Spacewalker F97

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Spacewalker F97 / Spacewalker F97.iso / RECYCLED / DD13.1 / READ.ME < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1996-06-25 | 16.0 KB | 419 lines

******************** T U R B O D L D(r) ********************** ********************** VERSION 2.2 ************************* Copyright (c) 1990-96 Spacetec IMC Corp. - All Rights Reserved This is the READ.ME file for TurboDLD v2.2. It contains information that has changed or is different from the Installation Guide, as well as some other useful tips. I. TIPS/ERRATA/FEATURES/REVISIONS ============================================================ Information for Windows Users ----------------------------- This version of TurboDLD is designed to specifically support DOS versions of AutoCAD 10/386, 11/386, 12, and 13, as well as DOS only versions of 3D Studio. TurboDLD does not currently support Windows versions of these products. Visit Spacetec IMC Corporation's web site for information on 3D-I ALWAYS(TM) 3D Display & Motion Control Add-On Software for AutoCAD for Windows 95 and Windows NT, and Spaceware(r) Animotion(TM) for 3D Studio Max. AutoCAD Release 10/386 & Release 11 Limitations ----------------------------------------------- TurboDLD has the following limitations when installed for use with AutoCAD Release 10/386 & Release 11: 1. Cannot use the "Text Window on Single" Pop-up Text Window. 2. Due to the manner in which AutoCAD Release 10/386 works, the TurboDLD function DLDBPMODE, as well as the MACH-12 compatible ZI, ZO commands are not currently supported in this TurboDLD release when using AutoCAD Release 10/386. Font Selection --------------- TurboDLD includes an array of fonts for AutoCAD menus and dialogs. In addition to the supplied fonts, TurboDLD also supports .BDF fonts. Primarily for foreign AutoCAD support. .BDF fonts are usually public domain and are easily available through Shareware. AutoCAD Release 12/13 includes various .BDF fonts Please note that .BDF fonts are not supported for XGA and 8514/A graphics boards. Only Panacea supplied fonts are available those boards. Enabling .BDF Fonts ------------------- In order to enable .BDF font support in TurboDLD, you must either start AutoCAD from your main AutoCAD sub-directory, or set the DLDFONT environment variable prior to starting AutoCAD. Syntax of DLDFONT is: SET DLDFONT = {FONTDIR} where {FONTDIR} is the full path name to the sub-directory which contains the .BDF fonts. If DLDFONT is not set, TurboDLD will look for a \DRV directory off of the default AutoCAD directory. If no .BDF fonts are found in the DRV directory, then only Panacea supplied font options will be available. Choosing .BDF Fonts ------------------- To use a .BDF font in TurboDLD, choose the Basic Configuration menu "Select Font From List" option to display a list of available fonts. The list will contain available fonts, limited by the settings of the DLDFONT environment variable and the font filter chosen in the Basic Configuration menu Select Font Filter option. Limiting Font Selections ------------------------ If you have many .BDF fonts on your system and you wish to select only a certain style of font, TurboDLD offers a filtering mechanism to allow you to select only a certain types of fonts based on their internal CHARSET_REGISTRY name or Code Page definition. To select a specific .BDF font type, from the Basic Configuration menu, use the Select Font Filer option and then select an available .BDF font type. If you wish to see all installed fonts, choosse All Fonts. Your font filter will be in effect when you select the Select Font Filter menu option. Font Size and AutoCAD --------------------- When using a font size in which the height is more than twice the width (i.e., 7x15) you may experience text and other display problems within some dialogs. This is due to the way AutoCAD calculates display positions using font character values. Graphics Mode Text Window -------------------------- Please note that the Text window on graphics screen works with AutoCAD Release 12/13 only. Text Window Caveats ------------------- RCONFIG ------- If TurboDLD is configured for "Text Window on Single" and RCONFIG is used to configure AVE Render, you may have problems selecting menu items. If this happens, type CTRL-C to exit RCONFIG and return to the AutoCAD drawing editor. Then reconfigure TurboDLD for "Single" screen operation and then run RCONFIG again. in R13, use of the "Text Window on Single" and doing an RCONFIG may blank the selections in the side menus. They will reappear after configuration is complete and you have hit the F1 key. Random Characters in Menu Areas -------------------------------- On some graphics boards, when TurboDLD is configured for "Text Window on Single" random characters characters may appear in the AutoCAD menu areas. If this occurs, configure TurboDLD for "Single" screen mode. Do not continue to use the text window, unpredictable results may occur. Networked AutoCAD Installations ------------------------------- On a networked AutoCAD Release 12/13 system, if the maximum number of users is reached, an alert dialog box is displayed. When using TurboDLD in the "Single" screen mode an abnormal AutoCAD termination may occur instead of the alert dialog box. If you think this may be a problem, configure TurboDLD for the "Text Window on Single" option. WCEdit ------ Elsa's WCEdit utility may appear to hang when TurboDLD is configured for the "Text Window on Single" mode. In fact, WCEdit has not hung - instead it is waiting for user input. When the TurboDLD text window is enabled, WCEdit still thinks TurboDLD is in a text-mode screen and tries to write directly to it. This will not work. Press Ctrl-X to return to AutoCAD from WCEdit. If you wish to use WCEdit with TurboDLD, configure for "Single" screen mode. AutoCAD Command Line Cursor --------------------------- A "-" cursor has been added to the AutoCAD Command line to identify the current AutoCAD cursor location. New TurboDLD Command -------------------- In some instances, lines may overwrite AutoCAD menu areas. To restore the menu areas, you may either do a flip-screen to the text screen or issue the new TurboDLD command DLDRESTORE. Graphics Platform Specific Problems ----------------------------------- ATI VGA Wonder -------------- When using some ATI VGA Wonder boards in a dual screen system configured for single screen use, make sure that you start AutoCAD from the VGA screen. Otherwise, flip screens will result in a weird combination of monochrome and VGA screens. Monochrome Dual Screen Configurations ------------------------------------- When using a monochrome display in a dual screen configuration it may be necessary to start AutoCAD from the monochrome screen instead of the graphics screen. This is especially true in cases where the graphics display board also has a VGA chip on-board. To switch to the monochrome screen type: MODE MONO at the DOS prompt. To switch back to the graphics screen, type: MODE CO80 You may also add these commands to your AutoCAD start-up file for automatic execution. 3D Studio --------- In 3D Studio, selection of a display font larger than 8x14 at 640x480 resolution will cause 3D Studio to display a blank screen which you cannot recover from. This is a limitation of 3D Studio. If a blank screen occurs, delete 3DADI.CFG and then reconfigure TurboDLD for an 8x14 or smaller font. The PANA3DS.BAT file copied to your TurboDLD sub-directory during installation is used for 3D Studio configuration. This file should be run prior to starting 3D Studio. For all versions of 3D Studio, rendering at color depths higher than 256 colors is not supported. See the section on "Rendering with TurboDLD" in the user's guide for more information. DLDCFG and AutoCAD Release 12/13 -------------------------------- The DLDCFG environment variable is used by TurboDLD to locate its configuration files. DLDCFG must be set for AutoCAD Release 10/386, Release 11 and 3D Studio. When using Release 12/13, however, DLDCFG is not required. TurboDLD will look for its configuration files in the same directory as the RCTURBOD.EXP file. However, if DLDCFG is set, TurboDLD will use DLDCFG to locate its configuration files. This could be useful in a networked environment to allow individual users of a network-based version of TurboDLD to maintain their own local TurboDLD configuration. Upgrading from DLD386 or MACH-12 -------------------------------- If you are using Release 12/13, you do not need to run DLD386's FASTACAD.BAT first. FASTACAD.BAT sets four environment variables including DLDCFG, DSPADI, RDPADI, and RCPADI. None of these environment variables are needed with Release 12/13 and TurboDLD. If you set these variables in your AUTOEXEC.BAT or a batch file used to start Release 12/13, we strongly recommend that you remove them. General Information ------------------- If you have low amounts of CPU RAM and less than 20mb of available hard disk space you should use the -SWAPCHK ON switch to configure AutoCAD. This switch will give you the option of saving your drawing when AutoCAD runs out of swap space. The way you configure this is to change into your AutoCAD program sub-directory and at the prompt type: CFIG386 ACAD -SWAPCHK ON AutoCAD Revisions ----------------- Please be aware that there is a C4 revision to AutoCAD Release 13. This version of TurboDLD does support this release. Rendering Resolution Options ---------------------------- The Rendering screen configuration menu will be available only when configuring the Rendering screens of AVE Render, AutoShade 2 with RenderMan or 3D Studio. Also note that TurboDLD is a combined Display/Rendering driver therefore, you should select that option from AVE Render's configuration menu. Rendering Caveats ----------------- When rendering to a viewport, unpredictible behavior may result if your rendering resolution/color depth is set differently than your display resolution/color depth. This could include incorrect colors in the rendered image, corrupted displays, or unpredictible system behavior. We recommend setting your rendering resolution and color depth to the same as your display resolution and color depth. Graphics Board Selection ------------------------ If your graphics board is not listed in the Graphics Board Selection menu and you know which chip or platform your board is based on, you may choose the Generic selection for that chip type. If you are not sure which platform your graphics board is based on, please refer to your user's manual or contact the board manufacturer for more information. Dialog Commands --------------- If the AutoCAD Release 12/13 file and command dialog box usage is disabled (i.e. setting CMDIA = 0 and FILEDIA = 0 ) and a drawing with an unresolved XREF is opened from the text screen, an error or system hang will occur. This is a bug with AutoCAD and ADI drivers. To avoid this, use the Text Window on Single configuration option. Color Considerations -------------------- In DLDCOLOR Object mode, when changing the background color, the new background color is swapped with the old in order to eliminate the possibility of having a Drawing color the same as the background color, causing a blank screen. You may change the highlight color selection for the side bar menus using DLDCOLOR in Object mode. Documentation Changes --------------------- In "Chapter 4 - Changing Colors", p.4-2, the second paragraph should read: "...change by moving the highlight box around with the arrow cursor control keys and pressing ENTER..." You may use the up and down arrows as well as the left and right. II. What if I Have Problems? ============================ The answers to the most often asked technical support questions can be found in the Tips, Tricks & Troubleshooting chapter of your "TurboDLD Installation Guide". Please check there first. If you are having a problem which you cannot resolve, and you need to contact Technical Support, please try to duplicate, and document the steps required to reproduce the problem. As you document the problem, list your current system configuration, including video board, resolution, number of colors configured, etc. Also, if possible, try to duplicate the problem with an AutoCAD sample file so that it can be easily re-created by a technician, if necessary. To contact Technical Support, refer to Appendix A in your "TurboDLD Installation Guide". Please note that Technical Support for Spacetec IMC's OEM software products (defined as: Software bundled as a component part of a hardware product) is the responsibility of the hardware manufacturer, not Spacetec IMC. If you encounter a problem with TurboDLD, and cannot find a satisfactory answer from the reference manual or from the hardware manufacturer, Spacetec IMC will offer technical support ONLY via the following (voice phone support is specifically excluded): FAX: 508-970-0199 Attn: Technical Support Spacetec IMC reserves the right to change its OEM software product support policies at any time, including charging for support and/or limiting support. III. Other Panacea Products =========================== DLD Classic & Deluxe ==================== Our DLD Classic line of AutoCAD display list drivers were the industry standard for AutoCAD Release 10 (real mode). DLD real mode ADI 4.0 drivers are available for EGA, VGA, 8514/A, S3, TIGA, and XGA graphics platforms, and support AutoCAD Release 10, Release 11/286, AutoShade 1.x, and AutoSketch for DOS. panaStation =========== Protected-mode display driver for MicroStation v4.x and 5.x. Offers increased performance and support for virtually all graphics platforms. Panacea products can be ordered through your local dealer. For more information on these products and the name of a dealer near you, call Spacetec IMC's Sales department at (508) 970-0330, or send internet e-mail to "panacea_sales@spacetec.com". IV. Spacetec IMC Corp. ====================== For information on Spacetec IMC Corporation's Spaceball(r) advanced 3D interactive (Advanced 3D-I[TM]) hardware input controllers and related SpaceWare(r) Advanced 3D-I[TM] interfacing and application software, visit our web site at http://www.spacetec.com/ Comments, etc., can be addressed to: Spacetec IMC Corp. The Boott Mill 100 Foot of John Street Lowell, Massachussetts 01852 USA U.S.A. Voice: (508) 970-0330 FAX: (508) 970-0199 V. Install License Information ============================== The installation program used to install TurboDLD, "INSTALL", is based on licensed software provided by Knowledge Dynamics Corp, PO Box 1558, Canyon Lake, Texas 78130-1558 (USA). "INSTALL" is Copyright (c) 1987-1992 by Knowledge Dynamics Corp which reserves all copyright protection worldwide. "INSTALL" is provided to you for the exclusive purpose of installing TurboDLD. Spacetec IMC Corp. has modified the software as provided by Knowledge Dynamics Corp, and thus the performance and behavior of the "INSTALL" program shipped with TurboDLD may not represent the performance and behavior of "INSTALL" as shipped by Knowledge Dynamics Corp. Spacetec IMC is exclusively responsible for the support of TurboDLD, including support during the installation phase. In no event will Knowledge Dynamics Corp provide any technical support for TurboDLD.