Tech Arsenal 1/Tech Arsenal (Arsenal Computer).ISO/tek-07/blts893.zip/ACAD12.TXT

Text File | 1993-05-21 | 24KB | 486 lines

COMPATIBILITY BULLETIN
5.13.93 AUTOCAD386 MWF
CAD SOFTWARE: AutoCAD 386 (Release 10C10, Release 11 & Release 12),
Autodesk, Inc.


Compatibility Statement:
AutoCAD 386 (Release 10C10, Release 11 & Release 12) is compatible
with LANtastic NOS v4.xx and v5.xx.

Basic Guidelines for using AutoCAD 386 with LANtastic:
1. AutoCAD 386 is a very processor-time intensive application that
runs in protected mode on an 386 or 486 computer. It can access up to
4 Gigabytes of memory (either in RAM or virtual disk space), however
the program uses between 80K and 250K of conventional RAM when
loaded, depending on the version of the Phar Lap 386|DOS-Extender
being used.  No problems were found from loading the network drivers
into high memory with a memory manager.

2. Using an AutoCAD 386 workstation as a server for sharing a plotter
or printer-plotter is not recommended.  Performance of AutoCAD 386
can be severely reduced by background plotter or printer-plotter
despooling (generally seen as slow or jerky cross-hair movement). The
ideal AutoCAD network configuration would include a dedicated server
with harddrive for file access and printer ports for the plotter(s)
and printer-plotter(s), thus allowing the AutoCAD workstations to
have 100% of their own processor time available for AutoCAD 386
functions. The next best solution is to place the shared
printer/plotter devices on a server that is not running AutoCAD.

3. Set FCBS=16,8 and FILES=40 in CONFIG.SYS on workstations running
AutoCAD 386. NOTE: If AutoCAD 10 (DOS) will be used on the same
workstation running under DOS 4.01, set FCBS=48,8 in CONFIG.SYS.

4. Protected-mode video Display List Drivers are available in ADI
format to use with AutoCAD 386 and work very well. Some real-mode
DLD's are also available and no compatibility problems have been
reported with LANtastic. Switching between real and protected-mode
can degrade performance, so using a protected-mode video driver is
recommended for maximum performance.

5. AutoCAD 386 loads entirely into RAM so there is no benefit to
using a ramdisk [as far as AutoCAD 386 is concerned]. There are no
overlay files, and if the workstation has enough RAM available, there
will be only minimal disk access when editing a drawing. A small disk
cache (256K) will improve performance when AutoCAD 386 is paging to
disk. However, don't give too much memory to utilities like ramdisks
or caching as it will take memory away from AutoCAD and performance
can suffer.  Autodesk recommends a minimum memory configuration of 4
Meg RAM for Release 10C10 and Release 11, and 8 Meg RAM for Release
12.  More memory will improve performance when editing large
drawings.

6.  Configure each AutoCAD workstation to have a unique network node
name.  In release 10C10 or Release 11: select "5. Configure AutoCAD",
(from the AutoCAD main menu), "8. Configure operating parameters",
"6. Network node name" and enter a three character name unique to
each workstation.  In Release 12: run "CONFIG" from the "Command: "
prompt and select "Configure operating parameters", "6. Network node
name".  This will make sure that two nodes do not use the same name
for temporary files or for file locking.

7. If plotter or printer-plotter performance is slow, or pauses
intermittently, on an AutoCAD 386 workstation/server that is sharing
a plotter, increase the CPS to the plotter (using the max of 32767 is
OK, but the tradeoff is poor AutoCAD 386 performance during the
despooling function).

NOTE: The only way to eliminate the performance degradation of a
server running AutoCAD 386 during plotting or printer-plotting is to
have the server not running AutoCAD during the despooling -function.
See note 2 above.

8. To share a plotter or printer-plotter, AutoCAD must output to
file. The important item to keep in mind is that AutoCAD 386 never
communicates with the plotter (or printer-plotter), instead, it
outputs to a file on disk. The network then copies this file to the
printer or plotter. Configure AutoCAD 386 to plot to a file, set the
filename to the name of the port that is redirected to @PLOTTER (or
@PRINTER). Set the LPT TIMEOUT to 0 (zero).  If using Release 11 or
12, see the additional notes below on using the AUTOSPOOL feature.

9.  The recommended serial communication protocol between the network
and the plotter (or printer) is 9600, 8, 1, N, using XON/XOFF flow
control. Some plotters that will only accept HARDWARE flow control
require a HARDWARE cable - a straight-thru serial cable will not
allow HARDWARE flow control communications. The next best protocol is
9600, 7, 1, E, XON/XOFF. The plotter and @PLOTTER shared resource (in
NET_MGR) should be configured exactly the same.

NOTE: If the plotter does not automatically go OFF-LINE at the
completion of a plot, it is recommended to edit the "Setup String"
for @PLOTTER (located in NET_MGR, Shared Resources Management) to
include the ASCII or <ESC> codes needed to take the plotter off-line
at the start of a plot to allow for paper changes. If this is not
done, it will be possible for multiple plot jobs in the spooler to be
plotted over the same sheet of paper. If the plotter has an automatic
paper feeder/cutter, this is not necessary.

10. AutoCAD 386 Release 11 and Release 12 have a file-locking feature
that is software selectable and will prevent multiple access to a
drawing file.  Refer to the additional notes on Release 11 and
Release 12 in the next section.

** Memory Managers:
1. AutoCAD 386 can be configured to use either Extended or Expanded
memory (depending on the Phar Lap 386|DOS-Extender being used).   If
the memory manager is not VCPI compliant, configure all memory as
Extended; if it is VCPI compliant, configure all memory as Expanded.
QEMM386, 386 to the MAX and MS-DOS's HIMEM.SYS in combination with
EMM386.EXE will provide VCPI-compliant EMS memory.  HIMEM.SYS that
comes with MS-DOS 5.0 creates XMS which is not VCPI compliant and
should not be used with AutoCAD 386 Release 10C10 unless EMM386.EXE
is also being loaded (NOTE: Phar Lap 386|DOS-Extender version 2.6
(supplied with Release 11C2) and higher support XMS memory. If you
are running Phar Lap 386|DOS-Extender v2.6, then XMS (HIMEM.SYS
without EMM386.EXE) can be used. If there is any EMS available, all
XMS will be ignored.)  Consult the AutoCAD 386 Installation and
Performance Guide for more information on memory configuration.

2. All network drivers can be loaded into high memory using the
utilities provided with the above memory managers. There is no
network performance impact loading the network drivers into high
memory versus conventional memory.

3. The Phar Lap 386|DOS-Extender's swap file can be located on a
redirected drive.  For example, "CFIG386 ACAD -minswfsize 4000000 -
swapdir E:\TEMP" will create a minimum swap file size of 4 Meg and
place the file in the E:\TEMP directory. Alternately, CFIGPHAR.EXE
provides a menu program for changing the Phar Lap 386|DOS-Extender
switches.  Refer to the AutoCAD 386 Installation and Performance
Guide for details on the specific Phar Lap 386|DOS-Extender version.
If you have a multi-user license, do not forget to remove the read-
only attribute on ACAD.EXE before, and reset it after, executing this
command.

** NOS Notes:
A new feature starting with NOS 4.10, called "Immediate Despooling",
can reduce printing and plotting time. To enable this new feature,
run NET_MGR, select "Shared Resources Management" and enable
"Immediate Despooling". Set "Despool Timeout" to 0 (zero - which will
display as "DISABLED"). This is especially important to set the
despool timeout to zero for plotters and postscript printers. This
must be set individually for each printer or plotter resource in
"Shared Resources Management".

** Additional Notes on Release 11:
1. AutoCAD 386 Release 11 has two environment variables that can be
used to create and send spooled plot files to a redirected plotter or
printer-plotter automatically using the AUTOSPOOL feature. The
recommended configuration is as follows:

    1)      Create a directory under the ACAD11 directory called TEMP
            (C:\ACAD11\TEMP).
    2)      Configure AutoCAD 386-11 to put temporary files and the
            SPOOLED print/plot files there as follows:
        A)       From the AutoCAD main menu, select "5. Configure AutoCAD".
        B)       Select "5. Configure plotter" and "6. Configure printer
                 plotter". Keep the same plotter and printer,
        C)       Select "YES" when asked to output to a file.
        D)       Select "8. Configure operating parameters."
            A) Select "3. Default plot file name", enter "AUTOSPOOL".
            (NOTE: "AUTOSPOOL" must be in all capital letters.)
            B) Select "4. Plot spooler directory", enter
            "C:\ACAD11\TEMP\".
        E)       Save the changes and exit the configuration menu.
    3)      If you are using a batch file to load AutoCAD 386-11, put the
            following lines in that batch file (otherwise put them in the
            AUTOEXEC.BAT file on each node). (NOTE: the "%%s" MUST BE
            LOWER CASE.)

        SET ACADPLCMD=NET PRINT %%s COM2  (Port redirected to @PLOTTER)
        SET ACADPPCMD=NET PRINT/BINARY %%s LPT1 (Port redirected to
        @PRINTER)
        (Printer-plots must be sent in BINARY format or the printed
        output may be cut off, distorted and/or spread out over multiple
        pages.)

This will create a spooled file for every print or plot job sent by
that node. The files that begin with "R" are printer-plot files
(raster) and the ones beginning with "V" are plot files (vector).
These files, if not deleted, will quickly fill up a harddrive. The
following lines can be added to a batch file to automatically delete
the spooled files (see SAMPLE BATCH FILES: at end of this document):

        CD\ACAD11\TEMP             :REM CD\ to the spooler directory.
        DEL R*.*                   :REM Delete all spooled printer-plot files.
        DEL V*.*                   :REM Delete all spooled plot files.
        CD\

If the spool file directory is shared by more than one user, then all
users' plot/printer-plot files will be deleted when any user exits
AutoCAD. To prevent this, change the above command lines as follows:

    - Refer to note 6 under "Basic Guidelines" above to get the network
    node. (Select "5. Configure AutoCAD" from the AutoCAD main menu,
    "8. Configure operating parameters", "6. Network node name" and
    read the three character name for this workstation.
    - Change "DEL R*.*" to "DEL R*.TBL" (where "TBL" is the network
    node name specified above)
    - Change "DEL V*.*" to "DEL V*.TBL"
    - Repeat for each node using the appropriate 3 letter network node
    name.

NOTE:  When using the AUTOSPOOL feature, "LPT TIMEOUT" and "DESPOOL
TIMEOUT" do not need to be set to 0 (zero) as only complete are files
being transferred across the network. These values can be configured
as required for other applications.

2. If you have a multi-user license, ACAD.EXE will have to be set to
read-only with the DOS ATTRIB command to allow more than one user to
execute the program simultaneously.

3. Each user must have their own configuration directory.  Define
this directory with the DOS environment variable ACADCFG=.  For
example, create a local directory C:\ACAD11 and put "SET
ACADCFG=C:\ACAD11" in the batch file that loads AutoCAD 386-11.  The
first time AutoCAD 386-11 is loaded (or if ACAD.CFG has been
deleted), it will force a system configuration and write ACAD.CFG to
this directory.

4. To enable the file locking, select "5. Configure AutoCAD" (from
Release 11's opening menu), "8. Configure operating parameters", "11.
Server authorization and file locking" and change this to "ENABLED".
File locking is automatically enabled if you have a multi-user
license.  AutoCAD 386-11 file locking does not require SHARE.EXE to
be loaded to function.

** Additional Notes on Release 12 (see section below on release 12C2):
1. AutoCAD 386 Release 12 has one environment variable available that
can be used to create and send spooled plot files to either a
redirected plotter or printer-plotter automatically. The recommended
configuration is as follows:

    1)      Create a directory under the ACAD12 directory called TEMP
            (C:\ACAD12\TEMP).
    2)      Configure AutoCAD 386-12 to put temporary files and the
            spooled print/plot files there as follows:
        A)       Load AutoCAD 386-12 and enter "CONFIG" from the "Command:
                 " prompt.
        B)       Select "5. Configure plotter". Keep the same plotters and
                 printers.
        C)       Select "YES" when asked to output to a file. Do this for
                 each plotter device.
        D)       Select "7. Configure operating parameters."
            A) Select "3. Default plot file name", enter "AUTOSPOOL".
            (NOTE: "AUTOSPOOL" must be in all capital letters.)
            B) Select "4. Plot spooler directory", enter
            "C:\ACAD12\TEMP\".
        E)       Save the changes and exit the configuration menu.
    3)      If you are using a batch file to load AutoCAD 386-12, put the
            following line in that batch file (otherwise put them in the
            AUTOEXEC.BAT file on each node). (NOTE: the "%%s" MUST BE
            LOWER CASE.)

        SET ACADPLCMD=NET  PRINT/BINARY  %%s  LPT2  (Port redirected to
        @PLOTTER)
        NOTE: The ACADPPCMD environment variable is not used in AutoCAD
        386 Release 12.

This will create a spooled file for every print or plot job sent by
that node.  All plot files are generated as Vector files and begin
with "V".  These files, if not deleted, will quickly fill up a
harddrive. The following lines can be added to a batch file to
automatically delete the spooled files (see SAMPLE BATCH FILES: at
end of this document):

        CD\ACAD\TEMP                 :REM CD\ to the spooler directory.
        DEL V*.*                     :REM Delete all spooled plot files.
        CD\

If the spool file directory is shared by more than one user, then all
users' plot/printer-plot files will be deleted when any user exits
AutoCAD. To prevent this, change the above command lines as follows:

    - Refer to note 6 under "Basic Guidelines" above to get the network
    node name. (In Release 12: run "CONFIG" from the "Command: " prompt
    and select "Configure operating parameters", "6. Network node name"
    and read the three character name for this workstation.)
    - Change "DEL V*.*" to "DEL V*.TBL"   (where "TBL" is the network
    node name specified above)
    - Repeat for each node using the appropriate 3 letter network node
    name.

NOTE: This configuration is considerably different than that used
with AutoCAD 386-11.  Release 11 allowed only one printer-plotter
and/or one plotter configuration at a time while it provided two
environment variables to allow sending of a printer-plot file to one
network printer and sending a plot file to a different network
device.  Release 12 allows configuration of multiple plotters and
printers while it has one environment variable for sending the plot
file to a network device.  You must select the network device
redirection before sending the plot file - or whenever changing the
plotter device in AutoCAD 386-12.  You can use the "SHELL" command,
run NET, select "Network Disk Drives and Printers" and redirect LPT2
(or whatever port ACADPLCMD is directed to) to the appropriate
network device, before invoking the PLOT command.

NOTE:  When using the AUTOSPOOL feature, "LPT TIMEOUT" and "DESPOOL
TIMEOUT" do not need to be set to 0 (zero) as only complete files are
being transferred across the network. These values can be configured
as required for other applications.

2. If you have a multi-user license the following files will have to
be set to read-only with the DOS
ATTRIB command to allow more than one user to execute the program
simultaneously: ACAD.EXE, *.XMX and *.EXP.

3. Each user must have their own configuration directory.  Define
this directory with the DOS environment variable ACADCFG=.  For
example, create a local directory C:\ACAD12 and put "SET
ACADCFG=C:\ACAD12" in the batch file that loads AutoCAD 386-12.  The
first time AutoCAD 386-12 is loaded (or if ACAD.CFG has been
deleted), it will force a system configuration and write ACAD.CFG to
this directory.

4.  To enable the file locking, run "CONFIG" from Release 12's
"COMMAND:" prompt, select "7. Configure operating parameters", "12.
Server authorization and file locking" and change this to "ENABLED".
File locking is automatically enabled if you have a multi-user
license.  AutoCAD 386-11 file locking does not require SHARE.EXE to
be loaded to function.

** Additional Notes on Release 12C2:
AutoCAD 386 Release 12C2 supports printing directly to a DOS Device
parallel port as opposed to outputting directly to the hardware port
(IOBASE 378 in the case of LPT1). Some new features have been added
to the AUTOSPOOL command and it is now possible to pass the name of
the printer/plotter device to the ACADPLCMD environment variable with
"%C" (variables are supported in upper- or lower-case). Refer to the
documentation included with Release 12C2 for more information on
these new features.

To use this new feature, rename the printer/plotter devices to the
name of the appropriate DOS Device port name that the device is
available on.  Change the ACADPLCMD variable to the following:
        SET ACADPLCMD=NET  PRINT/BINARY  %%S  %%C

As an example, rename the HPLJ3 printer to "LPT1" and NET USE LPT1
\\SERVER\@HPLJ3;  rename the HP7580 plotter to "COM2" and NET USE
COM2 \\SERVER\@HP7580.  The AUTOSPOOL feature will substitute the
file name for "%S" and the printer/plotter name for %C when it
executes the NET PRINT command. When using the NET PRINT utility, the
file name is displayed under "Comment" on the Printer Queue
Management" screen in the NET menu module.

SAMPLE BATCH FILES:
AUTOEXEC.BAT:
PATH=C:\;C:\DOS;\BATCH;C:\UTILITY;C:\LANTASTI
AEX                         :REM Load netbios drivers. Can be loaded high.
AILANBIO
REDIR CAD1 LOGINS=5         :REM Can be loaded high.
C:\DOS\SHARE  /L:200        :REM Only required on servers; can be loaded high.
LANCACHE CACHE_SIZE=256 TYPE=EMS   :REM 256K cache (using expanded memory).
SERVER                             :REM Server is optional. Can be loaded high.
NET LOGIN \\CAD1 CAD1              :REM Login to servers as needed.
NET USE LPT1 \\CAD1\@PRINTER       :REM Redirect LPT1 to the shared printer-plotter.
NET USE COM2 \\CAD1\@PLOTTER       :REM Redirect COM2 to the shared plotter.
NET LPT TIMEOUT 10
NET QUEUE HALT \\CAD1 COM1         :REM If a server, halt QUEUE for
                    mouse/digitizer port.
PROMPT=$P$G
MENU

ACAD11.BAT:
REM   This batch file has AutoCAD 386-11 installed on a network drive
REM   resource. Disk E: is redirected to that network resource.
REM   AutoCAD 386-11 is found in E:\ACAD11.
NET LPT TIMEOUT 0                         :REM Set LPT TIMEOUT to zero.
CD\ACAD11\DWG
SET ACADPPCMD=NET PRINT/BINARY %%s LPT1   :REM Printer-plotter command.
SET ACADPLCMD=NET PRINT %%s COM2          :REM Plotter command.
SET PLPADI=E:\ACAD11\PLPHPLP.EXP          :REM Protected mode plotter driver
SET DSPADI=C:\VIDEOCFG\DLDVG256.EXP       :REM Protected-mode DLD video driver.
SET DLDCFG=C:\VIDEOCFG\                   :REM DLD configuration file path.
SET ACADPAGEDIR=E:\ACAD11\TEMP            :REM Sets AutoCAD 386 temporary page
                        file directory.
SET ACAD=E:\ACAD11;E:\ACAD11\SAMPLE;E:\ACAD11\ADS
SET ACADCFG=C:\ACAD
E:
ACAD %1 %2                                :REM Load AutoCAD 386.
SET ACADCFG=
SET ACAD=                                 :REM Clear environment variables.
SET ACADPAGEDIR=
SET DLDCFG=
SET DSPADI=
SET PLPADI=
SET ACADPPCMD=
SET ACADPLCMD=
CD\ACAD11\TEMP                            :REM Remove all spooled files.

DEL R*.*                                  :REM "DEL R*.TBL" - see text above
DEL V*.*                                  :REM "DEL V*.TBL" - see text above
CD\
NET LPT TIMEOUT 10                        :REM Reset to original value
C:

SAMPLE BATCH FILE:
ACAD12.BAT:
REM   This batch file has AutoCAD 386-12 installed on a network drive
REM   resource. Disk E: is redirected to that network resource.
REM   AutoCAD 386-12 is found in E:\ACAD12.
@ECHO OFF
NET LPT TIMEOUT 0
E:
CD\ACAD12\DWG
SET ACADPLCMD=NET PRINT/BINARY %%s LPT2   :REM Spooled files go to LPT2
SET DLDCFG=C:\VIDEOCFG\                   :REM Directory for Protected-mode
                        video driver
SET ACAD=E:\ACAD12\SUPPORT;E:\ACAD12\FONTS;E:\ACAD12\ADS
SET ACADCFG=C:\ACAD                       :REM Configuration file
SET ACADDRV=E:\ACAD12\DRV                 :REM Where ACAD keeps it's driver files
SET ACADPAGEDIR=E:\ACAD12\TEMP            :REM Sets AutoCAD 386 temporary page
                        file directory
E:\ACAD\ACAD %1                           :REM Loads AutoCAD 386
SET ACAD=                                 :REM Clear all environment variables
SET DLDCFG=
SET ACADCFG=
SET ACADDRV=
SET ACADCFG=
SET ACADPAGEDIR=
SET ACADPLCMD=
CD\ACAD\TEMP                              :REM Remove all spooled files
DEL V*.TBL
CD\
NET LPT TIMEOUT 10                        :REM Reset to original value
C:

SAMPLE BATCH FILE:
ACAD12C2.BAT:
REM   This batch file has AutoCAD 386-12C2 installed on a network
REM   drive resource. Disk E: is  redirected to that network resource.
REM   AutoCAD 386-12C2 is found in E:\ACAD12C2.
@ECHO OFF
NET LPT TIMEOUT 0
E:
CD\ACAD12\DWG
SET ACADPLCMD=NET PRINT/BINARY %%S %%C    :REM See text for explaination
SET DLDCFG=C:\VIDEOCFG\                   :REM Directory for Protected-mode
                        video driver
SET ACAD=E:\ACAD12C2\SUPPORT;E:\ACAD12C2\FONTS;E:\ACAD12C2\ADS
SET ACADCFG=C:\ACAD12C2                   :REM Configuration file
SET ACADDRV=E:\ACAD12C2\DRV               :REM Where ACAD keeps it's driver
                        files
SET ACADPAGEDIR=E:\ACAD12C2\TEMP          :REM Sets AutoCAD 386 temporary page
                        file directory
E:\ACAD\ACAD %1                           :REM Loads AutoCAD 386
SET ACAD=                                 :REM Clear all environment variables
SET DLDCFG=
SET ACADCFG=
SET ACADDRV=
SET ACADCFG=
SET ACADPAGEDIR=
SET ACADPLCMD=
CD\ACAD\TEMP                              :REM Remove all spooled files
DEL V*.TBL
CD\
NET LPT TIMEOUT 10                        :REM Reset to original value
C:

VERSION HISTORY
11/11/92: AutoCAD 386 Release 12 tested for compatibility with
LANtastic v4.1.
4/11/93: AutoCAD 386 Release 12 tested for compatibility with
LANtastic v5.0.

Any questions or suggestions on this bulletin may be mailed to our
offices:
Artisoft, Inc.
691 East River Road
Tucson, AZ 85704
ATTN: Compatibility Department / AutoCAD Support

VENDOR INFO:
Autodesk, Inc.
2320 Marinship Way
Sausalito  CA 94965
[phone]
(Contact your Autodesk dealer for questions concerning AutoCAD.

ARTISOFT, Inc. makes no warranties as to the completeness or accuracy
of this document. LANtastic is a trademark of ARTISOFT, Inc. Brand
names and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies.