DirectRoute contains a set of drawing tools that enables you to draw your boundaries directly on the map. You can also draw borders around a group of stops or routes or add text boxes or labels to shapes or areas on the map. Drawings and boundaries can define routes or territories, assign vehicles and/or drivers, or view statistical analysis for records within or outside the boundary. The map with drawings can be saved, printed, reused, and edited. Drawings can be edited at any time on a new or saved drawing file.

Drawing tools can be enabled in DirectRoute without any files open, or directly within a Stop or Truck File, or a Route File. If you will be working with a previously saved Drawing File, open it before attempting to activate the toolbar.

The Drawing Tools toolbar contains several line tools, shape tools, shading tools, and color options for each. These tools can be used for various effects on the map and within any Route File, which are detailed further in this section.

To activate the toolbar, click Map > Tools > Draw, or select the Drawing Tools icon from the toolbar. Drawing Tools can be toggled on and off by clicking this icon. While the toolbar is activated, items from the DirectRoute menu may not be available.

The gold padlock icon on the screen enables locking Territories on the map, preventing them from moving during the planning phase, but still enabling them to be edited. When the mouse hovers over the gold padlock, an info box will open and advise whether the current item(s) have been stocked.

While the toolbar is activated, items from the DirectRoute menu may not be available.