There are several adapters included with Cumulus¬ Image Database that allow you to access a catalog and choose an image from it to import or open it from another application. Adapters are provided for MiniCad, Adobe Photoshop, QuarkXPress, Adobe PageMaker, FrameMaker, FrameBuilder, Adobe Illustrator and RagTime. Canto¬ and other software developers are working on additional adapters.
There are two plug-in modules called "external" for MiniCad 6.0 of Graphsoft, in two different folder each. They are:
This external allows you to import an image into a MiniCad document. It functions similar to the "Open" command in the "File" menu, except that the image is imported through Cumulus database.
2)Cumulus MC6 Export (Menu Name:"Save File for Cumulus...")
This external allows you to save a MiniCad file attaching a preview image that appears as a thumbnail when cataloging to Cumulus. The external captures the entire image that is presently appearing in the MiniCad file, and convert it to a PICT resource. It functions almost similar to the "Save As" command in the "File" menu. The file type saved will be "MC6d", the native type of MiniCad 6.0.
Remember that these externals does NOT function in MiniCad version 5.0 and before. They are strictly use for the version 6.0. Please check your MiniCad version before you install them.
Difference from the Version 5.0
1) The Cumulus External of MiniCad 5.0 captures all the layers in a file as a PTIC resource, while that of version 6.0 captures only the layers wihch are appeared.
2) The Cumulus External for MiniCad 6.0 saves the file as a Bitmap image whereas that of 5.0 version saves as draw image. It brings you faster speed with less memory in saving.
3) Cumulus application is able to catalog QuickDraw 3D file format saved by the MiniCad 6.0.
when catalog the 3D file, you don't have use the external. Just save it and catalog to Cumulus database.
Installation (For General Use)
The Cumulus Externals for MiniCad 6.0 are contained into two folders:One for the users of 68k Macintosh and the other for the PowerMac users. Please select appropriate one.
1) Quit the MiniCad application if it is open.
2) Copy the externals "Cumulus MC6 Import" and "Cumulus MC6 Export" located in the "MiniCad Adapters" folder on the Cumulus CD-ROM into the "Externals" folder in your MiniCad folder.
3) Copy the file "Cumulus Overlay" from the "Overlays" folder also located on the CD-ROM into the MiniCad "Overlays" folder.
4) Start the MiniCad application. You will find an additional menu called "Cumulus" in the menu bar containing "Open Cumulus" and "Save File for Cumulus"
Installation (For Using "OverlayEdit" Application)
1) Quit the MiniCad application if it is open.
2) Copy the externals "Cumulus MC6 Import" and "Cumulus MC6 Export" located in the "MiniCad Adapters" folder on the Cumulus CD-ROM, into the "Externals" folder in your MiniCad folder.
3) Open an overlay file with "OverlayEdit" in which you want to add the Cumulus externals.
4) Set OverlayEdit to "menu" mode, then create the "Cumulus" menu adding "Open Cumulus" and "Save File for Cumulus" commands. For more information about the usage of OverlayEdit please read its manual.
5) Start MiniCad and you will find the "Cumulus" menu in the menu bar.
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How to Use the Externals
Cumulus MC6 Import ("Open Cumulus")
1) Select "Open Cumulus" from the "Cumulus" menu in MiniCad. The active application will be switched to the Cumulus application. If Cumulus is not open, it will start up automatically.
2) You'll see a floating window as follows:
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3) From the Cumulus application, find and select a MiniCad file that you want to edit then click OK in the floating window. The file will open in MiniCad.
Cumulus MC6 Export ("Save File for Cumulus")
1) Open a MiniCad file that you want to catalog to a Cumulus database.
2) If you want the preview image to contain more details, increase the size of the window. Select "Save File for Cumulus" from the "Cumulus" menu.
3) A "Save" dialog appears. Click "Save" after setting an appropriate destination.
4) Although the appearance of the file doesn't look any different from normal MiniCad files, the file contains a preview image that appears as a thumbnail in a Cumulus database when the file is cataloged. The "Preview" command in Cumulus shows a full-size preview which can be enlarged up to 800%.
The Known Problems
Using the Externals in 68k Macintosh may cause following errors:
Case 1: Saving a newly created file by "Cumulus MC6 Export":
When canceling the operation, only PICT resource is saved while the MiniCad file is not.
Case 2: Saving a exisiting file by "Cumulus MC6 Export" for the first time:
When canceling the operation, the PICT resuorce of the present image is attached to the file while the MiniCad file is not saved.
Case 3: Saving a file that has been saved by "Cumulus MC6 Export" before:
When canceling the operation, the PICT resource that is attached to the file will be replaced to the presently appearing image. Therefore, Cumulus asks users to update the record. In result, the thumbnail becomes different from the actual image.
The Solution:
In any cases above, please do not cancel the operation. Just save the file, then, trash it later. So far, we cannnot give you the perfect solution since with the present MiniCad Tool Kit, we cannot solve this trouble. We will keep working on the issue to get the eariest possible solution.
Notes
The quality of the preview image depends on the window size of the MiniCad document when you save it from the "Cumulus" menu. The larger the size, the better quality the preview image will have.
"Open Cumulus" functions as the "Open" command. You can also open any file type beside "MC6d". For example, if you choose a PICT file from a Cumulus database, it will be imported to MiniCad as an "Untitled" file.
"Save File for Cumulus" functions as the "Save As" command. It is different to the "Save" command which updates a currently opened file without changing the name and the location saved. Please keep in mind to use the "Save File for Cumulus" command when saving the file for the last time before it is cataloged by Cumulus. Otherwise it will lose the preview image. You can save it at the same location with the same name replacing your previous version of it just like the "Save" command does.
Text in a MiniCad file is also supported and can be checked at the preview window of Cumulus. However, only sentences written horizontally are supported.
In some cases, it is reported that the MiniCad window remains on the screen without switching to the Cumulus window, when you executed "Open by Cumulus". In that case, please click somewhere outside the MiniCad window (e.g. the Finder). If this happens often, please rebuild the desktop file and try it again.