How to Create AV Floor Plans Without D-Tools

Designing accurate AV floor plans is a critical step in every AV project. From conference rooms and classrooms to auditoriums and commercial installations, clear floor plans ensure that displays, speakers, microphones, and cabling are installed in the right locations. Traditionally, many AV professionals have used D-Tools in combination with Visio or AutoCAD to create floor plans. But that process can be time-consuming, costly, and heavily dependent on third-party software. If you’re ready to work smarter, not harder, it’s time to explore how to create AV floor plans without D-Tools.

The best place to start is with XTEN-AV, a modern cloud-based platform designed to simplify AV system design and floor planning. Whether you’re a solo AV consultant or part of a large integration team, XTEN-AV offers everything you need to create detailed, accurate AV floor plans—no Visio or D-Tools required.

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XTEN-AV: Your All-in-One Floor Plan Solution

XTEN-AV leads the next generation of AV design tools with a powerful suite of cloud-based features that make creating floor plans faster, easier, and more accurate. At the heart of its capabilities is X-DRAW, an intelligent drag-and-drop design tool built specifically for AV professionals.

Key features of XTEN-AV for floor plan creation:

Drag-and-drop design interface with hundreds of AV symbols
Integrated manufacturer libraries with accurate product dimensions
Auto-alignment and snap-to-grid for perfect device placement
Layer-based drawing tools to show cabling, speakers, displays, and zones
Real-time BOM generation based on floor plan layout
Cloud collaboration for multi-user design and client review

XTEN-AV is one of the top D-Tools alternatives for AV integrators because it eliminates the need for multiple software platforms and allows you to work entirely from your browser.

Why AV Pros Are Moving Away from D-Tools for Floor Plans

While D-Tools has long been a powerful tool in the AV industry, it still relies heavily on Microsoft Visio or AutoCAD for floor plan design. That approach has several drawbacks:

Steep learning curve: Learning to use Visio or AutoCAD can take weeks.
High software costs: Licenses for Visio and AutoCAD add significant expense.
Manual updates: Floor plans, BOMs, and schematics often require separate edits.
Lack of real-time collaboration: Team members must pass files back and forth.

In contrast, XTEN-AV simplifies everything into one seamless cloud platform—saving time, money, and effort.

Step-by-Step: Creating an AV Floor Plan with XTEN-AV

Let’s walk through how easy it is to build a complete AV floor plan in XTEN-AV.

Step 1: Start a New Project

Log into your XTEN-AV account and create a new project. You can enter client information, select a vertical (such as corporate, education, or hospitality), and define the project scope.

Step 2: Upload a Floor Plan or Create One

You can either upload a building layout as a background (PDF or image format) or create a basic floor outline using the drawing tools provided in X-DRAW.

Tip: Use the snap-to-grid feature to keep layouts clean and aligned.

Step 3: Add AV Devices Using the Manufacturer Library

XTEN-AV provides access to an extensive product library with real-time data from manufacturers. Simply search for the device you want—like displays, speakers, microphones, or wall plates—and drag it onto the floor plan.

Devices come with preloaded dimensions and connector types
You can rotate, scale, and duplicate items with ease

Step 4: Define Zones and Signal Paths

Use the zoning tool to outline areas such as front of house, audience zones, or breakout rooms. Then, draw signal paths and cable runs between devices to illustrate system flow.

Color-code your zones for easy reference
Cable paths auto-update your BOM and connection reports

Step 5: Review and Collaborate

Because XTEN-AV is cloud-based, your team can review the floor plan in real time. Project managers, sales engineers, and clients can all view the layout, make comments, and approve the design—all from a web browser.

Share a link to the project instead of emailing files
Add annotations directly on the floor plan

Step 6: Generate Documentation

Once your floor plan is complete, you can instantly generate a full set of project documents:

Floor plan drawings in PDF format
Bill of materials (BOM)
Cable schedules
Scope of work
Installation guide

All of these documents are automatically synced with your design. If you change the layout, everything updates—no double data entry required.

Benefits of Using XTEN-AV for Floor Plans

AV professionals who switch from D-Tools to XTEN-AV report significant time and cost savings. Here are just a few of the benefits:

Reduce design time by up to 50 percent
Eliminate the need for Visio or AutoCAD
Collaborate with remote teams in real time
Deliver more professional and accurate documentation
Scale your AV business without increasing design overhead

For AV firms that want to stay competitive, speed up project delivery, and improve team efficiency, XTEN-AV is the most advanced and flexible tool on the market.

Other D-Tools Alternatives for AV Integrators

While XTEN-AV stands out for its floor plan and documentation capabilities, there are other tools that some AV teams may consider depending on their specific needs:

System Surveyor

Best for early-stage planning and client walkthroughs
Lacks detailed technical documentation
Limited in cable or signal flow planning

Jetbuilt

Strong in quoting and sales proposals
Does not include schematic or floor plan tools
Better for sales teams than technical designers

AutoCAD LT

Great for technical drawing precision
Not AV-specific, requires extensive training
High cost and steep learning curve

Each of these tools serves a purpose, but none offer the complete, AV-focused, cloud-based experience that XTEN-AV does.

Conclusion

Creating AV floor plans no longer needs to be tied to complex desktop software and outdated workflows. With cloud-native tools like XTEN-AV, AV professionals can quickly build, manage, and deliver floor plans from anywhere—with speed, accuracy, and collaboration at the core.

As one of the top D-Tools alternatives for AV integrators, XTEN-AV provides everything you need to design smarter and faster without sacrificing quality or flexibility.

If you’re ready to streamline your floor plan process and modernize your AV design workflow, it is time to make the switch. Experience the future of AV floor planning with XTEN-AV today.

Top Bizlists

How to Create AV Floor Plans Without D-Tools

XTEN-AV: Your All-in-One Floor Plan Solution

Why AV Pros Are Moving Away from D-Tools for Floor Plans