USING WALLS: EXPORTING AN SVG

This is part seven of a long-term series that will cover many features of the cave survey application, Walls Project Editor. To start at part one, click here.

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Introduction

This tutorial will cover the basic steps to exporting line plots as an SVG, and preparing the file for drafting using Walls Project Editor and Adobe Illustrator.

What do I need for this tutorial?

  • Windows PC (macOS users can try running Walls using Boot Camp or an application such as Wine).

  • Walls Project Editor, available for free, here.

  • A survey project to export as created in part one of this series, here.

  • A vector graphics editor such as Adobe Illustrator, free trial here.

Walls Tutorial:
PREPARING AN SVG FOR DRAFTING

  • by Rory O’Keefe, June 18, 2022

Exporting your data as an SVG (Scalable Vector Graphic) is one of the key steps to creating an actual map from your survey data. In the following tutorial, you will learn how to create an infinitely scalable copy of your stick map that is ready for drafting in Adobe Illustrator.

Step 1: Select a Scale and Orientation.

  1. To start, open Walls and compile your project to open the Review Dialog box.

  2. Working in the Review Dialog box, navigate to the Page Layout tab and select the Scale & position... button.

  3. Optional: In the View Direction box, enter the amount in Azimuth Degrees from Grid North that you wish to rotate your exported data.

    • Walls will automatically export as Grid North (North will be aligned with the grid lines of the map and point upwards to the top of the page or screen).

    • It is perfectly acceptable to leave this at 0 and export as Grid North.

  4. Choose the export scale of your project.

    • Recommended export scales for printing are:

      • 1:500 – Maps with high detail

      • 1:1000 – Maps with moderate detail

      • 1:2000 – Maps with low detail

      • 1:3000 – Stick Maps

  5. Choose the dimensions of your export in the View Frame Dimensions box.

    • If you have a print size in mind, enter the dimensions to view a preview of the exported file at the next step.

    • If your export will be screen only, and you have a specific screen size in mind, enter dimensions that match that screen ratio to view a preview of the exported file at the next step.

    • If you don't currently care about the export size, enter dimensions that you think will be large enough to fit all of your data as Walls will not export the data outside of these dimensions. You can preview and adjust the size accordingly at the next step.

  6. Select OK.

Step 2: Preview and Adjust.

  1. Working back in the Page Layout tab, you should now see a preview of your line survey over a gray grid.

    • The gray grid represents the frame dimensions in relation to the survey scale and orientation specified in the previous step.

    • The blue box represents your actual printer settings and is irrelevant to this tutorial.

    • Note: If you do not see any of your survey outside of the printer settings frame, right-click on the blue box to switch to the Export Frame Dimensions preview.

  2. Adjust the orientation, scale, or frame dimensions as needed.

    • Options: Increase the frame dimensions, use a smaller scale, or split the map into multiple parts.

Step 3: Export.

  1. Without closing the Review Dialog box, click the SVG button located in the top toolbar of Walls Project Editor.

  2. Choose an output location to save the file.

  3. Optional: Select a Grid Interval (primary grid) and Grid Subdivisions.

  4. Select all of the Exported Layers options if there is a possibility that the map will be roundtripped in the future (updated with new data, or merged with another map, etc).

  5. Select Adjustable Output (necessary for roundtripping).

  6. Select OK.

Step 4: Preparing the SVG in Adobe Illustrator.

  1. Open the saved SVG file with Adobe Illustrator.

  2. In the top menu bar of Illustrator, go to File > Scripts > Other Script...

  3. Navigate to the Program Files, or Program Files (x86) folder of your hard drive, and select the Walls folder.

  4. Select and open the w2dGroupsToLayers script located within the Walls program files folder.

  5. A confirmation box explaining the script will appear, select Yes.

    • The script creates the appropriate layers that are necessary for roundtripping. If there is a possibility that you will update your survey in the future, it is important to use these layers correctly. Basic guidelines are listed below, with the principal working layers shown in bold:

      • w2d Frame: Map border.

      • w2d Legend: Text or information such as titles, legends, scales, compass rose, etc…

      • w2d Grid: Exported grid from Walls.

      • w2d Notes: An optional layer for survey notes.

      • w2d Labels: Survey station labels.

      • w2d Flags: An optional layer for survey flags.

      • w2d Survey

        • w2d Markers: Survey station markers.

        • w2d Vectors: Line survey.

      • w2d Walls

        • w2d Walls sym: Cross-sections.

        • w2d Walls shp: Cave walls and columns.

      • w2d Details

        • w2d Detail sym: Detail symbols, passage text.

        • w2d Detail shp: Drawn details.

      • w2d Mask: An optional layer that will copy the movement of the w2d Walls shp and w2d Detail shp layers when roundtripping. Often used to show different cave background or floor colors.

      • w2d Ref: A required "metadata" layer with the map title and information used by Walls for georeferencing.

      • w2d Background: A required layer consisting of a single filled rectangle defining the extent of the map.

  6. Save the SVG as an AI file and you are ready to begin drafting.