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AUTOMATE.DOC
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---------------------------
AUTO-MATE
Version 1.11
---------------------------
Kurtis J. Jones
1748 North Oakland
Fayetteville, Ar 72703
11 July 1990
Copyright (c) 1990 by Kurtis J. Jones
AUTO-MATE - Version 1.11
Copyright (c) 1990 by Kurtis J. Jones
Unmodified copies of this program and the accompanying
documentation may be made and distributed freely without charge.
Under no circumstances shall this program or the accompanying
documentation be distributed as part of any for-profit venture.
AUTO-MATE is distributed as shareware. If you find this
software has any value to you, or if you use this software on a
regular basis, please register your copy of AUTO-MATE by completing
the order form at the end of this documentation.
Please address any questions or comments you may have about this
program to:
Kurtis J. Jones
1748 North Oakland
Fayetteville, Ar 72703
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY:
THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF
ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS OF
PURPOSE. THE USER OF THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ASSUMES ALL RISKS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction ............................................... 1
History .................................................... 1
Summary of Functions ....................................... 1
Setup and Configuration .................................... 2
Running AUTO-MATE .......................................... 2
Running AutoCAD ............................................ 2
Configuring AutoCAD ........................................ 2
Moving Around inside AUTO-MATE ............................. 3
Adding File Descriptions ................................... 3
Renaming Drawing Files ...................................... 4
Tagging Drawing Files ....................................... 4
Moving Drawing Files ....................................... 4
Deleting Drawing Files ..................................... 4
Copying Drawing Files ...................................... 5
Exiting AUTO-MATE .......................................... 5
Registration Form .......................................... 6
INTRODUCTION:
-------------
AUTO-MATE is a menu system which allows the user to select an
AutoCAD drawing file from a menu and run AutoCAD with the selected
drawing file automatically. The user may also add up to three
lines of text describing a drawing file or directory using
AUTO-MATE.
HISTORY:
--------
Version No. Comments
----------- --------
1.00a - 1.00e ..... Pre-release TEST versions
1.01 .............. First RELEASE version
1.02(T) ........... Added file tagging
Added some error trapping when moving files
Fixed bug in file display window
1.05 .............. Changed file display window
Enabled longer file descriptions
Added better cursor control
Added copy command
1.06 .............. Increased maximum number of drawing files
allowed in a directory
1.07(T) ........... Unreleased TEST version
Added configuration command
1.10 .............. RELEASE version of 1.07(T)
Cleaned up some of the displays
1.11 .............. Modified batch file operation
SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS:
---------------------
The following is a brief summary of AUTO-MATE's functions:
F1 - Logs a new directory or drive.
F2 - Enables a description to be added to the highlighted
drawing file or directory.
F3 - Prints all descriptions for the current directory.
F4 - Renames the highlighted drawing file.
F5 - Moves the highlighted or tagged drawing file(s) to
to another directory.
F6 - Delete's highlighted or tagged drawing file(s).
F7 - Copy highlighted or tagged drawing file(s).
Enter - Executes AutoCAD and automatically loads the
highlighted drawing file, or if pressed when a
directory is highlighted, changes the current
directory to that directory.
Space - Runs AutoCAD with no drawing file selected (used to
begin a new drawing).
T - Tags highlighted drawing file.
Esc - Exits AUTO-MATE.
/ - Set AutoCAD configuration.
Page 1
SETUP AND CONFIGURATION:
------------------------
The files AUTO.BAT, AUTOMATE.EXE, and AUTOMATE.CFG are needed
to run AUTO-MATE. AUTO.BAT and AUTOMATE.EXE may be copied into any
directory on your machine's DOS path; however, if AUTOMATE.CFG is
placed in any directory other than "C:\ACAD", then the
environmental variable "AMATE" must be set to the directory in
which AUTOMATE.CFG is placed. For example, if AUTOMATE.CFG is
placed in a directory "C:\ACAD\AUTOMATE", then AMATE must be set
using the DOS "SET" command, "SET AMATE=C:\ACAD\AUTOMATE". This
command can be added to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, or it can be added
to AUTO.BAT. AUTOMATE.CFG contains the setup information for
running AutoCAD under different startup configurations. A more
detailed description of this process is described below.
RUNNING AUTO-MATE:
------------------
AUTO-MATE is extremely simple to use. Simply copy the AUTO-
MATE files (AUTO.BAT and AUTOMATE.EXE) into a directory on your
system's DOS path. To run AUTO-MATE simply type "auto" and press
<enter>. The program will open with a title screen, and once a key
is pressed, A listing of all drawing files and directories under
the current directory will be displayed. Use the cursor keys to
highlight the different drawing files or directories. The number
of drawing files in the current directory is displayed in the lower
right corner of the file listing window.
RUNNING AUTOCAD:
----------------
To run AutoCAD with the highlighted drawing file, simply press
<enter>. AutoCAD will run, and the selected drawing file will
automatically be loaded. Once the drawing is ended or quit, and
AutoCAD is exited, AUTO-MATE will automatically run again. To run
AutoCAD without a selected drawing file (begin a new drawing),
press the space bar at anytime and AutoCAD will load and run under
the current directory.
CONFIGURING AUTOCAD:
--------------------
Several different AutoCAD configurations may be created and
saved using AutoCAD, as long as each configuration was created and
saved in a unique subdirectory (Consult your AutoCAD manual for
more information on creating AutoCAD configurations). AUTO-MATE
has a feature which lets you change the current AutoCAD
configuration to one previously created through AutoCAD. To enable
this feature, press the foward-slash (/) key, and a list of current
configurations will appear. to change the current AutoCAD
configuration, highlight the desired configuration and press
<enter>.
AUTO-MATE comes with two example configurations which are
stored in the AUTOMATE.CFG file; however, these will not work on
Page 2
your system unless you have previously set these configurations
using AutoCAD (See the AutoCAD manual). To add a new
configuration, first create the configuration through AutoCAD, and
then after pressing the foward-slash (/) key press the F1 key. The
two environmental variables which need to be set in order for
AutoCAD to run properly are "ACAD" and "ACADCFG". The
environmental variable "ACAD" will usually need to be set equal to
the current path under which your AutoCAD program files reside.
This is usually "C:\ACAD". The variable "ACADCFG" can be set to
any path were AutoCAD has previously been configured.
Once the foward-slash (/) key has been pressed, the user also
has the option of deleting or editing an existing configuration.
MOVING AROUND INSIDE AUTO-MATE:
-------------------------------
Once inside AUTO-MATE, there are two ways in which you can
move to different directories. If you wish to change the current
drive, you must press <F1> and type in the new drive specification
at the prompt. You may also type in a complete drive and path
specification at the prompt.
You may move around through the directory structure on the
current drive by highlighting the new directory in the file listing
window and pressing <enter>. Directories are displayed enclosed
with "< >" in the file listing window. In order to "step back" one
directory simply highlight the "<.. >" listing
and press <enter>. This has the same affect as typing "cd .." at
the DOS prompt.
ADDING FILE DESCRIPTIONS:
-------------------------
A description of up to 256 characters may be added to any
drawing file or directory displayed by AUTO-MATE. To add a
description to a file or directory, simply highlight the desired
file or directory and press <F2>. A cursor will appear in the file
description area at the lower end of the screen. Simply type the
appropriate description in. Pressing <enter> terminates the
description. Once a description has been entered for a file or
directory, the description will be displayed whenever the file or
directory is highlighted. In the current version of AUTO-MATE
there is a least one character that the program will not accept in
the file description text, the comma (",").
When a description is added in AUTO-MATE, the program creates
a file in the current directory named "DWG-INFO.TXT" if one has not
already been created. This file stores all of the file and
directory descriptions for the current directory, and is
automatically updated as new descriptions are added. When a
drawing file is renamed, moved, or copied using the AUTO-MATE
"rename", "move", or "copy" command, the file description stays
with the new file. For example, if a file is moved from a
directory named "c:\files" to a directory named "c:\drawings" using
the AUTO-MATE move command, the "DWG-INFO.TXT" file in the
directory "c:\drawings" would be updated to include the description
for the file being moved into that directory. More information
about manipulating files can be found under the following sections.
Page 3
PRINTING A FILE/DIRECTORY DESCRIPTION LIST:
-------------------------------------------
Pressing <F3> simply prints the "DWG-INFO.TXT" file located in
the current directory from within AUTO-MATE. The user may also use
the DOS "print" command from DOS to achieve the same results.
The "DWG-INFO.TXT" file includes only drawings or directories
that have user added descriptions. The file or directories or
printed, followed by the description.
RENAMING DRAWING FILES:
-----------------------
AUTO-MATE includes a function for renaming a selected drawing
file, while maintaining that file's AUTO-MATE description. To
rename a drawing file, highlight the desired file and press <F4>,
and at the prompt, type in the new file name. The file name must
be a valid AutoCAD drawing file name, and it is not necessary to
add the ".DWG" extension. Once the file has been renamed, the
"DWG-INFO.TXT" file is updated automatically.
TAGGING DRAWING FILES:
----------------------
To tag a highlighted drawing file, simply press "T". A "check-
mark" will be displayed to the left of the drawing file to indicate
that the file is tagged.
MOVING DRAWING FILES:
---------------------
The AUTO-MATE "move" command enables a selected drawing file
or group of drawing files to be moved from the current directory to
any valid directory on the user's machine. To move a highlighted
drawing file, or a group of tagged files press <F5>. A prompt will
be displayed at the bottom of the screen asking for the new
directory. The complete DOS path to the new directory must be
entered at the prompt. Once this has been done, press <enter> and
the selected file(s) will be moved, and the current directory will
be changed to the new directory. The description associated with
the file(s) being moved will also be moved to the new directory.
DELETING A DRAWING FILE:
------------------------
To delete a highlighted drawing file or group of tagged
drawing files press <F6>. A prompt will appear asking you to
confirm that the highlighted or tagged file(s) is to be deleted.
You must answer "y" in order for the file(s) to be deleted. Once a
file is deleted, any file description associated with that file is
also removed from the "DWG-INFO.TXT" file.
Page 4
COPYING A DRAWING FILE:
-----------------------
The AUTO-MATE "copy" command works just like the "move"
command, only the selected file(s) will not be deleted from the
original directory.
EXITING AUTO-MATE:
------------------
To exit AUTO-MATE press <esc>. AUTO-MATE will exit to DOS in
The current directory.
Page 5
ORDER FORM FOR AUTO-MATE 1.11
-----------------------------
Copyright (c) 1990
Kurtis J. Jones
Fayetteville, Arkansas
NAME:_______________________________________________
ADDRESS:____________________________________________
CITY, STATE:_________________________ZIP:___________
PHONE:______________________________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------
*USER SURVEY*
COMPUTER TYPE:_______________________________________
DOS VERSION:_________________________________________
AUTOCAD VERSION:_____________________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------
*CHECK DESIRED REGISTRATION*
LATEST VERSION OF AUTO-MATE: $20.00 _____
(INCLUDES MANUAL AND REGISTERED VERSION
OF AUTO-MATE ON DISK)
SITE LICENSE: $50.00 _____
(REQUIRED FOR BUISNESS - INCLUDES MANUAL
AND SITE LICENSED VERSION OF AUTO-MATE
ON DISK)
SEND TO: KURTIS J. JONES
1748 NORTH OAKLAND
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS 72703
Page 6