Beginning AutoCAD 2002 Episode 13 potx

353 The TODAY window 353 Figure 48.11 Part of the screen display with search data. Beginning with AutoCAD 2002.qxd 14/06/2002 19:09 Page 353 ‘Electronic’ AutoCAD AutoCAD 2002 allows the user to generate electronic drawing files, these files being in Drawing Web Format (DWF).These DWF files can be opened, viewed or plotted by third party persons having access to Volo View or Volo View Express. In this final chapter, we will investigate several of these electronic generating devices. Creating a DWF file DWF files are ‘at the heart’ of AutoCAD’ electronic generation, and to demonstrate how these are created: 1 Close any existing drawing files. 2 Open any of your saved AutoCAD activities, e.g. ACT30. 3 Menu bar with File-Plot and: prompt Plot dialogue box respond activate the named tab and set as detailed: A Plot Device tab active 1. Plotter configuration name: DWF eView (optimized for viewing) pc3 2. Plot to file: File name: TRIAL Location: named folder – dialogue box similar to Fig. 49.1 B Plot Setting tab active 1. Paper size: ISOA3(420x297) 2. Plot area: Extents 3. Drawing orientation: Landscape 4. Plot scale: Scaled to fit 5. Full preview and: prompt Preview of activity drawing respond right-click and plot. 4 The command line will display ‘normal plot’ information 5 Menu bar with File-Save As and: a) alter file name to ACT30(ET) – for future use b) ensure saving as a *.dwg file c) pick Save. 6 Now exit AutoCAD. Chapter 49 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002.qxd 14/06/2002 19:09 Page 354 Volo View Express If you have access to Volo View (normally loaded when AutoCAD 2002 is installed) then: 1 Open Volo View with the taskbar sequence Start-Programs-Volo View Express-Volo View Express (or similar sequence) 2 Menu bar with File-Open and: prompt Open dialogue box respond 1. scroll and select your named folder 2. scroll and select Drawing Web Format (*.dwf) file type 3. dialogue box similar to Fig. 49.2 4. pick TRIAL then Open and screen should display the saved activity ‘drawing’ 3 Menu bar with View-Zoom-All ‘Electronic’ AutoCAD 355 Figure 49.1 The Plot dialogue box (Plot Device tab) for creating a DWF file from a DWG file. Figure 49.2 The Open dialogue box for Volo View Express. Beginning with AutoCAD 2002.qxd 14/06/2002 19:10 Page 355 4 Why use Volo View? a) Volo View is ‘tool’ which allows third parties to view AutoCAD drawings without the need for the full AutoCAD draughting package to be loaded on their system. This is useful to managers and also saves money as Volo View is cheaper than AutoCAD b) With Volo View, it is possible to add text and sketch. This could be notes relating to a wrong dimension or suggestions to improve the design. Again this is a useful tool for managers, designers, marketing, etc. c) The Markup menu bar item in Volo View allows the user access to the text and sketch facilities d) A modified Markup screen can be saved in the following file formats: 1. RedlineXML (*.rml) 2. Drawing Web Format (*.dwf) 3. AutoCAD DXF (*.dxf) e) Figure 49.3 displays a ‘screen dump’ of the ACT30 drawing opened as TRIAL in Volo View with annotations (text and sketch) added. f) Markup ‘drawings’ can be inserted into existing AutoCAD drawings with the menu bar sequence Insert-Markup. g) Note: 1. I found it impossible to insert a Volo View markup drawing into an existing AutoCAD drawing – perhaps it was ‘my system’. 2. I found that if I opened a Volo View saved DXF file in AutoCAD it was then possible to insert an AutoCAD drawing. Figure 49.4 is an opened Volo View DXF file with ACT30 inserted, with the suggested moifications. 5 If you have tried this exercise, close Volo View and return to AutoCAD with the opened activity (ACT30) displayed. This exercise is now complete. 356 Beginning AutoCAD 2002 Figure 49.3 Volo View screen with text and sketching added. Beginning with AutoCAD 2002.qxd 14/06/2002 19:10 Page 356 e-Transmit eTransit allows the user to create a set of AutoCAD drawings (only DWG or DWT formats) which can be posted to the Internet or sent to others as an e-mail attachment. The process generates a report file which allows the user to add notes and a password if required. The files to be transmitted can be stored by the user: 1. in a named folder 2. in a created self-executable or zip file. We will demonstrate the concept by example (which you should only attempt if you have e-mail access), so: 1 Close any existing drawings then open ACT30(ET). 2 Menu bar with File-eTransmit and: prompt Create Transmittal dialogue box respond 1. Notes: add as required 2. Type: Self-extracting executable (*.exe) 3. Browse: pick Browse and: prompt Specify self-extracting executable dialogue box respond 1. scroll and pick named folder 2. file name should be ACT(30)ET).exe 3. pick Save and dialogue box similar to Fig. 49.5 respond pick OK. 3 The command line will return the message: Transmittal created: folder\ACT(30)ET.exe. 4 Exit AutoCAD, open Windows Explorer and: a) Navigate to your named folder b) Arrange the icons by name c) Right-click on the new ACT(30)ET icon and pick Properties from the displayed Shortcut menu d) Note the dialogue box display similar to Fig. 49.6 then Cancel ‘Electronic’ AutoCAD 357 Figure 49.4 ACT30 with Volo View details inserted. Beginning with AutoCAD 2002.qxd 14/06/2002 19:10 Page 357 358 Beginning AutoCAD 2002 Figure 49.6 Properties dialogue box for ACT(30)ET. New icon Figure 49.5 Create Transmittal dialogue box. Beginning with AutoCAD 2002.qxd 14/06/2002 19:10 Page 358 5 To demonstrate how an eTransmit file is ‘unpacked’, double left-click on the ACT30(ET) executable file and: prompt eTransmit dialogue box respond 1. pick Browse 2. scroll and pick a new folder for extracting the file 3. pick OK prompt eTransmit dialogue box similar to Fig. 49.7 respond pick OK prompt % display of extraction status then eTransmit dialogue box similar to Fig. 49.8 respond pick OK and Explorer screen returned. 6 a) From Explorer, scroll and pick the named folder to which the eTransmit was extracted (in my case the folder was named CMG). The display should be similar to Fig. 49.9. b) Double left-click on the ACT30(ET) text file and Notepad will display the Transmittal report similar to Fig. 49.10. Cancel the text file. c) Double left-click on the ACT30(ET) drawing file and AutoCAD will be opened and display the transmitted file. 7 AutoCAD files can be attached and send as a e-mail, and Fig. 49.11 is a typical e-mail screen with two attachments: a) the ACT30(ET).dwg file b) the ACT30(ET).exe file. 8 While an AutoCAD drawing file can be sent as an attachment, the file may be very large and this can cause ‘problems’ when it is being ‘opened’ by the receiver. An exe (or zipped) file may be easier to send electronically. This exercise is now complete. ‘Electronic’ AutoCAD 359 Figure 49.7 eTransmittal dialogue box with folder name for extraction. Figure 49.8 eTransmittal dialogue box at end of extraction. Beginning with AutoCAD 2002.qxd 14/06/2002 19:10 Page 359 360 Beginning AutoCAD 2002 Figure 49.10 Part of the ACT(30)ET text file. Figure 49.11 Sending files by e-mail. Figure 49.9 Expansion of CMG folder. Beginning with AutoCAD 2002.qxd 14/06/2002 19:10 Page 360 Publishing to the web AutoCAD 2002 allows the user to create web pages of existing drawings. To demonstrate the concept: 1 Start a new metric drawing from scratch to display the typical AutoCAD 2002 blank screen 2 Menu bar with File-Publish to Web and: prompt Publish to Web (Begin) dialogue box (as Layout dialogue box) respond 1. pick Create New Web Page 2. pick New prompt AutoCAD message similar to Fig. 49.12 respond 1. read the message 2. pick Cancel 3 Now open any drawing, e.g. ACT28, then menu bar with File-Publish to Web and: prompt Publish to Web (Begin) dialogue box respond 1. pick Create New Web Page 2. pick New prompt Publish to Web (Create Web Page) dialogue box respond 1. Web page name: enter MYPAGE 2. Note parent directory 3. Add any suitable description – Fig. 49.13 4. pick Next prompt Publish to Web (Select Image Type) dialogue box respond 1. select type from list : DWF 2. pick Next prompt Publish to Web (Select Template) dialogue box respond 1. select a template type, e.g. Array plus Summary 2. pick Next prompt Publish to Web (Apply Theme) dialogue box respond 1. scroll and select an element, e.g. Ocean Waves – Fig. 49.14 2. pick Next prompt Publish to Web (Enable i-drop) dialogue box respond activate i-drop then pick Next prompt Publish to Web (Select Drawings) dialogue box with your opened ACT28 drawing listed respond 1. Layout: select Model (probably active) 2. Label: alter to GEAR 3. Description: enter to sent 4. Pick Add → and GEAR added to list respond Pick the (. . .) at Drawing prompt Publish to Web dialogue box with *.dug file type respond 1. Scroll to named folder 2. Pick another drawing or activity 3. Layout: Model 4. Label: alter to suit 5. Description: alter to suit 6. Pick Add → then Pick (. . .) and select another 2 or 3 drawings and repeat the above six responses and Pick Next ‘Electronic’ AutoCAD 361 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002.qxd 14/06/2002 19:10 Page 361 prompt Publish to Web (Generate Images) dialogue box respond 1. Regenerate images for drawing (etc.) active 2. pick Next prompt Plot progress information displayed then Publish to Web (Preview and Post) dialogue box respond pick Preview and Internet Explorer with Images of drawings – Fig. 49.16 respond 1. view your images 2. close the Internet to return to AutoCAD and select Finish 4 You have now create a web page which can be: a) edited to your requirements b) posted to the Internet 5 Note: a) I hope that in this chapter the user has realised that AutoCAD 2002 has uses other than drawing. The web page creation is very useful and relatively simple to create b) Figure 49.17 is a detailed listing the the web page data MYPAGE and it is surprising the information required for a simple web page creation? This exercise is now complete and it is the end of the book. 362 Beginning AutoCAD 2002 Figure 49.12 The AutoCAD message screen. Beginning with AutoCAD 2002.qxd 14/06/2002 19:10 Page 362 [...]... 14/06 /2002 19:10 Page 369 Activities 369 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 370 14/06 /2002 Beginning AutoCAD 2000 19:10 Page 370 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:11 Page 371 Activities 371 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 372 14/06 /2002 Beginning AutoCAD 2000 19:11 Page 372 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:11 Page 373 Activities 373 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 374 14/06 /2002 Beginning. .. Beginning AutoCAD 2000 19:11 Page 374 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:11 Page 375 Activities 375 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 376 14/06 /2002 Beginning AutoCAD 2000 19:11 Page 376 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:11 Page 377 Activities 377 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 378 14/06 /2002 Beginning AutoCAD 2000 19:11 Page 378 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:11... Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:10 Page 365 ‘Electronic’ AutoCAD 365 Figure 49.17 Listing of the saved MYPAGE web data Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 366 14/06 /2002 Beginning AutoCAD 2000 19:10 Page 366 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:10 Page 367 Activities 367 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 368 14/06 /2002 Beginning AutoCAD 2000 19:10 Page 368 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd... 2000 19:11 Page 378 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:11 Page 379 Activities 379 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 380 14/06 /2002 Beginning AutoCAD 2000 19:11 Page 380 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:11 Page 381 Activities 381 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 382 14/06 /2002 Beginning AutoCAD 2000 19:12 Page 382 .. .Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:10 Page 363 ‘Electronic’ AutoCAD 363 Figure 49 .13 The Publish to Web (Create Web Page) dialogue box Figure 49.14 Publish to Web (Apply Theme) dialogue box Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 364 14/06 /2002 19:10 Page 364 Beginning AutoCAD 2002 Figure 49.15 Publish to Web (Select Drawings) dialogue . 365 366 Beginning AutoCAD 2000 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:10 Page 366 Activities 367 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:10 Page 367 368 Beginning AutoCAD 2000 Beginning. with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:10 Page 368 Activities 369 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:10 Page 369 370 Beginning AutoCAD 2000 Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002. of the book. 362 Beginning AutoCAD 2002 Figure 49.12 The AutoCAD message screen. Beginning with AutoCAD 2002. qxd 14/06 /2002 19:10 Page 362 ‘Electronic’ AutoCAD 363 Figure 49 .13 The Publish to