home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Black Box 4
/
BlackBox.cdr
/
autocad
/
param1.arj
/
README.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1991-09-02
|
31KB
|
694 lines
ParaDraft
COPYRIGHT 1991 By ParaWare Systems
All rights reserved worldwide
READ ME FILE
ParaDraft ( Parametric Drafting System for AutoCAD)
SHAREWARE VERSION
V 1.01S
This file has the basic information
about ParaDraft.
PLEASE READ THE INSTALLATION NOTES
BEFORE RUNNING PARADRAFT.
ParaDraft COPYRIGHT 1991 ParaWare Systems, India
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 README.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
ParaDraft - Parametric Drafting System for AutoCAD
ParaDraft is the Parametric Drafting System for the productivity
conscious drawing offices using AutoCAD for mechanical drafting.
What is Parametric Drafting?
Parametric drafting refers to automatic drafting of routine
drawings from the parameters or dimension values. These drawings
are drawn to the scale with speed and accuracy, and all
sizes correspond to the given dimensions.
Create your own custom parametric drafting applications
With ParaDraft, you can develop your own parametric drafting
applications yourself for drawings for which no standard
solutions are available or adequate. It greatly simplifies
and speeds up the task of developing these applications without
making you do any programming.
No Programming Needed
ParaDraft automates the task of parameterisation of geometry,
the most programming intensive part of the parametric drafting.
You are required to draw only a dimensioned drawing for
developing a ParaDraft application for a geometry or drawing.
Use existing drawings as specification
ParaDraft takes any fully dimensioned AutoCAD drawing as the input
and generates an AutoLISP parametric geometry program - unattended
in just a few minutes. This task is performed by a geometry
parameterisation expert system. This generated program forms the base
of ParaDraft application.
Boost speed and accuracy multifold
ParaDraft applications draw the corresponding to-the-scale
AutoCAD drawing accurately from the dimension values.
This output 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.
Easily customize parametric drafting applications
ParaDraft 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 for the purpose.
It takes the value of key input parameters from the user, and
computes the dimension values.
README.DOC Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems i
Fully integerated with AutoCAD
ParaDraft is fully integerated with AutoCAD. All ParaDraft commands
can be given from the AutoCAD command prompt. Alternately, these
commands can be issued using the ParaDraft menu in the AutoCAD
release 9 and above.
ParaDraft Versions
ParaDraft is distributed in three different forms, called versions,
differing in features and capabilities:
ParaDraft Trial (shareware) Version
ParaDraft Extended (registered) Version
ParaDraft Professional Version
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.
Ten 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 Version
ParaDraft trial version allows you to determine whether ParaDraft
meets your needs before you pay for it. It is not a demonstration
or crippled program, but a full running system, with which you can
develop applications for later use.
ParaDraft trial version 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.
The ParaDraft Trial User manual has the instructions you need to test
run the software, and is in the PGDRAFT.DOC file. If you have a
printer connected to your computer, you can comfortably print the
manual and the order form using the menu options.
Making copies of ParaDraft Trial Version
You may give copies of the shareware (trial) version of ParaDraft
to other individuals, which they may also use and copy subject to
the terms of ParaDraft agreement. If you copy the shareware version
of ParaDraft for others, you must include all of the files
distributed with it. You should give the INSTALL.BAT, README.1ST and
original PGPG0991.ZIP and PGRUN991.ZIP archival files with
each copy.
README.DOC Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems ii
INSTALLATION NOTES
Please read these before running ParaDraft. This page explains
the changes to be made in your AutoCAD installation to run
ParaDraft.
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
Please refer to the AutoCAD manual for changing the ACAD.PGP file.
This can be done with a text editor such as EDLIN.
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.
Starting Paradraft With The Initialisation Script File
You should copy the PGINIT initialisation script file into your
current directory, before running AutoCAD, using the following DOS
command, or equivalent:
C> COPY \ACAD\PGDRAFT\PGINIT.SCR
Please give the directory where you have installed ParaDraft.
To start ParaDraft, you run the PGINIT initialisation script file
from AutoCAD drawing editor command prompt as following:
Command: SCRIPT
File <acad>: PGINIT
This will load the ParaDraft functions and menu. To load the ParaDraft
menu again use the command
Command: PGMENU
from the AutoCAD drawing editor command prompt. The menu commands
are self explanatory.
README.DOC Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems iii
A QUICK LOOK AT PARADRAFT
This is a demonstration that has been designed to give you a quick
first look at the features of ParaDraft. Once you have installed the
shareware version of ParaDraft on your PC, you can run this
demonstration of ParaDraft for the sample applications by
following these two simple steps:
1. Generate the AutoLISP programs for the geometry
You can generate the AutoLISP files for the sample applications
with a single command. Change directory to where you have
installed ParaDraft earlier(for example C:\ACAD). Installaion
program creates a subdirectory called PGDRAFT under this directory.
Enter command on the DOS prompt as following:
C:\ACAD\PGDRAFT> 1STLOOK
This command will run PGPG for you to create the AutoLISP files
for the provided samples, Abolt, Baseplt, Pipebend and Tblock.
2. Run the resulting programs in AutoCAD
Please proceed immediately to run AutoCAD. Choose main
menu option 1 and start a new drawing. In the drawing, please
make sure that you have zoomed into a window of about 300x300
units. Enter the following commands at the command prompt of
AutoCAD drawing editor:
1. Command: SCRIPT
File name: PGINIT
2. Command: PGDEMO
3. Command: PGDRAW
Select geometry:
Abolt/Baseplt/Flange/Pulley/Pipebend/Tblock:
Select any one of samples from the given samples. A slide
showing the selected geometry for this sample will be displayed
on the screen. The equations used to calculate the dimensions
will also be shown. The program will then automatically assign
the value to each of the dimensions with a default value. Then
it will ask you for the insertion point of the geometry, as
shown in the slide. Just pick ANY point on the screen with your
mouse or tablet. After a few messages the geometry corresponding
to the default values will be drawn. Now you can use the
AutoCAD zoom and pan commands to view the drawn geometry.
After you have tried all the sample geometries with the default
values you are strongly urged to try running the sample programs
again with your own values of the parameters. To do it enter the
command on the command prompt:
Command: LETMETRY
Again enter the command PGDRAW and select one of the samples.
Now you will be asked for all the dimension values.
README.DOC Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems iv
Sample applications
Sample applications have been provided with this release to get you
started with ParaDraft quickly. These applications show some of the
ways in which geometry can be defined for ParaDraft for parameterisation
These geometries also serve as verification geometries and will
also give you confidence about the capabilities of ParaDraft.
ParaDraft is based on heuristics and uses geometric reasoning, it
displays an understanding of common drafting conventions.
The following drafting conventions are illustrated in these samples:
Abolt/Baseplt/Flange/Pipebend/Pulley/Tblock:
BASEPLT : Horizontal and Vertical dimensions
Use of Symmetry
TBLOCK : Angular and Aligned Linear dimensions
Geometry specification using intersection
of two lines
ABOLT : Circles, Arcs and Fillets
Radial and diametrial dimensions
Geometry specification using intersections of
line and circle
PIPEBEND : Multiple related Angular dimensions
The corresponding sample applications created with ParaDraft
Professional version give you a clear picture of the results you could
achieve with the full system from similiar input.
Sample Names
---------------------------------------------
Trial Version Professional version
---------------------------------------------
BASEPLT ABASEPLT
TBLOCK ATBLOCK
ABOLT HEXBOLT
PIPEBEND ROUND *
---------------------------------------------
* ( multiple related angular dimensions)
You can switch between demonstrations developed with the trial version,
and those with the professional version, using the menu option.
For every sample application, the drawing used for creating them
are also supplied along with the package.
You are also requested to examine FLANGE and PULLEY which have been
developed using the Professional version of ParaDraft, and which
illustrate the following features of ParaDraft:
Dimensioned drawing as output
Polylines
Hatching
Unspecified fillet radius
README.DOC Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems v
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
Help files
TECHSUP.NOW TUTORIAL GLOSSARY COMMON PGDEMO.SLD
COMMANDS.LST
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 PGPG0991.ZIP
PGRUN991.ZIP README.1ST
README.DOC Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems vii
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.
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.
README.DOC Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems viii
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
README.DOC Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems ix
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
README.DOC Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems x
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
README.DOC Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems xi
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
README.DOC Copyright 1991, ParaWare Systems xii
