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Getting Started

WFP getting started guide.

Written by Vladimir

[tl;dr] Sample Project

Although we recommend reading the rest of this guide, you can jump straight to the Sample Projects, download one, and explore it to learn the basics.

Before You Begin

  • Prepare your level drawing(s)

  • Identify calibration points and their real-world dimensions

  • Prepare your destination list, either in a csv file or for manual input

  • Know your sign types

  • Check out the WFP Shortcuts article for viewing and editing model elements.

We recommend starting with Before You Begin and Core Concepts to get familiar with key ideas.

Set Up Your Project

  1. Open the application.

  2. Choose File → New Project.... Review the initial language, measurement, and output conventions, then click Create.

  3. In the New Project Configurator:

    1. Review project properties.

    2. If your project needs Arabic or CJK destination text, set the Font order. You can also customize the preconfigured automatic message order if needed.

    3. Define sign types.

    4. Define levels.

    5. Click Confirm and continue. The dialog closes, and the first level view opens.

  4. Open Project → Destination Dictionary... and create or import the project destinations.

  5. In each level view:

Your project is now ready for wayfinding design.

Initial conventions before creating the project

Choose units and output conventions before clicking Create.

New Project Configurator with project settings and setup tabs

Review the starter content, then Confirm and continue.

Closing the creation dialog or configurator without making changes cancels project creation. If you have changed any options, select Discard to return to the previous project or Welcome screen, or Keep editing to continue. Cancelling does not create a project file.

Before adding destinations, review Project → Project properties... → Default signing distance. Enable on creation applies the chosen limit to new destinations and groups. See signing-distance defaults.

Design the Wayfinding System

Create the Path Network

Add Path Points

  • Hover the pointer over the desired location in the level view.

  • Right-click → Level Context menu → Add Path Point. A supportive path point is created.

  • Repeat as needed.

To delete a path point: right-click it → Delete Path Point.

Tip: You can also add a path point by splitting a segment. Right-click the segment → Split with New Path Point. A path point prototype follows the mouse along the segment. Click to confirm the position, or press Esc to cancel.

Add Path Segments

  • Hover over the path point where you want to start.

  • Right-click → Path Point Context menu → Add Path Segment. A segment prototype follows the mouse pointer.

  • Hover over the end point and left-click to confirm.

  • The next segment prototype appears automatically. Continue clicking path points, or press Esc to stop.

  • Repeat as needed.

To delete a path segment: right-click it → Delete Path Segment.

Bind Destinations to Target Points

You can create target points first and bind destinations later, or drag destinations from the Destination Dictionary into the Level View.

Recommended workflow:

  1. Activate the Destination Dictionary tab in the dock, or open Project → Destination Dictionary....

  2. Create destinations manually or use Import CSV.

  3. Optionally create destination groups for broader messages such as departments, zones, gates, or amenities. You can also create a destination group by selecting objects containing bound target points in the level view and choosing Group Destinations from the context menu.

  4. Drag destinations or destination groups into the Level View.

  5. Drop a destination on an existing target point to bind it, or drop it on empty space to create a new target point and bind it.

Bound target points display their destination label. Unbound target points display an UNBOUND marker.

Create Signs

Mark Decision and Target Points

  • Hover over the path point you want to change.

  • Right-click → Path Point Context menu → Select Decision or Target.

  • For target points: bind a destination from the Destination Dictionary.

Add Identification Signs

  1. Hover over a Target path point.

  2. Right-click → Path Point Context menu → Create New Sign → Select Identification Type → Create.

  3. A sign prototype appears under the pointer.

  4. Position it on the drawing and left-click to confirm.

  5. Move the cursor to adjust rotation, then left-click to confirm.

Notes:

  • A thin line shows the path point that the sign is attached to.

  • To move a sign: drag with the left mouse button.

  • To rotate a sign: hold Shift + drag with the left mouse button.

  • To delete: right-click → Delete Sign.

Add Direction, Navigation, and Fingerpost Signs

  • Similar to adding identification signs, but the path point must be a Decision point.

  • Messages are generated automatically if Main Menu → Messages → Keep updating on the go is ticked.

Refine Your Wayfinding System

  • Add, remove or adjust sign types, including their codes and colours.

  • Add, remove signs or adjust their locations and orientations. Re-enumerate sign IDs to put them in the required order and remove gaps in instance numbering.

  • Review visible and hidden messages on each sign face.

  • Reorder visible messages when needed.

  • Add manual messages as required.

  • Use target and sign inspection overlays in the Level View to review generated messages and routes.

  • Iterate until the system fully meets your design requirements.

See Message Display and Ordering for project-wide display settings, visibility controls, per-face ordering, and reset workflows. After creating the project, reopen these settings at Project → Message display....

Hint: You can use Levels as design “playgrounds”. Copy an existing level to a new one with slightly different elevation and experiment without altering the main scenario.

You can compare options side by side, generate reports separately, and decide which design works best.

Export Project Reports

When satisfied with your design, export project reports.

Batch export produces a .zip archive containing:

The Destination Dictionary can be exported separately from Project → Destination Dictionary... using Export CSV.

To export:

  1. Open File → Export project reports....

  2. For each level, choose whether to include:

    1. Location plan

    2. BoQ

    3. Message schedule

  3. Review the output language and formatting. Any overrides apply only to the current export. Choose Compatible CSV for stable data conventions or Localised report for regional deliverables. PDF/SVG plans use the selected output conventions regardless of the CSV option. See Language, Units and Output

  4. Select the Sign Location Plan format: PDF, SVG, or both.

  5. Choose what to include in exported Sign Location Plans:

    1. Signs

    2. Target points, optionally with labels and sign associations

    3. Decision points, optionally with labels and sign associations

    4. Paths, including supportive points

  6. Click Export report.

  7. In the file dialog, choose the save location and confirm.

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