Manual Utilizare CYCAS

CYCAS CAD 2D + 3D + ARCHITECTURE

CYCAS 3.8User Manual

by Dipl.Ing. Anja C. Frese

Â© 1997-2006by Wolfgang Weidner

andVerlag A.C.Frese

Content

Preface

Tutorial

Tutorial 3D

1. Introduction

2. User Guidance

3. Basics

3.1 Entering points

3.2 Dialog boxes

3.3 The selection menu

3.4 Snap-to and guide functions

3.5 View menu - Zoom functions

3.6 Layers

3.7 Polygons

4. Function Lists

4.1 Project

4.2 Symbol

4.3 Line

4.4 Circle

4.5 Wall

4.6 Opening

4.7 Dim

4.8 Text

4.9 Room

4.10 Pattern

4.11 Edit

5. Basic - 3D

5.1 Generating Projections, Render

5.2 Point Input in 3D

5.3 Entering Basic 3D Elements

5.4 Unit

5.5 Editing in 3D

5.6 Material

6. Tips and Tricks

7. Output, Printing

8. Appendix

8.1 Project, Settings

8.2 Keyboard shortcuts

8.3 Data exchange DXF and 3DS

8.4 Export

Index

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Distributed by: Verlag A.C.Frese, Dipl.Ing. Anja C. Frese and Dipl.Ing. Wolfgang Weidner, Herder Strasse 23, D-31675 Bueckeburg, Germany

Â© 1997-2006 by Verlag A.C.Frese

• Content • Index

Preface

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Sometimes it seems like simplicity were related to poverty; but these two don't have anything to do with each other just like that; our simplicity can as easily be our greatest treasure, as

our variety can be the most dire poverty.

Heinrich Tessenow,"Hausbau und dergleichen, 1916"

We wish to express our gratitude towards all the people who have criticized, tested, proofread and contributed their

philosophical and creative ideas over the years of CYCAS development.

The authors, June 2006



Tutorial Example: Drawing a triangle

Example: Drawing a square

Example: Plan of a garage

Tutorial

This Tutorial discusses three examples meant to demonstrate succinctly the input procedures of drawing elements in CYCAS.

CYCAS is used in a step by step, point to point mode of operation which gives you total control over every detail. The input of data in CYCAS is done by confirming each step and you have several input options. In order to illustrate this philosophy we urge you to try the following examples. The examples "Triangle" and "Square" are designed to briefly demonstrate the input of drawing elements in CYCAS. The third example "Garage" illustrates how you draw walls and openings and it shows up how to combine the input options in CYCAS. Finally we will guide you how you can create a perspective view of the garage easily.

To begin with, have a look at the CYCAS user interface: The drawing area is colored grey in the original CYCAS color setup. To the right of the drawing area, at the top, there is the menu list, called the main menu. Choosing an item such as Line or Symbol from the main menu list will cause a set of options to appear below the main menu items; this set of items is called the function list; notice that selecting each main menu item results in a different set of functions in the function list.

Directly beneath the drawing area, to the left, is the coordinate display. Underneath it, you find the help bar indicating each step of input for each function and stating what it expects or needs. This box (combined with the input box) allows for exact measurements to be used as the input method, as opposed to mouse clicks.

Along the bottom edge of the drawing area, there is the view menu. It contains the options you need for displaying the graphics in the drawing area at different gauges and sizes. The view menus` most common function is probably Zoom (detail enlargement). Below the view menu, and just to the right of the help bar, the input box is positioned. Here you enter the figures or text as required, according to the function.All the way down on the right side, you find Undo, and underneath it is the Snap-to button. When Snap is active, your pointer looks like a little square, otherwise your pointer is a cross hair. Working with snap activated enables precise input from the word go.


Example: Drawing a triangle

First of all, ensure that the drawing area is empty. To do so, choose the menu Project at top right corner of the CYCAS screen. There, select New. Remember, the option Snap-to (at the bottom right corner of the screen) should be active in order to follow this tutorial precisely.

Start by selecting Line in the main menu. In this function list click on the Line button (the first button). Now follow the instructions quoted in the help bar appearing in the bottom left corner of the CYCAS screen...

... it should indicate: "Start point:".

• The 1st input option

Only using the mouse without inputting detailed measurements:

The 1st line

The help bar says: "Start point:" Click into the left bottom corner of the drawing area using the left mouse button. A cross will mark the start point of the 1st line.

Help bar: "Move / End point:" With a second mouse click you situate the end point of the line in the top right corner of the drawing area. Another cross will indicate the ending point.

Help bar: "Move / Confirm:" Confirm the position of the end point by clicking somewhere within the drawing area. By confirming the second point the line will be plotted from the start point to its end point. You can abort each function using the right mouse button somewhere outside the drawing area or you choose another function right away.

The 2nd line

Help bar: "Start point:" The start point of the 2nd line is meant to be positioned exactly upon the ending point of the 1st line. To achieve this, you move the pointer (looking like a small square) over the ending point, and the snap-to function means that you hit the previous point precisely. A cross will now indicate the start point of the 2nd line.

Help bar: "Move / End point:" Move the pointer towards the lower right corner of the drawing area and place it there with another mouse click. Now, you need to confirm the end point with a final mouse click within the drawing area.

The 3rd line

Close the triangle as follows:Help bar: "Start point:" Move the pointer above the end point of the 2nd line.

Help bar: "Move / End point:" Click on the start point of the 1st line and confirm the input.


Example: Drawing a square

Ensure that the scale 1:500 is indicated in the view menu. If not, use the two buttons next to

the scale indicator, which show the symbols + and -, until the requested scale is displayed.

• Now, we will see the 2nd input option : Input using reference points.

This example draws four lines which will form a square. Simple, but it will demonstrate a very powerful drawing method. Select the function Line in the line Function List.

The 1st line

Help bar: "Start point:". Set the start point about in the middle of the drawing area and confirm the point using the enter key on the keyboard. In doing so, you confirm the start point of the line and that the end point of the line is now situated exactly on top of the 1st point. But, the end point of this line is supposed to be located 20m to the right. Move it there using the keyboard in the following manner:

Help bar: "Move / Confirm:" Hit the cursor right key (the one with the arrow pointing to the right). Help bar: "Move to X+:". Because of this action the color of the input box (below the drawing area) turns active and you can enter "20". Hit the enter key. The end point has now moved to its correct position and you confirm this by hitting the enter key.The result is a horizontal line with the length of 20m.

The 2nd line

This line shall be located parallel, in a distance of 20m above the first one. Use the pointer to snap-to the end point of the 1st line. From here, you want to move the point 20m upwards.

Help bar: "Move / End point:" Move the start point by hitting the cursor up key. The help bar now indicates "Move to Y+:". Again enter "20" and close the entry hitting the enter key. The cross, indicating the start point, moves the distance you entered to the correct position, and you confirm that.To finish the line you move the ending point, again using the keyboard 20m to the left and confirm that point. The result should be a second line parallel to the first one.

To draw the vertical lines remaining to finish the square you use the pointer; snap-to the start- and end points of the existing elements and confirm (all with the mouse).

The final result of this 2nd example should be a square, all edges measuring 20m.

• The two input options have now been introduced to you during this tutorial. To summarize the input options:

• All points can be located by "catching" them with the Snap-to option. Afterwards, you have the two possibilities - to move each point using the keyboard, or you confirm them right away.

• The sequences of each function can be aborted by using the right mouse button outside of the drawing area.


Example : Plan of a garage

This example is meant to demonstrate how you create a ground plan. Going through this tutorial you will try several wall functions. Using the dialog boxes you can edit the height

measurements of the walls. Later on you can look at and correct the height measures in the various projections.

Before you begin, you choose from the menu Project the item New in order to erase all elements which might be in the drawing area. If you start drawing a plan you do not need to decide in which scale your drawing shall be designed. The decision about the final scale of your drawing will be made if you do the output to printer, etc. This means that you always draw in the scale of 1:1. Choosing a scale in the view menu is just meant to display the drawing elements on your monitor in different detail enlargements.The garage shall have the external dimensions of 4.99m to 6.99m, the outer walls measure is 0.365m and there will be a garage door and a window. To start with, choose from the function list Wall the item Wall and select the scale 1:500 (in the view menu underneath the drawing area).

• Input of walls

The 1st wall : About in the middle of the drawing area you situate (watch the help bar below the drawing area) the "1. Corner point:" of the first wall. Confirm this point using the enter key, or you snap-to the same point with another mouse click, the Snap must be activated. The "2. Corner point" will be placed exactly upon the first one. Now, you enter the length of the wall using the keyboard. Hit the cursor right key "X+:" and you enter "4.99" m. One enter moves the cross which marks the point the distance you entered. Then, you define the thickness of the wall. Hit the cursor down key and move the cross "0.365"m downwards. One enter moves the cross and you confirm the point with a final enter.

• Test the view menu

Choose Zoom. Define the range of a new detail enlargement positioning two points. So you set two points, in a way that the wall will be within the range of the two points. Further on, try ->. The detail enlargement will be moved the distance you enter with two mouse clicks. All functions in the view menu can be activated while entering or altering drawing elements. If the display function is terminated, you may continue entering drawing elements.

Back to the garage:Activate the buttons + and - of the view menu until the scale 1:100 is displayed. Now you select the scale button (the one in between the + and the - ) and position the center point of the new detail enlargement upon the wall.

The 2nd wall : Snap-to the lower left corner point of the first wall. Confirm the "1. Corner point". "Move / Confirm:" Move the second corner point downwards entering "6.26" m and now move it to the right entering "0.365" m. After that, you confirm the lower corner point of the second wall.

The 3rd wall : Copy the second wall to the right. To do so, choose from the main menu the menu list Edit, then select the item Copy. Instead of the function list the selection menu appears. All items for selecting elements are displayed. Use the options Active and Element in order to activate the second wall. Active elements are displayed white. You confirm the activated elements clicking on OK. Now, you need to enter the distance where to move the copy of the wall. Help bar: "Move/Start point:" Snap-to the upper right corner point of the active wall. This shall be the start point. Position the "End point:" of the distance at the lower right corner of the first (horizontal) wall. You confirm this point and you finish the copy-function aborting it with the right mouse button somewhere outside of the drawing area, or choose another function right away.

• The 4th wall : Again, choose the function list Wall, then select the item Side. Now, have a look at the walls` dialog box. Click the item with the ? in its` button. Here you enter the preferences only concerning the wall elements. The name of the active dialog box is displayed in the walls` function list right beside the button with the ?. This is supposed to remind you which dialog box is active. Have a look at the dialog window: Choose one of the prearranged preferences; or you may enter your own preferences. Try pen color blue (ink pen, about 0.35mm) and the line. The wall thickness should be 0.365m.

The "start point:" needs to be situated upon the lower right corner point of the second wall. The end point shall be the lower, left corner point of the 3rd wall. So you also snap-to that point and confirm it. The help bar: "Select Side:" You select the outer side of the garage. After this, the wall thickness will be added, which was defined in the walls` dialog box.

The display of the last wall in the drawing area is not correct: To fix this, you choose the item in the view menu which looks like a sheet of paper.

You achieve a new plot of the drawing elements.

The joinings of the walls need to be corrected:To do so, you choose further down in the walls` function list the item Join. Now you click using the pointer looking like a diagonal cross hair onto the second and the fourth wall. They will be joined to their intersection. As a result, they are mitre joint. Repeat this action clicking on the fourth and the third wall. In the end you have drawn the ground plan of the four walls in exact measure.

• Further on, the display of the walls can be improved. To achieve this, you choose from the walls` function list the item All, you find it right below Connect. Automatically all wall endings will be connected of all those walls which have exactly matching corner points.

Now have a look at the walls in a perspective view. Choose from the menu 3D one of the arrows. If you entered the walls with height and base entries in the dialog boxes, then you will see your first perspective view.

• Input of openings

Garage door : Select the function list Opening. Here you start having a look at the dialog box of the openings. Click underneath the item Opening on the button with the ?. The symbol of the garages` door opening should be arranged without a stop and just with one line at the outside of the opening. Have a look at the input gadgets; especially those with the

topic: "Stop". Here you enter the width and depth by typing "0.000"; if not already existing.Now you select the symbol of the opening; you achieve this using the button directly above the preview of the opening symbol.

The door : This opening shall be entered positioning two points, which means with a start- and an end point. Therefore, you deactivate the button with the !. The deactivated ! -button means that the width mentioned next to it will not be taken into account. Under these circumstances you choose the item Opening. The help bar says: "Select wall:" To select the wall you click with the mouse looking like a diagonal cross hair onto the lower, horizontal wall. Now you need to enter the exact location of the opening. To achieve this, you snap the inner lower left corner of the garage. From there you move the start point of the opening about X+: 0.375 towards the right. Now you snap the inner lower right corner and you move the end point about X-: 0.375m. If you now look at the coordinate display, it should show "X: 3.5100" and "Y: 0.0000". If this is displayed you confirm the entry with a final enter. Finally, you select the outer side of the wall. And the openings` symbol you have chosen from the dialog box will be placed into the wall.

The window : Now you do the input of the window which shall be positioned in the wall on the opposite side of the garage door: Choose the item Window. Ensure that the button with the ! is pushed in, therefore, the width signed up right beside this button will be taken into account. Here you can choose the width of the opening, select 1.01m for this window.

Then, you need to choose from the windows` dialog box the correct window symbol. After this, you activate the upper horizontal wall. It will be displayed white, which means it is active. Snap the right corner of the garage door and confirm that point. Within the active wall the preview of the window will be displayed. If you move the mouse to the left and right, the preview will flip; this shows you the width and the direction to which the window could be placed. Click on the left side. Finally, you select the outer side of the wall. The window with the symbol from the windows` dialog box will be fit into the wall.

• With this input option showing you the input of points using projected reference points this tutorial is concluded.

• All input-, edit- and modify functions in CYCAS root back to the input options mentioned in this tutorial. The way you get close to the aspired point using reference points and using the additive numeric input shall simulate the way you would proceed if you would draw by hand. Confirming each step of input offers you to combine the different CYCAS input options.




Tutorial 3D Example: Entering walls and editing walls

Example: A cuboid forms a beam of an opening

Example: Enter an opening and insert a profile

Example: Edit a profile

Example: Create a roof

Example: Create a scene

Tutorial 3D

This tutorial was composed giving you an introduction of how to design and how to build up a 3D model in CYCAS easily. In a step by step mode we want to introduce the handling of CYCAS. Concentrating on entering and editing of 3D elements, this is supposed to support you in creating your future drafts.

The final result will be a small but complete 3D model and you will be able to render an image of it.

These three graphics on the left shall give an overview on the results. Here we have the plan view, followed by an isometric view and the rendered image itself.

The final image shall be rendered with POV-Ray [TM of the POV-Ray Team], therefore, a properly installed POV-Ray on your system is required.

This exercise can be followed easily, if you already have gone through the basics of handling CYCAS. So we can go deeper into handling CYCAS and we can discuss several possibilities CYCAS offers you while working in

3D. Doing this, we want to concentrate on the powerful Move-Point-function of CYCAS bearing very interesting features.

Else, we recommend you to go through the basic Tutorial first and then return to this point.

Giving a brief overview, this is awaiting you:We will build up a 3D model out of some walls, cuboids, openings, and profiles. Those elements will be modified in 3 dimensions, materials will be assigned, and finally, a scene will be arranged in order to start the rendering.

All figures we are dealing with in this tutorial are given in the metric system.


Example: Entering walls and editing walls

To begin with, we will have a look at the walls dialog box. Enter the Wall menu and open the dialog box by clicking on the ? -button. There, ensure mainly the following settings or correct them: "Base: 0.00" and "Height: 2.50". Further possible settings such as "Wall Thickness" can be ignored at this point. The "Material" may be selected to be "Wall_white". Closing the walls dialog box we get started:

The 1st wall : Activate the Wall -function and situate the first point of the wall about in the middle of the drawing area. Confirm the 1st point and move the 2nd point to the right "X+: 5.00" m and "Y-: 0.30" m downwards.

Confirm the 2nd corner point of the wall here.As you learned already in the basic tutorial, you could zoom in or out now, in order to get the best view. Therefore, test the functions in the view menu, such as Zoom, + or -.

The 2nd wall : Snap-to the lower right corner point of the first wall. Move this point downwards "Y-: 5.00" m. Confirm it here and start moving the 2nd point at first a bit to the left, "X-: 0.30" m and now "Y+: 4.00" m upwards. Confirm it there.

In the next steps we want to come to an Edit -function of CYCAS that is very essential and, moreover, extremely flexible to employ. You can use it in the 2D ground plan (just as we will do in a moment) or you can use it working in e.g. isometric views - where we want to come to later on.

Move Point : The idea is to edit single points of the wall in order to move them into the correct position. To do this, enter the Edit menu and select the Move function. Here, you choose the type Point offered in the selection menu. This setup enables activating single points of CYCAS elements. Now, describe a frame (as you do when zooming in) with two mouse click around the upper points of the 2nd wall. These points will be marked with white crosses. Confirm your selection.Here we have several options specifying the distance about which the points are to be moved. Start moving the active points as you snap-to the right point of the active ones. This is

the start point of the moving distance. Then, specify the end point of the distance as you snap-to the lower right corner point of the horizontal wall. (If you would like to know the distance the points will be moved, then have a look at the coordinate display, it should say "Y: 1.00 m", at the lower left corner of the CYCAS screen.) So, confirm the end point of the moving distance. The points will move upwards.And finally, you abort the function hitting the enter key or you use the right mouse button outside of the drawing area. Alternatively, for we knew the exact distance, you could have entered "Y+: 1.00 m" right away.


Example: A cuboid forms a beam of an opening

Next step shall be that we will have a closer look at the openings. We want to show up two possibilities how holes or openings can be created or inserted into walls.

Let us start splitting up the vertical wall into two pieces: Choose Erase in the Wall menu. Select the vertical wall. Two points need to be specified that mark the distance we want to erase. Position the start point on the top corner of the wall (the left or right corner point). From there, you move the start point downwards: "Y- 1.00 m". (This was constructing a point with a reference point.) Now confirm this point and move the end point downwards "Y-: 2.00 m". Confirming the 2nd point results in having two single parts of the wall.

In the meantime have a look at the new walls in an isometric view (this is activated in the 3D menu) and return to the plan view.

So far. Now, we will enter a cuboid fitting exactly into the gap of the splitted wall. This cuboid will form the beam of an opening. Enter the 3D menu and select Cuboid. (Maybe you choose a different pen color for the cuboid and you could right away define the correct material for the cuboid, e.g. Wall_white.) Snap-to two points that face diagonally in between the wall pieces. After confirming the 2nd point CYCAS will ask you to enter the base height of the cuboid. Enter "1.00" and the height shall be "2.00" meter. The new element now can be viewed in an isometric view.

Next step will be editing the totally wrong heights of the cuboid. Choose any of the isometric views and enter the Edit menu, where you choose the function Move and activate the selection type Point.The focus at this stage is set on editing the cuboid in a way that the upper points of the cuboid exactly match the upper wall edge. Activate all four upper points of the cuboid and confirm your selection. (Activating points in a situation like this always ensure that you do not activate points of other elements accidentally that lie, depending on your view, directly on top of each other.) Now, move these points downwards in a way that you snap-to one of the activated points (the start point) and then you snap-to a point of the wall that is situated directly underneath the start point. Confirm this.

Continuing right away, the base height of the cuboid needs to be edited as well. To do so, again choose the Edit Move -function with the type -Points and activate the four lower points of the cuboid. Describe the distance to move them like this: Snap-to one of the activated points. Now, snap-to that point of the wall which is situated directly underneath your start point. Then, you enter the new base of the cuboid typing "Z" on the keyboard (or use the cursor up key) followed by typing "2.00" meter. The cursor will move upwards. For this is the correct new base-height hit the enter key or click the right mouse button somewhere outside the drawing area to confirm the movement.

This example illustrates that it is useful to enter a cuboid (or any other 3D element) in the plan view without caring about the correct base and height at first. It is more descriptive to edit the base and height later on, just as we did in an isometric view.

Sometimes it is useful to create an opening this way by creating a beam instead of using the opening menu. Even, if a profile (a 3D window unit) cannot be implemented in this kind of "opening" that easy. A solution for this will follow during this tutorial. Now, let us have a look at the Opening menu.

Getting started with this, we need to draw a second vertical wall first. To do so, return to the plan view and choose the Wall menu, there, activate Wall and snap-to the lower left corner point of the horizontal wall. Confirm this point. Move the second point "X+ : 0.30" to the right and then "Y- : 5.00" downwards and confirm it.


Example: Enter an opening and insert a profile

Viewing the work in an isometric, you can see that the elements of a profile are single 3D elements forming the window frames and the glass in between. The glass material is added automatically, but the material of the window frames is taken from the current material list in the Unit menu.

And this is what we will do next: We will take the profile, place a copy of it into the first opening and edit its height.

Going on in the plan view, we will enter the Opening menu and there we will have a look at the opening dialog box clicking the ? underneath the opening function. Following figures should be set: "Base: 1.00", "Height: 1.00", "Stop width: 0.00" and "Stop depth: 0.10". Choose the non-display of a symbol for this opening. Close the dialog box and ensure that the " ! " beneath the Opening function is de-activated, for we want to enter the width of the opening with two points.

The display of an opening symbol is focused on 2D

graphics. For we want to concentrate on 3D modeling in this case, it is more clear to have no symbol inserted.

Ok, now start the Opening -function and select the new vertical wall. For each point of the new opening snap-to the corner points of the first opening. Confirm the end point and choose the outer side of the wall and the opening will be integrated into the wall.

You could have another look at the result in an isometric view now and come back into the ground plan, in order to enter a profile into this opening.

Enter the Unit menu. Select the material e.g. "Wood" from the material list. The current material chosen in that list will be added to the profile frames. Select the function Profile. The number of monials shall be: 2 and the number of transoms shall be: 1.Now, click on to the opening. The profile will be fitted into the opening, as we defined it with a stop depth of 10cm distance from the outer side.


Example: Edit a profile

Continuing in the ground plan, you will achieve a copy of the profile. This copy will be mirrored in a way that it comes up being placed in the first vertical wall - exactly there, where the cuboid was entered forming the beam of the first opening. For the elements are set up symmetric, you need to design the mirror axis exactly at the middle in between the two vertical walls.

Start by choosing the Edit menu. For we want to have a copy mirrored ensure that the + -button near to the mirror - button is pushed in and then select Mirror. Activate the profile (use the range option for selection) and confirm your selection.Now, we will construct the 1st point of the

mirror axis by constructing the middle point in between the two walls. To do this, you activate the Construction of middle points, located at the right bottom edge of the CYCAS screen. This point construction is inserted into the point input routine.The "1st Point:" shall be the lower left corner point of the left wall and the "2nd Point:" shall be the lower right corner point of the right wall. Confirming the second point lets CYCAS compute the middle point of the distance.

This 1st point of the vertical mirror axis needs to be confirmed. The 2nd point needs to be moved upwards (or downwards), e.g. "Y+: 1". (What distance you choose

here is not the clue, the idea is to achieve an exact vertical axis very quickly.) Confirm this and at that moment the profile is copied and mirrored at the vertical axis.

Changing into the view (section) projection, you can see what is left to be done in order to have the new profile fitted into the opening correctly. The lower window frame needs to be moved downwards. To achieve this, we will continue by moving the points of the lower 3D element of the profile.

Again, enter Edit and choose Move with the type Point. In order to move the points of the lower window frame you need to activate them. Now, we want to move them downwards; pretending we do not knew the Y -distance. So, snap-to the lower outer point of the window frame (this will be the start point) and position the reference point of the end point in the lower right corner of the wall. If you now have a look at the

coordinate display, you can check the Y -distance between those points and you can read the X -distance. Surely, the X -distance has to be the 0.10 m we defined earlier in the opening dialog box.

What is left to do is that you need to move the end point about "X-: 0.1" to the left and confirm this.

Giving a short summary at this stage, we learned about editing walls by moving their corner points. Then, we entered some more elements such as a cuboid, an opening, and a profile and again edited those elements by moving single points of them.

Besides the option of moving single points of elements, we wanted to show up that existing 3D elements can be taken as a

source for new elements. The idea is to copy the existing elements and then move the points of those clones forming the desired shape needed for your design. In fact, this is an easy and fast way to build up 3D models.


Example: Create a roof

The next steps of this tutorial deal with creating the roof built up out of some rafters and the roof covering.

We will start in the plan view constructing a line that marks the vertical middle axis of the building. Draw a Y-Line with the start point in the lower region by using the Construction of middle points -function. (As we did it in the profile example.) Position the end point by snapping-to the upper right corner point of the walls and move that point upwards "Y+: 0.25" and confirm this.

Now, we will enter a Cuboid in the plan view and edit it by moving points in a way that it ends up forming the inclined plane of the roof.So, you snap-to the upper point of the middle axis. The 2nd Corner point works out like this: Snap-to the lower right corner of the right vertical wall and move it "X+: 0.25" and "Y-: 0.25" - and confirm this. The base of the element is 2.50 m and the height is 0.25 m.Now, we have defined the region of the roof in the plan view including the roof overhang. Have a look at it in an isometric view.

Change into the elevation view now. There, we want to transform the horizontal lying cuboid in order to achieve the inclined plane of the roof. We will move the inner points of the cuboid upwards to the ridge. Choose the Move -function in the Edit menu. Then, select the type -Point and activate those two points of the cuboid that are situated beneath the ridge. In fact, all four points are activated, because in this view all points that lie exactly behind the points in front are activated as well.So, confirm your selection and move the points "Z+ 1.59". (For "Z+" use the cursor up key or the Z -key.) The height of 1.59m was calculated like this: tan 30Â° x (5.50m/2)=1.59m - you also could have constructed this in a separate 2D section and gauge the height of the ridge.

At this moment, one side of the roof has the correct form, so it is a good idea to mirror and copy that element to the other side. The mirror axis is the vertical axis we used before. Return to the plan view, enter the Edit menu, select Mirror with the + -button active. Select the right side of the roof, finish your selection and enter those two points of the mirror axis.

Viewing the result at this stage in an isometric view, you can see the simple simulation of a roof. The next steps would be to add the roof covering, form some rafters, etc. Therefore, enter a section view.

Maybe, start with the roof covering. This could be created by making a copy of the current roof-cuboid on top of itself. Out of this copy, you can form the roof covering by moving the upper or lower points up or down. Now, you can assign a material display the covering. (Do this in the 3D menu, Material, -Alter.) And, while editing those elements you could assign a different pen color in order to have a better overview on your 3D elements.

Now, some hints how to create the rafters. For the rafters will lie directly underneath the roof covering (viewed at it in the plan view), it is a good idea to move the covering away temporarily. Maybe, you move the covering 10 m aside.The rafters can be formed out of the initial roof elements now. Enter the plan view and move the points together in a way that the rafters have a thickness of e.g. 14 cm. After that, copy those rafters that they are distributed evenly.

Finally, check if the rafters have been assigned the desired material and move the roof covering back on top of the building. Surely, you can continue adding eave plates or whatever is necessary.


Example: Create a scene

We have come to the point where we can start to arrange the scene for rendering. A camera and at least one light need to be added to the scene. Return to the plan view and enter the 3D menu. There, choose Camera and enter the "Eye Point:". We suggest to locate the eye point about 5 m to the right and about 7 m below the lower right corner of the building. Confirm that point and position the "Target Point:" of the camera directly on the lower right corner of the building. After having confirmed that point, CYCAS asks you to enter the "Height:" of the camera. Enter e.g. 1.70. Choose

Now, we will enlighten the scene as follows: Open the lights dialog box with the ? -button below the Light -button. Choose a point light with a size of 0.0 (0 means infinite radius). Position the light e.g. 10 m below and 3.50 m to the right from the lower right corner point of the building. The "Height:" shall be 15 m.

Now, that we have a 3D model and a scene, you can start the rendering. In this tutorial we will use POV-Ray. Surely, POV-Ray needs to be installed on your system correctly to do so.The materials you assigned to the elements already are especially designed for the export to POV-Ray likewise the camera and the light. So, what is left to do, is to start the rendering by choosing Render in the 3D menu. A POV-Ray dialog box pops up enabling you to make some settings for POV-Ray. Finally, click the Render -button in that window...

the Perspective view to get a preview of the cameras position.




1. Introduction 1.1 About this manual...

1.2 Installation on Linux

1.3 Installation on Windows

1. Introduction

CYCAS is a piece of architectural software for drafting and design in 2 + 3 dimensions.

In addition to typical CAD functions, CYCAS offers special elements and techniques for architectural design. Therefore, you can easily design and draft your ideas.

Developing professional 2D presentation of your design is worked out as fast as and as effective as illustrating your design 3 dimensional. CYCAS enables intuitive and uncomplicated handling of 2D and 3D elements.

The input of architectural elements such as of walls, openings, and e.g. of dimension chains is intuitive and therefore, it is easy to develop the concepts of a design. On top of that 3D elements and 3D units can be worked in for achieving professional 3D presentations.

In various perspective views you may create line graphics or hidden line graphics.

CYCAS exports its 3D data in various formats in order to pass this data on to software for creating computer based graphics. Therefore, you can quickly arrange a high quality presentation of your design.

CYCAS is being developed for all those people who want to design, represent and build architecture.


1.1 About this manual...

Get started with the Tutorial that gives you a step by step guidance of the input procedures of CYCAS. The Tutorial 3D gives you instruction on how to build up a 3D model and how to arrange a scene in order to render a visualization of it.

After that, a description of the graphical user interface and the working environment of CYCAS follows.

The chapters about the basics explain the principles of working with CYCAS. In-depth an explanation of the process of entering points is given. Basic information on the control elements such as dialog boxes and the CYCAS layers technique follows.

Once you have read the chapters about the basics, we recommend to proceed with the reference part which describes all functions of CYCAS in detail. The line-related functions are explained exceptionally, for the other function lists are structured alike and follow the same steps for input and operation.

Explanation of how to proceed the input of 3D elements and hints to specialties of CYCAS working in 3D is offered in chapter 5.


1.2 Installation on Linux

The entire CYCAS archive for Linux consists of the program itself, the license agreement, this manual, the symbol library, the example projects, and ReadMe-files. These ReadMe-files contain information on recent changes and provide information on installing the program.

In order to install CYCAS on your system, please follow the instructions provided by the "README" file contained in this archive. The supplied installation program is used to install CYCAS on your computer.

At this place, we would like to explain the structure of the user specific data. First and foremost, these are the example files, the symbol library, and the settings that are part of this archive. While working with CYCAS, your projects and settings will be saved in your home directory.

• ~/.cycas3/ this directory contains the following sub directories and preferences:

• cycas.gtkrc this file holds the name of the font used for CYCAS' user interface.

• cycas.version this file holds the version number of the CYCAS installed.

• tmp/

contains temporary data.

• ~/CYCAS3/ contains the sub directories as follows:

• sym/ contains the symbols library.

• dia/ this directory contains all the settings saved, concerning the dialog boxes of the drawing elements:

• dim/ • door/ • light/ • mat/ • opening/ • pattern/ • room/ • text/ • wall/ • window/

• draw/ contains the drawings.

• prefs/ contains the "default.prefs"

• tex/ contains the textures.

• ttf/ contains the imported TrueType fonts.


1.3 Installation on Windows

The entire CYCAS archive for Windows consists of the program itself, the license agreement, this manual, the symbol library, the example projects, and ReadMe-files. These ReadMe-files contain information on recent changes and provide information on installing the program.

The supplied installation program is used to install CYCAS on your computer.

At this place, we would like to explain the structure of the user specific data. First and foremost, these are the example files, the symbol library, and the settings that are part of this archive.

• C:\Programs\CYCAS3\dat\ this directory contains the following sub directories and preferences:

• sym/ contains the symbols library.

• dia/ this directory contains all the settings saved, concerning the dialog boxes of

the drawing elements: • dim/ • door/ • light/ • mat/ • opening/ • pattern/ • room/ • text/ • wall/ • window/

• draw/ contains the drawings.

• prefs/ contains the "default.prefs"

• tmp/ contains temporary data.

• tex/ contains the textures.




2. User Guidance 2.1 Structure of the user interface

2.2 Mouse pointer

2.3 Colors

2.1 Structure of the user interface

Looking at the CYCAS user interface, the GUI is structured as follows:

The largest part of the screen is taken by the drawing area. When using the default colors, this area is of a grey-blue color. To the right of the drawing area you can see the menu bar. It is divided into an upper area which cannot be changed (the main menu) and a lower, variable area (the function lists).

The main menu is divided into different "topics", that tell you, which kind of functions the appropriate function list contains. If you e.g. choose Line from the main menu, the function list will contain all functions dealing with the input and editing of line elements.

Above the main menu, you have access to the menu Project. It offers you file operations, settings for the program GUI, as well as the output to printer or plotter.

In the lower area of the screen you can find various functions that are always available. These functions aid you while entering different elements of the drawing. They provide you with information on your input and can be used to change the visible area of the drawing even during input. Each of these functions will be explained now, proceeding from left to right:

The coordinate display :"X:" and "Y:". These mark the current position of the mouse pointer in the coordinate system. When placing a point in the drawing area, the displayed coordinates are measured relatively to that point. This enables you to check the distance between two points.

The help bar is located directly below the coordinate display. Whenever you are using a function, this bar contains information on what kind of input is possible or expected.

The view menu is located next to the coordinate display. This menu contains various functions for adjusting the current visible area and displaying drawing elements. These functions are always accessible, even during input.

The button to the right of the view menu opens the Layers dialog box. It is a good idea to spread your drawing over several layers. Layers can be placed on top of each other as if they were transparencies.

The input box below the view menu: This box is used to enter text and numbers. Whenever it is possible to do input here, the field turns white.

The so called snap-to and guide functions are located at the bottom right corner of the screen. You can e.g. create guide lines or create certain snap-to points. Further on, the Undo and Redo functions are located here.


2.2 Mouse pointer

• Snap-to points • Placing points

• The mouse pointer

Within the drawing area the mouse pointer is displayed in different shapes:

- snap-to active. This is essential for the accurate entering of drawing elements. You can snap-to any point within the snap-to box, e.g. start points, ending points, intersections, center points, and so on.

- select a range (for activating elements) or the snap-to is not active. In case the snap-to is not active, you cannot enter elements accurately.

- single elements can be selected.

• Snap-to points

When entering points, CYCAS indicates you which kind of points are available to the snap-to function. This snap-to preview is optional.

- points, for example such as ending points of lines, center points of circles, start points of texts, etc.

- middle points

- points of intersection between two elements

• Placing points

Points that already have been placed indicate you this:

- a point, whereas it could not snap-to any existing point.

- a point, if it could snap-to a point of an existing element.

- a point, which you have confirmed (two crosses on top of each other)


2.3 Colors

• The following paragraphs describe the different colors and their meaning in the drawing area. These paragraphs were written under the assumption that the default colors are used.

Active Layer : All elements of the active (or current) layer are displayed, using their respective pen and line types.

Background Layers : The elements of all layers that are displayed in the background are displayed with reduced color intensity of their respective pen colors.

Active Elements : If elements need to be edited, they must be activated first. Active elements are displayed using a white color.

Active points : If the points of elements need to be edited, they must be activated first. Activated points are represented by small white crosses.


Â© 1997-2006 Verlag A.C.Frese

• Content

• Index

3. Basics 3.1 Entering points

3.2 Dialog boxes

3.3 The selection menu - activating elements


3.5 View menu - the zoom functions

3.6 Layers

3.7 Polygons

3. Basics

• Scale • Coordinate system • Snap-to • Keyboard input • Angle input

This chapter addresses CAD beginners as well as CAD experienced users. Later on, in chapter 4, we will deal with each drawing function in detail. And then, these basics here will support the learning of handling CYCAS.

• All input is either done using the mouse (left button) or using the mouse and the keyboard. This is true for all functions. You can abort any function by clicking the right mouse button outside the drawing area or by choosing a different function. The help bar at the lower left of the screen always shows you a short help-line.Using the right button on any drawing element an information box opens linked to that element.

Scale : You can create a drawing without setting a scale in advance. All elements are entered 1:1. The (drawing-) scale is necessary to display text, figures of dimension chains, and the different line types correctly. This means, you start drawing without worrying about the scale. When you come to the point where you want to add text and dimension chains to your drawing, you choose the drawing scale. It is chosen at the menu Project.

Coordinate system : Mainly, a planar cartesian coordinate system is used. The positive X-axis extends horizontally to the right and the positive Y-axis extends vertically to the top. Entering 3D the Z-axis is added and defines the hight of the elements. The drawing area itself is a plane of infinite dimension. So you are working in a certain part of the drawing area at a time. Coordinates are usually specified relatively. Watch the coordinate display and place the start point of a line. Now move the mouse and see how the coordinates are

measured relatively to the point you just have placed.

Snap-to : Within the snap-to box start points, end points, points of intersection, etc. are caught with full accuracy. CYCAS gives you a hint displayed in the snap-to frame what could be caught at the current position of the cursor. (For details on this, refer to 2.2 Mouse pointer.) Did you snap-to such an existing point with full accuracy, it is signalized by a little circle added to the cross. The snap-to is important to achieve the desired accuracy of a CAD drawing. Later on, when entering dimension chains you will take full advantage of accurately entered elements. Doing the measurement you snap-to the points of the elements again and those distances will be calculated and displayed in the figures of the dimension chains.

Keyboard input : You will achieve an accurately drawing easily by using the keyboard input in combination with reference points. Keyboard input is made below the drawing area. (Please also refer to the Tutorial, Window.)

• Numeric input: We recommend to use the numeric keypad on your keyboard for the numeric input. Start the input by pressing one of the arrow keys. The arrow keys correspond to the X- and the Y- axis of the coordinate system:

• X+ : arrow right; • X- : arrow left; • Y+ : arrow up; • Y- : arrow down;

After specifying a direction in the coordinate system, the input box below the drawing area will be ready for input (e.g. it turns white). Now you can enter the desired distance. (Please refer to the 8.1 Settings, Input for choosing an input dimension).

• Text input : Text input also is done using the input line below the drawing area. The inscription of your drawings is done here line by line. Every time you hit the Enter key a new line will be added to your drawing.

Angle input : There are two possible ways to enter an angle; the first is to enter a numerical value in degrees or radians (see Appendix, section 8.1 Settings, Input.) All angles are measured counter-clockwise with the positive X-axis describing an angle of zero degrees.

The other way is, to describe the angle using a directional line. This is an imaginary line that describes the desired angle using two points (called direction points).


3.1 Entering points

• Entering a single point • Entering two points • Points in absolute coordinates

The method of entering points in CYCAS is following the method of drawing on a conventional drawing board.

• At any time, you can use reference points. Coming from those points the X and Y components are specified relatively in order to find the desired position. Once the first point of an element has been placed you can accurately place all further points in relation to the first one.

But, you can also enter a single point specifying its' position with absolute coordinates.

The different ways of entering points are described in detail now. Please also refer to the Tutorial for a better understanding.

• Entering a single point

• The help bar says, "...point:" A point can be, e.g. the starting point of a part of text or the center of a circle. A point needs to have information on its position in the drawing area, that is the X and the Y coordinate. By left-clicking in the drawing area you can place a point. It is marked with a cross. Now, you have two possibilities:

• 1. The help bar says, "Move / Confirm:". You can move the point using the keyboard. This process is initiated by pressing the arrow key corresponding to the direction into which you want to move the point. Now, the input box below the drawing area is highlighted, and you can move the point. Enter the distance into the input box. Once you hit the Enter key the distance will be applied. The cross of that point will be moved. You can keep on moving that point until you confirm it.

• 2. The help bar says, "Move / Confirm:" If that point is at the desired location, you can confirm this position with another mouse click (left button) into the drawing area, or you can hit the Enter key.

• Now, test this procedure with a circle: Choose Circle from the main menu and select the function Circle. The help bar says, "Center:" Place the center of the circle by left-clicking into the drawing area, anywhere. The help bar says, "Move / Confirm:" Now, you can move the center. To do so, hit an arrow key first, corresponding to the direction into which you want to move it. Then you can enter the distance. You can repeat this process as often as you wish, until you confirm the point. To confirm it, simply left-click into the drawing area or press the Enter key. By confirming the

placement of the point the procedure of input goes on to the next step. Enter the radius of the circle numerically. Now, the input procedure is finished and the circle is drawn.

• Entering two points

• Choose Line from the main menu and then Line from the function list. Place the first point.

• The help bar says, "Move / End point:" You can move or confirm this point. If you confirm it, the second point is placed right away. There are two ways to achieve this:

• 1. You can confirm the first point by left-clicking somewhere in the drawing area. This action sets the position of the second point. This point is also marked by a cross. The help bar says, "Move / Confirm:" You can move or confirm the second point. If you confirm the point, the input procedure is finished and the line is drawn.

• 2. You can confirm the first point by snapping to it with a mouse click. With this action the cross of the second point sits directly on top of the first point and it partially obscures it. You can achieve the same effect by pressing the Enter key. The help bar says, "Move / Confirm:" Starting at this position you can either move or confirm the second point.

• Every time you have to enter coordinates you can do so, according to the procedure mentioned above. At any time, you have the option to use reference points, and therefore you need to confirm each point when it has reached the correct position.

• Points in absolute coordinates

It is also possible to enter points orientated to the absolute zero (the origin) of the coordinate system.

To do this, you do not set a point with a mouse click in the drawing area, you position the point via a keyboard entry instead. This input is started by typing "a" on the keyboard. The help bar at the bottom of the screen then says, "Abs: X/Y/Z". Enter the figures needed per coordinate. Separate the single figures with semicolon like this: "1.25; 20; 3.1". (Working in 2D the Z-value must not be entered.)

You need to call (by typing the "a") the input using the absolute coordinates for each point. Therefore, you can enter the first point of a line absolutely, while the second point can be entered relatively to the first one.


3.2 Dialog boxes

The dialog boxes are used to set certain options for the drawing elements. Every type of element provides a dialog box which contains different sets of options.

• The following options may be set: You can choose the pen and line type. For walls and openings you may set their position in 3D-space. For text and dimension chains you set the text formatting options.

The settings you make in the dialog boxes during the course of a project can be named and saved separately. These data can be handled on a per-project basis, since a draft requires different settings than a presentation. (See the appendix 8.1 Settings, Local.)

Dialog boxes are available for these elements:

• Wall • Opening • Dimension chain • Text • Pattern • Room

• Elements such as lines, circles, and 3D-elements do not possess dialog boxes. For these elements you choose the pen and the line type in the respective function list. The Edit function list also contains controls for choosing the pen and line type. These controls may be used whenever you want to change the pen and line type of an element.

• Taking the Wall's dialog box as an example, a description of the setup options is following:

Choose Wall from the main menu. The wall function list contains a button labeled ?. Click on this button to open dialog box. You can make as many settings as you wish, name them and save them. The name of the current dialog box will appear in the function list behind the

?. There, you can choose a different dialog box and continue drawing with these new settings.

Name : This one shows the name of the current wall type. If you make changes in the dialog box, you may provide them with a new name. Moreover you may save that setup. The new name will be added to the list of the settings. But, you can also work with a temporary setup without the need of saving it.

Wall thickness / Base / Height : Here you can make the settings for the desired wall type.

Material : This list contains pre-defined materials. These materials can be assigned to 3D-elements and may be passed on to shaders or raytracers. New materials are created in the menu 3D.

Pen / Line : Here you can choose the pen and line type. For information on defining your own custom pen and line types, please refer to the appendix at 8.1 Settings, Pen / Line.

The following list of colors (respectively pen thicknesses) reflects the default settings, composed as follows:

• black: very fine, about 0.13 mm • yellow: fine, about 0.18 mm • red: normal, about 0.25 mm • blue: slightly thicker, about 0.35 mm • purple: thick 0.5 mm • green: about 0.7 mm • brown: about 1.0 mm • grey: about 1.4 mm


3.3 The selection menu - activating elements

• The selection functions • These are elements... • These are points...

In order to edit or modify drawing elements, it is necessary to select the elements in advance. If you choose Move from the Edit function list, the selection menu is displayed. You select the elements that you want to edit here. This menu will be displayed for all functions that modify elements.

The selection of elements is integrated into the process of editing and it is carried out at first. Several options are offered to get good access to the drawing elements.

Selected elements are displayed white and are, therefore, understood as being active. During the selection you may zoom in or out, or you may move the area displayed. Finish your selection by choosing OK. The editing function will be continued now.

• The selection functions

Active : When opening the selection menu, this button is always active and you may activate elements using the mouse. The active elements are displayed in white.

Passive : When this button is active, you can de-activate elements using the mouse. The passive elements are displayed using their original pen color. When proceeding with the editing function, these elements will not be effected.

Switch : Toggles between active and passive.

Active Layer : Entering the selection menu this option is always active. Only elements of the active layer can be selected.

Visible Layers : This option offers access to elements on background layers.

Range : The elements within an area are made active or passive, depending on the settings. You mark an area by drawing a rectangle around it using two points. These two points must lie at diagonally opposite corners of the rectangle. Elements must be within the rectangle entirely, in order to be (de)activated.

• The only exceptions to this rule are circle, arc, and ellipse elements, as well as text. Circles, arcs, and ellipses are selected as soon as their center is within the rectangle. Text is selected as soon as the starting point of the text is located within the

rectangle. (Please pay attention to the formatting of the text).

In the following cases the mouse pointer will take the shape of an X-mark:

Element : When the selection menu is opened, this button is always active. In this mode, you select elements by clicking on them one after the other. You have to pay attention to whether 'Active' or 'Passive' is selected.

• These are elements

• a line • a circle, arc, ellipse or spline • a wall, represented by wall lines • a dimension chain • a line of text or a block of text • a room, represented by its room borders • a pattern (hatch) • a 3D-element or unit

Group : These options enable the selection of groups. Groups consist of an arbitrary number of drawing elements that have been combined into a symbol.

• Combined with the edit/move function, these options are available:

Opening : This option of the selection menu allows you to select openings. Openings are sub-objects of wall elements.

Point : This is used to (de)activate single points. You select a range of points by drawing a rectangle around them. Active points are represented by small white crosses.

• These are points

Start and end points of lines and splines.

The corner points of a wall, an opening, a 3D-element or a unit.

Center points of circles, arcs and ellipses.

The measurement points of a dimension chain.

The starting point of a text, depending on the text formatting.

The corner and polygon points of a room or a pattern.

Control points of splines.

All : This one is used to (de)activate all elements of the active layer, respectively of layers in the background.

Last : The elements which were selected last can be selected again automatically.

Filter : Filter the selection by... You may select elements meeting diverse criteria. Use the ?-button to open a dialog box in that you can choose by which criteria the selection shall be filtered. E.g. you select all elements of red color in order to give them a different pen color.

OK : Finishes the process of selection. The edit or modify function for the elements displayed in white may be executed now.



• Snap-to points of elements • Points of intersection between elements • Constructed snap-to points

The snap-to and guide functions effect the input and the editing of drawing elements. This area of the CYCAS interface also contains the Undo function and functions for the creation of guide lines. The snap-to button, the snap-to settings, as well as the construction of snap-to points are available during the creation of elements.

Snap-to : If this button is pushed in, the snap-to is active and the mouse pointer is displayed as a small rectangle.

Exact input is only possible when the snap-to is activated.

Preview Snap-to: CYCAS gives you a preview of what it could snap-to at the current position of the mouse. It indicates whether ending points, middle points, or points of intersection were available. Surely, you may de-activate this preview. (For details, please refer to 2.2 Mouse pointer, Snap-to points.)

Within the snap-to rectangle you can snap-to these points:

• Snap-to points of elements

Lines start, end and middle points.

Circles, arcs and ellipses Center points and all those points that lie on an imaginary X or Y axis extending from the center point.

Arcs start, end and middle points.

Splines start, end and control points

Walls corner and middle points of every side.

Openings corner points.

Dimension chains measurement points.

Text start point of text (depends on the text formatting)

Rooms corner or polygon points.

Patterns corner or polygon points.

3D-elements and units corner points.

• Points of intersection between two elements

Snap-to points of intersection between different elements.

The dialog box for the snap-to points is opened by clicking on the ? button next to the snap-to button. Determining points of intersection needs time for their calculation. So, you may shorten this time by de-activating certain aspects of the snap-to. This could be useful in case you are working on a very large drawing.

Snap-to radius : Choose the size of the snap-to rectangle in pixels. Sizes from 2 to 12 pixels are possible.

• Constructed snap-to points

In addition to the snap-to we discussed so far, you can also construct snap-to points. These may be the middle point or a dividing point of a line. This could also be the tangent point of an imaginary line running towards a circle. Furthermore, you can construct points of intersection between elements that only intersect if assuming that they are of much greater length. The following functions can be called whenever entering a point. For every point you want to place in the drawing area using the mouse, you may insert the functions for the constructed snap-to points. Enter the necessary information for constructing the snap-to points. If a snap-to point is valid it is marked with a cross. After that, the input function continues as usual.

Construction of points of intersection:

Two elements are selected, possible choices are lines, wall lines and points of intersection between circles and arcs. If a point of intersection between the elements can be computed (which is achieved by assuming infinite length for both elements) the resulting point will be snapped-to.

Construction of middle points:

The middle point of an imaginary line will be snapped-to. This imaginary line is constructed by simply placing two points in the drawing area - typically, but not necessarily, by snapping-to two existing points.

Construction of dividing points:

Again, you enter an imaginary line as described for the "middle point" -function. In addition, specify how often this line shall be divided. Finally, you name the number of the division you want to snap-to. This function can be useful for constructing single steps of stairways in the plan view or window dividers in an elevation view.

Construction of tangent points:

Use this function to construct a tangent point on a circle or an arc going through an arbitrary point. Enter the start point of an imaginary tangent first. Then choose a circle or an arc to which the tangent shall be computed to.

Undo : The recent changes made to the drawing can be made un-done or made re-done again.

GL+ : Draw guide lines. If this button is pushed in, you can draw elements using the guide line color. When using the default settings, guide lines are displayed in pink. You can use guide lines to make notes in your drawing or to create sketches. In the Edit function list, you can change the color for the guide lines.

CYCAS will not print or plot elements drawn in the guide line color.

GL- : Delete all elements of guide line color on the active layer. If you wanted to keep a guide element, you can alter its pen color with the appropriate function of the Edit function list.


3.5 View menu - the zoom functions

Directly below the drawing area you find all functions for moving and scaling the visible area, as well as some options for the display of elements inside this area. You can change the visible area at any point in time, even while doing the input of elements.

Guide points : This one activates or de-activates the display of guide points. Guide points are center points of circle elements, starting points of text, and polygon points of patterns. Guide points are displayed using the guide line color, therefore, they are not printed or plotted.

All colored black : This option causes all elements to be displayed black, independent of the pen color. Colored fillings will keep their color.

Exact line thickness : All elements are displayed with their actual line thickness according to the drawing scale. Tip: If you combine this option with the one mentioned above, you will see a "print preview ".

Gauge : Measure the distance between two points. Place two points within the drawing area, e.g. the start and end point of a line. Confirm the second point. CYCAS will open a window containing information on the X, Y, and Z-components, as well as length and angle of the distance measured.

+ : The scale is enlarged, while the center of the visible area remains the same.

1:500 : This button indicates the scale of the visible area. By clicking on this button you can move the visible area without changing the scale. The cross marks the new center of the visible area. Place it where you want the new center to be.The screen display of CYCAS is true to scale, if you have set the correct aspect ratio for your screen mode. (See Appendix 8.1, Aspect ratio.)

- : The scale is made smaller, but the center of the visible area remains.

All elements are displayed.

Move. The visible area is moved by the distance and direction specified by positioning two points.

Refresh. If elements have been edited, there is a chance that the content of the drawing area does not reflect the drawing accurately. In this case, you may click on this button. Refreshing is intentionally not done automatically, therefore, you decide when to refresh the drawing area.

Zoom : Enlarge a certain area of the screen. Draw a rectangle around the area which is to be enlarged by setting two points. In case your mouse has a mouse wheel and it is fully integrated in your system, you can use it for zooming in or out as well.

Layers: Activate the Layers dialog box. (See 3.6 Layers.)


3.6 Layers

•

Layers dialog box

You may compare the CYCAS layers with transparency sheets that can be put on top of each other. You work on the active layer and others can be displayed in the background. For organizing your projects 1000 layers are offered. These 1000 are grouped in lists of 100 layers each. You can name the lists as well as the single layers individually.

When sending the drawing to printer or plotter only the visible layers are printed.

You can move drawing elements from one layer to another by using the Symbol functions. These functions such as cut, copy, and paste can be found at the menu Symbol or at the

Clipboard above the main menu.

• Layers dialog box

Click on the button symbolizing the layers next to the view menu. In this dialog box you can choose the active layer and the layers visible in the background. The elements of the active layer are displayed in strong colors while elements on the background layers will be displayed with reduced color intensity in order to clearly distinguish them from the active layer. Nevertheless, you can snap-to any point of the background layers.

The layers are divided into lists, whereas each list contains 100 layers. Indicated by an arrow that is tinted green, you can see in which list the currently active layer can be found. You can name each layer as well as each list individually.

• An "X" at the rows of a layer or of a list signifies the presence of drawing elements.

Use the button with the trashcan to delete all elements on that active layer.

You may move the active layer up or down in the layers list. To do so, use the buttons with the arrows pointing in the direction you want to move the layer.

• Load or save a set of visible layers. Preferred combinations of visible layers can be

saved.

Use the advantages of putting layers in the background:

You can snap-to all aspects of background layers. (See 3.4 Snap-to and guide functions, Snap-to.) This means that you can have parts of your design displayed in the background. This may help you working on the active layer. Parts can be counter drawn or simply taken for orientation. When selecting, elements in the background remain uneffected - unless you explicitly activate the altering of the "Visible Layers".

• It is up to you to decide for which purposes you want to use the layers. The following examples are meant as suggestions:

• Use the layers like transparency sheets:

Create your drawings, e.g. a house, one floor at a time. Draw the basement on the first layer and name the first layer accordingly. Draw the first floor on the second layer and put the basement layer in the background. Now, you can "carbon copy" all those walls of the first floor that rest on the basement walls. The offset of the first floor walls to the basement walls (if there is any) can be determined using reference points. The next step would be to use the fourth layer for the section. Put the first floor plan in the background and draw the section. Put the top floor on the third layer. Here you could again put the first floor and the section in the back. Finally you can use the fifth layer for the different views. You e.g. could put the section in the back and draw the gable views. The eaves views could also be drawn on the fifth layer and the eaves and ridge heights can be projected from the section or the other views. Place parts of the drawing that re-appear in other plans on different layers, e.g. the plan head. Create a layer that contains the plan head and put it in the background of the other layers - remember, all visible layers will be printed or plotted.Another application would be to use one layer for every step of a project. You could put the measurements or the patterns on separate layers. This would speed up the display as the measurements and/or patterns would not always have to be visible. You could even maintain an entire project in only one file by using different layers for the draft and the final plans. You could e.g. create the plan on one layer and put the appropriate dimensions and text in the back, depending on which phase your project is currently in. 3D-data that is to be passed on to raytracing or shading programs can be distributed over several layers on a per-unit basis. Use different layers for walls, ceilings, stairs, stair rails or the roof construction. This allows you to edit the elements easily for you cannot alter the elements of the background layers accidentally.


3.7 Polygons

• Entering a polygon

Polygons can be employed in many situations. Rooms or patterns can be created with polygons, but also 3D elements, such as prisms. You can counter draw circles, arcs, or splines (e.g. on a background layer) using polygons, or you can enter polygons by entering single points.If you snap-to an existing polygon point again, you will achieve an Undo of that

point.

Polygon out of line sections : Set the first polygon point. You can either confirm or move it. As soon as you confirm it you can place the second polygon point. If you confirm that one, you go on and place the next one. You can continue adding points until you close the polygon. You close a polygon by snapping-to the first polygon point.

A polygon must have at least three points and it must be closed.

Polygon out of arcs : Integrate arcs into your polygon. Snap-to the start and end points of the arc and CYCAS recognizes it and draws the polygon accordingly.

Polygon out of a circle : Let CYCAS draw a circle as a polygon. To achieve this, you simply snap-to one of the circle points at the 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees location of the circle. There, you set two points on top of each other, which is entering a start and an end point of the circle.

Polygons out of splines: If you snap-to start points and end points of a spline CYCAS will recalculate the form of the spline for the polygon.




4. The Function lists 4.1 Project

4.2 Symbol

4.3 Line

4.4 Circle

4.5 Wall

4.6 Opening

4.7 Dim

4.8 Text

4.9 Room

4.10 Pattern

4.11 Edit

4. The Function lists

This chapter describes all function lists. The function lists are structured according to the kinds of functions they contain. The menu Project offers various functions dealing with files and settings. The Line, Circle, Wall, Opening, Dim, Text, Room, Pattern, 3D and Unit menus deal with the different element types. The Edit function list is of a more global nature and contains functions which can be applied to all types of elements. Finally, the Symbol menu offers (besides clipboard functions) the management of the symbol catalog.

• All function lists are structured alike and adhere to the following layout:

At the top of the list you find functions for creating new elements. Below these input functions, you have access to the dialog boxes (if available). Further down, you find functions for altering elements. And at the very bottom, you will always find the function Delete.

In order to take full advantage of this chapter, it is recommended to read chapter 3. Basics in advance.

This chapter contains a description of every function. It gives you notes on their special features. Instructions on how to use each function are given. This chapter was written with the intention to answer specific questions quickly.

The Edit function list is special, because it offers functions for working on all elements in all projections. It is described at the end of this chapter. Within the Edit function list, you should pay special attention to the Move / Point function. It offers many ways to edit or correct elements: e.g. for the compound measurement and for editing 3D elements in the different projections. The Line function list is described very detailed. The function lists following are structured in analogy to the Line function list.


4.1 Project

• Project function list

The menu Project contains file operations. Here you can save and load your drawings. Settings are used for customizing the working environment of CYCAS. For more detailed information please refer to 8.1 Appendix, Settings. The menu Project also contains functions for output to printer or plotter. (For details on printing, see 7. Output.)

Load : Load a drawing.

Save : Save a drawing. All elements on all layers will be saved. The following information is saved along with the drawing: the scale and the Settings in the menu Project.

Scale : Here you can choose the scale. Since all drawing elements are created using a 1:1 scale, the scale, you define here controls the display of the drawing on your screen. It effects the size of the text display (and the dimension figures) and the size of the line types. Thus, you are able to view your drawing as WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) before printing or plotting.

File import and export. Please refer to 8.3 Data exchange for detailed information on using the DXF format. Output of 3D-data to rendering programs and the output using vector graphics formats are described at 8.4 Export.

Tools, Remove Duplicates : All line, circle, and arc elements that are directly drawn on top of each other will be removed from the active layer. This tool is useful for cleaning up some DXF data.

New : This function removes all elements and gives you a clean state for beginning a new drawing.


4.2 Symbol

A symbol is a group which consists of an arbitrary number of elements. Symbols are created by selecting elements and by saving them in a symbol file.

There are two major applications for symbols: You can use them to place furniture on a plan, e.g. a WC or a table, by loading the appropriate file from the symbol library of CYCAS. You can also create symbols of your own and maintain them in the symbol library. The other application is to group several elements in order to move them between the layers.

• Symbol function list

This list contains functions dealing with the loading, the saving and the creation of symbols. It also contains functions for maintaining the Symbol libraries. Functions such as cut, copy, and paste are found in the menu Clip additionally.

Load : Load symbols. Select the desired symbol file name and load it. You will find that symbol attached to the mouse pointer now. Place the origin of the symbol in the drawing. You may specify a rotation angle. To do this, simply place a direction point somewhere in the drawing area - the symbol then will be rotated by the angle of the imaginary line reaching from the symbol's origin to that direction point. (See 3. Basics, Angle input.) If you place the direction point above the origin in a vertical line, the symbol will be turned by 90 degrees. If you confirm the direction point at the same position as the origin, the symbol will not be rotated.

Save : Create symbols of your own. Choose which elements are to be saved as one symbol. Now, the only thing left to do is to choose an origin for it. (Later on, you can place it into your drawing by positioning that origin point.)

Remove : Remove a symbol from the symbol library. Choose the symbol file for deletion.

• Library : Symbol library management.

New : This function is used to create new directories for your symbol libraries.

Remove : Delete the directory of the symbol library.

• Group : All symbols you load form a group automatically. In the selection menu, you may activate the elements as a group. But, single elements being part of a group can also be edited one by one. Nevertheless, they remain members of the group.

Create : Create a new group. Select all those elements you want to group together.

Ungroup : Disband a group. Choose a group that is to be split back into its member elements.

• Clipboard : The following functions can also be found at the menu Clip.

Cut : Cut elements from a drawing and store them. The elements will be stored in a clipboard. Elements from the clipboard can be placed somewhere else by calling the Paste function. Activate the elements to be stored in the clipboard, then choose an origin for them.

The elements will be removed from the drawing. Elements remain in the clipboard until they are overwritten by subsequent cut or copy operations.

Copy : This function is very similar to Cut, but the elements are not actually cut from the drawing. They remain in the drawing and a copy of them is saved in the clipboard.

Paste : Paste the elements currently contained in the clipboard back into a drawing. In case you want to rotate them, you set a direction point. (In doubt, please refer to the Load ing of a symbol.) And, of course, you can simply confirm the origin in order to paste it without any rotation.


4.3 Line

• Line function list • Modifying of lines

• Line function list

This function list contains operations dealing with the creation of lines and shapes of several lines. You will find each line function described in detail and illustrated by sketches. For basics on the input of single points, please read chapter 3. We also recommend to go through the tutorial at the beginning of this manual. During input always keep an eye on the help bar below the drawing area. It gives you little notes on what is expected for input. In the lower part of the function list you choose the pen and line type for the lines to be drawn.

Line : Draw a line. Place two points, one for the starting and one for the ending of the line. As soon as you confirm the end point the line is drawn.

X- Line : The starting point determines the position of a horizontal line that is as long as the X-distance from the start to the end point.

Y- Line : Similar to X-line. The starting point determines the position of a vertical line that is as long as the Y-distance from the first to the second point.

A- Line : Angle line. This function is used to draw lines with an exact angle and length. The angle has to be specified first. You can either enter the angle numerically or create a directional line using two points. Angles are measured counter-clockwise. After that the starting point of the angled line has to be placed. This point can be moved by using the arrow keys and by a numerical input, until it is confirmed. Then, you enter the length of the line. You can either enter it numerically or set a point using the mouse. After that the line is drawn. You can draw further angled lines using the same angle, until you choose a different function.

Parallel : There are two ways to create parallel lines.

Parallels at a distance to an existing line. Numerically you enter the distance between the new line and the existing line. The mouse pointer appears as an X-mark which means that you must select an element, in this case the existing line. Both normal and wall lines can be used. Once you have selected this line, you will see a preview of the new line to either side of the line you have just selected. The only thing left to do is click on the side on which you want the new line to appear. You can keep using this function with the distance you initially specified, until you abort the function (by right-clicking outside the drawing area) or you select a new function.

Parallels through a point. This is a variant of the method mentioned above. First of all, you must select an existing line, after that you need to place a point through which the parallel should run.

Orthogonal : Create a line that stands orthogonal (rotated by 90 degrees) to an existing line. Select a line or wall line on which you want to construct an orthogonal. After that, you need to place a point through which the orthogonal will run and a second point to set the length for the orthogonal line.

Frame : There are two ways to create a frame:

Enter a frame by placing two points. The two points mark opposite corner points of a rectangle or square. A frame consists out of four line elements. The points always must be located diagonally across in order to unambiguously determine the X and Y distance.

To draw an inner or outer frame at a distance to an existing frame. Enter negative numbers to create an inner frame, positive numbers for an outer frame. After specifying the distance value, you only need to snap-to the corner points of the existing frame. The function remains active and the distance will be re-used, until you abort the function or choose a different function.

N-Polygon : Draws a polygon around a center point. Enter the number of corners. Place the center point and then choose the size by placing a corner point. The center point can be moved using arrow keys and numerical input until it is confirmed. The size of the N-polygon can also be set by using the keyboard to enter a distance from the center to the corners. The function remains active and the initially specified number of corners is re-used.

• Modifying of lines

The following functions are used to modify or edit line elements. Each kind of drawing element, such as lines, circles or walls, has its own set of modify functions. Whenever placing single points the input rules explained in chapter 3. Basics, apply.

All set points which mark line segments or single points need not be located on the element to be modified. All points are projected orthogonally.

Join : Join two lines at the point where they intersect. Using this function can mean that the lines are made longer or shorter. The segment of interest is always to one side of the point where the lines intersect. Click on the segment that you want to keep. As soon as you select the second line, the function is executed.

Join and add a line. This function is very similar to the Join function. In addition to joining the two lines a miter is added. When calling this function you specify a length for the miter first. Then, activate the two lines to be joined. The miter is the orthogonal of the angle secant of the two lines. The pen and line type of the line that was selected first will also be used for the miter.

Join and add an arc. This function is very similar to the Join function. In addition to joining the two lines an arc is added. When calling this function, you specify a radius for the arc in advance. Then, you activate the two lines to be joined. An arc will be added between the two lines.Example for application: rounded furniture, sinks, toilet bowls, etc.

Attach : Extend lines until they meet a line or wall line. Choose to which line or wall line you want to extend. The element you select will be displayed in pink color. Then use the selection menu to activate all lines that you want to extend to line initially selected. The line up to which the others will be extend is considered to be of infinite length for the purposes of this function.

Extend : Extends a line to the next intersection with a different 2D-element or a wall line. Depending on which end of the line you click the line will be extended to the next intersection that lies in that direction. The elements to which you want to extend the line are not considered to be of infinite length.

Erase : Erase a part of a line. Activate a line. Now specify two points which mark the stretch to be erased. The marked part of the line then will be erased from memory. You can use this function to shorten lines or to cut a piece from the middle in order to create two line elements. Also, you may split lines by using the same point as the start and end point for erasing.

Delete part : Deletes a line segment. A line segment is the part of a line that is located between points of intersections a line has with other objects. Any segment you click on using this function will be deleted from memory. If the selected line only has one object it intersects with, the segment between that intersection and the end point is deleted. Only the part of the line you clicked on will be deleted. If a line has no intersections with other objects, it is deleted entirely.

Cut with : One line is marked as the cutting line and used to cut all selected lines it crosses. First, select the line to use as your "cutting tool" and then activate all lines that are to be cut by that line. After that, you could delete some of the parts cut.

Delete : Deletes elements from memory. After choosing the Delete function the Selection menu appears. All activated elements are displayed in white. When you leave the selection menu by clicking on the OK button, all activated elements are deleted. The Delete function is located at the bottom of every function list.

Depending on the current combination of pen colors and line types, the elements will be drawn accordingly. The pen and line selection in the function lists mutually effect each other. However, the settings made in the dialog boxes are not effected by this.


4.4 Circle

• Circle function list

The Circle function list contains input functions for circles, arcs, ellipses, and splines. You can create circles and arcs that are parallel to existing elements or you can modify them with functions such as Extend, Erase and Delete-Part. In analogy to the Line functions, the pen and line types are selected in the lower region of this list of functions.

Circle : Circle around a center point. Place the center point using the mouse and move or confirm it. After that, you specify the radius by either placing a point on the circle circumference using the mouse, or you enter the radius numerically.

-3 Point : Create a circle using three points. Enter three points that are to be located on the circumference of the circle.

Arc : Enter an arc by specifying a center point, a start point, and an end point. First, place the center point, then you place the start point and the end point. If you move the mouse now, CYCAS shows you a preview of the two possible arcs; choose one by clicking at it.

-3 Point : Create an arc using three points. All three points lie on the circumference of the arc. The first point you place determines the start point, the third point determines the end point of the arc.

Ellipse : Place the center of the ellipse. A second point placed relatively to the first one sets the difference between the primary and secondary center.

-Frame : Draw an ellipse inside a bounding box. Place the two corner points of the bounding box. Confirming this, the second point the ellipse will be drawn inside the bounding box.

Parallel : There are two ways to create parallel circles, arcs, or ellipses:

A parallel at a distance to an existing circle, arc or ellipse. Enter the distance numerically. Activate a circle, an arc or an ellipse. Then, choose on which side the new element is to be drawn. You may continue drawing new circles, arcs or ellipses with that certain distance.

A parallel circle, arc, or ellipse through a point. First, activate an existing circle, arc or ellipse. Then, place a point through which the new element should pass.

Extend: This function extends arcs or ellipses. The extension is calculated from that end you click on up to possible intersections with other elements.

Erase : Erase a part of a circle, an arc, or an ellpise. Activate such an element and place two points on it. Inbetween these two points the erasing is done counter-clockwise.

Delete-Part : Delete segments of circles, arcs or ellipses. The part you click on between two points of intersection is deleted immediately. In case the element has no intersections it is deleted on the whole.

Spline : A curved line between two points. Set the start point and end point of the spline and place two control points that effect the shape of the curve.

-Dissolve : Dissolves a spline into single lines. These lines can be edited separately now.





4.2 Symbol

4.3 Line

4.4 Circle

4.5 Wall

4.6 Opening

4.7 Dim

4.8 Text

4.9 Room

4.10 Pattern

4.11 Edit

4.5 Wall

• Wall lines • Wall dialog box • Wall function list -input • Correcting wall representation • Modifying wall elements

The wall elements of CYCAS were developed especially with architectural drawing in mind. Walls are 3D-elements that serve several purposes. They are aimed at making the drawing of plans easier as they can be edited for architectural 2D-plan design. On top of that you can check and edit the walls as 3D wireframe models any time you choose to do so. Thanks to special input and modify functions you can easily and quickly create drawings: You can place openings into wall elements for each level and these openings can already contain a suitable symbol. Further, you can measure walls using the semi-automatic measuring. Walls can be grouped with their dimensions so that any changes made to the wall are reflected in the dimensions.While editing the plan a 3D-model is automatically built at the same time. The heights of the 3D-elements can be checked and edited in different projections by use of the 3D-menu. Even when still in draft stage you can compute culled or unculled wireframe representations of the data you are entering.

• Wall lines

Wall lines are part of the wall elements and serve the purpose of visualizing the wall while working on the plan. While working on the plan a wall element resembles a box made up of four lines, the wall lines. The wall lines are also what is taken into account for the semi-automatic measuring. When you place openings in a wall, the wall lines will be interrupted and their display will be corrected, depending on whether or not the opening is displayed with a stop.

• Wall dialog box : ?

When creating walls the values entered in the dialog boxes are relevant. Define different wall types which are different from each other in their pen and line types and the values controlling base, height and thickness as well as their materials. (See 3.2 Dialog boxes) Normally, it is most useful to enter walls per level of your building.

Name : Here you can call existing settings or create new ones. Use save to add new settings to the list.

Wall thickness : These boxes control the thickness of the wall when creating walls using axes, sides, or angles. When creating a wall using the Wall function these values have no effect as you have to enter two points that control both the length and thickness of the wall.

Base : 3D input. This controls the position of the wall in space. Base controls the height of the lower end of the wall.

Height : 3D input. This controls the height of the wall, measured from the base (=lower end of the wall) to the upper end, i.e. the entire height of the wall.

Material : Material assignment for output to raytracers or shaders. Choose a material from the list. Any wall you create using these settings will be assigned the material from the current dialog box. Please refer to 5.6 Materials for information on creating new materials.

Pen : Choose the pen type.

Line : Choose a line type to go with the selected pen.

• Wall function list - input

The wall function list contains all functions for the creation and editing of wall elements. The upper part of the list is taken by various functions for creating walls. Below that is a button for opening the dialog box and further down you find functions to correct the wall display, followed by functions for wall editing.

Wall : Enter a wall using two points that are located diagonally across in the wall. In this way you set the length and thickness of the wall at the same time. You should read the garage tutorial to better understand this function.Example: place the first corner point using the mouse. If you want to enter the elements accurately, you should confirm the first corner point now. Then, use the arrow key to move the second point by X+: 12.99m to the right. The only thing left to do is to enter the wall thickness: Y+: 0.356m. Pay attention to the coordinate display. When the displayed distances are correct, you can confirm the second corner point and the wall is drawn.

-Axis : Enter a wall that is centered on an axis. The position of the axis is specified by placing two points. As soon as you confirm the second point of the axis, the wall is drawn centered on the axis using the wall thickness specified in the current Wall dialog box.

-Side : Enter a wall on one side of which is flush with an imaginary axis. Place two points to set the length of the axis. Confirm the second point of the axis and choose the side of the axis where you want to create the wall. The wall is drawn using the settings made in the current dialog box. Also, you will find information on this function in the tutorial.

-Angle : An angled wall. A wall that is drawn after you specify an angle and a length for it. The axis is created just like you would create an angled line.You can enter the angle using degrees or radians or by drawing a directional line using two points. (See 3. Basics, Angle input.) Now place the start point of the imaginary axis and confirm it when it has the right position. After that, you can specify the length using numerical input or by placing an end point. The wall is drawn using the settings made in the current dialog box. The angle you entered when first calling this function will be used if you now draw subsequent angled walls, until you abort the function.

• Correcting the wall representation

In order to correctly display walls in the plan it is mandatory that there are no gaps or breaks. The following functions are capable of removing dividing lines between walls and thus correct the wall display. These functions are intentionally not applied automatically, as there are certain situations when walls must not be displayed continuously. If you are e.g. working on several sections of a building, the dividing lines must be displayed. On top of that it should be possible to keep full control over the single wall elements.

Connect : This function serves the purpose of connecting single wall elements to each other. The lines where the walls meet are removed. Activate the wall elements to be connected to each other. The undesired dividing lines are then removed. Two walls can be properly connected only if their wall lines incide. Note: If wall elements overlap or intersect, they can not be properly connected.

-All : All walls are connected to each other.

Separate : Reverts back to the single wall elements. Walls which are already connected can be activated one by one in order to disconnect them again.Example: A wall element that had already been connected to others has been moved. These elements are not displayed correctly anymore, i.e. they have open ends. Choose Separate to revert them back to their initial state.

-All : All walls are separated.

• Modifying of wall elements

Modify walls using the functions explained below. Please also refer to the Line function list for there the functions to modify elements are explained in depth. Keep in mind that in prior walls only can be edited lengthwise.

Join : Join two walls at the point where they intersect. Using this function can mean that the walls are made longer or shorter. The segment of interest is always to one side of the point where the walls intersect. Click on the segment that you want to keep. As soon as you select the second wall, the function is executed. (Also see the Garage Tutorial.)

Attach : Extend walls until they meet a line or wall line. This function can be used to make walls longer. First, choose to which line or wall line you want to extend. Then, use the selection menu to activate all walls that you want to extend to the first selected line. The line up to which the others will be extend is considered to be of infinite length for the purposes of this function.

Extend : Extends a wall to the next intersection with a different wall line or line. Depending on which end of the wall you click on it will be extended to the next intersection that lies in that direction. The elements to which you want to extend the wall are not considered to be of infinite length.

Erase : Erase a part of a wall. Activate a wall from which you want to erase a part. This function can be used to divide, shorten, or split single wall elements. Specify two points which mark the stretch to be erased, if this stretch contains an opening, the opening will be removed. You can split walls by using the same point as the start and end point for erasing.

Alter height : Change the wall height of an existing wall. Choose the wall to which you want to assign a new height. Enter new base and height values using the keyboard. Right-click on a wall to check its height.


4.6 Opening

• Opening / Window / Door dialog box • Opening function list • Entering openings • Alter - correcting openings

The CYCAS' openings are developed especially for architectural representation. These openings can be placed into wall elements only. Therefore, openings are regarded as sub-elements of walls. Is is useful to sort and enter the openings per level of your building, for they are mainly designed to make working on the plan view more easy. If you place an opening into a wall, the wall is split up and at that position the opening is inserted. This is

done with the symbol chosen in the respective dialog box.

Furthermore, you can assign values controlling 3D, such as heights and basis. These values are understood in relation to the respective wall. If you are using the 3D values, a 3D model is build up right away.

• Opening / Window / Door dialog box : ?

First of all, you may choose the symbol for the opening. In case, the symbols offered do not fit your project, you can create symbols of your own and place them into the empty opening by using the Symbol functions. Further on, you can control the detailed position of the opening in the wall.

Name : Use this field to choose the dialog box settings.

Base : These values determine the height of the bottom end of the opening. The base is measured from the bottom of the wall in which the opening will be placed.

Height : Here you can enter the height of the opening measured from the base; i.e. the true height of the opening.

Stop width : An opening with a wall stop. You can enter the width of the stop. This width determines how far the stop will reach to the inside, measured from the simple opening. If "0.0000" is chosen here, the opening is drawn without a stop.

Stop depth : Here you can enter the depth of the wall stop. The values entered here are measured from the outside of the wall to the inside. The depth also controls the position of the opening symbol inside the actual opening.

Symbol : Choose the symbol to be inserted.

• Opening function list

The Opening function list has this structure: At the top you find the functions for creating openings, doors, and windows. Located below that are the ? -buttons for calling the respective dialog boxes; followed by options for entering elements using a pre-defined width indicated in the next line. If the ! -button is pushed in, these widths will be used. The different opening types only differ concerning the kind of symbol that is placed in the opening automatically.

• Entering openings

The Tutorial, Input of openings teaches you both ways of how to enter an opening.

Opening : Choose the wall in which you want to create an opening. The position and size of the opening is determined by placing two points. If the !-button is active a pre-defined opening width next to the ! is used. So, you have to choose into which direction the opening should face. Once the position of the opening has been confirmed, you decide which side of the wall is to be considered the outside by clicking on it. Therefore, the opening symbol can be placed correctly.

If the ! button is pressed in, the opening width next to it will be used. Then, you have to place one point only, that is the starting point of the opening. The opening will start at this point and will be as wide as the numerical value indicates. The direction in which the opening will be placed is controlled using the mouse. If you choose a different width, it will be used under the described conditions.

Door : This function enables you to achieve a display indicating a door leaf in your plan view. The input options are in analogy tpo those of the Opening. Additionally, you have to specify the position of door leaf. Do this by using the mouse. The position of the door leaf can be changed easily by calling the Alter - Door function later on.

Window : Use this function for creating openings with a symbol representing a window. This function works in analogy to the Opening function.

• Alter - correcting openings

The functions following allow you to change the symbols used in the openings. Decide, by choosing either Opening, Window, or Door about what symbol from what dialog box is to be inserted. The position, width, and outside of the opening remain unchanged.

Opening : Change the opening symbol. Choose an opening and the symbol of the current

opening dialog box is inserted.

Door : Change the door symbol. Choose the opening that is to be altered with the symbol of the current door dialog box. Moreover, his function can be used for changing the position of the door leaf easily.

Window : Change the window symbol. Choose an opening that is to be displayed with a different window symbol.

Height : Here you can change the heights of all openings after they already have been created. Enter the new base and total height for the opening in the input line below the drawing area. Then, choose the openings to which the new heights should be assigned.

Dissolve : This function may be used for dissolving opening symbols. Choose the openings the symbols that you want to dissolve. Then, the display of the symbol is converted to line and circle elements which can be edited as usual.

Remove : Remove openings. This function allows you to delete openings. Any opening you click on with the mouse pointer (which turns into an X-mark shape) will be removed immediately and the wall will be restored. If the wall was connected to other walls, these connections will be removed.


4.7 Dim

• Dimension chain dialog box • Dimension chain function list - input • Compound measurement • Alter - correcting dimension chains

Dimension chains are elements consisting of several single dimensions. If you change one dimension of a chain, the entire chain will be re-computed and re-displayed. You may enter dimension chains manually or semi-automatically. Entering them manually means, that you snap-to single points of the drawing which are to be measured. Using semi-automatic measuring you may create dimension chains being computed by using intersecting lines. You place these lines in a way that they intersect wall elements in your plan.<Above this, there are several ways to correct existing dimension chains: You can add, delete, and change single measuring points. The display of the dimension chains is determined in the respective dialog boxes. The text size on the screen depends on the scale set in 4.1 Project, Scale.Optionally, you can use "compound" dimension chains. "Compound" means that any changes made to the drawing are reflected in the dimension chains automatically.

• Dimension chain dialog box : ?

The settings in these dialog boxes effect the graphical display of the dimension chains. You can choose the font, font size, the measuring guide lines, the measuring point, and the dimension figures. A list of all options:

• Figures : Handle the display of the dimension figures as follows:

Size : Here you can choose the text size for the dimensional figures. Choose an input dimension for the text sizes at 8.1 Settings, Input.

Width : Here you can set the width of the single characters. The value you enter is a multiple of the text size.

Space : The distance from one character to the next is set in this box. Again, the value you enter is a multiple of the text size.

Font : Choose a font.

Here you select the display of the dimension figures:

• Architecture : all numbers are given using meters and centimeters, e.g. : 1.01, 36 (up) 5

• M : all numbers are given using meters, e.g. : 1.01, 0.365 • CM : all numbers are given using centimeters e.g. : 101, 36.5 • MM : all numbers are given using millimeters e.g. : 1010, 365 • INCH: all numbers in inch • FEET: all numbers in feet • IMP 1/1 - 1/64 : all numbers are given using imperial scales in different accuracies

from 1/1" up to 1/64"

The display of the dimension figures is not effected by the dimensions you are using when entering the elements. (See Appendix 8.1 Settings, Input.)

Choose the pen and line type for the dimensional figures.

• Chain : For layouting the dimension chains these options are available:

HLine : Here you can change the length of the measuring guide lines. The value you enter here is a multiple of the text size.

Space : The distance from the dimension figures to the dimension line is specified here. The value is a multiple of the text size.

Measuring point : Choose the display of the measuring point.

Here you can choose the pen and line type for the chain line.

• Dimension chain function list - input

First of all, a short overview over this function list: At the top of this list the input functions are located. After that the ? -button for the dimension chain dialog box follows. Below that, functions for editing dimension chains are located. You can add height measurements or you add or remove measurement points. The Alter section contains functions for editing single aspects of a chain. The following paragraph describes exactly how a dimension chain is created. Any further input functions are variants of the one described here.

Dim : Enter a dimension chain which has an arbitrary angle. First, choose the angle of the dimension chain. You can do so by either entering it numerically or by creating a directional line. A single point determines the start position of the dimension chain. An imaginary line of the specified angle passes through this point. Now, snap-to single points which are to be measured - every point is projected onto the line and added to the chain. Per each point you place a further dimension is added to the chain. The chain is displayed in white until you abort the function. After that the dimension chain is drawn according to the settings made in the current dimension chain dialog box. You may keep adding further dimension chains using the same angle.Example: You want to measure the stop of an opening alongside an angled wall in a room.

0 degree : Enter horizontal dimension chains. Follow the steps as if entering a normal chain, but you do not need to specify an angle.

90 degrees : Enter vertical dimension chains. It works in analogy to 0 degree.

Auto : All wall lines in one dimension plane are measured in one dimension chain. First of all, you need to specify the angle for the dimension chain. As usual, you can either enter a value numerically, or you describe the angle with an imaginary line. Now, place one point in order to set the position of the dimension chain. Do this as described above for the Dim -function. Now, you have to specify in which plane you want to perform the measuring. The single steps: two points control the line of intersection along which the points of intersection with the wall lines are computed. The first point controls the plane of intersection in the specified angle and forms the start point. The second point controls the end point of the line of intersection. As soon as you confirm the second point the points of intersection between the line of intersection and the wall lines are computed and the dimension chain is drawn.

+ Point : Add measuring points. Activate the dimension chain to which you want to add a point. Now, add new points by snapping-to those points of the drawing that you want to measure additionally. For each point you snap-to a new dimension is calculated and added to the chain.

- Point : Remove measuring points. Choose the chain to be corrected. Then, snap-to the points on the chain you want to remove. The points are deleted and the dimensions remaining are recomputed.

+ Height : Adds a height dimension. Activate a single dimension of a chain to which you want to have an additional height measured. Enter the value using the keyboard. The height dimension is added to the chain centered below the dimension line. This function also can be used for altering height dimensions. Choose a dimension and enter a new value.

Radius : Measure the radius of a Circle or an Arc. First, you choose the element to be measured. Now, set the point which defines the position of the dimension display.

Diameter : Measure the diameter of a Circle or an Arc. Activate the element you want to measure and set the position at which the dimension shall be drawn.

Angle : Add a dimension measuring an angle. Using this function you can draw a dimension which measures the angle between two imaginary lines. To do this, three points need to be entered. Start positioning the center point that lies at the intersection of the two lines. The display of this dimension will be drawn using an arc to which the dimension figure will be attached to. Therefore, you need to enter a start point and an end point of the arc counter-clockwise. Doing this, the inner angle will be measured. The other way around, you would achieve the measurement of the outer angle of the arc between the lines.

Heights : This function allows you to enter a dimension chain designed with several height measuring points. First, you place the position of the dimension chain. Then, you snap-to those points you want to be added to the chain.

• Compound measurement

You may perform "compound" dimensioning of your drawing. In the menu Project under Settings, Dim activate the option "Link to element". (See Appendix 8.1 Settings, Dim.) Then, start creating dimension chains with these settings. Now, you can edit drawing elements using the Move / Point function and the dimension chains are re-computed automatically. (See 4.11 Edit, Moving points.)

Doing the compound dimensioning, those points are of interest that you initially snapped-to during the creation of the chain. For each measuring point you snapped-to a "note" is created and displayed in the drawing. This note is understood as a link between the measuring point of the chain and the point of the element. Using the Move / Point function you may activate points of an element that was measured in compound and as a result the linked point(s) of the dimension chain are activated at the same time. If you move the points of the element now, the points of the dimension chain are moved as well and the chain is recomputed. Alternatively, you have can edit the dimension chain independently. To do so, activate the points in the chain for moving them. Then, the linked points of the related drawing elements will be high-lighted. You can decide now, whether you wish to alter the points of the drawing elements, or not. If you want to alter them, you need to activate those points explicitly.

Example : You performed a compound measuring of the plan and now you want to move a wall between two rooms. You activate the corner points of the wall using the Edit / Move / Point function. At the same time the points of the linked dimension chain are activated. Move those points by the distance desired - as soon as you confirm the operation, the dimension chain will be recomputed.

• Alter - correcting dimension chains

Value : Change the value of a single dimension figure. Activate the dimension figure that needs correction and enter the new value using the keyboard. Now, this change is marked with an asterisk in front of the new value as a reminder. The position of the measuring points remain uneffected. The asterisk will not be printed or plotted.

Example : For very slight changes that do not mandate moving the measuring point it is easier to simply change that respective dimension figure. Therefore, if inaccuracies occurred while entering drawing elements, you can simply correct the values displayed in the dimension chains. Calling the Original function afterwards, the actual dimension chain will be restored.

•

Move : Move single dimension figures in order to improve the layout of the chain. Move one figure at a time. As usual, you activate the figure to be edited first. Specifying the direction where to move is done by using the mouse or the arrow keys followed by a numerical input. Hereby, the X and Y directions for moving are rotated according to the angle of the dimension chain. Figures that have been moved can be put back in their initial position by calling the Original function.

Example: A 90 degrees dimension chain needs to be edited in a way that a value such as "11.5" does not reach inside the measuring bars: If you move the dimension figure using the arrow up key, it is moved to the left. (Also refer to Appendix 8.1 Settings, Dim, Move figures.)

Size : Change the text size of the dimension figures. Activate the dimension chain using the selection menu and enter a new size. If the text size is changed, the other settings of the dialog box remain unchanged for they are expressed as a multiple of the text size.

Style : Activate the dimension chains to which you want to assign different settings of the dialog box. The new font is read from the currently active dialog box.

Original : Reverts the dimension chain back to its initial state. Any corrections made using

Value, Move and concerning the single dimensions are undone. You have to choose which dimension chain you want to revert to original state.





4.2 Symbol

4.3 Line

4.4 Circle

4.5 Wall

4.6 Opening

4.7 Dim

4.8 Text

4.9 Room

4.10 Pattern

4.11 Edit

4.8 Text

• Text dialog box • Text function list - input • Alter - correcting texts

Inscribing drawings.

A text element may be a single line of text or a block of text. A text block consists of several lines that have one joint text starting point. You can edit or correct the text content and you

can change the text size or the formatting of the text. For editing you select the text using the option Element. Or, you activate text elements using the option Range and you set the range around the text starting points. The size of text displayed depends on the display scale. (See 4.1 Project, Scale.)

• Text dialog box : ?

The Text dialog box allows you to change the attributes of the text. You can change the font, the text size, the width, and the distance of the single characters. The settings made in the text dialog box also effect the inscription of rooms done in the Room function list.

Line spacing : Select the distance between two lines of text. The values you enter here are considered a multiple of the text size.

Character width : Choose the width of the single characters. This value also is a multiple of the text size.

Character space : Here you can set the distance between the different characters. These values also are a multiple of the text size.

Font : Load a font. (On Linux: Import TrueType fonts at the menu Project, Import, TrueType Font.)

Choose the line and pen type for the text.

The preview area in the dialog box allows you to check the settings you have made.

• Text function list - input

You can enter text line by line or you can use the editor. The editor enables the usage of the clipboard functions of your system for inserting text into CYCAS. Call the editor by pressing the E -button next to the text input function.

When you start entering text, you can choose the formatting right away, or you can change it later on using Alter. The text start points are displayed as small crosses in the guide line color. (See 8.1 Settings, View, Guide points.)

Text : Enter text at an arbitrary angle. First, you enter the angle, either by entering a numeric value or by placing a directional line. After that, you need to place the start point of the text using the mouse. The text formatting is done relatively to this start point.

Once you have confirmed this point you can enter the actual text. The text you enter appears

in the input line below the drawing area first. Pressing enter adds the line to the drawing. You could enter another line now. Only if you hit enter twice (once for ending the line, a second time to confirm) the text input is finished.

In case you have the editor button E activated, a window opens where you may enter your text or paste it via clipboard functions.

0 degree : Enter horizontal text. All input is done like for Text, only that you do not need to specify an angle.

90 degrees : Enter vertical text. The input is done just like for 0 degree.

Tip :If you are working with single lines of text, you can add further lines to an existing line of text. Simply snap-to the start point of a line of text. If you confirm this point, you can add text in the next line automatically.

Format : Choose the text formatting:

• Right aligned : Text start point at the right end. • Left aligned : Text start point at the left end. • Centered : Text start point at the center. • Justified : Text start point at the left and a point that

controls the width of the justification.

Size : Specify the text size. Choose an input dimension for the text sizes at 8.1 Setting. Input.

• Alter - correcting texts

Content : Change the content of a text element. After the activation the text will be displayed at the input line below the drawing area. You can edit it here. Pressing enter applies the changes. Blocks of text will be displayed in the text editor for the correction.

Format : Change the formatting of text. Choose the formatting at the Format area, then select the text. Leave the selection menu by clicking OK. The text selected will be formatted accordingly. If you want to justify the text, you need to enter the width of justification additionally. The width is measured beginning at the start point of the text.

Size : Change the size of texts. You adjust a new size for the text in the function list first, then you select the text.

Style : Change the font. Choose the new font in one of the dialog boxes. The new font will be assigned to the texts activated. The settings for the width, the space of the characters and the line spacing will be changed as well.


4.9 Room

• Room dialog box • Room function list -input • Alter - correcting the room inscription

Inscribing rooms.

This function list serves the purpose of inscribing rooms with their area and volume. A room is an element that consists of the room area and the room texts. First of all, you have to specify the room area. You can measure the area of rectangular rooms as wells as use polygons to measure the area of more complex rooms. After you have entered the room borders the area can be computed easily. Finally, you have to position the room text. The room text can contain up to four different kinds of information: the room name, the room number, the room area and the room volume. If you change a room, e.g. the position of its walls, the area and volume are altered automatically. To achieve such a recalculation you need to apply the function 4.11 Edit, Moving of points for moving the walls and the room borders.

• Room dialog box : ?

In the Room dialog box you choose the room inscription. Choose which information you want to be shown in the inscription. For calculating areas you have to select whether you want the area to be multiplied by a factor. On top of that, you can choose the pen and line type for the room texts. The text style is copied from the current Text dialog box of the Text function list. In Settings, Input, Room inscription you decide about details on computing the room areas, about details on the inscription, and about which measurement units you want to use.

Base : Enter the base.

Height : Enter the room height.

Factor : Enter the factor by which you want to multiply the room area. (E.g. 0.97 to account for the 3% the plaster takes off the raw area.)

Description : If this button is pushed in, you can assign a room description, respectively, a name for the room.

Number : Optionally, you can inscribe rooms with or without a room number.

Area : If this button is pushed in, the computed area of the room is displayed. This area can be multiplied by a factor of your choice.

Volume : If this button is pushed in, the volume of the room is displayed as well.

Select the pen and line type for the room inscription.

• Room function list - input

In order to have the areas of rooms computed, you counter draw them. Enter these areas by using polygons or ranges (frames). An area can consist of several sub-areas which can be added to or subtracted from each other. Once you have entered the room area, you position the inscription. Surely, you can make changes to the room inscriptions later on. The text layout is set in the current dialog box of the Text function list.

• Input : For each room you have to choose the area which has to be calculated. Using Input you create initial elements to which you could Add further areas.

Polygon : Describe a more complex formed area. Draw the polygon lines by following the borders of the room. Those room lines are initially displayed in the color of guide lines. As soon as you close the polygon the area can be computed. For details on the entering polygons see 3.7 Polygons.

After entering the polygon you must place the text start point to which the room inscription will be aligned. After you have confirmed that point the computed values are displayed. If you are using a room description and/or a room number you must enter those in the input line below the drawing area first. As soon as you confirm the last line of the input field, you are done.

Area : The area of a rectangle is computed. Draw a frame that incides with the room borders. As soon as you confirm the second point of the frame, you can inscribe the room just as you would for a polygon.

• Add : Using these functions you can extend existing areas or polygons. If the + -button in front of the function buttons is pushed in, the areas you enter now will be added to the existing one, otherwise it will be subtracted.

Polygon : Extend or reduce a room by a new polygon area. Choose a room for extension. Then, enter the new polygon area. Close the polygon for recomputing the room area.

Area : Extend a room by a new range. Choose an existing room and enter the new area. The room area will be recomputed.

• Alter - correcting the room inscription

Description : Change the content of the room description. Choose the room and enter the

new text in the input line.

Number : Change the room number.

Factor : Change the factor for calculating the area. Select a room and the area is recomputed accordingly.

Height : Re-enter the base and height of a room.

Inscription : You may alter the inscription using this function. As soon as the settings in the dialog box to suit your needs, select the rooms to be changed. If you have e.g. switched off the room number, the respective information will not be displayed anymore. The value of the room number is, however, stored and thus can be switched on later.

Position : Choose a new text start point for the room.


4.10 Pattern

• Pattern dialog box • Pattern function list - input • Alter - correcting patterns

Patterns are elements that fill areas in your drawing. Patterns can be created of lines, of dots, or of colored fillings. You can fill a roof area with schematic shingles, you could simulate the tiles of a bathroom floor, or you could design your drawing with colored fillings. The Pattern element consists of the pattern itself and of the corner points of the constructed area. Use the Move / Point function to change the filled area moving these corner and polygon points. The input functions offer several options for creating and extending patterns. Polygons can be used to fill complex areas, but you can create rectangular patterns as well.

• Pattern dialog box : ?

Several options for creating patterns are offered in the pattern dialog box. Choose whether the pattern should be made up out of one or two lines, out of points, or out of a colored filling.

The 2 lines pattern type can be used to create a large amount of different patterns. For each line you can change the pen and line type as well as the angle and distance of the two lines.

Examples: A pattern, such as a roof pattern, consists e.g. of one line type that has an angle of 90 degrees and a distance of 30cm.The pattern of reinforced concrete could consist of two lines in two different line types. Both running at an angle of 45 degrees. If you choose the same distance for both lines, the

lines will be drawn offset by half the distance.

Type

1 Line : The pattern will be made out of one line.

2 Lines : Combine two line types for the pattern.

Points : Create a pattern just like you would do for a 1 Line type pattern. Space controls the distance of the points. Angle controls the angle of the imaginary line on which the points are distributed then.

Filling : Activates the colored fillings.

Line 1

Space : Choose the spacing for repeating the first line.

Angle : Choose the angle for the first line type.

Select the pen and line type for the first line.

Line 2

Space : Choose the spacing for repeating the second line.

Angle : Choose the angle for the second line type.

Select the pen and line type for the second line.

Color

Adjust a color in the color selection.

• Pattern function list - input

In order to enter a pattern you create the area in which the pattern shall be placed first. You can create those areas with polygons or with rectangular frames. You can extend them by either adding or removing further areas. You may also change the pattern in different ways, e.g. by editing the space, the angle, or the origin.

• Input : Use these functions for the creation of your patterns. You can Add further areas later on.

Polygon : This is an area that is determined from a polygon. Enter the polygon lines. These

lines will be displayed using the guide line color until you close it - then the polygon will be filled. (See 3.7 Polygons.) The pattern now has its reference point at the origin of the drawing area. From this point on the space between the lines of your pattern are calculated.

Area : A rectangular area is to be filled with a pattern. Enter a frame for placing the pattern.

• Add : The following two functions offer you three possibilities.

1. Extend a pattern by a new area in a different place. The new area will be filled using the pattern of the existing elements.

2. Extend a pattern by a new area directly adjacent to it. Snap-to the corner or polygon points of the existing area and the new area will be combined with the existing one.

3. Remove areas from a pattern. Create a new area completely within the existing one and it will be subtracted forming a hole.

Polygon : Extend or reduce a pattern by a new polygon area. Select the pattern you want to extend and then enter a new polygon.

Area : Extend or reduce a pattern by a rectangular area. Apart from the different shape this function is identical to -Polygon.

• Alter - correcting patterns

Pattern : Use a different pattern. Choose a new pattern in the dialog box. Then, activate the pattern to be replaced. The selected pattern area will be filled using the new pattern.

• - S : Alter single patterns. Choose single patterns by clicking the mouse. The patterns will be altered by the current settings within the pattern dialog box.

• - A : Alter all patterns of the same type. Exchange all patterns of one type by a new type.

Angle : Change the angle of the pattern line types. Select the pattern to be edited. Now, enter the angle in either one of the possible ways. The pattern is rotated then.

Space : Change the pattern line spacing. Select a pattern and enter the new spacing. Make sure that the spacing does not get to wide for the area you want to fill.

Origin : Place the origin of the pattern. When you fill an area with a pattern, it is usually

aligned to the absolute origin of the drawing area. This function serves the purpose of positioning the pattern exactly, so that the area can be filled evenly.

Dissolve : Patterns consist of their corner and polygon points and their filling. By dissolving them, they are transformed into single line elements. Therefore, these line elements can be edited and modified like any other line element.


4.11 Edit

• Moving elements • Moving points • Edit function list

The Edit function list offers you functions for editing all drawing elements. Elements can be moved, rotated, copied, etc.

The following paragraphs solely deal with editing in two dimensions. Notes on editing in three dimensions are found at the end of chapter 5, in 5.5 Editing in 3D.

To start with, the description of the Edit functions deals with the moving of elements. Once you have read and understood that part, you are able to use the remaining edit functions easily, for they are of the same structure. After that, the editing of points is described. By using the Move / Point function you can achieve compound measuring and the correction of area computations in the plan. At the beginning of every Edit function you use the selection menu first, in order to activate the elements for modification. (See 3.3 Selection menu, Activating elements.) Once you have made your choice, you enter the data necessary for the respective Edit function.

• Moving elements

Move : The elements you want to move are activated within the selection menu first. When you are done with the selection, you click OK. Now, you have to specify the distance by which you want to move these elements. There are two ways to do this:

1. Enter the distance numerically in the input line below the drawing area. To do so, you have to choose the direction in which you want to move first. The selected elements will be moved from their initial position by that distance. You may continue moving the elements until you confirm or abort the function.

2. Set the distance for moving by placing two points. In order to do that, you have to place a start and an end point of that distance using the mouse. Both of these points can be moved using the keyboard if necessary. Once you confirm the end point, the elements will be drawn at the new position. The elements will be displayed in white, which means that you could continue moving them, until you abort the function.Example: You want to move an element by a distance which is given already by another element in your drawing. Snap-to the points of the reference element and the active

elements are moved by that distance. (See the Garage Tutorial, example for copying a wall.)

Both variants can be used as often as you wish and can be combined arbitrarily.

• Moving points

Move : If you choose the buttons Point and Active in the selection menu, it is possible to activate single points of the elements. These points are displayed in white.

The following text lists several possibilities for moving points:

Line : If you move one point of a line, the other one remains uneffected. As you can see, this can be used to distort, lengthen, shorten, etc. lines.

Wall : Move corner points of wall elements. If you move a single point of a wall, the wall gets distorted. If you select the two points of a wall ending, you can lengthen or shorten it.

Opening : Move corner points of openings. Activate the corner points of an opening and move the points within the opening plane in order to change the size of the opening. If you move an opening outside the wall plane it is removed automatically.

Dim : Move measuring points of dimension chains. If you move measuring points that are not linked to points of other elements, the dimension figures of the chain are recomputed.In case the compound measuring is active: Move the corner points of wall elements that are linked to the measuring points. Once you confirm the change, the dimension chain will be recomputed.

Text : Move the starting point of text. This results in moving the entire line of text or block of text.

Room : Move corner and polygon points of room borders. When moving such points of room borders the area and volume of the room are recomputed. If you move the text start point of the inscription, the position of the room text is changed.

Pattern : Move corner and polygon points of patterns. When moving points of patterns, the area of the pattern is redrawn and filled anew.

• Edit function list

For each of the functions described as follows, you must activate the elements to be modified first by using the selection menu. Click on OK to finish the selection and you can enter the values by which you want to move, copy, or rotate those elements. The input rules explained in 3.1 Point input apply to all edit functions. All functions remain active, until you select a new one or abort it by right-clicking outside the drawing area.

Copy : Make a copy of the active elements and move the copy. This one works like Move

in every other respect.

Multi : Create multiple copies. Set a start point of the elements at which the multiple copies can be controled. Positioning a target point results in getting a copy at a new position. Each time you set a new target point another copy is created.

Series : Create a series using a linear distance. Select the elements for the series. Now, enter the number of copies in the input box, counting the initial element as one. The distance is specified just as you would do for the Move function.

Polar : Create a polar series around a center. Within an angle a certain number of elements can be distributed. First, you choose the number of elements (counting the initial element as one). Now, you place the center of rotation. Finally, you have to enter the angle over which the elements are to be distributed. (For entering the angle, please refer to 3. Basics, Angle input.)

Rotate : Rotation around a center. Set the center by using the mouse. Then, you choose the angle around which the objects are to be rotated. If the + -button is pushed in, copy of the element is created for rotation.

Mirror : Mirror over an axis. Select the elements for editing. Place two points in order to create a mirror axis (imaginary line). Then, the elements are mirrored to the other side of the axis. If the + -button is pushed in, a copy is created instead of mirroring the original. Example: Enter the mirror axis by placing and confirming the first point. Move the second point 5m up. As soon as you confirm the second point of the mirror axis, the elements are mirrored at this imaginary, vertical line.

Stretch : Change the size of elements in relation to a fixed point. Place a fixed point. After that, you enter a factor numerically; in detail one for the X- and one for the Y- direction of the 2D coordinate system. The elements then are stretched by those factors. Alternatively, you could specify the factor by placing two points at a certain distance.

Example: You want to print or plot a drawing in a scale of 1:50, but within this drawing one part shall be displayed in the scale of 1:10. Stretch this part by a factor of 5 in both directions, the X- and the Y- coordinate.

• The edit function can be used to change the pen and line type of every element, independent of the settings made in the dialog boxes or function lists.

Alter : Change the pen and line type of elements. First, select the new pen and line type, then select the elements to be changed. Click on OK to apply the changes.

• You can also alter the pen and line type of elements drawn in the guide line color, in order to make them "real" elements. If the GL+ button is pushed in, all active elements are converted into guide lines. After that they are no longer printed or plotted.

Pen : Only the pen type is changed. The line type remains unchanged.

Line : Only the line types are changed, the pen type remains unchanged.




5. Basics - 3D 5.1 Generating projections, Rendering

5.2 Point input in 3D

5.3 Entering basic 3D-elements

5.4 Unit

5.5 Editing in 3D

5.6 Material

5. Basics - 3D

• Coordinate system • Projections • Snap-to • Keyboard input • Angle input

The structure of the 3D menu is different from that of the other function lists. One focus of this menu is checking the correctness of existing 3D-elements (walls and openings entered in the plan) using different projections, and correcting them if necessary. On top of that you can create 3D elements as basic 3D shapes and edit these as well. The projections in which you work are views consisting of grid lines. Four possible views, four isometries, and the plan can be viewed. Moreover, you can choose perspective views freely.

In the 3D menu you can also render perspectives and isometries with or without culled wires. Alternatively, you can use the POV-Ray module to create a photorealistic representation of the 3D data. To do so, CYCAS offers various functions that help you to create a scene which can be exported to the POV-Ray module. This not only contains the 3D data, it also contains camera settings, light sources, and materials in order to achieve the best scene design.

The basics of 3D input are designed as an extension to chapter 3. Basics. 3D and 2D input are actually quite similar. The most notable difference is the coordinate system. The coordinate system has an additional axis, the Z-axis. Therefore, the following text will concentrate on the differences between 2D and 3D editing.

Coordinate system : The planar cartesian coordinate system is extended by a Z-axis. "Z" is responsible for the height of elements.

Projections : Choose the projections you want to work in. Nine different projections are available:

Plan : the X, Y and Z axis are available.

View : You can choose between four different views. Each view shows the elevation of the elements. For each view either the X or the Y axis is missing. The Z axis is equivalent to the height.

Isometry : Choose the desired isometric display. The isometries are rectangular axonometric projections with a side aspect of 1:1:1 with the angle between the depth lines and the horizontal being 30 degrees. All three axes are available in the isometries.

Perspective : Activates the perspective view displayed as grid lines. The perspective shown depends on the active camera and its' position.

Snap-to : The views and isometries are 3-dimensional displays on a 2-dimensional media. The snap-to function of CYCAS recognizes corner points of 3D-elements. For this reason, you can only enter elements by snapping-to the corner points of existing elements in the isometries and views. When working on the plan, the points are projected into the X / Y plane and the Z coordinate is 0.00.

Keyboard input : For each numerical input you must choose the direction in the coordinate system first. Working in the projections you also have the choice to control the directions intuitively using the arrow keys. E.g. in a view projection you can control the Z-axis with the arrow keys up or down. CYCAS adapts the control of the keys to the current projection you are working in. But, you can also use the "X", "Y" or "Z" -keys for controlling the directions in the coordinate system.

Angle input : Enter angles numerically. Angles are measured counter-clockwise. The rotation axis can be placed in the 3D space freely.


5.1 Generating projections, Rendering

• Choose a perspective • Render • Light dialog box • Line graphics

Create views, isometries or perspectives of your 3D design: CYCAS computes line graphics or photorealistic graphics. Line graphics may be a wireframe or a hidden line representation. These are 2D line graphics that can be stored on a layer of your choice for viewing, editing, and finally for printing.

Moreover, you may export perspective views of your 3D project to the CYCAS POV-Ray module. It animates POV-Ray to render a photorealistic graphics of your design.

• Choose a perspective

Create perspective views by positioning a camera. A camera is displayed in your scene giving you information on its' position, on the direction of view and information on the cameras' angle.

Camera : Enter a camera by positioning an eye point and a target point. You may enter identical height information for both points. Doing this, you avoid the appearance of "plunging" vertical lines in your perspective views. Or, you assign different heights to the points. This is achieved using the "Z"-key after having specified the X- and the Y- coordinate of each point.

- A : Control the view angle of a camera. The default entry of the view angle is 60 degrees. Increasing this figure you will achieve a wide angle view of the scene. Decreasing the angle causes the effect of a zoom objective.

- Change : This function changes between your cameras quickly. The active camera which defines the perspective view is marked in the guide line color.

• Render

If POV-Ray [TM of the POV-Ray team] is installed on your system, you can send output to this raytracer even while you are still working on the 3D elements.

Create a virtual scene which can be exported to POV-Ray. A scene being exported

consists of the 3D elements including the materials, the camera that defines the perspective, and the light sources which illuminate the scene.

The Render -function offers you various possibilities to manipulate POV-Ray:

Decide which command line (only on Linux) has to be used for calling POV-Ray.

Looking at the output options you decide whether you want to save the computed picture or not. In the former case, you need to select the file format and a file name.

Choose the desired resolution calculated in pixels and choose which quality POV-Ray should use for rendering.

Also, you may decide whether or not anti-aliasing is to be employed during rendering. This enhances the quality of the rendered image.

Optionally, you can add a background. Either use the "Color" option or activate the "Sky" option. If "Sky" is active, you can choose to have "Clouds" rendered in addition. If you prefer not to have a background rendered, because you want to fit the rendered image into a realistic photo later on you should use the "Alpha-Rendering". Choose the option "Targa + Alpha" and save the image file with the extension ".tga".

• Light dialog box : ?

It is very important to get the best illumination of your scene for rendering. Therefore, CYCAS offers two types of light sources in order to get the optimum of illumination. The pointlight suits simulating a lamp, while the spotlight simulates a lightbeam. Moreover, you can assign various settings to the lights in the lights' dialog boxes. These settings can be added to the database by saving them.

Size : Control the size of the light source. The size specifies a distance from the light source to the point where the brightness of the light shall be reduced to the half of the original value. This value is very theoretically, so simply experiment with this. Simulating a sun would be assigning the value "0". In this case, the brightness of the light will not be decreased at any distance. Simulating a lamp would e.g. mean to set this value at "2" meters.

Type : Choose a pointlight or a spotlight. The pointlight is a spherical light and the spotlight simulates a shaft of light. The pointlight is marked with an X and its radius

(size) in the drawing. The spotlight is displayed with three lines indicating the direction of the light and the angle of the dissemination.

Angle : This value only effects spotlights. Here, you can arrange the cone angle of the light.

Shadow : Decide whether the light shall cause a shadow or not. Notice that computing shadows affords more rendering time. A deactivated shadow of a light can may be used to design your rendered images as well.

Color : Choose the desired color of the light.

Light : Set one or more lights. Depending on the type of light you position one or two points in 3D space. A pointlight needs one point to be entered only. A spotlight is arranged by entering two points, the light source point and the target point. Controlling the Z-coordinate of these points works in analogy to the way of entering camera points.

-Alter : The lights you activate will be altered by the settings of the lights' dialog box.

• Line graphics

Create and design the presentation of your projects. From the pre-arranged perspective views, but also from the views, or elevations you may have CYCAS render line graphics of your design.

Wireframe : Compute a wireframe representation of the current projection. Depending on which projection you have chosen in the 3D -menu, you can have it rendered into a 2D drawing. Once the drawing has been rendered, you can choose on which layer you want to store the result. Therefore, it can be viewed and edited in the plan projection.

Hidden : Renders a 2D drawing with hidden (culled) lines. This function works like Wireframe.


5.2 Point input in 3D

Every single point of a 3D element has three coordinates. Referring to the CYCAS point input procedure (see 3.1 Entering points) it offers you two ways of entering the Z coordinate:

In the plan and the isometries :

• 1. Use the "Z"-key of the keyboard to enter the Z coordinate in the input line below the drawing area. Numerical input is done additively. Enter "Z+:" 2.00 and apply this by pressing the Enter key. You could edit the height again: this time e.g. "Z+:" -1.00 - the Z coordinate of that point will be at 1.00 now. Only when you have confirmed the point finally its position is set.

• 2. Snap-to points of 3D elements. You may use such points as reference points - and move the new point in all three dimensions from there.

• 3. Snap-to points of 3D elements that have a Z coordinate of 0.00 - CYCAS will ask you to enter the base and the height of the element numerically.

In the views :

• Theoretically, you could enter 3D elements in the views just like you would in the plan and isometric projections. However, it can not be determined accurately at which depth a point that you snapped-to actually is. Still, working in the views is useful for editing elements. You may measure distances between two points and you may correct the heights assigned to the elements.


5.3 Entering basic 3D elements

The 3D elements that can be created are basic 3D elements such as polygons, prisms or tubes. All 3D elements can be altered in the different projections using the Edit function list. You can assign materials to those elements when entering them.

For entering basic 3D elements chapter 5. Basis - 3D is important, as it describes the use of the Z coordinate in the different projections. When working in the projections, you must be careful to snap-to the correct points in space.

Cuboid : Enter a cuboid using two points. This cuboid is assigned a base and a height. Assign a Z coordinate to each of the two corner points of the cuboid, so that the points lie diagonally across from each other. If you do not enter a Z coordinate for the two corner points, you can enter the base and height numerically after having confirmed the second point.

Sphere : A sphere is created in analogy to entering a circle. The center is positioned in the center of gravity of the sphere, whereby, the position and the Z-height are determined. The radius is defined by a point on the surface of the sphere.

Polygon : A polygon describes an area. This area is assigned a base (=bottom). The base of the area is extracted from the first polygon point. If you do not assign a Z coordinate to the first polygon point, you can, after closing the polygon, enter the base on the input line numerically. (See 3.7 Polygons for more information on polygons).

Prism : A polygon describes an area. This area is assigned a base and a height. Entering the polygon and specifying the base are done just like you would for a polygon. After closing the polygon you have to enter a height for the prism. (See 3.7 Polygons)

Tube : Enter a tube. Place a center point and enter a radius. By specifying a base and a height you set the position of the tube in space. You can specify the base either by assigning a Z coordinate to the center point or by entering it numerically. Finally, you have to select the number of segments for the tube.

Cone : A cone is created in analogy to the tube. Set the middle point and the radius of the cone. Finally, you define the base and the hight of it.

Cut-Cone : Enter this element as described for the cone. But you need to enter the top radius of the cutted cone additionally.

3D Line : A 3-dimensional line in space. A start and an end point describe the position of the line. They have three coordinates each, one for the X, Y and Z directions.

Attach Wall : Extend walls up to a plane in space. Use this function to edit walls upwards in the Z-direction. Start by defining a plane in space to which you want to extend the wall. In an isometric view you specify 3 points of a plane. Then, select the wall elements that are to be attached to the plane specified. The selected walls will be extended upwards. Use this function to edit walls upwards to a bevel plane, e.g. of a roof.


5.4 Unit

The Unit function list contains special architectural elements. These units are elements such as a gable wall, a stair, or a round pillar. With these units you can create a 3D model of your design easily. Assigning materials to these 3D units enables you to have 3D work rendered by passing the data on to shader or raytracing programs.

• Unit function list - input

Expecting you have read the 3D basics at the beginning of this chapter, the paragraphs following will describe the units giving notes on their input.

At the beginning of each function you enter the numerical values necessary in order to scale and position the elements correctly in space.

Gable wall : The gable wall element is a wall in which you can place openings. Specify the base for the gable wall first. Then, you have to enter the wall height and the gable height. You can place the gable wall in the plan by placing two corner points afterwards.

Ceiling : At the beginning you have to enter the base and height of the ceiling. Then, you can describe the ceiling area with a polygon.

Beam : First, enter the width of the beam. Then, enter the base and height of the element. After that, you can place the beam in the plan like you would for an axis wall.

Pillar : Enter a rectangular pillar by specifying its width and thickness first. Then, set its position in space by entering a base and height for the element. After that, you can keep placing pillars until you abort the function.

Round Pillar : You can place round pillars by entering their radius first, then, their base and their height. After that, you can keep placing rounded pillars until you abort the function.

Stairway : Enter a stairway. You specify a number of options for the stairway first. You need to enter, in order: the width, the step height, the nosing and finally the number of steps. What remains, are as usual the base and height. After that, you can place the stairway in the plan by placing two points, the first being the lower end, the second being the higher end of the stair. You can keep adding further stairs using the same settings.

Profile : This function allows you to place window profiles in openings easily. In the input line you have to specify the number of monials and transoms. After that, you need to select the opening in which the profile is to be placed. A profile consists of monials and transoms which are distributed evenly in the opening. A window pane is placed automatically in the profile and has the material "Glass" assigned to it automatically. You can change the material of the profile without altering that of the glass pane. Furthermore, you may adjust the frame size of the profile in the button below.


5.5 Editing in 3D

The Edit function list can be used for 2D and 3D elements. And, you can operate in the different projections easily. We would like to refer to chapter 4.11 Edit again, because you can use all of the functions mentioned there working in 3D. Therefore, the paragraphs following deal with the 3D edit functions which are used differently in comparison to the 2D-editing.

The Move function is mentioned to clarify how you may use the two ways for entering distances with respect to the Z coordinate. This approach applies to the function Copy, -Multi and Series as well.

• 1. Enter distances using directional and numerical input. Herewith, you can use of the "Z"-key for entering the Z coordinate of points. (See also 5. Basics - 3D, Keyboard input.)

• 2. Enter distances by using two points in space.

Move points of 3D elements: This enables you to model 3D elements in all projections. Please bear in mind that while using the elevation and plan projections you can also (accidentally) activate points in the depth, as the points of 3D elements come to rest on top of each other in those projections.

Polar : You can create a polar series around the Z-axis. Example : Creation of spiral stairways. Enter a Z value in addition to the rotation angle.

Rotate : Rotation in 3 dimensions. Two points determine the position of the rotation axis in space. Enter the rotation angle numerically.

Mirror : Mirroring in 3 dimensions. Three points determine the position of the mirror plane.

Stretch : Stretching elements in 3 dimensions. Either specify a factor for each of the three axes or snap-to two points that determine the factor as a distance in space.


5.6 Material

• Material dialog box • Texture • Alter - correcting materials

Creating materials within CYCAS is very useful for the direct output to a render program such as POV-Ray [TM of the POV-Ray team]. Furthermore, the material information of your 3D elements will be passed along when exporting to other 3D-packages.

For the creation of your materials in detail, you can use POV-Ray for getting a preview of each slight enhancement on your materials - in order to test the transparency, the color, the reflections, etc. before rendering.

• Materials are textural information that is assigned to the 3D elements. • When outputting to a shader or raytracer, this information is passed along with the

element data. • When creating 3D elements, the material in the current materials dialog box will be

assigned to any newly created element. • Assigning materials to wall elements is done in the walls' dialog boxes. • 3D-Lines form an exception as they cannot possess a material. • Check the material assignment using the element information. To open this window

you right-click on the respective element.

• Material dialog box: ?

The materials dialog boxes are accessible from the 3D and the Unit menus. Use these dialog boxes to assign colors and materials to 3D elements. Wall elements can have materials just like any other 3D element.

Name : Create your material database by assigning and saving names for your materials. Only materials which have been saved are taken into account when exporting data for rendering.

Color : Choose the desired material color and adjust the brightness of the material.

Transparency : Choose the transparency. A value of "0" disables this option.

Reflection : The higher this value, the stronger the material will reflect its surroundings.

Ambient : Arrange the luminosity of the material.

Highlight : Choose how "shiny" the material should be. The higher the value, the more polished the material will look.

Refraction : This is a toggle option (it can be turned on or off), the effects of this option are visible on transparent surfaces only.

Metallic : Choose whether the material should appear metallic or not.

• Texture : If you want to work with textures, CYCAS offers these possibilities for assembling graphics on 3D elements with POV-Ray.

Choose the type of texture and define the position of it. Off : The textures are not available. Default : If this type is set, CYCAS differs between wall elements and 3D elements. Textures will be mapped on walls lengthwise. But, the texture type "default" mappes textures on 3D elements in Z-direction, which means from above. Spherical : The texture will be assembled spherically. Cylindrical : The texture will be wrapped around the element cylindrically. Planar X, Y, Z : This option causes the texture to be brought up on the element orthographically; depending on the axis chosen. Image : Choose an image to create the texture. Repeat : Toggle this option. Repeating a texture means that it will be copied infinite in all directions. Size : Here, you can control the size of the texture. Offset : Manipulate the offset of the texture. Offset the image from the origin (always lower left corner).

Preview : Test the material. In a separate window POV-Ray will render a sphere giving you a material preview.

• Alter - correcting materials

Change the material properties of walls or 3D elements. You need to choose a new material from your material database first. The function Alter activates the elements to which you want to assign the new material. Also, you can use this function, in case you have not yet assigned any materials.




6. Tips and Tricks

• Angle input • Stairway • Wall, round • Wall, connect • Openings, round • Profile • Render perspectives • Saving data on a per-project basis

This chapter contains some tips that want to help you to use CYCAS as quickly and effectively as possible. Tips on how to use layers are found in 3.6 Layers.

Angle input using a directional line : You want to place text along existing elements. However, the angle of those elements is not known. Select Text from the text function list. Specify the angle for the line of text by snapping-to two points of the existing elements (See 3. Basics, Angle input.) You could use the same procedure e.g. for dimension chains.

Creating a spiral stairway : Enter a 3D element that forms the first step of the stairway. Now, use the function Edit / Series -Polar. Activate the first step and enter the information necessary for the polar series. CYCAS automatically recognizes whether the element is a 3D element or not. So, CYCAS will ask you for a "Z offset:" Enter the Z value for the offset from one step to the next. (See 5. Basics - 3D, Keyboard input.)

Creating a rounded wall. Create a wall and use the Edit / Series -Polar function to rotate and copy it around a center point. (See 4.11 Edit, Edit function list, Polar.) You can connect the single wall segments now. An alternative method is to use the prisms in the 3D menu. Using a polygon function, you can take advantage of hardly seeing the segmentations of the prism. Prepare entering a prism by drawing a 2D sketch of the rounded wall using arcs in the menu Circle. A second arc must be added as a parallel arc describing the wall thickness. Onto these arcs, you enter the

3D prism. (See 3.7 Polygons.) If that round wall shall have an opening, you compose this out of several prisms.

Wall connections : When editing several walls that are already connected, the wall connections might not be correct anymore. Use the Separate and Connect functions to correct this.

Create rounded openings by using prisms. The idea is this: you enter that wall element that shall have the arc-opening as if it was lying flat on the ground. You make a 2D sketch of the wall with 2D lines first. And you also make a sketch of the round opening using arcs. Onto that sketches you enter prisms in the 3D menu. If you want to create an opening in the form of a circle, you must enter 2 arcs, each representing one half of the circle. You counter draw one half with prisms and mirror it onto the other side afterwards. Finally, you rotate those prisms upright in any isometric view.

Profile : The unit profile consists of several 3D elements and it can be placed in wall openings. If you need a profile without a wall, you delete the wall after placing the profile. You may edit the bars of the profile using the moving of points. When creating openings, you should use the "Stop depth" options right from the start. Enter a stop depth of e.g. 11.5 cm in the openings dialog box. If you now place a profile in this opening, it will not be flush with the outside wall edge. It will be offset to the inside by the value you specified for the stop depth instead.

Render perspective : Choose the position of the eye point in a way you would position yourself photographing the building with a camera. The target point is the end point of a view vector originating to the eye point. Vertical edges will be drawn as vertical lines in the perspective view, if the eye point and the target point are located on the same height above the ground. If you want to render several scenes using POV-Ray, you can place different cameras as well as light sources on different layers. Activate the appropriate layer combination per scene.

Save your data on a per-project basis. For each project you could create a new directory containing the data of the dialog boxes, materials and drawings, possibly even that of the symbols. The advantage is that you have a much better overview over your data. This proves useful in case, your data may be re-used for similar projects. If you change the paths for saving the data, you must use Settings, Local in order to point to the new paths correctly. These new paths may be saved in the "default.prefs" or in other file names. Refer to chapter 1.2 Installation on Linux regarding the structure of the user specific data or chapter 1.3 Installation on Windows regarding the structure of data.




7. Output 7.1 Printer Output on Linux

7.2 Plotter Output on Linux

7.3 Printer/Plotter Output on Windows

7. Output

This chapter provides detailed information on printer and plotter output. Thereby, we differentiate between the operating systems Linux and Windows.

Before outputting to a printer or plotter we recommend viewing the drawing in the "print preview".

• The pen and line types of the elements should be matched as closely as possible. You can check the pen and line types even before any output is made. Therefore, activate the options All colored black and Exact line thickness located in the View menu below the drawing area. Using this "preview" you can see possible overlapping or intersecting of the objects due to their line weight.

• Moreover, this "print preview" is important when doing colored output. Toggle the display option "All colored black" in the view menu. The pen colors change from colored to black, except for the colored fillings. Simply spoken, CYCAS copies this to printer or plotter what you see on your screen.

All elements drawn in the color of the guide lines (pink when using the default settings) will not be printed or plotted.

The elements of all visible layers will be printed or plotted, i.e. the active layer and all background layers.


7.1 Printer output on Linux

Printer output on Linux is always performed using the postscript format. Your printer must be configured properly, of course. If you do not possess a postscript printer, Ghostscript or CUPS must be installed.

Print settings

The text following describes the settings you can adjust within CYCAS in order to achieve best print results. The printer settings will be saved along with the drawing and you may save them in the "default.prefs" in the menu Project, Settings additionally. (See 8.1 Settings.)

Once the printable area has been specified your drawing will be sent to the printer. However, open the Print Setup at the menu Project first and prepare the output as follows:

Printer : Here, you choose a printer. The option "Default" calls the system standard printer.

Printer type : Select whether your drawings shall be printed in B/W (=black and white) or colored.

Printer command : Enter the command to use for sending the drawing to your printer here. Using the default of "lpr" will send the drawing to your standard system printer without further options.

You can, for example, use the command "lpr -PLaserA3" to send the drawing to a specific printer, which of course, must be installed in your system under the name of "LaserA3". When installing a printer, please bear in mind that resolution, paper size, and printer type must be defined in the printer filters.

Paper size : Choose the size of the paper you want to print on.

Margins : Enter the printable area of your printer. Entering these values is optional. Information on the printable area of your printer can be obtained from the printer manual. These values will be used for the preview of the printable area, thus enabling you to place the drawing on the paper exactly.

Orientation : You can use portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) orientation for printing your drawing. Choosing landscape will rotate the drawing by 90 degrees internally before sending it to the printer.

Scale : Enter the scale in which the drawing is to be printed. The printing scale does not effect the relative sizes of texts and line types. These sizes are controlled by the display scale (see 4.1 Project, Scale.) WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) can be achieved by choosing identical scales for printing and display.Example: The display scale is 1:50 and the print scale is 1:100. As a result all elements would be printed at half size while the line types and the text sizes would remain uneffected.

• Printing on Linux

Call the menu item Print in the menu Project. All elements of the visible layers will be printed lying within the printable area. Place the printable area by setting its origin point. As soon as you confirm that point the drawing is sent to your printer.


7.2 Plotter output on Linux

CYCAS controls pen and matrix plotters using standard HPGL-commands. For doing a plot there surely must be a plotter installed correctly on your system. Information on installing a plotter can be obtained from it's user manual. Please keep an eye on the CYCAS ReadMe files for further notes.

Plot settings

You can obtain the best plotting results by doing the setup as follows. Open the Plot Setup at the menu Project and prepare the output. This setup will be saved along with the drawing. Additionally, you can save it into the "default.prefs" in the menu Project, Settings. (See 8.1 Settings.)

Plotter : Choose a Plotter.

Plotter Type : Here you have different possibilities how to do the output to your plotter. Choose whether you want to plot in "HPGL" or in "HPGL/2 mono" (=b/w) or in "HPGL/2 color".

Plotter command : You can also enter the command line for accessing the plotter. This option is the equivalent of the "Printer command" option.

Paper size : Select the paper size you wish to plot on.

The settings regarding the start and end sequence are optional. Some plotters do not need any information for the start and end sequence. If that is the case for your plotter, you have to delete the default values.

Start sequence : The start sequence is used to send certain control commands to the plotter before the actual plotting process begins. The sequence depends on the plotter type. In case

of a pen plotter you would have to e.g. select the pen speed here.

End sequence : The end sequence is used to finish the plotting process. In case of a pen plotter, you might want to adjust the end sequence in a way that the plotter drops the last pen and positions itself at the coordinate origin in the end.

Origin : Choose whether the coordinate origin of your plotter is located in the "center" or the "bottom left" of the plot area. You will find information on this in the manual of the plotter.

Resolution [cm] : This value is very important to control the plotter using the correct coordinate system. You find the correct value in the manual of your plotter. If this option is set to an incorrect value the drawing can not be plotted using the correct scale. The resolution is specified in units of [cm]. (1 inch = 2.54 cm)

Orientation : The drawing can be plotted using portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) orientation.

Scale : Choose the plotting scale for the drawing. The plotting scale does not effect the relative size of texts and line types. (See 4.1 Project, Scale.) WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) can be achieved by choosing identical scales for display and plotting.

• Plotting on Linux

In the Project menu, you call the output function Plot. All elements of the visible layers will be plotted. Place the origin of the plotting area. There should be no elements reaching beyond the plot area. The position of the origin within the plot area depends on the settings for the origin in the plotter preferences ( "Center" or "Bottom-Left" ). As soon as you confirm the origin the drawing is sent to the plotter.

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7.3 Output to Printer/Plotter on Windows

The output to printer or plotter on Windows is proceeded by the print settings offered in the Windows system.

First of all, the output unit must be integrated in your system correctly.

Scale : Enter the scale in which the drawing is to be printed. The printing scale does not effect the relative sizes of the existing text and line types. These sizes are controlled by setting the display scale (see 4.1 Project, Scale.) WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) can be achieved by choosing identical scales for printing and display.Example: The display scale is 1:50 and the print scale is 1:100. As a result all elements would be printed at half size while the line types and the text sizes would remain uneffected.

• Print/Plot settings

For this use the Windows settings regarding the output units.

• Printing/Plotting on Windows

Call the menu item Print in the Project menu to start the output. All elements of the visible layers will be printed. Place the origin at the lower left corner of the output area. As soon as you confirm the origin the drawing is sent to the printer/plotter. If the settings are correct, all elements within the printable area will be printed.




8. Appendix 8.1 Settings


8.3 Data exchange DXF

8.4 Export

8. Appendix

This chapter describes the settings offered within CYCAS. After that, you will find a list of all keyboard shortcuts. Finally, it contains information on data exchange, especially, on the exchange format DXF and on export to rendering programs.


8.1 Settings

• Pen • Line • View • Input • Dim

• Local • Colors • GUI

The settings described here, can be reached via the menu Project above the main menu. These settings effect the screen display as well as the procedure of entering elements. By showing or hiding drawing elements you can e.g. speed up the screen display. You can make settings concerning dimension chains, e.g. if you want to do compound measuring. You may also customize the CYCAS GUI by adjusting the colors for the drawing area and the pens in a way that it makes working comfortable for you.

All settings are saved along with the drawing. This means, the data is handled on a per-project basis. Exceptions to this rule are the settings made for Local and GUI. Those are saved on a per-user basis, respectively on Windows these data are saved globally.

Pen : Here you can adjust the colors of the pens to your personal preferences. However, the pen colors should make sense with regard to the color of the drawing area. (See Colors.) You can define eight different pen types. To do so, select a pen number between 0 and 7 first, then you select the pen thickness. Finally, you may specify a name for these settings. The pen name is of no significance unless you are exporting a drawing into the DXF format.

Line : You can define eight different line types. Each line type consists of up to three sections. A section is made up of one line and one space. A continuous line has zero sections. A regular dashed line has one section. In this case, you should set line and space to equal length. A dot-dash line consists of two sections where one section forms the dot and the other one forms the line. The dot could have a length of e.g. 0.1 mm. As for pens, the line name is relevant for DXF12 export only.

• View : The following settings effect what is displayed on screen:

Patterns : (De)activates the displaying of the patterns.

Room : (De)activates the displaying of the lines that define the borders of a room. If this option is active, the room border lines are drawn using the guide line color. The texts assigned to the different rooms always remain visible.

• Input : Choose the measurement units for:

Figure input : Choose whether you want to make the numeric input using the metric system or using the imperial system. These settings effect the input of any figures, but do not effect the values of the dimension chains. (The display mode of the dimension chains depends on the settings you arranged in the dimension chain dialog box.)

Pen/Line/Text size : Choose the unit of measurement in that you want to specify the pens, the lines and the text sizes.

Paper size : For doing the output to printer or plotter you can adjust the unit measurement of the paper sizes here.

Angle input : Choose the format in that you want to work with angles.

Room inscription : Here, you can choose the desired measurement units for the room inscriptions. In addition, you can specify some text that is added with the calculated numbers for area and volume. Any changes you make here, will effect all existing room inscriptions as well.

• Dim

Link to elements : This options switches compound measuring on or off. If you want to do compound measuring, this option must be active before entering the dimension chains.

Move figures : Use this option to turn offsetting of dimensional numbers on or off. Offsetting these numbers means that numbers denoting small distances such as 11.5cm are located higher above the dimension chains than the other, larger numbers. These settings can be changed any time and all numbers are adjusted automatically.

Accuracy : Control the accuracy of the dimension figures.

Accuracy (arch) : Here you decide about the accuracy of the architectural dimension figures.

• Local : Here, you can specify the paths under which CYCAS should find and store files.

You can save these paths in the "default.prefs" or handle them on a per-project basis. This might be of interest, if you are e.g. doing 3D input and you want to save the dialog boxes with the 3D input specifically for this project. In order to do so, you simply create a new directory anywhere and you enter the path to that directory in the "Settings, Local". When the program is started, CYCAS always loads the "default.prefs".

Autobackup : If you wish to use the automatic backup of CYCAS, you need to specify the time interval in minutes in that CYCAS shall save your current project. The drawing will be saved with the same file name, but with the extension ".bak".

Colors : Customize CYCAS' user interface. Choose a color for the drawing area, the active elements, and the guide lines. Please note that all references to colors in this user manual will always refer to the default color settings.

• GUI : Customize CYCAS' user interface. Choose a suitable font and adjust the screen aspect ratio. These settings depend on the screen resolution you want to use for drawing.

Font : Choose a font and font size to use for the user interface.

Aspect Ratio : Adjust the aspect ratio of the drawing area. Depending on the screen resolution of your monitor you may have to re-adjust the aspect ratio. Use a ruler to measure the size of the rectangle displayed on the monitor. If the aspect ratio is correct, a square on the drawing area should actually look square. This setup then should be saved to your "default.prefs". The "default.prefs" are always loaded when starting CYCAS.

Support GTK Themes : For some reasons it could be useful to turn this option off.



The following list shows all keyboard shortcuts:

Change the visible area:

Space keyormiddle mouse button

Center the visible area around the mouse pointer.

Change the visible area using the numeric keypad:

numbers,except 5 Move the visible area in all eight directions.

5 All elements are displayed.

+ Enlarge scale

- Decrease scale

* Open layers dialog box

More functions of the view menu:

/ Gauge

M Memorize the currently visible area

R Recall the memorized area

Snap-to functions:

i Construction of intersecting points

m Construction of middle points

d Construction of dividing points

t Construction of tangent points

The following keys for:

ESC Cancel

TAB Select menu: OK

a / A Absolute coordinates

u / U Undo

x / X Moving along x-axis

y / Y Moving along y-axis

z / Z Moving along z-axis

The function keys:

F1 Help

F9 Edit: Delete

Ctrl and function keys:

F1 Pen 1 (black)

F2 Pen 2 (yellow)

F3 Pen 3 (red)

F4 Pen 4 (blue)

F5 Pen 5 (purple)

F6 Pen 6 (green)

F7 Pen 7 (brown)

F8 Pen 8 (grey)

Shift and function keys:

F1 Line _________ (continuous line)

F2 Line __ __ __ __ (short dashes)

F3 Line ___ ___ __ (long dashes)

F4 Line __ . __ . __ (dash-dot)

F5 Line . . . . . . . . . . (dots)

F6 Line __ . . __ . . (dash-dot-dot)

F7 Line __ __ . __ . (dash-dash-dot)

F8 Line ___ . ___ . (dash-dot, long)

Call the function lists:

L Line

C Circle

W Wall

O Opening

D Dim

T Text

R Room

P Pattern

H 3D

B Unit

E Edit

S Symbol

Menu Project:

Ctrl + S Save

Ctrl + , Settings

Ctrl + P Print

Ctrl + N New

Ctrl + Q Quit

Menu Clip:

Ctrl + X Cut

Ctrl + C Copy

Ctrl + V Paste


8.3 Data exchange by way of the DXF-Format

• Export of DXF files

CYCAS exports 2D and 3D DXF files. The "-Entities" option disables the output of a file header which can increase compatibility with some CAD programs. Furthermore, you can specify the measurement unit used for output (m, cm, mm, inch, feet). Finally, you choose whether to export the entire file, the visible objects or only selected objects.

• Import of DXF files

Imports DXF files to the current layer. 2D as well as 3D files will be read. Here, you can choose whether to convert the input file to m, cm, mm, inch or feet.

In addition, CYCAS professional offers you the choice to do the import adapting the multi layer structure of the DXF file.


8.4 Export

• Export to EPS-format • Export to SVG-format • Export to PDF-format • Export to LWO-format • Export to POV-format

At the beginning of each export function you can decide whether you want to export the entire file, all visible objects, or the selected objects only. When exporting to POV-Ray, Lightwave and Real3D, not only the 3D data but also the material assignments will be exported. In those cases the colors and properties of the materials will be passed on. In Settings, Local you can select the desired export path for the data. (See 8.1 Settings, Local.)

Export to EPS-Format : Exports 2D drawings from CYCAS into the EPS-Format. Choose which elements you want to export. The size of the exported vector graphics is determined automatically. The elements will be exported according to the display in the drawing area. The activated option "All colored black" in the view menu, causes an EPS export appropriate to the display. Tip: Some layout programs prefer to import the .eps file named .ps.

Export to PDF-format : Exports 2D drawings into the PDF-format. (Also see EPS-Format.)

Export to SVG-Format : Exports from CYCAS 2D graphics into the format SVG. (See EPS-Format.)

Export to LWO-Format : Saves your 3D data to Lightwave object format. After selecting the elements to be exported you must specify a reference point. The objects will be aligned to that point in Lightwave.

Export to POV-Format : When exporting to POV format, the 3D data, the materials, the eye point and target point as well as the light sources and background settings will be preserved.



Date post:	30-Oct-2014
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Manual Utilizare CYCAS

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