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______________ | | | LAYOUT | |______________| An Area Planning and Inventory Program written by Martin L. Waldman Version 4.0 Copyright 1991,1992,1993 All rights reserved Distributed by Software Co-op 5437 Honey Manor Drive Indianapolis IN 46241 317-856-6052 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PART 1. INTRODUCTION .................... 1 1.1 Upgrade to Version 4 ...... 1 1.2 Starting LAYOUT ........... 2 1.3 Exiting from LAYOUT ....... 2 1.4 Screen Displays ........... 3 1.5 Using the Keyboard ........ 4 1.6 LAYOUT File selection ..... 5 1.7 Sheet selection ........... 5 PART 2. SHEET FUNCTIONS ................. 6 2,1 Framework Menu ............ 6 2.2 Content Menu .............. 9 2.3 Drawing the Sheet ........ 11 2.4 Mouse Functions .......... 12 2.5 Printing the Sheet ....... 13 PART 3. FILE FUNCTIONS ................. 14 3.1 Titles/Printer/Video ..... 14 3.2 Inventory Print .......... 16 3.3 Make a .CSV File ... ..... 16 PART 4. PRACTICAL EXERCISES ............ 17 4.1 Setting the Framework .... 19 4.2 Changing the Contents .... 23 4.3 Using the Mouse .......... 24 PART 5. LICENSE INFORMATION ............ 27 Layout 4.0 1 ====================================================================== PART 1. INTRODUCTION LAYOUT is a program that you can use to create and print a drawing of any two-dimensional area along with an inventory of the contents of the area. An area may be a floor plan of a home or business establishment, a map of a piece of land, a description of the contents of a printed page, the design for a quilt, the LAYOUT of components on a circuit board, etc. -- in fact any space for which you know the dimensions. All of the information for displaying and printing an area and it's inventory is stored in a "sheet". A file may contain up to 26 different sheets. New files and sheets can be created as needed by the program. New or changed files are rewritten to disk whenever you exit from the program or when you select a different file. The program will run on any computer system that operates using DOS 2.x or higher, and has 256k of memory and a color monitor. Support is provided for a Mouse, 2 video modes, and for both Epson FX/IBM Graphic compatible dot matrix printers and HP LaserJet compatible laser printers. Part 1 of this manual contains general information about LAYOUT, Parts 2 and 3 discuss the details of specific functions, and Part 4 takes you through a series of practical exercises to acquaint you with the various features of the program. NOTE: In this manual a letter inside angle brackets is used to indicate a single key press -- the shift key need not be held down. 1.1 UPGRADE TO VERSION 4 The data files have been modified and now carry the extension ".LY4". Files that you may have created with version 3 (.LY3) will be automatically converted to the new format the first time Version 4 is run on a directory containing such files. Version 4 supports two video modes, 640 x 200 and 640 x 480. If your equipment can use the higher resolution mode (VGA) you can set the screen to either mode. The colors used on the menu screens have been modified to make them more compatible with the LCD screens now used on many portables.In addition, all menus have been modified so that the first letter (or number) of each item is pressed to sekect it. The grid lines used for indexing have been reconfigured so as not to interfere as much with the contents of a drawing. In addition you can now change the type of indexing directly from the graphic screen. 2 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== 1.2 STARTING LAYOUT The LAYOUT distribution diskette contains the program and sample data files. The program can be run directly on diskette or copied to a hard disk. LAYOUT reads and writes data files on the current default drive and directory. The program itself may be resident on any directory as long as DOS can find it or you include the pathname in the command line. To start LAYOUT you must log on to the drive and directory where the LAYOUT data files are to be stored and, at the DOS prompt, enter the command "LAYOUT" Normally the program "beeps" only when an error is made such as pressing a key that is not valid. If you wish to have an acoustical prompt whenever input is required, you may run Version 4 in the "beep" mode by using the command "LAYOUT /B" From the first display you must select a file by entering a number (see 1.6 LAYOUT FILE SELECTION) -- if you do not the program terminates. Then you must select the sheet to be active (see 1.7 SHEET SELECTION). The Function Menu is then displayed. Pressing a letter key will invoke the named function. When you exit from a function you will be returned to the Function Menu. 1.3 EXITING FROM LAYOUT If you press the <Esc> key at the Function Menu display, the following message will appear: Exit from LAYOUT (Y/N) ? Pressing the <Y> key will exit from LAYOUT to the DOS prompt. Pressing any other key will return you to the Function Menu. Layout 4.0 3 ====================================================================== 1.4 SCREEN DISPLAYS LAYOUT uses two different types of displays. On graphic screens a sidebar (first ten columns) is used to display information describing the current drawing, instructions for continuing, and printer status messages. The remainder of the screen displays a drawing of the active sheet. Text displays are used for file and sheet selection, menus, and data entry functions. For example, the Function Menu looks like this: ____________________________________________________________________ / \ LAYOUT 4.0 Floor Plan C - The Erehwon Apt 13:13:40 1/10/93 Sheet 1/7 Apartment Overview Area Length 480 Width 276 inches ====================================================================== Function Menu Sheet Selection Layout File selection Framework of Sheet Titles/Printer/Video Contents of Area Inventory Print Draw this Sheet Make a .CSV file Print this Sheet ====================================================================== Press S, F, C, D, P, L, T, I, M, or Esc to quit LAYOUT \____________________________________________________________________/ The top two lines on the screen are the "Banner". Line one of the Banner shows the system name and version number, the current active plan title and the current time and date. Line two shows the number and name of the active Sheet and the area dimensions. The middle part of the screen is the "Window" which is used to display the name of the current activity and menus, lists, information from files, messages, special instructions, etc. The bottom two lines are the "Dialog Box". These lines carry the instructions for pressing a key or entering the other information, accept input from the keyboard, and display error messages. 4 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== 1.5 USING THE KEYBOARD Each activity in LAYOUT requires a specific entry from the keyboard. The type of entry, and the specific limits for each entry, are shown in the Dialog Box. A blinking cursor appears and a beep is sounded if not in quiet mode. The instructions use the following terminology. "Press" means you need press only a single key, either a letter or a number. The key list refers to the highlighted characters in the window display or the letter printed between angle brackets on a graphic screen. The Shift Key should not be held down. If you press a key not listed in the instruction, an error message will be displayed and you will be taken back to the prompt. "Return" refers to a key that may be labeled RET or ENTER. "Edit" indicates that you can change individual characters in the highlighted line directly on the screen. Typing a character replaces the one at the cursor. During editing the <INS> key inserts one blank space at the cursor, the <DEL> key deletes the character at the cursor, the <BackSpace> key deletes the character before the cursor. The left and right arrow keys move the cursor one character at a time. The <HOME> key moves the cursor to the beginning of the line, <END> key to the end of the line. To save the changed line press Return. Pressing the <Esc> key exits from editing without saving the changes. "Enter" means you are expected to either type a number or a new character type entry (see "Edit"). For numbers use the backspace key to make corrections. Press the Return key when you have completed your entry. When entering a number pressing Return alone (not Esc) causes no change to be made. Entering a 0 (zero) causes that value to be stored where appropriate. The value zero is displayed as either a blank or a "0" on the screen. An error message will appear if your entry exceeds the limits of a number. For example, there is a maximum of 6 entries for "Doors" on the Sheet Framework menu (see Part 2). After every addition or change, you will be given the opportunity to correct the information before it is saved on the permanent file. Every instruction in LAYOUT gives you an opportunity to "back out" of the routine, or continue on, without making a change in the displayed values. Pressing only the Return key, or the Esc key where specified, will take you back to the previous instruction or display. Layout 4.0 5 ====================================================================== 1.6 LAYOUT FILE SELECTION This function will be invoked when you first start LAYOUT and may also be accessed by pressing <L> at the Function Menu display. A numbered list of the Plan Titles in the files on the current directory will be displayed. Type the number of the LAYOUT File you want to work with, then press the Return key. If you press Return without typing a number, you will be returned to the Function Menu with the current file still active. To create a new file, enter a "+" sign. The program will check to see if there is room on the current drive and directory for a new full size file (64k) -- if not a warning message will be displayed. NOTE: A directory may contain up to 30 LAYOUT data files. If there is room for a new file, you will be asked if you wish to copy a current file. If you enter a file number, a new file will be created that is an exact copy of the selected file and will be named as a "COPY of" that file. Other wise, a new file will be created that contains one sheet. You must then select a sheet to be the active one. 1.7 SHEET SELECTION This function will be invoked automatically when you select a LAYOUT file and may also be accessed by pressing <S> at the Function Menu display. You will be presented with a numbered list of the Sheet names in the current file. Type the number of the sheet you want to work with, then press the Return key. If you press Return without typing a number, you will be returned to the Function Menu -- the current Sheet remains active. To create a new sheet,enter a "+" sign. The program will check to see if there is room in the file and on the current drive and directory for a new sheet (4k) -- if not a warning message will be displayed. If there is room for a new sheet (maximum 26), you will be asked if you wish to copy a current one. If you enter a sheet number, that sheet will be copied to the next available sheet number and will be named as a "COPY of" that sheet. Other wise a blank sheet will be added to the file. The selected, or newly created, sheet then becomes the active sheet. 6 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== PART 2. SHEET FUNCTIONS Two menus are used to enter the information describing the active sheet. -- the Framework menu by pressing <F>, the Contents menu by pressing <C>. Both can be accessed from either the Function Menu or the Drawing display. NOTE: The Sheet Name can be edited on the Titles/Printer/Video menu -- see paragraph 3.1.2 below. The current values on file for the active sheet will be displayed. Press a letter key to change a value as explained below. Pressing the Return key takes you back to the Function Menu or Drawing display. 2.1 FRAMEWORK MENU This menu is used to enter or change the information that controls how the sheet is displayed and printed. When you press <F>, the information will be displayed and you will be prompted to press a key, or return. The action invoked by each key is as follows: 2.1.1 DRAWING UNITS All objects are drawn on the screen (and printout) as a rectangular box whose "Size" and "Position" is specified as a number of "Drawing Units". The box represents the area occupied by the object -- not necessarily it's shape. The Drawing Units value is a word or abbreviation that states the units (e.g. inches, feet, meters, etc.) of the actual measurements entered for items to be drawn on the screen. Press and you will be prompted to enter the Drawing Units value. The Size of an item specifies the actual measurements to be drawn on the screen. "Length" is the horizontal dimension (left to right), "Width" is the vertical dimension (top to bottom). Position is defined by how far the upper left-hand corner of an item is offset from the "Base Point" (the filled-in block located in the upper left-hand corner of the drawing area). "Rt" = horizontal distance to the right of the Base Point. "Dn" = vertical distance down from the Base Point. The position of the Base Point itself is Rt 0 Dn 0 Layout 4.0 7 ====================================================================== 2.1.2 DRAWING RATIO The number of different locations that can be physically displayed on the graphic screen is limited by the video mode you are using. Actual dimensions that are larger (or smaller) can be optimally displayed by setting the appropriate Drawing Ratio for the active sheet. The data entered for each item will be adjusted for display purposes by the ratio -- the data itself is not changed. When you press <R> you will see a display of the ratios that may be used to enlarge or reduce the drawing so that it fits on the screen. The following table can be used to determine an appropriate ratio depending on the video mode you are using. Code Draw Maximum Actual Measurement No. Ratio 640 x 200 640 x 480 Len Wid Len Wid Normal 0 Full 240 192 264 228 Enlarge 1 Dble 120 96 132 114 2 Quad 60 48 66 57 Reduce 3 Half 480 384 528 456 4 Qtr 960 768 1056 912 Enter the code number of the Drawing ratio you wish to use for the active sheet. 2.1.3 INDEX TYPE Sheets may be drawn with tick marks on the borders of the drawing, full grid lines crisscrossing the drawing or with no index marks. When you press <T> you will see a display of the Index Types that may be used in the drawing and printing of the active sheet. Enter a code number or press Return for no change. You may also change the type by pressing <T> on the graphic screen. The display of the indexes will be rotated serially among the 3 types. 2.1.4 INTERVAL The index interval is the number of drawing units between tick marks or grid lines on the drawing and printout. Press and then enter a new number or press Return for no change. The index interval will be adjusted for display according to the drawing ratio. 8 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== 2.1.5 DRAWING AREA BORDERS The borders of the drawing area may be displayed as "Walls" (double lines), "Edges" (single lines), or not at all. When you press you will see a display of the Borders that may be used in the drawing and printing of the active sheet. Enter a code number or press Return for no change. 2.1.6 HORIZONTAL and VERTICAL SIZES Both of these dimensions should be entered as the actual measurements of the area represented by the sheet. Edges will be drawn at these dimensions, Walls outside of them. Press <H> or <V> and then enter the desired value. The boundaries of the drawing area will be indicated on all drawings by filled-in blocks located outside of each corner. 2.1.7 DOORS and WINDOWS - press <D> or <W> When <D> or <W> is pressed you will be prompted to press the number of the item you wish to change -- there are a maximum of 6 of each. You will then be prompted to specify the wall in which the door or window is to be drawn, or you can remove this door or window from the list by pressing <C> (clear). Otherwise, press a letter key -- <T> for the top, for the bottom, <L> for the left-hand, or <R> for the right-hand wall. Next you must enter the position at which the door or window starts: Top & Bottom walls - distance to the right of the base point. Left & Right walls - distance down from the base point. And finally you must enter the size of the window or door. The program draws doors and windows by erasing the specified part of the wall and drawing in the frame. For windows, the erased portion of the wall is filled with a dashed line. If the horizontal or vertical size of the walls is changed, the doors and windows will be drawn within the new walls -- the position and size are not changed. The doors and windows will only be drawn if the drawing area border is set to "Walls". The door and window data will not be changed. Layout 4.0 9 ====================================================================== 2.2 CONTENT MENU The Contents menu, accessed by pressing <C>, enables you to enter and change the specifications for the objects to be displayed on drawings and printouts and to enter the inventory data. The initial display shows the name, size, and position for each of the content blocks (A - Z) that are used to define the rectangular block of space occupied by an object regardless of shape. To change the specifications or the inventory data for a block, press the letter corresponding to the block. A window will open on the opposite half of the screen that displays all the data on file for the selected content block and you will prompted to select an item to change. As you change an item the new data will be displayed in the window but will not be changed on the initial display (all 26 blocks) until you press return to exit from this window. When you do, you will be returned to the updated initial Area Content display. To clear an item completely, press <C>. 2.2.1 NAME OF BLOCK Press <N> and the block's Name field will be highlighted for editing as described in Para. 1.5. 2.2.2 SIZE When you press <S>, you will be serially prompted to enter the Length and Width of the item. Pressing Return at a prompt leaves that value unchanged -- see also Para 2.4 Mouse Functions. NOTE: You may record the block name and size at any time, but, the item will NOT appear on the drawing unless it's Position has been defined. 2.2.3 POSITION To set the Position data (distances to the right and down) of the block, press . You will be serially prompted to enter the two values. Pressing Return at a prompt leaves that value unchanged -- see also Para 2.4 Mouse Functions. 10 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== 2.2.4 ROTATION Initially blocks are drawn with the length parallel to the top of the area (Rotation angle = 0). Press <R> to choose another angle. The block will be rotated around the recorded position with the length drawn at the specified angle -- see also Para 2.4 Mouse Functions. 2.2.5 INVENTORY ITEMS Pressing a number key <1> - <6> allows you to edit that inventory item. If you press you will be serially prompted to edit all six. The number of characters and the type of entry in each inventory item is determined by the values set in the Set Titles/Printer Type menu (see 3.1.4 INVENTORY COLUMNS). If the sizes or types are changed after the data has been entered it may be neccessary to reedit all of the content blocks. The column type determines how the inventory item is edited on the area content menu and how it is printed on the inventory list and .CSV file. The type of the item appears after the item title on the area content display as [C] or [N] [C] - Character type entries can be changed by editing them directly in the highlighted space of the area content display. These print as displayed on the inventory list and are surrounded by double quotes in the .CSV file. [N] - To change a numeric type entry, you will be prompted to enter the number from the keyboard (Return for no change). You may include leading plus or minus signs and embedded decimal points.The numeric entries will be automatically right justified in the display and printout and surrounded only by commas in the .CSV file. Layout 4.0 11 ====================================================================== 2.3 DRAWING THIS SHEET Each block is drawn and printed with the following variations according to the values shown on the display: 1) Blocks with all four values for size and position specified will be drawn as a box on the screen and the printout. 2) If the name of the block starts with an asterisk (*) the name will not appear on the printout. Otherwise the name will be printed in the approximate center of the box. 3) If the size of a block is set at zero (blank on the display), a box will not be drawn. The block name will appear on the printout at the specified position. The Drawing function is accessed by pressing <D> at the Function menu. The Framework and Content values for the active sheet will be adjusted by the drawing ratio and then used to draw a graphic screen. Content block boxes, walls, doors, windows, index marks, and filled-in squares representing the four corners of the drawing area will be drawn in that order. The position of each content block for which information has been entered will be indicated by it's item letter on the screen. The drawing is a proportional draft of what will be put on paper when the sheet is printed except that full block names will be printed instead of just the item letters. The Plan Title, Sheet number and name, area length and width, drawing units and ratio, index interval, and the instructions for continuing will be displayed in the sidebar on the left-hand side of the screen. Pressing <Esc> returns you to the Function menu. Press <T> and the indexes wiull be redrawn to the next type. You can modify the drawing by pressing <F> or <C> to make changes to values on the Framework or Content menus -- the drawing will reappear when you exit from either. 12 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== 2.4 MOUSE FUNCTIONS LAYOUT will detect if you have a 2- or 3- button mouse or other compatible pointing device installed in your system. If so, the instructions on the graphic drawing display will include the line "<M>ouse". If you press <M>, you will be prompted to press a letter (A-Z) to define the content block you wish to modify. When you press a letter the sidebar display will change to show the Block letter and the name, size, position, and rotation values currently on file. In addition the current location of the mouse cursor is displayed. The mouse cursor will appear in the center of the screen if no position is on file for the selected block, otherwise it will point to the position and the block letter will appear. The block drawing will appear only if both size and position have been specified. You may use the mouse in the normal manner to change it's cursor location on the screen. You may also use the cursor movement keys on the numeric keypad (NumLock must be off) as follows: The up, down, right, and left arrow keys move the cursor one point at a time in the indicated direction (fine tuning). <PgUp> moves the cursor to the Origin (0,0), <PgDn> sets the cursor at the bottom right hand corner of the defined area. The <Home> key sets the cursor to the position of the selected block. <End> moves the cursor to it's bottom right-hand corner. The mouse buttons and their equivalent keypresses function as follows: Click Left or press <Ins> to move the position of the block to the current cursor location. Click Center or press the <Tab> key to cause the block to serially rotate about the position. You can also change the size of the block. The best way to do this is to first set rotation to "0" and press <End> to position the cursor at the current bottom. Now move the cursor to correct the size values (= cursor location - block position) and Click Right or press <Del>. The block will be redrawn and the new size displayed in the sidebar. The changed drawing you see after each change is a temporary one -- don't worry if some lines appear cut or extra marks appear. To save the changes you have made, you must press the <Ret> key. You may press the <Esc> key at any time to cancel the changes. The drawing will be restored to the current values and you will be returned to the select block (A-Z) prompt. Paragraph 4.3 of this manual contains a practical exercise to acquaint you with using a mouse in LAYOUT. Layout 4.0 13 ====================================================================== 2.5 PRINTING THIS SHEET When you are satisfied with the appearance of the drawing, you may send it to the printer by pressing . NOTE: Printing can also be done by pressing on the Function Menu. The drawing will be displayed without the area content block item letters -- just the way it will be put on paper. A message in the left-hand sidebar will remind you to set the selected type of printer "on line". If you have a printer buffer attached, make sure it too is turned on. NOTE: The Printer Type can be set on the Titles/Printer/Video menu -- see paragraph 3.1.3 below. The printouts from LAYOUT use 9 - 10 inches per page depending on how your dot matrix printer handles dot graphics. To center the top and bottom margins, the paper should be set so that the first line will print one-half to one inch down from the top of a new page. The margins for a laser printer are set automatically. Press again when you are ready, or <Esc> to abort the printing. If the printer is still not ready to print, you will see a second prompt that reminds you to make it ready or to exit without printing. A message will acknowledge that printing has started. Be patient ! Aproximately 44k-60K characters must be sent to the printer one at a time. Depending on the speed of your equipment, printing a sheet on a dot matrix printer may take up to 3 minutes, on a laser printer about 1 minute. A single page will be printed that contains the titles and dimensions of the sheet, the graphic screen drawing with the full name of each block, and lists of the information on file for all doors, windows, and area content blocks. 14 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== PART 3. FILE FUNCTIONS 3.1 TITLES/PRINTER/VIDEO This menu is used to select a printer type, video mode, and enter the information describing the active file and sheet. Press a letter or number key to change a value as explained below. Pressing the Return key takes you back to the Function Menu. The current values on file will be displayed, for example: ____________________________________________________________________ / \ LAYOUT 4.0 Apartment #101 - The Erehwon 13:25:32 1/10/93 Sheet 7/7 Kitchen/Dining Area Area Length 216 Width 144 inches ====================================================================== Titles/Printer/Video Title of Plan Apartment #101 - The Erehwon Sheet Name Kitchen/Dining Area Printer Type Dot Matrix Video mode 640 x 480 Inventory Columns No. Size Type Title 1. 10 Char Purch.Date 2. 10 Num Purch.Cost 3. 10 Char Vendor 4. 13 Char Serial Number 5. 10 Num Repl. Cost 6. 13 Char Ins. Policy # ===== Tot 66 / 66 maximum ====================================================================== To make a change press T, S, P, V, 1 - 6 or press Esc for no change \____________________________________________________________________/ 3.1.1 TITLE OF PLAN The Title, as displayed in the banner, is used to identify the LAYOUT file that is currently being used and is the name that appears on the File Selection display. Press <T> to edit it using the techniques explained in paragraph 1.5. Press Return when finished, or press the <Esc> key if you do not wish to record the change. 3.1.2 SHEET NAME The name of the currently active sheet is also displayed in the banner and is the name that appears on the Sheet Selection display. It can be edited by pressing and using the technique described in para 1.5. Layout 4.0 15 ====================================================================== 3.1.3 PRINTER TYPE Printing may be done either with an Epson FX/IBM Graphic compatible dot matrix printer or an HP LaserJet laser printer. When you press you will see a display of the Printer Types that are to be used to print all reports. Enter a code number or press Return for no change. NOTE: The program expects that the printer you select is the DOS default PRN device. 3.1.4 VIDEO MODE When you press <V> you will see a display of the Video modes that are available. Enter a code number or press Return for no change. NOTE: This item will not appear if your system does not support both modes. 3.1.5 INVENTORY COLUMNS This function enables you to design the format of the printed Inventory and the .CSV file that can be created for the active file. When you press a number key, you will be prompted to enter the size for that column number (press Return for no change), then select the item type (character or numeric), and then to edit the column title. As indicated in the display, there are a maximum of 66 characters for the column titles and data in each column for each Content Block. The column size determines how the 66 characters are divided among the columns -- i.e. the title and data for column 1 use the first group of characters. Column 2 starts at the place where column 1 ends, column 3 starts at the place where column 2 ends, etc.If you try to exceed the maximum, the higher number columns will be reduced in size by the program (highest first). NOTE: Changing a column size will change the title space and location at which all subsequent titles begin -- the titles and content block data may have to be reedited. The column type determines how the inventory item is edited on the area content menu and how it is printed on the inventory list and .CSV file. The type of the item appears after the item title on the area content display as [C] or [N] [C] - These print as displayed on the inventory list and are surrounded by double quotes in the .CSV file. [N] - The numeric entries will be automatically right justified in the display and printout and surrounded only by commas in the .CSV file. 16 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== 3.2 INVENTORY PRINT When you press on the Function Menu, a message will remind you to set the selected type of printer "on line". If you have a printer buffer attached, make sure it too is turned on. The inventory is printed on 9 inches per page. For one inch top and bottom margins on a dot matrix printer, the paper should be set so that the first line will print one inch down from the top of a new page. The margins for a laser printer are set automatically. Press any key when you are ready. If the printer is still not ready to print, you will see a second prompt that reminds you to make it ready or to exit without printing. The print-out contains the data from all of the sheets on the current file and is divided into titled sections for each sheet -- multiple pages are printed if needed. The first line on each page carrys the Plan Title and the current date. The second line carries the inventory column titles set in the Titles/Printer/Video menu. For clarity, the columns are separated from each other by the 3 characters " | " The data for each Sheet starts with a line that carries the sheet number/total and the sheet name. This is followed by a line for each content block that lists the sheet number, block letter, block name, and the inventory data entered for the block in columns separated as above. NOTE: The Inventory data will NOT be printed on the report or included in the .CSV file (see section 3.3) if a content block is empty, the name of the block starts with an asterisk (*), or the length or width of a block is set at zero. 3.3 MAKE A .CSV FILE Many spreadsheet programs can import data directly from a "comma separated value (.CSV)" file -- an ASCII file formatted with commas between data for columns, character data enclosed in double quotes, and a carriage return for a new row. Pressing <M> on the function menu will create a file of that type with the same file name as the current .LY4 file but with the .CSV extension. You will be prompted to verify the action. The file will contain the plan title and column title lines and then all of the sheet information described above (no page breaks). HINT: When importing this file, set the width of the first column of the spreadsheet to 32, the others to each Inventory Column Size + 2. Layout 4.0 17 ====================================================================== PART 4. PRACTICAL EXERCISES In this part we will explore various features of LAYOUT using the sample files on the distribution diskette. Place a copy of the diskette into a disk drive, log on to that drive and enter LAYOUT The plan titles of the files will be displayed like this: ___________________________________________________________________ / \ LAYOUT 4.0 16:58:04 1/10/93 ===================================================================== Layout File Selection ----------- Plan Titles of Files in Current Directory----------- 1. Floor Plan C, The Erehwon Apts 2. Apartment #101, The Erehwon 3. Additional LAYOUT Examples ===================================================================== To start a new file enter a + sign or enter a LAYOUT file number or Return \___________________________________________________________________/ The first two files contain the floor plans for the same apartment. File # 1 shows the unfurnished apartment with it's built-in fixtures, # 2 has had some furnishings placed in it. We will start with File number 1 - press the number 1 and then the Return key. The next display will look like this. ___________________________________________________________________ / \ LAYOUT 4.0 Floor Plan C - The Erehwon Apts 16:58:35 1/10/93 Sheet 1/7 Apartment Overview Area Length 480 Width 276 inches ===================================================================== Select starting Sheet --------------- Sheets Currently in File --------------- 1. Apartment Overview 2. Workshop and Study 3. Study Bath & Closets 4. Living Room 5. Bedroom 6. Main Bath & Closets 7. Kitchen/Dining Area ===================================================================== To add a new sheet enter a + sign or enter a Sheet number or Return \___________________________________________________________________/ Sheet 1 is a block overview of the apartment. The others show details including interior walls and doors. Choose sheet number 2 to start. 18 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== The next display you will see is the Function Menu. Note that Sheet number 2 is now listed in the banner as the active sheet. If your monitor is capable of 640x480 mode, you may choose either video mode (see Titles/Printer/Video menu) for the following exercises. Press <D> to draw the sheet on the screen. You will then see a display that looks something like this (but much better on the screen): ___________________________________________________________________ / \ Floor Plan *=============== ========================* C, The || A || Erewhon Ap || || Sheet # || 2/7 || B Workshop | and Study | || ---------- | || Length 204 | || Width 132 | || inches | || Index set || || each 12 || Drawing is || C Full size || ---------- || || Press || || <C>ontent *==================================== ====* <F>ramewk D <T>ype index rint or <Esc> to Menu \___________________________________________________________________/ The information in the sidebar and the data for drawing the four doors and the one window can be changed on the Framework menu. Press <F> to view that menu. Press Return to come back to the drawing. The four letters in the drawing area (A-D) show the locations where the names for each of the doors will be printed on paper. These locations can be changed on the Contents menu. Press <C> to bring up the Contents menu. Note the block names assigned to each of the letters. Since the size (Len and Wid) of each of these blocks is zero (blank) no box will be drawn. The names will be printed in the positions defined for each. We will discuss Contents menu later in this manual. Press Return to come back to the drawing. Layout 4.0 19 ====================================================================== 4.1 SETTING THE FRAMEWORK Let's examine the effects of setting some of the values displayed on the Framework menu. Press <F> to bring up that menu. ___________________________________________________________________ / \ LAYOUT 4.0 Floor Plan C - The Erehwon Apts 17:40:45 1/10/93 Sheet 2/7 Workshop and Study Area Length 204 Width 132 inches ===================================================================== Framework of Sheet Units inches Type Index not drawn Ratio Full size Interval 12 inches Borders of Area Walls Horizontal size (length) 204 inches Vertical size (width) 132 inches Door Wall Position Size Window Wall Position Size 1. Top Rt 60 36 1. Lft Dn 40 48 2. Rht Dn 24 24 2. 3. Rht Dn 84 24 3. 4. Bot Rt 162 32 4. 5. 5. 6. 6. ===================================================================== To make a change press U, R, T, I, B, H, V, D, W or press Esc for no change \___________________________________________________________________/ Distances on a drawing can be difficult to evaluate without some indication of the scale of the drawing. Let's add indexing marks to this sheet. Press <T>. A list of the available indexing types will "pop up" on the screen. Select code number 1 (Tick marks). The new index type will be indicated on the display. Press Return to go back to the drawing. The whole drawing area is now outlined on all 4 sides by a series of short vertical and horizontal dashes. The distance between marks is defined by the index interval. Because of variations in monitors, horizontal distances should be compared only with the top or bottom row of marks, vertical distances with the left or right column. Press <T> to reset the index type to "Grid lines". The drawing area is now divided into a set of squares. Although the drawing seems somewhat cluttered, grid lines can be useful in determining the amount of floor-covering needed for a room -- in this case for example, the number of 12 inch square floor tiles. Press on the Framework menu, set the interval to 36, and return to the drawing -- the grid now shows the amount of carpeting needed in square yards. 20 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== The next thing we will evaluate is the Drawing Ratio. First set the index type as grid lines and the index interval at 36. Now examine the drawing. The sidebar shows that the area is 204 inches long, 132 inches wide, and is drawn "Full size". Press <F> to bring up the Framework menu and then press <R> to see a display of the available drawing ratios. Enter code 3 (Half) and return to the drawing. The sidebar now shows that the drawing is "Half size" Although you have not changed the sizes and positions of the structures, all measurements have been cut in half and therefore only occupy half their normal distance on the screen. The grid lines still represent the same interval (36 inches) but there is now room for twice as many squares on the screen. Take a few minutes and explore the effects of enlarging or reducing the drawing ratio. Note that all sizes and positions are proportionally adjusted for drawing and that only those parts of the sheet that will fit are drawn -- the rest do not appear. When you are finished, reset the Ratio to "Full size", the index type to "Tick marks", the interval to 12, and return to the drawing. For the next part of this exercise we will be changing some of the numbers used to create the drawings. Before we do that we want to have a picture of the sheet and a record of what the current numbers are. Press (to print). The drawing will be redisplayed without the item letters of the content blocks -- the graphic portion of the drawing now looks just like it will be printed. The sidebar messages are to remind you to set your printer online -- make sure you have set the appropriate printer type for your equipment. When the printer is ready, press again. The sheet will be printed. Since this sheet is the drawing of a room, the Drawing Area Borders are specified to be "Walls". Press on the Framework menu, change this value, and return to the drawing. Depending on your choice the borders of the area will be drawn as single lines (code 2) or not at all (code 3). Try out both. Note that in these cases the doors and windows are not drawn, but the data for them has not been lost. The blocks indicating the corners of the area are always drawn. Layout 4.0 21 ====================================================================== Reset the Border value to "Walls" (code 1) and return to the drawing. The length and width of the drawn area are listed in the sidebar. These two numbers determine where the borders and the corner blocks will be drawn. Try changing the Horizontal or Vertical size on the Framework menu. Note that the doors and windows will always be displayed according to their positions and sizes within the walls specified by the listed dimensions, even if the position or size of a door or window extends the drawing beyond the new dimension. The location of the item letters indicating where the door names will be printed is NOT adjusted to changed dimensions. The locations must be changed on the Area Contents menu. Reset the area sizes to their original dimensions (204 x 132) and the wall, door, and window drawings will be returned to their original locations. This sheet shows the presence of four doors in the walls of this room (each indicated by a letter) and one window in the left-hand wall. The data for the window and the doors, and for the door names, are listed in the bottom part of the sheet you just printed. The Wall, Position and Size data for the window and doors is a copy of what appears on the Framework menu. The specifications for the door names comes from the Area Content menu. As an exercise let's split the window into two 24 inch parts with 6 inches between them. Press <F> to invoke the Framework menu. Press <W> and then <1> -- this lets you change Window number 1 Then press <L> to specify the left wall of the drawing. For Lft Dn Position enter 40 and for Size enter 24 This places a window that is 24 inches long starting 40 inches down from the top in the left wall of the room. Return to the drawing to observe the results of these entries. 22 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== Now let's put in the second part of the window. On the Framework menu select Window number 2 and specify that it too is in the left wall. Since we want to leave 6 inches between windows, we must do a little arithmetic as follows: Window # 1 starts 40 inches down and is 24 inches long Window # 2 starts 6 inches down from the end of Window # 1 ======== Adding these gives 70 as the starting position of Window # 2 Enter this value for the position of Window # 2 and again specify 24 as the size. Return to the drawing. Note that we have now split the original 48" window into 2 - 24" windows with 6" between them. To restore the original window you would first clear Window # 2 -- on the Framework menu press <W>, <2>, and then <C>. Then select Window # 1 and respecify it as being in the left wall at position 40 and size 48. Return to the drawing to confirm that you have restored it to what it looks like on the printout. The same techniques are used for creating, changing, or clearing doors -- start with <D> instead of <W>. Now try putting windows and doors in other places on the drawing. Note that if you overlap a door with a window, the window will be drawn as specified but the door will not be drawn correctly and extraneous marks will appear in the window. This is because doors are drawn before windows -- the extraneous marks are the door frames that were drawn after a portion of the wall was erased for the door. Examine the printout you have. From the specifications for the doors note that Door # 3 is in the right wall, starts 84 inches down from the top, and is 24 inches wide. In the Area Content information the block indicated by the item letter "C" places that letter on the screen at the position Rt 210, Dn 96 and will put the name "Study Closet" at the equivalent position on the printout -- no box is drawn because the block sizes are blank. Now clear Door # 3 on the Framework menu and return to the drawing. Note that although the door no longer appears, the key letter is still displayed. Remove it by clearing the block on the Content menu. Now reset Door 3 and Block C to the specifications on the printout. Layout 4.0 23 ====================================================================== 4.2 CHANGING THE AREA CONTENTS To further examine the uses of the data entered on the Area Content menu we will use a different sheet. Return to the Function Menu, press <S> to invoke the sheet select function and choose sheet number 3. Study Bath & Closets. Draw the sheet on the screen. You will see that this sheet is a detailed continuation to the right of the sheet we just worked with. Print a copy of this sheet. The bottom part of the printout contains the specifications on file for the blocks whose position on the drawing is indicated by the letters A - I. The specifications are reproduced in the following table. Content Blocks - Size - Position Rot --- Name --- Len Wid Rt Dn Ang A.* bath-closets 112 3 0 60 0 B.* closet-closet 3 69 60 63 0 C.Counter 49 22 0 0 0 D. Sink 18 16 26 2 0 E. Toilet 21 29 54 0 0 F.Bath tub/shower 31 60 81 0 0 G.Linen Cabinet 41 8 0 52 0 H.Study Closet 8 96 0 I.Hall Closet 76 96 0 Block A is the horizontal interior wall between the bathroom and the two closets. This wall goes the whole length of the drawing area (112 inches), is 3 inches thick, and starts at the left edge of the drawing area (Position Rt 0). Block B is the vertical interior wall that divides the two closets. It too is 3 inches thick and runs the entire width of both closets Since the study closet is 60 inches long and this wall abuts on to the horizontal wall, Block B's position is Rt 60 Dn 63. The block names for these two items have been entered to identify the walls in the data but they will not be printed as they each start with an asterisk. Blocks C - G draw and label the fixtures in the bathroom. Note that the Sink and Toilet names have been indented to center the labels. Blocks H and I put the closet names in the center of their areas. 24 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== Now let's put some fixtures into the Hall and Study Closets. We will use the following information. Content Blocks - Size - Position Rot --- Name --- Len Wid Rt Dn Ang N. Rod 2 69 100 63 0 O. Shoes 24 12 42 64 45 P.Shelves 60 18 0 114 0 Block N is a 2 inch thick rod that runs the whole width of the hall closet and is 12 inches away from the right-hand inside wall. Block O represents a 12 inch by 24 inch shoe rack placed catty-corner in the top right hand corner of the study closet. Block P outlines a set of 18 inch shelves along the full length of the bottom wall of the study closet. If you do NOT have a mouse installed, bring up the Contents menu and enter the information into Blocks N-P. Return to the drawing and print a copy of it. Skip down to the next part of the exercise where we check our work. 4.3 USING THE MOUSE Calculating the position to assign to Content Blocks can be difficult especially if the blocks are to be rotated to other angles or where they overlap with other parts of the drawing. If you have a mouse or other pointing device installed, LAYOUT will do the calculations for you. The first thing to do is record the names and sizes of the objects to be positioned in the area. Bring up the Contents menu and enter only the names and sizes (NOT the Position or Rotation) for blocks N - P and return to the drawing. Note that these 3 blocks don't yet appear. Press <M>ouse and then press the letter "N" to work with that block. The mouse cursor will appear in the center of the screen but still no Block N because you have not assigned it's Position (see the sidebar). To do that, Click the left mouse button or press the <Ins> key. The block will now be drawn starting at the mouse cursor. Now move the cursor to the desired position of the block and again Click Left. The block will jump to the new position. You can micro- adjust the position by using the arrow keys to move the cursor, then Click Left again. When things look right (don't worry about cut lines), press Return to save the new data, or press <Esc> and the drawing will return to where you started so you can try again. When you are finished with block N, select block O to work with. Move the mouse cursor into the middle of the Study Closet and Click Left to draw the block. Click Center or press the <Tab> key and the box will rotate to 30 deg. Do it again to get to 45 deg. Layout 4.0 25 ====================================================================== Now move the cursor to the approximate position where the box will touch both the top and right-hand walls of the Study Closet and Click Left -- if you positioned it perfectly, give yourself an "atta boy". Otherwise reposition the box (the arrow keys come in very handy) until it looks right. Press return to save the drawing. Use the above technique to position Block P on the drawing (no rotation). Return to the Drawing and bring up the Contents menu. You will see that the position and rotation data for thse three blocks has been filled in for you. rint this sheet. You can also use the mouse to draw a new block. Try this. At the drawing press <M> and at the (A - Z) prompt press "X" (for experiment). Move the cursor into the middle of the right-hand unused portion of the drawing area and Click Left. The letter "X" appears at the cursor but no box is drawn yet because its size is still 0 x 0 -- see the sidebar. If Block X had a name (entered on the Contents menu), it would appear on the printout in this position. Now move the cursor somewhere to the right and down from the position and Click Right or press the <Del> key. The box now appears. Check the sidebar for the calculated size of the box. Adjust the size by moving the cursor and again Clicking Right. Try moving the block to various positions and rotating it. When you are finished experimenting you can delete the changes by pressing <Esc> or save them as evidence of your expertise with a mouse by pressing Return. Now let's check our work. Return to the Function menu and press <L> to select a different LAYOUT file -- your changed file will be saved to disk. Choose file number 2 and then sheet number 3. Print a copy. Now go back to file number 1, sheet number 3. Compare the sheet from file 2 (Apartment #101) to your printout of the same sheet from file 1 (Floor Plan C). If they do not match, make the needed corrections. Let's take a look at an overview of the apartment. Go to the Function menu and select Sheet # 1. Draw it and print a copy. Since the dimensions of the whole apartment (480 x 276 inches) exceed the physical limits of the screen (240 x 192) the drawing ratio for this sheet has been set at Half size. The drawing shows the whole apartment divided into a series of blocks outlining the location and dimensions of each room in the apartment. The position and size of the doors and windows in the external walls of the apartment is shown. Content Blocks are used to define a room or group of rooms. The additional labels on this printout show the relationships of the detail sheets where the placement of interior walls, doors, fixtures, etc. is shown -- see your printouts of sheets 2 and 3. 26 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== Note that the numbers describing the actual dimensions of a block on the overview are the same as those on the specific detail sheet for the comparable structure -- the difference in the appearance of the drawing is due to different drawing ratios. For example, the block outlining the area of the Workshop/Study on the overview is 204 x 132 in size. Therefore the same dimensions are specified for the walls on Sheet # 2. From the overview we can see, for example, that the area drawn on Sheet # 3 lies immediately to the right of that drawn on Sheet # 2. Since both these sheets are drawn to the same scale (unit = inches, ratio = full size) the two pieces of paper can be superimposed (right wall of sheet 2 to left wall of sheet 3) to create a larger overall plan of the apartment that includes all the detail. Similarly, sheet 4 describes the area to the right of sheet 3, Sheet 5 the area below sheet 2, etc. (all drawn to the same scale). The filled-in blocks printed at the intersections of the borders will help you to match up adjoining sheets. You can create a large composite area plan by cutting each sheet along it's top and left-hand borders and, starting with sheet number 1 as the base, paste adjoining sheets onto their relative positions. The size of such a composite is limited only by your imagination. Some other ways to use the features in LAYOUT are illustrated on other sheets in the sample files. Sheet # 4 (either file): - The living room actually has only three walls. To remove the fourth wall from the drawing of the borders, a door was placed the full length of the bottom wall.The structures that lie across the hallway from the living room have been included on this sheet -- see area content blocks E - H. Sheet # 7 (either file): - the boundaries of this sheet include the front part of the hallway, the kitchen, and the dining area. Door 1 is the hallway closet door and Door 2 is the absent wall of the living room. The interior walls lining the hallway are Blocks N and O. The pass through and wall separating the kitchen and dining area are Blocks Q and R. The fixtures in the kitchen are in Sheet # 7 on both files. Sheet # 7 on file # 2 (Apartment #101) shows the furniture placed in the dining area by the tenant and some entries have been made in the inventory data. Print a copy of the Inventory. Go to the Titles/Printer/Video menu and change some of the column sizes to see the effects on the column titles and the content block inventory data. The third sample file carries a miscellaneous collection of sheets to demonstrate how other kinds of areas can be described with LAYOUT. These samples illustrate how combinations of drawing ratios and units, either fractional or whole, can be used to describe any size area. Layout 4.0 27 ====================================================================== PART 5. LICENSE INFORMATION LAYOUT and documentation distributed or shipped with it are copyrighted works protected by U.S. and international copyright law. You are granted a license to use your copy of LAYOUT only under the terms specified in this license agreement. LAYOUT is a software package representing many long hours of programming, development, and support. LAYOUT is not public domain or free software. LAYOUT is distributed as shareware, supported by you, the users that find these programs productive! If you benefited in some way from LAYOUT or make regular use of any of the programs, you should register your copy. Registered users are sent a program disk containing the latest release of the programs, complete printed documentation, and published announcements of future releases of LAYOUT. Support for the program via telephone, mail, Bulletin Board, and Compuserve is also provided to registered users. Single user registration of LAYOUT costs $35 and entitles you to use this software on a single computer and to make as many copies of this software as you wish for backup purposes. Upon receipt of your registration fee you will receive a printed manual, a disk with the latest version of the software, notice of updates to the software, notice of any bugs that may be found in the software, and you will be eligible for telephone support (317-856-6052 during business hours). Support can also be obtained by BBS (PBS-BBS 317-856-2087 Author Conference - Leave a message to BOB OSTRANDER) or on CompuServe (Leave email to BOB OSTRANDER 76635,1760). Registration by private individuals for non-commercial uses is available for $20. This registration level does not include a program disk or printed manual. Site licenses are available for LAYOUT for $200. A site license entitles you to use this software on all of the computers in a building, campus, or plant. You will receive 2 master disks and 2 manuals to make copies from as you wish. Additional master disks and manuals are available, if you wish, at a cost of $4 and $3 respectively. Telephone support and update notices for site licensees of LAYOUT must be directed through one person at the licensee's location. 28 Layout 4.0 ====================================================================== Anyone not charging a "duplication" fee, individual or non-profit user groups, and Bulletin Board systems, may freely copy and share exact duplicates of LAYOUT. All program and documentation files must be distributed together and unmodified. Distributors of shareware software disks may distribute LAYOUT if they notify the Software Co-op that they are doing so. Members of the ASP do not need to notify Software Co-op that they are distributing LAYOUT. There is no warranty of any kind associated with LAYOUT. You, the user, are advised to experiment and become familiar with all of the programs before relying on them. You assume all risk for the selection, use, and operation of LAYOUT to achieve your intended results. You alone are responsible for any loss of profits, loss of savings, or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the correct or incorrect use of these programs, even if we are advised of the possibility of any damages due to a defect in any program. By using any of the programs composing LAYOUT programs you agree to the above limitations. _______ ____|__ | (tm) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER This program is published by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a Compuserve message via easyplex to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. SINGLE USER INVOICE Remit to: From: Software Co-op ____________________________________ 5437 Honey Manor Dr Indianapolis IN 46241 ____________________________________ or VISA/MC call: ____________________________________ 317-856-6052 ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Send me _____ copy/copies of fully registered LAYOUT at $35 each. Register me for _____ copies of LAYOUT without disk or manual at $20 each. Send me _____ copy/copies of LAYOUT distribution diskette at $4 each. Total: __________ Check disk size [] 5 1/4" 360k [] 3 1/2" 720k ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Checks, Money Orders, VISA, MasterCard are accepted. Written Purchase Orders are accepted for quantity purchases and site licenses from most companies, schools, and governmental units. Terms NET 30. 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Check disk size [] 5 1/4" 360k [] 3 1/2" 720k ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Checks, Money Orders, VISA, MasterCard are accepted. Written Purchase Orders are accepted for quantity purchases and site licenses from most companies, schools, and governmental units. Terms NET 30. VISA/MC # _________ _________ _________ _________ Exp Date:___ /____ Signature ________________________________ Phone ______________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Purchasing, Accounts Payable: Note that LAYOUT have been delivered and accepted by the customer. Upon receipt of this paid invoice, printed manual(s) and current disk(s) will be sent. Our federal employer ID number is 35-1689317.