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ParaDraft COPYRIGHT 1991 By ParaWare Systems All rights reserved worldwide USER MANUAL FOR SHAREWARE TRIAL VERSION ParaDraft ( Parametric Drafting System for AutoCAD) V 1.01S This file has the manual for test running the shareware TRIAL version of ParaDraft for evaluation. Please read the terms and conditions of use of ParaDraft shareware version given in this file. ParaDraft COPYRIGHT 1991 ParaWare Systems, India USE CTRL-S TO STOP AND START THE SCROLLING PROCESS AS YOU READ THIS FILE. Distributed by: ParaWare Systems B-23, Alokpuri Ravindrapalli Lucknow-226016 India You may print this file by using either PRINT.COM (a DOS utility) or use the DOS COPY command as follows: A>COPY PGDRAFT.DOC PRN <ENTER> This file already has the necessary page breaks and therefore it may not work with the page formatting programs. Page length has been set to 58 lines so the file should print properly on laser printers. Please use fixed spacing font for printing on laser printers. ___________________________________________________________________________ AutoCAD is a registered trademark of Autodesk Corporation TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- INTRODUCTION ParaDraft - Parametric Drafting System for AutoCAD iii ParaDraft Trial, Extended and Professional Versions iii Registration information iv ParaDraft License Agreement v INTRODUCTION TO PARAMETRIC DRAFTING AND PARADRAFT What is Parametric Geometry? 1 What is a Parametric Geometry program(a PgProgram)? 1 What is Parametric Drafting? 1 Paradraft makes parametric drafting affordable 2 Affordable Parametric Drafting for Draughtsmen 2 ParaDraft for CAD programmers - making CAD Effective 3 An example of Parametric Drafting - "BASEPLATE" 3 Developing the application with ParaDraft 4 Creating Dimensioned Drawings - ParaDraft Professional 4 USING PARADRAFT - AN OVERVIEW 5 Generating PgPrograms 5 Running PgPrograms 5 Customizing PgPrograms to develop application 5 GENERATING PGPROGRAMS WITH PgPg! What is Parent Geometry ? 6 Required characteristics 6 Reference point: 7 Geometry: 7 Supported entities 7 Rules for creation of geometry 7 Layer convention 8 Dimensioning: 8 Supported dimension types 8 Rules for dimensioning 9 Dimensioning characteristics 9 Center lines and Symmetry 9 Parent Geometry Specification 10 Parameterisation 10 Sample session 10 Loading PgPg! 10 Geometry Name 11 Reference point 11 Geometry 11 Symmetry axis 12 Zoom options 12 Parameterisation 12 Undoing the changes 13 Solving problems of parameterisation 14 Parameterisation assumptions 14 PGDEBUG 14 Locating the problem point 14 Suggestions for solving problems 15 Using PGCAL to solve these problems 16 ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems i RUNNING PARADRAFT APPLICATIONS WITH PGRUN 17 PGDIR 17 PGSHOW 17 Running Generated programs 18 Dimension values 18 Insertion point and angle 18 Drawn geometry 18 Running Customized programs 19 Input parameter values 19 Running fully customized applications 19 Loading customized application definitions 19 DEVELOPING PARAMETRIC DRAFTING APPLICATIONS BY CUSTOMIZING PGPROGRAMS 20 Procedure of customization 20 PGCAL and PGCUSTOM 21 What is PGCAL 21 PGEDIT and PGDATA 21 Template file helps you start off 22 PGCAL file structure 22 i. Temporary variables 22 ii. Variables for dimensions 22 iii. Variable for assumed coordinates 23 Defining input parameters 23 Defining Formula for a parameter 23 Using tables 23 PICKFROM keyword 24 Example 24 Using a PLOT or PRPLOT 25 Testing the formulae 25 Testing the program 25 Input parameter values 25 Customizing User Interface 26 PGCUSTOM 26 PGMSLIDE - Replacing the slide file 27 PGINSERT - Inserting the parent geometry 27 Appendix A. General and Registration information 28 Shareware version restrictions 28 Appendix B. Installation notes 29 Appendix C. How does PgPg! work 32 Appendix D. PGCAL Syntax 33 Appendix E. Features of Paradraft Shareware, 35 Registered and Professional Versions ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems ii INTRODUCTION ------------ ParaDraft ( Parametric Drafting System for AutoCAD) ParaDraft is a system for parametric drafting, that brings higher drafting productivity within easy reach of your drawing office. It boosts up the productivity of the draughtsmen, without requiring any retraining. With ParaDraft, a draughtsman can develop his parametric drafting applications himself for drawings unique to his practice. ParaDraft greatly speeds up and simplifies the task of developing these applications by building upon the existing skills of the draughtsman, without making him learn programming. This lets you automate drafting of drawings unique to your practice, and boost up drafting productivity affordably and consistently. ParaDraft fully automates the task of parameterisation of geometry, which is the most programming intensive part of the application development. Its parameterisation expert system takes a fully dimensioned AutoCAD drawing as the input, applies heuristics and geometric reasoning, and automatically generates an AutoLISP parametric geometry program for the application in just a few minutes. The generated program can draw the corresponding to-the-scale drawing accurately from the dimension values. This drawing is optionally dimensioned, the way it is done in the input drawing. This automates the drafting for all variants of the geometry, both in the assembly and the detailed drawings. Created applications can be customized without doing any programming in AutoLISP. The dimension values for a drawing can be automatically computed from the specified formulae. ParaDraft features an easy-to-use formula calculator, that does it after taking the value of key input parameters from the user. With ParaDraft the draughtsman can create and maintain all parts of his parametric drafting application himself, and produce a custom drafting automation system of professional quality. ParaDraft Trial, Extended and Professional Versions ParaDraft Trial Version is available as shareware for you to try it free of charge for a trial period. On registration for the shareware version, you get an extended version which has no imposed restrictions on the size of the geometry. With the full package called Paradraft Professional, you can develop applications for drawing fully dimensioned, hatched and annotated drawings. The comparative features of the trial, extended and professional versions are given in the Appendix E of this manual, and in README.DOC. Five sample applications are supplied with the shareware package to illustrate the features and capabilities of the trial, extended and professional versions of ParaDraft. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems iii ParaDraft Shareware Version 1.01S, September 1991 ParaDraft Copyright (c) 1991, ParaWare Systems, India. All Rights Reserved. Published by: ParaWare Systems, B-23, Alokpuri, Ravindrapalli, Lucknow-226016, India Phone: (204)-275-0642 or (91)-522-76741 Compuserve: 100015,3116 Registration Information ParaDraft is a copyrighted program protected by both Indian and international copyright law. If you obtained ParaDraft from a shareware disk vendor, an on-line computer service or bulletin board, a friend or colleague, or another similar source, you have an unregistered (trial) copy. You are authorized to use this copy without charge for a limited period of time under the terms of the ParaDraft license agreement. After this time is up, you must register and pay for ParaDraft to continue using it, or for using any application created with it. This method of distribution is known as shareware. It allows you to determine whether ParaDraft meets your needs before you pay for it. The shareware version of ParaDraft has some restrictions in terms of the size of the geometry and capabilities as compared to the registered versions. However, these restrictions do not interfere with the purpose of letting you test ParaDraft for its suitability to your requirements. ParaDraft Professional is available at an introductory price of $495 for a limited period, and entitles you to: * A diskette with the latest version of ParaDraft Professional * One copy of the printed ParaDraft Users Manual. * Site license for PGRUN, the runtime component of ParaDraft. * Registration certificate * Technical support via electronic mail or telephone for 90 days If you prefer, you may register just for Extended version of ParaDraft for $195, and recieve only the diskette with the latest version of ParaDraft Extended, single user PGRUN license and the registration certificate. If you only want to use the applications generated with ParaDraft, you require just a runtime license of PGRUN, the runtime component of ParaDraft. A single user license comes for $30, and entitles you to the diskette with the latest version of PGRUN for running the Parametric Drafting applications, generated either by yourself during the trial period, or by another user with any of the other versions of ParaDraft. The actual order form is in the file ORDER.FRM of the shareware package. The comparative features of the trial, extended and professional version are given in the Appendix E of the manual, and in README.DOC. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems iv ParaDraft License Agreement (1) Copyright: The ParaDraft family of programs and all other programs and documentation distributed or shipped with it are copyright ParaWare Systems,India 1991, or are distributed under license to ParaWare Systems,India and are protected by Indian, U.S. and international copyright law. In the rest of this document, this collection of programs is referred to simply as "ParaDraft". You are granted a license to use your copy of ParaDraft only under the terms and conditions specified in this license agreement. (2) Definitions: ParaDraft is distributed in three different forms, differing in features and capabilities. ParaDraft Professional is a separately priced software product distributed by ParaWare Systems and its authorized dealers, and which includes a serial number and the legend "PROFESSIONAL" in the program sign-on messages and on the diskette label. A "registered" copy of ParaDraft is a copy of ParaDraft Extended version distributed on diskette, purchased from ParaWare , Systems or from a dealer, and which includes a serial number and the legend "EXTENDED" or "REGISTERED" in the program sign-on messages and on the diskette label. A "shareware" copy of ParaDraft is a copy of ParaDraft Trial version distributed on diskette or via an electronic bulletin board, on-line service, or other electronic means, which is obtained from a shareware disk vendor, or obtained from another individual, and which displays the legend "shareware" in the program sign-on messages, and in most cases on the diskette label as well (if applicable). "PGRUN" is the runtime component of ParaDraft, also supplied along with the ParaDraft shareware version. A "runtime license" is a license to use PGRUN on the number of computers specified on the PGRUN diskette label and PGRUN load message. "PgPrograms" are the AutoLISP programs generated using ParaDraft. (3) Shareware Copies: Shareware copies of ParaDraft Trial version are distributed to allow you to try the program before you pay for it. They are Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems, and do not constitute "free" or "public domain" software. You may use a shareware copy of ParaDraft at no charge for a trial period of up to 21 days. If you wish to continue using ParaDraft after that period, you must purchase a registered copy. If you choose not to purchase a registered copy, you must stop using ParaDraft, though you may keep copies of ParaDraft and pass them along to others. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems v (4) Registered Copies: Registered copies of ParaDraft are distributed to those who have purchased them. Your registered copy of ParaDraft may only be used on the number of computers specified on the diskette label and program sign-on messages. (5) PgPrograms: ParaDraft is based on a Parametric geometry Program (PgProgram) generator for AutoCAD. To run these programs you require PGRUN, the runtime component of ParaDraft, supplied along with ParaDraft shareware version. PGRUN is a part of ParaDraft and its use for running ParaDraft generated programs beyond the trial period by you is expressely disallowed. You may not use the PgPrograms generated during the trial period beyond it without obtaining a "runtime license". You may not distribute the programs generated with the shareware version to any other user not having a valid "runtime license", except for the purpose of trial, along with the rest of the ParaDraft Trial version package. (6) PGRUN: You may not reverse-engineer PGRUN and create your own runtime functions component compatible with the PgPrograms generated with ParaDraft. You may not pass along the copies of the shareware version of PGRUN without the rest of the ParaDraft Trial version package. (7) Runtime license : You must obtain the "runtime license" for PGRUN, if you wish to continue to use PgPrograms generated during the trial period for your own use. A runtime license entitles you to the licensed copy of PGRUN with which you can continue to use ANY program generated with ParaDraft. It also entitles you to a free upgrade to the next version of PGRUN. If you choose not to purchase a "runtime licensed" copy of PGRUN you must stop using the PgPrograms generated with ParaDraft. (8) Use of ParaDraft on Networks or Multiple Systems: You may install your registered copy of ParaDraft on a computer attached to a network, or remove it from one computer and install it on a different one, provided there is no possibility that your copy will be used by more users than it is licensed for. A "user" is defined as one keyboard which is connected to a computer on which ParaDraft is installed, regardless of whether or not the user of the keyboard is aware of the installation or use of ParaDraft in the system. (9) Making Copies: You may copy any version of ParaDraft for normal backup purposes, and you may give copies of the shareware version to other individuals, which they may also use and copy subject to the terms of this agreement. If you copy the shareware version of ParaDraft for others, you must include all of the files distributed with it, including this one. You may not give copies of the registered version to any other person for any purpose, and you may not make any copies of the printed and bound ParaDraft manual without explicit written permission from ParaWare Systems. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems vi (10) Distribution Restrictions: You may NOT distribute ParaDraft other than through individual copies of the shareware version passed to friends and associates for their individual use. Specifically, you may not place ParaDraft or any part of the ParaDraft package in any user group or commercial library, or distribute it with any other product or as an incentive to purchase any other product, without express written permission from ParaWare Systems, and you may not distribute for a fee, or in any way sell copies of ParaDraft or any part of the ParaDraft package including PGRUN. If you are a shareware disk vendor approved by the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP), you may place ParaDraft in your library without prior written permission, provided you notify ParaWare Systems within 15 days of doing so; and provided your application has been fully approved in writing by the ASP, and is not simply submitted or awaiting review. (11) Use of ParaDraft: ParaDraft is an AutoCAD application generator. While we have attempted to build in reasonable safeguards, if you do not use ParaDraft properly you may disfigure AutoCAD drawings or cause other damage to your computer software and data with the generated programs. You assume full responsibility for the selection and use of ParaDraft to achieve your intended results. As stated below, ParaWare Systems limits its warranty to replacement of a defective program diskette or manual. Good data processing procedure dictates that any program be thoroughly tested with non-critical data before relying on it. The user must assume the entire risk of using ParaDraft. (12) LIMITED WARRANTY: ParaWare Systems warrants to owners of registered copies of ParaDraft that the software will operate in accordance with the description given in the documentation, and that the diskette and manual will be free of physical defects which interfere with normal use. For a period of 90 days from the date of your purchase of ParaDraft, ParaWare Systems will, at its sole option and subject to the restrictions above and below, repair or replace any defective item(s), or refund the purchase price of any diskette and/or manual and/or any other parts or components of ParaDraft found to be defective, if such defect is the fault of ParaWare Systems and not the result of misuse or abuse. Such a refund, repair, or replacement shall be your sole remedy for any defects, program error(s), or documentation error(s). In no event shall ParaWare Systems be responsible for any other costs or damages whatsoever due to errors in usage or your failure to read, understand, or follow instructions in the documentation. ParaWare Systems MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. ParaWare Systems's warranty is expressly limited to the cost of replacement of any defective diskette or other part. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems vii INTRODUCTION TO PARAMETRIC DRAFTING AND PARADRAFT What is parametric geometry? Parametric geometry is a generalised geometry that defines geometries with same shape, but with different parameter values. A common example of use of parametric geometry in engineering drafting is in parametric representation of standard shapes, such as standard sections, bolts, nuts etc. However, in fact, every dimensioned drawing represents a parametric geometry, where the dimensions are the parameters that can be varied. A geometry corresponding to a given set of parameter values is called an instance of the parametric geometry. In some cases, the count of useful instances of a parametric geometry is small, and it is practical to create and store the drawings for these instances for later use. However, more frequently, these geometries allow very large variability in the dimensions, making it impossible to either create or store the drawings of all possible instances. What is a Parametric Geometry Program (a PgProgram) ? Every parametric geometry can be represented by a parametric geometry program, called PgProgram by ParaDraft. This PgProgram accepts the values of the dimensions and draws the corresponding geometry. PgPrograms require little space to store and draw the instance geometry quickly. What is parametric drafting? Parametric drafting refers to automatic creation of drawings from the values of the dimensions, using parametric geometry techniques. It is of particular relevance to the assembly drawings with many standardized parts, as well as to the manufacturing drawings of such parts. Every standardized part belongs to a family of parts, which can be represented by parametric geometry. The drafting for all members of this family of parts can be automated using parametric drafting, both in the assembly and the manufacturing drawings. Use of parametric drafting in drafting practice can take the tedium out of it and really speed it up. Productivity gains of 20-to-1 are common with such applications of parametric drafting. Application of parametric drafting is beneficial for both the design process and subsequent stages, since the resulting drawings are drawn accurately to-the-scale with it. First, a correctly drawn drawing helps design visualization and checking. Next, parametric drafting promotes consistency and standardization, while saving valuable time and eliminating errors as compared to drawing from the scratch. Further, the same drawing can be used in the subsequent planning and manufacturing tasks without rectification. Finally, modifications to the design at a later stage, even those affecting several dimensions, can be incorporated by recreating the drawing nearly automatically. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 1 ParaDraft makes Parametric Drafting affordable Parametric Drafting applications can be developed for AutoCAD, the favorite drafting system for Mechanical drafting, using AutoLISP. These applications have been usually developed by specialist AutoLISP programmers, who have to manually write parametric geometry programs ("parameterise the geometry") for the application. This is very time consuming, and therefore the cost of development is quite high. Since in most cases this cost must be offset against the time saved in drafting, parametric drafting has been unaffordable for many draughtsmen and drawing offices. Further, these applications are hard to modify and enforce an artificial rigidity on the draugtsmen. ParaDraft fully automates the task of parameterisation of geometry, and thereby makes parametric drafting equally well affordable for an individual draughtsman, as for a drawing office with many draughtsmen supported by a specialist AutoLISP programmer. ParaDraft can be used by the draughtsmen, and has features for building sophisticated CADD applications by the CAD programmers. Affordable Parametric Drafting for Draughtsmen If you are a draughtsman, you must be already having first hand knowledge of benefits of Parametric drafting, particularly for standard parts and geometries as standard sections, bolts, nuts etc. With ParaDraft the same benefits can be realised for parts and geometries unique to your practice. Just from the values of the dimensions, you can automatically create to-the-scale geometries to be inserted in the assembly drawings, as well as fully dimensioned and annotated detailed to-the-scale drawings. You do not have to learn programming or AutoLISP to use ParaDraft. Once you create a dimensioned geometry to its requirements, ParaDraft automatically generates the corresponding AutoLISP Parametric Geometry Program (PgProgram). You can easily build your Parametric Drafting application on top of the PgProgram. ParaDraft helps you to customize your application, so that the application: ∙ is invocable with its own AutoCAD command, ∙ displays a customized slide file, ∙ requires only the values of key dimensions, ∙ computes dimension values from the specified formulae or tables, and, ∙ draws the geometry using these computed dimensions. You can realise the aim of drafting automation by developing such applications yourself without requiring a specialist programmer, or acquiring extensive programming skills yourself. If your geometry changes, you can make the corresponding change in the PgProgram, without doing any editing of the PgProgram. Instead, you can do it by editing the original geometry for the desired changes, and create the new PgProgram automatically, all within AutoCAD. Therefore, you can develop and maintain (keep up with the changes) your Parametric Drafting applications yourself with ParaDraft - with tremendous power and flexibility. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 2 ParaDraft for CAD programmers - making CAD Effective If you are a CAD programmer, supporting a group of draughtsmen, ParaDraft can simplify your task. Each of your users can develop his unique Parametric Drafting applications himself with your support more efficiently. Further they can develop these applications as they need it, without waiting for you for their turn. You can instead develop the applications for those geometries that are standard in your design office. Using ParaDraft, you can develop more complex design and drafting automation applications, since the required PgPrograms can be generated by it automatically. You can configure these PgPrograms and integrate them for your application. ParaDraft Professional has many features that help you in this task. It has AutoLISP, GW-BASIC and Turbo Pascal 5.5 interfaces, besides its own programmable calculator, for calculating the dimension values. With these interfaces, you can develop sophisticated applications in the programming language of your choice. An example of Parametric Drafting - "BASE PLATE" There are many examples of parametric geometry found in every drawing office. Using ParaDraft for Parametric drafting is best illustrated with the simple example of drawing a base plate. This example has been taken from "The AutoCAD Productivity Book", and is a straightforward example of Parametric Drafting. The drawing for this application is given in BASEPLT.DWG . "The baseplate program was originally developed for a user who designs steel light poles. Welded to the bottom of each pole is a base plate with center hole and bolt holes. The light pole is bolted to a concrete base through the base plate. The size, thickness and bolt spacing are determined by the bending moment produced in a strong wind". In such a case, a PgProgram developed with ParaDraft is the ideal solution. To draw this base plate each time from scratch is time consuming and error prone. On the other hand, the drawings for all the possible sizes of the baseplates cannot be stored. The PgProgram requires little space to store and draws the base plate quickly and correctly. A very large number of different base plates can be drawn with this PgProgram saving considerable time and effort, and awkwardness of table drawings. The PgProgram for such a base plate can be generated by ParaDraft without any AutoLISP programming. This PgProgram will draw the baseplate to the correct size from the values of all the dimensions. The formulae can be defined with PGCAL for calculating the size of base plate and all the other dimensions needed to draw it, from the pole height and wind loading values. Developing an equivalent program in AutoLISP can take up to 4-6 hours for an average AutoLISP programmer. With ParaDraft, you ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 3 can create such an application yourself in about one hour. During this time, you would be working at specifying what you want, rather than any programming. Moreover, your complete application will have professional quality. Such a program could conservatively save a quarter hour per drawing. Based on that time saving, the payback for the program is just 4-5 base plates. But this is not all; to quote the book: "The AutoCAD user for whom the original program was developed makes 30 base plates a week. These drawings are accurate and mistake free - another big payback. Never again a dimension will be left off a base plate drawing." Example: Developing a Parametric Drafting application - "Base Plate" We will follow the example of the base plate throughout this manual. With it, you could create your first PgProgram, and then customize it to make it work with the standards. First, you would draw the baseplate and dimension it. To simplify your task we have provided a sample drawing of such a baseplate, which you may use; or you may make another drawing. Next, you would submit the drawing to ParaDraft and generate the parametric AutoLISP program for it. You would then test this program for several set of values, to verify the program. Next, you would modify the calculator program file to customize the program. You would do it by specifying all other dimensions in terms of the pole diameter and plate thickness, (in this example, we have omitted the engineering calculations and assumed that pole diameter and plate thickness are known.) and by entering a table for the standard values of tap diameters. Then you can draw the baseplate by just giving the values of pole dia and plate thickness. Finally, you would customize the user interface of your program to define its own command, and display its customized slide file for taking the input values. This application, developed with ParaDraft Professional (sample application ABASEPLT) produces a completely dimensioned detailed drawing as the output. We estimate that first three such applications will pay off the cost of the system for most users, including the cost of learning ParaDraft. Dimensioning with ParaDraft Professional: The shareware versions of ParaDraft do not have the dimensioning feature for the output drawing. With ParaDraft Professional you can develop applications where you produce fully dimensioned and annotated drawings. The sample "PULLEY" shows the kind of results that can be achieved. Please note that the PgProgram of "PULLEY" is an un-retouched output of the ParaDraft Professional. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 4 USING PARADRAFT - AN OVERVIEW ------------------------------ A parametric drafting application is a customized parametric geometry program(PgProgram). You use PgPg!, the parameterisation expert system, to generate a PgProgram for the geometry of your application. Then you use PGCAL, the formula calculator, to specify the input parameters and the formulae for calculating the dimension values. Finally, with PGCUSTOM you customize the user interface of this PgProgram. The resulting application is run using PGRUN, the runtime component of ParaDraft. All modules of ParaDraft are fully integrated with AutoCAD, and all ParaDraft commands are given from the AutoCAD drawing editor command line, or optionally with a menu option. Generating PgPrograms Generating the AutoLISP PgProgram for a geometry is a process integrated with AutoCAD. As input, you create a dimensioned drawing that is representative of the parametric geometry, and conveys your intent unambiguously. This dimensioned drawing is refered to as the Parent Geometry and constitutes the specification of the PgProgram. The parent geometry is accepted by the parameterisation expert system PgPg! inside AutoCAD. It processes this geometry and develops a parametric model by heuristics and geometric reasoning. From this model it generates the corresponding AutoLISP PgProgram automatically. In case of problems, you are provided enough help to solve them graphically. Running PgPrograms: On running the PgProgram, a slide is displayed showing the parametric geometry and the parameters.The PgProgram takes the values of all these parameters, and the insertion point and angle for the geometry. Then, it draws the geometry corresponding to the input values. Customizing PgPrograms to develop applications ParaDraft comes with PGCAL and PGCUSTOM, that allow you to customize the PgProgram, so that the resulting application ∙ is invocable with its own AutoCAD command, ∙ displays customized slide file, showing the geometry ∙ requires values of only the key dimensions, ∙ computes dimension values from the specified formulae or tables, and, ∙ draws the geometry using these computed dimensions. PGCAL is a formula calculator, that requires very elementary knowledge of programming, limited to writing formulae using variables with a text editor. If you already have some programming experience, you can use the GW-BASIC interface or Turbo-PASCAL interface for still superior customization (available with ParaDraft Professional). ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 5 GENERATING PGPROGRAMS USING PgPg! ---------------------------------- The PgPrograms are generated by the parameterisation expert system, PgPg!. The name PgPg! stands for Parametric geometry Program generator. PgPg! accepts the parent geometry as the specification of parametric geometry, and converts it into the corresponding AutoLISP program. Generating AutoLISP PgPrograms for the geometry of your parametric drafting application is a four step procedure: 1. Create the geometry unambiguously and accurately 2. Dimension the geometry completely 3. a. Submit the geometry to ParaDraft b. Command PgPg! to generate the program 4. Run the generated program for verification All these steps can be performed from inside AutoCAD. In some installations the third step may be split into two steps - (a) one inside AutoCAD and, (b) the other outside AutoCAD. On most installations, the later step is performed automatically. What is Parent Geometry: ------------------------ Parent geometry is what you create to specify the Parametric geometry to PgPg!. This is all what PgPg! knows about your geometry and must use for creating the AutoLISP PgProgram. The AutoLISP PgProgram can then be used to draw (spawn!) thousands of variations (children!) of the Parent Geometry, but the information ( genes!) must come from the Parent Geometry. Parent geometry consists of the geometry to be parameterised along with the dimensions, extension lines, center lines and symmetry information. It also has a reference ( or insertion) point. Required Characteristics of Parent Geometry: Parent geometry is definitional, and yet processable by the program. It can be considered as the executable specification of the parametric geometry. For this reason, it is more than just a collection of entities. Given the parent geometry, a draughts- person should be able to draw a to-scale drawing for any set of dimension values. Therefore the parent geometry should be drawn accurately and unambiguously, to convey your intent correctly. You must draw the most general instance of the parametric geometry. ParaDraft uses heuristics about all parallel, perpendicular, coincidences, ON-entity (an end or center point lying ON an entity such as line or arc) and intersection conditions found in the Parent Geometry to parameterise the geometry. Therefore, you must be careful and avoid any unintended specification in this way. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 6 A common source of error is the use of perpendicular lines angled at +/- 45 degrees, which leads ParaDraft to falsely identify perpendicularity conditions. A more complete description of the heuristics used by PgPg! is found in the Appendix C. titled "How does PgPg! work", and must be read before using ParaDraft. Reference point: You should select a reference point that is meaningful for the geometry. The geometry is parameterised starting from this point. It should be possible to relate all other points defining the geometry to this point. GEOMETRY: --------- The geometry should be drawn so that it fits into a box of size 200x200 units. This makes PgPg! more robust and free of round off errors. Features smaller than 1 unit can be problematic due to the roundoff performed by PgPg!. Supported entities: In this shareware version only LINE,ARC and CIRCLE entities are supported. Therefore, explode any Polylines and block insertions that you may have used. You should also delete any hatch entities, solids, ellipses etc that may be present. Please refer to AutoCAD reference manual for the details about the way to draw and edit these entities. Rules for creation of geometry: The following discipline is requested of you while creating the Parent geometry : 1. Create the geometry accurately, avoiding any gaps and mismatches. 2. Use OSNAP modes wherever required. 3. Use Ortho mode when you want a horizontal or vertical line, or a line at the snap angle. 4. Clear up any dangling unfinished lines and avoid lines broken in the middle. 5. You can import geometry from other drafting systems. However, be AWARE of TRACE entities, and exploded dimensions. 6. Use only the supported entities. 7. Do not use shortcuts at the cost of accuracy. Most drawing offices require adherence to the first three rules and mostly to the last rule. Therefore, you may have drawings that already follow these specifications. But you must examine it thoroughly for violation of rules of the layer and dimensions. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 7 LAYER Convention: Dimensions, centerlines and Extension lines must follow a layer convention: 1. All dimension entities and extension lines should be in a single layer called "DIM" by default. 2. All the center lines should be in a single layer called "CEN" by default. All entities i.e. lines,arcs, circles from these two layers will be ignored for the creation of the new geometry by the PgProgram, and will be used only for geometric reasoning. If you are already using a layer naming convention, you can specify that to ParaDraft with PGPGSET command. Dimensioning: ------------- The central idea of dimension driven geometry is that the dimensions, such as appear on a mechanical drawing, are a natural descriptor of geometry. They provide the most appropriate means for altering a geometric model, like an AutoCAD drawing. Dimensioning is, therefore, used in ParaDraft for specifying the parameters for the parametric geometry. These parameters can be lengths, radius, diameters or angles. Supported dimension types: Following dimension entities are supported by ParaDraft and can be used for doing the dimensioning of the parent geometry: 1. Linear dimensions o Horizontal o Aligned o Vertical o Rotated 2. Angular dimensions 3. Radial dimensions 4. Diametric dimensions Please refer to AutoCAD reference manual for the details about the way to draw these dimensions. Please note that leader dimensions are not recognized by ParaDraft. The shareware version ignores the text of the dimensions, and no such specification is interpreted e.g. DIA 10, 4 HOLES . Each dimension appearing in the parent geometry is assigned a unique name by ParaDraft. This name is composed of a string, followed by a running number. The string "L" is for linear dimensions, "R" for radial dimensions, "DIA" for diameter and "ANG" for angular dimensions. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 8 Rules for dimensioning: 1. All dimensioning must be done using DIMASO as ON. 2. No dimension should be exploded. 3. All dimensions and extension lines should be contained in layer DIM, or your own dimensioning layer specified with PGPGSET command. 4. All points for the extension lines must be defined using the OSNAP modes. 5. DIMCEN should be non zero, so that center lines are automatically drawn for each radial dimension. Dimensioning characteristics: You must dimension the Parent geometry completely. With the given dimensions, it should be possible to recreate the to-the-scale drawing. All small features must be dimensioned completely. For instance fillets, chamfers, undercuts and internal threads must be dimensioned in full detail. Finally, you should remove any redundant dimensions, since the present version of ParaDraft does not check against such redundancies. If you want a corner point to be related to a dimension, it must be joined with an extension line. Otherwise ParaDraft assumes that the point is only accidentally coincident. Please see the sample application PULLEY and note the use of extension lines If the diameter of a circle is not specified, it is taken to be a constant value, as drawn on the drawing. Do not use a linear dimension for specifying the diameter of a circle. Center line and symmetry: In drafting practice if a mirror symmetry exists, the linear dimensions that are symmetric about it are shown as a single dimension. ParaDraft uses the same convention for such dimensions. It requires you to draw a center line wherever such a symmetry exists and later specify the range of influence of the symmetry. A symmetry axis is presently used internally for splitting such linear dimensions into two equal halves, that are symmetric about the axis. For other symmetric dimensions, the dimensioning must be done on both sides, since such dimensions that are although fully inside the range of influence of the symmetry are not mirrored in the current versions. Further, the angular dimensions are not split. All the center lines should be in a single layer called "CEN" by default. You can give your own layer name using the PGPGSET command. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 9 Parent Geometry Specification Parent geometry is specified using the command PARENT within the AutoCAD drawing editor. You have to give the following information about the geometry with this command: 1. Insertion point : This is the reference point for the geometry 2. Entities : The geometry and the dimensions 3. Symmetry : the lines of symmetry and their region of influence Then, the parameter names will be assigned to the dimensions. Finally, a slide will be made for the geometry for future use. Parameterisation: Parameterisation of the geometry is performed by the main parameterisation program PgPg!. The name PgPg! stands for Parametric geometry Program generator. PgPg! accepts the parent geometry as the specification of parametric geometry, and converts it into the corresponding AutoLISP program. On most installations, ParaDraft will automatically run the PgPg! by shelling out. The program runs without attention and should not take over 3 minutes on an average PC-AT for the shareware version geometries. SAMPLE SESSION: --------------- We will now demonstrate the procedure of use of PgPg! using the sample BASEPLT. In the drawing BASEPLT.DWG, our examplery baseplate has already been drawn as specified in the previous chapter. Copy it into your own directory from the ParaDraft directory. Also copy the file PGINIT.SCR. Start AutoCAD and enter the drawing editor with the drawing BASEPLT. Loading PgPg! : Enter the following command at the AutoCAD drawing editor command line. Command: SCRIPT File name: PGINIT The script command loads the PGINIT lisp file. Please refer to the appendix B for alternate procedures for loading this file. Next enter the command: Command: PGPG to load the Parent Geometry Specification Program. A countdown is made as this program as loaded. At the end a beep is sounded. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 10 Now give the command: Command: PARENT to start the Parent Geometry Specification Program. Geometry Name: PgPg! needs a name for your parent geometry and prompts you for it. « Enter the Parent geometry name: » BASEPLT This name should not be more than 8 characters long. The same name will be used later for running the executable part. Do not use names starting with "PG". You can also attach a short one word description of the geometry as a response to the following prompt. The above name and the following description are used to identify the geometry. « Description of the geometry: » JustABaseplate Reference point: When prompted with the following, you should select a reference point that is meaningful for the drawing. « Insertion point: » Select the center point of the baseplate center hole. Geometry: When prompted with the following, you should select all relevant geometry ( which you want to parameterise) and the dimensions. « Select the entities making up the geometry » « Select object: » Select the entire baseplate with its dimensions using a crossing window While processing is going on the system will give the message: « Writing the geometry information. Please wait... » Meanwhile, the parameter names will be assigned to the dimensions. After all the entities have been written out, you will be informed: « 37 entities found in the parent geometry ....... » ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 11 Symmetry axis: A symmetry axis is presently used for the simple purpose of splitting such linear dimensions into two equal halves, that are symmetric about the axis. Since there are many mirror symmetries in the geometry, answer YES to the following prompt: « Is there any symmetry in the geometry (Yes/No) ? » Yes You should point at a center line in reply to the following prompt: « Show a line as the axis of symmetry: » show one of the center line « Show the range of influence for this axis of symmetry: » « First corner: » Take a box enclosing « Other corner: » the full baseplate Perform the procedure for both the symmetries in the drawing. Only the dimensions that are fully enclosed in the specified box are split. Zoom options: ParaDraft prepares a slide file to show you the dimensions corresponding to variables. It is necessary that you position the drawing well on the screen with the help of zoom commands. These zoom commands are similar to the AutoCAD ZOOM command in operation. << Zoom into the parent drawing.>> << Zoom Window/In/Out/Pan/Exit <Exit> : >> Parameterisation: ParaDraft will automatically run the main parameterisation program PgPg!, at the end of the parent geometry specification by shelling out. PgPg! shareware version first presents you with information about ParaDraft Professional. After that it requires no further inputs and runs unattended. It shows a status window at the bottom and a main window for giving some messages to indicate the progress. At the end of parameterisation, it would report the following statistics about the parent geometry: Number of entities : construction lines : construction arcs : dimensions : symmetry : points : ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 12 If the parent geometry specification is complete and adequate, PgPg! will report the success message « Parameterisation Successful » in the status window. You have created your first application. In case PgPg! cannot parameterise the geometry with the provided information, it would report the number of assumptions required to be made during the parameterisation as following: « Parameterisation done with N assumptions » in the status window. At the end of this process, you will have the following output files : BASEPLT.LSP ........ generated PgProgram BASEPLT.CAL ........ template PGCAL file HELP\BASEPLT.LSP ....... debugging and explanation file HELP\BASEPLT.DWG ....... parent geometry drawing Note : ParaDraft shells out to run PgPg!, which requires over 500 KB memory to run. Whether this memory can be released or not, depends upon your PC hardware and AutoCAD installation. In case ParaDraft cannot shell out to run PgPg!, you must adopt the following procedure: Quit AutoCAD and change directory to ParaDraft directory. There should be a BASEPLT.PG file i.e. with the name given by you to the geometry. Enter the following command at the DOS command line without any extra blanks: C:\ACAD10\PGDRAFT> PGPG BASEPLT After this run AutoCAD again. Please refer to the Appendix B. for the installation notes, where ParaDraft installation settings for PgPg! are explained. Undoing the changes ParaDraft changes the drawing during the process of creating the parent geometry information. After this step is over, and the geometry parameterisation has been performed, it performs an UNDO command to get the drawing back to its status at the beginning. Please answer YES to any prompt generated by AutoCAD for verification of UNDO command. However, ParaDraft stores the modified drawing for further use, in its HELP subdirectory. This drawing can be inserted in the current drawing with PGINSERT command. You may take its plot, which will come useful during customisation. You can use it for customising the slide file. You can also use it for making changes to your application, in case the original drawing is not available. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 13 Solving problems of parameterisation In case ParaDraft cannot parameterise the geometry with the given parent geometry, it would report the number of assumptions required to be made during the parameterisation. You now have a program that may not work to your specifications. Therefore you must solve the problem before using the program for developing your application. Parameterisation assumptions: When ParaDraft finds that it cannot parameterise a geometry, it assumes X or Y coordinates ( or both) for a point in order to continue processing. For each coordinate assumed, it reports one assumption. PGDEBUG You need not pore over the resulting AutoLISP program to find the cause. ParaDraft generates another AutoLISP program to help you in finding the problem. To run this program you should give the following command from AutoCAD command line: Command: PGDEBUG Enter geometry name: XXXXX Insertion point: This program draws the parent geometry and shows all the points. Since ParaDraft uses points internally for parameterising the geometry, it shows you the same points and with each point a name is displayed next to it. Even the ParaDraft construction points are shown. Explanation is given for parameterisation of each point (This facility is not available in the shareware version). Locating the problem point: The points for which it has made the assumptions, are shown in YELLOW color. If you have a color monitor, it is easy to spot these points. Otherwise, use the support file, SSX.LSP to create a selection set of these points by specifying : Command: (load"ssx") Command: LIST Select object: (ssx) Blockname/Color/Entity/LAyer/LTyp/Style/height: C Color: YELLOW Blockname/Color/Entity/LAyer/LTyp/Style/height: B Block: EXPLAIN Blockname/Color/Entity/LAyer/LTyp/Style/height: This will list these blocks and give you the names and locations. The name of the point is stored in the attribute POINT. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 14 Suggestions for solving problem The explanation facility available with ParaDraft Professional helps you in trouble shooting problems of parameterisation. It provides the reasons for taking the parameterisation decisions. There is additional information given for the problem points. Since this facility is not available in trial version, for now once you have spotted the problem points, proceed along the following lines to solve the problem of parameterising these points: 1. It is often the case that you have underspecified the Parent geometry than what is required by PgPg!. Therefore, you need to add only some dimensions or extension lines to solve the problem. You can judge for your particular drawing, the actual constructs to be added. 2. Look carefully at the parent geometry statistics to spot missing symmetry information. Also check the parent geometry to see, whether the center line is exactly in the middle. 3. Look for a dimension that is drawn inaccurately so that it does not exactly match the geometry. You should delete and redraw such dimensions in parent geometry. 4. Check if a line is broken in the middle and is made up of two or more pieces, if PGDEBUG shows a problem point in the middle of a line. 5. Check for any unwanted small arcs or lines, representing an unnoticed detail for your application. In such cases you may decide to reduce the complexity of the drawing by eliminating such small details. Or you should dimension them completely. Locate any unrecognised fillets. 6. If all fails, redraw that part of geometry that is causing problems. It probably has some problematic inaccuracies. This version of PgPg! does not understand complex geometric constructions, such as a line tangent to two circles, or cases of cyclic geometric description, often found in solution of triangle problems. It also lacks an understanding of arc to arc intersections or tangency. You will find that PgPg! reports assumptions in such cases. You must add additional dimensions in such cases to generate the correct program. It is however the users (yours !) responsibility to give correct values to these redundant dimensions. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 15 Using PGCAL to solve the problem: For every X or Y coordinate assumed for a point, an X or Y variable is added to the PGCAL template file. It has a name made up of string "X" or "Y", followed by the number of the point. You can also circumvent the problem of parameterisation by changing the PGCAL program. This can be done by defining expressions for calculating the assumed X or Y coordinate in terms of other dimensions. This way you avoid having to parameterise the geometry again. In case you add redundant dimensions to get the geometry parameterised, you must make sure that the value of these dimensions is consistent with the rest of dimensions. For this purpose as well you can modify the generated PGCAL program so that the value of the additional dimensions is consistent with the rest of the dimensions. PGCAL and its interface to the PgProgram is explained in more detail in the chapter "customizing PgPrograms". ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 16 RUNNING PARADRAFT APPLICATIONS WITH PGRUN ----------------------------------------- To run a ParaDraft applications, you should have installed PGRUN completely. You should copy the file PGINIT.SCR into the current directory. After starting AutoCAD and entering into the drawing editor you must first load PGINIT lisp file with the following command: Command: SCRIPT File name: PGINIT Please refer to the appendix for alternate procedures for loading this file. Now you can load the shareware version of PGRUN with the following command: Command: PGRUN PGRUN defines several commands to facilitate use of the PgPrograms. PGDIR: You can see the directory of the available PgPrograms generated with ParaDraft or supplied as the samples with the following command: COMMAND: PGDIR File name: You can use the * and ? wildcard characters just as for the DOS directory command. PGSHOW: You can see the slide file for the parent geometry with the following command: Command: PGSHOW geometry name: You must give the full name of the geometry. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 17 Running Generated programs: You can draw the geometry defined by a PgProgram with the following command: Command: PGDRAW geometry name: You must give the full name of the geometry. If you have not customized the PgProgram, you should give NO to the following question asked by the system: Do you want to use the PGCAL program (Y/N) : NO Dimension values PGRUN will then display a slide of the parent geometry. This is to help you identify the parameters in the geometry. You will be asked the values of the dimensions. You must enter a positive real number or an integer, as a response. Negative values and zero values can be given, but then the results may not always be as expected. Insertion point and angle After taking the values of all the parameters, a REDRAW will be performed and you will be asked for an insertion point for the geometry. The point must be specified. The drawn geometry can be inserted at an angle. You should enter a counter-clockwise angle in degrees. Drawn geometry After you specify the insertion point and angle, the PgProgram computes the points needed to draw the geometry using PGRUN. Then the geometry is drawn and rotated, if required. You can now manipulate this geometry the way you want. You can verify that the geometry has been drawn to the dimension values as specified by you. Please note that PGRUN resets the osnap setting to NONE. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 18 Running customized programs To run the programs customized using PGCAL, the process is similar. You can draw the geometry with the following command: Command: PGDRAW geometry name: You must give the full name of the geometry. You should give YES to the following question asked by the system: Do you want to use the PGCAL program (Y/N) : YES Input parameter values: If you have not modified the default PGCAL file, you will not be asked the values of the dimensions. This file has by default the dimension values same as those in the parent geometry. If you have specified your own input parameters in the PGCAL file, these input parameter values will be asked by the system. They will be asked in the sequence in which you have given them in the PGCAL file. This will be done on the text screen after shelling out of AutoCAD. As a consequence, you can not see the parent geometry while giving the values of the parameters. PGCAL will calculate all the dimension values and these will be taken in by PgProgram. Running fully customized application A fully customized application has its own command name that is assigned to it with the PGCUSTOM feature of ParaDraft. This command will take the input values inside AutoCAD, so that you can see the customized slide of parent geometry while giving the values of the parameters. Then, PGCAL will calculate all the dimension values, after shelling out of AutoCAD. These values will be taken in by the PgProgram to draw the geometry. In the end, a REDRAW will be performed and you will be asked for an insertion point and angle for the geometry. After computing the points the geometry will be drawn. Loading customized application definition On AutoCAD release 10, the customised application definitions are loaded automatically. On earlier versions, you must you must load these definitions with the PGCUSTLOAD command. Command: PGCUSTLOAD ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 19 DEVELOPING PARADRAFT APPLICATIONS BY CUSTOMIZING PGPROGRAMS ----------------------------------------------------------- PgPrograms generated by PgPg! require you to enter the values of all the dimensions as the inputs. However often these dimensions are interrelated and can be specified in terms of a few key dimensions or parameters. PGCAL allows you to makes use of specified formulae and tables for computing dimension values from these parameters. With PGCAL and PGCUSTOM, you can customize the PgPrograms generated by ParaDraft to a great extent. They have been designed to allow you to create a customized application with a more intuitive user interface. A fully customized ParaDraft application : ∙ is invocable with its own AutoCAD command ∙ displays slide file with only the key dimensions, while accepting the inputs, ∙ accepts the values of only the key dimensions, ∙ Computes the dimension values from the specified formulae, ∙ Or, picks some dimension values from the specified tables and draws the geometry using these computed dimensions. Since this customized program is easier to use and requires fewer inputs, the process of drafting is further speeded up. Procedure of customization: First, you create a PGCAL file and specify the input parameters and their prompts. Next, you add formulae to compute rest of the dimensions to this file. You can create data tables for picking the standard dimension values corresponding to one or more parameters. With PGCAL command, you can test the formulae and tables for correctness. On running the PgProgram PGCAL is automatically called, and the dimension values to be used for drawing the geometry are computed using the provided formulae. At this stage of customization all the inputs will be taken by PGCAL without showing any graphics on the text screen. Next, you can define an AutoCAD command for running this application using the PGCUSTOM command. With it, you can get the input parameters specified in the PGCAL file asked inside AutoCAD, while the slide file is on display. Finally you can overwrite the slide file that is displayed for taking the inputs, using PGMSLIDE command. For instance, you may want to show only the remaining input parameters, or any other information of interest along with the geometry. You can thereby completely customize the user interface of the PgProgram. You can use the drawing of the parent geometry stored in the HELP subdirectory of ParaDraft for customisation. Its plot comes useful while writing the formulae with PGCAL to find which parameter is which dimension. The same drawing can be used for modifying the slide file. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 20 PGCAL and PGCUSTOM PGCAL and PGCUSTOM are fully integrated with AutoCAD and all commands for customization can be given from within AutoCAD. PGCAL has following commands: 1. PGEDIT - Edit the template file and enter the formulae 2. PGDATA - Create the tables (standard data) files 3. PGCAL - Test correctness of the formulae PGCUSTOM has following commands: 1. PGCUSTOM - Define your own command for the application and take inputs inside AutoCAD 2. PGMSLIDE - Overwrite the slide file Each of these commands is explained in the following sections of this chapter. What is PGCAL: PGCAL is a simple and easy-to-use programmable calculator that is integrated with PGRUN for customizing the generated PgPrograms. With PGCAL you can specify: ∙ the input dimensions or parameters with their prompts. ∙ the formulae for calculating a dimension value in terms of other dimension values and parameters ∙ tables for picking the standard dimension values corresponding to one or more key dimensions The formulae use the normal (infix) syntax, which makes them easy to enter and correct. These tables look like the data tables that draughtsmen commonly use. PGCAL requires only very elementary knowledge of programming, limited to writing formulae using variables with a text editor. PGEDIT and PGDATA These commands let you edit the PGCAL file for a parametric geometry, or a data table file. Command: PGEDIT or PGDATA geometry name: xxxx or Data Table name: xxxx You must give the full name of the geometry. PGEDIT and PGDATA use the command EDIT defined in ACAD.PGP file. By default this means using EDLIN for editing the files. You must save the file when exiting the editor for the changes to take effect. If you are used to another editor, you can change EDIT line in the ACAD.PGP file to use your own editor. Your editor must accept the file name with path as the first command line parameter. Please refer to the manual for the editor (for EDLIN, the MS-DOS manual) for editing a file. Please refer to the AutoCAD manual for changing the ACAD.PGP file. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 21 Template file helps you start off To begin the customization, you are provided with some aids to take care of startup problems. When you parameterise a geometry with PgPg!, a template PGCAL file is created for you. First, you can use the template file for running the PgProgram for drawing the geometry with the default values. Next, you can edit this file to specify the key parameters, prompts and formulae using PGEDIT. The template file is divided into two sections; first section has the temporary variables, that are assigned the default values. Second section has variables corresponding to the dimensions, that take value from the corresponding temporary variable. PGCAL File structure PGCAL file has a very simple structure. Each line has a variable which is assigned a value either from the user input, or with a formula using other variables. Only exception is the PICKFROM table command, where all the variables given in the table are assigned values. Comment and blank lines are allowed. PGCAL file can have three types of variable in it: i. Temporary variables Each dimension appearing in the parent geometry is assigned a temporary variable. These variables are called P1,P2,..etc with the same number as the corresponding dimension. These are also assigned the values of the corresponding dimension as drawn in the parent geometry. However, their value is not used by the PgProgram directly but through the parameters for dimensions. You are advised to calculate all the values using the temporary variables only. You should select temporary variable names, that do not conflict with the variable for dimensions. ii. Variables for dimensions Each dimension appearing in the parent geometry appears in the template file as a variable, whose value is used by the PgProgram. This variable has a unique name used everywhere consistently by ParaDraft. This name is composed of a string, followed by a running number. The variable names beginning with the string: "L" are for linear dimensions, e.g. L11 "R" are for radial dimensions, e.g. R12 "DIA" are for diameter, e.g. DIA13, and "ANG" are for angular dimensions, e.g. ANG14. These variables appear at the end of the file, and are assigned to the the corresponding temporary variable. This scheme may seem a bit odd, but is essential. It has the advantage in case you may change the parent geometry a little, and change some of the dimensions. You would still like to use the existing PGCAL file. With this scheme, you only have to change this last section to assign the correct dimension to the correct variable. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 22 iii. Variables for assumed coordinates In case of successful parameterisation, no such variable is included. Otherwise, for every X or Y coordinate assumed for a point, an X or Y variable is added to the PGCAL template file. It has a name made up of string "X" or "Y", followed by the number of the point. A PGCAL variable can take only a real value. No other data type is supported. You can define a temporary variable by simply assigning a value to it. A variable must be assigned a value, before it is used. Otherwise, it will be taken as an input parameter. Defining input parameters You can define the input parameters by giving a prompt within double quotes. For example, L1 = "Value of Length" will result in question to the user, Enter the Value of Length : 125.0 And the entered value (125.0 in this case) will be stored under the variable name L1. Defining Formula for a parameter The formula for a parameter is written in the following way <Variable name> = <Expression> For example, L2 = 100.0 + L1 where L1 already has a value of 125.0, will result in the assignment of value 225.0 to L2. The syntax for expressions is INFIX that is common with programming languages as BASIC, FORTRAN or PASCAL. A number of useful trignometric and engineering functions are also supported. Please see the appendix D for the details. Using Tables Tables are natural way of describing standard values, and are often used by engineers. Given one or two key values, rest of the standard values can be picked from such a table. PGCAL allows a simple, but powerful table lookup feature. A table for PGCAL is a text file, formatted as rows and columns. Each row represents one set of values for variables. Each column represents the possible values of a particular variable. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 23 The first row of the table is a header row, that defines the names of the columns. Columns may be separated with a vertical bar ("|") character for better readability. The rows may also be separated by blank or comment lines. The name of the columns correspond to the variable names in PGCAL file. These names can not contain blanks for this reason. No column is predefined to be input or output column. If the variable for a column already has a value, then it is considered as a key value. PICKFROM keyword In the PGCAL file, a table lookup is performed by the following statement: PICKFROM table The table name is assumed to have a .DAT extension. All the variables in the PGCAL file, that have been defined till the point of table lookup, and match with the column names of the table, are taken to be keys. PGCAL performs a search for a row that has all the matching key values. Now the variables corresponding to the other columns are created and assigned the values found in the matched row. Example of use of a table for PGCAL The following is an example from the sample BASEPLT, where the tap diameters are picked from the table giving the minor dia for the major dia of the tap hole. TAP.DAT % Tap dia for coarse threads Holedia | TapDia 12.0 | 10.0 16.0 | 12.0 18.0 | 16.0 20.0 | 17.5 24.0 | 20.0 PGCAL file % First take input Holedia = "hole diameter(12/16/18/20/24)" % Now lookup in the table PICKFROM TAP DIA6 = TapDia The PICKFROM statement will pick the row corresponding to the entered value of hole diameter. As a result, the variable TAPDIA, which is the other column in the table, will be assigned the selected value. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 24 Using a PLOT or PRPLOT You should take a PRPLOT or PLOT of the drawing of the parent geometry for writing the formulae. In this drawing, all the dimensions display the variable names used by PGCAL file and the application. This is useful while using PGEDIT to find out which dimension is which one. To insert the parent geometry in current drawing, enter PGINSERT on the drawing editor command prompt: Command: PGINSERT Geometry name: xxxxxx Insertion point: Show an insertion point Please refer to the AutoCAD reference manual for PLOT or PRPLOT. Testing the formulae PGCAL command lets you execute the PGCAL program and shows the values of the dimensions as computed by it. To run PGCAL, enter command : Command: PGCAL Geometry name: xxxxxx The specified PGCAL file will be executed, and all the dimension values will be computed. These values will be displayed inside AutoCAD, while the slide is on display. You can thus verify whether the file has been correctly created or not. Testing the program You can draw the geometry with the following command: Command: PGDRAW geometry name: You should give YES to the following question asked by the system: Do you want to use the PGCAL program (Y/N) : YES Input parameter values: If you have not modified the default PGCAL file, you will not be asked the values of the dimensions. This file has by default the dimension values same as those in the parent geometry. If you have specified your own input parameters in the PGCAL file, these input parameter values will be asked by the system. They will be asked in the sequence in which you have given them in the PGCAL file. These values will be asked on the text screen after shelling out of AutoCAD. As a consequence, you can not see the parent geometry while giving the values of the parameters. PGCAL will calculate all the dimension values and these will be taken in by PgProgram. In the end, a REDRAW will be performed and you will be asked for an insertion point and angle for the geometry. After computing the points the geometry will be drawn. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 25 Customizing User Interface Once you have created the formulae in the PGCAL, your first level of customization in terms of parameters is complete. Your application is ready to run, but its user interface has scope for improvement. It can be easily improved in terms of quality using PGCUSTOM and PGMSLIDE. First, at this level of customization, the values of key inputs are taken on the text screen after AutoCAD has been suspended. Therefore, the user may not relate the prompts for inputs to the geometry. He also has no option of measuring the drawing, for deciding an appropriate value. Therefore, these inputs should be taken inside AutoCAD. To do this, PGCUSTOM translates the input commands given in the PGCAL file into a corresponding AutoLISP function, which is automatically called by the application. Secondly, the displayed slide shows the parent geometry after the parameter names have been assigned to dimensions. These names make no sense to the user. Further, this clutters up the slide unnecessarily, since most of the dimensions would be computed, and are irrelevant. You can replace the slide file with your own custom slide file with PGMSLIDE command. Lastly, the PGDRAW command is used for drawing the geometry, which is not natural. For a menu based application, this can be transparent for the user, but for a "keyboard-happy" user this is an unnatural command. PGCUSTOM lets you assign your own AutoCAD command for running this application to draw this geometry. PGCUSTOM PGCUSTOM lets you assign your own AutoCAD command for running the application for drawing the geometry. It also translates the input commands given in the PGCAL file into a corresponding AutoLISP function, which is automatically called by the program. To run PGCUSTOM, you should first load PGRUN. You should have already parameterised the geometry, and the PGCAL file should be present. Command: PGCUSTOM Name: xxxxxx You should enter the name of the geometry. PGCUSTOM will now suspend AutoCAD and shell out. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 26 PGCUSTOM - ParaDraft APPLICATION CUSTOMIZATION UTILITY Do you want to assign an AutoCAD command (Y/N): If you answer yes to the above question, PGCUSTOM will ask you for the name of the command. You should avoid giving a builtin AutoCAD command name as the reply. Enter the command name: PGCUSTOM creates a file PGCUSTOM.LSP that has this function definition. If the file already exists, this function is just appended to it. Next, PGCUSTOM asks you: Do you want to create the input function (Y/N): If you answer Yes to the above question, PGCUSTOM will process the PGCAL file and extract input commands from it. The PGCAL file does not have to be modified. This function is also added to PGCUSTOM.LSP. At the end, PGCUSTOM.LSP file is loaded so that the changes are effective immediately. In every session of PGRUN, PGCUSTOM file is automatically loaded (Release 10 only). You can run PGCUSTOM for an application any number of times. PGMSLIDE - Replacing the slide file You can overwrite the slide file, that is displayed for taking the inputs, to show only the key input parameters, and any other information that you wish. Thereby you can completely customize the user interface of the PgProgram. To overwrite the slide file, give command PGMSLIDE after you have the desired information on the screen in the current drawing, and give the application name. Command: PGMSLIDE Name: xxxxxx The command functions similar to MSLIDE command. For details, see the AutoCAD reference manual. You could insert the drawing of the parent geometry for changing the slide file. In this drawing, the geometry is exactly as you had drawn it. Further all the dimensions display the variable names used by your application. To insert the parent geometry in current drawing, enter PGINSERT on the drawing editor command prompt: Command: PGINSERT Geometry name: xxxxxx Insertion point: Show an insertion point Now use EXPLODE command to explode the inserted block into entities that you can erase or change. Please refer to the AutoCAD reference manual for details of EXPLODE command and block insertions. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 27 Appendix A. : GENERAL INFORMATION ---------------------------------- ParaDraft will run on any IBM PC/XT/AT/386/486 or any MS-DOS compatible computer running PC/MS-DOS 3.2 or higher with a minimum of 512K free RAM. It requires AutoCAD version 2.62 or higher to be present, with ADE-III (English or German version). A hard disk with more than 1 MB free space is also required. IBM is a registered trademark of the International Business Machine Corporation. PC-DOS, PC, PC XT, PC AT, and PS/2 are trademarks of IBM Corporation. MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Turbo Pascal is a registered trademark of Borland International AutoCAD and AutoLISP are the registered trademarks of Autodesk Corporation. SHAREWARE TRIAL VERSION INFORMATION ParaDraft is a copyrighted program protected by both Indian and international copyright law. If you obtained ParaDraft from a shareware disk vendor, an on-line computer service or bulletin board, a friend or colleague, or another similar source, you have an unregistered (trial) copy. You are authorized to use this copy without charge for a limited period of time under the terms of the ParaDraft license agreement. After this time is up, you must register and pay for ParaDraft to continue using it, or for using any application created with it. This method of distribution is known as shareware. It allows you to determine whether ParaDraft meets your needs before you pay for it. The shareware version of ParaDraft has some restrictions in terms of the size of the geometry and capabilities as compared to the professional version. The major restrictions are (i) a limit on the trial period of 21 days, (ii) a limit of less than 40 entities in the parent geometry, (iii) no support for polylines and related features, (iv) no support for dimensioning in the output drawing, (v) No support for exploded dimensions in the input drawing, (vi) No recognition of the information given in the dimension text for typical fillet radius, diameters etc. and (vii) no GW-BASIC or Turbo-Pascal interface. However, these restrictions do not interfere with the purpose of letting you test ParaDraft for its suitability to your requirements. Specifically, you can test the crucial geometry parameterisation expert system, and even develop applications from the generated programs for your use. The registered version of ParaDraft is the ParaDraft Extended version. It has just the same features as the trial version that you are testing. It however does not have the advertising messages, the time restrictions, or the restriction on the size of the geometry. It has a GW-BASIC interface for custmoization, and the AutoLISP code produced by it, is readable and indented. The extended version is meant for the the users, who would like to try ParaDraft for geometries of their application area before they decide in favor of ParaDraft Professional, the full system. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 28 APPENDIX B. INSTALLATION NOTES Loading ParaDraft ParaDraft is fully integrated with AutoCAD. All ParaDraft modules must be run from within AutoCAD. For this purpose, you have to load the PGINIT.LSP file from the ParaDraft directory into the AutoCAD drawing editor session, to access PgPg! or PGRUN. This can be done in many ways as following: 1. Copy the file PGINIT.SCR into the directory from where you are running AutoCAD, using DOS copy command. This file is created in the directory where ParaDraft is installed. Give the following command at the command prompt of AutoCAD. Command: SCRIPT File <>: PGINIT 2. Add the following lines in your ACAD.LSP file, after correcting the name of the directory where ParaDraft has been installed (Release 10 or above) : (LOAD "/ACAD/PGDRAFT/PGINIT") ; To load ParaDraft 3. Copy the contents of PGINIT.LSP into your ACAD.LSP file. Using PGDRAFT menu All the ParaDraft commands can be issued using the PGDRAFT menu in the AutoCAD release 9 and above. To load the menu use the command PGMENU from the AutoCAD drawing editor command prompt, after loading PGINIT. The menu commands are self explanatory. ACAD.PGP file settings ParaDraft shells out to execute many of its commands. For this purpose, your ACAD.PGP file needs to be extended. In particular, to enable ParaDraft to automatically run the PgPg! parameteri- sation program by shelling out, you must add the PGSHELL line. Please add the following lines in your ACAD.PGP file: PGSHELL,,500000,*DOS Command: ,0 SHELL,,125000,*DOS Command: ,0 EDIT,EDLIN,40000,File to edit: ,0 AutoLISP settings If you are using normal AutoLISP (not extended), then you must set AutoLISP DOS environment variables as following before running AutoCAD, so that the AutoLISP part of ParaDraft can work. SET LISPHEAP=38000 SET LISPSTACK=7000 Text style settings STANDARD text style from TXT.SHX is required for ParaDraft. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 29 Setting runtime parameters - PGSET command PgPrograms generated by PgPg! require you to enter the values of all the dimensions as the inputs. However, you can use one of the interface like PGCAL or GW-BASIC, to compute the values for the geometry. Please refer to the chapter on customisation for details. With PGSET command you can define how the dimension values should be obtained for PgPrograms. Normally, the user must specify this every time a PgProgram is run. However, with PGSET command you can set the expert mode ON and then define the default setting for the rest of the session. In trial version of PGRUN only PGCAL interface can be used. Setting PgPg! parameters - PGPGSET command : With PGPGSET command, you can set the method of running PgPg!, and the dimensioning and center line layers, for a session. Method of running PgPg!: You can specify the command name defined in ACAD.PGP file that releases 500KB for running PgPg!. By default this name is PGSHELL. If you enter NONE, it is assumed that you will run PgPg! from the command line later, and shelling out is not attempted. Dimensioning and center line layers: PgPg! uses two layers for dimensioning and center lines. While creating the PgProgram for the geometry, all the entities of these layer are discarded. You can set these layers for a session by selecting an entity of the layer from the screen. To run PgPg! from the command line ---------------------------------- This is required on some installations where too many memory resident programs, leave no memory for AutoCAD to shell out and release the needed 500KB memory. Further, AutoCAD Release 10 - 386 version can not release more than 300K. You need a program such as BIG-SHELL to release the needed memory with the 386-version. In case you cannot shell out and run PGPG, you must adopt the following procedure to run PgPg!: Quit AutoCAD and change directory to ParaDraft directory. There should be a xxxxxx.PG file, of the name given by you to the geometry. Enter the following command at the DOS command line: C:\ACAD\PGDRAFT> PGPG BASEPLT After completion of parameterisation, enter AutoCAD again. Please note that you can not run PGPG from any other directory. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 30 ParaDraft directory and files ParaDraft files are stored in a subdirectory called PGDRAFT of the directory from where you ran the installation program. For example, if you have installed ParaDraft in the C:\ACAD directory, the files would be in C:\ACAD\PGDRAFT. You will find following files in this directory after the installation program reports success: Executables files and AutoLISP functions PGPG.EXE PGPG.IDB PGINIT.LSP PGPG.LSP PGRUN.LSP PGCAL.EXE PATCH.LSP PATCH10.LSP REFPT.DWG SETPATH.EXE EXPLAIN.DWG Documentation PGDRAFT.DOC README.DOC ORDER.FRM Message files PGRUN.MSG PARENT.BEG PARENT.END PARENT.MSG ParaDraft demonstration and sample files 1STLOOK.BAT PGINIT.SCR PGDEMO.MSG ABOLT.DEM ABOLT.DWG ABOLT.LSP ABOLT.PG ABOLT.SLD BASEPLT.DEM BASEPLT.DWG BASEPLT.LSP BASEPLT.PG BASEPLT.SLD ABASEPLT.LSP PULLEY.DEM PULLEY.DWG PULLEY.LSP PULLEY.SLD FLANGE.DEM FLANGE.DWG FLANGE.LSP FLANGE.SLD PIPEBEND.DEM PIPEBEND.DWG PIPEBEND.LSP PIPEBEND.PG PIPEBEND.SLD TBLOCK.DEM TBLOCK.DWG TBLOCK.LSP TBLOCK.PG TBLOCK.SLD Installation related files INST.EXE INSTALL.BAT PGDRAFT.ZIP README.1ST ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 31 Appendix C. : How does PgPg! work ? ----------------------------------- You need to know how PgPg! works in order to be able to use it efficiently. PgPg! works on the principle of generalisation. It applies heuristics and geometric reasoning on what it knows about the parent geometry, and thereby creates the more general Parametric geometry model. This model is in terms of expressions for parametrically calculating coordinates of the points defining the geometry. It is finally translated into an AutoLISP PgProgram. The heuristics have been developed by experienced AutoLISP parametric geometry programmers. These are tested to work on a wide variety of geometries encountered in drafting practice. For instance, one of the common observations is that a horizontal line in the parent geometry remains horizontal in all cases, and so is true for the vertical lines. Therefore it is one of the heuristics applied. Another powerful heuristic states that, if any two lines are parallel in the Parent Geometry, they can be assumed to remain parallel in all cases. Similarly, a perpendicular pair of lines can be assumed to remain perpendicular. An awareness of these heuristics will help you in creating the parent geometry, that will be correctly interpreted by PgPg!. List of heuristics ------------------- If one of the following is found to be true for the parent geometry, the same is also assumed to be true for all the instances of the geometry that can be generated with the PgProgram: 1. A line is horizontal. 2. A line is vertical. 3. Two lines are parallel. 4. Two lines are perpendicular. 5. A point lies at the intersection of two entities. 6. A line is tangent to a circle or an arc. 7. A point lies on another entity. 8. Two lines if extended, are coincidental. 9. Two arcs if extended, are coincidental. 10. Two circles are concentric. 11. An extension line of a dimension defines all the points falling on it, when extended. 12. If a corner has an extension line passing through it, it can be used for defining it. 13. If two points are within 0.1 mm of each other, they represent the same point. Limitations ----------- PgPg! can handle a wide variety of cases, but cannot resolve cyclic cases such as double tangency. Do not attempt to solve complex geometric puzzles using PgPg!. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 32 Appendix D. PGCAL SYNTAX The following syntax must be used while creating the PGCAL files: 1. PGCAL is line based. Each line contains a statement for assigning value to a parameter. Blank and comment lines are permitted. 2. ";" and "%" are the comment characters. All the characters following these are ignored in a line. 3. You can define variable names by assigning values to them. A variable name must begin with a character. Lower and upper cases are not differentiated. Maximum variable name length is 10. 4. A variable must be assigned a value, before it is used. Otherwise, it will taken as an input parameter. A variable can have only real values, for example 10.0, -102.5, 0.0 etc. 5. A variable can be assigned value in one of the three ways: i. Input from the user ii. Calculated from a formula involving constants and other variables iii. Imported from a table 6. Syntax for a taking input from the user is as following: <Variable name> = " .... prompt ..... " 7. Syntax for defining a formula is as following: <Variable name> = <Expression> The syntax for expressions is INFIX that is common with programming languages as BASIC or PASCAL. 8. Expressions are made up of operators and operands. These are the operands: constants variables function calls 9. PGCAL supports the following operators, in order of precedence: * Real multiplication. / Real division. + Real addition. - Real subtraction. Subexpressions may be enclosed in parentheses to change the order of precedence. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 33 10. Following functions are supported by PGCAL. All functions must be used as FUNC(<Expression>), where any other expression can be used. Function Example Value ---------------------------------------------------------------- 'ABS' - ABS(-10.2) 10.2 'ATAN' - ATAN(1.0) 45.0 'COS' - COS(90.0) 0.0 'EXP' - EXP(1.0) 2.73 'LN' - LN(1.0) 0.0 'ROUND' - ROUND(1.5) 2.0 'SIN' - SIN(90.0) 1.0 'SQRT' - SQRT(100.0) 10.0 'SQR' - SQR(10.0) 100.0 'TRUNC' - TRUNC(1.5) 1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 11. PICKFROM is a reserved word, and is used for picking values from the tables. More than one variable may be assigned values. 12. PGCAL uses the following format for the tables: The table file is row and column oriented. Header row: The first non comment - non blank row should be the header row. The header row has following format. P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | P6 Here P1,P2 etc are the variable names for the columns, which can be maximum 10 character long. There can be a maximum of 100 columns. Value rows: There should be at least one row giving the values of these variables. ALL the values for every row must be supplied. V11 | V12 | V13 | V14 | V15 | V16 V21 | V22 | V23 | V24 | V25 | V26 V31 | V32 | V33 | V34 | V35 | V36 V41 | V42 | V43 | V44 | V45 | V46 : : : : : : Here V11,V12 etc are the values for the columns. The values can be only real (e.g. 10.3, 0.0 , -2.0) or integer ( 3,0,-3324). There is no limit to number of rows in a table. Separator: The use of vertical bar ("|") is optional. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 34 Appendix E. Features of ParaDraft Trial version o Parametric Drafting for the industry standard - AutoCAD o Converts a dimensioned AutoCAD drawing into a parametric AutoLISP program for drawing the geometry o Based on an expert system for geometry parameterisation that uses "Heuristics" and "Geometrical Reasoning" o Allows convenient customization of the generated programs for calculating the dimension values from the key dimensions o Allows convenient customization of the user interface o Uses standard dimensioning conventions for the input drawing o Supports line,circle and arc entities o Supports all AutoCAD dimension types o Understands implied geometric constructs o Free trial period o Registered and Professional versions are available The following tables gives the comparative features of the shareware (trial), registered(extended) and professional version of Paradraft. The features are divided into the three categories: I. Features of the parent geometry II. Features of the generated programs III. customization features Features available only in the ParaDraft Professional are marked with an asterix (*) in these tables. ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 35 Features of the parent geometry ------------------------------- The following are the features for the specification of the geometry to be parameterised as parent geometry. Coprocessor support is available with only extended and professional versions. +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ | Sr | Feature of the | Trial | Extended | Professional | | | Parent Geometry | version | version | version | +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ | 1. | Support for | Y | Y | Y | | | LINE,ARC and | | | | | | CIRCLE entities | | | | | | | | | | | 2. | Support for | N | N | Y * | | | POLYLINE entity | | | | | | | | | | | 3. | Support for | Y | Y | Y | | | layer and line- | | | | | | type of entities | | | | | | | | | | | 4. | Support for | Y | Y | Y | | | specification | | | | | | of symmetry | | | | | | condition | | | | | | | | | | | 5. | Support for | Y | Y | Y | | | ALL dimension | | | | | | types, except | | | | | | leader | | | | | | | | | | | 6. | Support for | N | N | Y * | | | EXPLODED | | | | | | dimensions | | | | | | | | | | | 7. | Support for | N | N | Y * | | | offset dimensions| | | | | | and geometry | | | | | | | | | | | 8. | Support for | N | Y | Y | | | unspecified | | | | | | fillet radius | | | | | | | | | | | 9. | Support for | N | N | Y * | | | hatching | | | | | | specification | | | | | | | | | | +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ | Y - feature available N - feature not available | +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ ...contd ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 36 Features of the parent geometry (contd.) --------------------------------------- +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ | Sr | Feature of the | Trial | Extended | Professional | | | Parent Geometry | version | version | version | +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ | 10. | Support for | N | N | Y * | | | specification | | | | | | of dimensions | | | | | | not to be drawn | | | | | | | | | | | 11. | Support for | N | N | Y * | | | specification | | | | | | of fixed geometry| | | | | | to be attached | | | | | | (block insertion)| | | | | | | | | | | 12. | Heuristics and | | | | | | geometric | Y | Y | Y | | | reasoning for | | | | | | parameterisation | | | | | | | | | | | 13. | Specification | | | | | | of geometry | Y | Y | Y | | | with geometric | | | | | | constructions | | | | | | | | | | | 14. | Limit on number | Y | N | N | | | of points in | | | | | | the geometry | | | | | | | | | | +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ | Y - feature available N - feature not available | +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ * Features available only in the ParaDraft Professional ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 37 Features of the generated programs ---------------------------------- The following are the features of the programs generated by each of the versions of ParaDraft. The shareware versions of ParaDraft do not have the dimensioning feature for the output drawing. With ParaDraft Professional you can develop applications where you produce fully dimensioned and annotated drawings. The sample "PULLEY" shows the kind of results that can be achieved. Please note that the PgProgram of "PULLEY" is an un-retouched output of the ParaDraft Professional. +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ | Sr | Feature of the | Trial | Extended | Professional | | | generated program | version | version | version | +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ | 1. | Draws the | Y | Y | Y | | | LINE,ARC and | | | | | | CIRCLE entities | | | | | | | | | | | 2. | Draws the | N | N | Y * | | | POLYLINE | | | | | | | | | | | 3. | Draws all the | N | N | Y | | | dimensions | | | | | | types, except | | | | | | leader | | | | | | | | | | | 4. | Performs the | N | N | Y * | | | hatching | | | | | | | | | | | 5. | Explains the | N | N | Y * | | | parameterisation | | | | | | | | | | | 6. | Inserts the | N | N | Y * | | | fixed geometry | | | | | | as specified | | | | | | (block insertion)| | | | | | | | | | | 7. | Explains the | N | N | Y * | | | problems of | | | | | | parameterisation | | | | +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ | Y - feature available N - feature not available | +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ * Features available only in the ParaDraft Professional ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 38 Customization features ---------------------- Some of the cutomization features and related programs are a part of PGRUN, the runtime component of ParaDraft. (1,2,3 & 6) +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ | Sr | customization of | Trial | Extended | Professional | | | generated programs| version | version | version | +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ | 1. | PGCAL interface | Y | Y | Y | | | for formulae | | | | | | | | | | | 2. | PGCAL interface | Y | Y | Y | | | for standard | | | | | | table lookup | | | | | | | | | | | 3. | customizable | Y | Y | Y | | | user interface | | | | | | | | | | | 4. | Modifiable | N | Y | Y | | | AutoLISP program | | | | | | | | | | | 5. | Configurable | N | N | Y * | | | AutoLISP program | | | | | | | | | | | 6. | GW-BASIC | N | Y | Y | | | interface | | | | | | | | | | | 7. | Turbo-Pascal 5.5 | N | N | Y * | | | interface | | | | | | | | | | +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ | Y - feature available N - feature not available | +-----+-------------------+-----------+------------+----------------+ * Features available only in the ParaDraft Professional ParaDraft Trial Manual Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems 39