Prgram Infrmatin 1 DXF2DAT 3.0 Prfessinal Designed Cmputing Systems 848 W. Brtn Rad Essexville, Michigan 48732 Cntact: (989) 892-4376 website: http://www.famwrk.net General Infrmatin: inf@famwrk.net Technical Supprt: supprt@famwrk.net Designed Cmputing Systems assumes n respnsibility fr the imprper use f this sftware r any related damage r injury f equipment r persnnel while using this prgram. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Technical Supprt 2 Technical Supprt is available by email, phne, and Frequently Asked Questin. Users are encuraged t check FAQ prir t trying ther means f technical supprt. We will make every effrt t respnd in less than 24 hurs. Our FAQ web page is updated as new questins are asked. FAQ website: http://www.famwrk.net/faq.htm Email supprt: supprt@famwrk.net Phne supprt: (989) 892-4376 Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Registratin 3 Registratin T register yur prgram and disable the timeut functin, g t http://www.famwrk.net/reg.htm Cmplete the registratin frm and yur registratin number will be returned t yu within 24 hurs. Purchase price fr DXF2DAT 3.0 Prfessinal is $45.00 If yu are a registered user f Famwrks 2.1 the purchase price f DXF2DAT 3.0 will be discunted 20% t $36.00 If bth Famwrks 2.1 and DXF2DAT 3.0 Prfessinal are purchased at the same time the same discunt will be applied, fr a ttal purchase price f $81.00 Payments can be may by PayPal (the preferred methd) r by check r mney rder. Send PayPal payments t djmrzinski@chartermi.net Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Features 4 CAD Functins 1. Draw lines, arcs, circles, plylines, ellipse, rectangles 2. Edit / delete entities n the DXF drawing 3. Full Zm functins 4. Add/delete layers fr editing/tracing/mdifying DXF file 5. Plt/Print DXF Imprt functins 1. Lad DXF file 2. Lad DAT file (a crrespnding DXF file is als generated when the DAT file is laded even if yu dn't have the riginal DXF file) 3. Save DXF 4. Save DAT 5. Save DAT file as a DXF file 6. Select scanning device 7. Acquire/scan image int backgrund (scanned images can be used as guidelines fr tracing t create new DXF files) Cnversin functins 1. Explde all Blck entities f the DXF (individual functin) 2. Replace plylines, splines with lines (individual functin) 3. Autmatic Cnversin t DAT with 2 r 4 muse clicks. 2 muse click fr sequentially drawn dxf files and 4 muse clicks fr randmly drawn files. Sequentially draw dxf file Prep DXF (remve blck, plylines, etc) Specify starting pint and cut directin Randmly draw dxf file Prep DXF (remve blck, plylines, etc) Specify starting pint and cut directin Rerganize DXF per step 2 specificatin Cnvert t DAT Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Quick Start 5 Successful creatin f DAT files are directly related t hw the dxf drawing is created. Sequential DXF File: The mst efficient dxf file is ne that is created with fam cutting in mind. A sequential drawing shuld start at the same pint that the fam cutter will use as a starting pint and the drawing shuld be created fllwing the sequence that the fam cutter will fllw while cutting. In ther wrds the first line drawn shuld be the first step fr the fam cutter and the last line draw shuld be the last step fr the fam cutter. The drawing can cntain crssing and verlapping line. DXF2DAT3 will still create the dat file crrectly. If this prcess if fllwed, DXF2DAT3 Prfessinal can cnvert the dxf file t a dat file in just tw steps. The first step remves blcks, and cnverts plyline and spines t lines. The secnd step is the actual cnversin prcess. When this drawing technique is used DXF2DAT3 Prfessinal will perfrm accurately every time. Use nly the plyline and the line tls t create a sequential DXF file. Randm DXF File: A randm dxf file is ne that is created by drawing the desired shape giving n cnsideratin t the fam cutting prcess. Lines and ther dxf file entities (arc, splines, plylines) are drawn in n specific rder. DXF2DAT3 Prfessinal can still create a accurate dat file if the fllwing cnventins are fllwed. Lines shuld nt verlap r crss, care shuld be taken t start the next line f the drawing as clse as pssible t its adjacent line. Lines that run parallel shuld be spaced a small distance a small distance apart. Randm drawing are cnverted in 4 steps. The first step remves blcks, and cnverts plyline and spines t lines. The secnd step sets the starting pint and the directin f the first step f the fam cutting prcess. The third steps is fr DXF2DAT3 Prfessinal t rerganize the drawing based n the starting pint and cut directin selected. The furth step is the cnversin f the dxf file t a dat file. The fllwing sample DXF files are included with the install f DXF2DAT 3.0 Prfessinal. Sequential DXF File: FW_sequence.dxf Randm DXF File: FW_randm.dxf Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Pp Up Menu and Shrtcut Keys 6 Pp Up Menu and ShrtCut Keys Right muse clicking anywhere n the current drawing will pen a pp up menu with many regularly used features like: Sequential file cnversin tls Randm file cnversin tls Select entity tls Zm tls ShrtCut Keys Zm In - using the plus key n the numeric keypad Zm Out - using the minus key n the numeric keypad Zm In - Duble click anywhere n the current drawing. The view will zm in the specified zm factr, centered n the muse click lcatin. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Creating a Sequential DXF file 7 Sequential DXF File: The mst efficient dxf file is ne that is created with fam cutting in mind. A sequential drawing shuld start at the same pint that the fam cutter will use as a starting pint and the drawing shuld be created fllwing the sequence that the fam cutter will fllw while cutting. In ther wrds the first line drawn shuld be the first step fr the fam cutter and the last line draw shuld be the last step fr the fam cutter. The drawing can cntain crssing and verlapping line. DXF2DAT3 will still create the dat file crrectly. If this prcess if fllwed, DXF2DAT3 Prfessinal can cnvert the dxf file t a dat file in just tw steps. The first step remves blcks, and cnverts plyline and spines t lines. The secnd step is the actual cnversin prcess. When this drawing technique is used DXF2DAT3 Prfessinal will perfrm accurately every time. Use nly the plyline and the line tls t create a sequential DXF file. The fllwing sample DXF files are included with the install f DXF2DAT 3.0 Prfessinal. Sequential DXF File: FW_sequence.dxf Randm DXF File: FW_randm.dxf Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Randm DXF file cnversin prblems 8 Randm DXF File: A randm dxf file is ne that is created by drawing the desired shape giving n cnsideratin t the fam cutting prcess. Lines and ther dxf file entities (arc, splines, plylines) are drawn in n specific rder. DXF2DAT3 Prfessinal can still create a accurate dat file if the fllwing cnventins are fllwed. Lines shuld nt verlap r crss, care shuld be taken t start the next line f the drawing as clse as pssible t its adjacent line. Lines that run parallel shuld be spaced a small distance apart. Randm drawing are cnverted in 4 steps. The first step remves blcks, and cnverts plyline and spines t lines. The secnd step sets the starting pint and the directin f the first step f the fam cutting prcess. The third steps is fr DXF2DAT3 Prfessinal t rerganize the drawing based n the starting pint and cut directin selected. The furth step is the cnversin f the dxf file t a dat file. The fllwing sample DXF files are included with the install f DXF2DAT 3.0 Prfessinal. Sequential DXF File: FW_sequence.dxf Randm DXF File: FW_randm.dxf Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Using Layers 9 Using Layers Layers are ne f the mst pwerful tl prvided with in DXF2DAT. One f the mst useful functin f layers is the ability t create a new layer ver an existing drawing and then using the plyline and line tls, create a new drawing (Sequencial DXF file) n the new layer by tracing the existing drawing. Start the new drawing at the same pint that the fam cutter will use as a starting pint. The drawing shuld be created fllwing the sequence that the fam cutter will fllw while cutting. In ther wrds the first line drawn shuld be the first step fr the fam cutter and the last line draw shuld be the last step fr the fam cutter. The drawing can cntain crssing and verlapping line. DXF2DAT3 will still create the dat file crrectly. Then using the remve ptin in the layers menu, remve all ther layers, leaving nly the layer cntaining the drawing that was traced ver the existing drawing. Using this technique, insures that a sequencial cnversin will create the dat file that exactly fllws the desired cutting path. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Cnversin Prblems 10 Cnversin failure f a randmly drawn DXF file can ccur fr a number f reasns. Multiple lines drawn ne n tp f anther Lines cnverging t a single pint. Lines verlapping DXF file was drawn using entities unknwn t DXF2DAT Others Cnversin failure is usually indicated by nly a prtin f the drawing regenerating n the screen when the entities are rerganized. When a drawing has failed t cnvert, clse the drawing and relad the riginal DXF file. Attempting t edit a regenerated drawing will nly lead t further prblems. It is very imprtant t save the existing DXF drawing prir t starting the cnversin prcess. During the cnversin prcess the drawing is rerganized and if the drawing fails t cnvert, and the riginal drawing has nt been saved, the riginal drawing will be lst. ALWAYS SAVE PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING CONVERSION Yu have tw ptins when a drawing fails t cnvert. Attempt t edit the drawing either with the drawing tls prvided in DXF2DAT r pen the drawing in yur favrite CAD prgram and try t remve the prtin f the drawing causing the prblem. Often it is mre efficient t simply create a new layer and trace the drawing creating a new sequential DXF file that will cnvert prperly. See Creating a Sequencial DXF Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Menu Bar 11 Menu Bar The Menu bar cntains buttns that allw yu t access tls that can be used while wrking with DXF2DAT. When the muse pinter is placed ver each buttn, a buttn descriptin will be displayed. The buttn, when clicked, will display the currently laded DXF drawing and a crrespnding list f crdinates listed in the Crdinate Listing bx. The buttn, when clicked, will display a drawing that represents the shape described by the crdinates listed in the DAT Listing bx. NOTE: The drawing shwn when the buttn is clicked can nt be edited. This drawing is generated frm the currently listed DAT file. All changes need t be made t the DXF drawing. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Listings Bxes and Drawing Screens 12 Listing Bxes Tw listing bxes can be displayed, a Crdinate Listing and a DAT Listing. The Crdinate listing is a list f crdinates that crrespnd t the entities f the DXF drawing. This listing will change as the drawing is edited. A 0,0 shwing in the crdinate listing indicates a blck is present. T see all the entities in the blck, Explde the Blck. The nly way t edit the crdinate listing is t edit the DXF drawing. The DAT listing is a list f crdinates that crrespnds t the cnverted crdinates f the DXF drawing, but displayed as a DAT file. The DAT listing is als used t generate the drawing shwn when the buttn is clicked. Drawing Screens The DXF drawing screen is the screen where all editing can take place. All tls are enabled and available fr use. Yu can tggle t the currently laded drawing screen by clicking menu bar. buttn n the The DAT file drawing screen can nt be edited. Mst tls are nt available. Yu can tggle t the currently laded DAT drawing screen by clicking buttn n the menu bar. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Status Bar 13 Status Bar The Status Bar shw infrmatin abut the current drawing. The first sectin will shw the current X,Y psitn f the muse pinter when it is lcated ver the active drawing. The secnd sectin will list the active layer f the current drawing. The third sectin will shw varius messages based n the functin that is currently active. Fr example, when drawing a line the line f the line is shwn. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
BMP, GIF and JPG files 14 Bitmaps, GIF files and JPG files DXF2DAT 3.0 Prfessinal has the ability t lad bitmaps, gif file and jpg files. These files are laded as backgrund pictures and can nt be edited. The main purpse f lading these type f files wuld be t use as a guide when creating either a randm DXF file r sequential DXF file that will be cnverted t a DAT file. When the DXF file that uses ne f these files as a backgrund is saved, the backgrund is nt included in the DXF file. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Files 15 Files Menu New DXF File Open - Opens a new blank drawing with the specified maximum x value and the specified y value. Maximum X Value - Opens a dialg bx that allw a new maximum x value t be entered. This value becmes the default until changed. Maximum Y Value - Opens a dialg bx that allw a new maximum x value t be entered. This value becmes the default until changed. Open DXF File - Open an existing DXF file fr editing and cnversin Open DAT File - Open and existing DAT file. As well as pening the DAT file, DXF2DAT will create a crrespnding DXF file that can be saved,edited, r cnverted after editing. This is a very pwerful feature f the prgram. It allws yu t create a DXF file frm any existing DAT file. Open BMP, GIF, JPG File - Open a bitmap, gif file r jpg file and lad the file int the backgrund f the current drawing. This feature allw yu t take any bitmap, gif r jpg file and create a sequential DXF file by trace the backgrund image. Clse - Clses the active DXF file and DAT file Clse All - Clses all DXF files and DAT files that are currently pen. Save Save DXF File - Save the current DXF file. Save DAT File - Save the current DAT file. Save DAT File as DXF File - Save the current DAT file as a DXF file. Page Setup - Enter all plt parameters Plt Preview - View drawing prir t pltting Plt - Plt the current DXF drawing Select Device - Select the input device yu wish t use, a dialg bx shwing all the available devices will be shwn. Select the device yu wish t use and click OK t make the selectin current. Acquire Image - Start the scanning prcess, dialg bxes with the apprpriate prmpts will be displayed. Fllw the instructins given. Exit - Clse DXF2DAT 3.0 Prfessinal Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Edit 16 Edit Menu Delete - Deletes the selected entity r entities Cancel - Cancels the current peratin Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Tls 17 Tls Menu Explde All Blck - Opens all blck within the current drawing and replaces the blcks with the individual entities that make up the blck Replace Plyline with Lines - Replaces all plylines within the current drawing with individual lines. Plyline will be listed in the Crdinate Listing bx as entities with crdinates 0,0. These will be replaced autmatically when the plylines are cnverted. Replace ARCs with Lines - Arcs are replaced with individual line segments that represent the arc. The size f the line segments is determined by the ARC/CIRCLE Cnversin Factr. Fr example a 90 degree arc will be replaced with a 30 lines if the cnversin factr is set t 3 degrees. Replace CIRCLEs with Lines - Circles are replaced with individual line segments that represent the circle. The size f the line segments is determined by the ARC/CIRCLE Cnversin Factr. Fr example a circle will be replaced with a 120 lines if the cnversin factr is set t 3 degrees. Rtate Selected Entities - Rtates the selected entity r entities by the amunt specified. Individual r grups f entities are selected by using the "Select" r "Windw Select" buttn n the Menu Bar Set ARC/CIRCLE Cnversin Factr (degrees) - Sets the default ARC/CIRCLE Cnversin Factr fr all future replacements f ARCs r CIRCLEs Clear Starting Pint - Clear a starting pint that has been selected during the cnversin prcess. Grid - Turn n/ff grids prperties. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Build DAT 18 Build DAT Frm Sequential DXF File Step 1. Prep DXF fr Cnversin T DAT Step 2. Cnvert DXF t DAT Nw The first step remves blcks, and cnverts plyline and spines t lines. The secnd step cnverts the DXF file t a DAT file. See Creating a Sequential DXF file Frm Randm DXF File Step 1. Prep DXF fr Cnversin t DAT Step 2. Set Cutting Directin/Starting Pint Step 3. Rerganize Entities Step 4. Cnvert DXF t DAT Randm drawing are cnverted in 4 steps. The first step remves blcks, and cnverts plyline and spines t lines. The secnd step sets the starting pint and the directin f the first step f the fam cutting prcess. The third steps is fr DXF2DAT3 Prfessinal t rerganize the drawing based n the starting pint and cut directin selected. The furth step is the cnversin f the dxf file t a dat file. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Zm 19 Zm Pan - Mve the drawing by the amunt specified by clicking a starting and ending pint n the drawing. Previus - Reverts t the previus zm value displayed. Windw - Zms t the selected windw. The zm windw is specified by clicking a starting pint, releasing the muse buttn and clicking anther pint diagnally frm the starting pint. A windw is displayed t shw the selected limits f the windw being specified. Limits - Zms t the specified limits f the current drawing. Extents - Zms t the maximum x and y value needed t display the current drawing. Zm In - Zms in the specified zm amunt. Shrtcut key is the plus key n the numeric key pad. Zm Out - Zms ut the specified zm amunt. Shrtcut key is the minus key n the numeric key pad Set Zm Value - Sets the zm in and zm ut amunt as a functin f percent. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Draw 20 Draw Line - Draw a single line n a drawing by clicking a starting and pint and ending pint. Plyline - Draw a plyline n a drawing by clicking a starting pint and click at the next pint f the desired plyline. Cntinue this prcess until the desired plyline is displayed. Cmplete the prcess by clicking the right the muse buttn. Yu will be given the ptin t create a clsed plyline r an pen plyline. Arc - Draw an arc by clicking the pint where yu wish the radius f the arc t start. The secnd pint defines the first pint f the arc and the third pint defines the secnd pint f the arc. The pints are cnnected based n the radius specified. Circle - Draw a circle by clicking n the starting pint r center f the circle. The secnd pint defines the radius f the desired circle. Ellipse - Draw a ellipse by clicking n the starting pint r center f the ellipse. The secnd pint defines the dimensin f the ellipse in ne directin and the third pint defines the dimensin f the ellipse in a secnd directin. Rectangle - Draw a rectangle by clicking the desired starting pint and the clicking a secnd pint diagnally frm the first that defines the desired rectangle. Add Plar Array - Add a plar array t the drawing by clicking the pint where yu wish the plar array t begin, specifying the length f the segments f the array and the number f degrees between the array segments. Plar arrays can be helpful as guides when creating drawing with a specific number f pints. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Layers 21 Layer Management Add Layer- Adds new layer t the existing drawing. Yu will be asked t select a clr fr the new layer as well. The new layer will autmatically becme the active layer f the drawing. Remve - Remves a layer frm the drawing. Set Active - Set the active layer f the drawing. This will be the layer that cntains all drawing wrk until anther layer is set active. Only ne layer at a time may be active. On / Off - Determines is a layer and its entities are visible r nt. Clse - Clses the Layer Management Dialg Bx and makes all changes current. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
View 22 View Tl Bar - Shws r hides the Tl Bar. Status Bar - Shws r hides the Status Bar. Crdinate Listing - Displays the current DXF drawing and the crrespnding Crdinate Listing Bx DAT File Listing - Displays the current DAT File Listing Bx and the crrespnding shape described by the DAT file. Draw Redraw - Regenerates the current DXF drawing. Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Help 23 Help View Help - Opens the help files. Help files can als be dwnladed by ging t www.famwrk.net/dwnlad.htm Abut - Displays the versin number and ther infrmatin abut DXF2DAT 3.0 Prfessinal Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems
Cntact Us 24 Technical supprt and be btained thrugh the fllwing surces: Email: supprt@famwrk.net Phne: 989-892-4376 Website: www.famwrk.net/faq.htm Address: Designed Cmputing Systems 848 W. Brtn Rad Essexville, Michigan 48732 WWW: www.famwrk.net Mailing lists: www.famwrk.net/mailing.htm Cpyright 2003 Designed Cmputing Systems