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PC-Draft-CAD version 3.07
Full featured Computer Aided Drafting
Copyright 1995
Natural Software
19 South Fifth Street
St. Charles, IL 60174
(708) 377-7320
Compuserve ID: 70047,744
PC-Draft-CAD release 3.07 is distributed in a ZIP file with an INSTALL.BAT
that installs it by running the self-extracting LHARC file PCDCAD.EXE, and
setting up a START.BAT that runs the proper display driver for your system.
It also sets up the proper subdirectory structure and places the files.
The list below shows all the file names. If you find missing files please
contact us at the above address/phone.
To install PC-Draft-CAD:
- if you received this shareware version on diskette, there should be
one large EXE file: PCDCAD.EXE
To install on your hard disk (C:)
1 - Place this disk in drive A:
2 - Enter: [C:] to make it your current drive.
3 - Enter: [A:INSTALL <SOURCE LOCATION>].
For example, enter:
A:INSTALL A:
- if you received this from an on-line service or BBS you obviously
have already extracted the files from the .ZIP file (or you wouldn't
be reading this!). To select the correct display driver and to set up
your sub-directories, change to your root directory and run:
INSTALL [sourcedir]
for example, if the files are in C:\TEMP, run:
TEMP\INSTALL C:\TEMP.
How to install under Windows:
-----------------------------
To setup PC-Draft-CAD to run under Windows (after installing in DOS):
In program manager:
1. Open the group icon where you want to put the PC-Draft-CAD icon.
2. Click on the File menu and choose New. The "New Program Object"
dialog box displays.
3. "Program Item" is already selected, so simply click on the OK button.
4. The "Program Item Properties" dialog box appears. Enter the following
data:
Description: PC-Draft
Command Line: C:\PCDCAD\DRAFT3.PIF
Working Directory: C:\PCDCAD
Shortcut Key: None
5. Click on the Change Icon button. A warning box says: "There are no
Icons available....". Click the OK button.
6. In the "Change Icon" dialog box, enter a new File Name:
C:\PCDCAD\DRAFT3.ICO
7. Click on the OK button. It displays the Draft3 icon. Click on the
OK button again to exit back to the "Program Item Properties" dialog.
8. Click on the OK button to exit. The Draft3 Icon should appear among
the others in your active group.
9 Double click on the Draft3 icon to start the CAD program.
Contents of the self-extracting file:
read.me - you're reading it
bbsinst.bat - run this if you got this from a BBS
order.frm - fill this in to register
products.lst- info on more Natural Software
draft3.exe - the main PC-Draft-CAD program
draft3.cfg - configuration file
draft3.hlp - help file
DRAFT3.PIF - MS Windows Program Information File
DRAFT3.ICO - Windows icon
cgadrv.com - driver for CGA (delete if not used)
vgadrv.com - driver for VGA/EGA (del if not used)
svgadrv.com - driver for Super VGA (del if not used)
hgcdrv.exe - driver for Hercules (del if not used)
vgastart.bat- starts PC-Draft-CAD on VGA/EGA
cgastart.bat- starts PC-Draft-CAD on CGA
hgcstart.bat- starts PC-Draft-CAD on Hercules
vidtest.com - tests video - used by install.bat
dot--drv.exe- driver for dot-matrix printers
hpgl-drv.exe- driver for HPGL plotters
hplj-drv.exe- driver for LaserJet/DeskJet printers
wpg--drv.exe- "print" drawing in WordPerfect format
epson060.cfg- configuration files for Epson
epson072.cfg compatible printers: each for a
epson090.cfg different horiz. resolution.
epson120.cfg (copy one of these to: PRINTER.CFG)
epson240.cfg for use by DOT--DRV.EXE
ibmdm060.cfg- configuration files for IBM dot matrix
ibmdm120.cfg compatible printers.
ibmdm240.cfg
dot24180.cfg- configuration files 24 pin dot matrix
dot24240.cfg (Epson LQ-2500 command set)
hpgl-a.cfg - config files for HPGL plotters
hpgl-b.cfg the letter indicates the paper size
hpgl-d.cfg
hpsf-a.cfg - same for small format (A & B size)
hpsf-b.cfg plotters.
draft3.doc - Manual. enter: COPY DRAFT3.DOC PRN
dline.dwg - Sample drawing: Double line command
fndation.dwg- Sample drawing: Patterns
house.dwg - Sample drawing: Layers
pattern1.lib- Object Library: Patterns
archplan.lib- Object Library: Architectural
duplex.fon - Font: double line
sans.fon - Font: sans serif
script.fon - Font: fancy script
simplex.fon - Font: single line
triplex.fon - Font: triple line
arcs.mac - Sample macro file
arctutor.mac- Example of Extended Macro Language
------- Files not included (for registered users only) -------
EXTRA utilities - not distributed as shareware
DXF2PCD.EXE - Converts Autocad DXF files to Draft3 drawings
WPGCONV.EXE - Converts WordPerfect Graphic files into Draft3 Drawings
GEM--DRV.EXE - to dump as GEM Draw file
PRTDATA.EXE - Prints Drawing database reports on printer.
OBJCOST.EXE - Report counts objects in the drawing and totals cost data
WINDOWS.LIB - Library of window elevations
DOORS.LIB - Library of door elevations
PATTERNS.DWG - Source for Pattern1.lib for user modification
TUTOR?.MAC - macros for 7 Lessons in the tutorial manual
Known Problems:
Expanded Memory Managers:
PC-Draft-CAD's own virtual memory management code automatically uses your
expanded or extended memory. It may not be compatible with other memory
management software. For example, Quarterdeck's QEMM. If you have a problem
running PC-Draft-CAD, try disabling your other memory managers and TSR
(Terminate Stay Resident) programs. Alternatively you may disable
PC-Draft-CAD's memory manager by adding the following environment variable
via DOS's SET command:
SET PCDVM = /NOEMM/NOEXT
PC-Draft-CAD will still be able to create and edit large drawings by paging
to a hard disk swap file.
Zenith EGA display incompatibility:
For PC-Draft-CAD to work properly with the Zenith EGA display adapter
(model Z-449), dip-switch number five (5) must be set to "OFF". this is
called "Auto-Emulation Mode" in their manual. If switch 5 is "ON", the display
drivers (VGADRV.COM and CGADRV.COM) will hang the system when run.
Dip-switch 5 on the Zenity EGA board is the second switch from the top.
Moving the switch to the left is "OFF".
Latest Updates:
Set Extents
You can now more easily change the "Drawing Extents". The drawing extents are
coordinates used by the Zoom All command to set the new viewport -- they are
normally set to the farthest point you have drawn on the overall drawing area.
Press [Alt+D] to change the extents. You then draw a box to indicate the
minimum and maximum coordinates.
Area Calculation
Press [Alt+X] to turn on area calculation. A blank box appears below the
control panel. Move the cursor to one corner of the area, press [Enter], move
to the opposite corner, press [Enter]. The area is shown in the box below
the control panel. Repeat this process. Each sub-total is added to the total.
Press [Esc] to end area calculation.
Search for Ob[J]ect
This works like the search for element command. When you want to make a new
object the "current" object, move the cursor near the object you want and
press [Alt+J]. The object whose origin is closest to the cursor (on the current
layer) will become the "current" object.
Orthographic drawing
When you want to draw lines that are exactly horizontal or exactly vertical
you can now press the [Shift] key while moving the mouse. When either [Shift]
key is pressed the mouse cursor snaps back to the closest right angle to the
starting point. You can also simply use the arrow cursor keys on the keyboard
to move straight vertically or horizontally.
Note that the [Shift] key should not be pressed when using the arrow keys
because this cause the keys on the numeric keypad to represent numbers instead
of cursor movements. Using the [Shift] key for orthographic movement is for
use with the mouse only.
Improved Double line command:
Pg. 31 in the manual talks about using the XLine (double line) command from
left to right verses right to left. This has been changed to make it easier
and more intuitive. Now the line ends work the same way regardless of which
end point is drawn first.
US Decimal Units
You new have a choice of decimal FEET or INCHES (on the Options/Units
menu), the offset indicator on the control panel shows decimal INCHES
or decimal FEET as per your choice. Decimal inches is easier for electrical
engineering drawings such as circuit boards that are drawn full size.
The dimensions are now correctly shown according to your selection.
Hercules display type:
If you have a Hercules display, the install process will detect it and
create the proper start.bat file for your use. The Hercules driver is
different than the other display drivers in that it executes DRAFT3.EXE
directly and is not a TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) program. So, running:
HGCDRV directly works just as good as running START.
Menu Choices:
If you have a mouse, moving the cursor to the top menu bar changes the mouse
cursor to a pointing hand for menu selections. If you do not have a mouse,
the cursor disappears when you move into the menu bar, but you can still make
menu choices in this way.
However, it does not make sense to choose drawing commands in this manner,
because the begining cursor position which selects the starting point of
a drawing element such as a line will be in the wrong place (at the top of
the screen). For drawing commands use the mouse left button or the F2
function key instead (after positioning the cursor at the proper starting
location).
New [Q]uick move command:
You can now precisely position the cursor in relationship to your base point
by using the [Q]uick move command. When you press the [Q] key a dialog window
opens allowing you to enter the distance in feet and inches for both the Y
offset and the X offset from your base point. After entering a value, first
for the X offset, press ESC to continue and enter a value for the Y offset,
then press ESC to exit the window. At that point (if the new location is
within the current view) the cursor will be moved to the specified offset.
For example to draw a line that is precisely 10 feet, 6 inches and 3/16 inch
long:
1. move the cursor to where you want the line to start.
2. press [Alt+B] to set your base point to zero at the current cursor
location.
3. press [L] to start the line command.
4. press [Q] to open the [Q]uick move window.
5. enter "10" for feet, press [Enter], enter "6" for inches, press
[Enter], enter "3" for the 16th. field.
6. press [ESC] to exit the X offset window. and [ESC] again to exit
the Y offset window (so the line is horizontal -- Y offset = 0).
7. press [Enter] to end the line command.
In the case where the specified end point falls outside the current view,
the current drawing command will be completed (you dont have to press [Enter]).
This command lets you draw elements with precise endpoints even though
those points would fall between screen pixels. Otherwise you would have to
Zoom in closer to position the cursor to the exact dimension.
[N]ew Layer/Object
Press [Alt+N] to start a new layer and name the first new object on that layer.
You used to have to do this by opening the database window.
s[E]t Scale
This new option on the Options menu lets you set the drawing scale. You used to
have to open the databse window to set the drawing scale. And, since the database
window would not open unless you have at least one element, this was inconvenent.
Now you can set the scale before drawing anything.
New [Z]ip to base command:
This new command moves the cursor to the base position:
[Alt+Z] (for: "[Z]ip to base") moves the cursor to the base position. The
base position is set by [Alt+B].
New Group command:
A new command: [G]roup, has been added to the Objects menu. This new function
lets you create a new object from existing elements displayed on the screen.
To use the [G]roup command, follow these steps:
1 - position the cursor to the upper left corner of the area containing
elements you want to add to the new object.
2 - press [F3][G] to select the [G]roup command from the objects menu.
3 - move the cursor to surround the elements with a rubber band box.
4 - press [Enter] once the box surrounds the elements you want.
5 - enter the name for the new object in the pop up window.
6 - the new object will be redrawn in place -- use the Object Move command
to display it in a new location.
This is very useful when creating new object libraries from existing drawings.
A hint: make a new layer in the existing drawing and add the new object that
will go into the new object library on the new layer. Then when you are ready,
(and have made backup copies of the original and new drawing), delete all the
other layers, leaving only the new, object library layer. Then save the objects
to your new object library file with the command: [F4][O][S].
New Printer Options:
Set Configuration file:
This lets you specify which printer configuration file to use by the printer
driver. Only the DOT--DRV.EXE and HPGL-DRV.EXE drivers use configuration files.
In previous versions, the DOT--DRV.EXE driver looked for the specific filename:
PRINTER.CFG. Now you can use different configurations (for different resolutions
or different page sizes) without changing the filename.
The filename dialog box works just like the other filename selection dialogs.
You can enter a wild card string like: "*.CFG" and press Enter to list all the
files with the CFG extension.
Set Page Size:
This option lets you set the paper size you will be printing on. The paper size
affects the new Preview command described below.
New Preview command:
A new menu choice on the Print Options menu (press [F8], then [O] for Options)
lets you judge how much of your drawing will be printed at a given scale and
a given page size.
When you press [P] for Preview, a box will temporarily be drawn on the current
view to indicate the area of your drawing that will be printed. This area is
determined by the current drawing scale and current print scale. It is further
based on an 8 inch by 10 inch paper size. If your current view width or height
is too small you will not see the extents of the preview box. This indicates that
you should zoom "out" to a larger view before printing (unless you intend for the
drawing to be truncated when printed).
Press any key to remove the preview box and return to the print menu.
24 pin dot matrix printers:
The dot matrix printer driver (DOT--DRV.EXE) has been updated. It now supports
24 pin modes for most 24 pin printers. To use 24 pin mode you must select one
the two supplied configuration files: DOT24180.CFG (which uses 180 dots per
inch resolution) or DOT24240 (240 dots / inch resolution).
Note: you select printer configuration files via the
Printer/Options/Config file menu.
These files use the Epson LQ-2500 bit image mode selection commands --
the "Esc * 40 shown in the 140 dpi file below:
---------------------------------------------------
8 - page width -- For 24 pin mode 40: 360 dpi
10.5 - page height
360 - horiz dots per inch
180 - vert dots per inch
24 - # of raster passes
24 - # of scan lines per printer pass (print head wires)
2880 - # of bytes = 0b40 hex; bytes = 11, 64 dec...
27 51 24 255 - line feed string (ESC "3" 24) = 24/180 inch
13 10 27 42 40 64 11 255 - graphics line setup string (cr lf Esc * 40 64 11)
----------------------------------------------------
Many other brands of printers use the same command set.
If your 24 pin printer uses another command set, you may be able to modify the
.CFG file to work with it.
The parameter in the .CFG file for # of raster passes is no longer used. The
printer driver calculates this. However the field is left in for backward
compatibility.
HPGL CFG File:
Another major change to the HPGL-DRV.EXE driver: It now uses a configuration
file. The filename can be set from the printer Options menu, or if it is left
blank, it will look for the file: HPGL.CFG. This CFG file is an ASCII text file
with five lines. Each line has a value. The first four values specify the paper
size in plotter units. For example, the file: HPGL-AD.CFG contains:
-17208 Min. X for Architectural D size paper (24 x 36)
17208 Max. X vertical load (Landscape)
-11592 Min. Y
11592 Max. Y
0.3 Pen-tip width in millimetres - can range from 0.1 - 5.0mm
This is for Architectural D size paper and has the minimum and maximum X and Y
values appropriate for a HP DXL plotter. All text to the right of the value is
optional commentary. Note that these sizes are for "vertically" mounted paper,
ie: the short side of the paper is inserted into the plotter.
The fifth value sets the pen width.
We have supplied several HPGL CFG files for various paper sizes. The file names
indicate what paper size they specify. For example:
-- These are for HP DraftPro large format plotters:
HPGL-A.CFG is for A size (8.5 x 11 inch) paper
HPGL-AB.CFG is for Architectural B size (11 x 17 inch) paper
HPGL-A1.CFG is for metric A1 size (594 x 841 mm) paper
-- These are for HP small format plotters (such as model 7475A & B):
HPSF-A.CFG is for A size (8.5 x 11 inch) paper
HPSF-B.CFG is for B size (11 x 17 inch) paper
Note that the small format plotters have the origin (0,0 point) in the upper
left corner of the sheet, while the large format plotters have the origin at
the center of the paper.
If you use a paper size that doesn't match one of the supplied CFG files, you
can make chages to the file with any ASCII editor or word processor. You must
refer to your plotter manual for the correct settings for the paper size.
Plotter Line Width
The plotter driver HPGL-DRV.EXE has been changed. Now line widths are plotted
to the exact width specified by generating multiple passes of the plotter pen.
In previous versions, an element's line width was interpreted as a plotter
pen selection.
To compose a thick line on the plotter, the pen thickness must be accounted for.
The pen thickness (tip width) is set by the fifth line in the config file
(see above). PC-Draft-CAD determines the number of passes to make with the
plotter pen to create the specified line width.
If your plotter uses a different pen width, you must change this value in the
CFG file.
CAVE Drawings
PC-Draft-CAD now supports the exchange of vector based drawings via online
services such as CompuServe.
CAVE: CAD ASCII Vector Exchange is a file exchange format designed to
permit exchange of vector based (CAD) drawings via messages posted on
CompuServe Information Service (CIS), or other bulletin board services.
CAVE messages contain a compact description of a CAD drawing that you can
view and modify.
The CAVE drawing format is designed to achieve the following goals:
- maintain the CAD drawing logical structure of layers, objects, and
elements to facilitate repeated import/export/editing with no loss of
structure.
- the ASCII format is as compact as possible because of
constraints of CIS message size.
- by maintaining logical objects, a CAVE message may refer to library
objects -- objects that do not appear in the CAVE message, thereby
reducing necessary size of the CAVE message.
Therefore, the CAVE drawing format closely follows the internal structure
of PC-Draft-CAD drawing files.
Using PC-Draft-CAD with CAVE messages
To create a CAVE drawing follow these steps:
1- Load or create the drawing you wish to convert to CAVE format,
2- Press [F4] for the file menu,
3- Select [C]AVE file type,
4- Select the [S]ave operation,
5- Enter the filename (with optional drive and path information). PC-
Draft-CAD uses .CAV as the default CAVE drawing file extension.
6- Press [Enter] to save the drawing in CAVE format.
If the current drawing is large or complex enough to take more than 30
lines in the CAVE message, a pop up warning will give you a chance to abort
the process. Press [Y] to continue if you don't mind creating "continued"
CAVE messages.
To load a CAVE drawing for viewing and/or editing:
1- If you have an existing drawing loaded, clear it by pressing [F9],
2- Press [F4] for the file menu,
3- Select [C]AVE file type,
4- Select the [L]oad operation,
5- Enter the filename (with optional drive and path information). PC-
Draft-CAD uses .CAV as the default CAVE drawing file extension.
6- Press [Enter] to load the CAVE drawing. You may have to [Z]oom and/or
[P]an the view window to display the full drawing.
Extended Macro Language:
------------------------
New macro commands let you make interactive and tutorial macros:
When making a macro you can insert special codes to open pop-up windows
on the screen, display messages, pause macro execution, suspend macro
execution (to get user input) and clear pop-up windows.
Since macro files are in ASCII format, you can add these features to the
macro after it is created, or you can use special commands while making the
macro.
Pop-up window:
--------------
1 - Press [Alt+W] while making a macro to start this command.
2 - Then move the cursor to one corner of the rectangular area to define
the window size.
3 - Press [Enter]. (Don't use the mouse buttons.)
4 - Then move to the opposite corner and press [Enter], the window will
appear.
This puts the special code "~B" in the macro file along with numbers that
indicate the window location and size. It looks like:
~B x
y
cols
rows
You can have up to 6 pop-up windows at one time. Any more than 6 will simply
not work.
Use the clear pop-up command to remove pop-up windows from the screen.
Clear pop-up:
-------------
This command erases the last pop-up window. For example, if you use the
pop-up window command three times to display three windows, this command
erases them in reverse order: the third window first, followed by the second,
then the first.
Press [Alt+K] to execute this command while making a macro. It puts the
special code "~C" in the macro file.
When macros finish running, PCD-CAD clears the internal stack that keeps
track of them. But it does not clear windows left on the screen.
Message text:
-------------
1 - Press [Alt+T] while making a macro to start this command.
2 - Then move the cursor to the place on the screen where you want the
text.
3 - Press [Enter]. (don't use the Mouse buttons)
4 - Then type in the text and press [Enter], the text will appear.
This puts the special code "~M" in the macro file along with numbers that
indicate the text location. It looks like:
~M x
y
<text>
It is up to you to display your text messages within pop-up windows. You have
complete flexibility to locate the text anywhere. But if it is not in a window
the text will not get cleared until the drawing is re-drawn (by panning,
zooming, or redraw).
Pause:
------
This command simply causes the macro to stop and wait for a keypress.
Press [Alt+V] while making a macro to insert the pause in your macro. It puts
the special code "~P" in the macro file.
User Input:
-----------
This command lets you suspend your macro to get input from the user. It is
most useful to get the endpoint locations when drawing elements.
Press [Alt+I] to suspend the macro. This puts the special code: "~S" in the
macro file.
When the macro reaches this code when it is played back, it will stop and
accept user input until the user presses [Enter],[Esc] or a mouse button.
New [S]pline command:
---------------------
This new command draws a true spline curve connecting up to 64 control points.
Move the cursor to the first starting point, Press [F2][S] to start (Ctrl-V
from keyboard) move the cursor to the next control point, [Enter] anchors
that point, move to the next point, press [Enter], and so on. As you set
points, the program draws a straight line between them to show your progrss.
Press [Esc] to end this command. Then PC-Draft-CAD calculates the curve,
erases the straight lines and draws the curve.
You can move the control points of an existing spline curve to modify the
shape of the curve. Here's how:
1 - Make sure the curve element is the "current" element (it should be drawn
in yellow).
2 - Select which control point to move by using the "[G]et next element"
command (press [G] to move forward from point to point, or press [Alt+G] to
move backward). You will see a small box drawn at the current control point.
Note that when you are on the last point in the curve and
press [G], it will skip on the the next ELEMENT in the current object. (And
pressing [Alt+G] when on the first point moves to the previous element.)
3 - with the m[O]ve end command (press [F7][O] to select it from the Elements menu, or simply press [O] for the keyboard
shortcut. Then move the point to the new location, and press [Enter].
PC-Draft-CAD redraws the element.
Canges to [M]ulti-line command:
-------------------------------
The Multi-line command lets you draw a series of connected line segments
without starting the line command each time. In previous versions, this
created a series of separate LINE elements in the drawing database. Now it
creates a SINGLE element with multiple verticies. This saves space in the
database. You can still move the endpoints the the lines in a multi-line
element by following the three steps shown above (for the spline curve
points). Note that you cannot break the multiple line segments apart into
individual elements.
New Utility: OBJCOST.EXE:
-------------------------
OBJCOST.EXE is a very simple program. It reads PC-Draft-CAD drawing files
and prints a listing of objects by name. It also reads a text file with a
list of object names and costs. It uses this information to list unit costs
and total costs for each object that is in the list and that is also in the
drawing. It also prints a subtotal.
You run OBJCOST from the DOS command line with the drawing file name as an
argument. For example:
OBJCOST objcost.dwg
It reads a text file for the object names and item costs (the cost data
file). It uses OBJCOST.DAT by default. If you want to use a different
filename, use the -C command line option. For example:
OBJCOST myplan.dwg -Cmyplan.dat
You can print by redirecting the to the printer:
OBJCOST myplan.dwg > prn
or save the listing in a file:
OBJCOST myplan.dwg > mydata.lst
The sample drawing file (OBJCOST.DWG) and sample cost file: (OBJCOST.DAT)
give the following listing:
Drawing: CostTest
Quan. Item Unit Cost Total
----- -------- --------- ---------
3 window 1 128.95 386.85
5 window 2 89.98 449.90
3 3-6 Door 140.00 420.00
6 2-6 Door 110.50 663.00
6 Vent3x5 49.95 299.70
4 Vent 4x8 65.40 261.60
3 Skylght1 195.50 586.50
--------------------------------------
Grand Total: 3067.55
Note that there are additional objects in the drawing. OBJCOST lists only
the ones that are in the cost data file.
Note that upper/lower case does not matter. You can extract different sets
of data from the same drawing by using different cost data files.
The format for the cost data file is very simple. Each object name is
followed on the next line by its item cost. For example OBJCOST.DAT is:
skylght1
195.50
vent3x5
49.95
vent 4x8
65.4
window 1
128.95
window 2
89.98
window 3
228.95
window 4
347.25
3-6 Door
140
2-6 Door
110.50
You can use OBJCOST to make the cost data file by using the -O option
(Objects only). For example, the command:
OBJCOST objcost.dwg -O > myplan.dat
Lists the objects in MYPLAN.DAT like this:
window 1
window 2
3-6 Door
2-6 Door
Vent3x5
Vent 4x8
Skylght1
wall 1
You must then edit the mydata.lst file to add the unit costs for each object.
Also, you must delete extra blank lines that result when there are objects in
the drawing with no name (such as the one below "Skylght1" in the example).
If you don't want a cost amount to appear for an object you must inter a
value of 0 -- don't leave the cost line blank.
Note:
For this to work properly, you should give a unique name to each object in
your drawing. Also, use the Object Copy command to make multiple copies of
objects -- if you select the same object from an object library you will get
separate objects with the same name and OBJCOST will count them separately
(but since they have the same name, it uses the unit cost from the FIRST
object with that name).
New Cost Report:
----------------
The function of the OBJCOST program is now included inside the main program,
so you don't have to run a separate program to make cost reports.
The main Print menu has a hew choice: "Cost Report". This prints the cost
report on your printer or to a file. The "Print Options Destination" menu
choice determines whether it is printed on your printer (it's set to LPT1),
or it is stored in a file (it's set to a DOS file name).
The cost report function still uses a cost file with a list of object
names and their prices.
The Print Options menu has a new choice: "Cost File". This lets you specify
which file to use to get the prices for each object you want to list in the
Cost Report. You can use the OBJCOST.EXE program to create the list of
objects from the drawing and then edit the file to add prices.
This makes it easy to set up several different cost files with different sets
of prices for your objects and change from one to the other.
There is context sensitive help for each of these new menu choices. Press the
[F1] key.
Also note that the cost report now does not include deleted objects.
We've kept the OBJCOST.EXE stand-alone program so you can still create the
cost data file as described above for previous versions.
New File Menu Commands:
-----------------------
Save Layer command:
This saves only the current layer to a new drawing file. Use this
when you want to save parts of your drawing to use in another
drawing.
Use the Combine command to load the new drawing into the other.
This does not save Fill objects.
Combine command:
Use this command to load another drawing into your current drawing.
It combines the two drawings into one.