Difference between revisions of "TubeCAD - How to Configure Default Settings with Prototype Files"

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[[image:Tcadpro_logo.jpg|250px]]
 
[[image:Tcadpro_logo.jpg|250px]]
  
==About Prototype Files==
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* Back to [[TubeCAD]]
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<br><br>
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==About TubeCAD Prototype Files==
  
 
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.
 
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 TubeCAD with the appropriate settings and preferences.
 
When you start a new drawing, TubeCAD loads a prototype file first.  This clears the screen, and completely sets up TubeCAD with the appropriate settings and preferences.
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<br><br>
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==How to Create a New Prototype File==
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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, clear the coordinates and number of points, then save it to a prototype TubeCAD file .<br><br>
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Keep in mind that you will be saving a prototype file with a specific linear unit (either inches or millimeters).  So, you are creating an inch file, be sure that TubeCAD is already setup in inches.  Then when you save, it is good idea to create a new prototype file with the "inch" word in the filename.  (Use "mm" or "millimeter" in the new filename if you are configuring a prototype file for millimeters.)<br><br>
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For example, in Windows 7 in inch mode, you can save the setup in a file like this in older versions of TubeCAD Pro:
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tcad_prototype_mm_companyname.tcd or tcad_prototype_inch_companyname.tcd
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<pre>
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C:\Program Files (x86)\tcadpro v8\config\prototype
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</pre>
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Some newer versions the path will be
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<pre>
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C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\tcadpro\prototype
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</pre>
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(Replace <Username> with your login name.)
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or the latest version of TubeCAD uses this path:
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<pre>
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C:\ProgramData\tcadpro
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</pre>
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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.
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<br><br>
  
 
==How to Change the Prototype File==
 
==How to Change the Prototype File==
  
Follow these steps to select a new TubeCAD prototype file.
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After you have saved the new prototype TubeCAD file, follow these steps to select the new file as the default when clearing a TubeCAD project.
  
 
'''STEP 1:''' Right click on the TubeCAD drawing area.  You will see this pop-up menu.
 
'''STEP 1:''' Right click on the TubeCAD drawing area.  You will see this pop-up menu.
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</ul>
 
</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.
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The new selection will now be stored in TubeCAD until it is changed again.  Now TubeCAD will use the new prototype file when you clear the drawing.
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
 
[[image:Tcadpro_options_menu_newprototype.jpg|400px]]
 
[[image:Tcadpro_options_menu_newprototype.jpg|400px]]
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===[[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) automatically runs a script (a series of pre-programmed keystrokes) in order to load the correct prototype file into TubeCAD.
 
 
[[image:Tcadpro_options_newpart_v8-20071002.jpg]]
 
 
For example, the the blue-ball button above calls out to a script named "presetin.scr" (usually found in c:\Program Files\tcadpro\config\script). The script is now more flexible because it takes advantage of the new commands <pre>[options_prototype_in]</pre> and <pre>[options_prototype_mm]</pre> in the command engine. 
 
 
Here is the new 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>
 
 
 
These two values, when typed into the command line, will cause the commmand line to lookup the current default prototype drawing names (either mm or inches), then replace the commands with the pre-selected prototype filenames into the TubeCAD command line automatically.
 
 
 
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<br>
 
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Latest revision as of 14:28, 20 November 2018

Tcadpro logo.jpg




Contents

About TubeCAD Prototype Files

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 TubeCAD with the appropriate settings and preferences.

How to Create a New Prototype File

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, clear the coordinates and number of points, then save it to a prototype TubeCAD file .

Keep in mind that you will be saving a prototype file with a specific linear unit (either inches or millimeters). So, you are creating an inch file, be sure that TubeCAD is already setup in inches. Then when you save, it is good idea to create a new prototype file with the "inch" word in the filename. (Use "mm" or "millimeter" in the new filename if you are configuring a prototype file for millimeters.)

For example, in Windows 7 in inch mode, you can save the setup in a file like this in older versions of TubeCAD Pro:

tcad_prototype_mm_companyname.tcd or tcad_prototype_inch_companyname.tcd

C:\Program Files (x86)\tcadpro v8\config\prototype

Some newer versions the path will be

C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\tcadpro\prototype

(Replace <Username> with your login name.)

or the latest version of TubeCAD uses this path:

C:\ProgramData\tcadpro





How to Change the Prototype File

After you have saved the new prototype TubeCAD file, follow these steps to select the new file as the default when clearing a TubeCAD project.

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

    Tcadpro options popup v8-20071002.jpg

STEP 2: Choose Options. This menu will appear:

    Tcadpro options menu v8-20071002.jpg



STEP 3: Select the ellipsis button at the end of the "MILLIMETERS or "INCHES" prototype TCD File."

    Tcadpro options menu select ellipsis.jpg



STEP 4: Select a new prototype file.

    Tcadpro options menu select opendialog.jpg

The new selection will now be stored in TubeCAD until it is changed again. Now TubeCAD will use the new prototype file when you clear the drawing.

    Tcadpro options menu newprototype.jpg

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.)



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.

    Tcadpro options radio.jpg




How to UPGRADE

Please contact Advanced Tubular Technologies for upgrade information.