DesignCAD News
DesignCAD News
Tuesday November 26, 2002
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NEW! Online Searchable Knowledgebase! |
| Upperspace has
upgraded its tech support to customers by creating a very impressive
searchable knowledgebase online at
http://www.upperspace.com/support.
Now you can get tech support on any of our products 24 hours a day
directly from our website. Our online forum
has become an extremely valuable tool for customers finding answers. We
have also increased the speed at which we are able to reply to email questions
at support@upperspace.com. |
Get Answers
24/7! |
|
But
just what does the Forum look like? ... Act like? ... And will it work for you?
Here are examples of
customers who were helped by our Tech Support Department or another
customer via the Support Forum ...
Here's another ...
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Author |
 Topic  |
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philfun
New Member
windsor
ont
Canada
2 Posts |
 Posted - 11/03/2002 :
08:27:18 AM 
Is it any way to get a circle center point after the circle is
created ?
Can the snap mode selection stay active during a complete work
session ?
I forget to mention I use Design Cad express V12
Thanks a lot
Phil |
david coker
Junior Member
FRESNO
CA
USA
30 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2002 :
11:49:51 AM
After you have created a complete circle or an arc, the center
point can be found by placing the cursor near where the center
should be and snapping to it, either by using gravity or
right-click of your mouse. This works ok if the area near
where the center is located is not too cluttered with other
entities. I often use the following macro to place a pointmark
at the center because of the proximity of other points:
'SETRP.BSC
PRECISION 15
SETPOINT "SET A POINT ON THE CURVE" 1
pointval e1 n1 z1 1
>pointselect
{
<pointxyz [e1,n1,z1]
}
getselect 1, j
entity j
POINTVAL X1 Y1 Z1 1
>POINTMARK
{
<pointxyz [X1,Y1,Z1]
}
>ZOOM
{
<size 1
<pointxyz [X1,Y1,Z1]
}
END
I don't think it's possible to keep a snap mode active
throughout an entire drawing session. I believe you can keep a
snap mode active throughout a drawing command by
double-clicking the snap mode you want in the snap toolbox. I
use that method a lot.
Dave |
support
Moderator
Pryor
OK
USA
346 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2002 :
3:47:52 PM
Dave,
Great answers we could not have done better.
-------------------------
Upperspace
Tech Support |
philfun
New Member
windsor
ont
Canada
2 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2002 :
5:14:36 PM
Thanks a lot Dave.I am new user with Express .
I am quite impressed with the choice of lines
and the FORUM
Thanks
Phil
phil |
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Didn't find what you're
looking for at the searchable knowledgebase? Email tech support at
support@upperspace.com for a
personal response by a technician. Don't have email? Fax us your question
to 918/825-6359 Attn: Tech Support. |
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found at many major retailers. Basic training packages start at $29.95.
For more information go to
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|
Register Your Version of DesignCAD!
You can register at
www.Upperspace.com/register, by calling 800/233-3223, by mailing your
registration card or faxing it to 918/825-6359. Here's why you should …
#1 All registered
software gets free technical support. Even when new versions are released,
you can still take advantage of free technical support.
#2 When you
register it gives us a copy of your serial number. If you should lose
your serial number sometime in the future, you can call us and we’ll
read it back to you. This can be a real lifesaver when upgrading to a
new computer or if you’re forced to reformat your hard drive. It can
save you from having to buy another package of the software!
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Real
Questions from Customers ... and Real Answers from Friendly DesignCAD Tech
Support
DesignCAD Productivity Tips |
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Question:
When attempting to use the training program,
I get an out of memory error."
Answer: The DesignCAD course runs from a CD-ROM to save you on hard
disk space. Each time
you start the training it takes a note of this to remember where you left
off at. Do it
enough times and you may eat up the space allotted to run the training.
It's real easy to clear out the memory. Inside the Program Files folder
you'll find the DesignCAD Training folder. Just double-click on the file
called RWClean.exe.
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If you have a DesignCAD Training course window open you need to exit
from it.
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Right-click on the Start button. This will open a shortcut-menu. Select
the Explore command from the small shortcut menu that appears. This will
open the Windows Explorer window.
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On the left side of the window select your hard drive (probably C:\) by
clicking on it. This will expand the folders saved to your hard drive
and list them below it. Then double-click on the folder called Program
Files to select it.
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Inside the Program Files folder there's a folder called DesignCAD
Training. Double-click the DesignCAD Training folder to open it.
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Inside the DesignCAD Training folder there's a file called RWClean. Its
full name is RWClean.exe. Double-click on this file to run it. This will
clean up your DesignCAD Training registry. You'll soon see a small box
with the message "Files removed successfully". Just click OK to close
the box.
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You can now restart the DesignCAD Training.
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Question:
When I print in hidden line mode part of the
drawing is lost. What's wrong?"
Answer: This could be a memory issue. Either the printer does not have
enough RAM to handle a drawing of that size or there are some settings on
the printer that need refined.
There are optional settings for each plotter driver installed in Windows.
These settings can effect how a plotter outputs a drawing. To check the
properties of your plotter follow these steps:
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Go to the Start Button.
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Choose Settings and Printers.
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Select your plotter icon.
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Go to the File menu on that window. Pull down to Properties.
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There will be several tabs; choose the Details tab.
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Select the Print Spooling button.
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Make sure that print spooling is on and that it is spooling in RAW data
format.
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Some plotters will have the option of spooling in the computer or in the
plotter. Try both of these settings to see which works best for you.
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Choose the Fonts tab. Make sure that you are using True type fonts and
not the plotter fonts.
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Question:
How
do I turn off the text that follows the cursor around in DesignCAD 3D MAX
Plus?"
Answer: Choose the Options command from the Options menu. In the
View tab is the option "Enable Drawing Display Data". Turn that option
off. The text that follows our cursor will be gone. |
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Question:
When running the DesignCAD Training
course it stopped during the lesson. What do I do? Answer:
This is to your advantage. DesignCAD Training courses have interactivity
built into them. This means you'll have opportunities to perform actions
through the course. When the course stops, you can take advantage of
interactivity and do what the course is telling you to do. This may mean
to click on something such as to open a menu or select a command - it may
require you to double-click on something to select it - or it may require
you to press keystrokes to perform an action. You'll need to listen to the
lesson and do whatever it tells you to do. The lesson will continue after
you perform the interaction correctly.
If you don't want to
perform the interactivity, look at the navigation bar for the course.
You'll see a blue button called Show Me appear. Just click the Show Me
button and the interactivity for the current lesson will be performed for
you automatically.
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Question:
I am
trying to change the ruler ticks/unit. I make the change in Ruler Settings of
View Options and click the OKs but the ruler seems stuck at 5 ticks/unit. Answer:
The DesignCAD rulers are displayed according to the setting chosen and the
number of units displayed across the drawing screen. If you are zoomed out you
will see fewer divisions. If you have the smaller division option chosen you
will not see those until you zoom in to a closer view.
Try using the Zoom Window command to zoom into a smaller area; the smaller
settings on the ruler will show up. |
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Question:
Can I create custom line styles in
DesignCAD?
Answer:
Absolutely!
There is a section in the Reference Manual in Appendix C: on creating
your own custom lines styles. This appendix in located in the back of
the manual. There is also a section in the DesignCAD Help file covering
the same material.
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Question:
Is there a way to make the options I set appear for every new design I
make?
Answer:
Use the DesignCAD Workspace. You can set up a Workspace by opening the
File menu, selecting the Workspace Configuration command and then
Setup DesignCAD Workspace. When you are finished setting up the details be
sure to save the workspace. You can even create multiple options for
workspaces given the drawing types you might do.
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Question:
How do I get dimensions in
inches only?
Answer:
DesignCAD works in arbitrary units so a single unit of measurement can be
equal to any format you want: feet and inches, inches, metric, cubits,
etc. The trick is to set the options for the dimensions to measure the
drawing in the correct format. The steps below will explain how to set the
dimensions to measure in inches.
A. First activate
the Dimension command (You can find this command in the Dimension pull
down menu or use the @ key on your keyboard)
B. Once you have command active click on the Text options button.
C. Change the format and precision to match your requirements. If you are
using inches you will want to change the format to decimals or fractions.
D. 1.500
E. or…
F. 1 1/2
G. Click on the Save button, and then close these options by clicking the
X in the upper right hand corner.
H. Next click on the Prefix/Suffix option button.
I. In the Suffix box enter the quote mark “ using the key board.
J. Click on the Save button and the close the options box. You are now
ready to dimension your drawing.
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Question:
I
need to send a drawing to someone who does not have DesignCAD or any CAD
program. What is the best method to let them view the file? Answer:
Use the free DesignCAD
viewer! The DesignCAD Viewer is a free utility available online at:
http://www.upperspace.com/downloads/
If
the person viewing the file does not have the ability to download and
install the viewer then you can always save the drawing as an image. Use
the Save Image command found in the File menu under Image. The Save Image
command lets you drag around the area of the window that you want to save
as a jpg image. The jpg image can then be viewed by anyone.
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Awesome
Selection Filter - Saves You Time!
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Pssst! C'mere.
Wanna know a secret? The Selection Filter command is one of the
most commonly overlooked, new features of DesignCAD 3D MAX Plus. All
DesignCAD 3D Max Plus users need to know about it and how to use it.
It's the best Selection Filter in the CAD market and can save you huge
amounts of time.
DesignCAD's Selection Filter command is used to easily restrict the
entities that can be selected or deselected.
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This allows users to drag a
selection box around a number of entities and select only entities that
have certain characteristics, instead of everything inside the box. It
can also be used to select all of the entities in the drawing that meet
certain criteria. The drawing we'll use to look at the features of the
Selection Filter is the Plane.dcd file that is included in the DesignCAD
3D MAX Plus sample drawings.
Click here for entire story and images ...
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NEW! Woodworking Design Add-on for DesignCAD
Add
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the grand trio! Deck Design Add-on, Shed & Shop Design Add-on
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for woodworking projects including birdhouses, step stools, display shelves,
a rocking horse, and other projects.
http://www.upperspace.com/products/addons/ or call 800/233-3223 to order
by phone. |
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WIN the
newest version of DesignCAD software - DesignCAD 3D Max Plus
|
What do you have to do to
win this exceptional piece of CAD software?
Send us your drawing of
something you've designed in any version of DesignCAD along with a photo of the
finished project. Email
press@upperspace.com with your design and photos.
Buy a copy of DesignCAD
here.
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Congratulations to Piet Blanckaert who won the
October/November Contest
for a copy of the ...
DesignCAD 3D MAX Plus Office Suite!
See more at
http://www.blanckaert.com
|
Rules:
The design must have been
created in DesignCAD, any version, 2D or 3D. You must submit it in DesignCAD
file format. You can only submit your own designs. You can submit as many as you
want (please zip them up before sending if you're sending more than one). Please
add your name to the design. If you want the DesignCAD file to remain
confidential and not a part of the DesignCAD sample drawings you must specify
this. You can submit images of the rendered design and a picture of the
constructed design along with the DesignCAD file if you'd like them to be
posted. Upperspace has the right to use these as marketing materials on our
website, in print material or other promotional material. Should Upperspace
Corporation run another design contest after this one, the winner of this
contest cannot win the subsequent design contest but may enter and win following
contests. An individual cannot win two contests back to back or win multiple
contests using the same design.
Criteria for winning is subjective. If you submit a design for
this contest and don't win this contest you can submit the same design file to
subsequent contests. When submitting your design please include: your full
name, shipping address, e-mail address and the version or versions of DesignCAD
you used to create your design.
Winner of the December/January contest will receive a copy of
DesignCAD 3D Max Plus software by Upperspace Corp. Product may not be returned for
refund of any kind. Product will be shipped at no charge to winner within the
continental United States via UPS ground shipping. Shipping charges will apply
outside of the continental United States. Product will be shipped in a
reasonable period of time (usually within 2-3 working days) after winner is
announced.
Email your designs to
press@upperspace.com
Last day to submit your design is January 10th,
2002. Winner will be decided and announced in the January newsletter 2002.
From the Kitchens of
Upperspace
Go
here
... to read recipes for homemade macaroni and cheese, homemade chicken and
noodles and for a awesome strawberry cake that's so moist it melts in your
mouth.
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