Menu path
Construct Roof > Recover
What it does
The Recover command allows you to recall and modify previously saved roof outlines from your recent jobs.
⚠️ Important: Outlines are only available for recovery after the roof geometry has been built (after clicking Continue on the Roof Modify Options dialog and hips and valleys have been created).
🧾 How outline recovery works
Each time you run Dig-Outline and Track-Outline, your outline is automatically saved to a file called lastjob.dat and stored in the current model. The Recover command accesses these saved outlines.
🔧 How to recover an outline
Go to Construct Roof > Recover
The Recover dialog will display a list of your recent jobs on the left side, each showing time and date
Click on any job from the list to see a preview of that outline on the right side
When you find the outline you want, click OK
If you already have a roof outline on screen, you'll be prompted to delete the existing outline:
Yes - Deletes the current outline
No - Keeps the current outline and adds the recovered outline to the workspace
Choose whether you want to change the recovered outline (see modification options below):
The number of available outlines depends on how many jobs you have set in your Preferences.
🛠 Modifying the recovered outline
After selecting an outline, you'll be asked if you want to change it:
No - The program continues like Dig-Outline
Yes - Opens the Change Roof Outline dialog with modification options
🔧 Change Roof Outline dialog controls
Field/Button | Description |
Direction and Length | Displays current values for each side that you can modify |
H/V button | Opens second dialog for changing horizontal/vertical line positions |
[^] and [v] buttons | Changes the starting point for the outline - useful when you have barge lines and need the start point more than two points away from a barge line |
Add-Segment | Adds a new wall segment after a specified segment (enter bearing and distance) |
Delete-Segment | Deletes a specified wall segment |
Move | Moves the entire outline by entering horizontal and vertical shift amounts |
Preview | Draws the outline in temporary graphics to preview changes before accepting |
C Sq | Recalculates the close square values - use this after making any outline changes |
Cancel | Discards all changes and stops the process |
OK | Accepts changes and continues with roof construction |
💡 Understanding line direction values
For horizontal lines:
Positive number = move right
Negative number = move left
For vertical lines:
Positive number = move up
Negative number = move down
🛠 Completing the recovery process
After modifying the outline, you'll be prompted to select the Roof Defaults:
When you click OK, the command continues as if it were the Track-Outline command.
💡 Best practices
Always click C Sq after making any changes to the outline to recalculate close square values
Use the Preview button to check your changes before accepting them
Consider the starting point location, especially when working with barge lines
⚠️ Important limitations
Lost modifications: Any changes you previously made to the roof geometry using Modify Roof commands are not maintained in a recovered outline. These modifications must be added again after recovery.