Getting Started --- Chap 1
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:00 pm
Well, after reading thru all 126 pages of my printed out manuals ---
and even remembering a bunch of it --- I'm ready to attack using this
system. I'm a tree-ware guy. I like to have an example on the screen
to play w/ as I read the book. BTW, I'm on a G4 running Panther.
For those of you familiar w/ CADintosh this chapter can be skipped ---
as most disclaimers state. Not only that, but like w/ most things,
"There's lots of ways to get across country". This is just a way I
found.
1st we assume you've got the pgm installed. OK, open it up and then
command-N to get a new dwg. My dwgs are almost always of small
mechanical parts, say no larger than 6"x8" or so. Therefore I want a
new drawing to be scale 1:1, in inches, & 3 decimal accuracy. The way
I've found to do this is in the top menu. Hit Option->drawing. This
brings up a set-up box. I select paper size as A4 Landscape, inches,
and decimal.
Next, hit Option->dimension. Here I specify 3 decimal accuracy. I've
not a clue what all the other setting control yet. I then move the
X-hairs to where I want to start my drawing, that's shift-click-drag.
For now, stick 'em in the lower left corner. Next I saved this drawing
as "Basic" so I can just drag it back out for the next part --- but
remember to rename it IMMEDIATELY!
What threw me for some time was what to do next. Viola! In the lower
left bottom of the screen is THE most important menu of the system.
It's sort of explained starting on pg 2 of the workshop manual. For a
more in-depth study go there and follow the examples. For me, the 4
boxes on the right are the most important. NOTE: You can cycle thru
them using the "tab" key. Of these 4 start with the left one,
free-hand mode.
Just above this menu bar is the entry line. Here's where the info for
the lines, &c. is entered. What's requested is a function of what's
being done. It's fairly clear, particularly after working w/ a few
examples.
NOTE: With a 2 button mouse the right button brings up the whole
toolbox pallet in note form. Then by dropping to the function wanted,
a sub menu shows up w/ the rest of the choices. Not that it's that
important, but it means you don't have to keep doing the command-K
thing to get the pallet out of the way in a busy drawing.
OK, time for some (im)practical examples:
1.Select free-hand mode --- finger pointer.
2.Select Line->point-to-point
3.Follow the entry instructions and draw a couple of unconnected lines
on the screen, make them so that when extended the intersection point
will be on the screen.
4.Select the intersect mode, 3rd box from right end, X w/ red dot.
5.Follow the instructions. See the small blue cross? Ta-DA!
Intersection point.
Unfortunately, it seems as tho the next action will draw a line to this
point so it's only usefull when that's what you want to do. Hopefully,
I'm wrong and will discover the trick later on. It's also a poor-man's
"trim".
6.Now move another box right in the menu, funny looking "C" w/ 3 red
dots. This will select the mid point or end point of a feature,
whichever's the closest to the pointer when clicked. Try it out.
7. The final box is the one I use the most. It marks the closest
point to the pointer and selects it when clicked. That means you don't
have to be spot on.
Aside: F12 refreshes [redraw function] the drawing.
OK, enuf. For those that didn't know, hope this helps. For those that
do, hope you weren't too bored.
Now, my next endeavor will be Chap. 2. I'll tear into symbols and
groups. In mechanical drawings some things are high repeaters, C/L's,
tapped hole sym, zero corners, &c. Heretofore, I've had bunches in
libraries and call them back as reqd. C'tosh has gotta have the same
ability!!
Thnx for the band width.
Tkat
"Life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well
preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out,
shouting...Holy S**t!! What a Ride!!"
and even remembering a bunch of it --- I'm ready to attack using this
system. I'm a tree-ware guy. I like to have an example on the screen
to play w/ as I read the book. BTW, I'm on a G4 running Panther.
For those of you familiar w/ CADintosh this chapter can be skipped ---
as most disclaimers state. Not only that, but like w/ most things,
"There's lots of ways to get across country". This is just a way I
found.
1st we assume you've got the pgm installed. OK, open it up and then
command-N to get a new dwg. My dwgs are almost always of small
mechanical parts, say no larger than 6"x8" or so. Therefore I want a
new drawing to be scale 1:1, in inches, & 3 decimal accuracy. The way
I've found to do this is in the top menu. Hit Option->drawing. This
brings up a set-up box. I select paper size as A4 Landscape, inches,
and decimal.
Next, hit Option->dimension. Here I specify 3 decimal accuracy. I've
not a clue what all the other setting control yet. I then move the
X-hairs to where I want to start my drawing, that's shift-click-drag.
For now, stick 'em in the lower left corner. Next I saved this drawing
as "Basic" so I can just drag it back out for the next part --- but
remember to rename it IMMEDIATELY!
What threw me for some time was what to do next. Viola! In the lower
left bottom of the screen is THE most important menu of the system.
It's sort of explained starting on pg 2 of the workshop manual. For a
more in-depth study go there and follow the examples. For me, the 4
boxes on the right are the most important. NOTE: You can cycle thru
them using the "tab" key. Of these 4 start with the left one,
free-hand mode.
Just above this menu bar is the entry line. Here's where the info for
the lines, &c. is entered. What's requested is a function of what's
being done. It's fairly clear, particularly after working w/ a few
examples.
NOTE: With a 2 button mouse the right button brings up the whole
toolbox pallet in note form. Then by dropping to the function wanted,
a sub menu shows up w/ the rest of the choices. Not that it's that
important, but it means you don't have to keep doing the command-K
thing to get the pallet out of the way in a busy drawing.
OK, time for some (im)practical examples:
1.Select free-hand mode --- finger pointer.
2.Select Line->point-to-point
3.Follow the entry instructions and draw a couple of unconnected lines
on the screen, make them so that when extended the intersection point
will be on the screen.
4.Select the intersect mode, 3rd box from right end, X w/ red dot.
5.Follow the instructions. See the small blue cross? Ta-DA!
Intersection point.
Unfortunately, it seems as tho the next action will draw a line to this
point so it's only usefull when that's what you want to do. Hopefully,
I'm wrong and will discover the trick later on. It's also a poor-man's
"trim".
6.Now move another box right in the menu, funny looking "C" w/ 3 red
dots. This will select the mid point or end point of a feature,
whichever's the closest to the pointer when clicked. Try it out.
7. The final box is the one I use the most. It marks the closest
point to the pointer and selects it when clicked. That means you don't
have to be spot on.
Aside: F12 refreshes [redraw function] the drawing.
OK, enuf. For those that didn't know, hope this helps. For those that
do, hope you weren't too bored.
Now, my next endeavor will be Chap. 2. I'll tear into symbols and
groups. In mechanical drawings some things are high repeaters, C/L's,
tapped hole sym, zero corners, &c. Heretofore, I've had bunches in
libraries and call them back as reqd. C'tosh has gotta have the same
ability!!
Thnx for the band width.
Tkat
"Life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well
preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out,
shouting...Holy S**t!! What a Ride!!"
