotated to show the back and right walls zoomed in.

Step 5: Review Your Design (Zone B) Main portion of screen

Note that Step 5 is shown in red at the top of the graph area to indicate your current step.

Carefully check your design to ensure that you are happy with the system and accessories.

If not, click on Previous to return to Step 4 and revise your product selections and position. Or, click on Step 4 at the top of the middle graph area to return to that step and revise your design.

This program gives you the option of saving your design online or to your own desktop.

Step 6: Print Shopping List (Zone A)

In this step, a shopping list is automatically generated when you select this step. By default it will include display each option listed. If you uncheck an option, you will need to click the Generatle Report button in order for the report to generate again with the items you left selected in the order report options.

Order Report Options

Drawing Style

Full color options is the only format available today.

Fax Ready (not available)

Shopping List contains the product images, descriptions, part numbers, number of items and cut

lengths in your report.

Rooms and Viewpoints

A sample default view is in the illustration below.

These are defaulted to display. If you created any views in the 4th step, this is where those

options will appear. You simply uncheck an item to remove it from the report.

Include Plans will display a top down view labeling each wall and then a display of each wall and the products or items on each wall.

Generate Report button should be selected when any item is selected or unselected in the report options

Step 6: Review Your Design (Zone B)

All of the selected options in the left hand column will be displayed in this section of the screen.

At the bottom of the screen appears the Storage Space tab and Global Report tab.

Storage Space tab

The tabs at the bottom of this section are your storage area tabs. You can select each one whicc will display a shopping list for that room only. .

Global Report tab

The Global Report Tab will combine all of your storage areas and create one shopping list.

udesign help-all steps

Documents

print shopping

layout floor

closet laminate

order report

design graph

shopping list

custom plan

common plan