Full PrimeCAD Manual

MiTek Industries, Inc.PrimeCAD Manual PrimeCAD User Manual Contents Concept...............................................................................................................................8 Entities.................................................................................................................................9 Graphic Properties ......................................................................................................... 11 Pen.................................................................................................................................... 12 Layers............................................................................................................................... 13 Symbols ........................................................................................................................... 14 Attribute Definition.......................................................................................................... 15 Drawing Origin ................................................................................................................ 16 Coordinates ..................................................................................................................... 17 Units of Measurement ................................................................................................... 18 Drawing Scale ................................................................................................................. 19 Selection Set ................................................................................................................... 20 Entity Filter....................................................................................................................... 21 Viewports ......................................................................................................................... 22 Limits ................................................................................................................................ 23 Extents ............................................................................................................................. 24 Hatches ............................................................................................................................ 25 Fonts................................................................................................................................. 26 Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) ........................................................................ 27 Drawing Files and File Conversion.............................................................................. 28 Autosave and Backup .................................................................................................... 29 Printing and Plotting ....................................................................................................... 30 Mouse and Digital Tablet .............................................................................................. 31 Basic Operation .............................................................................................................. 32 Numerical Data Input ..................................................................................................... 33 Entity Input....................................................................................................................... 34 Using the Mouse............................................................................................................. 35 Snap Input Modes .......................................................................................................... 36 Explanation of 9 Kinds of Snap Input Modes............................................................. 38 Constraint Mode ............................................................................................................. 40 Keyboard Input Modes .................................................................................................. 41 Selecting Entities ............................................................................................................ 42 Direct Selection Method ................................................................................................ 43 Direct Transformations .................................................................................................. 45 Translating ....................................................................................................................... 46 Scaling ............................................................................................................................. 47 Mirroring ........................................................................................................................... 48 Right Button Short Menu............................................................................................... 49 Double-Click Editing ....................................................................................................... 50 User Interface ................................................................................................................. 51 Title Bar............................................................................................................................ 52 Menu Bar ..................................................................................................................... 53 Shortcut Keys .............................................................................................................. 53 Getting Help ................................................................................................................ 54 Workspace....................................................................................................................... 55 Sheet ........................................................................................................................ 56 Reference Grid ........................................................................................................... 56 2 PrimeCAD User Manual Scroll Bars ............................................................................................................... 57 Toolbars ....................................................................................................................... 60 Toolboxes .................................................................................................................... 60 File Menu ......................................................................................................................... 61 File>New ............................................................................................................. 61 File>Open............................................................................................................ 61 Drawing Scale Dialog box..................................................................................... 62 File>Merge .......................................................................................................... 63 File>Save ............................................................................................................ 64 File>Save As....................................................................................................... 65 File>Backup Option........................................................................................... 67 Automatic Save ........................................................................................................... 68 Always Create Backup File ....................................................................................... 69 File>Page Setup ................................................................................................. 70 File>Printer Setup .............................................................................................. 70 File>Print ............................................................................................................. 72 Print Range Option................................................................................................. 73 File>Import Bitmap............................................................................................. 74 Edit Menu......................................................................................................................... 75 Edit>Cut ............................................................................................................... 76 Edit>Copy............................................................................................................ 76 Edit>Paste ........................................................................................................... 77 Edit>Erase........................................................................................................... 77 Edit>Erase Last .................................................................................................. 78 Edit>Undo ........................................................................................................... 78 Edit>Undo Undo................................................................................................. 79 Edit>Copy Entity......................................................................................................... 79 Entity Copy>Linear Copy.............................................................................. 79 Entity Copy>Rectangular Copy ................................................................... 80 Entity Copy>Radial Copy.............................................................................. 81 Entity Copy>Parallel ...................................................................................... 82 Entity Copy>Offset......................................................................................... 83 Edit>Select .......................................................................................................... 84 Select Dialog Box ................................................................................................... 85 Edit>Entity Filter ................................................................................................. 86 Selection Filter Dialog Box.................................................................................... 87 View>Limits......................................................................................................... 92 View>Extents ...................................................................................................... 92 3 PrimeCAD User Manual View>Last............................................................................................................ 92 View>Revert Entity Order ................................................................................. 93 View>Pan ............................................................................................................ 93 View>Zoom Window.......................................................................................... 94 View>Zoom In..................................................................................................... 94 View>Zoom Out ................................................................................................. 95 View>Zoom Value .............................................................................................. 95 View>Named View............................................................................................. 96 View>Viewport.................................................................................................... 96 Draw Menu ..................................................................................................................... 98 Draw >Line .................................................................................................................. 99 Line>Individual ............................................................................................... 99 Line>Multiple .................................................................................................100 Line>Autofillet-Sgl........................................................................................101 Line>Double ..................................................................................................101 Line>AutoFillet-Dbl ......................................................................................102 Line>Point-Circle ..........................................................................................103 Line>Circle-Circle .........................................................................................103 Line>Perpendicular......................................................................................104 Line>Line setup ............................................................................................105 Draw>Arc ...................................................................................................................106 Arc>3 Pts [s,m,e]..........................................................................................106 Arc>3 Pts [s,e,m]..........................................................................................107 Arc>3 Pts [c,s,e] ...........................................................................................107 Arc>2 Pts-Angle ...........................................................................................108 Arc>2 Pts-Radius .........................................................................................108 Arc>Quarter Circle .......................................................................................109 Arc>Semi Circle ...........................................................................................110 Arc>Elliptical .................................................................................................110 Draw>Circle ...............................................................................................................112 Circle>Center-Side ......................................................................................112 Circle>Side-Center ......................................................................................113 Circle>2 Pts...................................................................................................113 Circle>3 Pts...................................................................................................114 Circle>Center-Radius ..................................................................................114 Circle>Center-Diameter ..............................................................................115 4 .................126 Marker>Setup .....................................................................................................120 Polyline>Sketch.............................................................137 Dimension>Radial>Diameter2 .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................135 Dimension>Radial>Radius1.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................122 Curve>Bezier Curves ...........................................................148 Hatch>Selection ........141 Dimension>Angular ...................142 Angular Dimension of Two Lines ..........................................................136 Dimension>Radial>Diameter1 .............................147 Hatch>Set Pts................................................128 Dimension>Linear ..................122 Curve>Fitted Curves ........................................................140 Dimension>Ordinate>X-datum .........................................................................140 Dimension>Ordinate>Y-datum ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................142 Angular Dimension of An Arc ...................................................................118 Polyline>Set Pts-open.................................................................119 Polyline>Polygon ....................................................................118 Polyline>Set Pts-close .............144 Dimension>Setup ..........................................................115 Circle>Ellipse-4 Arcs ................149 Hatch>Setup .....................................................................132 Continuous Linear Dimension ..........................................................................................................................................124 Marker>Set Pts.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................PrimeCAD User Manual Circle>Ellipse .............................................127 Draw>Dimension ...................139 Dimension>Ordinate .........134 Dimension>Radial...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................129 Single Linear Dimension......143 Dimension>Leader..............................................................................................................................................................................................124 Marker>Relative ...........................................................................................................................................................................125 Marker>Align.....................................................................................................................................123 Draw>Marker .................................................................136 Dimension>Radial>Radius2......................150 5 ......119 Polyline>Rectangle .......................................................125 Marker>Polar ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................132 Baseline Linear Dimension .........................................121 Draw>Curve ..............................117 Draw>Polyline ............................................145 Draw>Hatch ... ..............................................180 Modify>Explode............................................................................................................................158 Explanation of X and Y scale factors and Rotation degree ................................................................................................................................156 Solid>Polygon................................................................172 Modify>Trims>Corner................................................................................................................................185 Inquires>Coordinate ........172 Modify>Trims ......................................182 Modify>Change ......................................................................178 Modify>Join..........................................................................................................................................................................................................152 Text>Font Setup ...........161 Attributes>Export .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................151 Text>Aligned..................................................................................179 Illustrated Control Point of Each Entity...175 Modify>Trims>Fillet.............................................................................................................................................169 Modify>Transforms>Mirror .........................................................183 Inquires Menu ................................................................................................155 Solid>Pie ...............................................................................................................................................................................176 Modify>Trims>Divide............................152 Text>Arc .............................................................................................................157 Draw>Symbol............................................155 Solid>Circle ......................179 Modify>Move Point ....................................173 Modify>Trims>Extend ...170 Modify>Transforms>Align (Along the Axis) ...................................................................175 Modify>Trims>Chamfer ....................................................171 Modify>Transform>Align Entity.................................................................................................151 Text>Start Pt...............................................................................165 Modify Menu..................................PrimeCAD User Manual Draw>Text .......................................................153 Draw>Solid .........................................................................................185 6 .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................157 Solid>Color Setup ....................................................................174 Modify>Trims>Edge ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................156 Solid>Chord ...............167 Modify> Transforms>Translate ..........................................................168 Modify>Transforms>Scale .........................................................167 Modify>Transforms>Rotate ..........................................................................................166 Modify>Transforms ...........................177 Modify>Stretch ............................................................... .................................................................193 Status Bar ...........209 Shortcut keys in File Menu commands ......................................................................................................216 7 ...198 System>Units of Measurement .......194 Tools>Toolbar Editing .................................................................................................................................197 System>Sheet .................................191 Ribbon................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................207 Contents of PrimeCAD..........................................................................215 Shortcut Keys for Moving the Selection Set.........................190 Tool Box..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................216 Shortcut Keys for Using Scroll Bars to Pan the View.........................188 Inquires>Entity Info ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................190 Tools>Tools Display .........................................201 Snap Mode Dialog Box........................................187 Inquires>Distance ......................................................215 Shortcut keys for Getting Help ............................................................186 Inquires>3Pts Angle ...........................189 Tools Menu....194 Rulers ......................................................................................................................215 Shortcut Keys for Changing Snap Input Modes ........................214 Shortcut keys in View Menu commands............................................................................................................186 Inquires>2Pts Angle ......................................................................................................................PrimeCAD User Manual Inquires>Area/Perimeter ...............................................................................................204 System>Origin..............................................................................................................................................................................................................195 Tools>Macro ..........215 Shortcut Keys for Changing Coordinate Types ............................................INI............................................................................200 System>Grid/Reference Line ...............................................................................................188 Inquires>Entity List .................................................................................214 Shortcut keys in Edit Menu commands .........................207 System>Origin......................................................................................................216 Shortcut Keys for Changing Constraint Modes ...........199 Units Of Measurement Dialog Box .......................................................... All drawing entities in PrimeCAD. The following sections describe the basic concepts that you need to know about computer-aided drafting in general and PrimeCAD in particular. are made of vectors (i.e.. PCX. It is different from other types of picture-generating software which manipulate pixels. 8 . except those imported bitmap images (e.PrimeCAD User Manual Concept PrimeCAD for Windows is a computer-aided-design drafting software.g. line segments).. BMP.). PrimeCAD provides you the tools and flexibility to create precision drawings quickly and easily..etc. A line is an entity defined by two points: a startpoint and an endpoint. PrimeCAD offers 44 kinds of hatch patterns. It is defined by up to 1000 vertices. markers and texts).A polyline is a series of connected lines. pen style. . .A curves is a special entity whose position and shape are determined by three or more control points. .A dimension is a measurement notation which collect predefined lines. The area is filled with a repetitive li ne pattern. and an ending angle. Dimensions are associative. circle or arc filled inside with specified color. a starting angle. It is defined by a centerpoint. Bezier curves are drawn toward them. arcs or circles. directional flow. .A text entity is comprised of one or more lines of characters.Markers are predefined shapes comprised of lines.Attributes provide non-graphical information. . 9 .A solid entity is a polygon.A circle is defined by a centerpoint and a radius. pen width. The attributes attached on the symbols can be exported to a spreadsheet or database program to create bill of material lists. An attribute definition is just like a text. In PrimeCAD. Drawn texts can be justified horizontally and vertically and also can be rotated at any angle.An arc is a portion of a circle . There are two curve types: Bezier and Fitted. there are the following entity types: . but the border of it is still the current pen color. .PrimeCAD User Manual Entities All drawings are comprised of entities. That is. The characters can be any size you choose and can be drawn in any True Type fo nt or PrimeCAD vector font. . a radius line. You can explode a dimension entity into its comprised entities (lines. markers. arcs. . Fitted curves pass through their control points. and so on. their textual components are automatically updated as the dimensions are moved or stretched. . line endpoints.and layer).A hatch entity is a crosshatched area enclosed by an entity or group of entities. They are used to mark coordinates. it acts more like a data base record (filed-value). . all segments have the same drawing properties (pen color. That is. PrimeCAD considers a polyline to be a single entity no matter how many vertices it has. and texts. But when it is attached to a symbol definition. arcs. symbols can include other symbols inside. it can import images such as BMP and PCX. An image is treated as a single basic entity which can be moved and scaled. Besides symbols can be saved as symbol libraries for use in other drawings. rotated. which can be moved.A symbol is collections of any of the entity types listed above. 10 . i.Although PrimeCAD is not a bitmap drawi ng software.e. A symbol is just a link of any other basic entities. . scaled. mirrored and so on. Symbols can be nested.PrimeCAD User Manual . Solids . and layer. Hatches. Dimensions . Lines.all graphic attributes. The pen-related settings of graphic properties are defined by selecting the System>Pen Setup command. Curves. pen width. The graphic properties are: pen color.pen color and layer.layer. pen style scale. Not has every entity all graphic properties. pen style. Image . The settings of layers are performed on the System>Layer Control command or by clicking on the button labeled "Layer" at the left end of the ribbon to access the Layer dialog box. Placed symbols. Graphic properties are assigned to entities automatically (according to the default settings) when you input or define the entities. The following lists the graphic properties of individual entity. Some entities have only some graphic properties.PrimeCAD User Manual Graphic Properties Graphic properties define the appearance of an entity and also specify the layer which that entity is on. Circles. Arcs. 11 . Polylines. A quick way to access the Pen dialog box is to click the box displaying the pen properties on the ribbon. Texts. Markers. not the number of pixels. 12 . only 16 pen colors are listed in the pen color list-box for easy access.5 time 2 times Pen width . PrimeCAD can actually show 16 pen colors. it tells how far apart the dashes are.The color assigned to an entity. dashed. if your monitor display system can only support 16 pen colors. There are nine pen styles: Solid Dashed Hidden Center Phantom Dot Dashdot Border Divide Pen style scale . There are 256 pen colors in PrimeCAD.PrimeCAD User Manual Pen When you choose the System>Pen Setup Command to set the pen properties.in other words. which includes the following controls: Pen color . Out of 256 pen colors palette. etc. which is continuous. The pen style scale affects all line types except solid line.The relative pattern size for the line . For example: Dashed 0. dotted. You can choose the most used 16 pen colors by yourself from the color palette. This width is the real thickness of a line. Pen style . the Pen dialog box will display. solid..The line thickness assigned to an entity.g. However.The line pattern (e.) assigned to an entity. For instance. you could put walls. Complex drawings tend themselves most readily to the use of layers. dimensions. They allow you to organize the entities in your drawing into groups. and trusses on separate layers and create separate printouts for each type of plan.PrimeCAD User Manual Layers Layers are one of the drawing properties. 13 . Each drawing can contain up to 256 layers. You can also modify or input in a specific layer. If you accidentally delete a symbol definition. Symbols can be nested to multiple levels. After a symbol definition is saved as a symbol library. because all these properties have been included in the comprising entities of a symbol. it has only layer property. 14 . you can call it out any time and place it in any other PrimeCAD drawings. A symbol library is one or a group of symbol definitions developed for use in a specific discipline. mirrored and so on.PrimeCAD User Manual Symbols A symbol is a group of entities combined and treated as though they are a single entity. This scheme makes the drawing file much smaller and more efficient. Before you can place a symbol in a drawing as a basic entity. Actually. pen style) has no meaning to placed symbols. Therefore. select a group of entities and then give them a name. you have to do it in File Manager of Windows Application Program. you create a new reference instance of a symbol definition. all placed symbols which are instances of the definition will be deleted together. rotated. pen width. A symbol definition can always be used in its original drawing until you delete it. each symbol definition can have unlimited placed symbols in a drawing. Although a placed symbol is a basic entity. or type of drawing. it can be placed in the drawing. choose immediately the Edit>Undo command to restore it back. Placed symbols can be moved. Rather. The other drawing properties (pen color. A symbol can even contain other symbols as components. If you want to delete a symbol library. Every placed symbol is connected to its original symbol definition. After a symbol is defined. PrimeCAD does not copy all of the instructions for creating the symbol to a new location. you must save the symbol definition in a symbol library. It is called a nested symbol. you must define it. When you delete a symbol definition. organization. its definition already exists in the drawing and only an instance is added. If the symbol has not been used before in the drawing. duplicated. the same as other entities. each time you use a symbol in a drawing. but they cannot be otherwise edited without first being converted back to separate entities. The reason is that a symbol definition does not include information of comprised entities. First of all. scaled. a definition and one instance are created. text description (if needed) and reference point. If the symbol has been used. If you want that a symbol can be placed in other drawings. It provides non-graphic information of the drawing. The attributes on the symbols can be later exported to a spreadsheet or database program to create bill of material lists. the attribute definition in that symbol will be invoke. it looks just like a text entity in many ways. only its name field is shown. 15 . it becomes acting more like a data base record. When an attribute definition is included in a symbol definition. When an attribute definition is first placed in the drawing. That means when you place a symbol. These three fields are: attribute name.PrimeCAD User Manual Attribute Definition An attribute definition is a basic entity type. Depending on the flags of the attribute definition. What makes the attribute definition different is the three field ruling the text content of the attribute definition. When an attribute is defined. a dialog box will come up asking you to enter attribute values or the attribute default values which will be used instead. prompt and default value. Notice that the drawing origin is not an entity.0. It does not appear on printed output. Points entered often use the origin as their reference. If you move the origin. all entities in the drawing move with it. The drawing origin is represented on the screen as two bold arrows ( ) indicating the X and Y positive directions. the default position of the drawing origin lies in the lower left corner of your sheet. In PrimeCAD.PrimeCAD User Manual Drawing Origin All points in a drawi ng are measured from the drawing origin. 16 . The origin is the location of coordinate 0. You can choose not to display the drawing origin on the screen under the System>Origin command. 0). In polar coordinate system. d ) specifies the locations in terms of its distance and angle from the previous entered point. and angle from the origin (0. measured from 0 degrees. the first number is the radius (distance) from the reference point and the second number is the directed angle. Relative XY Coordinate (dX.Y) specifies the locations in terms of horizontal (X axis)and vertical (Y axis) offset from the origin (0.dY) specifies the locations in terms of horizontal (X axis)and vertical (Y axis) offset from another point. Absolute XY Coordinate (X. ) specifies the locations in terms of its distance Relative Polar Coordinate (dR. the first number is the horizontal offset and the second number is the vertical offset. See Shortcut keys for Coordinate Types. Absolute Polar Coordinate (R. The four coordinate types have their own shortcut key.PrimeCAD User Manual Coordinates PrimeCAD uses four coordinate types to locate the positions in the drawing. In XY coordinate system. 17 .0). Feet. even mixing those units or those that use fractions. rounded to a precision you specify. Square Inches. Square Feet. Square Miles Angle measure . Meters. Degree-Minute -Second.PrimeCAD User Manual Units of Measurement PrimeCAD accepts input in all standard units of measurement. Square Centimeters. The numbers displayed and printed are. when PrimeCAD displays values. Radians Most of time. it uses the current units of measurement and the current formats of measurement. in most cases.Millimeters. are shown in the maximum number of decimal places possible so there is no loss of precision. 18 . Acres. Inches. Square Yards. Square Meters. Precision is specified using the System >Units of Measurement. such as those in dialog boxes.Square Millimeters. Miles Area measure .Degrees. including: Linear measure . Minutes. Centimeters. you can use whatever unit is convenient for you. PrimeCAD stores numbers to an accuracy of 6 decimal places or 1/128. No matter what unit-value you enter. when you are prompted for a value with unit. Numbers which are editable. Therefore. 19 . PrimeCAD prints 10 inches of your drawing for every 1 inch of paper. make the drawing scale ratio larger than 1. make the drawing scale ratio less than 1. For example. to reduce the scale of your drawing (to appear smaller on the paper). To enlarge the scale of your drawing. This lets you create one drawing that you can print in many different scales.PrimeCAD User Manual Drawing Scale Drawing scale is the ratio between the physical size of the drawing on printed output and their real world size. if the drawing scale is 1 :10. refer to Edit>Select. The handles that surround the selection set allows you to perform certain transformations . or mirror. or all of the entities in the drawing. There are black square handles around the selection set and a black solid circle handle in the center of it.PrimeCAD User Manual Selection Set The selection set is a temporary collection of entities that can be acted upon as a group. It can contain a single entity. 20 . like translate . scale. For more information on the selection set and on the process of selecting entities. a group of entities. by dragging them. 21 . The specifications can be quite broad or very selective. line widths. to a rcs on a specific layer drawn with specific line types. you can define a filter to permit selection of only blue dashed lines with thickness greater than 1” and only on layer 0. For example.PrimeCAD User Manual Entity Filter The entity filter function allows you to select entities according to their drawing properties. It is a way of restricting the set of entities in your drawing that will be selected when using one of the three methods (Single. Window and All drawing) in the Edit>Select command. For most users the basic select criteria in the Select dialog box are already sufficient. or all entities with red color. ranging from choices like all lines. and colors. PrimeCAD User Manual Viewports Normally, the workspace contains a single large window. You can split the workspace into two, three or four viewports, which allows several different views of the drawing to be on the screen at the same time. Each viewport can be zoomed in, zoomed out, or panned independently. The cursor can be moved from one viewport to another, and points may be set in any viewport for any of the PrimeCAD commands. For example, you can have two views of the drawing displayed in two viewports, and zoom one view to get a detailed view of the drawing. A line can be drawn by setting a point in the zoomed view and another point in the original view. If there is more than one viewport in the workspace, you have to specify which viewport you want the command operated in when you choose a command. When you split the workspace each viewport can display its own scroll bars if its drawing limit is larger than its window range and you set the scroll bars visible under System>Preferences. 22 PrimeCAD User Manual Limits Limits is a predefined View command that allows the screen-sheet to be best fitted in the screen. You can change the screen-sheet size through System>Sheet. The Sheet option in the Print dialog box matches the output paper with the screen-sheet size. If the screen-sheet is bigger than the output paper on your printer or plotters, multiple pages of printer/plotter papers will be output to make up the screen-sheet. This is the function called Tiling. See Also View>Limits Print Range Option 23 PrimeCAD User Manual Extents Extents is a predefined View command that allows the whole drawing to be best fitted in the screen, no matter how big or small the drawing is. The Extents option in Print dialog box is to best fit the drawing into the output paper. See Also View>Extents Print Range Option 24 PrimeCAD User Manual Hatches PrimeCAD provide 44 types of hatch pattern to annotate a polygon or an enclosed area. Hatch patterns can be used at any scale , rotated at any angle, and drawn using any color. Hatching may also be made temporarily invisible to speed redrawing. 25 To output to the plotters.PrimeCAD User Manual Fonts PrimeCAD supports True Type and PrimeCAD vector fonts. They can be exploded into polylines. PrimeCAD vector fonts are recommended because most plotters do not support TrueType fonts. 26 . Linking and embedding are similar in that both let you include an PrimeCAD drawing in other documents and edit the drawing from within the destination documents. PrimeCAD supports object linking and embedding as a source (or server) application. However. you can quickly edit any object using its original application.PrimeCAD User Manual Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) Object Linking and Embedding is a Windows feature that lets you combine objects from several applications into one integrated document. Embed a drawing if you want to change the drawing in a document without changing the original drawing. from inside that integrated document. 27 . A source application creates objects that you can embed or link in documents created with other applications (known as destination or client applications). there are important differences in how linking and embedding store drawing information. Link a drawing if you want to include the same drawing in several documents and you want to update each document if you change the original drawing. Then. PrimeCAD User Manual Drawing Files and File Conversion When you open the PrimeCAD system. Similarly. DC2 and PLT. the screen opens a dialog box and prompts you to enter a filename for the drawing. files from a variety of programs can be imported into PrimeCAD. PLT. Image formats which can be imported are BMP and PCX. the system gives a temporary filename.DGN". The file types supported by PrimeCAD are DXF.DGN. 28 .DGN extension. WMF. for example: DXF. Drawing files have standard eight-character DOS filenames with the . the system will automatically add default extension filename ". "Untitled. When you want to save a drawing. If you don't enter the extension filename. You can also save a drawing in a file format supported by PrimeCAD. The extension filename is used to distinguish from different file formats." as your drawing filename. you create a drawing in the memory of your computer. For more information on this. 29 .PrimeCAD User Manual Autosave and Backup When you draw in PrimeCAD. set the autosave option on. set the backup option on. To avoid loss of your drawing because of power failure or some unpredictable causes. To always preserve the previous version of your drawing. It remains there only while the power to your computer is on and PrimeCAD is running. refer to the File>Backup Option command. If there is a bitmap in a drawing. not plotters (unless the plotters support bitmaps). the bitmap can only be set to printers. 30 .PrimeCAD User Manual Printing and Plotting Drawing can be sent to any printer or plotter supported by Windows. 31 .PrimeCAD User Manual Mouse and Digital Tablet All mice and tablets supported by Windows can be used in the PrimeCAD interface. PrimeCAD User Manual Basic Operation To work smoothly in PrimeCAD. This section describes how to perform these basic operations which include: • Numerical Data Input • Entity Input § Using the Mouse § Snap Input Modes § Constraint Modes § Keyboard Input Modes • Selecting Entities § Direct Selection Method § Command Selection Method • Direct Transformations § Translating § Scaling § Mirroring • Right Button Shortcut Menus • Double-Click Editing 32 . you first need to know some basic operations regarding to inputting and modifying data or entities in the drawing through the mouse and the keyboard. PrimeCAD User Manual Numerical Data Input In PrimeCAD.## ' ##.## ##. The numerical information can be applied using any degrees of precision and any supported unit of measurement.## CM ##. Upon entry it is converted to the current unit of measurement and displayed at the current degree of precision.## KM ## km ## m ## cm or ## KM ## M ##CM #/# cm or #/# CM # #/# m or # #/# M ##.## m or ##. often you will be prompted to enter the numerical values. The supported length units and expressions include: ##.## cm or ##.## " ## ' ## " ##/## (Marker # represents the number from 0 to 9) The supported angular units and expression include: ##.## km or ##.## R ## d ## m ## s or ## D ## M ## S 33 .## M ##.## ##.## r or ##. entering entities can be done by entering coordinates. there are two ways to enter points--by using the mouse and using the keyboard. Entering points is probably the most common activity in computer-assisted drawing. 34 . Usually.PrimeCAD User Manual Entity Input In PrimeCAD. 4. pressing the ESC or the right button will cancel the point you have entered and you are ready to begin to enter the first point again. Repeat steps 1 and 2 if the system requires you to enter more points. You can know the coordinate of the point entered from the two boxes at the right end of the status bar. The action of pressing ESC key or the right mouse button returns you to the last status. 35 . Sometimes there is a red marker (+) to represent the point you entered. 3. If you want to exit the entering status and return the system to Ready status. you are not in the entering mode anymore and you are back to the ready status. 2. after you entered the first point and before you enter the second point. or return to the last level status. You can know the precise location of the mouse from the coordinate-showing boxes in the status bar. Move the mouse to the location you want to specify. Enter the point by pressing and releasing the left mouse button. Operation procedure: 1. If you press ESC or the right mouse button again. For example: if you need to enter several points. you must press ESC key or the right mouse button.PrimeCAD User Manual Using the Mouse The actual mechanics of entering a point involve moving the cursor to the location you want and clicking the left mouse button. To invoke the local snap mode. 2. Global Snap mode is automatically applied through out the whole operations when on Local Snap mode is applied. Please refer to the Constraint section. Note: The Constraint section in the dialog box should be gray. Click on the first circle. Local Snap . A line is drawn. The cursor is snapped to the center point of the circle. the procedures will be : 1. 36 . 3. Whether the local snap mode is applied successfully or not. you need to press F3 to choose the local snap again. Choose the Draw>Line>Individual command. see the following picture. A pop-up menu with all kinds of available snap modes is appeared. 4.You specify the desired global snap mode on the System>Snap Mode dialog box or from the Snap drop-down box on the Ribbon. Choose the centerpoint mode from the Snap list box of the ribbon. there are two ways to apply the snap input mode. The local snap mode override the global snap mode. If you want to draw a line to connect the centerpoints of two circles. To apply the next local snap. They are called snap input modes because they do not force you to pick an exact location but instead allow you to describe the location with a mouse click.PrimeCAD User Manual Snap Input Modes You must use snap input modes if you want to enter a point precisely at the exact location. Click on the second circle . If there is no location qualified for the snap. the system will return to the global snap mode again. a point is entered at the location you clicked the mouse. In PrimeCAD. PrimeCAD snaps the cursor to the location which meets the snap mode condition. and the other is global snap.The selected local snap input mode is only applied to the current selected-to-be point. The system is in the input status. One is called local snap. you must press F3 or the mouse middle button before you enter the point. PrimeCAD provides 9 kinds of snap input modes. no point will be entered (not like the global snap mode). or choose System>Snap Mode command from the menu to open a dialog box and then choose the Centerpoint option button. The following example explains how to use snap input modes. meaning it is not working. Global Snap . PrimeCAD then "snaps" the cursor to the exact location. When no point is qualified for the local snap input. The cursor is snapped to the center point of this circle. 37 . Please see Shortcut Keys-Snap Mode section. For information on the 9 kinds of snap input modes and their operation procedure. see Snap Modes.PrimeCAD User Manual 2 1 The nine snap input modes have their own shortcut keys. This snap mode allows you to specify the midpoint of a line.snap to the intersection of two selected entities. This input mode allows you to specify the intersection point of two entities by clicking anywhere near the intersection mode. polyline segment. 180.snap to nearest grid point.PrimeCAD User Manual Explanation of 9 Kinds of Snap Input Modes Gridpoint . etc. Midpoint . elliptical arc or circle by clicking anywhere along the arc or circle itself. arc. On-entity . 270 degrees on a n arc or circle by clicking near the point.snap to an entity endpoint. This input mode allows you to specify a point at 0. The on-entity snap mode can be used to select any point on an entity. You can modify the interval to a finer granularity using the System>Snap Mode command.snap to the midpoint of a selected entity. This input mode allows you to select a point on an existing entity by clicking near the entity. by clicking anywhere on it. Endpoint .snap to the nearest point on a selected line. Intersection . ellipse. Centerpoint . not just the nearest endpoint or control point of it.snap to the tangent point on a selected arc or circle (measured from previous point). 90. Tangent point . Nearest Point .snap to the nearest quadrant point.snap to the nearest endpoint or control point of an entity. You can set up the grid point interval in the System>Grid/Line command. Quadrant . This snap mode allows you to specify the tangent point on an arc or circle from the previous point by clicking anywhere along the arc or circle. the one which is closer to the location you click will be selected. If there are more than one intersection points.snap to the center of a selected arc. 38 . Gridpoints are not necessarily shown on the screen for this mode to work. PrimeCAD # User Manual Gridpoint input mode snaps to nearest grid point. Where the gridpoints are is set under the System>Grid/Line command. Gridpoints are not necessarily shown on the screen for this mode to work. # Gridpoint 39 . This input mode allows yo u to specify points by snapping to the reference grid at the snap interval. Vertical or Horizonta l. depending on the entered points are closer to the vertical or horizontal angle from the previous point. They allow you to modify the coordinates of a point by "locking" it into horizontal. Turn on the Constraint checkbox allows you to choose among three constraint options: Normal. Horizontal .PrimeCAD User Manual Constraint Mode When you choose the System>Snap Mode to open the Snap dialog box.Only points in vertical or horizontal alignment with the previous point can be entered. see Shortcut Keys Constraint Modes. Normal . The constraint mode is applied after the snap mode when entering coordinates.Only points in vertical alignment with the previous point can be entered.Only points in horizontal alignment with the previous point can be entered. Vertical . the first section of it is Constraint Mode. 40 . For the shortcut keys to change between constraint modes. or normal (horizontal or vertical) alignment with the previous point or line. The three constraint modes provide a level of control beyond that afforded by the snap input modes. vertical. a point five units to the right and ten units above the drawing origin is represented by the coordinates 5. There are four types of coordinate displayed in that area: Absolute XY . The coordinate shown area also serves as the coordinate input area when you enter points from the keyboard.and y-offset from the drawing origin (0. you can also input points by specifying coordinates through keyboard.60. For the shortcut keys to change between coordinate types. clicking once changes X to dX.An input mode that allows you to specify a point in terms of a radius (distance) and angle (theta) from the drawing origin (0. a point six units from the drawing origin in a 45 degree direction is represented by the coordinates 6.PrimeCAD User Manual Keyboard Input Modes In addition to entering points with the mouse.-30. The two boxes at the right end side of the Status Bar not only display the cursor position but also can be used to enter point coordinate values. This type of input is useful when some element of an entity's geometry is known.e. For example.An input mode that allows you to specify points in terms of x. a point 50 units from the previous point in a 60 direction is represented by the coordinates 50. you can press the Tab key to move the cursor to the right side of the coordinate shown area.and y-offset from the previous point. (i.45. Relative XY . 41 . For example. For example. For example. press Enter to accept the point. Absolute Polar . you can change the coordinate type.e. After entering the first coordinate. Y to dY.e. relative XY).An input mode that allows you to specify a point in terms of x. dY to . a point 100 units to the right of and 30 units below the previous point is represented by the coordinates 100. (i. The coordinate shown in the area reflects the snap and lock mode adjustments.An input mode that allows you to specify points in terms of radius and angle from the previous point.10. Clicking once again changes R to dR. When you finish typing the second coordinate.0). to d . (i. Relative Polar . For example.0). By single clicking (left button) on the coordinate-type label. absolute polar). relative polar). Four coordinate input modes allow you to enter points from the keyboard. if the current coordinate mode is X and Y (absolute XY). see S hortcut KeysCoordinates. Clicking once again changes dX to R. Once an entity or group of entities is selected. Copy. On the other hand.PrimeCAD User Manual Selecting Entities Often. The command selection method is to use the Edit>Select and Edit>Entity Filter commands to select entities. Entity Copy commands on the Edit menu. Change commands on the Modify commands require you select entities before you perform any action on them. Explode. all Trim commands on the Modify menu require you specify entities after choosing commands. Move Point. and the all Transforms commands and Join. There are two methods for selecting entities: the direct selection method and the command selection method. the Cut. For example. you can use menu commands or the selection handles to make changes. 42 . you must select those entities first. when you want to apply Edit or Modify command on some entities. Usually. If you drag from left-top corner to right-bottom corner. To toggle individual entities in or out of the selection set. The Selection Radius means you use the head of the mouse cursor as centerpoint and the value of Selection Radius as the radius to draw an invisible circle. the previous selected entity returns to normal status. hold the Shift key down while you click on them. You can use direct selection to add or delete entities from any selection set. To specify the pen color and style used to highlight selected entities. The group of selected entities is called selection set. However. the one drawn first will be selected first. If this selection circle intersects with an entity. the selected entity may not the one you want. the rubberband lines appear to be solid. when you select another entity. The entities in the selection set are surrounded by handles and displayed in a contrasting pen color and/or style you choose. Sometimes.PrimeCAD User Manual Direct Selection Method Selecting entities with the mouse is called direct selection. selection priority of an entity is according to the drawn order. All entities that are completely inside the solid rectangular window are selected when you release the button. you may find that it is difficult to select some entities. if too large. All entities that are partially inside the dotted rectangular window are selected when you release the button. if two entities met criteria of selection. To select entities by region. The solution of this is to choose the Revert Entity Order command on the View menu. The selection handles are comprised by black rectangular control points around and a black solid circle in the center. 43 . you may always select an entity you don't want. To select a single entity. hold the Shift key down while surrounding them with region selection boxes. An entity is hard to be selected if the selection radius is set too small. Adjust the radius in the Preferences dialog box to best fit your need. The drawing order of entities will be reverted after the command and you can easily now select the latter. If you drag from right-bottom corner to left-top corner. Sometimes. In PrimeCAD. A rubberband rectangle follows the cursor until you release the mouse button. if two entities are too close to each other or overlapped. the rubberband lines appear to be dotted. use the left mouse button to click on the entity. That is. choose the System>Preferences command and adjust the Selection Highlighting Method controls in the Preferences dialog box. Entity highlighting and the appearance of selection handles confirm that the entity is selected. One possible reason is that the Selection Radius is set too small or too large. You can use this method to select one entity at a time or to select a group of entities inside a rectangular region. To toggle groups of entities inside rectangular areas in or out of the selection set. click and drag from one corner of the region to the other. this entity will be considered eligible. If you don't want to do direct selection under Ready status. the range of selection handles is changed.PrimeCAD User Manual Note: when you add or delete entities from any selection set. See Also Selection Set 44 . turn off the "Direct Select Mode under Ready" checkbox in the Preferences dialog box. PrimeCAD User Manual Direct Transformations The entities in the selection set are surrounded by handles. Scale. Move the selection set The handles allow you to perform certain transformations. 3 2 3 1 4 1 3 2 3 1. Change size toward left/right 2. The selection handles are composed by black rectangular control points around and a black solid circle in the center. By using the Ctrl key. the transformations are visually rather than mathematically guided. Change size toward 4 directions the same time 4. Change size toward up/down 3. The major difference is that. or Mirror command. you can perform the equivalent of a Translate. By dragging the selection handles in specific ways. in most cases. just though you were using commands on the Modify>Transform cascading menu. See Also Translating Scaling Mirroring 45 . you can also copy the selection set as you perform the transformation. The cursor changes to the crosshair shape. drag the center reference point of selection set to a new place. Release the left button and the reference point is placed at the second place. Direct translation has two kinds: Absolute Translation and Relative Translation. Using the left mouse button. See Also Modify>Transforms>Translate 46 . Note: To leave a copy of the selection set in the original position as you move. 3. The selection set is moved to the new place. the selection set is translated by the distance and direction between the two specified points. hold the Control key down before you last release the left mouse button. 2. The rubberband rectangle of selection set is moving together. Release the right button in the new place and the reference point is placed there.PrimeCAD User Manual Translating Translating a selection set from one point to another is accomplished by dragging the reference point in the center of the selection set. As soon as you release the mouse button. 2. Notice that the rubberband rectangle is not moving with the reference point. You can use snap input mode to choose the new location. Now. Operation Procedure of Absolute Translate: 1. Operation Procedure of Relative Translate: 1. Move the mouse to the center reference point. 4. Release the left button in the desired location. You can use snap input mode to choose the new location. the rubberband rectangle is moving together. drag the reference point to another place. This time. Press down the left button and drag the mouse to the new location. the selection set is still in the original place. Using the right mouse button. If the Shift key is not pressed down. top or bottom handle.PrimeCAD User Manual Scaling Scaling with the mouse is accomplished by dragging one of the eight selection handles. drag a side. the scaling will be proportional. drag one of the corner handles while pressing the Shift key. To scale in one direction at a time. hold the Ctrl key down before you release the left mouse button. See Also Modify>Transforms>Scale 47 . To leave a copy of the selection set at the original size as you scale. To scale vertically and horizontally by different factors. hold the Control key down during the operation. See Also Modify>Transforms>Mirror 48 . or bottom handle across the selection set and beyond the opposite handle.PrimeCAD User Manual Mirroring Mirroring with the mouse is accomplished by dragging a side. To leave a copy of the selection set at the original location. top. PrimeCAD User Manual Right Button Short Menu Any time when an entity is selected. 49 . Move Point. and Change commands. Copy. you can press the right mouse button on the selection set to access the pop-up shortcut menu. The right mouse button menu provides quick access to some editing and modifying commands applicable to the selected entities. Explode. The shortcut menu includes the Cut. and the Transforms and Copy Entity submenus. See Also Modify>Change 50 .PrimeCAD User Manual Double-Click Editing When you use mouse left-button double-clicking on a selected entity. the system will open a "Change" dialog box which includes the characteristics of the entity. the Change dialog box will just show the graphic properties which are common to all selected entities. If there is more than one entity selected. You can edit the drawing parameter of the select entity. status bar. toolbar. 51 . For information on customizing the display see the Tool>Tools Display command. ribbon and ruler can be hidden if you prefer.PrimeCAD User Manual User Interface The PrimeCAD screen consists of the following components: • Title Bar • Menu Bar § Shortcut Keys § Getting Help • Workspace § Sheet § Grid/Reference Line § Scroll Bars • Ribbon • Rulers • Status Bar • Toolbars • Toolboxes Note: The toolbox. If PrimeCAD is running in a window rather than maximized. Note: You can also toggle between windowed and maximized (full-screen) modes by double-clicking on the title bar. dragging the title bar moves the entire window on the desktop. 52 . which displays the name of the active application and the name of the current drawing.PrimeCAD User Manual Title Bar The title bar is a horizontal bar at the top of the window. At this time. point to a command name on the cascading menu and click the left mouse button. A command name followed by an ellipsis (. press the ALT key and then press the underlined letter in the menu name to display a menu. others display a dialog box so that you can select options.PrimeCAD User Manual Menu Bar The menu bar displays all PrimeCAD commands across the top of the application window below the title bar. You can customize the toolbar by adding the commands used often in them. L. Some commands carry out an action immediately. Some commands have cascading sub -menu. it is listed on the menu. Using the keyboard: To make the menu bar active. Whe n a shortcut is available for a command. To choose a command. Also. you need the third click to choose the desired command.. For example. If you select a menu by mistake. to choose the Line>Individual command from the Draw menu. please see Appendix B Shortcut keys. There are some ways to choose menu commands in PrimeCAD. but toolbars are. They are the standard means by which commands are chosen in any Windows application. For all shortcut keys available in PrimeCAD. Toolboxes are not customizable. Shortcut Keys In addition to the methods of choosing a command described in the Menu Bar section. press ALT.. PrimeCAD puts most common commands in the toolbox for you easily to choose. to the right of the command name. A command is an instruction that tells PrimeCAD to do something. you can close the menu without choosing a command by clicking outside the menu or pressing the ESC key twice. press the underlined letter in the command name. To choose a command from a menu: Point to a menu name on the menu bar and click the left mouse button. 53 . D. there are single-key or key combination shortcuts for certain frequentlyused commands. the shortcut key to access the File>Open command is Ctrl + O. Then. For example. I.) indicates that the command has additional options you can use to refine the function of the command. You can display Help during most drawing and editing operations by pressing F1. You can display Help on every menu command by pressing Shift + F1 and choosing the command or the toolbar button.PrimeCAD User Manual Getting Help Anytime you need instant information on menu command. there are several shortcut key way to access PrimeCAD Help besides using commands on the Help menu. 1. (Notice that the cursor changes its shape to prompt you to choose a command after you press Shift + F1) 54 . You can display Help for a dialog box-related command by pressing F1 when the dialog box is shown (the message area in the status bar prompts you to do so to see related topic). 2. 3. drawing and editing procedure and concepts. Its basic components include: • • • Screen Sheet Grid/ReferenceLine Scroll Bars Reference Grid Screen Sheet Menu Bar Ribbon Rulers Status Bar-Message Area Status Bar-Coordinate Value Boxes 55 .PrimeCAD User Manual Workspace The large area in the center of the PrimeCAD screen is the workspace. This is where your drawing is displayed and where all work on the drawing is performed. based on your setting. The workspace can look different. Please refer to the System>Sheet command. combined with gridpoint snap mode. the hard margin value is used. but any part of a drawing that falls in this area does not normally appear in printed output. In this case. in the Sheet dialog box. they does not appear on printed output. The color. rotate angle. Together. If you prefer that the sheet not be displayed on the screen. While you can draw outside the sheet. they represent the area where your output device can't print or the area where you don't want it to print. you can disable it by choosing the System>Sheet command. The size of the sheet is your drawing limits. is the sheet. provides an easy way to enter points at specific intervals. By default the sheet size is set as the default printer or plotter page size when you start a new drawing. To access it. the output can be tiled onto multiple pages if you choose the Sheet Print Range Option in the Print dialog box. base reference point. You may change the drawing sheet size under the System>Sheet command. If you would like the tiling effect to be showed on the screen sheet. You can't set a margin value less than the hard margin in your printer or plotter. The reference grid. Setting a margin value to less than the hard margin will have no effect. The System>Grid/Reference Line command allows you to specify the grid snap interval and rotated angle from a specified reference point and the pattern of lines and dots based on it. then turn off the Show Sheet checkbox or direct turn off the Sheet checkbox on the Ribbon bar. The width of each margin is specified in the File>Page Setup dialog box. you need to turn on the Show Tile checkbox. choose the File>Page Setup command. The default margins are based on your current printer or plotter. Please see Page Tiling . If the selected sheet is larger than the printer page output will be automatically tiled onto multiple pages. You can draw in the margins. only that portion that falls within the sheet is normally printed. Since the reference grids are only visual drawing aid. Reference Grid The reference grid is an screen drawing aid which consists of a pattern of lines and dots representing the grid visually.PrimeCAD User Manual Sheet The large rectangle that appears in the workspace when you load a drawing. The shaded bands along each edge of the sheet are called the margins. All these settings are specified under the System>Grid/Reference Line 56 . In addition to the grid snap interval. Page Tiling If the screen sheet is larger than the page currently defined in the printer/plotter. you can specify the frequency of lines and dots that are displayed for reference. and visibility of the reference grid and lines are optional item which user can turn on/off or define their own values. Scroll Bars Scroll bars are not always shown on the screen. there are a horizontal and a vertical scroll bar located at the bottom and right edges of the workspace window. The free space at the right side of the ribbon allows you to place some often-used command icons. the graphic properties (layer and pen properties) of the selected entities are updated with the new setting. the reference grids will be filled with the sheet. A pane is a rectangular area in the workspace that displays a specific view of the current drawing. called scroll boxes. the way to make drawing limit larger than screen range is choosing the View>Zoom In or View>Zoom Window command to magnify a drawing. Under the standard VGA resolution (640x480). Usually.PrimeCAD User Manual command. The basic unit for scroll bar movement is Pixel. If not. each pane can show its own scroll bars if its drawing limits are larger than its window range and each pane displays a separately controllable view of the current drawing. they will be filled with the whole workspace. Only that you set Show Scrollbar and drawing limits larger than screen range will make scroll bars shown. The unit on the rulers is Inch in Imperial system and Millimeter in Metric system. that indicate the vertical and horizontal location of the cursor in a drawing. It is helpful to see several parts of your drawing at once. Ribbon The ribbon appears just below the menu bar. you can choose the View>Viewport command to split the workspace into up to four separate panes. choose a coordinate snap input mode. specify the current pen properties . The higher resolution. Scroll bars contain markers. They show the real-world size represented by the current viewport in your drawing area. When you split the workspace. the more command icon can be placed. If the drawing sheet is set visible. When scroll bars are shown. You can hide the rulers if you need more drawing area and show them again as needed. You can set up the one-time horizontal and vertical moving distance of scroll boxes in the System>Preferences dialog box. The following keys control the moving of the scroll bars in the active pane. Ruler The rulers appear on the top and left portions of the workspace. The visibility of scroll bars is set in the Preferences dialog box. If any entities are selected when you make a change on the ribbon. the free space allows you to place three command icons. display or hide the drawing sheet and reference gridpoints/lines. Also. It is the primary means by which you specify the current layer . 57 . See Also Pen Snap Input Modes Status Bar The status bar shows information and messages at the bottom of the PrimeCAD Window that help you use PrimeCAD. To open the Pen dialog box. Snap The snap control allows you to change the global snap mode. For information on setting pen properties. changing. or width of selected entities. click on the arrow at the right end of the drop-down list box labeled "Layer. click on the Pen Box. Pen The pen control allows you to open the Pen dialog box to choose the current pen color. This is because selection highlighting overrides the actual pen settings.PrimeCAD User Manual Layer The layer control allows you to open the Layer dialog box to create a new layer. If you use the ribbon to change the color." then click on the name of a layer from the list that appears. and deleting layers. refer to the discussion of the System>Pen Setup command. The status bar has two components: the message area and coordinate value boxes. save and load entities to a specific layer and to move selected entities to a specific layer. style. To choose a layer. See Also Tools>Tools Display 58 . For information on creating. refer to the discussion of the System>Layer Control command . the new properties will not display until the selected entities are deselected. modify the current layer. It provides the information about the position of the cursor and the status of current system conditions. pen style and pen width for new entities and to change the pen properties of any entities that are selected. Anytime you are confused about what is happening or what you should be doing.PrimeCAD User Manual Message Area The long rectangle that occupies the left end of the status bar is called the message area. It is here that PrimeCAD describes commands. Coordinate Value Boxes The two edit boxes located on the right side of status bar show the current coordinate type and coordinate values. and displays program messages. The information about the function of the toolbar button appears in the message area. prompts you for input. Relative XY. Polar Coordinate. For information about inputting values in the coordinate edit boxes. If you are in the middle of a draw operation. R and represent distance and angle for absolute polar input mode. You can change the coordinate type by clicking on the coordinate type texts. and Relative Polar Coordinate. the chances are good that the message area offers a clue. to see the meaning about a toolbar button. please refer to the "Keyboard Input Modes". X and Y represent absolute coordinate input mode. Coordinate type changes among Absolute XY. For example. See Also Coordinates 59 . dR and d are relative polar input mode. the message area provides step-by-step instructions. point to the button. dX and dY are relative coordinate input mode. with only one tool from each set is visible at a time. The command icons in the toolboxes are offered by the system. the toolbars can only be placed at the left or right side of the workspace. there is no limit of the tool icons placed in the toolbar. you can set the toolbar invisible or place the toolbar at the right or left side of the workspace based on your habit. the tools are divided into 20 sets. On the other hand. Clicking on a tool in the toolboxes is the same as choosing the equivalent command from the menu bar. You usually choose the commonused commands for your operation convenience. The setting of the toolbar is saved in the "_default. To choose a tool. click on its toolset. Basically. The tool is chosen. which is located in Windows directory. See the Tool>Tools Display command. Each tool in the toolbox represents a specific menu command or operating mode. PrimeCAD behaves the same way no matter which method you use. but not exactly the same. the toolbars are customizable. 60 .bar" file. On the other hand. When the pop-out for the toolset appears. hold the mouse button down for a moment. If the tool you want is not visible. Please refer to the Tool>Toolbar Editing command about how to customize the toolbar. Like the toolbar. If you need larger workspace. Each tool icon in the toolbar represents a specific menu command.PrimeCAD User Manual Toolbars PrimeCAD allows you to place commands from the menu bar to the toolbar. you can choose not to display the toolbox on the screen under the Tool>Tools Display command. Because there are many more tools can be displayed at once. Toolboxes The toolboxes are similar to the . drag the cursor to the tool you want and release the button. The toolboxes are the moveable window that appears in the upper left corner of the workspace when you start PrimeCAD. Print .Set up printers/plotters. primeCAD cleans the current drawing and creates a new drawing named "Untitled.Backup a drawing file in the .Import the bitmap image file. (if there is any bitmap information in this highlighted drawing file. Drives Lists the drives available on your system. All drawing parameter values in the previous sessions are reset to the default va lues (System parameters still remain the values you set before until you change them. Merge . choose Open.DGN".Merge another drawing into the current drawing.Print out.Set up the printer/plotter paper margins Printer Setup .Save the current drawing Save As .Create a new drawing. Import Image File .BAK. PrimeCAD also create an untitled new drawing file. Page Setup . a message box appears to prompt you whether to save it before the drawing is cleared. if the current drawing has unsaved changes. Preview Shows the bitmap image of the highlight drawing in the File Name list box. Notice that every time you start the program. From the File menu.) When you select this command. Save .PrimeCAD User Manual File Menu The commands on the File menu allow you to perform the following functions: • • • • • • • • • • • New .Exit PrimeCAD File>New The File>New command is used to create a new drawing file. Backup Option .Open an existing drawing.) 61 . Open .~GN and . The Open dialog box appears. If the drawing was one of the last four PrimeCAD used.Save the current drawing in another filename or another file format. Directories Lists the directories available on the current drive. File>Open The File>Open command is used to open a previously saved drawing. Exit . File Name Lists files in the current directory and provides a box for you to type or select a filename List Files of Type Lists the file formats supported by PrimeCAD. To open an existing drawing 1. you can also open the drawing by choosing the drawing name from the bottom of the File menu. 4.Based on the size of the screen sheet on the screen. Select the File menu. Then. 62 . but DXF. 3. If you want to open a file other than a . PLT or DC2 file. choose OK to close the dialog box. 2. See Also More About Opening an Existing Drawing Drawing Scale Dialog box There are three option buttons in the drawing scale dialog box to let you specify the scale of the imported drawing. type or select the name of the drawing you want to open. Choose a scale option from the box.: Bestfit in the sheet (or screen) . Bestfit in a user specified box . PrimeCAD displays the Drawing Scale dialog box to give you the options of how to place the imported drawing. In the File Name box. Use the same scale . If the drawing you want to load in is not a DGN file. like DXF. If the sheet is set invisible. PLT or DC2 file. To Open a recently opened drawing PrimeCAD displays a list of the four most recently opened files near the bottom of the File menu. 1.This option will prompt you to specify a rectangle and the drawing will be best fitted into this rectangle.This option will use the original drawing scale and origin of the imported drawing. PrimeCAD will try to fit the drawing into the whole workspace. 5.PrimeCAD User Manual 2.DGN file. Choose OK button to load in the file you select. this option will bestfit the imported drawing in the screen sheet by adjusting the drawing scale . select a select a different type of file from the List Files of Type box. The first drawing listed is the one opened the most recently. Click the name of the drawing you want. DGN in the File Name box and choose OK. The valid wildcard characters are a question mark(?) and an asterisk(*). type or select the name of the drawing you want to merge.. and PLT. .DGN in the File Name box and choose OK.You can limit which files are listed in the Files box by typing wildcard characters in the File Name box and choosing OK. Supported File Types ..DGN.You can select the drawing you want to open from the File Name box in the File>Open dialog box. and also changes the current directory or drive to the directory or drive you select. To list files in another directory. to see all . From the File menu. Select a different type of file from the List Files of Type box. To change to the directory above the current directory. You can also type the full path name for the file in the File Name box rather than selecting the drive in the Drives box or selecting the directory in the Directories box. choose Merge.. File>Merge The File>Merge command allows you to add another drawing to the current drawing and merge together into a single drawing. A dialog box similar to the File Open dialog box appears. 63 .]) in the Directories box..The List Files of Type box allows you to specify the type of file you want to open. the Files box lists the files in the current directory on the current drive. The native format for PrimeCAD is . type *. if there is one. such as DXF.. In the File Name box. Using Wildcards in the Filename . Changing Disk Drives or Directories . To merge another drawing into the current drawing: 1. WMF. or you can type the filename directly into the File Name box if you know the exact name of the drawing and do not want to scroll through the list to find it. 2.DGN file whose filenames begin with "CAD". If you want to merge a file other than a . select the directory name in the Directories box and choose OK. PrimeCAD lists the files in the directory or on the drive you select.PrimeCAD User Manual More About Opening an Existing Drawing Specifying Files in the File Name Box . To list files in another drive.When you first choose the File>Open command. DC2. type CAD?. do one of the following: . To see all . For example. Type the complete path in the File Name box. select the drive name in the Drives box and choose OK.DGN file. but you can open drawings in PrimeCAD that were originally created with different CAD application. The question mark stands for any single character in the same position as the question mark and the asterisk stands for any number of character in that same position.DGN files in the current directory. select the double dots ([. Fit in the Box (Change Drawing Scale) . 64 .this option is to fit the merged entities into the specified box by changing the drawing scale instead of entities size. replacing the previously saved version of the drawing.this option is to let users decide the merged drawing’s origin and scale (both X and Y scales). primeCAD copies it from the disk and displays the copy on the screen. you are actually making changes to the copy of the drawing temporarily stored in the computer's memory. PrimeCAD does not close the drawing when you save it. If a drawing has never been saved before. Choose OK button. Choosing the File>Save command saves your drawing under the same name and in the same directory with which it was last saved. so you can continue to work on it after saving it. As you work. You should also save backup copies of important documents. File>Save The File>Save command is to save the current drawing. 4. Fit in the Box (Change Entity Size) . the Save command is equivalent to the Save As command. The Merge dialog box is replaced by the Scale and Origin dialog box which contains four options: Use Original Scale . To keep your latest work safely on the disk. User Specify . There are two commands you can use to save a drawing: File>Save and File>Save As . PrimeCAD will prompt you to specify a rectangle to fit in the merged drawing.this option is to use the original drawing scale in the current drawing. see File>Backup option.PrimeCAD User Manual 3. Choose OK to merge the drawing.this option is to change the merged entities size to fit in the specified box. If you select the second or third option in the Scale and Origin dialog box. For information about backing up your work. When you open a drawing. you should periodically save your document. Type the complete path in the File Name edit box. type the name for the drawing.. Choose the Cancel button to return to the drawing without saving it. in a different directory.Select the drive letter in the Drives list box or select the directory name in the Directories list box. If you type a filename that already exists within the directory you have designated.PrimeCAD User Manual File>Save As The File>Save As command is to save the current drawing under a new filename. see "More About Saving a drawing". To save a new or existing drawing as a new drawing file: 1. or choose the No button and type a different filename. PrimeCAD still displays the File Save As dialog box. For more information on file types. 2. Make sure that the correct file type is shown at List Files of Type list box. you can also choose the File>Save command.. For guidelines on naming files. PrimeCAD displays a message asking whether you want to replace the existing file with the active drawing. in a different file format. If the drawing has never been saved before. For more information on changing drives and directories. Choose the Yes button to save the new drawing and replace the old one. see "More About Opening an Existing drawing". 65 .. You also choose the File>Save As command for the first time of saving a drawing. The Save As dialog box appears. 3. 4.. Choose OK. Choose File>Save As command. To save the drawing in a different directory or drive from the one shown. see "More About Saving a Drawing". If you want to save the drawing under a different name from the one proposed. . 5. or on another disk. do one of the following: . Saving to and from Different File Formats . you need to specify the file type in the Save File as Type box in the File Save As dialog box which lists the file formats supported by PrimeCAD. choose Save As.DGN) is the default. PrimeCAD will still use the extension name specify in Save Files as Type. 66 . If you want to save it in other formats like DXF. Filename extensions are used to distinguish between the types of files. The PrimeCAD native file extension (. 3.PrimeCAD User Manual More About Saving a Drawing Guidelines for Naming Drawings . This means that the filename can be a maximum of eight characters plus an extension of up to three characters. 4.). The filename and extension are separated by a period (. PLT or WMF . In the File Name box. 2. From the File menu. Choose OK. select the file format.PrimeCAD drawings can have any acceptable DOS filename. In the Save File As Type box. PrimeCAD automatically convert it to DGN format. To save a PrimeCAD drawing with a different file format: 1. type a new name for the drawing. If you type in a different file extension name from the one in Save Files as Type.If you have opened a drawing that was created with a different CADD program. If you do not add a filename extension to document filenames. PrimeCAD adds the file extension for you depending on the file type you select in Save Files as Type list box. You must select one or both of the following options before the problem occurs for them to be of use.PrimeCAD User Manual File>Backup Option The File>Backup Option command provides two options that can help you recover your work in the event of a power failure or other problems with your computer. 67 . When you choose this command Backup Option dialog box appears which includes the two backup options .Automatic Save and Always Create Backup File. Automatic Save does not take the place of the Save command which completely saves and updates the versions of a drawing on disk each time you choose it. Choose OK. choose Backup Options. 2. In the Time Interval box. PrimeCAD deletes the autosave backup file (. PrimeCAD deletes all of the autosave backup files. type or select how often (in minutes) you want PrimeCAD to save your work in ~GN. and use File>Open to open it. 3. Any time you choose the Save or Save As commands. 4.~GN) for the drawing you are saving. Select the Automatic Save check box.~GN) by renaming ~GN extension to DGN.PrimeCAD User Manual Automatic Save When you open the Backup Option dialog box and you have the Automatic Save check box selected. If there is a power outage or system failure. PrimeCAD creates the files again at the next autosave interval for drawings active at that time. If you choose to quit PrimeCAD. you can retrieve your work from the autosave backup files (. 68 . PrimeCAD saves your drawing for you at specific intervals between choosing File>Save or File>Save As commands. To save drawings automatically at regular intervals : 1. From the File menu. 2.BAK extension before saving the current version. Choose OK. PrimeCAD renames the old version by giving it the . PrimeCAD maintains only one backup of the drawing. You already set up your drawing so that each time you save the drawing. choose Backup Option. To create the backup file. which is always the version previous to the current version. 3. To create a backup copy when you save 1. From File menu. PrimeCAD saves the old version of the drawing in a backup file. 69 . This way you can always keep the last two versions of a drawing on your disk: the version you just saved and the previous version. Select Always Create Backup File check box.PrimeCAD User Manual Always Create Backup File When you open the Backup Option dialog box and you have the Always Create Backup File check box selected. the hard margin value is used. The Printer Setup dialog box appears. Margins specify the amount of space between the edge of the paper and the printed area on the top. Additionally. By default. A Tractor setting assumes your printer prints on paper that feeds 70 . 2. Type values in the margin edit boxes to change the printed paper margins. Setting a margin value less than the hard margin will have no effect. To select printer setup options 1. you must set the Printer option in the Print Setup dialog box to indicate the printer you want to use with a printer-driver file.Specifies the tray or bin feeder option if your printers uses single sheet of paper. the standard print options on the Print Setup dialog box vary from printer to printer. The Printer Page Setup dialog box appears. File>Printer Setup You select the installed printers you want to use with the File>Printer Setup command.Specifies the printer you want to use Paper Source . From the File menu. bottom. choose Print Setup. Print options are printer-specific settings such as the page orientation or the manner in which paper feeds through the printer. Because different printers have different printing capabilities. Choose File>Page Setup command. Your printer selection remains in effect. displaying the current print options for the printer-driver file you are configuring. The margins are represented by the gray area on the screen sheet. left. until you specify otherwise. the margins are set equal to the built-in margins on your printer. Printer . Windows sets other print options that should work for your printer in most situations. To set the output paper margins: 1. and right sides of the page. 3. When you install a new printer. You can change the output margins to suit your purpose. Choose OK.PrimeCAD User Manual File>Page Setup The File>Page Setup is used to set the output paper margins. The dialog box displays the hard margins for your printer. You can change these settings to do such things as use a different paper size or change the way paper feed through the printer. select the printer you want to use.Select from the unique options available for that printer. In the Printer box. You can set the default paper size.Specifies a fixed paper size such as letter. 2. and paper source for your drawings in this dialog box. Most printer can accommodate different paper sizes. Choose OK. 71 . 3. and paper sources. or A4 Orientation .Controls landscape (horizontal) or portrait (vertical) Options . you can choose to feed paper manually. which is different from printer to printer. You can also use the Page Setup command to set the output paper margins. if more than one is available. if necessary. 4. Choose the Option button.PrimeCAD User Manual continuously into the printer on tractor wheels. orientations. to open another dialog box. Paper Size . orientation. legal. On some printers. You can setup your printer options in detail in this dialog box. 1. 5.PrimeCAD User Manual File>Print Once you select a printer in File>Printer Setup and set the appropriate paper margins in File>Page Setup . That way. Choose File>Print. To print a drawing : 1. 72 . A dialog box appears to ask you to enter the file name. Choose OK to print. 2. To print to file You can save a printed version of a drawing in a file if you want to print it later or transfer it to another program. if a printer error or other problem occurs. Choose File>Print. Select the Print to File check box. The output quality mainly depends on your printers/plotters capabilities and their associate drivers. the Print Dialog Box will appear. Choose OK. which contains five print range options . 3. Type a name for the file to which you want to print. type the number of copies you want to print. In the Copies edit box. A dialog box displays on the screen to let you know that PrimeCAD is printing your drawing. you are ready to print. 3. Notice that it is a good idea to save your drawing before you print. 2. 3. 4. Choose OK. Choose the Print command from the File menu. Choose OK. Choose an appropriate Print Range Option. you won't lose any of the work you have done since you last saved. To print more than one copy of a drawing 1. 2. you must have made the selection set before you choose the File>Print command. see the View>Named View command.e.If there are more than o ne viewport in PrimeCAD. 73 . there are five print range options in it to let you choose: Sheet . To know more about Named View.PrimeCAD User Manual Print Range Option When you choose the File>Print command to open the Print dialog box. PrimeCAD will prompt you to specify the viewport you want to output. this option will be disabled. If the defined screen paper (i. Notice that if the view you are about to print has more than one viewport. Extent. your drawing limits) is bigger than the actually output paper.. this option will enabled.This option is to print out the view you have previously saved. If there is no saved views to print. every viewport will be printed out in separate pages. That is PrimeCAD try to best fit the whole drawing in the output paper. Selection. After you press OK. To enable this option.This option is to print the entire drawing in one page. Viewport ..This option is to print your drawing entities which are inside the defined screen paper size or inside the defined drawing limits. PrimeCAD will tile the output. That is it will output multiple pages to make up the whole screen sheet.This option print out the selected highlighting entities. Everything outside this viewport is not printed. This option just print out entities inside the specified viewport. Named View . Choose Cancel to continue working in PrimeCAD without saving. 3. .. PrimeCAD supports BMP and PCX files.. Also. PrimeCAD displays a message box asking if you want to save the changes. there are two other ways to end a PrimeCAD session: . zoom out or pan the image file but you can not edit the bits in it. not plotters.PrimeCAD User Manual File>Import Bitmap Even though PrimeCAD is not a bits image software. Choose Yes to save the changes or No to discard them. PrimeCAD displays the Save As dialog box. To quit PrimeCAD 1. Select File>Exit. or press Alt +F4. 4. image file can only be outputted to printers. In addition to using the File>Exit command and press Alt + F4. Enter or select the desired bitmap file in the Filename box. 2. Choose Close from the Control menu. File>Exit This command terminates the PrimeCAD session and returns to the Windows desktop. 74 .. a dialog box similar to File Open dialog box appears. it allows you to import image file and treat it as a basic entity. the screen cursor prompts you to specify a rectangular window for the imported image file. Double-click the Control-menu box. If you choose Yes. You can also press the right button to insert the bitmap at the position of the cursor using its original size. 5. Choose OK. but haven't given the drawing a name. Choose the File>Import Bitmap command. Select a type of file from the List Files of Type box. You can zoom in. If you have made changes to the current drawing. Currently.. To import image file: 1. After you choose OK. make sure you have a valid selection set to act upon. So if an Edit command appears gray on the menu or does not execute from the toolboxes or toolbars. You can set up the Undo levels in System>Preference dialog box up to 25 levels. then the Edit command is selected from the menu or the toolboxes. This means that you select the entity(s) you want to edit first.PrimeCAD User Manual Edit Menu The Edit menu provides many commands to make editing individual objects or groups of objects in your drawing simpler and faster. These commands include: • • • • • • • • Cut Copy Paste Erase Erase Last Undo UndoUndo CopyEntity § Linear Copy § Rectangular Copy § Radial Copy § Parallel § Offset Select Entity Filter • • Most of the Edit command follow what is called the object-action approach. keep in mind that you can undo most editing actions by choosing the Edit>Undo command. While editing your drawing. See Also Selecting Entities Edit>Select Edit>Entity Filter 75 . Generally. The entities you placed in the Windows Clipboard can be embedded into another application supporting Object Linking and Embedding client features (destination document). See Also Object Linking and Embedding Edit>Copy The Edit>Copy command is used to make a copy of the selected entities and place them on the Windows Clipboard. The selected entities are deleted from the drawing and moved to the Windows Clipboard. you need to use Cut or Copy command to do it. To edit the embedded object. But if you want to move the drawing entities to another application or between PrimeCAD drawing session. Select the entities you want to cut. You can use the Edit>Paste command to paste it back into PrimeCAD or into another Windows application as many times as you like. Use Edit>Erase command will be more efficient. 3. An object placed on the Clipboard remains there until you choose the Cut or Copy command again. Choose Edit>Cut. and the copied entities in the 76 . when it is replaced with the new object. You can use the Edit>Paste command to paste it back into PrimeCAD or into another Windows application as many times as you like. if you just want to delete the drawing entities. when it is replaced with the new object. An object placed on the Windows Clipboard remains there until you choose the Cut or Copy command again.PrimeCAD User Manual Edit>Cut The Edit>Cut command is used to remove the selected entities from the drawing and place them on the Windows Clipboard. 2. To cut selected entities: 1. The differences between Copy and Cut are that the selected entities which are copied to Clipboard remain in the drawing. simply double -click on the object in the document opened by that application. 2. Select the entities you want to copy. 3. To copy selected entities: 1. You can also press the right button to place the object at its original size at the position of the cursor . To paste an Clipboard object into your drawing: 1. If there is a selection set. 2. Select the entities to erase. The cut entities can only be embedded. The object which PrimeCAD can paste from the Clipboard are: PrimeCAD entities. use the Edit>Undo to restore the erased entities. The entities will be copied from the Clipboard into the drawing. If you change your mind about what you have erased or accidentally deleted them. Edit>Erase The Edit>Erase command allows you to specify the entities you want to remove from the drawing. 77 . when you select this command. Choose Edit>Copy. text and bitmap. The selected entities are copied to Windows Clipboard. embedded objects. this selection set is erased. PrimeCAD prompt you to specify a window or rectangle to fit in the pasted object. 2. See Also Object Linking and Embedding Edit>Paste The Edit>Paste command allows you to copy or embed the object on the Clipboard into your PrimeCAD drawing. To erase selected entities from your drawing: 1. this selection set is erased. Choose Edit>Paste . Choose Edit>Erase. If there is a selection set.PrimeCAD User Manual Clipboard can be either link to or embed into another Object Linking and Embedding client application. The entities will be removed from the screen and deleted from the drawing. To undo the last action: 1. 78 . Choose Edit>Erase Last. All commands in Draw Menu. Remember that Undo does not consider itself as a last action. use the Edit>Undo to restore the erased entity. 2. If you don't like the results of a Draw. meaning that you cannot use Undo to reverse itself. If you change your mind about what you have erased or accidentally deleted it. Choose the desired undo levels in the System>Preferences dialog box. Edit Menu and Modify Menu can be undone by the Undo command. Edit or Modify command. The last drawn e ntity will be removed from the screen and erased from the drawing. because you can easily remember what you just drew. To erase last drawn entity: 1. use the Edit>Undo Undo command to redo your undo. This command can be repeated to delete numerous entities in the reverse order in which they were drawn. This command is very useful for correcting errors immediately after they happen. If you haven't changed anything for a while. If you accidentally undo something. If you haven't drawn anything for a while. Choose Edit>Undo. The last action you performed is reversed. choose Undo as the next action. You can Undo up to your last 25 actions. This command is very useful for correcting errors immediately after they happen. 2. Edit>Undo The Edit>Undo command reverses the last action you performed. change the entities you don't like instead of using this command.PrimeCAD User Manual Edit>Erase Last The Edit>Erase Last command removes the last entity of any type drawn from the drawing. because you can easily predict what will be undone. play it safe and use the Edit>Erase command to erase what you have selected. To duplicate the selected entities in one direction: 79 . Entity Copy>Linear Copy The Linear command allows you to duplicate entities a number of times in a straight line. You can use this command only after an Undo. Choose Edit>Undo Undo. The other two commands. as long as the previous continuous Undo commands have reached the undo effects and the operation of these Undo commands were not interrupted by any drawing. To redo the last undo: 1. Edit>Copy Entity Edit>Copy Entity is different from Edit>Copy command. The first three commands in the Copy Entity sub-menu (Linear. Parallel and Offset. editing or modifying action. you can operate the Undo Undo command the same times to restore the entities you drew before. at any angle and distance. Rectangular and Radial) require you first select the entity you want to copy before you select these commands. The last Undo action you performed is reversed. otherwise. The Edit>Copy Entity is to copy entities within the drawing itself. it has no effect. Edit>Copy is to copy objects from the drawing to the Windows clipboard. are selected first and then the system prompts you to select the entities to be paralleled or offset. The drawing changes made by the Copy Entity command can be undone if a mistake is made. That is. There are five kinds of copy command in this sub-menu to let you make entity copies.PrimeCAD User Manual Edit>Undo Undo The Edit>Undo Undo command reverses the last action undone with the Undo command. Simply select Edit>Undo from the menu. 2. Entity Copy>Rectangular Copy The Rectangular command allows you to copy the selected entities at two directions to create a rectangular array. 3. If you choose Pick Two Points option. Select the entity or group of entities to copy. 4. Choose a method button from the Displacement box to specify the copy direction and offset distance of the selection set. Choose the Edit>EntityCopy>Linear command. the second copy is placed at the same distance and direction from the first copy. 2. The Linear Copy dialog box appears. Enter the desired number of copies in the Number of Copies edit box. enter a desired offset distance in Distance edit box and angle in Angle edit box. The default number is 1. The first copy is placed according to the distance and direction specified by the two points. If you choose Distance and Angle . This is a useful feature for creating rows and columns of identical spaced copies of an entity or group of entities.PrimeCAD User Manual 2 1 1. the second copy is placed at the same distance and direction from the first copy. and so on. after pressing the OK button. To duplicate selected entities in two directions to create a rectangular array: 80 . The first copy is placed at the distance and direction specified in the edit boxes. Press OK button. from the original. PrimeCAD will ask you specify two points as the "From" and "To" points. and so on. from the original. The selection set is highlighted. The selection set is highlighted. Select the entity or group of entities to copy. An array of duplicated entities will be created. enter the desired number of copies in the Number of Copies edit box and the offset distance in the Spacing edit box. enter the desired number of copies in the Number of Copies edit box. and the offset distance in the Spacing edit box. 3. 4. Choose the Edit>Entity Copy>Rectangular command. Select the entity or group of entities to copy. Enter the desired span angle of each copy in the Degree to Span for Each Copy edit box. The Array Copy dialog box appears. This is a useful feature for creating radial patterns of a entity or group of entities in identical intervals. When entering span degree. Enter the desired number of copies in the Number of Copies edit box. The Radial Copy dialog box appears. Choose the OK button. the angle direction is determined by the current angle orientation as defined in the Units of Measurement dialog box. 3. By default. To duplicate selected entities around a circle or arc: 1 1. Entity Copy>Radial Copy The Radial command allows you to copy the selected entities to create a circular array. The selection set is highlighted. 2. 5. see System>Units of Measurement. 2. 4.PrimeCAD User Manual 1. For more information. Choose the Edit>Entity Copy>Radial command. counterclockwise is positive. In the X Column. In the Y Row. 81 . To draw a entity parallel to an existing entity: 2 1 1. Turn on the Keep Upright checkbox if you want the selected entities to remain in their present orientation. A parallel entity appears. arcs. The entities you can do the parallel include lines. system will trim them automatically. 6. In these cases. Note that the cursor changes to indicate that selecting an entity is required. The Parallel command only works on an entity once. Select an entity in the drawing. By default the entities are rotated about the centerpoint. Choose the Edit>Entity Copy>Parallel command. Select a point that establishes the location of the new entity. Select the reference point. For example. Choose the OK button. The new entity is drawn and is parallel to the selected entity. moving with the cursor to change the size and location. The cursor changes to the moving shape. line segments are too short or too long. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished drawing parallel entities. 3. 7. which is the center point about which each rotated copy will be made. 2.PrimeCAD User Manual 5. You will be asked to locate the reference point. 4. This point can be away from the selected entities to create a circular pattern. Some entities do not allow you to do the parallel. circles and polylines but some problems may occur when you use the Parallel command on polylines. The drawn entity from the Parallel command is actually a new entity but its graphic properties are all the same as the paralleled entity. or within the entities to create multiple entities rotated on top of themselves. Entity Copy>Parallel The Edit>Entity Copy>Parallel command allows you to draw entities that pass through specific points and are parallel to an existing selected entity. 82 . The selected entities will be evenly duplicated by the span angle you specified. But when you use the Offset command. the entered offset in the dialog box must be the same or less than its radius value. 2. Choose OK button to execute this command. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Select an entity in the drawing. 5. The Offset dialog box appears. The cursor changes to indicate that selecting an entity is required. because you can not create a circle or an arc with negative radius. you must specify an offset distance and the location of the new entity. the Offset command does not work.PrimeCAD User Manual 5. 4. Repeat steps 4 and 5 as necessary until you are finished drawing offset entities. Entity Copy>Offset The Edit>Entity Copy>Offset command is similar to the Parallel command. To draw an entity a specific distance from an existing entity: OFFSET 1 2 1. 7. The new entity is drawn with the specified offset to the selected entity. 83 . Otherwise. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Choose the Edit>Entity Copy>Offset command. 6. When you offset a circle or an arc inside. allowing you to draw an entity parallel to an existing selected entity. 3. Enter the desired offset distance in the dialog box. Select any point at one side of the selected entity to specify the offset direction. The selection criteria in the Select dialog box is only a subset of the selection filter. The direct selection method allows you to make selections without the selection filter restriction. see the Entity Filter command. For information about setting specific filter criteria. You can choose either Select or Deselect entities. the Select dialog box appears. if you would like to select/deselect entities only based on their drawing properties. Also you set up a simple selection criteria on the graphic properties. in the way that the selection need to pass through at least some kind of selection criteria or a selection filter. their type. and their characteristics. When you choose the Select command. Layer and Symbol dropdown list boxes in the Edit>Select dialog box instead of going through the Edit>Entity Filter command. To fully exploit the complexity of the selection process. color. Some major editing functions incorporate this selection process. that is. 84 . You can select or deselect a group of objects in a drawing based on their location. you can set these selection criteria in the Entity. The entities you select/deselect by using Edit>Select command are appended or removed from the current selection set. The Select command only selects/deselects objects and does not perform any actions on the selected entities. Window and All Drawing. You can have three different methods to select or deselect entities . The Select command is different form the direct selection method. you choose command Entity Filter or press the Filter button in the Select dialog box to define you own selection filter. Color. layer and symbol. However.Entity. entity type. This interactive selection method will make editing your drawing much easier.PrimeCAD User Manual Edit>Select The Edit>Select command allows you to select or deselect a series of entities by a variety of methods. PrimeCAD provides two entities selection mode. Entities Partial Inside: Any entity which is partially or totally inside this window is selected/deselected. You can set up your more complicate selection criteria in this dialog box. the Window Select Range box at right side is enabled. All drawing All entities in the drawing will be selected /deselected.PrimeCAD User Manual Select Dialog Box When you choose the Select command.. Color. That the selected entities are added into or removed from your selection set depends upon you choosing Select option button or Deselect option button. and Symbol drop-down list boxes. Filter . The window is defined by selecting two points on opposite corners of a rectangular area. When you turn on this option. After selecting the first point you will see a rubber-banding rectangle which moves with the cursor. Layer. . There are two options in the box. All your selecting/deselecting actions in the Select command are filtering through Entity Filter if the Apply Filter option is on. 85 . turn on either one. This is useful for repositioning your entire drawing onto the sheet. As to the information about setting up entity highlighting style.. the other is Deselect mode. If Apply Filter is on. . When you make selections. Locate the second corner to define the window. Single .This option allows you to place a window around the entities you want to select. the requirement you set up in Edit>Entity Filter will also need to be satisfied for the entity/entities to be selected/deselected. If the conditions are satisfied.Pressing the Filter button can invoke the Selection Filter dialog box. You can use the following three methods to select or deselect entities. you can see the selected entities are highlighted and the selection handles appear around the extents of the selected entities.. the Select dialog box appears. refer to the System>Preferences command.This option allows you to select/deselect one entity at a time. the selecting process further checking if Apply Filter is on or not. Window . Entities Complete Inside: Only those entities entirely within this window are selected/deselected. One is Select mode.. The selecting process will first check whether or not the selected entity/entities satisfied the selection criteria which you set up in the Entity. Choose the Edit>Select command and turn the Apply Filter on. if you set Apply Filter on.PrimeCAD User Manual Edit>Entity Filter The Edit>Entity Filter command allows you to set up a more complicate selection filter. You can restrict the entities that will be selected to a single type of entity and/or a single set of characteristics. and colors. 86 . ranging from choices like all lines. you can define a filter to permit selection of only blue arcs. 3. Setting up the selection filter is a way of restricting the set of entities in your drawing that will be selected when applying the Select command. The specifications can be quite broad or very selective. When you choose Edit>Entity Filter. Define a filter 2. to arcs on a specific layer drawn with specific line types. There are five drawing properties comprised of five qualifiers that can be used and combined with each other to generate a selection filter. the Selection Filter dialog box appears. or all entities with red color. Make selections (Note that the selection filter will not affect the directing selection method) For example. The essential process is: 1. line widths. In the Select dialog box . the selecting process checks whether or not the entity/entities match the requirements specified in the filter before the entity/entities can be selected. All other entities within the window you specified ignored. Then when you place a Window to make your selection only the blue arcs in that window will be selected. The drop-down list box displays all the valid pen styles you can use to construct your selection filter. the default is AND. The drop-down list box displays all the layer names defined for the current drawing. For example . and four Boolean operators (AND. The entities must satisfy all qualifiers inside the AND pair to be selected. Qualifiers are put in between each pair of Boolean operator. Color Selects entities based on their pen colors. For each Boolean operator. arc. The drop-down list box displays all different types of entities you can use to construct your selection filter. Style Selects entities based on their pen style . Entity Selects entities based on their entity types.. Specify the relational operator and enter the desired pen width to construct you selection filter. The drop-down list box displays all relational operator you can use. XOR."*** Begin Or ***" and "*** End Or ***" and so on. Select the layer name(s) you want to restrict the selection process. The Type drop-down list box in the dialog box contains five drawing attributes which we mentioned above. circle. "***Begin And ***" and "***End And***". Layer Selects entities based on their layer names. You can specify up to 255 qualifiers in one selection filter. If there is no operator specified to join the qualifiers. the Selection Filter dialog box appears. there is a pair of corresponding Begin and End. AND operator is to create the logical intersection of two or more selection qualifiers. There are five drawing properties comprised of five qualifiers that can be used and combined with each other to generate a selection filter. i.PrimeCAD User Manual Selection Filter Dialog Box When you choose Edit>Entity Filter. and NOT) to construct the selection filter. For example.e. the following statement selects all entities that are arcs AND that are also green: ***Begin And*** 87 . Thickness Selects entities based on their pen width. OR. We set drawing property qualifiers and use Boolean operators to join those qualifiers. The drop-down list box displays all valid pen colors you can use to construct your selection filter. line. For example. but not the first one. the following statement selects the entities which are arcs without green pen color. or the entities which are not arcs but has green pen color. This operator accepts exactly two qualifiers. For example. because no entity has two types. It must satisfy one and only one of them.PrimeCAD User Manual Entity = Arc Color = Green ***End And *** The following filter is obvious incorrect one. the following statement selects all entities that are not arcs: ***Begin Not *** Entity = Arc *** End Not *** XOR means the exclusive OR. but not the second one. A entity is selected if it satisfy the first qualifier. *** Begin Xor *** Entity = Arc Color = Green *** End Xor *** 88 . the following statement selects the entities which are either arcs or pen colors are green: ***Begin Or *** Entity = Arc Color = Green ***End Or *** NOT operator can only has one qualifier inside its pair. the entities selected cannot satisfy both qualifiers or neither. It is to create the logical negation of the qualifier. ***Begin And*** Entity = Arc Entity = Line ***End And *** OR operator is to create the logical union of two or more selection qualifiers. The entities must satisfy at least one qualifier inside the OR pair to be selected. In other word. or satisfy the second qualifier. The entities are selected when they do not satisfy the condition specified in the qualifier. For example. you can not edit the statement here. you can save it for later use. you cannot recall it next time you start PrimeCAD. The following example uses the same qualifiers and operators as the previous statement. If you want to delete an item from the selection sta tement. but selects entities that are either arcs with green color OR entities with red color: *** Begin Or *** *** Begin And *** Entity = Arc Color = Green *** End And *** Color = Red *** End Or *** After you select an item to be desired qualifier in Type box. The item is added in the selection filter and showed in the Filter window. Match You can use this option to input the qualifier which matches the graphic properties of a specified entity in the drawing. You can use Delete button to delete a named filter from the list.PrimeCAD User Manual Enclosing part of a selection statement in the pair of Begin and End is evaluated before the parts that are outside the pair of Begin and End. For example. Enter a name in the Named Filter box for the current displaying filter and then choose Save As button. you choose Add to List button. the Selection Filter 89 . and PrimeCAD prompts you to select the entity which you want to match. the following statement selects entities that are arcs AND that are either green OR red: *** Begin And *** Entity = Arc ***Begin Or *** Color = Green Color = Red *** End Or *** *** End And *** Changing the pair of Begin and End position in a selection statement can dramatically cha nges which entities are selected. The Filter list box is used to display the actual selection statement as it is being built by combining qualifiers and operators. Named Filter After you complete a selection filter. After you press Match button. If you want to clear the whole selection statement. the Selection Filter dialog box disappears. choose Clear Filter List. choose the Delete List Item button. Later. you can recall the selection statement from the drop-down list box which includes all named filters. If you quit PrimeCAD without saving it. After you select the entity. This area is for display purposes only. The selection statement that you build is effective as long as you are still in PrimeCAD session. If there is something wrong. you start to select entities with a specified selection method (Entity. The qualifier which matches with the graphic properties of the selected entity is put in Filter list box. If you invoke the Selection Filter dialog box from within Edit>Selection dialog box. Window or All Drawings) with or without Apply Filter. When a filter construction is completed.PrimeCAD User Manual dialog box appears again. the dialog box disappears. a warning message will come out. If everything is all right. choose OK button. after you close the Selection dialog box. 90 . can not be undone.PrimeCAD User Manual View Menu The View commands are used to display the drawing on the screen in a number of different ways. They just make the drawing look bigger or smaller. When you zoom in the drawing (to make it look bigger) or pan the drawing (moving the drawing paper up. like a camera. • • • • • • • • • • • Redraw Limits Extents Last Revert Entity Order Pan Zoom In Zoom Out Zoom Window Named View Viewport 91 . to let you work on it easier. All commands on this menu. The commands on this menu can be issued from within other commands (nested commands). or right on the screen). except Revert Entity Order and the Delete option in the Named View dialog box. None of the View commands actually changes the size of the drawing or anything in it. the horizontal scroll bar and vertical scroll bar will appear whenever necessary if the scroll bar option is set in System>Preferences. bottom. left. View>Limits The View>Limits command changes the display so you are looking at the area enclosed by the drawing limits (defined by the screen sheet). When you select View>Last command. if you select 8 1/2" x 11" paper. whether or not you have drawn anything to the limits. If the limits are not exactly proportional to the screen area. PrimeCAD senses idle moments in your work and continues the redraw only during those moments. extra space appears along either axis to make up the difference. the drawing on that display will always be current. Objects you have drawn since zooming the last zoom will show up when you use the Last command. if erasing one object caused part of something else to vanish. the p revious view scale factor and location of screen center is recalled and return to the last view. The limits basically are set by the drawing paper size which you select from the System>Sheet. The whole drawing is displayed on screen as large as possible. The Redraw command draws the screen in the order you drew the entities. This command is useful for cleaning up the screen after erasing or moving an object that didn't go away completely. To interrupt a redraw. View>Extents The View>Extents command performs the bestfit to the whole drawing on screen. When you select View>Limits. In other words. For example. but it does not have to interrupt your work. PrimeCAD allows you to perform most operations during redraw. simply continue working normally. you can keep your screen clean. then the drawing limits are 8 1/2" x 11 ". clear and showing you what the drawing really looks like. View>Last Every time you perform a zoom command.PrimeCAD User Manual View>Redraw The View>Redraw command just redisplays the drawing without zooming or panning. Or. PrimeCAD remembers the scale factor and the location of screen center of the previous view you were looking at. even though they weren't there the last time. the display will be redrawn to show the entire area within the limits. even if the drawing extends outside the boundaries of the sheet. The display you see from View>Limits is the way new drawings are displayed when you start. PrimeCAD can remember the 92 . Using this command. A complex redraw can be a time-consuming work. When you select an entity. After you revert the entity order. 2. You don't have to wait until a view is completely drawn before selecting another View>Last command. it takes the one which is drawn first. therefore. Using Last command several times in a row will zoom you back and forth between three views. and. 93 . when the drawing is redrawn. When the checking routine encounters more than one entity which is considered eligible for selecting. PrimeCAD starts with the first entity drawn and proceeds through all the entities in the drawing to the last one. PrimeCAD checks all entities starting from the one which is drawn first. Therefore sometime you need to revert the entities in order to select the right entity. it just changes the part of the drawing you are looking at. If you want to redraw starting with the latest entity back to the first. Select the View>Last command. This does not change the zoom value factor in any way.PrimeCAD User Manual previous 2 views. Select the View>Pan command. View>Revert Entity Order Normally. Select a location on the drawing that you want to be in the center of the screen after the Pan. Repeat step 1 as necessary until the view you want is displayed or until you return to the sheet default view. select Revert Entity Order. every newly created entities will be attached after it. 2. This happens when you do a Redraw command or any other command that causes the screen to redraw. For instance. This can be useful during selection. To return to the last zoom performed: 1. The screen is redrawn to display the previous view. the original first entity becomes the last one. if the view you want was displayed two views ago. Entities will then be redrawn in reverse order (newest to oldest) until you select Revert Drawing Order again. To pan a drawing: 1. The cursor changes its shape and prompts you to specify a location to be the new center of the screen. simply select two View>Last command in a row. All of the objects in the drawing has now shifted and the location you picked is now at the center of the screen. View>Pan The View>Pan command allows you to position the drawing around on the screen in stead of using scroll bars. To zoom in by a specified factor: 1. the drawing is not really getting larger. Remember Zoom Window can only zoom in the drawing. A rubber banding rectangle appears beginning at this position to surround the area that you want to expand. i. You specify the zoom factor in the System>Preferences dialog box. The objects will appear larger on the screen by a specified factor. Select the opposite corner of the window. and vice versa. you need to keep the screen proportions in mind. To zoom with a window: 1. that is. Locate one corner of the window. Remember. The cursor becomes the Zoom Window Cursor. View>Zoom In The View>Zoom In command is like moving closer to the drawing. 94 . 2. (optional) Choose the System>Preference command and enter a value in zoom in/zoom out factor edit box.e. the height may not fill the screen. not zoom out which makes the drawing look smaller. To return the drawing to its original size and location. you can select View>Last. The rest of the drawing takes up the space that the window does not fill. The location and magnification of the zoom depend o n the size and location of the zoom window. Zoom In always makes things appear twice as large. If your defined rectangular window is very wide. You can Zoom In repeatedly and get closer and closer to some entities that you want to see in great detail. 3. you are just getting a closer view of it.PrimeCAD User Manual View>Zoom Window The View>Zoom Window command allows you to magnify a portion of the drawing to fill the screen by specifying a rectangle or window defined by two points in opposite corners. the default value is 2. make the drawing look bigger. and you are asked to place a rectangular window. The zoom factor is the relative size you want the drawing to became. When you use Zoom. For example. Select View>Zoom Window. The display is redrawn showing the area you have identified in the window. you will get a value of 1. (optional) Choose the System>Preference command and enter a Zoom Out factor in Zoom In/Zoom Out factor box. The cursor becomes the Zoom Out Cursor. The zoom factor values greater than 1 make drawing entities look larger than they really are. Choose the View>Zoom In command. The cursor becomes the Zoom In Cursor. Choose the View>Zoom Out command. 3. but instead of using the default zoom factor value you set in the System>Preferences. To zoom a drawing by a specified factor: 95 . It is like moving further away from the drawing. You can Zoom Out repeatedly and get further and further from the drawing to see more of it. The zoom factor is the relative size you want the drawing to became.PrimeCAD User Manual 2. To zoom out by a specified factor: 1. For example. The objects will appear smaller on the screen by a specified factor. 3. If you try to use a negative value. These changes are only on the screen and do not affect the actual size of the drawing. you specify the zoom factor dynamically. 2. You specify the zoom factor in the System>Preferences dialog box. Remember. Select a location on the drawing that you want to be in the center of the screen after the Zoom In. that is. the default value is 2. values less than 1 make drawing entities smaller than their actual size. Zoom Out always makes things appear half as large. the drawing is not really getting smaller. All of the objects in the drawing appear larger by the specified factor. Select a location on the drawing that you want to be in the center of the screen after the Zoom Out. View>Zoom Out The View>Zoom Out command is the opposite of the Zoom In command. you are just moving further from it. This command is similar to the Zoom In and Zoom Out commands. and you are asked to specify the new center of the screen. All of the objects in the drawing appear smaller by the specified factor. View>Zoom Value The View>Zoom Value command allows you to zoom the drawing at some proportion of its actual size by giving a zoom factor value. and you are asked to specify the new center of the screen. you can choose the Edit>Undo command to restore it. The selected view is deleted. If you want to restore a named view. 2. The Named View dialog box appears. You can type a name up to 20 characters long. Choose View>Zoom Value. then choose View. If you type a name previously assigned with Named View command. Note that View>Named View command does not save the entity information. only remember the zoom factor and the position of the screen center of a view. The View>Viewport command allows you to divide the drawing area up to 4 viewports. enter a name in the view name edit box. If you want to delete a named view. 3. The drawing will be regenerated at the new zoom value. You can delete the view name. each with a separate view of the drawing. then choose Add. the entities will not be there. The cursor can be moved from one viewport to 96 . These views can be zoomed independently. select the name from the name list box. Choose OK. Sometimes you need to work on different parts of a drawing at the same time. View>Viewport As a drawing becomes larger and more complex. Choose the View>Named View. If you accidentally delete a named view. If the entities are removed from the view location which we previous saved. Select a location on the drawing that you want to be in the center of the screen after the zoom. The selected view will be displayed on the screen. views become a critical part of the drawing process. PrimeCAD will warn you the name you entered already exists and ask you whether you want to overwrite it or not. The Zoom Factor dialog box appears. View>Named View The View>Named View command is to save the current view configuration as part of the drawing file so that you can return to this view configuration later. just select the name from the name list box. if you do not need it anymore. then choose Remove. To save . Enter a zoom factor. 2. 3. 4. recall and delete a custom view: 1.PrimeCAD User Manual 1. 4. If you want to name the currently displayed view. when you retrieve it. 2. Select the button of the desired viewport configuration. and points may be set in any viewport for any of the PrimeCAD commands. you can have two views of a drawing displayed. A line can be drawn by setting a point in the zoomed view and another point in the original view. Zoom Out and Zoom Value. Choose OK. PrimeCAD will ask you to specify one viewport which you want the view command to apply on. 3. and zoom in one viewport to get a detailed view of the drawing. Zoom Window. Pan. Choose View>Viewport. That viewport configuration will then be used on the PrimeCAD drawing screen. For example.PrimeCAD User Manual another. if there are more than one viewports. Zoom In. 97 . Extents. A selection of the different viewport configurations is displayed. When you select the view commands like Limits. To divide the viewport: 1. Redraw. Some entities. You need to press the right button again to quit the current command. would mean you are finished drawing the polyline or curve. You can also enter points by specifying their coordinates from the keyboard. such as markers. Snap Input Mode: When you use the mouse to enter points. are comprised of several entities that are treated as a single e ntity. after you entered the first point and before you enter the second point. representing the specified point.PrimeCAD User Manual Draw Menu The Draw menu provides the function of inputting entities. you must press ESC key or the right mouse button. for example: polylines and curves. you first need to provide coordinate points which can decide the position and shape of the entity. pressing the ESC or the right button will cancel the point you have entered and you are ready to begin to enter two points for a new line. Cancel A Draw Command: When you are finished with one draw command and ready to begin another or you want to cancel the current drawn entity. polylines and curves. pressing the right button. hatches. this action returns you to the last status. such as lines. arcs. The following commands are available from the Draw menu: • • • • • • • 98 Line Arc Circle Polyline Curve Marker Hatch . Refer to the Entity Input. Usually. For example: if you are drawing a line. you can use Edit>Erase Last command or Edit>Undo command to remove the last input entity. The actual mecha nics of entering a point involve moving the cursor to the location you want and clicking the left mouse button. These are known as base entities. This +shaped blip is only a subsidiary maker. consist of a single component. However. circles. Others. Basically. Subsidiary coordinate-entering marker: When you select a point for drawing an entity. solids and placed symbols. texts. Erase the Last Input Entity: After you have input the entity. dimensions. when you enter an entity. If you press ESC or the right mouse button again. you are not in the Line command anymore and you are back to the ready status for executing a new command. after you entered some points. you can use snap input modes to help you enter points precisely without knowing exact coordinates. There are usually several ways to draw a specific entity. a +-shaped blip displays at the specified place on the screen. These are known as compound entities. in some commands. AutoFillet-Sgl . Point-Circle .draw a pair of continuous line segments a fixed distance apart.draw continuous line segments by clicking on the start point of the first line and clicking on the end point of subsequent lines. the individual lines in the series remain separate. Even when you draw a series of lines with common endpoints. Multiple line . you 99 .draw discontinuous line segments by clicking on the start point and dragging to the end point of each line.draw continuous line segments. These are important concepts to remember when editing. Double . Perpendicular . Line setup . fill-inside mode and autofillet radius. Circle-Circle . The followings are the simple description of each line command: • • • • • • • • • Individual line . and so on).draw lines tangent to an arc or a circle. Corners are automatically trimmed. each line segment you create is a separate entity. style.set up the defa ult values for Double-line offset distance. Line>Individual The Draw>Line>Individual command allows you to add individual lines to a drawing. the minimum inclined angle. With Line commands. Corners are automatically trimmed.draw lines tangent to two arcs or circles. Each line segment has its own graphic properties (color. AutoFillet-Dbl .draw a pair of continuous line segments a fixed distance apart. width. It is useful when you need to draw a single line or a series of lines that do not touch each other. When you use the Draw>Line>Individual command.draw lines perpendicular to existing lines.PrimeCAD User Manual • • • • • Text Dimension Solid Symbol Attributes See Also Snap Input Modes Explanation of 9 kinds of snap input modes System>Snap Modes Draw >Line The commands on the Draw>Line cascading menu allow you to add individual lines to a drawing. 100 . 3. This command is useful when you need the visual effect of a polyline and the ability to edit the graphic properties of each segment individually. 4. Select one or more endpoints. unconnected lines: 2 1 1. Each point ends the previous line and begins a new line. A rubberband line appears beginning at the selected point. To draw a series of lines with common end points: 4 2 3 1 1. You use the current pen to draw the lines. 3. Select a start point. Choose the Draw>Line>Individual command.PrimeCAD User Manual alternately select startpoints and endpoints. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as often as necessary until you are finished drawing individual lines. 2. A rubberband line appears beginning at the selected point. Select a startpoint. When you use the Draw>Line>Multiple command. 5. A line is drawn between the selected points. Line>Multiple The Draw>Line>Multiple command allows you to draw a series of individual lines that have common end points. Select an endpoint. To draw separate. 2. Choose the Draw>Line>Multiple command. each interim point you select establishes the end point of the previous line and the start point of the next. Click the right button to complete the command. 4. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 2. Every two segments are auto-filleted by the angle defined in the Line Setup dialog box. 5. 3 and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing AutofilletSgl lines. Use Esc or right mouse button again to exit the command. see Draw>Line>Line setup. Choose the Draw>Line>AutoFillet-Sql command. Use Esc or right mouse button again to exit the command. Fillet means rounding off corners by trimming back the lines and inserting an arc. 3. To draw a series of lines with common end points and auto-fillet: 2 4 1 3 1. 6. Each point ends the previous line and begins a new line. 6. You define the left and right offset for the pair of lines in relation to the input points in the Line Setup dialog box. For information on changing this value. 3 and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing multiple lines. Click the right button to complete the command. Repeat step 2. It prohibits you from 101 . Line>Autofillet-Sgl The Draw>Line>AutoFillet-Sql command allows you to automatically fillet between lines that are drawn consecutively. you must set up a double line minimum angle. A rubberband line appears beginning at the selected point. Similar to Draw>Line>Multiple in operation. 4. Also in order to prevent you from drawing lines that will double back on themselves.PrimeCAD User Manual 5. the Draw>Line>Double command generates two points for each point entered. To what extent auto -fillets are allowed is determined by the fillet radius value as defined in the Draw>Line>Line setup dialog box. Select a start point. You can also fill the inside of the double lines by set Fill Inside Mode on. Line>Double The Draw>Line>Double command allows you to draw successive pairs of parallel lines. Repeat step 2. Select one or more endpoints. except the endpoints between two lines will be filleted automatically according to the fillet-radius value in Line Setup dialog box. Select one or more endpoints. Choose the Draw>Line>AutoFillet-Dbl command. 102 { 1 . Line>AutoFillet-Dbl The Draw>Line>AutoFillet-Dbl command allows you to draw consecutive lines and round off corners by trimming back the lines and inserting two arcs. see Draw>Line>Line setup. 2. 2. Choose the Draw>Line>Double command. 6. To draw double lines with auto-fillet: 2 4 Left Offset { { 1 Right Offset 3 1. This command is basically like Draw>Line>Double in operation. A rubberband line appears beginning at the selected point. Select a startpoint. Use Esc or right mouse button again to exit the command. Each point ends and trims the previous pair of lines and begins a new pair. 3. is less than the specified. Click the right button to complete the command. 4. For information on changing this value. Select a startpoint. The inclined angle between two pairs of lines must be larger than the minimum set inclined angle. To draw double lines: 2 Left Offset { Right Offset 3 1. 3 and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing double lines.PrimeCAD User Manual drawing a double line whose angle. A rubberband line appears beginning at the selected point. 5. Repeat step 2. relative to the previous line. Click the right button to complete the command. Every two segments are auto -filleted by the filletradius defined in the Line Setup dialog box. For each arc or circle. For each arc or circle. 3. 6. Line>Point-Circle The Draw>Line>Point-Circle command allows you to draw a tangent line between a point and an arc or circle if there exists a tangent line. 2. Each point ends and trims the previous pair of lines and begins a new pair. To draw a line tangent to a pair of point and arc or circle : 2 1 1.PrimeCAD User Manual 3. Repeat step 2. 5. 103 . Select one or more endpoints. 4. Select an arc or circle on the side which you want the line tangent to. 4. A tangent line is drawn. 5. 3 and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing AutofilletDouble lines. the tangent line is drawn to the side closest to where you select the entity. Line>Circle-Circle The Draw>Line>Circle -Circle command allows you to draw a tangent line between two arcs. Choose the Draw>Line>Point-Circle command. Use Esc or right mouse button again to exit the command. the tangent is drawn to the side closest to where you select the entity. Select a point outside the arc or circle. To what extent auto-fillets are allowed is determined by the fillet radius value. two circles or an arc and a circle if there exists a tangent line. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished. Line>Perpendicular The Draw>Line>Perpendicular command allows you to draw a line that is perpendicular to a specified line. an arc or a circle in the drawing. To draw a line perpendicular to an existing line: 2 1 1. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished. 2. 104 . Choose the Draw>Line>Circlr-Circle command. Select a line. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished drawing perpendicular lines. 4. A line perpendicular to the specified entity is drawn. A tangent line is drawn. Select a point on a second arc or circle on the side which you want the line tangent to. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 5. Select an arc or circle on the side which you want the line tangent to. 3. Note that the new line does not have to touch the specified entity.PrimeCAD User Manual To draw a line tangent to a pair of arcs and/or circles: 2 1 1. Select an endpoint. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 2. Choose the Draw>Line>Perpendicular command. arc or circle and that ends at a selected point. 3. 5. 4. PrimeCAD User Manual Line>Line setup The Draw>Line>Line Setup command allows you to establish drawing parameters that are used in AutoFillet-Sgl. 4. 3. 7. To change these values: 1. AutoFillet-Dbl and Double command. Input the desired right offset of the double line. Input the desired left offset of the double line. Input the minimum angle value for double lines 5. 2. To fill entities. select the Fill Inside check box. Choose OK button to finish the setup or CANCEL button to cancel this command. Choose the Draw>Line>Line setup command. 6. Input the desired radius of the auto -fillet. Offsets and radius have to be positive values. the Line Setup dialog box appears. 105 . A arc is stored by its center.e] command allows you to draw an arc by specifying its start point. radius. 3.e] 3 Pts [s. a point along the arc and end point: 2 3 1 1. 4.e] 2 Pts-Angle 2 Pts-Radius Quarter Circle Semi Circle Elliptical Arc>3 Pts [s.m. and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing arcs. Repeat steps 2. Select a second point. a point along the arc and end point.m. 5.e.e] The Draw>Arc>3 Pts [s. A rubberband arc appears. 6. The menu has the following commands. starting angle and ending angle. moving with the cursor.m] 3 Pts [c. To draw an arc by specifying its start point.s. Choose the Draw>Arc>3 Pts [s. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Select the endpoint and the arc is drawn. 3. Select the start point.PrimeCAD User Manual Draw>Arc The commands o n the Draw>Arc cascading menu provide a variety of ways to add arcs to a drawing.e] command.m. 106 . 2. • • • • • • • • 3 Pts [s.m. This way makes it easy to visualize the arc being drawn. An arc is a portion of a circle or an ellipse. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 3. Arc>3 Pts [c.m] The Draw>Arc>3 Pts [s.m] command allows you to draw an arc by specifying its start point. start point.e. A rubberband arc appears.e] The Draw>Arc>3 Pts [c. 3. 3. start point. and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing arcs. A dragged arc appears.s. 5. Select a point along the arc and the arc is drawn. Choose the Draw>Arc>3 Pts [s. Select the end point. 2. and end point. Select the beginning point of the arc. and end point: 2 1 3 1.s. moving with the cursor. end point and a point along the arc. Repeat steps 2.s. Select the start point. Choose the Draw>Arc>3 Pts [c. moving with the cursor.m] command.e.PrimeCAD User Manual Arc>3 Pts [s. Select a point for the center of the arc.e] command allows you to draw an arc by specifying its centerpoint. 4. Enter the ending point and the arc is drawn. 4.e.e] command. 107 . 6. To draw a n arc by specifying its start point. To draw an arc by specifying its centerpoint. end point and a point along the arc: 3 2 1 1. 2. and the arc angle. 4. 3. The Angle dialog box appears. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Enter the arc angle in the dialog box. A rubberband line appears. 3. 6. 6. 3. Repeat steps 2. When entering the angle. start point. Select the arc center. and the arc angle: 2 Entered Angle 1 1. 7. and 5 as necessary until you are finished drawing arcs. moving with the cursor. To draw an arc by specifying its center. Select the arc starting point. Arc>2 Pts-Angle The Draw>Arc>2 Pts-Angle command allows you to draw an arc by specifying its center. An arc is drawn. Choose the Draw>Arc>2 Pts-Angle command.PrimeCAD User Manual 5. To draw an arc by specifying its endpoints and radius: 108 . Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 2. the angle direction is determined by the current angle orientation defined in the System>Units of Measurement 5. 4. Repeat steps 2. Choose OK to accept the setting and close the dialog box. Arc>2 Pts-Radius The Draw>Arc>2 Pts-Radius command allows you to draw an arc by specifying its endpoints and its radius. start point. and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing arcs. 4. moving with the cursor. 3. 2. and 3 as necessary until you are finished drawing quarter circles. Enter the arc radius in the dialog box. The linear unit is determined by the current linear unit defined in the System>Units of Measurement. Repeat steps 2. Choose the Draw>Arc>2 Pts-Radius command. A rubberband line appears. Choose the Draw>Arc>Quarter Circle command. 3. moving with the cursor. 4. Select a start point. Select a start point. 5. 6. Select an end point. Arc>Quarter Circle The Draw>Arc>Quarter Circle command allows you to draw an arc by specifying its endpoints and the arc swapped angle is always 90 degrees. To draw an arc by specifying its endpoints with 90-degree swapped angle: 2 1 1. A rubberband line appears. 5. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 3. An arc is drawn in the counterclockwise direction. Choose OK. 2. 7. The Radius dialog box appears.PrimeCAD User Manual 2 Entered Radius 1 1. Repeat steps 2. An arc is drawn. and 5 as often as necessary. 109 .Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 4. Select an end point. Repeat steps 2. and end angle. 3. 5. To draw an elliptical arc: 4 2 3 5 1 1. Select an end point. 2. and then you can see an ellipse appears. 4. Arc>Elliptical The Draw>Arc>Elliptical command allows you to draw an oval-arc by specifying its center. A rubberband line appears. A rubberband line appears. The li ne appearing on the screen is the long -axis radius. moving with the cursor. Choose the Draw>Arc>Semi Circle command. radius of long-axis and short-axis. 2. Select a start point. 110 . 3. moving with the cursor to change its size. and 3 as necessary until you are finished drawing semi circles. start angle. Select a second point. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. To draw an arc by specifying its endpoints with 180-degree swapped angle: 2 1 1. Select the center point.PrimeCAD User Manual Arc>Semi Circle The Draw>Arc>Semi Circle command allows you to draw an arc by specifying its endpoints and the arc swapped angle is always 180 degrees. moving with the cursor. An arc is drawn in the counterclockwise direction. Choose the Draw>Arc>Elliptical command. 5 and 6 as necessary until you are finished drawing elliptical arcs. 3. 111 . Select the other point to determine the short-axis radius and the ellipse is drawn. 8.PrimeCAD User Manual 4. Select the start angle and a line is drawn to represent this angle. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Select the end angle and an oval-arc is drawn in the counterclockwise direction. 4. 5. 6. 7. Repeat steps 2. 2. Choose the Draw>Circle>Center-Side command. The circle is drawn and pass through this point. Select the second point. 5. moving with the cursor. 112 . A rubberband circle appears. 3. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished drawing center-side circles. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Select the center point.PrimeCAD User Manual Draw>Circle The commands on the Draw>Circle cascading menu allow you to draw circles in your drawing. The menu has the following commands: • • • • • • • • Center-Side Side-Center 2 Pts 3 Pts Center-Radius Center-Diameter Ellipse Ellipse-4 Arcs Circle>Center-Side The Draw>Circle>Center-Side command allows you to draw a circle by specifying its center and a point along the circle. To draw a circle by specifying its center and a point along the circle: 1 2 1. 4. Choose the Draw>Circle>2 Pts command. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. The circle is drawn. Select the center point. A rubberband circle appears. 4.PrimeCAD User Manual Circle>Side-Center The Draw>Circle>Side-Center command allows you to draw a circle by specifying a point along the circle and its center. 113 . To draw a circle by specifying a point along the circle and its center: 2 1 1. 3. 5. The circle is drawn. moving with the cursor. Select a point along the circle. 2. moving with the cursor. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished drawing side-center circles. 3. Circle>2 Pts The Draw>Circle>2 Pts command allows you to draw a circle by specifying a pair of points on opposite sides of the circle. The distance of the two points determines the diameter and the middle point of them determines the center of the circle. A rubberband circle appears. 2. 5. 4. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Choose the Draw>Circle>Side-Center command. To draw a circle by specifying two opposite points: 2 1 1. The distance between the two points is the diameter of the circle. Select a point which the circle will pass through. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished drawing 2 pts circles. Select a point on the opposite side of the circle. 3. Choose the Draw>Circle>Center-Radius command. Select a center point. A rubberband circle appears. 5. 3. and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing 3 pts circles. Repeat steps 2. To draw a circle by specifying its center and radius: Entered Radius 1 1. Select a second point along the circle. Circle>Center-Radius The Draw>Circle>Center-Radius command allows you to draw a circle by specifying its center and its radius value. Choose the Draw>Circle>3 Pts command. 114 . moving with the cursor. Enter the radius value of this circle. 6. Select a third point along the circle. Select a point along the circle. 4. 2. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 3. moving with the cursor. The Radius dialog box appears. The circle is drawn. A rubberband line appears. 2.PrimeCAD User Manual Circle>3 Pts The Draw>Circle>3 Pts command allows you to draw a circle by specifying any three points along the circle: To draw a circle through three points: 3 2 1 1. To draw a circle by specifying its center and diameter: 1 Entered Diameter 1. To draw an ellipse: 115 . the second one specifies the half length of one axis and rotated angle. the third one specified the half length of the other axis. The Diameter dialog box appears. the minor axis is perpendicular to the major axis. 4.PrimeCAD User Manual 4. The circle is drawn. 5. 3 and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing centerradius circles. and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing centerdiameter circles. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. When you draw an ellipse. Choose the Draw>Circle>Center-diameter command. Enter the diameter value of this circle . Circle>Center-Diameter The Draw>Circle>Center-Diameter command allows you to draw a circle by specifying its center and its diameter value. 3. In a normal ellipse. Choose OK. the first point entered is its center point. 5. 3. Repeat steps 2. 2. Repeat steps 2. 6. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Select a center point. 6. Circle>Ellipse The Draw>Circle>Ellipse command allows you to draw an ellipse. The circle is drawn. Choose OK. PrimeCAD 2 3 User Manual 1 1. Choose the Draw>Circle>Ellipse command. 2. Select a center. A rubberband line appears beginning at the selected point. 3. Select an endpoint to determine the radius of the major axis. An ellipse appears, moving with the cursor to change its size and location. 4. Select an endpoint to determine the radius of the minor axis. The ellipse is drawn. 5. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing ellipses. 6. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 116 PrimeCAD User Manual Circle>Ellipse-4 Arcs The Draw>Circle>Ellipse-4 Arcs command allows you to draw an ellipse consisting of 4 arcs. The operation of this command is the same with the Draw>Circle>Ellipse command. To draw an ellipse consisting of 4 arcs: 2 3 Arc Arc 1 Arc Arc 1. Choose the Draw>Circle>Ellipse-4 Arcs command. 2. Select a center. A rubberband line appears beginning at the selected point. 3. Select an endpoint to determine the radius of the major axis. An ellipse appears, moving with the cursor. 4. Select an endpoint to determine the radius of the minor axis. The ellipse is drawn. 5. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing 4-arc ellipses. 6. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 117 PrimeCAD User Manual Draw>Polyline The commands on the Draw>Polyline cascading menu allow you to add polylines and polygons to a drawing. The menu has the following commands: • • • • • Set Pts-open Set Pts-close Rectangle Regular Polygon Sketch Be careful not to confuse polylines with individual lines. While a ordinary line is defined by a start point and an end point, a polyline has a startpoint, an endpoint and one or more vertices along the way. All segments of a polyline have the same layer, color, style, and width and are treated as a single entity. In PrimeCAD, polygons and rectangles are merely the special case of polylines. Also See Graphic Properties Polyline>Set Pts-open The Draw>Polyline>Set Pts-open command allows you to add individual polylines to a drawing. In operation, it is very similar to the Draw>Line>Multiple command: To draw a polyline : 4 2 3 1 1. Choose the Draw>Polyline>Set Pts-open command. 2. Select a startpoint. A rubberband line appears beginning at the selected point. 3. Select one or more additional vertices. 4. Click the right mouse button to complete the polyline. 5. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing open polylines. 118 PrimeCAD User Manual 6. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Polyline>Set Pts-close The Draw>Polyline>Set Pts-close command allows you to draw polylines with closed shape. In operation, it is very similar to the Draw>Polyline>Set Pts-open command. To draw closed shape polylines: 4 2 3 1 1. Choose the Draw>Polyline>Set Pts-close command. 2. Select a vertex. A rubberband line appears, moving with the cursor. 3. Select two or more additional vertices. 4. Click the right mouse button to complete the polyline. The last vertex is connected to the start point to form a closed polygon. 5. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing close polylines. 6. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Polyline>Rectangle The Draw>Polyline>Rectangle command provides a quick method of drawing a rectangle. To draw a rectangular polygon: 1 2 1. Choose the Draw>Polyline>Rectangular command. 119 A rubberband line appears. Enter the side number. 120 . Select the other point to determine the first side of the polygon.PrimeCAD User Manual 2. 4. A rectangle appears beginning at the selected point. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished drawing polygons. Select one corner of the rectangle. Choose the Draw>Polyline>Polygon command. To draw a polygon: 1 2 Side Number=5 1. 2. 5. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. The side number of the Polygon can be any between 3 and 1000. 5. PrimeCAD draws the polygon in the counterclockwise direction. 3. Select the opposite corner. 3. moving with the cursor. 6. 4. Polyline>Polygon The Draw>Polyline>Polygon command allows you to draw a polygon by specifying the length of one side and the number of sides. The polygon is drawn. The Side number of Polygon dialog box appears. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Select a point. moving with the cursor. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished drawing rectangles. 121 . Release the mouse button to end the polyline . Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 5. Sketch actually generates a polyline segment at each cursor movement.PrimeCAD User Manual Polyline>Sketch The Draw>Polyline>Sketch command allows you to simulate freehand drawing. then drag the cursor. 4. Click a start point of a polyline. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished sketching. segments are added to the polyline. As long as you hold the left mouse button down. Choose the Draw>Polyline>Sketch command. To draw a "freehand" polyline : 1. 2. 3. Click the right mouse button to complete the curve. The line becomes a curve. You may specify the number of segments in the System>Preferences dialog box. Fitted Curves are drawn through a set of control points you enter. 3. you enter a series of control points and the curve is generated automatically. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 6. A minimum of three control points are required for drawing curves. To draw a Bezier curve that is "drawn toward" specific points: 2 4 1 3 5 1. A line appears beginning at the selected point. Bezier curves are pulled toward the control points. Like a polyline. You do not enter curves directly. Rather. Choose the Draw>Curve>Bezier command. a curve behaves as a single entity. making it easy to visualize where the curve will be drawn. This may appear a little slow on large curves or on slower computers. These curves includes the following two kinds: • • Bezier Curves Fitted Curves You specify the control points for a curve. 122 . Select a starting control point.PrimeCAD User Manual Draw>Curve The commands on the Draw>Curve cascading menu allow you to add smooth curves to a drawing. moving with the cursor. A rubberband curve will be displayed as the points are set. 2. 4. Curve>Bezier Curves The Draw>Curve>Bezier Curves command allows you to draw a curve that is "drawn toward" intermediate control points rather than passing directly through them (except start point and end point. Repeat steps 2. and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing Bezier curves.) The smoothness of a curve is controlled by the number of segments between control points. 3. 5. Select two or more additional control points. PrimeCAD User Manual Curve>Fitted Curves The Draw>Curve>Fitted Curves command allows you to draw a curve through specific points. 3. Choose the Draw>Curve>Fitted Curves command. 3. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 123 . To draw a curve that passes through specific points: 2 4 1 3 5 1. 5. 4. 2. The smoothness of a curve is controlled by the number of segments between control points value. You may specify the number of segments in the System>Preferences dialog box. and 4 as often as necessary. The mathematical formula used to determine the curve is a cubic spline. Click the right mouse button to complete the curve. Select two or more additional control points. Select a starting control point. The line becomes a curve. Repeat steps 2. A line appears beginning at the selected point. 6. moving with the cursor. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. or mirrored. arcs. The marker is inserted. 4. The cursor changes to a crosshair and a marker shape appears. Select a location for the marker by clicking left mouse button. 3. 124 . such as lines. For information about setting up the shapes and sizes of markers. A marker is a compound entity. moving with the cursor. The menu has the following commands: • • • • • Set Pts Relative Polar Align Setup You can control the shape and size of a marker. It can only be assigned the pen color. but not pen style and pen width. A marker can not be scaled. That is. To add a marker at a specified location: 1. Marker>Set Pts The Draw>Marker>Set Pt command allows you to insert a marker at a specified location. even though it behaves as a single entity. Choose the Draw>Marker>St Pt command.PrimeCAD User Manual Draw>Marker The commands on the Draw>Marker cascading menu allow you to insert special predefined shapes in the drawing. Repeat steps 2 as necessary until you are finished inserting markers. rotated. please see Draw>Marker>Setup. and circles. 2. it is often comprised of multiple base entities. 3. Select a relative point on the drawing area. To add a marker relative to the specific point by polar coordinate: 2 Enter dR. d 1 125 . That is. Enter the offset-X and offset-Y values in the dialog box.0). dY 1 1. If the distance you enter is 0. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 6. A marker is inserted at the relative location to the reference point 5. The counterclockwise direction is always positive. That is.PrimeCAD User Manual Marker>Relative The Draw>Marker>Relative command allows you to insert a marker respect to a reference point. Choose the Draw>Marker>Relative command. use the reference point as the temporary origin (0. Repeat steps 2 to 4 as often as necessary until you are finished inserting markers. Marker>Polar The Draw>Marker>Polar command allows you to insert a marker respect to a temporary origin by specifying the polar coordinate. and then specify the X and Y offset for the marker. the marker is inserted at the reference point. 4. The Point-Relative dialog box appears. you express location in terms of distance and angle measured from 0 degrees (X axis). 2. Choose OK. To add a marker relative to a reference point: 2 Enter dX. Choose the Draw>Point>Polar command. The cursor changes to prompt you to select an entity. Click on the entity near the end where you want a marker to attach.PrimeCAD User Manual 1. 3. or arc: 1 1. Enter the distance and the angle values in the dialog box. 6. Marker>Align The Draw>Marker>Align command allows you to insert a marker at the end of a line. Repeat steps 2 to 4 as necessary until you are finished inserting markers. 126 . polyline . Repeat steps 2 as necessary until you are finished inserting markers. Choose OK. A marker is inserted at the specified position relative to the reference point 5. 3. 2. 2. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Select a relative point on the drawing area. or arc you select. 4. The Point-Polar dialog box appears. To add a marker to the endpoint of a line. polyline. 4. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Choose the Draw>Marker>Align command. 127 . The provided marker shapes are as follows: 3. Enter the desired height of this shape in the Height box. Enter the desired width of this shape in the Width box. The Marker dialog box appears. Select the desired shape from the Point Shapes drop-down list box. 5. size. 2. To change the shape and size of the default marker: 1. 4. 6. Choose the Draw>Marker>Setup command. Enter the desired rotation angle of this shape in the Angle box. Choose OK button to accept the setting and close the dialog box. and rotation angle of a drawing marker that is used for all Marker commands.PrimeCAD User Manual Marker>Setup The Draw>Marker>Setup command allows you to change the shape. arcs and texts. using the Undo command will clear all the entities of last dimension (including extension lines. text. and so on. Therefore. arrowheads.PrimeCAD User Manual Draw>Dimension The commands on the Draw>Dimension cascading menu allows you to automatically generate the dimensions of any part of your drawing. not separately lines.) When a dimensioning point is moved. using one of the following dimension functions: • Linear Dimensions § Horizontal § Vertical § Alignment § Rotation § Line Radial § Radius1 § Radius2 § Diameter1 § Diameter2 Ordinate § X-datum § Y-datum Angular Leader Setup • • • • • The dimension is viewed as a single entity. see the Draw>Dimension>Setup command. For information on this dialog box. arrowheads. the system automatically recalculates and re-labels the dimension This is called "associative dimensioning. 128 ." You set up the dimension parameters in the Dimension Parameter dialog box. There are five kinds of linear dimension: Horizontal. Horizontal dimensions can be any of the three modes of linear dimensions: single. 3" 2" 2" Single Baseline Continuous 2" 2" 129 . Rotation. Vertical dimensions can be any of the three modes of linear dimensions: single. and Line .PrimeCAD User Manual Dimension>Linear The Draw>Dimension>Linear command allows you to measure the distance between two points. Vertical. baseline. Dimension>Linear>Horizontal This command allows you to dimension the horizontal distance between points. or continuous. Single Baseline Continuous 2" 2" 3" 2" 2" Dimension>Linear>Vertical This command allows you to dimension the vertical distance between points. baseline or continuous. The linear dimension unit is based on the linear settings in the System>Units of Measurement command. Alignment. the dimension result of the Alignment command will be the same as that of the Horizontal command or the Vertical command. at the angle defined by those points. 2 " " 3 " 2 2 " Single Baseline Continuous 130 2 " . or continuous .PrimeCAD User Manual Dimension>Linear>Alignment This command allows you to add linear dimensions: single. If the two selected points align horizontally or vertically. The distance measured is not horizontal or vertical distance but the "straight line" distance between two points. baseline . aligning them with the 2 points you select. Therefore. not the two endpoints when you want to dimension a line entity. The dimension text will align with the dimension li ne which is parallel to the selected line. baseline. If you enter 90 degrees or 0 degrees in the dialog box.PrimeCAD User Manual Dimension>Linear>Rotation This command allows you to add single . or continuous linear dimensions at a specified angle that you specify in the dialog box. " 1 131 . " 1 Single " 2 Baseline " 1 " 1 Continuous Dimension>Linear>Line This command allows you to dimension the selected lines. you can get the vertical or horizontal dimension. you only need to select the line. 2. To draw a series of single linear dimensions: 1. use the first extension line of the first dimension as base for the following dimension calculation and dimension line placement. Choose Horizontal. which has nothing to do with any other dimensions in the drawing. Select the location of the second control point. Select the Baseline option button in the Mode section and then choose OK. 5. Selecting the Draw>Dimension> Setupcommand. the system will automatically place the text outside the extension lines. The Dimension Parameter dialog box appears. Baseline Linear Dimension Baseline linear dimensions are arranged in stair-step fashion with each dimension in a series extending from a single extension line.PrimeCAD User Manual Single Linear Dimension The single linear dimension is totally independent. 3. Moving the cursor to the location where you want to place the dimension. Select the location of the first dimensioning point. 132 . Enter the rotation angle in the Angle dialog box if you choose the Draw>Dimension> Linear>Rotation command. The dimension text will be placed outside the extension line close to the cursor in this situation. Every single dimension has its own startpoint and endpoint. Rotation or Line command. To draw a series of baseline dimensions: 1. Press the left mouse button. Repeat step 4 and 5 as necessary until you are finished drawing single dimensions. Selecting the Draw>Dimension>Setup command. 4. 7. The calculated dimension is drawn. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. When the dimension text is too large to be placed between two extension lines. a snap input mode is applied to precisely locating the point. Select the Single option button in the Mode section and then choose OK. The cursor changes to the moving shape. Alignment. 6. Whether it is outside left extension line or right extension line depends on the location of the cursor. Frequently. That is. The Dimension Parameter dialog box appears. Vertical. Enter the rotation angle in the Angle dialog box if you choose the Draw>Dimension>Linear>Rotation command. Vertical. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. The cursor changes to the moving shape. the system will automatically place the text outside the extension lines. 6. Select the location of the second point. Whether it is outside left extension line or right extension line depends on the location of the cursor. Repeat step 5. Alignment. 4. Choose Horizontal. Moving the cursor to the location where you want to place the dimension. Select the location of the first dimensioning point. 5. When the dimension text is too large to be placed between two extension lines. Press the left mouse button. The calculated dimension is drawn.PrimeCAD User Manual 2. Every specified point adds a new dimension extended from the original extension line of the first dimension. 133 . 7. a snap input mode is applied to precisely locating the point. 3. Frequently. or Rotation command. The dimension text will be placed outside the extension line close to the cursor in this situation. Select the Continuous option button in the Mode section and then choose OK. Selecting the Draw>Dimension> Setup command. The cursor changes to the moving shape. Enter the rotation angle in the Angle dialog box if you choose the Draw>Dimension>Linear>Rotation command.PrimeCAD User Manual Continuous Linear Dimension Continuous linear dimensions are a series dimension lines chained together. Choose Horizontal. The Dimension Parameter dialog box appears. 4. 2. the system will automatically place the text outside the extension lines. Alignment. Every specified point adds a new dimension to the chained dimensions. To draw a series of continuous dimensions: 1. 7. Moving the cursor to the location where you want to place the dimension. use the second extension line of the last dimension as the first extension line of next dimension. Vertical. Frequently. Continue selecting points. That is. 134 . 5. Whether it is outside left extension line or right extension line depends on the location of the cursor. Select the location of the second point. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. The dimension text will be placed outside the extension line close to the cursor in this situation. When the dimension text is too large to be placed between two extension lines. The calculated dimension is drawn. or Rotation command. 6. Select the location of the first dimensioning point. Press the left mouse button. 3. a snap input mode is applied to precisely locating the point. 135 . Diameter1.PrimeCAD User Manual Dimension>Radial The Draw>Dimension>Radial command allows you to measure the radius or the diameter of a circle or an arc. Radius2. and Diameter2. The Radial command has two methods for Radius and Diameter dimensions individually -. Users can choose the dimension format suitable to their needs. The radial dimension unit is based on the linear settings in the System>Units of Measurement command.Radius1. The two methods are similar to each other in operation except the format of the dimension. you can move the cursor to drag the extension line . The cursor changes to prompt you to select an arc or a circle. 3. Select a circle or arc to be dimensioned. 6. 136 . 5. moving with the cursor. The dimension information will then be calculated and placed in the drawing. 3 and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing radius dimensions. The angle of the arrows is defined by the center point and the selected point of step 3. Select a point for the angle of the arrow. An arrow is drawn from the center to the inside edge of the circle or arc. Choose the Draw>Dimension>Radial>Radius1 command.PrimeCAD User Manual Dimension>Radial>Radius1 To dimension the radius of an arc or circle . using the Radius 2 command: 3 R1" 2 1 1. 4. Select a point where the text is to be located. Choose the Draw>Dimension>Radial>Radius2 command. Repeat steps 2. Then. 2. using the Radius1 command: 3 2 1" 1 1. The cursor changes to prompt you to select an arc or a circle. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Dimension>Radial>Radius2 To dimension the radius of an arc or circle. The entity is highlighted and a radius line starting from the center appears. Select a point where the text is to be located. 3 and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing radius dimensions. The angle of the arrows is based on the angle of the selected point of step 3. An arrow is drawn from the selected point of step 3 to outside edge of the circle or arc. 3. you can move the cursor to drag the extension line . using the Diameter1 command: 3 2" 2 1 1. 3. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 2. Then. Select a circle or arc to be dimensioned. 4. 6.PrimeCAD User Manual 2. The angle of the arrows is defined by the center point and the selected point of step 3. Select a point for the angle of the arrow. 137 . moving with the cursor. you can move the cursor to drag the extension line . Then. The dimension information will then be calculated and placed in the drawing. Repeat steps 2. Select a point where the text is to be located. The dimension information will then be calculated and placed in the drawing. Dimension>Radial>Diameter1 To dimension the diameter of an arc or circle. 4. The entity is highlighted and a radius line appears. Choose the Draw>Dimension>Radial>Diameter1 command. moving with the cursor. The entity is highlighted and a diameter line appears. Select a point for the angle of the arrow. Arrows are drawn through the center of the circle or arc to each opposite end of the circle or arc. The cursor changes to prompt you to select an arc or a circle. Select a circle or arc to be dimensioned. 5. PrimeCAD User Manual 5. 48 MM 2 2 60 MM 1 1 138 . Note that if the specified point of step 3 is inside of the selected arc or circle. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command . 3 and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing diameter dimensions. Whether the dimension text is placed inside or outside depends on the size of the entity. Repeat steps 2. the dimension information is calculated and placed in the drawing immediately and then you can skip step 4. 6. Repeat steps 2.PrimeCAD User Manual Dimension>Radial>Diameter2 To dimension the diameter of an arc or circle. Select a point for the angle of the arrow. Note that if the specified point of step 3 is inside of the selected arc or circle. Select a circle or arc to be dimensioned. 4. Choose the Draw>Dimension>Radial>Diameter2 command. moving with the cursor. 6. Select a point where the text is to be located. The entity is highlighted and a diameter line appears. The cursor changes to prompt you to select an arc or a circle. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Whether the dimension text is placed inside or outside depends on the size of the entity. the dimension information is calculated and placed in the drawing immediately and then you can skip step 4. An arrow is drawn from the selected point of step 3 to the circle or arc. using the Diameter 2 command: 3 2 d2" 1 1. 5. 3 and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing diameter dimensions. The dimension information will then be calculated and placed in the drawing. The angle of the arrows is based on the angle of the selected point of step 3. 2. Then. 48 MM 2 2 60 MM 1 1 139 . you can move the cursor to drag the extension line . 3. 8. There are three origin option buttons in the dialog box. Dimension>Ordinate>X-datum To dimension the X coordinates of points: 1" 3 2 1 1.PrimeCAD User Manual Dimension>Ordinate The Draw>Dimension>Ordinate command allows you to label either the X coordinate or Y coordinate of specified points. 7. This point can be either relative to the drawing origin. The dimension information will then be calculated and placed in the drawing. A small " + " marks the point. 5. 2. Repeat step 5 and 6 as necessary until you are finished drawing X ordinate dimensions. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. or relative to a temporary ordinate origin. 6. Choose OK to accept the setting. 4. moving with the cursor. 3. select a point that will be the reference point or origin for the subsequent points to be dimensioned. The Set Reference Point dialog box appear. Select a point to be measured. Select Reference Point After OK button or enter the origin coordinates in the Reference Point XY text boxes. You can see a rubberband line . Choose the Draw>Dimension>Ordinate>Ordinate-X datum command. The ordinate dimension unit is based on the linear settings in the System>Units of Measurement command. Choose Use Origin as Reference Point button. Select a point where the text is to be located. 140 . If you chose the Select Reference Point After OK button. 6. If you chose the User Select After OK button. 7. Select a point to be measured. User Select After OK button or enter the origin coordinates in the XY text boxes. The dimension information will then be calculated and placed in the drawing. Choose OK to accept the setting. 8. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Repeat step 5 and 6 as necessary until you are finished drawing Y ordinate dimensions. The Set Reference Point dialog box appear. A small " + " marks the point. moving with the cursor. 141 . Choose the Draw>Dimension>Ordinate>Ordinate-Y datum command. You can see a rubberband line . select a point that will be the reference point or origin for the subsequent points to be dimensioned. Select a point where the text is to be located. Choose Use the Drawing Origin as Reference Point button. 2.PrimeCAD User Manual Dimension>Ordinate>Y-datum To dimension the Y coordinates of points: 3 1" 2 1 1. There are three origin option buttons in the dialog box. 4. 3. 5. 142 . Select a pair of lines defining the angle to be dimensioned. see the Draw>Dimension>Setup command. The cursor changes to prompt you to select lines and/or polylines.9° 1 1. The lines are highlighted. If you chose the Single dimension mode in the Dimension Parameter dialog box. Then. Choose the Draw>Dimension>Angular command. repeat step 3 until you are finished drawing baseline angular dimensions. Baseline or Continuous. 2. If you chose the Baseline dimension mode in the Dimension Parameter dialog box. The angular dimension of an arc can only be Single dimension mode. Notice that the dimension line moves among the four angles as you move the cursor around the intersection point. For information on this dialog box.PrimeCAD User Manual Dimension>Angular The Draw>Dimension>Angular command allows you to measure the inner angle or outer angle between two non-parallel lines or measure the angle of an arc. Select a point where the dimension text is to be located. or an arc. repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished drawing single angular dimensions. You determine the dimension mode in the Dimension Parameter dialog box. you only need to select one additional line when you repeat step 2. The dimension information will then be calculated and placed in the drawing. 3. The angular dimension of two lines can be one of the three dimension modes--Single. Angular Dimension of Two Lines To dimension the angle of two lines: 2 3 61. 4. This is because the first selected line of the first dimension remain selected and will be treated as base for the following dimension calculation. 143 . The cursor changes to prompt you to select lines and/or polylines. The angular dimension unit is based on the angle settings in the System>Units of Measurement. 3. An arc appears. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. moving with the cursor. This is because the second selected line of last dimension remain selected and will be treated as the first selected line of next dimension. 45.PrimeCAD User Manual 78.7° 1 1.0° 33. you only need to select one additional line when you repeat step 2. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished drawing arc angular dimension.7° 33. repeat step 3 until you are finished drawing continuous angular dimensions. 2. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 5. Angular Dimension of An Arc To dimension an arc angle: 2 124. Then. or an arc.Choose the Draw>Dimension>Angle command. Select the arc you want to measure.7° 5.Select a point where the dimension text is to be located.7° If you chose the Continuous dimension mode in the Dimension Parameter dialog box. 4. The dimension information will then be calculated and placed in the drawing. 7. depending on the default in Dimension Parameter dialog box). Unlike other dimensions.PrimeCAD User Manual Dimension>Leader When you dimension radiuses and diameters. The marker and text are drawn. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 5. This makes it much easier to edit the components of the leader later. Instead. Repeat steps 2 through 6 as necessary until you are finished drawing leader dimensions. Select a point for the arrowhead (or other markers. Select one or more vertices. and text strings are saved separately. It provides a convenient way to add notes linked to specific points in a drawing. Each vertex ends the previous segment and begins a new one. moving with the cursor. Enter the desired string in the String dialog box. Actually. 8. which allows you to create an extension line starting with an arrow or special shape to locate dimension text. The Leader command is a special Polyline command. Choose OK button to execute this command. To add leaders (text linked by a leader line to specific points): 3 4 Leader Dimension 1 2 1. 6. 144 . The polyline is drawn and the String dialog box appears. 4. 2. you can choose the Draw>Dimension>Leader command to create an extensive arrow to place specified text far from the dimensioned entity. 3. Choose the Draw>Dimension>Leader command. Press the right mouse button to end the polyline. A line appears. you may find that leaders can be used to place the dimension text outside of circles or arcs. polylines. markers. leaders are not saved in the drawing as a single entity. When you check this box. which can be turned on or turned off. In linear dimensioning. right extension line and dimension line. These lines indicate the points where you are dimensioning from. please see the Linear command and Angular command. There are left extension line and right extension line. Offset ---. Dimension Modes---. The plus and minus tolerances should be entered as positive values. Dimension line runs from one extension line to the other and indicates the length or angle that you want to dimension. Tolerance----The Tolerance is a checkbox. which are only applicable to Linear dimensions (except Line) and Angular dimensions (except arc angle). Dimension line. For information about the operation of these dimension modes. Text Direction----This section allows you to select the orientation of the dimension text from horizontal to aligning the text along the leader or dimension line. The suffix is merely a text label. Show----The Show section controls the display of left extension line. Prefix---. In angular dimensioning. The Dimension Parameter dialog box is divided into several sections. There are arrow heads at either end of the dimension line. The prefix is merely a text label. you must enter the amount of tolerance allowed in the Plus and/or Minus text box.PrimeCAD User Manual Dimension>Setup The Draw>Dimension>Setup command allows you to set up the dimension parameters in the Dimension Parameters dialog box to be used in Dimension command. Dimension Line 4" Left Extension Line Right Extension Line Extension lines. The text can be placed in the dimension line or Above the dimension line.There are three dimension modes. or from a point close to an entity. it is always a straight line but not necessary horizontal or vertical. Not is every item in the dialog box applicable to all types of dimension. 145 .Enter the text string which will be added after dimension text. it is an arc.Enter the text string which will be added in front of dimension text. Extension lines are short lines that extend from an entity.Specify the desired text offset distance from the dimension line in the Offset text box. Suffix---. The gap distance setting allows you to snap onto endpoints of a line and still leave a gap between the entity and the extension lines.8 " Text: Direction-Horizon Placement-In 2.8" Text: Direction-Horizon Placement-Above 2. and at one end of a leader line (see Leader command).PrimeCAD User Manual Text: Direction-Alignment Placement-In 2.0" 4.8" Leader----Special markers which are called "leaders" appear at both ends of a dimension line. Overhead { Gap { 5" 146 . Select one shape from the Leader drop-down list box to set the leader type and specify the width and height for the selected marker in the Width and Height text boxes. Gap is the distance that separates an extension line from the control point being dimensioned. 4.0" 4.0" Extension Line----There are two text boxes in this section. Overhead and Gap. Overhead is the dista nce an extension line runs bast the dimension line.0" 4.8 " Text: Direction-Alignment Placement-Above 2. markers. The entities which can not form hatch boundaries are curves. Hatch entities save memory space. boundaries must be described. 147 . these can form boundaries as well. dimensions.PrimeCAD User Manual Draw>Hatch The commands on the Draw>Hatch cascading menu allow you to add hatch pattern in the drawing. • • • Set Pts Selection Setup Before you hatch a closed area. Since rectangles and regular polygons are made of line segments. which can be made of any combination of straight lines. texts and hatches itself. but waste time in calculation. arcs. solid entities. and ellipses are made of arcs. and circles. If you want to display the boundaries of hatched entities. To draw a polyline with hatch inside: 5 2 1 4 3 1. 5. Repeat steps 2. 148 . PrimeCAD adds a boundary between the first and last points you indicated. You create the area by defining the end points of the boundary. The inserted hatch style is according to the values setting of hatch pattern. Select a startpoint. A rubberband line appears beginning at the selected point. Click the right mouse button to end the polyline. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Each one ends the previous segment and begins a new one. A polyline with hatch inside is drawn. Select one or more additional vertices. 6. You must select at least three points for this command to work. 2. Choose the Draw>Hatch>Set Pts command. and 4 as often as necessary. 3. 4. spacing and angle in the Draw>Hatch>Setup command. The color of hatch pattern is the current pen color. or you can overlap existing entities. PrimeCAD will close off the boundary for you using an imaginary line. The area defined by straight lines between the selected points is hatched when you finish defining the boundary. The pen style and pen width have no meaning to hatch patterns. For example. if you select the four corners of a rectangle and then press the mouse right button to complete the drawing.PrimeCAD User Manual Hatch>Set Pts The Draw>Hatch>Set Pts command allows you to draw a polyline with hatch inside. 3. If you have left the boundary open. Using this command you can hatch areas that do not yet exist. you have to turn on the Show Outline checkbox in the Draw>Hatch>Setup command. spacing and angle in the Draw>Hatch>Setup command. When it meets inner boundary again. Only using the Erase Last command once can erase them all and any editing command like Move. You may find that if the hatches are drawn wrong. system takes turns of turning on and turning off the hatch action. Choose the Draw>Hatch>Selection command. you will find that these hatch areas is only a single entity. The pen style and pen width have no meaning to hatch patterns.PrimeCAD User Manual Hatch>Selection The Draw>Hatch>Selection command allows yo u to hatch inside existing entities. Copy and Erase will influence all hatches drawn the same time. even like a circle inside a triangle. clearing the whole 149 . Select all the entities you want to hatch inside. The inserted hatch style is according to the values setting of hatch pattern. If you want to hatch more complex entities. Then. The color of hatch pattern is the current pen color. you must carefully specify boundaries you want to hatch inside so that the hatch pattern won't pass through into the circle. To fill existing entities with a hatch pattern: 1 2 1. Click the right mouse button to end the selection. the hatch pattern is automatically drawn inside after you choose the Selection command. 3. You can choose the Erase Last command to clear them and try again if the hatch scale and rotation angle of hatch areas are not correct. A hatch can be exploded into separate line entities by the Modify>Explode command. If you hatch several areas in the Draw>Hatch>Selection command and use the Modify>Transforms>Translate command to move them later. you have to turn on the Show Outline checkbox in the Setup command. 2. hatch pattern is drawn inside directly and ended with the boundary. PrimeCAD hatches areas from the outmost to the inner and stops the action when it meets the first boundary. begins the action from the next boundary. Exploding hatches just likes exploding a symbol. If you want to display the boundaries of hatched entities. These selected entities are filled with the specified hatch pattern. If a selection set exists before you choose the Draw>Hatch>Selection command. If the selected boundary item is simply a circle or a rectangle. Select the desired hatch pattern. use the Redraw command. The scale factor affects the interval between hatch pattern lines. change the values set of Scale and Rotation Angle. 150 . The Hatch Patterns dialog box appears. Hatch>Setup The Draw>Hatch>Setup command allows you to change the default hatch pattern. The effect of changing boundary display will show up the next time the display is changed by a Zoom In or Zoom Out command. Boundary . the rotation. PrimeCAD shows the selected pattern style in the sample box. Scale . existing hatches are not affected. the next hatch placed in the drawing will use the new settings. You can select any pattern among 44 types provided by the system. Choose the Draw>Hatch>Setup command. To change the settings of the hatch: 1. Rotation Angle .This option allows you to change the scale factor that will be used for future hatch placements. If you want to see the effect right away. When you change one of these options.PrimeCAD User Manual hatches and drawing them again will be easily than moving their location or boundaries.This option allows you to select the pattern you want to use for hatched areas. 2. Choose OK to accept the setting and close the dialog box. Hatch Pattern .This option is used to set the rotation of the hatch pattern. 3. and turn on or turn off the Show Outline checkbox.This option determines the display of hatch boundaries on and off. the angle direction is determined by the current angle orientation defined in the System>Units of Measurement. and whether or not the boundaries are displayed. When entering angles. the scale of the pattern. 151 .PrimeCAD User Manual Draw>Text The commands on the Draw>Text cascading menu allow you to place texts into a drawing. The location of the cursor on the rubberband box is based on your selection in the Justification section. PrimeCAD defines text entered from the Text input box in terms of a basepoint. The text is drawn. Text>Start Pt The Draw>Text>Sta rt Pt command allows you to add text to a drawing at a specific location. To insert text at a specific point: PRIMECAD 1 1. and the text itself. 2. 3. Text can be entered with any pen color. location. the Import button to import text files which are ASCII format. The menu has the following commands: • • • • Start Pt Aligned Arc Font Setup Text entities consist of one or more lines of characters. Choose the OK button to execute the command. This is because text is primarily used for annotation. aspect ratio. height. Text can be justified horizontally and vertically. Select a location for the box cursor. select desired horizontal and vertical text justification. In the Justification section. Text is always drawn with a solid pen style and a width of 1 pixel. The import text file can only be as big as 4096 characters. and angle that the text will be displayed. the Font button to open the Font Setup dialog box (please see the Draw>Text>Font Setup command). If you chose the OK button. or the Cancel button to cancel the command. an angle to specify direction. 4. and drawn in any of the PrimeCAD fonts or TrueType fonts. Enter the text in the input box. Choose the Draw>Text>Start Pt command. 5. The Text dialog box appears. assigned to any layer. a rubberband box is displayed showing the size. PrimeCAD automatically adjusts the height and width of the text .PrimeCAD User Manual In PrimeCAD. Text>Aligned The Draw>Text>Aligned command allows you to fit text into a window by defining two opposite corners. If you chose the OK button. Enter the text in the input box.e] command. you can clearly insert the text strings at your desired place. Text>Arc The Draw>Text>Arc command allows you to place text along an arc. 4. the Import button to import text files which are ASCII format. A rubberband box appears. 152 . or the Cancel button to cancel the command. The text is fitting into the specified rectangular window. As you select the horizontal and vertical justifications for the text basepoint in the dialog box. Choose the Draw>Text>Arc command. Choose the Draw>Text>Aligned command. To place text along an arc: E RI M CAD P 2 1 3 1. The Text dialog box appears.m. The Text dialog box appears. 3. the Font button to open the Font Setup dialog box (please see the Draw>Text>Font Setup command). The arc on which the text is drawn is similar to the 3-point arc in the Draw>Arc>3-Pts[s. select the first point. 2. To insert text into a rectangular window: 1 PRIMECAD 2 1. The Aligned command disable the default height and width settings and also the Justification section in the dialog box is grayed out. Choose the OK b utton to execute the command. moving with the cursor. the default setting of text is left-justified. The import text file can only be as big as 4096 characters. Select the second corner. Text can be placed anywhere in the drawing. if you want to crowd the letters. Text>Font Setup The Draw>Text>Font setup command allows you to open the Font Setup dialog box and to define the font used in the Text commands.This drop-down list box lists the supported font name under PrimeCAD Font and TrueType Font. Enter the text in the input box. Spacing . Notice that setting the between character spacing will have no effect on True Type fonts. if you want less space.This section defines the height and the width of the default font. You must make sure you have Proportional Spacing turned on. Font Name . 4. If you want more space between lines. The space between characters is a percentage of the text size. Use the Characters text box to set the real space between characters in text lines.This section controls the spacing between characters and between strings. the Justification section in the dialog box is grayed out. Lines. type a smaller number. After changing the line spacing. Choose the OK button to execute the command. The default is 100 percent. Characters. type a smaller number. all new text entered into the drawing will have the new spacing. type a large number. all new text entered into the drawing will have the new spacing. For the Arc command. 3. The Sample box displays the looks of the selected font.PrimeCAD Font and TrueType Font.PrimeCAD provides two font options. The default is 20 percent. which means that the space between two lines of text is one time the height of the text. Size . type a larger number. The value you enter is a percent of text size. any point along the arc except endpoint and the ending point to determine an arc. The minimum practical value is 100% which will cause virtually no space between one 153 .PrimeCAD User Manual 2. If you want to spread the letters. The space is measured from the reference point for the first line to the reference point for the second line. The text spacing cannot be set to a negative value. The text is drawn along the arc counterclockwise or clockwise depending on the direction of entering the three points of the arc. Previously entered text will not be changed. Select the beginning point. which means that between each pair of letters is a space one-fifth the width of the letter. The settings in the dialog box includes: Option . Use the Lines text box to specify the distance between lines of text. After changing the between character spacing. an "i" takes up the same amount of space as a "w". When you select the Fixed button. When you select the Proportional button. If you want it slanted to the left. the text characters are drawn straight up and down. enter a positive angle such as 15. After changing the text slant or rotation angle.PrimeCAD User Manual line and the next. enter a negative number.an "i" takes less space than a "w".This section controls whether the text placed in the drawing is rotated or slant. all characters are mono spaced . If the between line space is less than 100% the lines will overlap. The maximum slant is 90. all new text entered into the drawing will be drawn with the new slant or rotation angle. the distance between characters is determined by the between character percentage and the width of the character . The Slant angle has no effect on TrueType fonts. If you want text slanted to the right.This section controls whether the text is fixedly or proportionally spaced. Previously entered text will not be changed. 154 . The Slant option allows you to create italic text in your drawing. Pitch . This option has no effect on the TrueType font. When the slant is 0 (the default). Angle . The between line spacing cannot be set to a negative value. in either direction. just like Draw>Hatch>Selection command.PrimeCAD User Manual Draw>Solid The commands on the Draw>Solid cascading menu allow you to create circles. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 3. The outlines of these entities are still drawn by the current pen color and style. The paint color is set in the Draw>Solid>Setup command. When you execute the Solid commands. chords. Otherwise the operation is similar to the Draw>Circle>Center-Side command: select a point as the center point and another point as the side point. The solid circle is drawn. For example. if there is a selection set. Then. pies. 4. system takes turns of turning on and turning off the painting action. the command will try to execute on it. Similar to the Draw>Hatch>Selection command. Solid>Circle To draw filled-inside circles: 1. Otherwise the selection set will be deselected. PrimeCAD can paint the selection set from the outmost to the inner and stops the action when it meets the first boundary. When it meets inner boundary again. the Solid commands will apply to this selection set if possible. begins the action from the next boundary. it will be automatically painted when you choose the Draw>Solid>Pie or Draw>Solid>Chord command. If there is an existing selection set. 2. if the selected entity is an arc. by applying the Solid>Circle or Solid>Polygon on the selection set which is comprised o f circles and polygons. Repeat step 2 as necessary until you are finished drawing filled-inside circles. or polygons filled with a color you choose. Choose the Draw>Solid>Circle command. 155 . if one circle is selected. it will be automatically painted when you choose the Draw>Solid>Circle command. PrimeCAD User Manual Solid>Pie To draw filled-inside pies: 3 2 1 1. 5. The solid pie is drawn. Choose the Draw>Solid>Chord command. Repeat step 2 as necessary until you are finished drawing chords.m. If there is a selection set with only one selected arc. 3. Select a second point along the circle. 6. Choose the Draw>Solid>Pie command. Otherwise the operation is similar to the Draw>Arc>3-Pts(s. Select a third point to complete the pie. Otherwise select a point as the center point. a point along the arc and the ending point. this command will apply to it. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command.e) command: select the beginning point. 2. 156 . and 4 as necessary until you are finished drawing pies. moving with the cursor. PrimeCAD adds a boundary line from the starting point to the ending point to form a chord and fill inside with the specified color. A rubberband line appears. 4. 3. If there is a selection set with only one selected arc. Repeat steps 2. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. 3. Solid>Chord To draw filled-inside chords: 2 3 1 1. this command will apply to it. A rubberband pie appears. moving with the cursor. 4. 2. Change the current color settings. Use Esc or right mouse button to cancel the command. Each one ends the previous segment and begins a new one. Solid>Color Setup To setup the filled-inside color: 1. 3. Lum. When you move the (<). 4. Press the right mouse button to complete the polyline . just like Draw>Hatch>Selection command. Choose the Draw>Solid>Color Setup command. If there is an existing selection set. 3. You can choose the desired color in the Basic Color section or mix by yourself to get the desired color. 157 . Red. select Define Custom Color option button and move the (<) beside the color box up and down to mix colors to get the desired color. the values in the Hue. If you want to define your own color. Sat. the command will try to execute on it. 2. 2.PrimeCAD User Manual Solid>Polygon To draw filled-inside polygons: 2 3 4 5 1 1. Choose the Draw>Solid>Polygon command. Repeat step 2 as necessary until you are finished drawing painted polygons. Otherwise the operation is similar the Draw>Polyline>Set Pts-Close command: Select three or more vertices. Choose OK to accept the settings and close the dialog box. Green and Blue boxes change as follows and you can see the color-mixed result in the sample box. The Color Setup dialog box appears. The system connects the starting point with the last vertex to form a polygon and fill inside with the specified color. However. You can enlarge. Only the placed position . you need to define the attributes in the form of text and include them in the symbol definition. you cannot edit a single entity inside the placed symbol. you need to explode the placed symbol back to its composed entities. You define a symbol by specifying a name. it is first saved in the symbol tables so that you can select and place it in the drawing as many times as you want. you need to save it to disks as a symbol library (no just define it) and then load it into other drawings. If you want to edit the entity. place. Before you can place symbols into the drawing or share them between drawings. If you want to share the defined symbol with other drawings. A symbol is a group of entities that is placed at a specified position as a single entity. or to exchange data with a data base program. Later. When you load or create a symbol the drawing uses just as much memory as the original entities that went into the symbol. See Modify > Explode for more information. Attributes functions are the ones that let you do this kind of things. its base point. rotation angle. Because a placed symbol acts as a single basic entity. Each symbol has a name associate with it. and probably some description text about this symbol.PrimeCAD User Manual Draw>Symbol The Draw>Symbol command are used to create . or a spreadsheet program. When you place a symbol in the drawing. Once a symbol is defined or created. and a point reference to the original defined symbol are saved for each instance of the symbol. For more information about attributes see Draw>Attributes. stretch. X and Y scales. When a symbol is placed in the drawing. edit. Using symbols helps reduce the amount of memory used by your drawing. rotate. save and load symbols. if you need to create Bill of Materials information for your drawing. Symbols are the powerful and efficient ways for creating something once and using it many times within a drawing and for sharing between drawings. 158 . or even mirror a placed symbol. To provide the non-graphic information about a symbol. you actually place a instance of this symbol. each symbol placement uses only a small amount of memory because it references the original symbol definition. PrimeCAD will prompt you to input the information about this symbol according to its associated attributes. shrink. you need to define them first. (optional) If you want to replace the selected entities with this symbol. Select a symbol base point by choosing one of the six option buttons: • The lower left corner of the selection set. 8. You can check to see if your symbol was really defined by checking the symbol 159 . check the Replace Entities With This Symbol checkbox. 3. The selection set remains as individual entities. Select the entities to be used in the definition. The Symbol Definition dialog box appears. • The top left corner of the selection set. you are now be prompted to select the symbol base point. you must make a selection set. • The center of the selection set. a symbol instance was placed in the drawing. 9. To replace the selection set with a symbol instance. If you checked the Replace Entities With This Symbol checkbox. At this point a new symbol definition has been created. 7. It is like you delete the selected entities and then place an instance of this defined symbol here. If not. • The lower right corner of the selections set. since PrimeCAD allows you to create nested symbols . Choose the Draw>Symbols>Define command. 6. no instances of the symbol exist and the selection set does not become a symbol instance. Choose a name that will help you or someone else identify the symbol without too much guesswork.PrimeCAD User Manual Symbols>Define The Symbols>Define command is used to define an existing portion of the drawing as a symbol. Enter a description of the symbol into the Description text box if you want. If you chose the User Select option in the base point definition. To create a symbol definition: 1. Enter a name up to 20 characters for the symbol. Choose OK. 4. 5. • User Select option allows you to pick the basepoint in the drawing area after selecting the OK button. This command uses all the entities in the selection set to create a symbol definition. The symbol definition is saved to the symbol-table in memory. delete the selection set and then choose the Draw>Symbols>Place command to place a symbol instance. This selection set can contain other placed symbols. You may click anywhere in the drawing to set the base point. 2. • The top right corner of the selection set. This information helps you identifying the purpose of this symbol. Before you can select this command. Choose the Draw>Symbols>Place command. Type the new rotation degree in the Rotation box to rotate a symbol around its basepoint and/or type the new X and Y scale factors in the X Scale box and the Y Scale box respect to its base point. 5. mirror. so if your symbol was defined. however. and style. The symbol will not be rotated. The size of the window determines the size of the symbol. it is available to this drawing until it is deleted by the Draw>Symbol>Edit. 160 . or rotate it. But among many graphic properties assigned to an entity. 3. The Symbol Placement dialog box appears. it should appear on this list. The names of all defined symbols are added to the list as soon as they are defined. do not apply to the symbol as a whole. Choose the OK button. When you place a symbol. shrink. Select the name of the symbol from the drop-down list box. select a point in the drawing for the new placement location. such as pen color. This will work only when you chose Set Point method to place the symbol. If you chose the Set Point option. Choose a placed reference point different from the original reference point if needed. you must save the definition to a disk file. Symbols>Place The Draw>Symbols>Place command is used to select and place a symbol into a drawing at a specified location. The Description box displays the description of the symbol entered when you defined the symbol. The symbol is placed with new rotation degree and scales you specified. You can modify the rotation angle and scale of the symbol before placing it. stretch. Once a symbol is defined. You could view the symbol in the Picture box when you selected through the drop-down list box. But if you want to use the symbol definitions in other drawing. the symbol entities retain their individual graphic properties. you can enlarge. Other graphic properties. A placed symbol is a single entity. Select a method to place and resize the symbol among two option buttons: • Set Point : Place the symbol by setting a reference point. 4. only the Layer property is meaning for a placed symbol. See the Explanation of the X and Y scale factors and Rotation degree. • Window : Place the symbol by selecting two opposite corners of a window. Instead. 2. When the drawing is saved. See the Draw>Symbols>Save command. the symbol definitions are saved within the drawing. To insert a symbol: 1. width.PrimeCAD User Manual list in the Symbol Placement dialog box. This is done in much the same way that you would place text or any simple entity. 6. At a scale factor of 1 for both X and Y. the angle direction is determined by the current angle orientation as defined in the Units of Measurement dialog box. and the Description will be filled in if the information exists. the symbol placement will be stretched horizontally. if both the X and Y scale factors are 0. The symbol will be fitted in this windows as large as it can. When you choose the Draw>Symbols>Edit command. There are three possible actions. The new name and description are attached to the symbol definition. If the Y scale factor is larger. Symbols>Edit The Draw>Symbols>Edit command allows you to change the name and description of a symbol definition in the current drawing.25. 161 . symbols will be placed at twice their normal sizes. set the X scale to -1 and the Y scale to 1. For example. • Name: A Symbol Change dialog box displays after you choose this command button. choose the OK button for all references to the symbol within the drawing to be updated to the new symbol information. the Symbol Change dialog box appears: The dialog box displays a list of all the symbols defined in the drawing. The rotation value can be anywhere between -360 and +360 degrees. To flip the symbol left to right. symbols will be placed at their original sizes. set the X scale to 1 and the Y scale to -1. The scale factors always apply to the original definition and orientation. Scale factors larger than 1 make symbols larger. Scale factors smaller than 1 make symbols smaller. if both X and Y scales are set at 2. symbols will be one quarter their normal sizes. See Also Graphic Properties Explanation of X and Y scale factors and Rotation degree Scale Factors: specifying the X and Y scale factors is the same as that in the Modify>Transforms>Scale. You can change the symbol name and description. one of the scale factors should be negative. For example.PrimeCAD User Manual If you chose the Window option. the cursor changes its shape to prompt you define a window. After selecting a symbol from the list box. its name will be displayed in the Name box. Rotation degree: the specified rotation degree is used to rotate the symbol around its basepoint like the operation of the Modify>Transforms>Rotate command. To flip the symbol top to bottom. To place mirror images of symbols. When entering angles. depending on whether you want to mirror around a vertical or horizontal line. it will be stretched vertically. If the X scale factor is larger than the Y scale factor. Select two points in opposite corners to define a rectangular window. Once the information is correct. delete it using the Windows File Manager. To load a symbol into the current drawing file: 1. If you like to change the font style for the selected attribute. all existing placements of this symbol are going to be erased. Type the name of the symbol you are looking for in the File Name box. To erase individual symbols. not for erasing individual symbols. To remove the file from your disk. All symbols that are loaded are available for placement in the current drawing. The Delete command button does not remove saved symbols from the symbol library of your hard disk. The selected attribute will show up in the edit boxes (Field. You edit all attributes which associate with this symbol definition in this dialog box. Choose the OK button. or select it from the list below.PrimeCAD User Manual • Attribute: An Attribute Edit dialog box displays after you choose this button. Remember. and visible and prompt checkboxes. press Font button. It is for major editing purposes only. The Open Symbol Library dialog box appears. the default attribute value. 2. Close: The Close command button will end the dialog box. You can change the attribute name. press Change button to confirm. Choose the Draw>Symbols>Load command. so if you have saved the symbol you can still load it and use it in this. or other drawings. Make sure you are not going to need this symbol again in this drawing. 162 . This command does not actually place the symbols anywhere in the drawing. Great care must be exercised in using this command. You can choose the Preview button to preview the symbol you selected to make sure it is what you want. Value and Prompt) and also the corresponding visible/prompt checkboxes. If you remove a symbol in error you can use the Edit>Undo command immediately to bring it back. • • Symbols>Load The Draw>Symbols>Load command is used to load previously stored symbols from disk for use in the current drawing. press Close. 3. use Erase on the Edit menu. After you have done. The definition of the symbol is removed from the drawing file and the name is removed from the menu. You select the attribute definition you want to edit in the list box. the prompt text . it simply brings them into symbol-table of the current drawing file for subsequent use with the Draw>Symbols>Place command. After you have made changes. Delete: You can delete a symbol definition and all placements for the selected symbol from the drawing file. INI under a specified file name. Also. This image file is the means of providing Preview capability in Draw>Symbols>Load command. When you choose the Draw>Symbols>Save command. The filename can be a maximum of eight characters. Save Selected Symbols: You can save one or more symbol definitions into the symbol library.PrimeCAD User Manual Symbols that can not be found usually generate a message that indicates an incorrect source drive or sub directory. followed by the extension . Enter a file name in the File Name text box. Choose Cancel to return to Save Symbol dialog box. 163 . An image file will be also created with the extension BYM. The extension symbol file name in PrimeCAD is SYM. Choose Yes to overwrite the file or No to enter another new name. There are two option buttons to choose in the dialog box: Save All Symbols: You can save all symbol definitions currently defined in the drawing into the symbol library. The symbol will be stored in the default path defined in PrimeCAD. Symbols>Save The Draw>Symbols>Save command saves selected symbol definitions or all symbol definitions to a symbol library on disk for use in other drawings. The symbol directory is defined in section [Paths] of PrimeCAD. you should check for typing errors. If the file name you entered already exists. the Save Symbols dialog box appears.SYM. PrimeCAD displays a message box asking if you want to overwrite the existing file.INI. • • • Field: The Field is used as the name of attribute to distinguish from other attributes. You can direct PrimeCAD to show/hide the attributes and also prompt the input from the users. The Attribute Definition dialog box shows up. which contains some edit boxes. When an attribute is defined and placed in the drawing. The Draw>Attributes cascading menu includes the following two commands: • • Define Attributes Export Attributes Attributes>Define The Draw>Attributes>Define command defines an attribute. Value and Prompt. You can enter up to 80 characters in the Field. it is just like a basic entity called “attribute definition” with only the Name displayed. Choose the Draw>Attribute>Define command. To define an attribute: 1. like the text . 164 . Before you can attach an attribute to a symbol definition. You can also direct PrimeCAD to place the attributes without prompting you to enter values. Value: The default value of this attribute. and also two flags: Visible and Prompt. PrimeCAD will prompt you to enter the attribute value according to the attribute definition settings Attributes. It acts more like the text entity at this point. Each attribute definition contains three parts: Name. The current format support is CSV (Comma Separated Values). any supported fonts and rotated at a specified angle. Prompt: The text string which will be presented to the user asking information about this attribute. You make the attribute definition as part of the selection set and define this selection set as a symbol definition. When a symbol with attribute definitions is placed in the drawing. you must define it first. can be placed using any color.PrimeCAD User Manual Draw>Attributes The attributes command is mainly used to attach non-graphical information to symbols. you can make it a part of a symbol definition. After an attribute is defined and placed in the drawing. Attributes can be displayed or hidden from the view. Attributes can be exported for use in other programs. If Prompt checkbox is off. which is similar to the File>Save As dialog box. Choose OK. the attribute is hidden. The attributes are saved to the file with the CSV (Comma Separated Values) format. 165 . Font: Set the font style for the attribute text . 2. Visible and Prompt checkboxes have no effect at this moment before the attribute is contained in a symbol definition. If the Visible checkbox is off. The Attribute: Save As dialog box shows up. 4.PrimeCAD User Manual • Visible and Prompt: Checkboxes to turn on or turn off. Enter the attribute name. The attribute name is displaced. value and prompt string in the edit box and also set the Visible and Prompt flags if necessary. You can then load this file to other programs to do further processing. Attributes>Export The Draw>Attributes>Export command can export attributes for use in other programs. • 2. To export attributes: 1. Choose the Draw>Attributes>Export command. 3. Place the text box at the appropriate location. 3. The current format support is CSV (Comma Separated Values). You will see a text box moving with the cursor. the attribute will just use the default value instead of asking users to input. Type in any legal name in the File Name edit box and press OK. Explode and Change.PrimeCAD User Manual Modify Menu After you have created your drawing. The other commands like Trim and Stretch prompt you to select entities after you choose the commands. you will find out that you often need to modify you drawing. See Also Selecting Entities Edit>Select Edit>Entity Filter 166 . We place all these capabilities in Modify Menu. PrimeCAD provides a number of enhanced editing capabilities to allow you to modify a drawing in many ways. including: • Transforms Translate Rotate Scale Mirror Align (Along the Axis) Align Entity Trims Corner Extend Edge Fillet Chamfer Divide Stretch Join Move Point Explode Change • • • • • • Some of the Modify commands perform on the selection set. Move Point . If a Modify command appears gray on the menu or does not execute from the toolboxes or toolbars. Join. These commands are grayed out if no selection set exists. make sure you have a valid selection set to act upon. such as Transforms commands. 167 . Simply select Edit>Undo from the menu. The newly created entities become the new selection set. see the "Direct Transformation" in Basic Operation. In these corresponding dialog boxes. The Transforms sub -menu contains the following commands: • • • • • • Translate Rotate Scale Mirror Align (Along the Axis) Align Entities Modify>Transforms>Translate The Translate command allows you to move the selected entities a relative distance defined by two points or by a distance value and a angle value. If this box is not checked. scale. To move selected entities from one location to another: 2 1 1. Leave Origin is an option common to all except Align. creating additional entities. All the functions in this sub-menu requires you to make the selection set first before you execute the command. The selection set is highlighted. The drawing changes made by the Transforms command can be undone if a mistake is made. When you select a command from this menu. When this option is checked. the transformation will be applied to the original selection set without making any copy. mirror and align your drawing by applying a specific transformation command to the selection set. a corresponding dialog box will appear. Many of these functions can also be performed directly using the selection set handles. the entities in the selection set will be left in their original locations and the transformation will be applied on to a copy.PrimeCAD User Manual Modify>Transforms The Modify>Transforms commands let you move. rotate. Select the entity or group of entities to move. For more information about modifying directly. Choose a displacement method from the Translate dialog box. the angle direction is determined by the current angle orientation defined in the Units of Measurement. 3. . see System>Units of Measurement. Choose the Modify>Transforms>Translate command. The selection set is highlighted. enter a translating distance in Distance edit box and angle in Angle edit box and. To rotate selected entities: Enter Rotation Angle 1 1. then. For further information. 2. after pressing OK button. The Rotation dialog box appears. push OK button. Turn on the Leave Original checkbox if you want to move the selected entities and at the same time leave a copy at the original place. Select the entity or group of entities to rotate. 168 . See Also Translating in the Direct Transformations Section Modify>Transforms>Rotate The Modify>Transforms>Rotate command allows you to rotate the selected entities by specified angle respect to a specified reference point. When entering angles. Choose the Modify>Transforms>Rotate command. you will be prompted to select two points in the drawing as the "From" and "To" points. Enter rotation angle in the Rotation Angle edit box. The Translate dialog box appears. If you choose Distance and Angle. 4.PrimeCAD User Manual 2. The entities you have selected will be moved from their current location to the new location according to the distance and direction defined by these two points. If the Pick two points option is chosen. 3. Turn on the Leave Original checkbox if you want to leave a copy in the original place. The entities you have selected will be moved from their current location to a new location according to the distance and angle values you just entered. 2. Negative X scale factor will make a mirror image respect to the Y-axis across the reference point. For Arc and Circle entities. only X-scale factor value is used. Enter the X scale factor in the X-scale edit box and Y scale factor in the Yscale edit box. The selected entity set will be rotated by the specified angle respect to the reference point. 4. To scale the selected entities about a reference point: Enter Scale 1 1. For example. Select the entity or group of entities to move. and Y scale factor determines the relative height of the entities respect to the reference point. and negative Y scale value make a mirror image respect to the X-axis across the reference point. The selection set is highlighted. The X scale factor determines the relative entity size along the X axis respect to the reference point. 6. entities will be re-scaled at twice their prior sizes respect to a selected reference point. You will be asked for the X and Y scale factors and a reference point. That means Circles and Arcs do not stretch into elliptical shapes when the X and Y scale factors are different. Choose the Modify>Transforms>Scale command. enter negative scale values. Press OK button. if both X and Y scales are set at 2. To make a mirror image of the selected entities. Circles and arcs will retain their circular shapes and be redrawn based on the new locations of their construction points.PrimeCAD User Manual 5. Turn on the Leave Original checkbox if you want to leave a copy in the original place. 3. At a scale factor of 1 for both X and Y. 169 . Modify>Transforms>Scale The Modify>Transforms>Scale command allows you to change the sizes of selected entities respect to a specified reference point. entities will be placed at their original sizes. The Scale dialog box appears. Locate a reference point. Locate the scale reference point to which the scale transformation will refer. For PrimeCAD vector font characters and TrueType font characters. The selected entities will be mirrored respect to the reference line. Select the end point of the reference line . Turn on the Leave Original checkbox if you want to copy the transformation. Press OK button. After specifying the reference line. the mirror images just look like the rotated text characters. 3. 6. See Also Scaling in the Direct Transformations Section Modify>Transforms>Mirror The Modify>Transform>Mirror command allows you to create mirror images of selected entities respect to an axis or line you specified. 2. Select the start point of the reference line about which the mirror transformation is to be performed. The selected entities will be scaled by the specified value respect to the selected reference point. This is the location of the imaginary mirror that will produce the new entities. as only half of the drawing needs to be drawn. The reference line can be any angle. The Mirror command can then be used to create the other half. A rubberband line will appear. Push OK button. 4. Choose the Modify>Transforms>Mirror command. This command is useful when drawing anything symmetrical. To make real mirror 170 . the selected entities will be mirrored. The Mirror dialog box appears. Select the entity or group of entities to mirror. 5. The selection set is highlighted.PrimeCAD User Manual 5. You will be asked for a reference line as a "mirror line". To make a mirror image of selected entities: 1 2 1. 6. A rubberband line displays the axis. explode them first using the Modify>Explode command. A rubberband line displays the axis. See Also Mirroring in the Direct Transformations Section Modify>Transforms>Align (Along the Axis) The Align (Along the Axis) command aligns the selected entities along a new axis. 4. 6. but dimension texts will always be readable. This is accomplished by specifying an original axis and a new axis. Select the new axis startpoint. 2. Also. you need to explode them to polylines or painted polygons then do mirroring. Select the new axis endpoint. The distance from the first point of the original axis to the first point of the new axis determines the relative displacement distance to the selection set. The selected entities will be translated the relative distance and rotated the relative angle. Select the entity or group of entities to be aligned. Select a point that defines the endpoint of the original axis. Select a point that defines the startpoint of the original axis. for dimension entity. while the relative angle between the axes determines the angle for rotation. performing a translation and a rotation. To align selected entities along a new axis: 3 4 1 2 1. 171 . 3. 5. That is. The relative distance between the startpoints determines the translation distance.PrimeCAD User Manual images for text characters. This axis sets the basepoint and base angle for the transformation. the extension and dimension lines can be mirrored. the mirrored dimension texts just look like the rotated texts. Choose the Modify>Transforms>Align(Along the Axis) command. The difference between the angle of the original axis and the angle of the new axis determines the angle of rotation. If you want true mirror images of dimension texts. and right). After you choose any command from the Trims sub-menu. and top). The bottom three options are related to the vertical alignment (left. Press the right button to finish the selection. 2. Select aligned-to-be entities. All secondary selected entities are aligned to the first selected entity depending on your alignment option. 4.PrimeCAD User Manual Modify>Transform>Align Entity The Align Entity command allows you to align a group of entities vertically or horizontally respect to a specified entity. and divide entities. create exact corners. Modify>Trims The Modify>Trims commands are used to clean up and refine entities. center. Also it is often possible for more than one intersection to occur between entities To eliminate unexpected results. Choose the alignment option you desire and press OK to close the dialog box. 3. add rounded and beveled corners. To align selected entities with a specified entity: 1 2 1. the selection set will be clear. 5. The top three options are related to the horizontal alignment (bottom. PrimeCAD will prompt you to select the appropriate entities you want to trim. Select the entity that you want to align other entities to. center. when trimming between entities or trimming one entity against the other entity. The Align Option dialog box appears. if there is a selection set exists. The cursor prompts you to select entities to be aligned. you should select the entities as close as possible to the actual 172 . When you choose the Trims commands. Choose the Modify>Transforms>Align Entity command. the ends which you specify on the entities are always he ends you want to keep (if the entities you trim are meant to be shortened) or to extend (if the entities you trim are meant to extended). These commands allow you to clean up entity intersections. Generally speaking. 5. 3. If the entity you select is a circle or marker. To form a corner between two entities: 1 2 1 2 1. Simply select Edit>Undo from the menu. or marker. it does not matter how you select it. The selected entities will be trimmed to form a corner if possible.PrimeCAD User Manual intersection point and also adjust the selection sensibility in the System>Preferences dialog box whenever necessary. Choose the Modify>Trims>Corner command. Repeat step 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished trimming. so they meet precisely at a corner. The Modify>Trims sub-menu contains the following commands: • • • • • • Corner Extend Edge Fillet Chamfer Divide Modify>Trims>Corner The Modify>Trims>Corner command trims a line . 173 . circle . or elliptical arc to the point of intersection with another line. or elliptical arc) which you want to trim. Select the end of the first entity (line . 4. 2. If the second selected entity is a circle or marker. Click the right mouse button or press the Escape key to exit the command. The drawing changes made by the Trims command can be undone if a mistake is made. arc. Select the end of the second entity which you want to trim. ellipse. arc. the first selected entity will extend or shorten to meet the circle or marker. elliptical arc. The trimmed lines are maintained at its original angle and is extended or shortened to meet the other entity. arc. If two entities do not meet when one of them has been extended. circle. Click the right mouse button or press the Escape key to exit the command. The first selected entity will then be trimmed (either extend or shorten) to the second one. To extend or shorten a line. Select the second entity. 1 2 174 . arc.PrimeCAD User Manual Modify>Trims>Extend The Modify>Trims>Extend command trims a line or arc so that its endpoint is precisely on its intersection with another entity (line. 5. Choose the Modify>Trims>Extend command. arc or elliptical arc to another: 1 2 2 1 1. elliptical arc or marker). ellipse. 3. PrimeCAD will extend the first entity to the point where they would intersect if the second entity was longer. Repeat step 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished trimming. 4. Select the end of a line or arc which you want to trim. 2. This command will not affect the second selected entity because it only serves as trimming edge. 4. This is similar to the Extend command. and the filleted arc is inserted. Select the ends of all entities which you want to extend or shorten. The selected entities can be either extended or shortened to meet with the trimming entity. 175 . choose the OK button. All the entities selected in step 2 will be trimmed to the edge. Choose the Modify>Trims>Edge command. 4. 2. Modify>Trims>Fillet The Modify>Trims>Fillet command trims or extends two non-parallel lines. arcs. The two entities will be trimmed or extended as required. Select the second entity. again. Select the first entity by selecting it on the portion you want to keep. elliptical arc. Choose the Modify>Trims>Fillet command. the entity that you want to trim the other entities to. To trim multiple entities against a single entity: 1 4 5 2 3 1. To round off the intersection of two entities: 1 2 1. 2. except you trim several entities at once. Press right mouse button to complete selecting trimmed entities. Then. on the portion you want to keep. Press left button to select the edge. and/or circles. arc . 3.circle . creating a rounded corner at the intersection point by adding an arc of a specified radius. and marker). Enter the desired size of fillet radius. The Fillet Radius dialog box appears to prompt you to enter the fillet radius.PrimeCAD User Manual Modify>Trims>Edge The Modify>Trims>Edge command trims a series of lines and/or arcs with another entity (line. The Fillet command automatically uses the graphic properties of the second entity you pick as the ones of the newly created arc. 3. ellipse. or bevel. 6. 2.PrimeCAD User Manual 5. 3 and 4. Choose the Modify>Trims>Chamfer command. The two lines will be trimmed or extended as required to fit a third line into the corner between the two you have selected. Press left button to select the second entity. See Also Graphic Properties Modify>Trims>Chamfer The Modify>Trims>Chamfer command is very similar to the Modify>Trims>Fillet command. as necessary until you are finished filleting corners. near the intersection to be trimmed on the portion you want to keep. If the fillet radius is set to zero. The Chamfer command automatically uses the graphic properties of the second line you pick as the ones of the newly created line. another line is inserted at the intersection of two existing non-parallel lines to give the effect of a cutting -off corner. this command will have the effect of a Corner command. 4. Repeat step 2. the command has no effect on these two entities. 176 . Enter the desired chamfer distances for each line. 3. two specified distances are needed. is set by the Distance dialog box. To chamfer or bevel the intersection of two lines: 1 2 1. choose the OK button. except that instead of an arc. The Chamfer Distance dialog box appears to prompt you to enter the chamfer distances. again. Click the right mouse button or press the Escape key to exit the command. If the fillet radius is set too large. The distances from the intersection of the two lines to the point where each line is to be chamfered. trimming and extending each of the two entities until they meet each other. As the Chamfer command works with two lines. Then. Press left b utton to select the first line to chamfer. one for each line. near the intersection to be trimmed on the portion you want to keep. with its starting and ending points at the intersection nearest to the point selected. • In any divide operation involving a circle. 177 . this command will have the effect of a Corner command. This command allows you to pick any combination of lines. the circle will be converted to a single arc. and generate new lines. 2. 3 and 4. or circles. Repeat step 2. The following results are possible in this command: • One line is divided into two lines with new end points at their intersection. arcs. trimming and extending each of the two lines until they meet each other. Click the right mouse button or press the Escape key to exit the command. Choose the Modify>Trims>Divide command. 3. See Also Graphic Properties Modify>Trims>Divide The Modify>Trims>Divide command is used to separate an entity or entities into multiple pieces at their intersection points. Select the intersecting entity. 6.PrimeCAD User Manual 5. arc or circle which you want to be divided. and/or arcs based on the intersection point of the selected entities. • One arc is divided into two arcs with new end points at their intersection. If the chamfer distance is set to zero. The first selected entity will be divided. The arc can then be modified using other Trims commands. as necessary until you are finished chamfering corners. To separate an entity into multiple entities: Line 1 2 Line Line Line Arc 2 1 Line Arc Line Line Arc 1. Select a line. 5. 4. Choose the Modify>Stretch command. 3. Modify>Stretch The Modify>Stretch command allows you to stretch the selected entities within the specified rectangular window by a relative distance. 5. The cursor shape is changed to prompt you to define a window. Click the right mouse button or press the Escape key to exit the command. The entities inside the defined window will be stretched from their current location according to the distance and direction defined by the moving vector. This causes the line to lengthen shorten or rotate depending on the relative distance and direction specified. 178 . the point outside of the window remains anchored while the point inside the window moves the relative distance and angle designated. To stretch entities within a specified window: 2 1 1. Define the stretching window by setting two points in opposite corners of a rectangle around the entities you want to stretch. A stretch window is a rectangle defined by two points in opposite corners. Select a point to be the start point of moving vector of the transformation. PrimeCAD uses this point to calculate the relative distance and direction from the startpoint. After a "divide" has been performed. Repeat step 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished dividing entities. but remains unchanged in length and angle. you do not probably see any changes in the selected entity. so the entity is translated not stretched. 2. However you can select the newly divided entities individually or the Inquires>Entity List to verify the operation was performed correctly. given a line with only one of its endpoints within the stretch window. In the case all the endpoints on a selected entity are inside the stretch window. For example. all the endpoints will be moved. Only the points within the window are stretched.PrimeCAD User Manual 4. Select a point to be the endpoint of moving vector of the transformation. you can use this command to change their sizes and/or shapes. multiples new polylines will be created. or several polylines if it needs to do so. 2. . Some entities. text and symbol will not be stretched. the control points on the selected entity will be shown. The Join command will try to join the whole selection into one single new polyline if possible. For information on selection. Repeat step 2 to 5 as necessary until you are finished stretching entities.PrimeCAD User Manual 6. Click the right mouse button or press the Escape key to exit the command. like circle . The basic steps to move a control point on a selected entity are: 1. and each of new polylines will consist of as many selected lines/polylines as possible. Select the entity which you want to change its shape.added control points. curve. arc. You can use snap input modes to move points or specify the location for new. You can use the Inquire>Entity List command to verify the result. or add control points to an entity if it is a polyline. Before you can select this command. size or location. 3. Make a selection set which consists of lines and/or polylines. All the selected lines and/or polylines will be joined into a single polyline if possible. Choose the Modify>Join command. 7. If you are unsatisfied with the result. You can move the control points to change the shape of an entity. To join lines/polylines as one or more polylines: Line Line Line Line Polyline 1. instead they are moved just like the command Modify>Transforms>Translate. see the Edit>Select command. select Edit>Undo to undo the Modify>Join command. 179 . If the selection cannot be joined into one single polyline. Modify>Join The Modify>Join command allows you to join all the selected lines and/or polylines into one or more new polylines. hatch or painted polygon. For most entities. a group of selected entities must have been made. Modify>Move Point When you select Modify>Move Point command. PrimeCAD User Manual 2. Choose the Modify>Move Point command. The selected entity is highlighted and the control points on it are represented by the marker ( ). When you move the cursor to the control points, the cursor changes its shape to indicate that you can move this control point. 3. Select the point you want to move, press down the left mouse button and drag the point to the new location. If you want to add points on the outlines of some specific entities, like polylines, hatches, curves and painted polygons, move the cursor to the outline and drag the outline to the new location. A new point is added on the entity at the new location specified. Please see Illustrated Control Point of Each Entity for the pictures showing the control points which you can move on each type of entity. Illustrated Control Point of Each Entity When you use the Modify>Move Point command, the control points on each type of entities will be shown as below: • Line: • Arc, Painted Pie, Painted Chord, Hatch Arc • Circle, Painted Circle, Hatch Circle • Ellipse • Polyline, Painted Polygon, Hatch Polyline, Curve 180 PrimeCAD User Manual For the polyline-type entities, moving a point will affect both of the lines that share that end point. Another feature of the Move Point command on Polyline-type entities is that you can add points to the entities by dragging a outline segment to a new location. See the fo llowing pictures. 1 • Marker You can move the endpoint of a marker, but you cannot change its size or shape. • Text PrimeCAD P RI ME C A D Characters entered with the Text>Starting Pt and Text>Aligned commands have four movable points at the corners of text string box. You can move any one to adjust the size of the text . If the text is entered by the Text>Arc command, the Move Point command treats the text as an arc, that is, there are three points you can move, one at each end and one on the center of the bulge of the arc. • Symbol Symbol Only the reference point of a symbol can be moved. If the symbol you are moving has an attribute attached to it, the attribute will not be moved. To move both a symbol and an attached attribute, use the Modify>Transforms>Translate command. 181 PrimeCAD User Manual • Attributes MODEL Though there are no visible points on an attribute to pick, you may still use Move Point to re-position it. Very similar to a text line, you may select an attribute by picking or snapping to the lower left corner of the first character. • Dimensions Dimensions have different number of control points depending on which kind of dimensions you specify. Linear Dimensions and Ordinate Dimensions have five points. Two for each extension line and one for dimension text. Radial Dimensions and Angular Dimensions have only one moving point for the dimension text. In Leader Dimensions, text string and leader are separate entities. The text string has four moving points just like the regular text string. The leader is actually a marker, so Move Point treats it as such. Modify>Explode The Modify>Explode command will break up an entity into the lesser elements so that you can edit or modify its individual components. The result of an explode operation depends on the entity being exploded. The allowable explosions are: • • • • • • • • • Symbols into their individual entity parts Dimensions into lines, markers and texts Text Blocks into strings Text Strings into characters Text Characters into polylines Hatches and Polylines into lines Arcs and Circles into polylines or arcs Curves into polylines Solid entities into non-solid entities Elements from exploded entities will stay on the same graphic properties as the original ones. An Explode command can only explode a symbol to its previous 182 PrimeCAD User Manual base entities. If a symbol includes other symbols (a nested symbol), you probably need to explode that symbol several times before it completes returning to its most basic entities. Explosion is one level at a time. For example, if you want to explode a block of text into separate line segments, you need to explode this text block into strings first; select all the text strings and explode them into characters; select all characters and explode them into polylines; select all the polylines and explode them into lines. To explode an entity into basic segments: 1. Select the entity or group of entities to explode. The selection set is highlighted. 2. Choose the Modify>Explode command. The Explode dialog box appears. 3. Check on the types of entities you want to be exploded. If you select to explode Circles or Arcs into arcs or polylines; and/or Curves into polylines, specify the desired number of segments to use in the Segments boxes. 4. Choose the OK button. The selected entities are exploded. After an explode has been performed, no visual change in the entities is apparent. However you can select the newly exploded entities individually or choose the Inquire>Entity List to verify the operation was perform correctly. If you are unsatisfied with the e xplosion, choose Edit>Undo to return to the previous status. Modify>Change The Modify>Change command is used to change certain characteristics of drawing entities. You select a entity or a group of entities first, then choose the Modify>Change command. You can also use the mouse left button to double click on the selected entity/entities to execute Change command. Depending on what type of entity/entities you select, a corresponding dialog box appears to let you change the properties of the selected entity/entities. If a single entity is selected, the corresponding Change dialog box of each entity type is shown. Only those characteristics that can be changed for a specific entity will be shown or enabled in the dialog boxes. If the "Properties" button in the dialog box is enabled, you can press the button. A Properties dialog box appears. If the selection includes more than one entity, when you double-click on the selection, the Properties dialog box appears. You can change Pen properties in 183 The changes you make in the Properties dialog box may not apply to all the selected entities. 184 . it will not affect the marker entity at all. if you make change to Pen Style. For example. the marker entity has no Pen Style property.PrimeCAD User Manual the dialog box. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to inspect other point coordinate information. 2. pen color. choose the System>Units of Measurement command. To display the coordinates of a point: 1. from the lower left corner of the sheet on printed or screen output. 3. When you finish examining the coordinates. 185 . Choose the Inquires>Coordinate command. A dialog box with coordinate information appears. World and sheet coordinates are identical when the drawing scale is 1 :1 and the drawing origin is located at the lower left corner of the sheet. from the drawing origin (0. You may use any of the Snap Input Mode (for information about snap input mode. The sheet coordinates of a point are the horizontal and vertical distances. 4. pen style. Click the right mouse button or press the Escape key to exit the command. Select a point in the drawing. 5. The world coordinates are the horizontal and vertical distances. To access this dialog box. respectively. choose OK to continue executing the Coordinate command. Generally. The coordinates displayed in the Coordinate dialog box are expressed in the current units of length. refer to the System>Snap Modecommand) to help locating the point. layer name and so on.0) to the specified point. This is controlled by the Linear setting in the Units of Measurement dialog box.PrimeCAD User Manual Inquires Menu The commands on the Inquires menu provide you the following information: • • • • • • • Coordinate Area and Perimeter 2Pt Angle 3Pt Angle Distance and Length Entity drawing property information such as entity geometry. pen width. a point has two types of coordinate information: the world coordinates and the sheet coordinates. respectively. Entity count list Inquires>Coordinate The Coordinate command displays the coordinate information of a selected point. 6. If you want to know the area or perimeter of an existing close entity in a drawing such as circle. To display the area and perimeter of a temporary polygon: 1. The drawn polygon does not really become a part of the drawing. Choose the Inquires>Area/Perimeter command. 2. It is drawn only to specify an area for calculation. 3 and 4 as necessary. Rubberband lines follow the cursor to indicate the shape of the temporary polygon. the angle measured is based on a zero angle being directly to the upside of the first point. and the perimeter of an irregular polygon. Repeat steps 2. Click the right mouse button to finish the polygon. polygon. choose OK to continue executing the Area/Perimeter command. an imaginary line will connect those two points to close the shape and then the system calculates the area and perimeter of this close shape. 186 . based on a zero angle being directly to the right of the first point. displaying the number of vertex points. 5. and the perimeter of the specified irregular polygon. the area. that is a polygon. Click the right mouse button press the Escape key to exit the command. If you set the clockwise direction is positive. The operation of this command just likes the command Draw>Polyline>Set Pts-Close. choose the System>Units of Measurement command. If the first and last point are not in the same location. You draw a closed polyline. 4. The area displayed is expressed in the current units of area. 3. and rectangle. counterclockwise to the line defined by these two points if you set the counterclockwise direction is positive.PrimeCAD User Manual Inquires>Area/Perimeter The Area/Perimeter command displays the number of points. Select the vertices for the polygon using any combination of snap and constraint modes. which is controlled by the Area setting in the Units of Measurement dialog box. When you finish examining the polygon's area and perimeter. the area. clockwise to the line defined by two points. The Area/Perimeter dialog box appears. you have to choose the Inquires>Entity Info command. Inquires>2Pts Angle The angle defined by two points is measured. To access this dialog box. (Information on these in the System>Snap Modecommand). Inquires>3Pts Angle The angle defined by 3 points just likes the angle defined by an arc. and 4 as necessary. 2. Choose the Inquires>2Pt Angle command. 4. A rubberband arc appears to mark the temporary angle. To display an angle defined by three points: 1. The 3 PT Angle dialog box appears. Enter the ending point. 6. You may use Snap Input Mode to input these three points. If you want to know the angle of an existing arc entity in a drawing. Repeat steps 2. Select the ending point. When you finish examining the angle. Note that the angle is always positive counterclockwise. 4. The next two points entered define the starting point and the ending point of this arc. You may use Snap Input Mode to select these two points. 5. Select a point at the base of the angle. displaying the angular information. 3.PrimeCAD User Manual The angle is expressed in the current angle unit which is controlled by the Angle setting in the Units of Measurement dialog box. The angle displayed is always positive in this command. See the System>Units of Measurement command. 3. you have to choose the Inquires>Entity Info command. 3. choose OK to continue executing the 2Pt Angle command. 2. Click the right mouse button or press the Escape key to exit the command. Select a point for the center of the arc. The 2 PT Angle and XY Delta dialog box appears. displaying the angular information of the second point with respect to the first. To display an angle defined by two points: 1. Choose the Inquires>3Pts Angle command. The first point entered defines the center of the arc. Select the beginning point of the arc. 187 . 188 . When you choose the Inquires>Entity Info command.PrimeCAD User Manual 5. if there is an existing selection entity. a dialog box immediate appears with information on the selected entity. Repeat steps 2. A polyline is drawn between the selected points. To access this dialog box. layer. 7. pen. Select a point. which is controlled by the Linear setting in the Units of Measurement dialog box. 3 and 4 as necessary until you are finished examining distances. The distance displayed is expressed in the current units of length. Inquires>Entity Info The Inquires>Entity Info command displays the entity geometry. displa ying the number of points and distance between the points. Select an additional point or more. A rubberband line appears beginning at the selected point. 2. 3. 3. 6. You may use Snap Input Mode to enter these points. otherwise. choose OK to continue executing the 3 pt Angle command. PrimeCAD prompts you to select the entity you want to investigate. Inquires>Distance The Inquires>Distance command displays a linear distance based on two or more input points. Click the right mouse button or press the Escape key to exit the command. 6. enclosed area. When you finish examining the distance. 4. and the Distance dialog box appears. perimeter. and 5 as necessary. 4. and any other related information for a specific entity. Click the right mouse button or press Escape key to exit the command. 7. choose OK to continue executing the command. When you finish examining the angle. The numerical information is formatted in the current units of measurement specified under the System>Units of Measurement command . To display the distance between two points: 1. 5. Choose the Inquires>Distance command. Click the right button to discontinue selecting points. choose the System>Units of Measurement command. Repeat steps 2. Basically you are drawing a temporary line or lines to show the distance you want. 2. listing the amount of each entity type in the drawing. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary until you are finished examining entity information. Click the right mouse button or press Escape key to exit the command. Press OK to examine more entities. the Entity Information dialog box immediately appears. Select the Inquires>Entity Info command. otherwise PrimeCAD prompts you to select the entity you want to investigate. Inquires>Entity List This command is used to display the amount of each entity type in the drawing To display the amount of each entity type in the drawing: 1. When you finish examining the total list. 2. 5. The Entity List dialog box appears. 3. choose OK. The Entity Information dialog box appears. Choose the Inquires>Entity List command. Select on the entity. 189 . 4. If there is an entity selected. listing information on the selected entity.PrimeCAD User Manual To display information on an entity: 1. 3. and rulers). Change settings in the dialog box as necessary. The Toolbars allow you to choose its location either at the left side or right side of the screen. To display or hide the tools: 1. The displaying setting you set with this command takes effect immediately and remain in effect through the current drawing session and future sessions. The Tools Display dialog box appears: 2. You can control which tools are displayed on your workspace. until you change them. When you choose the Tools Display command. edit the tool bar. toolboxes. PrimeCAD displays a dialog box. status bar. 190 . Choose OK to accept the settings or Cancel to exit the command.PrimeCAD User Manual Tools Menu The commands in this menu let you show/hide tools (ribbon. The commands in the Tools menu include: • • • Tools Display Toolbar Editing Macro Tools>Tools Display The Tools>Tools Display command allows you to control the visibility of optional user interface components. toolbars. and run the PrimeCAD Basic macro language. including the following checkbox: • • • • • Ribbon Status Bar Toolboxes Toolbars Rulers The toolbox is a floating command-palette which you can move around. Choose the Tools>Tools Display command. Because there are many more tools than can be displayed at once. drag the cursor to the tool you want and release the button. If you do not recall the meaning of a tool. As you drag across the pop-out. For instance. Each tool in the toolbox represents a specific menu command. click on it and hold the mouse button down. the Draw>Line>Individual tool is chosen in the toolbox. click on its toolset. The remaining tools appear as normal buttons. Clicking on a tool in the toolbox is the same as choosing the equivalent command from the menu bar. if you choose the Draw>Line>Individual command from the menu or type "Alt+D. the tools are divided into 20 sets. If the tool you want is not visible.L. The toolboxes are divided into 20 sets. When you click on a tool. The tool is chosen. it becomes current and appears as a shaded or "pressed" button. hold the mouse button down for a moment. To choose a tool. The visible tool is the one most recently chosen. When the pop-out for the toolset appears. with only one tool from each set visible at a time.PrimeCAD User Manual Tool Box The toolbox is the movable window that appears in the left side of the drawing area when you start PrimeCAD.S" from the keyboard. a description of the command by the tool appears in the message area at the bottom of the screen. They are: Left Side • • • • • • • • • • File commands Edit commands Transforms commands Modify commands Line commands Arc commands Circle commands Polyline commands Curve commands System commands Right Side • • • • • • View commands Copy Entity commands Trims commands Marker commands Dimension commands Hatches commands 191 . PrimeCAD User Manual • • • • Text commands Solid commands Symbol commands Inquire commands See Also Tool Boxes in the User Interface 192 . Layer . style. To choose a layer. pen color. For information on creating.This checkbox allows you to show/hide the sheet.Next to Layer is the Pen setting box. This action has the same effect as choosing the System>Layer Control command. If any entities are selected when you make a change on the ribbon for the default graphic properties. Sheet . pen width.This checkbox allows you to show/hide grid dots a nd grid reference lines on the drawing area. See Also Ribbon in the User Interface Layers Pen section in Concept Snap Input Modes Explanation of 9 kinds of snap input modes System>Snap Mode 193 . Next to Grid checkbox is a series of command buttons that you can customize. the Pen setting dialog box appears. PrimeCAD will prompt you whether or not you want to update the graphic properties of the selected entities with the new setting. If you use the ribbon to change the color. It is the primary means by which you specify the drawing graphic properties (layer.INI. This is because selection highlighting overrides the actual pen settings. When you click on the Pen setting box. click on the arrow at the right end of the drop-down list box titled "Layer". See PrimeCAD. For more information about Pen setting see System>Pen Setup. or width of selected entities. pen style .The layer control allows you to change the current layer and/or to move selected entities to a new layer. then click on the name of a layer from the list that appears. pen style scale). the new properties will not display until the selected entities are deselected. Snap Input Mode .PrimeCAD User Manual Ribbon The ribbon appears just below the menu bar. Grid . A quick way to access the Layer Control dialog box is to click on the Layer button. changing and deleting layers.Next to Pen setting box is the Snap Input Mode drop-down list box. Pen . refer to the discussion of the System>Layer Control command. You can input coordinate by keyboard in this area. You can hide the rulers if you need more drawing area and show them again as needed. the marks on the rulers expand and contract to reflect to current view. The unit on the rulers is Inch in Imperial system and Millimeter in Metric system. Rulers appear along the top and left side of the drawing area.PrimeCAD User Manual Status Bar The Status Bar displays brief information about the currently selected command or the current state of the PrimeCAD drawing area. 194 . As you use the Zoom tools to zoom in and zoom out of your drawings. See Also Status Bar in the User Interface section Rulers The rulers show the real-world size represented by the current view in your drawing area. At the right side of status bar is the coordinate displaying area. and also change coordinate displaying mode. See Keyboard Input Modes section in Basic Operation. PrimeCAD User Manual Tools>Toolbar Editing The Tools>Toolbar Editing command allows you to customize the toolbar, so that it contains buttons for the commands you use most often. You can add, move and delete buttons from the toolbar. The toolbar setting you set with this command takes effect immediately and remain in effect through the current drawing session and future sessions, until you change them. To add a command to the toolbar: 1. Choose the Tools>Toolbar Editing command. The Toolbar Edit dialog box appears: 2. select the Add Buttons option. 3. Choose OK. The cursor shape is changed to prompt you to select and add a command to the toolbar. 4. Choose the command you want to add to the toolbar. The command tool icon is added to the bottom of the toolbar. 5. Repeat step 4 as necessary until you are finished adding commands to the toolbar. 6. Click right mouse button or the ESC key to exit the command. To exchange button positions in the toolbar: 1. Choose the Tools>Toolbar Editing command. The Toolbar Edit dialog box appears. 2. select the Move Buttons option. 3. Choose OK. The cursor shape is changed to prompt you to select a butto n to move in the toolbar. 4. Select the button you want to move, press down the left mouse button, and drag this button to the desired place. 5. Release the mouse left button. This dragged button is swapped with the button at this position. 6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each button you want to change its position. 7. Click right mouse button or the ESC key to exit the command. To delete a command button from the toolbar: 195 PrimeCAD User Manual 1. Choose the Tools>Toolbar Editing command. The Toolbar Edit dialog box appears. 2. select the Delete Buttons option. 3. Choose OK. The cursor shape is changed to prompt you to delete a button from the toolbar. 4. Select the button you want to delete. This button is deleted from the toolbar. 5. Repeat step 4 for each button you want to delete. 6. Click right mouse button or the ESC key to exit the command. 196 PrimeCAD User Manual Tools>Macro When you select this command, a dialog box like File Open comes out. You can execute the macro by double-clicking on the macro file name in the list box or type the macro name (with full path if necessary) in the edit box and press OK button. The macro file extension is PBL (PrimeCAD Basic Language). As for how to write a macro for PrimeCAD, refer to Macro Language User Manual. 197 PrimeCAD User Manual System>Sheet The System>Sheet command allows you to define the size of the sheet which is displayed in the drawing area. The sheet represents the anticipated drawing limits. You had better set the size of the sheet before you set the other drawing parameters The size of the sheet is not limited to the size of the paper in your printer/plotter. It can be smaller or larger. If it is larger than the page currently defined in the Printer Setup dialog box, scaled output is tiled onto multiple pages. The screen sheet size matches with the printer/plotter paper size and orientation at startup, and each time you choose the File>New command. When you choose View>Limits command, the screen sheet is best fitted in the drawing area. The settings take effect as soon as you choose OK. You can see the sheet on your screen change to the size and orientation you selected. To define the size of the sheet on screen: 1. Choose the System>Sheet command. The Sheet dialog box appears, which is divided into several sections. Size - There are two sizing methods to choose from: Standard and Custom. For Standard size choose a standard U.S. or metric sheet size from the drop-down list box. For Custom size enter the desired sheet width and height. Orientation - When you choose a sheet size from the Standard drop-down list box, choose an orientation as well. Portrait orientation means vertical. Reader holds page with short edge at top. Landscape orientation indicates that the long side of the paper is to be at the top of the drawing. Show Sheet - This checkbox controls the visibility of the sheet. Show Tile - If the defined drawing sheet is larger than the page currently defined in the Printer Setup dialog box, scaled output is tiled onto multiple pages (according to the Print Range option in the Print dialog box). If you would like to see the tiling situation on the screen, you must turn on the Show Tile checkbox here. 2. Change the settings in the dialog box as necessary. 3. Choose OK to accept the settings or Cancel to return to the original setting. See Also Sheet in the Fundamental Part 198 PrimeCAD assumes that the default unit is used. Choose the System>Units of Measurement command.5 " if the current default is Inch. It has no effect on how you input the numerical data. dialog boxes and so on. it displays in the unit and format which you specify here. you can also specify the precision of numerical values. when you input 2. PrimeCAD allows you to specify the precision of number up to 6 decimal digits and fraction up to 1/128. 2. For example. 3.5.PrimeCAD User Manual System>Units of Measurement The System>Units of Measurement command allows you to specify the units of measurement used in dimension. PrimeCAD assumes it is 2. In Units of Measurements.5 cm if the current default unit is Centimeter. Change settings in the dialog box as necessary. In PrimeCAD. or 2. Also when you input numerical values without providing the unit. there are three types of measurement: Length. which contains three sections. Angle and Area. To set units for the current drawing: 1. When PrimeCAD display units. Choose OK to accept the settings or Cancel to return to the original setting. The Unit dialog box appears. It only establishes a default unit for each type of measurement. inquiries. See Also Units of Measurement in the Fundamental Part 199 . Square centimeters. Feet and fraction. Feet and inches. Angular . sizes. and Millimeters. They have no effect on internal precision. It has no effect on internal precision. Meters. and so on. It has not effect on internal precision. and Hectares. positive rotation is counterclockwise and zero degrees is at the three o'clock (X-axis) position. Degree-Minute-Second. When clockwise angles are used. Feet. Square feet. Feet-Inches and fraction.The first drop-down list box in this section allows you to specify the default unit for angular measurements. The Format drop-down list box allows you to specify the format at which linear measurements are displayed and printed. Area .The first drop-down list box in this section allows you to specify the default unit for linear measurements. Nine options are available: Inches. Four options are available: Degrees. Acres. Square millimeters. which contains three sections: Linear . positive rotation is clockwise and zero degrees is at the twelve o'clock (Y-axis) position. Square meters. Square Yard. Eight options are available: Square inches. The list of precision setting depends on the measurement system you chose displaying decimal fraction or just fraction. This includes coordinates. The Orientation drop-down list box allows you to switch between counterclockwise and clockwise rotation angles. When counterclockwise angles are used.The first drop-down list box in this section allows you to specify the default unit of measurement for area. Inches and fraction. The Unit dialog box appears. 200 . The Precision drop-down list box allows you to specify the precision at which angular measurements are displayed and printed. Centimeters. lengths. The Format drop-down list box allows you to specify the format at which angular measurements are displayed and printed.PrimeCAD User Manual Units Of Measurement Dialog Box When you choose the System>Units of Measurement command. Minutes. and Radians. The Precision drop-down list box allows you to specify the precision at which linear measurements are displayed and printed. The Precision drop-down list box allows you to specify the precision at which area measurements are displayed and printed. Sometimes you might not see the grid even if you turn on the Show Grid Dot checkbox.PrimeCAD User Manual System>Grid/Reference Line Grid dots and reference line are used to help you precisely locate the position you want on the screen. enter the distance between each line for the X and Y directions. the system supposes that you want the grid dots drawn from the origin (0. Choose OK to accept the settings and close the dialog box. The System>Grid/Reference Line command allows you to specify the distance between grid dots and grid lines. For example. The horizontal and vertical settings for the grid can be specified separately. If you want the grid lines displayed. because you are viewing at an area that is smaller than one foot square. 2. If you do not enter any coordinates. The other case which the grid dot/reference lines will not show is that the spacing between dots 201 . Choose the System>Grid/Reference Line command. If you want the grid dots displayed. Then. the grid cannot be used or displayed. The grid dot intervals are based on the real distance. If not. If either spacing (X or Y) is set to zero. To define the reference grid: 1. check the Show Grid Dot checkbox. reference line appears at every tenth dot starting from the grid base point. Then. The distance is based on the grid dot-unit. enter the distance between each dot for the X and Y directions. Then. 3. The new grid dot/reference lines will be displayed according to your settings. the reference line interval is based on dot-unit. if you set the reference line interval as 2 grid dot-units. They do not affect drawing. The distance determines how far apart the dots of the grid will be. Use this option with Grid Point in Snap Input Mode to get the best result. and so on. For example. check the Show Grid Line checkbox. and you can also specify the base point and rotation angle for the grid dots when necessary. in the X-Start and Y-Start boxes. In the Dot Interval section. The Grid dialog box appears. The rotation angle is set between +180 degrees and -180 degrees. it displays the grid reference line every other grid dot. they will be filled with the whole workspace. In the Line Interval section. you may not see the grid dot/reference lines. select the desired color from the drop-down list box for the grid dot. if you set the spacing between each dot is 12" and your zoom value is very large. 4. the grid dots and reference lines will only be filled with the sheet.0). If the drawing sheet is displayed on the screen. The lines and dots provide a visual reference only. enter a base point to set the starting point for the grid dots. If you enter 10. select the desired color from the drop-down list box for the grid reference line . PrimeCAD User Manual is too small. If the spacing between each dot is smaller than 10 pixels . 202 . you will not see the grid dot/reference lines. lines and entities meet mathematically precisely. you need to invoke the local snap mode again. enter the desired snap box size in pixel.PrimeCAD User Manual System>Snap Mode The System>Snap Mode command allows you to control the way points are selected on the screen. You do not need to pick an exact location but instead describe the location with a mouse click. otherwise the global snap mode will be applied. you can check the Constraint On box in the dialog box to provide a level of control beyond that afforded by the snap modes. See Also Snap Input Modes 203 . Choose the System>Snap Mode command. The snap mode you specify in the System>Snap Mode is global snap and you use F3 or the mouse middle button to invoke the local snap mode menu. Set the size of the snap box size in the Snap Box Size. More. Choose OK to accept the settings and close the dialog box. Global Snap . Using snap modes ensures that points. Local Snap . the global snap is applied. To choose a snap mode: 1. there are two ways to apply the snap input mode. 2. One is local snap. 3. PrimeCAD then snaps the cursor to the exact location. instead of just looking like they do. 4. Choose a desired Constraint mode and Snap Input Mode.The selected local snap input mode is only applied to the current selected-to-be point. or normal (perpendicular) alignment with the previous point or line. In the Snap Box Size edit box. In PrimeCAD. There are 10 checkboxes for Snap Input Modes and three checkboxes for Constraint Modes.If the local snap is not selected. They allow you to modify the coordinates of a point by locking it into horizontal. vertical. To select the next snap point. The Snap Mode dialog box appears. which make your drawings precise and accurate. and the other is global snap. • Grid Point This mode causes the cursor to snap to the nearest grid point. • Normal Only points in perpendicular alignment to the previous points can be entered. About the locations of the endpoints and control points of entities. Solid Chord.PrimeCAD User Manual Snap Mode Dialog Box When you choose the System>Snap Mode command. Horizontal Only points in horizontal alignment with the previous point can be entered. see the following illustrations. The location of grid dots are based on the setting in the Grid/Reference Line command. Hatched Arc --- Circle. • • Vertical Only points in vertical alignment with the previous point can be entered. Hatched Circle --- Ellipse --- 204 .This option allow you to modify the coordinates of point by locking it into horizontal. Solid Pie. Remember that the grid will not display if the interval between each grid is less than 10 pixels. choose one of the three constraints. • Nearest Point This mode causes the cursor to snap to the closest control points.There are 10 options to control the way points are selected on the screen. regardless of whether or not the grid is displayed. or normal alignment with the previous point. After turning on the checkbox. vertical. It may be aligned to ve rtical or horizontal depending on which axis the point is closer to. The Snap Mode dialog box appears. Line --Arc. Solid Circle. Snap Input Mode . which contains the following sections: Constraint On . Line --Arc --- 205 . Hatched Polyline --.PrimeCAD User Manual Polyline. Solid Polygon. Line --Arc.Curve --- Marker --Text --- Symbol --- Symbol PrimeCAD Dimension --- • End Point This mode causes the cursor to snap to the nearest endpoint. Elliptical Arc --- Polyline --- Text --- PrimeCAD • Middle Point This mode causes the cursor to snap to the middle point of an entity. • Snap Off This box lets you turn off Snap Input Modes.PrimeCAD User Manual Polyline --- Text --- PRIMECAD • Center Point This mode causes the cursor to snap to the center of a selected arc or circle in the drawing. It does not look for end points. 206 . it just makes sure your point is really touching the entity. • Quadrant This mode causes the cursor to snap to the nearest quadrant point. intersections. however. The default setting is 4@90degree. See the following illustrations: • Tangent This mode causes the cursor to snap to the tangent point on a selected arc or circle. The selected point is the point located by the cursor with no any adjustment. You can specifies the number of snap points available on arcs and circles for more than four by choosing a setting from the drop-down list box. or any other geometric properties of the entity in question. circles or arcs. The crossing entities can be lines. • Intersection This mode cause the cursor to snap to the intersection of two crossing entities. This option is very similar to the Nearest Point. it can find any point on the entity. The point where two entities touch (such as the tangent point between a line and a circle) is also considered an intersection. not just the entity's control or reference points. • On Entity This mode causes the cursor to snap to the nearest point on a selected entity. middle points. There are four options to choose from the Drawing Origin dialog box as the drawing origin: Bottom Left. 4. 3. Check on the Show Origin if you want to show the drawing origin on the screen. See Also Drawing Origin in the Fundamental Part 207 . To enter an alternate origin choose User Pick After OK and you are prompted to select a point for the drawing origin. To specify the drawing origin: 1. Bottom Left and Center of sheet use those locations to define the drawing origin. Enter the XY coordinate values if you choose the XY option. The origin is represented on the screen by the symbol( ). The default location of the drawing origin is bottom left of the sheet. Select a point to be the drawing origin if you chose the User Pick After OK option. 5. XY and Pick. To enter the origin in sheet coordinates choose XY and the enter the coordinates into the text boxes. Choose OK to accept the settings or Cancel to return to the previous setting. Center. Choose one of the four options in the dialog box. The Drawing Origin dialog box appears.PrimeCAD User Manual System>Origin The System>Origin command allows you to change the origin for your drawing. 2. Choose the System>Origin command. Choose the System>Drawing Scale command. The Drawing Scale dialog box appears. PrimeCAD automatically simplifies the ratio you enter so it is expressed in the form 1 : n or n : 1 in the current units of measurement. an object that is one-quarter inch long on scaled output represents an object that is actually one foot long. In a drawing whose scale is at 1/4" = 1'. The scale is automatically copied to the Sheet and World boxes. Select two points on the sheet. 4. The default scale is 1 : 1. Though PrimeCAD allows you to set any scale you want. All entities in PrimeCAD are drawn in their real world size. The sheet value is how big an entity will appear on printed output. Choose OK to accept the settings or Cancel to return to previous setting. typical scales have been provided in the Preset Scale box for convenience. if you enter the ration 1/4" : 1'. To specify the scale for the current drawing: 1. The world value is the actual real world size of the entity. you will find the ratio expressed as 1" = 48". 3. This option is useful if you would like the entities remain their current size in proportion to the output page. The Match option button in the Drawing Scale dialog box allows you to select two points in the sheet and specify the desired actual distance (world size) between the two points. If you'd like the existing entities remain their current size in proportion to the page: 2.PrimeCAD User Manual System>Drawing Scale The System>Drawing Scale command allows you to specify the scale of the current drawing. PrimeCAD will then automatically adjust the drawing scale. For instance. See Also Scale in the Fundamental Part 208 . The Distance dialog box appears to prompt you to enter the desired actual distance between the two points. If you would like to change the drawing scale to a common scale or custom scale: 2. Choose a commonly used scale from the Preset Scales drop-down list box. Choose the Match option button. Or enter the scale in the Sheet (Output) and World (Actual) text boxes 3. the next time you access the Drawing Scale dialog box. The new drawing scale applies to the drawing and all entities remain their current size in proportion to the page. Scale is defined as the ratio of sheet size to world size. [Settings] . it reads in PRIMECAD.INI file contains several sections. [Recent File List] . [section name] is the name of a section. the set up program will automatically create a PRIMECAD. You can include comments in initialization files.INI file to set up some drawing environments. a string. The sections and settings are listed in the PRIMECAD. The value can be an integer. and the left bracket must be in the leftmost column on the screen. [Display] . When you exit PrimeCAD.INI for you.The full names of the most recently used files are located in this section [Ribbon] . The keyname=value statement defines the value of each setting.The directories for drawing. You can use any text editor to modify this file.). each of which consists of a group of related settings. PrimeCAD use the default values in the system.INI file in the following format: [section name] keyname=value In this example.INI When you run PrimeCAD.. or a quoted string. symbol and macro are specified here. You must begin each line of a comment with a semicolon (. If the PRIMECAD.Most of Preferences settings is stored in this section.INI. But when you save. [Paths] . The PRIMECAD.INI is a ASCII text file located in Windows directory. The enclosing brackets ([ ]) are required.. depending on the setting. When you set up PrimeCAD on you hard drive.INI is missing.the macro files which are executed when PrimeCAD startup. It can consist of any combination of letters and digits in uppercase or lowercase.) with some other settings are all saved to PRIMECAD.PrimeCAD User Manual Contents of PrimeCAD. the environment settings in Preferences dialog (Systems>Preferences) and the settings in Tools Display dialog box (Tools>Tools Displays. 209 . and it must be followed immediately by an equal sign (=). you must save it in ASCII format so that PrimeCAD can recognize it.The settings in Tools Display dialog box is stored in this section. A keyname is the name of a setting. PRIMECAD.The icons which are listed in the Ribbon right end side [Macro] . On. 1 . 0 .On. 1 . 1 . 1 . 0 .On. 0 .Off ShowGridLine = <0 or 1> Default: 1 Purpose: The reference grid line is on or off. 0 .On.Off ShowToolbox = < 0 or 1 > Default: 0 Purpose: Toolbox is on or off.Off ShowOriginMark = <0 or 1> Default: 1 Purpose: The origin marker is on or off.Off ShowRibbonbar = < 0 or 1 > Default: 1 Purpose: Ribbon bar is on or off. 1 . 1 . 0 . 1 .PrimeCAD User Manual [Display]: ShowStatusbar = < 0 or 1 > Default: 1 Purpose: Status bar is on of off. 0 . 1 .Off ShowRuler = < 0 or 1 > Default: 1 Purpose: The ruler is on or off.Off ShowToolbar = < 0 or 1 > Default: 0 Purpose: Toolbar is on or off.On.Off ShowScrollbar = < 0 or 1 > Default : 0 Purpose: The scroll bars are on or off.On. 1 . 0 . 0 .Off [Paths]: 210 . 1 . 0 .On.Off ShowGridDot = <0 or 1> Default: 1 Purpose: The reference grid dot is on or off. 0 .On.On. 0 .Off ShowRecentFileList = < 0 or 1 > Default: 1 Purpose: The most recently used file list is on or off. 1 .On.Off ShowSheet = <0 or 1> Default: 1 Purpose: Screen sheet is on or off.On. VertScrollBarUnit = < 1 to 300 > Default : 50 Purpose: Set up the scrolling distance of the vertical scroll bar. The unit is in pixel. SelectionAreaRadius = <1 to 32637 > Default : 5 Purpose: Set up the selection radius of the cursor. 211 . ZoomFactor = <1 to 32637 > Default : 2 Purpose: Set up the Zoom factor for Zoom In and Zoom Out commands in View menu.PrimeCAD User Manual ExeDir = <Dirver:\Path> Default : It depends on where you install you PrimeCAD Purpose: Locate where the PrimeCAD executables are SymbolDir = <Dirver:\Path> Default : It depends on where you install you PrimeCAD Purpose: Locate where the PrimeCAD symbol libraries are DrawingDir = <Dirver:\Path> Default: It depends on where you install you PrimeCAD Purpose: Locate where the PrimeCAD drawing files are MacroDir = <Dirver:\Path> Default : It depends on where you install you PrimeCAD Purpose: Locate where the PrimeCAD macro files are [Macro]: Run1 = <Macro File Name> Default : None Purpose: Identity the first macro which is executed when start up the PrimeCAD Run2 = <Macro File Name> Default : None Purpose: Identity the second macro which is executed when start up the PrimeCAD [Settings]: UndoLevel = <1 to 25 > Default : 10 Purpose: Set up the Undo levels. The unit is in pixel. SelectionOnIdle = < 0 or 1 > Default : 1 Purpose: Whether or not the direct selection mode is enable when the system is in idle. 0 means the beep is off. The unit is in pixel.PrimeCAD User Manual HoriScrollBarUnit = < 1 to 300 > Default : 0 Purpose: Set up the scrolling distance of the horizontal scroll bar. HighlightColor = < 0 to 255 > Default : 30 Purpose: HighlightStyle = < 0. 1 or 2 > Default : 0 Purpose: CurveSegment = < 1 to 255 > Default : 8 Purpose: SnapBoxSize = < 1 to 32676 > Default : 10 Purpose: 212 . 1 means the beep is on. WarningBeep = < 0 or 1 > Default : 1 Purpose: Set the warning beep. MaximizeWindow = < 0 or 1 > Default : 1 Purpose: Whether or not the PrimeCAD window should be maximized at startup. under the VGA resolution. File ). “7” represents the eighth menu item (a sub-menu) under that popup menu. If there is no [Ribbon] section in PRIMECAD. you can place three icons. the more icons you can place. The format for this section is: Index = Sep.1 . Open). The higher the resolution is.e. Number] Index .the menu item’s position in the Menu bar. [Recent File List]: In this section. Number.It means the third icon placed is a “gap” again with.INI. Number . This way the subsequent icons can be a little away from Grid checkbox.It means the fourth icon placed is the menu item Radial Copy. For example: 0 = Sep . “1” represents the second menu item under that popup menu (i. And it is the Radial Copy command . {Pixel Number] index = Number index = Number. “2” represents the third menu item under that sub-menu. the system default will be used.the default gap between icons. This “gap” is 10 pixel wide. 10 . [. “1” represents the second popup menu on the Menu bar.the icon’s order in the Ribbon. 2 .PrimeCAD User Manual [Ribbon]: The right end side of Ribbon (the space after Grid checkbox) can be used to place icons. the most recently used file names (up to 4 file names) are listed and attached to the end of File menu for easy access. You can place as many icons as you want.It means the second icon placed is the menu item Open. 2 = Sep. 3 = 1. “0” represents the first popup menu on the Menu bar (i. File1 = <Path\File Name> File2 = <Path\File Name> File3 = <Path\File Name> File4 = <Path\File Name> 213 . Sep . That is Undo and Undo Undo will be placed after Grid checkbox on the Ribbon. 7. 1 = 0 . Normally.It means the first icon placed is a “gap” (space).e. When a shortcut is available for a command.PrimeCAD User Manual Shortcut Keys In PrimeCAD. to the right of the command name. it is listed on the menu. Keyboard shortcut keys are available for the following commands and functions: • • • • • • • • • Certain File commands Certain Edit commands Certain View commands Getting Help Changing Coordinate Types Changing Snap Input Modes Changing Constraint Modes Moving the selection set Scrolling the view with scroll bars Shortcut keys in File Menu commands Use the follo wing shortcut keys to choose certain commands from the File menu Press ============== Command ============================= Ctrl + N Ctrl + O Ctrl + S Alt + F4 File>New File>Old File>Save File>Exit Shortcut keys in Edit Menu commands Use the following shortcut keys to choose certain commands from the Edit menu Press ============== Command ===================================== Ctrl + X Ctrl + C Ctrl + V Del Ctrl + Del F7 Ctrl + F7 F9 F10 Edit>Cut Edit>Copy Edit>Paste Edit>Erase Edit>Erase Last Edit>Undo Edit>Undo Undo Edit>Select Edit>Entity Filter 214 . there are single-key or key combination shortcuts for certain frequently-used commands and operation modes. d ) Shortcut Keys for Moving the Selection Set Press ===================== Function ====================================== Shift + Left Arrow Shift + Right Arrow Shift + Up Arrow Shift + Down Arrow Move the selection set left one grid snap interval Move the selection set right one grid snap interval Move the selection set up one grid snap interval Move the selection set down one grid snap interval 215 . ) Relative Polar Coordinate Mode (dR.Y) Relative XY Coordinate Mode (dX. You can also display Help for a dialog box-related command by pressing F1 when the dialog box is shown.dY) Absolute Polar Coordinate Mode (R. Shortcut Keys for Changing Coordinate Types Press ============== Change To =========================================== A R K P Absolute XY Coordinate Mode (X.PrimeCAD User Manual Shortcut keys in View Menu commands Use the following shortcut keys to choose certain commands from the View menu Press ============== Command =================================== F5 Ctrl + L Ctrl + E Ctrl + P Ctrl + I Ctrl + Z View>Redraw View>Limits View>Extents View>Pan View>Zoom In View>Zoom Out Shortcut keys for Getting Help Use the F1 to display Help during most drawing and editing operations. PrimeCAD User Manual Shortcut Keys for Changing Snap Input Modes Press ============== Change To ======================================= G N E M C I T O Q F Gridpoint snap mode Nearest snap mode Endpoint snap mode Midpoint snap mode Center point snap mode Intersection point snap mode Tangent point snap mode On-Entity snap mode Quadrant point snap mode Turn snap mode off Shortcut Keys for Changing Constraint Modes Press ============== Change To ========================================= L V H S Normal constraint mode Vertical constraint mode Horizontal constraint mode Turn constraint mode off Shortcut Keys for Using Scroll Bars to Pan the View Press ============== Function ======================================== Left Arrow Right Arrow Up Arrow Down Arrow Home distance End distance PageUp PageDown Scroll the view to the left at the set horizontal distance Scroll the view to the right at the set horizontal distance Scroll the view up at the set vertical distance Scroll the view down at the set vertical distance Scroll the view to the left four times of the set horizontal Scroll the view to the right four times of the set horizontal Scroll the view up four times of the set vertical distance Scroll the view down four times of the set vertical distance 216 . e] · 3. 84. 191 Cut · 2. 128. 114. 40. 164. 47. 166. 227. 5. 28. 111. 146. 199. 184. 171. 82. 212. 100. 64. 144. 48. 109. 120 Circle>Center-Radius · 3. 185. 171. 158. 40. 109 Arc>Elliptical · 3. 117. 38. 195 circle · 7. 75. 39 Coordinate Value Boxes · 58 Copy · 2. 172. 61. 116. 8. 80 CopyEntity · 75 curves · 7. 7. 163. 30. 142.e] · 3. 145. 152. 8. 118 client applications · 25 Command Selection Method · 30 Concept · 6 Constraint Modes · 1. 190. 164.s. 175. 204. 36. 74 C Cancel A Draw Command · 100 Change · 5. 128. 195. 80.m] · 3. 69 Bestfit · 61. 107. 158. 165. 112. 68 B backup · 27. 115. 106. 188. 203. 154. 219 Circle>2 Pts · 3. 174 Attributes · 4. 119. 113 Arc>3 Pts [c. 190. 119 Circle>Center-Diameter · 3. 83. 8. 129 bitmap · 6. 211. 69 Backup Option · 2. 103. 13. 115 associative · 7. 43. 160. 176. 161. 60. 231 Contents of PrimeCAD. 122 Circle>Side-Center · 3. 111 Arc>3 Pts [s. 75. 109. 162. 167. 113 Arc>Semi Circle · 3. 186. 89. 47. 36. 193. 101. 142. 219 Arc>2 Pts-Angle · 3.e. 156. 143. 105. 143. 117. 47. 133. 184. 76. 67. 187. 98. 64. 122. 77 BMP · 6. 151. 107. 89. 230. 118. 185. 26. 162. 186. 118 Circle>3 Pts · 3. 135 attribute definition · 8. 74. 62 Bezier · 3. 189. 120. 101. 144. 146. 200. 161. 106. 174. 77. 165. 231 characters · 7. 194. 121. 174. 84. 77. 168. 229 217 . 34. 115 Arc>Quarter Circle · 3. 145.PrimeCAD User Manual INDEX A Always Create Backup File · 69 Angular Dimension of An Arc · 151 Angular Dimension of Two Lines · 150 arc · 7. 76. 189. 229 Copy Entity · 47. 63. 41. 193 Attributes>Define · 174 Attributes>Export · 175 autosave · 27. 84. 112 Arc>2 Pts-Radius · 3. 164 Circle>Ellipse · 3. 40. 113. 111 Arc>3 Pts [s. 43. 129.m.INI · 223 Continuous Linear Dimension · 141 coordinate types · 15. 67. 216. 60. 82. 150. 181. 68. 188. 82. 119 Circle>Center-Side · 3. 105. 81. 66. 120. 68. 77. 176. 22. 55 drawing properties · 7. 230 F File Menu · 60. 98. 89. 143. 159. 135. 182. 192. 43. 178. 136 Dimension>Linear>Alignment · 137 Dimension>Linear>Horizontal · 136 Dimension>Linear>Line · 138 Dimension>Linear>Rotation · 138 Dimension>Linear>Vertical · 136 Dimension>Ordinate · 148 Dimension>Ordinate>X-datum · 148 Dimension>Ordinate>Y-datum · 149 Dimension>Radial · 142 Dimension>Radial>Diameter1 · 144 Dimension>Radial>Diameter2 · 146 Dimension>Radial>Radius1 · 143 Dimension>Radial>Radius2 · 143 Dimension>Setup · 154 Direct Selection Method · 1. 40. 19.PrimeCAD User Manual D DC2 · 26. 81. 194. 181 Directories · 61. 139. 30. 180. 212 Dimension>Angular · 150 Dimension>Leader · 153 Dimension>Linear · 3. 150. 188. 196. 94. 60. 193. 30. 140. 217. 151. 65 Double-Click Editing · 1. 36. 190. 2. 108. 64 New · 2. 194. 11. 123. 138. 139. 229 Erase Last · 75. 70. 94. 61. 43. 169. 145. 229 Merge · 2. 158. 149. 177. 60. 84. 139. 72. 184. 86. 75. 109. 148. 150. 206. 85. 135. 168. 73. 133. 88. 30. 154. 66 E Embed · 25 endpoint · 7. 63. 218 entities · 6. 12. 155. 32. 92. 85. 85. 56. 195. 68. 143. 42. 2. 90. 202. 63. 66. 82. 36. 182. 142. 171. 185. 141. 69. 221 entity filter · 19 Entity Filter · 1. 62 Drives · 61. 18. 121. 144. 78. 48 Draw>Attributes · 174 Draw>Dimension · 3. 167. 40. 74. 153. 89 Drawing scale · 17 Drawing Scale · 17. 75. 61. 100. 144. 164. 83. 47. 89. 40. 229 218 . 63. 151. 146. 187. 65 DXF · 26. 141. 131. 11. 78. 186. 77. 158 Erase the Last Input Entity · 100 Exit · 60. 63. 219. 80. 102. 140. 61. 7. 30. 229 Explanation of X and Y scale factors and Rotation degree · 170 Explode · 5. 122. 229 Entity Input · 1. 88. 176. 97. 216. 100. 107. 191. 178. 153. 190. 162. 41 Direct Transformations · 1. 180. 179. 189. 181. 93. 148. 146. 95. 14. 227. 47. 9. 30. 19. 149. 8. 185. 156. 86. 63. 91. 152. 160. 32 Erase · 2. 194. 135. 136. 183. 76. 76. 181. 211. 12. 157. 142. 137. 195 Extents · 1. 64. 145. 88. 136. 19. 48. 63 dimension · 7. 41. 158. 154 Draw>Hatch · 156 Draw>Solid · 164 Draw>Symbol · 167 Draw>Text · 160 Drawing files · 26 drawing limit · 20. 154. 214. 124. 210. 157. 130. 45. 153. 158. 189. 51. 165. 102. 170. 191 Hatch>Selection · 158 Hatch>Set Pts · 157 Hatch>Setup · 159 I Illustrated Control Point of Each Entity · 192 import · 8. 141. 197. 101. 185. 119. 112. 78. 116. 223. 122. 107. 133. 106. 55. 104. 88. 99. 19. 55. 39 L Last · 2. 186. 93. 123. 108 219 . 163. 105. 88. 95. 65. 85. 201. 150. 89. 159. 211. 12. 195. 49. 128. 219. 2. 199. 174 User Manual G Getting Help · 2. 225. 38. 230 line · 6. 123. 156.PrimeCAD Open · 2. 74. 160. 145. 49. 61. 125. 184. 228 Fitted curves · 7 Fitted Curves · 3. 106 Line>Double · 3. 9. 83. 74. 20. 187. 5. 36. 19. 194. 89. 204 Line>Line setup · 3. 34. 155. 63. 105 Line>Autofillet-Sgl · 3. 52. 214. 104. 224 Line>AutoFillet-Dbl · 3. 157. 103. 146. 180. 143. 113. 103 Line>Circle-Circle · 3. 108. 230 Graphic properties · 9 Grid/Reference Line · 5. 11. 229 layer · 7. 102. 160. 158. 68. 94. 66. 162. 137. 161 K Keyboard Input Modes · 1. 160. 181. 103. 104 Line>Individual · 3. 10. 227 File Name · 60. 64. 100. 188. 46 hatch · 7. 216. 160. 7. 172. 202. 162. 151. 56. 138. 217 Guidelines for Naming Drawings · 66 H handle · 18. 21. 80. 172. 51. 140. 61. 114. 149. 227. 206 Limits · 1. 148. 23. 182. 144. 93. 156. 94. 130 fonts · 24. 34. 60. 63. 115. 175. 121. 128. 139. 161 Import Image File · 60 Inquires Menu · 197 Inquires>2Pts Angle · 199 Inquires>3Pts Angle · 200 Inquires>Area/Perimeter · 199 Inquires>Coordinate · 197 Inquires>Distance · 201 Inquires>Entity Info · 201 Inquires>Entity List · 202 J justification · 7. 30. 56. 102 Line>Perpendicular · 3. 61. 194 N Named View · 2. 191. 66 polygon · 7. 229 PCX · 6. 128. 107 Line>Point-Circle · 3. 77. 72. 9. 56. 166. 201 Polyline>Polygon · 3. 72 Pan · 2. 10. 98 Numerical Data Input · 1. 164. 215. 63. 100. 191. 181 Modify Menu · 176 Modify>Join · 190 Modify>Stretch · 189 Modify>Transforms · 177 Modify>Trims · 183 Modify>Trims>Chamfer · 187 Modify>Trims>Corner · 184 Modify>Trims>Divide · 188 Modify>Trims>Edge · 186 Modify>Trims>Extend · 185 Modify>Trims>Fillet · 186 More About Opening an Existing Drawing · 63 More About Saving a Drawing · 66 Move Point · 4. 93. 197. 74 pen color · 7.PrimeCAD Line>Multiple · 3. 89. 84. 131. 132 Marker>Relative · 3. 49. 60. 60. 206 pen width · 7. 9 Menu Bar · 1. 54. 190. 180. 51 Message Area · 58 mice and tablets · 29 mirror · 18. 123. 169. 84 Paste · 2. 157. 206 pixels · 6. 206 pen style · 7. 75. 80 List Files of Type · 61. 40. 12. 158. 64. 197. 106. 5. 8. 74 User Manual M Marker>Align · 3. 192. 46. 133. 231 Parallel · 2. 12. 12. 75. 181 Mirroring · 1. 192. 177. 56. 230. 217 plotters · 21. 153. 26. 93. 10. 132 Marker>Set Pt · 131 Marker>Setup · 3. 24. 76. 197. 30. 76. 158. 23. 176. 28. 157. 127. 191. 75. 10. 65. 133 Marker>Polar · 3. 71. 158. 169. 131. 193. 160. 83. 134 Markers · 7. 30. 75. 166. 124. 89. 25. 160. 31 O Object Linking and Embedding · 1. 96. 36. 90. 105 Linear Copy · 2. 95. 199 polyline · 7. 9. 41. 77 Offset · 2. 167. 9. 124. 199. 157. 125. 125 220 . 63. 206 pen style scale · 9. 179. 131. 102. 170. 155 P Page Setup · 2. 10. 47. 70. 74 PLT · 26. 157. 73. 91. 72. 113. 46. 73. 83. 85. 22. 174. 170. 75. 139. 230 Sheet · 2. 194 221 . 229 Selecting Entities · 1. 54. 167. 193 Revert Entity Order · 2. 49. 130. 145. 115. 178. 74. 150. 177. 177. 201. 166. 54. 194. 51. 65. 128. 161. 127 Preview · 61. 105. 60. 69. 134. 157. 221 Shortcut Keys · 1. 131. 5. 5. 174. 77. 102. 41. 179. 175. 49. 54. 120. 64. 36. 221 Scaling · 1. 81. 223. 211 User Manual R Radial Copy · 2. 170. 169. 95 Ribbon · 5. 180. 157. 225 nested · 8. 202. 175. 12. 151. 159. 158. 86. 171. 159. 170. 195. 62. 179. 75. 38. 181. 121. 200. 66. 93. 179. 231 Single Linear Dimension · 139 Snap Input Mode · 100. 17. 132. 174. 180. 30. 180. 88. 120. 72. 81 Redraw · 93. 49. 195. 75. 182. 106. 206. 34. 99. 172 PrimeCAD vector fonts · 7. 44. 133. 190 Status Bar · 5. 227 Right Button Short Menu · 1. 95. 96. 70. 47 Right Button Shortcut Menus · 30 Rotate · 178 rotation · 7. 68. 229 Save As · 60. 209. 179. 82. 178. 64. 168. 159. 45. 61. 34. 149. 207 Subsidiary coordinate-entering marker · 100 Supported File Types · 63 symbol · 8. 70. 172. 200. 94. 76. 143. 104. 123 Polyline>Sketch · 3. 169. 168. 124 Polyline>Set Pts-close · 3. 206. 182. 123. 191. 12. 224. 197. 124. 124 Polyline>Set Pts-open · 3. 190. 231 Snap Mode Dialog Box · 217 solid entity · 7 Solid>Chord · 165 Solid>Circle · 164 Solid>Color Setup · 166 Solid>Pie · 165 Solid>Polygon · 166 source application · 25 startpoint · 7. 118. 190. 60. 229. 12. 82 Rectangular Copy · 2. 109. 211. 214. 64. 98. 49. 85. 140. 75. 41. 107. 168. 23. 158. 219. 169. 220. 181. 42. 43. 47. 160. 173. 42. 45. 71. 132. 54. 49. 197. 30. 170. 166. 19. 73. 191. 180. 217 Snap Input Modes · 1. 55. 104. 193. 216. 23. 169. 10. 21. 164. 181 Print · 2. 61. 97. 8. 169. 60. 176. 15. 5. 68. 159. 56. 133. 114. 83. 55. 211 Print Range Option · 73 Extent · 73 Named View · 73 Selection · 73 Sheet · 73 Viewport · 73 Printer Setup · 2. 54. 55. 117. 81. 112. 197. 163. 148. 111. 65. 44. 89. 64. 162. 122. 30. 18. 189. 119. 95. 82. 185. 77. 144. 208. 181. 116. 183. 139. 184. 179. 153. 65. 66. 105. 125. 158. 175 Saving to and from Different File Formats · 66 scale · 4. 221. 94. 230. 39. 199. 5. 39. 165. 178. 155. 21. 165. 83. 183. 216. 162. 172. 182. 86. 148. 68. 103. 49. 84. 230 reference point · 12. 170. 131. 187. 72.PrimeCAD Polyline>Rectangle · 3. 141. 149. 220. 146. 186. 182 Rulers · 5. 45. 18. 123. 180 Scroll Bars · 2. 35. 201. 74. 231 Select · 2. 102. 168. 207 S Save · 2. 93. 85. 40 selection set · 18. 206. 40. 177. 149. 193. 55. 154. 225. 229 UndoUndo · 75 units of measurement · 16. 220. 171. 167. 157. 8. 168. 99 viewports · 20. 181. 123. 77. 143. 176. 181. 212. 99 W WMF · 26. 51. 161. 195. 193. 158. 199 Viewport · 3. 138. 167. 49. 140. 54 Title Bar · 1. 153. 78. 43 Transforms · 4. 169. 63. 160. 145. 13. 148. 124. 190.PrimeCAD symbol definition · 12. 194. 141. 46. 13. 150. 50 Tool Box · 204 Toolbar Editing · 208 Toolbars · 2. 171. 47. 30. 190. 146. 183. 45. 227. 175. 73. 171. 168. 163. 179. 151. 59. 166. 75. 162. 202. 12. 204 Transforms>Align (Along the Axis) · 181 Transforms>Mirror · 180 translate · 18 Translate · 177 Translating · 1. 66 Workspace · 2. 44. 144. 55. 178. 172. 174. 178 True Type fonts · 7 U Undo · 2. 49. 53 222 . 33 V vectors · 6 vertices · 7. 223 Text · 160 Text>Aligned · 161 Text>Arc · 161 Text>Font Setup · 162 Text>Start Pt · 160 Tiling · 21. 49. 155. 49. 221 Units Of Measurement Dialog Box · 213 Using the Mouse · 1. 135. 182. 40. 153. 180. 170. 93. 30. 80. 203 Toolboxes · 2. 59 Tools Display · 203 Tools Menu · 203 Tools>Macro · 210 Transform>Align Entity · 182 transformations · 18. 139. 100. 174 Symbols>Define · 168 Symbols>Edit · 171 Symbols>Load · 172 Symbols>Place · 169 Symbols>Save · 172 System>Drawing Scale · 221 System>Origin · 220 System>Snap Mode · 216 System>Units of Measurement · 212 User Manual T temporary filename · 26 text · 7. 44. 221. 230 Zoom Window · 2.PrimeCAD User Manual Z Zoom In · 2. 97. 159. 96 223 . 55. 225. 93. 96. 55. 98. 225. 159. 98. 93. 230 Zoom Out · 2. 97. 93. 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