Black Box 4/BlackBox.cdr/autocad/param2.arj/TUTORIAL

Text File | 1991-09-02 | 10.0 KB | 285 lines

          ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
          │                 ParaDraft Guided Tour                      │
          │          CREATING A PARALLELOGRAM DRAWING PROGRAM          │
          └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Welcome to the ParaDraft Guided Tour. This short tour will guide you
through the steps required to create and run a simple ParaDraft
application that draws a parallelogram in response to its dimensions.
The slide file for it is stored under the name PGDEMO.SLD.

Let us say that you draw parallelograms quite often in your drawings
and want to automate the process to save the tedium. You want a
program such that it

        * draws the parallelogram to the scale,
        * requires height, base length and the included angle as input,
  and   * draws the parallelogram at some specified place.

Let us create a ParaDraft application to do exactly this job. True to
the promise, we will just create a dimensioned drawing of a
parallelogram and submit it to ParaDraft to get the application.

          ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
          │          COMPLETE PARADRAFT INSTALLATION                   │
          └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Before proceeding on the tour please complete the installation of the
ParaDraft Trial Version.

1. Perform the ParaDraft files installation by running the INSTALL.BAT
file, if you haven't done so.

2. Change your AutoCAD installation as following:

(a) Copy the file PGINIT.SCR from ParaDraft directory into the
directory from where you would be now running AutoCAD, using DOS copy
command. For example:

     C:\ACAD\PGDRAFT> COPY PGINIT.SCR D:\USER\DWG

(b) Add the following lines in your ACAD.PGP file.

                      PGSHELL,,500000,*DOS Command: ,0
                      SHELL,,125000,*DOS Command: ,0
                      EDIT,EDLIN,40000,File to edit: ,0

NOTE: If you can not shell out from AutoCAD with 500 KB or more
memory, perform the steps (c) and (d) as well.

(c) Change your AutoCAD batch file to use SHROOM to release enough
memory. You should let SHROOM call AutoCAD in your AutoCAD batch file
something like as:

    SHROOM -q ACAD %1 %2 %3

SHROOM is also a shareware program available in the forum libraries.

(d) Rename PGPG386.ENV file in the ParaDraft directory as PGPG.ENV.

          ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
          │             START FROM A BLANK DRAWING                     │
          └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Start AutoCAD and reach the main menu. Make sure that AutoLISP
disabled message does not come (It can be hard. Give your local
AutoCAD guru a phone call if all fails.). Start a new drawing with
option one and give file name as PGDEMO= (EQUAL sign is needed to
ensure a blank drawing).

        ZOOM OUT, SET UNITS AND CREATE LAYERS

Enter command

         Command:  ZOOM W -100,-100 200,200

NOTE: In this tour you will see abbreviated commands, where AutoCAD
prompts have been left out and only your inputs have been shown
separated by blanks.

Let us now create layers for doing dimensioning and drawing center
lines.

         Command:  LAYER N DIM C 3 DIM N CEN C 2 CEN

Press return key to complete the command. Enter command

         Command:  UNITS 2 1

and press return for all other prompts to complete the command.

          ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
          │             DRAW AND DIMENSION A PARALLELOGRAM             │
          └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Enter command

         Command:  LINE 0,0 100,0 125,150 25,150 C

to draw the parallelogram.

             DIMENSION THE PARALLELOGRAM

Enter command

         Command:  LAYER S DIM

and press return to complete the command. This change of layer is
explained in the section Layer Convention of the PGDRAFT.DOC. Now to
perform the dimensioning, enter command:

         Command:  DIM

         Dim: DIMASO ON DIMTXT 6 DIMASZ 6

This setting makes dimensions look fine on the screen.

         Dim: HOR

Press return to select an entity and select the bottom line of the
parallelogram. Show a point below the parallelogram for the place of
dimension line and press return for the dimension text value.

         Dim: VER

Press return to select an entity and select the left side line of the
parallelogram. Show a point on the left side of the parallelogram for
the place of dimension line and press return for the dimension text
value.

         Dim: ANG

Select the left side line of the parallelogram for first line. Select
the bottom line of the parallelogram for second line. Show a point
inside the left corner of the parallelogram for the place of
dimension arc and press return for the dimension text place and
value.

Your input drawing ( in the language of ParaDraft, Parent geometry)
is complete. Enter the following commands:

         Dim: EXIT

         Command:  Layer S 0

and press return to complete the command. Now your drawing should
look like the slide file supplied with this upload.

Save the drawing by entering

         Command:  SAVE

and pressing return twice to complete the command.

          ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
          │             Parameterising the parallelogram               │
          └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

                LOAD PARADRAFT

Give the following command at the command prompt of AutoCAD.

         Command:  SCRIPT

     File : PGINIT

         Command:  Redraw

                 PARAMETERISE

Select Create application menu item from the pull down menu in the
top menu bar. Select parameterise option. Press return after reading
the messages. Respond as following:

    Geometry name: PARA

    Geometry description: A Parallelogram

    Insertion point: END of

select the left lower corner point of the parallelogram. A small
sign will appear to show the position of the insertion point.

    Select geometry: C

Use a crossing to select all of the parallelogram and its dimensions.
Press return to continue.

    Select dimensions: P

Select P (for previous) to cover all the dimensions. Press return
to continue.

    Is there any symmetry in the geometry: N

N stands for NO, since there is no symmetry being used.

ParaDraft will now start PgPg!, the parametric geometry expert
system. Don't go for coffee. In about 1 minute your program would be
ready to run.

Please refer to the first page in case of memory problems.  You may
need to modify the ACAD.PGP file and your AutoCAD batch file.

          ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
          │             Run the program                                │
          └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘


Select option Run application from top menu bar and select
run menu option from the pull down menu. Respond as following:

    Geometry name: PARA

    Do you want to use PGCAL program: No

    Enter the value of L1: 50.0

    Enter the value of L2:30.0

    Enter the value of ANG3:30.0

    Insertion point:      Click a point in the center  of the display

    Insertion angle: 0.0

Your parallelogram is drawn to the scale at the point where you clicked.
You can now keep running the program with different set of values.

This example is perhaps too simple and you are not likely to be
impressed with just four lines. However, the process of generating
any ParaDraft application is just the same.

You create a drawing, dimension it completely and submit it to
ParaDraft to create a parametric drawing/drafting application. Then
you can run the program for any set of sensible values. For really
complex geometries, it may take more time to parameterise, but the
idea remains just the same.


          ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
          │             Customise the program                          │
          └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

To complete your application, you can customise this generated AutoLISP
PgProgram to develop an application, which

       ∙ requires only the values of key dimensions,
       ∙ computes dimension values from the specified formulae or tables,
      and, ∙ draws the geometry using these computed dimensions.

          ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
          │             Refine the  interface                          │
          └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

You can refine this application's user-interface so that the application

       ∙ is invocable with its own AutoCAD command,
       ∙ displays a customized slide file,


          ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
          │             Where to go from here?                         │
          └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

You have now your first AutoLISP program which has required no
struggling with a text editor or pondering over unmatched
paranthesis.

Please run the ParaDraft demo and have a look at the sample
applications. Indeed you can explore the multifold possibilities
offered by ParaDraft starting from these applications, and find out
how to boost your productivity with it.

Please know that any draftsman productivity with ParaDraft.  It's
quite simple and fun.  All one needs is a working knowledge of
AutoCAD, and an understanding of standard drafting practices. No
programming is required.

Good luck.  If you're serious about boosting your productivity, the
first step is to try the full ParaDraft Trial Version.  Once you know
how it's possible for you to speed up with it, order ParaDraft
Professional to get the full system. It's is under five hundred
dollars and it is guaranteed to save you thousands of dollars in
wasted time and effort.