AllyCAD User Guide

AllyCAD
User Guide
Copyright 2004
Knowledge Base Software (Pty) Ltd
Conditions of Sale
The purchaser (further referred to as the Licensee) hereby accepts a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the software, AllyCAD, on the following conditions. 1. The license fee shall be payable in advance and this agreement commences on said date of purchase. 2. A separate license fee is payable for each CPU upon which the Licensee wishes to use the software. 3. The Licensee undertakes not to copy, except for backup purposes, reproduce, translate, adapt, vary or modify the software, nor to communicate the software to any third party other than the Licensees employees, without the Licensors prior written consent. 4. The Licensee agrees that it shall not itself or through any subsidiary, agent or third party, sell, lease, license, sub-license or otherwise deal with the software. 5. The Licensee acknowledges that any and all of the intellectual property rights including trademark, trade name, copyright and other rights used or embodied in or in connection with the software shall be and remain the sole property of the Licensor and its principals. 6. The Licensee shall not question or dispute the ownership of any such rights at any time. 7. It is up to the Licensee to insure the program for the full replacement value. In the event of theft or loss of the program, security disk, or security module the license must be re-purchased in full. 8. No warranty of any kind is made with regard to the use or application of the software or its fitness for any particular purpose. The verification of all results and output is entirely the responsibility of the purchaser. 9. While every care has been taken in the preparation of the AllyCAD program and its manual, Knowledge Base cc, its employees and agents shall not be liable for any loss or damage (including in particular, consequential losses, loss of profits and penalties) suffered by the Licensee arising from any cause whatsoever in connection with the AllyCAD program or the use thereof whether such loss or damage results from breach of contract (including a fundamental breach), negligence or any other cause and whether or not this contract is at any time cancelled by the Licensee arising from any cause whatsoever in connection with the AllyCAD program or the use thereof whether or not this contract is at any time cancelled.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION Where do I go from here? Typefaces in this manual How to get support Online Help Online Documentation INSTALLATION AND STARTUP What you need to know Disks System Requirements Reading the README file Installation What is installed Directory Structure User Home directory Multiple users Adding new users Starting AllyCAD from Windows Security Safety Precautions What to do now Tutorials Things You Should Know Customizing AllyCAD Conventions used in this manual SCREEN, MOUSE AND KEYBOARD Screen Overview Title Bar Menu Bar Prompt Area and Control Bar Line Type Display Layer Display Pen Selection Toolbars Drawing Area Cursor Dialog Boxes Smart Cursor Help and Coordinate Display The Mouse The Keyboard 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-2 1-2 1-2 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-2 2-2 2-2 2-3 2-5 2-6 2-7 2-9 2-9 2-9 2-10 2-11 2-11 2-12 2-13 3-1 3-2 3-3 3-3 3-4 3-9 3-9 3-10 3-12 3-14 3-14 3-15 3-15 3-16 3-18
TUTORIAL 1 THE SCREEN Important notes to read before you start this tutorial In case you get lost or stuck ... Loading a drawing Magnifying Panning Demagnifying Zooming Multiple Drawings TUTORIAL 2 - ACCURATE DRAWING Setting up your drawing Using specific coordinate locations An aside - Undo [Home] [End] [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys The arrow keys Moving the same distance again Polar coordinates Using a locked cursor Using Geometry Using a grid Jumps and Snap Modes Transparent commands Changing line styles Saving your drawing TUTORIAL 3 CAD BASICS Loading a drawing Fillets and chamfers Filleting Chamfering Drawing parallel lines Drawing lines around an existing perimeter. Drawing Fresh Parallel Lines Hatching A simple hatch Hatching with islands Text Entering text Editing Text Dimensions Stretching Producing an automatic detailed view Saving your drawing
4-1 4-2 4-3 4-4 4-5 4-6 4-8 4-9 4-12 5-1 5-2 5-4 5-5 5-5 5-6 5-7 5-9 5-10 5-12 5-15 5-17 5-20 5-23 5-24 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-6 6-6 6-8 6-12 6-12 6-13 6-17 6-17 6-18 6-20 6-31 6-34 6-38
TUTORIAL 4 - OBJECTS Setting up your drawing Drawing the window, desk and chair Drawing the window Drawing the desk Drawing the chair Creating objects Creating the Window Creating the desk and chair Viewing objects Merging objects Dividing objects Changing object names and hook points Adding to an object Saving your drawing TUTORIAL 5 SYMBOLS Loading a drawing Inserting symbols - the windows Layers Inserting symbols - the desk and chair Moving using Drag and Snap Nudging Copying Scaling Rotating Repeating Mirroring Updating Counting the objects in your drawing Saving your drawing ACCURATE DRAWING Move an exact distance up, down, left, or right Move diagonally by exact horizontal / vertical distances Move an exact distance in a specific direction Lock cursor to an exact angle (ortho mode) Move to an exact coordinate location on the screen Move exactly onto an existing part of the drawing Jumps Snap Modes Drawing with geometry or with a grid Making calculations
7-1 7-2 7-4 7-4 7-6 7-6 7-7 7-7 7-8 7-9 7-10 7-11 7-12 7-14 7-15 8-1 8-2 8-3 8-6 8-7 8-9 8-11 8-12 8-14 8-15 8-16 8-18 8-19 8-23 8-24 9-1 9-2 9-4 9-6 9-7 9-9 9-9 9-10 9-11 9-12 9-13
DRAWING STRUCTURE Primitives, objects and parents Primitives Objects Parents Properties of objects Object and Parent names Hook Point Snip Box Attributes Grouping primitives into objects Automatically Begin New Object Group Into Object Make Symbol Merging Objects Dividing Objects Adding primitives to an existing object Viewing and listing objects Extracting details about the objects in your drawing Selecting objects Using Select Using Selection Filters Manipulating objects Symbols Using symbols. Making a symbol. Creating a symbol library Blocks GEOMETRY Geometry elements Properties of geometry Using geometry as guidelines to trace over Projecting solid lines and arcs to geometry lines and circles Jumping to geometry lines, arcs and intersections Snapping to geometry lines, arcs and intersections Switching geometry on and off Saving geometry Deleting geometry ISOMETRICS Drawing the lines at the right angles Drawing an Isometric Grid Drawing Isometric Circles
10-1 10-2 10-2 10-3 10-4 10-4 10-4 10-5 10-5 10-6 10-7 10-7 10-8 10-8 10-8 10-8 10-8 10-9 10-10 10-11 10-12 10-12 10-12 10-13 10-14 10-14 10-14 10-17 10-18 11-1 11-2 11-2 11-3 11-4 11-4 11-4 11-7 11-7 11-7 12-1 12-2 12-3 12-4
Isometric Dimensions ARCHITECTURAL TOOLKIT Changing the drawing setup Changing the drawing defaults and symbol tree root Drawing external walls Drawing internal walls Drawing a closed internal wall Adding a roofline to the plan Placing symbols on your drawing Draw the elevations Adding a roof to the elevation Drawing cross sections Drawing stairs Adding a straight section of the stair to a drawing plan Adding a straight section of the stair to a drawing elevation Adding a landing section to a drawing plan Adding a landing section to a drawing elevation MECHANICAL TOOLKIT USER GUIDE Activating the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar Set AllyCAD drawing defaults Set the Mechanical Toolkit defaults Drawing Bolts, Nuts, Screws or Rivets Drawing Holes Drawing Shafts Drawing Gears Drawing Links Drawing Weld Annotations Drawing Tolerance Annotations Drawing Surface Finish Annotations COMMON QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS Printing Problems A function doesn't work, or doesn't work properly Parts of the drawing can't be selected Symbols Symbols split into two or more parts AllyCAD has lost my symbols Symbols are inserted at the wrong angle Symbols include hatches or solid fills Hatching Problems with redraws or with what is displayed How do I change colours How do I ...
12-5 13-1 13-2 13-3 13-5 13-7 13-10 13-12 13-14 13-20 13-26 13-33 13-40 13-42 13-47 13-49 13-56 14-1 14-2 14-3 14-4 14-6 14-10 14-14 14-18 14-21 14-23 14-26 14-29 15-1 15-2 15-8 15-18 15-19 15-19 15-20 15-20 15-20 15-23 15-27 15-29 15-32
Add a title block (border) to a scaled drawing Get more than one scale on a drawing Get a diameter, degree or other special character Move dimension text Write a macro with Notepad
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Introduction
This manual will help you install AllyCAD and get started. It also includes easy-to-follow tutorials for hands-on experience with the program.
Where do I go from here?

After reading this manual you should know the following:
how to get AllyCAD up and running use the menus and the on-line help system design principles used how to input and edit data files how to start an analysis how to view and output the results of the analysis
Typefaces in this manual

The different typefaces in this manual are used as follows:
Monospace
This typeface represents text as it appears onscreen such as prompts. Italics are used for emphasis and to introduce new terms. This indicates a key on your keyboard. For example: Press [Enter] to complete the entry.
Italics [Enter]
Command
This typeface indicates a menu option or a command. For example: Click on the Open icon to load a drawing. This button on the control bar is used to accept a setting or function. This button in the control bar is used to cancel a setting or function.
Menu commands appear with the path separated by an arrow. The instruction Draw Ellipses Ellipse refers to the command you choose by opening the Draw menu, the Ellipses sub-menu, and by choosing the Ellipse option.
Introduction
1-1
How to get support

Technical support is available from 08.00 to 17.00 (CAT) Mondays to Fridays excluding public holidays. South Africa International 086 0101 999 +27 21 7011850
You can also email your support enquiries to our Customer Support Centre at support@knowbase.co.za
Online Help
While using the program you can press F1 for context sensitive help at any time. The help items can be printed if required using the Windows Help system.
Online Documentation
The User Guide and the Reference Manual are supplied on the CD-ROM in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. You have the option to install the Acrobat Reader when installing AllyCAD. This allows you to browse through the manual, to search for specific subjects, and to print out all or any selection of pages. Chapters 1 - 10 of the Reference Manual describe the CAD's functions by menu. The menus are fully customisable and the way they are structured ultimately depends on you. If you do change the menu structure, it will no longer correspond to the manual's layout. However, as each function is listed in the Index, you will still be able to find the information you need.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Installation and Startup

Before you begin working:
check the contents of your package make sure that your hardware satisfies the requirements run the installation program plug the security module into your printer port start AllyCAD.
What you need to know

This manual assumes that you are familiar with basic Windows operations. If you are not, you should read the documentation that came with your copy of Windows before installing and using the program.
Disks
If you have any problems with your AllyCAD CD-ROM, please contact the support centres.
System Requirements
Before you install AllyCAD, ensure that your hardware and system software meets the following requirements:
500 MHz Pentium II or better 64Mb or more RAM (128Mb or more recommended) 120Mb or more free hard disk space Microsoft Windows XP/2000 or later. A screen sub-system configured to SVGA (800 x 600) resolution. CD-ROM drive
All printers, plotters, screens, and mice are supported via Windows. If Windows does not include a driver for your particular printer or plotter, please contact your printer or plotter manufacturer. They should be able to provide you with a Windows driver for your device.
2-1
Reading the README file

Any last-minute changes or additions to AllyCAD are documented in the README.TXT file. When the Setup program has finished installing AllyCAD on your hard disk it displays the README file. You can view the README file using Windows WordPad and print the contents at any stage.
Installation
1. 2. 3. Insert the program CD into the CD-ROM drive. If you are using Windows XP/2000 or later, click on Start Run to run the SETUP program on the CD. Follow the prompts of the AllyCAD installation program. AllyCAD will be installed in the directory that you choose.
What is installed
The Setup program creates a number of directories and also modifies the Windows Registry. These changes are explained in the following sections.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Directory Structure
The directory that AllyCAD is installed into is called your Program Home directory. Unless you specified another name when you installed AllyCAD, your Program Home directory is called AllyCAD34. It contains a number of sub-directories:
AllyCAD34 AcrobatReader Docs Examples Macros Support Symbols Users Guest Macro
AcrobarReader sub-directory This directory contains the Acrobat Reader installation software that is required to read the online documentation stored in the Docs subdirectory. Docs sub-directory The on-line version of the printed documentation is stored in this directory. Examples sub-directory This directory contains example drawings and sheet files.
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Macro sub-directory This directory is used to store CAD macros that are executed from the menu. These macros should not be deleted. Support sub-directory This directory contains various supporting files used to test the DDE link to Visual Basic. Symbols sub-directory By default, symbol is the directory where the program looks for symbol files when you use File Load Symbol File. To change the default directory where the program looks for symbol files, you must edit the CAD.INI file in your User Home directory (see below) using any text editor such as Windows Notepad or the DOS editor. The symbol directory will contain some sample symbol files as well as symbol files for you to use when you are working through the tutorials. Users sub-directory The Users sub-directory contains another sub-directory called Guest. By default, Guest is your User Home directory.
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AllyCAD for Windows
User Home directory

The directory where your menus, hatch patterns, defaults and line types are stored is called your User Home directory. Each user can have his or her User Home directory. See Multiple Users later in this chapter. The User Home directory contains the following files:
CAD.MEN
This defines the menu structure, icon functions and accelerator keys in the CAD.
HATCH.PAT
This contains hatch pattern definitions.

STARTUP.DRG
This is a drawing that contains your drawing defaults. It is loaded each time you start the CAD or start a new drawing.
CAD.INI
This stores defaults relating to printing, DXF and DWG transfers, digitizer setup, colours etc.
DOM.TXT
The Drawing Office Manager data file. This is updated if you have specified you want to use the Drawing Office Manager (see Save Settings in the Reference Manual).
CAD.LOG
If activated this logs everything you do during a CAD session. See CAD.INI.
COMPASS.DRG
This is a compass that you can automatically insert on your drawing when you print using Zoom Print in the File Menu. There is also a compass called COMPASSN.DRG. COMPASSN is a more elaborate compass. If you want to use COMPASSN instead of COMPASS, rename COMPASSN.DRG to COMPASS.DRG. It also contains the MACRO sub-directory where the line type definitions are stored in the LINETYPE.MAC file. Do not delete this file.
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Multiple users
Different users can have their own User Home directories storing their own menus, hatch patterns, defaults and line types. For example, one user's preferred menus, hatch patterns, defaults and line types may be stored in the default User Home directory, guest. Other users can then create their own personal sub-directories in which their preferred menu, hatch patterns, defaults and line types are stored. See Adding new users below.
AllyCAD34 Users Guest Macro Paul Macro Civil Macro Arch Macro Mech Macro
As well as creating sub-directories for different users, you can also create sub-directories for different types of drawing. For example, in the diagram above, all of Guest's preferred settings will be stored in the Guest sub-directory, all of Paul's preferred settings will be stored in the Paul sub-directory, etc. The arch sub-directory may contain defaults suitable for architectural drawings, e.g. a default scale of 1:50 and special brick hatch patterns. The mech sub-directory may contain defaults suitable for mechanical drawing, etc.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Adding new users

Before you can add a new user sub-directory, you must switch on the Ask Logon name at Startup checkbox in the Settings System Settings dialog box. Now, when you start the CAD, the Login dialog box is displayed.
To add a new user sub-directory, click on the Add new name button in this dialog box. The dialog below is displayed.
Type the new user sub-directory's name into the New name box. From the Copy from list box, select one of the existing sub-directories. The contents of the existing sub-directory will be copied into the new subdirectory. These copied files can later be edited or overwritten, for example with the new user's preferred menu system. When you click on OK, the CAD will start up using the new user subdirectory. Whenever you start the CAD in future, the Login dialog box will be displayed. Select the login name you want to use and click on OK. The menu, hatch patterns, defaults and line types stored in that sub-directory will be loaded. If you click on Help About a dialog box will appear. The name of the current sub-directory will be displayed at the bottom of this dialog box. Installation and Startup 2-7
Deleting user sub-directories To delete a user sub-directory, simply delete it form your hard drive using Windows Explorer. Do not do this while AllyCAD is running. Disabling the User Login Refer to the Settings Menu chapter in the Reference Manual for details on enabling and disabling the login.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Starting AllyCAD from Windows

Once installation is complete, you can run the CAD by clicking on:
Start Programs AllyCAD34 AllyCAD
To exit from inside the CAD, select File Exit.
Security
Before you can use the CAD you must call for an authorization code as follows: 4. 5. 6. 7. Start the program. Ensure that the security module is plugged into your printer port. Select the File Security Authorize option. A dialog box with your program code will be displayed. Contact your support centre for your return code or click on the Save button and email the support centre with the contents of the AUTHORISATION.TXT file. Input the return code and press the [Authorize] button.
8.
You are now ready to go. For more details refer to Security in the Reference Manual.
Safety Precautions
Please insure your program for the full replacement value. Should your security module be lost or stolen you will have to purchase a new license.
2-9
What to do now
While the CAD is easy to use even without a manual, you will get up and running more quickly if you read the following chapters:
Screen, Mouse and Keyboard Accurate Drawing Drawing Structure Geometry Isometrics Common Questions and Problems
Also work through the Tutorials Once you begin working on your own drawings you can consult the relevant chapters of the manual for explanations of individual commands, and as you gain confidence you can start customising the CAD to your own requirements. Refer to the following chapters in the Reference Manual that is supplied on disk in PDF format.
Macros Colours Line Types Hatch Patterns CAD.MEN Defaults
Many CAD functions have short cuts associated with them. These are given in the relevant chapters and are also listed in Appendices I, II and III of the Reference Manual. In order to get the best out of the CAD we strongly recommend that you learn the short cuts relating to the functions you use. You can also define your own short cuts. To do this, see the above- mentioned chapters.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Tutorials
The CAD is supplied with five tutorials. Ideally, you should do all five tutorials consecutively. However, each tutorial is a complete exercise and the draughtsperson in a hurry can do any tutorial in isolation if necessary.
Tutorial 1 - The Screen
Shows you how to load a drawing and move around the screen, i.e. zoom, magnify, pan etc.
Tutorial 2 - Accurate Drawing
Draw eight rectangles using absolute, relative and polar methods. These include using a grid, geometry, jumps and snaps.
Tutorial 3 - CAD Basics
Covers CAD basics like filleting, chamfering, parallel lines, hatching, text, dimensions and how to extract an automatic detailed view.
Tutorial 4 - Objects
Teaches you about creating objects (symbols).

Tutorial 5 - Symbols
Covers some more CAD basics including symbol insertion, layers, moving, copying, scaling, rotating, mirroring and updating.
Things You Should Know

If you read nothing else you should read the following chapters as they contain information that is vital for producing accurate drawings quickly. Screen, Mouse and Keyboard is an introduction to the CAD screen and the terms used to describe its components. Accurate Drawing lists methods of absolute, relative and polar cursor movement. Drawing Structure explains how CAD drawings are organised and describes objects and symbols. Geometry explains how to set up construction lines. Isometrics details the methods used to produce isometric drawings. Common Questions and Problems is a basic trouble-shooting guide.
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Customizing AllyCAD
Once you have enough confidence, you can customise AllyCAD to suit your own requirements. You can delete functions that you don't use, and add your own functions using AllyCAD's macro language. You can totally re-arrange the menu system, and replace the functions on the icons in the toolbar with the functions you use most often. You can also select certain icons to sit on the various toolbars. The Customising AllyCAD section of the Reference Manual comprises five parts:
Defaults
How to customise AllyCAD's defaults.

The CAD.MEN file
How to customise AllyCAD's menus and toolbars.

Hatch Patterns
How to create and edit your own hatch patterns.

Line Types
How to create and edit your own line types.

Macros
AllyCAD's macro programming language explained in detail.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Conventions used in this manual

The following conventions are used in the manual. Menus and Functions All the functions in AllyCAD are described in detail in Chapters 1 - 10 of the online Reference Manual. (Remember however that menus are completely customisable). These are often accessible via various routes - by clicking on the functions in the menu, via the keyboard (a short-cut key), and also by clicking on the respective icon for that function. Mouse In this manual, clicking refers to pressing and releasing your left mouse button quickly unless otherwise specified. When a click with your right mouse button is required, the terms right click or right clicking are used. Cross References When a function is mentioned, it is mentioned together with the menu it can be found in. For example, see Line (Chained) in the Reference Manual means that the Line (Chained) function is described in the Reference Manual. See Accurate Drawing means that you should refer to the chapter on Accurate Drawing in your AllyCAD User Guide. Diagrams All diagrams are shown with the cursor in Freehand mode except where AllyCAD automatically uses one of the snap modes.
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Notes:
2-14
AllyCAD for Windows
Screen, Mouse and Keyboard

This section describes the various components that make up the CAD screen. These are the:
Title Bar Menu Bar Prompt Area and Control Bar Line Type Display Layer Display Toolbars Drawing Area Smart Cursor Help Coordinate Display Mouse Keyboard
3-1
Screen Overview
The CAD screen is divided into several parts, as shown below. These parts are described in detail on the next pages.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Title Bar
Like all Windows programs, AllyCAD has a Title Bar running across the top. This will look different depending on the version of Windows you are running. It displays the name of the drawing you are working on together with the disk drive it is located on and the directory it is stored in. For the meanings of the buttons on the Title Bar, see the documentation that came with your copy of Windows.
Menu Bar
All of the CAD's functions can be accessed from the Pull-Down menus on the Menu Bar, although there are shortcuts to many functions via the icons in the Toolbars, or via the keyboard. The type of function in each menu is summarised below:
Save, load, import, export, print, quit Stretch, move, mirror, Zoom, copy, pan, scale, viewports rotate Text, dimensions, arrows, balloons, hatching
Grouping
Specialized Tools
Online help
File Edit View Draw Modify Geometry Annotate Tools Objects Settings Toolkit Windows Help
Undo, cut, paste, select
Lines, Arcs, Circles, Ellipses, etc.
Construction lines and circles
Lock cursor, jumps, snaps, grids, measuring, query
Paper size, units, scale, line, text, dimension and arrow defaults, layers
Arrange all open windows
Individual functions in each menu are described in full detail in the reference section of the manual. If you do not know how to select functions from the Pull-Down menus, refer to the documentation that came with your copy of Windows.
3-3
Prompt Area and Control Bar

Prompts will be displayed in the prompt area asking for input or telling you what to do. You type information, answer questions or select options in the Control Bar. There are several types of prompts and responses. You are prompted to enter a point or position If you are prompted to enter a point or a position, for example the first point of a line, position the cursor in the Drawing Area. Then press [Enter] or click to accept the position.
You are prompted to enter information Some prompts expect you to type information into the Control Bar.
In this example, the CAD is asking how far you want to move to the right after you have pressed the [Right-Arrow] key. A default answer 10 is given. If you want to accept the default answer, click on the OK button or press [Enter]. If you want to change the default answer, simply type the answer you want. So long as the default answer is highlighted, it will automatically be overtyped. Alternatively, click in the white part of the Control Bar and use the arrow and backspace keys to delete the default answer. Then type the answer you want. When the answer is to your satisfaction, accept it by clicking on the OK button or pressing [Enter]. If you want to terminate the function click on the Cancel button. Yes/No questions Some prompts require a Yes or No answer. A [YES] button and a [NO] button will appear on the Control Bar and you must click on one or the other box to answer the question.
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AllyCAD for Windows
In this example, an angle will be dimensioned if you click on the [YES] button and an arc length will be dimensioned if you click on the [NO] button. The option that will be carried out if you click on the [NO] button is always enclosed in brackets. Questions with a choice of answers Some prompts give you a choice of several answers, one of which is the default.
In this example, you are being given the choice of running, chained or free dimensions. The default is Running. If you want to accept the default answer, click on the OK button or press [Enter]. If you want to change the default answer, type the answer you want, for example C for chained dimensions or F for free dimensions. So long as the default answer is highlighted it will automatically be overtyped. Alternatively, click in the white part of the Control Bar and use the arrow and backspace keys to delete the default answer. Then type the answer you want. When the answer is to your satisfaction, accept it by clicking on the OK button or by pressing [Enter]. Various options appear on the Control Bar When you select some functions a row of options appear on the Control Bar. You need to edit these options to your satisfaction before responding to the prompt in the Prompt Area.
In this example, you need to select a symbol - either by name or by viewing it, then specify snipping, rotation, scale and mirroring of the symbol. When you have done this, you can respond to the prompt
Enter position for symbol
by positioning the cursor where you want the symbol to appear and pressing [Enter] or clicking to accept this position. Screen, Mouse and Keyboard 3-5
You are prompted to enter a polygon around something In many CAD functions (e.g. Edit Select by Polygon, Modify Stretch, etc.) you are asked to enter a polygon around something. The function then operates on the part of the drawing inside this polygon. The procedure for drawing a polygon is as follows. When the CAD prompts:
Enter polygon about...
You can either draw a regular box around the part of your drawing to be operated on or, if it is an irregular shape, you can draw an irregular polygon around it. To draw a regular box, you must respond to the prompts as follows:
A large cross hair with the cursor at the cross centre will be displayed on the screen. Position the cursor at one corner of the box that will enclose the part of the drawing to be operated on and press [Enter] or click.
AllyCAD will prompt:

Enter next point of polygon [Space Bar for a box]
Move the cursor to the diagonally opposite corner of the box to enclose the part of the drawing to be operated on. As you move the cursor, you will see it is attached to a box with a diagonal line through it.
Press the [Space Bar], or click on [Done]. The function you are using will now resume.
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AllyCAD for Windows
To draw an irregular polygon around the part of the drawing to be operated on, you must respond to the prompts as follows.
A large cross hair with the cursor at the cross centre appears on the screen. Position the cursor at one vertex of the polygon and press [Enter] or click.

Enter next point of polygon [Space Bar for a box]
Move the cursor to the next vertex on the polygon boundary. As you move the cursor, you will see it is attached to a box with a diagonal line through it. Press [Enter] or click.
AllyCAD will continue to prompt:

Next point of polygon (Space Bar to Close)
Move the cursor to the next vertex on the polygon and press [Enter] or click.
3-7
The CAD will continue to prompt for the next point of the polygon. Continue to enter polygon vertices. When you have entered the last vertex, move the cursor close to the first point you entered.
Press the [Space Bar], or click on [Done]. The polygon is automatically closed. Using the Command Line in the Control Bar Instead of selecting functions from the Pull-Down menus, Toolbars etc., you can type commands into the Command Line - the white part of the Control Bar after the word Command: Hit the [ / ] key to move the cursor into the Command Line, or click in it. Then type the name corresponding to the function you want to use. A list of function names appears in Appendix A of the Reference Manual. For example, if you type
load
the CAD will prompt for which drawing to load. You can also add parameters to the function names. See Macros in the Reference Manual. For example, if you type
load "filter"
The drawing called filter will be loaded from the current directory.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Line Type Display

The Line Type Display displays the currently selected line type. To change line type, click on the arrow to the right of the display. A list of line types appears. Click on the one you want to use. If you select the By Layer option, the CAD will use the line types assigned to each layer in the Layer control Panel. You can also change line type using Settings Line Defaults or by right clicking on the Line icon on the Main toolbar.
Layer Display
The Layer Display displays the currently selected layer. Everything that you draw appears on this current layer. To change the current layer, click on the arrow to the right of the display. A list of layers appears. Click on the one you want to use. You can also change the current layer using the Settings Set Current Layer function. You can change the current layer and add further layers to your drawing using the Settings Layer Control function.
3-9
Pen Selection
You can customise the first 16 of the 255 pens that are available and are shown in the Select Colour dialog box when you click on the [Pen] button in the Control Bar. You can also click on the AutoCAD Colours button in the Colour toolbar for a different range of colours as used by AutoCAD. You can only customise colours when you are in CAD colour mode. You cannot customise the colours when the AutoCAD Colors check box is on. To customise a colour, click on the [Pen] button in the Control Bar. The CAD displays the Select Colour dialog box.
Right click on one of the first sixteen colours in the Standard colour area. The custom colour dialog box is displayed. Click on a new colour from the palette, or create your own colour, then click on OK. The customised colour will affect all your drawings. For example, if you change the red (pen 1) to blue, all the lines that have been drawn on your existing drawings in pen 1 and that were previously shown in red will now be shown in blue.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Customised colours are stored in the INI file in your user home directory. Different users can define different colours and store them in their own user home directories. See Multiple Users. Many colours will not display properly unless your graphics card is set to display 65000 colours. Whether this is possible or not depends on your hardware. There is also a Colour toolbar, usually at the right side of the CAD screen. This toolbar only lists the first 16 colour choices. For example, by default 1 is red, 2 is olive, 3 is yellow etc.
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Toolbars
There are 10 toolbars:
Main
Usually to the left of your screen. This has some of the most frequently used functions used in the creation of a drawing.
Screen
Contains shortcuts to often used screen functions (like Magnify, Zoom). This toolbar is normally hidden. Right click in the Drawing Area to display it.
Colour
This displays the colours that the first 15 pens are mapped to.
Snaps
with shortcuts to often used snap functions (like Graball, Freehand )

Files
This contains icons to functions like Cut, Save etc.

View
Shortcuts to view functions such as zoom, magnify, etc.

Modify
Shortcuts to move, copy, rotate, stretch, mirror, fillet & chamfer selections as well as to trim, divide and extend lines.
Geometry
Functions to create geometry entities

Dimensions
Functions to add dimensions and measure distance and area Click on View Toolbars to select which toolbars must be visible. A list with the names of the 10 toolbars pops up. Those that are currently visible have a tick next to them. Move the mouse over the names and click on an appropriate one to either display or make it invisible. If you have made it visible you can now position it anywhere on the screen. If you drag the toolbar very close to an edge of the screen, you will see that it changes to align itself to that edge. Let go of the mouse button to dock it in that position if you wish. Each icon in the toolbars represents a short cut to a function in the PullDown menus. As you move the cursor over a button on a toolbar a tooltip will be displayed explaining the functions assigned to the button.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The left functions are the ones that are executed when you click on the icon with your left mouse button. The right functions are the ones that are executed when you click on the icon with your right mouse button. As you pass your mouse over an icon, the Smart Cursor Help on the status bar at the bottom of the CAD window tells you what it does. The icons on the toolbars may vary slightly in different versions of the program. The icons in the toolbars are listed in more detail in Appendix B of the Reference Manual. You can also customise the icons and the position where the toolbar is initially docked in the CAD.MEN file.
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Drawing Area
The Drawing Area represents your sheet of paper, and it is here that you draw. When you zoom in or magnify, the drawing area represents only a portion of your sheet of paper. When you zoom out or de-magnify, you will see a dotted rectangle that defines your sheet of paper. The View Zoom Paper option redraws the screen so that the drawing area displays your whole sheet of paper. Running along the bottom of the Drawing Area is the Ruler Bar. At the left hand end of the Ruler bar is a number. This indicates the approximate length of each section in the Ruler Bar. This length is measured in the units selected in Drawing Settings in the Settings menu. You can turn off the Ruler Bar by un-checking the Ruler option in the Settings View Settings option. Along the bottom and right side of the Drawing Area are Scroll Bars. These can be used to pan around the drawing (for more information refer to the documentation that came with your copy of Windows). You can turn off the Scroll Bars in the Settings View Settings option. Note that when you use the Scroll Bars, the Scroll Box (the little square that you slide around) will always spring back to the middle of the Scroll Bar after you have finished panning. This is because the CAD Drawing Area stretches to infinity.
Cursor
By default, the cursor is arrow-shaped. It looks either like this: or like this This cursor is called the Select Cursor. See Select in the Edit Menu. If you go to Edit Select Nodes the cursor will change to the node shape shown below: or To return to the arrow-shaped cursor, click on the Select icon. When you enter any function, such as Draw Line (Chained) the cursor takes on a different shape, determined by the Snap mode you are using. 3-14 AllyCAD for Windows
Dialog Boxes
Dialog boxes are displayed in the drawing area temporarily during functions. They allow you to enter information and choose options. For example, drawing settings like paper size, units etc. are selected in a dialog box, as are settings controlling the way text and lines etc. will be displayed. For detailed instructions on how to use and edit dialog boxes, consult the documentation that came with your copy of Windows.
Smart Cursor Help and Coordinate Display
Smart Cursor Help
Coordinate Display
When the cursor touches different parts of the screen, a brief explanation of what each part does is shown in the Smart Cursor Help. This is especially useful for learning the functions of the icons in the toolbar. When the cursor is in the Drawing Area, the Smart Cursor Help tells you the scale and paper size you are using, and whether you are using a grid. The Coordinate Display displays either the absolute coordinate position of the cursor on the screen or the distance and angle of the cursor from the last point you entered.
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The Mouse
In this manual, clicking means to press and release the left mouse button quickly. When a click with your right mouse button is required, the expression right click or right clicking is used. The left and right mouse buttons have the following functions. Left button Single click of the left mouse button on the:
Control Bar
Click on the [YES] button, the [NO] button, the [OK] button or the [Cancel] button, and to select options when these appear.
Line Type Display, Layer Display and Pen button
Selects a new line type, layer or pen respectively.

Drawing Area
Accepts the position of a point, of text, of dimensions etc. during function execution. If no function is active selects the entity closest to the cursor.
Pull-Down menus
Select a menu, and then to select a function on that menu.

Toolbar
Selects the function that has been assigned to it for the icon you are clicking on. Double clicking the left mouse button with the Select cursor on:
A Line
The Line Style dialog box is displayed. See Line Defaults in the Settings Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.
A Text item
The Text Entry dialog box is displayed. See Set Text Defaults in the Settings Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.
A Horizontal, vertical, ordinate or slope dimension
Execute the Edit Dimension Properties function. See Edit Dimension in the Annotate Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.
An arrow
The Arrow Defaults dialog box is displayed. See Set Arrow Defaults in the Settings Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.
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AllyCAD for Windows
A polyline or bezier curve
The Polyline Defaults dialog box is displayed. See Polyline Defaults in the Settings Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.
The edge of a bitmap
the Set Bitmap Parameters dialog box appears. See Load Bitmap in Load in the File Menu chapter in the Reference Manual. Right button Clicking with the right mouse button in the:
Toolbar
Selects the function that has been assigned to the icon you are clicking on.
Drawing Area
Displays the Screen toolbar.
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The Keyboard
Certain keys are used by all the functions. Enter and Escape Keys The [Enter] key accepts answers in the Control Bar or accepts points in the Drawing Area. The [Esc] key cancels the function you are using. Space Bar If you are not using a function, the [Space Bar] repeats the last function you used. If you are using a function, pressing the [Space Bar] ends it. Arrow, Home, PgUp, End and PgDn keys These keys are used for accurate relative movement. See Accurate Drawing. Forward Slash Key The [/] key moves the cursor up to the Command Line in the Control Bar. See Prompt Area and Control Bar, earlier in this chapter. Accelerators Many of the CAD's functions can be accessed by a single keystroke. These one-key short cuts are called Accelerators because they accelerate the time it takes for you to access a function. The accelerators that access particular functions are shown with those functions in the Reference section of the manual. Appendix II of the Reference Manual includes a full list of accelerators. The function assigned to each key is user definable and is determined in the CAD.MEN file.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Tutorial 1 The Screen

This tutorial will show you the basic screen handling features of the CAD. You will learn how to:
Load a drawing Magnify a portion of the drawing Pan across a drawing De-magnify Zoom into portions of the drawing
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Important notes to read before you start this tutorial

If you do not know what the different parts of the CAD screen are called read the chapter on Screen, Mouse and Keyboard before you start this tutorial. Dialog Boxes and Pull-Down Menus This tutorial assumes that you have a basic knowledge of Windows. If you do not know how to edit a Dialog Box or access a Pull-Down Menu, read the documentation that came with your copy of Windows. Clicking In this tutorial, clicking refers to clicking with your left mouse button unless otherwise specified. When a click with your right mouse button is required, the term right click or right clicking is used. Clicking is to press and release a mouse button quickly. Notes Notes are not part of the tutorial. They provide alternative methods of accessing functions and extra information for those who are interested. Illustrations The icons, menus, ruler bar and other items that surround the drawing area may be slightly different on your own screen than the ones shown in the illustrations. This will not affect your use of the tutorial.
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AllyCAD for Windows
In case you get lost or stuck ...

If you get lost or stuck while you are doing this tutorial, do the following:
Press the [Esc] key to cancel all functions. Redraw the screen by pressing the short-cut key [R], or by right clicking on the Redraw icon in the Files toolbar or the Screen toolbar. Repeat the tutorial from the previous subheading (e.g. Magnifying, Panning etc.).
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Loading a drawing
Ensure your drawing screen is blank by selecting the File New option. To load a drawing, click on the Open icon. A dialog box with the title Filename to Read appears. This dialog box can be used to load AllyCAD drawings, AutoCAD DWG drawings or DXF files. The drawing you are going to load is called hydcyl. By default, hydcyl is in the Drawing sub-directory.
Click on hydcyl.drg in the list, then click on Open. The file hydcyl will be loaded and displayed.
HYDRAULIC CYLINDER
If you can only see part of this drawing on the screen, press [R] on your keyboard. The whole drawing will then appear. 4-4 AllyCAD for Windows
Magnifying
You are now going to magnify part of your drawing so that the detail can be seen. Move your cursor onto the part of the drawing you want to magnify right click to display the Screen toolbar and click on the Magnify icon. The drawing is magnified at the cursor position by a factor of three (the default) as shown below.
If you magnify a second time, your drawing will be further magnified by a factor of three, i.e. it will be nine times larger than it was originally. If you magnify a third time, your drawing will be further magnified by a factor of three, i.e. it will 27 times larger than it was originally, etc. To change the default magnification factor of three, go to
Settings Change Magnify Factor.
The Magnify function can also be activated from the View menu or by moving your cursor to the part of the screen you want to magnify and pressing the [M] key on your keyboard. The [M] key is called an Accelerator because it is a fast way of accessing the Magnify command. The screen is magnified at the cursor position. You can define your own accelerator keys and which functions appear in the toolbars. See CAD.MEN.
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Panning
Panning allows you to move around the drawing while it is magnified. There are two ways of panning: Pan, where the part of the drawing at the cursor position is moved to the screen centre, and Long Pan, where you place a box around the part of the drawing you want on the screen. You can also pan using the Scroll Bars at the right and bottom of the screen. For details on how to do this, see the documentation that came with your copy of Windows. You can switch off the scroll bars in Settings View Settings if you do not want to use them. Pan Move your cursor to the part of the drawing that you want in the centre of your screen. Click on the Pan icon in the Screen toolbar. The part of the drawing that was at the cursor position is moved to the screen centre. See the next two figures.
Before the Pan function
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AllyCAD for Windows
After the Pan function You can also Pan by using the short cut key [W], or via the View menu. Long Pan Right click on the Pan icon. A small dotted square representing your sheet of paper appears, with the drawing inside it. If you move your mouse so that the cursor appears somewhere outside the dotted square, you will see that a box accompanies it. The CAD prompts:
Enter pan box
Move the cursor so that this box surrounds the part of the drawing you want to display. Click. Your chosen area appears on the screen. You can also Long Pan by pressing the [;] key, or via the View menu.
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Demagnifying
Once you no longer need a magnified drawing, you can demagnify. The part of the drawing at the cursor position will be at the screen centre after demagnification. Position your cursor at the desired spot and right click to call up the Screen toolbar. Then right click on the Magnify icon. The screen is demagnified. You can also de-magnify by pressing [D], or via the View menu. When you de-magnify, your drawing is not necessarily returned to its original size and view. To return to your starting magnification, you must use the Zoom Paper command. This displays your whole sheet of paper and its contents. To use Zoom Paper, press the short-cut key [R], or right click on the Redraw icon in the Files toolbar. You can also access Zoom Paper via the View menu or the Zoom icon on the Screen toolbar.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Zooming
Zooming has the same effect as magnifying but you must first draw a box around the part of your drawing that you want magnified. Click on the Zoom icon in the Screen or the Files toolbar. A menu list pops up.
Click on the Zoom Window option. A large cross hair with the cursor at its centre appears on the screen. The CAD prompts:
Enter a corner of zoom box
Click at a corner of the area you want to magnify into.

Enter second corner of rectangle
Click at the diagonally opposite corner of the area you want to magnify into. The area you have defined is enlarged. Use the Zoom Paper command to return your screen to its original magnification by pressing the short cut key [R] on you keyboard, right clicking on the Redraw icon in the Files toolbar or the Floating Toolbox (Screen toolbar). You can also access Zoom Window by clicking on the View menu Defining Zooms There may be parts of your drawing that you have to zoom into frequently. You can define up to nine such areas as zoom views. You can then zoom into them by selecting the appropriate zoom view.
4-9
In this tutorial you are going to define two zoom views. Click on the Zoom icon in the Screen toolbar. A dialog box pops up. Click on the Define Zoom View option.
3
P2
2
P1
5 HYDRAULIC CYLINDER
A menu of numbers will be displayed. You are going to define zoom view number 1. 1. Click on the number 1. A large cross hair with the cursor at its centre appears on the screen. The CAD prompts:
Enter a corner of zoom window
2.
Click at a corner (P1) of the area you want to define as zoom view 1. See the figure above. The CAD prompts:
Click at the diagonally opposite corner (P2) of the area you want to define as zoom 1. The area you have defined is enclosed in a box, and a menu of numbers appears. 3. You are now going to define zoom view number 2. Click on the number 2. The large cross hair appears again. The CAD prompts:
Enter a corner of zoom window
Click at a corner of the area you want to define as zoom 1. The CAD prompts: 4-10 AllyCAD for Windows
Click at the diagonally opposite corner of the area you want to define as zoom 2. A box surrounds the area you have defined, and the menu of numbers appears again. Click somewhere outside the menu to turn it off. Now you have defined the two views, you are going to select them. Click on the Zoom icon in the Screen toolbar. The same menu appears. Click on the Zoom View option. Again, a menu of numbers appears. Click on number 1. The view you defined as view 1 appears. Go to the Zoom View function again and click on number 2. The view you defined as view 2 appears. This is a very effective way of moving around a large drawing quickly. An even faster way of moving between the different zooms is by pressing the defined zoom view number on your keyboard (1, 2 etc.) when the Zoom View menu is displayed. Return your screen to its original magnification using the Zoom Paper command by pressing the short cut key [R] on you keyboard, or right clicking on the Redraw icon in the Files toolbar or Zoom icon on the Screen toolbar.
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Multiple Drawings
You can edit multiple drawings at the same time. To open a new window with a new drawing, select File Open. You can set the CAD to always use the same window, and not create new windows during File Open. Select Settings System and clear the Open creates a new window option. Now the program will load the new drawing into the currently active window during File Open after first asking if you want to save any existing work in the current window. You have now completed Tutorial 1. You can either:
experiment on your own exit the CAD using File Exit; or click on File Clear All to clear the screen. If you do this, the message
Drawing has changed. Do you wish to save it?
will appear. Click on [NO]. Then go to Tutorial 2.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Tutorial 2 - Accurate Drawing

In this exercise you are going to draw a very simple shape - a rectangle in several different ways. The purpose of this is not to create a serious CAD drawing, but to show you how to draw easily and accurately with the CAD, using a variety of methods. You will be shown how to:
Use specific coordinate locations Undo an operation Use the [Home], [End], [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys The arrow keys Input polar coordinates Use a locked cursor Use geometry Use a grid Use jumps and snap modes Save your drawing
Tutorial 2 Accurate Drawing
5-1
Setting up your drawing

Ensure your drawing screen is blank by selecting File Clear All. In this tutorial you begin with a clear screen representing a blank sheet of A4 paper at a scale of 1:1. Your units are millimeters, you are in Cartesian mode, you are using a decimal angular format (dd.dddd) with angles measured anti-clockwise from 3 oclock and your paper is oriented in landscape.
To set up your drawing like this, select Settings Drawing Settings. The Drawing Defaults dialog box is displayed. Click on the button in the section of the dialog box headed Angular Format.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The Angular Format dialog box will be displayed. Edit this so that it looks exactly like the one shown below, and then click on OK to save your changes. Use the Zoom Paper command by right clicking on the Redraw icon in the Files toolbar or the Screen toolbar. The way that your paper size, scale, units, etc. are set up each time you start a new drawing is stored in a drawing called STARTUP.DRG. See the chapter on Defaults in the Reference Manual. You can change paper size, scale, units, etc. at any time during drawing. See Drawing Settings in the Settings Menu chapter in the Reference Manual.
5-3
Using specific coordinate locations

Before you start this tutorial, check the bottom right of the screen to see whether there are two numbers that change as you move the cursor. These numbers show the coordinate position of the cursor on the screen. If there is no coordinate display, go to Settings View Settings and click on the Show Coordinates box so that a tick appears in it. Then click on OK to exit the dialog box. You are going to draw your first rectangle in the top left corner of the screen. Click on the Rectangle icon. The program prompts for the position of the first corner of a rectangle:
Enter first rectangle corner
You are going to position the first corner of the rectangle at a specific coordinate location, using the Move to Coordinates function. To do this, ensure that your cursor is in the Drawing Area, and then right click on the Polar Move icon in the Screen toolbar. You can also access Move to Coordinates from the Jumps section of the Tools menu or by typing the [U] key on your keyboard. The [U] key is called an Accelerator, because it is a fast way of accessing the Move to Coordinates function. The CAD prompts:
Enter coordinates cursor should move to
Type -120 80 and press [Enter] to accept these coordinates. You can also accept the coordinates by clicking on the OK button. The cursor moves to the top left part of the screen. Note that the cursor display at the bottom right of the screen reflects the cursor's position of 120 80. The CAD prompts:
Right click on the Polar Move icon to access the Move to Coordinates function. The CAD prompts:
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AllyCAD for Windows
Type over the default coordinates of -120 80 with the coordinates -90 40 and press [Enter] to accept these values. The cursor moves and the rectangle appears. You have now drawn your first rectangle, using absolute coordinate positions. The CAD prompts:
Ignore this prompt for the time being.
An aside - Undo
You are now going to Undo the rectangle you have drawn so that if you do something wrong later in this tutorial you can Undo it and try again. Click on the Undo icon. The rectangle disappears. You can Undo a maximum of 1000 actions in this way. The Undo function can also be accessed from the Edit Menu. If you undo something by accident you can redo it again by clicking on the Redo icon or from the Edit menu.
[Home] [End] [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys

As you have undone the rectangle you drew, you should now have a blank drawing area. The CAD continues to prompt:
Move your cursor off the toolbar and into the Drawing Area. Right click on the Polar Move icon to access the Move to Coordinates function. The CAD prompts:
Type -120 80 and press [Enter] to accept these coordinates. The cursor moves to coordinate position -120 80 in the top left part of the screen. The CAD prompts:
In the CAD accurate horizontal and vertical movement is achieved with the arrow keys. Accurate diagonal movement is achieved with the [Home], [PgUp], [End] and [PgDn] keys, and the Polar Move function.
5-5
Press the [PgDn] key. The second corner of your rectangle will be below and to the right of the first corner. If you have a numeric keypad, you will note that the [PgDn] key is the bottom right key on the keypad, corresponding to the direction in which you want to move. The CAD prompts:
Move Right and Down: How far?
Type 30 40 and press [Enter] to accept the distances. The cursor moves to a position 30mm to the right of and 40mm down from the original point and the outline of a rectangle appears. Note that the rectangle outline is not coloured and that the CAD is still prompting for the second rectangle corner. This is because while you have moved the cursor to the new position you have not yet accepted this as the position for the rectangle corner. To accept the position as the second rectangle corner, you must press [Enter]. Alternatively, you can press your left mouse button. However, if you use your left mouse button you may accidentally wobble your mouse with your hand, moving it slightly off the correct position and resulting in an inaccurate rectangle. Press [Enter] to accept the cursor position as the second point of the rectangle. The rectangle becomes coloured and the CAD prompts:
When you use the arrow, [Home], [PgUp], [End] or [PgDn] keys, you have to press [Enter] an extra time to fix the cursor position after the cursor has moved. This allows you to re-adjust the cursor position if you are not satisfied with it. For example, you may wish to Shift the cursor an additional 10mm to the right before accepting its position.
The arrow keys

You are going to draw the next rectangle with lines. You are going to position this rectangle relative to the first rectangle you drew using the arrow keys. Ignore the prompt for the first rectangle corner and click on the Line icon. You can also access the Line function by pressing the [Ctrl] and [L] keys on your keyboard at the same time, or by selecting Draw Line (Chained).
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AllyCAD for Windows
The CAD prompts:

Enter first point of line
An "x" marks the last point you entered at the bottom right corner of the rectangle. Move back to this point by pressing the [X] key on your keyboard. This performs a Last Fixed jump and moves your cursor back to and exactly onto the last point you entered. You can also access the Last Fixed jump via the Jumps option of the Tools menu. Press the [Right-Arrow] key. The program prompts:
Move Right: How far?
The program has remembered the horizontal distance that you entered when you used the [PgDn] key, 30. Press [Enter] to accept this distance. The cursor moves 30mm to the right. Press [Enter] to accept this position as the first point in the line. You are now going to draw a rectangle using the arrow keys. The program prompts:
Enter next point of line
Press the [Up-Arrow] key. AllyCAD prompts:

Move Up: How far?
The CAD has remembered the vertical distance that you entered when you used the [PgDn] key, 40. Press [Enter] to accept this distance. A vertical line 40mm long is drawn. Press [Enter] to accept this line. The program prompts:
Moving the same distance again

You now need to draw the next line making up the rectangle - a 30mm horizontal line. Press the [Shift] key and the [Right-Arrow] key at the same time. You are not asked how far you want to move and the cursor automatically moves 30mm to the right, drawing a horizontal line. The program has Tutorial 2 Accurate Drawing 5-7
remembered the distance you last moved horizontally. Pressing the [Shift] key at the same time as the arrow key has caused it to move this distance automatically. Press [Enter] to accept the new horizontal line. The CAD prompts:
Press the [Shift] key and the [Down-Arrow] key at the same time. A 40mm vertical line is drawn. Press [Enter] to accept the new vertical line. Complete the rectangle using the [Shift] and [Left-Arrow] keys. Press [Enter] to accept the last point of the rectangle. The CAD continues to prompt:
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AllyCAD for Windows
Polar coordinates
Ignore this prompt and click on the Rectangle icon. The CAD prompts:
Move your cursor off the toolbar and onto the Drawing Area. Right click on the Polar Move icon in the Screen toolbar to access the Move to Coordinates function. The CAD prompts:
Type 0 80 and press [Enter] to accept these coordinates. The cursor moves to the right of the rectangles you have already drawn.
Click on the Polar Move icon to access the Polar Move function. The CAD prompts:
Enter distance to move
Type 50 and press [Enter] to accept the distance. The CAD prompts:
Enter bearing in form dd.dddd
You have set up the Angular Format to measure angles anti-clockwise from 3 oclock. To get a rectangle the same size and shape as the ones you have already drawn, you need to give a distance of 50mm and an angle of -53.13 or 306.87 degrees. Type -53.13 and press [Enter] to accept the angle. The rectangle is drawn and the CAD prompts:
This rectangle will not be exactly the same as the others because only two decimal places have been used. However, it serves to illustrate the use of polar coordinates. You can also access Polar Move by typing the [P] key on your keyboard or from the Tools Jumps option.
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Using a locked cursor

In this section, only locking the cursor into the horizontal and vertical directions will be demonstrated. However, the cursor can be locked to any angle and to its orthogonal, as well as into an isometric mode (30, 330 and 90 degrees). See Lock Cursor in the Reference Manual. Ignore the prompt for the first rectangle corner and click on the Line icon. The CAD prompts:
Ensure your mouse is in the Drawing Area. Right click on the Polar Move icon to access Move to Coordinates. The CAD prompts:
Type 60 80 and press [Enter] to accept these coordinates. The cursor moves to the right of the rectangles you have already drawn. The CAD prompts:
Press the [Shift] key and your [Right-Arrow] key at the same time to move the cursor 30mm to the right. Press [Enter] to accept the horizontal line that is drawn. The CAD prompts:
Ensure that your cursor is in Grab All mode. If not, click on the Grab All icon. Do not worry about the fact that the line you are drawing follows your cursor as you click on the icon in the toolbar. When you have clicked on the icon, move your cursor back to the area of the screen where you are drawing. When the cursor is a square you are in Grab All mode. This means that the cursor will automatically jump to any point within the cursor box. You are now going to lock the cursor so that you can only draw horizontally or vertically. Click on the Set Square icon in the Screen toolbar. You can also access this function (called Hold) by pressing the [+] key on your numeric keypad and via Tools Lock Cursor.
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AllyCAD for Windows
A diamond shape appears inside the box that represents the cursor. Use your mouse to pull the cursor downwards. The line that is drawn is vertical and straight. When the line reaches the level of the bottoms of the rectangles you have already drawn, move your mouse to the left. The square representing the cursor separates from the diamond. Move the cursor so that the bottom right hand corner of the right hand existing rectangle is within the cursor box (see below). Press [Enter] or your left mouse button. The square cursor jumps back to the diamond shape and the vertical line has been terminated so that it is exactly the same length as the vertical lines of the other boxes.
Now move your mouse to the left, then move it up so that the cursor box detaches from the diamond. Place the cursor box around the end of the top line and press [Enter] or your left mouse button. Again the cursor box springs back and the bottom line of the box has been cut to exactly the right length.
To finish the box, move your mouse upwards so that the cursor box surrounds the end of the top line again. Press [Enter] or your left mouse button. The rectangle is complete. Cancel line drawing by clicking on [Done]. You can also cancel functions by pressing the [Space Bar]. When you cancel line drawing, the cursor is automatically unlocked.
5-11
Using Geometry
In this section you are going to draw some geometry lines and use these to draw a box. The lines you are going to draw will be very simple. Select the Geometry Cross function. The CAD prompts for a cross centre position:
Enter point for geometry cross
Ensure that your cursor is in the Drawing Area, and then right click on the Polar Move icon to access the Move to Coordinates function. The CAD prompts:
Type -120 0 and press [Enter] to accept these coordinates. A cross of dotted geometry lines appears at the left of the screen. These lines can be snapped to. They can be turned on and off, rubbed out, and saved. Although you can see them on the screen, they do not plot out. The CAD prompts:
Press the [Shift] key and the [PgDn] key at the same time. The CAD automatically moves 30mm to the right and 40mm down - the distances you have been using throughout this tutorial. Press [Enter] to accept the new cursor position as the position of the second cross. The cross is displayed. The CAD prompts:
Ignore this prompt and select the Geometry CAD prompts:
Parallel Line option. The
Parallel geometry element by distance? (else through point)
Click on the [YES] button. You are going to draw a parallel geometry line a specific distance away from an existing line. The CAD prompts:
Select original line or circle on correct side
Move your cursor to the cursor position shown in the next figure and click. The CAD prompts:
Enter parallel distance
Type 150 and press [Enter] to accept this distance. A parallel geometry line is drawn.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The CAD prompts:

Click again at the same position shown below. The CAD prompts:
Enter parallel distance
Type 180 and press [Enter] to accept this distance. Another parallel line appears. The CAD prompts:
Ignore this prompt and click on the Rectangle icon. The CAD prompts:
Move your cursor close to the bottom right geometry cross. Press the [I] key on your keyboard. This causes the cursor to jump exactly onto the closest intersection of geometry lines. The Geometry Intersection snap can also be accessed from the Jumps section of the Tools menu. Press [Enter] to accept this intersection as the first corner of the rectangle. The CAD prompts:
Move the cursor close to the intersection above and to the left of the first rectangle corner. Press [I] to jump onto it exactly and press [Enter] to accept it as the second rectangle corner.
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For the present, you will not need the geometry lines you have drawn. Turn them off by going to the Settings View Settings option. Click on the Show Geometry box so that the tick in the box disappears (i.e. the box is unchecked). Then click on OK to exit the View Settings dialog box. The geometry lines disappear. You can also switch off the geometry using the Geometry Switch Geometry On/Off option. In this tutorial you have used the Geometry Intersection snap to draw between geometry intersections. You can also trace over geometry lines and arcs using the Draw Geometry TraceOver function. For a full list of constructions see the section on Geometry. Some of the rectangle lines may disappear or look broken. Press [S] or click on the Refresh button.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Using a grid
Now, you will draw a rectangle using a regular grid. Go to the Tools Grid option. A Grid Settings dialog box is displayed. Set it up as shown below. This will yield a grid with horizontal spacing of 30mm and vertical spacing of 40mm.
The Grid Display Density figure is only important if you have a grid that is too fine to be practically displayed on the screen. The figure shown is the maximum number of dots that will appear on the screen. If you have a very fine grid you can limit the maximum number of dots that will be shown so that perhaps only every second or third grid dot will be shown. The dots that are not shown exist even though you cant see them. They can be snapped to and will appear as you magnify into the drawing. Click on OK button to close the dialog box, ensuring that you have checked the Grid On box. The CAD will still prompt you:
Move the cursor to the position shown. Press [G]. The cursor jumps exactly onto the nearest grid point. Press [Enter] to accept this grid point as the first rectangle corner. The CAD prompts:
Now move the cursor close to the grid point below and to the right. Press [G]. The cursor jumps to the grid point. Press [Enter] to accept this as the second rectangle corner.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Jumps and Snap Modes

So far you have encountered four types of jump:
Key X I P G Function Makes the cursor jump to the Last Fixed point of the cursor. Makes the cursor jump to an Intersection of geometry lines. Makes the cursor jump to an exact distance in a specific direction. Also known as Polar jump. Makes the cursor jump to a Grid point.
There are also a number of other jumps:

Key H A J 0 (zero) N Ctrl P Ctrl T O U C Shift C * Function Jump to the centre of the screen. Jump to anything within the cursor box. Jump to the nearest point, e.g. the end of a line, an arc centre. Jump to any intersection. Jump to the nearest line or arc. Jump perpendicular to a line or circle. Jump to a tangent point on a circle or arc. Jump to a fixed ratio between two points. Jump to an exact coordinate location. Jump to the midpoint of the nearest line. Jump to the midpoint between two points. Jump to the nearest circle or arc centre point.
As well as jumps, there are Snap modes. So far in this tutorial you have used the Grab All snap mode. In Grab All mode the cursor is a square and automatically jumps exactly to any point within this square each time you press [Enter] or your left mouse button. To get to Grab All mode click on the Grab All icon. You have also been using the Freehand mode. In this mode the cursor looks like a bird (free as a bird) and does not jump to anything unless you specifically tell it to. Tutorial 2 Accurate Drawing 5-17
Some functions automatically switch to Freehand mode, because it is important that the cursor doesn't snap to anything by accident. These include Move to Coordinates and Polar Move. In the Grab All and Freehand modes you can use any of the jumps listed above. However, it may be that you have laid out a grid or a number of geometry lines, and that you now want to draw between the grid points or geometry line intersections. In this case you can change to a special Grid or Geometry Intersection snap mode where the cursor automatically snaps to grid points or geometry intersections without you having to type [G] or [I] and [Enter] each time. The CAD is still prompting:
Click on the Grid snap icon and click on OK. The cursor changes shape. You can also enter the Grid mode by pressing the [Shift] and [G] keys on your keyboard at the same time. Move close to the upper grid point to the right of the rectangle you have just drawn. Click. Note how the cursor automatically snaps onto the grid point. There is no need to press [Enter] to accept the point as the first rectangle corner. AllyCAD will prompt:
Move the cursor close to the grid point below and to the right and click. The rectangle is completed. You will no longer need the grid, so go to Tools Grid. Click on the Grid On box to uncheck it. Click on OK to exit the Grid dialog box. The grid disappears.
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AllyCAD for Windows
As well as the Freehand, Grab All and Grid modes, there are also the following snap modes. Note that the cursor is a different shape in each mode, as shown in the following table.
Snap Geometry Intersection Point Nearest Line/Arc Intersection Circle Centre Perpendicular Icon Cur Function Automatically snaps to nearest geometry intersection. Automatically snaps to nearest point. Automatically snaps to nearest element. Automatically snaps to nearest intersection. Automatically snaps to nearest circle or arc centre point. Automatically snaps a line to another line or arc so that they are perpendicular to each other. Automatically snaps a line or arc to another line or arc so that they are perpendicular to each other.
Tangent
Although Geometry Intersection and Grid jumps and snap modes are used in this tutorial, the Grab All mode can also snap to geometry intersections and grid points, as well as to points and intersections.
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Transparent commands
The program has over 70 transparent commands. These are commands that can be accessed while you are doing something else, without terminating the thing you are doing. Moving to a specific coordinate location, using polar coordinates, defining a grid, all the jumps as well as the snap modes are transparent commands. In this section you will be introduced to a few more, including changing line type, changing line colour, changing line width and magnifying. The CAD is still prompting:
Ignore this prompt and click on the Line icon. AllyCAD will prompt:
You are going to draw this rectangle in the Geometry Intersection mode. Click on the Geometry Intersection icon. The cursor changes shape. You can also enter Geometry Intersection mode by typing [Shift] [I] on your keyboard. You now need the geometry lines you drew earlier. Go to the Settings View Settings option. Click on the Show Geometry box so that a tick appears in the box. Then click on OK to exit the View Settings dialog box. The geometry lines re-appear. You can also switch on geometry by using Geometry Switch Geometry On/Off. Note that the CAD is still prompting for the first point of the line, even though you have entered the Geometry Intersection mode and turned on the Geometry since you selected the line drawing command. Move your cursor close to the top left geometry cross next to the rectangle you have just drawn. Click. The cursor snaps to the cross point that is automatically accepted as the first point of the line. The CAD prompts:
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AllyCAD for Windows
You are now going to change the line type you are drawing with. Note that you can do this even though you are in the middle of drawing a line. Move your cursor to the top of the screen and click on the arrow next to the line type display. A menu of line types appears. Click on the line type you want to use. The CAD continues to prompt:
Move the cursor close to the next intersection to the right and click. The cursor jumps to the point. The line type used is the one you have just chosen. You are going to draw the next line in a different colour. Move your cursor to the right, to the Color toolbar and click on a colour. Then move the cursor close to the next intersection and click. The line is drawn in the new colour. You are going to draw the next line with a different width. Move your cursor to the Line icon. Do not worry about the fact that the line you are drawing is dragged behind the cursor as you move it. Right click on the Line icon. The Line Style dialog box is displayed.
Edit the line width. You can also edit the line type and colour again if you want to. When you have finished editing, click on OK and draw the third side of the rectangle. You can also access the Line Style dialog box using Settings Line Defaults. If you have selected a dotted or dashed line type and a width greater than 0, the line may appear continuous. It will, however, print correctly. Refer to the Common Questions and Problems chapter. Move your cursor onto the top horizontal line of the rectangle that you are drawing. Press the [T] key. This will pick the line style from the top horizontal line, so that the last line of the rectangle you draw will have exactly the same style as the top horizontal line.
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Pen
Lastly, move your cursor close to the last point of the rectangle. Click on the Magnify icon. The rectangle is enlarged. Click so that the cursor jumps onto the final corner of the rectangle. The final line is drawn, in the same line style as the one you used for the top horizontal line. You can also access the Magnify command by pressing the [M] key on your keyboard or via View Magnify. Each time you use the Magnify command your screen is magnified or further magnified by a factor of three. To change this magnification factor, click on the Magnify icon in the Screen toolbar or use Settings Change Magnify Factor.
Cancel line drawing by clicking on [Done]. Turn off the geometry lines by un-checking the Show Geometry option in Settings View Settings.
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Return your screen to its original magnification using the Zoom Paper command by right clicking on the Redraw icon. You should now have eight rectangles on your drawing as shown above.
Changing line styles

You are now going to change the line styles of the eighth rectangle so that this rectangle conforms to the other rectangles. Position the cursor above and to the left of the eighth rectangle. Press down your left mouse button and, holding it down, move your mouse below and to the right of the eighth rectangle. Release your left mouse button. The eighth rectangle is highlighted and eight squares, or handles, appear around it. This means that it has been selected, which in turn means that you can move it, copy it, edit it etc. Right click on the Line icon to access the Line Style dialog box. Edit the dialog box so that the line type, colour and width matches the type, colour and width of the other seven rectangles. Click on the Apply button, check the attributes you want to change, and then on OK. Right click on the Eraser icon to deselect the rectangle. The eighth rectangle now looks like the other seven rectangles. In this example, you selected all the lines in the rectangle and then changed them all to a particular line style. You could also use the Advanced option of Edit Selection Filters to select some lines, for example just pale blue lines or just dotted lines. You could then use the Line Style dialog box to change the line style of the selected lines in the same way that you used it to change the line style of the selected lines in this tutorial.
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Saving your drawing

You will now save your drawing. Right click on the Save icon and type a name for your drawing in the box under the words File Name. Then click on Save.
For more details on saving see Save Settings, Save Options, and Save As in the Reference Manual. You have now completed Tutorial 2. You can either:
click on File Clear All to clear the screen and go on to Tutorial 3; experiment on your own; or exit the CAD using File Exit.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Tutorial 3 CAD Basics

In this tutorial you are going to learn some CAD basics:
Filleting Chamfering Parallel Lines Hatching Text Dimensions Stretching Producing a Detailed View
At the end of this tutorial you will have created your first drawing.
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Loading a drawing
Ensure your drawing screen is blank by selecting File Clear All. Unless you have done Tutorial 2 and have saved your own drawing under a name of your choice, the drawing you are going to load is called tute3 in the Drawings directory. Load a drawing by clicking on the Open icon. The following dialog box is displayed. Select the file tute3.drg.
The drawing tute3 appears. It should look like the figure below. If you can only see part of this drawing when it appears on the screen, press [R] on your keyboard. The whole drawing will then appear.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Fillets and chamfers

Filleting means inserting a radius between two lines or arcs. Chamfering means inserting a third angled line between two lines. You are now going to fillet and chamfer the top left hand rectangle in the drawing.
Filleting
Select the Modify Fillet function. The Fillet options are displayed on the Control Bar. The CAD prompts:
Select corner to fillet (Choose inside of arc)
Edit the Fillet settings as shown below.
The Both Lines value in the Fillet Update box means that both lines making up the rectangle corner will be filleted. The One Point setting in the Use box means that in cases like this where there is no ambiguity about which lines to fillet you can select the corner to fillet with just one mouse click. Press [Enter] after typing in the radius of 10 or click on the Enter button on the Control Bar. Note that the cursor has changed to Freehand mode so it will not jump to anything unless you specifically tell it to. If you try to fillet in a Snap mode other than Freehand mode, the cursor may unexpectedly jump onto a point that you don't want it to jump to while you are filleting, with unforeseen consequences. For details on Snap modes, see Tutorial 2 - Accurate Drawing and Snap Modes in the Reference Manual.
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Position the cursor inside the rectangle corner to be filleted, at the position shown below.
Click or press [Enter]. The corner is filleted. Click on the [Done] button to terminate the Fillet function.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Chamfering
Select the Modify Chamfer command. Chamfer parameter options appear on the Control Bar and the CAD prompts:
Select first line to be chamfered
Edit the Control Bar as shown below.
Length2 in the second box means that you are going to define the chamfer by giving two lengths, rather than by giving one length and an angle. The figures on either side of Length2 (10 and 20) are the two lengths. Press [Enter] after typing in the lengths or click on the Enter button on the Control Bar. Select the top line of the rectangle you have just filleted by clicking near it. The cursor has changes to Freehand mode. The CAD prompts:
Second line
Select the left line of the rectangle in the same way. The two lines are chamfered. Your top left rectangle should now look like the one above. Cancel chamfering by clicking on the [Done] button.
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Drawing parallel lines

You are now going to draw parallel lines using the bottom right rectangle of the drawing.
Drawing lines around an existing perimeter.

Select the Settings Parallel Defaults function. This allows you to define how many parallel lines there will be, as well as the colour, line type, width and offset of each line. Edit the dialog box as shown below.
The Around Existing Perimeter option should be checked because you are going to draw parallel lines around an existing perimeter - the bottom right rectangle. The Number of Parallel Lines box should contain the number 3. You can draw up to nine parallel lines in this way. Make sure that you specify positive offsets for the parallel lines. If you give negative offsets, the parallel lines will be created on the other side of the original line. Click on OK to exit the dialog box. You are now ready to start drawing parallel lines around the bottom right-hand rectangle.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Click on the Multiple Parallel Line icon. You can also select Parallel Line from the Draw menu. The Perimeter menu is displayed in the Control Bar at the top of the screen. It appears whenever you need a perimeter, such as now, or when you need to hatch or measure an area.
Click on the Perimeter/Area icon. This option tracks most perimeters automatically. See Polygon Area in the Tools Menu for details on other perimeter tracking options. The CAD prompts:
Place cursor inside perimeter and near a line.
Click at the cursor position shown in the previous figure. The rectangle becomes highlighted. Click on the [Accept] button in the Perimeter menu. The parallel lines will be drawn (see the bottom right rectangle in the figure below).
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Drawing Fresh Parallel Lines

You are now going to draw some more parallel lines while drawing a new line. Select the Settings Parallel Defaults function. Set up the dialog box as shown below.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The Draw Fresh option is checked because you are going to draw parallel lines down the middle of the rectangle with the parallel lines around it and not around an existing perimeter. The Number of Parallel Lines box should contain the number 1. Set up the Pen (colour), the Type (line type), the Width and the Offset for the one parallel line you are going to draw. Give an offset of 3. Ensure that the Close off Ends box is unchecked. When you have finished editing the dialog box, click on OK. Click on the Parallel Line icon. As you are not going to track an existing perimeter, the Perimeter menu does not appear in the Control Bar. Instead, the CAD prompts:
Move your cursor to the position shown below and press [0] (zero) to jump exactly to the nearest intersection. Press the [Right-Arrow] key.
The CAD prompts:

Type 16.5 and press [Enter] to accept the distance. The cursor moves 16.5mm to the right. Press [Enter] to accept the new cursor position as the first point of the line.
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See Tutorial 2 Accurate Drawing for more examples of jumps and accurate movement using arrow keys. The CAD prompts:
Enter next point of line.
Click on the Perpendicular Snap icon. The cursor changes shape to resemble the icon. Position it close to the bottom line of the rectangle as shown in the next figure and click. The cursor jumps exactly onto the bottom line of the rectangle so that the line you are drawing is perpendicular to it.
Click on the [Done] button. A parallel line is also drawn with the parameters we defined. Note that the CAD also snips away the ends of the parallel line. This is because the Close Off Ends option was not ticked.
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AllyCAD for Windows
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Hatching
You are now going to add hatching to the drawing, first a fairly simply one and then hatching with islands or exclusions.
A simple hatch
The next step is to hatch the top left rectangle with the chamfer and the fillet. Go to the Annotate Enter Hatch/Solid Fill option. Set up the hatch parameters as shown below.
Select hatch type ansi31 - the parallel angled lines. The Perimeter menu is displayed in the Control Bar. Select the Perimeter / Area icon for an auto perimeter track. The program asks for a point inside the perimeter and near to a line. Click inside the rectangle you have chamfered and filleted near to one of the perimeter lines. The rectangle perimeter is highlighted. Click on the [Accept] button. The rectangle is hatched as shown in the next figure.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Hatching with islands

You are now going to hatch a more complex area. Go to the Annotate Enter Hatch/Solid Fill option. Accept the parameters previously set up in the dialog box. You could use the Perimeter/Area icon to define the perimeter, but in order to learn more about the program you will use the Intersections option. This option is very useful for defining perimeters that are too complex for the Perimeter/Area option. Click on the Intersections icon in the Perimeter menu on the Control Bar. The cursor changes to the Grab All mode. The CAD prompts:
Enter first intersection point of perimeter
Move the cursor close to the top left-hand corner of the rectangle containing the two smaller rectangles as shown in the following figure. Click. The CAD will snap onto the corner as the first intersection and display the following prompt:
Identify next element of perimeter
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Move your cursor close to the top line of the rectangle and click.
The CAD prompts:

Identify next intersection point
Position your cursor close to the right hand corner as shown above. You will see that the cursor is now attached to a line. When you click, the cursor will jump onto the right hand corner, and the top line of the rectangle, which you have now identified as a part of the perimeter, will be highlighted. 6-14 AllyCAD for Windows
The CAD prompts:

Identify next element of perimeter
Position your cursor close to the right hand side of the rectangle and click. Continue selecting corners and elements alternately until the whole rectangle is highlighted. Then terminate the Intersection function by clicking on the [Done] button in the Perimeter menu. The perimeter continues to flash. The [Accept] button appears on the Control Bar in place of the [Done] button. Clicking on the [Accept] button signifies that a perimeter is complete. If you were to click on this button now, the entire area inside the rectangle you have just defined would be hatched. This would not be a disaster, as you could use Annotate Alter Existing
Hatch to add the islands to the hatch later.
However, it is more convenient to define the islands now. You are going to define these using the Perimeter/Area option. Click on the Perimeter/Area icon in the Perimeter menu and define the perimeter of one of the islands by clicking close to the inside of one of the smaller rectangles, but inside the rectangle you have just defined. The rectangle is tracked and highlighted. You still need to add the other smaller rectangle to the perimeter. Click on the Perimeter/Area icon again and select the other rectangle in a similar manner. The rectangle is tracked and highlighted. The perimeter is now complete, so you can now click on the [Accept] button. The perimeter is hatched.
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If you have made a mistake and your hatching does not look like the hatching above, do the following. Right click on the Select icon in the File toolbar so that the Selection dialog box is displayed. Click on the Hatch button in the Selection dialog box. Then click on the hatch that has gone wrong, then press the [Delete] key on your keyboard. The hatch is deleted. Click on the Close button to close the dialog box. Redo this section from the heading Hatching with islands. Do not worry about the fact that your other hatching also seems to have disappeared. Now redraw the screen by right clicking on the Redraw icon. You will notice that the hatching is not drawn, although if you output the drawing it will be plotted or printed. This is for speed. To view your hatching, go to the Annotate Draw All Hatch function. The hatches will reappear until next time you redraw the screen. You can set up the program so that it automatically draws hatches on each redraw. This will slow down redraws. Go to Settings View Settings and select All in the Hatch to Draw section.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Text
You will now add some text to your drawing. Text objects may use different fonts, sizes and angles.
Entering text
Click on the Text icon. The CAD will prompt: Enter text position Move the cursor to about an inch below the bottom row of rectangles and click. The Text Entry dialog box is displayed. Type some text into the white area of the box. Press the [Ctrl] and [Enter] keys at the same time to move to a new line if you want to type more than one line of text into the box. If you check the Accept Return check box in the Text Entry dialog box, you can move to a new line by pressing the [Enter] key on its own. When you have finished typing, click on OK.
The text is displayed on the screen. Cancel text by clicking on [Done]. You can also enter text using Annotate Add Text. In this tutorial you are placing text rather arbitrarily but it is possible to use all tools such as the arrow keys, snaps, polar coordinates, geometry etc. to place text accurately. Tutorial 3 CAD Basics 6-17
Editing Text
Unless you have previously changed the text defaults, the text that appears on your screen is very small. In fact, it might appear on your screen as a box. When text is smaller than a certain proportion of the screen size, it is drawn as a box or even as a dot. This is to speed up redraws. To read the text, click on it with the cursor and type [M] to magnify. To return your drawing to its original magnification, right click on the Redraw icon. You are now going to make the text larger. Double-click on the text with your left mouse button. You can also edit single lines, arrows, polylines, dimensions and bitmap parameters by double clicking on them with the left mouse button. The Text Entry dialog box is displayed, with your text inside it. Set the text height at the top left of the Text Entry dialog box to 10 then click on OK. You can also change your text at this stage if you have made a spelling error. You can set the text defaults by right clicking on the Text icon. Aligning Text Click on the text once. The text becomes highlighted and eight boxes handles - appear around it. It is now selected. Hold down your [Shift] key and click on the left hand bottom rectangle so that the rectangle is also selected. Click on Annotate Set Alignment. A dialog box appears. Edit it so that it looks exactly as shown below.
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AllyCAD for Windows
This will cause the selected items - the text and the rectangle - to be aligned to the left. When you have finished editing the dialog box, click on the [Apply] button, then click on the OK button. The text and rectangle will be aligned. Deselect the text and the rectangle by right clicking on the Eraser icon.
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Dimensions
You are now going to enhance your drawing by adding various dimensions to the figures. Linear Dimensions Select the Annotate Horizontal Dimension option to add a horizontal dimension to the bottom right rectangle. The CAD prompts:
Do you want running, chained or free dimensions (R/C/F)
Click on the OK button to accept the default Running. The CAD prompts:
Enter text position
When specifying the text position, the only coordinate that matters is the distance of the text above or below the line to be dimensioned, as the text is automatically centered between the witness points.
Position the cursor at a point below the bottom of the rectangle with the parallel lines and click. The CAD prompts:
Enter first point
Note that the cursor mode has now changed to Point Snap mode. In this mode the cursor automatically jumps onto the ends of lines or onto arc centers. 6-20 AllyCAD for Windows
Position the cursor near the bottom left corner as shown above and click. The cursor automatically snaps exactly onto the corner. The CAD prompts:
Enter next point
Position the cursor near the bottom right corner as shown in the next figure and click. The cursor automatically snaps exactly to the corner.
The program now measures the distance between the two points you have entered and displays it (70) with the following prompt: Tutorial 3 CAD Basics 6-21
Enter text of dimension
At this stage you could alter your dimension, for example add tolerances to it. For now just accept the displayed dimension by clicking on the OK button. The dimension is added as shown in the figure below.
70.0
The CAD continues to prompt:

Enter next point
Position the cursor near to the corner shown below and click.
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AllyCAD for Windows
70.0
The program now measures the distance between the two points you have entered and displays it (5) with the following prompt:
Accept the dimension as it is by clicking on the OK button. Because the dimension is very small and the text relatively large, the CAD warns:
Text Cramped. Enter new Horizontal Position.
Click on the Left option.

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70.0
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The dimension is placed on the drawing and the text, which would not have had space in its original position, is shifted to the left. Small dimension text, like ordinary text, is displayed as a box. Cancel horizontal dimensioning by clicking on the [Done] button. Radial Dimensions You will now dimension the arc of the fillet you created in the top left rectangle, as shown in. Select Annotate Radial Dimension. The CAD prompts:
Radial dimension .. select arc or circle
Position the cursor near to the fillet in the top left rectangle and click. The program measures the radius of the arc and presents it for editing (R 10) with the following prompt:
Enter text of radial dimension
Accept this radius by clicking on the OK button. AllyCAD prompts:

Do you want text on radius arrow
You are going to make the text appear on a separate line, so click on the [NO] button. The CAD prompts:
Enter text position
Move to a point above and to the right of the rectangle as shown below and click.

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70.0
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The dimension is entered. Cancel radial dimensioning by clicking on [Done].

R 10.0

5.0
70.0
Angular Dimensions You are now going to dimension the chamfer you drew in the top left rectangle. Choose the Annotate Angular Dimension command. The CAD will prompt:
Do you want angle? (else arclength)
Click on the [YES] button to dimension an angle. The CAD prompts:

Is this dimension between two existing lines?
Click on the [YES] button. The CAD prompts:

Select first line
Indicate the top line of the top left box by clicking near it or on it as shown in the following figure.
Error! Objects cannot be created from editing field codes.
The CAD prompts:

Select second line
Click on or near the sloping chamfered line as shown in the next figure to select the second line. Tutorial 3 CAD Basics 6-25
R 10.0

5.0
70.0
The CAD prompts:

Enter witness line start
The witness line is the line between the dimension arrow and whatever is being measured. Move to a point above and to the left of the top corner of the rectangle as shown and click.
R 10.0

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70.0
The CAD prompts:

Enter witness line end
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Move to a point further up and to the left and click. The program measures the angle between the two lines and presents it for editing (116.57): The CAD will prompt:
Enter text part of angular dimension
Accept the angle by clicking on the OK button. The angular dimension is placed on the drawing. The CAD will prompt:
Satisfied with arc radius?
Click on the [NO] button. The CAD will now prompt:

Drag till satisfied with arc radius
Use the mouse to drag the radius. The cursor is linked to a rubberbanded circle. Click when you are satisfied with the arc radius.
Satisfied with text position
Click on the [YES] button. The angular dimension is updated as shown below.
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R 10.0

5.0
70.0
Variable Dimensions It is possible to dimension an object with variable dimensions, e.g. x, y, and z then assign values to these variables. Similarly, you can assign new values to existing dimensions. The drawing alters to fit the new dimensions. Tutorial 3 CAD Basics 6-27
Select the Annotate Horizontal Dimension option to draw a horizontal dimension. When you are asked whether you want running, chained or free dimensions type [F] to select Free, because you are only going to draw one dimension. Press [Enter]. You are now prompted for the text position. Position the cursor at a point below the second rectangle from the left on the top row and click. The CAD prompts:
Enter first point
Position the cursor near the bottom left corner of the rectangle and click. The CAD prompts:
Enter next point
Position the cursor near to the bottom right corner of the rectangle and click. The program measures the distance (30) and displays it with the prompt
Overtype this figure with the letter x and press [Enter]. Click on the OK button. The dimension is displayed on your drawing as x as shown in the next figure. Click on the Magnify icon if required.
7 6.5 11 R 10.0

5.0
70.0
Select the Annotate Edit Dimension Alter Dimension option.
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Select dimension to be altered with cursor (else search for text)
Click on the [YES] button. This means that you will select the dimension to be altered by clicking on it. If you clicked on [NO] you would be able to type x and the program would search for the dimension x and update it. The CAD prompts:
Select dimension to be altered with cursor
Click on the dimension x. It is highlighted and the text is displayed in the Control Bar. The CAD prompts:
Enter new dimension text
Type 45 and press [Enter]. The CAD prompts:

Alter a whole area, along witness line or at witness point (A/L/P)
If you choose Area, the entire drawing will be altered in relation to the new dimension. If you choose Line, everything lying along the dimension witness lines will be altered. If you choose Point, only the one dimensioned line will change. Type P to choose Point and press [Enter]. The CAD prompts:
Keep left/lower point fixed? (else right/upper)
Click on the [YES] button. The bottom, dimensioned line of the rectangle lengthens. You should still be magnified into your drawing and will be able to see that the dimension now reads 45.
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6.5 11
R 10.0
45.0

5.0
70.0
The CAD still prompts:

Select dimension to be altered with cursor (else search for text)
Click on [YES] and then click on the [DONE] button to cancel the Alter Dimension function. To return your drawing to its original magnification, right click on the Redraw icon.
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Stretching
You will now stretch the rectangle with the hatching and the parallel lines. After the stretch is complete the hatching and dimensions will automatically be updated. Select the Modify Stretch function. The CAD prompts:
Enter polygon about point to be moved
A large cross hair appears, with the cursor at the cross centre. Place the cursor at the position shown and click.
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R 10.0
45.0

5.0
70.0
The CAD prompts:

Enter next point of polygon
Move the cursor diagonally to the position shown in the next figure.
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6.5 11
R 10.0
45.0

5.0
70.0
Press [Space Bar]. The CAD prompts:

Enter point that must move
Position the cursor near the bottom right hand corner of the outside parallel line and press [0] (zero) to jump exactly onto the corner. Press [Enter] to accept the bottom right hand corner of the outside parallel line as the point that must move. The CAD prompts:
Enter point it must move to
Press the [Right-Arrow] key. The CAD prompts:

Type 15 and press [Enter], then press [Enter] again to accept the new cursor position as the point the rectangle must stretch to. The rectangle is stretched 15mm to the right. Note that the stretched dimension has been updated so that it now reads 85 instead of 70. Go to the Annotate Draw All Hatch function. Note that the hatching has also been updated.
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7 6.5 11
R 10.0
45.0

5.0
85.0
Stretch is a very powerful command and can be used for many things like moving dimension text around (e.g. from inside to outside the arrows) and for moving complete views to another position.
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Producing an automatic detailed view

You are now going to produce an automatic detailed view of part of your drawing, as shown in. First you will create a new layer for the detailed view called A. Select the Settings Layer Settings function.
Now move the cursor to the first empty row and type in the details for a new layer called A with a magnification factor of 2.0 as shown above. Click on the OK button to close the Layer Settings dialog and create the new layer. Select the Tools Expand function. The CAD prompts:
Expand inside a box (else circle)
Click on [NO] so that the detailed view will be drawn inside a circle.
Would you like to enter box/circle after expand
Click on the [YES] button so that the detailed view will have a border. The CAD prompts:
Enter centre point of expand circle
Position the cursor as shown below and click. 6-34 AllyCAD for Windows
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The CAD prompts:

Enter point on radius
Position the cursor as shown in the following figure and click. The contents of the circle that appears will be included in the detailed view.
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The CAD prompts:

Enter magnification factor
Accept the default value of 2 by clicking on the OK button. The CAD prompts: Tutorial 3 CAD Basics 6-35
Enter position of expanded detail

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Move your cursor to an empty part of the drawing as shown. A rectangle is displayed to indicate the size of the detailed view. Move the rectangle to the desired position. The detailed view is generated.
Do you want arrow joining two circles
Click on the [YES] button. An arrow is added to the drawings. The Magnified Layer dialog is displayed. This dialog box allows you to store the detailed view on a different layer that will be at a different magnification/scale to the rest of the drawing. This magnification is determined by the next question
Enter new magnification for layer
Anything that you draw on this layer will be at the different magnification to the rest of the drawing. In this tutorial the detailed view will remain on the only layer you have defined, A. Click on OK. The CAD prompts:
Enter new magnification for layer A
Type 1 and press [Enter] as you do not want to change the magnification of layer A.
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Redraw your drawing by clicking on the Redraw icon. Your drawing should now look like the one above.
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Saving your drawing

Right click on the Save icon. Type a name for your drawing in the box under the words File Name and click on Save. For more details on saving see Save Settings, Save Options, and Save As in the File Menu chapter in the Reference Manual. You have now completed Tutorial 3. You can either:
experiment on your own; exit the CAD using File Exit; or click on File Clear All and go on to Tutorial 4.
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Tutorial 4 - Objects
CAD drawings are organised into Objects. We strongly suggest that you read the Drawing Structure section where objects are explained and where the advantages of using objects are given. In this tutorial you create a symbol library that you will use in Tutorial 5. A symbol is a special type of object. This section provides a practical example of how to create, merge, divide, add to and view objects. You will create three simple objects: a window, a desk and a chair. You will complete the following tasks:
Setting up your drawing Drawing the window, desk and chair Creating objects Viewing objects Merging objects Dividing objects Changing object names and hook points Adding to an object Saving your drawing
Tutorial 4 Objects
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Setting up your drawing

Ensure your drawing screen is blank by selecting File Clear All. Configure your drawing by selecting Settings Drawing Settings. Set the drawing defaults as shown below.
Click on the button in the Angular Format section. Edit the Angular Format dialog box as shown below.
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Use the Zoom Paper command so that the whole sheet of paper is displayed on the screen. To do this, right click so that the Screen Toolbar appears and right click on the Redraw icon. You can change paper size, scale, units, etc. at any time during drawing. See Drawing Settings in the Settings menu. The way that your paper size, scale, units, etc. are set up each time you start a new drawing is stored in a drawing called STARTUP.DRG. See Defaults in the Reference Manual.
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Drawing the window, desk and chair

Initially we will draw the individual entities, which will then be grouped into objects.
Drawing the window

First we are going to draw a window. Click on the Rectangle icon. The CAD prompts:
Move the cursor to the top left of the screen and press [Enter] to define one corner of the window. The CAD prompts:
Press the [PgDn] key. The CAD prompts:

Type 1350 336 and press [Enter]. You can also accept the distances by clicking on the OK button. The cursor moves and the rectangle is drawn in gray. The CAD continues to prompt for the second corner of the rectangle. This is because while you have moved the cursor, you have not yet accepted the new cursor position as the second corner of the rectangle. Press [Enter] to accept the cursor position. You could also accept the cursor position by clicking, but this could cause inaccuracies if you accidentally wobble your mouse while you click. The rectangle is re-drawn in colour. The CAD prompts:
Ignore this prompt and zoom into the rectangle so that it fills the screen. To do this, right click to access the Screen toolbar. Right click on the Zoom icon. The zoom menu is displayed. Select the Zoom All option which will zoom your entire drawing to the maximum size to fit the screen. You can also access Zoom All by pressing [Z] on your keyboard followed by [A]. The [Z] key is called an Accelerator because it is a quick way of accessing the Zoom menu. You can define your own accelerators. You can also access Zoom All via the View menu. 7-4 AllyCAD for Windows
Click on the Single Parallel Line icon. The Control Bar displays the Parallel Line settings and the CAD prompts:
Select element to be parallel copied
Edit the Control Bar so that it looks like:
Choose "Fixed Distance" for the Use box because you are going to draw a parallel line a specified distance from an existing line. Type 130 for Spacing. The parallel line will be 130mm away from the existing line. Type 1 for No. Lines and [Enter]. Trim is irrelevant in this example, because you are not going to draw consecutive parallel lines.
Position the cursor beneath the top line of the rectangle you have drawn, as illustrated above and click. A parallel line is drawn. The window is now complete. The CAD continues to prompt:
Ignore this prompt. Use the Zoom Paper command to return your drawing to its original magnification. To do this, right click so that the Screen toolbar appears. Right click on the Redraw icon.
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Drawing the desk

Click on the Rectangle icon. The CAD prompts:
Move the cursor so that it is to the right of the window and press [Enter] to define one corner of the desk. The CAD prompts:
Press the [PgDn] key. The CAD prompts:

Type 1500 700 and press [Enter] to accept the distances. The cursor moves. Press [Enter] to accept the new cursor position as the second corner of the desk.
Drawing the chair

You are now going to draw the chair. Click on the Circle icon. The CAD prompts:
Enter centre point of circle
Move the cursor so that it is to the right of the desk and a little away from it and press [Enter] to define the centre of the chair. The CAD prompts:
Enter point on circle
Press the [Right-Arrow] key. The CAD prompts:

Type 250 and press [Enter] to accept the distance. The cursor moves. Press [Enter] to accept the new cursor position as a point on the circle circumference 7-6 AllyCAD for Windows
Creating objects
You now need to make the window, desk and chair into objects. Once you have done this, they will be easier to select and manipulate and you will be able to copy them into other drawings as symbols, list them, count them, etc.
Objects are groups of lines, arcs, text, dimensions and arrows. Parents are groups of objects.
You are going to group the lines making up the window into an object called window, which you are going to further group into a parent called fittings. You are also going to group the lines making up the desk into an object called desk and the circle making up the chair into an object called chair. You are going to further group the desk and the chair into a parent called furniture. Use Zoom All so that the window, desk and chair fill the screen. To do this, right click to access the Screen toolbar and then right click on the Zoom icon. Select the Zoom All option from the menu list.
Creating the Window

Click on the Objects Edit Object Change Parent function. The CAD prompts:
Enter new parent name
Type FITTINGS and press [Enter]. Every object that you create from now on will have the parent name FITTINGS until you use Change Parent to change the parent name again. You now need to select the window. To do this, move your cursor above and to the left of the window. Hold down your left mouse button and move your mouse so that your cursor is below and to the right of the window. Tutorial 4 Objects 7-7
A rectangle is drawn around the window. Release your left mouse button. The window is highlighted and eight handles appear around it. This means it has been selected. The method of selection you have just used selects everything within a rectangle. You can also select everything within an irregular polygon using Edit Select by Polygon. Select the Objects Group Into Object function. The CAD prompts:
Enter name for new object
Type WINDOW and press [Enter]. The selected lines are grouped into an object called WINDOW.
Creating the desk and chair

You are now going to name the parent for the desk and chair. Click on the Objects Edit Object option from it. From the menu that appears, choose the Change Parent option. The CAD prompts:
Enter new parent name
Type FURNITURE and press [Enter]. Every object that you create from now on will have the parent name furniture until you use Change Parent to change the parent name again. Select the desk in the same way that you selected the window. Select the Objects Group Into Object function. The CAD prompts:
Type DESK and press [Enter]. The selected lines are grouped into an object called DESK. Now select the chair in the same way that you selected the window and the desk. Select the Objects Group Into Object function. The CAD prompts:
Type CHAIR and press [Enter]. The selected lines are grouped into an object called CHAIR. In this tutorial you have used Group Into Object to create the objects. You could also have used Objects Begin New Object or Objects Make
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Symbol. Objects are also created automatically when you use certain functions and when they become too large. See Drawing Structure.
Right click on the Eraser icon to deselect (clear) the chair. You can also clear selected items using the Edit Clear Selection function, or by clicking on the Clear button in the Selection Filters dialog box.
Viewing objects
You are now going to view the three objects you have created. Select Objects Show Objects. The CAD prompts:
What layer do you want to show objects from (enter * for all layers)
Click on OK to accept the default answer *. The CAD prompts:

What object names do you want to show (* * for all objects)
Click on the OK button to accept the default answer * *. Each object is displayed on the screen on its own. The object's parent and object names are given in the Prompt Area at the top left of the screen together with the layer it is on (0). Hatch index = 0 means that the window is not a hatch perimeter (see Drawing Structure and Show Objects in the Objects Menu). Note that each object is enclosed by a square. This square is the object's snip box. If you insert the object into another drawing as a symbol, the part of the other drawing within the snip box can be snipped away if desired. Only the chairs snip box is visible. The window and desk also have snip boxes, but because these snip boxes are rectangular and coincide with the shapes of the window and desk, you cannot see them using Show Objects. The object is displayed with a star at its bottom left corner. This is its hook point. The hook point acts as a reference point. If you import an object from one drawing to another as a symbol, the object will appear in the second drawing with its hook point at the cursor position. The CAD positions each object's hook point automatically. However, you can manually change the position of an object's hook point using the Objects Edit Object Change Hook Point function.
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Because of the way that the CAD automatically rotates and snips around drawings when they are inserted into drawings, it is often best to position the hook point at the left hand end of the object. Click on the OK button to cycle through the objects. Finally a blank screen is displayed. The Prompt Area at the top left of the screen gives parent and object names of furniture and P? where ? is some number (which will change during this tutorial). When you created the chair object with Group Into Object, the CAD automatically created a new object called P? on the assumption that, as you were grouping the chair, you had finished it. The object P? is the current object, which means that anything you draw now will be added to it. You may not want the new object to be named P?. When you have finished drawing P? you can group it using Group Into Object, which will automatically rename the object to a name of your choice and start a new object. Alternatively you can rename it using Objects Edit Object Change Name and then start a new object using Begin New Object. Click on the OK button to exit Show Objects.
Merging objects
You have now drawn three objects: a window, a desk and a chair. Suppose you decided that rather than have an object called desk and an object called chair, you wanted to merge both into a single object called furniture. Before you can group the desk and chair into one object, you must select them. Click on a line in the object called desk with the Select cursor. The whole desk becomes highlighted and eight handles appear around it. This is because some functions including Group Into Object set a flag which tells the CAD that the lines and arcs within the object belong together and should all be selected as one. This makes selection and manipulation of objects quicker and easier. It is possible to select individual lines and arcs within an object if you use the Explode Object function. See Dividing Objects later in this tutorial. 7-10 AllyCAD for Windows
Press the [Shift] key and click on the circular outline representing the chair. The chair becomes highlighted too. Select Objects Group Into Object. The CAD prompts:
Type FURNITURE and press [Enter]. The desk and chair are grouped into one object called FURNITURE. Right click on the Eraser icon to deselect (clear) the selected desk and chair. If you now use Show Objects as described previously in the section headed Viewing Objects, you will see that you now have two objects, WINDOW and FURNITURE, plus the object "P?.
Dividing objects
Now suppose, having created one object called furniture, you wanted to make it two objects, called DESK and CHAIR. You can divide an object using the Explode Object function. Click on the object called FURNITURE. The whole object is selected as one. To break the object into individual elements select Objects Explode Object. You will not see anything happening, but you will now be able to select lines within the object individually. Right click on the Eraser icon to deselect (clear) the selected object. Now click on a line in the object called FURNITURE with the Select cursor. The line is selected individually. Use Objects Show Objects to view the objects in your drawing. You will see that although you can now select individual lines and arcs within furniture it is still an object. You can also still select all the lines and arcs in FURNITURE at once using the Object option in Edit Selection Filters. Position your cursor above and to the left of the desk. Hold down your left mouse button and move your cursor below and to the right of the desk. A rectangle appears around the desk. Release your left mouse button. The desk is selected. Select Object Group Into Object. The CAD prompts:
Tutorial 4 Objects
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Type DESK and press [Enter]. Right click on the Eraser icon to deselect (clear) the selected object. Use Object Show Objects to view your objects. You will see that you have three objects: window, desk and furniture, plus the object P?. You will also see that the chair's hook point is positioned away from the chair.
Changing object names and hook points

You must rename the chair object CHAIR and move its hook or reference point to a sensible place. To do this, select the Objects Edit Object Change Name function. The CAD prompts:
Enter object name to be changed or select object with cursor
Click on OK to accept the default cursor. This means that you will be able to click on the chair to identify it for renaming. The CAD prompts:
Select object for name change
Select the chair by clicking on it. It is highlighted and AllyCAD prompts:

Enter new Parent and Object names (separated by a space)
Type FURNITURE CHAIR and press [Enter]. To change the chair's hook point, select the Objects Edit Object Change Hook Point function. Stars representing the current hook point positions appear on your drawing. The CAD prompts:
Select object for hook change
Click on the chair object. The cursor jumps to the current position of the chair's hook point, which is at the bottom left corner of the desk. AllyCAD prompts:
Enter new hook point
Move the cursor close to the chair and press the [*] key on your keyboard. This causes the cursor to jump exactly onto the chair (circle) centre. Press [Enter] to accept this as the new hook point position. A star is displayed at this position. If you use Show Objects to look at your objects you will see that you now have three objects, window, desk and chair, plus the object P?. You will also see the chair's new hook point position.
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Here you have only changed the object name, from FURNITURE to CHAIR. You could also change the parent name by substituting, say, OFFICE for FURNITURE.
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Adding to an object
This section will show you how to add to an object that you have already created. You are going to add to the window object. In order to add to the window, you could draw the addition, then select the window and the addition, and then use Group Into Object to group the window and its addition together. However, you are going to use another method. Everything that you draw is automatically added to the current object. As you can see from Show Objects, the current object is P?. If you were to draw anything, it would be added to P?. To add to the window, you therefore need to make the window the current object. To do this, select the Objects Select Current Object function. The CAD prompts:
Select object to become current object
Click on the window. The window becomes highlighted. Now select the Objects Blink Current Object function. The window loses its highlight. If you select the Blink Current Object option several times, you should see the window alternately becoming highlighted and losing its highlight, giving a blinking effect. This shows you that it is the current object. Anything that you draw will now be added to the window. Click on the Single Parallel Line icon in the Main toolbar and the parallel defaults are displayed on the Control Bar. The CAD prompts:
Set up the Control Bar as shown below:
Choose Fixed Distance as you are going to draw parallel lines a specified distance from an existing line. Two parallel lines will be drawn at intervals of 50mm. Remember to press [Enter] after entering the Spacing or No Lines data. Position the cursor just above the horizontal line that runs across the window, as illustrated below and click.
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Two parallel lines are drawn. The window is now complete. Cancel the parallel line drawing command by clicking on [Done]. Your drawing should now look like this:
Saving your drawing

Right click on the Save icon. Type a name for your drawing in the box under the words File Name and click on Save. You have now completed Tutorial 4. You can either:
experiment on your own; exit the CAD using File Exit; or select File Clear All and then go to Tutorial 5.
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Notes:
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Tutorial 5 Symbols
In this tutorial you are going to load a drawing called building. This is a sample drawing that is supplied with the program. When you have loaded the drawing you are going to learn about layers, inserting symbols, moving, copying, mirroring, scaling and updating. You will complete the following tasks:
Loading a drawing Inserting symbols - the windows Layers Inserting symbols - the desk and chair Moving using Drag and Snap Nudging Copying Scaling Rotating Repeating Mirroring Updating Counting the objects in your drawing Saving your drawing
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Loading a drawing
Ensure your drawing screen is blank by selecting File Clear All. To load a drawing, click on the Open icon. The drawings in the Drawing directory are listed as shown below. Select the Building.drg file.
The following drawing is displayed.
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Inserting symbols - the windows

You are now going to add some windows to the building. You are not going to draw these, but are going to use a pre-drawn window from another drawing as a symbol. To do so select File Load Symbol File to load the symbol file tute5sym from the Symbols directory.
The CAD prompts:

Do you want symbols to be absolute (else to scale)
Click on the [NO] button so that the symbols will be loaded to scale. The CAD prompts:
Convert attributes to text during load?
Click on the [NO] button. You will not see anything happening, but the drawing containing the window will have been loaded as a symbol file, and you can now use the window symbol. Select Draw Symbol. The symbol settings are displayed on the Control Bar and the CAD prompts:
You can select symbols by name from the list on the left of the Control Bar.
Alternatively, click on the [View] button. All the symbols in the symbol file are displayed as shown below. Click on the window symbol.
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Ensure that the Snip option on the Control Bar is ticked. This means that when you insert the window into a wall, the wall will automatically be snipped away to accommodate the window. Move your cursor to the position shown below. Note that an image of the window moves with the cursor. The cursor is attached to the window at its hook point. To get a bigger view of your drawing, click on the Magnify icon or use the Zoom All option. You now need to position your cursor accurately so that the window you are going to insert will appear in the correct position.
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Move your cursor to the position shown above and type [0] (zero) on your keyboard so that the cursor jumps exactly onto the intersection of the left-hand vertical line with the bottom horizontal line. You can also jump accurately to an intersection by selecting Jumps from the Tools menu. Press your [Left-Arrow] key. The CAD prompts:
Move left: How far?
Type 1500 and press [Enter] to accept the distance. You could also accept the distance by clicking on OK. The cursor moves to the left. Press [Enter] to accept the position for the symbol. You could accept the position by clicking. However, this could cause inaccuracies if you accidentally wobbled your mouse as you clicked. The symbol is inserted. Note that it snips out the wall around itself. The window symbol's snip box determines the portion of the wall that is snipped. The CAD continues to prompt:
Move your cursor to the position shown in. Type [0] (zero) on your keyboard so that the cursor jumps exactly onto the intersection of the left vertical line and the bottom horizontal line.
Press the [Shift] key at the same time as your [Left-Arrow] key. The cursor automatically moves 1500mm to the left. This is because if you press the [Shift] key in conjunction with an arrow key, the cursor will Tutorial 5 - Symbols 8-5
automatically move the same distance you moved last time you used that arrow key. Press [Enter] to accept the new cursor position as the position for the symbol's hook point. The symbol is inserted. Cancel window insertion by clicking on [Done].
Layers
It is usual when doing a drawing to separate different aspects of the drawing onto different layers. Layers can be likened to overlaid sheets of tracing paper. In a drawing of a building with services you might put the building outline onto one layer, furniture onto another layer, power onto another layer, ductwork onto another layer, etc. You can display all the layers at once, or just some of the layers. Similarly, you can print or plot all layers or just selected layers. This means that if you are just interested in the furniture layout, for example, you can print or view the furniture and the building outline without unnecessary details like power. In this tutorial, you are going to insert the desk and chair as symbols, and place these on a separate layer. The Building drawing has just one defined layer BUILDING. This layer contains the building's walls, doors and windows. You are going to define a new layer in which to place the desk and chair. Select the Settings Layer Settings function. The Layer Settings dialog is displayed. Add the FURNITURE layer as shown in the next illustration. Now place the cursor over the FURNITURE row in the layer table, right click and select the Make Current Layer option.
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Click on OK to close the Layer Settings. The Layer Display at the top right of the screen is updated to FURNITURE, showing that a new layer, FURNITURE, has been added to the drawing and that it is the Current Layer. The current layer is the one on which anything you draw will appear, and its name is always displayed in the Layer Display.
Inserting symbols - the desk and chair

Select Draw Symbol. Various options appear on the Control Bar and the CAD prompts:
Click on the [View] button on the Control Bar. The window, desk and chair symbols appear. Select the desk symbol and click on the Snip option in the Control Bar so that the tick is removed. Move your cursor into the left most room - the exact position is not important - and click.
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The desk is displayed in the room. The CAD continues to prompt:

You are now going to insert a chair symbol. Click on the [View] button on the Control Bar. The window, desk and chair symbols appear. Click on the chair symbol. Move your cursor to a position below the desk and click. The chair is displayed in the room. Cancel symbol insertion by clicking on the [Done] button.
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Moving using Drag and Snap

You are now going to move the desk and chair. Before you can move anything, you must select the items you want to move. Click on the Select Cursor on the Files toolbar. Now click on the outline representing the desk. The desk is selected and becomes highlighted. Press [Shift] and click on the outline representing the chair. The chair is selected and highlighted too. Eight boxes or handles surround the chair and desk. This indicates that they are selected. Move the cursor so that the top left hand corner of the desk is within the cursor box as shown below.
Press your left mouse button, and, keeping it depressed, move your mouse until the cursor box encloses the top left hand corner of the room. Then release the mouse button.
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The desk and chair are moved, and the top left corner of the desk is positioned exactly in the top left hand corner of the room. The reason that the desk and chair are positioned exactly is because the Select cursor includes the Graball box. If you do not want to move accurately, click on the Freehand icon. The Select cursor will lose the Graball box and you will no longer be able to drag accurately using this method. To regain the box, click on the Grab All icon. You can also move things using Modify Move which gives you more control over movement.
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Nudging
The desk and chair you have just moved are unrealistic in that the desk coincides with the walls! You are going to move the desk and chair slightly away from the walls by nudging them. Before you can nudge anything, you must select the items you want to nudge. Since the desk and chair are still selected, you do not have to select them again. Press the [PgDn] key. The CAD prompts:
Type 50 50 and press [Enter] to accept these distances. The desk and chair move down and to the right. You can nudge selected items left, right, up or down using the appropriate arrow key. You can nudge them up and to the left using the [Home] key, up and to the right using the [PgUp] key and down and to the left using the [End] key. You can also move things using Modify Move which gives you more control over movement. The movement of the desk away from the walls seems to have left gaps in the walls. Redraw your screen by clicking on the Redraw icon on the Screen toolbar and the gaps will disappear.
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Copying
You are now going to copy the desk and chair. Before you can copy anything, you must select the items you want to copy. Since the desk and chair are still selected, you do not have to select them again. Ensure that the top left hand corner of the desk is within the cursor box. Press the [Ctrl] button and hold it down. While you are holding it down, press your left mouse button, and, keeping it depressed, move your mouse until the cursor box encloses the top left hand corner of the next room. Then release the [Ctrl] and mouse buttons.
The desk and chair are copied, and the copy is moved so that the top left corner of the desk is positioned exactly in the top left hand corner of the next room. Note that the original desk and chair are no longer highlighted, but that the copies are. You are now going to nudge the copied desk and chair away from the walls. Press the [Shift] and [PgDn] keys at the same time. The desk and chair are automatically nudged. This is because if you press the [Shift] key in conjunction with an arrow key or the [Home], [PgUp], [End] or [PgDn] keys, the selected items will automatically be nudged the same distance you nudged them last time you used that key.
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The movement of the desk away from the walls has left gaps in the walls. Redraw your screen by clicking on the Redraw icon on the Screen toolbar. The gaps in the walls disappear. Make another copy of the desk and chair and position it as shown below.
You can also copy things using Modify Drop which gives you more control over copying.
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Scaling
Before you can scale anything, you must select the items you want to scale. You are going to scale the newest copy of the desk and chair in the right hand room. These are already selected, so you do not have to select them again. Move your cursor onto the top left handle. The cursor changes shape to a short line with an arrowhead at each end. The arrowheads point in the directions you will be able to scale the desk and chair. Click. As you move your cursor, you will see the desk and chair being scaled.
The X and Y scaling options are displayed on the Control Bar and the CAD prompts:
Move mouse and click, or type in new X and Y scale factors
Move the cursor into the Control Bar and set up the options as shown above. Click OK. The table and chair are scaled as shown below:
You can also scale things using Modify Scale that gives you more control over scaling.
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Rotating
Like when you move, copy or scale something, you must select the items you want to rotate before you can rotate them. You are going to rotate the scaled copy of the desk and chair. These are already selected, so you do not have to select them again. Move your cursor just to the left of the top right handle. The cursor changes shape. Click. The Rotate Angle option appears on the Control Bar and the CAD prompts:
Enter point to rotate to, or type in rotation angle
As you move your cursor, you will see the desk and chair being rotated. Move your cursor into the Rotate Angle box on the Control Bar and click. Set up the parameters as shown below.
Press [Enter]. The desk and chair are rotated.
Rotation takes place in an anti-clockwise direction regardless of the Angular Format you have set up in Drawing Settings in the Settings menu. You can also rotate things using Modify Rotate which gives you more control over rotation.
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Repeating
You are now going to make three copies of the rotated desk and chair in a circle (a polar copy, see). As with the other functions you have used in this tutorial you must select the items you want to copy before you can copy them. Because the rotated desk and chair are already selected, you don't have to select them again. Go to the Modify Repeat function. The CAD prompts:
Repeat how many times
Type 3 and press [Enter].

Rectangular repeat (else Polar)
Click on the [NO] button, because you want to repeat in a circle (Polar) and not in a line.
Enter point about which to rotate
Position the cursor at approximately the position shown below and click.
The CAD prompts:

Enter rotation angle
Click on the OK button to accept the default, 90. The desk and chair are repeated in a circle.
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Mirroring
You are now going to mirror the first desk and chair that you entered onto the drawing. Before you can do this, you must select them. To do this, click on the first desk that you entered. It becomes selected and any other selected desks and chairs become deselected. Then hold down the [Shift] key and click on the first chair that you entered so that this becomes selected too. Then choose the Modify Mirror Image function. Mirror options are displayed on the Control Bar.
The CAD prompts:

Enter point about which to mirror
Click on the Horizontal option on the Control Bar, as you are going to mirror about a horizontal axis. Ensure there is a tick in the Keep original box. Then click just below the chair. The desk and chair are mirrored.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Updating
You are now going to replace all the desks you have drawn with desks of a slightly more elegant shape. To do this, you must select the first desk that you entered as the Current Object. You must then edit this desk as desired. The desk acts as a template, and all other desks are updated. First, zoom into the desk so that you can see what you are doing. To do this, right click on the Eraser icon to clear all selections, then click on the desk so that only it is selected. Choose the View Zoom Selected function. You can also select Zoom Selected from the menu that appears if you click on the Zoom icon. The desk is zoomed to fill the screen. To make the desk into the current object choose the Objects Select
Current Object function. The CAD prompts:
Select object to become current object
Click on the desk. It becomes highlighted and is now the current object. The current object is the object you are currently working on. See Tutorial 4 Objects for examples. You are now going to edit the desk by filleting two of its corners. Select the Modify Fillet function. The Fillet options are displayed in the Control Bar and the CAD prompts:
Edit the Control Bar so that it looks like the one below.
For Update, choose "Both Lines". This means that both lines making up the desk corner will be filleted. For Use choose One Point. This means that in cases like this one, where there is no ambiguity about which lines to fillet, you can select the corner to fillet with just one mouse click. For the Radius, type 150 and [Enter]. Position the cursor inside the desk corner to be filleted, at the position shown.
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Note that the cursor has changed to Freehand mode. This is so that the cursor will not jump to anything unless you specifically tell it to. If you try to fillet in a snap mode other than Freehand, the cursor may unexpectedly jump onto a point that you don't want it to jump to while filleting, with unforeseen consequences. Click. The corner is filleted. The CAD continues to prompt:
Position the cursor at the position shown and click.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The corner is filleted. Cancel filleting by clicking on [Done]. Now select Objects Update Objects. The CAD prompts:
Sure you want to update all objects with same name as Current Object
Click on the [YES] button.

Enter point on current object where reference points on old objects must be
This point must be at the desk's hook point that is at the bottom left corner of the desk. Move your cursor close to the left hand bottom corner of the desk. Press [0] (zero) on your keyboard to jump onto the corner exactly. Press [Enter] to accept the cursor position as the reference point. Go to the View menu and select Zoom Last. You are returned to the view you were using before you zoomed into the desk. Right click on the Eraser icon to clear all selections. You can also access Zoom Last by pressing the [-] (minus) key on the numeric keypad.
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All the desks have been updated.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Counting the objects in your drawing

You are now going to list and count all the objects in your drawing. Select the Objects List Objects function. The CAD prompts:
Do you want data from all layers (else just displayed layers)
Click on [YES]. The CAD prompts:

Do you want areas and perimeters calculated automatically
Click on [NO]. If you click on [YES] in answer to this question, the CAD will also calculate the total area taken up by, and the total perimeter of, each type of object on your drawing. A dialog box headed Save object listing as ... appears on the screen. Click on OK to accept the default file name. The CAD now writes a file that lists and counts the objects on your drawing. When you have finished this tutorial, go to Windows Notepad (or any text editor) and look at the file, called logtext.txt. This will show the following list:
Parent name BUILDING BUILDING BUILDING BUILDING FITTINGS FURNITURE FURNITURE Object name DOOR900 EXSDOOR EXTWALLS INTWALLS WINDOW CHAIR DESK Quantity 8 1 1 1 2 7 7 Area 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Perimeter 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
There are 27 objects selected. If you did Tutorial 4, you will note that the windows, chairs and desks have the parent and object names you gave them. It is also possible to produce a Bill of Materials. See Bill of Materials in the Tools Menu of the Reference Manual for details.
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Saving your drawing

If you like, you can now save your drawing. Right click on the Save icon to save as. Type a name for your drawing in the box under the words File Name. Then click on Save. You have now completed Tutorial 5. You can either:
exit the CAD using File Exit; or select File New and start a new drawing of your own.
If you have completed all five tutorials you should now have a good understanding of the way in which the CAD works. Full details on functions that have not been covered in the tutorials can be found in the relevant chapters of the Reference Manual.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Accurate Drawing
This chapter lists the methods of accurate cursor movement that allow you to draw exactly. We strongly suggest that you do Tutorial 2 Accurate Drawing. This chapter offers a practical introduction to accurate drawing and shows you how the accurate cursor movement functions are used. The functions listed in this section can be used to position the cursor in preparation for doing something. For example, you can move the cursor to an exact position and then draw a geometry line through that position. Alternatively, they can be used while you are drawing to precise measurements. For example, you can use them while you are drawing a line, to ensure that the line is the right length or ends at a particular place. You can also use some of the methods described here to move selected items or highlighted nodes on your drawing by fine increments. This feature is called Nudge. See Move an exact distance up, down, left, right and Move diagonally by giving exact horizontal / vertical distances. The items discussed are:
Move an exact distance up, down, left, or right Move diagonally Move an exact distance in a specific direction Lock cursor movement to an exact angle (ortho mode) Move to an exact coordinate location on the screen Move exactly to the screen centre Move exactly onto an existing part of the drawing Drawing with geometry or with a grid Making calculations
Accurate Drawing
9-1
Move an exact distance up, down, left, or right

If the cursor is in Select or Select Jump mode the method described here will move selected items on your drawing. If the cursor is in Node mode it will move highlighted nodes. If the cursor is any other mode only it will be moved. This feature is called Nudge, and is useful for moving selected items and highlighted nodes in very small, precise increments.
[Left Arrow] key [Right Arrow] key [Down Arrow] key
To move the cursor, selected items or highlighted nodes an exact distance up, down, to the left or to the right, press the [Up-Arrow], [Down-Arrow], [Left-Arrow] or [Right-Arrow] key on your keyboard whichever one points in the direction you want to move in. If you are using the arrow keys on the numeric keypad, ensure that your NUM LOCK light is off. When you press an arrow key you will be asked how far you want to move, for example:
Move Left: How far?
Type the distance you want to move. This distance is measured in the units that you have chosen in the Settings Drawing Settings function. If you do not know the distance and need to calculate it, you can type the necessary arithmetic expression, e.g. (518-212)/3 instead of the distance (see Making calculations at the end of this chapter). When you have typed the distance or calculation, click on OK or press [Enter]. The cursor, selected items, or highlighted nodes will move.
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[Up Arrow] key
AllyCAD for Windows
If you press the [Shift] key at the same time as you press an arrow key, the cursor, selected items or highlighted nodes will automatically move in the direction indicated by the arrow. They will move the same distance that you specified the last time you typed how far you wanted to move in that direction. See Select and Selection Filters in the Edit Menu for details on how to select entities and objects. See Select Nodes in the Edit Menu for details on nodes.
Accurate Drawing
9-3
Move diagonally by exact horizontal / vertical distances

If the cursor is in Select or Select Jump mode the method described here will move selected items on your drawing. If the cursor is in Node mode it will move highlighted nodes. If the cursor is any other mode only it will be moved. This feature is called Nudge, and is useful for moving selected items and highlighted nodes in very small, precise increments.
]k ey
[E nd
The Nudge feature works with the following keys:
To move upwards and to the left, press the [Home] key. To move upwards and to the right, press the [PgUp] key. To move downwards and to the left press the [End] key. To move downwards and to the right press the [PgDn] key.
The positions of the [Home], [PgUp], [End] and [PgDn] keys relative to each other on the keyboard reflect the directions in which movement will take place. If you are using the keys on the numeric keypad, ensure that your NUM LOCK light is off. When you press the [Home], [PgUp], [End] or [PgDn] keys, you will be asked how far you want to move in the relevant directions, for example:
Move Left and Up: How far?
Type the distances you want to move in the two directions separated by a space. The distances are measured in the units that you have chosen in Drawing Settings in the Settings menu. 9-4 AllyCAD for Windows
[P gU gD [P y ke n]
p] ke y
[H y ke e] om
If you do not know one or both distances and need to calculate them, use the arrow keys to move in the two directions separately. This will allow you to type the necessary arithmetic expressions, e.g. (518212)/3 instead of the distances (see Making calculations at the end of this chapter). When you have typed the distances, click on the OK button or press [Enter]. The cursor, selected items or highlighted nodes will move. If you press the [Shift] key at the same time as you press one of these keys, the cursor, selected items or highlighted nodes will automatically move in the relevant direction. They will move the same distance that you specified the last time you typed how far you wanted to move in that direction.
Accurate Drawing
9-5
Move an exact distance in a specific direction

To move the cursor an exact distance in a specific direction, use the Polar Move command (see Jumps in the Tools menu). This function can be accessed in three ways:
By pressing the [P] key on the keyboard. From the toolbar. Click on the Polar Move icon. By using the Tools Jumps Polar Move function.
40
30
The Polar Move function requires you to enter a distance and an angle. The way in which the angle is measured (e.g. anti-clockwise from the 3 o'clock position) is dependent on the way you have set up the Angular Format in the Drawing Settings in the Settings menu.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Lock cursor to an exact angle (ortho mode)

Drawing horizontal and vertical lines You can draw horizontal and vertical lines using the arrow keys - see Move an exact distance up, down, left, or right earlier in this chapter. Using the Set Square Icon Enter the function you want to use. For example, choose Draw Line (Chained) and enter the first point of the line. Lock the cursor by doing one of the following:
Press the gray [+] key on the numeric keypad. Click on the Set Square icon. Select the Tools Lock Cursor Hold command.
You will now only be able to draw horizontally or vertically and a diamond will appear at the end of the line you are drawing. You will be able to move the cursor away from the end of the line you are drawing and snap it onto another entity, forcing the line you are drawing to end in line with the other entity. See Tutorial 2 Accurate Drawing and the Tools Lock Cursor Hold command for examples. The cursor will automatically unlock when you exit the Line function. However to unlock it manually, do any of the 3 points listed. Using Move Distance Enter the function you want to use. For example, choose Line (Chained) in the Draw Menu and enter the first point of the line. Then do the following:
With your mouse, move the cursor in the approximate direction you want the line to be drawn in. Press the [,] key (comma) on your keyboard. The CAD prompts:
Distance to move
Type the length you want the line to be, e.g. 100. Press [Enter] or click on OK. The line is drawn. It will be horizontal or vertical.
Drawing at other angles To draw at a non-horizontal angle and its orthogonal, rather like using a set square, you must first use the Tools Lock Cursor function to choose Accurate Drawing 9-7
the angle at which you want to draw. Your chosen angle is then displayed at the bottom right of the screen. See Lock Cursor in the Tools Menu. To draw at your chosen angle, enter the function you want to use. For example, choose Draw Line (Chained) and enter the first point of the line. Then lock the cursor as described above. The cursor movement is locked to the specified angle. See Tutorial 2 Accurate Drawing and Hold in Lock Cursor in the Tools Menu for examples. Once you have locked the cursor, there are two methods of drawing accurately: Drawing accurately using the arrow keys While the cursor is locked, you can draw lines of accurate length using the Arrow keys. For example, if the cursor is locked at 60 degrees, the four arrow keys will move the cursor in quadrants of 60 degrees. Drawing accurately using the Move Distance command While the cursor is locked, you can also draw lines of accurate length using the Move Distance command, as follows:
With your mouse, move the cursor in the approximate direction you want the line to be drawn in. Press the [,] key (comma) on your keyboard. The CAD prompts:
Distance to move
Type the length you want the line to be, e.g. 100. Press [Enter] or click on OK. The line is drawn. It will be drawn at the angle you have specified, in the direction you have indicated with your mouse.
Unlocking the cursor The cursor will automatically unlock when you exit the Line function. However to unlock it manually, use Tools Lock Cursor Unlock. Your chosen angle will still be displayed at the bottom right of the screen until you select the Tools Lock Cursor Unlock function.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Move to an exact coordinate location on the screen

To move to a specific coordinate location on the screen, for example the coordinate position 60 15, use the function Move to Coordinates (see the Jumps option in the Tools menu). This function can be accessed in three ways:
By pressing the [U] key on the keyboard. Right click on the Polar Move icon. By using the Tools Jumps Move to Coordinates function.
Move exactly to the screen centre To move to the screen centre, use the Tools Jumps Home function. Home moves the cursor to the screen centre whether your screen is magnified, de-magnified, zoomed or not zoomed. You can also press the [H] key on the keyboard.
Move exactly onto an existing part of the drawing

There are two ways of moving exactly onto an existing part of a drawing:
Jumps or Snap modes
A Jump moves your cursor exactly onto an existing part of the drawing, for example onto the end of a line. It is performed on demand. If you want to accept the point that you have jumped to, for example as the first point of a line, or as a point through which a geometry line must pass, etc., you must press [Enter] or your left mouse button. If you move your mouse off the exact position before you press [Enter] or your left mouse button, the point will be lost and you will have to perform the jump again. When you are in a Snap mode, the cursor moves exactly onto an existing part of the drawing and the point that is snapped onto is accepted. This action is performed each time you press [Enter] or the left mouse button. A Snap mode is useful if you must continuously snap onto the same type of point, for example if you are drawing lines between grid points and must continually snap onto those grid points. The Snap mode saves you having to jump to the point and then accept it as two separate actions. Tutorial 2 - Accurate Drawing includes practical examples of Jumps and Snap modes.
Accurate Drawing
9-9
Jumps
The following Jumps can either be accessed from the Jumps option of the Tools menu or by pressing the relevant key on the keyboard.
Jump Grab All Geometry Intersection Grid Any Intersection Point Circle Centre Near Element Last Fixed Key A I G 0 (zero) J * N X Function Jumps to anything within the cursor box. This function is only operational when you are in the Grab All snap. Jumps to the nearest intersection of geometry lines or the nearest geometry tangency point. Jumps to the nearest grid point. Jumps to the nearest intersection, solid or geometry. Jumps to the nearest point, e.g. end of line, arc centre etc. Jumps to the nearest circle centre. Jumps to the nearest line or arc, geometry or solid. Jumps to the last point that you fixed, i.e. accepted by pressing [Enter] or clicking. A "x" on the screen marks this point. Jumps to the midpoint of a line.
Midpoint Midpoint between points Ratio
Shift C Jumps to the midpoint between two points. O Jumps to a particular distance along a line or between two points. For example halfway (0.5 or 1/2), a third (0.33 or 1/3) etc. Jumps perpendicular to a line, circle or arc. Jumps to the tangent point on a arc or circle.
Perpendicular Tangent
Ctrl P Ctrl T
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AllyCAD for Windows
Snap Modes
Clicking on the snap icons on the Snaps toolbar accesses the Snap modes. The Snap modes can also be accessed from accelerator keys. You can tell which mode you are in by the shape of the cursor. To exit a Snap mode, select another mode.
Mode Freehand Grab All Geom Intersection Key Shift F Shift F Icon Cursor Function Does not snap to any point. Automatically snaps to and accepts anything within the cursor box. Automatically snaps to and accepts the nearest intersection of geometry lines or the nearest geometry tangency point. Automatically snaps to and accepts the nearest grid point. Automatically snaps to and accepts the nearest intersection, solid or geometry. Automatically snaps to and accepts the nearest point, e.g. end of line, arc centre etc. Automatically snaps to and accepts the nearest circle centre. Automatically snaps to and accepts the nearest line or arc, geometry or solid. Only operational when you are drawing a line. Snaps to another line or to an arc so that the line you are drawing is perpendicular to the other line or arc. Only operational when you are drawing a line or an arc. Snaps to another line or to an arc so that the line or arc you are drawing is tangential to the other line or arc.
Shift I
Grid
Shift G
Intersection
Shift Z
Point
Shift J
Circle Centre Nearest Line/Arc
Shift E
Shift N
Perp
Shift P
Tan
Ctrl T
Accurate Drawing
9-11
Drawing with geometry or with a grid

Another method of accurate drawing is to use geometry lines and circles. These may be used to determine the position of a point, or may be used as guidelines to trace over.
You can also define a regular or isometric grid and use the grid points to help you draw.
For more details on geometry, see Geometry. For more details on isometric grids see Isometrics. To create a grid, use the Tools Grid function. Once you have created a grid, you can use the Grid jump, the Grid snap or the Grab All snap to jump accurately to the grid points. See Moving exactly onto an existing part of the drawing earlier in this section.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Making calculations
Whenever the CAD prompts you to enter a distance, be it diameter, radius, length etc. you can enter that distance as an arithmetic expression, e.g. (518-212)/3. This expression is evaluated when you click on the OK button, or press [Enter] after typing the expression, resulting in the correct distance being used. You can use the following functions: * / + multiply (use the * on the numeric keypad). divide (use the / on the numeric keypad). minus (use the - on the numeric keypad). plus (use the + on the numeric keypad).
^ power, e.g. 10^2 (ten to the power of two). Other functions are:
sqrt(x) (square root) sin(x) cos(x) tan(x) asin(x) acos(x) atan(x) atan2(y:x) int(x) abs(x) log(x) ln(x).
Standard mathematical hierarchy applies, and brackets can be used to force the sequence of operations. The correct use of brackets when using + and - in combination with * and / is essential.
Accurate Drawing
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Notes:
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AllyCAD for Windows
Drawing Structure
While you can use AllyCAD without any knowledge of the way it organises drawings, you will not benefit from the full power of the program until you understand its basic drawing structure. A drawing is made up of lines, arcs, text, dimensions and arrows that are grouped into objects. There are four major advantages of organising drawings into objects.
Because an object is a distinct entity, it is easy to select and manipulate, giving you a speed advantage. For example, instead of having to select many lines, arcs etc. individually, you can select an entire object at once by name or by clicking on it. Objects allow program code to run more efficiently, thus helping to give AllyCAD its speed advantage. Objects can be copied into other drawings as Symbols. Once you have drawn an object once, you will not have to draw it again, thus saving time. Objects can automatically be listed, counted and output into a Bill of Materials.
We strongly recommend that you do Tutorial 4 - Objects, in which you create objects/symbols, and Tutorial 5 - Symbols, in which you insert symbols into a drawing and create a list of them. In this chapter you will learn about:
Primitives, objects and parents Properties of objects Grouping primitives into objects Viewing and listing objects Selecting objects manipulating objects Symbols Blocks
Drawing Structure
10-1
Primitives, objects and parents

A drawing is made up of primitives (the basic elements) which are grouped into objects. Objects can also be grouped by their parent.
Primitives
13.7
The basic bones of an AllyCAD drawing are called PRIMITIVES (also called elements or entities).
Text
Primitives include:
lines arcs, including circles and ellipses text dimensions, including linear, angular, radial, ordinate arrows points (coordinate locations marked as dots, crosses etc.) data items (information attached to a coordinate location) bitmaps polylines (a special type of chained line. If you explode them using Objects Explode Objects they will become an ordinary chained line).
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AllyCAD for Windows
Objects
Primitives are grouped together to form OBJECTS. For example this object, an electrical socket, is made up of four primitives (two arcs and two lines).
Current Object The current object is the object that whatever you are drawing is being added to. Hatch Perimeters Hatch Perimeters are a special kind of object that are hatched at your request and when the drawing is printed or plotted. They comprise lines and arcs and are created whenever you hatch something. Object size Objects have a maximum size of 65,000 bytes - roughly 1080 lines or 770 arcs. If you try to create an object larger than this, the CAD will split it into two. Symbols A symbol is exactly the same as an object. However, the term symbol is normally used to refer to an object that has been drawn as a standard part that will be used over and over again. For example, an architect may need to draw doors or windows, a mechanical engineer may need to draw nuts and bolts, etc. Each type of door, window, nut or bolt can be referred to as a symbol, and all the different types of doors, windows, nuts or bolts can be drawn onto one drawing from where they can be copied when they are needed. This drawing can be referred to as a Symbol Library.
Drawing Structure
10-3
Parents
Objects are further grouped into PARENTS. For example, these two objects, an electrical socket and an earth position, might be grouped into a parent called POWER on a building services-type drawing.
Properties of objects
Each object has a name, a parent name, a hook point and a snip box associated with it. Some objects may also have attributes associated with them. All are user-definable.
Object and Parent names

Each object has two names, an object name and a parent name. Object and parent names can be up to 15 characters in length.
This object might have the name FUSE and have a parent name of PLUG.
This object might have the name WINDOW, and have a parent name of BUILDING. To change the object and/or parent names of an existing object, use the Objects Edit Object Change Name function.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Hook Point
The object's hook point acts as a reference point. For example, if you import an object from one drawing into another as a symbol, the object will appear in the second drawing with its hook point at the cursor position. Because of the way that the CAD can automatically rotate and snip around symbols when they are inserted into drawings, you should position the hook point on the left of the symbol.
The hook point of this fuse, normally invisible, but indicated here by a star, has been positioned at the left.
Hook point
The hook point of this window, normally invisible, but indicated here as a star, has been positioned at a corner.
Hook point
Use the function Objects Edit Object Change Hook Point to change the position of the hook point.
Snip Box
The snip box is an invisible box that fits exactly around the extreme edges of the object. It is used if the object is imported into another drawing as a symbol. When you insert the object into another drawing, the program will automatically snip out everything inside the snip box, if you want it to. For example, in the one example below, the window has been inserted into a wall and the wall has been snipped away to accommodate the window. In the other example, the fuse has been inserted into a circuit, and the circuit has also been snipped away.
Drawing Structure
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Wall before symbol insertion
Circuit before symbol insertion
Wall after symbol insertion
Circuit after symbol insertion
The snip box can only be changed by re-creating the object again with the Objects Make Symbol function.
Attributes
Attributes are pieces of information that can be attached to an object if the object is created using the Make Symbol method (see Grouping Primitives into Objects later in this chapter). An attribute for the window might be that it is to be manufactured from aluminium. An attribute for the fuse might be that its current rating is 5 Amps. Attributes are only used if the object is imported into another drawing as a symbol. As the object is imported, you will be asked if you want to change the attribute value associated with the symbol. For example, you may be importing a fuse whose rating is 2 Amps rather than 5 Amps.
2 AM P
Once the object has been imported, the attribute can either be displayed with the object as text, or can remain invisible for use in a bill of materials.
Attributes must be edited slightly differently depending on whether the object they are attached to is in a symbol library (i.e. is going to be placed into other drawings as a symbol) or whether it is in a drawing (i.e. it has already been placed in a drawing from a symbol library). See Load Symbol File in the File Menu and Bill of Materials in the Reference Manual for details on viewing and editing attributes in a drawing or in a symbol library.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Grouping primitives into objects

There are four ways of grouping primitives into objects:
automatically using the Begin New Object function using the Group Into Object function using the Make Symbol function.
All four methods can be used in a single drawing.
Automatically
Left to itself AllyCAD will automatically group the primitives you draw into objects. It adds each primitive you draw to an object until that object gets too big (65000 bytes - roughly 1080 lines or 770 arcs) or until you execute a function that automatically starts a new object. These functions are:
Open, Load Symbol File and all Load Options in the File menu. Undo/Redo and Paste in the Edit menu. Rectangle, Parallel Line, Polyline, Polygon, Symbol and Sketch in the Draw menu. Mirror Image, Repeat, Drop, Move Selected New Layer, Copy Selected New Layer, Ellipse2Arcs in the Modify menu. Enter Hatch, Alter Existing Hatch and Hatch to Lines in the Annotate menu. Polygon Area and Expand in the Tools menu; Set Current Layer and Layer Control in the Settings menu.
When the CAD groups objects, it gives them a name beginning with P, for example P98. When it starts a new object, it gives this a new number, for example P103, etc. These objects are grouped under the parent name A - the default parent name - unless you have changed this name using the Objects Edit Object Change Parent function. The object's hook point is positioned at the first point of the first primitive that was entered after the new object was started. The snip box fits exactly around the extreme edges of the object. No attributes are assigned.
Drawing Structure
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Begin New Object

This is a method for organised users! It involves naming the object, then drawing it.
Group Into Object

This method involves drawing primitives, then grouping the primitives into objects later.
Make Symbol
If you are going to import the object into another drawing as a symbol, this method of object creation has three advantages over the other methods:
It asks you a series of questions allowing you, for example, to place the hook point at a position of your choice. Using Begin New Object and Group Into Object, you have to position the hook point separately if you want to control its position. It allows you to attach attributes to objects, which can later be extracted in a bill of materials (see Bill of Materials in the Tools Menu). It allows you to define your own snip box around the object.
Like Group Into Object, Make Symbol involves drawing primitives, then grouping the primitives into objects later.
Merging Objects
If you have several objects and you want to merge them into one, you must create a new object using the Group Into Object or Make Symbol methods listed earlier in this section. Include all the existing objects in the new object.
Dividing Objects
If you have one object and you want to divide it into several objects, group each object as though it was a new object using the Group Into Object or Make Symbol methods listed earlier in this section.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Adding primitives to an existing object

There are two methods of adding primitives to an object that has already been created. Create the object again To add primitives to an object that you have already created, you can simply create the object again, incorporating the new primitives. Use the Group Into Object or Make Symbol methods listed earlier in this section. Use the current object The current object is the object that is being drawn. Any primitives you draw will automatically be added to the current object. If you want to add primitives to a particular object, you must therefore make sure that this object is the current object before you draw them. To select an object as the current object use the Objects Select Current Object function. Everything that you draw subsequently will be added to this object until you select another object as the current object or create a new object To determine what the current object is, highlight it using the function Objects Blink Current Object.
Drawing Structure
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Viewing and listing objects

Objects may be listed or displayed sequentially. Viewing the objects in your drawing If you are not sure what the objects in your drawing are, you can check them using the Objects Show Objects function. This will display each object in turn, including hatch perimeters, and will show you the object's name and parent name, hook point and snip box. Listing and counting the objects in your drawing The Objects List Objects function writes a list of the objects in your drawing into an ASCII file. For each type of object, the following information is given:
Parent name. Object name. Number of objects with that name. Total perimeter of objects with that name. Total area taken up by objects with that name.
Perimeters and areas are measured in the units you have selected in Drawing Settings in the Settings Menu.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Extracting details about the objects in your drawing

The Tools Dump Data function writes detailed information about objects into an ASCII file. This can be information about one particular object, a group of objects, or all the objects in your drawing. The information extracted for each object is as follows:
Parent name. Object name. Coordinates of the object's snip box. Layer. Coordinates of the object's hook point. Whether the object is selected. Whether the object is a hatch perimeter. Each primitive in the object is listed individually, together with its coordinates, line type, pen, width and whether it is selected or not.
The Tools Bill of Materials function lets you extract a bill of materials (BOM). This lists objects and their attributes - e.g. manufacturer, material created from etc. - into an ASCII file. Because the BOM is based on attributes attached to objects, you should create objects using the Make Symbol method, because this allows you to attach attributes to objects. When using Make Symbol, ensure that you enter the attribute and its value correctly. See Bill of Materials in the Tools Menu for details on how to do this.
Drawing Structure
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Selecting objects
Once you have created an object, you can copy it, scale it, move it, mirror it etc. But first you must select the object.
Using Select
Whenever you create an object manually using Objects Begin New Object, Objects Group Into Object or Objects Make Symbol, the primitives in the object are grouped. This means that when you click on the object with the Select cursor all the primitives within it are selected at once, making selection quicker and easier. Some AllyCAD functions that automatically create objects also group the primitives within these objects. For example, when you draw a rectangle using Draw Rectangle, the four lines making up the rectangle are grouped. Similarly, symbols entered using Draw Symbol are grouped, and sketches produced using Draw Sketch are grouped. Select a single object by clicking on it with the Select cursor. The object will become highlighted and handles will appear around it. If you do not want to select the whole object, you must first explode it. To do this, select the whole object by clicking on it. Then select Objects Explode. You will now be able to select individual primitives within the object. If you want to create the object again you must select the individual elements of the object again and then use Objects Group Into Object to create it again.
Using Selection Filters

Two of the commands in the Selection Filters, Object and Name, are specific to selecting objects. The Object option allows you to select an entire object by clicking on it, regardless of the way in which the object was created or whether you have exploded it or not. The Name option allows you select an object or objects by name.
10-12
AllyCAD for Windows
Manipulating objects
Once you have selected the object, you can use the Move, Mirror, Scale, Repeat, Drop and Rotate commands in the Modify menu. A command specific to objects is Objects Update Objects. For example, suppose you have created a square object representing a column, and you have copied this column so that there are several in a particular floor layout. It then becomes necessary to replace all the square columns with differently shaped columns. Update Objects allows all the square columns to be replaced by the other columns automatically, rather like a Search and Replace function in a word-processor.
Before Update Objects After Update Objects
Drawing Structure
10-13
Symbols
Often when you are drawing you may need a particular item many times. For example, an architect may need to draw doors or windows, a mechanical engineer may need to draw nuts and bolts, etc. To save you the effort of drawing such an item over and over again, it is normal to draw it once in one drawing, and then to copy it into any other drawing you need it in. Such an item is referred to as a symbol, and the drawing it is drawn in and copied from is referred to as a symbol library. In AllyCAD, a symbol is exactly the same as an object. Any object can be used as a symbol, and any drawing containing a useful object can be used as a symbol library. Often, however, symbol libraries are drawings containing nothing but objects that have been drawn for use as symbols. For example, architects may have symbol libraries containing nothing but different types of windows or doors. Some dedicated symbol library drawings of this type are provided free of charge when you buy AllyCAD. You can also buy symbol libraries, or make your own. See Creating a symbol library on the next page.
Using symbols.
To load a symbol from a symbol library and into the drawing you are working on, you must first load the appropriate symbol library so that AllyCAD will know where to find the symbol. Load the symbol library using the File Load Symbol File function. See Load Symbol File in the File Menu for details. When you have loaded the symbol library, you can load any symbol in it using the Draw Symbol function. If you need to load a symbol from another symbol library, you will first need to load that library using the Load Symbol File function again. Once you have loaded a symbol from a symbol library into another drawing, it is as though you had created the symbol/object in that drawing. You can copy it, scale it, move it, mirror it, modify it, replace it using the Update Objects command, add to it, delete it, use List Objects to count it, etc.
Making a symbol.
In AllyCAD, a symbol is the same as an object. Any method that creates an object will also create a symbol. There are three methods for creating 10-14 AllyCAD for Windows
objects. These are summarised below, with emphasis on creating objects that are to be used as symbols. Using Objects Begin New Object 1. 2. 3. If you do not want to use the default parent name, change it using
Objects Edit Object Change Parent.
Select the Objects Begin New Objects function. Draw the object. You should draw it horizontally. For example, if you are drawing a fuse ... you should draw it this way round
and not this way round.
This is because of the way that AllyCAD can automatically rotate and snip around symbols when they are inserted into drawings. 4. Position the hook point, using Objects Edit Object Change Hook Point. You should position the hook point at the left end of the symbol because of the way that AllyCAD can automatically rotate and snip around symbols when they are inserted into drawings. Using Objects Group Into Object 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Draw the object. You should draw it horizontally, as shown above. Select the object using Edit Select or Edit Selection Filters. If you do not want to use the default parent name, change it using
Select the Objects Group Into Object function. Position the hook point, using Objects Edit Object Change Hook Point. You should position the hook point at the left end of the symbol 10-15
Drawing Structure
because of the way that AllyCAD can automatically rotate and snip around symbols when they are inserted into drawings. Using Objects Make Symbol The Make Symbol method of object creation has three advantages over the other two methods that are specific to symbols: It prompts you to place the object's hook point at a position of your choice, so you do not have to position the hook point using Change Hook Point. It is important that the hook point of a symbol is carefully positioned, because the hook point acts as a reference point. When the symbol is loaded into another drawing, its hook point will be positioned at the cursor position. It allows you to attach attributes to objects (see Properties of Objects earlier in this chapter). These can later be extracted in a bill of materials. See Bill of Materials in the Tools Menu. It allows you to define your own snip box around the object (see Properties of Objects earlier in this chapter).
To make a symbol: 1. 2. 3. Draw the object. You should draw it horizontally, as shown on the previous page. If you do not want to use the default parent name, change it using
Select Objects Make Symbol and follow the prompts. When positioning the hook point, remember that you should position the hook point at the left hand end of the symbol because of the way that AllyCAD can automatically rotate and snip around symbols when they are inserted into drawings.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Creating a symbol library

Any AllyCAD drawing can be used as a symbol library. However, you may want to create a dedicated symbol library containing nothing but objects to be used as symbols. To do this, enter AllyCAD and start a new drawing, selecting an appropriate scale. Then draw the objects, using any of the three methods, and save the drawing. You can add, delete or edit objects at any time. You may want to add text to your symbol library. If you make this text into an object with the parent name [__LABEL__[ (two underscores on either side) it will not appear in the visual library that appears if you click on [View] when you insert a symbol into a drawing using Draw Symbol.
Drawing Structure
10-17
Blocks
Blocks are similar to Objects and symbols but are hidden and embedded in the drawing file for use when required. Blocks are defined in a drawing as a series of primitives - lines and arcs etc. - but are hidden. They do not actually become part of the drawing until you insert, or use them. Blocks that have been used are called block inserts. Blocks that have been defined but that have not been used are called unreferenced blocks. Like an object, the entire block insert can be selected in AllyCAD by one mouse click. Also like an object a block insert can be exploded to its basic primitives using Objects Explode Object. These primitives can then be edited. Once you explode a block insert it loses its links to the block that defined it, which becomes unreferenced (if no other inserts in the drawing refer to it). Unreferenced blocks can take up a lot of space in your drawing, but since they are not used in the drawing this space is wasted. The File Purge Redundant Elements command deletes unreferenced blocks. This can drastically reduce drawing size and speed up redraws. Purge Redundant Elements has the same effect as the Purge command in AutoCAD. The merging of drawings containing blocks is handled properly, see Symbol Linestyles. See Create Block and Insert Block.
10-18
AllyCAD for Windows
Geometry
Geometry is represented by construction lines and circles which can be used as guide lines for tracing over, for determining the positions of points, for determining line and arc intersection points and for projecting existing lines to another part of the drawing. Tutorial 2 - Accurate Drawing includes a practical example of how geometry can be used.
Geometry
11-1
Geometry elements
The following geometric constructions are available:
Intersecting horizontal and vertical geometry lines (cross). Line at a defined angle. Line through two points. Line parallel to an existing line or circle. Circle. Up to five concentric circles. Circle tangent to two lines. Circle tangent to a line and a circle. Circle tangent to two circles. Circle tangent to three lines. Circle through a point and tangent to a line. Circle through a point and tangent to a circle. Circle through three points. Line tangent to a circle. Line tangent to two circles. Line that is a perpendicular bisector of two points or a line.
Properties of geometry
Geometry has the following properties:
It has no end points and continues into infinity. It is not printed or plotted. It is common to all layers.
11-2
AllyCAD for Windows
Using geometry as guidelines to trace over

To use geometry as guidelines to trace over, you must first draw the geometry using the constructions listed. You can trace over it using the Draw Geometry Trace-Over functions. The most useful of these functions is Fill Geom which allows you to trace over geometry lines and circles by specifying intersections and the geometry lines and circles connecting them.
For example, if this is the geometry you have created, you might specify an intersection ...
... then a line between intersections
... then another intersection. The line will automatically be drawn as a solid line. You can also draw over arcs in this way.
Geometry
11-3
Projecting solid lines and arcs to geometry lines and circles

The Geometry Make Geometry function projects solid lines and arcs into geometry lines and arcs. This is useful for projecting lines into another part of the drawing, or for finding the intersection point between projected lines and arcs.
Jumping to geometry lines, arcs and intersections

The following Jumps will jump to Geometry. These can be found in Tools Jumps:
Jump Geom Intersections Jump Any Intersection Jump Near Element Key I 0 (zero) N Function Jump to geometry intersections and tangency points Jump to intersections between geometry and solid lines and arcs Jump to the nearest line or arc, be it solid or geometry
Snapping to geometry lines, arcs and intersections

The following Snap modes will snap to Geometry. These are found in Settings Snap Modes:
Snap Grab All Key Function
Shift A Snaps to a geometry intersection, tangency point, or intersection between geometry and solid lines and arcs if this is within the cursor box Shift I Snaps to a geometry intersection or tangency point Shift Z Snaps to intersections between geometry and solid lines and arcs Shift N Snaps to the nearest line or arc, solid or geometry Shift P Snaps lines, including geometry lines, to other lines or arcs so that they are perpendicular to each another. This mode only works when you are drawing lines, including polylines and geometry Point-Point lines
Geometry Intersection Intersection Nearest Line/Arc Perp
11-4
AllyCAD for Windows
For example, if you have selected the Geometry Point-Point Line function, AllyCAD prompts:
Enter first point
Position the cursor at a point the geometry line must pass through and click or press [Enter]. AllyCAD will prompt:
Enter second point
Enter Perpendicular snap mode by clicking on the Perp snap icon. The cursor changes shape. Position the cursor close to the line that the geometry line you are drawing must be perpendicular to. Click or press [Enter].
The geometry line is drawn perpendicular to the other line.
Geometry
11-5
Tan Mode Snaps to lines and arcs, including geometry lines and circles, to other lines or arcs so that they are tangential to each another. Click on the Tan snap icon or type [Ctrl] and [T] as a short-cut. Tan snap only works when you are drawing lines or arcs, including polylines and geometry lines and circles. For example, if you have selected the Geometry Point-Point Line function, AllyCAD prompts:
Enter first point
Position the cursor at a point the geometry line must pass through and click or press [Enter]. AllyCAD will prompt:
Enter second point
Enter Tan mode by clicking on the Tan Snap icon, or type [Ctrl]T as a short-cut to this mode. The cursor changes shape. Position the cursor close to the arc that the geometry line you are drawing must be tangential to. Click or press [Enter].
The geometry line is drawn tangential to the arc.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Switching geometry on and off

If you no longer need your geometry, you can delete it or switch it off. To switch the geometry off, you select Geometry Geometry On/Off. The message
Dont Draw Geometry
will appear briefly on the screen. The geometry will disappear from view, although it will still be there. Even though you cant see the geometry you will still be able to jump to it (see Jumping and Snapping above). You can switch it on again at any time by selecting Geometry Geometry On/Off again. The message
Draw Geometry
will appear briefly on the screen.
Saving geometry
Geometry is not automatically stored when you save a drawing. If you want your geometry to be automatically stored when you save a drawing, you must go to File Save Settings. Check the Save Geometry option. You must do this before you save your drawing. When the Save Geometry box is checked, your geometry will be saved in a file with the same name as your drawing, but with a .geo instead of a .drg extension. It will be saved each time you save the drawing. Alternatively, you can save geometry using the File Save Options Save Geometry option. Saved geometry can be loaded into a drawing using the
File Load Load Geom option.
Deleting geometry
To delete a single geometry line or circle, use the Geometry Delete Geometry El function. To delete all your geometry, use the Geometry Delete All Geometry function. Geometry deletion is permanent. The Undo function will not restore a deleted geometry element.
Geometry
11-7
Notes:
11-8
AllyCAD for Windows
Isometrics
Isometrics allow you to draw pseudo 3-D drawings like the ones below.
VALVE SCHEDULE REFERENCE No. SIZE TYPE MANUFACTURER
V7/1 V7/2 V7/3 V7/4 V7/5 V7/6 V7/7 V3/1 V3/2 V3/3 V3/4 V3/5 V3/6 V3/7 V3/8 V3/9 V3/10 V4/1 V4/2 V4/3 V4/4 V4/5 V4/6 V4/7 V4/8 V4/9 V4/10
100mm 100mm 100mm 100mm 100mm 100mm 100mm 100mm 100mm 100mm 100mm 100mm 100mm 65mm 100mm 100mm 100mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 50mm 80mm 80mm 80mm
GATE VALVE NON RETURN VALVE GATE VALVE GATE VALVE NON RETURN VALVE GATE VALVE COMMISSIONING VALVE GATE VALVE GATE VALVE NON RETURN VALVE NON RETURN VALVE GATE VALVE GATE VALVE 3 PORT CONTROL GATE VALVE LOCKSHEILD VALVE COMMISSIONING VALVE GATE VALVE GATE VALVE NON RETURN VALVE GATE VALVE NON RETURN VALVE GATE VALVE 3 PORT CONTROL GATE VALVE LOCKSHEILD VALVE COMMISIONING VALVE
GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY HOLMES GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY STAEFA GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY HOLMES GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY STAEFA GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY HOLMES V3/9
V7/2 V7/3 V3/10 V7/6 V7/4 V3/8 V3/7 PUMP SET - P7
V7/5
V7/1
V4/10 V5/10 V4/8 V4/7 V3/2 V4/9
V3/4 V3/6
V5/8 V7/7 V5/9
V3/3 V5/7 V4/5 V3/1 V4/6 V4/1 V4/4 PUMP SET - P3 V3/5
V6/10 V6/9 V6/7 V6/8 V4/5
V5/4 V5/3
V4/3 V4/2
PUMP SET - P4 VALVE SCHEDULE
V5/2 V6/3 V6/5 V5/1
V5/6 REFERENCE No. SIZE TYPE MANUFACTURER
V6/1
V6/4
V6/6
PUMP SET - P5
V6/2
PUMP SET - P6
V5/1 V5/2 V5/3 V5/4 V5/5 V5/6 V5/7 V5/8 V5/9 V5/10 V6/1 V6/2 V6/3 V6/4 V6/5 V6/6 V6/7 V6/8 V6/9 V6/10
80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm 80mm
GATE VALVE NON RETURN VALVE GATE VALVE NON RETURN VALVE GATE VALVE GATE VALVE 3 PORT CONTROL GATE VALVE LOCKSHEILD VALVE COMMISSIONING VALVE GATE VALVE GATE VALVE NON RETURN VALVE NON RETURN VALVE GATE VALVE GATE VALVE GATE VALVE 3 PORT CONTROL LOCKSHEILD VALVE COMMISSIONING VALVE
GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY STAEFA GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY HOLMES GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY GLENFIELD + KENNEDY STAEFA GLENFIELD + KENNEDY HOLMES
30
This effect is achieved by drawing lines at specific angles. If the drawing contains dimensions, the dimension witness lines are also specially angled, and any circles on the drawing are drawn as ellipses.
Isometrics
12-1
Drawing the lines at the right angles
90 degrees 30 degrees
0 degrees at 3 oclock position
The lines on an isometric drawing are drawn at three specific angles, shown on this diagram: 30, 330 and 90 degrees.
330 degrees
To draw at these angles, you must do the following. 1. 2. 3. Select the Tools Lock Cursor Lock Keyboard option and type 30 as the angle. The angle you have typed will appear after the word LOCK at the bottom right of the screen. To switch between 30, 330 and 90 degrees, select the Tools Lock Cursor 120 deg option. As a shortcut, you can press the [] (fullstop) key on your keyboard. Each time you select 120 deg or press the [] (full-stop) key, you will see that the angle displayed at the bottom right of the screen cycles around 30, 330 and 90 degrees. 4. When you want to lock the cursor in order to draw a line at 30, 330 or 90 degrees, check that the angle you want to draw at is displayed at the bottom right of the screen. Enter the first point of the line. Then press the [+] key on your numeric keypad, click on the Set Square icon or select the Tools Lock Cursor Hold option. A diamond will appear on the screen and the line you are drawing will be locked to the correct angle. When the cursor is locked, say at 30 degrees, you can draw a line at 30 degrees or at its orthogonal, 120 degrees. 120 degrees is incorrect for isometric drawing. If the line is being drawn at the incorrect angle, move your cursor back to the start of the line then move it in the correct direction. 5. To draw lines of the right length, you can use the Arrow Keys. See Accurate Drawing for more details. AllyCAD for Windows
12-2
6.
If you want to change angle while you are drawing, say from 30 degrees to 330 degrees, simply press the [] (full-stop) key or select 120 deg. To unlock the cursor temporarily when you have finished drawing a line or lines, press the [+] key on your numeric keypad, click on the Set Square icon or select the Tools Lock Cursor Hold option. To unlock the cursor
Cursor Unlock option.
7.
8.
permanently, select
the Tools Lock
Drawing an Isometric Grid
An Isometric Grid is a grid where the grid points are arranged at 30, 330 and 90 degrees.
When you have displayed an isometric grid, you can draw lines at the correct angle without locking the cursor, by drawing between grid points. You can snap to grid points accurately using the Grid jump or the Grab All or Grid snap modes. See Accurate Drawing. To draw an isometric grid: 1. 2. Check the Isometric Grids option in the Settings Drawing Settings dialog box. Use the Tools Grid function. This will automatically produce an isometric grid if the Isometric Grids option has been checked.
Isometrics
12-3
Drawing Isometric Circles

Circles in isometric drawings are drawn as ellipses with a specific shape (an aspect ratio of the square root of 3/2). To draw a circle in an isometric drawing, do the following: 1. 2. Check the Isometric Grids option in the Settings dialog box.
Drawing Settings
Ensure that there is a LOCK message at the bottom right of the screen, and that the LOCK message is displaying an angle of 30, 330 or 90 degrees. See Drawing the lines at the right angles earlier in this section. Select the Draw Ellipses Ellipse function. When the Isometric Grids option is checked, ellipses are automatically drawn with the correct shape. Before you enter the ellipse centre point, check the angle that is displayed at the bottom right of the screen. This will affect the angle at which the ellipse is drawn.
3.
4.
If the angle is 30 degrees, the ellipse will be drawn like this.
12-4
AllyCAD for Windows
If you want to cut, hatch or snap to an isometric circle, you must use the Modify Ellipse 2 Arcs function to convert it to twelve arcs.
Isometric Dimensions
10
20
When you dimension an isometric drawing, the witness lines are angled so that they are aligned with the lines being dimensioned.
10
To dimension an isometric drawing, do the following: 1. 2. Check the Isometric Grids option in the Settings Drawing Settings dialog box. Select the Annotate Slope Dimension option. Answer YES to the prompt:
Do you want dimension at fixed angle
When you are asked to enter the bearing, type 30, 330 or 90 the angle of the line you are going to dimension. Because you have checked the Isometric Grids option, you will be asked whether you want witness lines to be angled at 60 or 120 degrees.
Isometrics
12-5
Witness lines at 60 degrees 60 12 Line being dimensioned is at 90 degrees 12
Witness lines at 120 degrees 12 0 12 12
12 Line being dimensioned is at 30 degrees 12
60 12
120
12
12 12 Line being dimensioned is at 330 degrees 12 60 12 0 12
12-6
AllyCAD for Windows
Architectural Toolkit
The architectural tool can be used to speed up many of the activities in drawing of building plans. This chapter will take you through the steps involved in doing this by following a practical example. The steps involved in drawing the building are sequential and must be followed and this sequence must be adhered to for the best results. This sequence is followed in the menus and the toolbar. The steps are listed below: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Setup the drawing (Set Defaults). Draw the outside walls (Double Skin Walls and Single Skin Walls). Draw the internal walls (Internal Walls). Add the roof line to the plan (Add Roof Line to Plan). Place the door and window symbols (Add Roof Line to Plan). Add symbols for internal doors and fittings (Place Symbols). Draw the elevations (Draw Elevations). Add the roof to the elevations (Draw Elevations).
The architectural functions can also be accessed by activating the architectural toolbar in the View Toolbars Architectural option. The toolbar displays the function sequence from left to right.
13-1
Changing the drawing setup

The first thing to do is to set the current sheet size, drawing scale and drawing units. Click on the Settings Drawing Settings option. Select the paper size you require, drawing units in mm, and a scale of 1:100 as shown below:
Remember to change the coordinate system to Cartesian.
13-2
AllyCAD for Windows
Changing the drawing defaults and symbol tree root

Select the Toolkit Architectural Setup option to specify the path for the default settings and the architectural symbols.
To specify the default settings file click on the ellipsis at the end of the Initialization file path and select the ArchSpecs.ini file you wish to use, as shown below:
To specify the root symbol file directory click on the ellipsis at the end of Symbol file path and select the root of the symbol directory, as shown below: Note: The symbol file path must include the Symbols directory for working in the architectural toolkit, otherwise AllyCAD will have problems locating the symbols when the elevations are drawn. Architectural Toolkit 13-3
Click on the [Set] button to select the building standards:
13-4
AllyCAD for Windows
Drawing external walls

There are two external wall types, viz. single and double skin walls. this example the double skin wall is covered. In
Drawing showing dimensions required for geometry lines for plan layout of externalwalls. Firstly draw the geometry lines with the dimensions given in the figure above. And stated again below for clarity: AB BD AC CE 7400 mm 8710 mm 2680 mm 7130 mm
When the geometry lines are completed select the Toolkit Architectural Walls Draw option or left click on the button on the toolbar to activate the wall drawing function. The Wall Setup dialog will be displayed. Select the External wall type as shown below:
13-5
Outside Justification draws the external wall by defining the outside face.
Inside Justification draws the wall by defining the inside face.
In this case select Outside Justification to draw the double skin wall with the face on the outside as indicated by the dashed line. AllyCAD will prompt:
Enter starting position of wall (else spacebar to exit).
Indicate the starting position of the wall with the cursor using jumps or snaps. Start the line by snapping to the intersection of the geometry lines at point A and then proceed clockwise in the direction of the blue arrow. AllyCAD will prompt: 13-6 AllyCAD for Windows
Indicate the end position of the wall using the arrows keys, or a suitable jump or snap mode. In this case jump to the intersection of the geometry lines at point E. AllyCAD will continue to prompt:
Continue on towards points D, C, B and then back to A in the same manner. Press the [Spacebar] to end the wall. AllyCAD will draw the complete double skin wall and will prompt:
Enter starting position of wall (else spacebar to exit).
Press the [Spacebar] to exit the function.
Drawing internal walls

Draw and dimension the first internal wall.
Firstly draw geometry lines with dimensions shown in the figure above.
13-7
When the geometry lines are completed select the Toolkit Architectural Walls Draw option or left click on the button on the toolbar to activate the wall drawing function. The Wall Setup dialog will be displayed. Select the Internal wall type as shown below:
Inside wall drawn in clockwise direction by defining the outside face
13-8
AllyCAD for Windows
Inside wall drawn in anticlockwise direction by defining the inside face
AllyCAD will now prompt:

Enter starting position of wall (else spacebar to exit)
Select the starting position of the wall with the cursor. In this case your start is the geometry lines intersection with the inside of the external wall (see the circle near B in the previous figure). AllyCAD will now prompt:
Continue clockwise from B in the direction of the blue arrow, and snap to point C so that the external face of the wall lies inside of the geometry line. Continue in the same direction to points D and E. AllyCAD will again prompt:
Snap to the intersection point between the geometry line and the inside of the external wall (see the circle near F in the previous figure) and press the [SpaceBar] so that you wont be prompted for another line. Press the [SpaceBar] again to terminate the internal wall function.
13-9
Drawing a closed internal wall
Place a geometry cross at point D (indicated in the drawing above). AC CD 4350 mm 1200 mm
When the geometry lines are completed select the Toolkit Architectural Walls Draw option or click on the button on the toolbar to activate the wall drawing function. Accept the internal wall settings. Note: Ensure that the Close off ends check box has been checked in the internal wall setup dialog otherwise the end of the internal wall will not be closed. AllyCAD will now prompt:
Enter starting position of wall (else spacebar to exit)
Select the starting position of the wall with the cursor. The cursor will snap to the intersection of the inside face of the wall and the geometry line at point C. AllyCAD will again prompt: 13-10 AllyCAD for Windows
Snap to point D in the direction of the blue arrow and press the [SpaceBar] so that you wont be prompted for another line. Press the [SpaceBar] again to exit the internal line function. A closed internal wall is drawn. Complete the internal walls as shown in the plan view below:
13-11
Adding a roofline to the plan

The next stage is to add a roofline to the plan as shown in the drawing below:
Click on the menu option Toolkit Architectural Roof Line Add to plan to plan or the Roof Line toolbar icon. The Roof Line Setup dialog will be displayed. Set the eaves overhang, pen, linestyle and layer name as shown below.
Click on the [OK] button. The perimeter toolbar will now be displayed. 13-12 AllyCAD for Windows
Click on the AutoPerimeter button. AllyCAD will display the following prompt:
Click near the outside of the double skin wall perimeter as the prompt shows. The perimeter will be tracked and the perimeter toolbar will display the following:
Click on the [Accept] button. The roof line will be drawn as a dashed line surrounding the plan view.
13-13
Placing symbols on your drawing

Doors, windows, sanitaryware, kitchen units and other symbols are now placed on the drawing as shown below. Note: First switch off the roof line layer that you have just completed to prevent symbols from snipping the roofline. The roof line must remain intact for the drawing of roofs, which is explained later.
Click on Settings Layer settings in the menu option or click Layer editing button on the File toolbar and switch off the roof line layer as shown below:
The Layer Settings Dialog with the ROOF_LINE layer switched off, as shown by the area highlighted with the red rectangle. Select a plan layer or create a new symbol layer and make it the current layer.
13-14
AllyCAD for Windows
To insert a symbol click on the Toolkit Architectural Place Symbols menu option or on the button on the architectural toolbar.
AllyCAD will display a symbol tree (shown on the left). If you wish to change the default symbol tree shown on the left refer to the section Changing the drawing defaults and symbol tree root.
13-15
Select the WINDOWS folder. AllyCAD will update the catalog to display a list of available window types. Select the AWN_TP2 window type.
AllyCAD will display the symbol toolbar as shown below:
Check the Snip box above and then click the [View] button to see a library of the window symbols selected as shown below:
13-16
AllyCAD for Windows
Select a plan view of the window symbol NCT1S51S from the select symbol window shown above. All windows are listed with a plan view and an elevation. The elevation has the letter E added to the symbol name e.g. NCT1S51S E. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Place the symbol on the external wall as shown below:
Placing a window
13-17
The window in the snipped external wall
Click on the position in the external wall where you would like the window placed. The external wall will be snipped and the window inserted into it as shown above. If you need to rotate the symbol before you insert it type 90 in the rotate edit box of the symbol toolbar as shown below:
The window symbol will be rotated by 900 .
13-18
AllyCAD for Windows
Place the symbols as show in the figure below.
Drawing showing symbol placement of windows and doors. The windows (NCT1S51S, NCT1S9 and NCT15S) were taken from the symbol library 270AWN_TP2.DRG. The two doors in the external walls (BJ10) were taken from the symbol library DRS230R.DRG. The doors in the internal walls (D1L) were taken from the symbol library DRS110.DRG.
13-19
Draw the elevations

The next step is to draw north, south, east and west elevations. The drawing of the bottom elevation will be done as an example as the procedure is the same for all of the elevations.
To add an elevation click on the Toolkit Architectural Place Symbols menu option or the button on the architectural toolbar. The Elevation Setup dialog will be displayed. Set the parameters you require and click on [OK].
13-20
AllyCAD for Windows
AllyCAD will start with the following prompt:

Indicate face on plan for adding elevation (else spacebar to exit)?
The cursor indicates the face of the bottom elevation on the house plan.
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AllyCAD will then snap onto the wall that you have indicated and place the cursor in ortho mode. With the cursor in this mode you can only move parallel to the external wall or perpendicular to wall at the place where you clicked with the cursor.
Enter roof line position of elevation
Move the cursor opposite the point where the cursor was clicked to place where you would like the roof line positioned as shown below.
The cursor indicates the roofline of the elevation on the house plan. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Select window/door to go to elevation (space bar to end selection)
Click on of the windows and doors that can be seen in this elevation as shown in the following figure.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Indicate a window on the house plan to include in the elevation. As you click on the plan view of the symbol its corresponding elevation will be seen in elevation as shown in the following figure.
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The indicated window in the elevation after it has been selected in the plan view. Once all the symbols on the plan have been selected press the [SpaceBar] to continue with procedure. AllyCAD will display the following prompt:
Select outside walls for elevation (space bar to end selection)
Click near (but not on) all the outside walls that will appear in the elevation as shown below.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The cursor indicating the outside wall for selection. Once all the outside walls have been selected press the [spacebar] to indicate that you have finished this elevation and you will be returned to the start prompt again. Press the [spacebar] to exit the function, otherwise start another elevation. The elevation without the roof is shown below in Figure 4.7.
The completed south elevation. We must still add a roof to the elevation. This is covered in the next topic.
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Adding a roof to the elevation

This function completes the last stage of the elevation by adding a roof to it. To add a roof to the elevation click on the menu option Toolkit Architectural Add Roof to Elevation or the button on the architectural toolbar. The Roof Setup dialog will be displayed.
Set the pen, linestyle, layers and roof pitch and click on the [OK] button. The bottom elevation will again be used as an example. AllyCAD will prompt:
Indicate face on plan for adding roof to elevation (else spacebar to exit)
Click near (but not on) the outside wall on the plan to indicate where you would like to add the roof to the elevation as shown below.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The cursor selecting the face on the plan. AllyCAD will then respond with the following prompt:
Select roof line on elevation (else spacebar to exit)
Click near the roofline on the elevation to indicate where the roof must be added as shown in the following figure.
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The cursor selecting the roofline on the elevation. Once you have clicked near the roofline the cursor will snap to the line. AllyCAD will prompt:
Select roof lines for this view (else spacebar to exit)
Click near the roofline on the plan, which in this case represents a facing gable as shown below.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The cursor selecting the facing gable roofline. Once you have clicked near the facing gable roofline the cursor will snap to the line. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Select height of side gable (else spacebar for facing gable)
In this case press the [spacebar] to indicate a facing gable. AllyCAD will again prompt:
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Click near the roofline on the plan, which in this case represents a side gable as shown below.
The cursor selecting the side gable roofline. Once you have clicked near the side gable roofline the cursor will snap to the line. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Select height of side gable (else spacebar for facing gable)
Click near the roofline on the plan which is perpendicular to the side gable roofline selected. This is the roofline from which the height of the side gable can be calculated as shown below.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The cursor selecting the roofline to indicate the side gable height. Once you have clicked near the roofline the cursor will snap to the line. AllyCAD will again prompt:
In this case press the [SpaceBar] to exit the function and the roof will be completed.
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The complete south elevation with its roof added.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Drawing cross sections

To draw vertical or horizontal cross-sections click on the menu option Toolkit Architectural Draw Cross Section or the button to activate the cross- section function. The Cross Section Setup dialog will be displayed. Check the parameters and click on the [OK] button.
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Indicate position for cross-section (else spacebar to exit)
Click with the cursor where you would like the cross-section placed on the drawing as shown below in Figure 6.1
The cursor indicating the position where the vertical cross section is to be placed.
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AllyCAD for Windows
AllyCAD will then prompt:

Indicate inside face of close external wall (else spacebar to exit)
Indicate with the cursor the position of the inside face of the external wall the position where you would like to start the cross section. The cursor will then remain in a perpendicular hold for the entire cross section.
The cursor indicates the position of the inside face of the close external wall.
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Once you have indicated the inside face of the close external wall the cursor will snap to the line. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Indicate face of internal wall (else spacebar for far external wall)
Indicate the inside face of the internal wall as shown below.
The cursor indicates the position of the inside face of an internal wall. Once you have indicated the inside face of the internal wall the cursor will snap to the line.
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AllyCAD for Windows
AllyCAD will again prompt:

Indicate face of internal wall (else spacebar for far external wall)
In this case press the [spacebar] since there are no more internal walls to select. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Indicate inside face of far external wall (else spacebar to exit)
Indicate with the cursor the position of the inside face of the far external wall the position where you would like to end the cross section.
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The cursor indicates the position of the inside face of the far external wall. Once you have indicated the inside face of the far external wall the cursor will snap to the line. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Indicate side of line you would like arrow heads placed (else spacebar to exit)
Indicate with the cursor the side of the section line you want the arrow heads to be placed.
The cursor indicates the side of the section line where the arrow heads must be drawn. 13-38 AllyCAD for Windows
AllyCAD will then prompt:

Select side truss height for side truss only(else spacebar for facing and/or side truss)
In this case we want to draw a facing truss only so press the [spacebar] to indicate the facing and/or side truss option. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Select facing truss for facing and side truss(else spacebar for facing truss only)
We dont want a facing and side truss to appear in the cross section so press the [spacebar] to indicate the facing truss only option. AllyCAD will then complete the drawing of the cross section. This is shown below.
The completed vertical cross section.
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Drawing stairs
To draw stairsclick on the menu option Toolkit Architectural Stairs or the button to activate the stairs function. The Stairs Setup dialog will be displayed. Each of the pages in the stair dialog are shown below in the following figures.
The general page of the Stairs Dialog.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The Railings page of the stairs dialog.
The Treads page of the stairs dialog.
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Adding a straight section of the stair to a drawing plan
The plan and south elevation of a stairs straight section. The direction of the arrow on the plan indicates the direction up the flight of stairs. To add a straight section to a plan check the straight section button in the general plan page of the Stairs Setup dialog as shown below.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Check the parameters and click on the [OK] button. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Indicate base of staircase on plan (else spacebar to exit)
Indicate with the cursor place where you want the base of the staircase placed on the drawing plan. This is shown below.
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The cursor indicating the base of the straight section on the drawing plan. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Indicate direction of top of staircase on plan (else spacebar to exit)
Indicate with the cursor the direction of the top of the staircase. This is shown in the following figure.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The cursor indicating the top of the staircase on the drawing plan. AllyCAD will again prompt:
Indicate base of staircase on elevation (else spacebar for plan)
In this case press the [spacebar] to indicate that you want to draw a plan view only. AllyCAD will then complete the drawing of the plan view of the straight section as shown below in Figure 7.8. Architectural Toolkit 13-45
The straight section on the drawing plan.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Adding a straight section of the stair to a drawing elevation

To add a straight section to a drawing elevation follow exactly the same steps followed for adding a straight section to a drawing plan, except for the last step where AllyCAD prompts:
In this case click the place on the elevation where you would like the base of the staircase placed. The cursor will then remain in a perpendicular hold. This is shown below.
The cursor indicates the base of the staircase on the drawing elevation. Architectural Toolkit 13-47
AllyCAD will then complete the drawing of straight section on the elevation as shown below Figure 7.10.
The straight section on the south elevation.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Adding a landing section to a drawing plan
Drawing showing the three types of landings. These are from left to right U-shape, L-shape and Z-shaped landings. To add a one of the landing sections to a plan (shown in the figure above) check the landing section button in the general plan page of the Stairs Setup dialog as shown below.
Check the parameters and click on the [OK] button. The type of landing is determined by the arrangement of the relative positions of the start, corner and end of the landing. The 3 types of landings, U-shaped, L-shaped and Z-shaped, are shown in the following figures.
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The relative positioning of start, corner and end points for a U-shaped landing.
The relative positioning of start, corner and end points for an L-shaped landing. 13-50 AllyCAD for Windows
The relative positioning of start, corner and end points for a Z-shaped landing. In our example we will add an L-shaped landing. AllyCAD will prompt:
Indicate start of landing on plan (else spacebar to exit)
Indicate with the cursor place where you want the start of the landing placed on the drawing plan as shown in the following figure.
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The cursor position indicates the start of the L-shaped landing. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Indicate corner of landing on plan (else spacebar to exit)
Indicate with the cursor place where you want the corner of the landing placed on the drawing plan as shown in the following figure.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The cursor position indicates the corner of the L-shaped landing. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Indicate end of landing on plan (else spacebar to exit)
Indicate with the cursor place where you want the end of the landing placed on the drawing plan as shown in the following figure.
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The cursor position indicates the end of the L-shaped landing. AllyCAD will then prompt:
Indicate start of landing on plan (else spacebar for plan)
Press the [spacebar] to indicate that we want the landing drawn on the drawing plan. AllyCAD will then complete the drawing of the of the Lshaped landing on the drawing plan as shown in the following figure.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The completed L-shaped landing in the drawing plan.
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Adding a landing section to a drawing elevation

To add a landing section to a drawing elevation follow exactly the same steps followed for adding a landing section to a drawing plan, except for the last step where AllyCAD prompts:
In this case click the place on the elevation where you would like the base of the staircase placed.
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The cursor will then remain in a perpendicular hold. The cursor position indicates the base of the L-shaped landing in the drawing elevation. AllyCAD will again prompt:
Indicate start of landing on plan (else spacebar to exit)
In this case press the [spacebar] to indicate that you want to exit the function. AllyCAD will then complete the drawing of the elevation of the L-shaped landing as shown below.
The completed L-shaped landing in the drawing elevation.
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Notes:
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AllyCAD for Windows
Mechanical Toolkit User Guide

The Mechanical Toolkit is a collection of functions and utilities designed to make the drawing of common mechanical components faster and easier. This chapter will show you how to take advantage of the functionality offered by the mechanical toolkit, through the use of the following practical examples:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Drawing bolts / nuts / screws / rivets Drawing holes Drawing shafts Drawing gears Drawing links Drawing weld annotations Drawing tolerance annotations Drawing surface finish annotations
This chapter assumes that you are familiar with AllyCADs user interface and are comfortable with AllyCADs basic drawing and editing functions.
Before using any of the Mechanical Toolkit functions, it is necessary to set up AllyCAD and the Mechanical Toolkit properly. This will help to avoid getting unexpected results from the Mechanical Toolkit functions. To get the most out of the Mechanical Toolkit, we need to do the following: 1. 2. 3. Activate the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar (optional) Set AllyCAD drawing defaults Set Mechanical Toolkit defaults
Mechanical Toolkit
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Activating the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar

The Mechanical Toolkit functions can be accessed either through the AllyCAD menu, or more conveniently via the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar. If the toolbar is not visible, activate it by using the View Toolbars Mechanical menu item. The Mechanical Toolkit toolbar will appear:
Since the toolbar is a docking toolbar, you may drag the toolbar using the mouse, to any convenient position. You may also notice that if you leave your mouse pointer stationary over a toolbar icon, you will get a pop-up description of the function that that icon represents. Some icons on the toolbar perform different functions depending on whether you click them with the left mouse button or the right mouse button. In these cases, the pop-up description will tell you what functions are performed for a left-click and a right-click.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Set AllyCAD drawing defaults

The first thing to do is to set the current sheet size, drawing scale and drawing units. Click on the Settings Drawing Settings option.
Change the coordinate system to Cartesian. For the purposes of this tutorial: 1. 2. 3. Select a paper size of A3 Change the drawing units to mm (millimeters) Set the scale to 1:1
Mechanical Toolkit
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Set the Mechanical Toolkit defaults

Select the Toolkit Mechanical Setup menu item, or click on the icon in the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar to display the Mechanical Tooolkit Setup dialog:
This dialog is used to customize the Mechanical Toolkit to your preferences. The name of the Mechanical Toolkit configuration file will be shown beneath the Configuration file label. The configuration file contains the current settings relating to the Mechanical Toolkit, including: The Solid, Hidden and Centerline linetype and pen colour used by Mechanical Toolkit functions Which symbol files to use for the weld and tolerance symbols Component library data (ie: data for user-defined bolts, nuts, screws, etc)
For the purpose of this tutorial, do not change the default configuration file! However, set up the Mechanical Toolkit colours and linetypes as in the picture above. (To change a linetype, just select it from the drop-down list. To change a colour, click on the relevant button, and select the colour from the standard AllyCAD colour dialog).
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AllyCAD for Windows
You may also notice the [Annotation Setup] button. Press this button now to go to the Annotation Setup dialog:
This dialog allows you to configure the Mechanical Toolkit annotation functions (ie: weld annotations, tolerance annotations and surface finish annotations). For the purposes of this tutorial, make sure the settings are the same as in the picture above. Click OK to exit from the Annotation Setup dialog. The changes you have made to the annotation configuration will be saved. Click OK to exit from the Mechanical Toolkit Setup dialog. The changes you have made will be saved.
Mechanical Toolkit
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Drawing Bolts, Nuts, Screws or Rivets

While this example shows how to draw bolts, the procedure for drawing any other fastener (nuts, screws or rivets) is almost identical. For this example, we want to draw 4 equally spaced M10 x 45 bolts through a 200 x 100 x 20 steel plate, in both a top view and a side view, like so:
In AllyCAD, draw a side view and top view of a 200 x 100 x 20 steel plate like so:
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AllyCAD for Windows
Create a horizontal geometry line across the middle of the plate in the top view by using the Perpendicular Bisector function (Geometry Perp Bisector). From AllyCADs menu, select the Toolkit Mechanical Fasteners Hex bolts menu item, or if the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar is visible, left click on the Bolt button on the toolbar to activate the bolt drawing function. The Hex Bolts dialog will be displayed:
1. 2.
From the drop-down list, choose the M10 x 45 bolt. The dialog will display the dimensions of the bolt (as in the picture above). In the Repeat section of the dialog, select a repeat number of 4, a repeat type of Linear, and a spacing value of 30 (since our current drawing units are mm, this represents 30mm). Since we want to draw the bolt in both side and top views, make sure that both Side view and Top view are ticked. We want to draw the bolt shaft as hidden, so under Line Types, change the Draw shaft as setting to Hidden line.
3. 4.
Click on the OK button. AllyCAD will now prompt you to place the side view of the bolt in the drawing:
Indicate the bolt position on the thread side of a line
Mechanical Toolkit
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Indicate the line with which you want to align the side view of the bolt, by clicking near the line, on the side of the line that you want the bolts thread to be. In this example, click just below the upper line of the steel plate side view. The first bolt in the repeat will appear. AllyCAD will prompt:
Indicate the direction to repeat to
The mouse cursor is now in ortho mode. Since we want to repeat the bolt in the positive x direction, we move the mouse to the right of the first bolt. You will see the ortho diamond move horizontally with your mouse. Click the left mouse button. You will now see a side view of 4 equally spaced bolts:
AllyCAD prompts:
Enter bolt centre of group for plan view
We need to now specify where to place the first bolt in the top view. Notice that the mouse in ortho mode, and we are aligned with the first bolt again. Move the mouse upwards to the top view of the steel plate. The ortho diamond will move vertically, indicating where the top view of the bolts will be placed. Snap to the horizontal geometry line by moving the diamond near to the geometry line, then pressing the N key. Click the left mouse button to place the bolt top view. AllyCAD will prompt:
Enter a point on the bolt centre line
We now specify the orientation (rotation) of the bolt top view. For now, just click on the same spot again. AllyCad will prompt:
Indicate the direction to repeat to
As with the side view, we now need to specify the direction in which the bolt top view will be repeated. To be consistent with the side view, we 14-8 AllyCAD for Windows
want to repeat the bolt top view to the right (positive x direction), so we move the mouse to the right again, and click the left mouse button. Your completed drawing, including the geometry line, should look like this:
End of tutorial. To draw just 1 bolt, choose a repeat value of 1
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Drawing Holes
The Mechanical Toolkit Holes function allows you to draw side and top views of holes and dowels. You may also use it to draw simple pins.
In this example, we want to draw 8 holes drilled into a 200 x 100 x 20mm thick steel plate, arranged on the circumference of a circle of diameter 75mm. Each hole must have a diameter 13mm, must be drilled through the steel plate, and be counterbored to 6mm deep with a counterbore diameter of 20mm. We will only draw a top view of the holes. Usually the polar or radial repeat is only used to draw top views, as the side view of such repeats makes little sense. Experiment for yourself to see why. In AllyCAD, draw a top view of a 200 x 100 x 20 steel plate like so:
From AllyCADs menu, select the Toolkit Mechanical Drill Holes menu item, or if the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar is visible, left click on the Drill Hole button on the toolbar to activate the hole drawing function. The Drill Holes dialog will be displayed:
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AllyCAD for Windows
Since the hole we want to draw is not defined in our hole library (ie: cant be found in the drop down list of predefined holes in the top-left of the holes dialog), we start off by selecting a predefined hole that is similar to what we want. Select the predefined M10 hole as a starting point. Click on the Add button to add a new hole. Enter the name CS 13x20 when prompted for the name for the new hole. Now we edit the Style of our new hole: Change the Hole type to Drilled Change the Hole range to Through
Then we edit the dimensions of the hole: Change Hole diameter to 13.0 Change the Hole length to 20.0 Change the Countersink depth to 6.0 Change the Counterbore dia to 20.0
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Now we set up the Repeat as per our spec: Change the repeat type from Linear to Polar Change Spacing to PCD Change PCD value to 75.0 Change repeat number to 8
(refer to the picture of the dialog above) When the repeat type is set to Polar, the spacing of the items being repeated can be specified either by entering the PCD of the circle on whose circumference the items will be arranged, OR by entering the spacing between the items.
All that is left is to make sure that Side view is unticked, and Top view is ticked, since we want to draw only a plan (top) view. Make a last check that all you settings look correct (they should look like the settings in the picture above). Click on the OK button. You will be asked if you want to save your changes to the new hole. Click on Yes. (You can always delete the hole later if you dont need it).

Enter hole centre for plan view
We need to now specify the centre of the circle on whose circumference the holes will be drawn. Click in the centre of the plate you have drawn. AllyCAD will prompt:
Enter a point on the hole centre line
We now specify the orientation (rotation) of the bolt top view. For now, just click again on the same spot. The top view of the 8 holes will be drawn like so:
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You will be asked to place the holes again, until you press [Spacebar] to exit this function.
To draw just 1 hole, choose a repeat value of 1
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Drawing Shafts
The Mechanical Toolkit Shafts function allows you to create and draw a side view of a custom shaft.
In this example, we want to draw a shaft with 4 different sections like so:
Both chamfers must be 2mm, all fillets are 3mm.
From AllyCADs menu, select the Toolkit Mechanical Draw Shaft menu item, or if the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar is visible, left click on the Shafts button on the toolbar to activate the shaft drawing function. The Shafts dialog will be displayed:
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AllyCAD for Windows
Click on the Add button to add a new shaft. Enter the name TUTORIAL when prompted for the name for the new shaft. A shaft can consist of up to 20 cylindrical sections, which must lie on the same axis. Each section of the shaft has a length, a diameter, and values for the trim on the left and right ends of that section. Start off by entering the diameter and length of each of the shafts sections into the grid (as in the picture of the shaft dialog above). Then specify the left and right trim for each of the sections (double-click in a grid cell in the L Trim or R Trim columns to select between chamfer and fillet): For section 1, we want a 2mm chamfer on the left, and a 3mm fillet on the right. For section 2, we want no trim on the left (dont enter anything in for the left trim), and a 3mm fillet on the right. For section 3, we want no trim on the left or right. (Dont enter anything for both the left and right trim). For section 4, we want a fillet of 3mm on the left, and a chamfer of 2mm on the right. 14-15
Mechanical Toolkit
The values you have entered into the grid should now look like this:
Finally, make sure that both Open end checkboxes are NOT ticked, and that we have Draw as set to Solid line. Make a last check that all your settings look correct (they should look like the settings in the picture above). Click on the OK button. You will be asked if you want to save your changes to the new shaft. Click on Yes. (You can always delete the shaft later if you dont need it). The dialog will disappear, and AllyCAD will prompt:
Enter centre left point on shaft
We need to now specify where to place the shaft. Indicate on the drawing where the left end of the shaft will be placed. The centerline of the shaft will run through this point. AllyCAD will prompt:
Enter a point on the shaft centre line
We now specify the orientation (rotation) of the shaft. For now, just click again on the same spot. The shaft will appear in the drawing:
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AllyCAD for Windows
(If your shaft appears at an angle, it means that you did not click on the same point when specifying the position and orientation of the shaft. Try again, taking care not to move the mouse after you specify the position of the shaft.) Press [Spacebar] to exit the shaft drawing function.
To draw an end view (axial view) of the shaft, use the Draw Concentric Circles with Centreline function (the menu item Toolkit Mechanical Draw Circles + CL ).
It is a good idea to save your shafts when creating them. If the shaft does not appear correct when you have placed it on the drawing, you can always go back to the shafts dialog, select your saved shaft, and edit/correct it.
Mechanical Toolkit
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Drawing Gears
The Mechanical Toolkit Gears function allows you to create and draw an axial view of a spur gear.
In this example, we want to draw a gear with the following specs: PCD = 150mm Number of teeth = 47 Pressure angle = 20 Bore = 25mm Key width 6mm, depth 4mm
From AllyCADs menu, select the Toolkit Mechanical Draw Gear menu item, or if the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar is visible, left click on the Gear button on the toolbar to activate the gear drawing function. The Gears dialog will be displayed:
1. 2.
Click on the Add button to add a new gear. Enter the name TUT_GEAR when prompted for the name for the new gear. Select a Pressure angle of 20.
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AllyCAD for Windows
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Enter 47 as the number of teeth. Now we calculate the gear module = PCD / number of teeth = 150 / 47 = 3.191. Type 3.191 into the module value input. Enter a shaft diameter of 25. Enter a key width of 6. Enter a key depth of 4. Finally, make sure that we have Draw as set to Solid line.
Make a last check that all your settings look correct (they should look like the settings in the picture above). Click on the OK button. You will be asked if you want to save your changes to the new gear. Click on Yes. (You can always delete the gear later if you dont need it). The dialog will disappear, and AllyCAD will prompt:
Indicate centre point for gear
We need to now specify where to place the gear. Indicate on the drawing where the centre point of the gear will be placed. The gear will appear on the drawing:
Press [Spacebar] to exit the gear drawing function. Use the CAD Modify functions to rotate the gear to the orientation you want.
Mechanical Toolkit
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It is a good idea to save your gears when creating them. If the gear does not appear correct when you have placed it on the drawing, you can always go back to the gears dialog, select your saved gear, and edit/correct it.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Drawing Links
The Mechanical Toolkit Links function is used for drawing side views of simple mechanical linkage arms. In this example, we want to draw a simple link with the following specs:
From AllyCADs menu, select the Toolkit Mechanical Draw Links menu item, or if the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar is visible, left click on the button on the toolbar to activate the links drawing function. The Links dialog will be displayed:
1. 2.
Click on the Add button to add a new link. Enter the name TUT_LINK when prompted for the name of the new link. In the dialog, change the link Type to Flush. 14-21
Mechanical Toolkit
3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Change the centre-to-centre length of the link (the input labeled L in the dialog) to 170. Set H1 (left hole diameter) to 20. Set H2 (right hole diameter) to 16. Set both D1 and D2 (link end diameters) to 40. Finally, make sure that we have Draw as set to Solid line.
Make a last check that all your settings look correct (they should look like the settings in the picture above). Click on the OK button. You will be asked if you want to save your changes to the new link. Click on Yes. (You can always delete the link later if you dont need it). The dialog will disappear, and AllyCAD will prompt:
Enter centre left point on link
Indicate on the drawing where you would like to place the links left hole centre. AllyCAD will prompt:
Enter a point on the link centre line
We now specify the orientation (rotation) of the link. For now, just click again on the same spot. The link will appear in the drawing:
Press [Spacebar] to exit the link drawing function.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Drawing Weld Annotations

This example shows how to create a weld annotation for a weld in your drawing. Before creating weld annotations, it is a good idea to check that your annotation defaults are set up correctly. Use the Toolkit Mechanical Annotate Annotation Setup menu item to display the Annotation Setup dialog, and check that the settings for Weld annotation layer name, text size, symbol size and arrow size are correct.
For our example, we want to indicate that the welds are 5mm thick fillet welds, 100mm long, spaced at 200mm, on both the near side and the other side. The surface of the welds must be concave, the welding process number is 11, and the welding class is B. The welds must be done on site.
In AllyCAD, draw a side view of intersecting 20mm steel plates with a fillet weld that looks like this:
From AllyCADs menu, select the Toolkit Mechanical Annotate Welds menu item, or if the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar is visible, left click on the Weld Annotation button on the toolbar to activate the weld annotation function. The Weld Annotation dialog will be displayed:
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Click on the Add button to add a new weld annotation. Enter the name TUT_WELD when prompted for the name. Set the Symbol for both sides of the weld to Fillet. Set the Surface for both sides of the weld to Concave. Set the Finish for both sides of the weld to None. Set the Length to 100, and the Pitch to 200. Enter 5 in both the weld dimension inputs. Enter 11 B in the Tail information input. Make sure that Site Weld is ticked. Make sure that All Around is NOT ticked.
Do a final check that the data you have entered looks like the picture above. Click on the OK button. You will be asked if you want to save the changes to the new weld annotation. Click on Yes. (You can always delete it later if you dont need it). AllyCAD will now prompt you for the arrow-head position:
Indicate the arrow head position for the weld indicator
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AllyCAD for Windows
Use the mouse to indicate where the tip of the arrow must appear in the drawing (usually next to the weld which you want to annotate). AllyCAD will prompt:
Indicate the position of the weld indicator
Use the mouse to indicate where the weld indicator (ie: the all around or site weld symbol) will appear. The mouse cursor will now switch to ortho mode, allowing you to only move the mouse horizontally. AllyCAD will prompt:
Indicate the position of the weld symbols
Use the mouse to indicate where the actual weld symbols will appear. Take care to leave enough space between the weld symbols and the weld indicator to display the weld length and pitch. AllyCAD prompts:
Indicate the position of the tail
Use the mouse to indicate where the tail of the weld annotation appears. The weld annotation is now drawn on the layer specified in Annotation Setup:
To change the colour of weld annotations, change the colour of the weld annotation layer. Weld annotations can be selected, resized, moved and copied like any other object.
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14-25
Drawing Tolerance Annotations

This example shows how to create and draw a tolerance annotation in a tolerance frame. Before creating tolerance annotations, it is a good idea to check that your annotation defaults are set up correctly. Use the Toolkit Mechanical Annotate Annotation Setup menu item to display the Annotation Setup dialog, and check that the settings for Tolerance annotation layer name, text size and symbol size.
For our example, we want to add a runout tolerance to a hollow shaft. In AllyCAD, draw a hollow shaft like this:
Tip: use the shafts function twice to create the inside and outside profile of the hollow shaft, then explode the 2 shafts you have created, snip some lines, and hatch the relevant sections. Save the drawing so that you can use it later in the Surface Finish example. Add the a datum indicator A to the drawing using the Toolkit Mechanical Annotate Datum menu item, or if the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar is visible, left click on the Datum button on the toolbar. Since the datum indicator will not snap properly to a dimension line as in the drawing above, create the datum indicator against the hollow shaft outer surface, then drag it to the correct location.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Now we want to create a runout tolerance of 0.05mm on the inside diameter of the right-hand end of the shaft, relative to our datum A.
From AllyCADs menu, select the Toolkit Mechanical Annotate Tolerances menu item, or if the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar is visible, left click on the Tolerance Annotation button on the toolbar to activate the tolerance annotation function. The Tolerance Annotation dialog will be displayed:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Click on the Clear button to remove the current tolerance settings. Under Symbol, select the runout symbol from the dropdown list. In the text input for the 1st Tolerance, enter 0.05. In the text input for the 1st Datum, enter A.
Make a last check that all your settings look correct (they should look like the settings in the picture above). Click on the OK button. AllyCAD will now prompt:
Indicate the position of the tolerance annotation
Use the mouse to indicate where the bottom-left of the first line of the annotation must appear. In this case, it will be near the right-hand inside diameter dimension of the hollow shaft, like so:
Mechanical Toolkit
14-27
The tolerance annotation is now drawn on the layer specified in Annotation Setup. Now add an arrow from our tolerance frame to the right-hand inner diameter dimension (Use the Annotate Add Arrow menu item). You should now have a runout tolerance annotation on your hollow shaft:
To change the colour of tolerance annotations, change the colour of the tolerance annotation layer. Tolerance annotations can be selected, resized, moved and copied like any other object. This function does not automatically create an arrow with the tolerance box. Use the Annotate Add Arrow menu item to create an arrow from the tolerance box to the relevant feature.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Drawing Surface Finish Annotations

This example shows how to create and draw a surface finish annotation (surface texture tolerance). Before creating surface finish annotations, it is a good idea to check that your annotation defaults are set up correctly. Use the Toolkit Mechanical Annotation Setup menu item to display the Annotation Setup dialog, and check that the settings for Surface Finish annotation layer name, text size and symbol size.
For our example, we want to specify the surface finish to be applied to the outside surface of a hollow shaft.
In AllyCAD, draw a hollow shaft like so:
(This is the same shaft as in the tolerance annotation example, so if you have done that example, you can re-use the same drawing).
Our surface finish spec is: Roughness: 0.20 micrometers Produced by turning process Minimum material removal of 4mm
From our spec, we also deduce that the direction of lay of the surface finish will be perpendicular to the indicated surface.
Mechanical Toolkit
14-29
From AllyCADs menu, select the Toolkit Mechanical Annotate Surface Finish menu item, or if the Mechanical Toolkit toolbar is visible, left click on the Surface Finish Annotation button on the toolbar to activate the surface finish function. The Surface Finish Annotation dialog will be displayed:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Click on the Add button to add a new surface finish definition. You will be asked to name the new surface finish definition. Enter TUT_SURF and press the [Enter] key. Select Machining Required from the Material Removal drop-down list. Select the perpendicular lay symbol (from the lay symbol drop-down list. Enter 0.20 in the roughness input. Enter 4 in the minimum material removal input. Enter TURN in the process/note input.
The data you have entered into the surface finish dialog should look like the picture above. Click on the OK button. You will be asked to save your changes to this surface finish definition.
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AllyCAD for Windows
AllyCAD will now prompt:

Indicate the position of the surface finish annotation
Use the mouse to indicate where the bottom of the tick of the surface finish annotation must appear. In this case, use the snap to nearest line function (the N key), to align the surface finish annotation with the surface you wish to annotate. The surface finish annotation is now drawn on the layer specified in Annotation Setup:
To change the colour of surface finish annotations, change the colour of the surface finish layer. Surface finish annotations can be selected, resized, moved and copied like any other object. Change the colour of the surface finish layer to dark purple, and resize the surface finish annotation so that it doesnt interfere with the dimension line. Your surface finish annotation should now look like this:
Mechanical Toolkit
14-31
Notes:
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AllyCAD for Windows
Common Questions and Problems

This section offers solutions to some common problems and should be read before calling for support.
15-1
Printing Problems
In Windows both printers and plotters are classified under the general heading Printers, and printing refers to both printing and plotting. Switch everything off and try again The first thing to try if you have a problem printing or plotting is to switch off your computer and printer, then try again. Make sure you are using the correct driver Virtually all printing problems are caused by:
Using the wrong printer driver or an out-of-date printer driver. If you experience a problem download the latest Windows driver for your device from the manufacturers Internet site. Using an incorrectly set up printer driver. For example, if you try to plot an A1 drawing to a printer whose paper size has been set to A3 in the printer setup, only part of your drawing will be printed.
To set up your printer in Windows 95 click on Start Settings Printers and click on the icon representing your printer so that it becomes highlighted. Then select Properties from the File Printers and follow set up procedures. If the line thickness or colour is incorrect Set the pen mapping in the Printer Defaults. Refer to Print in the Reference Manual. If large arcs are not smooth Check the Plot arcs as lines option in the Printer defaults. If only part of the drawing is printed ... If the printer hangs after only printing part of the drawing, go to File Print Setup. Click on the Properties button and the on the Options tab. Select the In computer option in the Process document section.
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AllyCAD for Windows
The drawing appears on two sheets of paper instead of one, or is printed incompletely This is likely to be caused by insufficient printer memory or incorrect setting of the printers sheet feeding options. For example, many laser printers need their Page Protect function on in order to print large drawings. You may need to install more memory into your printer in order to turn the Page Protect function on. See your printer handbook. Some printers such as the HP DesignJet have an option to use the printer or the computers memory to process the drawing. See the previous section. To check your printers memory and sheet feeding options click on Start Settings Printers. First click on your plotters icon so it becomes highlighted, then right click on it and select Properties. Continue proper set-up. The edges of the drawing are not printed Check the printing limits of your device in your printer handbook. Some printers leave surprisingly large margins around a print. If you set the paper size in Settings Drawing Settings to Use Driver Limits, AllyCAD will read the margins from your default printer and the dotted magenta box that shows the paper size on the screen will show the printable area rather that the paper size. Therefore you wont lose the edges of your drawing. If this is not the problem select File Print Setup Properties. Click on the Paper tab and ensure that the correct paper size is selected. The drawing is printed in the wrong orientation If your drawing is printed in the wrong orientation, go to File Print Setup and ensure that the correct Portrait or Landscape option is selected. Some printers automatically rotate drawings, which can cause confusion over portrait and landscape printing. For example, if you are printing to A1 paper on an A1 HP DesignJet printer, the paper has to be fed into the printer in portrait in order to fit in the printer. The printer then automatically rotates landscape drawings by 90 so that they fit correctly on the portrait paper.
15-3
Unless you really want to create a portrait drawing, you must ensure that Landscape is selected in File Print Setup. Paper orientation in Settings Drawing Settings must also be set to Landscape. If the printer insists on printing the drawing the wrong way round whatever you do, you are probably using the wrong driver. Vertical text and dimensions are plotted horizontally You will experience this problem if you are using a device with an HPGL driver (e.g. a Hewlett Packard pen plotter) and you have used non-plotter fonts in your drawing. Return to your drawing and ensure that all your text and dimensions are in either Modern, Roman or Script font. These are fonts with neither a TT or a screen icon in front of their names in the list of fonts. If these fonts don't appear on your list of fonts set up your plotter as your default printer. Click on Start Settings Printers. Then click on your plotters icon so it becomes highlighted, go to the File menu and select Set As Default. This problem is caused by a bug in the Windows HPGL driver. If you have a modern plotter that understands HPGL2, use an HPGL2 driver. If you have a modern plotter but no HPGL2 driver, contact your plotter supplier. Printed text is not the same as on the screen This results from three factors:
Windows does not always display text absolutely correctly on the screen at all magnification factors. To get round this problem, find a magnification where the way that text appears on screen corresponds to the way it appears when you plot the text out. Enter future text at this magnification. The printer driver you are using. For example, if you print to a HP LaserJet 4/4M PostScript printer running on Windows 95 using the plain 4/4M driver, the text will Shift. If you use the 4/4M PostScript driver, the text will remain exactly where you placed it. The font you are using. Plotter fonts (Modern, Roman or Script) will not shift. TrueType fonts will.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Some colours are not printed or printed incorrectly Pen Plotters The white pen may not be plotted. If you have used white on your drawing, change everything that is white to another colour (see Changing all the pale blue parts of a drawing to black later in this chapter). If pens other than white have not been plotted, try plotting again and ensure that the Minimum Pen and Maximum Pen in the Printer Defaults dialog box are set to 1 and 15, even if your plotter only has 6 pens. The pen numbers refer to the AllyCAD pens and not to your plotter pens, so if you give a maximum pen of 6, only elements drawn in the first six pens will be plotted. If all colours are being plotted in the same pen, uncheck the All Colours to Black option in the Printer Defaults dialog box. If colours are not plotted as you expected, see the section Colours that are plotted/printed in Print in the File Menu. You can change the pen colours in your plotter driver as follows. Click on Start Settings Printers. Then click on your plotters icon so it becomes highlighted, go to the File menu and select Properties. Click on the Options tab. You should be able to change the plotter pen colours in this dialog box. Printers Do one of the following things:
Set All Colours to Black in the Printer Defaults dialog box. See Print in the File Menu. Change the pen of all the elements drawn in the colour that is not printing, for example change all pale blue elements on the drawing to black. See Changing all the pale blue parts of a drawing to black later in this chapter. Change the colour of the offending pen, for example get rid of the pale blue colour altogether by changing it to another colour of your choice. To do this, click on the Pen button in the Control Bar. A colour palette appears. Select a new colour for that pen, then click on OK. When you redraw, all elements drawn in the offending pen will take on the new colour. This change will affect all your drawings.
15-5
Lines and arrows appear dotted on mono printers Many mono printers print different colours in different shades of gray, giving a dotted effect. If your printer does this, do one of the following things:
Set All Colours to Black in the Printer Defaults dialog box. See Print in the File Menu. Change all the elements drawn in the unsatisfactory colour so they are drawn in black. For example, change all pale blue elements on the drawing to black. See Changing all the pale blue parts of a drawing to black later in this chapter. Change the colour of the offending pens, for example get rid of the pale blue colour altogether by changing it to another colour of your choice. To do this, right click on the Pen button in the Control Bar. A colour palette appears. Select a new colour for that pen, then click on OK. When you redraw, all elements drawn in the offending pen will take on the new colour. This change will affect all your drawings.
Lines look solid on the screen but are printed as dashed lines This occurs when you are using a line width greater than 0. Because of the way that AllyCAD rounds the ends of wide lines the dashes in a dashed line may run into each other so that the line appears continuous. If you suffer this problem, here are some things you can try:
When selecting a continuous line type at widths greater than 0, make sure you select the very top line type even if there are several line types that look continuous. The very top line type is the continuous one. Type USESWDOTTEDLINES 1 into the Command Line and press [Enter]. Then redraw. You may now be able to distinguish between dashed and solid lines on the screen. Increase the Pixrepeat factor in your LINETYPE.MAC file. See Line Types. Set all line widths back to 0 in the drawing and print line widths by colour, for example print all red lines as 0.3mm, all green lines as 0.7mm etc. See Print in the File Menu for details on how to do this.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Dimension witness lines are printed very faintly To thicken witness lines, set aside one colour and draw all your witness lines in that colour. Then map that colour to a thickness greater than 0. See Print in the File Menu for details on how to do this. Arcs are not plotted, or are plotted incorrectly If arcs are not plotted, or are plotted incorrectly, check the Print Arcs as Lines option in the Printer Defaults dialog box that appears just before you plot. An FP error appears when you try to print If you get a FP error on printing, this is almost certainly due to hatch or solid fill that has leaked out of its boundaries. Display all the hatches on the screen using Annotate Draw All Hatch. Delete and redraw any hatches that look abnormal.
15-7
A function doesn't work, or doesn't work properly

If a function doesn't appear to be working, or doesn't appear to be working properly, check the following: Are you in a snap mode? The most likely reason why a function doesn't appear to be working is that you are in a snap mode other than Freehand. Click on the Freehand icon in the Snaps toolbar and try the function again. This problem is particularly common when you are using the Modify Move or Modify Stretch commands. Have you clicked in the right place? Some functions require you to click in a particular place. For example, if you are filleting, you must click on the inside of the corner to be filleted, otherwise the fillet will appear inside out. Check the correct operation of the function. Do you have duplicate (overlapping) lines? Some functions won't work if you have duplicate lines. A typical example is Delete. If you click on a duplicate line to select it, then delete it, the line disappears. But when you redraw the screen, the line seems to reappear. This is because there was another line underneath the line you deleted. Similarly, Any Intersection jump and the Intersection snap may not work if there are duplicate lines or arcs over the intersection point. Try moving the cursor around a bit and re-trying the jump. If this doesn't work, remove the duplicate lines or arcs. Another symptom of duplicate lines is very slow redraw times and very large drawings. To remove duplicate entities, do the following:
Use File Purge Redundant Elements. This removes all exactly duplicated elements. Use Tools Tidy Polygons. This deletes overlapping and duplicated lines and arcs, but does not work on text.
15-8
AllyCAD for Windows
Do you need to do something before a function will work, e.g. select something, create a grid, draw geometry? Some functions require you to select something before they will work. While most of these functions will remind you about this, some will not. For example, if you click on the [NO] button in answer to the question Stretch everything (else just selected) in Stretch, and you have not selected anything, nothing will happen. Some functions, for example the Align To Grid option, require you create a grid before they will work. Many of the functions in the Geometry Menu will only work with other geometry. For example, the function Line Tan C will only draw a line tangent to a geometry circle. If you need to draw a line tangent to a solid circle, use a Tangent Snap or project the circle to geometry first using Geometry Make Geometry. Check the correct operation of the function. Has the drawing been imported as a DXF or DWG file? If the drawing has been imported as a DXF or DWG file, it is likely that entities that look like lines and arcs are in fact polylines. To check whether an entity is a polyline, use Tools Query Entity. Some functions, like Snip, Trim and Fillet, wont work on polylines. To get them to work, you have to use Objects Explode Objects to explode the polylines into lines and arcs. You may need to use Explode Objects several times to break the polylines down completely. See Explode Objects in the Objects Menu. If you cant change the colour of entities on a drawing that has been imported as a DXF or DWG file, this is also likely to be because the entities are polylines. AllyCADs line and arc editing functions wont work on polylines. To change their colour, you can explode the polylines as described above. Alternatively, double click on individual polylines to change their colour, or use Settings Set Polyline Defaults to change the colour of many polylines at once. Deleted or trimmed entities keep coming back This is due to duplicate entities. See above.
15-9
Grid jump or the Grid Snap mode doesn't work If you are displaying a grid on the screen and the grid specified is too fine to display all the grid points at once, a coarser grid will be displayed, for example every second or third grid point. Grid jump or the Grid Snap mode will jump onto a grid point even if it is not displayed. If you magnify into your drawing, the previously invisible grid points will appear. The maximum number of grid points to be displayed on the screen at any time is set in the Tools Grid function. Point jump or the Point Snap doesn't work Sometimes when using Point jump or the Point Snap the cursor may jump to a seemingly blank point on the screen. This is normally an arc, circle or ellipse centre point that you cannot see because the Show Arc Centres option in Settings View Settings is not checked. If you check this box, the centre points will re-appear. The cursor takes on a life of its own and/or moving diamonds appear on the screen The cursor is locked. Press [K] and then [U] to unlock it. Press [+] on the numeric keypad to clear the cursor hold. Dimensions can't be selected and deleted In order to delete a dimension, you must first select it. Once selected, you can delete it using Edit Delete. To select a dimension, try clicking on it in the position described below. If this doesnt work, see the If All Else Fails section. Horizontal, vertical, slope and ordinate dimensions Select horizontal, vertical, slope and ordinate dimensions by clicking on them just beneath the dimension text.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Angular Dimensions
Select angular dimensions (angles or arc lengths) by clicking on the dimension arrow that points in the anti-clockwise direction (arrowed in the diagram on the left).
Radial Dimensions How to select a radial dimension depends on whether the dimension text is on the dimension arrow or not, and whether you are selecting a circle dimension or an arc dimension.
R 15
57.39
20
If the text is not on the dimension arrow, click at the intersection of the line underneath the text and the dimension arrow (arrowed in the diagrams on the left).
If the text is on the dimension arrow and this is an arc dimension, click underneath the dimension text.
20
If the text is on the dimension arrow and this is a circle dimension, click between the dimension text and the point where the dimension arrow touches the circle circumference. There are two such points (arrowed in the diagram on the left). One or the other (but not both) will work.
15-11
If All Else Fails ... If all else fails, go to Edit Selection Filters and set the filters so that only Dims are checked. Then select the part of the drawing containing the dimension by dragging a rectangle around it or using Edit Select by Polygon. You must include the whole dimension. In a horizontal, vertical, slope or ordinate dimension, this includes the actual points being dimensioned. In an angular dimension, this includes the point where the lines intersect. Because the Selection Filters are set to Dims only the dimension will be selected. When you have finished, dont forget to set the Allow All option again. Dimension text is not centred There are two common reasons why dimension text is not centered: 1. Trailing blanks. Use the Annotate Edit Dimensions Edit Dimension Properties command to edit the dimension text. When the text appears in the Control Bar ensure there are no blanks before or after it. 2. Dimension centered on tolerance sign. Mechanical dimensions such as 34 +/-.2 are centered about the tolerance sign (the plus or the minus). This may make the dimension appear off centre in certain cases, e.g. 456789+/-.1. The way to correct this is to use the Modify Stretch function to move the dimension text.
Dimensions are incorrect or entities are drawn at the wrong scale There are two likely reasons for this. 1. Have you produced an automatic detailed view using Expand? a) If so, it is likely that you have accidentally changed the magnification of the layer you are drawing on. The following solution assumes that you are drawing on layer 0 and that the detailed view was drawn at a magnification of 2. Go to Settings Layer Control. If layer 0 has a magnification of 2, this confirms that you have indeed accidentally changed the layer's magnification. Change the magnification of layer 0 to 1. Then create a new layer to copy the detailed view to. Give this new layer a magnification of 2. Then exit the Layer Control dialog box. Select the detailed view and copy it to the new layer using
Modify Move Selected New Layer.
b)
c)
d) 15-12
AllyCAD for Windows
e) f) g)
Ensure that the current layer is 0. Select all the entities that have been wrongly dimensioned and their dimensions. Use Modify Scale to scale the selected entities by 2 2, then by 0.5 0.5. The dimensions should now be correct. If you also have entities that are the wrong size, select them and use Modify Scale to scale them by 0.5 0.5 (because you accidentally changed the magnification to 2, so the entities will be twice as big as they should be).
2.
You have drawn your dimensions on the wrong layer a) When you draw dimensions, you must make sure you are on a layer with the same magnification as the layer the entities you are dimensioning are on. You can check layer magnifications in Settings Layer Control.
Cut and Rub doesn't work on circles AllyCAD stores a circle as a long arc with its start and end points at 3 o'clock. If you want to cut out that part of a circle that includes the 3 o'clock position, you need to remember that you are actually cutting the two ends of an arc, not a chunk out of a continuous circle.
For example, suppose you want to cut this circle ...
... so that it looks like this.
Select Cut and Rub and answer YES to

Do you want to cut one place
15-13

Select line to cut (between cut point & end)
Click close to the portion of the circle you want to cut, above the 3 o'clock position.
AllyCAD prompts :
Select cut point.
Position the cursor at the cut point above the 3 o'clock position and click.
The portion of the circle above 3 o'clock will be deleted. Repeat for the portion below 3 o'clock.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Cutting ellipses doesnt work Ellipses cannot be cut, hatched or snapped to unless you convert them into twelve arcs using the Ellipse2Arcs function in the Modify Menu.
Users trying to create holes in an isometric view frequently encounter this problem. The best way to do this is as follows.
Draw two ellipses, and then use Ellipse2Arcs to convert the ellipses into 12 arcs. You will not see anything happening when you use Ellipse2Arcs.
Select and delete all the unwanted arcs that do not cross the full ellipse.
Then go to Modify Trim. Set the Trim options on the Control Bar to First Line and One Point. Click at the two arrowed positions to trim the remaining unwanted arc sections.
15-15
The [Enter] key or some accelerator keys dont work If you have customised your menu system, it is likely that your menu file exceeds the maximum menu file length. Any lines after the maximum length will be ignored. As the [Enter] key is defined near the bottom of the menu file, this key may stop working. See CAD.MEN for tips on shortening menu files. I cant change the colour of an entity This is likely to happen on drawings that have been imported as DXF or DWG files. Entities that look like lines and arcs are likely to be polylines, so AllyCADs line and arc editing functions wont work on them. To change their colour, you must either:
Double click on individual polylines to change their colour, or use Settings Set Polyline Defaults to change the colour of many polylines at once. Use Objects Explode Objects to explode the polylines into lines and arcs. You may need to use Explode Objects several times to break the polylines down completely. See Explode Objects in the Objects Menu.
AllyCAD crashes each time I change the paper size Ensure that there is a printer driver loaded in Windows, even if there is no printer connected to your PC. AllyCAD keeps crashing or hanging If AllyCAD keeps crashing or hanging (i.e. it just stops responding, or you get error messages such as Application error or This program has performed an illegal function), you need to check whether it only crashes when you are working on a particular drawing or whether it crashes regardless of the drawing you are working on. If it only crashes when you are working on a particular drawing, repair the drawing. See Repair in the File Menu. If AllyCAD crashes regardless of the drawing you are working on, the most likely reason is that you have two mouse drivers loaded, one in DOS and one in Windows. Disable the DOS driver. If this is not the problem, ensure you are using a Microsoft mouse driver. Non-standard mouse drivers can cause problems.
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AllyCAD for Windows
If the problem is not your mouse, check your screen driver. For example, the Orchid Fahrenheit 1280 Plus Graphics card with the version 5.0 driver causes the AllyCAD Help File to hang. This problem can be fixed by obtaining the version 5.01 driver from Orchid. If the problem is neither your mouse nor your screen driver, it is likely that Windows is incorrectly set up, that your PC contains non-standard parts such as a non-Intel maths coprocessor or emulator board, or that it contains a defective part such as a faulty memory chip or graphics card. These problems may not affect other programs on your PC because CAD makes far heavier use of your PCs maths and graphics capabilities than relatively simple programs like word processors. If you can, try loading AllyCAD onto another PC and see whether the problem persists. Remember that very few AllyCAD users suffer from persistent crashes. If you do experience a problem like this, it is almost certainly a Windows set-up or hardware problem. DWG/DXF Import/Export doesnt work Refer to the Reference Manual for information on reading and writing DXF and DWG drawings.
15-17
Parts of the drawing can't be selected

If you can't select some parts of your drawing, check the following: Selection Filters The selection filters can cause items to be omitted when you try to select them using Select by Polygon, Select All etc. For example, if Current Colour is checked, only elements in the current colour will be selected. If Lines is not checked, lines will not be selected, etc. Go to Edit Selection Filters and click on the Allow All option once or twice until all the filters except Current Colour, Current Line Type and Current Layer are checked. Locked Layers If a layer is locked, you won't be able to select anything on it. You can see whether a layer is locked, and unlock it, in Settings Layer Control.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Symbols
The following problems might be experienced when using symbols.
Symbols split into two or more parts

There are two reasons why symbols may be split into two or more parts: symbol size and symbols that contain hatches or solid fills. Symbol Size Symbols have a maximum size of 8000 bytes - roughly 250 lines or 130 arcs. If you try to create a symbol that is larger than this, AllyCAD will arbitrarily split it into 2 or more parts. If you need to create large symbols, there are two work-arounds. 1. Make the symbol up in several parts
Suppose the tree on the left is too large to make into a symbol.
Split it up into several symbols, each with its hook point (marked by an X in the diagram on the left) in the same place.
When you come to insert the symbol into a drawing using Draw Symbol insert the treetop and the tree trunk separately but position them in exactly the same place. Because their hook points are in the same place the two symbols will be superimposed perfectly to form the tree. You can also write a macro to automatically superimpose the different parts of the symbol. See the dowel example below. When moving a symbol made up of several parts, ensure that you have selected all the parts. Common Questions and Problems 15-19
2.
Put the symbol in a separate drawing Save the large symbol in a separate drawing of its own. Make sure you are using the Cartesian coordinate system (see Drawing Settings in the Settings Menu) and that the symbols hook point is positioned at coordinate position 0 0. When you need the symbol in another drawing, use File Load Load Drawing to load it. AllyCAD will prompt
Enter new reference position
Position the cursor where you want the symbols hook point to be.
AllyCAD has lost my symbols

An AllyCAD symbol library is just an ordinary AllyCAD drawing. As a result, when you create a symbol library in AllyCAD, you will probably save it in the Drawing directory. This is the place where AllyCAD automatically stores drawings unless you have specifically told it to store them somewhere else. However, when you use File Load Symbol File to load a symbol library, AllyCAD automatically looks in the Symbol directory. If you have stored your symbol library into the Drawing directory, your symbol library won't be in the Symbol directory. You will have to change directory to the Drawing directory in order to find your symbol library.
Symbols are inserted at the wrong angle

If you are entering a symbol with the autorotate option checked and the symbol refuses to rotate itself onto a line as expected, firstly ensure that you are trying to rotate the symbol onto a line and not a polyline and also that you have clicked close enough to the line. You should click almost on the line. Otherwise, save your drawing, then load the drawing containing the symbol. Check that the symbol has been drawn horizontally, not vertically. If not, use Modify Rotate to rotate it. Then use Objects Edit Object Change Hook Point to check that the hook point is at the left-hand end of the symbol and to move it if it is not.
Symbols include hatches or solid fills

If you have created a symbol that includes a hatch or solid fill, you will find that the symbol and its hatch/fill are treated as separate objects when you come to load the symbol into a drawing using Draw Symbol.
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AllyCAD for Windows
This is because hatches and solid fills are a special sort of object that cannot be incorporated into any other object. Try the following workarounds: Convert the hatch to lines This works for cross hatches but not solid fills. Use Annotate Hatch Lines to convert the hatch to lines. These lines will then be included in the symbol when you create it. The disadvantage of this method is that a complex hatch will create many lines. The symbol may then become too big (see Symbol Size, above). Make the symbol up in several parts Create the symbol and its hatch separately, ensuring they both have the same hook point. When you use Draw Symbol insert the symbol and its hatch separately but position them in exactly the same place. Because their hook points are in the same place the two symbols will be superimposed perfectly to form the complete hatched symbol.
For example, to create this dowel ...
draw the dowel without the solid fill. Make the dowel into an object and position its hook point at its centre. Now add the solid fill. To do this, use Objects Begin New Object to give the fill a name. Then select Annotate Enter Hatch/Solid Fill. It is very important that you start defining the fill perimeter at the dowel centre. This is because the first point of the perimeter you enter will be the fills hook point.
Start
Define the perimeter as indicated by the arrows, using the intersections method.
15-21
When you have finished, click on [Done], then [Accept]. The dowel will be filled. You can now bring the dowel and its fill into another drawing as two separate symbols and superimpose them using their hook points. Following is a macro to automatically superimpose the dowel and its fill. For example, suppose the dowel is called DOWEL and its fill is called DOWELFILL. The two objects are stored in a drawing called DOWEL.DRG.
rem *** load the symbol library the symbols are stored in NEWSYMFL ".\symbol\dowel.drg" "N" "N" while (1) { rem *** ask user where he wants the symbol positioned cur "Enter position for dowel" x y k if (k) { end } rem *** draw the DOWEL symbol ADDSYM "DOWEL" [x,y] 1 0 rem *** draw the DOWELFILL symbol ADDSYM "DOWELFILL" [x,y] 1 0 } end
When moving a symbol made up of several parts, ensure that you have selected all the parts. Put the symbol in a separate drawing Save the symbol and its fill in a separate drawing of their own. Make sure you are using the Cartesian coordinate system (see Drawing Settings in the Settings Menu) and that the symbols hook point is positioned at coordinate position 0 0. When you need the symbol in another drawing, use File Load Load Drawing to load it. AllyCAD will prompt "Enter new reference position". Position the cursor where you want the symbols hook point to be.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Hatching
Solid fills must be carefully thought out as they are less flexible than normal hatching. Solid fills create triangles If you try to solid fill an area that contains an island, you must first break it down into areas without islands, otherwise you can end up with fills that look like this. This also applies if you are trying to fill several areas in one go. To solid fill several areas successfully, you must fill one area. Then go to Enter Hatch/Solid Fill again and fill another area. Thereafter go to Enter Hatch/Solid Fill again and fill another area, and so on.
For example, this is the original area to be filled.
By extending the left hand vertical line of the D so it touches the top and the bottom of the box, the area can be divided into three sub-areas without islands:
the area to the left of the D the area to the right of the D and the area in the middle. These three areas can then be filled to achieve the desired effect. You can also create solid fills with islands as follows:
Solid fill an area.
15-23
Then solid fill another area on top of it in white, to make the island.
If you use this method, ensure that the All Colours to Black option in the Printer Defaults dialog box is not checked when you print! Hatches can't be selected and deleted To select a hatch, go to Edit Selection Filters and click on the Hatch button. Crosses will appear on all the hatches on your drawing. Click on the cross associated with the hatch you want to select. To delete the selected hatch, press the [Delete] key on your keyboard. The hatch will be deleted. Changing hatch pattern colours Hatches can now be created with two types of colour. 1. 2. The first type uses the default hatch colour defined in the HATCH.PAT file. This is red by default. The second type (switched on by the override with pen check box on the hatch dialog) uses the colour of the first line in the hatch perimeter to set the hatch colour.
Changing default hatch pattern colours To change this colour, you need to load the HATCH.PAT file into a text editor such as Windows Notepad. The HATCH.PAT file lives in your users\guest directory. If you look at the HATCH.PAT file, you will see that each hatch pattern is defined by a number of lines. To change the colour of a hatch, ignore the first two lines of each hatch pattern definition (the hatch pattern's name and the two figures beneath it), and edit the first figure in each of the lines that follow. For example, the following hatch pattern definition draws red bricks:
*brick,Brick or masonry-type surface 10, 0 1, 0, 0, 0,0, 0,.25 1, 0, 90, 0,0, 0,.5, .25,-.25
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AllyCAD for Windows
1, 0, 90, .25,0, 0,.5, -.25,.25
To make the bricks white, you must edit the definition so that it looks like this:
*brick,Brick or masonry-type surface 10, 0 12, 0, 0, 0,0, 0,.25 12, 0, 90, 0,0, 0,.5, .25,-.25 12, 0, 90, .25,0, 0,.5, -.25,.25
The number 12 at the beginning of the last three lines changes the hatch colour from red to white. Colours are numbered from 0 to 15 in the Color toolbar. In order for your changes to take effect, you must save the HATCH.PAT file and restart AllyCAD. When you change hatch colours in HATCH.PAT, these colours will affect ALL YOUR DRAWINGS. The way around this is to set up multiple user directories on your system. For example, you could set up two user directories called red and white. The HATCH.PAT file in the red user directory could define red hatch patterns, and the HATCH.PAT file in your white directory could define white ones. For red hatches, you would then log into the red user directory when starting up AllyCAD. For white hatches, you would log into the white user directory. Changing hatch pattern colours for Override Pen hatches Since the colour for these hatch patterns is determined by the colour of the first line in the hatch perimeter, you can change the hatch colour, by changing the colour of this first line. To do this proceed as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Choose Edit Selection Filters. The Selection dialog box appears. Click on the Properties tab then uncheck the Hatch and Non-Hatch option. Check the Hatch/Solid fill only option. Click on the Pen button on the Control Bar and select the colour you want to change (pale blue in this case). Click on the Objects tab of the Selection dialog box. Click on the Select All button in the Selection dialog box. All the hatch patterns with pale blue override pens are selected. 15-25
7.
Click on the Properties tab again, then Hatch and Non Hatch option in the dialog box to remove the tick from it. If you do not do this, you will find that you will only be able to select hatch items the next time you try to select anything! Click on the Close button to close the Selection dialog box. Right click on the Line icon in the Main toolbar. The Line Style dialog box appears.
8. 9.
10. Click on the Pen button. Change the pen to black. 11. Click on the Apply button. The Apply What? dialog appears. 12. Click off the All button, and click on the Pen button, to just apply the current pen. 13. Click on the OK button. The colour of the selected hatch perimeter lines and arcs is changed. You may not be able to see the change because the lines are still selected. 14. Deselect everything by clicking on an empty area of the drawing. 15. Redraw by pressing [R].
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AllyCAD for Windows
Problems with redraws or with what is displayed

Redraws become very slow If redraws are very slow, this is almost certainly a result of unpurged entities that have been imported from an AutoCAD drawing. See Purge Redundant Elements in the File Menu. You could also have duplicate entities on your drawing. Alternatively the drawing may contain lots of sketches or cubic splines. These consist of many small lines, and can significantly slow down redraws. Try using the Tools Tidy Polygons Tidy Up Boundaries function to reduce the number of lines in the sketches or cubic splines. Text has disappeared or is drawn as boxes This is a standard AllyCAD function to speed up redraws. By default, AllyCAD draws text that is too small to read as boxes or dots. If you magnify into your text, you should find that it is there in full detail. You can turn off this function by typing 0 in the Text to Boxes and Text to Dots options in Settings View Settings. However, if you do this you will find that screen redraws are substantially slower. You can turn text off altogether using the Annotation to Draw section of Settings View Settings. Small items on your drawing disappear This is a standard AllyCAD function to speed up redraws. By default, AllyCAD draws objects that are too small to see properly as lines or boxes. If you magnify into your drawing, you should find that your objects appear in full detail. You can turn off this function by typing 0 in the Objects to Boxes at option in Settings View Settings. However, if you do this you will find that screen redraws are slower. Hatching disappears This is a standard AllyCAD function to speed up redraws. As hatching takes a relatively long time to draw, hatches are turned off after they have been generated. Even though they are not visible, they will be printed or plotted out.
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To view your hatches temporarily use the Annotate Draw All Hatch function. If you want your hatches to be permanently displayed set the Hatch to draw option to "All" in Settings View Settings. Bitmaps are drawn as purple hatched boxes This is a standard AllyCAD function to speed up redraws. As bitmaps take a relatively long time to draw, it is possible to display them as placeholders - purple hatched boxes. To display a bitmap in full detail, double click on it and uncheck the Placeholder for Bitmap option in the dialog box that disappears. If you want your bitmaps to be permanently displayed in full detail set the Bitmaps to draw option to All in Settings View Settings. Text changes size as you magnify in and out of the drawing This is a windows graphics problem. Find a magnification where the way that text appears on screen corresponds to the way it appears when you print or plot the text out. Enter future text at this magnification. Colours do not display properly If you have customised AllyCADs colours, you may find that some of them dont display properly on the screen. This is because your graphics card is not set to display 65000 colours. Whether this is possible or not depends on your hardware. Scroll Box springs back to centre When you use the Scroll Bars, the Scroll Box (the little square that you slide around) will always spring back to the middle of the Scroll Bar after you have finished panning. This is because the AllyCAD Drawing Area stretches to infinity. Control Bar text is very large or very small If the word Command at top left and the layer names in the Layer Display are very large or very small, go to Settings View Settings and click on the Control Bar Font button. Here you can change the size and font of this text.
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AllyCAD for Windows
How do I change colours

Most of the examples in this section show you how to change pale blue parts of your drawing to black, although they can be applied to any two colours. Changing pale blue lines and arcs to black 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Choose Edit Selection Filters. Click on the Properties tab of the Selection Dialog box and then check the Current Colour option. Click on the Pen button on the Control Bar and select the colour you want to change (pale blue in this case). Click on the Objects tab of the Selection dialog box, Click on the Select All button in the Selection dialog box. All the pale blue parts of the drawing are selected. Click on the Properties tab again, then on the Current Colour option in the dialog box to remove the tick from it. If you do not do this, you will find that you will only be able to select items of the current colour next time you try to select anything! Click on the Close button to close the Selection dialog box. Right click on the Line icon in the Main toolbar. The Line Style dialog box appears. Click on the Pen button. Change the pen to black.
7. 8. 9.
10. Click on the Apply button. The Apply What? dialog appears. 11. Click off the All button, and click on the Pen button, to just apply the current pen. 12. Click on the OK button. The colour of the selected lines and arcs is changed. You may not be able to see the change because the lines are still selected. 13. Deselect everything by clicking on an empty area of the drawing. If the colour of the lines and arcs has not changed, ensure that what you think are lines and arcs are lines and arcs and not polylines. You can check this using Tools Query Entity.
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Changing pale blue polylines and Bezier curves to black This is exactly the same as above except that at step 8 you must right click on the Polyline icon in the Main toolbar instead of on the Line icon. The Polyline Style dialog box will appear. Changing pale blue text to black Steps 1 to 7 are exactly the same as in Changing pale blue lines and arcs to black. 8. 9. Right click on the Text icon in the Main toolbar. The Set Text Defaults dialog box appears. Click on the Pen button. Change the pen to black.
10. Click on the Apply button. 11. The Attributes to Apply dialog box appears. Click on the All check box at the top of the dialog box so that all the ticks disappear. 12. Click on the Pen check box so that only that box is ticked. You only want to change the text colour, nothing else. 13. Click on OK to exit the dialog box. 14. Click on OK to exit the Set Text Defaults dialog box. The colour of the text is changed. You may not be able to see the change because the text is still selected. 15. Deselect everything by clicking on an empty area of the drawing. Changing pale blue arrows to black (not dimension arrows) Steps 1 to 7 are exactly the same as in Changing pale blue lines and arcs to black. 8. 9. Select Settings Set Arrow Defaults. The Arrow Style dialog box appears. Click on the Pen button. Change the pen to black.
10. Click on the Apply button. 11. Click on the OK button. The colour of the arrows is changed. You may not be able to see the change because the arrows are still selected. 12. Deselect everything by clicking on an empty area of the drawing.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Changing pale blue dimension text to black 1. 2. 3. 4. Select Settings Set Dim Defaults. The Dimension Settings dialog box appears. Click on the Text Pen button. Change the pen to black. Click on the OK button. Type [R] to redraw the screen. The dimension text will change colour.
Changing pale blue dimension arrows and witness lines to black 1. The colour of each dimension's arrows and witness lines must be changed individually by double clicking on each dimension or by using the Annotate Edit Dimensions Edit Dimension Properties function. You cannot change the colour of Angular Dimension or Radial Dimension arrows and witness lines once drawn. To change them to another colour, you must redraw the Angular or Radial dimensions after selecting another witness line colour in Settings Set Dim Defaults.
2.
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How do I ...
This section answers some of the most frequently asked questions.
Add a title block (border) to a scaled drawing

See Load Title Block in Load in the File Menu.
Get more than one scale on a drawing

Different scales on one drawing are achieved by drawing on layers with different magnifications. For example, suppose your drawing is at a scale of 1:100. To create a detail at a scale of 1:50, you must set up a layer with a magnification of 2. To create a detail at a scale of 1:25, you must set up a layer with a magnification of 4, etc. There are two ways of doing this. Using Expand
Tools Expand allows you to create a detail of something you have already drawn. For example, suppose you have drawn something at 1:100 and you now want a detail of it at 1:50.
1. 2.
Create a new layer using the Layer Display or Settings Layer Settings. Call it DETAIL_50. Use Tools Expand to create the detail automatically. When AllyCAD prompts:
Enter magnification factor
type 2. When the Magnified Layer dialog box appears, select the layer you have just created, DETAIL_50. When AllyCAD prompts:
Enter new magnification for layer
accept the default by pressing [Enter] or clicking on OK. The detail will automatically be displayed on the layer DETAIL_50 correctly trimmed and at the correct scale. Anything that you draw on the layer DETAIL_50 in future will also be at a scale of 1:50.
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AllyCAD for Windows
When you draw dimensions, you must make sure you are on a layer with the same magnification as the layer the entities you are dimensioning are on. You can check layer magnifications in Settings Layer Settings or check the scale on the status bar. Using Layer Control 1. 2. Go to Settings Layer Settings. Type in the name of the new layer at the end of the list and specify with a particular magnification. For example, if your drawing is at 1:100 and you want to draw a detail at 1:50, you would give the new layer a magnification of "2". Anything you draw on the new layer will be drawn at a scale of 1:50. When you draw dimensions, you must make sure you are on a layer with the same magnification as the layer the entities you are dimensioning are on. You can check layer magnifications in Settings Layer Control.
Get a diameter, degree or other special character

Sometimes you may need to enter a special character such as the diameter symbol or a degree sign onto your drawing. The special characters can be entered by typing a key code. For example, to enter the diameter symbol, hold down the [Alt] key on your keyboard while typing the numbers 0216 into your numeric keypad. To enter the degree sign, hold down the [Alt] key while typing the numbers 0176 into your numeric keypad. To discover the code needed to enter a special character select Start Programs Accessories Character Map. At the top left of the Character Map that appears select the font you are using, e.g. Times New Roman. All the characters available in that font appear on the Character Map. Click on the character you want to use. The code for that character will appear at the bottom right of the Character Map.
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Move dimension text

Click on the text.
60.7
Three nodes (little squares) will appear on the dimension - one at each of the dimensioned points and one at the dimension text position.
60.7
Click on the node at the dimension text position. It will become black (highlighted).
Once the node is highlighted, you can accurately nudge it to a new position. To do this, press the arrow key pointing in the direction you want to move the node to, e.g. the [Up-Arrow] key. AllyCAD prompts
Move Up: How far?
Type a distance and press [Enter]. The dimension text will be moved up by the amount you specified and the witness lines will be lengthened to fit. You can also move the text by dragging the highlighted node to a new position.
Write a macro with Notepad

If you use Notepad to write a macro or to edit a file in Windows 95 you may find that it insists on adding a .txt extension to any file you save. For example, you may think you have saved a file as TEST1.MAC but Windows 95 will have saved it as TEST1.MAC.TXT. The way round this problem is to put double quotes around the file name when you save the macro, i.e. save it as TEST1.MAC.
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AllyCAD for Windows
Index
A
Accelerator Keys .............................................................................................. 3-18 Add New Layer................................................................................................... 8-6 Adding Users ...................................................................................................... 2-7 Alter Dimension ............................................................................................... 6-27 Angles dimensioning ................................................................................................ 6-25 isometric ........................................................................................................ 12-2 Angular Dimension.......................................................................................... 6-25 Application Error Message .......................................................................... 15-16 Arcs changing pale blue to black ..................................................................... 15-29 dimensioning radii....................................................................................... 6-24 don't print or print incorrectly .................................................................. 15-7 isometric ........................................................................................................ 12-4 isometric, cutting ..............................................................................12-5, 15-15 problems cutting / trimming.................................................................... 15-13 solid print as dashed.................................................................................... 15-6 Arithmetic Operators ...................................................................................... 9-13 Arrow Keys......................................................................................... 3-18, 9-2, 9-8 Arrows changing pale blue to black ..................................................................... 15-30 dont print solidly ......................................................................................... 15-6 Attributes..................................................................................................10-6, 10-7 AutoCAD blocks...................................................................................................see Blocks problems importing/exporting from/to.................................................. 15-17 Automatic Detailed Views.................................................................see Expand
B
Begin New Object .................................................................................10-8, 10-15 Bill of Materials .............................................................................................. 10-11 Bitmaps appear as hatched rectangles .................................................................. 15-28 Blocks ............................................................................................................... 10-18
C
CAD Directory .................................................................................................... 2-3 CAD.INI ............................................................................................................... 2-5
CAD.LOG .............................................................................................................2-5 CAD.MEN ............................................................................................................2-5 Calculations .......................................................................................................9-13 Change Hook Point................................................................................ 7-12, 10-5 Change Name.......................................................................................... 7-12, 10-4 Circles isometric, problems with ..........................................................................15-15 Circular Copy ....................................................................................................8-16 Command Line ...................................................................................................3-8 text too large or too small .........................................................................15-28 COMPASS.DRG .................................................................................................2-5 COMPASSN.DRG ..............................................................................................2-5 Control Bar ..........................................................................................................3-4 text too large or too small .........................................................................15-28 Coordinate Display...........................................................................................3-15 Copying by cursor.........................................................................................................8-12 circular copy ..................................................................................................8-16 polar copy.......................................................................................................8-16 Cosines................................................................................................................9-13 Counting Objects .................................................................................. 8-23, 10-10 Crashing ................................................................................................. 15-7, 15-16 Cross Hatching..................................................................................................6-12 Current Object ...............................................................................7-14, 10-3, 10-9 Cursor select cursor (arrow-shaped)......................................................................3-14 shape ...............................................................................................................3-14 takes on life of its own ...............................................................................15-10 unlocking permanently .................................................................................9-8 Customising the CAD ......................................................................................2-12 Cut and Rub doesn't work on circles ..............................................................................15-13
D
Define Zoom View ..............................................................................................4-9 Degree Sign .....................................................................................................15-33 Delete doesn't work...................................................................................................15-9 Deleting can't delete dimensions .............................................................................15-10 can't delete hatches ....................................................................................15-24 deleted entities keep coming back............................................................15-9 users ..................................................................................................................2-8 Demagnify............................................................................................................4-8
Detailed Views .....................................................................................see Expand Dialogue Boxes................................................................................................. 3-15 Diameter Sign................................................................................................. 15-33 Diamonds Appear on the Screen................................................................ 15-10 Dimensioning angles.............................................................................................................. 6-25 radii ................................................................................................................. 6-24 Dimensions........................................................................................................ 6-20 altering object to fit.........................................................see Alter Dimension angular ........................................................................................................... 6-25 can't delete................................................................................................... 15-10 can't select ................................................................................................... 15-10 changing pale blue arrows to black........................................................ 15-31 changing pale blue text to black ............................................................. 15-31 changing pale blue witness lines to black............................................. 15-31 horizontal....................................................................................................... 6-20 isometric ........................................................................................................ 12-5 linear............................................................................................................... 6-20 moving text.................................................................................................. 15-34 radial............................................................................................................... 6-24 text disappears............................................................................................ 15-27 text drawn as boxes ................................................................................... 15-27 text drawn as dots ...................................................................................... 15-27 text not centred .......................................................................................... 15-12 text printed at wrong orientation ............................................................. 15-4 variable..............................................................................see Alter Dimension witness lines printed too faintly................................................................ 15-7 wrong............................................................................................................ 15-12 Directories Installed by the CAD.................................................................... 2-2 Display Problems ........................................................................................... 15-27 DOM.TXT............................................................................................................ 2-5 Drag and Snap.................................................................................................... 8-9 Draw by Number ................................................................see Alter Dimension Drawing Area.................................................................................................... 3-14 Drawing Settings ........................................................................................5-2, 7-2 Drawings, Very Large ..................................................................................... 15-8 Dump Data ...................................................................................................... 10-11
E
Ellipses problems ...................................................................................................... 15-15 End Key ............................................................................................................. 3-18 Enter Hatch/Solid Fill ............................................................................6-12, 6-13 Enter key
doesn't work.................................................................................................15-16 Enter Key ...........................................................................................................3-18 Enter polygon about ... prompt .......................................................................3-6 Error Messages ..................................................................................... 15-7, 15-16 Escape Key ........................................................................................................3-18 Expand................................................................................................................6-34 Expanded Views ................................................................................. see Expand
F
Files Installed by the CAD................................................................................2-2 Fill Geom............................................................................................................11-3 Fillet ......................................................................................................................6-3 doesn't work...................................................................................................15-9 Fills......................................................................................................................6-12 Forward Slash Key ..........................................................................................3-18 FP Error Message ................................................................................ 15-7, 15-16 Functions Don't Work .....................................................................................15-8
G
Generic Dimensions............................................................see Alter Dimension Geometry.................................................................................................. 5-12, 9-12 available constructions................................................................................11-2 deleting ...........................................................................................................11-7 doesn't work...................................................................................................15-9 inking in..........................................................................................................11-3 jumping and snapping to ............................................................................11-4 projecting from existing lines / arcs..........................................................11-4 properties .......................................................................................................11-2 saving ..............................................................................................................11-7 switching on and off.....................................................................................11-7 tan snap mode ...............................................................................................11-6 tracing over....................................................................................................11-3 Geometry Trace-Over......................................................................................11-3 Grid ........................................................................................................... 5-15, 9-12 can't jump or snap to .................................................................................15-10 isometric.........................................................................................................12-3 jumping or snapping to ...............................................................................9-12 Grid (Snap Mode) doesn't work.................................................................................................15-10 Group Into Object ......................................................7-7, 7-10, 7-11, 10-8, 10-15 Guest Sub-directory................................................................................... 2-4, 2-6
H
Handles
rotating with.................................................................................................. 8-15 stretching and scaling with ........................................................................ 8-14 Hatch Perimeters............................................................................................. 10-3 HATCH.PAT ....................................................................................................... 2-5 Hatching ............................................................................................................ 6-12 can't attach to symbols / objects.............................................................. 15-20 can't delete................................................................................................... 15-24 can't select ................................................................................................... 15-24 disappears.................................................................................................... 15-27 solid fills create triangles.......................................................................... 15-23 with islands ................................................................................................... 6-13 Help, Smart Cursor ......................................................................................... 3-15 Home (Screen Centre) ...................................................................................... 9-9 Home Directories see also Progam Home Directory; User Home Directory Home Key .......................................................................................................... 3-18 Hook Point................................................................................................10-5, 10-7 changing................................................................................................7-12, 10-5 Horizontal Dimension..................................................................................... 6-20
I
Icons.................................................................................................................... 3-12 Illegal Operation Message............................................................................ 15-16 Installation........................................................................................................... 2-2 Isometrics circles.............................................................................................................. 12-4 cutting isometric circles.............................................................................. 12-5 dimensions .................................................................................................... 12-5 grid .................................................................................................................. 12-3 problems with circles ................................................................................ 15-15 It Doesn't Work! ............................................................................................... 15-8
J
Jump Grid doesn't work ................................................................................................ 15-10 Jump Point doesn't work ................................................................................................ 15-10 Jumps ..........................................................................................................5-17, 9-9 difference between jumps and snap modes ............................................. 9-9 don't work ...........................................................................................15-8, 15-10
K
Key / .................................................................................................................... 3-18 Keyboard ........................................................................................................... 3-18 Keyboard Short-Cuts ........................................................see Accelerator Keys
L
Landscape..........................................................................................................15-3 Large Drawings ................................................................................................15-8 Layer Display ......................................................................................................3-9 text too large or too small .........................................................................15-28 Layers ...................................................................................................................8-6 changing ...........................................................................................................3-9 current ..............................................................................................................3-9 Learning the CAD ............................................................................................2-10 Left Mouse Button ................................................................................. 3-13, 3-16 Line Type current ..............................................................................................................3-9 setting ...............................................................................................................3-9 solid lines/arcs print as dashed..................................................................15-6 Line Type Display ..............................................................................................3-9 Lines changing pale blue to black......................................................................15-29 drawing orthogonal...................................see Lock Cursor; Move Distance isometric.........................................................................................................12-2 solid print as dashed ....................................................................................15-6 LINETYPE.MAC................................................................................................2-5 List Objects ............................................................................................ 8-23, 10-10 Load Drawing .....................................................................................................4-4 Load Symbol File ................................................................................... 8-3, 10-14 Load Title Block .............................................................................................15-32 Loading a Drawing.............................................................................................4-4 Lock Cursor .........................................................................................................9-7 see also Move Distance ..................................................................................9-7
M
Macro Sub-directory..........................................................................................2-4 Magnify.................................................................................................................4-5 MainCAD Caused a General Protection Fault Message ........................15-16 Make Geometry ................................................................................................11-4 Make Symbol......................................................................................... 10-8, 10-16 Menus ...................................................................................................................3-3 Minimum Requirements...................................................................................2-1 Mirror Image .....................................................................................................8-18 Mouse..................................................................................................................3-16 Move Distance............................................................................................. 9-7, 9-8 Move to Coordinates.................................................................................. 5-4, 9-9 Moving dimension text.............................................................................................15-34
dragging accurately with cursor ................................................................. 8-9 nudging ........................................................................................... 8-11, 9-2, 9-4 Moving the Cursor at isometric angles ....................................................................................... 12-2 diagonally .................................................see Numeric Keypad; Polar Move to a specific point ..................................................... see Jumps; Snap Modes Multiple Users .................................................................................................... 2-6 Multiple Views .................................................................................................. 4-12
N
Nudge .................................................................................................. 8-11, 9-2, 9-4 Numeric Keypad .......................................................................................3-18, 9-4
O
Object Name ............................................................................................10-4, 10-7 changing................................................................................................7-12, 10-4 Objects................................................................................................................ 10-3 adding to ...............................................................................................7-14, 10-9 attributes...............................................................................................10-6, 10-7 automatically created.................................................................................. 10-7 can't attach hatching to............................................................................. 15-20 changing hook point...........................................................................7-12, 10-5 changing object name ........................................................................7-12, 10-4 changing parent name ................................................................................ 10-4 changing snip box ........................................................................................ 10-6 counting ..............................................................................................8-23, 10-10 creating ...................................................................................................7-7, 10-7 see also Begin New Object; Group Into Object .......................................... current...................................................................................................10-3, 10-9 disappear ..................................................................................................... 15-27 dividing .................................................................................................7-11, 10-8 drawn as boxes ........................................................................................... 15-27 extracting details........................................................................................ 10-11 functions that create.................................................................................... 10-7 hook point.............................................................................................10-5, 10-7 inserted at wrong angle ............................................................................ 15-20 inserting ........................................................................................................... 8-3 listing ...................................................................................................8-23, 10-10 manipulating............................................................................................... 10-13 maximum size ....................................................................................10-3, 15-19 merging .................................................................................................7-10, 10-8 name ......................................................................................................10-4, 10-7 parent name ............................................................................. 10-4, 10-7, 10-17 properties....................................................................................................... 10-4
search and replace .......................................................................................8-19 size ...................................................................................................................10-7 snip box ................................................................................................ 10-5, 10-7 split into two or more parts ......................................................................15-19 updating .........................................................................................................8-19 viewing....................................................................................see Show Objects Offsets ...................................................................................................................6-6 Open....................................................................................................... 4-4, 6-2, 8-2 Opening a Drawing ............................................................................................4-4 Orientation drawing printed at wrong ...........................................................................15-3
P
P Number...........................................................................................................10-7 Panning ................................................................................................................4-6 using Scroll Bars ..........................................................................................3-14 Paper Size changing causes a crash............................................................................15-16 Parallel Defaults ......................................................................................... 6-6, 6-8 Parallel Line (Draw) ........................................................................... 6-6, 6-7, 6-9 Parallel Lines ......................................................................................................6-6 1 Parallel Element ................................................................................ 7-5, 7-14 Parametric Dimensions .....................................................see Alter Dimension Parents changing name..............................................................................................10-4 name...........................................................................................10-4, 10-7, 10-17 Pen Selection ....................................................................................................3-10 Pens can't change colour of an entity...............................................................15-16 dont display properly................................................................................15-28 dont print as expected ................................................................................15-5 editing pen of existing entities.................................................................15-29 PgDn Key ...........................................................................................................3-18 PgUp Key ...........................................................................................................3-18 Point Snap Mode doesn't work.................................................................................................15-10 Polar Copy .........................................................................................................8-16 Polar Move...........................................................................................................9-6 Polygon (Enter polygon about ... prompt).....................................................3-6 Polylines changing pale blue to black......................................................................15-30 some functions don't work on ........................................................ 15-9, 15-16 Portrait ...............................................................................................................15-3 Primitives ...........................................................................................................10-2
grouping into objects................................................................................... 10-7 Printing arcs don't print or print incorrectly.......................................................... 15-7 arrows dont print solidly ........................................................................... 15-6 colours dont print as expected ................................................................. 15-5 dimension witness lines print too faintly ................................................ 15-7 drawing prints to two sheets ..................................................................... 15-3 drivers ............................................................................................................ 15-2 edges of drawing not printed..................................................................... 15-3 FP Errors ....................................................................................................... 15-7 incomplete prints ......................................................................................... 15-3 problems ........................................................................................................ 15-2 solid lines/arcs print as dashed ................................................................. 15-6 text moves around ....................................................................................... 15-4 text prints at wrong orientation................................................................ 15-4 wrong orientation ........................................................................................ 15-3 Program Home Directory................................................................................. 2-3 Prompt Area........................................................................................................ 3-4
Q
Quick Detailed Views .........................................................................see Expand
R
Radial Dimension............................................................................................. 6-24 Radiused Corners .............................................................................................. 6-3 Redraws problems with ............................................................................................. 15-27 very slow .............................................................................................15-8, 15-27 Reference manual.............................................................................................. 1-2 Reference Point............................................................................ see Hook Point Repeat ................................................................................................................ 8-16 Replace Objects ................................................................................................ 8-19 Right Clicking.................................................................................................... 3-16 Right Mouse Button ...............................................................................3-13, 3-17 Rotating by cursor ........................................................................................................ 8-15 Ruler Bar ........................................................................................................... 3-14 turning on and off ........................................................................................ 3-14
S
Save..................................................................................................................... 5-23 Save As...................................................................................5-23, 6-38, 7-15, 8-24 Save Options ..................................................................................................... 5-23 Scale
entities drawn at wrong ............................................................................15-12 more than one on a drawing ....................................................................15-32 Scaling (Entities) by cursor.........................................................................................................8-14 Screen Centre, jumping to ...............................................................................9-9 Scroll Bars .........................................................................................................3-14 scroll box (little square) stays at centre ....................................... 3-14, 15-28 Search and Replace Objects ..........................................................................8-19 Select Cursor.....................................................................................................3-14 Selecting can't select dimensions..............................................................................15-10 can't select hatches.....................................................................................15-24 can't select parts of drawing.....................................................................15-18 Short-Cut Keys .................................................................. see Accelerator Keys Show Objects........................................................................................... 7-9, 10-10 Sines....................................................................................................................9-13 Slow Drawings ...................................................................................... 15-8, 15-27 Smart Cursor Help...........................................................................................3-15 Snap Modes ......................................................................................5-17, 9-9, 9-11 difference between jumps and snap modes..............................................9-9 don't work .......................................................................................... 15-8, 15-10 Snip doesn't work...................................................................................................15-9 Snip Box................................................................................................... 10-5, 10-7 changing .........................................................................................................10-6 Space Bar...........................................................................................................3-18 Special Characters .........................................................................................15-33 Standard Parts..................................................................................... see Objects STARTUP.DRG..................................................................................................2-5 Stretch ................................................................................................................6-31 Symbol (Function) ................................................................................. 8-3, 10-14 Symbol Files .......................................................................see Symbol Libraries Symbol Libraries.................................................................................. 10-4, 10-14 invisible text ................................................................................................10-17 lost .................................................................................................................15-20 making ..........................................................................................................10-17 Symbol Sub-directory .......................................................................................2-4 Symbols .................................................................................................. 10-3, 10-14 advantages of using Make Symbol ............................................... 10-8, 10-16 can't attach hatching to .............................................................................15-20 inserted at wrong angle.............................................................................15-20 making ..........................................................................................................10-14 maximum size .............................................................................................15-19 see Objects........................................................................................................7-7
split into two or more parts...................................................................... 15-19 using ............................................................................................................. 10-14 System Requirements....................................................................................... 2-1
T
Tangent (Snap Mode) using with geometry .................................................................................... 11-6 Tangents ............................................................................................................ 9-13 Text ..................................................................................................................... 6-17 aligning........................................................................................................... 6-18 changing pale blue to black ..................................................................... 15-30 disappears.................................................................................................... 15-27 drawn as boxes ........................................................................................... 15-27 drawn as dots .............................................................................................. 15-27 editing............................................................................................................. 6-18 entering .......................................................................................................... 6-17 moves around ....................................................................................15-4, 15-28 prints at wrong orientation ........................................................................ 15-4 Things You Should Know .............................................................................. 2-11 Title Bar ............................................................................................................... 3-3 Toolbar ............................................................................................................... 3-12 Transparent Commands................................................................................. 5-20 Triangles Appear on the Screen................................................................. 15-23 Trigonometric Operators ............................................................................... 9-13 Trim doesn't work .................................................................................................. 15-9 Tutorials............................................................................................................. 2-11
U
Undo ..................................................................................................................... 5-5 Unlock (Cursor) .................................................................................................. 9-8 Update Objects ................................................................................................. 8-19 User Home Directory ........................................................................................ 2-5 Users adding............................................................................................................... 2-7 deleting............................................................................................................. 2-8 Users Sub-directory .......................................................................................... 2-4
V
Variable Dimensions ..........................................................see Alter Dimension Views .................................................................................................................. 4-12
W
Windows 95
problems with Notepad.............................................................................15-34
X
X, Y Coordinates ........................................................................ see Coordinates X, Y Scaling ........................................................................ see Scaling (Entities)
Z
Zoom Window .....................................................................................................4-9 Zooming........................................................................................................ 4-5, 4-9 pre-defined views ...........................................................................................4-9

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Where do I go from here?

Typefaces in this manual

How to get support

AllyCAD for Windows

Installation and Startup

What you need to know

Installation and Startup

Reading the README file

AllyCAD for Windows

Installation and Startup

AllyCAD for Windows

User Home directory

This contains hatch pattern definitions.

Installation and Startup

AllyCAD for Windows

Adding new users

AllyCAD for Windows

Starting AllyCAD from Windows

To exit from inside the CAD, select File Exit.

Installation and Startup

Macros Colours Line Types Hatch Patterns CAD.MEN Defaults

AllyCAD for Windows

Teaches you about creating objects (symbols).

Things You Should Know

Installation and Startup

How to customise AllyCAD's defaults.

How to customise AllyCAD's menus and toolbars.

How to create and edit your own hatch patterns.

How to create and edit your own line types.

AllyCAD's macro programming language explained in detail.

AllyCAD for Windows

Conventions used in this manual

Installation and Startup

AllyCAD for Windows

Screen, Mouse and Keyboard

Screen, Mouse and Keyboard

AllyCAD for Windows

Undo, cut, paste, select

Lines, Arcs, Circles, Ellipses, etc.

Construction lines and circles

Lock cursor, jumps, snaps, grids, measuring, query

Arrange all open windows

Screen, Mouse and Keyboard

Prompt Area and Control Bar

AllyCAD for Windows

AllyCAD will prompt:

AllyCAD for Windows

AllyCAD will prompt:

AllyCAD will continue to prompt:

Screen, Mouse and Keyboard

AllyCAD for Windows

Line Type Display

Screen, Mouse and Keyboard

AllyCAD for Windows

Screen, Mouse and Keyboard

with shortcuts to often used snap functions (like Graball, Freehand )

This contains icons to functions like Cut, Save etc.

Shortcuts to view functions such as zoom, magnify, etc.

Functions to create geometry entities

AllyCAD for Windows