Copyright: Copyright 1995 TommySoftware®


TommySoftware® CAD/DRAW 4

Important Information

TommySoftware® CAD/DRAW 4 lets you quickly and easily create technical illustrations and drawings that require a high degree of accuracy.

To ensure this accuracy, TommySoftware® CAD/DRAW 4 has a different approach to creating and modifying objects than artistically oriented graphic applications. Most manipulations are based on exact numerical parameters. However, the command Modify Objects in the Shape menu offers a direct method to modify objects using the mouse. In cooperation with the Property Window, this command also allows the direct editing of object properties like color and line type.

Another difference involves the way you select objects. When you use an artistically oriented graphic application to illustrate something that does not require precision, you usually first select the objects, choose the command, and then execute the command to modify the objects. With TommySoftware® CAD/DRAW 4, however, you select the command first and then the objects to be modified before the command is executed.

This different approach to creating and modifying objects has several advantages. One is that you can use a single command selection to manipulate several objects after another without having to repeat the command selection sequence. For example, by selecting Move Objects you could move several objects or object groups without having to select another command, such as Select Objects, or the same command repeatedly until you have moved all objects. This can save time when you are making several changes.

Another advantage is that selecting the objects after the command makes it possible for the application to know at any time what command to apply to the selected objects. It can therefore inform you immediately when you cannot perform that command on the object.

If you have ever worked with computer-aided design (CAD) software, you will be familiar with this approach and you will be able to start work immediately. If you have never used a CAD application, this approach will be unfamiliar, but as long as you remember to select the command first and then the objects to be modified, you will soon see how easy it is to work quickly and still produce precise technical illustrations and graphics.

To select an object, click on it with the mouse. You can select multiple objects by keeping the CTRL key pressed while clicking on several objects, or you can select whole object areas by keeping the SHIFT key pressed and entering the corner points of the area. After once selecting a group of objects, you can select the objects again to further modify them by pressing the F11 key.

For further information on selecting objects, see the description of any command that requires an object selection. At any time, you can display the currently active command's description by pressing the F1 key. More information about basic methods of TommySoftware® CAD/DRAW 4 can be found in the electronic tutorial that is part of each full version of TommySoftware® CAD/DRAW 4.

Upgrade from CAD/DRAW 2

If you have upgraded from CAD/DRAW 2, you will not be able to directly read the drawing files (MPG) and library files (TVL). In order to use those files, you will have to convert them using several file conversion programs. For drawing files (MPG), the sequence is MPG -> T2L, T2L -> T3L, T3L -> T4L. For library files (TVL), the sequence is TVL -> T2L, T2L -> T3L, T3L -> T4L.

If you have a large number of files to convert, copy the into a single directory and use the "Convert Directory" command in the conversion programs. The intermediate files (T2* and T3*) can be deleted after the conversion was been finished successfully.

Upgrade from Tek Illustrator

If you have upgraded from Tek Illustrator, you will not be able to directly read the drawing files (T3G) and library files (T3L). In order to use those files, you will have to convert them using a file conversion programs. For drawing files (MPG), this is T3L -> T4L. For library files (T3L), this is T3L -> T4L.

The TommySoftware®-Team.

North America, Inc.	Germany

130 Barrow Street	Selchower Straße 32

New York, NY 10014	D-12049 Berlin

U. S. A.	Germany

Phone (212) 807 9720	Phone +49 30 621 5931

Fax (212) 807 8149	Fax +49 30 621 4064

CompuServe 100020,3647	CompuServe 100142,3665

Internet "tommy@tommysoftware.com"

TommySoftware® CAD/DRAW 4 - Edition 4.00e - Copyright 1995 TommySoftware®