Utilities Professional 1-1500

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Text File | 1994-01-17 | 26KB | 626 lines

TRONI-CAD V1.36 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (C) 1993-94 Louis Schiets Users' Manual ************************************************************* * * * This program is a DEMO, it's the same as the original, * * * * you can print the example schematics, you can create a * * * * schematic diagram to test it, but you CAN'T SAVE... * * * * To get the full version please send 20 Pounds or * * * * 150 French Francs or 50 Deutche Marks or 1000 Belgian * * * * Francs or a postal order to: * * * * SCHIETS LOUIS * * AV. G. CROCK 40 * * 1160 BRUSSELS * * BELGIUM * * * * I'll send the last updated version of TRONI-CAD * * * ************************************************************* 1.INTRODUCTION --------------- First of all I would like to thank the genial creator of Amos and all the staff behind him, (bravo Francois Lionnet pour ce magnifique Basic qui a permis a des milliers de personnes d'enfin programmer facilement ce foutu AMIGA!) I'd like to thank as well Gary Stimson for his help in the 1.25 doc and Jim Foster for his valuable advice and schématic. This program has been written with Amos and compiled with the Amos Pro compiler, now it works perfectly on the 1200 and 4000 Amigas If you want to get the best out of Troni-Cad, it would be a very good idea to read this manual right through .It'll be only take half an hour or so and will certainly save time in the long run. The purpose of TRONI-CAD is to draw electronics circuits and symbols libraries, but you could draw other things such as assembling drawings, flow charts,maps...etc..etc. When writing this program I tried to make it as user friendly as possible, and, I've worked very hard to create powerful functions allowing the user to save time building up his schematics. 2.GENERAL PRINCIPLES -------------------- Troni-Cad working screen has a resolution of 1010 X 900 pixels, that gives a rectangle of about 23.5 X 19 cm on an A4 paper sheet . If you need more place, Troni-Cad allow you to increase the sheet size by piece of 240 pixels, with this method you can draw very big schematics normally up to 65 times the working screen (15 X 12,5 meter). But I'll explain this later. Troni-cad schematics are made up of items such as : resistors, condensers, wires, arrows....etc, every item takes 14 Bytes of memory, so even a big circuit wastes a small amount of disk space. So you'll be able to place a lot of schematics on a single disk and, if you own a modem, upload them to your friends, or your favourite BBS. Example: if your schematics take about 10Kb of disk space you'll be able to place 85 or so schematics on one disk, if you use Power Packer or Lharc to compress the files you can double the number. It's very easy to draw with Troni-Cad, first of all select a tool or a part, in the pull down menus, and click the left mouse button to activate it. Then slide the mouse pointer to draw with the tool and click a second time to end. With some parts use the arrow keys to orientate it The X - Y coordinates can be rounded using the MouseStep facilities, for examples if MouseStep=10 , X - Y coordinates are rounded to 100 between 96 and 105 ,to 110 between 106 and 115...and so on, so you'll be able to draw straight lines very easily . Use MouseStep=1 only when you have to place an item very accurately in all other cases use MouseStep=5 ,you 'll save a lot of time! Use the following functions keys to change the mouse step: -F1 -> MouseStep=1 pixel -F2 -> MouseStep=5 pixels (default) -F3 -> MouseStep=10 pixels Or use preferences' pull down menu. Troni-Cad provide a help screen you can move with the up and down arrow keys when it displays "Please select a menu item". This screen show the current X/Y coordinates as well as the number of items and the current MouseStep. It provides help messages to use the program properly and allow you to enter texts. 3 MENUS FILE ------------- 3.1 New -------- This function clear the screen and reset all its parameters. 3.2.1 Load Schematic -------------------- Load a schematic in memory along with its parameters: definition, border, background ....) Warning, the current schematic will be deleted. 3.2.2 Load Block ---------------- This function allow you to add to the current drawing a small circuit created before (maximum 200 items). This gives you the opportunity to build up symbols libraries ( like: db25, transformer, bridge, integrated circuits etc....etc...etc...). You just have to draw a symbol or a part ,save it, and reload it in your schematics with "Load Block" as often as you will.(easy isn't it). Use the arrow keys to mirror and space bar to rotate. 3.2 Save -------- Save current schematic to disk along with its parameters. The first time you access this function a file requester will be presented to enter a name. Use the "Save" function as often as possible, that way ,if your computer crashes for any reasons, you won't lose hours of work. Think about it, one day you'll thank me. You can access this command at any time with keyboard shortcut Left Amiga + S 3.3.1 Save As ------------- Save current schematic with another name. 3.3.2 Save Block ----------------- Save a part of your schematic in order to use it in another project. When you access this command the program ask you to draw a box around the items you want to save, always begin on top left corner. If the number of items into the box exceeds 200, the command will be aborted. 3.3.3 Save IFF --------------- Save the whole AMIGA screen (1010/900) into IFF format. So you'll be able to load your schematic in another CAD program, like DP3, to paint it or a DTP program. Think to select 1Bitmap, in "preferences" menu, before saving as IFF to reduce the file length. 3.4.1 Print ALL ----------------- Print the whole screen in the mode selected by "Printing Mode" in "Preferences" menu. Choosing "Border Off" in "Preferences" menu, will speed up the printing process. To abort printing hold the right mouse button until the printer stops In artwork mode, only one pin is used, so the printing is very slow but horizontal lines are straighter than in normal mode . In normal mode where 4 pins are used at the same time the printing is 4 times faster than the previous mode. If you have a good printer, the difference between artwork and normal is almost invisible. In enlarged and compressed mode 8 pins are used, but the drawings are distorted in width. But I'll explain later in chapter 7.6 the printer features. When the printer is running, and if you have enough memory, you can use the multitasking ability of the AMIGA pressing Left Amiga + A key. After pressing these keys you're back to the Workbench while your printer is gently carrying on its job. You can either drink a cup of coffee or run another program like a text editor or every software which doesn't stop multitasking and use few memory. If you have 2Mb of RAM bigger program can be run, think to switch on 1Bitmap screen before printing to save Chipram. To return to Troni-Cad press the same keys again. 3.4.2 Print Block ------------------ Print block will send to the printer only the part of the schematic you want to print. Always begin on the top left corner to draw the box. This function is very handy when you have to print small circuits.(use artwork for best results). See 7.6 for more details about printing. 3.4.3 Print IFF ---------------- Allow to reload and print a Troni-Cad IFF when you have added a nice title ,or everything, with Deluxe Paint 3. Have a look on what I have done in the IFF drawer, you can load the IFF files with you favourite Deluxe paint or IffView program. 3.5 Delete ------------ Delete any file from disk. You can rename a file as well, using first "Save As" and then deleting the old name. 3.6 Quit --------- Quit the program after confirmation. To quit quickly Troni-Cad without confirmation, just press CTRL + C. 3.7 About ---------- Copyright notice + free Disk Space, free Chip and Fast RAM. Check your Chip RAM with About: switch to 1Bitmap in "Preferences" menu and check again, your Chip RAM is +- 100kB bigger. When you are low in RAM, think to switch to 1Bitmap, never use the program with less than 20k free, because your computer could crash. 4.Functions ------------ 4.1 Item Functions ------------------- To delete, move or duplicate an item, just select the corresponding item function and click on it . If the help screen tells you that nothing has been found, move a little bit the mouse an try again. If it don't work again, press F1 key for MouseStep=1pixel, Amiga+F key to highlight the first pixels in green and click on it , or use the corresponding block function to round the item. Don't forget to switch back to MouseStep=5 (F2). When the function find several items, use the space bar to select the one you want. To be selected, an item must be completely included in the physical screen These remarks are identical for DELETE ITEM, MOVE ITEM and DUPLICATE ITEM -To delete,move or duplicate: -Resistor-Condenser-Diode-Inductor-Arrow1-Power-Ground- -Junction-horizontal and vertical Wire-Text- ->click on the item -To delete, move or duplicate Boxes, click on the top left corner or on the top line. -To delete, move or duplicate Arrow2 and Logic, click on the first pixel or round the item with the corresponding Block Function -For the circles, click on the centre or round it with the corresponding block function. Think to use Left Amiga+F to see the first pixels. 4.2 BLock Functions -------------------- With these functions you're able to delete, move, duplicate and save a group of items (max 200). When these functions are activated, Troni-Cad asks you to draw a box around the items you want to work with. When the block is created it becomes green ,you're then able to mirror it using the arrow keys or rotate using space bar. To create a block always start on the top left corner. To be selected an item must be included completely in the block 4.3 Refresh ------------ This function will clear and redraw the screen. This is very useful when the display has been corrupted after deleting items or blocks. 4.4 1st Pixel ------------- Very useful function which draw in green the first pixel of all the items in order to select them easily. This function is only usable when the you are in 2 Bitmaps screen. Short cut access: Left Amiga key + F 4.5 Move All ------------- Use the arrows keys to move the whole schematic. Very handy to make places on the left or on the top of your drawing. 5 Tools -------- 5.1 Wire -------- To activate this tool click a first time on the left Mouse button, move the mouse pointer to draw a line and click a second time on the same button to end. Don't forget to use MouseStep=5 (F2) to draw easily. At any moment you can abort the tool clicking on the right mouse key. 5.2 Bus ------- Same as wire, but you can repeat your line as often as you will 5.3 Box -------- Troni-Cad provides a few boxes style, from normal to filled. When a dashed box is moved with "Move Item" or "Move Block", the result looks very messy, but once the box is placed, everything comes to normal. To draw with this tool, click a first time on the left Mouse button, move the mouse pointer to draw the box, click a second time to end and a third time to place. 5.4 Text -------- You can write either horizontal or vertical texts. To end this tool press "Enter" key without entering nothing. Vertical text allow you to place a value in vertical parts like resistors etc... When your text is placed on the screen, you can correct it very easily using "edit text" function. 5.6 Power, ground, arrow, logic, parts --------------------------------------- These tools allow you to draw power supply inputs, inverted inputs/outputs for logic circuits, transistors, variables potentiometers/capacitors and NAND/AND/OR/NOR/EXOR/EXNOR gates. Use arrow keys to orientate the tools. Load a example schematic to see the use of all these tools 6 Libraries ------------ Tronicad provides directly the basics parts of all electronics circuits like resistors, condensers, diodes, inductors. Other more complex components, like transistors, bridges ,integrated circuits etc...etc, can be got from the disk libraries using "Load Block" function, or if you don't like the look of my parts, up to you to draw them with the tools. As explained before, you can design your own parts libraries ,it's very easy :just draw your symbol on the top left side of the screen (max 200 items) and save it like a schematic, then load it into your drawing using "Load Block". With this system you can even draw subschematics like power supplies to include them in your projects If you have enough RAM you can speed up the library access by adding to the startup-sequence (before "endcli"): copy PartsLibrary to ram: ,and in the program, load your parts from the RAM:. Alternatively, before running Troni-Cad you can slide the Parts_Library drawer to the Ram: icon. If you need more specific parts like 74LS10,4011,LM324.... I've created libraries with hundreds of integrated circuits pinouts you can find on the disk. 7.Preferences -------------- 7.1 Resolutions --------------- Three resolutions are available: LOW, MEDIUM AND HIGH. You can access these command at any moment with: Left Amiga + 1 for LOW Left Amiga + 2 for MEDIUM left Amiga + 3 for HIGH The best way to use TRONI-CAD is to design your circuits in Low resolution and from time to time switch in High resolution to see a more global part of the working sheet, when you are moving large blocks, use High resolution as well. I rarely use Medium resolution because it isn't in 1/1 ratio. 7.2 Bitmaps ----------- Troni-Cad allow to use either 1 or 2 bitmaps screen (2 or 4 colours). Upon booting, Troni-Cad checks if the computer has more than 300K of chipram (case of A600/A500+ Amiga) if so ,the program switches to 2 bitmaps screen, if there are less than 300K of chip memory (case of A500), it switches automatically to 1 bitmap screen. Why? When you are drawing on a very big screen like Troni-cads', some tools like "filled box" or "diode" use extra Chipram, and when you are low in chipmemory you can get an out of memory error (n°24) Anyway it is possible to use a 2 bitmaps screen when you are working on a 512K chipram Amiga. Try this: run Troni-Cad and switch to 2 bitmap screen, now select "diode" in the parts menu, if your diode is green, everything is ok but if you have an error 24, you computer is low in chipRam .Reboot your computer, press several times on CTRL+D to cancel the startup-sequence and enter on the keyboard: Troni-cad_V1.36 and then the Enter key; when the program is runned, switch again to 2 bitmaps screen and select "diode", you'll see that now no error is reported and your diode is green. In short: When you have only 512K of chipram (FatAgnus in place of SuperFatAgnus) and want to work with a 4 colours screen, don't run Troni-Cad from the Workbench in order to save Chipram. If you want to do it automatically, you just have to replace "loadwb" by Troni-Cad_V1.36 in the Startup-Sequence of your Troni-Cad disk. It's easier to draw when the selected blocks or items are in another colour than the rest of the schematic. 7.3 Background --------------- In my opinion, it's better to draw on a black background because the moving blocks are more visible. When your schematic is finished turn to white background for a better look. 7.4 Border ----------- If you don't need a border and want to save time in the printing process, switch border to off. When you are creating your project ,it's better to keep the border on to see where is the limit of your sheet. 7.5 Working on a schematic larger than the physical screen. ------------------------------------------------------------ This feature is now available in Troni-Cad_V1.36. When you are reaching the right or bottom limit of the screen, just press F7 key to add a piece of 240 pixels to the current schematic, if you want to delete this piece just press DEL key. When you are in the top or left limit just press F6 to see the rest of your project. When no menu item is selected, the help screen tells you what to do when you are reaching the screen limits. You can press these keys (F6,F7,DEL) even when you are moving a block or an item, but don't use them when you are drawing a line or a box because the starting point won't be no longer at the right place. With this system you can draw large schematics like Microprocessors projects etc....Have a look at "TNC2-DL" schematic in Schematics/RadioProjects drawer. You can add a lot of pieces to your drawing, theoretically you can reach a X/Y coordinate of maximum 65535. If 1000 pixels give 23.5cm or so on the paper sheet, 65000 pixels will give a schematic size of 15.27/12.35 METERS!! I tried to print a very big schematic but my printer and I were fed up after 5 meters! NB: select "Border OFF" when you are drawing a very very big schematic. 7.6 Printing ------------- 9 and 24 pins Epson compatible printers (Star LC10,Citizen 120D,LQ400..etc..) gives good results with Troni-Cad. Four modes are available, as explained previously, Artwork gives the best results but it's very slow, Normal is 4 times faster and the printing is as good as Artwork if you own a good printer. Enlarged and Compressed use 8 pins at the same time, but the drawing is distorted horizontally. 7.6.1 Printing a schematic bigger than the physical screen ----------------------------------------------------------- The pieces added to the right of the screen will be printed out as if they were part of the physical screen, without any gaps. -If you only have added pixels at the right of the screen and use a tractor feeder printer, you'll have to do nothing to print out your project! -If you want to use single sheets, first use 'Print Block' to print the whole physical screen and then scroll around with F6 key and use print Block again to print the remaining part(s) of your schematic. -If you've added pieces at the bottom of the screen, you'll have to print first the upper parts and then the lower parts of your schematic with 'Print Block' command. -After printing you'll just have to use scissor and tape to build your masterpiece. 7.6.2 9 pins printers ------------------------ Normal/Artwork = 23.2 X 19 cm Compressed = 17.4 X 19 cm Enlarged = 46.4 X 19 cm If you have a good printer, "Normal" mode gives very good results. If your schematic is small and without circles try "Enlarged" for a better filling of the sheet. Use "Compressed" when your drawing could exceed the sheet width. 7.6.3 24 pins printers ------------------------- Normal = 27.7 X 19 cm Compressed = 21 X 19 cm I've tried Troni-Cad with a 24Pins LQ400 printer and the results are very good in "Compressed" mode. In fact "Compressed" give the same results with 24 pins printers than "Normal" with 9 pins printers. "Normal" gives an enlarged result but you still can fit the screen on an A4 sheet. 7.6.4 Other printers ----------------------- I've tried Troni-Cad with a Brother lazer printer HL-4V in Epson emulation mode, the results are poor in "Artwork" and "Normal" mode but are very good in "Enlarged" and "Compressed". I've tried as wel the program with an Inkjet Canon BJ10 printer in LQ mode and the results are excellents both in compressed and normal. 7.6.5 Multitasking -------------------- The printing process could take a long time, especially in Artwork mode; pressing left Amiga + A ,you get back to the Workbench while Troni-Cad is carrying on its printing. But don't wait miracle from this oportunity, you can't, for example, reload Troni-Cad and work on another schematic diagram, but you can use a text editor etc... Up to you to test your favorite programs while Troni-Cad is printing! 7.7 Grid --------- When you have to draw big lines or boxes, this command is useful, but every time the screen is refreshed, you've got to wait a bit longer to redraw the grid. 7.8 Autorefresh ----------------- When you are drawing a very big schematic, with a lot of pieces added, and a big number of items, the screen refreshing time may become very long. With this function you can cancel the automatic refreshing of the screen. It's useful when you have to scroll through a lot of pieces, for example to go from the left to the right of your schematic. But warning you'll have to select the "refresh" function manually afterwards. If you attempt to load a schematic with autorefresh=Off, don't forget to select the "Refresh" function to see it. 8 Keyboard Shortcuts ---------------------- F1--------------------MouseStep=1 pixel F2--------------------MouseStep=5 pixels F3--------------------MouseStep=10pixels F4--------------------Mouse pointer OFF F5--------------------Mouse Pointer ON F6--------------------Scroll through schematic .* F7--------------------Add a piece of 240 pixels to current schematic.* DEL-------------------Delete a piece added previously.* Left Amiga+S----------Save current schematic to disk Left Amiga+1----------Low Resolution Left Amiga+2----------Medium Resolution Left Amiga+3----------High Resolution Left Amiga+F----------Show First pixels Left Amiga+A----------Get out of Troni-Cad to run another program Press the same keys again to return to Troni-Cad * only available when X<5 and X>980. Y<5 And Y>880 9 File Selector ---------------- As my program is compiled with amos Pro Compiler, Troni-Cad has the file selector of Amos Professional. Its use is very easy. You can choose the devices (disc drives) by pressing the rigfht mouse button or by selecting the devices button. If the "Sort" button is in the"ON" position, files will automatically sorted when they are read from disc, and listed in order. "Store" allows to store the directory in memory. If there is enough memory available, up to ten different directories may be stored with this facility. Very handy to choose quickly an object from the libraries. But warning, if you save a new schematic, to see it in the directory list you'll have to use the "Get Dir" button to update the list. 10 Known Bugs -------------- When you are moving a block including a dashed box, le result is a bit messy, but when the block is placed all is ok. 11 Fonts --------- You can change the program and printing fonts using the FF command from the CLI .Three sets of fonts are provided on the disk. You can design your own fonts with the Workbench "Font Editor" as well. (warning: fixed size, 8X8 pixels). Thin fonts are neater and good looking on the paper. You can get Omega and Micro letters beside ";" key. To use these fonts when you are working from a hard disk, you need to install the disk fonts in your hard disk fonts folder. 12 Errors ---------- The errors numbers are the same than in Amos Pro: 11 - Out of variable space 23 - Illegal function call 24 - Out of memory 80 - Directory not found 83 - Disc not validated 84 - Disc write protected 86 - Device not available 85 - Directory not empty 88 - Disc full 90 - File is write protected 94 - I/O Error 13 Hard disk installation --------------------------- First create a Troni-Cad_V1.36 drawer, open it, and with the mouse, copy the program and the drawers from your Troni-Cad disk to your hard disk. Then go to the cli in order to copy the Troni-Cad's fonts and enter the following command: Copy df0:fonts to DH0:fonts. Or use your best file manager to copy the fonts. CONCLUSION ---------- I hope you'll find TRONI-CAD useful and I'd be very interested to see your schematics,libraries and receive your critics and advice. If you wish Troni-Cad improvements and creation of other useful software, please do not give copies of my program to other people. Piracy is the best way to discourage small developers like me. My address: ------------ LOUIS SCHIETS AV. GUILLAUME CROCK 40 1160 BRUSSELS BELGIUM