A
Key Map feature has been added to CADVANCE. This feature
allows one drawing to link to other independent drawings. This
allows, for example, a site plan drawing to link to drawings of each
building on the site or one floor to link to another. This is
accomplished using an expansion of the Symbol Text Attribute feature
of CADVANCE. Two new menu items have been added to make and
place special key map symbols. Making a key map symbol is the
same as making any standard symbol except that it will automatically
have a single Symbol Text Attribute attached to it that will contain
a drawing name. When placed in a drawing the key map symbol
will have a drawing name associated with it, and when it is double
clicked, the associated drawing will be opened.
Symbol/Key
Map/Make
Creates a special Key Map symbol from objects you select
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To
make a symbol, select the objects you want to make into a symbol
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Chose
Symbol/Key Map/Make (ALT, S, K, M) and set the desired
options on the Status bar (S)
Locate
symbol base point...
-
Click
a base point for the symbol. The base point is a reference
point that acts as a handle for the symbol. You place
symbols into a drawing by their base points. The base
point is a vertex. It is the only place on a symbol you
can snap. It is also the point at which the name of the
linked drawing will be placed. It helps to use a standard
location for symbol base points, such as the lower left corner
of the symbol.
A
dot marks the location of the base point you select. The
"Save Symbol" dialog box appears.
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Type
a name for the symbol and choose OK. The default directory
for key map symbols is the CADVANCE home directory. You do
not need to type an extension, because (.SYM) is used
automatically. The name of a symbol already in the drawing
can not be used. The symbol is saved with the specified
name and directory. It is loaded into the drawing and
replaces the objects used to define the symbol.
The
"Select Key Drawing" dialog box appears.
-
Choose
a drawing to be added to the key map symbol. The drawing
must be in one of three directories. Either the CADVANCE
home directory (default), the current drawing directory, or the
"Drawing" directory is specified in Options/Path.
Symbol/Key
Map/Place
Places a special key map symbol into a drawing and links it to
another drawing.
-
Choose
Symbol/Key Map/Place (ALT, S, K, P).
The
standard "Select Symbol" dialog appears with default
CADVANCE Home directory
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Select
a special Key Map Symbol from the displayed list of
symbols. If you do not type an extension, (.SYM) is
assumed. A symbol is displayed in the Preview area when it
has been selected from the symbol list. The previously
selected symbol will be displayed when the Symbol Place dialog
box displays.
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To
change the symbol's scale, enter a Scale value other than 1.0.
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To
rotate the symbol, enter a symbol Rotation value other than 0.0.
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Reselect
on Button 2 - returns to this dialog box when you end the symbol
place operation.
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Choose
OK.
Locate
symbol XXXX.SYM...
A
bounding box shows the size of the symbol with the cursor at the
symbol's base point.
-
Click
where you want to place the symbol's base point.
The
"Select Key Drawing" dialog box appears.
-
Choose
a drawing to be added to the key map symbol. The drawing must be
in one of three directories. Either the CADVANCE home
directory (default), the current drawing directory, or the
"Drawing" directory as specified in Options/Path.
To
Activate Link just double click on the appropriate key map symbol
Double
clicking on a key map symbol will load the linked drawing in the
current CADVANCE session. The linked drawing must be in one
of the following directories. Either the CADVANCE home
directory (default), the current drawing directory, or the
"Drawing" directory as specified in Options/Path.
NOTES:
When making a key map symbol, the font, size, and color of the
text used to display the drawing name is the same as the last text
entered on the drawing. It is suggested that you create a
temporary piece of text with the appropriate properties before
making the key map symbol.
The
drawing name text will only be displayed if Options/Miscellaneous
"Symbol Text Attributes" is checked.
The
drawing name text and properties may be changed by either using
"Edit/Symbol Text Attributes" to change an instance or
"Symbol/Attributes..." to change the defaults within the
symbol itself. In order to do the second, the symbol's
directory must be one of the searchable symbol paths.
Standard
Symbol Text Attribute procedures may be used to add a drawing
attribute to any symbol but then the standard
"Symbol/Place" must be used instead of "Symbol/Key
Map/Place".