PDMS AutoDRAFT User Guide.pdf

p d ms1151/ man 10/ d o c2I s s ue 140403

PDMS AutoDRAFT User GuideVersion 11.5

NOTE:

This release of AutoDRAFT is compatible withAutoCAD Releases 13, 14 and 2000

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VANTAGE PDMS AutoDRAFTVersion 11.5User Guide

i

Contents

1 Introducing AutoDRAFT

1.1 What is AutoDRAFT? 1--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.2 About this Manual 1--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.3 Manual Audience 1--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.4 References 1--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 The AutoDRAFT Facilities

2.1 AutoDRAFT Functions 2--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.2 The PDMS DRAFT/AutoDRAFT Interface 2--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.3 The PDMS ISODRAFT/AutoDRAFT Interface 2--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 The Drawing Editor -- Introduction

3.1 The Drawing Editor Functions 3--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.2 The DRAFT/ISODRAFT to Drawing Editor Interface 3--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.3 Concepts 3--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.3.1 Paper--Space/Model--Space--Viewports 3--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.3.2 The Drawing Editor Database 3--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.3.3 Drawing Scale 3--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.3.4 Drawing Units 3--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 The Drawing Editor -- Getting Started

4.1 Starting the Drawing Editor Directly 4--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.1.1 Creating the DXF--Format Transfer File from DRAFT 4--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.1.2 Creating the DXF--Format Transfer File from ISODRAFT 4--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.1.3 Transferring the DXF Plotfile to the Host AutoCAD Platform 4--2. . . . . . . . . . . .

4.1.4 Starting the Drawing Editor on the Host AutoCAD Platform 4--2. . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.2 Starting the Drawing Editor from PDMS DRAFT 4--4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.3 Starting the Drawing Editor from PDMS ISODRAFT 4--4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


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4.4 Notes on the Transfer File 4--4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.4.1 Drawing Units 4--4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.4.2 Limitations of DXF File Transfer 4--4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.4.3 FECs Support in DXF Output (PDMS/J users only) 4--4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5 The Drawing Editor -- Autoblanking

5.1 Creating a Blanking Shape 5--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.2 Blanking 5--5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.3 Editing Blanks 5--6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6 The Drawing Editor -- Miscellaneous Facilities

6.1 Layer Mapping 6--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.2 Controlling Layers 6--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.3 Applying PDMS Colours 6--4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.4 Loading Text from a File onto a Drawing 6--5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.5 Copying and Resizing Part of a Drawing 6--6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.6 Creating a Paper Space Viewport on a Drawing 6--9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.7 Selecting a Paper Space Viewport on a Drawing 6--10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.8 Leaving AutoCAD, Without Saving Changes 6--10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.9 Leaving AutoCAD, Saving Changes 6--11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7 The Symbol Editor -- Introduction

7.1 The Symbol Editor Functions 7--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.2 AutoCAD Working Practices 7--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.3 Symbol Library Annotation 7--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8 The Symbol Editor -- Getting Started

8.1 Starting the Symbol Editor Directly 8--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8.1.1 Starting the Symbol Editor on the Host AutoCAD Platform 8--1. . . . . . . . . . . . .

8.2 Starting the Symbol Editor from PDMS DRAFT 8--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8.3 Setting the Drawing Size in AutoCAD 8--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9 The Symbol Editor -- Creating Symbol Templates

9.1 Creating the Symbol Name Attribute 9--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.2 Creating a Block and an Insert of the Block 9--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.3 Redefining a Symbol 9--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10 The Symbol Editor -- Deriving DRAFT Command Files

10.1 Direct Entry to Symbol Editor (using adraftse command) 10--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . .


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10.2 Entry to Symbol Editor from DRAFT 10--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.3 Leaving AutoCAD, Without Saving Changes 10--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.4 Leaving AutoCAD, Saving Changes 10--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.5 Symbol Template Naming Conventions 10--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11 The Frame Editor -- Introduction

11.1 The Frame Editor Functions 11--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.2 AutoCAD Working Practices 11--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12 The Frame Editor -- Getting Started

12.1 Starting the Frame Editor Directly 12--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12.1.1 Starting the Frame Editor on the Host AutoCAD Platform 12--1. . . . . . . . . . . . .

12.2 Starting the Frame Editor from PDMS DRAFT 12--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12.3 Setting the Drawing Size in AutoCAD 12--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13 The Frame Editor -- Deriving DRAFT Command Files

13.1 Direct Entry to Frame Editor (using adraftbe command) 13--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . .13.2 Entry to Frame Editor from DRAFT 13--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13.3 Leaving AutoCAD, Without Saving Changes 13--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13.4 Leaving AutoCAD, Saving Changes 13--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13.5 Sheet Naming Conventions 13--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13.5.1 Backing Sheet Name 13--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13.5.2 Overlay Sheet Name 13--4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A AutoDRAFT Working Practices

A.1 Using DRAFT with AutoDRAFT A--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A.1.1 Suggested Working Practice 1 A--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A.1.2 Suggested Working Practice 2 A--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A.2 Using ISODRAFT with AutoDRAFT A--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A.2.1 Suggested Working Practice A--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B AutoCAD to DRAFT Entity and Attribute Mapping

B.1 AutoCAD Entities into DRAFT Elements B--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B.2 AutoCAD Attributes into DRAFT Attributes B--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B.3 DRAFT Pens B--4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B.4 Line Widths B--4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B.5 Linestyles B--5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B.6 Text Fonts B--5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B.7 Support for AutoCAD Bigfont Text (PDMS/J users only) B--8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


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C The AutoDRAFT Menus

C.1 Drawing Editor Pull--Down Menus C--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C.1.1 Blank Pull--Down Menu C--1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C.1.2 PDMS Draw Pull--Down Menu C--2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C.2 Frame Editor Pull--Down Menu C--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C.2.1 PDMS Frame Pull--Down Menu C--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C.3 Symbol Editor Pull--Down Menu C--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C.3.1 PDMS Symbol Pull--Down Menu C--3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


VANTAGE PDMS AutoDRAFT

User Guide

11Version 11.5

1 Introducing AutoDRAFT

1.1 What is AutoDRAFT?

AutoDRAFT is an AutoCAD application which gives you an easy way of using AutoCAD toperform 2D drafting on engineering drawings imported from DRAFT, and on isometricdrawings imported from ISODRAFT. It can also create 2D entities for export to DRAFT.

As well as providing access to the full range of AutoCADs 2D draughting facilities,AutoDRAFT allows you to transfer drawings from DRAFT and ISODRAFT to enhancethem. You can also use it to create symbols and drawing frames, and then generatemacrosfor their subsequent recreation in DRAFT.

You can activateAutoDRAFTdirectly fromaDRAFT or ISODRAFT menu. Alternatively, ifAutoCAD and PDMS are running on different machines, you can generate a DXF formatfile for transfer to AutoDRAFT and AutoCAD by DRAFT and ISODRAFT.

This release of AutoDRAFT has been developed to allow you to take full advantage of thelatest features of AutoCAD Releases 13/14/2000.

AutoDRAFT consists of three sub--systems:

D TheDrawingEditor, which allows you to add further details to PDMS drawings fromwithin AutoCAD.

D The Symbol Editor, which generates PDMS macros from AutoCAD inserts to createequivalent symbol template elements in DRAFT.

D TheFrameEditor, which generates PDMSmacros from drawing frames in AutoCADto create equivalent DRAFT backing or overlay sheet elements.

A range of newAutoCAD fonts, developed at Cadcentre, is also provided for your use. Thesefonts are supplied in both binary and source formats. These fonts are compatible with allnew and existing PDMS draughting fonts, and can be transferred to PC--based systems.


Introducing AutoDRAFT

VANTAGE PDMS

User Guide

12Version 11.5

1.2 About this Manual

This manual describes:

D The AutoDRAFT facilities.

D How to use the DRAFT and ISODRAFT forms--and--menus user interface to activateAutoDRAFT directly.

D Alternatively, how to create a DXF--format file of a DRAFT or ISODRAFT drawing forseparate transfer to the AutoDRAFT Drawing Editor.

D How to create a PDMS DRAFT command macro in AutoDRAFT in order to transferAutoCAD drawing entities (forming drawing frames and symbol templates) back toDRAFT.

D How to use the AutoDRAFT facilities within AutoCAD, using typed--in commands ormenu selections.

This manual does not describe how to use the main AutoCAD facilities. Refer to yourAutoCAD user documentation for this.

1.3 Manual Audience

It is assumed that those users who are involved with creating drawings in PDMS DRAFTand transferring them to AutoCAD have attended the appropriate DRAFT and/orISODRAFT training courses.

It is further assumed that users who are working on a drawing transferred from PDMS are(at least) familiar with AutoCAD.

Best use of this manual will be made by those trained in the use both of PDMSDRAFT/ISODRAFT and of AutoCAD.


Introducing AutoDRAFT

VANTAGE PDMS AutoDRAFT

User Guide

13Version 11.5

1.4 References

Useful sources of reference are:

The VANTAGE PDMS DRAFT User Guide.

The PDMS DRAFT on--line help.

AutoDesks AutoCAD Release 13/14/2000 Reference Manuals.

The VANTAGE PDMS ISODRAFT Reference Manual.

The PDMS ISODRAFT on--line help.



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2 The AutoDRAFT Facilities

2.1 AutoDRAFT Functions

AutoDRAFT has three sub--systems:

D TheDrawing Editor. This enables a drawing created in DRAFT or ISODRAFT to betransferred to AutoCAD, which can then be used to finish the drawing. The DrawingEditor also adds new functions to those normally available in AutoCAD.

D The Symbol Editor. This enables symbols created in AutoCAD to be converted into aPDMS DRAFT command macro which can then be used to create the equivalentsymbols as DRAFT database Symbol Template elements.

D The FrameEditor. This enables drawing frames created in AutoCAD to be convertedinto a PDMSDRAFT commandmacro which can then be used to create the equivalentframes as DRAFT database Backing Sheet elements.

Each of the above sub--systems is described in detail in the following chapters of thismanual..

2.2 The PDMS DRAFT/AutoDRAFT Interface

With the Drawing Editor, a DRAFT drawing Sheet is transferred from PDMS DRAFT toAutoDRAFT via a DXF--format file.

With the Symbol Editor and Frame Editor, the DRAFT command macros are created asASCII files. If AutoCAD andPDMS are on the same hardware platform themacro files willbe transferred back to PDMS automatically. See Figure 2--1 for an illustration of theDRAFT/AutoDRAFT interface.


The AutoDRAFT Facilities


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Drawing Editor

Frame Editor

AutoDRAFT

AutoCADSymbol EditorDRAFT

DXF--formatdrawing file

Symbol--creationmacro file(ASCII)

Frame--creationmacro file (ASCII)

Figure 2--1 The DRAFT/AutoDRAFT Interface.

2.3 The PDMS ISODRAFT/AutoDRAFT Interface

With the Drawing Editor, you can transfer an ISODRAFT isometric to AutoDRAFT via aDXF format file.

You cannot transfer an ISODRAFT isometric with the Symbol or Frame Editor.


The AutoDRAFT Facilities


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Drawing Editor

AutoDRAFT

AutoCAD

DXF--formatdrawing file

ISODRAFT

Figure 2--2 The ISODRAFT/AutoDRAFT Interface.



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3 The Drawing Editor -- Introduction

3.1 The Drawing Editor Functions

All AutoCAD facilities are available to Drawing Editor users. AutoDRAFT adds thefollowing facilities to the standard AutoCAD system:

D Blank out part of the drawing behind specified drawing items. For example, blank outthe graphics behind a label.

D Create magnified copies of part of a drawing.

D Apply PDMS standard colours to the DRAFT elements within an AutoDRAFTdrawing.

D Layer control of layers allocated to DRAFT.

D Load text from a file onto the drawing.

D Create and select viewports containing views of the drawing sheet.

3.2 The DRAFT/ISODRAFT to Drawing Editor Interface

A DRAFT drawing Sheet, or an ISODRAFT isometric, is transferred to AutoDRAFT via aDXF--format file. Where AutoDRAFT/AutoCAD and PDMS are running on separatehardwareyoumust create theDXF file andmanually transfer it from thePDMSplatformtothe AutoDRAFT platform. Where PDMS and AutoDRAFT share the same platform,entering the Drawing Editor will cause the translation from PDMS format to DXF format,and the transfer of the file to AutoDRAFT, to take place automatically.

The Drawing Editor drawing file is an AutoCAD drawing file with a set of AutoCAD layersdedicated to drawing information transferred fromDRAFT/ISODRAFT (its style table willcontain linestyle definitions generated by DRAFT/ISODRAFT).


The Drawing Editor -- Introduction


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AutoCAD entities should be added to a drawing on layers other than those allocated toPDMS. If the PDMS DRAFT part of the drawing is updated by overwriting it with a newdrawing file imported from DRAFT, none of the entities on the user--allocated (i.e.AutoCAD) layers will be lost.

The Drawing Editor can be used to change DRAFT entities displayed in AutoCAD (theDrawingEditor, of course, does not know about theDRAFT database hierarchy), but thesechanges will be lost when the DRAFT part of the AutoCAD drawing is next updated fromthe DRAFT picture.

AutoDRAFT can only be used to create new drawings, or open existing ones, withISODRAFT.

NOTE: PDMS orDRAFTLayers referred to in this manual should not be confusedwith LAYE (layer)database elements in DRAFT. PDMS layers are AutoCAD layers that have been allocated todrawing data generated by DRAFT. AutoCAD layers are described in the AutoCAD ReferenceManual.

See Figure 3--1 for an illustration of the use of AutoDRAFT layers.

AutoCAD Layers

DRAFT Layers

PDMS drawing

DRAFT

AutoDRAFT drawing

DXF

User--allocated.Contain AutoCAD en-tities.

Automaticallyallocated.Contain DRAFTentities drawn inAutoCAD.

Figure 3--1 Layers in AutoDRAFT/AutoCAD.

NOTE: It is possible, within the Drawing Editor, to map the DRAFT layers onto user--definedAutoCAD layers. See Section 6.1.




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3.3 Concepts

Before using the Drawing Editor, you should be familiar with the following concepts andterminology.

3.3.1 Paper Space/Model Space Viewports

A drawing sheet transferred from DRAFT or ISODRAFT can be either drawn in modelspace or in paper space in AutoCAD.

3.3.2 The Drawing Editor Database

ADrawingEditor database is anAutoCADdrawing file containing layers that areallocatedto DRAFT or ISODRAFT drawing elements. You add to this your ownAutoCAD layers anddrawing entities.

AutoDRAFT uses special text fonts and linestyles in addition to the standard AutoCADsupplied fonts and linestyles. The fonts and linestyles supplied with AutoDRAFT matchthose used in DRAFT and ISODRAFT.

AllDRAFTdrawing elements are on layers named GT_ followedby a number.Youshouldnot create layers whose names beginning with GT_, otherwise any items onthose layers will be deleted by a DRAFT drawing update operation.

3.3.3 Drawing Scale

A drawing in AutoDRAFT is a model of a drawing sheet from DRAFT/ISODRAFT. Allentities are created in AutoCAD model space.

Hidden line views of a design model are drawn as scaled views in PDMS DRAFT. Thedrawing displayed in AutoCAD is a model of the drawing sheet defined in DRAFT, so thescaled views drawn inDRAFT are effectively drawn at the same scale inAutoCAD. Thus, ifan AutoCAD linear dimension were placed on a line in a DRAFT view it would show thelength of the line on the paper, not the length of the line on the PDMS model. It isrecommended that all dimensions are created inDRAFTwhere the true size ofdimensioneditems is shown.

3.3.4 Drawing Units

DRAFT always stores its measurements in millimetres, regardless of the units used fordrawing definition. Consequently, drawings created in PDMS DRAFT using INCH or




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FINCH units are transferred from DRAFT to the Drawing Editor with measurements inmillimetres.

A special code in the transfer file will specify whether the original DRAFT drawing sheetwas specified in MM, INCH or FINCH units. INCH/FINCH drawings are scaled from onedrawing unit = 1 millimetre to one drawing unit = 1 inch when loaded into the DrawingEditor.

A similar system is employed for ISODRAFT drawings.



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4 The Drawing Editor -- Getting Started

There are two methods of starting the Drawing Editor:

D Directly. This method is used when AutoCAD and PDMS are on separate hardwareplatforms. The (DXF--format) drawing file to be used must be created in PDMSDRAFT/ISODRAFT and manually transferred to the AutoCAD platform.

D From PDMSDRAFT/ISODRAFT. This method is used when AutoCAD and PDMS areon the same hardware platform. The (DXF--format) drawing file to be used isautomatically created and transferred to the Drawing Editor whenAutoDRAFT/Drawing Editor is activated from DRAFT/ISODRAFT.

4.1 Starting the Drawing Editor Directly

4.1.1 Creating the DXF--Format Transfer File from DRAFT

This can be done in two ways:

D by typing in a command (PLOT)

D by using the DRAFT forms--and--menus user interface

Using the PLOT Command

The PLOT command has a variety of options. A common operation would be to create aplotfile from the current Sheet element, in which case thePLOT command takes the form

PLOT SHEE DXF filename

where filename must always end in .dxf. For example,

PLOT SHEE DXF /SHEET1.dxf

NOTE: For best results when plotting from AutoCAD, the DXF file should be generatedusing the CUTMARKS OFF option. For example:

PLOT SHEE DXF /SHEET1.dxf CUTMARKS OFF


The Drawing Editor -- Getting Started


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This is done automatically when the Drawing Editor is activated from the DRAFTforms--and--menus interface.

NOTE: See Section 4.4.1 for details of an important restriction regarding drawing unitswhen using the PLOT command.

See the PDMS DRAFT User Guide for full details of the PLOT command. This sectiondescribes the optional keywords that can be added to the command.

Using DRAFTs Graphical User Interface

See the DRAFT on--line help.

4.1.2 Creating the DXF--Format Transfer File from ISODRAFT

See the ISODRAFT on--line help.

4.1.3 Transferring the DXF Plotfile to the Host AutoCAD Platform

This would normally be achieved via ftp, the exact method of transfer being dependent onyour network installation.

4.1.4 Starting the Drawing Editor on the Host AutoCAD Platform

NOTES: In the following, where an AutoCAD drawing database file name needs to bespecified, the .dwg extension is added automatically by the script, and so thismust not be included in the specified dwg_filename.

Similarly, the transfer files .dxf extension must not be included in the specifiedtransfer_filename.

Starting the Drawing Editor is done by running the adraftde script which is supplied aspart of the AutoDRAFT package. The script can be used in three ways:

" Creating a New Drawing Editor Drawing

adraftde --new dwg_filename --trfile transfer_filename [--model | --paper]

where dwg_filename is the required AutoCAD drawing database name, andtransfer_filename is the name of the file transferred from DRAFT or ISODRAFT. --modelsets up the drawing in model space, --paper in paper space. If the argument is omitted,--paper is assumed.

The steps carried out by this form of the script are:




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1. Starts AutoCAD.

2. Creates a drawing file (.dwg) (unless you quit from the AutoDRAFT session).

3. Loads the AutoDRAFT Drawing Editor program.

4. Loads the picture from the transfer file into the drawing layers.

5. Leaves you in a Drawing Editor session. The DRAFT or ISODRAFT drawing isdisplayed. The current drawing layer is Layer 0.

" Updating an Existing Drawing Editor Drawing with a New Picture

adraftde --update dwg_filename --trfile transfer_filename [--model | --paper]

where dwg_filename is the name of the required (existing) AutoCAD drawing database,and transfer_filename is the name of the updated version of the drawing file transferredfrom DRAFT.


1. Starts AutoCAD.

2. Opens the specified AutoCAD drawing file.


4. Empties all picture layers, without altering any items on user--defined (AutoCAD)layers.

5. Loads the picture from the transfer file into the drawing layers, includingany extra fontsand linestyles required.

6. Leaves you in a Drawing Editor session. The DRAFT drawing is displayed. The currentlayer and the status of user--defined layers are left as they were when you last saved thedrawing.

" Displaying an Existing Drawing Editor Drawing (without updating it)

adraftde --open dwg_filename [--model | --paper]

where dwg_filename is the name of the required (existing) AutoCAD drawing file.


1. Starts AutoCAD.






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4. Leaves you in aDrawingEditor session. The current layerand the status ofuser--definedlayers are left as they were when you last saved the drawing.

4.2 Starting the Drawing Editor from PDMS DRAFT

See the DRAFT on--line help.

4.3 Starting the Drawing Editor from PDMS ISODRAFT

See the ISODRAFT on--line help.

4.4 Notes on the Transfer File

4.4.1 Drawing Units

Entities in transfer files are alwaysmeasured inmillimetres. The units active in DRAFT orISODRAFTwhen the drawing is sent toAutoDRAFTare added to the transfer file as aDXFcomment. The AutoDRAFT start--up mechanism automatically queries the units andscales the DRAFT/ISODRAFT drawing data if INCH units are specified.

NOTE: If you create a DXF transfer file in DRAFT using the PLOT command (see Section4.1.1) then the comment inserted into theDXF transfer file to automate the settingup of AutoCAD units will not be added.

If you thenwant to read such a DXF transfer file into AutoDRAFT, using INCHESas units type, then the transfer file needs to be alteredmanually by appending thefollowing to the end of the file:

999PDMS_UNITS INCH

These should be the last two lines of the transfer file. There should be no whitespace to the left of this text.

4.4.2 Limitations of DXF File Transfer

There is no AutoCAD equivalent to the DRAFT text attribute CSPA (character spacing).This attribute will be ignored when generating the DXF file. This results in text stringsbeing a different length in DRAFT and AutoCAD.




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4.4.3 FECs Support in DXF Output (PDMS/J users only)

Drawings which contain Kanji characters may be output as DXF files from DRAFT andISODRAFT.BothEUCandSHIFT--JIS format font filesmay beused. Suitable font filesaresupplied with the Drawing Editor. The default is EUC. In DRAFT, to obtain output inSHIFT--JIS format, use

PLOT SHEE DXF /sheet1.dxf CUTMARKS OFF SHIFTJS

(CUTMARKS OFF is optional, but recommended.)

It is recommended thatEUCformat beused for creatingDXF files forusewithAutoDRAFT.



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5 The Drawing Editor -- Autoblanking

The Drawing Editor enables you to blank out selected parts of a drawing. This could beused, for example, to blank out the graphics behind a label. There are three principaloptions:

D Create a blank (in the form of a shape (usually a rectangle) defining the outline of ablank).

D Hide items covered by a blank (and make the blank itself invisible).

D Edit a blank (various options).

These operations, and the different ways of performing them, are described below.

NOTES:Blanks are automatically placed on a special layer calledPDMS_BLANKS, even ifthis is not your current layer.

When a drawing is updated, any PDMS items other than text which were notcovered by blanks return to the default state, which is covered. Section 5.3describes how to uncover selected drawing items.

5.1 Creating a Blanking Shape

This operation allows you to create a three-- or four--sided shapewhich can be used to blankout parts of the drawing. Thiswould commonly be used to blankout graphicsbehinda label,as shown in Figure 5--1.


The Drawing Editor -- Autoblanking


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.

Figure 5--1 Use of Blanking (entities blank) to hide graphics behind a Label.

Command: pdms_blank_create

Menu Selection:Blank>Create

Initial Prompt: Entities/Irregular/:

Use:

This is the default option, which creates a rectangular blanking area.

1. Move themousepointer andclick (left--handbutton) on the first cornerof the rectangle. The prompt changes to

Angle/

2. Move the mouse pointer and drag the dotted rectangle that appearsout to the desired size/position. Click again. The prompt changes to

Select objects not to blank:Select objects:

At this point you can select objects which you do not wish to be coveredby the blank. For example, if blanking a label by using a blankingrectangle, youwouldusually stillwish to see the label border, the labeltext and the leader line. Because text cannot be hidden by a blank, itwill remain shown when the blanking operation is carried out.

3. Move the small square over an object you do not wish to blank andclick. Repeat as necessary, finally pressing Enter at the Select objectsprompt.

(If you do not wish to select any objects not to be blanked then simplypress Enter straight away.)

The Angle option above enables you to create a rectangular blank at anangle to the principal axes. A possible use of this option could be to blankout graphics behind angular dimension text.




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Selecting this option (by pressing A after the > character) gives anotherpromptwhichallows you to specify the angle either by typing ina value orby pointer hit. When specifying the second corner of the rectangle, a linewill follow the pointer which represents a diagonal of the blankingrectangle.

At this point the blanking rectangle will appear, but the objects within itwill not be blanked. See Section 5.2 for how to carry out the blankingoperation.

An example of rectangle blanking is shown in Figure 5--2. Note the gapsin the entities behind the blank. Entity blanking can be used to give ablank which does not leave such gaps. See Figure 5--1.

NOTE: This method of blank creation also works if you are using theAutoCAD UCS (User Coordinate System) facility.

.

Figure 5--2 Use of Blanking (rectangular blank) to hide graphics behind a Label.

Irregular

This option (selected by pressing I after the > character) creates anirregular three-- or four--sided shape.

1. Move themousepointer andclick (left--handbutton) on the first cornerof the shape. The prompt changes to

First point:

2. Move themouse pointer and drag the small square that appears out tothe desired position. Click again.

3. Repeat step 2 twice more. At the prompt

Last Point:

define the last point as before, or press Enter to produce a triangle.




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At this point the blanking shapewill appear, but the objectswithin itwillnot be blanked. See Section 5.2 for how to carry out the blankingoperation.

Entities

This option (selected by pressing E after the > character) allows you todefine a blanking rectangle which surrounds the selected entities.Selecting this option changes the prompt to:

Select objects:

Click on the required entities. When the last entity has been selectedpress Enter.

You will then be given the option to enter a value for the Angle of therectangular blank. If you press Enter at this prompt, the rectangularblank calculated will be unrotated.

At this point the blanking rectangle will appear, but the objects within itwill not be blanked. See Section 5.2 for how to carry out the blankingoperation.

NOTE: When the blanking operation is carried out, all entities exceptthose selected will be hidden.

The entities option is useful for blanking out graphics behind labels. Thepicture on the right--hand side of Figure 5--1 has been produced bydefining the label border as the (sole) blanking entity.

Notes: When using the Entities option, the extent of a blank is calculated from the entities chosen.The entities that may be selected are Points, Lines, Traces, Solids, Circles, Arcs, Polylines,Inserts, Text, Attribute Definitions, Inserts with Attributes (invisible attributes areignored) and combinations of the above. User coordinate systems are taken into accountwhen these blanks are created.

The following entities will not blank correctly:

Outsized Text Text, such as some of the mathematical symbolswhere it is wider than the specified text width, willextend over the blank boundary.

Oblique Text The oblique element of this text is ignored.Vertical Text Vertical text is ignored.Other Thick Entities Donuts and wide polylines are treated as if they

have zero width.

Complex Inserts Non--uniformly scaled blocks are treated as if they




55

are uniformly scaled. Externally referenced blocks(xrefs) are ignored.

Shapes Ignored.Dimensions Ignored.Viewports Ignored.3D Entities 3DFaces, 3DMeshes and 3Dpolylines are ignored.

Other 3D entities, such as a cylinder made from acircle with thickness will be blanked around, butwill probably not finish up being covered.

5.2 Blanking

The blank creation operations described in the previous section produce outlines of blankswhich can be used to preview the blanks that you have defined. Hiding the graphics behindthe blanks is carried out as described below.

Command: pdms_blank

Menu Selection:Blank>Blank

Use: There are no command arguments or prompts. The picture is redrawnwith objects behind blanks being hidden. Any visible blank boundarieswill become invisible.

Notes: pdms_blank temporarily removes all lines on the drawing that arehidden by blanks. The hidden lines will reappear the next time thedrawing is regenerated.

Normally the drawing will be displayed with hidden lines showing.Blanking can be a time--consuming process, so it is recommended that itis only done just before producing a plot.

The recommendations given in the AutoCAD Reference Manual for thehide command also apply to pdms_blank.

Text cannot be hidden by a blank. Items above the world axes XY planewill not be hidden by a blank. Blanking will only work on entities drawnon the Z=0 plane. In AutoDRAFT, Z=0 is the location of the drawingsheet.

Plotting a blanked drawing

AutoCADplotting should be configured so that hidden lines are removed.

In order to plot a drawing in AutoCAD where blanks hide the entitiesbehind them, but where their outlines are invisible, the plot must be




56

activated from the main AutoCADmenu. If a plot is sent from inside theAutoCAD drawing editor, any invisible blanks will be ignored, showingthe entities behind them.

5.3 Editing Blanks

The blank editing operations allow you to:

D hide and show the boundaries of blanks

D erase blanks

D cover and uncover entities hidden by blanks.

Command: pdms_blank_edit

Menu Selection:Blank>Visible, Blank>Invisible, Blank>Cover,Blank>Uncover, Blank>Erase

Initial Prompt: Visible/Invisible/Cover/Uncover/Erase:

Use: Visible Invisible

Blank>Invisible (or I at the commandprompt)willmake all visible blankboundaries invisible.

Blank>Visible (or V at the command prompt) will make all invisibleblank boundaries visible.

Notes: Blank boundaries are drawn as purple (AutoCAD colour 194) solid lines.

If you wish to create a new blank, all invisible blanks must first be madevisible.

pdms_blank makes blanks invisible. In order to see them after apdms_blank command use pdms_blank_edit Visible.

pdms_blank_edit Invisible will fail if PDMS_BLANKS is the currentlayer, returning an errormessage. To recover from this condition, make alayer other than PDMS_BLANKS the current one.




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Cover Uncover

Blank>Uncover (or U at the command prompt).

(Use following a Blank>Create operation but before a Blank>Blankoperation.) The prompt changes to

Select objects to uncover:Select objects:

Click on the entities that you require not to be hidden by the coveringblank. The hit entity will be highlighted. When the last entity has beenselected press Enter.

When the next Blank>Blank operation is carried out, the hit entities willnot be hidden by the blank.

Blank>Cover (or C at the command prompt) can be used to mark ascovered entities which had previously beenmarked as uncovered. Theprompt changes to

Select objects to cover:Select objects:

Click on the entities that you require to change from being marked asuncovered to covered. The hit entity will be highlighted. When the lastentity has been selected press Enter.

When the next Blank>Blank operation is carried out, the hit entities willbe hidden by the blank.

Notes: If an object is uncovered it will be seen on top of all blanks, if it is coveredit will be covered by all blanks. It is not possible to have a single objectcovered by one blank, but uncovered by another.

Erase

The prompt changes to

Select blanks to erase:Select objects:

Click on the boundaries of the blanks youwish to erase. Thehit blankwillbe highlighted. When the last blank has been selected press Enter.




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The picture will be redrawn with the outlines of the hit blanks no longershown.

Items hidden by erased blanks will still be hidden. Use the AutoCADregen command to redisplay the unblanked items.

Notes: If blanks are not visible they will be made visible by this option so theycan be selected at the Select objects: prompt. If any objects other thanblanks are selected they will not be erased. Blanks can also be deletedwith the AutoCAD erase command.



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6 The Drawing Editor -- MiscellaneousFacilities

Miscellaneous facilities available in the Drawing Editor enable you to:

D map the DRAFT layers onto user--defined AutoCAD layers;

D control layer visibility and the susceptibility of layers to regenerate operations;

D apply PDMS colours to PDMS layers;

D load text from a file onto a drawing;

D copy/resize part of a drawing;

D create/select paper space viewports;

D leave AutoCAD avoiding the AutoCAD main menu.

These operations, and the different ways of performing them, are described below.

The available options allow you to turnPDMSandUser layers on and off, and to freeze andthaw them, enabling you to distinguish easily the PDMS and non--PDMS parts of theAutoCAD drawing.

6.1 Layer Mapping

This facility allows you to move automatically entities from PDMS DRAFT layers toAutoCAD layers bymapping the DRAFT layers onto user--definedAutoCAD layers. (Theseuser--defined layers will be created automatically if they do not already exist.)

The operation of this facility depends upon the contents of a user--defined text file namedpdmslaymap.txt, which must exist in the users local directory and which must have readaccess. Each line of the file may contain the following four fields:


The Drawing Editor -- Miscellaneous Facilities


62

1. The name of the PDMS layer.

2. The name of the corresponding user--defined AutoCAD layer.

3. The colour number for the AutoCAD layer (in the range 1--255).

4. The linestyle for the AutoCAD layer (in the range 1--255).

NOTE: Not all of the above need be included. Fields 1. and 2. are compulsory. Theallowable optional fields are 3. or 3. and 4. (i.e. having fields 1., 2., and 4. onlywould be illegal).

Each field should be separated by a single space or a character only. Comment textmay be inserted, denoted by having $* as the first two characters of the line.

If the AutoCAD layer does not exist it will be createdwith the supplied colour and linestyle.If it does exist then the supplied colour and linestyle will be ignored. If the colour number isnot supplied, and if the AutoCAD layer is to be created, then it will be createdusing colour 7(white). Similarly, if the linestyle is not supplied, and if the AutoCAD layer is to be created,then it will be created with linestyle GTSOLID.

Command: pdms_layer_mapping

Menu Selection:PDMS Draw>PDMS Layer Mapping

Initial Prompt: Do you want to apply layer mapping ? :

Use: Press Enter to abort, or enter yes (or YES) and press Enter to proceed.

Assuming the pdmslaymap.txt file exists and is correctly structured, theappropriate actions (see above) will be carried out.

Example: Suppose pdmslaymap.txt contains the following text, and that layerLAY1 does not currently exist on the drawing, but that LAY2 does:

$*First layerGT_1 LAY1 5 GTSOLID$*Second layerGT_2 LAY2 6 GTDASH

On applying the layermapping utility, AutoDRAFTwillmove all entitiesfrom PDMS layer GT_1 to AutoCAD layer LAY1. Layer LAY1 will becreated in colour 5 (blue), and linetype GTSOLID. All entities on PDMSlayer GT_2 will be moved to AutoCAD layer LAY2. Since layer LAY2already exists the supplied colour number (6, magenta) and linestyle(GTDASH) will be ignored. Note that empty PDMS layers will not bedeleted. (It is suggested that these empty layersare removedby using theAutoCAD PURGE command.)


The Drawing Editor --- Miscellaneous Facilities


63

An entity whose linestyle is set to BYLAYER on its PDMS layer will also have its linestyleset toBYLAYERwhen it ismoved to theAutoCAD layer.However, if the linestyle setting foran entity differs from that of the owning PDMS layer, then the entity--level setting will bepreserved when it is moved to the AutoCAD layer. This rule also applies to the colourattribute.

If an update operation is applied (i.e. if theUpdate existing Drawing button is pressedon theAutoDRAFTDrawing Editor form; see theDRAFTUser Guide and on--line help)to a drawing which has already had the pdms_layer_mapping command applied to it, thenit is likely that multiple copies of some or all of the PDMS entities will appear on thedrawing. It is therefore not advisable to apply the pdms_layer_mapping command to adrawing which requires further PDMS updates.

6.2 Controlling Layers

Command: pdms_layers

Menu Selection:PDMS Draw>PDMS Layers, PDMS Draw>User Layers

Initial Prompt: User/:

Use: (Whether User or PDMS is selected, the resulting options are the same.)

ON

(Type ON or make On selection from pull--down menu.)

Appropriate layers are turned on.

OFF

(Type OFF or make Off selection from pull--down menu.)

Appropriate layers are turned off.

Freeze

(Press F or make Freeze selection from pull--down menu.)

Appropriate layers are frozen, i.e. they will not be regenerated by anAutoCAD regen command.

Thaw

(Press T or make Thaw selection from pull--down menu.)

Unfreezes the appropriate frozen layers.




64

For example, by selecting pdms_layers off, you can see only theAutoCADentities added since the DRAFT drawing was transferred.

Notes: pdms_layers controls all PDMS (GT_) layers or all other (user) layerswith a single command. The layer controls ON, OFF, Freeze and Thaware described in the AutoCAD Reference Manual.

6.3 Applying PDMS Colours

This option allows you to apply PDMS standard colours to PDMS layers on a DrawingEditor drawing.

Command: pdms_colour (or pdms_color)

Menu Selection:PDMS Draw>PDMS Colours

Use: (Simply type the command or make the menu selection; there are noarguments or options)

Notes: Each PDMS (GT_) layer on a Drawing Editor drawing corresponds to acolour used in the drawing, so all entities in a given colour appear on thesameAutoDRAFT layer. Each entity on thePDMS layers has the defaultAutoCAD colour attribute BYLAYER. The DXF output does not specifylayer colours, so all entities appear in the default AutoCAD colour 7(white).

This facility gives you the ability to colour entities to match your plotterpen set--up. If youwant to see the PDMS colours reproduced in AutoCADthe pdms_colour function will apply colours close to the twelve PDMSstandard colours to layers GT_1 through GT_12.

General points:

D If the standard colour settings in DRAFT have been changed, thischange will not be picked up by pdms_colour, so only standardcolours will be used in AutoDRAFT.

D If colours have already been set for the PDMS layers they will bechanged by pdms_colour.

D If individual entities have been assigned specific colours they will beunaffected by the pdms_colour command.

D If entities have been coloured individually, and you want them toappear in the layer colour, then youshoulduse theAutoCADchpropcommand to change their colours to BYLAYER.




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6.4 Loading Text from a File onto a Drawing

This option allows you to load lines of text from an ASCII file onto a drawing.

Command: pdms_textfile

Menu Selection:PDMS Draw>Load Text

Initial Prompt: Filename of text file:

Use: Enter the name of the text file, with extension (if present).

Left/Centre/Right/:

Click where you wish the text to start, or select one of the justificationoptions (by pressing L, C or R as appropriate). The justification optionswill give

Start point:Centre point:

or End point:

prompts. Click at the required justification point. The default is leftjustified.

The remaining prompts are:

Height :

where default is the AutoCAD default text height. This will be the lasttext height used, or the starting default (0.2). Aheight of at least 10 timesthe AutoCAD starting default (for metric drawings) is recommended.

Press Enter to accept the default value, input a new value, or define thetext height by clicking on a point above the text start point.

Rotation angle :

wheredefault is theAutoCAD default rotation angle. This will be the lastangle used, or the starting default (0).

Press Enter to accept the default value, input a new value, or define theangle by clicking on a suitable point.

Line Spacing (range --0.5 to 3.0) :

where default is the AutoCAD default line spacing. This will be the lastspacing used, or the starting default (0).




66

Press Enter to accept the default value, or input a new value.

See Notes: below for further details.

Block Name/:

If you wish the text to be placed in a block then input the block name,otherwise just press Enter.

Notes: Text is loaded from a file onto the current layer on the drawing.

The start point is always located at the top of the input text.

Text height and rotation are specified in the same way as the AutoCADtext command.

Line spacing factor (LSF) specifies the gap between lines of text. It ismeasured as a proportion of the text height. If LSF=0 (the default) thelines are positioned one below the otherwith no gap. If LSF=1, one blankline is left between each line of text.

If LSF=--0.2 then the lines of text will overlap. Note that text fonts allowfor spacing above and below characters in the font. This means that thetext body itself may not overlap with adjacent lines of text for smallnegative LSF (e.g. --0.1).

If a block name is specified the text loaded onto the drawing is put into ablock of that name and an INSERT created on the drawing. If no blockname is specified then the text is loaded onto the drawing as individualtext entities.

If a block name is usedmore than once, then previous examples of blockswith that name will be redefined (to conform to the new settings) shouldyou respond positively to the Redefine it? prompt.

The MONOTXT font (or any other fixed--spaced font) is recommendedwhen loading in column style reports.

6.5 Copying and Resizing Part of a Drawing

This option allows you to copy a specified group of objects, with the option to give the copy adifferent size to the original.

Command: pdms_copy




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Menu Selection:PDMS Draw>Copy Magnify

Initial Prompt: Select objects:

Use: Click on the objects you wish to copy/magnify. Press Enter to finishselecting.

Base point or displacement:

Click on the base point, i.e. the from point for the copy operation. Thiswould usually be on or within one of the selected objects, but it may bedisplaced. See Figure 6--1 (point 1).

2

1

1

2

d

d

undisplaced base point displaced base point

Figure 6--1 Definition of Base Point for Copy Operation.

Second point of displacement:

This is the to point of the copy operation. See Figure 6--1 (point 2).

Magnify base point/:

Pressing Enter at this point will give a same--size copy of the selectedgroup of objects.

To produce a resized copy, click on the point that you wish to be the basepoint for the resize operation. Again, this would usually be on or withinone of the selected objects, but it may be displaced. See Figure 6--2.(Resulting magnified object shown dashed).




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undisplaced base point displaced base point

d

d

Figure 6--2 Definition of Base Point for Magnify Operation.

/Reference:

The default input for this prompt is simply a value, for example 2 willgive a copy twice as large as the original. (If you wish to produce a copysmaller than the original, input a value less than 1.)

Pressing R (for Reference) gives two further prompts:

Reference length:New length:

This option enables the copy to be magnified in an absolute sense ratherthan a relative sense. It works in exactly the same way as the Referenceoption of the AutoCAD scale command; see the AutoCAD ReferenceManual.

The final prompt of the copy/magnify operation is

Copy to current layer No:

The magnified copy will be created on the current layer unless you replyNo (press N). Note that any objects put onto PDMS GT_ layers will belost when the picture is updated with the latest version of the drawingfrom PDMS DRAFT.




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6.6 Creating a Paper Space Viewport on a Drawing

This option creates a paper space viewport and makes it the current viewport.

Command: pdms_view_create

Menu Selection:PDMS Draw>Create Viewport

Initial Prompt: Select region to viewFirst point:

Use: Click on one corner of the part of the drawing that you wish to becontained within the viewport.

Other corner:

Drag out the rectangle which appears, and click on the other corner.

Position new viewport:

A rectangle representing the new viewport moves with the crosshairs.Click on the required position.

Magnify -- base point/:

Pressing Enter at this point will give a same--size copy of the windowedgroup of objects, and the viewport creation operation will be complete.

To produce a resized copy, click on the point that you wish to be the basepoint for the resize operation. (Should this point be outside the viewport,the viewport will be displaced as illustrated in Figure 6--2.)

/Reference:

The default input for this prompt is simply a value, for example 2 willgive a copy twice as large as the original. (If you wish to produce a copysmaller than the original, input a value less than 1.)

Pressing R (for Reference) gives two further prompts:Reference length:New length:

This option enables the copy to be magnified in an absolute sense ratherthan a relative sense. It works in exactly the same way as the Referenceoption of the AutoCAD scale command; see the AutoCAD ReferenceManual.




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NOTE: The drawing should be zoomed out to the edge of the drawingsheet in order that the new views are seen in their correctposition with respect to the sheet. (See also Section 3.3.1.)

6.7 Selecting a Paper Space Viewport on a Drawing

This option selects a paper space viewport andmakes it the current viewport, thus enablingall of the AutoCAD facilities to be used within it.

Command: pdms_view_sel

Menu Selection:PDMS Draw>Select Viewport

Initial Prompt: Select a viewport

Use: Click on the boundary of the viewport you wish to make current.

Notes: WhenaDRAFTdrawing is loaded intoAutoDRAFT it isplaced ina paperspace viewport which is the same size as the sheet.

pdms_view_sel must be used to select a viewport; it is not possible tomake a viewport current simply by pressing the pick button inside itsboundary.

6.8 Leaving AutoCAD, Without Saving Changes

This option allows you to leave AutoCAD without saving changes, avoiding the AutoCADmain menu.

Command: pdms_quitacad

Menu Selection:PDMS Draw>PDMS QuitAcad

Initial Prompt: Quit AutoCAD -- Are you sure? Yes/No:

Use: Press Y (or type YES or YE) to quit; anything else will not quit.




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6.9 Leaving AutoCAD, Saving Changes

This option allows you to leave AutoCAD while saving changes, avoiding the AutoCADmain menu.

Command: pdms_endacad

Menu Selection:PDMS Draw>PDMS EndAcad

Use: (No prompt; simply type in the command or make the menu selection.)

Notes: The drawing will be saved over any existing drawing of the same name.



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7 The Symbol Editor -- Introduction

7.1 The Symbol Editor Functions

The Symbol Editor allows you to create symbol templates in AutoCAD and transfer thetemplate graphics into a DRAFT Symbol Library (SYLB element). The symbol templatesmust be constructed from a subset of AutoCAD entities and attributes which can bereproduced in DRAFT. You can create those entities using any AutoCAD geometrydefinition facilities, including hatching, spline curve fitting and offsetting.

TheSymbolEditor readsAutoCADdrawing entities and creates aDRAFT commandmacrothat reproduces AutoCAD block inserts as Symbol Templates (SYTMelements) in DRAFT,each owning 2D primitives.

If any of the SYTMs thus defined already exist in the current DRAFT Symbol Library thenthe old 2D primitives are deleted and replaced by the new definition.

See Chapters 8, 9 and 10 for details of how to use the Symbol Editor.

7.2 AutoCAD Working Practices

Symbol templates can be created using standard AutoCAD functions. The specialrequirements for drawing organisation are as follows:

D Each symbol template is represented by a Block insert which is constructed fromAutoCAD entities that can be translated into DRAFT entities by the pdms_symbolscommand (see Chapter 10).

D Each symbol block must have an AutoCAD attribute (ATTRIB) called PDMS_NAME.The DRAFT symbol name is given in response to the PDMS_NAME attdef commandprompt when the symbol Block is inserted on a drawing. (See Section 9.2.)


The Symbol Editor -- Introduction


72

D Symbol template inserts should be on a separate layer from any annotation for thesymbol templates. Annotation may be sent to DRAFT by using the AutoDRAFTFrame Editor -- see Chapters 11--13.

D The drawing limits must match the size of the Symbol Library sheet in DRAFT (seeSection 7.3).

Note that 3DAutoCADentities in symbol inserts cannot be sent back to DRAFT.Attributesentities on the top--level Insert are ignored (other than the PDMS_NAME attribute).Entities smaller than 0.01mmmay be ignored or simplified. Symbol inserts can contain thefollowing AutoCAD entities:

D LineD PointD CircleD ArcD Text (with Generation Normal)D Polyline (including fitted curves and splined curves)D Inserts which contain 2D primitives as specified above, including any Attributes.

7.3 Symbol Library Annotation

In DRAFT, symbol templates are stored inSymbol Library (SYLB) elements. Each SYLB islike a drawing sheet containing pictures of all the symbol templates in the library.

In order to addannotation to the symbol templates it is necessary to create a Backing Sheet(BACK) element in DRAFT which is used as a backdrop on the symbol library sheet.

The annotation should be on layers separate from the symbol template graphics in thesymbol blocks. This enables you to freeze the layer(s) containing the symbol templategraphics and create a backing sheet from the remaining annotation layer(s) using theAutoDRAFT Frame Editor.

In DRAFT, you must add a reference to the backing sheet from the SYLB element (BSRFattribute) to see the symbol templates and annotation together.



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8 The Symbol Editor -- Getting Started

There are two methods of starting the Symbol Editor:

D Directly. This method is used when AutoCAD and PDMS are on separate hardwareplatforms.

D From PDMSDRAFT. This method is used when AutoCAD and PDMS are on the samehardware platform.

8.1 Starting the Symbol Editor Directly

8.1.1 Starting the Symbol Editor on the Host AutoCAD Platform


Starting the SymbolEditor is done by running theadraftse scriptwhich is supplied as partof the AutoDRAFT package. The script can be used in two ways:

" Creating a New Symbol Editor Drawing

adraftse --new dwg_filename

where dwg_filename is the required AutoCAD drawing database name.


1. Starts AutoCAD.


3. Loads the AutoDRAFT Symbol Editor program.

4. Leaves you in an AutoDRAFT Symbol Editor session with an empty drawing.


The Symbol Editor -- Getting Started


82

" Opening an Existing Symbol Editor Drawing

adraftse --open dwg_filename

where dwg_filename is the name of the required (existing) AutoCAD drawing database.


1. Starts AutoCAD.


3. Loads the AutoDRAFT Symbol Editor program.

4. Leaves you in a Symbol Editor session with an existing drawing displayed.

8.2 Starting the Symbol Editor from PDMS DRAFT

See the VANTAGE PDMS DRAFT Administration Application User Guide, Chapter 14.

8.3 Setting the Drawing Size in AutoCAD

The size of the AutoCADdrawing shouldmatch the size of the symbol library (SYLB) sheet.When setting upa symbol templates drawing inAutoCAD the limits should be set such thatthe lower left corner is at 0,0 and the upper right corner is at the upper right corner of thesheet. The AutoCAD command limits is used to specify drawing limits. For example an A0metric sheet would be specified by :

Command: limits

ON/OFF/: 0,0Upper right corner: 1189,841

An E size sheet (44x34) would be specified by:




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9 The Symbol Editor -- Creating SymbolTemplates

TheSymbolEditor allows you to create symbol templates inAutoCADasAutoCADblocks.A block, and an insert of the block, are created. (Blocks may, of course, be created usingstandard AutoCAD commands, but the AutoDRAFT Symbol Editor provides a methodwhich is optimised for the creation of blocks to be used as symbol templates in DRAFT.)

The procedure for creating a symbol template is:

1. Create the symbol graphics using lines, points, circles, arcs, polylines and text.

2. Create an AutoCAD attribute called PDMS_NAME for the symbol name.

3. Create a block and an insert of the block.

9.1 Creating the Symbol Name Attribute

A typical attdef command sequence would be:

Command: attdef

Initial Prompt: Attribute modes -- -- Invisible:N Constant:N Verify:N Preset:NEnter (ICVP) to change, RETURN when done:

Use: set modes as required in response to the initial prompt. The remainingprompts and required responses are:

Attribute tag: enter PDMS_NAME

Attribute Prompt: enter Enter PDMS symbol name (for example)


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92

Default attribute value: press Enter (or Return)

Justify/Style/:Height:Rotation angle:

9.2 Creating a Block and an Insert of the Block

Command: pdms_make_symbol

Menu Selection: PDMS Symbol>Make Symbol

Initial Prompt: Enter Symbol Block Name:

Use: enter the desired block name in response to the initial prompt. Theremaining prompts and required responses are:

Insert base point: select point (= origin of DRAFT symboltemplate)

Select Objects: select symbol graphics and attributeScale factor: enter required factor or press EnterRotation angle: enter required angle or press Enter

Finally, enter the required PDMS symbol name. The prompt displayedwill be that defined when the ATTDEF command was used, for example:

Enter PDMS symbol name:

NOTE: If desired, the AutoCAD block and insert commands may be used instead of theabove sequence. If this option is taken up, do not use differential scale whendefining the insertion scale factor.

9.3 Redefining a Symbol

1. Create the new symbol graphics and PDMS attribute.

2. Create a block containing the new symbol definition. If the specified block name alreadyexists the following prompt is given:

Block name already existsRedefine it?

If the reply isN or if Enter is pressed, the block command exitswithout changing anything.If the reply is Y, any inserts of that block are redefined.

as for text command



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10 The Symbol Editor -- Deriving DRAFTCommand Files

The procedure for this depends on whether:

D youhaveentered theSymbolEditordirectly (AutoCADandDRAFTnot linked togetheron same hardware platform);

D you have entered the Symbol Editor from DRAFT (AutoCAD and DRAFT on samehardware platform).

10.1 Direct Entry to Symbol Editor (using adraftse command)

Command: pdms_symbols

Menu Selection:PDMS Symbol>Write Symbol

Initial Prompt: Select Objects:

Use: select the required block inserts. The remaining prompts and requiredresponses are:

Inch/: -- enter required units (defaultmillimetres)

Draft Symbol Library Name : -- enter name of destinationDRAFT SYLB element (defaultcurrent element)

Draft Command Filename: -- enter a filename for thecommandmacro (note: the .macsuffix, conventional in PDMS, isnot automatically added)


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102

The above procedure will create themacro file and save it in the current directory. This canthen be run in PDMS from the command line using the $M/ command (having firstnavigated to the correct database position if the CE option was selected), or the relevantDRAFTmenuoptionmaybeused -- see thePDMSDRAFTAdministrationApplicationUserGuide, Chapter 14.

NOTE: The ways in which AutoCAD entities and attributes are mapped to DRAFT elements andattributes are described in Appendix B.

10.2 Entry to Symbol Editor from DRAFT

Command: pdms_symbols

Menu Selection:PDMS Symbol>Write Symbol


Use: select the required block inserts.

In this case the units, DRAFT Symbol Library name and command file name have alreadybeen specified on entry to AutoDRAFT, and so need not be reinput.

Having selected the required block inserts, AutoCAD will output messages indicating thenumber of inserts read and the number of symbols output. Having exited AutoCAD, theSYTM elements will be automatically created as members of the destination SymbolLibrary.






Use: Press Y (or type YES ) to quit; anything else will not quit.


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103






Notes: DRAFT will read in the macro created to produce the required SymbolTemplates (SYTW elements) in the current Symbol Library.

10.5 Symbol Template Naming Conventions

The Symbol Template name must be a valid PDMS database name.

If the name has already been defined in the current DRAFT Symbol Library, the old 2Dprimitives are deleted and replaced by the new definition.

If the name has already been used for any other PDMS database element, the process willbe aborted.



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11 The Frame Editor -- Introduction

11.1 The Frame Editor Functions

The Frame Editor allows you to create DRAFT Backing Sheets from AutoCAD drawings.The most common use of Backing Sheets in DRAFT is to store standard drawing frames.These can be used by DRAFT as a backdrop to its drawing sheets.

The FrameEditor reads AutoCAD drawing entities and creates a DRAFT commandmacrothat reproduces the picture in DRAFT. The mapping from AutoCAD entities to DRAFTentities is described in Appendix B.

The Sheet command file can be read into a DRAFT Sheet Library (SHLB) element in thedatabase. A BACK database element will be created, which owns one or more NOTEelements containing the 2D primitives.

It is also possible to create DRAFT Overlay Sheets with the Frame Editor. An OverlaySheet in DRAFT has similar properties to a Backing Sheet. The Frame Editor can createOverlay Sheet (OVER) database elements containing one or more Sheet Note (NOTE)elements. The Sheet Note contains all the 2D primitives on the sheet.

Overlay Sheets could be used to combine a DRAFT drawing sheet with detail graphicsdrawn in AutoCAD. The graphics imported from AutoCAD can then be stored, drawn andplotted within PDMS DRAFT.

If the specifiedBacking Sheet orOverlay Sheet already exists in the specifiedDRAFTSheetLibrary then the old 2D primitives are deleted and replaced by the new definition.

See Chapters 12 and 13 for details of how to use the Frame Editor.

11.2 AutoCAD Working Practices

A Backing/Overlay Sheet can be created using standard AutoCAD functions. The onlyspecial requirement for a Sheet is that it is constructed from AutoCAD entities that can be


The Frame Editor -- Introduction


112

translated intoDRAFT entities (seeAppendixB). Note that 3DAutoCADentities cannot besent back to DRAFT. AutoCAD entities smaller than 0.01mm will not be transferred. TheAutoCAD entities that can be reproduced in DRAFT are:

D LineD PointD CircleD ArcD Text (with Generation Normal)D Attribute (Visible, with Generation Normal)D Polyline (including fitted curves and splined curves)D Inserts which contain 2D primitives as specified above



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12 The Frame Editor -- Getting Started

There are two methods of starting the Frame Editor:

D Directly. This method is used when AutoCAD and PDMS are on separate hardwareplatforms.

D From PDMS DRAFT. This method is used when AutoCAD and PDMS are on the same hardwareplatform.

12.1 Starting the Frame Editor Directly

12.1.1 Starting the Frame Editor on the Host AutoCAD Platform


Starting the FrameEditor is done by running the adraftbe scriptwhich is supplied as partof the AutoDRAFT package. The script can be used in two ways:

" Creating a New Frame Editor Drawing

adraftbe --new dwg_filename

where dwg_filename is the required AutoCAD drawing database name.


1. Starts AutoCAD.


3. Loads the AutoDRAFT Frame Editor program.

4. Leaves you in an AutoDRAFT Frame Editor session with an empty drawing.


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122

" Opening an Existing Frame Editor Drawing

adraftbe --open dwg_filename

where dwg_filename is the name of the required (existing) AutoCAD drawing database.


1. Starts AutoCAD.


3. Loads the AutoDRAFT Frame Editor program.

4. Leaves you in a Frame Editor session with an existing drawing displayed.

12.2 Starting the Frame Editor from PDMS DRAFT

See the VANTAGE PDMS DRAFT Administration Guide.

12.3 Setting the Drawing Size in AutoCAD

The size of the AutoCAD drawing shouldmatch the size of the Sheet Library (SHLB) sheet.When setting up aFrameEditor drawing inAutoCAD the limits should be set such that thelower left corner is at 0,0 and the upper right corner is at the upper right corner of the sheet.The AutoCAD limits command is used to specify drawing limits. For example an A0metricsheet would be specified by :

Command: limits


An E size sheet (44x34) would be specified by:




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13 The Frame Editor -- Deriving DRAFTCommand Files

Having drawn the required Sheet graphics in AutoCAD, the procedure for creating thecommand macro for import into DRAFT depends on whether:

D youhave entered the FrameEditor directly (AutoCADandDRAFTnot linked togetheron same hardware platform).

D you have entered the Frame Editor from DRAFT (AutoCAD and DRAFT on samehardware platform).

13.1 Direct Entry to Frame Editor (using adraftbe command)

Command: pdms_sheet

Menu Selection:PDMS Frame>Write Sheet


Use: select the required entities. The remaining prompts and requiredresponses are:

Inch/: -- enter required units (defaultmillimetres)

Over/: -- -- choose to create Overlay orBacking Sheet

Draft Sheet Library Name : -- enter name of destinationDRAFTSHLB element (default currentelement)


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132

BACK Sheet name:* -- enter a valid PDMS name for thesheet

Draft Command Filename: -- enter a filename for the commandmacro (note: the .mac suffix,conventional in PDMS, is notautomatically added)

* OVER Sheet Name if Over has been chosen earlier

The above procedure will create themacro file and save it in the current directory. This canthen be run in PDMS from the command line using the $M/ command (having firstnavigated to the correct database position if the CE option was selected), or the relevantDRAFT menu option may be used -- see the VANTAGE PDMS DRAFT AdministrationGuide.

NOTE: The ways in which AutoCAD entities and attributes are mapped to DRAFTelements and attributes are described in Appendix B.

13.2 Entry to Frame Editor from DRAFT

Command: pdms_sheet

Menu Selection:PDMS Frame>Write sheet


Use: select the required entities.

In this case the units, DRAFT Sheet Library name, sheet element name and command filename have already been specified on entry to AutoDRAFT, and so need not be reinput.

Having selected the required entities, AutoCAD will output messages indicating thenumber of entities read and the number output. Having exited AutoCAD, the BACK (orOVER) elementwill beautomatically created as the firstmember of the destinationSheetLibrary, with a member NOTE element having 2D Primitives as its own members.




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Use: Press Y (or type YES ) to quit; anything else will not quit.






Notes: DRAFT will read in the macro created to produce the requiredBACK/OVER elements in the current Sheet Library.

13.5 Sheet Naming Conventions

The names assigned to Backing Sheets and Overlay Sheets which are to be created by animported command macro will be treated as described below.

13.5.1 Backing Sheet Name

The Backing Sheet name must be a valid PDMS database name.

If the name has already been used for a Backing Sheet in the specified Sheet Library whenthe command macro is read into DRAFT, it will be assumed that this is a replacementdrawing. All graphics on the old Backing Sheet will be deleted and the newgraphics read into replace it.




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If the name has already been used for any other database element in the PDMS databasethen the command file will be aborted.

13.5.2 Overlay Sheet Name

The rules for Overlay Sheets are the same as those for Backing Sheets with one exception --if an Overlay Sheet already exists in the Sheet Library, and it contains a VIEW element, itwill not be overwritten.

w

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