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REVIEW: H O M E D E S I G N E R 1 2 8
CAD for the Commodore 128
Reviewed by Noel Plank
Available from: Software Support International
2700 NE Andresen Road Suite A-10
Vancouver, WA 98661
(800) 356-1179
CAT# CO1285 $24.97 plus $5.50 s/h. (Also includes Circuit Symbols data
disk at no charge - a $10 value)
Want to make a room addition or how about a backyard deck of your own
design? First, you will need a plan and then layout drawings before
construction work can begin. This is what the HOME DESIGNER 128 CAD
program can do and more. By creating detailed drawings and accurate
sketches you can submit your own ideas directly to a building contractor.
Computer Aided Design programs are based on two types of formats,
either bit mapped graphics or what is commonly referred to as being object-
oriented. Bit mapped graphics store all data entered into the program in
the bit mapped screen display. When a section of a drawing is then
magnified in order for close up additions or refinements a display will
consist of dots representing this bit map location. This means the detail
accuracy is only as good as the resolution of the computer's monitor that
you are using.
HOME DESIGNER 128 uses what is called an object based CAD in which
data is stored in the form of individual lines, circles, boxes and text
strings. This means drawings are stored using a set of equations, so that
zooming in or magnifying creates a sharply defined close up detail by
increasing the actual resolution of an area. This type of program actually
constructs a drawing by using stored information similar to a database.
When you zoom in a close up view for example, the program runs through its
built-in database switching to the Commodore 128's fast 2MHZ micro
processor speed.
This is where a C-128 owner can run into some real problems causing a
computer to lock-up right in the middle of complex drawing plans if it's
not fully working properly. According to Timeworks Inc., Commodore
Electronics used two different internal timing mechanisms in manufacturing
the C-128 computer. If the serial plate of your particular computer has a
MFG DATE of either 9/85 or 10/85, you might have one of these machines.
Even running Timework's diagnostic disk that comes packaged with the
PARTNER 128 cartridge may not necessary determine if your computer will
function properly when used with the Home Designer 128 program. That's
because of translation problems associated with the precise timing speed
changes required in the drawing and filing modes. Commodore 128D owners
and C128 computers manufactured after September and early October 1985
should not experience any of these problems, however.
HOME DESIGNER 128 drawings can be printed to most any scale size with
up to five superimposed drawing layers. Each of these layers can be
considered an individual drawing that can be overlayed on any or all of the
other layers much as transparencies can. If, for example, you're planning
a new deck for the backyard, the basic outline of the yard and the layout
of the back of the house might be shown. The second layer could be the
concrete slabs leading up to the patio deck area. The third layer might
show the actual design of the deck with its steps and bench seating areas.
The fourth area could be for an overhead arbor and sun screen. The final
and fifth layer might be a detailed blow up drawing showing special detail
areas of interest in building construction. Being able to prepare multiple
sheet drawings using the basic outline of the yard while excluding unneeded
layers is really helpful to completing each section of a project. For
instance, a concrete contractor does not need to see the deck or the over
head arbor plans to submit an estimate bid. Likewise the carpenter does
not need to see the concrete layout and so on and so forth.
Maybe you're not into home improvement or construction planning but
instead like drawing schematic diagrams for electronic projects. That's
where the "Circuit Symbol" data disk comes in. This diskette includes 115
different electronic symbols for use with the HOME DESIGNER 128 that can be
inserted into your drawings. If you cannot find a symbol that meets your
needs you can also modify one of the existing figures or design and save
your own from scratch. You can also modify these circuit figures physical
size and angle to be inserted at any positioning location on your schematic
drawing.
No need to go out and purchase that expensive Hewlett Packard 7470A
Plotter even though a printer driver is provided, but you would also have
to locate a serial to parallel interface such as the Omnitronix Deluxe
RS232 interface to use this piece of equipment with Home Designer 128.
Instead use your 8 or 9 pin dot matrix printer to produce drawings accurate
enough for developing professional quality house plans to scale. The
drawing size represented by the screen display is 22" wide by 16" high. If
the hardcopy device is a standard carriage dot matrix printer, the output
can be scaled to half size or 11" by 8". The resolution compatible
printers vary from 72 X 60 DPI for Commodore compatible and 216 X 240 DPI
for Epson or IBM compatible printers.
Another useful feature of this program is the ability to used scaled
text. This is handy for producing large headings at the top of drawings to
small numerical figures indicating distant inches in a confined area for
example.
The HOME DESIGNER 128 runs only on the C-128 in the 40 column display
mode. It requires a 1571 disk drive and a joystick or preferably a mouse.
The use of a 1351 mouse is highly recommended for its ease of control. The
program does not support the 1750 RAM Expansion however but a 1581 disk
drive can be used as a data drive for fast loading and saving of your
drawings. Home Designer 128 supports the use of the Cardco CARD +G, the
GWHIZ, the XETEC SUPER GRAPHICS, and the MW-350 printer interfaces. Dot-
Matrix Printers that can be used include Commodore MPS-801 and VIC-1525,
STAR-NX-10C, STAR GEMINI 10X and 15X, STAR SG-10 or 15, CITOH 8510, CITOH
PROWRITER, EPSON RX-80, EPSON FX-80, Seikosha SP1000VC, Okidata 120, LEGEND
1080 and the PANASONIC 1091i. Plotters such as the multi-pen Commodore
1520 or the Hewlett Packard 7470A but you must use the Omnitronix Serial
to Parallel interface.
As mentioned previously, Home Designer 128 is an object-based CAD
program responding to a verb describing the operation to be performed. In
conjunction with this descriptive command many also require one or more
additional modifiers to further specify the desired operation. In all you
have over 50 of these powerful commands at your disposal. To draw a half
circle, for example, one needs to spell out the "INSERT ARC" command,
keeping in mind that three points on the screen must be defined by
positioning and pushing the button on the joystick or the mouse at the
desired location on your monitor's screen. In a similar type function to
draw a horizontal line to a certain determined scaled length you would
enter: INS LIN HOR LEN 5.3' which is the abbreviated way of specifying
"INSert a LINe HORizontal LENgth of 5.3 feet long." You then determine the
location and direction using the joystick or mouse and a line will be drawn
horizontally to the correct scale of 5.3 feet in length. If this sounds
complicated, it is at first, and does take some time getting used to, but
once you become accustomed to the operation commands, it becomes quick and
easy. To help with the abbreviated commands, a list is constantly
displayed on the right side of the screen.
A more professional approach would have been a spiral bound manual
that could be folded back for easy viewing, instead of the cheap 99-paged
paper bound booklet that comes with the Home Designer 128 program. This
manual does provide a two paged index at the end to enable you to easily
find out how to use a particular command within the program. More detailed
drawings and examples w