Implementing Visual CADD 5.0 Functions

[Matt Binder]

Below I have created a Wish List of functions from Visual CADD 5.0 that I think would be of great improvement to the Drafting capabilities of IrriCad PRO. These come in no paricular order.


Modify Commands

Extend - (Single/Multiple)
Trim - (Single/Multiple) Is already in IrriCad but not as user friendly as in Visual CADD.
Fillet
Chamfer
Join
Mirror
Offset
Rotate - Is already in IrriCad but not as user friendly as in Visual CADD.
Draw Order - (Bring Object to Front/Send Object to Back) Would be great in final plan presentation.


Utilities Commands

Measure Distances or Angles


Zoom Commands

Multiple Views (Create New View) - Refer to Import - Export


Ortho Mode

Ortho Mode seems to be more user friendly in Visual CADD. This function would be predomentaly used in the preparation of designs.



Symbols

Ability to create multicoulored symbol as a Hydraulic Object.


Import / Export

Ability to import .dwg / .dxf files with multiple paper space layouts.

[Hutch]

Some Vcadd 2 letter functions work. One that I find useful is the JOIN command. For example you may draw single lines and snap them together to make a block boundary. Select all of the lines and then type JO. The lines will become contiguous and therefore can be used to build a block.

[Matt Binder]

Hello Hutch,

Thanks for that tip that is a great time saver.

Kind Regards,

[Harvie]

Excellent suggestion Matt.

Apart from that handy tip, I notice their is no other reply.
Is the IrriCAD program going in the direction that Matt suggested?
I think it would be a great idea and would like to hear either way from the IrriCAD team.

thanks
JH

[Dan Crosby]

We are looking at enabling some of these functions. However, while some are relatively straightforward, the hydraulic implications of others need to be considered. We need to decide for each function what the hydraulic implications are, and whether we attempt to customise the function to work hydraulically.

Think, for example, of using 'Extend' on a pipe - what are the rules? Does it only work if there are no connections? Should it move any connected objects? Should it disconnect before extending? etc. A first step might be to enable some tools in 'CAD Only Mode' i.e., such that the do not work on hydraulic objects.

[Matt Binder]

Hello Dan,

Regarding to your response I probably need to clarify where I was coming from.

When I made reference to the Visual CAD functions I was really only refering to the CAD side of things. I know that using the commands for Hydraulic purposes may become tricky and very hard to implement for yourself as a developer of the software. I downloaded a trial version of Visual CAD a few months ago and found those functions which I thought would make it easier to sell this software as an all in Design and Drafting package.

Kind Regards,

[MikeM]

I agree it would be very nice to have some of the CAD commands available.
I went so far as utilizing a copy of Autocad LT exclusively to have access to some of these
functions while drafting. Particularly the Mirror, offset, extend and divide commands.

A few other keyword commands I have found limited success with within Irricad.
Note: use at own risk, occasionally could cause crashes.

DC toggles grips (particularly helpful when using move point command for blocks)
S2 snap to middle of 2 points (eliminates the need for a temporary line to find midpoint)
DWB moves draw order of the object selected to the very back
DWF moves draw order of the object selected to the very front
TBH I just use to quickly view hatch styles

TF toggles fill
TH toggles hatch
TI toggles points
LW toggles line widths
LT toggles line types
GR toggles grid
OR toggles ortho

and only as a last ditch effort, as it can do some weird stuff sometimes.

OO undo (drawing items only)
RE redo (drawing items only)

[Dan Crosby]

I would echo Mike... users should be very wary of using OO (undo) and RE (redo). We may even go so far as to specifically disable these functions (in the short term) because of the potential for complete hydraulic carnage!

[Dan Crosby]

Hi Matt,

Just an update...

I've implemented Mirror, Offset, Trim, Extend and "Move To Front" and "Move To Back" for v10.

I've also enabled all the copy tools to be able to handle hydraulic items.

Dan

[Matt Binder]

Dan you are a genius.

Only one thing i found though was you cannot Extend to an already Trimed line or vise versa.

[Dan Crosby]

Hi Matt,

Could you describe an example that doesn't work? I know there is a problem with "double-trimming" (trimming two crossed lines to a corner) and I'm following up on that one, but I'm not sure what you mean exactly by "extending to a trimmed line"?

Cheers,

Dan

[Matt Binder]

Hi Dan,

I apologise for the delay in my reply.

Please ignore my previous question. In the latest version of IrriCad, it seems this problem has been corrected. What i was trying to explain was if i have a line that has been extended or trimmed, i could not seem to extend or trim to that same line again.

As i mentioned, it seems to be fixed in the new version.

Kind Regards,