Copyright: Copyright © 1997 Tailor Made Software, Ltd.


Tailor Made Tools for Vdraft

Tailor Made Tools for Vdraft is a set of utilities that are designed to enhance the usability of SoftSource's Virtual Drafter (Vdraft). This limited version of Tailor Made Tools is included with Vdraft to demonstrate the types of utilities that are included in the Tools and to entice you to buy the full set or commission us to write new tools for your company. OK, we're blatant about it. However, you should find the sample Tools to be useful in it's own right. Please look over the utilities and see what can be useful to you.


New Version

There is probably a new version of Tailor Made Tools available on our web site by the time you read this. You can download the trial Tools at http://www.tailormade.com/tmstools.htm. If you do not have web access then you will need to either 1) upgrade to the full version or 2) find someone who does have web access as we will not provide new versions by any other means. Sorry, but we are unable to provide updates by mail for this Trial Version.


Contest

You can win a full copy of Tailor Made Tools for Vdraft. How? It's quite simple: if you are the first to suggest a new utility to add to Tailor Made Tools and we decide to implement that utility, you will receive a free copy of the full Tools with your utility in it. There is no limit to the number of Toolss that you can win, but the catch is we have to decide the utility is worthwhile enough to implement it. This means that it should be something that is 1) of general use, 2) possible to do in a small utility and 3) not been suggested before. We will include a line in the documentation giving credit to the person that first suggests a utility.

If you suggest several closely related utilities, like the Set Text UpperCase and Set Text LowerCase included with Tailor Made Tools, these will only get you one copy of the Tools. Sorry.


How to Obtain the Full Version

You can upgrade to the commercial version of Tailor Made Tools for Vdraft by calling us at 253-631-1513 or via e-mail at staylor@tailormade.com. Alternately you can send $149 plus $10 for regular shipping or e-mail shipping (total of $159), $25 for overnight mail (total of $174), or $50 for overseas shipments (total of $199) to:

Tailor Made Tools Upgrade
Tailor Made Software, Ltd
28006 122nd Place SE
Kent, WA   98031-8527

Actually, if you call or e-mail us you will just be given instructions on where to send the check, so why not just write and save us both time.

Purchase orders are only accepted from Fortune 500 companies. They can be faxed to 253-639-4022.

Note: If you have trouble using our new area code (253) the old area code (206) will work until approximately 10/27/97.

Foreign Customers

All funds must be in U. S. dollars. Add $10 if the check is drawn on a foreign bank as that is what our bank charges us to cash a foreign check.

Foreign customers can send money via interbank transfer. Please contact us for details. Note: we don't know why, but this can take up to two weeks. There is a $10 fee as that is what our bank charges us.


Shipping Options

E-Mail

Program files are sent via electronic mail. Hard copies are sent via normal mail.

Costs $10

U. S. and Canadian addresses only

Normal Mail

Program files and documentation are sent via normal mail.

Costs $10

U. S. and Canadian addresses only

Overnight

Program files and documentation are sent via FedEx (or equivalent.

Costs $25

U. S. addresses only

Overseas "Expedited Delivery"

Program files and documentation are sent via Express Mail.

Costs $50

Non U. S. addresses only


Differences Between Full and Trial Versions

Aside from the differences listed above under the given utilities the main difference is that the Full Version will always have more utilities available and will be kept more up-to-date. The trial version may not be updated when a new version of the Full Tools is created.

The Trial Version is intended as a sampler to "whet your appetite. The Full Version will provide "more of the same".


Future Plans

We plan on adding more utilities to Tailor Made Tools. The following list details what we plan on adding over the next several months. Some of the utilities will be added to the Trial Version, but most will only be added to the Full Version. This list is not intended to be definitive. Some items listed here may not be added, while others that are not listed here may be added. We welcome feedback about the proposed plans. Also, don't forget you can win a copy of the Full Version through our contest.

Entity Creation

Entity Manipulation

Measurement


Entity Creation

MakePoly
Change lines or arcs to polylines

ExplodePoly
Changes polylines to lines and arcs

Parabola
Create parabolic curves

Hyperbola
Create hyperbolic curves

ConvertTrace
Change traces to polylines

ImportXY
Import 2D points from text file with optional labels

ImportXYZ
Import 3D points from text file

Make3D
Change 2D polylines into 3D polylines

Spring
Create 3D springs

Stairs2D
Create 2D stairs

Stairs3D
Create 3D stairs

ArcText
Create text around an arc

CreateRoom
Creates a rectangle and allows you to drag it into position


Entity Manipulation

Space Dimensions
Space dimensions out vertically

Attribute Copy
Copy attributes as text entities

AutoTrim
Automatic trim entity

EraseLayer
Layer and all entities on it will be erased

JoinArcs
Joins two arcs that touch each other. Creates a circle if appropriate.

BreakCircle
Breaks a circle into two arcs at the specified points

RotateGrid
Sets grid angle to the angle of a selected line

PositionGrid
Sets grid location to endpoint of entity

ZeroGrid
Set grid back to (0,0) and angle 0.


Measurements

FindArea
Finds area inside a closed polyline

ArcLength
Finds the length of an arc or arc segment of a polyline


Other Vdraft-Related Products

Tailor Made Software, Ltd is committed to provided the best in Vdraft-related utilities and translation programs. Here is the current list of products:

LinkTamer for Vdraft
Automagically fixes links (X-refs, fonts files, etc.) in Vdraft files
June 1997

Hp2Design for Vdraft
Imports HPGL and HPGL/2 files
Currently Available

CgmDesign for Vdraft
Imports CGM files
Under Development

IgesDesign for Vdraft
Imports IGES files
Summer 1997


Custom Programming

If there are other utilities that your company needs for Vdraft, or specialized programming for Vdraft of any kind, please contact us for a quote. We can provide fast, efficient service to meet your customization needs.

These tools represent only a small portion of what we can do with/for Vdraft. With over twenty years experience in CAD/CAM, Tailor Made Software can truly provide "Software the Way You Like It".

We also provide programs and expertise to translate between many CAD systems including AutoCAD, CATIA, CADAM, Pro/Engineer, MicroStation, VersaCAD, Hewlett Packard ME-10, Unigraphics II and many others.

Our client list includes most major CAD vendors (Autodesk, Parametric Technologies Corp., SolidWorks, 3D/Eye, Visio, Dassault Systemes, IBM, Intergraph, Bentley Systems) and major corporations including Boeing, United Airlines, Skidmore Owens Merrill, NBBJ, Loral Aerospace, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Navy and many others.

Contact:	Scott Taylor

+1.253.631.1513 (voice)

+1.253.639.4022 (fax)

staylor@tailormade.com

Note: If you have trouble using our new area code (253) the old area code (206) will work until approximately 11/15/97.


Utility Descriptions

Modify Entities

Delete By Type
Property Painter
Align Dimensions
Change Circle Radius
Cycle Horizontal Justification
Cycle Vertical Justification
Set Text UpperCase
Set Text LowerCase

Create Entities

Copy Lines
Concentric Arc/Circle
Create Centerlines
Create Circular Pattern
Draw Rectangle
Draw Ellipse
Draw Ellipse (Center, Major, Minor)
Foreshortened Dimension
Date/Time Stamp

Measurements

Line Angle

Arc Length

Other

Configuration

Setup


Delete By Type

The Delete By Type utility will delete all entities of a given type(s) from the drawing. It will not effect entities in a block. This is a very powerful utility. It will ask for confirmation before starting the process, but once confirmation is given, all entities of the given types will be permanently deleted. Which types are deleted is chosen via the “Configuration|Setup” dialog.

Steps:

Use Configuration|Setup to choose the entity types to be deleted

Choose Delete By Type

Confirm that you want things deleted

All entities of the given type(s) will be deleted

Limitations in Trial Version:

This function is not available in the Trial Version

Extra features in Full Version

This function is only available in the Full Version


Property Painter

The Property Painter will change the linestyle, color and layer of each entity in a group of entities to match those of a selected entity. If both the master entity and the selected are text entities then the text justification is changed.

Steps:

Select the master entity

Select one or more entities to change

Hit right mouse button to terminate selection

The properties of all of the selected entities will change to be the same as the master entity

Limitations in Trial Version:

Only lines can be selected

Linestyle, color and layer always changed

Extra features in Full Version

Any type of element can be selected

User can configure utility to choose which properties are changed (linestyle, color, justification and/or layer)


Align Dimensions

 Align Dimensions will change the selected dimension so that it will line up (align with) another dimension.

Steps:

Select the master dimension

Select the dimension to align

The second dimension will be aligned with the master dimension

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version:

None


Change Circle Radius

The Change Circle Radius utility will change the radius of a given circle.

Steps:

Select the circle to change

Indicate a point on the new circle radius

The radius will change such that the circle will pass through the indicated point

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Cycle Horizontal Justification

The Cycle Horizontal Justification utility changes the text justification for a given text string. It cycles through the three different text justifications (Left, Center, Right). For instance, a left justified string would be changed to center justified.

Steps:

Select the text string to change

The text will be modified

Repeat as needed

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Cycle Vertical Justification

The Cycle Vertical Justification utility changes the text justification for a given text string. It cycles through the four different text justifications (Baseline, Bottom, Middle, Top). For instance, a Bottom justified string would be changed to Middle justified.

Steps:

Select the text string to change

The text will be modified

Repeat as needed

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Set Text UpperCase

The Set Text UpperCase utility will change the selected trext string to all uppercase letters (A, B, C…). Numbers and special characters are not affected.

Steps:

Select the text string to change

The text will be modified

Repeat as needed

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Set Text LowerCase

The Set Text LowerCase utility will change the selected trext string to all lowercase letters (a, b, c…). Numbers and special characters are not affected.

Steps:

Select the text string to change

The text will be modified

Repeat as needed

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Copy Lines

The Copy Lines utility will make copies of a given line at a given distance and direction. All attributes of the original line are recreated.

Steps:

Fill in the dialog box giving the distance between lines and the number of copies to make

Select a line to duplicate

Indicate the direction the duplicates should be

New lines will be created at multiples of the given distance in the direction indicated

Limitations in Trial Version:

Attributes are always inherited from the original line

Linestyle, color and layer always changed

Extra features in Full Version

User can choose to inherit attributes from the original line or to use the current defaults

User can configure utility to choose which properties are changed (linestyle, color and/or layer)


Concentric Arc/Circle
Create Concentric Arcs and Circles

The Create Concentric Arcs and Circles command will create duplicate copies of arcs or circles as a specified distance from the radius. All attributes of the original arc/circle are recreated. In the case of arcs the starting and ending angles of the new arc will be the same as the original arc.

Steps:

Select an arc or circle to duplicate

Indicate a point to lay on the new arc/circle

A new arc or circle will be created sharing the same center point at the distance specified.

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Create Centerlines

The Create Centerlines utility will make centerlines for a given circle.

Steps:

Select a circle

Center lines will be added.

Limitations in Trial Version:

The center lines will always extend outside of the circle a distance equal to 25% of the radius of the circle.

Extra features in Full Version

The amount the lines extend outside of the circle is determined by the Center Lines Setup settings.


Create Circular Pattern

The Create Circular Pattern utility creates a pattern of small circles at a given distance from a given point.

Steps:

Fill in the dialog box listing the distance from the center point to the circle pattern, the radius of the circles in the circle pattern, the number of circles to create in the pattern and an angle from the x-axis to start the pattern.

Indicate a point for the center of the pattern.

A series of circles will be created around the given point of the given size. Also a centerline circle will be created passing through the circle pattern and centerlines will pass radially through each circle.

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Draw Rectangle

The Draw Rectangle utility will create a polyline in the shape of a rectangle centered about a given point.

Steps:

Fill in the dialog giving the width and height of the rectangle and any angle to rotate the rectangle from the x-axis. If the height and width are the same a square will be drawn.

Indicate a point for the center of the rectangle.

A polyline of the given dimensions will be created around the indicated point

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Draw Ellipse

The Draw Ellipse utility will create a polyline in the shape of an ellipse (Virtual Drafter 1.0 does not have a true ellipse entity).

Steps:

Fill in the dialog giving the length of the major and minor axis of the ellipse and any angle to rotate the ellipse from the x-axis. If both the major and minor axis lengths are the same a circular ellipse will be created.

Indicate a point for the center of the ellipse

An ellipse of the given dimensions will be created around the indicated point

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Draw Ellipse (Center, Major, Minor)

The Draw Ellipse utility will create a polyline in the shape of an ellipse (Virtual Drafter 1.0 does not have a true ellipse entity). The user indicates three points to be used to construct the ellipse. The first is the center, the second is the end of the major axis and the third is the distance (as measured from the center of the ellipse) for the minor axis.

Steps:

Indicate a point for the center of the ellipse

Indicate a point for the end of the major axis

Indicate a point for length of the minor axis

An ellipse of the given dimensions will be created around the indicated point

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Foreshortened Dimension

The Foreshortened Dimension utility creates a foreshortened radial dimension. A foreshortened dimension is used to indicate the radius of an arc when the center of the arc is either off the drawing or so far removed from the arc that using a standard radial dimension is impractical.

Steps:

Select the arc to dimension

Indicate a point for the “center” of the dimension

A foreshortened dimension will be created running from the new “center” to the arc.

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Date/Time Stamp

The Date/Time Stamp utility will add the file name and a date and time stamp to the drawing at a given point.

Steps:

Indicate the point at which to place the date/time stamp

A text entity with the word "FILE:" followed by the file name will be created above the point and another text entity with the word "DATE:" followed by the current date and time will be created below the point.

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Measure Line Angle

Measures the angle of a chosen line and the angle between subsequent selected lines.

Steps:

Select a line

The angle of the line will be listed in the Tool Tips box by the cursor (move the mouse if it does not appear).

Select another line

The angle of the new line will be listed along with the angle between this line and the previous line.

Repeat until finished. Click away from the geometry or choose a non-line to end..

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Measure Arc Length

Measures the length of an arc or the circumference of a circle.

Steps:

Select an arc or circle

The length of the arc or circumference of the circle will be listed in the Tool Tips box by the cursor (move the mouse if it does not appear).

Repeat until finished. Click away from the geometry or choose a non-arc/circle to end..

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Configuration

The Configuration utility allows the user to specify which utilities are listed on the Vdraft Extensions menu.

Steps:

Click on the name of a given utility to have the utility listed (and therefore usable) or not. A check mark or "X" (depending on operating system version) indicates the utility is accesable.

The next time that Vdraf t is loaded Tailor Made Tools sub-menu will list only those utilities selected.

Limitations in Trial Version:

None

Extra features in Full Version

None


Setup Create Centerlines
Setup

The Setup Create Centerlines utility will define how the Create Centerlines utility creates the centerline for a given circle. These values will persist until changed, even between sessions.

Steps:

Select whether a set amount or a percentage of the radius is used to determine the over run distance.

Input the percentage or distance as appropriate.

Limitations in Trial Version:

This feature is not available in Trial Version

Extra features in Full Version

This feature is only available in the Full Version