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tbxCAD
****************************************************************************
This demo may be distributed freely. Print functions are contained in
a separate print utility which is not included in this distribution. Save
functions in the tbxCAD demo are also disabled.
****************************************************************************
Finally, a real CAD program at an affordable price. tbxCAD is a fully featured
two dimensional drafting package, with features such as an infinite drawing
plane, wide range of drawing primitives, exact specification of locations,
multiple layers, scaling, dimensioning, measurement and much more. It can print
to Epson compatible dot matrix printers. Its ability to export GEM METAfiles
makes it the ideal technical illustration tool. Just import the tbx METAfile
into your favourite DTP program for inclusion in your final document or to ac-
cess a wide range of printers.
* Infinite drawing plane. Drawing size and complexity limited only by memory.
* Geometric CAD entities:
Lines simple, horizontal vertical, angled, XY,
tangential, polyline, parallel; trim, break or join lines;
Rectangles fast, standard;
Polygons
Circles three point, standard, fast; break circles;
Ellipses fast, closed, open;
Arcs three point, standard, fast; break or trim arcs;
Bezier curves;
Fillets.
* Accurate location of construction points: tangents, intersections, ends,
centers, on entity etc.
* Editing: copy, move, move to layer, delete; rotate and mirror at any angle;
scale and project.
* Auto dimensioning of length, radius, diameter, and angle. Apply dimension
vertically, horizontally, angled or parallel to entity. Edit height, arrow size
and direction, follow line and scaling. Select auto or manual dimensioning.
* Enter labels in any size or orientation. Normal and draft fonts, skewed or
unskewed. Font editor included.
* Choose grid option visible or invisible, snap, spacing.
* Measure lengths, vertical or horizontal distances, angles, or point to point.
* Choose from six line styles; up to 16 line thicknesses.
* True Vector Crosshatching with user set line, spacing and angle options.
* Zoom in, out, default and to full screen; set default zoom; zoom to scale.
* Up to 254 selectable layers per drawing; make layers visible or invisible,
active or inactive.
* User library functions for commonly used items may be created, saved and
loaded into drawings.
* Built in calculator.
* Unlimited undo function.
* Output in METAfile (.GEM - GDOS required but not provided)
* Imports DXF files via separate conversion utility provided
* System requirements: ST/STe/TT, double sided drive. Screen support: ST medium
and high or TT medium and high resolutions.
* Printing via separate print utility. High resolution printer
driver for Epson compatible 9 or 24 pin dot matrix printers, or use
GDOS to access other printers.
tbxCAD is priced at $69 Cdn or $59 US (plus $5 s&h). Ontario residents
add 8% PST; Canadian residents add 7% GST.
Ask your favourite retailer, or send check or money order to:
ABC Solutions
4040 Creditview Road
Unit 11-151
Mississauga
Ontario L5C 3Y8
You may also get in touch with us by calling
(416) 824-8484, or leave eMail on GEnie to ABC.SOLN.
TBXCAD Program
Programming: Tony Biasutti TBX ENGINEERING
DEMO-Version 2.2 Copyright 1992, 1993
The following set of documentation is a brief summary of the
features present in TBXCAD. A complete set of documentation is
available with the purchase of TBXCAD.
INTRODUCTION
The first point that should be made is that TBXCAD is not a
drawing program. The difference between CAD and Drawing programs
is that the latter works with pixels while the former deals with
drawing entities. An entity is any of the following :
1) Line
2) Circle
3) Arc
4) Ellipse
5) Bezier
Each entity has specific characteristics that can be referenced to
allow ease of drafting. For example, a line has the
characteristic of having two endpoints; two non-parallel lines
have a characteristic of forming an intersection point; a line
intersecting a circle at one point produces the characteristic
of being tangent to that circle etc. As one begins inserting
entities into a drawing, opportunities arise to reference these types
of characteristics to produce desired effects with extreme
precision. For the purpose of this discussion, these specific
points or characteristic locations will be called SPECKS.
IN THE BEGINNING...
When TBXCAD is first executed, the user is presented with a
virtually blank screen. There is a familiar menu bar across the
top and a black command line on the bottom as indicated by the '>'
prompt. The white (or blue if color monitor is used) area is your
sheet of paper. It is an 'infinite' sheet of paper as one can
move freely to right, left, up or down by simply moving the mouse
to the desired edge (to move upward and avoid activating a menu
drop, move mouse to the arrow pointing upwards). Obviously, with
a blank sheet, movement in any direction will not be fruitful.
THE MAIN MENU
The user is probably familiar with some of the menu
selections available but not all, so a bit of explanation is in
order here:
ABOUT PROG
Displays on screen: program name, author and serial
number. Instructions on how to purchase non-demo
version of TBXCAD.
FILES
All file functions are listed here. These include the
ability to save and load drawings, as well as the
merging of blocks (smaller drawings that are stored in
libraries ie. a drawing of a sink for house layout).
METAfile output can be performed for use in other
programs (not with the DEMO version).
TOOLS
This is where the action is. The menu reveals all the
entities possible for insertion onto the sheet of
'paper'. As mentioned before there are four basic
entities that make up a drawing: a line, an arc,
a circle (subset of an arc) and ellipse. All other
entries in this menu are combinations of the basic set.
A rectangle is made up of four lines, and a fillet is
made up of an arc. DIMENSION, XHATCH, and LABEL
options are NOT considered entities for the purpose
of referencing characteristic properties (SPECKS).
More will be explained later on the individual options.
EDIT
Once an entity has been inserted into the drawing, the
entity, or group of entities, can be altered by any of
the menu options provided. Most involve some form of
capture of the entities that the edit is to be
performed onto. The capture may take the form of a
dynamic window that is altered to encompass the desired
group of entities, or the selection process is made using
the mouse. Once the selection is made, instructions are
provided to allow the user to complete the desired task.
SETUP
this menu header contains options for defining system
configurations. These include the selection of line
style for insertion of LINES; the selection of
LAYER for defining the current working layer and
attributes; and the control of GRID (active/visible)
functions.
EXTRAS
options under this menu header provide