2.0 Create or Re-open a Draft Cadastral Unit (DCU) or Capture Once File (COF)

When entering the the letter county code (e.g. REN, MOR, BER) when creating a DCU, COF, AN or other file type, the county code must be entered in block capitals.

Creating a DCU or COF

a. To create a Draft Cadastral Unit (DCU) file,

select DCU in the Plan type drop-down menu
type the application number into the Plan ID box. The application number should be entered in the standard application number format yyCTYnnnnn, for example, 21ABN01234.
Click Continue.
You will then be taken to the Location search window

b. To create a Capture Once File (COF)

COF files are created by the Reports Team to capture mapped information the first time it is seen by the Keeper; if the application that is later received for registration is based on exactly the same deed or plan, then the COF file can be used to generate a title via the Plan Approver without the need for the title information to be re-mapped.
select COF in the Plan type drop-down menu
type the COF number into the Plan ID box. The COF number comprises the 7 digit report number followed by the county, for example, 1234567ABN.
Click Continue.
You will then be taken to the Location search window

2.1 Location search

You now need to manually identify the subjects by searching for them. Enter any details you have into the Enter search term box. This could be a postcode, a street name, the town, an existing title number, etc. Click Search.
Select the appropriate address from the drop down list
Click Create Plan.
Your DCU or COF will now have been created, and a marker (a seed point) will have been placed on the map. The address of the property that you have selected will be shown near the top of the left hand panel under Seed point.

2.2 Search by map

You can also search for your subjects by zooming into the map manually. This is particularly useful if the subjects don’t have a full postal address.

Using your mouse or swipe-pad, you can click and drag the map of Scotland around, and you can use the roller button of the mouse or the + and - buttons on the right hand side of the screen to zoom in or out.
Once you have located your subjects, use the Add seed point button (see section 4.12 for more details) to click within your subjects.
Your DCU or COF will now have been created, and seed point will have been placed on the map. As no address was linked to when the subjects were identified, the OS co-ordinates of the seed point will be shown near the top of the left hand panel under Seed point.
If, once you have started working within a title that has a seed point associated with the OS co-ordinates, you wish to return to that point, click on the co-ordinates in the left hand panel and the map canvas will re-centre on that point.

2.3 Re-opening a DCU

To re-open an existing Draft Cadastral Unit (DCU) file that has not been approved,

select DCU in the Plan type drop-down menu
type the application number into the Plan ID box. The application number should be entered in the standard application number format yyCTYnnnnn, for example, 21ABN01234.
Click Continue.
The DCU will then open for editing in the main Plan Creator window and will include any mapped references that were created in this DCU previously.

Please note, if the DCU has previously been approved, this method will not work until the DCU has been unapproved in the Plan Viewer. See the guidance on page Title Plan Already Exists for details on how to unapprove the existing DCU.