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Glossary

The words Plotlay uses, in plain terms, with the lessons that show each one.

Accuracy (±)
How far out a GPS position may be, such as ± 4 m. Smaller is better; under 5 m is good for a phone.Also called or searched as: gps accuracy, error, fixLessons: Capture a GPS point on site
Client view
The simple view a guest gets: the plan, a 3D walk-through, design options, allowed documents and comments, with none of the editing tools.Also called or searched as: shared view, preview what they seeLessons: Open a project shared with you, Show a client the design
Connected copy
A guest’s own copy of a shared project that stays linked to the original. Changes made in it go back as a proposal, and later changes to the original can be pulled in.Also called or searched as: linked copy, fork, take a copyLessons: Try changes in a connected copy, Review changes sent back to you
Connector (MCP)
The way Claude and other AI agents work in your Plotlay projects as you, through the Model Context Protocol at app.plotlay.io/mcp.Also called or searched as: ai agent, claude, mcpLessons: Connect Claude or another AI agent
Design code
A set of planning or building rules for a place, such as a state’s planning code, built into Plotlay as a pack of checks. Choose the codes that apply to each project.Also called or searched as: planning code, code pack, NCC, building codeLessons: Choose the design codes for a project, Run a check and read the results
Design option
One of two or more versions of part of a design, such as two vanities, kept in one project. Only the chosen option shows; clients can pick the one they like.Also called or searched as: option set, alternative, schemeLessons: Compare design options, Comment and pick design options
Drawing set
One numbered PDF of sheets (cover, plans, elevations, sections, schedules) with the same title block on each.Also called or searched as: sheets, plans to lodge, construction drawingsLessons: Issue a drawing set, Make the plans to lodge
Elevation and section
An elevation is a side of the house, or a wall from inside, drawn straight on. A section is a cut through the building along a line you place.Also called or searched as: facade, wall view, cutLessons: Make elevations and sections
Entered by an AI agent (needs review)
Rules an AI agent added are flagged until a person reads and confirms each one, so a made-up limit can’t pass unnoticed.Also called or searched as: needs review, confirm ruleLessons: Import a rule pack and review agent rules
Fit-out
The fixed things that go into a room: vanities, toilets, kitchen runs, appliances, lights and joinery. Fit-out is placed against a wall and built in 3D.Also called or searched as: fixtures, fittings, vanity, joineryLessons: Choose finishes and add fit-out to a room, Add a bench run of joinery
Guest roles
What a person you invite may do: Can view (look and walk through), Can comment and pick options, or Can edit. Viewers need no account.Also called or searched as: can view, can comment, can edit, permissionsLessons: Invite guests to a project, Open a project shared with you
Joinery (bench run)
Built-in cabinetry along a wall, such as a kitchen or laundry bench with base cupboards, drawers and handles. Plotlay draws it on plans, elevations and in 3D.Also called or searched as: cabinets, cupboards, kitchen run, drawersLessons: Add a bench run of joinery
Layer
A group of things in a project, listed in the Layers tab. A hidden layer is left out of the plan, 3D and documents until you show it again.Also called or searched as: hide, lock, visibilityLessons: Fix common problems, Show the house before and after
Level
A floor of the building, such as ground or upper. Each room, drawing and item sits on one level, and the plan shows one level at a time.Also called or searched as: floor, storey, basement, upper floorLessons: Fix common problems
Library
The shelves of real-sized things you can place: furniture, fit-out, appliances, plants, site items. Drag from the Library tab or search for it.Also called or searched as: furniture, items, objectsLessons: Choose finishes and add fit-out to a room
Overlay
A drawing, plan or picture laid over the map or plan, such as a site plan PDF or a DXF. Pin it to line it up with the aerial.Also called or searched as: drawing, base plan, layer imageLessons: Pin a plan or drawing to the map, Bring files into Plotlay
PASS, WARN, FAIL and UNKNOWN
The results of a check. UNKNOWN is not a pass: Plotlay is missing a measurement or a fact to tell, and the note says which.Also called or searched as: compliance result, check resultLessons: Run a check and read the results, Run the compliance check
Phase (existing, proposed, demolish)
Whether something is there now and stays (existing), is new work (proposed) or is coming out (existing, to be removed). Plans, 3D and documents show Current, Proposed or Both from it.Also called or searched as: current, before and after, statusLessons: Show the house before and after, Show options and the before rooms in a room pack
Pin (control point)
A pair of matching points, one on a drawing and one on the map, that places the drawing. Two pins place it; a third shows how well it fits.Also called or searched as: georeference, control point, match pointsLessons: Pin a plan or drawing to the map
Plotlay Scan
The free iPhone and iPad app that measures rooms with LiDAR or by floor corners and sends them to a Plotlay project at true size.Also called or searched as: lidar, iphone app, room scanLessons: Connect Plotlay Scan to a project, Scan rooms with an iPhone or iPad
Proposal
Changes sent back from a connected copy. The owner sees each change side by side with the project and accepts or rejects it.Also called or searched as: suggested changes, change requestLessons: Review changes sent back to you
Reference only
Checks are simplified from published sources and may be out of date. Verify each rule with the current code and your council or certifier before relying on it; they decide.Also called or searched as: disclaimer, not certificationLessons: Run a check and read the results
Restore point
A saved copy of the whole project on this device, kept after you close Plotlay. Undo covers this session; a restore point covers the days after.Also called or searched as: backup, snapshot, versionLessons: Undo, redo and go back in History
Room pack
A PDF about chosen rooms: each plan at scale, every wall, views inside and the finish and fit-out schedules. Can show before and after side by side.Also called or searched as: room sheets, trade briefLessons: Make a room pack, Show options and the before rooms in a room pack
Rule pack
A group of checks with their limits, sources and versions: a built-in design code, your own template, or one imported from a file. A project keeps the version it was checked against.Also called or searched as: pack, code pack, rules fileLessons: Import a rule pack and review agent rules, Make your own template with tolerances
Saved document (preset)
A document’s settings kept by name in the project, such as a room pack of the wet areas. Make again produces it from the project as it is now.Also called or searched as: preset, your documents, make again, templateLessons: Save document settings and make them again
Schedule
A table drawn from the plan: rooms and finishes, doors, windows, plants or materials. It updates as the plan changes and downloads as CSV.Also called or searched as: door schedule, window schedule, finish scheduleLessons: Read and download the schedules
Starting view
Where a guest or link starts (the whole project, some rooms, the 3D model, an option set or a document), what they can see and change, and a note for them.Also called or searched as: landing, start view, where they startLessons: Set where guests start and what they see, Share a project with a link
Template (your own rules)
A rule pack you make yourself, such as an estate’s design guidelines or a builder’s standards, with your own limits and tolerances. Save it to your library to use again.Also called or searched as: estate guidelines, covenant, builder rules, custom rulesLessons: Make your own template with tolerances
Title block
The box on every sheet with the project, address, client, job number, drawn and checked by, and the revision. Filled in once per project.Also called or searched as: sheet details, revision, job numberLessons: Issue a drawing set
Tolerance
How far a value may miss a rule’s limit and still show WARN rather than FAIL: a 6000 mm setback with a 200 mm tolerance accepts 5800 mm as WARN. A warn band does the reverse for a pass close to the limit.Also called or searched as: warn band, margin, leewayLessons: Make your own template with tolerances
Work list
A run through an asset register on site, nearest first, recording each asset as found, not found or skipped.Also called or searched as: audit run, register walkLessons: Work through an asset register on site
Workspace
Site, Building, Capture or Documents in the top bar. A workspace changes which tools come first; it never hides anything in the project.Also called or searched as: site, building, capture, documentsLessons: Switch workspaces