TECacad + Workshop

Includes: TECacad toolbars & dropdown menu Batch plotting process Creating & editing multiple sheet drawing files Use of Paper Space Model Space Capabilities Tool Palettes Standard symbols Workspaces Standard templates in shared areas AutoCAD abbreviations User Group websites Vendors Utilizing Tyco Drawing formats & TECacad IFX File Transfer process Tips & Techniques File-open dialog box icons Starting a session of AutoCAD with Template pre-loaded F1 Key to Cancel

Tyco Electronics Confidential

TECacad toolbars & dropdown menu .. 4 Batch plotting process . 33 Creating & editing Multiple sheet drawing files 37

Use of Paper Space Model Space Capabilities ..... 39 Tool Palettes .43 Workspaces 45 AutoCAD Abbreviations 46 Standard templates in shared areas . 45 AUGI AutoDesk User Group International . 48 AutoDesk Discussion Groups . 48 Vendors Utilizing Tyco Drawing formats. 50 File-Open Dialog box icons 53 Starting a session of AutoCAD with Template pre-loaded 53 Dynamic Blocks 54 Changing the F1 Key to Cancel .. 55

TECacad toolbars & dropdown menu

EMCS recognized the need for compatibility among the various CAD packages. As a result, TECacad was developed to customize AutoCAD so that drawings done in AutoCAD will be consistent with formats, etc., available in MEDUSA and Pro/ENGINEER. By using the TECacad software, and following the drawing and layering standards, the users will all benefit from the consistency of information. Not only will it improve drawing speed between users within departments and when transferring between departments, but creates a standard for drawings that are created by outside vendors and returned to Tyco electronics for ongoing maintenance and product extensions. This is the responsibility of each division to assure that when vendors return drawings, they have adhered to all Tyco Electronics CAD drawing and layering standards. Following of all of these CAD standards will also aid in the highest degree of accuracy when transferring information between AutoCAD, MEDUSA and Pro/ENGINEER using the Tyco translation software TECWORKS. This has been written specifically to map layers, linetypes, colors, symbols, groups, clumps, blocks, viewports etc between various software programs and AutoCAD .dwg formats.

TECacad 7.0 Features

Load Format Inserts a TYCO format into an AutoCAD drawing and allows for the use of Attribute Files to automate setting title block information at the time of the format insertion. Allows for the automated insertion of a table into a Parts List format. Automates the filling of format attributes through the use of attribute files. Provides the ability to update attribute information contained within a TYCO format. Supplies a triangle and text for numbering local notes on drawings. Users specify note # upon symbol insertion. Allows switching between various company logos and changing the City, State, Zip fields in the title block without having to replace the entire drawing format. Allows for user customization of various TECacad settings. Creates all Tyco standard layers within the current drawing file. Resets key Tools-Options Fields Copies Folders from the C: drive to a user specified location to allow user Plotting customizations. Makes a copy of customized Mechanical directories drive to a user specified location prior to a hardware change or software upgrade. Restores customized Mechanical directories drive to a user specified location following a hardware change or software

Parts List Table Fill Format Format Attribute Editor Local Note Triangle Update Address & Logo Fields TECacad Preferences Convert/Insert TECacad Layers Restore TECacad Options Update Custom Plotter/PlotStyles Dirs Backup Custom Mechanical Files Restore Custom Mechanical Files

upgrade. Batch Page Setup Search for Lead(Pb) Nomenclature Create .ps File(s) for Viewable Creation StarTEC Loader Program TECacad User Documentation TECacad Website About TECacad Will allow you to revise the page setups on all layout tabs within a specific folder of drawing files. Will search a folder of drawings for lead text. Creates a PostScript file that can be used in TECWorks to create .pdf & .tif files for use as document management viewables Interface to the Tyco document management system. Link to intranet site where users can view/print copies of the TECacad User Guide. Link to Tyco intranet site where users can access AutoCAD information. Provides current software version information for reference purposes.

Other benefits of TECacad 7.0 include: Providing a common working environment among TYCO associates, allowing for consistency with TYCO operating procedures. Reducing re-work and transfer issues. Facilitating incorporation of AutoCAD drawings into the various document control packages used at TYCO. ----------------------------------------------------------------

Along with custom programs for use in AutoCAD, TECacad also has a Start-up and a Configuration program. You should run the configuration program before running TECacad for the first time. Additionally, you should always start AutoCAD through the TECacad Start-up program. To start TECacad/AutoCAD select the TECacad 7.0 item from the Start Menu. If your TECacad configuration is complete and valid, the TECacad splash screen will display, and AutoCAD will start shortly after. If however, any required configuration information is invalid or missing, the dialog box below will be displayed. The purpose of this dialog is to inform you of any configuration information that is either missing or invalid, and is preventing TECacad from starting AutoCAD. At this point, you can either select the Configure button or Exit the Start-Up program. .

If you choose the Configure button the dialog box shown here will be displayed This dialog box belongs to the TECacad configuration program and can be accessed by selecting the TECacad Configuration item from the start menu. The purpose of this dialog is to provide a tool that allows you to specify required and optional configuration information that will control how AutoCAD and TECacad will run. The configuration options are covered on the following pages.

Default Profile (required)

The "Default Profile" drop-down list allows you to specify which "flavor" of AutoCAD you would like to run. This value is stored for you, and is read each time that you attempt to start AutoCAD. The available options are AutoCAD, AutoCAD Mechanical, Custom, and None. If you select anything other than the Custom option, the Custom Profile field (described below) will not be modifiable. Instead, the option will be defaulted to a known .arg file. The known .arg files only exist if AutoCAD Mechanical has been installed on your system. If AutoCAD Mechanical has not been installed on your system, you should always select either the Custom or the None option.

Custom Profile (optional)

If you select the Custom option of the "Default Profile" list, described above, then you will need to provide the name of a .arg file, including the full path. You can either type in the name of the .arg file (with full path), or select the "" button next to this field to browse for the file. The Configuration and Start-Up programs require only that this field be non-blank if the Custom option from the drop-down list described above was selected. The programs will not validate that the .arg file specified exists or is valid. In the event that the .arg file does not exist you may receive a startup error from AutoCAD.

Additional Configuration Switches (optional)

The "Additional Configuration Switches" field provides a place for you to specify any startup command line options that you prefer to use when starting AutoCAD. For a list of, and descriptions of, startup switches available for AutoCAD consult the AutoCAD documentation. Note that the TECacad Start-Up and Configuration programs do not validate this field. Therefore, any invalid information provided in this field might cause errors in AutoCAD startup. By default TECacad will set the configuration file switch (/c) to the location of your TECacad working directory. If you explicitly provide a configuration file switch (/c) in this field you must specify a .cfg file (with full path).

Path to AutoCAD (required)

In order to start AutoCAD, TECacad must know where the AutoCAD program can be located.

You can type in the full path and AutoCAD executable name (i.e.,c:\EngApps\ADSKacad\Acadm2006\acad.exe) in the space provided. Alternatively you can select the "" button next to this field and use the standard Windows browse dialog to locate the 6

AutoCAD program (i.e. acad.exe). If you choose to browse for AutoCAD, simply double-click on the AutoCAD program file in the file browse dialog once it is located.

TECacad Working Directory (required)

TECacad uses your TECacad Working Directory to store TECacad template and attribute files, as well as potential AutoCAD configuration information. You can use the Configuration program to change the value of your TECacad Working Directory. To specify a TECacad Working Directory type the full path in the space provided. Alternatively you can press the "" button next to this field and browse for the location. If you choose to browse for this location, the directory must already exist on your file system. If you type in the path without using the browse button, the directory will be created for you. If your TECacad Working Directory does not exist, the TECacad Configuration program will ask you, prior to exiting, if you would like the directory created for you (See below). If you select Yes, the directory will be created and various attribute and template files will be placed in this directory.

When you have finished configuring TECacad, select the OK button. The Configuration program will then store your Configuration options and copy any missing files to your TECacad working directory. Before exiting, a dialog box will be displayed allowing you to run AutoCAD at this point. If you select "YES", the TECacad Start-Up program will be run and AutoCAD should start shortly after. If you select "NO", the Configuration program will exit and you can start AutoCAD later, at any time, through the TECacad Start-Up program. Note that once your valid configuration options have been stored you do not need to run the Configuration program again unless you wish to change your configuration or your configuration becomes invalid.

Accessing TECacad Functionality

You may access most of the various TECacad programs in three ways: By selecting the desired program from the TECacad pull-down menu.

TECacad Main Toolbar

By selecting the appropriate icon on the TECacad toolbar

Load Format Parts List Table Fill Format Format Attribute Editor

Preferences Local Note Symbol Update Address and Logo

By typing the desired command in the AutoCAD command line. Available commands (along with icon if applicable) include: Load Format, (tec_lf) Inserts a TYCO format into an AutoCAD drawing and allows for the use of Attribute Files to automate setting format attributes at the time of the format insertion. Parts List Table, (tec_pl) Allows for the automated insertion of a table into a Parts List. Fill Format, (tec_ff) Automates the filling of format attributes through the use of attribute files. Format Attribute Editor, (tec_ae) Provides the ability to update attribute information contained within a TYCO format. Update Address and Logo, (tec_up) Allows you to change a formats corporate logo and the company address on your current drawing.. Local Note Symbol, (tec_tri) Allows user to load a triangle symbol and stipulate the number to be place within the triangle. TECacad Preferences, (tec_pr) Allows for user customization of various TECacad default settings.

The TECacad Main 7.0 toolbar will automatically display when you start AutoCAD. The TECacad toolbar "floats", and you may change its shape and/or move it to the screen location of your choice. You cannot customize the individual icons on the TECacad toolbar, however you can adjust the size of its buttons:

Regen Toolbar
The TECacad REGEN toolbar will execute the AutoCAD drawing regeneration commands.

Regen Regenall 8

Dimregen

TECacad Layer Toolbar

The TECacad Layer toolbar allows you to create lines text and hatching that conforms to the Tyco AutoCAD standards.

Changes your current layer to 011_OBJ, Linetype Continuous, and starts the PLINE command. Changes your current layer to 006_NTE, Linetype Continuous, and starts the MTEXT command. Changes your current layer to 004_DIM1, Linetype Continuous Changes your current layer to 005_CRH, Linetype Continuous, and starts the BHATCH command. Changes your current layer to 011_CNT, Linetype Center Changes your current layer to 011_CPL, Linetype Phantomx2, and starts the PLINE command. Changes your current layer to 011_HID, Linetype Dashed2, and starts the PLINE command. Changes your current layer to 011_PHA, Linetype Phantom, and starts the PLINE command. Changes your current layer to 027_CON, Linetype Dashed, and starts the XLINE command.

TECmonitor Program - Drawing Conversion

TECacad's drawing monitoring program detects when a drawing containing a TECacad format is loaded into the AutoCAD editor. If the loaded drawing contains a TECacad format and is a preTECacad 7.x format, the monitoring program will update the format to be compatible with TECacad 7.0. NOTE: This is a non-geometric update, so you should not see visible changes to the drawing. However, some attribute information is updated to increase the compatibility of the old format with various TECacad 7.0 programs. Also note that the updated format is not truly a TECacad 7.0 format and as such, some incompatibility may still exist. w TIP: To ensure full compatibility run LOAD FORMAT which will replace the format with a TECacad 7.0 equivalent. Please refer to "Replacing an Existing TYCO Format" in Chapter 3. Since there is no visible indication that a TECacad format has been updated, the Monitor program displays a dialog box (below) when an update occurs. You may elect to save the updates to the drawing now or later. Once the updates have been saved, this dialog box should not appear again for the current drawing. 9

You may choose to not have this dialog box displayed in the future by selecting "Don't show me this window" at the bottom of the dialog box. If this option is selected, the monitoring program still continues to update old TECacad formats. However, instead of displaying the update dialog box, a message notifying you of the update is displayed in the AutoCAD command line. You may turn the dialog notification back on by using the TECacad Preferences tool, discussed earlier in this chapter.

Template Files
TECacad 7.0 provides two template files, tecacad.dwt and tecacadiso.dwt. These template files contain layers and dimension styles consistent with TECacad standards for English and Metric formats respectively. The files are copied to your TECacad Working Directory the first time you run TECacad and when TECacad detects that these files are missing. You can configure AutoCAD to display the template files in its Start-up dialog by changing your template file directory in your AutoCAD Tools-Options or by copying the template files to the current location specified for template files.

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Attribute Files
Attribute files reside in your TECacad Working Directory and are merely text files that list the named attribute (to the right) and allow you to replace the default (usually "-") with a value suited to that field. Three default attribute files (Metric, English and Sample) are provided and will automatically be copied to your TECacad Working Directory the first time you run TECacad and when TECacad detects that these files are missing. The Metric attribute file is named "metric.att" and the English attribute file is named "english.att".

w TIP: These files should be modified in an editor (for

example, NotePad) of your choice, in advance, for attributes that rarely change from one drawing to the next. For example, Drawn By, Tolerances, Heat Treat, Materials, etc. Personal attribute files are files that you copy from either the Metric or English .att files and rename. You may maintain as many customized attribute files as you wish. One personal attribute file is provided for you by default (Sample.att) and can be customized in the same manner as the Metric and English attribute files.

Load Format
Load Format is used to insert a TECacad format with title block into an AutoCAD drawing. In addition, you can use the Load Format program to replace an existing TECacad format in an AutoCAD drawing. Since the release of TECacad 4.0, you can insert more than one format in a .dwg file which now gives you the advantage of placing sheets such as 1 of 3, 2 of 3 & 3 of 3 into the same .dwg file.

How to Insert a TECacad Format

You can insert a TECacad format through one of the following methods: Select "Load Format" from the TECacad pull-down menu, Select "Load Format" from the TECacad button bar, or Enter tec_lf at the AutoCAD command line. 1. The TECacad dialog box allows you to select the type of format you wish to insert.

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Methodology

Select: Paper Space / Model Space, or Model Space Only

We strongly encourage you to work within a Paper Space methodology. If this is not feasible and you choose Model Space Only, you will be required to draw primary view geometry, i.e., top, front, right 1:1. If you wish to work with metric dual dimensions you should select Metric. Otherwise the ISO dim styles will not be available to you. Note that not all format/size combinations are available. Drawings with a blank format cannot be sent to EDC. Formats are inserted 1:1 in Paper Space. This number represents the scale displayed in the title block. When inserting the format into Model Space, this option will scale the format around the geometry. Only enabled when the Format chosen is a Parts List.

Units

Select: English or Metric

Size

Select: A0, A1, A2, A3 or A4 Select: Customer, Restricted, Generic, Parts List, Contact or Blank Format

Scale

Enter a number to represent the desired scale.

Insert Parts List Table

Check box to automatically load a Parts List Table onto a Parts List Format. Check box to save current selected settings as your default.

Store settings as defaults

2. Click "Cancel" to discontinue loading a format or "Insert" to immediately load the format and return to the drawing editor. 3. By clicking the "Attribute File tab in the Load Format dialog box the box below is displayed.

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To select a personal attribute, type the full path at the Attribute File Name field or use the browse button to locate the desired attribute file. By default TECacad looks in your TECacad working directory for attribute files. By double clicking on the Sample Image, TECacad automatically loads the indicated attribute file in a MS NotePad editor. Save your changes and exit Notepad before continuing to the next tab. The Store settings as defaults box may be checked so that the current settings will be the default for future execution of the Load Format program. This box should only be checked when updating your default selections. 4. Click the "Title Block" tab if you are satisfied with your attribute selections. Click "Cancel" to discontinue loading a format or "Insert" to immediately load the format with the current Attribute selection and return to the drawing editor. 5. By clicking the "Title Block" tab the next Load Format dialog box, is displayed, allowing you to preview the Document Management required attributes stored in the attribute file you chose from Step 2. You may modify any of these values before actually inserting the format.

Once you are satisfied with the Document Management attribute values, click "Insert". The format will be loaded into your drawing editor with the specified Attribute information added. You may use the "Cancel" button to discontinue loading a format or click on one of the previous tabs to continue proper selection of your drawing format.

Additional information about Blank Formats and Parts Lists

Any format type being inserted should result in the same choices as above with the exception of Blank formats and Parts Lists. When inserting a Blank format, you will not be prompted to select an attribute file, nor will you be able to preview Document Management attribute information. You may insert a table at the same time you insert a parts list format by selecting the "Insert Parts List Table" box on the Format tab of the TECacad Load Format dialog box.

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Parts List Table

Inserting a Parts List (after format insertion)
You may choose to insert the table portion of a Parts List format after the initial format loading. This can be accomplished by one of the following methods: Select "Parts List Table" from the TECacad pull-down menu, Select "Parts List Table" from the TECacad button bar, or Enter tec_pl in the AutoCAD command line.
NOTE: The Parts List must be a TECacad 6.x format. Also, the program does not limit users from adding parts lists over top of one another. Be careful not to re-run this command over an existing Parts List. It will result in overlapping text and geometry.

How to Update or Replace an Existing Format

You can also use the Load Format program to replace a TECacad format in an AutoCAD drawing. You may wish to do this to update an older format or to change sizes, format, etc., of an existing format. If you run the Load Format program while in a drawing that already contains a TECacad format, the behavior is nearly the same as inserting a format into a new drawing. The following options and defaults differ: Before being prompted as in Step 1 above, you will be asked if you wish to transfer the attribute information from the old format to the new one(See below). Select "YES" or "NO". If you select "NO", the behavior will be identical to that of inserting a new format. Regardless of your choice, after completing the dialog routine, the current format will be replaced with the new one.

1. If you select to REPLACE the existing drawing format and transfer the attribute information, the following choices differ: 14

2. The values for Format Type, Size, Scale, etc., will be defaulted to the values of the format being replaced, if the Load Format function was able to determine their values (not available on all pre-TECacad 2.x formats). You may override any of these defaults as necessary; for example, if you were replacing an A4 format with an A3 format. 3. You will not be prompted to select an attribute file; rather the attribute information used to complete the new format will come from the format being replaced. 4. The Attribute File tab will contain the values found in the format being replaced, if available (not always available in pre-TECacad 3.x formats), rather than from an attribute file. If you select the option to REPLACE the existing drawing format and DO NOT transfer the attributes, it is as though you were placing a format onto the drawing for the first time. If you choose the option, to INSERT an additional drawing format on another layout, you have the choice of adding additional formats onto additional layout tabs. You are restricted to one format per tab, but you can make as many new tabs as you wish. Your limit with this process will be determined by the quantity of information included with each of your formats. If your drawings are extremely busy then you will reach a max point with your RAM that will limit your workstation response time.

Fill Format
The Fill Format program may be used to update the attribute information in a TECacad format at any time. You may wish to use this program to selectively update certain attributes (such as revision information), or, if you opted not to use an attribute file at the time the format was inserted, this program can be used to fill out the entire format.

How to Update Attribute Information Using Fill Format

You can access Fill Format through one of the following methods: Select "Fill Format" from the TECacad pull-down menu, Select "Fill Format" from the TECacad button bar, or Enter tec_ff in the AutoCAD command line.

After starting the program, the first Fill Format dialog box, (Below), is displayed. Select an attribute file to be used in filling out the format. Additionally, two check-boxes (Prompt Before Replacing, and Preview EDC Information) are available to control the default behavior of Fill Format.

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1. If you select "Preview EDC Information" and "OK", the next Fill Format dialog box,, is displayed. This dialog contains the EDC-required attributes defaulted with information from your attribute file. You may modify any of these values before continuing.

NOTE: You are not modifying the attribute file itself, only the associated attributes in the format being inserted.

2. Once you are satisfied with the attribute values, select "OK", and the format will be updated with the new attribute information. 3. While updating the attributes in the format, if the Fill Format program detects an attribute that is located in the drawing but is not found in your attribute file and you did not select the "Prompt Before Replacing" option, the drawing's current value will be replaced with a "-". If, however, you did select "Prompt Before Replacing", the dialog box, (below), is displayed each time this situation occurs.

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4. The dialog box above indicates which attribute is being investigated and the drawing's current value for that attribute. If you select "Retain drawing's current value", the attribute in question will not be modified. If you select "Replace drawing's value with a "-", the drawing's current value for the attribute in question will be overwritten with a "-". 5. The last two options, "Replace All (Don't Prompt Anymore)" and "Retain All (Don't Prompt Anymore)", are to be used when interactivity is no longer desired. For example, if you know at some point that you want all remaining attributes in the drawing (that do not exist in your attribute file) to be replaced with dashes, select "Replace All (Don't Prompt Anymore)". From that point on, each time an attribute in the drawing that does not exist in your attribute file is encountered, the drawing's current value is replaced with a -. 6.
w TIP: When creating a new AutoCAD drawing, you could use an attribute file
called "new.att" to fill in the minimum required attribute fields. When a revision change occurs to that same drawing, you might use an attribute file called "rev.att". This file may contain only the attributes necessary to update the drawing for a revision. In this scenario, you would want to Retain all of the attributes that were not listed in the "rev.att" and only update those attributes that had changed.

Regardless of whether you chose "Preview EDC Information" or "Prompt Before Replacing" (or both, or neither), after all the attributes in the format have been updated, the Fill Format program notifies you that the program completed.

w TIP: You can control the default status, i.e., checked or not, of
"Preview EDC Information" and "Prompt Before Replacing" by using the TECacad Preferences dialog under the "Fill Format" tab.

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Format Attribute Editor

The Format Attribute Editor allows you to add or update all specific attribute information relating to a TECacad drawing utilizing a multi-tab dialog box.

How to Edit Format Attributes

You may access the Format Attribute Editor by selecting: "Format Attribute Editor" from the TECacad pull-down menu, The "Format Attribute Editor" button from the TECacad toolbar, or By entering the command tec_ae in the AutoCAD command line.

Several tabs are displayed at the top of the Attribute Editor, (Figure 6-1). Each tab contains one or more specific attributes found in a format. You may modify any of the attributes that are not grayed out, attributes that appear on more than one tab will be updated in all locations at once if appropriate. Once you have made all required changes select OK". All attributes in the drawing will be updated at once.

TECacad will also detect if the current format is a Blank format and will display an alternate dialog box (below) that contains only attributes found on a Blank Format.

NOTE: With TECacad 4.0, you received the capability of having multiple drawing formats within a single .DWG file. By utilizing the check boxes (shown above) you can have these fields updated on any or all of the formats within the drawing file.

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Update Address & Logo

The Update Address & Logo program allows the TECacad users to revise their company address and company logo in the title block. In previous revisions of TECacad, the users were required to change their address and choice of logos by resetting these values in TECacad Preferences and then replace their format with the Load Format program and choose the option NOT to use the existing drawing attributes. Now, when you run the Update Address & Logo program, you will get the dialog box shown below. There are check boxes to individually change one or both of the fields. When you make your selections and choose the Update button, your information on your drawing will be updated immediately without the need to reload a format.

Local Note Symbol

The Local Note Symbol program allows the TECacad users to place a local note triangle on their drawings containing a numerical text.
You may access the Local Note Symbol program by selecting: "Local Note Symbol" from the TECacad pull-down menu, or The "Local Note Symbol" button from the TECacad toolbar. Enter tec_tri in the AutoCAD command line.

The Local Note Symbol dialog box is displayed, (below) and allows for the user to enter the desired local note number in the Number field. Then selecting the Select Insertion Point button allows the user to place the completed symbol onto their drawing at the appropriate location.

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NOTE: If you select "Cancel", selections made on all tabs will be canceled.

TECacad Preferences
TECacad allows you to configure your Preferences. The first time you run AutoCAD using TECacad 7.0, the TECacad User Preferences dialog box is displayed. Please review the default settings at this time to ensure that the default configuration suits your needs.
NOTE: If your personal Preferences information is deleted or becomes corrupted, the TECacad Preferences dialog will automatically be displayed the next time you start AutoCAD.

You may manually access the Preferences dialog by selecting: "TECacad Preferences" from the TECacad pull-down menu, or Select "TECacad Preferences" from the TECacad button bar, or By entering the command tec_pr at the AutoCAD command line

Several tabs are displayed at the top of the TECacad User Preferences dialog box. Each tab contains various settings that control the general behavior of one or more of the TECacad programs.

How to Set Preferences

To set Load Format Preferences

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1. Select the "Load Format" tab at the top of the dialog box. 2. Select your preference for projection symbol. The default is third angle. The selected projection symbol will be inserted into the format at the time of insertion. 3. Enter your site's address. For most users in the U.S., the default provided should be accurate (this information will also be updated in a format at insertion time). 4. Select your secondary language preference. If the language you select exists on the format to be inserted, the layer containing the selected language will be turned on automatically at the time of insertion. The default is none.
NOTE: Not all formats contain all possible secondary language layers.

5. Select your format logo. Users have the ability to choose various corporate logos including AMP, TYCO Electronics, Raychem and Potter & Brumfield. With Rev 5.x the logos for Alcoswitch & Buchanan were also added. Your choice will automatically be placed into the format title block. 6. Select Default Dimstyle when Loading Format. In previous releases of TECacad, when you Replaced a format, the Current dimstyle was changed to either TECEnglish or TEC-Metric depending on which type of sheet you were using. Checking this option will allow you to retain whatever your previous current dimstyle setting was. 7. If you check the Display drawing Path Attribute (ZPA) on drawing formats box, this will turn on a piece of attribute text in the bottom left corner of your format in the exterior border that will display the current directory path location of the drawing. This is very useful when plotting the drawing. 8. To set Fill Format Preferences (below) these preferences control the default behavior of the Fill Format program.

9. To set General Preferences 21

10. The Update Notification preference controls the default behavior of the drawing monitoring program (TECmonitor). Please refer to the section below for information on the TECmonitor program. 11. The Printing preference determines what will be set as your default printer when you open up a drawing. Normally these settings are preset and saved within each of the available tabs in each drawing file. This option allows you to temporarily override the previously set page setups. The setting of your printer preference is done in the Tools Options dialog box on the Plot & Publish tab.

Convert/Insert TECacad Layers

The Convert/Insert TECacad layers program gives you the ability to create the Tyco Electronics standard layers with their corresponding color and linetype within your current drawing file and also convert existing drawing entities to Tyco Electronics standards.

How to Convert/Insert TECacad Layers

You can access the Convert/Insert TECacad Layers program through one of the following methods: Select " Convert/Insert TECacad Layers " from the TECacad pull-down menu (below). Enter tec_layers in the AutoCAD command line.

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The selection will run the TECStandardizeLayers.arx program and will:

1. Insert the C:\Engapps\TECacad\7.0\Formats\TECacad.dwg file into your current drawing which contains the Tyco Electronics standard layers with their corresponding color and linetype. 2. Check your current drawing for entities that it can convert to Tyco Electronics standard entities. (ie. text to the 006_NTE layer, dimensions to 004_DIM1 layer etc)

Restore TECacad Options

The RestoreTECacad Options program changes settings of various system variables to the Tyco recommended settings.

How to Restore TECacad options

You can access the RestoreTECacad Options program through one of the following methods: Select " " from the TECacad pull-down menu. Enter tec_restore in the AutoCAD command line.

The selection will run the RestoreTECacad Options program and will change various AutoCAD TOOLS-OPTIONS settings from the standard AutoCAD settings to the preferred Tyco Electronics standards. For a look at the standard Tyco Electronics OPTIONS settings, please go to http://www.emcs.amp.com/AMPacad/tips-tricks/Tools-Options.pdf

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Update Custom Plotters/Plot Styles Directories

In the past, when users tried to create their own plotter configurations or custom plot style tables, they received an error message stating that they did not have write access to the needed parts of their C:\ drive. The solution to this problem was to copy the plotters and plot styles folders to their TECacad Working Directory (H:\TECacad) and then using Tools-Options, they could re-aim their AutoCAD session to look to their home directory for these setups. With TECacad 5.x, this process that used to be all a manual process, now will be done automatically upon each users first running of the new software release. If for some reason the program would need to be run after the initial startup of the software you can select Update Custom Plotters/Plot Styles Directories from the TECacad pull-down menu will open the Update Custom Plotters/Plot Styles Directories dialog box.

The default path names are filled in for the Plotters and Plot styles folders in the users TECacad working directory. By selecting OK, these folders will be automatically copied from the users C:\ drive to their H:\ drive. If you desire to have your Plotters and Plot Styles directories copied to a shared department folder rather than to your individual Home directory, simply select the browse buttons and browse to the new folder locations, then select OK
NOTE: This program performs the necessary copy commands, but the users are still required to re-aim AutoCAD to look to their TECacad working directories.

When the copy process is finished, you will receive the message on your AutoCAD Command line stating Copy Complete. 24

Backup Custom Mechanical Files

This program is for users of the AutoCAD Mechanical Power Pack (MPP) add-on software package that have created their own custom symbol library screw assemblies. It can be found within the TECacad pull-down menu. When the users choose to save off a custom assembly, there is currently no capability to BROWSE to a folder where they want the assembly saved. They have to settle for the MPP default folder. The problem that occurs is that when new releases of AutoCAD software are placed onto the users hard drive, the old release is deleted, thus deleting the custom libraries. When the Backup Custom Mechanical Files program is run prior to a new software release, your Command prompt will state: Backing up files. This may take a few minutes. The program will perform a copy process of the user created libraries, from the users hard drive, to their TECacad working directory. When complete, you will receive the message shown below.

After the new AutoCAD/TECacad software is copied and configured onto the users hard drive, there is another program called Restore Custom Mechanical Files (See Chapter 14) that will perform a copy from the users TECacad working directory, back to his/her hard drive.

Restore Custom Mechanical Files

This program is for users of the AutoCAD Mechanical Power Pack (MPP) add-on software package that have created their own custom symbol library screw assemblies. It can be found within the TECacad pull-down menu. When the users choose to save off a custom screw assembly in MPP, there is currently no capability to BROWSE to a folder where they want the assembly saved. They have to settle for the MPP default folder. The problem that occurs is, when new releases of AutoCAD software are placed onto the users hard drive, the old release is deleted, thus deleting the custom libraries. Chapter 13 describes a program called Backup Custom Mechanical Files that copies the users custom symbol library files from their hard drive to their TECacad working directory. After the new AutoCAD/TECacad software is configured onto the users hard drive, you can then run this Restore Custom Mechanical Files program that basically performs a copy from the users TECacad working directory, back to his/her hard drive. When you run the program you will have the dialog box below displayed on your screen. Enter the path or browse to where your custom symbol libraries were backed up. Then select OK

25

Your AutoCAD Command prompt will state Restoring the customized files. This may take a few minutes. When complete you will receive the message shown below.

Your custom MPP symbols will now be accessible.

Batch Page Setup

The Batch Page Setup program You can access the Batch Page Setup program through one of the following methods: Select " Batch Page Setup" from the TECacad pull-down menu. Enter tec_pagesetup in the AutoCAD command line.

26

This will open the Batch Page Setup dialog box. This is where you select the page setup that you prefer for all the drawings in a specific folder. Select to use the current files page setup or browse to a folder where you have created a file that contains the desired page setup criteria

Select the desired page setup name

Browse to the folder that contains the files that you wish to change the plotting parameters. Select the files that you wish to change All the drawings selected will be saved in the current AutoCAD release revision.
Note: This program will only run in Vanilla AutoCAD. It will not run in Mechanical Power Pack. Otherwise you may receive the error message shown below

Search For Lead(Pb) Nomenclature

The Search For Lead(Pb) Nomenclature program
You can access the Search For Lead(Pb) Nomenclature program through one of the following methods: Select " Search For Lead(Pb) Nomenclature " from the TECacad pull-down menu (Figure 16-1). Enter tec_leadsearch in the AutoCAD command line.

27

This program will provide a search for specific words in your current drawing file that the user may pre-determine. There is a default text file located at C:\ENGApps\TECacad\7.0\lib\lead-strings.txt that contains the following drawing search words. tin-lead tin lead 93/7 SnPb 60/40 112-2490/10 63/37 Mil-P-81728A 112-26112-23SAE-AMS-P-81728 tin-ld

When you start the program, you will be presented with a dialog box that requires you to select the location of the Lead text string file.

Note: If you wish to edit or create your own search text (.txt) file, simply copy the leadstring.txt file to your home directory or a shared department area, edit and save the file. Then, when running the Search For Lead(Pb) Nomenclature program, select the Browse button and browse to your custom text file location.

After selecting the desired text search file, you will next see the Text Replace dialog box. While searching your drawing, if an occurrence of your search text is found, it will display in the Old Text field of the dialog box. There is also a field for New Text. This displays text to replace the Old Text Each time this occurs, you have 4 options. 1. You can select OK to allow the new text to replace the old text. 2. You can replace the new text with another text string and select OK. 3. Select the Skip button to pass by this string. 4. Select Cancel to quit out of the program

As you select OK, the program will step to the next occurrence of the search text until it no longer finds a matching text string. 28

Create .ps File for Viewable Creation

The Create .ps File for Viewable Creation program You can access the Create .ps File for Viewable Creation program through one of the following methods: Select " Create .ps File for Viewable Creation " from the TECacad pull-down menu. Enter tec_sedc in the AutoCAD command line.

A file will be created in the same folder as the original .dwg file and you will see the path for this in your Command line. Command: Created postscript file: H:\Drawing1_Layout1.eps Also when completed, you will get the alert dialog box shown below.

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StarTEC Loader Program

Overview
The purpose of this program is to bulk load AutoCAD drawings into StarTEC. All of the drawings to be bulk loaded must follow these requirements: All must be the same type (for example tooling, customer, restricted) All must reside in the same directory and no other AutoCAD drawings may exist in the directory that are not also being bulk loaded. All must contain a valid Tyco format with valid attribute values in the title block.

This program can be found in the TECacad menu. The user will be notified of any errors or problems when checking the files into STARTEC. Any errors can be found in the log files generated by the program. The user will be notified of the log file names when errors occur.

User Interface
A dialog box will open when the program is launched. All of the fields of the dialog box must be correctly completed before the bulk load can begin. The dialog box contains the following fields: Staging Directory: This field is the directory where the files to be bulk loaded are stored. Every drawing stored in this directory will be bulk loaded into STARTEC. Document Type: This field is the type of documents to be bulk loaded into STARTEC. All of the drawings in the staging directory must be the same type. Valid types are Production, Customer, Customer Restricted, Customer Version and Tooling. State: This field is the state of the documents to be bulk loaded into STARTEC. All of the drawings in the staging directory must be the same state. Valid states are Complete and Concept. Status: This field is the status of the documents to be bulk loaded into STARTEC. All of the drawings in the staging directory must be the same status. Valid statuses are Preliminary, Active, Obsolete and Superseded. Access Group: This field is the access group who can retrieve the drawings after they have been loaded into STARTEC. This field is case sensitive so the case of the letters in the access group name must be exact. All of the drawings in the staging directory must have the same access group. Automatically load documents into STARTEC: By default this field is on and will automatically load all of the documents into STARTEC. If this field is turned off, then the data file will be created for a manual batch check into STARTEC.

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TECacad User Documentation

This User Guide is available for download at http://www.emcs.amp.com/AMPacad/docs/main.htm on the TECacad website. By selecting the TECacad pull-down menu and selecting TECacad User Documentation, you will automatically have your browser started and will be attached directly to the TECacad User Guide download web page. When you select your version to download, this will start your Adobe Acrobat Reader software and will display the file. From here you can print copies of the manual

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TECacad Website
By selecting the TECacad pull-down menu and picking TECacad Website, your internet browser will be started and you will be automatically directed to the Home page of the Tyco TECacad users webpage. It is recommended that you mark this as one of your favorites.

About TECacad
The About TECacad program provides current version and other general information, including:
Product Information Version Developed by Release Date System Information Free Memory Free Disk Space

You may access the About TECacad program by selecting: "About TECacad" from the TECacad pull-down menu, or Enter tec_ab in the AutoCAD command line.

The About TECacad dialog box is displayed below. 32

Batch Plotting Process

As I am sure that you know, AutoCAD is set up to allow you to save different plotting setups within every tab (Model or Layout) of a drawing file. We have found this to be a problem if: You get drawings from another source (ie.. vendor or another Tyco group) and it has their plotter/printer setups saved in the drawing tabs. You get rid of your old printer & get a new one. Then all your old drawing tabs are looking for a printer that no longer exists. At this time, AutoDesk has offered no way to remedy this in a "batch" fashion, so we have provided a program to help you. ------------------------------------The first time that you batch plot, there is some setup to go through to create a batch plotting template that contains your favorite plotting setup(s), but after that it becomes very easy. I will describe these steps below. I am going to assume a couple things before we start. If these assumptions are incorrect, you can adjust as needed. That you are going to plot all of these drawings to B size (11x17) prints.. That you are going to be plotting all of the Layout tab(s) information & not the Model tab(s) information. You are working in Inches mode instead of Metric. That you have our TECacad software installed along with AutoCAD. ------------------------------------First thing that you must do is open up a new "empty" drawing file because we are going to create the Page Setups in it that you wish to inflict on you folder(s) of drawings. Insert a tyco Generic, B size (A3), Inches mode, drawing format onto the Layout 1 tab. Go to FILE PAGE SETUP MANAGER 33

Select New

Give a name to your new page setup. An example may be: P283h500c_layout_B This would tell you that it is the one for your: P283h500c printer Layout tab(s) B size prints Then hit OK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Select your settings.

These again are the ones you want to inflict on all of your layout tabs in your folder of drawings you wish to batch plot.

Hit OK Hit CLOSE 34

Go to FILE SAVE AS and save the sheet to somewhere you will always remember. I usually tell my users to go to their Home directory, to the TECacad folder & make a new folder called TEMPLATES and save the sheet there as BATCH.dwg. This template will be there for you from now on & these steps will not have to be repeated again. (Unless you get a new printer) Now, open a new empty drawing. Go to the TECacad drop down menu & select Batch Page Setup. Use the Batch Plot Setup dialog box (shown below) to select your favorite plotter setup from your template & the drawings that you wish to plot.

Browse out & select your BATCH.dwg template you created.

Select your desired Page Setup to inflict on the tabs of your folder of drawings.

Browse to the folder containing the drawings that you wish to batch plot.

Select any or all of the drawing files that you wish to alter their page setups.

When you hit OK, the program will go out to all the Layout tabs of the drawings that you selected & inflict your favorite page setup on them & then save the drawings. Now, to batch plot the drawings, go to FILE PUBLISH & you will get the following dialog box.

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Be sure to uncheck the Model Tab box so they are not included in your list.

Select the default drawings & either right mouse click & select Remove, or hit the Remove Sheets button.

Then right mouse click in the large white area & select Add Sheets.

Browse to the folder of drawings that you wish to batch plot & select all or any of the drawing files.

Hit SELECT

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Your drawing Status should all state No Errors Select any or all of the files that you wish to batch plot

Be sure that you have selected Plotter named in page setup

Hit PUBLISH and all of your drawing files should plot to B size prints.

Note: This written process can also be found at the Tyco AutoCAD users webpage in the Tips & Techniques area.

Creating & editing Multiple sheet drawing files

If during the loading of a format you choose the option, to INSERT an additional drawing format on another layout, you have the choice of adding additional formats onto additional layout tabs. You are restricted to one format per tab, but you can make as many new tabs as you wish. Your limit with this process will be determined by the quantity of information included with each of your formats. 37

If you choose to insert more than one format into a drawing file, there are four limitations that TECacad will require. These have been determined by the Tyco Corporate Standards group. 1. That the sheet must automatically become a multiple sheet drawing where the numbering will appear as sheets 1 of 2 & 2 of 2 etc.. Sheet numbering is done automatically for you and edited as each new format is added to the sheet set.

2. The drawing type will be grayed out, assuring consistency of format types. (ie.. all Customer or all Generic) 3. Sheet size will be grayed out assuring that the drawings will all be the same size formats. (ie all A size or all B size) 4. The desired Units will be grayed out to assure that there is no chance of having a mix of English & Metric sheets

2 3
Another feature that is now available through the TECacad software is the ability to populate attribute fields throughout all of your loaded Tyco formats at one time. In the view below, notice the dialog box on the left is the one that you would see if you only have one format loaded into your current drawing. When you insert a second format into the drawing and then select to use the TECacad attribute editor, there are now check boxes beside most attributes which, if checked will populate those fields throughout all of the formats within your current drawing file.

Attribute Editor - single format drawing

Attribute Editor - multiple format drawing

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Use of Paper Space Model Space Capabilities

One of TECacads features is to utilize both paper space and model space to enhance your drafting session, and reduce time consuming drafting practices. Note that since AutoCAD 2000, paper space drawings are now referred to as Layouts. Layout views are an advanced AutoCAD technique, and will not benefit even the most advanced user, if not used correctly. This document assumes that the user is knowledgeable in AutoCAD, and is fluent with changing layers, colors, creating text, lines, and dimensions. Layout views were originally available in AutoCAD Rev 12, but seldom used. With AutoCAD Rev 13, 14, 2000, 2002 & 2004 came new functionality. To better enhance and streamline the users day-to-day activities, layout views are utilized to meet the users needs. There have been many problems in the past due to irregularly sized and scaled drawings. Layouts eliminate these problems by maintaining the part or drawing and the format at a scale of one to one (1:1). How do we do that? This is a common question. It is difficult for a user to visualize the part remaining 1:1, while the format or title block also remains 1:1. Doesnt one of them have to be scaled to fit the other? Ordinarily this would be true. In the past, users had two distinct ways of scaling within the drawing. They could scale the format to fit the part, or scale the part to fit the format. This has been a controversial issue for many years, but is solvable. The Model/Layout environment is comprised of three different states. These three states have unique properties. The first of the three states is Model space and can be accessed by selecting the Model tab at the bottom left of the drawing area. In Model space, you may draw your model, drawing, or object at any x,y position you are comfortable with. You need not start in the first quadrant, or even keep your drawings within one quadrant. This power allows the user to keep notes, sketches, etc. around the part without affecting the drawing. Anything drawn in model space will be confined to that area. Entities entered within Layouts will not be visible or editable in Model space. You will draft all objects at 1:1, and will not scale the parts using the scale command. The second state, which is called Layout paper space, holds the format(s) or title block information and general notes. This information is editable only in this space, and must start at the x,y position of 0,0. The format will be 1:1, and reside on a Layout tab, and depending on the units (mm or inches), there will be a 25.4 times difference between the two unit sizes.
Note: With the TECacad 4.0 release, users were no longer limited to placing only one format at a time on any single .DWG file. You can place a separate format on each layout. This will aid user when producing drawings with multiple sheets (ie..1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3)

Think of a Layout as a sheet of paper. It holds your format, and needs a representation of your drawing or model put within its boundaries. To create this representation of your part, we need to cut a hole in our paper, and look through it to see our model. After a hole is created, adjustments need to be made to the representation for the appearance of scaling. This representation, which has been mentioned, is the third state called Layout Model Space. This space displays all objects on layout paper space and layout model space in the current display at once. This allows the user to properly scale, using the zoom command, and orient the model or 39

drawings in the format or title block. Note that the scaling done is not done by the scale command; it is done by the zoom command. The format and notes, when in Layout Model space mode, are visible, but not selectable. It is there, for reference only. The model itself is editable, but it is not recommended to edit your drawing in this space. This space is primarily used to zoom, pan, and move objects to properly locate them on the drawing. Please note that all corrections to the model should be made in the model view, all corrections to the format or title block and notes should be made in Layout paper space, and all orientation of the two together should be made in Layout model space. The first step for creating a new drawing is to load a drawing by selecting Load Format from the TECacad pulldown screen menu or TECacad toolbar. At this point you are done with any modifications to your format until after your geometry is created. You can switch between model space and layouts by using the tabs at the bottom of the drawing area. You can also use the Tilemode (TI) command, which may be executed from the command line and will aid you in determining the mode you are currently utilizing and also give you the opportunity to switch between model space and layouts. [A value of 1 indicates you are in model space mode and a value of 0 indicates you are in layout mode] Geometry is created in model space. As mentioned earlier in this document, all geometry is created at a scale of 1:1. Adding text, notes, dimensions and details will be discussed later. When geometry creation is complete it is then time to switch back to layout mode. You enter layout mode by selecting the Layout tab (tilemode is set to 0). When you are back in layout mode your format will once again be displayed. The next step is to create a viewport to allow geometry created in model space to be displayed within your layout. The viewport line should be placed on the Viewport layer The Mview command or the View Viewports menu pick from the View pulldown menu creates views in paper space. Also, you can utilize the Viewport toolbar,shown below, for this purpose.

Several options are available with the MVIEW command: ON/OFF/Fit/Hideplot/Lock/Object/Polygonal/Restore2/3/4/<Fit>:

ON OFF Fit Hideplot Lock Displays layout model space objects within selected viewports. Disables the display of all model space objects within selected viewports. Fit creates a viewport the same size as the graphics window. Hideplot controls removal of hidden lines in selected viewports when the layout is plotted. Once you've set the viewport scales, if you zoom into the paper space geometry in the viewport, you are changing the viewport scale at the same time. By locking the viewport scale first, you can zoom into view different levels of detail in your viewport without altering the viewport scale.

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Object

Specifies a closed polyline, ellipse, spline, region, or circle to convert into a viewport. The polyline you specify must be closed and contain at least three vertices. It can be self-intersecting, and it can contain an arc as well as line segments. Creates an irregularly shaped viewport using specified points. The prompts are similar to those displayed when you specify a polygonal clip boundary for external references (xrefs), but you can specify arcs when you create a polygonal viewport boundary. Creates the number of viewports defined by the number you choose. Variations as to how they are displayed differ based on the number you choose. Creates a layout paper space viewport configuration equivalent to a model space viewport configuration saved with Vports command. Creates a viewport based on a boxed in location you define by picking two opposite corners of an area. The current model space view is displayed in the newly created viewport.

Polygonal

2,3,4

Restore Fit

To switch between multiple viewports in layout model space, the border of a viewport window can be chosen by clicking on it with your mouse. The border of the current viewport will be highlighted by a thick line. To change viewports just mouse click in the desired viewport. Viewports can be erased while in paper space by executing the Erase command and picking the border of a viewport. Viewports can be relocated by using the Move command and resized by picking a corner of the viewport and dragging the viewport to a new size.
Note: Objects created in layout mode such as viewports can only be edited in paper space. Objects created in model space can only be edited in model space.

Scale
After placing the viewports into your layout, you may need to scale the areas within the viewports. Each viewport works independently so you can use several viewports to create details of your geometry. This can be done one of two ways. You can turn on the Viewports button bar and use the Scale field (below) or it can be done on the command line with the Zoom XP option. XP stands for times paper space. If you need to display your 1:1 geometry at 2 times its actual size you would type 2XP at the Zoom command prompt. The zoom command scale factor works in actual scale, so if at any point you need to go back to viewing your geometry in the viewport 1:1 you would set Zoom to 1XP.

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Dimensioning
All dimensions should be created in paper space, paying attention to placing them on the proper layer. The transpatial dimensioning capability of AutoCAD will automatically scale the dimension size to the individual viewport scales. (Note: Be sure to go to DIMENSION SCALE MODIFY FIT tab and choose the Scale Dimensions to Layout (paperspace) radio button to assure proper viewport scaling.)

Layers
The easiest way to manipulate layers while using paper space/model space is to use the Vplayer command. VPLAYER makes a layer visible in one or more viewports and invisible in all other viewports. The VPLAYER command can be used only while you are working in a layout tab. Several options are available with this command:
?/Freeze/Thaw/Reset/Newfrz/Vpvisdflt:
? Freeze Thaw Reset Newfrz Lists frozen layers of a selected viewport Freeze layer(s) of a selected viewport. Freeze multiple layers separated by commas or use wildcarding to specify a series of layers. ex. 004-DIM* Thaw layer(s) of a selected viewport. Thaw multiple layers separated by commas or use wildcarding to specify a series of layers. Restore the default visibility defined by the Vpvisdflt option. Reset multiple layers separated by commas or use wildcarding to specify a series of layers. Create new layers that are frozen in all viewports. This option is most useful for making layer(s) intended to be displayed in only one viewport. Multiple layers can be defined at one time by separating the layers by commas or use wildcarding to specify a series of layers. Specifies the default visibility, frozen or thawed for specific layer(s) in subsequently created viewports. This option does not affect existing layers. Multiple layers can be frozen or thawed at one time by separating the layers by commas or use wildcarding to specify a series of layers. This command is useful when used with the XREF command.

Vpvisdflt

Notes
General notes and triangle note numbers shall be placed on the layout in paper space and shall be placed on layer 006_NTE. The symbol for numbering a note (triangle & text) can be found on the TECacad Symbols button bar. The symbol includes an attribute for the text #, so when you load the symbol, it will query you for the required note number prior to placement onto your drawing.

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Tool Palettes
Standard Symbols Palette
With TECacad 5.x, you received access to various standard Tyco Symbols. These symbols are also included with the TECPro software. In order to access these symbols in AutoCAD, the best procedure is to start the AutoCAD Design Center (TOOLS-AutoCAD Design Center)Browse to the C:\Engapps\TECacad\7.0\lib folder and right mouse click on the Symbols.dwg file.

This will create a tool palette for you called Symbols. You can right mouse click on the tab name and edit the name to appear as you wish. You can also right mouse click on each of the blocks that appear and edit various default settings. Below is an example of the dialog box used for editing symbol properties.

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New to Tool Palettes capabilities in 2006

New to Tool palettes in the 2006 release is the ability to create custom commands with a simple drag & drop process. You can create tools by dragging objects such as dimensions, multiline text, gradients, blocks, hatches, and xrefs from your drawing area onto a tool palette. You can then use the new tool to quickly create new objects with the same properties as the original object. To create a command tool, make sure that the toolbar containing the tool that you want to add to the palette is displayed. 1. Right-click on a blank area of any tool palette, and then click Customize. 2. Even though you wont make any changes in the Customize dialog box, it must be displayed when you add command tools to a tool palette. 3. Drag a command button from a toolbar to the tool palette and, without releasing the mouse button, move the cursor to the place on the tool palette where you want the tool. A black line indicates where the tool will be located.

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44

Workspaces
Workspaces are task based user interface schemes. Workspaces control the display of toolbars, tool palettes, the Design Center window, the Modify Properties window & the command line window.

Workspace settings (see below)

My workspace

Set a workspace as a default My Workspace

Turn off/on individual workspaces

Rearrange the order of the workspaces in the list Add separators to arrange for better clarity

Saving workspace changes

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Standard templates in shared areas

Note: When a new release of AutoCAD/TECacad is pushed throughout Tyco Electronics, you may be required to update your templates to the latest release. This will not affect the information held within the drawing (ie layers, blocks, dimstyles, tables), it will simply update the format.

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45

AutoCAD Abbreviations
The AutoCAD abbreviations (alias) can be found at C:\ENGApps\ADSKacad\2006\UserDataCache\Support in a file called acad.pgp. My preference is to print them out in a column type listing and keep them near my workstation.

If you would prefer to have your own abbreviations file instead of using the default AutoCAD alias, it is recommended that you make a copy of the acad.pgp file in your H:\TECacad\Abbrevs folder and then perform your changes/additions. In order to activate your custom abbreviations, you must go into TOOLS OPTIONS and to the FILES tab. You must 1. add a Support File Search Path to your Abbrevs folder 2. Move the path to the top of the list Note: Each time that you either have a reload/upgrade of the AutoCAD software to your hard drive, you will have to reestablish the Support File Search Path link to your acad.pgp file.

46

AUGI AutoDesk User Group International

AUGI is the Autodesk User Group International, officially recognized by Autodesk as representing the Autodesk user community. AUGI has two prime directives. The first is to assist its members by presenting programs and information that will enhance their use of Autodesk products. The second is to deliver the voice of the user community to Autodesk, thus assisting Autodesk in product development and giving users a say in the process. There is no cost to become a member of AUGI. This is a great tool where you can pose questions to the AutoCAD user community and also to search through past questions that have been asked and see the answers that were received. This is also one of the best places to pose your wishes for future releases. AutoCAD is known to pay close attention to the suggestions that are offered within the AUGI forum. AUGI also publishes a monthly newsletter that is very informative. I highly recommend that each of you join the AUGI user group. You can find their web site at http://www.augi.com/home/default.asp

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AutoDesk Discussion group

There is also a discussion group at the AutoDesk website that can be a terrific aid in finding answers to your questions. You can search through the topics that have been posed in the past, or you can sign up as a member for free and post your own questions. Many times this area is monitored by AutoDesk representatives who will post answers to some of the user questions. The URL below will take you directly to the AutoDesk discussion group area for AutoCAD 2006 questions & answers. http://www.autodesk.com/discussiongroup-autocad2006

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Vendors Utilizing Tyco Drawing formats

You may be required at times to forward copies of the Tyco drawing formats to various vendors who are doing work for you. Or the vendor may request the TECacad software we distribute throughout Tyco Electronics to aid in the editing of these formats. If this is the case, you can now download the TECacad software &/or the drawing formats by using the TECacad User website at http://www.emcs.amp.com/AMPacad/ . On the left side of the site, select CAD Standards

Then select Tyco Standard Formats / TECacad software

The TECacad software and standard drawing formats have been placed here in self extracting (.exe) file formats. This will make it easier for Tyco AutoCAD users to forward the files to vendors who will be creating AutoCAD drawings that will eventually be returned to Tyco for future maintenance and extensions. For those vendors that require just the Tyco customer & production drawing formats A0 thru A4 (A thru E), they have been saved in the AutoCAD 2004 format and can be found here.

If the vendor would also like the Tyco TECacad software, in order to make it easier to edit/create all of the standard tyco formats, they can be found at the following locations.

Once you have downloaded the file(s), you will need to use the Internet File Exchange (IFX) process to transfer the files to the desired vendor, as they are greater in size than the 5 meg limit imposed on emails within Tyco Electronics. You can get to the Tyco IFX service at https://ifx.amp.com/AMPifx-cgi/default/main_menu . Then select Upload File

48

You will then be asked to enter your email address & also that of the recipient.

Select Continue.

Next you can browse to locate the file you wish to upload

Then you may enter a description and select Upload File

You will then receive a message that your file was successfully uploaded to the IFX system

= At this time, both you, and the recipient will receive email messages. Yours will contain the following information:
Original Filename: H:\djmurren\misc\Ford.dwg Recipients: dmurren@tycoelectronics.com Retrieval Password: 8cbf 0d9f 4901 f677 3f5d 9cee

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The recipient will require that you get him/her the Retrieval Password so they may download the file(s).

The recipients email will include a link to the IFX Service web page. When selected, it will automatically connect to the website and will have filled in the required fields for: Your Email Address Download identifier and will have a field where they must enter the retrieval password The recipient will then select Download File

This will produce a dialog box that will allow them to Save & select where they would like to download the file.

After saving the file(s), they will be able to double click on the executable (.exe) file to activate the self extraction of the files.

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File-Open Dialog box icons

Did you ever notice when you are in AutoCAD and start to open a new drawing, that there are selection icons on the left side of the Select File dialog box?

You can right mouse click on the default icons and delete them if you wish, and use this area to add your own sub-folder picks. This is especially handy when you are opening drawings that are in folders that are nested down 4+ levels down. Just browse to where the folder is shown like you would normally do and then left click on the folder name and drag it over to the gray selection are on the left, and release. This one-click browsing will be retained between AutoCAD sessions and can be added to or deleted from at any time. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Starting a session of AutoCAD with Template pre-loaded

Currently when you start a session of AutoCAD, you automatically open with a blank drawing file called Drawing1.dwg. I have been asked numerous times if this could be turned off, and unfortunately, my answer was If there is a way, I cannot find it. Well, there is still no way that I know of to start with absolutely no drawing file, but, I have found a way to have AutoCAD start with a user defined drawing file. So, if you have a standard format 51

that you use that maybe already contains your favorite layers, dimstyles, linetypes, etc you can have that drawing become your default startup drawing. This tip can be done with the AutoCAD desktop shortcut icon and a common term in Windows called command-line switch. Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Right-click the AutoCAD 2004 icon on the Desktop. Then choose Properties. In the AutoCAD R2006 Properties dialog box, select the Shortcut tab. On the Shortcut tab, edit the parameters for the switch in the Target box. When making changes to the Target box, make sure you don't accidentally remove any section of the application path or filename itself. You will also want to make sure there is a single space after the path and file name and before your switch. Also, make sure there is a space between each argument of your switch statements. You can use the relative path, (ie. "MyTemplate.dwt"), if AutoCAD has the path to the template within it's support paths. If the template is not you would need to supply the absolute path, (ie. "C:\CADTemplates\ MyTemplate.dwt"), instead then. Click the OK button to apply changes and exit the dialog box. Now run AutoCAD and you should see that your format will be the default startup drawing.

Step 5 -

Note: If you wish to eliminate the AutoCAD Mechanical logo (splash screen) during the startup of AutoCAD, you can add the /nologo option into the target field also.

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Dynamic Blocks

Dynamic blocks allow you to adjust a block in place without redefining it or inserting another block. To create a dynamic block, you must first assure that your features linework is created as a simple AutoCAD block. Then just double click on the block to activate the Dynamic block editor.

Create your Parameters, set up your Actions & Parameter sets using the Dynamic block Authoring palettes and then exit the dynamic block editor.

Block Parameters Block Actions Block Parameter Sets No longer need the insert command. Create blocks, dynamic blocks & place them into tool palettes. 53

Changing the F1 key to Cancel

To change the F1 key to cancel, first execute the new CUI command. Your first step is to locate the Keyboard Shortcut section in the upper left corner. Select and expand the Keyboard section.

Now you need to find the Cancel command from the list of AutoCAD commands in the lower left corner. Key in a "C" to quickly locate all the commands that start with a "C" and then you will easily see "Cancel".

The next step is to simply drag and drop the Cancel command up to beneath Shortcut Keys as seen here. It doesn't matter where it lands as long as it's underneath Shortcut Keys.

Now we need to tell AutoCAD which key (F1) we want to assign Cancel to. On the lower right hand side of the CUI command you'll see a section called "Properties". Select the Keys line shown below and you'll see a button with ellipsis on it appear.

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Select the ellipsis button as indicated above. Now select the box underneath "Press new shortcut key" and simply hit the F1 key. Hit the Assign button.

Hit OK to get out of the Shortcut Keys dialog and another one to exit the CUI.

User Feedback / Suggestions

If you would like to comment about the training class that you attended today, or would like to submit suggestions for future enhancements or other training classes, you should do so at the following website. http://www.emcs.amp.com/AMPacad/Feedback2/user_feedback.htm

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AutoCAD Dynamic Blocks Workshop

Tyco Electronics Confidential

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Dynamic Blocks
What are Dynamic Blocks Dynamic blocks are AutoCAD blocks that respond to user manipulation by altering graphics, shape or form. How they change is controlled by parameters and actions built into the block using a suite of tools. They enable you to reduce the size of your existing block libraries by combining block definitions and adding flexibility. At this time, dynamic blocks are only being used in the 2D format. Steps to create a dynamic block 1. Draw the geometry that you would like to be contained in your dynamic block. 2. Start the block editor 3. Enter your parameters. 4. Enter your actions 5. *Enter your visibility parameters 6. *Create your visibility states 7. *Create your lookup parameters & tables 8. Test each block capability * - optional depending on your block ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Block Editor
You now have a new interface for creating and editing blocks. Similar to your model & layout tabs, you have the ability to change your background color in order to identify that you are currently within the block editor interface. This is done through the Options dialog box. Simply select Tools-Options and the Display tab. Select the Colors button and from the Color Options dialog box (shown below) select Block editor background and select your preferred color.

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Once you enter the block editor, you will see that you now have a block editor tool palette and also a block editor toolbar.

The block editor tool palette contains 3 tabs of editor commands, the Parameters tab, the Actions tab and the Parameter Sets tab.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Parameters
You add parameters to a dynamic block definition in the Block Editor. In the Block Editor, parameters have an appearance similar to dimensions. Parameters define custom properties for the block. Parameters also specify positions, distances, and angles for geometry in the block reference. A dynamic block definition must contain at least one parameter. When a parameter is added to a dynamic block definition, grips associated with key points of the parameter are automatically added. You must then add an action to the block definition and associate the action with a parameter. In a drawing, you use a grip or custom property in the Properties palette to manipulate the block reference. Parameters also define and constrain values that affect the dynamic block references behavior in a drawing. Some parameters can have a fixed set of values, minimum and maximum values, or increment values. For example, a linear parameter used in a window block may have the following fixed set of values: 10, 20, 30, and 40. When the block reference is inserted in a drawing, you can only change the window to one of these values. Adding a value set to a parameter allows you to limit how the block reference is manipulated in a drawing. 59

You can also extract parameter values through the Attribute Extraction wizard or through an attribute extraction template file. The following table lists and describes the types of parameters you can add to a dynamic block definition and the types of actions you can associate with each parameter. Parameter Type
Point Linear

Description
Defines an X and Y location in the drawing. Shows the distance between two anchor points. Constrains grip movement along a preset angle. Shows the distance between two anchor points and displays an angle value. You can use both grips and the Properties palette to change both the distance value and the angle. Shows the X and Y distances from the base point of the parameter. Defines an angle. Flips objects. Objects can be flipped about this reflection line. Displays a value that shows if the block reference has been flipped or not. Defines an X and Y location and an angle. An alignment parameter always applies to the entire block and needs no action associated with it. An alignment parameter allows the block reference to automatically rotate around a point to align with another object in the drawing. An alignment parameter affects the rotation property of the block reference Controls the visibility of objects in the block. A visibility parameter always applies to the entire block and needs no action associated with it. In a drawing, you click the grip to display a list of visibility states available for the block reference Defines a custom property that you can specify or set to evaluate a value from a list or table you define. It can be associated with a single lookup grip. In the block reference, you click the grip to display a list of available values.. Defines a base point for the dynamic block reference relative to the geometry in the block. Cannot be associated with any actions, but can belong to an actions selection set.

Supported Actions
Move, Stretch Stretch, Array Move, Scale,

Polar

Move, Scale, Stretch, Array Polar Stretch Move, Scale, Stretch, Array Rotate

XY

Rotation Flip

Flip

Alignment

None

Visibility

None

Lookup

Lookup

Base

None

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Actions
Actions define how the geometry of a dynamic block reference will move or change when the custom properties of a block reference are manipulated in a drawing. A dynamic block usually contains at least one action. In general, when you add an action to a dynamic block definition, you must associate the action with a parameter, a key point on the parameter, and geometry. A key point is the point on a parameter that drives its associated action when edited. The geometry associated with an action is called the selection set.

Move Action

The Move action works much like the standard MOVE command. The action is related to a specific grip in the dynamic block. It can be linked to the entire block contents or to individual objects in the block. The Scale action works much like the standard SCALE command. It can be linked to the entire block or to individual objects in the block. The Stretch action works much like the standard STRETCH command. It can be linked to specific objects in the block. You need to apply a stretch action to both ends of the parameters if you want the action to work both ways. Stretch only works in the direction of the parameters arrow.

Scale Action

Stretch Action

Polar Stretch Action The Polar Stretch is similar to STRETCH but it includes an angle option. It works only with Polar Parameters. Rotate Action The Rotate action works much like the standard ROTATE command. It can be linked to the entire block or to individual objects in the block.

Flip Action Array Action

The Flip action mirrors the objects around a reflection line. The Array action works much like the standard rectangular ARRAY command. The Lookup action works with lookup parameters. It creates a table where you can assign data to the block based on the parameter information.

Lookup Action

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Each type of action can be associated with specific parameters. The following table shows the parameters with which you can associate each type of action.

Action Move Scale Stretch Polar Stretch Rotate Flip Array Lookup

Parameter Point, linear, polar, XY Linear, polar, XY Point, linear, polar, XY Polar Rotation Flip Linear, polar, XY Lookup

Parameter Sets
The final tab on the Block Authoring Palette contains parameter sets. Parameter sets are preset pairings of parameters and actions. Parameter sets offer a way to reduce their development time. The Parameter Sets tab is so long that it doesnt fit on the screen; you need to scroll down to see all the sets. To see what the set contains, place the cursor over any parameter set to see a tooltip explaining the sets functioning. When you place a parameter set, you still need to respond to the parameter prompts by specifying one or more points and placing the label. An exclamation point appears next to the action to indicate that you still need to select objects for the action. Double-click the action to display prompts for selecting objects.

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Block Editor Toolbar

When inside the block editor you also are provided tools that reside on the block editor toolbar. Descriptions of these tools are shown below. Edit or create block definition - While already in the block editor, this allows you to switch to editing another existing block without quiting and reentering the block editor interface. This is similar to a normal File Open command.

Save block definition - Saves the block that you are editing, but allows you to continue editing your current block.

Save block as - Allows you to save your current block and give it a new name.

Block Definition Name - Shows the name of the current block being edited

Authoring Palettes - Toggles on & off the Block Authoring tool palettes

Parameter - Begins the Parameter creation process from the command line. The various parameters will show as command options.

Action - - Begins the Action creation process from the command line. After selecting the parameter to attach the action to, the available actions will show as command options.

Define Attribute - Opens the standard Attribute Definition dialog box for adding and editing your blocks intelligent text.

Update Parameter & Action Text Size - When you zoom in and out of the block currently being edited, the parameter & action definitions change also. This command will automatically resize the parameters & actions to be easily read.

Learn about dynamic blocks - Opens the New Features help frame and takes you directly to the information for Dynamic blocks. Exit Block Editor & Return to Drawing - Exits the block editor. If changes have been made since the block was last saved, it will present you with a dialog box asking if you would like to overwrite the previously saved block file. 63

Visibility
Visibility is one of the easiest parameters to use because it does not require a corresponding action. You simply create all the geometry that you want to use in the block, add visibility states, and then, for each state, make the appropriate geometry visible or invisible using the visibility tools in the Block Editor.

Visibility Mode - Controls how objects that are made invisible for the current visibility state are displayed in the Block Editor. 0 = hidden objects are not visible, 1 = hidden objects are visible but dimmed

Make visible - Makes an item that is currently set to be invisible, visible once again within the current visibility state.

Make invisible - Makes an item that is currently set to be visible, invisible within the current visibility state.

Manage Visibility States - Opens the Visibility States dialog box which allows you to: Set the current visibility state Create a new visibility state Rename a visibility state Delete a visibility state Move a visibility state up or down within the listing

Lets you select your current visibility state from a drop down list.

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