This document provides a tutorial designed to introduce you to DenebaCAD's PTF format.
The PTF tutorial is a brief exercise that shows you how to make a staircase in a DenebaCAD document using PTF information in a Microsoft Excel 5.0 file. It also demonstrates how you can use PTF format to modify architectural elements without having to draw in a DenebaCAD document.
To complete the steps in this tutorial, you need to have Microsoft Excel 5.0 and DenebaCAD installed on your computer. The files used in the tutorial are a Microsoft 5.0 Excel file named "3D_Staircase.excel" and a DenebaCAD file named "3D_Staircase.DCAD." These files are in the Parametric Text Format folder.
To learn more about PTF format, refer to Appendix A in the DenebaCAD User's and Reference Guide.
To create a staircase using PTF
1. Double-click the "3D_Staircase.DCAD" file to launch DenebaCAD and open the document.
When you open the document, the text in the window's title bar is "3D_Staircase.DCAD-Draft-Front." This tells you that the window is in Draft mode, Front view.
2. Double-click the "3D_Staircase.excel" file to launch Microsoft Excel 5.0 and open the file.
3. In the Parametric Stairs menu, choose Input Data. The Data Input dialog box appears. This dialog box is an Excel macro. It contains six parameters for creation of a staircase:
• Number of Steps: sets the number of steps in each segment of the staircase.
• Riser Height: sets the height of each step.
• Elements Thickness: sets the thickness of elements such as the handrails and posts.
• Handrail Height: sets the height of the handrails.
• Stair Width: sets the width of each step.
• Clearance: sets the space between each segment of the staircase.
For now, don't change the values in the Data Input dialog box. Instead, click Cancel.
4. To view the PTF file in spreadsheet form, click the "Parametric_Staircase" tab at the lower-left of the document window. Scroll through the file to see the contents of the PTF file, but do not change any values.
5. Click the "Staircase" tab at the lower-left of the document window to return to the previous screen.
6. Choose Publish This File in the Parametric Staircase menu (or press Command+P) to publish the Excel file. In the dialog box that appears, click OK. A directory dialog box appears. Click Publish.
It's best to use the default file name "DenebaCAD Edition," and save the edition in the Parametric Text Format folder. After you do this, keep Excel running and keep the "3D_Staircase.excel" file open.
7. Switch to DenebaCAD, with the file "3D_Staircase.DCAD." Choose Subscribe To in the Publishing submenu in the Edit menu. In the dialog box that appears, choose "PTF" in the Preferred Format pop-up menu, and then select the "DenebaCAD Edition" file that you created in Excel.
8. Click Subscribe. DenebaCAD subscribes to the edition, and constructs a 2D outline of a staircase using the PTF information in the Excel spreadsheet.
9. Choose Sculpt in the Mode pop-up menu at the lower-left corner of the window. DenebaCAD displays the staircase in Sculpt mode, Front view.
10. Choose Render in the Mode pop-up menu. DenebaCAD creates a Wireframe rendering of the staircase. To create a Hidden Line rendering of the staircase, choose Hidden Line in the Rendering menu (or press Command+Shift+N).
To change the number of steps in the staircase
1. Choose Sculpt in the Mode pop-up menu to change the DenebaCAD window to Sculpt mode (if necessary). Press Command+A to select all objects, and then press Delete to delete the objects.
2. Switch to Excel (keep the DenebaCAD file "3D_Staircase.DCAD" open).
3. Choose Input Data in the Parametric Stairs menu. The Data Input dialog box appears.
4. In the dialog box, type 10 in the "Number of Steps" text box.
5. Click OK to update the DenebaCAD edition with the new data.
In Draft mode, DenebaCAD constructs a new 2D outline of a 10-step staircase using the parameter that you changed in the PTF file in Excel. In Sculpt mode, DenebaCAD extrudes the staircase.
6. Switch to DenebaCAD. DenebaCAD displays the 10-step staircase in Sculpt mode.
7. Choose Draft from the Mode pop-up menu. DenebaCAD displays the 2D outline of the 10-step staircase.
8. Choose Render from the Mode pop-up menu. DenebaCAD displays a Wireframe rendering of the 10-step staircase. To create a Hidden Line rendering, choose Hidden Line in the Rendering menu (or press Command+Shift+N).
You've now completed a basic exercise using PTF to modify a DenebaCAD document. You can continue to experiment with the PTF information in the Excel file to create your own modifications to the staircase.
