CONTENTS

AcknowledgmentsHow to Use This Book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

CAD Concepts

The Basics of CAD

Layers

Linetypes

SymbolsArchitectural Functions

CopyMove

ChangeStretch

Reusability

Backing It AllUp

Getting Started

About DataCAD

Why Use DataCAD?What DataCAD Does Not Do

Metrics in DataCAD

New Features

The DOS Version versus the Windows Version

System RequirementsInstallation

Performance Enhancements

DataCAD Directory Tree

ConfigurationMice

Starting DataCAD

Windows Menu Options

Drawing File Options

Default Drawings

Starting with a Different Default Drawing

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Chapter 3 Settings and Display Options 59

Settings 60

Grids 72

Display 76

Other Settings 87

Display List:What Is It and How Does It Work? 88

Chapter 4 Tutorial 107

Tutorial: The Apartment 108

Lets Start 109

Draw Marks 112

Refresh 112

Walls 113

Erasing 117

Undo and Redo 120

More Walls 122

Cleanup 131

Partial Erase 137

Cleaning Up L Intersections 139

Layers 143

Layer Colors 147

Adding Doors 148

Removing Doors 149

Identify 151

More Doors 152

Adding Windows 156

Isometric View 161

Counters and Closets 164

Linetypes 167

Offsetting Lines 172

Symbols 175

Hatching 187

Text 193Mirror 196

Weld 198

Add a Roof 200

Chapter 5 Basic Drawing 207

Drawing Lines 208

Drawing Arcs and Circles 221

Contents

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

More on PolylinesFreeHand

Simple and Complex Linetypes

Z-Heights and 21/2 DUndo and Redo

Reference Point

Viewing OptionsOnline Calculator

Drawing Walls

Everything in Real Scale

Multiple Drawing Technique

External File Referencing (XREF)Selection Methods

LyrSrch (LayerSearch)Text and Fonts

Text Scale

Editing Text

Keyboard Shortcutscan Toolbars

Boundary

IdentifyMeasures

Using Toolbox Macros

Organizational Concepts

Drawing File NamesFile Locations

Default Files

Layer Concepts

Printing and Plotting

What Is a Printer Driver?

Why Should I Care about Printer Drivers?

Configuring Your Plotter

Settings Saved with the Drawing

Printer/Plotter Settings

Line Weights and the PenTable

rint Settings

Printing with OwkLyout

Printing with MltLyout

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VI.~I 1

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Contents

Plot Preview

Adobe Acrobat File Format (.PDF)Check Plots

Saving to a File

Batch Plotting

How to Print Saved Drawings

Troubleshooting TIps

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Moving Things Around 419

EGAFS

Input ModeMove

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CopyCut/Copy/PasteMirror

Change/Z Heights

GeometryRotate

Stretch

Stretch Point Macro

Exporting Bitmaps

Importing Bitmaps

StickyBack Macro

Editing 46]

Undo/Redo

EnlargeErase

Cleanup

Change

Layer Locking

Editing Multiple Entities

Linking EntitiesSelection Sets

Cliplt Macro

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Chapter 10 Creating Efficiencyand Order 517

3D GotoViews

HyprView (Hyper View)

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Multi-ViewWindows

Multiple DCX DirectoriesInterface Customization

Chapter 11 Basic Construction Drawings

How Many DC5 Files?

Sheet and Title Block Layout

Layering for SuccessWalls

Curved Walls

Wall Attributes

Multi-LineWalls

Wall Styles: Saving and LoadingWalls That Are Not WallsCut Wall

Doors

Windows

Elevations

Reflected Ceiling PlansText and Notes

Importing Text

Importing Tables

Exporting TextDimensions

Linear Dimensions

Angular Dimensions

ArroStyl

Working with Rotated PlansSite Plans

Toolbox Macros

Door and Window Labels

Chapter 12 Advanced Construction Drawings

Multi-Scale Plotting (MSP)

Part I: Basic MSP Concepts

Part II:Advanced Multi-Scale Plotting Concepts

Part III:Printing and Plotting

Part IV: How to Stay out of Trouble

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Chapter 13 External Reference Files (XREFs)

XREFExampleInsert a Reference File

Manage Reference FilesOrphansXREFs,GNs, and MSPDetails

Manipulating Reference Files

Transferring Reference Files

XREFsand AutoCAD Drawing Files

Chapter 14 Templates and Symbols

What Is a Symbol?

Templates versus Symbols

Placing Symbols

The SymExp (Symbol Explode) Macro

Nested Symbols

Symbol InstancingRelative and Absolute Paths

Locations of \TPLand \sYM Directories

CSIFormat or Not?

Creating Templates and Symbols

Building Details with Symbols

Symbol Reports

Symbol Shortcomings

Troubleshooting

Chapter 15 3D Basics

IntroductionOverview

3D ViewingGL Shader

Chapter 16 3D Modeling

Introduction to the Geometric Primitives

Creating Specialized Shapes Using the Primitives

Dropping a Polygon MeshConcept 4: Creating Voids

Concept 4: Creating Voids

Contents

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Contents

Concept 4: Creating Voids

Concept 5: The Right Hand RuleConcept 6: CurvesDon't Existin 3D

Concept 7: The Clip Cube

Chapter 17 30 Modeling Methods

The 20 Base Plan

The 3D Model

Chapter 18 30 Toolbox Macros

AEC Modeler

3D Stairs

3D Tools

Touchup

Chapter 19 Advanced Modeling Workshop

Exercise I-Complex RoofExercise 2-Pendentive Dome

Exercise 3-The Classic Sweep: A Stair Handrail

Exercise 3-The Classic Sweep: A Stair HandrailKnifecuts and mitresVariations

Exercise 4-Land Forms: Four Methods

xercise 5-0rnate Wrought Iron RailingExercise 6-Corinthian Column

Exercise 7-Arched Colonnade

Exercise8-Porte-cochere: RevSurf3

Chapter 20 30 Rendering

Advanced 3D Workshop 10: Notes on Rendering

Chapter 21 Techno-Files

File Recovery

The Semaphore (.$$$)File

Understanding CADFiles

Understanding CAD FilesProgram Bugs

Speeding Up DataCAD

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XII

Of Mice and. . . Well, Mice

DataCAD Applications Language (DCAL) Programming

Compiling MacrosBasics

Program Layout

Sample MacrosDCAL Resources

Chapter 22 Frequently Asked Questions

A. How Do I Draw Things?

B. How Do I Edit and Move Things?

C. Dimensions

D. Customizing Things

E. Printing and Plotting

F: Hatching and LinetypesG: Text and Fonts

H. Toolbox Macros and Add-Ons

J. Multi-Scale Plotting (MSP)and Clip Cubes (CCs)

K. Templates and Symbols

L. Importing and Exporting DWG and DXF FilesM. Techno Files

N. Miscellaneous Stuff

P When Things Don't Act Like They Should

Q: External Reference Files (XREFs)R: 3-Dimensional Questions

Chapter 23 Customizing DataCAD

Customizing the Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Macros Drop-Down Menu

Customizing DataCAD with the DCADWIN.INI File

Color AdjustmentsTHE INI-OUTI Editor

Keyboard ShortcutsAction Codes

Customizing the CTRLKey ShortcutsCustom Icon Toolbars

Action String CodesInternal Function Codes

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Contents

.KEYFile ExamplesGraphic Toolbar Icons

Custom LinetypesCustom Hatches

Custom Scales, Angles, and Distances

Converting AutoCAD Fonts to DataCAD

Creating Custom Fonts

The Productivity Pack

Chapter 24 Third-Party Macros

Free Macros from DataCAD LLC

Third-Party MacrosMacro Tabouret

Chapter 25 Converting File Formats

Living in an AutoCAD World

Exporting DataCAD Drawings to the AutoCAD Format

Importing AutoCAD Drawings into DataCAD

Import and Export DXF Drawing Files

Exporting a DataCAD Drawing to DXFImporting a DXF File to DataCAD

DXF/DWG Options

Recreating MSPLayouts in AutoCAD

Chapter 26 Networking

Networking ConceptsHardware

Networking in Windows

Sharing

Mapping

Mapping Drives on a Workstation ServerPrinters/Plotters on the Network

Chapter 27 Data CAD Resources

Web Pages and Third-Party SupportThree More Web Pages

DataCAD Applications Language (DCAL)

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XIV Contents

LinetypesHatches

Fonts

Extended Character Codes

Favorite Keyboard MacrosDWG/DXF Translation Files

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Appendix

Index 1295

What's On the CD-ROM? 1323