Copyright (C) 1986-2008 by Daniel H. Hudgins, All Rights Reserved.
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The text in this section was derived from the v2.5 CAD manual, and has been updated somewhat, but differences between different releases of v2.5, v2.6 and v2.7 may mean that some of the information may not apply to the version you are using. Some adjustment may be required for versions prior or subsequent to v2.7A.
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DANCAD3D (tm) macro commands can used to write a macro "program" that will operate DANCAD3D (tm) automatically. DANCAD3D (tm) can also automatically generate an output macro file of these commands while you use the programs menus. Appendix B lists detailed information about many of the individual macro commands.
Steps to use Appendix B: Macro commands.
Read this section to learn what commands are available.
Use [W]rite from DANCAD3D (tm)'s main menu to write or edit macros.
Use the automatic [O]utput macro feature to automatically code these macro commands to a file while you use the menu commands.
This appendix contains information on the DANCAD3D (tm) macro programming commands that are available for your use in writing automatic CAD-CAE or CAM programs. See the pages in this Web site that link to this page for additional information.
Below are details about macro commands that start with F.
PURPOSE: Command FAN_TRIANGLES is for drawing hidden line
elements, it converts a series of line segments drawn
consecutively into a "fan" of triangles radiating from
the "fan point." The source element is normally an arc
made using the POLYGON command. If the normals are
found to extend in the wrong direction the REVERT
command can usually be used to reverse their direction.
To avoid ambiguity about the normals direction the
source element and the fan point should make an element
that is mostly oriented in the x-y plane, you can then
use the ROTATE command to rotate the fanned element into
other planes. New for v2.7A.
MAIN MENU: [D] [?...] [H] [F]
KEYWORD: FAN_TRIANGLES
PARAMETERS: 4
TYPE: w......... mode = EDGE, lines in source element are
p1-p2 of edge triangles.
JUNCTION, lines in source element are
p1-p2 of junction triangles.
SURFACE, lines in source element are
p1-p2 of surface triangles.
r......... x_fan_point = the p3 point x axis value
for the fanned triangles.
r......... y_fan_point = the p3 point y axis value
for the fanned triangles.
r......... z_fan_point = the p3 point z axis value
for the fanned triangles.
FORMAT: FAN_TRIANGLES w r r r
EXAMPLE: # 1 FAN_TRIANGLES EDGE 0 0 0
# 2 FAN_TRIANGLES JUNCTION 4.2 6.73 0
# 3 FAN_TRIANGLES SURFACE 5.302 7.563 9.1296
NOTE: The guide element that is selected should not have lines
that "double back," the guide element should only have
lines that go in the same general direction so that from
the "fan point" triangles will be created that have the
same orientation. Be sure to use the # symbol before
FAN_TRIANGLES to select the guide element as the current
selected source element.
HINT: See also the macro commands POLYGON, REVERT, and DIVIDE.
PURPOSE: To convert a set of elements from one file type to
another. A set of type ELEMENTS can be converted to
type ASCII. FILES CONVERT can be used to set up for the
BETWEENS macro command. With file types other than
ELEMENTS the files in the set will have numbered
extensions compatible with the macro NAME command.
Conversion of files to and from ASCII Hexadecimal code
from Binary files was added in v2.7A. In v2.7C
conversion for G code files was added to convert to and
from ASCII, ISO, EIA, and EBCDIC file types.
MAIN MENU: [W] (Write a macro to use this command.)
or
[F] [U] ... (See the Files Utilities sub-menu.)
KEYWORD: FILES CONVERT
PARAMETERS: 4 or 5
TYPE: t......... Source file type,
e.g. E 3 A R B, H, or NOR BMP8NM256.
f......... Source file filename.
t......... Result file type,
e.g. E 3 A R B, H, or NOR BMP8NM256.
f......... Result file filename.
or
t......... Conversion mode, TO_ASCII or FROM_ASCII
f......... Source file name.
f......... *.LCT or *.SCT character table driver.
f......... Result file name.
i......... Character processing mode code number.
FORMAT: FILES CONVERT t f t f
or
FILES CONVERT t f f f i
EXAMPLE: FILES CONVERT ELEMENTS GEAR1.3DE 3D_QUICK GEAR13DQ
FILES CONVERT 3D NAME 1 HERE ASCII NAME 2 HERE
FILES CONVERT BIN FILE1.BIN HEX FILE1.HEX
FILES CONVERT HEX FILE1.HEX BIN FILE2.BIN
FILES CONVERT BIN FILE1.TXT HEX FILE1.HEX
FILES CONVERT HEX FILE1.HEX BIN FILE2.TXT
FILES CONVERT BIN FILE1.ASC HEX FILE1.HEX
FILES CONVERT HEX FILE1.HEX BIN FILE2.ASC
FILES CONVERT NOR FILENAME.NOR BMP8NM256 FILENAME.BMP
FILES CONVERT TO_ASCII SOURCE.EIA DRIVERS\EIA.LCT RESULT.TXT 3
FILES CONVERT TO_ASCII SOURCE.EBC DRIVERS\EBCDIC.LCT RESULT.TXT 1
FILES CONVERT TO_ASCII SOURCE.ISO DRIVERS\ISO_ONLY.LCT RESULT.TXT 1
FILES CONVERT TO_ASCII SOURCE.G DRIVERS\AUTO.LCT RESULT.TXT 3
FILES CONVERT FROM_ASCII SOURCE.TXT DRIVERS\EIA_A.SCT RESULT.EIA 1
FILES CONVERT FROM_ASCII SOURCE.TXT DRIVERS\EIA_B.SCT RESULT.EIA 1
FILES CONVERT FROM_ASCII SOURCE.TXT DRIVERS\ISO.SCT RESULT.ISO 1
FILES CONVERT FROM_ASCII SOURCE.TXT DRIVERS\EBCDIC.SCT RESULT.EBC 1
The character processing mode code numbers for TO_ASCII and FROM_ASCII are.
Mode 0 reports & omits characters set to -1 in the conversion table file.
Mode 1 just omits the characters set to -1 in the conversion table file.
Mode 2 removes characters that are followed by DEL 127 or 255 in source file.
Mode 3 same as 2 plus CR 13 is added before LF 10 for EIA to ASCII result.
Mode 4 same as 2 plus CR 141 is added before LF 10 for EIA to ISO result.
Modes 3 and 4 would only be used when the result is ASCII or ISO.
NOTE: Some data types will not convert into other data types,
this command is used for special conversions between
like types, please read the following.
The range on the number of files in the set to be
converted is 1 to 256, or 1 to 999, for conversions to
and from type ELEMENTS, and from 1 to 999 between other
types. Remember that in type ELEMENTS all the files of
the set must be able to fit in the drawing workspace at
once. The numbering of the file set begins with
?????001.??? for type ELEMENTS or ????????.1 for other
types. The maximum number of files in ELEMENTS type
depends on which version of the programs you are using.
Conversion of files to ASCII Hexadecimal code from
Binary files is needed for some uses of the EXPORTFILE
macro command. The reverse, i.e. Binary from Hex is
provided for use in de-converting files made by Binary
to Hex.
This BIN and HEX conversion is mostly for making a Hex
file that you can copy into your macro for use as part
of the EXPORTFILE B macro command, so that the macro can
incorporate binary data in its body as hex data in ASCII
code, this lets you keep all parts and files needed by a
macro in the macro file's body, and export them to disk
files at the time the macro is run.
The reverse HEX to BIN conversion is so that you can
reverse the process, using the files utilities menu, or
a macro, in case you archive the HEX file but misplace
the original BIN file.
ASCII files are a sub-set of Binary files, so you can
convert *.ASC, *.MAC, and *.TXT files to and from *.HEX
by using the BIN option.
A special new FILES CONVERT command that converts a
*.NOR normalized *.RAW scanned data file made using the
replicate command in DANPLOT.EXE (tm) into a *.BMP
graphics file using a special monochrome palette has
been added. This FILES CONVERT option supports a
special palette for conversion of *.NOR files into *.BMP
8 bpp 256 palette mode files by using shades of gray.
The codes for this special new macro command are:
FILES CONVERT NOR filename.nor BMP8NM256 filename.bmp
Because this conversion uses a special gray tone
palette, you must use palette conversion if you want to
convert a *.BMP file made from a *.NOR file made from a
*.RAW file into a *.PIX file using the screen display
M256 palette, i.e. as in video display mode S640M256,
S800M256, S1280M256, and S1600M256. Be sure to see the
prompt in the *.BMP to *.PIX conversion regarding
palette conversion or not, and select palette
conversion. Palette conversion may result in some loss
of data. Programs that read *.BMP files should not have
more of a problem reading the BMP8NM256 palette than
they would any other palette from a *.BMP file. When
converting *.BMP files made by this command into *.PIX
files using the FILES UTILITIES BMP PIX command you
should use the palette conversion since the M256 palette
used for the DISPLAY and Preview commands is different
from the BMP8NM256 palette used by this command to save
the *.BMP file.
There are commands in DANPLOT.EXE (tm) that allow you to
adjust the contrast, brightness, and make negative
copies of the source *.NOR file. The manipulated *.NOR
copy might be used to improve the conversion to *.BMP
graphics file. You might also edit the *.BMP file made
by this command by using some other graphics program
that can read *.BMP files.
Information about how to hook-up the scanner probe for
use with DANPLOT.EXE (tm) is elsewhere in this Web site.
See also the menus of the replicate command in
DANPLOT.EXE (tm).
Note that the TO_ASCII and FROM_ASCII conversion modes
only convert the character codes, not the data type. If
you want to convert a G code file into my ASC tool path
file type, you would need to use the LOAD GCODE and SAVE
ASCII commands. If you want to convert a ASC tool path
in my ASCII drawing file type into a G code file you
would need to use the LOAD ASCII and SAVE GCODE
commands.
HINT: There are several ways that BMP files might be saved and
loaded with macro commands:
UTILITY BMP256_TO_ASCII, can be used to load a 8 bpp
(256 palette mode color or gray tone) *.BMP image file
and convert it into an ASCII file that can be loaded
into the drawing workspace using the LOAD ASCII command.
Various modes can convert the BMP image into 2D or 3D
lines or triangles for use with different display modes
or for use as a tool path for use with the CAM programs.
In BMP files saved from some graphics programs it may be
best to crop the image in the BMP file to have a number
of horizontal pixels that is an even multiple of 8, and
total pixels that are an even multiple of 32.
UTILITY BMP256OIL, works a little like the UTILITY
BMP256_TO_ASCII and also converts BMP 8 bpp file to an
ASCII file, but has the ability to select just one of
the 256 palette mode's colors or gray tones. By
selecting just one of the colors or gray tones you may
be able to make a tool path file to apply just one color
of paint or the equivalent at a time. UTILITY BMP256OIL
can add the motions to move the brush in and out of the
"paint pot" so that the brush picks up paint before
drawing each pixel, or stroke of pixels. In BMP files
saved from some graphics programs it may be best to crop
the image in the BMP file to have a number of horizontal
pixels that is an even multiple of 8, and total pixels
that are an even multiple of 32.
CONVERT can convert a 1 bpp "Line Art" BMP file into a
JET page file, or convert a JET page file into a 1 bpp
"Line Art" BMP file. To make your BMP file this way you
first make a JET page file, then use JET ADD to copy
your drawing lines from the workspace into the JET page
file, then CONVERT can read the JET page file and save a
*.BMP file of the JET page. To load a BMP 1 bpp "Line
Art" file into the workspace you would first use JET
MAKE to make a JET page file, then use CONVERT to copy
the BMP image into that JET page file, then use the JET
TRACE and possibly some of the other JET commands to
make an ASCII trace of the image in the JET page file,
then use the LOAD ASCII file to load the drawing lines
in the ASCII file into the drawing workspace. The BMP
file to be loaded must match the pixel size given in the
JET driver file used to make the JET page file exactly.
The SAVE BMP command can save the graphics screen as a 8
bpp or 24 bpp BMP file. How many colors or gray tones,
the BMP file type i.e. 8 bpp or 24 bpp, and the image
size saved depends on the graphics mode set when SAVE
BMP is called. Color images made using the hidden line
modes can be saved using SAVE BMP, and possibly loaded
into other graphics programs for printing on color
printers. In order to save the higher resolution SVGA
color graphics modes your computer must have a
compatible SVGA video card with enough memory to display
those modes. On computers with or without SVGA the
GRAPH_MODE BMP mode can be used with the DISPLAY command
to save 24 bpp BMP files in color and of larger sizes if
needed.
The LOAD BMP command can load an 8 bpp or 24 bpp BMP
file into the graphics screen. Because the color
palette used for the DISPLAY command can be different
from the palette in the BMP file, files not saved from
DANCAD3D.COM (tm) will probably require palette
conversion when being loaded. Because of mismatch in
the colors after palette conversion, better results will
probably be obtained converting gray scale monochrome
images from BMP files. Color images that undergo
palette conversion may look somewhat "posterized"
depending on the color content in the original BMP file.
The BMP file to be loaded must match the pixel size of
the graphics mode selected exactly. 24 bpp BMP files
that load into 24 or 32 bpp video screens do not require
palette conversion, and so look about the same as when
displayed elsewhere.
FILES CONVERT can be used to convert a NOR file made by
using DANPLOT.EXE (tm)'s scanning probe mode into a BMP
file. This could make a BMP 256 palette mode gray tone
file, but you may be able to convert that to "Line Art"
with some other graphics program you probably have on
your computer. It may be best to select the image
scanning dimensions that have a number of horizontal
pixels that is an even multiple of 8, and total pixels
that are an even multiple of 32 for compatibility with
some programs.
You can try to use the software that came with your
scanner to edit the BMP files, and crop them to the
right size. Some programs have problems actually making
the image the correct number of horizontal and vertical
pixels, you may need to enter a number one larger or
smaller to actually get the size you want. You may also
be able to use the software that came with your scanner
to convert images from 8 bpp (256 palette mode color or
gray) to 1 bpp "Line Art" for conversion into my
programs. You may also be able to use the software that
came with your scanner to convert files saved as 1 bpp,
8 bpp, or 24 bpp BMP from my programs into 24 bpp JPG or
GIF for other applications such as display on the
internet.
When working on a set of elements that you will want to
use in the preparation of an animation by means of the
macro BETWEENS command it is easier to save the set of
elements in type ELEMENTS and then use the FILES CONVERT
command to convert the type to 3D_QUICK so the BETWEENS
command can read the individual element files.
Converting a set of type ELEMENTS to a set named with
the numbered file extension lets you use the macro
automatic NAME macro command to act on a set of elements
by means of a loop. When a file set is converted from
type ELEMENTS to 3D-Quick all that really changes is the
formatting of the numbers in the filename, e.g.
FILE0123.3DE can become FILE3DQ.123 You can also do
conversions by using the LOAD and then the SAVE macro
commands.
PURPOSE: To copy a file, send a file to a port, or input data.
Uses DOS to copy files, input data, or print data.
MAIN MENU: [F] [C]
KEYWORD: FILES COPY
PARAMETERS: 2
TYPE: f......... Source file filename or device name.
f......... Target file filename or device name.
FORMAT: FILES COPY f f
EXAMPLE: FILES COPY C:\CONE.3D D:\PRIM\CONE.3D
; Normal disk file copy.
NAME 1 = FONT 64 NAME 2 = FONT 96
:A1
FILES COPY NAME 1 NEXT NAME 2 NEXT
LOOP :A1 25
; Make an all caps font, by overwriting files.
FILES COPY CON VAR1
; Input data to a variable. Be sure to press return at
; the end of the line and enter [Control] & [Z] then
; [Return] to finish data entry. See also the INPUT,
; INPUT$, OUTPUT and OUTPUT$ commands.
TEXT
LOCATE 1 1
FILES COPY CON MYTEXT.TXT
; Make a text file for the BLOCK_TEXT command.
; Remember to press [Ctrl] & [Z] then [Return] to continue.
FILES COPY VAR1 PRN
; Print out the value of a variable.
HINT: This is a very versatile command, use FILES COPY
whenever you need you need to back up a file, or
duplicate a variable from the "global" to the "local" so
that the disk variable's original contents are not
changed by a sub-macro. See also the COPY command to
make a copy of an element in the workspace.
PURPOSE: To destroy a DOS file and free disk space.
MAIN MENU: [F] [E]
KEYWORD: FILES ERASE
PARAMETERS: 1
TYPE: f......... DOS file filename.
FORMAT: FILES ERASE f
EXAMPLE: FILES ERASE C:\TRASH\TEMP.1
NOTE: See also the RELEASE command to remove variables from
your harddisk after they are used. It is good practice
to remove all temporary files from your harddisk so that
the harddisk does not fill up with trash. See also the
ERASE command to erase an element from the workspace.
See also the FILES RELEASE command to erase sets of
files, or arrays of files.
PURPOSE: To make a DOS sub-directory to keep files and variables
systematically organized and to allow large numbers of
files or sets of files to be written (as when a font is
expanded into a set of ASCII files or when the drawing
workspace is saved as a set of elements.)
MAIN MENU: [F] [M]
KEYWORD: FILES MAKE
PARAMETERS: 1
TYPE: p......... DOS path.
FORMAT: FILES MAKE p
EXAMPLE: FILES MAKE C:\ROBOT\ARMPARTS
HINT: You will not get a fatal error if you try to make the
same directory twice. The error will only be displayed
if the TRACE is on, and the error will not stop the
macro execution. You can avoid this error by using
FILES ERASE and or FILES RELEASE then FILES
REMOVE_DIRECTORY at the end of the macro. I have the
error ignored so that a macro can be run more than once
without having to remove the FILES MAKE command after
the first run.
PURPOSE: To remove a set of files from the harddisk. FILES
RELEASE will also remove a set of type ELEMENTS. The
file set should begin with the first member numbered 1.
The FILES RELEASE PIXEL mode was added in v2.7A.
MAIN MENU: [Q] [A] DEL FILENAME.*
or
[Q] [A] DEL FILEN???.3DE (Use DOS to delete file sets.)
KEYWORD: FILES RELEASE
PARAMETERS: 2
TYPE: t ......... File type of the file set.
f ......... Filename of the set.
FORMAT: FILES RELEASE t f
EXAMPLE: FILES RELEASE ELEMENTS MYSET.3DE
FILES RELEASE ASCII MYSETASC
FILES RELEASE 3D_QUICK NAME 1 HERE
FILES RELEASE PIXEL PIX\ANIMATE.1
NOTE: When the automatic macro NAME command is used with types
other than ELEMENTS the current value of the extension
is not used and causes no problems. When the automatic
macro NAME command is used with type ELEMENTS the set of
elements should have the correct value (a number) in the
element set's file extension to correspond to the
current value for the file extension that the NAME
command will pass as the full filename. The set of
files begins with a file whose extension is numbered 1
for files other than type ELEMENTS. Type ELEMENTS
filenames for sets start with member ?????001.???.
The FILES RELEASE PIXEL command option is set up to
erase Pixel file sets of unknown length, without
reporting errors if some files are missing, that lets
you use the FILES RELEASE PIXEL macro command to clear
disk space and prepare for later use of ANIMATE.
e.g. FILES RELEASE PIXEL C:\SUB\SOMENAME
When filetypes OTHER than DOT, JET, or ELEMENTS are used
with FILES RELEASE all files from SOMENAME.-99 through
SOMENAME.999 are erased, even if there are some files in
the set that are missing.
The FILES RELEASE PIXEL command does not report missing
files, or stop a macro, since the command can be used to
clear a directory left over from when a macro was run
before, for instance if you run a macro and make 100
frames, then change the macro to make 50 frames, you
need to make sure that all the frames from 51 to 100
were erased before the ANIMATE command is used, or you
will see the last part of the first Pixel file set come
after the second file set you made. To avoid this
problem, the FILES RELEASE command can be used to clear
the PIXEL files, if any are already in the directory,
before you make a PIXEL file set so that the ANIMATE
command will just display the most recent set of PIXEL
files made.
HINT: The FILES RELEASE command augments the FILES ERASE
command to remove the files created during the running
of the macro. This command might be especially useful
if you use the macro BETWEENS command and need to clear
the harddisk to make room for the next large set of
files.
PURPOSE: To remove a DOS sub-directory. Note that the sub-
directory must be empty and contain no files before it
can be removed.
MAIN MENU: [Q] [A] RD path (Exit to DOS to do this.)
KEYWORD: FILES REMOVE
PARAMETERS: 1
TYPE: p......... DOS path.
FORMAT: FILES REMOVE p
EXAMPLE: FILES REMOVE C:\ROBOT\ARMPARTS
HINT: Use FILES ERASE or FILES RELEASE to remove all the files
from the sub-directory before you try to remove the sub-
directory name from your harddisk.
PURPOSE: To change the name of a file by substitution.
MAIN MENU: [F] [R]
KEYWORD: FILES RENAME
PARAMETERS: 2
TYPE: f......... Old DOS filename of a file.
f......... New DOS filename of a file.
FORMAT: FILES RENAME f f
EXAMPLE: FILES RENAME NAME 1 HERE CAP_TOP.3D
; Use automatic filename.
NAME 1 = ROBOT_1 0
NAME 2 = FRAME 0
:L123
FILES RENAME NAME 1 NEXT NAME 2 NEXT
LOOP :L123 [ |N_FRAMES - 1 ]
; Rename a set of files.
FILES RENAME TEMP.1 TEMP0001
; Change file from automatic name to element set name.
HINT: You can rename original files to avoid having them be
over-written by altered files. FILES RENAME can be
faster than copying the file to a new file with the
FILES COPY command.
PURPOSE: FILL_TRIANGELS, is conceived to be used to make a tool
path from a surface made up of triangles, it fills
triangles with closely spaced lines so that a smooth
surface might be able to be machined using the generated
tool path. FILL_TRIANGLES has a 3D radius compensation
option that might work with a cutter that has a
hemisphere end shape, e.g. ball mill. FILL_TRIANGLES
has options for generation of drill, roughing, and
finish tool paths. New for v2.7A.
MAIN MENU: [D] [?...] [N] [F]
KEYWORD: FILL_TRIANGLES
PARAMETERS: 12
TYPE: w......... mode = F, Finish tool path of surface.
R, Rough tool path of surface.
B, Both, rough plus finish tool path
of surface.
D, Drill, plunge tool path for drill
like tool.
r......... z_clear point position above work-piece, -1e18 to 1e18.
r......... z_gap above final surface for clearance, -1e18 to 1e18.
r......... radius of tool for radius compensation, 0 to 1e18.
r......... pitch for line spacing in fill pattern, 1e-18 to 1e18.
i......... passes for filling pattern, 1 to 3.
w......... order, Forward or Reverse.
w......... connect lines, Yes or No.
i......... line color for position moves feed rate, 1 to 127.
i......... line color for ascend moves feed rate, 1 to 127.
i......... line color for descend moves feed rate, 1 to 127.
i......... line color for fill lines feed rate, 1 to 127.
FORMAT: FILL_TRIANGLES w r r r r i w w i i i i
EXAMPLE: # 1 FILL_TRIANGLES F 0 0 0 0.005 3 F N 10 11 12 13
NOTE: In order for the radius compensation to be effective the
triangles in the surface need to be divided to a size
that is smaller than the error in the surface tolerance,
e.g. if your surface needs to be +/- 0.001" then the
longest side on triangles in the convex and concave
portions, and some portions adjacent to the convex and
concave portions need to be about half that amount.
The radius compensation is derived from the direction of
the normals in the surface triangles, so be sure that
the triangle's normals are pointing the right way
around.
If you do not want radius compensation, because you are
using a pointed tool, set the radius value to 0.
Be sure to use the select element # command before
FILL_TRIANGLES in order to select the source element to
fill.
Inside or concave corners need to be drawn with a radius
equal or grater than the radius of the cutter, outside
or convex corners can be drawn with a radius smaller
than the cutter radius, when radius compensation is
going to be used. The size of the triangles on the
surface at corners needs to be small enough to hold the
required depth tolerance, which means that very many
triangles may be required on the source element surface.
Be sure to check the orientation of the surface triangle
normals in the source element by using the display modes
that show the normals on the screen. If any of the
normals are going the wrong way around because triangles
where drawn backwards, the radius compensation may go on
the opposite side of the surface and make a mess of your
part, or break your tool! Always look closely at the
tool path before you try to use it to see if it looks
correct.
HINT: See also macro commands BETWEENS, CURVE_FIT, DIVIDE,
WEAVE, and the [A]ssemble command in the drawing editor.
PURPOSE: To fit an element into a rectangular volume or area.
MAIN MENU: [D] [?...] [J] [F]
KEYWORD: FIT_SIZE
PARAMETERS: 7
TYPE: l......... FIT_SIZE mode.
I = Isotropic, best without distortion.
A = Anisotropic, fits to all axis.
r......... X1 = x for first corner of volume.
r......... Y1 = y for first corner of volume.
r......... Z1 = z for first corner of volume.
r......... X2 = x for second corner of volume.
r......... Y2 = y for second corner of volume.
r......... Z2 = z for second corner of volume.
FORMAT: FIT_SIZE l r r r r r r
EXAMPLE: # 1 FIT_SIZE A -4 -5.5 -1 4 5.5 1
NOTE: This command does not use the element center, it uses
the corner points to find a mid-point value.
HINT: Use the Isotropic mode if you want to center a drawing
before you print it out. See the [J]ocky sub-menu in the
drawing editor.
PURPOSE: FIXED has modes that let you adjust the way numbers are
represented in a number variable file on your disk.
This can be used to change the way numbers will display
on the screen since numbers are stored in ASCII format
in number variables, allowing implicit type conversion
to string variable type and reading of the formatted
number by the commands that read string variables. New
for v2.7A.
MAIN MENU: [W]
KEYWORD: FIXED
PARAMETERS: 2 (for mode 0)
3 (for mode 1)
4 (for mode 2)
TYPE: For mode 0:
f......... filename for number variable.
i......... mode, i.e. 0.
For mode 1:
f......... filename for number variable.
i......... mode, i.e. 1.
i......... field width, in characters total.
For mode 2:
f......... filename for number variable.
i......... mode, i.e. 2.
i......... field width, in characters total.
i......... decimal places, should be less than field
width for fixed field with use.
FORMAT: FIXED
EXAMPLE: FIXED MYVALUE.VAR 0
FIXED MYVALUE.VAR 1 8
FIXED MYVALUE.VAR 2 9 4
NOTE: Mode 0, Converts string in variable to expediential
notation of default width. Mode 1, converts to
expediential notation of n width. Mode 2, converts to
fixed point notation, of n1 field width with n2 decimal
places, n2 should be less than n1 for fixed string
widths.
FIXED is intended to use in a running macro when you
need to format a number variable for display,
particularly when you want the decimal to stay
stationary while decimal values count off on screen or
in print out.
HINT: See also macro OUTPUT$ and LET$ commands.
PURPOSE: To flip (invert, mirror) the points across an axis.
FLIP C X works like MAGNIFY C -1 1 1 but might run
faster.
MAIN MENU: [N] [F] [C] or [N] [F] [Z]
KEYWORD: FLIP
PARAMETERS: 2
TYPE: l......... Center to use, i.e. C or Z.
C = elements current center point.
Z = workspace, world, zero center point.
l......... Letter of axis = X or Y or Z.
FORMAT: FLIP l l
EXAMPLE: # 1 FLIP C Z ; Flip z on # 1's center.
# 2 FLIP C X ; Flip x on # 2's center.
# 3 FLIP C Y ; Flip y on # 3's center.
# 1 FLIP Z Z ; Z = -Z in element 1.
# 2 FLIP Z X ; X = -X in element 2.
# 3 FLIP Z Y ; Y = -Y in element 3.
LET |ELES -> ELEMENTS
# |ELES CENTER 100 0 0
# |ELES COPY
# [ |ELES + 1 ] FLIP CENTER X
HINT: See the CENTER command about how to set the point that
the flip will take place across. This FLIP command can
be faster than using MAGNIFY with a negative value.
Flip is useful in drawing symmetrical objects since you
can use the COPY command and then flip the copy. The
CENTER command can be used to set the point at which the
symmetry will divide on a line through and parallel to a
major axis.