home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- PC-Draft-CAD version 3.07
-
- Full featured Computer Aided Drafting
-
- Copyright 1995
- Natural Software
- 19 South Fifth Street
- St. Charles, IL 60174
- (708) 377-7320
-
- Compuserve ID: 70047,744
-
- PC-Draft-CAD release 3.07 is distributed in a ZIP file with an INSTALL.BAT
- that installs it by running the self-extracting LHARC file PCDCAD.EXE, and
- setting up a START.BAT that runs the proper display driver for your system.
- It also sets up the proper subdirectory structure and places the files.
-
- The list below shows all the file names. If you find missing files please
- contact us at the above address/phone.
-
-
- To install PC-Draft-CAD:
-
- - if you received this shareware version on diskette, there should be
- one large EXE file: PCDCAD.EXE
-
- To install on your hard disk (C:)
-
- 1 - Place this disk in drive A:
- 2 - Enter: [C:] to make it your current drive.
- 3 - Enter: [A:INSTALL <SOURCE LOCATION>].
-
- For example, enter:
-
- A:INSTALL A:
-
- - if you received this from an on-line service or BBS you obviously
- have already extracted the files from the .ZIP file (or you wouldn't
- be reading this!). To select the correct display driver and to set up
- your sub-directories, change to your root directory and run:
-
- INSTALL [sourcedir]
-
- for example, if the files are in C:\TEMP, run:
-
- TEMP\INSTALL C:\TEMP.
-
-
- How to install under Windows:
- -----------------------------
-
- To setup PC-Draft-CAD to run under Windows (after installing in DOS):
-
- In program manager:
-
- 1. Open the group icon where you want to put the PC-Draft-CAD icon.
-
- 2. Click on the File menu and choose New. The "New Program Object"
- dialog box displays.
-
- 3. "Program Item" is already selected, so simply click on the OK button.
-
- 4. The "Program Item Properties" dialog box appears. Enter the following
- data:
-
- Description: PC-Draft
- Command Line: C:\PCDCAD\DRAFT3.PIF
- Working Directory: C:\PCDCAD
- Shortcut Key: None
-
- 5. Click on the Change Icon button. A warning box says: "There are no
- Icons available....". Click the OK button.
-
- 6. In the "Change Icon" dialog box, enter a new File Name:
-
- C:\PCDCAD\DRAFT3.ICO
-
- 7. Click on the OK button. It displays the Draft3 icon. Click on the
- OK button again to exit back to the "Program Item Properties" dialog.
-
- 8. Click on the OK button to exit. The Draft3 Icon should appear among
- the others in your active group.
-
- 9 Double click on the Draft3 icon to start the CAD program.
-
-
- Contents of the self-extracting file:
-
- read.me - you're reading it
- bbsinst.bat - run this if you got this from a BBS
- order.frm - fill this in to register
- products.lst- info on more Natural Software
-
- draft3.exe - the main PC-Draft-CAD program
- draft3.cfg - configuration file
- draft3.hlp - help file
- DRAFT3.PIF - MS Windows Program Information File
- DRAFT3.ICO - Windows icon
-
- cgadrv.com - driver for CGA (delete if not used)
- vgadrv.com - driver for VGA/EGA (del if not used)
- svgadrv.com - driver for Super VGA (del if not used)
- hgcdrv.exe - driver for Hercules (del if not used)
-
- vgastart.bat- starts PC-Draft-CAD on VGA/EGA
- cgastart.bat- starts PC-Draft-CAD on CGA
- hgcstart.bat- starts PC-Draft-CAD on Hercules
- vidtest.com - tests video - used by install.bat
-
- dot--drv.exe- driver for dot-matrix printers
- hpgl-drv.exe- driver for HPGL plotters
- hplj-drv.exe- driver for LaserJet/DeskJet printers
- wpg--drv.exe- "print" drawing in WordPerfect format
-
- epson060.cfg- configuration files for Epson
- epson072.cfg compatible printers: each for a
- epson090.cfg different horiz. resolution.
- epson120.cfg (copy one of these to: PRINTER.CFG)
- epson240.cfg for use by DOT--DRV.EXE
-
- ibmdm060.cfg- configuration files for IBM dot matrix
- ibmdm120.cfg compatible printers.
- ibmdm240.cfg
-
- dot24180.cfg- configuration files 24 pin dot matrix
- dot24240.cfg (Epson LQ-2500 command set)
-
- hpgl-a.cfg - config files for HPGL plotters
- hpgl-b.cfg the letter indicates the paper size
- hpgl-d.cfg
-
- hpsf-a.cfg - same for small format (A & B size)
- hpsf-b.cfg plotters.
-
- draft3.doc - Manual. enter: COPY DRAFT3.DOC PRN
-
- dline.dwg - Sample drawing: Double line command
- fndation.dwg- Sample drawing: Patterns
- house.dwg - Sample drawing: Layers
-
- pattern1.lib- Object Library: Patterns
- archplan.lib- Object Library: Architectural
-
- duplex.fon - Font: double line
- sans.fon - Font: sans serif
- script.fon - Font: fancy script
- simplex.fon - Font: single line
- triplex.fon - Font: triple line
- arcs.mac - Sample macro file
- arctutor.mac- Example of Extended Macro Language
-
- ------- Files not included (for registered users only) -------
-
- EXTRA utilities - not distributed as shareware
-
- DXF2PCD.EXE - Converts Autocad DXF files to Draft3 drawings
- WPGCONV.EXE - Converts WordPerfect Graphic files into Draft3 Drawings
- GEM--DRV.EXE - to dump as GEM Draw file
- PRTDATA.EXE - Prints Drawing database reports on printer.
- OBJCOST.EXE - Report counts objects in the drawing and totals cost data
- WINDOWS.LIB - Library of window elevations
- DOORS.LIB - Library of door elevations
- PATTERNS.DWG - Source for Pattern1.lib for user modification
- TUTOR?.MAC - macros for 7 Lessons in the tutorial manual
-
-
- Known Problems:
-
-
- Expanded Memory Managers:
-
- PC-Draft-CAD's own virtual memory management code automatically uses your
- expanded or extended memory. It may not be compatible with other memory
- management software. For example, Quarterdeck's QEMM. If you have a problem
- running PC-Draft-CAD, try disabling your other memory managers and TSR
- (Terminate Stay Resident) programs. Alternatively you may disable
- PC-Draft-CAD's memory manager by adding the following environment variable
- via DOS's SET command:
-
- SET PCDVM = /NOEMM/NOEXT
-
- PC-Draft-CAD will still be able to create and edit large drawings by paging
- to a hard disk swap file.
-
-
- Zenith EGA display incompatibility:
-
- For PC-Draft-CAD to work properly with the Zenith EGA display adapter
- (model Z-449), dip-switch number five (5) must be set to "OFF". this is
- called "Auto-Emulation Mode" in their manual. If switch 5 is "ON", the display
- drivers (VGADRV.COM and CGADRV.COM) will hang the system when run.
-
- Dip-switch 5 on the Zenity EGA board is the second switch from the top.
- Moving the switch to the left is "OFF".
-
-
-
- Latest Updates:
-
- Set Extents
-
- You can now more easily change the "Drawing Extents". The drawing extents are
- coordinates used by the Zoom All command to set the new viewport -- they are
- normally set to the farthest point you have drawn on the overall drawing area.
-
- Press [Alt+D] to change the extents. You then draw a box to indicate the
- minimum and maximum coordinates.
-
-
- Area Calculation
-
- Press [Alt+X] to turn on area calculation. A blank box appears below the
- control panel. Move the cursor to one corner of the area, press [Enter], move
- to the opposite corner, press [Enter]. The area is shown in the box below
- the control panel. Repeat this process. Each sub-total is added to the total.
- Press [Esc] to end area calculation.
-
-
- Search for Ob[J]ect
-
- This works like the search for element command. When you want to make a new
- object the "current" object, move the cursor near the object you want and
- press [Alt+J]. The object whose origin is closest to the cursor (on the current
- layer) will become the "current" object.
-
-
- Orthographic drawing
-
- When you want to draw lines that are exactly horizontal or exactly vertical
- you can now press the [Shift] key while moving the mouse. When either [Shift]
- key is pressed the mouse cursor snaps back to the closest right angle to the
- starting point. You can also simply use the arrow cursor keys on the keyboard
- to move straight vertically or horizontally.
-
- Note that the [Shift] key should not be pressed when using the arrow keys
- because this cause the keys on the numeric keypad to represent numbers instead
- of cursor movements. Using the [Shift] key for orthographic movement is for
- use with the mouse only.
-
-
- Improved Double line command:
-
- Pg. 31 in the manual talks about using the XLine (double line) command from
- left to right verses right to left. This has been changed to make it easier
- and more intuitive. Now the line ends work the same way regardless of which
- end point is drawn first.
-
-
- US Decimal Units
-
- You new have a choice of decimal FEET or INCHES (on the Options/Units
- menu), the offset indicator on the control panel shows decimal INCHES
- or decimal FEET as per your choice. Decimal inches is easier for electrical
- engineering drawings such as circuit boards that are drawn full size.
-
- The dimensions are now correctly shown according to your selection.
-
-
- Hercules display type:
-
- If you have a Hercules display, the install process will detect it and
- create the proper start.bat file for your use. The Hercules driver is
- different than the other display drivers in that it executes DRAFT3.EXE
- directly and is not a TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) program. So, running:
- HGCDRV directly works just as good as running START.
-
-
- Menu Choices:
-
- If you have a mouse, moving the cursor to the top menu bar changes the mouse
- cursor to a pointing hand for menu selections. If you do not have a mouse,
- the cursor disappears when you move into the menu bar, but you can still make
- menu choices in this way.
-
- However, it does not make sense to choose drawing commands in this manner,
- because the begining cursor position which selects the starting point of
- a drawing element such as a line will be in the wrong place (at the top of
- the screen). For drawing commands use the mouse left button or the F2
- function key instead (after positioning the cursor at the proper starting
- location).
-
-
- New [Q]uick move command:
-
- You can now precisely position the cursor in relationship to your base point
- by using the [Q]uick move command. When you press the [Q] key a dialog window
- opens allowing you to enter the distance in feet and inches for both the Y
- offset and the X offset from your base point. After entering a value, first
- for the X offset, press ESC to continue and enter a value for the Y offset,
- then press ESC to exit the window. At that point (if the new location is
- within the current view) the cursor will be moved to the specified offset.
-
- For example to draw a line that is precisely 10 feet, 6 inches and 3/16 inch
- long:
-
- 1. move the cursor to where you want the line to start.
- 2. press [Alt+B] to set your base point to zero at the current cursor
- location.
- 3. press [L] to start the line command.
- 4. press [Q] to open the [Q]uick move window.
- 5. enter "10" for feet, press [Enter], enter "6" for inches, press
- [Enter], enter "3" for the 16th. field.
- 6. press [ESC] to exit the X offset window. and [ESC] again to exit
- the Y offset window (so the line is horizontal -- Y offset = 0).
- 7. press [Enter] to end the line command.
-
- In the case where the specified end point falls outside the current view,
- the current drawing command will be completed (you dont have to press [Enter]).
-
- This command lets you draw elements with precise endpoints even though
- those points would fall between screen pixels. Otherwise you would have to
- Zoom in closer to position the cursor to the exact dimension.
-
-
- [N]ew Layer/Object
-
- Press [Alt+N] to start a new layer and name the first new object on that layer.
- You used to have to do this by opening the database window.
-
-
- s[E]t Scale
-
- This new option on the Options menu lets you set the drawing scale. You used to
- have to open the databse window to set the drawing scale. And, since the database
- window would not open unless you have at least one element, this was inconvenent.
- Now you can set the scale before drawing anything.
-
-
- New [Z]ip to base command:
-
- This new command moves the cursor to the base position:
-
- [Alt+Z] (for: "[Z]ip to base") moves the cursor to the base position. The
- base position is set by [Alt+B].
-
-
- New Group command:
-
- A new command: [G]roup, has been added to the Objects menu. This new function
- lets you create a new object from existing elements displayed on the screen.
-
- To use the [G]roup command, follow these steps:
-
- 1 - position the cursor to the upper left corner of the area containing
- elements you want to add to the new object.
-
- 2 - press [F3][G] to select the [G]roup command from the objects menu.
-
- 3 - move the cursor to surround the elements with a rubber band box.
-
- 4 - press [Enter] once the box surrounds the elements you want.
-
- 5 - enter the name for the new object in the pop up window.
-
- 6 - the new object will be redrawn in place -- use the Object Move command
- to display it in a new location.
-
- This is very useful when creating new object libraries from existing drawings.
- A hint: make a new layer in the existing drawing and add the new object that
- will go into the new object library on the new layer. Then when you are ready,
- (and have made backup copies of the original and new drawing), delete all the
- other layers, leaving only the new, object library layer. Then save the objects
- to your new object library file with the command: [F4][O][S].
-
-
- New Printer Options:
-
- Set Configuration file:
-
- This lets you specify which printer configuration file to use by the printer
- driver. Only the DOT--DRV.EXE and HPGL-DRV.EXE drivers use configuration files.
- In previous versions, the DOT--DRV.EXE driver looked for the specific filename:
- PRINTER.CFG. Now you can use different configurations (for different resolutions
- or different page sizes) without changing the filename.
-
- The filename dialog box works just like the other filename selection dialogs.
- You can enter a wild card string like: "*.CFG" and press Enter to list all the
- files with the CFG extension.
-
-
- Set Page Size:
-
- This option lets you set the paper size you will be printing on. The paper size
- affects the new Preview command described below.
-
-
- New Preview command:
-
- A new menu choice on the Print Options menu (press [F8], then [O] for Options)
- lets you judge how much of your drawing will be printed at a given scale and
- a given page size.
-
- When you press [P] for Preview, a box will temporarily be drawn on the current
- view to indicate the area of your drawing that will be printed. This area is
- determined by the current drawing scale and current print scale. It is further
- based on an 8 inch by 10 inch paper size. If your current view width or height
- is too small you will not see the extents of the preview box. This indicates that
- you should zoom "out" to a larger view before printing (unless you intend for the
- drawing to be truncated when printed).
-
- Press any key to remove the preview box and return to the print menu.
-
-
- 24 pin dot matrix printers:
-
- The dot matrix printer driver (DOT--DRV.EXE) has been updated. It now supports
- 24 pin modes for most 24 pin printers. To use 24 pin mode you must select one
- the two supplied configuration files: DOT24180.CFG (which uses 180 dots per
- inch resolution) or DOT24240 (240 dots / inch resolution).
-
- Note: you select printer configuration files via the
- Printer/Options/Config file menu.
-
- These files use the Epson LQ-2500 bit image mode selection commands --
- the "Esc * 40 shown in the 140 dpi file below:
-
- ---------------------------------------------------
- 8 - page width -- For 24 pin mode 40: 360 dpi
- 10.5 - page height
- 360 - horiz dots per inch
- 180 - vert dots per inch
- 24 - # of raster passes
- 24 - # of scan lines per printer pass (print head wires)
- 2880 - # of bytes = 0b40 hex; bytes = 11, 64 dec...
- 27 51 24 255 - line feed string (ESC "3" 24) = 24/180 inch
- 13 10 27 42 40 64 11 255 - graphics line setup string (cr lf Esc * 40 64 11)
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- Many other brands of printers use the same command set.
- If your 24 pin printer uses another command set, you may be able to modify the
- .CFG file to work with it.
-
- The parameter in the .CFG file for # of raster passes is no longer used. The
- printer driver calculates this. However the field is left in for backward
- compatibility.
-
-
- HPGL CFG File:
-
- Another major change to the HPGL-DRV.EXE driver: It now uses a configuration
- file. The filename can be set from the printer Options menu, or if it is left
- blank, it will look for the file: HPGL.CFG. This CFG file is an ASCII text file
- with five lines. Each line has a value. The first four values specify the paper
- size in plotter units. For example, the file: HPGL-AD.CFG contains:
-
- -17208 Min. X for Architectural D size paper (24 x 36)
- 17208 Max. X vertical load (Landscape)
- -11592 Min. Y
- 11592 Max. Y
- 0.3 Pen-tip width in millimetres - can range from 0.1 - 5.0mm
-
- This is for Architectural D size paper and has the minimum and maximum X and Y
- values appropriate for a HP DXL plotter. All text to the right of the value is
- optional commentary. Note that these sizes are for "vertically" mounted paper,
- ie: the short side of the paper is inserted into the plotter.
-
- The fifth value sets the pen width.
-
- We have supplied several HPGL CFG files for various paper sizes. The file names
- indicate what paper size they specify. For example:
-
- -- These are for HP DraftPro large format plotters:
-
- HPGL-A.CFG is for A size (8.5 x 11 inch) paper
- HPGL-AB.CFG is for Architectural B size (11 x 17 inch) paper
- HPGL-A1.CFG is for metric A1 size (594 x 841 mm) paper
-
- -- These are for HP small format plotters (such as model 7475A & B):
-
- HPSF-A.CFG is for A size (8.5 x 11 inch) paper
- HPSF-B.CFG is for B size (11 x 17 inch) paper
-
-
- Note that the small format plotters have the origin (0,0 point) in the upper
- left corner of the sheet, while the large format plotters have the origin at
- the center of the paper.
-
- If you use a paper size that doesn't match one of the supplied CFG files, you
- can make chages to the file with any ASCII editor or word processor. You must
- refer to your plotter manual for the correct settings for the paper size.
-
-
- Plotter Line Width
-
- The plotter driver HPGL-DRV.EXE has been changed. Now line widths are plotted
- to the exact width specified by generating multiple passes of the plotter pen.
-
- In previous versions, an element's line width was interpreted as a plotter
- pen selection.
-
- To compose a thick line on the plotter, the pen thickness must be accounted for.
- The pen thickness (tip width) is set by the fifth line in the config file
- (see above). PC-Draft-CAD determines the number of passes to make with the
- plotter pen to create the specified line width.
-
- If your plotter uses a different pen width, you must change this value in the
- CFG file.
-
-
-
- CAVE Drawings
-
- PC-Draft-CAD now supports the exchange of vector based drawings via online
- services such as CompuServe.
-
- CAVE: CAD ASCII Vector Exchange is a file exchange format designed to
- permit exchange of vector based (CAD) drawings via messages posted on
- CompuServe Information Service (CIS), or other bulletin board services.
- CAVE messages contain a compact description of a CAD drawing that you can
- view and modify.
-
- The CAVE drawing format is designed to achieve the following goals:
-
- - maintain the CAD drawing logical structure of layers, objects, and
- elements to facilitate repeated import/export/editing with no loss of
- structure.
-
- - the ASCII format is as compact as possible because of
- constraints of CIS message size.
-
- - by maintaining logical objects, a CAVE message may refer to library
- objects -- objects that do not appear in the CAVE message, thereby
- reducing necessary size of the CAVE message.
-
- Therefore, the CAVE drawing format closely follows the internal structure
- of PC-Draft-CAD drawing files.
-
-
- Using PC-Draft-CAD with CAVE messages
-
- To create a CAVE drawing follow these steps:
-
- 1- Load or create the drawing you wish to convert to CAVE format,
-
- 2- Press [F4] for the file menu,
-
- 3- Select [C]AVE file type,
-
- 4- Select the [S]ave operation,
-
- 5- Enter the filename (with optional drive and path information). PC-
- Draft-CAD uses .CAV as the default CAVE drawing file extension.
-
- 6- Press [Enter] to save the drawing in CAVE format.
-
- If the current drawing is large or complex enough to take more than 30
- lines in the CAVE message, a pop up warning will give you a chance to abort
- the process. Press [Y] to continue if you don't mind creating "continued"
- CAVE messages.
-
-
- To load a CAVE drawing for viewing and/or editing:
-
- 1- If you have an existing drawing loaded, clear it by pressing [F9],
-
- 2- Press [F4] for the file menu,
-
- 3- Select [C]AVE file type,
-
- 4- Select the [L]oad operation,
-
- 5- Enter the filename (with optional drive and path information). PC-
- Draft-CAD uses .CAV as the default CAVE drawing file extension.
-
- 6- Press [Enter] to load the CAVE drawing. You may have to [Z]oom and/or
- [P]an the view window to display the full drawing.
-
-
- Extended Macro Language:
- ------------------------
-
- New macro commands let you make interactive and tutorial macros:
-
- When making a macro you can insert special codes to open pop-up windows
- on the screen, display messages, pause macro execution, suspend macro
- execution (to get user input) and clear pop-up windows.
-
- Since macro files are in ASCII format, you can add these features to the
- macro after it is created, or you can use special commands while making the
- macro.
-
- Pop-up window:
- --------------
-
- 1 - Press [Alt+W] while making a macro to start this command.
- 2 - Then move the cursor to one corner of the rectangular area to define
- the window size.
- 3 - Press [Enter]. (Don't use the mouse buttons.)
- 4 - Then move to the opposite corner and press [Enter], the window will
- appear.
-
- This puts the special code "~B" in the macro file along with numbers that
- indicate the window location and size. It looks like:
-
- ~B x
- y
- cols
- rows
-
- You can have up to 6 pop-up windows at one time. Any more than 6 will simply
- not work.
-
- Use the clear pop-up command to remove pop-up windows from the screen.
-
-
- Clear pop-up:
- -------------
-
- This command erases the last pop-up window. For example, if you use the
- pop-up window command three times to display three windows, this command
- erases them in reverse order: the third window first, followed by the second,
- then the first.
-
- Press [Alt+K] to execute this command while making a macro. It puts the
- special code "~C" in the macro file.
-
- When macros finish running, PCD-CAD clears the internal stack that keeps
- track of them. But it does not clear windows left on the screen.
-
-
- Message text:
- -------------
-
- 1 - Press [Alt+T] while making a macro to start this command.
- 2 - Then move the cursor to the place on the screen where you want the
- text.
- 3 - Press [Enter]. (don't use the Mouse buttons)
- 4 - Then type in the text and press [Enter], the text will appear.
-
- This puts the special code "~M" in the macro file along with numbers that
- indicate the text location. It looks like:
-
- ~M x
- y
- <text>
-
-
- It is up to you to display your text messages within pop-up windows. You have
- complete flexibility to locate the text anywhere. But if it is not in a window
- the text will not get cleared until the drawing is re-drawn (by panning,
- zooming, or redraw).
-
-
- Pause:
- ------
-
- This command simply causes the macro to stop and wait for a keypress.
-
- Press [Alt+V] while making a macro to insert the pause in your macro. It puts
- the special code "~P" in the macro file.
-
-
- User Input:
- -----------
-
- This command lets you suspend your macro to get input from the user. It is
- most useful to get the endpoint locations when drawing elements.
-
- Press [Alt+I] to suspend the macro. This puts the special code: "~S" in the
- macro file.
-
- When the macro reaches this code when it is played back, it will stop and
- accept user input until the user presses [Enter],[Esc] or a mouse button.
-
- New [S]pline command:
- ---------------------
-
- This new command draws a true spline curve connecting up to 64 control points.
- Move the cursor to the first starting point, Press [F2][S] to start (Ctrl-V
- from keyboard) move the cursor to the next control point, [Enter] anchors
- that point, move to the next point, press [Enter], and so on. As you set
- points, the program draws a straight line between them to show your progrss.
- Press [Esc] to end this command. Then PC-Draft-CAD calculates the curve,
- erases the straight lines and draws the curve.
-
- You can move the control points of an existing spline curve to modify the
- shape of the curve. Here's how:
-
- 1 - Make sure the curve element is the "current" element (it should be drawn
- in yellow).
-
- 2 - Select which control point to move by using the "[G]et next element"
- command (press [G] to move forward from point to point, or press [Alt+G] to
- move backward). You will see a small box drawn at the current control point.
-
- Note that when you are on the last point in the curve and
- press [G], it will skip on the the next ELEMENT in the current object. (And
- pressing [Alt+G] when on the first point moves to the previous element.)
-
- 3 - with the m[O]ve end command (press [F7][O] to select it from the Elements menu, or simply press [O] for the keyboard
- shortcut. Then move the point to the new location, and press [Enter].
- PC-Draft-CAD redraws the element.
-
-
- Canges to [M]ulti-line command:
- -------------------------------
-
- The Multi-line command lets you draw a series of connected line segments
- without starting the line command each time. In previous versions, this
- created a series of separate LINE elements in the drawing database. Now it
- creates a SINGLE element with multiple verticies. This saves space in the
- database. You can still move the endpoints the the lines in a multi-line
- element by following the three steps shown above (for the spline curve
- points). Note that you cannot break the multiple line segments apart into
- individual elements.
-
- New Utility: OBJCOST.EXE:
- -------------------------
-
- OBJCOST.EXE is a very simple program. It reads PC-Draft-CAD drawing files
- and prints a listing of objects by name. It also reads a text file with a
- list of object names and costs. It uses this information to list unit costs
- and total costs for each object that is in the list and that is also in the
- drawing. It also prints a subtotal.
-
- You run OBJCOST from the DOS command line with the drawing file name as an
- argument. For example:
-
- OBJCOST objcost.dwg
-
- It reads a text file for the object names and item costs (the cost data
- file). It uses OBJCOST.DAT by default. If you want to use a different
- filename, use the -C command line option. For example:
-
- OBJCOST myplan.dwg -Cmyplan.dat
-
- You can print by redirecting the to the printer:
-
- OBJCOST myplan.dwg > prn
-
- or save the listing in a file:
-
- OBJCOST myplan.dwg > mydata.lst
-
- The sample drawing file (OBJCOST.DWG) and sample cost file: (OBJCOST.DAT)
- give the following listing:
-
-
- Drawing: CostTest
-
- Quan. Item Unit Cost Total
- ----- -------- --------- ---------
- 3 window 1 128.95 386.85
- 5 window 2 89.98 449.90
- 3 3-6 Door 140.00 420.00
- 6 2-6 Door 110.50 663.00
- 6 Vent3x5 49.95 299.70
- 4 Vent 4x8 65.40 261.60
- 3 Skylght1 195.50 586.50
- --------------------------------------
- Grand Total: 3067.55
-
-
- Note that there are additional objects in the drawing. OBJCOST lists only
- the ones that are in the cost data file.
-
- Note that upper/lower case does not matter. You can extract different sets
- of data from the same drawing by using different cost data files.
-
- The format for the cost data file is very simple. Each object name is
- followed on the next line by its item cost. For example OBJCOST.DAT is:
-
-
- skylght1
- 195.50
- vent3x5
- 49.95
- vent 4x8
- 65.4
- window 1
- 128.95
- window 2
- 89.98
- window 3
- 228.95
- window 4
- 347.25
- 3-6 Door
- 140
- 2-6 Door
- 110.50
-
-
- You can use OBJCOST to make the cost data file by using the -O option
- (Objects only). For example, the command:
-
- OBJCOST objcost.dwg -O > myplan.dat
-
- Lists the objects in MYPLAN.DAT like this:
-
- window 1
-
- window 2
-
- 3-6 Door
-
- 2-6 Door
-
- Vent3x5
-
- Vent 4x8
-
- Skylght1
-
-
-
- wall 1
-
-
- You must then edit the mydata.lst file to add the unit costs for each object.
- Also, you must delete extra blank lines that result when there are objects in
- the drawing with no name (such as the one below "Skylght1" in the example).
-
- If you don't want a cost amount to appear for an object you must inter a
- value of 0 -- don't leave the cost line blank.
-
-
- Note:
-
- For this to work properly, you should give a unique name to each object in
- your drawing. Also, use the Object Copy command to make multiple copies of
- objects -- if you select the same object from an object library you will get
- separate objects with the same name and OBJCOST will count them separately
- (but since they have the same name, it uses the unit cost from the FIRST
- object with that name).
-
-
- New Cost Report:
- ----------------
-
- The function of the OBJCOST program is now included inside the main program,
- so you don't have to run a separate program to make cost reports.
-
- The main Print menu has a hew choice: "Cost Report". This prints the cost
- report on your printer or to a file. The "Print Options Destination" menu
- choice determines whether it is printed on your printer (it's set to LPT1),
- or it is stored in a file (it's set to a DOS file name).
-
- The cost report function still uses a cost file with a list of object
- names and their prices.
-
- The Print Options menu has a new choice: "Cost File". This lets you specify
- which file to use to get the prices for each object you want to list in the
- Cost Report. You can use the OBJCOST.EXE program to create the list of
- objects from the drawing and then edit the file to add prices.
-
- This makes it easy to set up several different cost files with different sets
- of prices for your objects and change from one to the other.
-
- There is context sensitive help for each of these new menu choices. Press the
- [F1] key.
-
- Also note that the cost report now does not include deleted objects.
-
- We've kept the OBJCOST.EXE stand-alone program so you can still create the
- cost data file as described above for previous versions.
-
-
- New File Menu Commands:
- -----------------------
-
- Save Layer command:
-
- This saves only the current layer to a new drawing file. Use this
- when you want to save parts of your drawing to use in another
- drawing.
-
- Use the Combine command to load the new drawing into the other.
-
- This does not save Fill objects.
-
-
- Combine command:
-
- Use this command to load another drawing into your current drawing.
- It combines the two drawings into one.
-
-
-