Overview

Offsets are parallel copies of an existing layout line at a specified distance. Offsets are commonly used when you need layout guidance in a tight or inaccessible location where the robot cannot physically drive, or when you want to provide a measurable reference line for manual layout. Dusty recommends planning offset when tight locations are known ahead of time. 

Symptoms / What You’ll See

• You need a line printed, but the robot cannot access the exact location (tight corridor, close to a wall, congested area).
• You want a parallel “reference” line to measure from for manual layout.
• You want to print an “X inch/ foot offset” line for trade crews (e.g., framing offsets).
• You need to create a control point from an offset due to field conditions 

Why This Happens

• Some areas are not accessible due to line-of-sight limitations between the tracker and robot, or due to physical constraints near walls, pipes, and openings.
• In these cases, printing an offset line provides accurate guidance without requiring the robot to enter the tight space. 

How to Fix or Prevent

1. Confirm the line you are offsetting is in the correct layer and visible
   • Open the Layers panel.
   • Ensure the source layer is visible on the canvas.
2. Select the layout line you want to offset
   • Use the selection tool to tap the line.
   • If multiple objects are stacked, deselect all and then reselect only the line to be offset. Only one line can be selected for this feature to work.
3. Create the offset from the selected line
   • Select the line you want to create the offset from.
   • Hold your finger on the side and direction where you want the offset line to appear.
   • When prompted, enter the value of the offset using the project units.
4. Enter the offset distance
   • Type the offset value using the units your project is using (feet/inches or metric).
   • Use a positive value only; direction is chosen in the next step.
5. Set the offset direction
   • Tap the side of the original line where you want the new line to be created.
   • Confirm the preview shows the offset line on the correct side.
6. Create and review the new offset line
   • Confirm to place the offset line.
   • Verify it is parallel, continuous, and located at the intended distance.
7. Print the offset line and use it as a manual reference if needed
   • Print the offset line.
   • If the intent is to lay out the real condition manually, measure from the printed offset line to your final location.

Best Practices

• Plan offsets early when you know areas will be inaccessible, and include them in the file prep or layout plan. 
• Label offsets clearly (in the model or as embedded text) so crews know what the offset represents.
• Do not use offsets to hide control or stationing issues. Offsets will not fix a mis-stationed setup.
• Spot-check offsets by measuring a short sample distance in the field before printing the full perimeter.