Layout Editor Basics

Layout editor mechanics - accessing the editor, file formats, drawing layers, snap, grouping, palettes, layout interfaces, unit systems, and paper formats.

The layout editor is GeoDin's graphic authoring environment for creating and modifying layout templates. It is accessed via the Graphic Printing and Editing method and the Layout section. This page covers the editor's core mechanics: how to open and save layouts, how the editor toolbar is organised, and the tools for managing elements, layers, groups, and palettes.

Part of the Creating Custom Layouts family.

Opening and saving layouts

Default layouts ship pre-installed in C:\ProgramData\GeoDin\Layouts\, organised by object type (for example, G1 includes borehole logs, stiff/parameter layouts, water content vs depth, and Atterberg limits layouts).

To add your own layout folders, go to Available Layouts, click the blue + button, and browse to a folder (for example, a network share for team layouts).

Two file formats are used for saved layouts:

Format	Name	Purpose
GLO	GeoDin Layout	Template - no data connection. Listed in the Available Layouts overview. Use for reusable templates.
GGF	GeoDin Graphic Format	Layout + connected data (e.g., a specific cross section with 10 boreholes baked in). Not listed in Available Layouts. GGF files can be drag-and-dropped into GeoDin to open with original data connections.

When editing a default layout, always use File > Save As (not Save) to avoid overwriting the shipped default. Create a folder such as [CLIENT]_Layouts and copy defaults there before editing. If a default is accidentally overwritten, there is no built-in reset - you must request a copy from the GeoDin team (there is no public re-download link).

Default layouts are stored once per GeoDin installation. In a network install, overwriting a default affects all users on that installation.

Starting a new layout

To start a new layout: open the graphic editing method with no layout loaded, double-click the empty canvas to show the Object Properties panel, then drop in a complex element from the toolbar.

Two buttons in the lower-left corner of the editor window control access to the overview and blank edit mode:

• Layer Overview - opens the overview of layout layers and drawing elements.
• Edit Graphics - opens a new blank layout in edit mode.

Layouts can be fully customised (delete fields, replace logos) via Edit Mode from the upper-right toolbar.

Editor toolbar

The editor toolbar is divided into two sections:

• Simple graphic elements: lines, polygons, rectangles, text
• Complex graphic elements: object frame, borehole log, depth scale, samples, groundwater, data sequence, measurement value graphic, report element, well design, legend, image

The in-product F1 context-sensitive help is comprehensive on template creation topics (object frames, single vs multiple object frames, macros, dynamic objects) and opens at the section matching the part of GeoDin currently in focus.

Inserting and managing elements

Action	How to
Insert element	Select the element type from the toolbar, click and drag on the page to define position and size. If a group or object frame is selected, new elements are added inside it.
Duplicate	Edit > Duplicate or Ctrl+D on a selected element.
Delete	Edit > Delete or Del key. Edit > Cut also removes the element but places it on the clipboard.
Select one	Click an element. Selected elements show 4 gray corners (lines show 2 gray corners at each end).
Select multiple	Shift+click or drag a selection frame (elements must be completely inside the frame).
Select all	Edit > Select All or Ctrl+A.
Select a group frame	Click the border area, or Ctrl+click inside the frame. Selected group frames show 4 gray side lines.
Select same type	Select one element, then Edit > Select same objects to select all elements of that type - useful for batch-changing fonts or styles.
Object Properties	Double-click an element, or press F11, or use Edit > Object Properties. Properties update automatically when selecting different elements. The panel position (left/right) can be set in Preferences.
Find hidden elements	In the tree view of graphic elements, single-click an entry to highlight it briefly with blinking blue markers. Double-click to select and edit it.

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Drawing layers

Layouts use multiple drawing layers, visible in the Layer Overview panel (lower-left corner). Layers can be toggled visible/invisible, reordered, and locked. Use separate layers to isolate fixed elements (title blocks, logos) from variable graphic elements.

For the full drawing layers reference - dialog icons, visibility controls, and the Ctrl+E shortcut - see Customizing Log Layouts.

Snap function

The snap function (Ctrl+K, or Preferences > Snap) provides exact alignment when drawing graphic elements. Endpoints, corners, and nodal points snap automatically to nearby existing points within a configurable distance (1-50 mm via Preferences > Snap preferences). Works across all drawing layers. Affected elements: lines, rectangles, polylines, and borehole profiles.

Grouping elements

Action	How to
Group	Select multiple elements, then use the Group icon or Arrange > Group.
Ungroup	Arrange > Ungroup or the Ungroup icon.
Lock/Unlock	Lock group elements to prevent accidental edits. Unlock to modify individual elements within the group (elements can only be moved/scaled within the group frame).
Add to group	Select the group frame first, then insert the new element - it automatically becomes part of the group.
Merge groups	Arrange > Merge groups combines two or more groups (or object frames) into one. This can unite different layouts into a single object frame.
Multiple selection	When multiple elements are selected, display/arrangement functions (move, z-order, fix/unfix) apply to all at once.

Grouping inside a group is not possible. Geological graphic elements are already grouped and cannot be grouped further.

Arrangement changes on grouped elements apply only inside the group. To change the arrangement of grouped elements relative to the rest of the graph, move the group frame itself to the fore- or background. For general z-order behavior (Bring to front / Send to back), see Element Properties Reference.

Using palettes

Palettes provide preset fill patterns, colors, line types, fonts, and symbols that can be applied to elements with a single click, significantly speeding up layout styling.

• Activate: View > Palettes (toggle).
• Apply: Double-click a palette entry, or single-click then click the Apply icon. Hold Shift to apply to multiple selected elements at once.
• Palette sections: Fill Pattern, Colors, Line types, Fonts, Symbols.
• Fill patterns apply to polygon, rectangle, circle, ellipse, and symbol elements. Transfer of background/foreground color is configurable.
• Colors apply to line, polygon, rectangle, circle, ellipse, symbol, and text elements.
• Line types set style, thickness, and color for line-based elements.
• Fonts apply style, size, and color to text elements (other settings like angle are preserved).
• Symbols apply symbol type (and optionally fill pattern and line type) to symbol elements.
• Custom palettes: Copy an existing .PAL file to a new filename. The palette folder is configurable in Preferences.

Layout snippets

A layout can embed another layout as a snippet - for example, a header/footer stored once in Common_A4_LHF.GLO and referenced by many templates. The snippet pattern lets users change a company logo in one file and have all layouts using it update automatically.

A snippet appears in edit mode as a green-boxed region that cannot be edited inline - open the snippet layout directly to edit it.

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Reference: Layout interface settings

Layout interfaces provide configuration panels for different element types, accessible without opening the full editor.

Interface	Applies to
Scales	Borehole log, well design, data sequence, samples
Labeling	Text and variable text elements
Data sequence	Data sequence elements
Reports	Measurement value graphic elements
Time series	Measurement value graphic elements (time series mode)
Selection	Report, data sequence, and measurement value graphic elements
XY-diagram	Measurement value graphic elements (XY mode)

Elements must have Make available as quick setting enabled to appear in layout interfaces. For the full list of quick-setting controls per interface type, see Layout interface quick settings below.

Reference: Layout interface quick settings

Layout interfaces allow end users to adjust layout parameters without opening the full layout editor. Elements must have Make available as quick setting enabled.

Interface	What it controls	Requirements
Content for text elements	Edit text/variable text content	At least one text element with quick setting enabled
Parameter for left axis	Left axis parameter, view, decimal places, and label	Time series diagram
Parameter for right axis	Right axis parameter, view, decimal places, and label	Time series diagram
Axis range left Y-Axis	Left Y-axis scale range	Time series with "Draw scale and labels" enabled
Axis range right Y-Axis	Right Y-axis scale range	Time series with "Draw scale and labels" enabled
X-Axis range	X-axis range and decimal places	XY-diagram
Y-Axis range	Y-axis range and decimal places	XY-diagram
Selection parameter	Selector/post-selection conditions (numbers, strings, dates, HAS operator with comma-separated terms, % wildcard)	Elements with selectors; selectors sharing a name are updated together

Reference: Unit systems in layouts

Display units from defined unit systems can be used in layouts. The depth scale reacts to different depth units for borehole profiles, extensions, samples, and soundings. Switching the unit system changes the displayed values without affecting the paper layout. The list of selectable unit systems can be restricted per layout.

Reference: Paper format quick settings

Paper formats can be included as layout quick settings, allowing users to switch page size without editing the layout. The default setting includes both size and orientation; orientation selection can be removed. Custom paper sizes from other installations are marked with a warning icon and can be added to the local installation via Add paper formats (requires write access to the Syslib directory).