View source for TubeCAD Pro v8-20071002

[[image:Tcadpro_logo.jpg|right|250px]]


===[[image:Check.jpg|25px]] NEW User Selection of Prototype File Name for Either INCHES or MILLIMETERS===

[[image:tcadpro_options_menu_v8-20071002.jpg|450px|right]]

Prototype TubeCAD files are actual TubeCAD data files used to initialize the drawing setup to your preferences like linear units, text size, blockup styles, etc.

When you start a new drawing, TubeCAD loads a prototype file first.  This clears the screen, and completely sets up memory with the appropriate settings and preferences.

Since TubeCAD is configured with a TubeCAD file, TubeCAD operators have complete control over the initial setup values.  You can setup a TubeCAD drawing with your preferences, then save it to a prototype TubeCAD file in the c:\program files\tcadpro\config\prototype folder.

We've added more flexibility because the OPTIONS FILE TAB menu now allows you to select a unique prototype file for BOTH millimeters and inches.  (Before, TubeCAD would only allow you to select a single prototype filename.)  Simply right click on the drawing area and select Options to call up this menu.

To see how this works, we've sent two sets of prototype files with this installation of TubeCAD.  The first set is:

<pre>
default_tcad_in.tcd
default_tcad_mm.tcd
</pre>

and the second set is:

<pre>
clark_tcad_in.tcd
clark_tcad_mm.tcd
</pre>


The first set of prototype files use the standard blockup labels.  The second set of prototype files use the CLARK FIXTURES style of blockup.


====How to Select Another Prototype File====
You can do this to select the default_tcad_in.tcd file:


'''STEP 1:''' Right click on the TubeCAD drawing area.  You will see this pop-up menu.

<ul>
[[image:tcadpro_options_popup_v8-20071002.jpg]]
</ul>

'''STEP 2:''' Choose Options.  This menu will appear:

<ul>
[[image:tcadpro_options_menu_v8-20071002.jpg|450px]]
</ul>

<br>
<br>
'''STEP 3:''' Select the ellipsis button at the end of the "MILLIMETERS Prototype TCD File."

<ul>
[[image:Tcadpro_options_menu_select_ellipsis.jpg|300px]]
</ul>
<br>
<br> 

'''STEP 4:''' Select a new prototype file.
<ul>
[[image:Tcadpro_options_menu_select_opendialog.jpg|300px]]
</ul>

The new selection will now be stored in TubeCAD until it is changed again.  This setup  helps TubeCAD Pro understand that you intend to use CLARK fixture blockups from the start.
<ul>
[[image:Tcadpro_options_menu_newprototype.jpg|400px]]
</ul>

Be sure to select the appropriate type of file.  For example, if the open file dialog shows "MILLIMETERS" in the caption, then only choose one of the TubeCAD files setup to run millimeters.  (We've put mm or in in the name to avoid confusion.  You can give them any name.)

<br>
<br>

====The Radio Buttons====

A new set of radio button controls allow you to choose which one of the two default prototype files is used to clear TubeCAD Pro whenever you start TubeCAD.

<ul>
[[image:Tcadpro_options_radio.jpg]]
</ul>

<br>
<br>
<br>

===[[image:Check.jpg|25px]] New Script Commands for the Command Engine===

The Clear All and Set to MILLIMETER or INCH buttons in the TubeCAD toolbar (see below) now uses these internal filenames to call up the correct file.  (The previous filenames were fixed.)

[[image:Tcadpro_options_newpart_v8-20071002.jpg]]

For example, the the blue-ball button above calls out to a script named "presetin.scr".  A script is a series of keystrokes that TubeCAD Pro will perform when the script is run.  The script takes advantage of the new commands <pre>[options_prototype_in]</pre> and <pre>[options_prototype_mm]</pre> in the command engine.  These two tokens lookup the current default prototype drawing names (either mm or inches), then reset TubeCAD with these prototype file settings.  

Here is the script code for presetin.scr:
<pre>
multicmdopen
_openprototype
|
"[options_prototype_in]"
multicmdclose
</pre>


<br>
Here is the script code for presetmm.scr:

<pre>
multicmdopen
_openprototype
|
"[options_prototype_mm]"
multicmdclose
</pre>