A plane could not be traced

Question

I am trying to insert a plane in RealCAD, LANDWorksCAD or ArborCAD and getting the following message:

‘A plane could not be traced’

Answer

The cause of planes not being able to be inserted could be:

Reason #1

The outline/boundary entities do not join end to end to end to end to form a simple loop all the way round. I.e. they either overlap each other or have a gap.

TO FIX: Use the Trim To Corner command and sequentially go around to each boundary entity and trim it to its adjacent entity. If you have Curve entities, they cannot be ‘trimmed’ longer so select the curve and then simply drag its end point onto the end of the adjacent entity. The idea is to make sure all entities share an exact end point with the next one in the chain of entities.

TIP: You can use the Chain command to help you locate where a gap may be as it will often stop tracing its way around the loop at a gap or overlap.

TIP: Select all the boundary entities either one by one or by using the Chain command and move the selected entities to a clear space in your drawing to make it easier to work with. After you have inserted the plane you can simply move it back into place.

TIP: Switch off from view line types, entities or layers you do not want whilst working to make selection of what you do want easier.

Reason #2

There are more entities selected for the outline/boundary than you think you have selected. This usually happens when you have lines on top of other lines in the same direction or when you tiny little lines selected that are too small to see. It also happens as a result of selecting the boundary entities by dragging a box around them as the box selects everything, even multiple lines on top of each other.

TO FIX: Select all the boundary entities either one by one or by using the Chain command and move the selected entities to a clear space in your drawing to make it easier to work with. Delete all the bits that seem to be left over (if there are any) then after you have inserted the plane you can simply move it back into place.

TIP: Using cut and paste is a good way to move the entities accurately.

Reason #3

One or more of the entities is in 3D space and does not lay flat.

TO FIX: Select all the boundary entities (or all entities in the drawing if it is a 2D drawing). Now select Transform, Scale from the menu and set the transform values as follows. Direct Entry, X=1, Y=1, Z=0, number copies=0. Then follow the prompt. The fact that the Z value is zero forces all the selected entities to be flattened to the workplane.

Reason #4

The settings in Options, System for Trace Tolerance or Same Point Tolerance is set too low. This is rare but can happen.

TO FIX: Be sure the units are set to millimetres and select OK. Then go to Options, System again and change the Trace Tolerance or Same Point Tolerance settings to a larger value, then select OK. (You can return the units to Metres or Inches after changing the values)