Fall Issue, 1996

CADvocate

Official Newsletter to the MicroCAD Users Group Of Nova Scotia

Hello, and welcome to first edition of the MUGONS Newsletter for the '96-'97 season. We hope everyone had a beautiful summer.

We just wanted you to know that we're back and committed, as always, to releasing a high quality newsletter that is both informative and entertaining. That is not to say that we don't need any extra help. In fact, the more people that participate the better. Feel free to contribute anything you want to the newsletter that is CAD [or computer] related. We hope no one feels they don't have anything to contribute. Your article can be on any topic, such as: what you like or dislike about your CAD package: what third party add-ons you use: the performance of your new pentium: or that new inkjet plotter your company just bought. (Argh! Argh! Argh! More power!) If you have written a quick and dirty LISP routine, there's your article right there.

If you don't want to write an article, feel free to comment, or make suggestions about the newsletter. Bottom line, it's not hard to do, and we really do want to hear from you. Otherwise, how can we tell if we are doing a good job?

In other news, if you were with us last time, we began a five-part series on CAD productivity when using AutoCAD. Part one of our series dealt with system variables and how they can help you be more productive. In this issue, we talk about dimension variables and how they control the look of your dimensions. Many people find dimension variables confusing and cumbersome to use. We hope this article lends you a helping hand.

Once again, we'd just like to say 'welcome back' and we hope you new members enjoy what MUGONS has to offer.

By now you have probably noticed that the Newsletter has a new look. There are a couple of reasons for this.

First, there was nothing on the cover to indicate that you were actually reading a newsletter, unless you saw the word "newsletter" somewhere within the text.

Second, there was nothing on the cover that indicated that this was a Newsletter for CAD users. One of the reasons that the newsletter exists is to attract new members. Let's face it, the word MUGONS doesn't exactly make you think "CAD user" when you glance at it for the first time.

Since the objective behind MUGONS is to honor the CAD products we use, we thought it only made sense that the newsletter title itself should have the word CAD within it. That's how we came up with the word CADvocate, based on the word advocate, meaning one who pleads the cause of another. After all, that's what MUGONS is all about.

Another MUGONS season has started with our first meeting being a great success. We saw the latest in 3D Architectural software and even learned some things about customizing AutoCAD. This year we have a lineup of presentations which will appeal to the novice and experienced CAD user alike. Enclosed in this newsletter is a list of potential meeting topics. If there is something on this list (or not on it) that you would like to see demonstrated, please just circle it and fax it to me at 454-8620 and we'll do our best to accommodate. This would ensure that our meetings are reflective of the needs of the CAD community. We on the MUGONS executive committee are looking forward to another informative season and extend an invitation to all who would like to join us for the latest news and hottest products in the CAD world.

Like system variables, dimension variables (dimvars) save values or settings which control the look of your dimensions. How dimensions look is vital in any office, and there is a wide selection of dimvars to choose from. Most CAD books on the market give a complete listing of dimension variables with a brief description. Sometimes, it's difficult to picture what effect a particular dimvar will have on a dimension. Although AutoCAD R13's dimensioning dialogue box contains previews of what your dims will look like, (release 12 doesn't) most of them don't have a graphic reference, and a lot of dimvars aren't even in the dialogue box. That's why we came up with a nifty little diagram shown below which will help you visualize what dimensions will look like as well as put a dimvar name to a dimsioning image. Basically, just look at the diagram below and pick out the look of the dimension graphics that best suit your office standards, and cross-reference it to the dimvar listed.

Please keep in mind that not every dimvar is listed because space in this newsletter is somewhat limited, and a lot of dimvars are self explanatory. However, having this diagram at your side may help you be more productive knowing which dimvar to use instead of constantly experimenting to see which dimvar looks the best when it comes time to plot.

As you can see, this issue focuses on the importance of dimvars and dimensions. The tip for this issue is also about dimensioning. Did you know that you can change the value of an associative dimension simply by extending the dimension line? First, select the boundary you want the dimension line to extend to, Second, select the dimension line nearest to the end to be extended, and voila! Not only does the dimension text get updated to the new value, but the dimension line, extension line, arrow-head, and dimension text all get relocated automatically!

You can also perform the same task using the trim command. First, select the cutting edge you want the dimension line to be cut back to, Second select the dimension line nearest the end to be trimmed. The results will be the same as listed above. One final note: in order for this routine to work, the extending/trimming line must extend either above or below the definition point of the dimension is.

Ever wanted to write a LISP routine but were afraid to try? Well no more I say! It is true that AutoLISP can be a frightening and somewhat confusing program to get a grasp on, but that doesn't mean you have to be intimidated by it. If you have a computer with some sort of ASCII text editor loaded, you can write an AutoLISP program. True, it's not as easy as that, but if you can at least copy what you see from a piece of paper and input it into your text editor, you're well on your way. You may not become an AutoLISP programming guru like George Head or William Kramer, (you can see their work in CADENCE) but, you will still be able to produce programs that are very useful.

People seem to think that a LISP routine must be this monstrosity of a program to be useful. Not true. Shown below is a prime example of how a non programmer can write something small, yet very useful and powerful. Simply follow the examples below, and you will eventually see a pattern. Congratulations, you are now an amateur AutoLISP programmer!

Here are some examples of using LISP for command alias'. You can create many of these and store it in a single *.LSP file in case you don't want to modify you acad.pgp file.

(defun c:RT ()

(command "rotate" pause))

(defun c:X ()

(command "extend" pause))

(defun c:O ()

(command "offset" pause))

(defun c:EX ()

(command "explode"pause))

(defun c:DE ()

(command "ddedit" pause))

(defun c:MI ()

(command "mirror" pause)) Hopefully now you see some sort of pattern. To really get a start in LISP programming, go over to any Computer Book Store and pick up a book on AutoLISP programming, or pick up an issue of CADalyst, or CADENCE. The trick is to get started and not be affraid to try something new. You may just surprise yourself.

TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY of NOVA SCOTIA

CAD/CAM CENTRE Courses

AutoCAD Level 1 - October 15, 16, 17, 22, & 23

AutoCAD 3D Modelling - October 29, 30, & 31

Contact Clara Sarson @ (902) 420-7764 or FAX (902) 420-8380

Congratulations to Mary Hellstrom, of Chebucto Engineering, for winning this year's door prize at the first MUGONS meeting of the 1996-97 season. Mary won a free CAD course courtesy of the Nova Scotia CAD/CAM Centre at TUNS

1. This command allows you to create tiled viewports in Modelspace

a) VPORTS

b) MVIEW

c) MVSETUP

d) NONE OF THE ABOVE

2. The ARRAY command is used to make multiple copies of an object:

a) ROTATED ABOUT A POINT

b) IN ROWS AND COLUMNS

c) NONE OF THE ABOVE

d) A and B

Answers 1A, 2D

President: Darrell MacDonald phone:(902) 454-8617 fax:(902) 454-8620Vice President: Karen Shannon phone:(902) 420-8932 fax:(902) 420-8949

Treasurer: Mary Hellstrom phone:(902) 429-5351 fax:(902) 423-5046Secretary: Keith Conner phone:(902) 873-1466 fax:(902) 873-4638

We would like to acknowledge the help of Norman Wade Company Limited, in help making this Newsletter possible. Thanks!