Track Eaves 2D inserts lines in the XY plane using the Track command. This process allows you to quickly enter wall or roof outlines based on measured lengths only - typically when you have site measurements and a rough roof sketch. While the measurements alone don't create an accurate 3D model, once the 2D geometry is created, the results are reported as if they had been created in 3D.
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You can switch between inserting actual lengths (Tracking) and digitising freehand or constrained. Override constrain values by holding the Ctrl key while digitising.

Once inserted, lines need to be 'tagged' with their respective categories ('ridge', 'hip', 'valley', etc.) using Tools > Change Line Type.

When you select the function, the Track Lines dialog is displayed, primary fields:

The accelerator buttons on the right provide predefined directions. You can also use letters U, D, L, R in the distance field for quick directions:

Example: Enter R5000 or R5M in the distance field for a right-direction line of 5000mm or 5 metres.

Distance is the line length in the specified direction. Units are determined by your System Preferences (metric or imperial).

Time-saving shortcuts: Enter U8000 {Enter} R8000 {Enter} U8000 {Enter} R8000 {Enter}, then close as Square. You can also type C (shortcut for close square){Enter} in the distance field.

When you only know horizontal and vertical dimensions rather than direction and length, click the [H/V] button to display the Horizontal-Vertical Distances dialog.

The software flashes a point indicating the two intersection options.

You can also use Locate Point on Screen to use an existing line end point as the basis for establishing x and y offsets.

The [m] measure button ignores the Z axis when reporting distances, effectively transposing selected points onto the Construction Plane for 'flat' measurements.

The Distance field can be modified by the Pitch field. If pitch is zero, distance is assumed horizontal. The Pitch factor reduces the distance to horizontal distance - typically required when roof measurements were collected by running tape up the roof slope.

If you don't know the pitch but have 'up and over' or ridge-to-eave measurements, click the [...] button next to the pitch field to calculate exact roof pitch. When you select [OK], the calculated pitch is inserted into the pitch field.
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The [Options] button allows you to set line style, colour and weight for roof outline construction lines. This is especially useful when digitising over aerial images and PDF plans where background confusion may make roof features difficult to see.

The Change Display Settings button takes you directly to Tools > Set Display options without exiting Track Outline.

The following functions help add and edit lines once created, assisting with roof features bound by other features. These are only accessible from the Pulldown Menu:

Trims a selected line to an existing point, line or circle entity. The line is trimmed where the normal to the line would intersect the point or entity. Select the line to trim at the trim end, then the line to trim to.

Mirrors selected entities around two points, an existing line or plane. Selecting Num Copies = 0 mirrors without copying. Selecting Num Copies = 1 makes a copy about the selected axis.

Trims two intersecting lines to a corner. Select lines to trim near the end that will move. This extends or cuts back the line as needed.

Then trim the ridge to the hip:

Changes the line type of existing lines. Typical example: copy a valley line, then change it to a hip.

Uses Tools > Show/Hide Planes to display roof surface planes as they're inserted.

Use this command to digitise around a shape to create the outline for roof planes. The input method is similar to Track-Outline but draws eave lines only, leaving the rest of the roof geometry for you to create.

This process allows constructing 2D geometry of roof shapes that may be incorrect or unbuildable due to incorrect measurements, pitch, or both. The software reports areas and lengths as if the model was actually 3D.

You can digitise using various reference points or documents:

Three steps for aerial image digitising:

💡 Tip: Hold Control (Ctrl) key to measure 'off-grid' when setting overall measurements. If image isn't square to screen edge, digitise first line, right-click [Cancel] to bring up Close Method dialog with option to Align Axes with Last Line:
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This re-aligns the CPL with the image, and all new lines will be square with the last.
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2D Digitise works differently from 3D digitise - as each line is digitised, you can specify the line category (ridge, eave, valley, etc.) in the pop-up box.

Every line must be digitised following the underlay image with no automatic hip and valley generation.

Use middle mouse 'snap' function to lock onto existing line ends. If too many options exist for a logical result when forming closed loops, a dialog appears letting you select the lines that define the required roof plane area.
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Once a closed loop is defined, the software prompts for plane material and roof pitch, then inserts the roof plane.
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⚠️ Remember: Hold Ctrl key to select line end points off grid snap. Ctrl+Z steps back if you make outline mistakes. Right-click to close and select 'Reset Snap Axes' to return to normal orthogonal snap axes.

Same three-step process:

In the Close Method dialog, select Align Axes with Last Line to re-align the Construction Plane. Continue digitising the perimeter. At the penultimate corner, right-click [Cancel] and close as Close Square.

Set Roof type to Single Slope in the Roof Defaults dialog and set pitch as required.

When tracking or digitising a subsequent roof outline with existing roof on screen, click the 'o' in the middle of accelerator buttons to specify a start point.

You'll be prompted to locate a Reference Point. If it's at existing geometry corner, use middle mouse button to 'Snap' to it. Type offset from reference point to new outline start point, and this becomes the new start point when you begin the new outline.

For lots of aerial images or PDF plans in 2D, change line style for easy digitising progress visibility:

⚠️ Important: Select File > Save Values to save changes to Values.def file if you want to keep these settings.

Extract metal panel cutting lists directly from clipped aerial images or PDF drawings:

This workflow makes 2D cutting list generation easy, quick and accurate (as accurate as the images permit).