General:
Untitled File:
Cambridge comes with a special DFX file called `untitled.dxf'. This file
contains many special objects that Cambridge needs to operate. This
consists primarily of layers and blocks that Cambidge u8ses for it's
operations. You can have this file automatically loaded (or not) by
checking the `Autoload Untitled' setting in the `Properties' dialog
accessed from the `Settings' menu. Cambridge always remembers the last
directory that you were working from. WARNING! Keep a good copy of this
file around or else Cambridge will opperate oddly or not at all during
some opperations.
Interfacing with External Devices:
Cambridge will interface with your external data gathering devices.
Such as Stereo plotters and digitizers. Cambridge allows the user to use
a simple easily programmable mask to set Cambridge for your device's
I/O format.
Importing DEM Files:
Cambridge can import USGS DEM format files and traslate them into a `Z
grid' of points in DXF format. Chose `Import' from the `File' menu to do
so.
Processing DEM Files:
Cambridge can process USGS DEM files. Cambridge can do various things
with a DEM database. If you select `Translate' from the `Process' menu
it bring up the `DEM Conversions' dialog. From here you can process DEM
files in various ways. Use the `Load DEM File' button to load the DEM
file. Once the DEM file is loaded the `DEM File Info' button will become
active. DEM databases can be very large and the processed data created
from them is even larger so this processing can be quite time consuming
even on a fast machine. The `DEM File Info' button will bring up a
window showing various information on the file you have loaded. You can
process the files into either a DXF format with rows and columns of
points or into an ASCII file listing X, Y & Z data. If you want output
in the X, Y & Z format there is an edit tool in which to enter an output
mask for the data. It is labeled `XYZ Out Format Mask'. An example
output mask should already appear in the window. The is an edit tool in
which to edit a `Tag' to include in the X, Y & Z output data. For DXF
format output a set of files will be created. Enter a number in `Divide
by rows' and `Divide by columns'. The output data will be placed into a
set of files based on these numbers. For example if you enter 3 in rows
and 4 in columns you will end up with 12 seperate DXF files with the
translated data sectioned into these files. You can select output
processed in meters or feet by selecting the `Feet' or `Meters' toggle
buttons. You select if you want DXF or XYZ output by selecting either
`Save as XYZ' or `Save as DXF'. When you have enter and selected
eevrything the program needs the `Process Data' button will become
active to let you know that everything is ready.
Movement:
Moving around on your drawing. The main tool for moving around your
drawing is a combination of the spacebar and the mouse cursor. Place the
mouse cursor where you want to center the drawing and then hit the
spacebar. This will center the drawing at the mouse cursor's location.
After you get used to this you can move around the drawing quickly. When
in the external input drawing mode this works very well. Hitting the
spacebar will center the external machine's (stereo plotter etc.) cursor
position in Cambridge's drawing window. You may also use the cursor keys
as well as all the number keys on the numeric keypad if the `Number
Lock' is turned off. The 1,3,7 & 9 keys on the numeric key pad will move
you at the respective angle.
Statistics Window:
Cambridge has a floating `Statistics Window' that will give various
statistics about drawing operations in progress when drawing with the
mouse. Select `Display Statistics' from the `View' menu to open this
window. If this window is open using the `s' key brings it forward. Or
you can position it at the bottom of the screen and size the main window
up out of it's way if you need real time info while drawing.
Zooming:
Zooming includes in, out, region, extents and all. You can set the step
percentage (a somewhat arbitrarry figure) in the `Properties' dialog
selected from the `Settings' menu.
You can zoom in by using the `Zoom In' selection from the `View' menu.
Or hitting the zoom in button. Or by hitting the `z' key or `w' key.
You can zoom out by using the `Zoom Out' selection from the `View' menu.
Or hitting the zoom out button. Or by hitting the `a' key or `Z' or the
`W' key.
When you use the zoom in or zoom out buttons to zoom the program will
zoom one step for each time you click the button.
You can zoom a region by selecting the zoom region button and then
select the region you want to zoom to with the mouse. Draw a rubber-band
window with the mouse to select the region.
Troubleshooting:
Drawings that contain NEGATIVE coordinate values will not load properly
if `Filter State Plain Limits' is turned on. Nor will drawings that
contain coordinate values that exceed legit values of locations on the
planet Earth. If your drawing contains either of these type of
coordinates turn `Filter State Plain Limits' off.
Map Draw Menu:
Brush Line Draw:
Draws a polyline that becomes a brush line when you complete the
polyline. The brush line consists of even scallopes along the line
drawn. Brush line draw also switches you to the `BRUSH' layer.
Building from Bearing:
Draws a building squared with the first bearing wall. Set the angular
tolerance for the bearing angles in the `Properties' dialog accessed
from the `Settings' menu, enter the tolerance angle under `Building
Tolerance'. Building from bearing also switches you to the `BLDG' layer.
Building from Center:
`Build from Center' is not implemented yet.
Culvert:
Draws culverts. Left click to start drawing the culvert. Right click to
finish drawing the culvert. Culvert also switches you to the `CULVERT'
layer.
Fence Line Draw:
Draws a fence line. Left click to start drawing a fence line right click
to finish drawing the fence line. Fence line draw also switches you to
the `FENCE' layer.
Gaurd Rail Draw:
Draws a gaurd rail. Left click to start drawing a guard rail right click
to finish drawing a guard rail. Guard rail draw also switches you to the
`GRAIL' layer.
Make Brush Line:
Makes all the selected polylines into brush lines.
Make File 2D:
Flattens the file. Makes all the objects 2D.
Make Layer Stream:
Makes all the polylines on the current layer into streams. Checks to see
that all the polylines are consistantly going downhill.
Make Layer Tree Line:
Makes all the polylines on the current layer into tree lines.
Make Layer Water Line:
Makes all the polylines on the current layer into water body lines.
Make Offset:
Makes a line offset from a polyline.
Make Stream:
Make all the selected polylines into stream lines.
Make Tree Line:
Make all the selected polylines into tree lines.
Make Water Line:
Make all the selected lines into water body lines.
Offset:
Offset draws a pair of lines the second line offset the selected
distance from the first. Left click once to start drawing the offset
distance line. The length of the offset will be shown on the status bar.
Left click again to finish setting the offset distance. Then left click
to start drawing the polyline to be offset from. Right click to finish
drawing the polyline.
Polyline Sketch:
Draws polylines in sketch mode. Automatically draw points along a
polyline. Set the point distance under `Sketch Interval' in the
`Properties' dialog accessed from the `Settings' menu.
Rail Line Draw:
Draws railroad lines.
Rail line draw also switches you to the `RR' layer.
Reset Extents:
Resets the extents to the data currently in the drawing.
Road Center:
Road center draws a pair of lines offset from the center line. The line
is drawn in polyline sketch mode. Left click once to start drawing the
offset distance line. The length of the offset will be shown on the
status bar. Left click again to finish setting the offset distance. Then
left click to start drawing the polyline to be offset from. Right click
to finish drawing the polyline.
Road Width:
Road width draws a pair of lines the second line offset from the first
line. The line line is drawn in polyline sketch mode. Left click once to
start drawing the offset distance line. The length of the offset will be
shown on the status bar. Left click again to finish setting the offset
distance. Then left click to start drawing the polyline to be offset
from. Right click to finish drawing the polyline.
Spot Elevation - Snap to Point:
Draw spot elevations based on the elevation of the point you snap to. If
you are drawing from an external device this is the mode to use. When
drawing from an external device (stereo plotter) the complete spot
elevation is drawn from the incoming data.
Spot Elevation - Keyboard Entry:
Draw spot elevation using keyboard entry. This mode brings up an edit
entry on the screen to enter an altitude.
Street Fillet:
Street fillet is not implemented yet.
Tree Line Draw:
Tree line draw draws a polyline tha becomes a tree line in the drawing
when the polyline is completed.
Tree Draw:
Tree draw draws a tree object.
Trim Inside Extents:
Trim inside extents. Trims everything inside of the currently set
extents out of the drawing. To trim a specific area for example, open
the `Properties' dialog accessed from the `Settings' menu and Enter the
limits of the area you want to remove in the `Extmin X', `Extmin Y',
Extmax X' and `Extmax Y' edits. then select `Trim Inside Extents' from
the `Map Draw' menu.
Trim Outside Extents:
Trim outside extents. Trims everything outside of the currently set
extents out of the drawing. To trim a specific area for example, open
the `Properties' dialog accessed from the `Settings' menu and Enter the
limits of the area you want to remove in the `Extmin X', `Extmin Y',
Extmax X' and `Extmax Y' edits. then select `Trim Inside Extents' from
the `Map Draw' menu.
Wall 1:
Wall 1 draws a pair of lines offset from the center line. The line line
is drawn in polyline mode. Left click once to start drawing the offset
distance line. The length of the offset will be shown on the status bar.
Left click again to finish setting the offset distance. Then left click
to start drawing the polyline to be offset from. Right click to finish
drawing the polyline.
Wall 2:
Wall 2 draws a pair of lines the second line offset from the first line.
The line is drawn in polyline mode. Left click once to start drawing the
offset distance line. The length of the offset will be shown on the
status bar. Left click again to finish setting the offset distance. Then
left click to start drawing the polyline to be offset from. Right click
to finish drawing the polyline.
Water Elevation:
Draws a water elevation mark.
Water Line Draw:
Draws a water line.
Settings Menu:
Properties:
The `Properties' dialog is the main place where Cambridge's setting are
set. This includes the default minimum and maximun x, Y & Z. The current
extents for the current file. The point size. The pan step. The auto
save interval in minutes (if set to zero then autosave is disabled). The
auto-point interval. The zoom percentage. The sketch interval (used by
polyline sketch). The drawing current drawing scale in foot to the inch.
Also the building angle tolerance in angle degrees. The insert rotation
interval in angle degrees.
You can set the grid size and the grid color. You can set the background
color.
The Text shape file name is displayed if one is set. Set it by selecting
`Set Font File' from the `Settings' menu and selecting a font file in
the `Shape' (*.shp) file format.
The windows font file name is displayed if one is set. Set it by
selecting `Windows Fonts' from the `Settings' menu.
You can set the text height by entering it in the `Text Height' edit
tool.
The settings dialog contains the following `Check' boxes. Checking a box
activates the feature.
Auto Update Extents:
As the drawing progresses and new data is entered outside of the current
extents. The extents are updated to reflect this.
Auto Create Backups:
Backups are created during normal saves. If the new file is smaller than
the old file or if there are other problems a secondary backup is made
instead and the old backup is not over writen.
Lost Objects On Layer Zero:
Objects on unknown layers are placed on layer zero instead of being ignored.
Autoload Untitled:
Automatically loads the file `Untitled.dxf'. Otherwise Cambridge does not.
Filter Vertices @ Zero:
Vertices at zero are ignored (they are usually errors in map files).
Overwrite File Warning:
Warn you about file overwrites.
Show Text:
Toggles text display on / off. Turning text display off when loading or
working with large files can speed things up a lot.
Warning Messages:
Toggles the display of some waring messages on / off.
Filter State Plain Limits:
Filters data that is out side of the coordinate range of the planet
Earth. WARNING! if this is selected Cambridge will not load drawings
that contain NEGATIVE coordinate values. You'll get the error message
`Polyline at line #whatever has no base vertex!'.
Create Objects as Polylines:
Objects such as Arcs and Circles will be created as polylines.
Process I/O from Mask:
Process input from an external device (such as stereo plotter) through
the programmable mask. Set the mask using the `Mask Edit Dialog', select
`Set Input Mask' from `Settings' menu to set thi input mask.
Text Type:
Choose
Vectors Fonts:
Use the current font shape file to draw text.
Window Fonts:
Use the current windows font to draw text.
Spot Elevation Types:
Select a format for spot elevation and water spot elevation.
Grid Line Type:
Select a grid line type.
Points Type:
Select a points display type. Types are Crosses, Circles, Circles &
Crosses, Points (single pixels) and Tiny Pixels.
Sound Type:
Select sounds type. Types include none, beep, mouse click and ding.
Windows Fonts:
Open a dialog to select a Windows font. For use if yoy want to display
text in the drawing with Windows fonts.
Set Fonts File:
Open a dialog for selecting a font file in the `Shape' (*.shp) file
format.
Blocks:
Opens a dialog for selecting the current block. Select the block you
want from the pull down list or use the cursor down key to scroll
through the list.
You can choose insert now or insert manually. When you use the insert
now mode you can enter the X, Y & Z for the insertion point. The
rotation for the insertion. And the scale for the insertion.
The global scale and rotation is displayed.
Grid:
Toggles the grid on and off.
Layers:
Opens the layers dialog. Shows a list of your layers. Displays layer
name, it's line type, if it's on or off, layer color number, if it's
locked or not and the flags.
The current layer name is displayed.
You can set the current layer by clicking on it's name in the list then
click the `Make Selected Layer the Active Layer'. To change a layers
name, click on the layer's name cell in the list. An edit tool will
appear labeled `Enter New Name' enter the new name and finish by hitting
`Enter'. Only legal DXF file format name strings will be excepted.
Current Color shows the current color in a box.
To change a layer's color, click on the layer's color number cell in the
list. A set of colored buttons will be displayed, Click on the button
for the color you want to change to.
Edit All Layers:
Normally edit operations only occur on the current layer. Selecting the
`Edit All Layers' button will allow some edit operation (such as the
Line Trim and Polyline Trim functions) to occur on all layers.
Remove Current Layer:
Selecting `Remove Current Layer' will remove the currently active layer
from the database. It will prompt you to select a new active layer.
Please be careful about this, make sure you do so.
Make Layer 2D:
Selecting `Make Layer 2D' will flatten the currently active layer.
Save Layer as File:
Selecting `Save Layer as File' will save the currently selected layer as
a file in DXF format. The file name will be based on the layers name.
Control Pad:
Selecting `Control Pad' open the `Control Pad'. The control pad is a
dialog the a set of pre-programed buttons that set of Cambridge for
drawing various maping related objects.
I/O Settings:
Selecting `I/O Settings' opens the `I/O Settings' dialog. This allows
you to set various rather technical settings tha may be needed to fine
tune drawing operations done from an external input device (stereo
plotter, etc).
It incudes `Input Delay' in percent of a second, so for example a value
of 50 would be a delay of one half a second.
`Minimum Point Spacing' sets a minimum distance between points for
drawing modes like `Polyline Sketch'.
`Minimum Building Corners' sets the minimum distance between building
corners in feet.
`Minimum Insert Spacing' sets a minimum distance between screen
refreshes while inserting blocks.
`Number of input key clicks'
`I/O Sleep Interval' sets the sleep interval for the I/O thread.
Comm Settings:
Selecting `Comm Settings' open the `Comm Settings' dialog. This dialog
allows you to enter typical serial port settings. Use this to set the
serial port settings for you external drawing device (stereo plotter,
etc.)