PADDS User's Guide

& Reference Manual

(Windows Version)

June 2003
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Companies, names and data used in
examples are fictitious.

This document may be reproduced for the sole purpose of reference by PROKON users. No part of this
document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any
other reason without the express written permission of Prokon Software Consultants

Copyright © 1988-2003 Prokon Software Consultants. All rights reserved

PROKON is the registered trademark of Prokon Software Consultants

Microsoft, Dos and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

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Contents
Quick Reference ................................................................................................................xvi
CHAPTER ................................................................................................................................. 1
1 .............................................................................................................................................. 1
PADDS Essentials............................................................................................................... 1
The PADDS environment .............................................................................................................. 2
Starting PADDS ........................................................................................................................ 2
Selecting commands....................................................................................................................... 3
Disabled commands................................................................................................................... 4
Customizing the button bars ...................................................................................................... 4
Customizing the function keys .............................................................................................. 4
Function key behaviour while editing bending schedules ..................................................... 4
Setting points ............................................................................................................................. 5
Ortho mode................................................................................................................................ 5
Recurring commands ................................................................................................................. 5
Terminating commands ............................................................................................................. 5
Repeating the last command ...................................................................................................... 6
Working with multiple windows.................................................................................................... 6
The active window..................................................................................................................... 6
Tiling and cascading windows................................................................................................... 7
Zooming and scrolling ................................................................................................................... 7
Zooming a drawing.................................................................................................................... 7
Using Help ..................................................................................................................................... 8
CHAPTER ................................................................................................................................. 9
2 .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Working with drawings ....................................................................................................... 9
The PADDS drawing file structure .............................................................................................. 10
Drawings.................................................................................................................................. 10
File names ........................................................................................................................... 10
Paper size ............................................................................................................................ 10
The layer table..................................................................................................................... 11
Drawing entities .................................................................................................................. 11
Deleted drawing entities...................................................................................................... 11
Bending schedules ................................................................................................................... 12
Schedule numbers ............................................................................................................... 12
Reinforcement information ................................................................................................. 12
Total reinforcement masses ................................................................................................. 12
General file management functions.............................................................................................. 13
Backup copies ..................................................................................................................... 13
Timed backups .................................................................................................................... 13
Printing and plotting .................................................................................................................... 14
Drawings.................................................................................................................................. 14

iii
 Printing a window ............................................................................................................... 14
Bending schedules ................................................................................................................... 15
CHAPTER ............................................................................................................................... 17
3 ............................................................................................................................................ 17
Drawing and editing ......................................................................................................... 17
Coordinates and units................................................................................................................... 18
The coordinate system ............................................................................................................. 18
Units of measurement .............................................................................................................. 19
Paper size................................................................................................................................. 19
Setting points ............................................................................................................................... 20
Snapping ............................................................................................................................. 20
The snap zone...................................................................................................................... 21
Intersection ..................................................................................................................... 21
Endpoint ......................................................................................................................... 22
Both ................................................................................................................................ 22
Grid................................................................................................................................. 23
Freehand ......................................................................................................................... 23
Line................................................................................................................................. 24
Horizontal ....................................................................................................................... 25
Vertical ........................................................................................................................... 25
Midpoint ......................................................................................................................... 26
Tangent ........................................................................................................................... 26
Ortho mode.............................................................................................................................. 27
Entering points from the keyboard .......................................................................................... 28
Indicating entities......................................................................................................................... 28
Indicating lines, circles, arcs and rebars.............................................................................. 29
Indicating text ..................................................................................................................... 29
Presetting points........................................................................................................................... 30
Survey coordinates....................................................................................................................... 32
Orientating survey coordinate system...................................................................................... 32
Setting survey points.................................................................................................................... 33
Reading survey information from the drawing............................................................................. 33
Drawing lines, circles and arcs..................................................................................................... 33
Line parameters ....................................................................................................................... 34
The line, circle and arc drawing commands............................................................................. 35
Drawing construction lines .......................................................................................................... 36
The construction line drawing commands ............................................................................... 36
Construction mode................................................................................................................... 37
Hiding construction lines .................................................................................................... 37
Hatching....................................................................................................................................... 37
Defining an area to hatch......................................................................................................... 37
Editing a hatch......................................................................................................................... 38
Hiding a hatch.......................................................................................................................... 38
Text .............................................................................................................................................. 39
Text parameters ....................................................................................................................... 39
Entering text ............................................................................................................................ 40
Typing special characters .................................................................................................... 40
Reading and writing text files .................................................................................................. 40

iv
 Modifying drawn lines, circles and arcs....................................................................................... 41
Extending lines and arcs...................................................................................................... 41
Trimming............................................................................................................................. 41
Clipping............................................................................................................................... 42
Breaking .............................................................................................................................. 42
Joining................................................................................................................................. 42
Fillets and chamfers............................................................................................................. 43
Stretching ............................................................................................................................ 43
Editing entity information ................................................................................................... 44
Changing line parameters .................................................................................................... 45
Modifying drawn text................................................................................................................... 45
Editing drawn text ............................................................................................................... 45
Changing text parameters .................................................................................................... 45
Erasing and unerasing drawn entities........................................................................................... 46
Erasing entities ........................................................................................................................ 46
Unerasing................................................................................................................................. 46
Moving and copying entities........................................................................................................ 47
Moving and copying lines ................................................................................................... 47
Moving and copying text ............................................................................................................. 48
Moving and copying groups of entities ................................................................................... 48
CHAPTER ............................................................................................................................... 49
4 ............................................................................................................................................ 49
Layers and scale................................................................................................................ 49
Defining layers............................................................................................................................. 50
Layer characteristics ................................................................................................................ 50
The layer table ......................................................................................................................... 51
Grouping entities into layers.................................................................................................... 52
Merging drawn entities to layers.............................................................................................. 52
The current layer .......................................................................................................................... 53
Layer origin.................................................................................................................................. 53
Scale............................................................................................................................................. 53
Changing the scale................................................................................................................... 54
Transposing the scale............................................................................................................... 55
Turning layers off......................................................................................................................... 55
CHAPTER ............................................................................................................................... 57
5 ............................................................................................................................................ 57
Using blocks...................................................................................................................... 57
Basic block structure.................................................................................................................... 58
Defining a block........................................................................................................................... 58
Marking entities....................................................................................................................... 58
Defining the block scope ......................................................................................................... 59
Defining block handles ................................................................................................................ 60
Manipulating blocks..................................................................................................................... 60
Using block handles................................................................................................................. 61
Manipulating blocks on the same drawing .............................................................................. 62
Manipulating blocks over multiple drawings........................................................................... 62

v
 Manipulating scaled details................................................................................................. 62
Manipulating fixed size details............................................................................................ 63
CHAPTER ............................................................................................................................... 65
6 ............................................................................................................................................ 65
Dimensioning .................................................................................................................... 65
Dimensioning basics .................................................................................................................... 66
Layers and scale....................................................................................................................... 66
Drawing dimensions .................................................................................................................... 66
Dimension parameters ............................................................................................................. 66
The dimension drawing commands.............................................................................................. 68
Linear dimensions.................................................................................................................... 68
Horizontal dimensions ........................................................................................................ 68
Vertical dimensions............................................................................................................. 68
Skew dimensions................................................................................................................. 69
Circular dimensions................................................................................................................. 69
Inside diameters .................................................................................................................. 69
Outside diameters................................................................................................................ 70
Radii ........................................................................................................................................ 70
Angles ................................................................................................................................. 71
Measure commands...................................................................................................................... 71
Measuring a line, circle or arc ............................................................................................. 71
Measuring a distance........................................................................................................... 71
Measuring an area ............................................................................................................... 72
Measuring an angle ............................................................................................................. 72
Measuring an attribute......................................................................................................... 72
Modifying drawn dimensions....................................................................................................... 73
CHAPTER ............................................................................................................................... 75
7 ............................................................................................................................................ 75
Detailing concrete............................................................................................................. 75
Detailing concepts........................................................................................................................ 76
Rebar entities ........................................................................................................................... 77
Drawing rebars............................................................................................................................. 78
The Bar commands .................................................................................................................. 78
Shape code .......................................................................................................................... 78
Bar type, diameter and mark................................................................................................ 79
Handles and dimensions...................................................................................................... 79
Orientation .......................................................................................................................... 81
Curtailment.......................................................................................................................... 83
Concrete cover .................................................................................................................... 83
The Dot and Ring commands....................................................................................................... 84
Indicating drawn rebars................................................................................................................ 85
Indicate one bar................................................................................................................... 85
Indicate two bars ................................................................................................................. 85
Zone (one bar)..................................................................................................................... 86
Zone (two bar)..................................................................................................................... 86
Multiple zones (one bar) ..................................................................................................... 87

vi
 Multiple zones (two bar) ..................................................................................................... 87
Parallel zones (one bar) ....................................................................................................... 88
Parallel zones (two bar)....................................................................................................... 88
Defining a parent rebar ............................................................................................................ 89
Defining a distribution zone .................................................................................................... 90
Concrete cover .................................................................................................................... 90
Editing the description............................................................................................................. 90
Number of bars.................................................................................................................... 91
Scheduling ............................................................................................................................... 91
Drawing zones of reinforcement .................................................................................................. 93
Multiple bars ....................................................................................................................... 93
Staggered bars ..................................................................................................................... 93
Alternate bars reversed ........................................................................................................ 94
Stepped bars ........................................................................................................................ 94
Fan zone .............................................................................................................................. 95
Defining a parent rebar ............................................................................................................ 95
Concrete cover .................................................................................................................... 96
Defining a distribution zone .................................................................................................... 96
Editing the description............................................................................................................. 96
Scheduling ............................................................................................................................... 97
Adding notes ................................................................................................................................ 98
Indicating beams ................................................................................................................. 98
Describing special zones ..................................................................................................... 98
Adding additional notes ...................................................................................................... 99
Bending Schedules....................................................................................................................... 99
Editing a bending schedule.................................................................................................... 101
Printing bending schedules.................................................................................................... 101
Customizing bending schedules............................................................................................. 102
Master bending schedule files ........................................................................................... 102
Adding your company logo ............................................................................................... 102
Changing the language ...................................................................................................... 103
Special project requirements ............................................................................................. 103
Combining multiple schedules on large sheets.................................................................. 104
Modifying scheduled rebars ....................................................................................................... 105
Editing drawn and scheduled rebars ...................................................................................... 105
Editing rebars on the drawing ........................................................................................... 105
Editing rebars in the bending schedule.............................................................................. 106
Rescheduling rebars............................................................................................................... 106
CHAPTER ............................................................................................................................. 109
8 .......................................................................................................................................... 109
Setting up a drawing ....................................................................................................... 109
Setting up a new drawing........................................................................................................... 110
Setting the paper size............................................................................................................. 110
Drawings ........................................................................................................................... 111
Bending schedule sketches................................................................................................ 111
Defining the layer table.......................................................................................................... 111
Editing the layer table ....................................................................................................... 112
Merging drawn entities to layers............................................................................................ 113

vii
 Units of measurement ............................................................................................................ 113
A system of pen numbers....................................................................................................... 113
Saving a new drawing ................................................................................................................ 113
Making backup copies ........................................................................................................... 113
Setting up a foreign drawing ...................................................................................................... 114
CHAPTER ............................................................................................................................. 115
9 .......................................................................................................................................... 115
Automating PADDS ........................................................................................................ 115
Macros and Scripting ................................................................................................................. 116
Playing macros ...................................................................................................................... 116
Editing script ......................................................................................................................... 116
Adding scripts to the menu .................................................................................................... 116
Removing scripts from the menu ........................................................................................... 117
Useful PADDS functions ........................................................................................................... 117
Combining BS files ............................................................................................................... 117
Steel profile ........................................................................................................................... 117
Trace outline.......................................................................................................................... 117
Generate input file ................................................................................................................. 117
CHAPTER ............................................................................................................................. 119
10 ........................................................................................................................................ 119
Using foreign drawings................................................................................................... 119
Reading foreign drawings .......................................................................................................... 120
Reading DXF......................................................................................................................... 120
Converting a DXF drawing ............................................................................................... 120
Reading DWG ....................................................................................................................... 121
Converting a DWG drawing.............................................................................................. 121
Setting up a foreign drawing ...................................................................................................... 121
Changing the paper size......................................................................................................... 121
Setting up layers and scales ................................................................................................... 121
Transposing layer scales.................................................................................................... 122
Merging entities to other layers......................................................................................... 122
Converting pen numbers........................................................................................................ 122
Filtering out unneeded information ....................................................................................... 123
Writing foreign drawings ........................................................................................................... 123
Writing DXF.......................................................................................................................... 123
Writing DWG ........................................................................................................................ 124
CHAPTER ............................................................................................................................. 125
11 ........................................................................................................................................ 125
Customizing PADDS ....................................................................................................... 125
Customizing the button bars ...................................................................................................... 126
Adding and deleting buttons.................................................................................................. 126
Saving the button bar setup and configuration ...................................................................... 127
Assigning commands to the function keys ................................................................................. 127
Editing the function key assignment...................................................................................... 127
Other customizable features ....................................................................................................... 129

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 Customizing bending schedules............................................................................................. 129
Automating tasks ................................................................................................................... 129
CHAPTER ............................................................................................................................. 131
12 ........................................................................................................................................ 131
Command Reference ....................................................................................................... 131
The File menu ............................................................................................................................ 132
New drawing.......................................................................................................................... 133
File open ................................................................................................................................ 134
Save ....................................................................................................................................... 135
Save as ................................................................................................................................... 136
Save all .................................................................................................................................. 137
File close................................................................................................................................ 138
Read DXF.............................................................................................................................. 139
Write DXF ............................................................................................................................. 140
Insert raster image.................................................................................................................. 141
Save raster image ................................................................................................................... 142
Import DWG.......................................................................................................................... 143
Export DWG.......................................................................................................................... 144
Print ....................................................................................................................................... 145
Print to GIF file ..................................................................................................................... 146
Pack drawing ......................................................................................................................... 147
Drawing information.............................................................................................................. 148
Save in text format................................................................................................................. 149
Options .................................................................................................................................. 150
Exit ........................................................................................................................................ 151
The Edit menu............................................................................................................................ 152
Edit entity info ....................................................................................................................... 153
Stretch.................................................................................................................................... 155
Extend line / arc..................................................................................................................... 157
Clip line / arc ......................................................................................................................... 158
Trim line ................................................................................................................................ 159
Move line endpoint................................................................................................................ 160
Copy line endpoint ................................................................................................................ 161
Break polyline........................................................................................................................ 162
Make polyline ........................................................................................................................ 163
Join lines................................................................................................................................ 164
Fillet....................................................................................................................................... 165
Fillet radius............................................................................................................................ 166
Chamfer ................................................................................................................................. 167
Chamfer depth ....................................................................................................................... 168
Resize bitmap ........................................................................................................................ 169
V paste special ....................................................................................................................... 170
Erase line ............................................................................................................................... 171
Erase circle ............................................................................................................................ 172
Erase arc ................................................................................................................................ 173
Erase text ............................................................................................................................... 174
Erase hatch............................................................................................................................. 175
Erase construction lines ......................................................................................................... 176

ix
 Erase rebar ............................................................................................................................. 177
Erase dot ................................................................................................................................ 178
Erase polyline ........................................................................................................................ 179
Erase bitmap .......................................................................................................................... 180
Erase entity ............................................................................................................................ 181
Undo ...................................................................................................................................... 182
Redo ...................................................................................................................................... 183
The Set menu ............................................................................................................................. 184
Set units ................................................................................................................................. 185
Line parameters ..................................................................................................................... 186
Magnetic cursor ..................................................................................................................... 188
Ortho mode............................................................................................................................ 189
Ortho angle ............................................................................................................................ 190
Set paper size......................................................................................................................... 191
Set layer ................................................................................................................................. 192
Set scale ................................................................................................................................. 193
Transpose scale...................................................................................................................... 194
Edit layer table....................................................................................................................... 195
Grid on or off......................................................................................................................... 197
One layer on or off................................................................................................................. 198
All layers off .......................................................................................................................... 199
All layers on........................................................................................................................... 200
Merge move entity................................................................................................................. 201
Merge copy entity .................................................................................................................. 202
Set snap mode........................................................................................................................ 203
The Line menu ........................................................................................................................... 205
Line........................................................................................................................................ 206
Auto line ................................................................................................................................ 207
Box ........................................................................................................................................ 208
Parallel polyline..................................................................................................................... 209
Parallel single line ................................................................................................................. 210
Perpendicular line.................................................................................................................. 211
Tangent two circles................................................................................................................ 212
Sketch .................................................................................................................................... 213
Revision Cloud ...................................................................................................................... 214
Get line parameters ................................................................................................................ 215
Set line parameters................................................................................................................. 216
Construction crosshair ........................................................................................................... 217
Horizontal construction line .................................................................................................. 218
Vertical construction line....................................................................................................... 219
Divide angle........................................................................................................................... 220
Construction mode................................................................................................................. 221
Hide construction lines .......................................................................................................... 222
Tangent spline ....................................................................................................................... 223
Forced spline ......................................................................................................................... 224
Vectorize spline ..................................................................................................................... 225
Move control point ................................................................................................................ 226
Parabola ................................................................................................................................. 227
The Circle menu......................................................................................................................... 228

x
 Circle ..................................................................................................................................... 229
Circle two points.................................................................................................................... 230
Circle three points.................................................................................................................. 231
Arc angle................................................................................................................................ 232
Arc radius .............................................................................................................................. 233
Arc continue .......................................................................................................................... 234
Arc two elements ................................................................................................................... 235
Arc three elements ................................................................................................................. 236
Ellipse.................................................................................................................................... 237
Elliptical arc........................................................................................................................... 238
Oblique circle ........................................................................................................................ 239
The Text menu ........................................................................................................................... 240
Text........................................................................................................................................ 241
Multi-line text........................................................................................................................ 242
Edit text ................................................................................................................................. 244
Detail text edit ....................................................................................................................... 245
Move text............................................................................................................................... 246
Copy text ............................................................................................................................... 247
Caption .................................................................................................................................. 248
Box ........................................................................................................................................ 249
Text to file ............................................................................................................................. 250
Text angle .............................................................................................................................. 251
Text parameters...................................................................................................................... 252
Get text parameters ................................................................................................................ 254
Set text parameters................................................................................................................. 255
Convert to uppercase ............................................................................................................. 256
Convert to lowercase ............................................................................................................. 257
The Point menu .......................................................................................................................... 258
Clear all points....................................................................................................................... 259
Clear first point...................................................................................................................... 260
Clear last point....................................................................................................................... 261
Set point................................................................................................................................. 262
Set points on line ................................................................................................................... 263
Space points on line............................................................................................................... 264
Set point halfway ................................................................................................................... 265
Move point ............................................................................................................................ 266
Show last position.................................................................................................................. 267
Tick marks ............................................................................................................................. 268
Orientate two points............................................................................................................... 269
Orientate point and angle....................................................................................................... 270
Set survey point ..................................................................................................................... 271
Set distance and bearing ........................................................................................................ 272
Get survey coordinate ............................................................................................................ 273
Get distance and bearing........................................................................................................ 274
Survey coordinates to file ...................................................................................................... 275
Contours to DTM file ............................................................................................................ 276
The Hatch menu ......................................................................................................................... 277
Polygon hatch ........................................................................................................................ 278
Outline hatch ......................................................................................................................... 279

xi
 Area hatch.............................................................................................................................. 280
Move point ............................................................................................................................ 281
Delete point ........................................................................................................................... 282
Insert point............................................................................................................................. 283
Text island ............................................................................................................................. 284
Vectorize hatch...................................................................................................................... 285
Edit hatch pattern................................................................................................................... 286
Parameters ............................................................................................................................. 288
Change origin ........................................................................................................................ 290
Get hatch parameters ............................................................................................................. 291
Set hatch parameters .............................................................................................................. 292
Hide hatching......................................................................................................................... 293
The Rebar menu ......................................................................................................................... 294
Bar ......................................................................................................................................... 296
Bar ABCDE........................................................................................................................... 298
Dot......................................................................................................................................... 300
Ring ....................................................................................................................................... 301
Extend bar.............................................................................................................................. 302
Concrete cover....................................................................................................................... 303
Rebar pen (parameters).......................................................................................................... 304
Indicate beam......................................................................................................................... 305
Curtail bar end ....................................................................................................................... 306
Rotate bar Y sign ................................................................................................................... 307
Bar line mode ........................................................................................................................ 308
Tendon or cable ..................................................................................................................... 309
Scheduling code..................................................................................................................... 311
Multiple bars.......................................................................................................................... 312
Alternate bars reversed .......................................................................................................... 314
Staggered bars........................................................................................................................ 316
Stepped bars .......................................................................................................................... 318
Fan zone ................................................................................................................................ 320
Circular grid........................................................................................................................... 322
Zone (no bars......................................................................................................................... 324
Text on bar............................................................................................................................. 325
One bar .................................................................................................................................. 326
Two bars ................................................................................................................................ 328
Zone (one bar) ....................................................................................................................... 330
Zone (two bars)...................................................................................................................... 332
Multiple zones (one bar)........................................................................................................ 334
Multiple zones (two bars) ...................................................................................................... 336
Parallel zones (one bar) ......................................................................................................... 338
Parallel zones (two bars)........................................................................................................ 340
The Dimension menu ................................................................................................................. 342
Horizontal dimension ............................................................................................................ 343
Vertical dimension................................................................................................................. 344
Skew dimension..................................................................................................................... 345
Dimension inside diameter .................................................................................................... 346
Dimension outside diameter .................................................................................................. 347
Dimension radius................................................................................................................... 348

xii
 Dimension angle .................................................................................................................... 349
Dimension parameters ........................................................................................................... 350
Line, arc, circle ...................................................................................................................... 351
Measure two points................................................................................................................ 352
Measure polygon area............................................................................................................ 353
Measure hatch area ................................................................................................................ 354
Measure angle........................................................................................................................ 355
Measure attribute ................................................................................................................... 356
The Block menu ......................................................................................................................... 357
Block define drawing............................................................................................................. 358
Block define layer.................................................................................................................. 359
Block define box.................................................................................................................... 360
Block define cut..................................................................................................................... 361
Block define polygon............................................................................................................. 362
Block define line.................................................................................................................... 363
Block define add.................................................................................................................... 364
Block define remove.............................................................................................................. 365
Block define scope................................................................................................................. 366
Block swap ............................................................................................................................ 368
Block define handles.............................................................................................................. 369
Block undefined..................................................................................................................... 371
Block save.............................................................................................................................. 372
Block load.............................................................................................................................. 373
Block copy............................................................................................................................. 374
Block move............................................................................................................................ 376
Block mirror .......................................................................................................................... 378
Block circular copy................................................................................................................ 379
Block rotate ........................................................................................................................... 380
Block scale............................................................................................................................. 381
Block delete ........................................................................................................................... 382
Block change ......................................................................................................................... 383
Break polylines ...................................................................................................................... 384
The Macro menu ........................................................................................................................ 385
Play macro ............................................................................................................................. 386
Edit script .............................................................................................................................. 387
Add script to menu ................................................................................................................ 389
Remove script from menu...................................................................................................... 390
Combine bending schedules .................................................................................................. 391
Steel profile ........................................................................................................................... 392
Trace outline.......................................................................................................................... 394
Generate input file ................................................................................................................. 396
Library ................................................................................................................................... 398
Stair detailing......................................................................................................................... 400
The Assign menu........................................................................................................................ 401
Assign function keys.............................................................................................................. 402
Assign speed button to status bar........................................................................................... 403
Load configuration ................................................................................................................ 404
Save configuration ................................................................................................................. 405
Drag and drop buttons ........................................................................................................... 406

xiii
 Load default configuration .................................................................................................... 408
The Zoom menu ......................................................................................................................... 409
Zoom all ................................................................................................................................ 410
Zoom extents ......................................................................................................................... 411
Zoom window........................................................................................................................ 412
Zoom last ............................................................................................................................... 413
Zoom in ................................................................................................................................. 414
Zoom out ............................................................................................................................... 415
Zoom factor ........................................................................................................................... 416
Zoom store............................................................................................................................. 417
Zoom recall............................................................................................................................ 418
Zoom pan............................................................................................................................... 419
Zoom centre........................................................................................................................... 420
The Window menu..................................................................................................................... 421
New window.......................................................................................................................... 422
Close window ........................................................................................................................ 423
Cascade windows....................................................................................................................... 424
Tile windows ......................................................................................................................... 425
Tile windows horizontally ..................................................................................................... 426
Maximize window ................................................................................................................. 427
Redraw window..................................................................................................................... 428
Redraw all windows .............................................................................................................. 429
Print window ......................................................................................................................... 430
Show or hide bending schedule ............................................................................................. 431
The Help menu........................................................................................................................... 432
Contents................................................................................................................................. 433
Request support ..................................................................................................................... 434
About PADDS ....................................................................................................................... 435
Repeating commands............................................................................................................. 436
CHAPTER ............................................................................................................................. 437
13 ........................................................................................................................................ 437
Scripting.......................................................................................................................... 437
The PADDS scripting environment ........................................................................................... 438
Starting Pascal scripting ........................................................................................................ 438
General commands..................................................................................................................... 439
Using Scripting Help.................................................................................................................. 439
The script structure .................................................................................................................... 439
Script syntax............................................................................................................................... 440
Assign statements .............................................................................................................. 440
Character strings................................................................................................................ 440
Comments ......................................................................................................................... 440
Variables ........................................................................................................................... 441
Indexes .............................................................................................................................. 441
Arrays................................................................................................................................ 441
If statements ...................................................................................................................... 442
While statements ............................................................................................................... 442
Repeat statements.............................................................................................................. 443
For statements ................................................................................................................... 443

xiv
 Function and procedure declarations................................................................................. 443
Debugging a script ..................................................................................................................... 444
Commands supported................................................................................................................. 445
System library:....................................................................................................................... 445
General functions................................................................................................................... 448
Entity structures..................................................................................................................... 451
File functions ......................................................................................................................... 454
Dialogue boxes ...................................................................................................................... 454
Radiogroup dialogue.............................................................................................................. 455
Input grid (table) dialogue ..................................................................................................... 455
Drawing commands ............................................................................................................... 455

xv
Quick Reference
Use the thumbnails alongside for quick access to the chapters in this manual

xvi
Chapter 1: PADDS Essentials

Chapter 2: Working with drawings

Chapter 3: Drawing and editing

Chapter4: Layers and scale

Chapter 5: Using blocks

Chapter 6: Dimensioning

Chapter 7: Detailing concrete

Chapter 8: Setting up a drawing

Chapter 9: Automating PADDS

Chapter 10: Using foreign drawings

Chapter 11: Customizing PADDS

Chapter 12: Command Reference

Chapter 13: Scripting

xvii
Chapter

1
PADDS Essentials

PADDS is a windowed CAD environment providing tools for rapid drawing and detailing
reinforced concrete with a minimum of effort. Many tedious tasks, eg calculating reinforcement bar
cutting lengths and totalling masses, are handled for you by PADDS, eliminating many repetitive
tasks and generally improving accuracy and productivity.

PADDS provides all the necessary drawing tools with which concrete and other details can be
drawn. Then, by using PADDS’ comprehensive collection of detailing functions, reinforcement can
be drawn to scale and scheduled automatically.

PADDS’ drawing file translation routines enable you to open foreign drawings created in other
CAD systems. Unneeded information can be filtered out and the drawing set up in a few easy steps
to take advantage of PADDS’ advanced drawing and detailing features.

This chapter introduces the following principles:

The PADDS environment

Choosing commands
Using dialogue boxes

1
 Using windows

The PADDS environment

This section briefly describes the procedure to start a PADDS working session and the elements of
the PADDS detailing environment.

Starting PADDS
PADDS is launched from the PROKON Calcpad by clicking its icon found under the CAD &
Detailing tab. The main PADDS drawing screen will appear and an empty drawing area is
displayed. The main menu bar is found at the top of the screen. The drawing screen is surrounded
by four button bars, with a command line at the bottom of the screen and a status bar below that.
The commands in the menu and button bars become live when an existing drawing is opened or a
new drawing created.

2
 Button bars
Main menu

Command line Status bar

Selecting commands
Drawing commands and other functions can be selected with the mouse or keyboard in many ways:

The menus provide easy access to all commands.

The button bars can be customized to include any of the menu commands. Clicking a
button executes the associated menu command.
Menu commands can be assigned to the keyboard function keys.
Abbreviated forms of the menu commands can be entered in the command line.

Ease of use, speed and ultimately personal preference, will decide the best way for you to select
commands.

3
Disabled commands
If certain system parameters dictate it, some menu commands or buttons will be disabled and
displayed in a subdued grey colour. Selecting an inactive menu command or button will have no
effect.

The following are examples of situations where commands are disabled:

If no drawing has been opened, all commands except File Open and a few other system
commands, are disabled.
If only one window is open, the Window Tile and Window Cascade commands are
disabled.
If no block is selected, then the Block commands are disabled.

Customizing the button bars

Since the contents and position of the button bars are user-programmable, you can tailor them to
your own taste. Button bars can, for example, be set up to display menu commands used most often
or to display complete menus, eg all reinforcement detailing commands. Refer to Chapter 11 for
detail on customizing the button bars.

Customizing the function keys

The assignment of function keys F1, F3 and F10 are fixed, eg F3 repeats the last command. Typical
assignments for the other function keys include those drawing commands used most often. Refer to
Chapter 11 for detail on customizing the function keys.

Function key behaviour while editing bending schedules

The function key assignments are only available while editing drawings and are inactive when
bending schedules is being edited. In such a case, the F10 key will always access the menu bar.

4
Setting points
Normally some points are set during the execution of a command. Points can however also be set
before selecting a command. Depending on the command’s behaviour when ortho mode is enabled,
the results may be identical or vastly different.

Ortho mode
Select Set Ortho mode from the menu to enable (or disable) ortho mode. This mode forces the next
point to be set orthogonally from the last point. Different commands behave differently with ortho
mode enabled, some selectively disabling ortho mode during execution, eg the Horizontal
dimension and Bar commands.

Refer to Chapter 3 for detail on presetting points and ortho mode.

Recurring commands
Commands generally require a fixed number of parameters, eg two points to construct a rectangle
using the Box command. Some commands have a recurring behaviour and keep on processing
parameters until cancelled, eg the Line command, which can keeps on drawing additional line
segments until cancelled by escaping.

Terminating commands
Any command, whether recurring or not, can be interrupted during execution as follows:

By escaping i.e. press Escape or double click on the right button of the mouse. Recurring
commands are stopped without deleting drawn entities. In the case of the Line command,
for example, the line segments drawn before escaping are retained.
Clicking outside the drawing area. The drawing area is defined by the total area of the one
or more windows containing the active drawing.
Executing another command. It is therefore not necessary to first press Escape before
selecting a new command.

Note: To allow zooming and scrolling during a drawing command’s execution, the zoom
commands do not terminate the current command.

5
The result of interrupting a command depends on the nature of the command:

Interrupting a recurring command, eg the Line command, stops the prompting for
additional points and executes the command according to the parameters already given.
Normally, interrupting a non-recurring command will completely cancel it and discard all
parameters defined.
In certain cases of non-recurring commands, parameters already given are not discarded
and the command is only partly executed. Escaping the Caption command, for example, at
the prompt for the caption text, draws the leader arrow without any text.

Repeating the last command

After its termination, the last command can be repeated by pressing F3 or, in the case of a three-
button mouse, clicking the right mouse button.

Working with multiple windows

PADDS allows more than one drawing to be open at a time to allow drawing entities to be copied
from one drawing to another.

One or more additional windows can also be opened to display different views of the same
drawing. One drawing may therefore be open in two or more windows.

One bending schedule can be open for every open drawing, in which rebars can be scheduled. The
bending schedule can be viewed on the left of the screen next to the drawing or hidden, using the
Window/Show or Hide Bending Schedule option on the menu.

The active window

If more than one window is open, the one lying in front is called the active window. Editing can
only be done in the active window.

6
Tiling and cascading windows
Windows can easily be manipulated using the mouse and the commands on the Window menu. A
few options are available to arrange multiple windows:

Cascading windows : The Cascade windows command causes all the windows to overlap so that
each title bar is visible.
Tiling windows : The Tile windows and Tile windows horizontally commands arrange the windows
in smaller sizes to fit next to each other. With the Tile windows and Tile windows horizontally
commands preference is given to maximum window height and width respectively.

Zooming and scrolling

The display in the active drawing can be manipulated in several ways to display desired
information. You may choose to zoom into part of a drawing to enlarge a detail, zoom out to
display larger areas of the drawing or to scroll to adjacent parts of the drawing.

Zooming a drawing
The following functions are available to zoom the drawing in the active window:

Zoom all : Zoom the drawing to display the whole sheet of paper being drawn on.
Entities drawn in regions off the paper might not be displayed.
Zoom extents : Zoom to fit all entities on the screen. The paper size is not considered
when calculating the drawing extents. Empty parts of the paper might therefore not be
displayed.
Zoom window : Zoom in by indicating the new borders of the active window.
Zoom in : Enlarge the display by a factor 1.5 using the last point set, or the midpoint
of the current view if no points have been set, as the midpoint of the new view.
Zoom out : Reduce the display by a factor 1.5. The last point set or, if no points have
been set, the midpoint of the current view is used as the midpoint of the new view.
Zoom factor : Zoom in or out by a specified factor. A zoom factor greater than unity
zooms in and a factor less than unity zooms out.
Zoom last : Restores the display to the view before the execution of the last zoom
command.
Zoom store : Store the current window size, position and zoom settings.
Zoom recall : Recalls the stored zoom settings.
Zoom pan : Click and drag the mouse to scroll the display. Similar results can be
obtained by using the scroll bars.

7
 Note: Drawings can be zoomed and scrolled transparently without interrupting executing
drawing commands.

Using Help
The About PADDS command gives the details and version of PADDS being used. To find help on
a topic use the Contents command. You can then either select one of the listed topics or search for
the specific topic required.

The Request support command allows you to contact Prokon directly with your query and attach
the files demonstrating the problem or query. The company account code, program used and the
version thereof will be automatically added to the request form. Select the priority rating, and files
to be sent with the query and give a short, but detailed description of the problem. Click on Submit
request to submit it directly to PROKON.

8
Chapter

2
Working with drawings

PADDS drawing files are unique in the sense that they not only contain drawing definitions and
entities, but can also incorporate some intelligent bending schedules with records of drawn rebars.

A comprehensive collection of file management functions is provided with which drawings and
bending schedules can be opened, saved, closed and printed. Support for foreign drawing formats
is also provided, enabling you to open and edit drawings that were created in other CAD systems.

This chapter introduces the following topics:

The PADDS drawing file structure.

General file management functions.
Printing drawings.
Printing bending schedules.

9
The PADDS drawing file structure
A typical PADDS drawing file comprises a scaled drawing and an associated bending schedule.

Note: The bending schedule is embedded in the parent drawing, resulting in it being saved with
the drawing.

A drawing and its bending schedule are edited in separate windows displayed next to one another.
When printing a bending schedule, you can divide it into separate pages if it is very long, or print it
on the same page as the drawing or separate. Refer to Chapter 7 for detail on editing and printing
bending schedules.

Drawings
The drawing part of a PADDS drawing contains the following general information and drawing
entity elements:

The drawing file name.

The paper size, which could be an ISO size or a custom size.
A table of defined layers with their descriptive names, scales, origins and grid information.
Drawing entities, eg lines, text, rebars, etc, associated with the different layers.
Erased entities are retained in memory for later retrieval.

The listed elements are described in more detail in the following text.

File names
Drawing file names are restricted to valid Windows file names. The default extension for a PADDS
drawing file is "PAD". The following characters are allowed:

Letters : A to Z and a to z. Case is ignored.

Numbers : 0 to 9.
A few special characters : $ % ' - @ { } _ ! # ( ) &.

Paper size
At some stage during the creation of a drawing, preferably at the start, a paper size relating to the
actual paper used in the printer must be defined.

Available standard paper sizes include A0 through A5 for regular drawings, and reduced A4 and
A5 for bending schedule sketches. Alternatively a custom paper size can be entered in mm. The

10
paper orientation may be specified as either portrait or landscape.

The paper area is displayed in dark blue in a drawing window. Drawing entities are not prevented
from extending beyond the defined paper edges but will however be clipped when printing the
drawing. Drawings can be sized to fit the printer paper size when printing them or when printing
bending schedules.

The layer table

Layers are used to group related drawing entities into functional units in order to isolate certain
aspects of the drawing from each other. Typical examples include grouping of contour lines or
concrete outlines on separate layers or drawing an elevation or a detail on a separate layer.

Each layer has a descriptive name, number, scale and grid spacing that is recorded in the layer
table. At any given time, only one layer can be the current layer to which newly drawn entities are
added. Layers can be turned on or off in any desired combination to allow selective display, editing
and plotting.

Refer to Chapter 4 for a detailed discussion on layers and related topics.

Drawing entities
The visible items on a drawing, eg lines, circles, text, rebars, etc, are called drawing entities.
Whenever you draw something, the new drawing entities are placed on the current layer.

Drawing entities are stored as records of coordinates relating to the layer’s scale and parameters
affecting their appearance, eg line type, pen, text font etc.

Deleted drawing entities

When a drawing entity is erased, it is not permanently removed from the drawing but simply
marked as deleted and removed from the display. You can then restore, or unerase, any erased
entities whenever required. Deleted entities can however be permanently removed from drawing by
packing it.

Chapter 3 gives a detailed description of the drawing and editing processes, erasing and unerasing
entities.

11
Bending schedules
Every drawing has a bending schedule embedded in it. If it is not required, then it is left blank. To
show the bending schedule select the Show/Hide bending schedule option under Windows on the
menu. A bending schedule contains the following:

Reinforcement information, comprising the bar mark, type, diameter, number of, shape
code, cutting length and bending dimensions.
Title Block and Print button: allows editing of the title block with schedule number and
general information (eg project title, date, name of detailer, reference drawing number etc),
lists total mass for each bar type and diameter, and provides printing options. Closing the
title block window automatically saves the information entered.
Page Break button: inserts a page break at the selected position in a bending schedule.

Schedule numbers
A unique number can be assigned to each bending schedule. No rules apply when assigning
schedule numbers except that they are limited in length to thirteen characters. Schedule numbers
appear on printed bending schedules and can, for example, be a combination of a project number
and a schedule serial number and any special characters or spaces. Schedule numbers are
automatically incremented when printing.

Reinforcement information
Static links exist between reinforcement records on the bending schedule and the rebars in the
parent drawing. Rebar attributes are read from the drawing at the time of scheduling and
automatically recorded on a bending schedule page. Subsequent changes to the rebars in the
drawing must, however, be updated manually in the bending schedules and vice versa.

Note: The cutting lengths of rebars are calculated automatically for all standard shape codes.

Total reinforcement masses

Each bending schedule page includes a table summarizing the mass for each bar type and diameter
and the total mass for the page. The masses are updated automatically by the system.

12
General file management functions
The File menu provides standard file management functions. Some of these functions include:

New drawing : Open a new drawing window.

Open : Select and open a drawing file.
Save : Save the active drawing.
Save as : Save the active drawing with a new name and/or in a different directory.
Save all : Save all open drawing files.
Close : Close the active window and all other windows containing views of the same
drawing.

Note: Both the File Open and the File Save as functions by default open the active working
folder. To set another folder as the working folder directly without exiting PADDS, click on the
Set as W Folder icon.

Backup copies
Every time a drawing is saved, the current disk file is first renamed to have the extension BAK. If
something terrible goes wrong, you can then open the backup version of the drawing and retrieve
the necessary information.

Timed backups
A second level of backups is provided with the timed backup facility. Backups are made at regular
intervals of all drawings that were modified since last saved. The backup interval can be set under
File Options on the menu. If a Timed Backup Interval of zero is input, then timed backups are not
made.

The timed backup files are named TimedBackup#.PAD, where # is the number of the drawings in
the sequence they were opened. When saving the actual drawing, the last timed backup files are
also renamed to have BAK extensions when saving the new versions. These backups of backups
therefore provide even a third level of backups

Note: In the rare case of a run-time error occurring, the open drawing is saved as $last.PAD.

Tip: Irrespective any sophisticated backup procedures built into PADDS, it makes common
sense to backup valuable information regularly on an independent medium (eg. CD or a
network server).

13
Printing and plotting
Drawings can be plotted on large sheets, eg A1 or A0, or printed on A4 or A3 pages. The default
Windows printer or plotter will be used by PADDS for drawings and bending schedules unless
another is selected.

Drawings
To print or plot a drawing, select Print from the File menu. The paper
size selected under Set Paper Size on the menu will be used as the default printing size. The
relevant dimensions are automatically entered into the Paper Height and Paper Width blocks. To
print on a different sized paper, either click one of the buttons, or type in the height and width
dimensions relevant for the paper size required. Then either select the Fit to Page option or enter a
Scale factor to size the drawing correctly for the selected page size.

The Rotate drawing option rotates the drawing through 90°. Select the required paper Orientation
i.e. either landscape or portrait.

To print a drawing in colour, the Print line colours box must be ticked, and the selected printer or
plotter must be capable of and set up for colour printing. The default background colour is white
(i.e. The colour of the paper), but if the Print background box is ticked then the screen background
colour is used.
The Save setup button allows you to save groups of printing settings for a single drawing under
different names. A specific group of settings can then be recalled by selecting the corresponding
setup name.

Printing a window
You can print actual size or exact scaled versions of portions of the drawing by selecting the
Window print command on the Window menu. The print window is selected with a rectangular
frame that you can move to the desired position.

The following options are available:

Window orientation : You can choose to print a rectangular area in either a portrait or a
landscape orientation.
Scale factor: The size of the print window is adjusted according to the scale factor of the
installed printer. A unity factor results in the print window being the same size as the
printer’s paper size. A larger value zooms into the drawing, effectively reducing the on-
screen size of the print window. Similarly a smaller value zooms out, effectively enlarging
the on-screen size of the print window.

14
 A4 or A3 buttons: Select the required paper size.

Note: The scale factor is used to zoom the print window and therefore changes its on-screen
size. The actual print size will always correspond to the installed printer paper size.

Bending schedules
Bending schedules are printed using the Title block & Print button at the bottom of the schedule
window. The active drawing’s bending schedule is superimposed on master bending schedules,
which can be customized to display your company logo and text in the preferred language. Refer to
Chapter 7 for detail on customizing the master bending schedules.

On selecting the Title block & Print button, a dialogue box is displayed with the following
elements:

A summary of the steel quantities in the bending schedule which are calculated
automatically.
A bending schedule title block which can be edited.
A Print redundant bar dimensions option: When ticked, redundant bar dimensions are
shown on the bending schedule in brackets. If not ticked, then no redundant bar
dimensions are shown on the printed bending schedules.
A Print to file option: If this option is selected, print files of the schedules and/or
associated sketches can be created. These files can then be combined onto a large drawing
or printed as a batch using the PROKON Batch Print module.
Print option buttons: Select the required button to print the schedule and associated sketch
on the same page, or to select either the schedule or sketch which is then printed on its on
page.
A Create SDI file button : Allows a SDI file to be created which can then be read by the
application Steelpac often used at bending yards.

When including a sketch (drawing) in a bending schedule, the sketch is sometimes scaled to make
it fit into the designated area. If however, page breaks inserted in the bending schedule do not leave
sufficient space on the schedule page for the sketch, the sketch is then superimposed onto the
schedule. Adjust the schedule page lengths to correct this.

15
Chapter

3
Drawing and editing

PADDS provides all the drawing commands necessary to create sophisticated drawings. Although
the end results may be sophisticated, the drawing and editing commands are quite easy to use.

Several commands are provided for the drawing of lines, circles, ellipses, parabolas and circular
and elliptical arcs. The construction line facility can also be used to aid the constructing of
drawings. A host of editing functions are provided with which drawn entities can be modified as
required.

The following topics are discussed in this chapter:

The coordinate system and units of measurement.

Setting points using the snap modes or entering coordinates.
Using survey coordinates.
Drawing lines, circles and arcs.
Drawing construction lines.
Hatching areas, drawing text.
Modifying drawn lines, circles and arcs.
Modifying drawn text.

17
 Erasing drawn entities.
Moving and copying entities.

Coordinates and units

Entities are drawn by setting points, i.e. coordinate, on the drawing sheet. Naturally, you are
required to have a good understanding of the coordinate system, the units of measurement and the
limits of the drawing area as defined by the paper size.

The coordinate system

A normal Cartesian coordinate system is used with the X- and Y-axes pointing to the right and top
of the screen respectively. A unique origin and scale can be assigned to each layer. Depending on
the current layer's settings, the origin may be located anywhere on the drawing area. Coordinates
lying to the left or below the origin can thus be negative. Angles are measured anti-clockwise from
the X-axis.

Similarly, each layer can have a different scale. An entity's coordinates are therefore specified in
actual size. The entity will then be scaled on the screen. When a layer is defined, its initial scale is
1:1, i.e. full scale. Refer to Chapter 4 for a detailed discussion on layers and scale.

A survey coordinate system can also be defined. Detail on orientating a survey coordinate system,
setting survey points and reading survey points from the drawing is given on page 32.

18
Units of measurement
The units of measurement can be set to millimetre, centimetres, metres or kilometres. All
coordinates, distances and measurements are given in the current units of measurement. The Set
units command can be used to set the current unit of measurement.

Some variables are recorded in millimetres, no matter the current unit of measurement:

Text height is specified in millimetres, independent of the layer scale.

Rebar diameters and bending dimensions are specified in millimetres.
Line spacing of hatch patterns are specified in millimetres.
Layer origins are given in millimetres from the bottom left corner of the drawing sheet.
The plotter origin and printer offset are specified in millimetres.
The paper size is defined in millimetres.

Paper size
The edges of the paper normally define the limits of the drawing area. The paper area is displayed
in dark blue against the background of the grey desktop. Although you can let drawing entities
extend beyond the paper edges, they will be clipped when plotting or printing the drawing. In some
situations, however, it may be quite useful to intentionally move some entities off the paper. The
relevant entities will then not be plotted but will still be saved as part of the drawing and can be
moved back onto the paper whenever necessary.

Use the Paper size command to select a paper size. For regular drawings, any of the ISO sizes A0
through A4 can be selected. Alternatively a custom size can be entered. The A4 schedule and A5
schedule paper sizes are customized A4 and A5 sheets suitable for bending schedule sketches.
They are the normal A4 and A5 sheets except that their sizes have been reduced to fit the bending
schedule frames.

The paper orientation may be specified as either portrait or the landscape. The paper orientation is
adjusted automatically for custom paper sizes.

19
Setting points
Nearly all drawing commands require some points to be set. Normally, points are set during the
execution of a command but they can also be set before executing a command. Depending on the
command’s behavioural characteristics, ortho mode can be enabled to get a special result.

To set a point, left click with the mouse. A snap mode can be enabled to force the cursor to snap to
certain points, by selecting the required mode from
Set Snap mode on the menu. The snap mode aperture (i.e. how close the mouse must be to a node/
intersection to snap to it) can be set on the option box under File Options on the menu. Points can
also be entered from the keyboard by typing absolute or relative coordinates.

Snapping

by selecting the required mode from Set Snap mode on the menu. The snap
mode aperture (i.e. how close the mouse must be to a node/ intersection to snap to it) can be set on
the option box under File Options on the menu.

The snap functions is divided into two categories:

Snap modes: A snap function that, once

selected, stays active until replaced by another
snap mode. A snap mode can also be
overridden temporarily by selecting a snap
once function. The snap mode functions are
Intersection to Free hand on the top portion of
the snap mode menu.
Snap once: A snap function that stays active for
the setting of one point only, after which the
previous snap mode is restored. The snap once functions are on the bottom half of the snap
mode menu i.e. Line to Tangent.

The appearance of the mouse pointer reflects the active snap mode, eg a crosshair when in
Freehand snap mode or a lead line pointer for Line snap.

Note: You cannot snap to entities in layers that are turned off or to hidden construction lines.

20
The snap zone
The snap zone, i.e. the area considered when searching for a snap position, is defined by a square
of twenty by twenty screen pixels, approximately equal to the size of the pointer. Generally, if no
snap position can be found in the snap zone, a point is set freehand at the pointer position. A
warning beep will be sound.

The following snap modes can be selected:

Intersection
A point is set at the nearest intersection with the indicated entity. Intersections with the entity
falling outside the snap zone are not considered. Intersections between all types of entities,
including arcs, rebar and construction lines are considered. If no intersection is found in the snap
zone, freehand snap mode is used.

21
Endpoint
Snap to the nearest endpoint of the indicated line segment, arc or segment of rebar. If no endpoint
is found in the snap zone, freehand snap mode is used. Endpoint snap mode can also be used to
snap to the four corner points of the imaginary parallelogram enclosing a text entity.

Both

Snap to the nearest intersection with or endpoint of the indicated entity. If no intersection or
endpoint is found in the snap zone, freehand snap mode is used.

22
Grid
Snap to the nearest intersection of grid lines. If no grid intersection is found in the snap zone,
freehand snap mode is used. If the display of the grid is disabled, will be enabled automatically
when this snap mode is selected.

Freehand
Do not snap to any position, i.e. use the current pointer position.

23
The following snap once functions can be selected:

Line
If no previous point has been set, or if a previous point has been set and the included angle between
the imaginary line joining the previous point and the mouse pointer, and the indicated entity at the
position nearest to the mouse pointer, is less than 45° then snap to the nearest point on the indicated
entity.

However, if a previous point has been set and the angle included between the imaginary line
joining the previous point and the mouse pointer, and the indicated entity at the position nearest to
the mouse pointer, is greater than 45° then snap to a point perpendicular to the indicated drawing
entity

If no entity is found in the snap zone, freehand snap mode is used.

Note: The perpendicular snapping to lines with the Line snap function should not be confused
with the Perpendicular line command.

24
Horizontal
Snap horizontally from the previous point set, or the mouse pointer in its absence, to the nearest
drawing entity. If no entity is found in the snap zone, freehand snap mode is used.

Vertical
Snap vertically from the previous point set, or the mouse pointer in its absence, to the nearest
drawing entity. If no entity is found in the snap zone, freehand snap mode is used.

25
Midpoint
Snap to the midpoint or centre point of the nearest line, circle or circular arc. If no entity is found in
the snap zone, freehand snap mode is used.

Tangent
Snap tangentially to the nearest circle or circular arc if a previous point has been set. If no entity is
found in the snap zone, freehand snap mode is used.

Note: If no valid position can be found to snap to, a beep will be sound and the point is set
freehand.

26
If preferred, the snap functions can be assigned to the function keys or the button bars. Refer to
Chapter 11 for detail on customizing PADDS.

Ortho mode
Use the Ortho mode command on the Set menu or click on the O on the command bar at the bottom
of the screen to enable or disable ortho mode. When ortho mode is enabled, each new point is set
orthogonally from the last point. Using ortho mode with the snap modes provides many new
options when setting points. A point can now be set by indicating a more convenient orthogonal
position instead.

By default the ortho angle is set to zero, i.e. the two orthogonal directions are taken parallel to the
X- and Y-axes. The ortho angle can be changed to any other value using the Ortho angle command
on the Set menu. The "horizontal" and "vertical" directions can thus be inclined at say 30°.

The behaviours of some commands are completely governed by ortho mode and the ortho angle, eg
Line, Box and the construction line drawing commands.

Other commands interpret ortho mode and intelligently disable it during execution. When using the
Horizontal dimension command, for example, the position of the dimension text and the dimension
start and end points are rarely orthogonal. Ortho mode is therefore disabled for the duration of the
command. Similarly the Bar command temporarily disables ortho mode when drawing certain
shape codes.

Note: Ortho mode is ignored when setting points by typing coordinates.

27
Entering points from the keyboard
Points can also be set by entering their coordinates from the keyboard. The coordinates can be
entered as either absolute or relative Cartesian coordinates:

Enter an absolute coordinate on the command line as a pair of real numbers, separated with
a space or comma, eg "100,50" or "100 50". A leading minus sign denotes a negative
relative coordinate. A negative absolute coordinate must therefore be preceded with two
minus signs, eg "--210,30".
A leading plus or minus sign denotes a relative coordinate, eg "+110,-20" for 110 units
upward and 20 units to the left.
Absolute and relative coordinates may be mixed. If the last point has the coordinate
"100,50", for example, the coordinates "210,-20", "+110,30" and "210,30" will result in
the same new point to be set.
A point can also be entered as a relative polar coordinate or vector. Specify the distance
and orientation, preceded with the character "a", in any order. The vectors "111.8 a349.7"
and "a349.7 111.8" set the same relative point as above. The angle is measured clockwise
from the X-axis.

If a point is set using relative coordinates, the new point is set relative from the last point. If no
points are currently set, the position, i.e. the last point before it was cleared, is used as reference
point.

Note: The active snap mode and ortho mode are ignored when entering points from the
keyboard.

During the execution of a command, you can enter coordinates as required. If points need to be
preset before executing a command, the Set point and Move point commands must be used. If no
points are set, the last position can be highlighted with the Show last position command. Detail on
presetting points is given on page 30.

Indicating entities
Some commands require one or more entities to be indicated, eg indicate a line to extend or text to
be edited. When indicating an entity the active snap mode is temporarily disabled and the mouse
pointer changes to a small square.

The Entity snap mode only allows you to select entities. It may be overridden again by selecting a
normal snap mode again. When moving or copying text with the Text move and Text copy
commands, for example, you can select a text entity with Endpoint snap mode enabled, allowing
more accurate repositioning of the text entity.

28
Indicating lines, circles, arcs and rebars
Indicate an entity by clicking near to it if no entity is found, the command is cancelled.

Indicating text
When using normal drawing functions, like Erase entity and Block add, indicate a point near a
corner of the imaginary parallelogram enclosing the text entity.

29
When using text manipulation functions, like Edit text and Erase text, indicate a point anywhere
inside the imaginary parallelogram enclosing the text entity or click near to a corner.

Tip: The display of layers, grids and construction lines may be enabled and disabled as needed
to simplify snapping and entity selection.

Presetting points
Points are normally set as prompted for during the execution of a command. They can however also
be set before executing a command. During the execution of the command, some points will be
used and surplus points ignored. All points will be cleared after the execution of the command.

The following rules apply when presetting:

If the number of preset points is less than the required number of points, you will be
prompted for additional points. If only one point has been preset and the Box command is
executed, for example, a prompt for the second point will be displayed.
If the number of preset points is greater than the required number of points, surplus points
will be discarded. If four points are preset before executing the Box command, for
example, the first two points will be used to draw the box and the last two points ignored.
All surplus points are cleared.
Presetting a number of points greater than or equal to the minimum required number of
points will cancel the recurring behaviour of commands. Setting two or more points before
selecting the Line command, for example, draws a line and terminates the command
without any further prompts.

30
 A completely different result can be achieved by combining the presetting of points with
ortho mode. Both the Caption and Dimension horizontal commands, for example, are not
sensitive to ortho mode under normal operation. A few orthogonal points can however be
set before executing the commands to get the desired results.

Points can also be preset for those commands that not only accept points as parameters but also
other types of parameters like text and confirmations. The normal execution of the Bar command,
for example, includes prompts for the shape code, bar type, diameter and mark, setting points to
define the rebar geometry and a final prompt for reduction with concrete cover. If the points are
preset, all the normal prompts, except those to indicate the points, will be displayed. The rules for
presetting points given above still apply. If the number of preset points is therefore less than the
number of points required for the specified shape code, additional points will be prompted for.
Similarly, surplus points will be discarded if the number of preset points is greater than the required
number of points.

31
Survey coordinates
A southern hemisphere survey coordinate can be defined to set and read survey coordinates on a
drawing. The X- and Y-axes points down and to the left of the screen respectively and bearings are
measured clockwise from the X-axis.

Note: When orientated, the survey coordinate system only applies to the survey commands on
the Point menu.

Orientating survey coordinate system

A southern hemisphere coordinate survey system can be defined using either of the following
commands:

Orientate two points : Indicate two known points on the drawing enter the corresponding
survey coordinates. An error message will be displayed in case of the distances between
the two sets of coordinates not being equal. Bear in mind the current layer scale and the
unit of measurement when entering survey coordinates.
Orientate point and angle : Indicate a known point on the drawing and enter the
corresponding survey coordinate and the Cartesian angle for south.

Note: Using metres may be more convenient than millimetres when working with survey
coordinates. Use the Set units command to set the unit of measurement. Refer to page 20 for
more detail.

32
Setting survey points
The following Point commands can be used to set points in survey coordinates:

Set survey point : Set a point at the entered coordinate.

Set distance and bearing : Set a point at the relative distance and bearing from the last
point.

Reading survey information from the drawing

The following Point commands can be used to read survey information from the drawing:

Get survey point : Read and display a point's survey coordinate.

Get distance and bearing : Measure and display the distance and bearing between two
survey points.
Survey coordinates to file : Read the survey coordinates of one or more points and save the
information in a text file.

Tip: A table of survey coordinates can be created and saved as a text file using the
Survey coordinates to file command. The text file can then be inserted in the drawing as multi-
line text.

Drawing lines, circles and arcs

A host of drawing commands are available for constructing lines circles, ellipses and arcs. On the
surface, some commands may seem to be duplicating each other. However, different situations
require different approaches. The need for the variety of approaches adopted may only become
clear with experience.

Before drawing an entity, you should be aware of some system settings. Newly drawn entities are
put on the current layer and are sized according to the current layer scale, as is explained in
Chapter 4. The entities are drawn using the current system setting for lines and text parameters.
Various procedures are also provided to edit drawn entities' information.

33
Line parameters
The term line parameters refers to the combination of pen number and line type. All new lines,
circles, ellipses and arcs are drawn using the current system line parameters.

The system line parameters are set with the Line parameters command:

Line pen : The eight available pen numbers refer to the physical pens in a pen plotter. If a
drawing is scaled when printed, its pen widths are scaled accordingly. The line colours can
also be edited by clicking on the relevant block in the Colour column and selecting a
colour from the menu that appears.
Line style : The nine selectable line types produce different line styles.
Export/Import buttons: Pen and line settings can be saved or loaded using these
commands.

The Background and Paper Colour buttons allow the user to select his own colours if required.
These settings, together with the system line parameters and button bar setup, can be saved using
the Save configuration command under Assign on the menu and then later recalled. See Chapter 11
for further details. It is recommended, however, that if you regularly import and export drawings
from or to other file formats, that the default line and pen parameters are used to ensure accurate
conversion. Refer to Chapter 10 for details.

Note: Rebars are drawn according to the system rebar parameters. A drawn rebar's parameters
can be changed with the Edit entity information command only.

The line parameters of drawn entities can be changed as discussed on page 45.

34
The line, circle and arc drawing commands
The drawing commands are generally intuitive in their application. The line, circle and arc
drawing commands are:

Line drawing commands:

Line : Draw a polyline, i.e. multiple continuous line segments, between two or more points.
Auto line : Draw single lines.
Box : Draw a rectangular box.
Parallel polyline : Construct polylines parallel to a drawn polyline.
Parallel one line : Construct single lines parallel to a drawn single line or segment of
polyline.
Perpendicular line : Construct a single line between two points and perpendicular to a
drawn line.
Tangent 2 circles : Construct a single line tangent to two circles or arcs.
Parabola : Construct a parabola through three points.

Circle drawing commands:

Centre & radius : Draw a circle at the specified centre point and radius.
Two points : Construct a circle through two points.
Three points : Construct a circle through three points

Arc drawing commands:

Arc angle : Draw a circular arc with the indicated start and centre points and specified
include angle.
Arc radius : Draw a circular arc with the indicated start and end points and specified
radius.
Arc continue : Extend a line with a circular arc.

Ellipse drawing commands:

Ellipse : Draw an ellipse with a specified main and secondary axes.

Elliptical arc : Draw an elliptical arc with the specified start, centre and end points.
Oblique circle: Draw an oblique circle with the specified start, centre and end points.

35
Refer to the Reference manual for more detail the use of the circle and arc drawing commands.

Note: Use the Sketch function on the Line menu to do freehand sketch work. Click and hold the
left mouse button to draw a polyline. The pixel-to-pixel movement of the mouse pointer on the
screen is used to construct a polyline. Therefore, the deeper you are zoomed in, the more
detailed the resulting polyline can be defined.

Drawing construction lines

Construction lines are used to create reference positions to help construct drawing elements.
Construction lines are line entities with the following characteristics:

They have infinite lengths.

Construction lines can be hidden and displayed as needed.
Construction lines are not plotted or printed.

When erasing, construction lines may be regarded as normal lines. Use either the Erase line or
Erase all cons lines commands to erase them.

The construction line drawing commands

The following commands can be used to draw orthogonal construction lines:

Construction crosshair : Draw a horizontal and vertical construction line at the indicated
point.
Horizontal construction line : Draw a horizontal construction line at the indicated point.
Vertical construction line : Draw a vertical construction line at the indicated point.

Construction lines are displayed as dark yellow dotted lines. The orthogonal drawing commands
are sensitive to the ortho angle. If the ortho mode is enabled with an angle of 30°, for example,
horizontal and vertical construction lines will be inclined at 30° from the X- and Y-axes.

Setting the ortho angle is not the best way of drawing inclined construction lines - rather use the
construction mode facility.

36
Construction mode
When construction mode is enabled, the normal line drawing commands can be used to draw
construction lines. To draw a construction line at 30° through a point, for example, select the Auto
line command, indicate the point and type a relative coordinate, eg "0 a30". Any relative vector
length can be specified because the construction line will, in any case, have an infinite length.

Similarly, the Box command can be used to simultaneously draw four construction lines and the
Parallel polyline and Parallel single line commands used to drawn parallel construction lines.

Construction mode is enabled and disabled with the Construction mode command on the Line
menu or by clicking on the C on the command bar at the bottom of the screen.

Hiding construction lines

All construction lines can be hidden or displayed again with the Hide construction lines command
or by clicking on the H on the command bar at the bottom of the screen. Since construction lines
are not plotted or printed in any case, you would normally only hide them for improved clarity of
the drawing.

Hatching
The Hatch command on the Edit menu is used to hatch an area. Hatch patterns are made up of a
combination of lines at different spacings and angles.

Defining an area to hatch

The area to hatch is defined by setting as many points as necessary to define its outline as a
polygon. This can be done manually or, if the area has no holes, with the aid of the Trace outline
command on the Macro menu. For the tracing procedure to be successful, the polygon must be
closed and made up of a single layer of lines and arcs. Two lines lying on top of each other will
cause an outline to be traced incorrectly.

With a little effort, holes can also be indicated in the hatch area. Simply let the indicated polygon
cut through the hatch area, follow the hole perimeter of a hole and pass back to the outside
perimeter along the same cutting line (see the last two examples in the figure).

37
 Note: The Trace outline command also creates an input file for the PROKON section
properties calculation program, PROSEC. The file is called LASTSEC and will be loaded
automatically when the program is executed.

Editing a hatch
Usually a hatch pattern will be stored as one entity, but in those cases where the size of the hatch
area requires too many hatching lines, hatch patterns will be broken into several polylines. Hatch
patterns can be edited using the Edit hatch pattern command on the Hatch menu.

Use the Edit entity information command to change the hatch parameters for a specific hatched
area. These hatch parameters include:

Layer number : A hatch is stored as a polyline with a series of coordinates. Changing its
layer number will cause it to be rescaled in the new layer, in the process rescaling the line
spacings.
Pen number : Change the pen number as wanted.
Line style : Change the line style as wanted.
Coordinates : Normally one would never edit the coordinates. Erasing a hatch and
redrawing it would be better.

Hiding a hatch
Hatch patterns can be hidden or viewed by selecting the Hide hatching command on the Hatch
menu or clicking on the H on the command menu at the bottom of the screen.

38
Text
A few text commands are available for writing and editing single and multiple lines of text. New
text entities are drawn on the current layer in the current system setting text parameters. Various
procedures are also provided to edit the information of drawn text.

Text parameters
The term text parameters refer to the combination of justification, pen number, font, height, width,
line spacing and slant.

The system text parameters are set with the Text parameters command:

Justification, i.e. either top, middle or bottom combined with either left, centre or right.
The justification can be typed is an abbreviation, eg "LB" for left bottom, or by clicking
the position in the picture.
Text pen number : The eight available pen numbers refer to the line thickness associated
with each pen number. If a drawing is scaled when printed, its pen widths are scaled
accordingly.
Text font
Text height in millimetres.
Text width as a factor of text height.
Line spacing as a factor of text height.
Text slant in degrees, up to a maximum of 30°.
Text angle in degrees.

Note: Rebar descriptions and dimension lines and text are drawn according to the system
dimension line and text parameters. Parameters of drawn descriptions and dimensions can be
changed using the normal line and text parameter commands.

39
Entering text
Text written with the Text command, comprises a maximum of sixty-six characters on a single line.
Blocks of text can be entered using the Multi-line text command. The Wordwrap selection box is
used to wrap lines if required.

Drawn text can be edited and text parameters changed as described on page 46.

Typing special characters

Special characters, eg mathematical symbols and Greek characters, can be entered in two ways.
Firstly, type the required text in a word processing program and store as a text file. This can then be
opened in PADDS using the Read from file button. Alternatively, create a bitmap file of the symbol
and/or text and draw it into PADDS using Insert raster image under File on the menu.

Reading and writing text files

With each of the Text, Multi-line text, Edit Text and Detail text edit commands, text files created in
other word processing applications can be loaded into PADDS using the Read from file button.
Text created in PADDS can also be saved in text files to be used in other applications by selecting
the Save to file button.

A library of standard drawing notes can be established in this way and drawn into drawings as
required.

40
Modifying drawn lines, circles and arcs
The appearance of drawn lines, circles and arcs can be modified by changing their coordinates and
line parameters using some commands on the Edit menu.

Extending lines and arcs

A line or arc can be lengthened or shorted by clicking on the end point and then again at the point
to which it should be moved.

Trimming
Lines can be trimmed by indicating a trimming line and then the line(s) to trim on the side of the
trimming line that the trimming is required. The same result can also be obtained by extending a
line to the intersection with the trim line.

Note: Construction lines have infinite length and therefore cannot be trimmed.

41
Clipping
A segment can be clipped from a line by indicating the two clipping points. Construction lines,
circles and arcs cannot be clipped.

Tip: Circles and circular arcs can be "clipped" by first drawing the resulting two arcs and then
deleting the original entity.

Breaking

A polyline can be broken into single lines by simply indicating it. To break a polyline at one point
only, use the Clip command and indicate the same point twice.

Joining
Two lines can be joined at their intersection, or projected intersection, by indicating them. The
same result can be obtained by chamfering the two lines with a zero chamfer depth or filleting them
with a zero fillet radius.

42
Fillets and chamfers
Two lines can be chamfered or filleted at their intersection. Use the Chamfer depth and Fillet
radius commands to set the size of the chamfer or fillet.

Tip: Instead of indicating the two lines individually, you can a double click at the intersection.

Stretching
The Stretch command can be used to move a group of coordinates, stretching all entities fixed to
them. Indicate a polygon around the group of coordinates to be moved, and indicate two relative
points. Alternatively enter a relative coordinate or a distance and angle.

The different types of entities respond differently to the Stretch command:

Lines : All line endpoints included in the polygon are moved.

Circles and arcs : If included in the polygon, centre points are moved without changing
radii.
Rebars : If the polygon encloses a rebar's first handle, the rebar will be moved without its
dimensions being changed. If the polygon encloses a portion or side of a rebar, but
excludes the first handle, then the rebar is stretched.
Text : Text justification points, eg the left bottom corner if LB justified, are moved without
changing any other parameters.

43
Editing entity information
An entity's coordinates and display parameters can be changed using the Edit entity information
command. The text editor can be used to edit the entity information items.
The information that can be edited depends on the type of entity selected:

All entities:

Layer number, between 1 and 200.

Pen number, between 1 and 8.
One or more coordinates.
Attribute number or name

Line and hatch entities:

Line style, between 1 and 9. A line type of 10 is used for construction lines.

Text entities:

Font.
Justification, L, C or R combined with T, M or B.
Width factor.
Height in millimetres.
Line spacing factor.
Angle, between 0° and 360°.
Slant, between 0° and 30°.
One or more lines of text.

Rebar entities:

Bar mark.
Type, eg Y, R, T.
Diameter in millimetres. Valid entries are 8, 10, 12 ,16, 20, 25 ,32 and 40.
Shape code.
Bending dimensions A through E in millimetres.
Angle, between 0° and 360°.
X-sign and Y-sign, -1, 0 or 1.
Curtailed end, Y or N.
Type, 1 for dot and 2 for ring (dots and rings only).

All items can be edited and additional items added where applicable, eg adding bending
dimensions when changing a rebar shape code.

44
Changing line parameters
The line parameters of drawn lines, circles and arcs can be read and changed as follows:

Line parameters : Change the current system line parameters.

Get line parameters : Read an entity's line parameters and assign them to the system.
Set line parameters : Assign the current system line parameters to a drawn entity.
Edit entity information : Edit any information of an entity, including its coordinates.

Note: Rebar descriptions and dimension lines and text are drawn according to the system
dimension line and text parameters. Parameters of drawn descriptions and dimensions can be
changed using the normal line and text parameter commands.

Modifying drawn text

A few methods are available for editing the contents and parameters of drawn text, including
dimension text and rebar description text.

Editing drawn text

The following commands can be used to edit drawn text:

The Text edit command is used to edit single line text only. If multi-line text is indicated,
the Detail text edit command is automatically called.
The Detail text edit commands to edit multi-line text or convert single line text to multi-
line text. The command can also be used to change a text entity's parameters.
Edit entity information can also be used to display and edit a text entity's contents and
parameters.

Changing text parameters

The parameters of drawn text with the following commands:

Text parameters : Change the current text parameters.

Get text parameters : Read a text entity's parameters and assign them to the system
Set text parameters : Assign the system text parameters to a drawn text entity.
Detail text edit : Edit single or multi-line text or its parameters.
Convert to uppercase : Converts all selected text to uppercase.
Convert to lowercase : Converts all selected text to lowercase.
Entity information on Edit menu : Edit any information of a text entity, including the text
itself.

45
Erasing and unerasing drawn entities
Various techniques can be used to erase drawn entities and unerase erased entities. All the
commands listed in the lower half of the Edit menu are used to erase or unerase entities.

Erasing entities
The Erase commands are used to indicate individual entities to be erased:

Erase line : Erase single lines and construction lines.

Erase circle : Erase circles and ellipses.
Erase arc : Erase circular and elliptical arcs.
Erase text : Erase single line and multi-line text.
Erase hatch : Erase hatch patterns.
Erase construction lines : Erase all construction lines.
Erase rebar : Erase rebars, including normal rebars, dots and rings.
Erase dot : Similar to Erase bar, but used to erase rebar dots and rings only.
Erase polyline : Erase polylines.
Erase bitmap : Erase a bitmap.
Erase entity : Erase any type of entity.

The Erase commands are recurring, i.e. you are prompted for entities to erase until ESCAPE is
pressed or the right mouse button clicked twice.

Tip: Although the Erase entity command can be used to erase any type of drawing entity, it is
sometimes more desirable to use one of the other entity-specific erase commands. The Erase
text command, for example, can be used to erase text in a congested area without the risk of
accidentally erasing nearby lines and circles.

The Erase commands are used to indicate individual entities to be erased. Groups of entities can be
erased together by first including them in a block. Refer to Chapter 5 for detail on using blocks.

Unerasing
Erased entities are stored in memory to allow them to be recalled again at a later stage. Use the
Undo commands to recall erased entities:

Undo : Display and optionally recall individual erased entities in the reverse order they
were erased. You must confirm each entity to be unerased, allowing you to recall erased
entities selectively.
Zone unerase : Display all erased entities. Draw a polygon around those entities to be
recalled.

46
Once you have specified that a specific erased entity should not be unerased, it will not be
displayed again the next time the Unerase command is called. All erased entities are however
displayed again when using the Zone unerase command.

Note: Erased entities can be permanently removed from a drawing using the Pack drawing
command. Packed drawings occupy less disk and memory space.

Moving and copying entities

Entities are normally moved and copied as blocks. A few commands are available for moving and
copying lines and text.

Moving and copying lines

Line endpoints can be moved or copied using the following Edit commands:

Move line endpoint : The command is used to move one endpoint of a single line or a
segment of polyline. The nearest endpoint of the indicated line is moved to the indicated
new position, in the process stretching any line segments projecting from that endpoint.
Unlike with the Stretch command, other entities located at the same endpoint are left
unchanged.

Tip: It is easier to use the Extend line command to extend a line along its own axis.

47
 Copy line endpoint : To create a copy of a line by indicating a new endpoint. The nearest
endpoint of the indicated on the line is copied to a new position, in the process copying any
line segments projecting from that endpoint. Therefore, for a polyline, the two line
segments projecting from the original endpoint will both be copied.

One or more lines can also be marked as a block and subsequently moved or copied using the
Block move and Block copy commands.

Moving and copying text

The following commands are available on the Text menu for manipulating single and multi-line text
entities:

Move text : Indicate a text entity and move it to a new location.

Copy text : Indicate a text entity and move it to a new location.

The location to move or copy to can be indicated with the mouse or entered as an absolute or
relative coordinate, eg "+20 +0" to move or copy twenty units to the right.

Tip: When selecting a text entity to move or copy, enable the Endpoint snap mode to snap to
one of its corner points. This will allow you to reposition it very accurately.

One or more text entities can also be marked as a block and subsequently moved or copied using
the Block move and Block copy commands.

Moving and copying groups of entities

Groups of entities can be defined as blocks and moved or copied simultaneously. By defining two
or more block handles, you can also scale entities at the same time. Refer to Chapter 5 for detail on
defining and manipulating blocks.

48
Chapter

4
Layers and scale

In PADDS, the use of layers is a powerful tool in the hands of the user. Not only does the proper
use of layers result in better organised drawings, but its functionality provides easier manipulation
of drawing entities.

All drawing entities in a PADDS drawing must be arranged into layers - even a single layer will do.
Functional groups of entities, eg grid lines or reinforcement, can be assigned to layers and the
layers overlaid to give complete drawings. Each layer can have a descriptive name and a unique
scale, allowing you to easily draw and manage different details at different scales on the same
sheet.

49
Defining layers
Choosing suitable criteria for layering entities is essential when defining layers. Setting up the layer
table should be a simple process if the general characteristics of layers are kept in mind.

Layer characteristics
By definition, a layer is a group of entities with the following common characteristics:

The entities are all drawn to the same scale. If a layer's scale is changed, all entities on that
layer will be redrawn to the new scale.
The entities are drawn relative to the same origin on the sheet. Changing a layer's origin
results in all entities on that layer being repositioned according to the new origin.
A layer may be given a descriptive name, eg "Dimensions" or "Rebars".
Layers can be turned on and off in any desired combination. Layers that are turned off are
displayed in a subdued grey colour and the relevant entities cannot be snapped to.

Note: All dimensions and rebars are drawn to the current layer's scale. The current scale is
automatically updated if another layer is selected as the current layer.

Layer scales and displays can be edited in tabular format using the Edit layer table command. The
current layer's scale can also be changed with the Set scale command. Layers can be selectively
turned on and off with the One layer on/off, All layers off and All layers on commands.

50
The layer table
The layer table contains the following information for each layer:

Layer number : Layers are numbered from 0 to 100.

Layer name : An optional descriptive name. Up to ten characters can be used.
Scale : Every layer can have a unique scale.
Origin on paper : The layer origin is defined in millimetres from the bottom left edge of the
paper.
Display status : Layers can be turned on and off in any desired combination.

Use the Edit layer table command to display and edit the layer table. The Change all layers button
allows a layer characteristic to be changed for all the layers simultaneously. To add a new layer,
use the Add new layer button.

51
Grouping entities into layers
The entities grouped on the same layer do not necessarily need to conform to constraints like pen
number or line type. However, entities on the same layer should preferably have something in
common. You should therefore set your own criteria to layer entities in a functional way, eg:

All entities in an elevation or detail can be grouped together. The concrete outlines and
reinforcement of a reinforced concrete section detail, for example, may be drawn on the
same layer. The detail can then be rescaled by editing the layer scale. Changing the layer
origin will result in the whole detail to be repositioned.
Entity types can be grouped together. If, for example, all rebars in are drawn in a separate
layer, their display can be turned off simultaneously by turning off their layer. This feature
may be very useful in certain situations, eg when marking the concrete outlines only, to
change their line pen numbers.

Merging drawn entities to layers

Newly drawn entities are placed in the active layer, which is set using the Set layer command.
Drawn entities can however still be moved and copied to other layers using the following
commands:

Merge move : Moves an entity to the current layer without changing its appearance on the
screen. If the scale of its previous layer differs from the current layer scale, its size is
recalculated.
Merge copy : Copies an entity to the current layer without changing its appearance on the
screen.
Edit entity information : Use this option to change individual entities' layer numbers.
Block change : Entities can be moved selectively from certain layers to another layer. The
entities concerned are rescaled according to the destination layer scale. If the scales of the
source and destination layer scale differ, the entities will be resized on the screen.

Tip: You can merge entities from layers that are turned off. By first turning all other layers off,
you can clearly see the entities as they are being merged.

52
The current layer
The current layer influences the system behaviour in several ways:

Newly drawn entities are placed on the current layer.

Newly drawn entities are scaled according to the current layer scale. If you draw a rebar
with the Bar command, for example, its dimensions will be calculated from the points set
using the current layer's scale.
When drawing dimensions, distances are measured according to the current layer's scale.

It is therefore important to ensure that the correct layer has been selected as the current layer. To
select a layer as the current layer, execute the Set layer command and indicate an entity on that
layer or type the layer number.

Being the layer on which all new entities are drawn, the current layer cannot be turned off. All
other layers may selectively be turned on and off.

Although only one layer can be current, cursor snapping is not restricted to the current layer. You
can snap to endpoints, intersections etc of any entities on layers that are not turned off.

Layer origin
Every layer has an origin. The origin is set in millimetres from the bottom left corner of the
drawing sheet. The origin is therefore not dependent on the layer scale.

The Edit layer table command can be used to edit a layer's origin. After changing the origin, all
entities belonging to that layer will be repositioned according to the new origin.

Tip: A complete layer can also be moved without changing its origin by marking and moving it
as a block using the Block define layer and Block move commands.

Scale
Every layer can have a unique scale. This feature greatly simplifies the drawing different details at
different scales on the same drawing sheet. Take care to set up the layer table so that each layer has
an appropriate scale. If you subsequently need to work on a layer, select that layer as the current
layer and the scale will be adjusted automatically.

53
The scale value refers to the drawing scale, i.e. a detail drawn at 1:10 scale, for example, will be
plotted one tenth of the actual size. A scale of 1:1 corresponds to actual size, also referred to as
paper size.

Changing the scale

All entities coordinates are stored in actual size. A 200 mm diameter circle, for example, is stored
as a circle with a 200 mm diameter. The circle will however be scaled, using its layer scale, when it
is displayed on the screen or plotted. If you therefore change a layer's scale, using either the Set
scale or Edit layer table commands, all entities in that layer will be rescaled accordingly.

Text entities are treated differently, however. Although the coordinates of text entities are stored in
actual size, the plot size, in millimetres, is stored as the text height. Put differently, text height is
defined independent of layer scale in mm. Thus changing the scale of a layer will change the
position of text entities in that layer, but not their size. Text height may optionally be rescaled when
rescaling blocks of entities. Simply type in Y when the prompt Scale text with block is displayed in
the command line.

Rescaling a layer does present a problem however - all relevant coordinated are rescaled causing
the relevant entities to be repositioned on the screen. The problem is easily resolved by selecting
and moving the layer as a block or by editing the layer's origin.

Text height is defined independent of layer scale in mm. Thus changing the scale of a layer will
change the position of text entities in that layer, but not their size. Text height may optionally be
rescaled when rescaling blocks of entities.

54
Transposing the scale
Changing a layer's scale with the Set scale or Edit layer table commands, causes the layer to be
rescaled accordingly. Sometimes a layer's scale needs to be transposed, i.e. the scale needs to be
changed without changing the way the layer is displayed.

Transposing layer scales is often necessary is when importing DXF or CEX drawings from foreign
CAD systems. The original layer definition will be used and all layer scales will initially be the
same. If you need to work on some of the existing layers, their scales will need to be transposed
Layer scales can be transposed using the following methods:

With the Transpose scale command the distance between two points can be measured and
a new value entered. All coordinates on the specified layers are subsequently recalculated
according to the ratio of the measured and entered distances.
A layer's scale can be changed and its size on the screen adjusted by selecting and scaling
it as a block with the Block scale command. Alternatively the block can be resized by
defining two block handles and moving it using the Block move command, in the process
scaling it between the indicated positions of the handles.

Turning layers off

Layers can be selectively turned on and off to assist in the organisation of drawings. The Edit layer
table, One layer on/off, All layers off and All layers on commands can be used for this purpose.

Layers turned off are displayed in a subdued grey colour, signifying the following:

When using the snap modes to set points, entities on layers turned off are ignored.
Layers that are turned off will not plot or print.

Being the working layer, the current layer can naturally not be turned off. If all layers have been
turned off and another layer is made the current layer, you will be given the choice to turn the
previous layer off.

55
Chapter

5
Using blocks

The PADDS drawing and editing functions give you most of the power you need to do
sophisticated drawings. When you want to work with several drawing entities at once, however,
grouping them together in blocks for easier manipulation will be preferable. Blocks can be copied,
moved, mirrored, rotated, rescaled or deleted. By defining entities in a block, you can change the
entity parameters selectively, eg text font or layer number.

A block can be saved and, at a later stage, be recalled and inserted into another drawing. A major
advantage of using blocks in PADDS, however, is that blocks can be copied or moved directly
between drawings without first saving them. Blocks copied or moved between drawings, are
automatically rescaled to reflect the true size of the entities.

57
Basic block structure
A block is essentially a temporary grouping of a number of drawing entities that can be
manipulated while the block is defined. Only one block definition, called the active block, can exist
at a time. A virtually unlimited number of blocks can however be created, one after the other, and
saved for later retrieval. The active block is displayed in pink, making it easily recognizable.

A typical block has the following basic structure:

A group of entities belonging to one or more layers.

One, two or three optional handles.
An optional handle scale entity.

The significance of the different elements is explained in the following text.

Defining a block
Before you can manipulate a group of entities, you first have to define them in a block. Defining a
block comprises the following steps, in no particular order:

Marking the entities to be included in the block.

Optionally filtering the block entities by defining a block scope.
Optionally defining some block handles.

Marking entities
Several commands are available on the Block menu to define a block:

Commands that add entities to the active block:

Define drawing : Groups the whole drawing as a block.

Define layer : Adds all entities belonging to a specific layer to the block.
Define box : Adds to the block entities by enclosing them with a rectangular box.
Define cut : Adds to the block those portions of entities cut from the whole by a
rectangular box.
Define polygon : Draw a polygon around the entities to be added to the block.
Define line : Adds all entities intersected by a drawn line to the block.
Define add : Indicate individual entities to add them one-by-one.

58
Commands that remove entities from the active block:

Define remove : Indicate individual entities to remove them one-by-one from the block.
Undefine : Removes all entities from the active block.

Swapping entities in and out of the active block.

Define swap : Removes all entities from the active block and adds those that were not
previously included.

The block scope can be set to only include entities conforming to certain criteria. The results of all
block definition commands, including Define swap, depend on the current block scope.

Defining the block scope

Any type of entity, including rebars and construction lines, may form part of a block. You can
however define the block copy to restrict the members of a block to those entities conforming to
certain criteria. You can, for example, omit text entities from the block scope to prevent any text
entities from being included in the active block.

The following controls can be set up in the block scope:

L : Allow the inclusion of lines, including construction lines.

C : Allow circles and ellipses.
A : Allow circular and elliptical arcs.
B : Allow rebars to be included.
1-8 : Only entities drawn in the pen numbers specified are allowed in the active block.
Type "0" or nothing to allow all pen numbers to be included, eg "LC" to allow all lines and
circles.

No specific order is required when entering controls defining the block scope. The controls may be
separated with spaces or commas to improve readability, eg "C,L,5,3,1" for line and circle entities
drawn in pen numbers 1, 3 and 5.

New controls can be added and current ones deleted from the block scope at any time during the
definition of a block. The new scope will take immediate effect, removing all possible invalid
entities from the active block and filtering further entities being added.

Note: When the active block is undefined or deleted, the block scope is restored to its default
value, i.e. all types of entities.

59
Defining block handles
Some block manipulation commands require the active block to have one or more handles.

Block handles are special points set at convenient positions to ease the repositioning, rotation and
scaling of a block. When a block with one handle is copied, for example, a new position for the
handle indicated will determine the position of the copied block.

More than one handle is sometimes used to obtain a special result. Defining two block handles, for
example, will allow you to rotate the block while you copy it. If you want to, you can even scale the
copied block between the two new handles. With three handles the block can be scaled along a
second orthogonal axis as well.

The minimum required number of block handles differs from situation to situation. Since various
options may be available for a given command, the usage of block handles is discussed in more
detail in the next section.

Note: Although some resemblances exist, distinct differences exist between block handles and
rebar handles. Refer to Chapter 7 for detail on rebars.

Manipulating blocks
The active block can be copied, moved, rotated, mirrored, scaled or saved. A saved block also can
be loaded into the active drawing. Based on the effect that block handles have on them, the block
manipulation commands can be categorised as follows:

Translational commands : Those commands used mainly to move the active block, or a copy of it,
to a new position:

Block save : Used to save the active block definition to file for later reloading. One or
more handles must be defined to allow the placement of the block when it is loaded again.
Block load : To load a block from disk and insert it in the active drawing. The block is
positioned by setting the new positions of the number of handles that were defined at the
time it was saved.
Block copy : Used to make one or more copies of the active block in the same drawing or
another open drawing.
Block move : To move the active block to a new location in the same drawing or another
open drawing.
Block mirror : For creating a mirror image of the active block in the same drawing.

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Rotational commands : Those commands used to rotate the active block or a copy of it:

Block circular copy : Used to create one or more copies of the active block by rotating the
block in fixed angle increments.
Block rotate : To rotate the active block.

Static commands : Commands used to change the active block's appearance:

Block scale : To enlarge or reduce the active block.

Block delete : For deleting the active block.
Block change : Used to change common parameters of the entities included in the active
block, eg text font, pen, layer number, etc.

Using block handles

The application of block handles varies according to the manipulating command categories. Often,
more than one option will be available.

With the translational commands you can use either one, two or three block handles to get the
desired result. The following rules apply to these commands:

One handle defined : The size and orientation of the original block are preserved, i.e. the
copied block will have a new position with the same size and orientation.
Two handles defined : The block orientation and scale along the axis defined by handles 1
and 2 are adjusted in relation to the distance between the new indicated handles 1 and 2.
Three handles defined : The block orientation and scale along the axis defined by handles
1 and 2 are adjusted according to the distance between and the orientation of the new
indicated handles 1 and 2. In addition, the block scale along the axis defined by handles 1
and 3 is adjusted according to the distance between the indicated new handles 1 and 3.

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 Tip: If you intend to use the Block copy or Block move commands to copy or move a block in
the same drawing without rotating or rescaling it, you do not need to define any block handles.
When executing the relevant command, you will be prompted to set two relative points defining
the intended translation. Setting these two points effectively boils down to defining the old and
new positions of a single temporary handle, and completes the commands with less effort.

Only one block handle needs to be defined for the rotational commands, Block circular copy and
Block rotate and for the Block scale command. With their main function being to rotate the active
block, the solitary handle is used as the rotation point. If a second and third handle is defined, they
will have no effect.

Manipulating blocks on the same drawing

A block may contain entities from several of layers, each with a different scale and origin. When
manipulating the active block in the same drawing, the layer settings of the entities included in the
block are preserved. The relevant entities will always stay in their existing layers and no special
consideration need be given to layer scales.

Manipulating blocks over multiple drawings

To copy the active block to another drawing, click anywhere on that drawing to make it the active
drawing. Then execute the Block copy command and indicate the new block handle positions.

Manipulating scaled details

When copying a block containing scaled details or when saving, a sophisticated mechanism is
employed. The approach followed when defining a block can be summarized as follows:

The coordinates of each block entity are recorded according to the scale and origin of the
layer to which it belongs. A 10m x 20m rectangular slab, for example, will thus be saved as
a 10m x 20m rectangle, despite its layer scale. Text heights are stored in actual plot size in
millimetres.
The coordinates of the block handles are recorded in relation to the current layer at the
time of saving, i.e. taking into account the current layer scale and origin.

When copying a block into another drawing or loading a saved block, the following will happen:

All entities in the block are inserted into the current layer and resized to reflect their true
size. Text entities will be displayed in their original size.
The coordinates of the indicated handles are interpreted in relation to the current layer
scale and origin to detect whether the block entities are to be rotated or rescaled.

62
Problems arise when you define a block with entities belonging to layers that have different scales
or origins, and copy it to another drawing. The copied entities may appear to have been resized and
displaced at random. The truth lies in the mechanism described above - entities are resized and
displaced in relation to the different layer scales and origins using a set of rules.

If the layers of the entities included in a block have the same scale and origin, the entities will be
treated as a single entity and rescaled appropriately in its new layer. A detail drawn to scale and
saved as a block can thus be confidently retrieved into another drawing, even on a layer of different
scale.

Note: When copying a block to another drawing, only include entities with the same layer
scale. Also ensure that a layer with the same scale is set as the current layer.

Manipulating fixed size details

The fact that blocks are automatically resized according to the active layer scale when they are
loaded, does not prevent you from manipulating symbols, such as north arrows and section
indicators, in blocks. A symbol's size can be copied with a fixed size by simply making an
appropriate choice of handles.

The following is a possible method for manipulating fixed size details:

Draw the relevant symbol to a scale of 1:1 and mark the relevant entities to be included in
the block. Ensure that they all belong to layers of the same scale and that a layer of that
scale is set as the current layer.
Define two handles, of which the first is at a logical "hook" point, eg the tip of a north
arrow. The second handle should be defined at a fixed distance and angle from the first
handle. It is best to set the distance equal to the value of the current layer scale, unity in
this case, and to set the angle to zero, i.e. to the right. This is easily accomplished by
specifying relative coordinates, eg "+1 +0" or "1 a0".
Save the block using a descriptive name
When loading the block into the same drawing or another drawing, use the first handle to
position it. The position of the second handle should be used to orientate and size the
symbol. The second handle should again be located at a fixed distance and angle from the
first handle. Use the new current layer scale and an appropriate angle, eg "20 a90" if the
new layer has a 1:20 scale and the symbol is to be rotated by 90°.

Answer the prompts as follows:

Scale the block between handles to get the correct plot size.
Do not scale the text with the block. The correct text heights, in millimetres, were already
saved with the block.

63
When saving or loading a symbol, consistently using the value of the current layer scale for setting
the second block handle results in the symbol always being sized correctly.

Tip: A useful library of re-usable symbols can be built up as you draw. Standardizing the layout
of block handles will be wise and saving the blocks to a special sub-directory preferable.

64
Chapter

6
Dimensioning

PADDS’ system of layers and scales greatly simplifies adding dimensions to drawings. All
measurements are automatically scaled according to the current layer scale.

A host of drawing commands are available for dimensioning linear distances, angles, diameters of
circles and radii of circles and arcs. Distances between points and angles can also be measured
without being dimensioned.

65
Dimensioning basics
The dimensioning commands are categorized as follows:

Linear dimensions, eg horizontal and vertical dimensions.

Circular and angular dimensions used to measure diameters, radii and angles.
Utilities to measure distances, angles and areas.

Layers and scale

All drawing entities are stored in actual size. However, when they are drawn on the screen, they are
scaled according to the relevant layer scales. When dimensioning a drawing, the current layer scale
is used in similar fashion to measure distances.

To ensure correct measurements, having the correct layer selected as the current layer is important.
New dimensions are also drawn on the current layer as ordinary line and text entities.

Refer to Chapter 4 for a detailed discussion of layers and scale.

Drawing dimensions
Several drawing commands are available for dimensioning drawings. Newly drawn dimensions are
put on the current layer as ordinary lines and text entities. The entities are drawn using the current
system dimension parameters.

Dimension parameters
The dimension parameters are a combination of some line and text parameters defining the
appearance of new dimension lines and text.

The system line parameters are set with the Line parameters command. The dimension parameters
are edited by selecting Dimension Parameters on the menu. The following dialogue box appears,
with the following aspects:

66
 Line pen number : The line thickness associated with each pen number is used. If a
drawing is scaled when printed, its pen widths are scaled accordingly.
Text pen number : The same as for line pen.
Text font
Text height in millimetres.
Text width as a factor of text height.
Line spacing for baseline dimensions, specified as a factor of text height.
Text slant in degrees, up to a maximum of 30°.
Baseline mode can be toggled on and off.
Precision : Number of digits to display after the decimal point.
Leader type : Select arrows, dots or lines.

Note: Captions and rebar descriptions are also drawn according to the system dimension
parameters.

The display parameters of drawn dimensions can be changed as for normal text and lines. Refer to
Chapter 3 for detail.

67
The dimension drawing commands
The dimension drawing commands are generally easy to use. A summary of the available options
are given below. Refer to the Command Reference for more detail on using the commands.

Linear dimensions
A few commands are available to dimension distances between points. In all cases Baseline mode
can optionally be enabled, in which case all measurements are made from a common point.

Horizontal dimensions
The Horizontal dimension command is used to measure and dimension the horizontal distance
between two or more points.

Vertical dimensions
Use the Vertical dimension command to measure and dimension the vertical distance between two
or more points.

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Skew dimensions
Inclined distances can be measured and dimensioned with the Skew dimension command.

Circular dimensions
Diameters of circles and radii of circles and circular arcs can be dimensioned in several ways.

Inside diameters
Use the Dimension inside diameter command to measure and dimension a circle's diameter. The
dimension is drawn through the circle.

69
Outside diameters
The second method to dimension a circle's diameter is using the Dimension outside diameter
command. Here, a dimension caption is drawn outside the circle.

Radii
Use Dimension radius to measure the radius of a circle or a circular arc. The dimension can be
drawn inside or outside the circle or arc.

70
Angles
The angle between two lines can be dimensioned. Depending on the position of the dimension text,
the dimension line is intelligently positioned inside or outside the indicated angle.

Measure commands
A few commands are available to measure distances, angles and areas without drawing any
dimensions.

Measuring a line, circle or arc

Measures various properties and displays different information, depending on whether a line, circle
or arc is selected.
Lines : Coordinates of the beginning and end points, the overall length as well as the
horizontal and vertical distances, and the angle of the line are given. For polylines, this
data refers to the specific segment indicated, but the entire line length is also included.
Circles : The centre point coordinates, circle circumference, diameter and area are
measured and displayed.
Arcs : The length and radius of the arc, as well as the angle between the imaginary lines
joining the start and end points with the centre point, and the coordinates of the start and
end points are given.

Measuring a distance
Measures the distance between the two points indicated. The angle of the imaginary line joining the
two points is also given.

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Measuring an area
Two different commands measure areas. Polygon area measures an area by defining a polygon
outlining it. In certain situations, the Trace outline command can also be used to automatically set
points on an outline.

The Hatch area command, however, measures the area of a selected hatched shape.

Measuring an angle
Measures the angles of each of the two lines selected, as well as the included angle between them.

Tip: Use the Trace outline command if a section's properties need to be calculated. The
command traces an outline and creates an input file for the PROKON section properties
calculation program, PROSEC. The file is called LASTSEC and will be loaded automatically
when the program is executed.

Note: The distance and bearing between two survey points can be measured with the Get
distance and bearing command on the Point menu.

Measuring an attribute
Measure the number of each type of entity with a specific attribute. Overall measurements of
certain properties are given for the entity types with the selected attribute. An example of the
information box displayed for a group of circles, lines and text, all with attribute ‘a’ is shown
below.

Note: An attribute can only be measured once entities have been given attributes. Use the Set
attribute command to allocate an attribute to an entity. A prompt requests a name for the
attribute. This can be one or more characters in length and can include text, numbers or
symbols. Select then the entities to which the attribute is to be allocated.

72
Modifying drawn dimensions
In PADDS dimensions are stored as lines and text entities. Dimensions are thus not associative,
meaning they are not automatically updated when stretched. Dimension text and lines can still be
modified using the normal editing functions. Refer to Chapter 3 for detail.

73
Chapter

7
Detailing concrete

PADDS provides some powerful tools for the detailing of reinforced concrete. An extensive
collection of drawing and detailing functions are available to compile concrete and reinforcement
drawings of any size in PADDS. The reinforcement detailing functions can be used to draw
reinforcement to scale, add descriptive text and record it in bending schedules. The bending
schedules are automatically updated to include new reinforcement bars as they are drawn and
described.

Translation utilities are provided to read existing drawings from other CAD systems into PADDS.
If such drawings contain descriptive layers, all unneeded information can easily be filtered out by
selectively disabling or deleted certain layers in PADDS, leaving only reusable information, eg grid
lines and concrete outlines. Using a few simple routines, existing layer scales can be adjusted or
appropriate new layers created before commencing reinforcement detailing.

PADDS is complimented by the PROKON suite of concrete design programs, which facilitates the
automatic generation of bending schedules for a variety of structural elements. Detailed bending
schedules can be generated from design output for continuous beams and flat slabs, columns,
column bases and retaining walls. The generated bending schedules normally require a limited
amount of editing before printing, eg adding a project title, bending schedule number etc. If

75
necessary, more extensive changes can also be made, eg adding additional reinforcement, moving
or deleting existing details and adding new information.

Bending schedules can be printed in different ways. Sketches and schedules can, for example, be
combined on single A4 sheets, the default sheet size, or printed on separate sheets. Schedules can
be manipulated with little effort to obtain other effects, eg combining several schedules on an A0
sheet. Printed schedules can be customised to display the user's company information, eg logo and
address. Larger reinforcement drawings can be plotted from PADDS or exported to another CAD
system for processing.

Detailing concepts
PADDS provides a wide selection of functions for the drawing and detailing of reinforcement.
These commands are used with the general CAD functions to draw reinforcement bars to scale and
generate accurate information in bending schedules.

For a proper understanding of the PADDS detailing and scheduling mechanisms, you should be
aware of the details of the PADDS drawing structure, as set out in Chapter 2. In short, a PADDS
drawing file usually comprises a scaled drawing and an associated bending schedule. Rebars are
drawn and detailed on the drawing and recorded in the bending schedule. The drawing and bending
schedule are edited in separate windows displayed alongside one another, but can be combined in
various ways when printed.

The commands available to draw rebars can be divided into three categories:

Commands that draw rebars on a drawing without recording them in a bending schedule.
Commands used to indicate drawn rebars and distribute them over zones. The indicated
rebars' information is automatically recorded in bending schedule.
A third category of commands that draw and distribute rebars, simultaneously scheduling
them.

The different aspects of reinforcement detailing are described in more detail in this chapter:

Rebar entities - An overview of the characteristics that make rebar entities unique.
Drawing rebars - An introduction to using the first category of rebar drawing commands.
Indicating drawn rebars - An overview of the second category of rebar drawing commands
used to indicate and distribute previously drawn rebars.
Drawing zones of rebars - The last category of rebar drawing commands.
Adding notes - Additional notes to rebar details.
Bending schedules - Detail on creating and printing of bending schedules.
Editing rebars - Making changes to drawings and bending schedules.

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Rebar entities
Reinforcement bars generated by the program are drawn as rebar entities. Rebars are treated similar
to other drawing entities in some respects, and differently in others. The similarities between rebar
entities and other types of drawing entities include:

Although a polyline comprises several continuous line segments, it is treated as a single

drawing entity. Similarly a rebar is displayed as a number of continuous lines and arcs but
is treated as a single drawing entity.
Rebar entities have parameters that influence their behaviour and display, eg pen and layer
number.
A rebar must belong to a layer, requiring it to be drawn to that layer's scale.
The cursor can be snapped to certain positions on rebars, eg rebar endpoints and
intersections with other entities.
The normal editing commands, eg Edit entity info, Stretch, Erase, Unerase etc, can be
applied to rebars.
Rebar entities may be included in blocks and manipulated using the appropriate functions,
eg Block move and Block copy.

Note: Although rebars may seem like normal lines and arcs, they are special entities that
contain detailed information about themselves.

Rebar entities have the following unique properties:

A bar mark attribute, comprising an alpha-numerical string of up to five characters, eg 001,

A, B002, C003D etc.
Bar type, eg R, Y or T.
Bar diameter in mm, eg 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 25 ,32 or 40.
A series of attributes that defines its appearance:
A coordinate or handle defining its position, analogous to a single handle of a block.
An angle defining its orientation.
Two attributes, y-sign and curtailed end, which are used to mirror bars left to right or
bottom to top and draw bars with side or plan views.
A shape code, as defined in the relevant code of practice.
The bending dimensions A, B, C, D and E/R which, together with the shape code, uniquely
defines the shape.

Two secondary types of rebar entities, dots and rings, are available to represent reinforcement bars
in section. In some respects, dots and rings are treated similar to circle entities:

Dots and rings have coordinates or handles which define their centre point positions.
They have parameters influencing their display, eg pen and layer number.
They are layer based and should therefore to be drawn to scale on appropriate layers.

77
 The cursor can be snapped to dots using the end point snap mode.
The normal editing commands, eg Stretch, Erase, Unerase etc, can be applied to dots.
Dot entities may be included in blocks and therefore be moved and copied.

Dots and rings have some unique properties distinguishing them from circles:

Bar diameter in mm, eg 8, 10, 12 etc, instead of a radius.

Type (1 for dot, 2 for ring) determining whether they are displayed as filled dots or hollow
rings.
The Erase dot command should be used instead of Erase circle to erase dots and rings.

Since dots do not possess a complete set of attributes like rebars do, they cannot be used to create
bending schedules. They are essentially aesthetical drawing entities with no intelligence.

Drawing rebars
Rebar entities are drawn using the Bar, Dot and Ring commands. These commands, the first
category of rebar drawing commands, draw rebars without scheduling them. As set out in the
previous section, rebars drawn with the Bar commands contain all the necessary information to
generate bending schedules using the second category of rebar drawing commands.

Rebars are drawn to scale to allow for accurate scheduling. It is therefore imperative that the
suitable layers and scales should be set up before commencing with reinforcement detailing.
Procedures to set up a new drawing for reinforcement detailing are given in Chapter 8.

The Bar commands

Use the Bar and Bar ABCDE commands to draw rebars of specific dimensions. Either command
can be used to draw a rebar with a complete set of attributes, i.e. mark type, diameter, shape code
and bending dimensions. Depending on the relevant command used, you may be prompted for
different parameters to draw a rebar. The various input parameters are explained in the following
text.

Shape code
Rebars are drawn according to the specified shape code. Refer to the sketches on the following
pages for a complete listing of all supported standard shape codes. A few shape codes are
duplicated for the sake of compatibility with various international codes of practice.

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Bar type, diameter and mark
The bar type and diameter default to that of the last drawn rebar. The last mark is however
automatically adjusted by incrementing the rightmost numerical or alpha portion of the last bar
mark, eg mark A increments to B, 001 to 002 and B002 to B003. Refer to pages 79 and 102 for
more detail on the valid entries for bar type, diameter and mark.

Handles and dimensions

Depending on the shape code, two to five handles must be set to draw a rebar with the Bar
command. In the case of the Bar ABCDE command, only the first handle and the angle to the
second handle are required.

79
80
Detail on the number and positions of handles for the various shape codes are given on the next
pages. The first handle is used to position the drawn bar and is stored as its coordinate attribute.
The first handle therefore functions very much like the first handle of a block.

The relative positions of the other handles are used to calculate the bending dimensions, which are
rounded to 10 mm and stored as attributes A, B, C, D and E/R respectively. The attributes are then
used to display the rebar and ultimately to compile a record of it in a bending schedule.

Instead of setting handles with the mouse, absolute and relative coordinates may also be entered
from the keyboard. While drawing a rebar of shape code 37, for example, the relative coordinates
"+1200 +0" and "450 a90" can be entered in succession for handles 2 and 3. The drawn rebar will
then have the default orientation, i.e. angle set to 0° and the x- and y-signs set to +1, and bending
dimensions A and B of 1200 and 450 respectively. Rebar orientation is explained in the next
paragraph.

Ortho mode, if enabled, will be applied intelligently during the positioning of the second and any
following handles. The position of each handle of a particular shape code is guided by a set of
rules. If ortho mode is enabled while drawing a rebar of shape code 43, for example, the handle 2
will be set orthogonally from handle 1. Ortho mode will be disabled temporarily while setting
handle 3 and re-enabled to set handle 4 orthogonally from handle 3. Handle 5 will automatically be
set on the axis passing through handles 1 and 2. The concept of ortho mode is explained in Chapter
3.

Note: Ortho mode can be enabled or disabled at any stage while busy drawing a rebar by
clicking on the O on the command line at the bottom of the screen..

Orientation
A rebar's orientation is determined by its angle and y-sign attributes. These attributes can be edited
using the Edit entity info command on the menu. The following relationships exist between a
rebar's angle and y-sign attributes and its orientation:

Angle : The rebar angle attribute is set equal to the angle measured anti-clockwise from the
horizontal axis to a line through handles 1 and 2. Changing the angle value therefore
rotates a rebar anti-clockwise about its handle 1. The default angle of 0° thus corresponds
to handle 2 lying to the right of handle 1 on a horizontal axis.
Sign : The position of a rebar's handle 3 relative to its handles 1 and 2 is determined by the
y-sign attribute. A value of +1 for the y-sign attribute corresponds to the default
orientation. With the angle attribute set to 0°, a y-sign of +1 corresponds to handle 3 lying
above handle 1 and 2.

81
A rebar can be mirrored about its y-axis by changing the angle from 0º to 180º and the y-sign value
to -1. Changing only the y-axis value to -1 mirrors the rebar about its x-axis. A rebar's x-axis is
defined as passing through its handles 1 and 2, and its y-axis as being perpendicular to the x-axis,
passing through handle 1.

A side or plan elevation of a rebar can be displayed by setting the y-sign attribute to zero.

The coordinate of a rebar, i.e. handle 1, remains fixed irrespective of its orientation. Changing the
angle or sign attributes causes it to be rotated or mirrored about handle 1. Note that editing the sign
attributes influences the display of a rebar only and does not alter its shape or dimensions.

Note: The default orientation of the various standard rebar shape codes, corresponding to an angle
of 0° and y-sign value of +1, are shown on the preceding pages.

Rebars in bottom reinforcement layers, eg B, B1 or B2, are normally drawn with their bends and
hooks pointing upwards or to the left. Similarly, bends and hooks normally point downwards or to
the right for rebars in top reinforcement layers. Refer to the sketch on the following page.

The rebar orientation is interpreted by those commands used to indicate rebar distributions to
determine the reinforcement layer when compiling descriptive text. The relationship between rebar
orientation and descriptive text is discussed in more detail the next two sections, dealing with the
indication of drawn rebars and the drawing zones of rebar.

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The angle and y-sign attributes are used to define a rebar's orientation and default reinforcement
layer. In the PADDS context, the following rules apply when determining reinforcement layers:

Reinforcement in top layers:

For a y-sign of +1 or 0, the angle should be between 90° and 270°.

For a y-sign of -1, the angle should be in the range 270° through 360° to 90°, i.e. -90° to
90°.

Reinforcement in bottom layers:

For a y-sign of +1 or 0, the angle should be in the range 270° through 360° to 90°, i.e. -90°
to 90°.
For a y-sign of -1, the angle should be between 90° and 270°.

Curtailment
A rebar can me moved away from congested areas by changing its coordinate, i.e. position of
handle 1. The Edit entity info or Block move commands can be used to move a rebar by a certain
distance, a scaled 20 mm for example, to improve clarity without changing any of the attributes
defining its shape.

Alternatively, or together with the above measures, the end of the rebar can be curtailed using the
Curtail bar end command and selecting the end(s) to be curtailed. To edit the curtailment of a
rebar use the Edit entity info command and the following codes:

For no curtailment : 0
For curtailment : 1
If the rebar has two ends that can be curtailed, then the code for the end nearest handle 1 is
entered first, with that of the other end entered directly afterwards. So, for example, if
both ends are curtailed, then the combined code will be 11, or if only the end furtherest
from handle 1 is curtailed then the code will be 01.

Concrete cover
At the time of drawing, a rebar's dimensions can optionally be reduced with the concrete cover.
Likewise distribution zones of rebars can also be reduced with cover. The default cover is set with
the Cover command and comprises three values:

Top cover
Bottom cover
Side cover

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The respective cover values correspond to the cover of a rebar when drawn in its default
orientation. The bottom, top and side cover values of a rebar of shape code 34, for example, refer
to concrete cover to the straight segment, the tip of the bend and the two sides respectively,
irrespective its actual orientation. The terms "top", "bottom" and "side" should thus be seen it the
context of the default rebar orientation.

When executing any of the rebar drawing commands, rebar and zone dimensions may be optionally
reduced by cover. By default the current system cover values will be used. If required, different
cover values can be specified at the relevant prompt during the execution of the command.

The Dot and Ring commands

The Dot and Ring commands draw one or more dots or rings representing reinforcement bars in
section. Dots and rings are drawn to scale at the specified diameters.

Multiple dots and rings can be specified as follows:

Indicating multiple points, by either employing cursor snapping or by entering the absolute
coordinates.
Specifying the spacing in terms of relative coordinates, followed by the number of dots or
rings, eg "+300 +0" and "10" for another ten dots spaced 300 horizontally to the right or
"300 a23" and "6" for an additional six dots spaced at 300 at an angle of 23°.

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Indicating drawn rebars
Drawing a rebar using one of the Rebar commands does not in itself result in it being scheduled.
The rebar’s distribution has to be indicated explicitly for it to be scheduled accurately.

A summary of the commands used to indicate drawn rebars and distribute them over zones, is given
below. Refer to the Reference manual for detail on using the commands.

Indicate one bar

Indicate a single occurrence of a rebar or a zone of one rebar in section.

Indicate two bars

Indicate two rebars of the same mark.

85
Zone (one bar)
Indicate a rectangular zone of a rebar.

Zone (two bar)

Simultaneously distribute two rebars of the same or different marks over the same rectangular zone,
eg top and bottom bars grouped together or alternating bars on the same reinforcement layer.

86
Multiple zones (one bar)
Distribute the same rebar over multiple serial rectangular zones.

Multiple zones (two bar)

Simultaneously distribute two rebars of the same or different marks over the same multiple serial
rectangular zones, eg top and bottom bars grouped together or alternating bars on the same
reinforcement layer.

87
Parallel zones (one bar)
Distribute a rebar over multiple parallel rectangular zones.

Parallel zones (two bar)

Simultaneously distribute two rebars of the same or different marks over the same multiple parallel
rectangular zones, eg top and bottom bars grouped together or alternating bars on the same
reinforcement layer.

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Typically, executing one of these detailing commands comprises four steps:

Indicating a parent rebar.

Defining the rebar’s distribution zone.

Editing the rebar’s description text.

Scheduling the rebar.

Defining a parent rebar

The first step in recording a previously drawn rebar in a bending schedule, is to indicate the rebar
in question, hence called the parent rebar. The attributes of the indicated rebar, i.e. bar type,
diameter, mark, shape code and bending dimensions, are then read by the system to compile
descriptive text and bending schedule information.

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Defining a distribution zone
Indicating a parent rebar is followed by the definition of a distribution zone. Except in the case of
the Indicate one bar and Indicate two bars commands, where discrete bar locations are indicated, a
zone is generally defined by a start point and end point.

A zone indicator line is always drawn perpendicular to the parent rebar, through the point where
the rebar was indicated. The zone start and end points are defined by setting points perpendicular
from the zone indicator line. Since the zone start and end points do not necessarily need to be
defined on the zone indicator line itself, the process can be simplified by snapping to nearby lines,
intersections etc. In the case of parallel zones, the zone indicator lines of the second and following
lines pass through the respective zone start points.

Concrete cover
The zone length may optionally be reduced to incorporate concrete cover. The current system side
cover value is used as the default reduction at both the zone start and end. The value may be
overwritten by any other suitable value, eg rebar spacing at the edge of an adjoining zone. Refer to
page 86 for the definition of concrete cover in the PADDS context.

Editing the description

Descriptive text is generated automatically when scheduling a drawn rebar using the following
information:

When a parent rebar is indicated, its attributes, eg mark, type and diameter etc, is read by
the system.
The number of bars is calculated from the indicated zone length and bar spacing as
described below. Unless specified otherwise, the last bar spacing is reused.
The default reinforcement layer is determined by the orientation of the parent rebar. The
layer can be deleted or overwritten with suitable text. The relationship between the default
reinforcement layer and the orientation of the parent rebar is explained in the previous
section. The following reinforcement layers can be specified:

Top : T, T1, T2 etc.

Bottom : B, B1, B2 etc.
Near face : NF
Far face : FF
Each face : EF - same as both NF and FF

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To schedule double the number of bars, multiple layers may be specified with the joining
characters "+" and "&", eg B+T, T1&B1, etc. Spaces may optionally be typed in both sides of the
joining characters.

Number of bars
The procedure used when calculating the number of bars in a zone depends on the command used:

Indicate one bar : The default description says one rebar. The number of bars included in
the default description may however be edited to schedule several bars. Any spacing or
may be included in the descriptive text without influencing scheduling.
Indicate two bars : Two bars of the indicated mark are scheduled.
All zone commands : The rebar spacing is measured along the indicator line, i.e.
perpendicular to the parent rebar. The calculated number of bars is equal to the minimum
integer number of bars required to fill each zone from start to end at a spacing of not more
than the specified spacing, i.e. one plus zone length divided by rebar spacing, rounded to
the nearest integer value.

The number of bars is doubled if two reinforcement layers are specified in the descriptive, eg
T1&B1. Detail on specifying reinforcement layers in the descriptive text is given above.

Scheduling
Not only are rebar distributions drawn, but each command also compiles and inserts information
into the bending schedule. The bending schedule is scanned for duplicate occurrences of the same
bar mark before a record is inserted.

If a previous record of the same bar mark exists, you can choose to do one of the following:

Increment number of bars : The scheduled number of bars is incremented by the number of
bars generated by the current command. This option is essential in situations where
multiple occurrences of the same rebar cannot be described in one attempt. The parent
rebar can, for example, be copied to other appropriate locations. Since all copies of the
parent rebar have identical attributes, each of them can be indicated individually and the
scheduled number of bars allowed to accumulate.
Replace existing line : The existing line in the bending schedule may be replaced with the
newly generated information. This option is useful in a situation where a zone has been
indicated incorrectly. After erasing the incorrect zone from the drawing, it can simply be
indicated again replace the existing line in the bending schedule.

91
 Add a new line : Use this option to schedule the rebar on a new line without changing any
previous lines referencing the same bar mark. The information contained in the new line
may differ from existing lines, thereby allowing the scheduling of different rebars with the
same bar mark. This option should only be used when bar marks are deliberately repeated
in the same schedule, eg when scheduling more than one detail on the same schedule,
repeating bar marks in the process.
Don’t add to schedule : The rebar distribution is drawn but not scheduled. The feature is
useful when the same rebar distribution has to be drawn more than once, eg different
elevations showing the same rebar, but scheduled only once.
Cancel command : Terminate the command without drawing or scheduling the rebar
distribution. Select this option to prevent accidental duplicate distributions of the same
rebar.

Bar lengths are calculated automatically by the bending schedule editor using the relevant code
formulae. All bar lengths are rounded to 50 mm and the total mass for each type and diameter
updated after each rebar scheduled. All bar dimensions, A to E/R, are automatically rounded to
10 mm at the time of their drawing.

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Drawing zones of reinforcement
The third category of rebar drawing commands is used to draw zones of rebars. A rebar can be
drawn, distributed over a zone and recorded in a bending schedule in one step.

A summary of the commands available to simultaneously draw and schedule zones of rebars are
given below. Refer to the Reference manual for detail on using the commands.

Multiple bars
Draw and distribute a rebar over a rectangular zone.

Staggered bars
Draw and distribute a rebar over a rectangular area, staggering alternate bars.

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Alternate bars reversed
Draw and distribute a rebar over a rectangular area, reversing alternate bars.

Stepped bars
Draw and distribute rebars of varying length over a tapering zone. The minimum step size can be
specified.

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Fan zone
Draw and distribute a rebar on a radius in a fan zone.

Executing a command belonging to this category comprises four steps:

Defining the parent rebar’s position, orientation and dimensions.

Defining the rebar’s distribution zone.
Editing the rebar’s description text.
Scheduling the rebar.

Defining a parent rebar

The position and dimensions of a parent rebar are defined by specifying a shape code and setting
two handles. The shape code defaults to the last shape code used, but can be edited as required.
The indicated handles normally correspond to handle 1 and 2 of the parent rebar, which is sized
and orientated accordingly. Refer to the sketches on pages 82 for the layout of the handles for the
different shape codes.

Usually a rebar's dimensions cannot be defined completely by two handles only. In those cases the
program will assume certain dimensions and prompt for them to be confirmed or overwritten.
When drawing a shape code 38, for example, dimension B will default to the distance between the
indicated handles while the minimum bend allowance will be assumed for dimensions A and C.

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Concrete cover
The parent rebar's dimensions may optionally be reduced to incorporate concrete cover. The
respective top, bottom and side cover values correspond to the cover of a rebar when drawn in its
default orientation. Refer to page 86 for more detail.

Defining a distribution zone

The procedure used to define a rebar distribution zone depends on the command being used. The
indicated zone definition points determine the orientation and length of a zone, i.e. the direction in
which bar spacing is measured, as follows:

Multiple bars, Staggered bars, Alternate bars reversed : The zone is taken perpendicular to
the rebar handles and extends from the zone start point to the zone end point.
Stepped bars : The zone orientation is taken perpendicular to the fist rebar's handles and
extends from the first rebar to the last rebar.
Fan zone : The zone is orientated radially about the zone centre point, stretching from the
zone start point to the zone end point.

The default description is compiled from the previous bar type and diameter, an incremented bar
mark and the previous spacing and the reinforcement layer.

Editing the description

Descriptive text is generated automatically when scheduling rebar zones:

During the process of defining the parent rebar, its attributes, eg mark, type and diameter
etc, is recorded by the system.
The last bar mark is incremented and presented as the default value, which may be
overwritten. In the case of Stepped bars, a single character suffix is added to the default
mark of the first bar and the suffix incremented for additional bars in that zone. The suffix
will be alpha if the rightmost portion of the last bar mark is numerical and vice versa. If the
last bar mark was 061, for example, the default mark of the first bar in the stepped zone
will be 062a and additional bars will be marked 062b, 062c etc. The bar mark will default
to 063 again when drawing the next rebar.
Unless specified otherwise, the last bar spacing is reused. The rebar spacing is measured
along the indicator line, i.e. perpendicular to the parent rebar.
The orientation of the parent rebar is determined by the specified reinforcement layer. The
default layer can be deleted or overwritten with suitable text. The relationship between the
default reinforcement layer and the orientation of the parent rebar is explained on page 83.
Refer to page 84 for guidance on specifying reinforcement layers.

96
Scheduling
The commands under discussion not only draw rebars with their distributions, but also insert lines
in the active bending schedule. The bending schedule is scanned for duplicate occurrences of the
same bar mark before a record is inserted. A few options may be exercised if a record of the same
bar mark is detected :

Increment number of bars : The scheduled number of bars may incremented by the newly
generated number of bars.
Replace existing line : The existing line in the bending schedule may be replaced with the
newly generated information.
Add a new line : Use this option to schedule the rebar on a new line without changing any
previous lines referencing the same bar mark.
Don’t add to schedule : The rebar distribution is drawn but not scheduled.
Cancel command : Terminate the command without drawing or scheduling the rebar
distribution.

Multiple reinforcement layers may be specified using the joining characters "+" and "&", eg B+T,
T1&B1, etc. Spaces are allowed either side of the joining characters. The number of bars is
doubled if multiple layers are specified.

Bar lengths are calculated automatically by the bending schedule editor using the relevant code
formulae. All bar lengths are rounded to 50 mm and the total mass for each type and diameter
updated after each rebar scheduled. All bar dimensions, A to E/R, are automatically rounded to
10 mm at the time of their drawing.

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Adding notes
Reinforcement details can be enhanced by adding additional notes and references. A few additional
reinforcement detailing tools can be combined with some other drawing functions to create the
desired effect. A few examples are given in the following text.

Indicating beams
The Indicate beam function is used to draw a beam designation. Descriptive text is boxed and
arrows drawn over the indicated zone. The text would typically include a beam number or a
reference to a bending schedule.

Describing special zones

The dimension functions can be used to describe special zones. Opposite corners of a zone of
welded mesh reinforcement, for example, can be indicated with the Skew dimension command and
the dimension text edited as required.

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Adding additional notes
The Caption, Text and Multi-line text commands can be used to add additional notes to details. Any
descriptive text can be edited and converted to multi-line text using the Edit multi-line text
command.

Bending Schedules
Rebar information can be automatically recorded in a bending schedule using the rebar detailing
commands described above, or typed in manually. A bending schedule page is opened when the
associated drawing is opened. It is viewed alongside the drawing using the Hide/Show bending
schedule toggle (the S on the command line at the bottom of the screen) and its contents edited
using the normal text editing functions.

A drawing and its bending schedule are always edited in separate windows viewed alongside one
another. It is only when printing a schedule, that you need to be concerned about its final layout,
i.e. whether the schedule should be combined with the drawing on the same page or not. Detail on
printing bending schedules is given in Chapter 2.

In the PADDS context, a bending schedule is defined as follows:

Rebar information, eg the number of bars, type and diameter, mark, shape code, cutting
length and bending dimensions.
Total masses for each bar type and diameter.
A schedule number, which is also displayed in the window title.
Text describing the members detailed and the number of occurrences.
Project related information, eg project title, date, name of detailer, reference drawing
number etc.

99
A single bending schedule is embedded in the parent drawing, resulting in it being saved
automatically with that drawing. The bending schedule can, however, be divided into separate
pages using the Page break button.

The different field designations are as follows:

Member Optional description of the member being detailed. Type any description, using
as many lines as needed.
Nmem Number of members. This value is multiplied with the number of bars to get the
total number of bars.
Nbar Number of bars.
Dia Type and diameter of the rebar, eg Y12, T16. Valid types are R, Y and T. Valid
diameters are 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 25, 32 and 40.
Length Bar cutting length, automatically calculated by PADDS in the case of standard
shape codes.
Tot N Total number of bars.
Mark Bar mark. The mark is an alpha-numerical string of up to five characters.
SC Bending shape code.
A…E/r Bar bending dimensions.

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Editing a bending schedule
Bending schedules pages can be edited manually using the normal text editing commands described
in Chapter 3.

The bending schedule text editor intelligently adjusts each rebar as it is being edited:

The bar cutting length is calculated automatically if a standard shape code is specified. In
special shape codes, however, you have to calculate and enter the bar lengths yourself.
Refer to the diagrams on page 82 for the supported standard shape codes.
The total number of bars is calculated automatically by multiplying the number of
members, Nmem, with the number of bars, Nbars. If the field designating the number of
members is left blank, the last specified value is assumed.
The summary of bar quantities and masses for each type and diameter are updated
automatically after each line entered.
Any text can be entered in the Member field to describe the scheduled members. If
required, revision numbers to individual bars should also be entered in this field.
The date, detailer's name, reference drawing, job number and bending schedule title can be
edited as required. If these fields need to be repeated for other bending schedules, it can be
included in the master schedules and the relevant fields in the bending schedule left blank.
Master bending schedules are discussed in detail below.

Lines or columns of text can be manipulated using copy and paste commands, line commands and
block commands. Right click on the mouse to access these text editing commands.

Printing bending schedules

The active drawing's bending schedules can be printed on A4 sheets using the Title block and
Prints button. A number of options are available for combining schedules and sketches. Printed
bending schedules may, for example, incorporate sketches on full pages or half pages,
corresponding to the standard A4 schedule and A5 schedule paper sizes.

Refer to Chapter 2 for detail on printing bending schedules.

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Customizing bending schedules
During the compilation of bending schedule print files, schedule text and sketches are copied onto
empty master bending schedules. The master bending schedules contain the rest of the information
required to construct complete bending schedules, eg schedule frames, tables, company address and
logo etc.

Master bending schedule files

A set of three master bending schedule files are reused as to suit the specified type of bending
schedule and language. In the case of English bending schedules, the following master bending
schedule files are used:

BSENG1.PAD - Master file for bending schedule and sketch on one page.
BSENG2.PAD - Master file for sketch only.
BSENG3.PAD - Master file for bending schedule only.

The master bending schedule files are normal PADDS drawing files and can thus be edited using
the normal drawing editing functions. Any changes made to the master files will automatically be
reflected in subsequently printed bending schedules:

A different company logo and address can be inserted.

Text can be edited and text parameters, eg font, size, pen etc, can be changed.
Line parameters, eg pen width, can be edited.

Adding your company logo

You can replace the default logo and telephone numbers with your own company's information
using the normal drawing commands. The process should be easy if you follow a few simple steps:

Open a drawing containing your company logo, converting a foreign DXF or DWG
drawing if necessary or importing a raster image (i.e. picture files). The picture files
supported have the following extensions: bmp, emf, gif and jpg. Alternatively, create a new
drawing and draw your logo and company information.
Open one of the master bending schedule files - it will be displayed in a separate window.
Delete the existing logo displayed in the box in the lower left corner box using the Erase
or Block commands, eg define the logo in a block and then delete it.
Define the new logo in a block, giving the block one or more handles. Copy the logo to the
master bending schedule by indicating the new position of the block handles.
Save the master bending schedule file and repeat the copy procedure for the other master
files.

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The master schedule files should be saved for subsequently generated bending schedules to reflect
the changes made.

Tip: If you give a block two handles, it can also be scaled when it is copied. The process of
copying the logo can therefore be simplified considerably by defining two orthogonal block
handles, eg the top left and bottom left corners. Then indicate the new handle orthogonal
positions on the master bending schedule to have the logo scaled into place.

Changing the language

In a default master bending schedule's filename, the three-character substring "ENG" refers to the
language used, in this case English. Text in the master bending schedule files can be edited to be in
any other language. When saving the files, use the Save as command and rename them, using
appropriate language sub-strings, eg BSAFR1.PAD or BSGER1.PAD for Afrikaans and German
files.

Special project requirements

By default, the master bending schedule files reside in the program directory. Special versions of
the master files can also be kept in a project directory. When printing bending schedules, PADDS
first searches the current project directory for the master files. If not found, the copies residing in
the program directory are used. If a special version of a master file is therefore present, it will be
used instead of the standard version lying in the program directory.

The master files in the current project directory can be altered to suit the requirements of a specific
project, for example:

A different logo can be used, eg the client insists on his logo being used or you may need
to use the logo of the consortium with which you are working.
Repetitive text can be predefined in the schedule master files. Instead of retyping the
project title, job number and detailer's name, for every bending schedule, the information
can be typed in the master file. You can even change text parameters in the master file, eg
the project title can be given a larger text height or thicker pen.

General versions of the master bending schedule files should be located in the program directory
and only special versions in the selected project data directories. Bending schedule print files will
then be compiled using the general versions of the master schedule files for all projects except
those with special versions in their data directories.

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Combining multiple schedules on large sheets
All bending schedules are printed on A4 sheets. Sometimes it is preferable to combine a few
schedules on a larger sheet, eg A0. This is a task easily accomplished using the Combine bending
schedules command on the Macro menu:

Open the drawing on which the bending schedules are to be inserted. Select an appropriate
layer with a scale of 1:1.
Select the Combine bending schedules command. Select the schedules to be inserted and
specify the number of columns and rows of they must be arranged in.

Alternatively, bending schedule print files can be manipulated using the Block commands. Every
time a bending schedule print file is created, an exact image of it is stored as a PADDS drawing
file. The drawing file has the same root name with the extension PAD, eg BS-001.PAD. One or
more of these bending schedule drawings can be opened, defined in blocks and copied to the
drawing integrating all the schedules.

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Modifying scheduled rebars
Static links exist between the rebars detailed a drawing and their records on bending schedule
pages. Accurate information is generated automatically on the active bending schedule page when
scheduling rebars in the parent drawing. Subsequent changes made to rebars in the drawing or
bending schedule are not automatically updated in the other.

Editing drawn and scheduled rebars

Changing a rebar or its distribution, can be accomplished in two ways:

The relevant drawing entities can be edited individually on the drawing and the bending
schedule information updated manually.
The relevant drawing entities can be deleted from the drawing and the rebar rescheduled to
have the bending schedule updated.

Note: Changes made to rebars in the drawing are not automatically updated on the bending
schedule page.

Editing rebars on the drawing

Being normal line and text entities, rebar distribution indicator lines and descriptive text can be
edited using the normal drawing editing and block manipulation functions:

Indicator lines can be stretched, extended, trimmed, clipped, etc. Alternatively they can be
defined in blocks and moved, copied, scaled, etc.
Descriptive text can be edited using the text editing commands. The Stretch and Block
move commands can be used to reposition descriptive text.
Detail editing of any line and text entity, including line and text parameters, can also be
done with the Edit entity info command.

Rebar entities are however special entities that are treated differently to normal lines and arcs in
some respects:

Any of a rebar's attributes, including the bar mark, can be changed using the Edit entity
info command. A rebar's appearance will be updated automatically to reflect any changes
made.
Rebars can be defined and copied in blocks.
A rebar entity can be moved with the Stretch command or by moving it as part of a block.
The Stretch command only moves a rebar's first handle which defines its position. A
rebar's dimensions can however not be adjusted with the Stretch command.

105
 Note: A rebar's dimensions can only be altered using the Edit entity info command. The Trim
and Extend commands cannot be applied to a rebar and the Stretch command can only be used
to change its position.

Editing rebars in the bending schedule

A bending schedule can be edited manually using a variety of text editing commands. Rebar
attributes, i.e. bar mark, bending dimensions etc, can be retyped and lines of text can be copied,
moved or deleted as required. Refer to page 103 for more detail on the editing of bending
schedules.

Rescheduling rebars
Rebars and their distributions can be selectively deleted from a drawing before rescheduling them.
Both the drawing and bending schedule will be updated with the new information.

The following are typical applications:

In the case of a distribution zone being altered, eg the zone start or end point is moved or
the bar spacing is changed, the parent rebar's attributes are probably still valid. The zone
indicator line and descriptive text should be deleted using the drawing editing or block
manipulation commands. The parent rebar may be moved to a new location if necessary.
The parent rebar can then be indicated again to distribute it over a new zone.
If the parent rebar of a zone must be changed, the parent rebar can either be deleted or
edited as described above. Either way, the zone indicator line and descriptive text should
be deleted. The rebar can be rescheduled using the appropriate detailing functions:
An edited parent rebar can be indicated again to distribute it over a new zone.
A deleted rebar and can be redrawn using the Bar command and indicated for distribution
over a zone. Alternatively the rebar can be drawn and distributed over a zone in one step
using the third category of rebar drawing commands.

When rescheduling a rebar, duplicate occurrences of that bar mark will be detected in the active
bending schedule and the following options will be available:

Increment number of bars : The scheduled number of bars are incremented by the newly
generated number of bars.
Replace existing line : The existing line in the bending schedule may be replaced with the
newly generated information. Select this option to incorporate the current parent rebar
attributes and the recalculated number of bars in the bending schedule record.
Add a new line : Use this option to schedule the rebar on a new line without changing any

106
previous lines referencing the same bar mark.
Don’t add to schedule : The rebar distribution is drawn but not scheduled.
Cancel command : Terminate the command without drawing or scheduling the rebar
distribution.

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Chapter

8
Setting up a drawing

The foundation of a successful PADDS drawing is laid in its initial setup. The initial settings are
not rigid and various procedures can be used to make changes at later stages. However, by properly
setting up the drawing sheet and the system of layers and scales, you can save much time later by
eliminating the need to make modifications.

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Setting up a new drawing
Select the New drawing command from the File menu to create a new drawing. The new drawing
will have an A1 landscape paper size and no layers defined.

Setting the paper size

A drawing's paper size defines the limits of the drawing area. Although you can let drawing entities
extend beyond the paper edges, they will be clipped when plotting or printing the drawing.

Use the Paper size command to select a paper size. For regular drawings, any of the ISO sizes A0
through A4 can be selected. Alternatively a custom size can be entered. The A4 schedule and A5
schedule paper sizes are customized A4 and A5 sheets suitable for bending schedule sketches.
They are the normal A4 and A5 sheets except that their sizes have been reduced to fit the bending
schedule frames.

The paper orientation may be specified as either portrait or the landscape, i.e. upright or
horizontally respectively. The paper orientation is adjusted automatically for custom paper sizes.

110
Drawings
Any convenient paper size and orientation can be selected. When a drawing is printed with the
Print command, it can be scaled to fit the paper size of the installed printer or plotter. Use the
Window print command to print parts of the drawing to actual size.

Bending schedule sketches

When included in printed bending schedules, drawings are sometimes scaled and rotated to fit the
areas reserved for them. Keeping the final result in mind when initially selecting a paper size and
orientation will help to prevent problems when finally printing. The A4 schedule and A5 schedule
paper sizes are available specifically for doing bending schedule sketch work.

When using the Title block and Print command for bending schedules, drawings are scaled and
rotated as follows:

When printing the schedule and sketch on one page, the area reserved for the sketch has an
A5 schedule size with a landscape orientation. If the drawing's paper orientation is set to
portrait, it will be rotated clockwise through 90° when inserted in the space.
When printing the sketch on a separate page, the area reserved for the sketch has an A4
schedule size with a portrait orientation. If the drawing's paper orientation is set to
landscape, it will also be rotated clockwise through 90° when inserted in the space.
If the paper size is set to A5 schedule and the orientation to landscape, PADDS defaults to
printing the schedule and sketch on the same page.
For an A4 schedule paper size, PADDS defaults to printing the sketch on a separate page.
PADDS defaults to printing the sketch only, for other paper sizes.

Defining the layer table

Having well-defined criteria for grouping entities in layers is essential. The layer table can either be
set up when starting with a new drawing or edited as you progress with the drawing work.

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Editing the layer table
Setting up the layer table is simple if the general layer characteristics are kept in mind:

The entities on a layer are all drawn to the same scale. Entities on the same layer should
preferably have something in common, eg be part of the same elevation or all be of the
same type, eg rebars.
The entities are drawn relative to the same origin on the sheet. An origin of "0,0" will do in
most situations.
A layer may be given a descriptive name, eg "Dimensions" or "Rebars". Referencing a
layer by its name, is generally much easier than referencing it by its number.
Layers can be turned on and off in any desired combination. Turning off some layers can
improve clarity and can also help keep the drawing of new entities organised.

Layer scales and displays can be edited in tabular format using the Edit layer table command. The
current layer's scale can also be changed with the Set scale command. Layers can be selectively
turned on and off with the One layer on/off, All layers off and All layers on commands.

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Merging drawn entities to layers
Newly drawn entities are placed in the active layer, which is set using the Set layer command.
Drawn entities can however still be moved and copied to other layers using the techniques
described in Chapter 4.

Units of measurement
The unit of measurement can be set to millimetre, centimetres, metres or kilometres. All
coordinates, distances and measurements are given in the current unit of measurement. The Set
units command can be used to set the current unit of measurement.

A system of pen numbers

Eight pen numbers are available in PADDS, each associated with a line thickness. To ensure that
different drawings compliment each other, it is essential that some standard is worked out for pen
number assignments. All rebars, for example, may be drawn using a thick pen, eg pen number 7,
and all dimensions and notes may be written using a thin pen, eg pen number 4.

All new entities are drawn according to the current system line, text, dimension and rebar
parameters. The pen number assignments of drawn entities can be changed at any stage using
various methods. Refer to Chapter 3 for more detail.

Saving a new drawing

Whenever you save a new drawing for the first time, the Save as dialogue box will appear in which
you can specify a new file name. The workings of the dialogue box are described in Chapter 2.

Making backup copies

Every time a drawing is saved, the current disk file is first renamed to have the extension BAK. If
something terrible goes wrong, you can then open the backup version of the drawing and retrieve
the necessary information

An additional backup level is provided with the timed backup facility. Where a Timed backup
interval is specified under File Options on the menu, a backup is made at regular intervals of all
drawings that were modified since last saved.

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 Tip: Irrespective any backup procedures built into PADDS, it is good practice to make regular
backups of valuable information.

Setting up a foreign drawing

PADDS can be used in parallel with other CAD systems. Procedures are provided to translate some
foreign drawing formats to the PADDS drawing format. Apart from importing all drawing entities,
some layer information is also taken over from a foreign drawing when importing it.

When importing a drawing, pen numbers are converted according to the translation table in the pen
translation configuration file, PEN.CFG. However, adjustments may need to be made to some
scales in the converted layer table. Refer to Chapter 10 for detail on setting up a foreign drawing in
PADDS.

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Chapter

9
Automating PADDS

Life can be made easier by grouping PADDS commands into macros or by scripting, and then
executing these as single commands. Any repetitive or regular tasks can be scripted, allowing them
to be executed with minimal user effort in less time and thereby increasing efficiency significantly.

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Macros and Scripting
Macros and scripting can be used to automate repetitive tasks in PADDS, eg tasks such as inserting
a frame and title block into a drawing or sequentially plotting all drawings belonging to a project.

Scripting is far more powerful and comprehensive than macros, and therefore largely replaces
macros in PADDS for Windows. Script is a simplified, easy-to-use language used to write
programs. It is covered in detail in Appendix A.

Playing macros
Select a macro to be played, i.e. executed, with the Play macro command. The commands recorded
in the macro are then executed one-by-one.

Note: Macros containing drawing and editing commands will add and modify entities on the
current layer. Ensure that the correct layer is selected as the current layer or let the macro select
the correct layer for you.

Editing script
Select the Edit script command to display the Pascal scripting window. Here script files can be
opened, edited, saved and closed. Standard Pascal script is used. For further details on scripting in
PADDS, refer to Appendix A.

The transparency of the Pascal scripting window can be set to allow you to see the drawing behind
the window while still editing script. There are three degrees of transparency that can be selected in
turn by clicking on the Transparency button.

Adding scripts to the menu

The Add script to menu command adds a script file name and script number to the bottom of the
Macro menu. Selecting the Add script to menu command will display the Open Script window.
Select the required script file name. At the prompt enter a script number (0 to 9), which is then
allocated to the script file.

116
Removing scripts from the menu
Select the Remove script from menu command and then the script to be removed from the list
shown. Click on Remove.

Useful PADDS functions

PADDS has some standard functions or routines that interact with the PROKON design modules
and greatly simplify the design and detailing process. These are found in the middle portion of the
Macro menu and are discussed briefly here.

Combining BS files
This function allows you to group selected bending schedules onto one drawing. Use the Title
Block & Print command with the Print to file option selected to create the bending schedule files.
Then select the Combining BS files command to combine the bending schedule files onto a single
drawing.

Steel profile
Steel profile allows you to import a selected steel section from a library of standard steel sections
into your drawing. The steel section can be viewed and imported in elevation, plan or section as
required. The desired size and length can be set while importing the section.

Trace outline
Use this function to select an outline, which is then automatically written to file as a section profile.
This file, named LASTSEC.G01, can then be opened in the Prosec module in the PROKON suite
of programs. This module calculates and displays the section properties of the imported section.

Generate input file

This function generates an input file from the displayed drawing for one of the modules in the
PROKON suite of programs. The supported PROKON modules are Frame Analysis, Finite
Element Slab Design (FESD) and Section Properties (Prosec). The generated input file contains
geometric input only, and where necessary, other input data including loads and material properties
must be added as usual in the relevant program module.
Consult the Reference manual for detail on using the commands on the Macro menu.

117
Chapter

10
Using foreign drawings

PADDS can be used by itself as a complete CAD system. Some situations may however require
PADDS to be used in parallel with other CAD systems. In a structural engineering environment, for
example, the engineer is usually at the second level of drawing production. With more architects
producing drawings on CAD, productivity and accuracy can be greatly enhanced by interchanging
CAD drawings between architect and engineer. In the end all parties benefit by sharing
information.

A set of architectural drawings can be obtained, containing some reusable information. If the
original CAD system was layer based, information of no use to the engineer can easily be filtered
out. The remaining information can be used as a basis for the building of engineering details. Parts
of these drawings are then often taken and reproduced in other drawings at a larger scale to allow
more detailed information to be given at various points.

PADDS can read and write foreign drawing files in DXF and DWG format.

119
Reading foreign drawings
PADDS is capable of reading (importing) and writing (exporting) drawing files in the following
formats:

DXF : The Drawing Interchange File format was originally developed to help
interchanging drawings between AutoCAD and other programs. Nowadays, nearly all
CAD programs support DXF interchange. Although DXF files can exist as either text or
binary files, they are almost exclusively used as ASCII text files.
DWG : AutoCAD drawing files are also supported. These are binary files.

Reading DXF
DXF drawings can be translated and opened in PADDS using either the Import DXF command or
the Open command on the File menu with the filename set to "*.DXF". Once translated and
displayed, it would be a good idea to save the drawing as a PADDS data file using the Save as
command.

Converting a DXF drawing

The following information can be translated successfully when importing a DXF drawing:

The drawing limits are read and an intelligent selection made regarding the paper size in
PADDS. Preference is given to A1 and A0 sizes.
The first two hundred defined layers are retained with their entities. Names given to layers
are also retained. Entities on any further possible layers are placed on the first layer.
The prevailing scale of the CAD program is recorded in the DXF drawing and assigned to
all the layers in PADDS.
All layer origins are set to "0,0".
Pen numbers are converted as described on page 125.

Certain DXF items, eg attributes assigned to entities, have no PADDS equivalent and are therefore
ignored.

Some situations might require changes to be made to the layer table and some layer scales. Refer to
page 124 for more information.

Note: Compared with drawings in DXF or DWG format, PADDS data files are saved in a much
more compact form and can be read and written much quicker.

120
Reading DWG
DWG files can be translated and opened in Padds using the Import DWG command on the File
menu. Alternatively use the Open command and set the filename to "*.DWG". Once the drawing is
displayed on the screen, it would be a good idea to save the drawing as a PADDS data file using
the Save as command.

Converting a DWG drawing

The following information is translated when importing a DWG drawing:

The drawing limits are read and an intelligent selection made regarding the paper size in
PADDS. Preference is given to A1 and A0 sizes.
The first two hundred defined layers are retained with their entities. Names given to layers
are also retained. Entities on any further possible layers are placed on the first layer.
The prevailing scale of the CAD program is recorded in the DXF drawing and assigned to
all the layers in PADDS.
All layer origins are set to "0,0".
Pen numbers are converted as described on page 125.

Setting up a foreign drawing

Foreign drawings are normally imported into PADDS to do some additional drawing or detailing
on it. Some changes may be necessary to the paper size definition and the layer configuration.

Changing the paper size

The paper size can be adjusted using the Paper size command on the Set menu. If necessary, the
whole drawing can also be enlarged by defining it as a block using the Block define drawing
function, and then rescaling it using the Block scale command.

Setting up layers and scales

When importing DXF or DWG drawings, the original layer definitions are used as far as possible.
New layers can be defined as necessary. If you need to work on some existing layers, however,
their scales might need to be transposed first.

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Transposing layer scales
Changing a layer's scale with the Set scale or Edit layer table commands, causes the layer to be
rescaled accordingly. The scales of imported layers often need to be transposed, i.e. the scale needs
to be changed without changing the way the layer is displayed.

Layer scales can be transposed using the following methods:

With the Transpose scale command the distance between two points can be measured and
a new value entered. All coordinates on the specified layers are subsequently recalculated
according to the ratio of the measured and entered distances.
A layer's scale can be changed and its size on the screen adjusted by selecting and scaling
it as a block with the Block scale command. Alternatively the block can be resized by
defining two block handles and moving it using the Block move command, in the process
scaling it between the indicated positions of the handles.

Merging entities to other layers

If required, entities can be moved and copied between layers using the following commands:

Merge move : Moves an entity to the current layer without changing its appearance on the
screen. If the scale of its previous layer differs from the current layer scale, its size is
recalculated.
Merge copy : Copies an entity to the current layer without changing its appearance on the
screen.
Edit entity information : Use this option to change individual entities' layer numbers.
Block change : Entities can be moved selectively from certain layers to another layer. The
entities concerned are rescaled according to the destination layer scale. If the scales of the
source and destination layer scale differ, the entities will be resized on the screen.

Converting pen numbers

When importing or exporting DXF and DWG files, pen numbers are converted to the
corresponding PADDS pen numbers, providing the default PADDS pen numbers are used. Setting
different pen numbers using the Set Line parameters command or the configuration commands
under Assign on the menu, will interfere with the accurate converting of line and pen information.

Some CAD programs support more numbers than others. When importing a DXF drawing, for
example, pen numbers 1 and pen numbers 9 through 16 will all be converted to PADDS pen 1.
When converting the same drawing back to DXF, PADDS pen 1 will only be converted to
DXF pen 1.

122
 Note: Problems converting pen numbers and line parameters when PADDS files are exported
to DXF and DWG formats (and vice versa) may be encountered when the default PADDS pen
and line settings are edited or changed.

Filtering out unneeded information

If the original drawing is layer based, unneeded information can be filtered out easily. This task is
even be simplified if the original drawing's layers are given descriptive names.

Unneeded information can be filtered out as follows:

If the original drawing was well organized in layers, some layers can be turned off or
deleted altogether.
Entities can be erased individually or as blocks using the commands on the Edit and Block
menus.
New layers can be defined and useful information merged from other layers.

More detail on manipulating layers are given in Chapter 4. Refer to Chapters 3 and 5 for detail on
erasing entities individually or manipulating blocks.

Writing foreign drawings

PADDS can write drawings (exporting) drawing files in the DXF and DWG formats.

Note: The inclusion of bending schedule information in drawing files is a feature unique to
PADDS. Drawings converted to DXF or DWG will therefore only contain drawing information.

Writing DXF
PADDS drawings can be translated to DXF using either the Export DXF command or the Save as
command with the file extension set to "DXF".

The following limitations exist when translating to DXF:

No bending schedule information is included in DXF drawings. Bending schedule print

files may however be converted to DXF.

123
Writing DWG
PADDS drawings can be translated to DWG using the Export DWG command on the File menu.
Alternatively use the Save as command and set the file to "DWG".

The following limitations exist when translating to DWG:

No bending schedule information is not included in DWG drawings. Bending schedule

print files may however be converted to DWG.

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Chapter

11
Customizing PADDS

Many PADDS features can be fully customized. The layout and contents of the button bars, for
example, are fully programmable. Similarly, commands can be assigned to the function keys.
Bending schedules can also be customized as desired to include details such as your company logo.

Use the commands on the Assign menu to tailor PADDS to your own taste. In the end, PADDS will
not only be more pleasant to use, but your productivity will be raised automatically in the process.

125
Customizing the button bars
The four button bars, two horizontal and two vertical, can be set up to display buttons representing
menu commands. The contents and positions of the bars can be edited as needed. Different
configurations can be saved and later recalled.

The button bars are referred to as the top, bottom, left and right button bars.

Adding and deleting buttons

Individual menu commands and complete menus can be assigned to the button bars using the
following commands:

Drag and Drop buttons : Drag the button for the relevant menu command to a position on
a button bar and release the mouse button. To drag a complete menu, select first the topic
on the left and then drag one of the associated buttons onto the drawing page. Click Reset
and the menu appears on the paper. Close the command box and drag the menu to a
suitable position.

Delete button : Close all drawings and open a new blank one. Drag the button to be deleted
onto the paper. Delete it as you would any drawing entity i.e. use the Edit Delete entity or
use the Block Define box and Delete commands.

126
 Assign speed button to status bar : Enter the abbreviated form of the required command
into the command line. (The abbreviated forms can be viewed using the F10 function key.
See note at end of Chapter 11). This abbreviated from will appear on a button in the right
half of the status bar.

To delete this speed button, right click on it and select Delete. To colour code the speed
buttons for easier use, right click on the individual button and select a colour.

Saving the button bar setup and configuration

The Save configuration command is used to save the current layout of the button bars. Also saved
are other configuration items such as the chosen page and background colours and the selected line
colours.

The configuration file can then be retrieved later by selecting the Load configuration command. To
reinstate the default configuration, select the Load default configuration command.

Assigning commands to the function keys

The keyboard function keys can also be customized to call menu commands or snap functions when
pressed.

Editing the function key assignment

The Assign function keys command under Assign on the menu can be used to view and edit the
function key assignment. Those function keys highlighted are permanently assigned to a function
and cannot be changed, but the remaining keys can be configured according to personal preference.
Enter the abbreviated form of the function (see note) under the required function key.

127
 Note: Each menu command has a shorthand version. The abbreviated form of each command
on the menu can be viewed using the F10 function key. When F10 is pressed, the underlining of
these abbreviated forms of the menu commands is toggled on and off.

The first letter of the abbreviated form is obtained from the main menu (see insert below) and
the second letter from the underlined letter in the pull down menu item eg. Line Box is LB (L
from Line on the main menu and B from Box on the line pull down menu). Likewise,
Dimension Horizontal is DH.

128
Other customizable features
Other customizable features of PADDS include custom bending schedules and automated tasks.

Customizing bending schedules

PADDS bending schedules can be customized to include your company logo and telephone
number. You can also create master bending schedule files in another language, eg German or
French, or change the default line thicknesses and fonts used in the tables. Bending schedules can
also be combined on
large drawing sheets. Refer to Chapter 7 for a detailed discussion on customizing bending
schedules

Automating tasks
Keyboard macros and scripting can be used to automate repetitive tasks, eg changing text heights
and pen numbers or inserting a standard drawing frame and title block. Refer to Chapter 9 for detail
on creating and playing macros and scripts.

129
Chapter

12
Command Reference

131
The File menu
The File commands are used to manipulate files. New drawings and bending schedules can be
created and existing ones opened, saved, printed and closed. Commands are available to convert
foreign drawings to use with other CAD systems. Drawing information can also be displayed and
drawings packed to remove deleted entities.

The File commands are:

Drawing file management functions
New drawing
File open
Save
Save as
Save all
File close

Foreign file conversion functions

Read DXF
Write DXF
Insert raster image
Save raster image
Import DWG
Export DWG

Printing and plotting functions

Print
Print to GIF file
Print to EMF file

General utilities
Pack drawing
Drawing information
Save in text format
Options
Exit

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New drawing

Menu : File
Command : New drawing
Description : Create a new drawing file
Short form : FN
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to create a new drawing. The drawing file is named the first time it is saved.
The window title reflects the file name "NONAME" until such time.

133
File open

Menu : File
Command : Open
Description : Open a drawing file
Short form : FO
Parameters : File name

Notes :
The Open File window is displayed, allowing a drawing file to be selected. The working folder is
listed by default but any folder can be selected. The selected folder can also be set as the working
folder by selecting Set as W Folder.

The bending schedule (empty or otherwise) associated with a drawing is loaded with it.

Foreign drawings from other CAD systems can also be opened. PADDS recognizes files with the
extensions DXF and DWG as drawing exchange files from other CAD systems and automatically
converts them.

Refer to Chapter 2 of the User's manual for detail on the PADDS drawing file structure and
selecting a drawing file to open.

Related commands :
File close, Read DXF, Import DWG

134
Save

Menu : File
Command : Save
Description : Save the active drawing
Short form : FS
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to save the drawing in the active window. Use Save all to save all open
drawings and Save as to save the active drawing under a new file name.

When a new drawing is saved for the first time, the Save as command is also called.

Bending schedule pages are always associated with parent drawings and are automatically saved
with the relevant drawing.

Related commands :
Save as, Save all

135
Save as

Menu : File
Command : Save as
Description : Save the active drawing under a new file name
Short form : FA
Parameters : File name

Notes :
The command is used to save the drawing in the active window under a new file name. The Save In
window is displayed and is used the same as the Open file window. The Save as type is by default
taken to be PADDS, but to save as DXF or DWG, simply type in the file name with the required
extension.

Bending schedules are always associated with parent drawings and are automatically saved with the
relevant drawing.

Related commands :
Save, Save all

136
Save all

Menu : File
Command : Save all
Description : Save all open drawings
Short form : FL
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to save all open drawings. When a new drawing is saved for the first time,
the Save as command is also called.

Bending schedules are always associated with parent drawings and are automatically saved with the
relevant drawing.

Related commands :
Save, Save as

137
File close

Menu : File
Command : Close
Description : Close the active drawing and its schedule
Short form : FC
Parameters : None/dialogue

Notes :
The command is used to close the active drawing. All windows containing views of the active
drawing or associated bending schedule are closed.

If changes were made to the drawing or bending schedule since last saving them, or the drawing is
a new drawing that has not been saved before, a warning to save the drawing is displayed. Select
Yes to save it, select No to close it without saving, or cancel the command.

Related commands :
File open

138
Read DXF

Menu : File
Command : Read DXF
Description : Open and convert a DXF drawing
Short form : FR
Parameters : Filename

Notes :
The command is used to open a DXF drawing and display it in a new window. The Open File
window is displayed, allowing a drawing file to be selected. DXF files are drawing translation files
supported by most CAD systems, eg AutoCAD.

Foreign drawings from other CAD systems can also be imported using the File open command.
PADDS recognizes files with the extension DXF as drawing exchange files from another CAD
system and automatically converts them.

Refer to Chapter 2 of the User's manual for detail on selecting a drawing file to open.

Related commands :
File open, Import DWG, Insert Raster Image

139
Write DXF

Menu : File
Command : Write DXF
Description : Save and close a DXF drawing
Short form : FW
Parameters : Filename

Notes :
The command is used to convert the active drawing to DXF format and save it under a new name.
The Save File window is displayed, allowing a drawing file name to be selected or entered.

DXF files are drawing translation files supported by most CAD systems, eg AutoCAD. Since
bending schedules are not supported in DXF files, only the drawing part of a PADDS file is
converted.

Foreign drawings from other CAD systems can also be exported by using the File save as and
Export DWG commands.

Refer to Chapter 2 of the User's manual for detail on saving and closing a drawing file.

Related commands :
Save, Save as, Export DWG, Save Raster Image

140
Insert raster image

Menu : File
Command : Insert raster image
Description : Open a picture (GIF, EMF, BMP or JPG format)
Short form : FM
Parameters : File name

Notes :
The command is used to insert a picture, saved in GIF, EMF, BMP or JPG format., into an open
drawing. An Open window is displayed, allowing a picture file to be selected.

Files from the working folder are shown by default, but files from other directories can also be
selected.

Refer to Chapter 2 of the User's manual for detail on inserting and saving a picture file.
Related commands :
File open, Read DXF, Import DWG

141
Save raster image

Menu : File
Command : Save raster image
Description : Save a picture as a GIF, EMF, BMP or JPG file
Short form : FV
Parameters : File name

Notes :
The command is used to save a picture file inserted into a drawing. A prompt appears, requesting
the image to be saved to be selected. Once the image to be saved has been selected, a Save as
window is displayed. If the image open is a GIF file, for example, it must be saved as a GIF file.

Refer to Chapter 2 of the User's manual for detail on selecting a picture file to insert or save.

Related commands :
Save as, Save raster image, Write DXF, Export DWG

142
Import DWG

Menu : File
Command : Import DWG
Description : Open a drawing in DWG format
Short form : None
Parameters : Filename

Notes :
The command is used to open a drawing in DWG format. A DWG window is opened. Select the
Load drawing button. The Open window is displayed, allowing a DWG file name to be selected.
The drawing is then loaded into the DWG window. To import the drawing into PADDS, select the
Import drawing button.

Foreign drawings from other CAD systems can also be imported using the File open command.
PADDS recognizes files with the extension DWG as drawing files from AutoCAD and
automatically converts them.

Refer to Chapter 2 of the User's manual for detail on the PADDS drawing file structure and
specifying a file to open.

Related commands :
Open, Read DXF

143
Export DWG

Menu : File
Command : Export DWG
Description : Save and close a drawing in DWG format
Short form : None
Parameters : File name

Notes :
The command is used to convert the active drawing to DWG format and save it under a new name.
The Save as dialogue box is displayed, allowing a DWG file name to be selected or entered.

DWG files are drawing translation files supported by AutoCAD. Since bending schedules are not
supported in DWG files, only the drawing part of a PADDS file is converted.

DWG drawings can also be exported using the Save as command. PADDS recognizes files with the
extension DWG as drawing files from AutoCAD and automatically converts them.

Refer to Chapter 2 of the User's manual for detail on the PADDS drawing file structure and
specifying a file name to save.

Related commands :
Save as, Export DXF

144
Print

Menu : File
Command : Print
Description : Print active drawing
Short form : FP
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to print the active drawing. The Print preview window is displayed, allowing
various print settings to be selected. These print settings should be compatible with your printer or
plotter capabilities.

Paper size, print offsets, paper orientation and a scale factor can be selected. The paper width and
height are automatically chosen to correspond with the selected paper size. The print setup can be
saved to be recalled again later using the Save setup button. To recall a saved setup, select the file
name from the pull down menu.

Refer to Chapter 2 of the User's manual for detail on printing a drawing and bending schedule.

Related commands :
Window Print, Title Block and Print button on bending schedule

145
Print to GIF file

Menu : File
Command : Print to GIF file
Description : Print the active drawing to a GIF file
Short form : FG
Parameters : File name

Notes :
The command is used to print the active drawing to a GIF file. Only the drawing part of a PADDS
file is converted.

A Save as window is displayed, allowing a file name to be selected or entered. The Save as type is
automatically set to GIF files.

Related commands :
Save as, Save raster image, Write DXF, Export DWG

146
Pack drawing

Menu : File
Command : Pack
Description : Pack the active drawing
Short form : FK
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to pack a drawing by permanently removing all deleted entities.

Note that entities deleted prior to packing a drawing can not be undeleted. If deleted information
needs to be recalled, open the backup file created when last saving the drawing or one of the timed
backup files.

Related commands :
Set backup interval

147
Drawing information

Menu : File
Command : Drawing info
Description : Display information on the active drawing
Short form : FI
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to display information on the active drawing and its usage of the system
resources.

Related commands :
About PADDS

148
Save in text format

Menu : File
Command : Save in text format
Description : Save a drawing as a text file
Short form : FT
Parameters : File name

Notes :
The command is used to save a drawing as an ASCII data file displaying the details of all entities.
This text file can then be used in scripting applications, if required.

Related commands :
Macro edit script

149
Options

Menu : File
Command : Options
Description : Allow selection of options
Short form : FO
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to select certain options that affect file management functions and
commands. If Timed backup interval is set to zero, timed backups are not performed.

Related commands :
None

150
Exit

Menu : File
Command : Exit
Description : Exit PADDS
Short form : FX
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to exit PADDS. All information regarding open files and bending schedule
pages, the window layout and function key and button bar setup is saved in a configuration file
called LASTPADD. The next time PADDS is used, the configuration file is read and the last
session restored.

If changes were made to any drawings or bending schedules since last saving them, a warning to
save the drawing is displayed. Select to save it, close it without saving or cancel the command.

Related commands :
File close.

151
The Edit menu
The Edit commands are used to change or erase drawn entities. Lines can be trimmed or clipped
and you can manipulate the way the active drawing is displayed. You may choose to zoom into part
of a drawing to enlarge a detail, zoom out to display larger areas of the drawing or to scroll to
adjacent parts of the drawing.

The Edit commands are categorized as follows:

Entity editing commands
Edit entity info
Stretch
Extend line/ arc
Clip line/ arc
Trim line
Move line endpoint
Copy line endpoint
Break polyline
Make polyline
Join lines
Fillet
Fillet radius
Chamfer
Chamfer depth
Resize bitmap
V paste special
Erase commands
Erase line
Erase circle
Erase arc
Erase text
Erase hatch
Erase construction lines
Erase rebar
Erase dot
Erase polyline
Erase bitmap
Erase entity
Undo
Redo

152
Edit entity info

Menu : Edit
Command : Entity info
Description : Edit an entity's information
Short form : EI
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to display and edit all information contained in an entity. The text editor can
be used to edit the entity information items. The range of items vary depending on the type of entity
selected:
All entities :
Layer number, between 1 and 200
Pen number, between 1 and 8
One or more coordinates
Attribute name or number
Line and hatch entities :
Line style, between 1 and 9 or 10 for construction lines
Line begin and end coordinates
Text entities :
Font number, between 1 and 5
Justification, L, C or R combined with T, M or B
Width factor
Height
Line spacing factor
Angle, between 0° and 360°
Slant, between 0° and 30°
Text string
Rebar entities
Mark
Type, eg Y, R, T etc
Diameter
Shape code
A through E dimensions
Angle, between 0° and 360°
Y-sign, -1, 0 or 1
Curtailed end, Y or N

153
 Type, 1 for dot and 2 for ring (dots and rings only)
Coordinates of handle 1

All information items may be edited and additional items added, eg additional points to a polyline
or a rebar shape code changed and the relevant dimensions added. Click on OK to accept or Cancel
to discard all changes made.

Refer to Chapter 3 of the User’s Manual for further information regarding editing the various types
of entities.

Related commands :
Line paramaters, Get line parameters, Set line parameters, Text paramaters, Get text parameters,
Set text parameters, Edit text, Detail edit text, Block change

154
Stretch

Menu : Edit
Command : Stretch
Description : Stretch a group of coordinates
Short form : ES
Parameters : Coord1 . . coord3 [coord4 . . coordN] coordN+1 [coordN+2]

Notes :
The command is used to move a group of coordinates and to stretch all entities fixed to them.
Indicate a polygon around the group of coordinates to be moved, pressing Escape to end the
polygon. Specify the distance and orientation to move by entering an offset or indicating two
relative points. Cursor snapping is temporarily disabled during the marking of the polygon and
enabled again for indicating the relative points to move.

The various types of entities respond differently to the command:

Lines : All line endpoints included in the polygon are moved.

Circles and arcs : If included in the polygon, centre points are moved without changing
radii.

155
 Rebars : If the polygon encloses a rebar's first handle, the rebar will be moved without its
dimensions being changed. If, however, a significant part of the rebar excluding the first
handle falls within the polygon, the rebar is stretched. A command window then appears
providing the option of updating the bending schedule if required.
Text : Text justification points (eg the left bottom corner if LB justified) are moved without
changing any other parameters.

A line entity can also be stretched by moving one of its endpoints with the Move line endpoint
command.

Related commands :
Extend line/ arc, Clip line/ arc, Move line endpoint, Move text, Block move

156
Extend line / arc

Menu : Edit
Command : Extend line or arc
Description : Lengthen or shorten a line or arc
Short form : EX
Parameters : Entity coord/ distance

Notes :
The command is used to lengthen or shorten a single line, a segment of polyline or an arc. The
endpoint nearest to the point indicated on the entity, and any line segments projecting from that
endpoint are moved to the indicated new endpoint.

Instead of specifying a coordinate for the new endpoint, the distance to extend can be entered. A
positive or negative value respectively indicates a lengthening or shortening of the entity.

Related commands :
Stretch, Move line endpoint, Clip line/ arc, Join lines

157
Clip line / arc

Menu : Edit
Command : Clip line or arc
Description : Cut a segment from a line or arc
Short form : EC
Parameters : Entity coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used the clip a segment from a line or arc entity. Any point may be indicated on
the entity to be clipped. If the indicated clipping points are not located on the entity, the cursor
snaps to the nearest point on the line or arc.

Related commands :
Extend line/ arc, Break polyline

158
Trim line

Menu : Edit
Command : Trim line
Description : Trim a line at the intersection with another line
Short form : ET
Parameters : Entity coord

Notes :
The command is used to trim single lines or a segment of polyline. First, a trim line is selected. Any
line(s) crossing this line can then be selected and will be trimmed to the trim line on the side that it
was selected on.

The trim command is recurring, so press Escape once all the desired lines have been trimmed.

Related commands :
Stretch, Clip line/ arc, Join lines

159
Move line endpoint

Menu : Edit
Command : Move line endpoint
Description : Move one endpoint of a line
Short form : EM
Parameters : Entity coord

Notes :
The command is used to move one endpoint of a single line or a segment of polyline. The line
endpoint nearest to the point indicated on the line is moved to the indicated new position, in the
process stretching any line segments projecting from that endpoint.

All entities located at a point can be stretched simultaneously using the Stretch command. Lines
and arcs can also be lengthened and shortened using the Extend command.

Related commands :
Stretch, Extend line/ arc, Copy line endpoint

160
Copy line endpoint

Menu : Edit
Command : Copy line endpoint
Description : Copy a line by indicating a new endpoint
Short form : EO
Parameters : Entity coord

Notes :
The command is used to create a copy of a line or line segment with one or two mutual endpoints.
The line endpoint nearest to the point indicated on the line is copied to the indicated new position,
in the process copying any line segments projecting from that endpoint.

Related commands :
Move line endpoint

161
Break polyline

Menu : Edit
Command : Break polyline
Description : Break polyline into line segments
Short form : EB
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to break a polyline into individual line segments. Each new line segment has
the same line parameters as the original polyline.

Related commands :
Clip line/ arc

162
Make polyline

Menu : Edit
Command : Make polyline
Description : Make a polyline from line segments
Short form : EP
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to create a polyline from individual line segments. The new polyline has the
same line parameters as the original line segments. However, for the Make polyline command to be
successful, the individual line segments must have the same line parameters, and the line end points
must join one another.

Related commands :
Join lines, Break polyline

163
Join lines

Menu : Edit
Command : Join lines
Description : Join two lines
Short form : EJ
Parameters : Entity1 entity2

Notes :
The command is used to extend and join two line entities. If a polyline is selected, the indicated
line segment is extended. The resulting two lines remain two separate drawing entities, each with
its original line parameters.

Related commands :
Extend line/ arc, Fillet, Chamfer

164
Fillet

Menu : Edit
Command : Fillet
Description : Join two lines with a fillet arc
Short form : EF
Parameters : Entity1 entity2 [entity3 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to join one or more pairs of line entities with a fillet arc. If the indicated lines
intersect, the longer segment of each line is retained.

Polylines are broken into individual line segments, by that facilitating inner line segments to be
filleted as well.

Double-clicking at a line intersection selects the two lines intersecting.

If the line attributes of the two line entities differ, the parameters of the second line indicated are
used for the fillet arc.

Related commands :
Join, Chamfer, Fillet radius

165
Fillet radius

Menu : Edit
Command : Fillet radius
Description : Edit the fillet radius
Short form : ER
Parameters : real; entity1 entity2 [entity3 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to edit the fillet radius and optionally join one or more pairs of line entities
with a fillet arc. It is similar to the Fillet command.

Related commands :
Fillet, Chamfer depth

166
Chamfer

Menu : Edit
Command : Chamfer
Description : Join two lines with a chamfer line
Short form : EA
Parameters : Entity1 entity2 [entity3 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to join one or more pairs of line entities with a chamfer line. If the indicated
lines intersect, the longer segment of each line is retained.

Polylines are broken into individual line segments, by that facilitating inner line segments to be
chamfered as well.

Double-clicking at a line intersection selects the two lines intersecting.

If the line attributes of the two line entities differ, the parameters of the second line indicated are
used for the chamfer line.

Related commands :
Join, Fillet, Chamfer depth

167
Chamfer depth

Menu : Edit
Command : Chamfer depth
Description : Edit the chamfer depth
Short form : ED
Parameters : Real [entity1 entity2 [entity3 . . . entityN]]

Notes :
The command is used to edit the chamfer depth and optionally join one or more pairs of line
entities with a chamfer line. It is similar to the Chamfer command.

Related commands :
Chamfer, Fillet radius

168
Resize bitmap

Menu : Edit
Command : Resize bitmap
Description : Resize a bitmap or picture file
Short form : EZ
Parameters : Entity, Coord1

Notes :
The command is used to resize a bitmap or picture file already inserted into the drawing.

Related commands :
File Insert raster image

169
V paste special

Menu : Edit
Command : V paste special
Description : Paste text and metafiles from external sources in drawing
Short form : EV
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to paste either text copied from another application or the contents of a
metafile into a drawing. Text pasted into a drawing using the Text option under this command, will
have the same text parameters as those currently selected in Set text parameters. However, text can
also be inserted by choosing the Metafile option, but this text will have the same text parameters as
are set in the application from which the text is copied.

The pasted metafile cannot be edited in PADDS, but any pasted text can be edited using the Edit
Info, Text Edit and Text Detailed edit commands.

Related commands :
File Insert raster image, Multiline text, Edit Info, Text Edit, Text Detailed Edit

170
Erase line

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : Line
Description : Erase a line entity
Short form : E1
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to erase one or more line entities, including construction lines. No other
types of entities can be erased with this command.

When erasing polylines, each individual line segment is erased separately. Use the Erase polyline
command to erase the polyline as an entire entity.

Related commands :
Erase entity, Erase polyline, Block delete

171
Erase circle

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : Circle
Description : Erase a circle entity
Short form : E2
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to erase one or more circle entities, excluding ellipses. No other types of
entities can be erased with this command.

Related commands :
Erase arc, Erase entity, Block delete

172
Erase arc

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : Arc
Description : Erase an arc entity
Short form : E3
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to erase one or more arc entities, including circular arcs, elliptical arcs and
ellipses. No other types of entities can be erased with this command.

Related commands :
Erase circle, Erase entity, Block delete

173
Erase text

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : Text
Description : Erase a text entity
Short form : E4
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to erase one or more text entities, including single line, multi-line and
dimension text. No other types of entities can be erased with this command.

Related commands :
Erase entity, Block delete

174
Erase hatch

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : Hatch
Description : Erase a hatch entity
Short form : E5
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to erase one or more hatch entities. No other types of entities can be erased
with this command.

If hatch has been vectorized, then it is no longer a hatch entity but is a line entity. Only commands
valid for erasing lines will thus erase vectorized hatching.

Related commands :
Erase line, Erase entity, Block delete

175
Erase construction lines

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : All construction lines
Description : Erase all construction lines entity
Short form : E6
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to erase all the construction line entities in the drawing. No other types of
entities can be erased with this command. Individual construction lines can also be erased using the
Erase line command.

Related commands :
Erase line, Erase entity, Block delete

176
Erase rebar

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : Rebar
Description : Erase a bar entity
Short form : E7
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to erase one or more rebar entities, including dots and rings. No other types
of entities can be erased with this command. Dots and rings can also be erased using the Erase dot
command.

Related commands :
Erase dot, Erase entity, Block delete

177
Erase dot

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : Dot
Description : Erase a dot or ring
Short form : E8
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to erase one or more rebar dots or rings. No other types of entities can be
erased with this command. Normal rebar entities are erased using the Erase rebar command, and
circles with the Erase circle command.

Related commands :
Erase rebar, Erase entity, Block delete

178
Erase polyline

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : Polyline
Description : Erase a polyline entity
Short form : E9
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to erase one or more polyline entities. No other types of entities can be
erased with this command.

To erase segments of a polyline only, use the Erase line command.

Related commands :
Erase entity, Erase line, Block delete

179
Erase bitmap

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : Bitmap
Description : Erase a bitmap
Short form : E0
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to erase one or more bitmaps. No other types of entities can be erased with
this command.

Related commands :
Block delete

180
Erase entity

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : Entity
Description : Erase an entity
Short form : EE
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to erase one or more drawing entities. All types of entities can be erased with
this command.

Related commands :
Erase line, Erase circle, Erase arc, Erase text, Erase hatch, Erase rebar, Erase dot, Erase polyline,
Block delete

181
Undo

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : Undo
Description : Undo the last action
Short form : EU
Parameters : Confirm

Notes :
The command is used to undo one or more of the last actions performed. The last actions
performed are undone one at a time in the reverse order they were executed.

The number of actions remembered can be set under the File Options command. The number of
undo steps for all practical purposes is unlimited.

Related commands :
Redo, File Options

182
Redo

Menu : Edit (Erase)

Command : Redo
Description : Undo the last action
Short form : EY
Parameters : Confirm

Notes :
The command is used to redo one or more of the last actions undone. The last actions undone can
be redone one at a time in reverse order.

The number of redo steps allowed will be equal to the number of undo steps set under the File
Options command. The number of undo steps for all practical purposes is unlimited.

Related commands :
Undo, File Options

183
The Set menu
The Set commands are used to set up a drawing with its layers, scale, paper size, line parameters
and measuring units. The selection of various snap modes increases the accuracy with which the
cursor snaps to elements in the drawing and can be changed at any stage. The default snap mode
can be overridden by a snap once function for one action only.

The Set commands are categorized as follows:

General Set commands

Units
Line parameters
Magnetic cursor
Ortho mode
Ortho angle
Paper size
Layer commands
Set layer
Set scale
Transpose scale
Edit layer table
Grid on or off
One layer on or off
All layers off
All layers on
Merge move entity
Merge copy entity
Snap menu
Snap modes
Intersection
Endpoint
Both
Freehand
Snap once functions
Line
Horizontal
Vertical
Midpoint
Tangent

184
Set units

Menu : Set
Command : Units
Description : Set the units of measurement
Short form : SU
Parameters : Dialogue/ integer

Notes :
The command is used to change the unit of measurement. Available options are millimetres,
centimetres, metres and kilometres. All subsequent coordinates and distances specified and
dimensions and measurements taken will be according to the current unit.

The system records all coordinates in millimetres internally, allowing the unit of measurement to be
adjusted at any stage without affecting drawn entities.

Note that text height and reinforcement dimensions are always specified in millimetres.

Refer to Chapter 3 of the User's guide for detail on the coordinate system and units of
measurement.

Related commands :
Set scale

185
Line parameters

Menu : Set
Command : Line parameters
Description : Set the system line pen and style
Short form : SP
Parameters : Window

Notes :
The command is used to set the system line parameters, i.e. pen number and colour, and line type,
to the specified values. Subsequent lines, circles, ellipses, arcs and hatches are drawn using the
system line parameters.

Line parameters comprise the following:

Line pen : The eight available pen numbers referred originally to the physical pens in a
pen plotter. For printers, the line thickness associated with each pen number are used
instead. If a drawing is scaled when printed, its pen widths are scaled accordingly.
Line type : The nine selectable line types produce different line styles.

Two colour speed options are available. The Classic button reinstates all PADDS defaults, whereas
the Windows button selects a standard set of line parameters that print well in Windows
applications.

186
Refer to Chapter 3 of the User's guide for detail on line and text parameters.

Related commands :
Get line parameters, Set line parameters, Dimension parameters

187
Magnetic cursor

Menu : Set
Command : Magnetic cursor
Description : Toggles the magnetic cursor on and off
Short form : SM
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to toggle the magnetic cursor on and off. The M button on the status bar at
the bottom of the screen serves the same purpose.

Enabling the magnetic cursor allows the cursor to jump to an entity (an intersection etc depending
on the snap mode selected) while moving the cursor in the proximity. Without magnetic mode
enabled, the cursor will only snap to the entity on clicking the mouse.

The snap aperture (area about an entity wherein the cursor will snap to the entity) can be set using
the File Options command.

Related commands :
M button on status bar, Set snap mode, File Options Snap aperture

188
Ortho mode

Menu : Set
Command : Ortho mode
Description : Enables or disables orthogonal mode
Short form : SO
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to enable or disable ortho mode. The O button on the status bar at the bottom
of the screen serves the same purpose. Ortho mode can be enabled or disabled at any time.

When ortho mode is enabled, points can be selectively set at right angles from each other. Some
commands, eg the rebar drawing commands, temporarily disable ortho mode during execution.

By default the ortho angle is set at 0º with resulting orthogonal axes at 0º and 90º. The ortho angle
can be changed using the Ortho angle command.

Refer to Chapter 3 of the User's guide for detail on using ortho mode.

Related commands :
O button on status bar, Ortho angle, Construction mode

189
Ortho angle

Menu : Set
Command : Ortho angle
Description : Set the angle of the orthogonal axes
Short form : SA
Parameters : Angle/ entity

Notes :
The command is used to set the orientation of the orthogonal axes used when in ortho mode.
Setting the ortho angle automatically enables ortho mode.

By default the ortho angle is set at 0º with resulting orthogonal axes at 0º and 90º. Changing the
ortho angle, sets a new ortho axis along the new ortho angle, and a second ortho axis at 90º from it.

Refer to Chapter 3 of the User's guide for detail on using ortho mode and ortho angle.

Related commands :
Ortho mode

190
Set paper size

Menu : Set
Command : Paper size
Description : Set the paper size for a drawing
Short form : SZ
Parameters : Window

Notes :
The command is used to set the drawing paper size. Select an ISO size and orientation (landscape
or portrait) or enter a custom size. The paper orientation is adjusted automatically for custom paper
sizes.

The A4 schedule and A5 schedule paper sizes are customized A4 and A5 sheets. They are derived
by taking the normal A4 and A5 sheets then reduced their sizes to accommodate the bending
schedule frames. Use the file drawing info function to view the current paper size.

Related commands :
File drawing info

191
Set layer

Menu : Set (Layer)

Command : Layer
Description : Set the current/ active layer
Short form : SL
Parameters : Integer/ entity [confirm]

Notes :
The command is used to set the current layer to the specified layer number. A layer can also be
selected by clicking an entity in that layer. The system scale is automatically adjusted to that of the
current layer.

It is often useful to turn all layers turned off and keep only the current layer displayed. If another
layer is selected under such circumstances, the system will anticipate that the new layer should also
be the sole displayed layer and will automatically confirm whether the previous layer must be
turned off.

Refer to Chapter 4 of the User's guide for detail on layers and scale.

Related commands :
Set scale

192
Set scale

Menu : Set (Layer)

Command : Scale
Description : Set the drawing scale
Short form : SS
Parameters : Real

Notes :
The command is used to set the current layer's scale. All entities in the current layer will be
rescaled on the screen and displayed to the new layer scale.

The Edit layer table command can be used to edit the current layer and other layer's scales and
other properties. The Transpose scale command can be used to change a layer's scale without
rescaling the layer's entities on the screen.

Refer to Chapter 4 of the User's guide for detail on layers and scale.

Related commands :
Set layer, Edit layer table, Transpose scale

193
Transpose scale

Menu : Set (Layer)

Command : Transpose scale
Description : Transpose current layer scale
Short form : ST
Parameters : Coord1, coord2, real, layers

Notes :
The command is used to change the specified layers' scales without rescaling them on the screen.
All entities belonging to the relevant layers are thus effectively resized.

Indicate two points to have the distance between them measured. The displayed distance, based on
the current layer scale, can then be changed to the correct value. The ratio of the entered distance to
the measured distance is subsequently used to adjust all coordinates on the specified layers and the
specified layer scales. All the specified layers' scales will then be updated without rescaling their
entities on the screen.

Entities can also be resized using a combination of the Set scale and Block scale commands. This
one-step method to resize entities is very useful for setting up layer scales after reading a foreign
drawing from another CAD system.

Refer to Chapter 4 of the User's guide for detail on layers and scale.

Related commands :
Set scale, Block scale

194
Edit layer table

Menu : Set (Layer)

Command : Edit layer table
Description : Edit layer information
Short form : SE
Parameters : Window

Notes :
The command is used to edit layer information. The text editing commands can be accessed by
right-clicking the mouse on the active window (Edit layer table). The following layer information
can be edited:
Layer name : Any descriptive name, maximum ten characters. The number and name of
the current layer is displayed on the status line.
Scale : Real number specifying the layer scale, eg 2.5 for 1:2.5.
Origin : X- and Y-coordinates of the layer origin, specified in millimetres from the lower
left corner of the paper.
Layer on : Y to display a layer and N to turn it off. A layer that is turned of is displayed
in dark grey in the background. The current layer cannot be turned off.

195
The Change all layers button allows quick and easy editing of the scale and origin of all layers.
This command can only be used when the scale and origin are the same for all layers.

Refer to Chapter 4 of the User’s guide for detail on layers and scale and Chapter 8 for detail on
setting up drawings.

Related commands :
Set scale, One layer on/off, All layers off, All layers on

196
Grid on or off

Menu : Set (Layer)

Command : Grid on/off
Description : Enable or disable the current layer’s grid display
Short form : SG
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to enable or disable the display of the current layer's grid. A suitable grid
spacing is intelligently selected.

The grid display is further disabled intelligently if the current zoom setting causes the grid spacing
to be less than five screen pixels. Therefore, zooming out far enough, will stop the display of the
current layer's grid.

Related commands :
None

197
One layer on or off

Menu : Set (Layer)

Command : One layer on/off
Description : Turn a layer on or off
Short form : S1
Parameters : Integer/ entity

Notes :
The command is used to turn a layer other than the current layer on or off. A layer can be specified
by entering its number or by indicating an entity in that layer.

It is often useful to improve clarity by turning selected layers off. Layers that are turned off are
displayed in dark grey in the background. Such layers cannot be snapped to and are not printed or
plotted.

Unneeded layers can also be selected and deleted as blocks using the Block define layer and Block
delete commands.

Related commands :
All layers off, All layers on, Edit layer table, Block define layer

198
All layers off

Menu : Set (Layer)

Command : All layers off
Description : Turn all layers off
Short form : S2
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to turn all layers off. The current layer cannot be turned off and will continue
to be displayed.

It is often useful to improve clarity by turning selected layers off. Layers that are turned off are
displayed in dark grey in the background. Such layers cannot be snapped to and are not printed or
plotted.

Unneeded layers can also be selected and deleted as blocks using the Block define layer and Block
delete commands.

Related commands :
One layer on/off, All layers on, Edit layer table, Block define layer

199
All layers on

Menu : Set (Layer)

Command : All layers on
Description : Turn all layers on
Short form : S3
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to turn all layers on.

It is often useful to improve clarity by turning selected layers off. Layers that are turned off are
displayed in dark grey in the background. Such layers cannot be snapped to and are not printed or
plotted, and should therefore be turned on at an opportune time.

Related commands :
One layer on/off, All layers off, Edit layer table, Block define layer

200
Merge move entity

Menu : Set (Layer)

Command : Merge move entity
Description : Move an entity to the current layer
Short form : SV
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2…entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to merge one or more entities to the current layer by moving them from other
layers. The display of the merged entities remains unchanged during the merging process. Merging
an entity from a layer with a different scale or origin will therefore result in it being rescaled to the
new scale.

Entities merged to another layer using the Block change command are merely moved to the new
layer. Such entities will be rescaled according to the new layer scale and may therefore be
displayed bigger or smaller.

Related commands :
Merge copy entity, Block change

201
Merge copy entity

Menu : Set (Layer)

Command : Merge copy entity
Description : Copy an entity to the current layer
Short form : SC
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2…entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to copy one or more entities to the current layer by copying them from other
layers. The display of the copied entities remains unchanged during the copying process. Copying
an entity from a layer with a different scale or origin will therefore result in it being rescaled to the
new scale.

Related commands :
Merge move entity, Block change

202
Set snap mode

Menu : Set
Command : Snap mode
Description : Select and set the snap mode
Short form : SN
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to set the snap mode and select a snap once function. A menu is displayed
(see above), where the options above the line are snap modes and those below the line are snap
once functions.

A snap mode is a snap function that, once selected, stays active until replaced by another snap
mode. A snap mode can also be overridden temporarily by selecting a snap once function.

The available snap modes are :

Intersection : A point is set at the nearest intersection with the indicated entity.
Intersections with the entity falling outside the snap zone are not considered. Intersections
between all types of entities, including arcs, rebars and construction lines, are considered
Endpoint : Snap to the nearest endpoint of the indicated line segment, arc or segment of
rebar. If no endpoint is found in the snap zone, freehand snap mode is used. Endpoint
snap mode can also be used to snap to the four corner points of the imaginary
parallelogram enclosing a text entity.
Both : Snap to the nearest intersection with or endpoint of the indicated entity. If no
intersection or endpoint is found in the snap zone, freehand snap mode is used.
Freehand : Do not snap to any position, i.e. use the current pointer position.

Note: If no valid position can be found to snap to, a beep will be sound and the point is set
freehand

203
The snap once functions available are :
Line : If no previous point has been set, or if a previous point has been set and the
included angle between the imaginary line joining the previous point and the mouse
pointer, and the indicated entity at the position nearest to the mouse pointer, is less than
45º then snap to the nearest point on the indicated entity. However, if a previous point has
been set and the angle included between the imaginary line joining the previous point and
the mouse pointer, and the indicated entity at the position nearest to the mouse pointer, is
greater than 45º then snap to a point perpendicular to the indicated drawing entity.

Note: The perpendicular snapping to lines with the Line snap function should not be
confused with the Perpendicular line command.

Horizontal : Snap horizontally from the previous point set, or the mouse pointer in its
absence, to the nearest drawing entity. If no entity is found in the snap zone, freehand
snap mode is used.
Vertical : Snap vertically from the previous point set, or the mouse pointer in its absence,
to the nearest drawing entity. If no entity is found in the snap zone, freehand snap mode is
used.
Midpoint : Snap to the midpoint or centre point of the nearest line, circle or circular arc.
If no entity is found in the snap zone, freehand snap mode is used.
Tangent : Snap tangentially to the nearest circle or circular arc if a previous point has
been set. If no entity is found in the snap zone, freehand snap mode is used.

The snap zone or aperture within which snapping occurs, can be set in pixels using the File Options
command. The larger the aperture, the less accurate snapping becomes in areas with many entities.

Refer to Chapter 3 of the User’s guide for more detail on snapping, snap modes and snap once
functions.

Related commands :
File Options Snap aperture

204
The Line menu

The Line commands are used to draw lines and construction lines. Polylines and single lines,
parallel lines and perpendicular lines can be drawn. A line's parameters can be read by the system
and assigned to other lines. Construction lines can be drawn by enabling construction mode or
using the crosshairs or orthogonal construction line drawing commands.

The Line commands are grouped as follows:

Normal line drawing commands:
Line
Auto line
Box
Parallel polyline
Parallel one line
Perpendicular line
Tangent two circles
Sketch
Revision Cloud
Get line parameters
Set line parameters
Construction line drawing commands:
Construction crosshair
Horizontal construction line
Vertical construction line
Divide angle
Construction mode
Hide construction lines
Spline drawing commands:
Tangent spline
Forced spline
Vectorize spline
Move control point
Parabola

205
Line

Menu : Line
Command : Line
Description : Draw a line between two or more points
Short form : LL
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 [coord3 . . . coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to draw straight lines between two or more points. The drawn polyline will
be regarded as a one entity, regardless of the number of points joined. The current line parameters
are used.

Related commands :
Auto line, Box, Break polyline

206
Auto line

Menu : Line
Command : Auto
Description : Draw a line between two points
Short form : LA
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 [coord3 . . . coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to draw straight lines between pairs of points. Each line drawn will be
regarded as a separate entity.

Related commands :
Line, Box, Parallel single line

207
Box

Menu : Line
Command : Box
Description : Draw a box between two points
Short form : LB
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to draw a rectangular box with the specified points as corners. If ortho mode
has been selected, the box will be orientated according to the current ortho angle. The box will be
regarded as a single entity.

Related commands :
Line, Auto line, Break polyline, Ortho mode, Ortho angle

208
Parallel polyline

Menu : Line
Command : Parallel polyline
Description : Draw a parallel polyline
Short form : LP
Parameters : Entity Coord1/dist1 [coord2/dist2 . . . coordN/distN]

Notes :
The command is used to draw parallel polylines. The offset distance from each polyline or the
points to pass through are specified. The parallel polylines will have the current system line
parameters and will be drawn on the current layer irrespective the original line's layer. If
construction mode is enabled, parallel construction lines are drawn.

Related commands :
Parallel single line, Perpendicular line, Construction mode

209
Parallel single line

Menu : Line
Command : Parallel single line
Description : Draw a parallel single line
Short form : LO
Parameters : Entity coord1/dist1 [coord2/dist2 . . . coordN/distN]

Notes :
The command is used to draw parallel line segments. The offset distance from each line or the
points to pass through are specified. The parallel lines will have the current system line parameters
and will be drawn on the current layer irrespective the original line's layer. If construction mode is
enabled, parallel construction lines are drawn.

If a polyline is indicated, only lines parallel to the indicated segment will be drawn.

Related commands :
Parallel polyline, Perpendicular line, Construction mode

210
Perpendicular line

Menu : Line
Command : Perpendicular line
Description : Draw a perpendicular line between two points
Short form : LR
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 entity

Notes :
The command is used to draw a line perpendicular to the indicated line, through a point up to a
position perpendicular to a second point.

Related commands :
Parallel polyline, Parallel single line

211
Tangent two circles

Menu : Line
Command : Tangent two circles
Description : Draw a line tangent to two circles
Short form : LT
Parameter : Entity1,Entity2

Notes :
The command is used to draw a line tangential to two circles or arcs.

Depending on the position where the two source circles/arcs are indicated, different results can be
obtained. All possible tangential lines to the two circles/arcs are determined and the line with the
best correspondence to the positions on the source circles/arcs is then drawn.

If construction mode is enabled, a tangential construction line is drawn.

Related commands :
Parallel polyline, Parallel one line, Perpendicular line, Construction mode

212
Sketch

Menu : Line
Command : Sketch
Description : Sketch a line or shape freehand
Short form : LK
Parameter : None

Notes :
The command is used to sketch a line or shape of any form freehand. The current system line
parameters are used, even in construction mode.

Select the Sketch command and then hold the left mouse button down while sketching. Releasing
the mouse button ends the Sketch command.

To delete an entire sketch line, use the Erase polyline or Block delete commands. Use the Erase
line command if you wish to delete segments of the sketched line only. Note that curved lines
consist of many short line segments which can be tedious to delete individually.

Related commands :
Line

213
Revision Cloud

Menu : Line
Command : Revision Cloud
Description : Draw a revision cloud with label
Short form : LV
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 text

Notes :
The command is used to draw a revision cloud around selected items that have been edited on a
drawing. The revision cloud can also be labelled.

The size of the arcs from which the cloud is a function of the text size, and can thus be altered by
changing the size of the text under Set/ Text parameters.

Related commands :
Sketch, Text parameters, Line parameters

214
Get line parameters

Menu : Line
Command : Get parameters
Description : Read the line parameters of a drawing entity
Short form : LG
Parameter : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to assign the line parameters, i.e. pen and line type and attribute, of the
indicated drawing entity to the current system line parameters.

Related commands :
Line parameters, Set line parameters

215
Set line parameters

Menu : Line
Command : Set parameters
Description : Assign the current line parameters to a drawing entity
Short form : LS
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to assign the current system line parameters, i.e. pen and line type and
attribute, to the indicated drawing entity.

Related commands :
Line parameters, Get line parameters

216
Construction crosshair

Menu : Line (Construction)

Command : Construction crosshair
Description : Draw a construction crosshair
Short form : L+
Parameters : Coord1 [coord2 . . . coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to draw a crosshair, consisting of a vertical and horizontal construction line,
at the indicated point. If ortho mode has been selected, the construction crosshair will be orientated
according to the current ortho angle.

Related commands :
Horizontal construction line, Vertical construction line, Construction mode, Ortho mode, Ortho
angle

217
Horizontal construction line

Menu : Line (Construction)

Command : Horizontal line
Description : Draw a horizontal construction line
Short form : LX
Parameters : Coord1 [coord2 . . . coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to draw a horizontal construction line through the indicated point. If ortho
mode has been selected, the construction line will be orientated according to the current ortho
angle.

Related commands :
Construction crosshair, Vertical construction line, Ortho mode, Ortho angle

218
Vertical construction line

Menu : Line (Construction)

Command : Vertical line
Description : Draw a vertical construction line
Short form : LY
Parameters : Coord1 [coord2 . . . coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to draw a vertical construction line through the indicated point. If ortho
mode has been selected, the construction line will be orientated according to the current ortho
angle.

Related commands :
Construction crosshair, Horizontal construction line, Ortho mode, Ortho angle

219
Divide angle

Menu : Line (Construction)

Command : Divide angle
Description : Draw one or more construction lines intersecting an angle
Short form : LD
Parameters : Real [entity1 , entity2]

Notes :
The command is used to draw one or more construction lines dividing the angle defined by two
lines. The lines should be selected in an anti-clockwise direction. One less construction line will be
drawn than the number of equal angle segments that is specified

Related commands :
Construction crosshair, Horizontal construction line, Vertical construction line

220
Construction mode

Menu : Line (Construction)

Command : Construction mode
Description : Select/unselect construction mode
Short form : LC
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to enable or disable construction mode. When the construction mode is
selected, all lines drawn using the line drawing commands will be construction lines.

In the default setup of PADDS the O button on the status line at the bottom of the screen can be
used to toggle construction mode. Construction mode can be enable or disabled at any stage during
the execution of a command.

Related commands :
Hide construction lines

221
Hide construction lines

Menu : Line (Construction)

Command : Hide construction lines
Description : Hide or display all construction lines
Short form : LH
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to hide or display all displayed construction lines. Hidden construction lines
can not be snapped to.

Related commands :
Construction mode

222
Tangent spline

Menu : Line (Splines)

Command : Tangent spline
Description : Draw a spline tangential to a number of control points
Short form : L1
Parameters : Coord1, Coord2 [Coord3….CoordN ]

Notes :
The command is used to draw a spline tangential to a number of control points. The spline will start
and end at the midpoints of the first and last connecting chords and touch all intermediate chords.
The current line parameters are used. Points can be preset using the mouse or keyboard.

A spline is regarded as a special polyline entity and can be converted to a normal polyline using the
Vectorize spline command. A spline's control point can be moved using the Move control points
command.

The Edit entity info command can also be used to edit a spline. When changing a spline to a normal
polyline, the resulting polyline will not have the same shape as the original spline but rather be a
polyline connecting the original spline's control points.

Related commands :
Edit entity info, Forced spline, Vectorize spline, Move control points

223
Forced spline

Menu : Line (Splines)

Command : Forced spline
Description : Draw a spline through a number of control points
Short form : L2
Parameters : Coord1, Coord2 [Coord3….CoordN ]

Notes :
The command is used to draw a spline through a number of control points. The current line
parameters are used. Points can be preset using the mouse or keyboard.

A spline is regarded as a special polyline entity and can be converted to a normal polyline using the
Vectorize spline command. A spline's control point can be moved using the Move control points
command.

The Edit entity info command can also be used to edit a spline. When changing a spline to a normal
polyline, the resulting polyline will not have the same shape as the original spline but rather be a
polyline connecting the original spline's control points.

Related commands :
Edit entity info, Tangent spline, Vectorize spline, Move control points

224
Vectorize spline

Menu : Line (Splines)

Command : Vectorize spline
Description : Convert a spline to a polyline
Short form : L3
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to convert a spline to a normal polyline with the same shape.

The converted polyline can be further broken into single line segments using the Break polyline or
Block Break polylines command.

The Edit entity info command can be used to change a spline to a normal polyline. The resulting
polyline will not have the same shape as the original spline but rather be a polyline connecting the
original spline's control points.

Related commands :
Edit entity info, Break polyline, Block break polylines, Vectorize hatch

225
Move control point

Menu : Line (Splines)

Command : Move control point
Description : Move a spline’s control point
Short form : L4
Parameters : Entity, Coord1, Coord2

Notes :
The command is used to move one the control points of the indicated spline. Specify the distance
and orientation to move by entering an offset or indicating two relative points.

The Edit entity info command can also be used to change a spline's control point coordinates. The
Stretch function can also be applied to a spline.

Related commands :
Edit entity info, Stretch

226
Parabola

Menu : Line (Splines)

Command : Parabola
Description : Draw a parabola through three points
Short form : L5
Parameters : Coord1, Coord2, Coord3

Notes :
The command is used to draw a parabola through three points, namely the parabola start point, a
point on the parabola and the end point.

A parabola is treated as a polyline and the polyline commands are valid for a parabola.

Related commands :
Edit entity info, Break polyline, Make polyline, Parallel polyline

227
The Circle menu
The commands on the Circle menu are used to draw circle, ellipses and circular and elliptical arcs.

The Circle commands are grouped as follows:

Circle drawing commands:
Circle
Circle two points
Circle three points
Circular arc drawing commands:
Arc angle
Arc radius
Arc continue
Arc two elements
Arc three elements
Ellipse and elliptical arc drawing commands:
Ellipse
Elliptical arc
Oblique circle

228
Circle

Menu : Circle
Command : Centre and radius
Description : Draw a circle
Short formt : CC
Parameters : Coord1 real/coord2

Notes :
The command is used to draw a circle with the indicated centre point and radius. The current line
parameters are used.

Related commands :
Circle two points, Circle three points, Ellipse

229
Circle two points

Menu : Circle
Command : Two points
Description : Draw a circle through two points
Short form : C2
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to draw a circle through two points.

Related commands :
Circle, Circle three points, Ellipse

230
Circle three points

Menu : Circle
Command : Three points
Description : Draw a circle through three points
Short form : C3
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3

Notes :
The command is used to draw a circle through three points.

Related commands :
Circle, Circle three points, Ellipse

231
Arc angle

Menu : Circle (Arc)

Command : Start point, centre point and angle
Description : Draw a circular arc
Short form : C4
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 angle/coord3

Notes :
The command is used to draw a circular arc from a point, clockwise about the specified centre
point up to the specified angle or point specified defining the angle. The angle is defined by a line
from the centre point. The current line parameters are used.

Related commands :
Arc continue, Arc radius, Elliptical arc

232
Arc radius

Menu : Circle (Arc)

Command : Start point, endpoint and radius
Description : Draw a circular arc through two points
Short form : C5
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 real/coord3

Notes :
The command is used to draw a circular arc between two points, clockwise and with the specified
radius or through a third point.

Related commands :
Arc continue, Arc angle, Elliptical arc

233
Arc continue

Menu : Circle (Arc)

Command : Continue endpoint
Description : Extends an entity with a circular arc
Short form : C6
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to draw a circular arc from an end point of an entity, at the same angle of the
entity at that point, to another point.

Related commands :
Arc angle, Arc radius, Elliptical arc

234
Arc two elements

Menu : Circle (Arc)

Command : Two elements and radius or centre point
Description : Draw an arc tangential to two lines, arcs or circles
Short form : C7
Parameters : Entity1, Entity2, Real/Coord1

Notes :
The command is used to draw a circular arc at the specified radius tangential to two entities. The
tangential entities may be lines, arcs or circles and the centre point of the arc may be indicated or
the radius entered. For circles and arcs, more than one tangential arc may be possible, in which
case the tangential arc nearest to the indicated points will then be selected.

The current line parameters are used. If construction mode is enabled, a construction arc will be
drawn.

Related commands :
Arc angle, Arc radius, Elliptical arc, Arc continue, Arc three elements

235
Arc three elements

Menu : Circle (Arc)

Command : Three elements
Description : Draw an arc tangential to three lines, circles or arcs
Short form : C8
Parameters : Entity1 entity2 entity3

Notes :
The command is used to draw a circular arc tangential to three entities. The tangential entities may
be lines, arcs or circles. For circles and arcs, more than one tangential arc may be possible, in
which case the arc nearest to the indicated points will then be selected.

The current line parameters are used. If construction mode is enabled, a construction arc will be
drawn.

Related commands :
Arc angle, Arc radius, Elliptical arc, Arc continue, Arc two elements

236
Ellipse

Menu : Circle (Ellipse)

Command : Ellipse
Description : Draw an ellipse
Short form : CE
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3

Notes :
The command is used to draw an ellipse through two specified points on a main axis and a point on
the second main axis, perpindicular to a third specified point. The current line parameters are used.

Related commands :
Circle, Cicle two points, Circle three points, Elliptical arc

237
Elliptical arc

Menu : Circle (Ellipse)

Command : Elliptical arc
Description : Draw an elliptical arc
Short form : CA
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3

Notes :
The command is used to draw an elliptical arc between two specified points, clockwise about the
specified centre point. The current line parameters are used.

Related commands :
Arc angle, Arc radius, Arc continue, Ellipse

238
Oblique circle

Menu : Circle (Ellipse)

Command : Oblique circle
Description : Draw an oblique circle
Short form : CO
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3

Notes :
The command is used to draw an ellipse, representing an oblique circle, with the indicated centre
point and two axis intersecting points.

The current line parameters are used. If construction mode is enabled, a construction ellipse will be
drawn.

Related commands :
Circle, Ellipse

239
The Text menu
The function of the commands on the Text menu is to allow the editing of text and text parameters
for both individual text entities and for system text parameters.

The commands on the Text menu are:

Text
Multi-line text
Edit text
Detail text edit
Move text
Copy text
Text caption
Text box
Text to file
Text angle
Text parameters
Get text parameters
Set text parameters
Convert to uppercase
Convert to lowercase

240
Text

Menu : Text
Command : Text
Description : Write single line text
Short form : TT
Parameters : Coord, text

Notes :
The command is used to write single line text at the specified point. Text parameters, direction and
justification are determined by the current system text parameter settings.

A single line is normally edited using the Edit text command but can be converted to multi-line text
using the Detail text edit command.

Related commands :
Multi-line text, Caption, Edit text

241
Multi-line text

Menu : Text
Command : Multi-line text
Description : Write more than one line of text
Short form : TU
Parameters : Text, coord

Notes :
The command is used to write multi-line text at the specified point. The text editor is used to input
multi-line text in a separate window, thereby facilitating advanced editing functions.

242
The text parameters are briefly as follows:
Justification, i.e. either top, middle or bottom combined with either left, centre or right. The
justification can be typed is an abbreviation, eg "LB" for left bottom, or by clicking the
position in the picture.
Text pen number : The eight available pen numbers refer to the line thickness associated
with each pen number. If a drawing is scaled when printed, its pen widths are scaled
accordingly.
Text font
Text height in millimetres.
Text width as a factor of text height.
Line spacing as a factor of text height.
Text angle in degrees.
For further details on text parameters, refer to Chapter 3 of the User’s guide.

Text can be also read from a text file or saved as a text file using the Read from file and Save to file
buttons. Font types can be added or removed using the Add font and Delete font buttons.

Related commands :
Text, Caption, Detail text edit

243
Edit text

Menu : Text
Command : Edit text
Description : Edit a single line text
Short form : TE
Parameters : Entity, text

Notes :
The command is used to edit single line text, including caption and dimension text. A text entity is
selected by indicating a point inside the imaginary rectangle enclosing it. If multi-line text is
selected, the Detail text edit command is executed instead. The current text parameters are used.

Related commands :
Detail text edit

244
Detail text edit

Menu : Text
Command : Detail text edit
Description : Edit a multi-line text and its parameters
Short form : TD
Parameters : Entity, text

Notes :
The command is used to edit multi-line text and its text parameters. Single line text can also be
converted to multi-line text using this command.

The multi-line text window appears, allowing editing of all parameters. Refer to Multi-line Text in
the Command Reference and Chapter 3 in the User’s guide for further information.

Related commands :
Edit text, Get text parameters, Set text parameters

245
Move text

Menu : Text
Command : Move text
Description : Move a text entity
Short form : TM
Parameters : Entity, coord1

Notes :
The command is used to move single line or multi-line text entities, including caption and
dimension text. A text entity is selected by indicating a point inside the imaginary rectangle
enclosing that line of text.

Related commands :
Copy text, Block move

246
Copy text

Menu : Text
Command : Copy text
Description : Copy a text entity
Short form : TC
Parameters : Entity, coord1

Notes :
The command is used to copy single line or multi-line text entities, including caption and
dimension text. A text entity is selected by indicating a point inside the imaginary rectangle
enclosing that line of text.

Related commands :
Move text, Block copy

247
Caption

Menu : Text
Command : Caption
Description : Create a text caption
Short form : TN
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3 text

Notes :
The command is used to write a single line text caption at the specified point and draw the caption
lines and arrow at the points specified.

The text parameters, direction, justification and line parameters are determined by the current
system settings. The caption line is drawn using the current system dimension line parameters.

Related commands :
Text, Multi-line text

248
Box

Menu : Text
Command : Box
Description : Draw a box around a text entity
Short form : TB
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to draw a box around a text entity. The current system line parameters are
used. If construction mode is enabled, construction lines will be drawn.

An island can also be created for a text entity in a hatched area using the Hatch text island
command.

Related commands :
Hatch text island

249
Text to file

Menu : Text
Command : Text to file
Description : Read text entities and save them
Short form : TF
Parameters : Filename, entity1 [entity2...entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to read one or more text entities and write them to the specified file. This is
an easy way of extracting text from a drawing for editing it in a word processing package. The Save
as window appears, requiring a file name and position in which to save the file.

The Detail text edit command can also be used to edit a text entity and save it in a text file. Survey
coordinates can also be indicated and saved to a file with the Survey coordinates to file command
on the Point menu.

Related commands :
Detail text edit, Survey coordinates to file

250
Text angle

Menu : Text
Command : Angle
Description : Set the text angle
Short form : TA
Parameters : Real / entity

Notes :
The command is used to set the system text angle. Enter the new angle between 0º and 360º, or
indicate a line entity at the desired angle.

The text angle can also be set with the Text parameters and Detail text edit commands. To keep
text from being rotated, the Get text parameters and Set text parameters commands do not take the
text angle parameter into account.

Related commands :
Text parameters, Detail text edit, Get text parameters, Set text parameters

251
Text parameters

Menu : Text
Command : Parameters
Description : Set the system text parameters
Short form : TP
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to set the system text parameters.

The text parameters are briefly as follows:

Justification, i.e. either top, middle or bottom combined with either left, centre or right. The
justification can be typed is an abbreviation, eg "LB" for left bottom, or by clicking the
position in the picture.
Text pen number : The eight available pen numbers refer to the line thickness associated
with each pen number. If a drawing is scaled when printed, its pen widths are scaled
accordingly.
Text font
Text height in millimetres.
Text width as a factor of text height.
Line spacing as a factor of text height.

252
 Text angle in degrees.
For further details on text parameters, refer to Chapter 3 of the User’s guide.

Related commands :
Text angle, Detail text edit, Get text parameters, Set text parameters

253
Get text parameters

Menu : Text
Command : Get text parameters
Description : Read the text parameters of a drawing entity
Short form : TG
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to assign the text parameters, i.e. pen, font, justification, height, width factor
and line spacing, of the indicated text entity to the current system text parameters.

The current system text angle parameter is not affected by this command and must be edited using
the Text angle command.

Related commands :
Text angle, Text parameters, Set text parameters

254
Set text parameters

Menu : Text
Command : Set text parameters
Description : Set the text parameters of a drawing entity
Short form : TS
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to assign the current system text parameters, i.e. pen, font, justification,
height, width factor and line spacing, to the indicated drawing entity.

To keep text from being rotated, the current text angles are not affected by this command and must
be edited using the Detail text edit or Edit entity info commands.

Related commands :
Text parameters, Get text parameters, Detail text edit

255
Convert to uppercase

Menu : Text
Command : Convert to uppercase
Description : Convert a text entity to uppercase characters
Short form : TO
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2...entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to convert a text entity to uppercase characters.

Related commands :
Detail text edit, Convert to lowercase

256
Convert to lowercase

Menu : Text
Command : Convert to lowercase
Description : Convert a text entity to lowercase characters
Short form : TL
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2...entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to convert a text entity to lowercase characters.

Related commands :
Detail text edit, Convert to uppercase

257
The Point menu
The commands on the Points menu are used to set and clear points and also to setup the survey
coordinate system.

The Points commands are categorized as follows:

Normal point commands
Clear all points
Clear first point
Clear last point
Set point
Set points on line
Space (set N) points on line
Set point halfway
Move point
Show last position
Tick marks
Survey coordinates commands
Orientate two points
Orientate point and angle
Set survey point
Set distance and bearing
Get survey coordinate
Get distance and bearing
Survey coordinates to file
Contours to DTM file

258
Clear all points

Menu : Point
Command : Clear
Description : Clear all points
Short form : PC
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to clear all set points. It is sometimes more convenient to preset points
before executing a command. If, however, points are accidentally set, they should be cleared before
continuing.

Related commands :
Clear first point, Clear last point

259
Clear first point

Menu : Point
Command : Clear first
Description : Clear the first point set
Short form : PF
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to clear the first point set. It is sometimes more convenient to preset points
before executing a command. If, however, points are accidentally set, they should be cleared before
continuing.

Related commands :
Clear points, Clear last point

260
Clear last point

Menu : Point
Command : Clear last
Description : Clear the last point set
Short form : PL
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to clear the last point set. It is sometimes more convenient to preset points
before executing a command. If, however, points are accidentally set, they should be cleared before
continuing.

Related commands :
Clear points, Clear first point, Display last position

261
Set point

Menu : Point
Command : Set
Description : Set a point
Short form : PS
Parameters : Coord1 [coord2 . . . coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to set a point at the indicated position. This is the menu equivalent of setting
a point by clicking the mouse in the drawing area.

Related commands :
Move point

262
Set points on line

Menu : Point
Command : Set points on line
Description : Set some points at specified distances on a line
Short form : P0
Parameters : Entity dist1 [dist2 . . . distN]

Notes :
The command is used to set one or more points on a line. The first point is set the specified
distance from the nearest line end point in the direction of the other line end point. Subsequent
points are the specified distances from the previous points along the angle of the line.

Related commands :
Space points on line, Tick marks

263
Space points on line

Menu : Point
Command : Set N points on line
Description : Set some equally spaced points on a line
Short form : PN
Parameters : Entity integer

Notes :
The command is used to set a one or more equally spaces points on a line.

Related commands :
Set points on line, Set point halfway, Tick marks

264
Set point halfway

Menu : Point
Command : Set point halfway in between
Description : Set a point halfway between the other points
Short form : PS
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to set a point exactly halfway between two other points.

Related commands :
Space points on line

265
Move point

Menu : Point
Command : Move
Description : Move the last point
Short form : PM
Parameters : Coord

Notes :
The command is used to move the last point the distance of the relative coordinate specified. The
entered coordinate is treated as a relative coordinate, even if it is not preceded with the usual '+'
character.

It is sometimes more convenient to preset points before executing a command. If, however, a point
is set incorrectly, or a point is set at an easy-to-snap-to position, this command can be used to move
it a certain distance away.

Related commands :
Set point

266
Show last position

Menu : Point
Command : Show last position
Description : Highlight the position of the last point
Short form : PH
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to highlight the last point set, even if it has been cleared in the meantime.

Related commands :
Set point

267
Tick marks

Menu : Point
Command : Tick marks
Description : Set chained points on a line, circle or arc
Short form : PT
Parameters : Real entity

Notes :
The command is used to set a series of equally spaced chained points along the length of a
continuous series of lines and arcs or on a circle. Points are set at the chainage positions and also at
all intersections.

Related commands :
Set points on line, Space points on line, Set point halfway

268
Orientate two points

Menu : Point
Command : Orientate two points
Description : Orientate the survey coordinate system by indicating two known points
Short form : P1
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coordS1 coordS2

Notes :
The command is used to orientate the survey coordinate system by indicating two known points and
entering their survey coordinates.

Related commands :
Orientate point and angle

269
Orientate point and angle

Menu : Point
Command : Orientate point and angle
Description : Orientate the survey coordinate system by indicating a known point and the
angle for south
Short form : P2
Parameters : Coord1 coordS1 angle

Notes :
The command is used to orientate the survey coordinate system by indicating a known point and
entering the corresponding survey coordinate and the angle for south.

Related commands :
Orientate two points

270
Set survey point

Menu : Point
Command : Set survey point
Description : Set a survey coordinate by typing a coordinate
Short form : P3
Parameters : Coord1

Notes :
The command is used to set a survey coordinate by entering it.

Related commands :
Set distance and bearing

271
Set distance and bearing

Menu : Point
Command : Set distance and bearing
Description : Set a survey coordinate by entering a distance and bearing
Short form : P4
Parameters : Dist angle

Notes :
The command is used to set a survey coordinate by entering the distance and bearing from the last
point set.

Related commands :
Set survey point

272
Get survey coordinate

Menu : Point
Command : Get survey point
Description : Read a survey point
Short form : P5
Parameters : Coord1 [coord2 . . . coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to read the indicated survey coordinates.

Related commands :
Get distance and bearing, Survey coordinates to file

273
Get distance and bearing

Menu : Point
Command : Orientate two points
Description : Calculate the distance and bearing between two survey coordinates
Short form : P6
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to calculate the distance and bearing between two survey coordinates.

Related commands :
Get survey coordinate, Coordinates to file

274
Survey coordinates to file

Menu : Point
Command : Coordinates to file
Description : Read survey coordinates and save them to disk
Short form : P7
Parameters : Coord1 [coord2 . . .coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to read one or more survey coordinates and write them to disk. The
coordinate table is stored in a file named COORD.TXT.

Contours can also be traced and saved as 3D coordinates in a DTM file using the Contours to DTM
file command.

Related commands :
Get survey coordinate, Get distance and bearing, Contours to DTM file, Text to file

275
Contours to DTM file

Menu : Point
Command : Contours to DTM file
Description : Save coordinates on contours to a 3D DTM file
Short form : P8
Parameters : Dialogue/file name real enitity1 real1 [entity2 real2 . . . entityN realN]

Notes :
The command is used to trace a contour plan and create a 3D coordinate file for use with a DTM
system. Coordinates are read at the specified interval and the list saved to the specified text file. A
height is entered before selecting each contour line. Survey coordinates will be written to the DTM
file if a survey coordinate system has been set up. A no survey coordinate system has been set up,
normal drawing coordinates will be used.

Related commands :
Survey coordinates to file

276
The Hatch menu
The function of the commands on the Hatch menu is to allow the hatching of certain areas and the
editing of hatch parameters. Hatch definition points and origins can also be edited.

The commands on the Hatch menu are:

Polygon hatch
Outline hatch
Area hatch
Move point
Delete point
Insert point
Text island
Vectorize hatch
Edit hatch pattern
Parameters
Change origin
Get hatch parameters
Set hatch parameters
Hide hatching

277
Polygon hatch

Menu : Hatch
Command : Polygon hatch
Description : Hatch an area by indicating a polygon
Short form : HH
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3 [coord4..coordN] coordN+1

Notes :
The command is used to hatch an area by indicating three or more points of a polygon. An
additional point is required to define the hatch origin. Clicking on another hatch reads that hatch's
origin. The hatch is drawn using the current system hatch parameters.

A hatch area can be changed using the Move hatch point, Delete hatch point and Insert hatch point
commands. A different hatch pattern can be assigned to a hatch with the Set hatch parameters
function. Edit entity info can also be used to edit hatch patterns and points.

An area can also be hatched using the Outline hatch and Area hatch commands. A hole can be
inserted in a hatch by hatching an area inside it using the same hatch parameters. Alternatively
additional hatch points can be inserted using the Insert hatch point command. Another hatch can be
overlaid by indicating an area starting outside the hatch in question.

Related commands :
Area hatch, Outline hatch

278
Outline hatch

Menu : Hatch
Command : Outline hatch
Description : Hatch an area by tracing an outline
Short form : HO
Parameters : Entity coord1

Notes :
The command is used to hatch an area by tracing its outline. Indicate a point near the outline,
slightly to the side to be hatched. Starting it the indicated position, the line and arc end points are
then traced. A second point is required to define the hatch origin. Clicking on another hatch reads
that hatch's origin. The hatch is drawn using the current system hatch parameters.

A hatch area can be changed using the Move hatch point, Delete hatch point and Insert hatch point
commands. A different hatch pattern can be assigned to a hatch with the Set hatch parameters
function. Edit entity info can also be used to edit hatch patterns and points.

An area can also be hatched using the Polygon hatch and Area hatch commands. A hole can be
inserted in a hatch by hatching an area inside it using the same hatch parameters. Alternatively
additional hatch points can be inserted using the Insert hatch point command. Another hatch can be
overlaid by indicating an area starting outside the hatch in question.

Related commands :
Area hatch, Polygon hatch

279
Area hatch

Menu : Hatch
Command : Area hatch
Description : Hatch an area by detecting it
Short form : HA
Parameters : Entity coord1

Notes :
The command is used to hatch an area by auto-detecting it. Indicate a point near the perimeter,
slightly to the side to be hatched. Starting at the indicated position, the line, circle and arc
intersections are then traced. A second point is required to define the hatch origin. Clicking on
another hatch reads that hatch's origin. The hatch is drawn using the current system hatch
parameters.

A hatch area can be changed using the Move hatch point, Delete hatch point and Insert hatch point
commands. A different hatch pattern can be assigned to a hatch with the Set hatch parameters
function. Edit entity info can also be used to edit hatch patterns and points.

An area can also be hatched using the Polygon hatch and Area hatch commands. A hole can be
inserted in a hatch by hatching an area inside it using the same hatch parameters. Alternatively
additional hatch points can be inserted using the Insert hatch point command. Another hatch can be
overlaid by indicating an area starting outside the hatch in question.

Related commands :
Outline hatch, Polygon hatch

280
Move point

Menu : Hatch
Command : Move point
Description : Move a point on a hatch perimeter
Short form : HM
Parameters : Entity coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to move a point on a hatch perimeter. Indicate the relevant hatch perimeter to
highlight its perimeter points. Then click the point to move and indicate its new position. The
point's new coordinate can also be typed as an absolute or relative coordinate.

A point on a hatch perimeter can also be edited using the Edit entity info command. Hatch
perimeter points can also be deleted and inserted using the Delete hatch point and Insert hatch
point commands.

Related commands :
Edit entity info, Delete hatch point, Insert hatch point

281
Delete point

Menu : Hatch
Command : Delete point
Description : Delete a point on a hatch perimeter
Short form : HD
Parameters : Entity coord

Notes :
The command is used to delete a point on a hatch perimeter. Indicate the relevant hatch perimeter
to highlight its perimeter points. Then click the point to delete.

Hatch perimeter points can also be moved and inserted using the Move hatch point and Insert hatch
point commands.

Related commands :
Move hatch point, Insert hatch point

282
Insert point

Menu : Hatch
Command : Insert point
Description : Insert a point on a hatch perimeter
Short form : HI
Parameters : Entity coord

Notes :
The command is used to insert a point on a hatch perimeter. Indicate the relevant hatch perimeter
on the side of the perimeter where the new point is to be inserted. Then click the point indicate the
new point's position. The point's new coordinate can also be typed as an absolute coordinate.

Hatch perimeter points can also be moved and deleted using the Move hatch point and Delete hatch
point commands.

Related commands :
Move hatch point, Delete hatch point

283
Text island

Menu : Hatch
Command : Text island
Description : Draw an island around a text entity
Short form : HT
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to remove a rectangular hatch area around the indicated text entity. No lines
are drawn on the island perimeter.

A hole can be inserted in a hatch by hatching an area inside it using the same hatch parameters. The
Text box command can also be used to draw a box around a text entity.

If a hatch area contains text islands, the area of the text islands will be subtracted when calculating
the hatch area using the Dimension measure hatch area command.

Related commands :
Text box

284
Vectorize hatch

Menu : Hatch
Command : Vectorize hatch
Description : Convert a hatch to a polyline
Short form : HV
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to convert a hatch to a polyline with exactly the same appearance.

If holes must be created in the resulting polyline, the Block define cut and Block delete commands
can be used. A polyline can also be converted to single line segments with the Break polyline
command. Groups of polylines can be broken by defining them in a block and then applying the
Break polylines command on the block menu.

Related commands :
Break polyline, Break polylines, Vectorize spline

285
Edit hatch pattern

Menu : Hatch
Command : Edit hatch pattern
Description : Edit the current system hatch pattern
Short form : HE
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to edit the current system hatch pattern. Changes made to the pattern can be
viewed in the pattern preview window.

A hatch pattern is defined by a number of lines with the following parameters:

Angle : The angle is the line, measured anti-clockwise with 0º pointing to the right.
Origin : The origin in millimetre in the global axes system. The global origin corresponds
to the bottom left corner of the pattern preview window.
Delta : Enter the repeating spacing of the line in millimeter. Delta comprise two values:
Spacing in the direction of the line.
Spacing perpendicular to the line. This value may not be zero since it will imply
no transverse distribution of the line.
Dashes : Alternating lengths of solid line segments and blanks, eg 2.0,-4.0,2.0,-8.0 for

286
 2mm dashes with gaps alternating at 4mm and 8mm. A blank is defined by a leading
minus sign. Up to three pairs of solids and dashes can be specified. If this field is left
blank, a solid line is used.

The pattern preview window is updated every time the ENTER key is pressed. The hatch pattern is
displayed using the current system line parameters, i.e. pen and line type.

The following is required:

Pattern name : Enter a compulsory pattern name comprising up to 15 characters. Any
characters except commas may be used.
Description : This is optional.
Scale factor : For enlarging or reducing the hatch pattern. A value greater than one will
enlarge the pattern. The default scale factor is unity.
Angle : Angle to rotate the hatch pattern with. The default value is zero.
Scaling system : Select between drawing and paper scale. With drawing scale the hatch
pattern will be scaled with the layer scale, eg brickwork drawn to 1:50 scale. Paper scale
allows hatch patterns to be drawn full-size, eg a soil profile drawn full-size on 1:100 layer.
Select a pattern file : Two pattern files are distributed with PADDS, namely
PADDS.PAT (general patterns) and GEOTECH.PAT (geotechnical patterns for soil
profiling).
Add pattern to file : Save the edited pattern to the current pattern file. If a pattern by the
same name already exists in the pattern file, a prompt to overwrite will be displayed.

A drawn hatch pattern also can be modified using the Edit entity info command.

Related commands :
Edit entity info, Hatch parameters

287
Parameters

Menu : Hatch
Command : Parameters
Description : Set the system hatch parameters
Short form : HP
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to set the system hatch parameters.

The following parameters can be edited:

Select a pattern file : Two pattern files are distributed with PADDS, namely
PADDS.PAT (general patterns) and GEOTECH.PAT (geotechnical patterns for soil
profiling).
Scale factor : For enlarging or reducing the hatch pattern. A value greater than one will
enlarge the pattern. The default scale factor is unity.
Angle : Angle to rotate the hatch pattern with. The default value is zero.
Scaling system : Select between drawing and paper scale. With drawing scale the hatch

288
 pattern will be scaled with the layer scale, eg brickwork drawn to 1:50 scale. Paper scale
allows hatch patterns to be drawn full-size, eg a soil profile drawn full-size on 1:100 layer.

Select a hatch pattern by clicking it. The scroll arrows can be clicked to move up or down to other
pages of the same hatch pattern file.

The current hatch pattern can be modified and saved back to the hatch pattern file with the Edit
hatch pattern command.

Related commands :
Edit hatch pattern, Get hatch parameters, Set hatch parameters

289
Change origin

Menu : Hatch
Command : Change origin
Description : Change the origin of a drawn hatch entity
Short form : HC
Parameters : Entity point/entity

Notes :
The command is used to assign a new origin to a drawn hatch entity, eg. to make it match with an
adjacent hatch entity.

When indicating the new origin, one can indicate another drawn hatch entity to force the origin to
be the same as that hatch entity's origin.

Related commands :
Hatch parameters, Set hatch parameters, Get hatch parameters

290
Get hatch parameters

Menu : Hatch
Command : Get hatch parameters
Description : Read the hatch parameters of a drawn hatch entity
Short form : HG
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to assign the hatch parameters, i.e. pattern name, scale factor, angle, scaling
system, pen number and line type, of the indicated hatch entity to the current system hatch
parameters.

The pen number and line type can also be read from a line, circle or arc using the Get line
parameters command.

Related commands :
Hatch parameters, Set hatch parameters, Get line parameters

291
Set hatch parameters

Menu : Hatch
Command : Set hatch parameters
Description : Set the hatch parameters of a drawn hatch entity
Short form : HS
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to assign the current system hatch parameters, i.e. pattern name, scale factor,
angle, scaling system, pen number and line type, to the indicated hatch entities.

The hatch parameters can also be modified using the Edit entity info command.

Related commands :
Hatch parameters, Get hatch parameters, Edit entity info

292
Hide hatching

Menu : Hatch
Command : Hide hatching
Description : Disables or enables the display of all hatch patterns
Short form : H1
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to hide or display all hatch patterns. Similar to layers that are turned off,
hidden hatching cannot be snapped to and is not printed or plotted.

Related commands :
Hide construction lines, One layer on/off, All layers on, All layers off

293
The Rebar menu
The Rebar commands are used to draw, label and / or schedule reinforcement bars. The required
concrete cover, scheduling code and rebar drawing parameters to be used can be set. Quick zone
commands allow various rebar configurations to be drawn, labelled and scheduled all in a single
command. Rebars that have already been drawn can be labelled and scheduled by indicating the
rebars.

The Rebar commands are grouped as follows:

General rebar commands:
Bar
Bar ABCDE
Dot
Ring
Extend bar
Concrete cover
Rebar pen
Indicate beam
Curtail bar end
Rotate bar
Bar line mode
Tendon or cable
Scheduling code
Add shape code 99
Quick zone commands:
Multiple bars
Alternate bars reversed
Staggered bars
Stepped bars
Fan zone
Circular grid
No bar zone
Indicate drawn bars:
Text on bar
Indicate one bar
Indicate two bars
Indicate zone with one bar
Indicate zone with two bars
Multiple zones with one bar
Multiple zones with two bars

294
Parallel zones with one bar
Parallel zones with two bars

295
Bar

Menu : Rebar
Command : Bar
Description : Draw a rebar
Short form : RB
Parameters : Shape coord1 coord2 [coord3 . . . coordN] confirm

Notes :
The command is used to draw a rebar entity, optionally shrinking it with the concrete cover values.
The number of bar handles required to define a rebar depends on its shape code. Each rebar entity
possesses a complete set of attributes defining its actual shape and appearance on screen. All new
rebars are drawn as solid lines in the current rebar pen. A rebar's line style and other parameters
can be changed with the Edit entity info command.

Although the points for the rebar handles are set in the normal fashion, the process can sometimes
be simplified by enabling ortho mode. If enabled, ortho mode is intelligently overruled to aid the
definition of certain rebars.

On confirmation, the rebar's dimensions can be reduced with the concrete cover.

A drawn rebar's dimensions can be changed using the Extend bar or Stretch commands. With the

296
Edit entity info command, one can modify all the parameters of a rebar. Once a scheduled rebar's
dimensions have changed, its record in the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Drawn rebar entities can be distributed over one or more zones using the rebar indicating
commands.

Refer to Chapter 7 of the User's manual for a detailed discussion on rebar entities, their handles and
default orientations.

Related commands :
Bar ABCDE, Dot, Ring, Edit entity info

297
Bar ABCDE

Menu : Rebar
Command : Bar ABCDE
Description : Draw a rebar to dimension
Short form : RE
Parameters : Shape coord1 coord2/angle coord3 confirm integer1 [integer2..integerN]

Notes :
The command is used to draw a rebar entity of the specified dimensions, optionally shrinking it
with the concrete cover values. The first handle indicated is used to define the rebar's position.

The rebar's orientation is defined by entering an angle or setting a second point. The definition of
the rebar's orientation is completed by setting a last point to indicate which side of the first two
points it is located.

The final step comprises editing the rebar's bending dimensions. The dimensions to be edited
depend on the shape code specified.

Each rebar entity possesses a complete set of attributes defining its actual shape and appearance on
screen. All new rebars are drawn as solid lines in the current rebar pen. A rebar's line style and
other parameters can be changed with the Edit entity info command.

A drawn rebar's dimensions can be changed using the Extend bar or Stretch commands. With the

298
Edit entity info command, one can modify all the parameters of a rebar. Once a scheduled rebar's
dimensions have changed, its record in the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Drawn rebar entities can be distributed over one or more zones using the rebar indicating
commands.

Refer to Chapter 7 of the User's manual for a detailed discussion on rebar entities, their handles and
default orientations.

Related commands :
Bar, Dot, Ring, Edit entity info

299
Dot

Menu : Rebar
Command : Dot
Description : Draw a rebar dot
Short form : RD
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 [coord3 … coordN] integer

Notes :
The command is used to draw one or more dots. After indicating the position of the second dot, a
specified number of additional dots can be generated at the same bar spacing and inclination.

Dots do not have the same complete set of attributes that normal rebars have and can not be used to
generate bending schedules. Use the Edit entity info command to change a drawn dot's dimensions.

Refer to Chapter 7 of the User's manual for a detailed description of dots.

Related commands :
Bar, Bar ABCDE, Ring, Edit entity info

300
Ring

Menu : Rebar
Command : Ring
Description : Draw a rebar ring
Short form : RR
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 [coord3 … coordN] [integer]

Notes :
The command is used to draw one or more rings (hollow dots). After indicating the position of the
second ring, a specified number of additional rings can be generated at the same bar spacing and
inclination.

Rings do not have the same complete set of attributes that normal rebars have and can not be used
to generate bending schedules. Use the Edit entity info command to change a drawn ring's
dimensions.

Refer to Chapter 7 of the User's manual for a detailed description of rings.

Related commands :
Bar, Bar ABCDE, Dot, Edit entity info

301
Extend bar

Menu : Rebar
Command : Extend bar
Description : Lengthen or shorten a rebar dimension
Short form : RX
Parameters : Coord1 coord2/real

Notes :
The command is used to lengthen or shorten the indicated dimension of a rebar. Indicate the
dimension to be extended and indicate its new position. Alternatively enter the value of the
extension, a positive value indicating a lengthening and a negative value a shortening.

A rebar can also be extended with the Edit stretch command or edited with the Edit entity info
command.

Related commands :
Edit entity info, Edit stretch

302
Concrete cover

Menu : Rebar
Command : Cover
Description : Edit the concrete cover parameters
Short form : RC
Parameters : Integer1 integer2 integer3

Notes :
The command is used to specify the default concrete cover values. The top, bottom and side cover
are entered sequentially, separated by commas or spaces. The three values relate to the
corresponding edges of rebars in their default orientation. Refer to Chapter 7 of the User's manual
for detail on rebar shape codes and default orientations.

The concrete cover is optionally applied to all new rebar entities when using any of the rebar
drawing commands. When given the choice to reduce a rebar's dimensions with the concrete cover,
the default cover values can be edited first before applying them.

Related commands :
Rebar pen

303
Rebar pen (parameters)

Menu : Rebar
Command : Pen
Description : Select the rebar parameters
Short form : RP
Parameters : Integer

Notes :
The command is used to set the system rebar pen to the indicated or specified value. All new rebars
are drawn as solid lines in the colour of the system rebar pen. The actual plotted pen width
corresponding to each pen colour is set using the Set line parameters command. Valid line pen
colours are 1 through 8.

A rebar's parameters, including pen and line type, can be modified using the Edit entity info
command. A rebar drawn with a solid line can, for example, be changed to a hidden line.

Rebar description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

Related commands :
Edit entity info, Set line parameters, Bar line mode, Dimension parameters

304
Indicate beam

Menu : Rebar
Command : Indicate beam
Description : Draw a beam designation
Short form : RI
Parameters : Coord1, coord2, text

Notes :
The command is used to draw a beam description. A box is drawn, enclosing the entered beam
description, with arrows to the indicated points.

Two lines of text can be entered, separated with a comma, eg "BEAM 1,See BS 9001-01".

The box with its arrows and the descriptive text are drawn according to the current system line
parameters and dimension text parameters respectively.

Related commands :
Text caption

305
Curtail bar end

Menu : Rebar
Command : Curtail bar end
Description : Enable/disable curtailed display of bar ends
Short form : RU
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2…entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to enable or disable the curtailed display of a rebar's ends. The end nearest to
the indicated position on the rebar is curtailed or, if that end is already curtailed, it is expanded.

A rebar's curtailment can also be adjusted with the Edit entity info command. The curtailment
parameter is set using a two digit binary code:
Zero defines a normal expanded end and one enables a curtailed end.
The first digit refers to the end nearest to the rebar's first handle, eg. 10 to enable
curtailment at the first end only.
The second or only digit refers to the end nearest to the rebar's second handle, eg. 01 or
1 to enable curtailment at the second end only.
Both ends can also be curtailed simultaneously, eg. 11.
Related commands :
Edit entity info, Rotate bar Y sign

306
Rotate bar Y sign

Menu : Rebar
Command : Rotate bar Y sign
Description : Rotate bar in elevation or plan
Short form : RY
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to rotate a rebar in elevation or plan. When applied repeatedly to a rebar, its
Y-sign will be changed from +1 to 0 to -1 and back to +1.

A Y-sign can also be adjusted with the Edit entity info command. The Y-sign is set using a single
digit code:
Normal elevation : +1
Plan view : 0
Mirrored elevation : -1

Related commands :
Edit entity info, Curtail bar end

307
Bar line mode

Menu : Rebar
Command : Bar line mode
Description : Set the rebar line display mode
Short form : RL
Parameters : Character

Notes :
The command is used to set the way rebars are displayed as solid lines or as outlines. The
following options are available:
Single : Draw all rebars on the active drawing as single lines.
Double : Draw all rebars on the active drawing as outlines.
Auto : Allows PADDS to decide which rebars should be displayed as solid lines and
which ones should be displayed as outlines. If the scaled diameter of a rebar exceeds
three times the pen thickness, the rebar is shown as outline.

Tip : One would normally prefer to draw rebars as solid lines. For large scale details, however, one
may prefer to show detailed rebar layouts using outlines. Mixing solid and outlined rebars on the
same drawing can then be achieved by using the auto bar line mode. If a rebar is shown as a solid
line and you would prefer outlines, simply reduce its pen thickness. This will cause the scaled
thickness to exceed three times the line thickness and thus force outline mode.

Related commands :
Edit entity info, Rebar parameters (pen), Curtail bar end

308
Tendon or cable

Menu : Rebar
Command : Tendon/cable
Description : Draw a prestressed tendon or cable
Short form : RN
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to draw the layout of a group of prestressed tendons or cables.

A tendon layout is defined from the dead anchor to live anchor:

The first point set defines the position of the dead anchor.
Set as one or more additional points to define the tendon layout. Escape to stop setting
points. The last point set is used as the live anchor position.
Enter the description of the tendon:
Number of tendons in the bundle.
Bundle number, eg. B7.
Tendon profile number, eg. P5.
Confirm whether the dead anchor should be moved in with the value of the side cover.
Press E to edit the cover values.

The number of tendons in the bundle information is represented using the symbols shown below:

309
A bundle is identified using the following information:
The entered bundle number
The entered tendon profile number

Tip : Tendon profile schedules can be generated using Captain.

Related commands :
Indicate beam, Rebar parameters (pen)

310
Scheduling code

Menu : Rebar
Command : Scheduling code
Description : Set the scheduling code to be used
Short form : RH
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to select the scheduling code to be used in detailing rebars. The user has a
choice between SABS 082 and BS 4466/89.

Note that bending schedules generated from PROKON design programs will be drawn and
scheduled according to the detailing codes selected in

Related commands :
None

311
Multiple bars

Menu : Rebar (Quick zones)

Command : Multiple bars
Description : Draw a rebar distribution
Short form : RM
Parameters : Coord1...coord5 shape text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to draw a rebar entity and uniformly distribute it in a zone. The rebar and
distribution zone can optionally be shrunk with the concrete cover values. Rebar information is
generated in the active bending schedule.

The zone perimeter is defined by three points, the rebar position by the fourth point and the text
position by the fifth point.

If the text position is indicated inside the zone, the descriptive line will not extend beyond the zone
borders and the descriptive text will be located at the indicated point.

If enabled, ortho mode is overruled when setting the third, fourth and fifth points.

Depending on the entered description, eg T1 for top layer 1, the rebar is drawn in its default top or

312
bottom layer orientation. More than one layer, eg T1 & B1, can also be specified, in which case the
rebar will be drawn according to the first layer and double the number of bars will be scheduled.

All new rebars are drawn as solid lines in the current rebar pen. Description lines and text are
drawn according the current system dimension line and text parameters.

The rebar dimensions are measured from the drawing and added to the list of attributes. The
number of bars is calculated using the zone length and specified bar spacing and an appropriate
insertion is automatically made in the active bending schedule.

On confirmation, the parent rebar and its zone are reduced by the concrete cover.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions are later modified with the Edit entity info, Stretch, or Extend
bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Alternate bars reversed, Staggered bars, Stepped bars, Fan zone, Circular grid

313
Alternate bars reversed

Menu : Rebar (Quick zones)

Command : Alternate bars reversed
Description : Draw an alternate bar reversed distribution
Short form : RA
Parameters : Coord1...coord6 shape text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to draw a rebar entity and distribute it in a zone. The rebar and distribution
zone can optionally be shrunk with the concrete cover values. Rebar information is generated in the
active bending schedule.

Each alternate rebar is reversed. The zone perimeter is defined by four points, the rebar position by
the fifth point and the text position by the sixth point.

If the text position is indicated inside the zone, the descriptive line will not extend beyond the zone
borders and the descriptive text will be located at the indicated point.

If enabled, ortho mode is overruled when setting the third to sixth points.

Depending on the entered description, eg T1 for top layer 1, the rebar is drawn in its default top or

314
bottom layer orientation. More than one layer, eg T1 & B1, can also be specified, in which case the
rebar will be drawn according to the first layer and double the number of bars will be scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

The rebar dimensions are measured from the drawing and added to the list of attributes. The
number of bars is calculated using the zone length and specified bar spacing and an appropriate
insertion is automatically made in the active bending schedule.

On confirmation, the parent rebar and its zone are reduced by the concrete cover.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Stretch, or Extend
bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Multiple bars, Staggered bars, Stepped bars, Fan zone, Circular grid

315
Staggered bars

Menu : Rebar (Quick zones)

Command : Staggered bars
Description : Draw a staggered bar distribution
Short form : RT
Parameters : Coord1...coord6 shape text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to draw a rebar entity and distribute it in a zone. The rebar and distribution
zone can optionally be shrunk with the concrete cover values. Rebar information is generated in the
active bending schedule.

Each alternate rebar is staggered. The zone perimeter is defined by four points, the rebar position
by the fifth point and the text position by the sixth point.

If the text position is indicated inside the zone, the descriptive line will not extend beyond the zone
borders and the descriptive text will be located at the indicated point.

If enabled, ortho mode is overruled when setting the third to sixth points.

Depending on the entered description, eg T1 for top layer 1, the rebar is drawn in its default top or

316
bottom layer orientation. More than one layer, eg T1 & B1, can also be specified, in which case the
rebar will be drawn according to the first layer and double the number of bars will be scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

The rebar dimensions are measured from the drawing and added to the list of attributes. The
number of bars is calculated using the zone length and specified bar spacing and an appropriate
insertion is automatically made in the active bending schedule.

On confirmation, the parent rebar and its zone are reduced by the concrete cover.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Stretch, or Extend
bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Multiple bars, Alternate bars reversed, Stepped bars, Fan zone, Circular grid

317
Stepped bars

Menu : Rebar (Quick zones)

Command : Stepped bars
Description : Draw a stepped bar distribution
Short form : RS
Parameters : Coord1...coord6 shape text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to draw a rebar entity and distribute it in a zone. The rebar and distribution
zone can optionally be shrunk with the concrete cover values. Rebar information is generated in the
active bending schedule.

The dimensions of each individual rebar are calculated to fit the parallelogram shaped zone. The
zone perimeter is defined by four points, the rebar position by the fifth point and the text position
by the sixth point.

If the text position is indicated inside the zone, the descriptive line will not extend beyond the zone
borders and the descriptive text will be located at the indicated point.

If enabled, ortho mode is overruled when setting the third to sixth points.

Depending on the entered description, eg T1 for top layer 1, the rebar is drawn in its default top or
bottom layer orientation. More than one layer, eg T1 & B1, can also be specified, in which case the

318
rebar will be drawn according to the first layer and double the number of bars will be scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

The rebar dimensions are measured from the drawing and added to the list of attributes. The
number of bars is calculated using the zone length and specified bar spacing and an appropriate
insertion is automatically made in the active bending schedule.

On confirmation, the parent rebar and its zone are reduced by the concrete cover.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Stretch, or Extend
bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Multiple bars, Alternate bars reversed, Staggered bars, Fan zone, Circular grid

319
Fan zone

Menu : Rebar (Quick zones)

Command : Fan zone
Description : Draw a fanned rebar distribution
Short form : RF
Parameters : Coord1...coord7 shape text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to draw a rebar entity and distribute it radially in a fan zone. The rebar and
distribution zone can optionally be shrunk with the concrete cover values. Rebar information is
generated in the active bending schedule.

The dimensions of the parent rebar are calculated to fit the radially shaped zone. The rebar position
is defined by the first two points, the radius of the distribution by the third and fourth and the zone
borders by the fifth and sixth points. The position by the text is defined with the last point.

Depending on the entered description, eg T1 for top layer 1, the rebar is drawn in its default top or
bottom layer orientation. More than one layer, eg T1 & B1, can also be specified, in which case the
rebar will be drawn according to the first layer and double the number of bars will be scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text

320
parameters.

The rebar dimensions are measured from the drawing and added to the list of attributes. The
number of bars is calculated using the zone length and specified bar spacing and an appropriate
insertion is automatically made in the active bending schedule.

On confirmation, the parent rebar and its zone are reduced by the concrete cover.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Stretch, or Extend
bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Multiple bars, Alternate bars reversed, Staggered bars, Stepped bars, Circular grid

321
Circular grid

Menu : Rebar (Quick zones)

Command : Circular grid
Description : Draw a circular rebar distribution
Short form : RG
Parameters : Entity coord1 coord2 shape integer text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to draw a rebar entity and distribute it in a circular grid. The rebar and
distribution zone can optionally be shrunk with the concrete cover values. Rebar information is
generated in the active bending schedule.

The dimensions of the parent rebar are calculated to fit the circular shaped zone. The centre line of
the zone is defined by indicating a point on the perimeter at the position of the shortest bar. The
zone length is then taken as twice the radius of the indicated circle/arc, extending from the position
of the shortest bar through the circle/arc centre point. The second point is used to position the rebar
and the third point to position the text.

322
The shape code is entered next. Supported shape codes are 10, 32, 33, 34, 35 and the rebars lengths
are stepped by varying their A dimensions. The step size entered will be the lower limit for the
variation in the length of the bars. If the specified step size is greater than the actual variation in the
zone width, bars will by grouped together as necessary.

Depending on the entered description, eg T1 for top layer 1, the rebar is drawn in its default top or
bottom layer orientation. More than one layer, eg T1 & B1, can also be specified, in which case the
rebar will be drawn according to the first layer and double the number of bars will be scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

The rebar dimensions are measured from the drawing and added to the list of attributes. The
number of bars is calculated using the zone length and specified bar spacing and an appropriate
insertion is automatically made in the active bending schedule.

On confirmation, the parent rebar and its zone are reduced by the concrete cover.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Stretch, or Extend
bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Multiple bars, Alternate bars reversed, Staggered bars, Stepped bars, Fan zone

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Zone (no bars

Menu : Rebar (Quick zones)

Command : Zone (no bars)
Description : Describe a rebar distribution zone
Short form : RZ
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3 text

Notes :
The command is used to describe a zone of drawn bars. The zone is defined by two points on the
description line and the text by a third position. The distribution zone can optionally be shrunk with
the concrete cover value.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system line parameters and dimension
text parameters respectively.

No insertions are made in the active bending schedule. This command is typically used when a
rebar has already been scheduled in another view and needs to be described for a second time
without rescheduling it.

Related commands :
Zone (one bar), Zone (two bars)

324
Text on bar

Menu : Rebar (Indicate drawn bars)

Command : Text on bar
Description : Describe a rebar by drawing text on it
Short form : RO
Parameters : Entity coord

Notes :
The command is used to describe a drawn rebar by drawing descriptive text on it. The rebar's
attributes are used to construct the default descriptive text. The description can then be edited to
include a number of bars. The rebar is then automatically recorded in the active bending schedule.
The description line and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Edit stretch, or
Extend bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
One bar

325
One bar

Menu : Rebar (Indicate drawn bars)

Command : One bar
Description : Describe a single rebar
Short form : R1
Parameters : Entity coord text

Notes :
The command is used to describe a single drawn rebar and generate information in the active
bending schedule. A description line is drawn perpendicular from the indicated point on the rebar
entity and extended horizontally or vertically to the indicated descriptive text position.

The rebar's attributes are used to construct the default descriptive text for the single bar. The text
can then be edited to include a number of bars, spacing and more than one layer. If more than one
layer is specified, eg. "T1 & B1", "NF + FF" or "EF", double the number of bars will be scheduled.

The rebar layer, eg. "B1" or "T1", may be omitted from the description. The rebar will then still be
scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

An appropriate insertion is automatically made in the active bending schedule. The description line
and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text parameters.

326
If the number of bars is set to zero, eg. "R10-A-200", the bar is not scheduled. This allows for the
description of rebars on the drawing without scheduling.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Edit stretch, or
Extend bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Text on bar, Two bars

327
Two bars

Menu : Rebar (Indicate drawn bars)

Command : Two bars
Description : Describe two rebars
Short form : R2
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3 text

Notes :
The command is used to describe a double occurrence of a drawn rebar and generate information in
the active bending schedule. A description line is drawn perpendicular from the indicated point on
the rebar entity and extended horizontally or vertically to the indicated descriptive text position.

The rebar's attributes are used to construct the default descriptive text for two bars. The text can
then be edited to include a number of bars, spacing and more than one layer. If more than one layer
is specified, eg. "T1 & B1", "NF + FF" or "EF", double the number of bars will be scheduled.

The rebar layer, eg. "B1" or "T1", may be omitted from the description. The rebar will then still be
scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

An appropriate insertion is automatically made in the active bending schedule. The description line
and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text parameters.

328
If the number of bars is set to zero, eg. "R10-A-200", the bar is not scheduled. This allows for the
description of rebars on the drawing without scheduling.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Edit stretch, or
Extend bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Text on bar, One bar

329
Zone (one bar)

Menu : Rebar (Indicate drawn bars)

Command : Zone (One bar)
Description : Describe a distribution zone for a single rebar
Short form : R3
Parameters : Entity coord1 coord2 coord3 text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to uniformly distribute a single drawn rebar over a zone, optionally shrinking
the zone length with the concrete cover, and generate information in the active bending schedule.

A description line is drawn perpendicular from the indicated point on the rebar entity between the
indicated zone borders and extended horizontally or vertically to the indicated descriptive text
position.

If the text position is indicated inside the zone, the descriptive line will extend between the zone
borders and the descriptive text will be located at the indicated point.

The rebar's attributes are used to construct the default descriptive text for the single bar
distribution. The rebar quantity is calculated using the zone length and specified bar spacing. If
more than one layer is specified, eg. "T1 & B1", "NF + FF" or "EF", double the number of bars
will be scheduled.

330
The rebar layer, eg. "B1" or "T1", may be omitted from the description. The rebar will then still be
scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Edit stretch, or
Extend bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Zone (two bars), Multiple zones (one bar), Parallel zones (one bar), Zone (no bars)

331
Zone (two bars)

Menu : Rebar (Indicate drawn bars)

Command : Zone (Two bars)
Description : Describe a distribution zone of two rebars
Short form : R4
Parameters : Entity1 entity2 coord1 coord2 coord3 text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to uniformly distribute two drawn rebars over a zone, optionally shrinking
the zone length with the concrete cover, and generate information in the active bending schedule.

A description line is drawn perpendicular from the indicated point on the first rebar entity between
the indicated zone borders and extended horizontally or vertically to the indicated descriptive text
position.

If the text position is indicated inside the zone, the descriptive line will extend between the zone
borders and the descriptive text will be located at the indicated point.

The attributes of the rebars are used to construct the default descriptive text for the two bar
distribution. The rebar quantity is calculated using the zone length and specified bar spacing. If
more than one layer is specified, eg. "T1 & B1", "NF + FF" or "EF", double the number of bars
will be scheduled.

332
The rebar layer, eg. "B1" or "T1", may be omitted from the description. The rebar will then still be
scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Edit stretch, or
Extend bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Zone (one bar), Multiple zones (two bars), Parallel zones (two bars)

333
Multiple zones (one bar)

Menu : Rebar (Indicate drawn bars)

Command : Multiple zones (one bar)
Description : Describe multiple distribution zones of a single rebar
Short form : R5
Parameters : Entity coord1 coord2 [coord3…coordN-1] coordN text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to uniformly distribute a single drawn rebar over one or more zones,
optionally shrinking the zone lengths with the concrete cover, and generate information in the
active bending schedule.

A description line is drawn perpendicular from the indicated point on the rebar entity between the
indicated zone extremes and extended horizontally or vertically to the indicated descriptive text
position. Rebar quantities are drawn on the description line for each zone.

If the text position is indicated inside the zone extreme, the descriptive line will extend between the
zone extremes and the descriptive text will be located at the indicated point below the descriptive
line.

The rebar's attributes are used to construct the default descriptive text for the single bar
distribution. The rebar quantity is calculated using the zone length and specified bar spacing. If

334
more than one layer is specified, eg. "T1 & B1", "NF + FF" or "EF", double the number of bars
will be scheduled.

The rebar layer, eg. "B1" or "T1", may be omitted from the description. The rebar will then still be
scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Edit stretch, or
Extend bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Zone (one bar), Multiple zones (two bars), Parallel zones (one bar)

335
Multiple zones (two bars)

Menu : Rebar (Indicate drawn bars)

Command : Multiple zones (two bars)
Description : Describe multiple distribution zones of two rebars
Short form : R6
Parameters : Entity1 entity2 coord1 coord2 [coord3…coordN-1] coordN text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to uniformly distribute two drawn rebars over one or more zones, optionally
shrinking the zone lengths with the concrete cover, and generate information in the active bending
schedule.

A description line is drawn perpendicular from the indicated point on the first rebar entity between
the indicated zone extremes and extended horizontally or vertically to the indicated descriptive text
position. Rebar quantities are drawn on the description line for each zone.

If the text position is indicated inside the zone extreme, the descriptive line will extend between the
zone extremes and the descriptive text will be located at the indicated point below the descriptive
line.

The rebar's attributes are used to construct the default descriptive text for the two bar distribution.
The rebar quantity is calculated using the zone length and specified bar spacing. If more than one

336
layer is specified, eg. "T1 & B1", "NF + FF" or "EF", double the number of bars will be scheduled.

The rebar layer, eg. "B1" or "T1", may be omitted from the description. The rebar will then still be
scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Edit stretch, or
Extend bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Zone (two bars), Multiple zones (one bar), Parallel zones (two bars)

337
Parallel zones (one bar)

Menu : Rebar (Indicate drawn bars)

Command : Parallel zones (one bar)
Description : Describe parallel distribution zones of a single rebar
Short form : R7
Parameters : Entity coord1 coord2 [coord3…coordN-1] coordN text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to uniformly distribute a single drawn rebar over one or more parallel zones,
optionally shrinking the zone lengths with the concrete cover, and generate information in the
active bending schedule.

A description line is drawn perpendicular from the indicated point on the rebar entity between the
extremes of the first indicated zone and parallel to that in subsequently indicated zones. Rebar
quantities are drawn on the description line for each zone.

The rebar's attributes are used to construct the default descriptive text for the single bar
distribution. The rebar quantity is calculated using the zone length and specified bar spacing. If

338
more than one layer is specified, eg. "T1 & B1", "NF + FF" or "EF", double the number of bars
will be scheduled.

The rebar layer, eg. "B1" or "T1", may be omitted from the description. The rebar will then still be
scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Edit stretch, or
Extend bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Zone (one bar), Multiple zones (one bar), Parallel zones (two bars)

339
Parallel zones (two bars)

Menu : Rebar (Indicate drawn bars)

Command : Parallel zones (two bars)
Description : Describe parallel distribution zones of two rebars
Short form : R8
Parameters : Entity1 entity2 coord1 coord2 [coord3…coordN-1] coordN text confirm

Notes :
The command is used to uniformly distribute two drawn rebars over one or more parallel zones,
optionally shrinking the zone lengths with the concrete cover, and generate information in the
active bending schedule.

A description line is drawn perpendicular from the indicated point on the first rebar entity between
the extremes of the first indicated zone and parallel to that in subsequently indicated zones. Rebar
quantities are drawn on the description line for each zone.

The attributes of the rebars are used to construct the default descriptive text for the two bar
distribution. The rebar quantity is calculated using the zone length and specified bar spacing. If

340
more than one layer is specified, eg. "T1 & B1", "NF + FF" or "EF", double the number of bars
will be scheduled.

The rebar layer, eg. "B1" or "T1", may be omitted from the description. The rebar will then still be
scheduled.

Description lines and text are drawn according the current system dimension line and text
parameters.

If the rebar's diameter or dimensions is later modified with the Edit entity info, Edit stretch, or
Extend bar command, the bending schedule will be updated automatically.

Related commands :
Zone (two bars), Multiple zones (two bars), Parallel zones (one bar)

341
The Dimension menu
The Dimension commands are used to dimension drawn entities and measure values. Linear, radial
and angular dimensions can be drawn and distances, angles and areas measured.

The Dimension commands are categorized as follows:

Dimensioning commands
Horizontal dimension
Vertical dimension
Skew dimension
Dimension inside diameter
Dimension outside diameter
Dimension radius
Dimension angle
Dimension parameters
Measuring commands
Line / circle / arc
Two points
Polygon area
Hatch area
Angle
Attribute

342
Horizontal dimension

Menu : Dimension
Command : Horizontal
Description : Draw a horizontal dimension
Short form : DH
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3 [coord4 . . . coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to draw linear horizontal dimensions. If baseline mode is selected,
consecutive measurements are done from the first point set. If baseline is not selected, continuous
measurements is done from the previous points set. Measurements are made in the current unit of
measurement.

Dimension lines and text are drawn as normal line and text entities using the current system
dimension parameters. The appearance of the dimension lines and text can then later be modified
by changing its line parameters and text parameters.

Related commands :
Vertical dimension, Skew dimension

343
Vertical dimension

Menu : Dimension
Command : Vertical
Description : Draw a vertical dimension
Short form : DV
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3 [coord4 . . . coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to draw linear vertical dimensions. If baseline mode is selected, consecutive
measurements are done from the first point set. If baseline is not selected, continuous
measurements is done from the previous points set. Measurements are made in the current unit of
measurement.

Dimension lines and text are drawn as normal line and text entities using the current system
dimension parameters. The appearance of the dimension lines and text can then later be modified
by changing its line parameters and text parameters.

Related commands :
Horizontal dimension, Skew dimension

344
Skew dimension

Menu : Dimension
Command : Skew
Description : Draw a skew dimension
Short form : DS
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3 [coord4 . . . coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to draw linear dimensions at a skew angle defined by the line joining the first
dimension start point and end point. If baseline mode is selected, consecutive measurements are
done from the first point set, else continuous measurements is done from the previous points set.
Measurements are made in the current unit of measurement.

Dimension lines and text are drawn as normal line and text entities using the current system
dimension parameters. The appearance of the dimension lines and text can then later be modified
by changing its line parameters and text parameters.

Related commands :
Horizontal dimension, Vertical dimension

345
Dimension inside diameter

Menu : Dimension
Command : Diameter inside
Description : Draw an inside diameter dimension for a circle
Short form : DD
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to dimension circle diameters. The dimension line is located inside the circle,
passing through the centre point and continuing up to the indicated text position. Measurements are
made in the current unit of measurement.

Dimension lines and text are drawn as normal line and text entities using the current system
dimension parameters. The appearance of the dimension lines and text can then later be modified
by changing its line and text parameters.

Related commands :
Dimension diameter outside, Dimension radius

346
Dimension outside diameter

Menu : Dimension
Command : Diameter outside
Description : Draw an outside diameter dimension for a circle
Short form : D2
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to dimension circle diameters. The dimension line is located outside the
circle, extending perpendicularly from the perimeter to the indicated text position. Measurements
are made in the current unit of measurement.

Dimension lines and text are drawn as normal line and text entities using the current system
dimension parameters. The appearance of the dimension lines and text can then later be modified
by changing its line and text parameters.

Related commands :
Dimension diameter inside, Dimension radius

347
Dimension radius

Menu : Dimension
Command : Radius
Description : Draw a radius dimension
Short form : DR
Parameters : Coord entity

Notes :
The command is used to dimension arc and circle radii. The dimension line extends
perpendicularly from the circle perimeter or arc to the indicated text position. Measurements are
made in the current unit of measurement.

Dimension lines and text are drawn as normal line and text entities using the current system
dimension parameters. The appearance of the dimension lines and text can then later be modified
by changing its line and text parameters.

Related commands :
Dimension diameter outside, Dimension radius

348
Dimension angle

Menu : Dimension
Command : Angle
Description : Draw an angular dimension
Short form : DA
Parameters : Entity1 entity2 coord

Notes :
The command is used to dimension angles between two lines. The dimension text is located outside
the dimension line at the indicated point. Angular dimensions are automatically indicated on the
outside if insufficient room is available to clearly display its leaders.

Dimension lines and text are drawn as normal line and text entities using the current system
dimension parameters. The appearance of the dimension lines and text can then later be modified
by changing its line and text parameters.

Related commands :
Measure

349
Dimension parameters

Menu : Dimension
Command : Parameters
Description : Set the system dimension parameters
Short form : DP
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to set the system dimension parameters for all dimensioning functions. As
before, text width and text width height are entered as a factor of text height. Dimension precision
refers to the number of decimals to be displayed.

The system dimension parameters are independent of the system line and text parameters and are
applied to all new dimensions. Parameters of drawn dimension entities may however be set to the
current system line and text parameters.

Rebar indicator lines and descriptive text are drawn according to the system dimension parameters.

Related commands:
Line parameters, Text parameters

350
Line, arc, circle

Menu : Dimension (Measure)

Command : Line / arc / circle
Description : Measure the properties of a line / arc / circle
Short form : D1
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to measure the properties of a selected element (either a line, circle or arc).
The measurement is made using the current unit of measurement. The bigger of the current
dimension precision and three is used.

Related commands:
Measure two points, Measure angle

351
Measure two points

Menu : Dimension (Measure)

Command : Two points
Description : Measure the distance and angle between two points
Short form : D2
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to measure the distance and angle between two points. The measurement is
made using the current unit of measurement. The bigger of the current dimension precision and
three is used.

Related commands:
Measure line/circle/arc, Measure angle

352
Measure polygon area

Menu : Dimension (Measure)

Command : Polygon area
Description : Measure and write the area of a polygon
Short form : D3
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3 [. . . coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to measure the area of the indicated polygon and optionally write the area on
the drawing. The measurement is made using the current unit of measurement. The bigger of the
current dimension precision and three is used.

Indicate as many points as necessary to define the polygon and press ESCAPE when finished. The
measured area will be displayed in a dialogue box. After pressing ESCAPE, the area can optionally
be inserted into the drawing at the indicated position.

A polygon can also be marked by tracing its outline with the Trace outline command. The
command also creates an input file for the PROKON section properties calculation program,
PROSEC, which can be used for detailed calculation of section properties.

Related commands:
Measure hatch area, Trace outline

353
Measure hatch area

Menu : Dimension (Measure)

Command : Hatch area
Description : Measure and write the area of a hatched area
Short form : D4
Parameters : Entity [coord]

Notes :
The command is used to measure the area of an indicated hatch and optionally write the area on the
drawing. The measurement is made using the current unit of measurement. The bigger of the
current dimension precision and three is used.

Indicate as many points as necessary to define the polygon and press ESCAPE when finished. The
measured area will be displayed in a dialogue box. After pressing ESCAPE, the area can optionally
be inserted into the drawing at the indicated position.

A polygon can also be marked by tracing its outline with the Trace outline command. The
command also creates an input file for the PROKON section properties calculation program,
PROSEC, which can be used for detailed calculation of section properties.

Note : If a hatch area contains text islands, the area of the text islands will be subtracted when
calculating the hatch area.

Related commands:
Measure polygon area, Trace outline

354
Measure angle

Menu : Dimension (Measure)

Command : Angle
Description : Measure the angle between two lines
Short form : D5
Parameters : Entity1, entity2

Notes :
The command is used to measure the angle between the two indicated lines. The two lines do not
need to intersect. The measurement is made the bigger of the current dimension precision and
three.

A dialogue box is displayed with the measured angle of each line and the included angle.

Related commands:
Measure line/arc/circle, Measure two points

355
Measure attribute

Menu : Dimension (Measure)

Command : Attribute
Description : Measure the properties and totals of an attribute
Short form : D6
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to measure the properties and total lengths, areas and so on of all entities
within a selected attribute. The attribute is selected by selecting an element within that attribute. A
list of attribute names is then listed, from which the required attribute can be selected. It is thus
possible for one entity to belong to more than one attribute. A window is displayed with the
measured entities and totals. The quantities and totals can then be used in a Bill of Quantities.

Attributes are created using the Set attribute command.

Related commands:
Measure line/arc/circle, Set attribute

356
The Block menu
The commands on the Block menu are used for grouping and manipulating entities. Blocks can be
copied, moved, mirrored, rotated, rescaled or deleted. By defining entities in a block, you can
change the entity parameters selectively, eg text font or layer number.

The Block commands are grouped as follows:

Block definition commands:
Block define drawing
Block define layer
Block define box
Block define cut
Block define polygon
Block define line
Block define add
Block define remove
Block define scope
Block define swap
Block define handles
Block undefine
Block manipulation commands:
Block save
Block load
Block copy
Block move
Block mirror
Block circular copy
Block rotate
Block scale
Block delete
Block change
Break polylines

357
Block define drawing

Menu : Block
Command : Define drawing
Description : Add all entities to the active block
Short form : BD
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to add all drawing entities, of the types defined in the block scope, to the
current block definition.

Related commands :
Block define scope, Block define remove, Block undefine

358
Block define layer

Menu : Block
Command : Define layer
Description : Add all entities in a layer to the active block
Short form : BL
Parameters : Integer / entity

Notes :
The command is used to add all drawing entities in the indicated layer, of the types defined in the
Block define scope, to the current block definition. The layer to add may be indicated be entering
the layer number or indicating an entity in that layer.

Related commands :
Block define scope, Block swap, Block undefine

359
Block define box

Menu : Block
Command : Define box
Description : Add entities in a box drawing to the active block
Short form : BB
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to add all drawing entities enclosed by the indicated box, of the types
defined in the Block define scope, to the current block definition.

Related commands :
Block define cut, Block define polygon, Block define line, Block define add, Block define remove,
Block define scope, Block undefine

360
Block define cut

Menu : Block
Command : Define cut
Description : Clip lines in a box and add to the active block
Short form : BC
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to clip all lines in the indicated of the types defined in the block scope, to the
current block definition. The clipping of the lines is temporary until a permanent change is made,
eg the block is moved or line parameters are changed.

Related commands :
Block define box, Block define polygon, Block define line, Block define add, Block define
remove, Block define scope, Block undefine

361
Block define polygon

Menu : Block
Command : Define polygon
Description : Add entities in a polygon to the active block
Short form : BP
Parameters : Coord1 coord2 coord3 [coord4 . . . coordN]

Notes :
The command is used to add all drawing entities enclosed by the indicated polygon, of the types
defined in the Block define scope, to the current block definition.

Related commands :
Block define box, Block define cut, Block define add, Block define line, Block define remove,
Block define scope, Block swap, Block undefine

362
Block define line

Menu : Block
Command : Define line
Description : Add drawing entities crossed by line to the active block
Short form : BI
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to draw a line and any entity crossed by the line is added to the active block.

Related commands :
Block define box, Block define polygon, Block define remove, Block define scope, Block swap,
Block undefine

363
Block define add

Menu : Block
Command : Define add
Description : Add drawing entity to the active block
Short form : BA
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2 . . .entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to add one or more drawing entities, of the types defined in the Block define
scope, to the current block definition.

Related commands :
Block define box, Block define polygon, Block define remove, Block define scope, Block swap,
Block undefine

364
Block define remove

Menu : Block
Command : Define remove
Description : Remove entity from the active block
Short form : BR
Parameters : Entity1 [entity2 . . . entityN]

Notes :
The command is used to remove one or more drawing entities, of the types defined in the Block
define scope, from the current block definition.

Related commands :
Block define add, Block swap, Block undefine

365
Block define scope

Menu : Block
Command : Define scope
Description : Define the scope of block entities
Short form : BS
Parameters : Char1 [char2 . . . char6]

Notes :
The command is used to define the scope of entity types allowed to be included in the active block,
eg lines, text etc. Removing an entity type from the Block define scope will remove all entities of
that type from the active block and prevent adding of such entities to the active block.

An entity type is included in the block scope by entering an appropriate character, eg L for lines, C
for circles, A for arcs, T for text, B for rebars and P for dots and rings.

The block scope can further be limited to certain pen numbers by typing the relevant pen numbers,
eg 1357 for pen numbers 1, 3,7 and 9. If no pen numbers are entered, all pen numbers will be
included.

The default scope when starting the definition of a block includes all types of entities of all pen

366
numbers, i.e. LCATBP 12345678.

Related commands :
Block define drawing, Block define layer, Block define box, Block define cut, Block define
polygon, Block define line, Block define add

367
Block swap

Menu : Block
Command : Swap
Description : Swap all defined and undefined block entities
Short form : BW
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to remove all drawing entities from the current block definition and add all
other drawing entities, of the types defined in the Block define scope, to the current block
definition.

Related commands :
Block remove, Block define scope, Block undefine

368
Block define handles

Menu : Block
Command : Handles
Description : Define block handles
Short form : BH
Parameters : Coord1 [coord2 coord3]

Notes :
The command is used to define block handles. One, two or three handles can be defined. Press
ESCAPE after the definition of the first or second handle if no more handles should be defined.

It is not always necessary to define block handles. The only instances where block handles are
compulsory, are when blocks are transferred out of the active drawing, eg when copied to another
drawing or when saved to disk. If a block is copied or moved in the same drawing, handles are
optional.

The number of handles defined may influence some block manipulation commands. When a block
is moved or copied to another drawing, or saved to disk and later loaded, the influence of the
number of handles is as follows:

369
 One handle : Block size and orientation are preserved.
Two handles : The block is rotated and optionally resized. Text heights are optionally
scaled with the block.
Three handles : The block is rotated and optionally resized in one or two directions. Text
heights are optionally scaled with the block.

Given this behaviour, it is often useful to enable ortho mode when defining handles. That way,
orthogonal scaling can easily be achieved when copying or moving a block.

Related commands :
Block save, Block load, Block copy, Block move

370
Block undefined

Menu : Block
Command : Undefine
Description : Clear the block
Short form : BU
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to clear the current block definition and its handles.

Related commands :
Block define remove, Block swap

371
Block save

Menu : Block
Command : Save
Description : Save block definition
Short form : B1
Parameters : Filename

Notes :
The command is used to save the current block definition with its handles to a disk file. The block
must be given one, two or three handles to allow it to be positioned when it is loaded again at
a later a stage:
One handle : Block size and orientation are preserved.
Two handles : The block is rotated and optionally resized. Text heights are optionally
scaled with the block.
Three handles : The block is rotated and optionally resized in one or two directions. Text
heights are optionally scaled with the block.

Related commands :
Block define handles, Block load

372
Block load

Menu : Block
Command : Load
Description : Load a block from disk
Short form : B2
Parameters : File Coord1 [coord2 coord3]

Notes :
The command is used to load a block from disk. A position must be specified for each handle
defined in the block being loaded. The number of handles defined may influence the scale,
orientation and slant of the loaded block:
One handle : Block size and orientation are preserved.
Two handles : The block is rotated and optionally resized. Text heights are optionally
scaled with the block.
Three handles : The block is rotated and optionally resized in one or two directions. Text
heights are optionally scaled with the block.

Related commands :
Block define handles, Block save

373
Block copy

Menu : Block
Command : Copy
Description : Copy the active block
Short form : B3
Parameters : Coord1 [coord2 coord3] [integer]

Notes :
The command is used to make one or more copies of the current block definition on the same
drawing or another open drawing. If more than handle has been defined for the block, a prompt is
displayed to allow scaling of the block between the indicated new handles. Text heights can also be
scaled proportionally. If one handle has been defined, a prompt is displayed to allow multiple
copies of the block. Additional copies will then be copied at the same spacing from the original
block definition.

The number of handles defined, allows different ways of copying the block:
One handle : The block can be copied with its size and orientation preserved.
Two handles : The block is rotated relative the orientation of the two new handles and
can also be scaled between the two handles. Text heights can be proportionally scaled
with the block.

374
 Three handles : The block is rotated between the first two handles. It can also be
scaled between the first two handles and in a direction perpendicular to that up to the
third handle. Text heights can be proportionally scaled with the block.

If the block is being copied on the same drawing, no handles need be defined beforehand. In that
case, the block is copied once in relation to the two points set. No scaling is done in this case.

Note : To copy a block from one drawing to another, first define the block with one or more
handles. The destination drawing must then be made the active drawing before copying the block.

Related commands :
Block define handles, Block save, Block load, Block move, Block mirror, Block circular copy,
Block scale

375
Block move

Menu : Block
Command : Move
Description : Move the active block
Short form : B4
Parameters : Coord1 [coord2 coord3]

Notes :
The command is used to move the current block definition to another place on the same drawing or
another open drawing. If more than handle has been defined for the block, a prompt is displayed to
allow scaling of the block between the indicated new handles. Text heights can also be scaled
proportionally.

The number of handles defined, allows different ways of moving the block:
One handle : The block can be moved with its size and orientation preserved.
Two handles : The block is rotated relative the orientation of the two new handles and
can also be scaled between the two handles. Text heights can be proportionally scaled
with the block.
Three handles : The block is rotated between the first two handles. It can also be
scaled between the first two handles and in a direction perpendicular to that up to the

376
 third handle. Text heights can be proportionally scaled with the block.

If the block is being moved to the same drawing, no handles need be defined beforehand. In that
case, the block is copied once in relation to the two points set. No scaling is done in this case.

Note : To move a block from one drawing to another, first define the block with one or more
handles. The destination drawing must then be made the active drawing before moving the block.

Related commands :
Block define handles, Block copy, Block mirror, Block rotate, Block scale

377
Block mirror

Menu : Block
Command : Mirror
Description : Mirror the active block
Short form : B5
Parameters : Coord1 coord 2

Notes :
The command is used to create a mirror image of the current block definition about the indicated
mirror points. A prompt is displayed to allow the block to be moved or copied to the mirrored
image.

The mirror points should not be confused with block handles. The mirror points are temporary
points set for this procedure only whereas block handles are considered part of the block definition
and mirrored with it.

Related commands :
Block copy, Block move, Block circular copy, Block rotate

378
Block circular copy

Menu : Block
Command : Circular copy
Description : Make a rotated copy of the active block
Short form : B6
Parameters : [Coord] angle integer

Notes :
The command is used to make a specified number of circular copies. Each copy of the block is
rotated by the specified angle about handle 1. If the current block definition has no handles, a
handle is prompted for.

Related commands :
Block copy, Block mirror, Block rotate

379
Block rotate

Menu : Block
Command : Rotate
Description : Rotate the active block
Short form : B7
Parameters : [Coord] angle

Notes :
The command is used to rotate the current block definition about the block’s first handle. The
rotation angle is specified anti-clockwise. If the current block definition has no handles, a handle is
prompted for.

Related commands :
Block move, Block mirror, Block circular copy

380
Block scale

Menu : Block
Command : Scale
Description : Enlarge or reduce the active block
Short form : B8
Parameters : Real1 real2

Notes :
The command is used to resize the current block definition with the specified factors, relative to the
block's first handle, optionally resizing text entities.

A scale factor greater that one corresponds to an enlargement and a factor smaller than one to a
reduction. A negative scale factor mirrors the block about the relevant axis. If the current block
definition has no handles, a handle is prompted for.

The process of scaling a block should not be confused with the changing of a layer scale. When
scaling a block, the size of the entities is changed without changing the scales of the included
layers.

Related commands :
Block save, Block load, Block copy, Block move, Block change

381
Block delete

Menu : Block
Command : Delete
Description : Delete the active block
Short form : B9
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to delete all entities in the current block definition.

Related commands :
Block save, Block load, Block move, Block change

382
Block change

Menu : Block
Command : Change
Description : Change block entity parameters
Short form : B0
Parameters : Char integer1 integer2

Notes :
The command is used to change the following entity parameters :
Pen : Enter the pen number, or 0 for all, to be changed and the pen number to change to, eg
"1,2" to change pen number 1 to 2. This function applies to all drawing entities in the active
block
Line type : Enter the line type, or 0 for all, to be changed and the line type to change to, eg
"0,12" to change all line types to solid. This function only applies to lines, circles, ellipses,
arcs and rebars.
Layer : Enter the layer number, or 0 for all, to be changed and the layer number to change
to, eg "4,5" to merge all marked entities in layer 4 to layer 5. Note that the size of entities
merged to a layer with a different scale are not changed, causing them to be displayed
smaller or bigger when moved to a layer with a different scale. Use Merge move to merge
an entity without changing its display.
Text font : Enter the font number, or 0 for all, to be changed and the font number to change
to, eg "0,2" to change the font of all marked text entities to Simplex
Text height : Specify a factor to scale the heights of all marked text entities.
Text width : Specify a factor to scale the widths of all marked text entities.

Related commands :
Set line parameters, Set text parameters, Detail text edit, Merge move, Merge copy

383
Break polylines

Menu : Block
Command : Break polylines
Description : Break blocked polylines into single lines
Short form : BK
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to break all the defined polylines into single lines. The result is exactly the
same as when using the Break polyline command on the Edit menu. The difference is that this
command allows for the breaking of a group of polylines in one step.

Single lines with the same parameters on the same layer can be converted to a polyline using Make
polyline.

Related commands :
Break polyline, Make polyline

384
The Macro menu
The commands on the Macro menu are used to record and play keyboard macros. A collection of
general utilities are also available from this menu.

The commands on the Macro menu are categorized as follows:

Macro/Script commands
Play macro
Edit script
Add script to menu
Remove script from menu
Run current script
General utilities
Combine bending schedules
Steel profile
Trace outline
Generate input file
Library
Component Detailing
Stairs

385
Play macro

Menu : Macro
Command : Play macro
Description : Play a macro
Short form : MP
Parameters : Filename

Notes :
The command is used to play a macro. Refer to the File open command for detail on using the
Open file window.

Related commands :
None

386
Edit script

Menu : Macro
Command : Edit script
Description : Edit a script
Short form : ME
Parameters : Filename text

Notes :
The command is used to select and edit a script or to write a new one. The Pascal Scripting window
is opened (shown above) and standard scripting is used as the programming language. This is a
powerful tool, allowing the writing of small and simple scripts as well as of complex ones.

The last section of this manual deals with scripting functions that have been adapted especially for
PADDS. For the more general commands, see any standard scripting manual.

The Pascal Scripting window has an Undo and a Transparency button at the bottom left corner of
the window. The Transparency button toggles the transparency of the Pascal Scripting window,

387
allowing the PADDS window to be partially seen, if required. This is useful to view the effect of a
script on a drawing in PADDS.

Related commands :
Add script to menu, Remove script from menu, Run current script

388
Add script to menu

Menu : Macro
Command : Add script to menu
Description : Add script name to Macro menu as a short cut
Short form : MA
Parameters : Filename text

Notes :
The command is used to add a script name to the bottom of the Macro menu as a short cut. A
prompt appears requesting a script number. Enter a number for a script, not already used for
another one. This number determines where in the list the script will occur eg. script number 1 will
occur first in the list.

To remove a script from the menu use the Remove script from menu command.

Related commands :
Edit script, Remove script from menu, Run current script

389
Remove script from menu

Menu : Macro
Command : Remove script from menu
Description : Remove script name from Macro menu
Short form : MM
Parameters : Filename text

Notes :
The command is used to remove a script name from the bottom of the Macro menu. A window
appears listing the scripts on the menu. Select one or all of the scripts and click on the Remove
button.

Related commands :
Edit script, Add script to menu, Run current script

390
Combine bending schedules

Menu : Macro
Command : Combine BS files
Description : Combine bending schedule print files on a large sheet
Short form : MC
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to combine a number of bending schedule print files onto one large sheet.
The Combine Bending Schedules window is displayed. One or more bending schedule print files
can be selected. The number of columns and rows in which the bending schedule pages must be
arranged must also be selected.

To create a bending schedule file, select the Title block and Print button on the bending schedule.
Ensure that the Print to File option is ticked. When requested, give a file name to be used. This file
name, together with all other files created in this manner, will then appear in the list on the
Combine Bending Schedule window.

Related commands :
Title block and Print button on bending schedule

391
Steel profile

Menu : Macro
Command : Steel profile
Description : Draw a steel profile
Short form : MS
Parameters : Dialogue coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used draw steel section. A selection window is displayed. Click on a section
profile button, eg I of H section, to make the relevant section list appear. Select a section by
clicking it.

A second window appears on which to select the type of drawing to create, eg section plan or
elevation and indicate the section justification point, eg bottom left. Both windows are shown
below.

392
Set two points on the drawing to position and orientate a section or draw an elevation or plan of the
profile. Note that steel profiles are drawn to scale. The current layer scale should therefore be set to
an appropriate value.

The dimensions of the steel profiles are read from the PROKON steel section database.

Related commands :
None

393
Trace outline

Menu : Macro
Command : Trace outline
Description : Trace an outline
Short form : MT
Parameters : Entity

Notes :
The command is used to trace a polygon to hatch it or calculate its section properties. Indicate the
polygon to be traced to let the system trace it and set points at all intersections. Arcs and circles are
approximated by straight lines at 15° angle increments.

With points set at all the relevant intersections, the Hatch command can subsequently be executed
to hatch the traced area. The Measure area command can be used to measure the area enclosed by
the polygon.

The command also creates an input file for the PROKON section properties calculation program,
PROSEC. The file is called LASTSEC and will be loaded automatically when the program is
executed. Calculate the section properties and save the input data under a new file name.

394
For this procedure to be completed successfully, the polygon must be closed and made up of a
single layer of lines and arcs. Two lines lying on top of each other might cause a polygon to be
traced incorrectly.

Related commands :
Hatch, Measure area

395
Generate input file

Menu : Macro
Command : Generate input file
Description : Generate an input file for PROKON analysis program
Short form : MG
Parameters : Dialogue entity

Notes :
The command is used to trace a group of entities and create an input file for a PROKON analysis
program.

The following procedures are used:

A3 : FRAME : The structure should be drawn to scale using one or more layers with the
same scale setting. Different pen numbers should be used to designate different section
numbers, eg pen number 1 is translated to section number 1, etc. All connected entities is
traced and, taking into account the current drawing units, nodal coordinates calculated in
metre units at every intersection and endpoint. In the case of circles and arcs, nodes are
generated at 10ø intervals. The PADDS X- and Y-axes are translated to the Plane Frame
X-and Y-axes. However, the PADDS X- and Y-axes are translated to the Space Frame,
Grillage and Space Truss X- and negative Z-axes. A Frame input file, LASTSF, is then
created in the current directory with complete nodal and element input. Input of support,
section properties and loading is then done manually.
S4 : PLASDES : Similar procedure as for A3: FRAME. The file LASTPLAS is created
in the current directory.
C3 : FESD : The outside edges of the slab and finite element layout should be drawn to
scale using one or more layers with the same scale setting. A rectangular grid of elements
can easily be generated using the hatch commands, eg:
Select a cross pattern and adjust the scale factor to a suitable value to get the
desired grid spacing. Ensure that the "Drawing scale" is set.
Hatch the slab area using the auto-hatching commands on the Hatch menu. The
Area hatch command can, for example, be used to hatch the whole slab and then
repeated to delete any holes.
Use Vectorize hatch to convert the hatch pattern to normal lines and edit the
resulting lines to ensure that all nodes are clearly defined.
The resulting grid of finite elements must each have three or four nodes. Nodal
coordinates are calculated at intersections of lines. Complete nodal and element input is
then saved in the current directory to a file called LASTFESD. All elements will be
assumed to have the same section properties.

396
 G1 : PROSEC : The indicate the polygon is traced at its intersections and the file
LASTSEC created. Arcs and circles are approximated by straight lines at 15º angle
increments.

Related commands :
Area Hatch, Measure area, Vectorize hatch

397
Library

Menu : Macro
Command : Library
Description : Library of standard details and symbols
Short form : ML
Parameters : Dialogue

Notes :
The command is used to access a library of standard details and symbols. Libraries are cutomizable
to allow the user to add frequently used details and symbols.

Library objects are inserted into the active drawing in a similar, but not identical, fashion as when
loading blocks previously saved on disk. Library objects, called blocks, can be inserted using either
drawing scale, eg details drawn to their exact scaled size, or paper scale, eg scale-independent
symbols.

The window has the following fields:

Library : Type the name of the current selected library. The default library, PADDS.LIB,
contains various useful engineering and architectural details and symbols.
Browse : Select another library. Also use this function to enter a name for a new library to
be created
Drawing/Paper Scale : Set the scaling to be used when inserting a block. Drawing scale
should be used when inserting a block using its scaled size, eg inserting a window frame
into a layer with scale 1:20. Paper scale should be used when inserting blocks that should
have a fixed size on the paper, eg a North arrow symbol that must be 50mm long,
irrespective of the current layer's scale.

Note: Blocks are inserted into the current layer. When using drawing scale, an inserted block will
be resized according to the current layer's scale.

The library is organized using indexes, similar to the directory structure of a CD (compact disk). In
this context, indexes are similar to directories and blocks similar to files.

Frequently used details and symbols can be added to the a library as follows:
First open/create a drawing with the information.
Use the block definition command to highlight the detail.
Define one or more block handles. See Block define handles for detail. Use a single block
handle if the block will not be rotated when later selected from the library, eg a windows

398
 frame that is always inserted in an upright orientation. When the block should be rotated
when inserted, eg a North arrow symbol with any arbitrary orientation, two handles should
be used.
In the Library window, add the block definition to the library.

Related commands :
Block save, Block load, Block Define handles

399
Stair detailing

Menu : Macro (Component Detailing)

Command : Stairs
Description : Detail a stair case
Short form : MI
Parameters : Dialogue

Notes :
The command is used to detail a stair by specifying the parameters defining its geometry and
reinforcement. Single and double flights are supported.

Related commands :
Play macro, Generate input

400
The Assign menu
The commands on the Assign menu are used to configure the button bars and function keys. The
function key setup can be edited and individual menu commands and whole menus assigned to the
button bars.

The commands on the Assign menu are:

Assign function keys
Assign speed button to status bar
Load configuration
Save configuration
Drag and drop buttons
Load default configuration

401
Assign function keys

Menu : Assign
Command : Assign function keys
Description : Assign a menu command to a function key
Short form : AF
Parameters : Integer command

Notes :
The command is used to configure the function keys not permanently consigned to a function. The
keys permanently consigned are highlighted on the Assign function keys window.

To assign the snap functions, precede the snap function's letter by an "N", eg "NH" for
Snap horizontal.

Note that the F10 function key toggles the viewing of the command short cuts on and off.
Command short cuts are underlined on the main menu at the top of the screen and each of the pull-
down menus. The first letter of the command short form is taken from the main menu, and the
second letter from the specific command on the relevant pull-down menu eg. the short form of the
command for Set Paper size is SZ, and that for Edit Chamfer is EA.

Related commands :
F10

402
Assign speed button to status bar

Menu : Assign
Command : Assign speed button to status bar
Description : Assign the short form of a command to the status bar
Short form : AB
Parameters : Text

Notes :
The command is used to save a button labelled with the short form of a selected command to the
status bar at the bottom of the screen. The command can then be accessed by clicking on the
button. To delete a speed button, right click on it and select Delete.

Related commands :
Assign function keys

403
Load configuration

Menu : Assign
Command : Load configuration
Description : Load a saved icon configuration
Short form : AL
Parameters : File name

Notes :
The command is used to open and load a file containing a customised configuration saved
previously using the Save configuration command. A configuration file includes icon layouts and
details such as line parameters set using the Set line parameters command.

To revert back to the default PADDS configuration, use the Load default configuration command.

Related commands :
Save configuration, Load default configuration

404
Save configuration

Menu : Assign
Command : Save configuration
Description : Save a customised configuration for future recall
Short form : AS
Parameters : File name

Notes :
The command is used to save a specific customised configuration under a given file name in order
to retrieve and reuse the configuration file at a later stage. The Load configuration command is
used to load a saved configuration file.

The Load default configuration command restores the PADDS default configuration settings.

Related commands :
Load configuration, Load default configuration

405
Drag and drop buttons

Menu : Assign
Command : Drag and drop buttons
Description : Drag and drop one or more buttons to a button bar
Short form : AD
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to drag and drop buttons onto the four button bars situated around the
drawing page on the screen. Drag and drop individual buttons from the Drag and drop buttons to
desired toolbars window (shown above). Alternatively, click on the list on the left of the window to
drag and drop all buttons associated with that particular menu item.

406
To remove a button from a button bar, drag the icon onto the PADDS wallpaper. Delete it then
using the Block delete or Edit erase entity commands.

Once customised as required, the configuration can be saved using the Save configuration
command. To restore the default settings and configuration use the Load default configuration
command.

Related commands :
Save configuration, Load default configuration, Block delete, Edit erase entity

407
Load default configuration

Menu : Assign
Command : Load default configuration
Description : Reload default PADDS configuration
Short form : AC
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to reload the default PADDS configuration. The existing configuration is
lost, unless previously saved under a file name to be retrieved at a later date.

Related commands :
Save configuration, Load configuration

408
The Zoom menu
The Zoom commands are used to zoom into and out of the drawing in various ways. Zoom settings
can be stored and recalled again.

The Zoom commands are as follows:

Zoom all
Zoom extents
Zoom window
Zoom last
Zoom in
Zoom out
Zoom factor
Zoom store
Zoom recall
Zoom pan
Zoom centre

409
Zoom all

Menu : Zoom
Command : Zoom all
Description : Zoom all entities on paper size
Short form : ZA
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to resize the drawing on screen to display all entities on the paper, without
clearing any set points.

Related commands :
Zoom window, Zoom extents

410
Zoom extents

Menu : Zoom
Command : Zoom extents
Description : Zoom the drawing extents
Short form : ZE
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to resize the drawing on screen to display all entities, even if they extend
beyond the paper edges. No set points are cleared.

Related commands :
Zoom all, Zoom window

411
Zoom window

Menu : Zoom
Command : Zoom window
Description : Zoom in a window
Short form : ZW
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to zoom into the indicated window defined by the two points set. If more
than two points was set before zooming, all but the first two points are retained.

Related commands :
Zoom all, Zoom extents

412
Zoom last

Menu : Zoom
Command : Zoom last
Description : Restore the last zoom setting
Short form : ZL
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to recall the previous window size, position and zoom settings.

Related commands :
Zoom store, Zoom recall

413
Zoom in

Menu : Zoom
Command : Zoom in
Description : Zoom in at the last point
Short form : ZI
Parameters : [Coord]

Notes :
The command is used to zoom into the drawing using the last set point as the midpoint of the new
view. If no point has been set, the cursor position is used as zoom midpoint. No set points are
cleared.

Related commands :
Zoom out, Zoom factor

414
Zoom out

Menu : Zoom
Command : Zoom out
Description : Zoom out at the last set point
Short form : ZO
Parameters : [Coord]

Notes :
The command is used to zoom out of the drawing using the last set point as the midpoint of the new
view. If no point has been set, the cursor position is used as zoom midpoint. No set points are
cleared.

Related commands :
Zoom in, Zoom factor

415
Zoom factor

Menu : Zoom
Command : Zoom factor
Description : Zoom in or out with a factor
Short form : ZF
Parameters : Real

Notes :
The command is used to resize the drawing on screen using the specified zoom factor. No set
points are cleared.

Related commands :
Zoom in, Zoom out

416
Zoom store

Menu : Zoom
Command : Zoom store
Description : Store the current zoom setting
Short form : ZS
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to store the current window size, position and zoom settings for later
recalling. Any previously stored zoom setting is overwritten.

Related commands :
Zoom recall, Zoom last

417
Zoom recall

Menu : Zoom
Command : Zoom recall
Description : Recall the last stored zoom setting
Short form : ZR
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to recall the current stored window size, position and zoom settings.

Related commands :
Zoom store, Zoom last

418
Zoom pan

Menu : Zoom
Command : Zoom pan
Description : Drag the drawing display to a new position
Short form : ZP
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to move the drawing display. The cursor will change to a little hand which
can be used to drag the display in any direction.

Using this command has the same effect as using the window scroll bars. The only advantage is that
the drawing can be panned in a diagonal direction as well.

If the drawing should be panned further than the size of the display, the command can be repeated
as many times as necessary. Use the repeat facility, F3 or the right mouse button on a three-button
mouse, to speed up the process.

Related commands :
Zoom store, Zoom last

419
Zoom centre

Menu : Zoom
Command : Zoom centre
Description : Zoom in a window with its centre point at a selected position
Short form : ZC
Parameters : Coord1 coord2

Notes :
The command is used to zoom into the indicated window defined by the two points set. The first
point defines the centre of the window and the second the corner of the window.

If more than two points was set before zooming, all but the first two points are retained.

Related commands :
Zoom window

420
The Window menu
The Window commands are used to open and close windows and arrange open windows in various
ways to view them separately or together. A window can also be printed.

The Window commands are as follows:

New window
Close window
Cascade windows
Tile windows
Tile horizontal
Maximize window
Redraw window
Redraw all
Print window
Show or hide bending schedule

421
New window

Menu : Window
Command : New
Description : Open a new window
Short form : WN
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to open a new window displaying an additional view of the active drawing.

Refer to Chapter 1 of the User's manual for detail on working with multiple windows.

Related commands :
Close window

422
Close window

Menu : Window
Command : Close
Description : Close a window
Short form : WC
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to close the active window. If the active window contains the only view of
the active drawing, the active drawing is closed.

Related commands :
New window, File close

423
Cascade windows
Menu : Window
Command : Cascade
Description : Cascade all windows
Short form : WA
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to make all the windows overlap so that each title bar is visible.

Refer to Chapter 1 of the User's manual for detail on working with multiple windows.

Related commands :
Tile windows, Tile horizontal

424
Tile windows

Menu : Window
Command : Tile
Description : Tile all windows
Short form : WT
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to arrange all the windows in smaller sizes to fit next to each other.
Preference is given to maximum window height. The active window will be repositioned in the
upper-left corner with the maximum possible size.

Refer to Chapter 1 of the User's manual for detail on working with multiple windows.

Related commands :
Cascade windows, Tile horizontal

425
Tile windows horizontally

Menu : Window
Command : Tile horizontal
Description : Tile all windows horizontally
Short form : WH
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to arrange all the windows in smaller sizes to fit next to each other.
Preference is given to maximum window width. The active window will be repositioned in the
upper-left corner with the maximum possible size.

Refer to Chapter 1 of the User's manual for detail on working with multiple windows.

Related commands :
Cascade windows, Tile windows

426
Maximize window

Menu : Window
Command : Maximize
Description : Maximize or restore a window’s size
Short form : WM
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to maximize the active window's size or, if it is already maximized, restore it
to its previous size.

Related commands :
Cascade windows, Tile windows, Tile horizontal

427
Redraw window

Menu : Window
Command : Redraw
Description : Redraw the active window
Short form : WR
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to refresh the display of the drawing entities in the active window.

Related commands :
Redraw all

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Redraw all windows

Menu : Window
Command : Redraw all
Description : Redraw all windows
Short form : WL
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to refresh the display of the drawing entities in all windows.

Related commands :
Redraw window

429
Print window

Menu : Window
Command : Print
Description : Print a window
Short form : WP
Parameters : Character coord

Notes :
The command is used to print a rectangular area of the active drawing. Specify the paper
orientation, i.e. landscape or portrait, and position a window over the active drawing.

The size of the print window is determined by the paper size and scaling factor specified. A scaling
factor larger than unity results in a smaller print window, i.e. the image is enlarged. Similarly, a
scaling factor less than unity results in a bigger print window, i.e. the image is reduced.

Related commands :
File print

430
Show or hide bending schedule

Menu : Window
Command : Show/hide bending schedule
Description : Show or hide bending schedule
Short form : WH
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to show or hide the bending schedule associated with a drawing. When
shown, the bending schedule appears in a window to the left of the drawing window.

In the default setup of PADDS the S button on the status line at the bottom of the screen can also be
used to hide or show the bending schedule.

When the bending schedule is shown, the two arrow buttons at the bottom of the page can be used
to view all the columns (using the “>” button) or just certain columns of the bending schedule
(using the “<” button). In compact mode, only the number of bars per member, bar diameter and
bar mark columns are visible.

Related commands :
S button on status line

431
The Help menu
The function of the commands on the Help menu is to provide information on the system's
performance and to give guidance on using the different commands. This menu also provides aces
to a pop-up calculator.

The commands on the Help menu are:

Contents
Request support
About PADDS

432
Contents

Menu : Help
Command : Contents
Description : Display Help contents and search functions
Short form : HC
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to display the Help contents from which a selection for a specific function
can be made.

Related commands :
None

433
Request support

Menu : Help
Command : Request support
Description : Display and submit a request, problem or suggestion form
Short form : HR
Parameters : Text

Notes :
The command is used to display the Support request form, shown above. The account number,
Program and Version are all automatically filled in. Where possible attach the current data file
giving rise to the query in order to assist the support team in answering your query. Other file
attachments can also be made using the Browse button.

Provide a brief but complete description of the query or problem. Include vital information such as
error numbers if errors were encountered.

All requests for support will be handled as speedily as possible. However, in order to assist in our
planning, please select an accurate indication of urgency by selecting the relevant Priority.

Related commands :
None

434
About PADDS

Menu : Help
Command : About PADDS
Description : Display system version information
Short form : HA
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to display the system version number, the PROKON website address and the
system details.

Related commands :
None

435
Repeating commands

Menu : Status Bar (R)

Command : Repeat mode
Description : Repeat certain commands without selecting command a second time
Short form : R on status bar
Parameters : None

Notes :
The command is used to set the repeat mode on or off. When repeat mode is selected various
commands can be repeated more than once without selecting the command more than once. The
commands which can be repeated in repeat mode are:

Edit menu : Join Lines, Clip lines, Trim Lines

Text menu : Text, Text Edit, Text Move, Text Copy, Text Caption, Text Box
Line menu : Horizontal Construction Line, Vertical Construction Line, Construction
Crosshair, Line Box, Parallel One Line
Circle menu : Circle Centre and Radius; Arc Start Point, Centre Point and Angle; Arc
Start Point, End Point and Radius
Dimension menu : Dimension Angle, Measure Angle, Measure Line/circle/arc, Measure
2 Points, Measure Polygon Area, Measure Hatch Area
Block menu : Block Copy

436
Chapter

13
Scripting

PADDS has a number of advanced drawing and detailing features. One such feature is the Pascal
scripting function built into PADDS. This powerful application allows for the writing and editing
of scripts to further simplify the drawing and detailing capabilities of PADDS.

This chapter introduces the following principles:

The PADDS scripting environment
General commands
Script structure and syntax

437
The PADDS scripting environment
This section briefly describes the procedure to start a PADDS scripting session and the elements of
the scripting environment. For information regarding the general PADDS environment and
commands, refer to Chapter 1.

Starting Pascal scripting

In PADDS, select the Edit script option from the Macro menu. The Pascal scripting window will
be opened. The last script to be edited or run will be displayed.

A brief menu is found at the top of the screen. This menu provides access to general file functions,
running of the script, certain script examples and the help menu. Several options buttons are found
at the bottom of the screen.

The column to the left of the screen shows the line numbers of the script and is known as the gutter.

Run
Debugging buttons

438
General commands
The general commands and other functions can be selected from the menu and the option buttons.
The following commands and options are available:
File menu : Offers the standard file functions: New, Open, Save, Save As and Close. A
debugging option is also offered. When selected, debugging of the script occurs during
running. However, if the script has already been debugged, it runs quicker if debugging
mode is not selected.
Run : Run the script.
Examples menu : A few examples demonstrating scripting aspects.
Help menu : Gives a selection of help topics.
Undo button : Allows the most recent action to be undone.
Transparency button : Transparency of the scripting screen can be selected in order to view
the running of the script through the scripting screen, if required.
Run and debugging buttons : The debugging buttons are disabled until the run (green arrow)
button is selected.

Using Scripting Help

The Pascal scripting Help gives guidance on the scripting commands supported by PADDS. The
default Help file can be edited and saved as a custom Help file. When accessing Help the user can
then decide which Help file to refer to. PADDS updates will update the default Help file, but not
the custom files.

For help on PADDS commands or to contact PROKON, use the PADDS Help menu, as described
in Chapter 1.

The script structure

A typical script structure consists of two major blocks:
Procedure and function declarations
Main block

Both are optional, but at least one should be present in a script. The main block need not
necessarily be inside begin … end. It could simply be a single statement.

439
Script syntax
Standard statements are available in scripting and certain aspects should accompany a statement.
The following aspects should be noted:
Each statement in a script should be terminated by a “;” character.
Begin … end blocks are used to group statements.
The case of letters is not important.
The following operators are supported: ^, *, /, and, +, -, or, <>, >=, <=, =, >, <, div, ,
sqr, sqrt, mod, xor, shl, shr
The syntax for various standard statements are given and discussed below.

Assign statements
Assign statements are used to assign a value or expression result to a variable or object property.
They are built and indicated by using “:=”. Some examples:
fac:=rval(s);
ie:=getcircle('Indicate circle?');
j:=i+1;
dc:=distance(xa,ya,xb,yb);

Character strings
A string is a sequence of characters. Strings are declared using a single quote (‘) character. For
example:
A:=’This is text’;

Comments
Comments can be inserted in scripts or statements can be ‘commented out’ (ie. rendered
ineffective) using the // characters. The comment will finish at the end of the line. Alternatively, for
comments longer than a line, use the (* *) or { } characters. Some examples:
// Single line comment
{Comments are useful for recording thoughts behind the commands
or for labelling parts of the script for easier reference}

440
Variables
Variables do not need to be declared in scripting. They are implicitly declared. Consider the
following example:
var A;
begin
A:=0;
A:=A+1;
end;

In this example, the variable A is declared. However, if the statement ‘var A’ declaring variable A
was omitted, the script would still be valid.

Indexes
Strings, arrays and array properties can be indexed using the square bracket characters “[ ]”. For
example, the expression Str[3] returns the third character in the string Str. Further:
MyChar:=MyStr[2];
MyStr:=’A’;
MyArray[1,2]:=1530;

Arrays
Use the “[ ]” characters to construct an array. Multi-index array constructors can also be used. In a
multi-indexed array, separate the indexes using “,” characters.

Scripting supports indexing in a variable that is a variant array. A variable is a variant array if:
it was assigned using an array constructor, or
it was created using the VarArrayCreate procedure.
Arrays in script are 0-based indexes.

Some examples:
NewArray:=[1,2,3,4];
Num:=NewArray[1];
//Num takes on ‘2’
MultiArray:=[[‘red’,’blue’,’yellow’],[‘apple’,’banana’,’orange’
];
Str:=MultiArray[0,2];
//Str takes on ‘yellow’
v:=vararraycreate([1,n1],12);
//Create an array of n1 variants

441
If statements
Two forms of if statement exist, namely the if … then and if … then … else statements. If the “if”
expression is true, the statement or block is executed. If the statement is false and there is an “else”
part, the statement or block following the “else” is performed. Some examples:
if not YesNoDlg('Keep changes?') then PopDwg;

if not intersec(x1,y1,x2,y2, x3,y3,x4,y4, xi,yi) then

errormsg('Lines are parallel');

if K<>0 then Result:=J/K;

if K=0 then Exit else Result:=J/K;

if K<>0 then
begin
Result:=J/K;
Count:=Count+1;
end
else
Done:=True;

While statements
A while statement is used to repeat a statement or block for as long as a control expression is
evaluated as true. The control expression is evaluated prior to the statement. Thus, if the control
expression is false at the first iteration, the statement is never executed. Execution of the statement
will continue for as long as the control expression remains true. For example:
while Data [M]<>Y then do M:=M+1;

while M>0 do
begin
if Odd(M) then X:=X*Y;
M:=M div 2;
Y:=Sqr(Y);
end;

while 2>1 do
begin
setpoint('Point?',x,y);
end;

442
Repeat statements
A repeat statement has the following syntax: repeat statement 1; … ; statement n; until expression
where the expression returns a Boolean value. The repeat statement continuously executes its
sequence of statements, testing the expression after each iteration. The repeat statement terminates
only when the expression returns True. Consider the examples:
repeat
Write(‘Enter a value (0..9): ‘);
Readln(X);
until (X>=0) and (X<=9);

repeat
if not gettext('txt') then break;
infomsg(txt.text);
until false;

For statements
The syntax for a for statement is as follows: for counter:=initialValue to finalValue do statement.
The statement (or block) is repeatedly executed until the value of the counter, which is incremented
after each iteration from the initialValue, reaches the finalValue. For example:
for i:=low(sa) to high(sa) do
sa[i]:=vararraycreate([1,3],8);

Function and procedure declarations

The declaration of procedures and functions, if used in a script, occurs at the beginning of a script.
Frequently used statements or blocks can be declared as procedures or functions for repeated use
within a script, just as in conventional programming. The only significant difference is that with
scripting variable types do not need to be specified. Functions are procedures that return a result.
Consider the following examples:
function GetDim(Name);
begin
s:='800';
result:=1*inputstring('Dimensions',Name+'?’, s);
end;

function Max(x,y);
begin
if x>y then result:=x
else result:=y;
end;

procedure Msg;

443
 begin
infomsg('Hello Joe');
end;

Procedures and functions are then called or used in the main part of the script. When functions are
defined, the required input is defined. Then when functions are called, values for the stipulated
input are given, and the result of the function is usually assigned to a variable. Procedures are
called by simply using their names as statements. Some examples:
begin
MSG;
end;
//calls procedure named Msg (see above examples)

v:=max(10,7);
{calls function Max defined in examples above and assigns
function result to variable v}

Debugging a script
In order to debug a script, the Debugging mode option under File on the menu must be selected.
The debugging buttons at the bottom of the screen become active when the Run option on the menu
or the Run button are selected. The debugging buttons are as follows:

Pause Stop
Show Execution
Trace Into
Point
Trace Over
These buttons have the following functions:
Pause : Pauses script during running at the position reached in the script. Selecting this
button again removes the pause and allows the script to continue running.
Show execution point : Shows position in script during running.
Trace over : Runs through script line for line, regarding functions as a single statement.
Trace into : Same as Trace over, except that when a function is reached, it is also run
through line for line, rather than being regarded as a single statement.
Stop : Stops the script running.

To force the script to stop at a certain point, click on the required line number in the gutter of the
scripting screen. A break point, denoted by a red dot, will then be created at that position.

444
Commands supported
In the following reference list of supported script commands, the number after the command
denotes how many input values are required with that command.

System library:

UpperCase, 1 Returns a copy of a string in uppercase.

LowerCase, 1 Converts an ASCII string to lowercase.
CompareStr, 2 CompareStr compares S1 to S2, with case-sensitivity. The return
is less than 0 if S1 is less than S2, 0 if S1 equals S2, or greater if
S1 is greater than S2.
CompareText, 2 Compares two strings by ordinal value without case sensitivity.
AnsiUpperCase, 1 Supports multi-byte character sets
AnsiLowerCase, 1
AnsiCompareStr, 2
AnsiCompareText, 2
Trim, 1 Trims leading and trailing spaces and control char's from a string.

s:=Trim(' Junk ' #13#10);

TrimLeft, 1 Trims leading spaces and control characters from a string.
s:=TrimLeft(' Junk');
TrimRight, 1 Trims trailing spaces and control characters from a string.
qq:=TrimRight('Junk' +#13);
IsValidIdent, 1 Tests for a valid Pascal identifier.
IntToStr, 1 Converts an integer to a string. i2s below is less typing
IntToHex, 2 Returns the hex representation of an integer
StrToInt, 1 Converts a string that represents an integer to a number.
qq:=StrToInt('10');
StrToIntDef, 2 Default parameter specified
FloatToStr, 1 Converts a floating point value to a string.
qq:=FloatToStr(75.34216);
Format, 2 Returns a formatted string assembled from a format string
and an array of arguments.
FormatFloat, 2 Formats a floating point value
qq:=FormatFloat(75.34216,2);
StrToFloat, 1 Converts a given string to a floating-point value.
qq:=StrToFloat('23.67895');
EncodeDate, 3 Returns a TDateTime value for a specified Year, M and Day.
EncodeTime, 4 Returns a TDateTime value for a specified H, M, S, and millisec.
DecodeDate, 4 Returns Year, Month, and Day values for a TDateTime value.
DecodeTime, 5 Breaks a TDateTime value into hours, min, sec and millisec.

445
DayOfWeek, 1 Returns the day of the week for a specified date.
Date, 0 Returns the current date.
Time, 0 Returns the current time.
Now, 0 Returns the current date and time.
IncMonth, 2 Returns a date shifted by a specified number of months.
IsLeapYear, 1 Indicates whether a specified year is a leap year.
DateToStr, 1 Converts a TDateTime value to a string.
TimeToStr, 1 Returns a string that represents a TDateTime value.
DateTimeToStr, 1 Converts a TDateTime value to a string.
StrToDate, 1 Converts a string to a TDateTime value.
StrToTime, 1 Converts a string to a TDateTime value.
StrToDateTime, 1 Converts a string to a TDateTime value.
FormatDateTime, 2 Formats a TDateTime value.
Beep, 0 for i:=1 to 300 do
begin
Beep;
end;
VarIsNull, 1 Indicates whether the specified variant is Null.
Round, 1 Returns value X rounded to the nearest whole number.
qq:=Round(5.4); gives qq=5.0
Trunc, 1 Truncates a real number to an integer.
qq:=Trunc(5.7);
gives an integer of 5
Copy, 3 Returns a substring of a string.
inpstr:='abcdefghijk x:=copy(inpstr,3,5);
x will be 'cdefg' copies from 3rd character of 5 characters c d e f g
Delete, 3 Removes a substring from a string.
x:=delete(inpstr,3,5);
a will be abhijk deleted from 3rd character of 5 characters c d e f
g
Insert, 3 Inserts a substring into a string beginning at a specified point.
qq:=Insert('zzz','abcdef',4);
Pos, 2 Returns the index a specified substring in a given string.
qq:=pos('/','aaaa/bbb');
Length, 1 Returns the number of characters in a string.
qq:=Length('abcdef');
ShowMessage, 1 Displays a message box with an OK button. infomsg is less typing
InputQuery, 3 Displays an input dialog that lets the user enter a string or value.
Raise, 1 Create an exception object
CreateOleObject, 1 Instantiates a single instance of an Automation object.
GetActiveOleObject, 1 Retrieves a reference to an IDispatch interface to a currently
running, registered COM object.
VarToStr, 1 Converts a variant to a genuine string.
qq:=VarToStr(qq);

446
Dec, 1 Decrements a variable by 1.
Inc, 1 Increments an ordinal value by 1.
High, 1 Returns the highest value in the range of an argument.
Low, 1 Returns the lowest value in a range.
VarArrayHighBound, 2 Returns high bound for a dimension in a variant array.
VarArrayLowBound, 2 Returns low bound of a dimension in a variant array.
VarArrayCreate, 2 Creates a variant array.
qq:=VarArrayCreate([10,100], 3);
Low bound 10, High bound 100(<10000), type=3 (integer).
Where 3 integer
4 single
5 double
8 string (must be genuine strings use VarToStr on all
input)
9 boolean
11 byte
12 variant (Best when in doubt)
Random, 0 Generates random numbers between 0 and 1.
Machine, 0 Returns a pointer to current virtual machine object.
Scripter, 0 Returns a pointer to current scripter object.

447
General functions

PreviewScript 0 Previews a script run directly from the menu

Nent, 0 Number of entities in drawing
Natt, 0 Number of attributes in drawing attribute list
Nstr, 0 Number of lines in current text entity. Use for MultiLine text block
Ient, 0 Number of last snapped entity
Iline, 0 Number of individual line in polyline structure
Layer, 0 Current layer qq:=Layer;
Scale, 1 Layer scale ( 0 for current layer)
scale:=Scale(qq);
will give .01 if current layer is 1:100 and .02 if current layer is 1:200
LayerOn, 1 Test if layer is on
qq:=LayerOn(Lno);
then use "if...." to respond
Pen, 0 Current pen
Font, 0 Current font number
GetEntity, 1 Load specified entity into entity structure. See ient above
GetEntity(ient); can then access the entities structure
eg. if the entity snapped was a text string then qq:=txt.Text; will put
the text string into qq
GetEntityLayer, 1 Get layer number of specified entity
Lno:=GetEntityLayer(ient);
SetEntityLayer, 2 Set layer number of specified entity (Entity #, layer #)
SetEntityLayer(ient,Lno);
SetEntityPen, 2 Set pen of specified entity
GetEntityPen, 1 Get pen of specified entity
qq:=GetEntityPen(ient);
SetEntityAtt, 2 Set attribute number of specified entity
GetEntityAtt, 1 Get attribute number of specified entity
SetEntityStyle, 2 Set line style of specified entity (as integer)
GetEntityStyle, 1 Get line style of specified entity (as integer)
PutEntity, 1 Replace specified entity
AddEntity, 1 Add entity in entity structure to drawing
DelEntity, 1 Delete specified entity
MarkDrawEntity 1 Highlights the entity on the drawing (Specify entity number) Still needs
work want to keep highlighted until "BU_"
DrawEntity, 1 Redraws the entity (Specify entity number)
'ShowOffLayers, 1 True : Draws off layers with a gray pen.
False : Do not draw off layers.
Inblock, 1 Test if entity (by number) is currently in block
AddToBlock, 1 Adds entity (by number) to block
RemoveFBlock, 1 Removes entity (by number) from block

448
GetAttString, 1 Accepts an integer and returns the attribute label
GetAttNumber, 1 Accepts a string and returns the attribute number
SetAttString, 2 Sets the attribute label for the specified number
e.g. setattstring(3, 'ND512');
PushDwg, 0 Save drawing to temporary folder all scripts should
start with this
PopDwg, 0 Restores drawing from temporary folder. Use with "Accept" at end
DrawingName, 0 Returns full path name of current drawing
Intersec, 10 Calculates the intersection between 2 lines
e.g. Intersec(x1,y1,x2,y2, x3,y3,x4,y4, xi,yi);
IntersecI, 10 Like intersec but only returns true if the lines actually cross each other.
IntersecCL, 11 Calculates the intersection between a circle and line and returns the
number of intersections (0,1,or 2)
e.g. n:=IntersecCL(x,y,r,
x1,y1,x2,y2,xi1,yi1,xi2,yi2);
Distance, 4 Calculates the distance between 2 points
e.g. qq:=Distance( x1,y1,x2,y2);
DistancePL, 6 Calculates the distance between a point and line (>0 for left)
e.g. qq:=DistancePL(x,y, x1,y1,x2,y2);
PointOnLine, 6 Calculates the projection of a point on a line (true if projection between
end points)
e.g. PointOnLine(x,y, x1,y1,x2,y2);
InterPolate, 5 Interpolates a value between to coordinates
e.g. y:=Interpolate(x1,y1,x2,y2, x);
Exec, 1 Executes a .exe file. Still falls through into next line in script add stopper
flag:=0;
Exec('c:\prokon\data\$-exe\ Dump_It.exe');
while flag<>1 do
begin
delay(1);
end;
then .exe file must set flag to 1 just before it exits
ExecCenter 1 Executes a .exe file and moves the window to screen centre
ExecWait 1 Executes a .exe file and waits until it is closed
Run, 1 Runs a psc file
run('c:\prokon\data\$-psc\ Do_It.psc');
RunUnit 3 Runs a specific function into a .psc file and returns the function value e.g.
Xm:=RunUnit('c:\prokon\data\$-psc\Unit.psc',
'MaxValue', [5.0, 8.5]);
Below is a procedure called "Show1.psc":
procedure Show1(a)
begin
infomsg('Input to a is '+a);
end;
Called thus it will show what is in "a"

449
 a:='It worked !!!';
RunUnit('c:\prokon\data\$-psc\show1.psc',
'Show1',[a]);
SetLib 1 Specifies a global .psc library file.
RunLib 2 Runs a library function and returns the function value,
e.g Xm:=RunLib(‘MaxValue’, [5.0, 8.5]);
SetVal, 1 Sets 1 value before executing a drawing command that requires it can be
stacked one above the other to set more values should the command below
require it
SetVal2, 2 Sets 2 values
SetText, 1 Sets a string
SetChar, 1 Sets a character
SetYN, 1 Sets a Yes or No cahracter ('Y' or 'N')
GetPoint, 3 'Prompt', x, y Prompts for a point
SetPoint, 3 'Prompt', x, y Prompts for point and set it
GetLine, 1 'Prompt' Returns entity no (ient) + line no (iline)
GetPolyLine, 1 'Prompt' Returns entity no (ient)
GetCircle, 1 'Prompt' Returns entity no (ient)
GetArc, 1 'Prompt' Returns entity no (ient)
GetText, 1 'Prompt' Returns entity no (ient)
GetPnt, 1 'Prompt' Returns entity no (ient)
GetHatch, 1 'Prompt' Returns entity no (ient)
GetRebar, 1 'Prompt' Returns entity no (ient)
GetBitmap, 1 'Prompt' Returns entity no (ient)
GetAnyEntity, 1 'Prompt' Returns entity no (ient)
SnapLine, 2 Returns entity number (ient) of closest line to specified x, y (0 if nothing
found)
SnapCircle, 2 Returns entity number (ient) of closest circle to
specified x, y (0 if nothing found)
SnapArc, 2 Returns entity number (ient) of closest arc to specified x, y (0 if nothing
found)
SnapEntity, 2 Returns entity number (ient) of closest entity to specified x, y (0 if nothing
found)
R2S, 2 Converts a real number to a string (value, number of decimals)
I2S, 1 Converts an integer to a string
Char, 1 Converts an ordinal value to a string
IncStr, 1 Returns incremented numeric or alphabetical string
DecStr, 1 Returns decremented numeric or alphabetical string
Textwidths, 1 Returns the width of the specified string in mm
Exit, 0 Terminates the script
Delay, 1 Delays script or specified no of milliseconds

450
Entity structures

e.g. lin.L refers to the layer of the line object and

lin.X[1] refers to the x coordinate of the first vertex of a line

lin Line entity

Lno Layer integer

Pen Pen integer
Stl Style integer
Typ Type integer
Num Number of line segments integer
Xc Array of X coordinates real
Yc Array of Y coordinates real
Att Attribute integer

cir Circle entity

Lno Layer integer

Pen Pen integer
Stl Style integer
Rad Radius real
Xc X coordinate real
Yc Y coordinate real
Att Attribute integer

earc Elliptical arc entity

Lno Layer integer

Pen Pen integer
Stl Style integer
R_x X Radius real
R_y X Radius real
Ang Main Axis angle real
A_1 Start angle real
A_2 End angle real
Xc X coordinate real
Yc Y coordinate real
Att Attribute integer

pnt Point entity (dot or ring)

451
 Lno Layer integer
Pen Pen integer
Typ Type integer T=1 => Dot
T=2 => Ring
Dia Diameter real
Xc X coordinate real
Yc Y coordinate real
Att Attribute integer

txt Text entity

Lno Layer integer

Pen Pen integer
Fnt Font integer
Jus Justify integer (02 = Left Top)
Bold Bold boolean
Italic Italic boolean
Underline Underline boolean
Hgt Height real
Ang Angle real
W_F Width factor real
L_S Line spacing factor real
Xc X coordinate real
Yc Y coordinate real
Text Text string
Att Attribute integer

fil Hatch entity

Lno Layer integer

Pen Pen integer
Stl Style integer
Num No of vertices integer
P_S Paper scale boolean
ScF Scale factor real
Ang Pattern angle real
X_o Pattern origin real
Y_o Pattern origin real
Xc Array of X coordinates real
Yc Array of Y coordinates real
Pat Pattern name string[15]
Att Attribute integer

bar Rebar entity

452
 Lno Layer integer
Pen Pen integer
Stl Style integer
S_C Shape code integer
C_E Curtailed ends integer
Lvl Level integer
S_x Sign X integer
S_y Sign Y integer
Adim A dimension real
Bdim B dimension real
Cdim C dimension real
Ddim D dimension real
Edim E dimension real
Ang Angle real
Dia Diameter real
Xc X coordinate real
Yc Y coordinate real
Typ Type character
Mark Mark string[5]
Att Attribute integer

bit Raster image entity

Lno Layer integer

Siz Size integer
Wid Width real
Hgt Height real
Xc X coordinate real
Yc Y coordinate real
Typ Type char 'B' .bmp
'E' .emf
'J' .jpg
'G' .gif
Att Attribute integer

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File functions

FileExists, 1 If not FileExists('c:\prokon\data\ junk.pad') then

break;
DeleteFile, 1 DeleteFile('c:\prokon\ data\Junk.pad');
CopyFile, 2 DrgName:='c:\prokon\data\Junk.pad’;
NewDrgName:='c:\prokon\data\Junk-A.pad';
CopyFile(DrgName,NewDrgName);
RenameFile, 2 DrgName:='c:\prokon\data\Junk-A.pad';
NewDrgName:='c:\prokon\data\Junk-B.pad';
RenameFile(DrgName,NewDrgName);
WorkingFolder 0 Returns the name of the working folder
Tempdir 0 Returns the name of the temporary folder
OpenW 1 openW('c:\prokon\data\$cratch\ Temp.txt');
WriteF 1 writeF('Some text');
OpenR 1 openR('c:\prokon\data\$cratch\ Temp.txt');
InStr:=readF;
OpenA 1 openA('c:\prokon\data\$cratch\ Temp.txt');
writeF('Some more text');
will add extra text line to an existing file.
ReadF 0 InStr:=readF;
CloseF 0 closeF; All open files must be closed at end
FindMore 2 Returns true while files for specified wild card, found e.g.
“while findmore(workingfolder+”bs-*.pad”,s) do…”

Dialogue boxes

InfoMsg, 1 message
ErrorMsg, 1 message
YesNoDlg, 1 question - returns true or false
InputString, 3 heading, prompt, initial value of input string, returns input string

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Radiogroup dialogue

RadioClear, 0 Clears all entries from the radio dialogue

RadioCaption, 1 Sets the caption of the radio dialogue box
RadioAddItem, 1 Adds an item to the radio dialogue - no limit on number of items
RadioAddHint, 1 Adds an optional hint for each item
RadioColumns, 1 Specifies the number of columns in which items should be displayed
RadioExecute, 1 Displays the dialogue. The number specified indicates the default
selection (-1 for previous selection, -2 for no selection. The function
returns then number of the item selected. (-1 if cancel clicked)

Input grid (table) dialogue

GridClear, 0 Clears all entries from the grid.

GridCaption, 1 Sets the caption of the input grid dalog.
SetGridCell, 3 Column and row number (0 based), and cell text to set.
SetGridCell(0,1,'Dimension A');
GetGridCell, 2 Returns the cell text at column, row number.
A:=1 * GetGridCell(0,1);
SetGridImage, 1 Specifies the file name of the image to display next to the input grid.
GridExecute, 0 Displays the dialog and returns false if Cancel clicked.

Drawing commands
Note : To view Padds drawing commands short cuts, use F10. Refer to Chapter 12 for command
descriptions.

File : FN_ 0 FW_ 1

FO_ 1 FP_ 0
FS_ 0 FK_ 0
FS_dos 1 FI_ 0
FA_ 1
FC_ 0
FR_ 1

Edit : EI_ 0 E1_ 0

ES_ 0 E2_ 0
EX_ 0 E3_ 0
EC_ 0 E4_ 0

455
 ET_ 0 E5_ 0
EM_ 0 E6_ 0
EO_ 0 E7_ 0
EB_ 0 E8_ 0
EP_ 0 E9_ 0
EJ_ 0 E0_ 0
EF_ 0 EE_ 0
ER_ 0 EU_ 0
EA_ 0 EY_ 0
ED_ 0
EZ_ 0
EV_ 0

Set: SU_ 0 ST_ 0

SP_ 2 SE_ 0
SM_ 0 S1_ 0
SO_ 0 S2_ 0
SA_ 0 S3_ 0
SZ_ 0 SV_ 0
SL_ 1 SC_ 0
SS_ 1

Line : LL_ 0 LY_ 0

LA_ 0 LD_ 0
LB_ 0 LC_ 0
LP_ 0 LH_ 0
LO_ 0 L1_ 0
LR_ 0 L2_ 0
LT_ 0 L3_ 0
LK_ 0 L4_ 0
LG_ 0 L5_ 0
LS_ 0
LZ_ 0
LX_ 0

Circle : CC_ 1 C7_ 0

C2_ 0 C8_ 0
C3_ 0 CE_ 0
C4_ 0 CA_ 0
C5_ 0 CO_ 0
C6_ 0

Text : TT_ 1 TS_ 0

TU_ 0 TO_ 0

456
 TE_ 0 TL_ 0
TD_ 0
TM_ 0
TC_ 0
TN_ 0
TB_ 0
TF_ 0
TA_ 0
TP_ 7
TG_ 0
TG_All 0 Similar to TG, but set the global text justify and text angle also.

Point : PC_ 0 P2_ 0

PF_ 0 P3_ 0
PL_ 0 P4_ 0
PS_ 2 P5_ 0
PO_ 0 P6_ 0
PN_ 0 P7_ 0
PI_ 0 P8_ 0
PM_ 0
PH_ 0
PT_ 0
P1_ 0
P1_8 8 Like P1 but accepts all 8 parameters in brackets

Hatch : HH_ 0 HE_ 0

HO_ 0 HP_ 0
HA_ 0 HC_ 0
HM_ 0 HG_ 0
HD_ 0 HS_ 0
HI_ 0 H1_ 0
HT_ 0
HV_ 0

Rebars: RB_ 0 RF_ 0

RE_ 0 RG_ 0
RD_ 0 RZ_ 0
RR_ 0 RO_ 0
RX_ 0 R1_ 0
RC_ 0 R2_ 0
RP_ 0 R3_ 0
RI_ 0 R4_ 0
RU_ 0 R5_ 0
RY_ 0 R6_ 0

457
 RL_ 0 R7_ 0
RN_ 0 R8_ 0
RH_ 0
RM_ 0
RA_ 0
RT_ 0
RS_ 0

Dimensions :
DH_ 0 D1_ 0
DV_ 0 D2_ 0
DS_ 0 D3_ 0
DI_ 0 D4_ 0
DO_ 0 D5_ 0
DR_ 0
DA_ 0
DP_ 0

Blocks: BD_ 0 B1_ 0

BL_ 0 B2_ 1
BB_ 0 B3_ 0
BC_ 0 B4_ 0
BP_ 0 B5_ 0
BA_ 0 B6_ 0
BR_ 0 B7_ 0
BS_ 0 B8_ 0
BW_ 0 B9_ 0
BH_ 0 B0_ 0
BU_ 0 BK_ 0

Window :
WR_ 0

Zoom : ZA_ 0
ZE_ 0
ZW_ 4 // X,Y for first and opposite corners (Any order)
ZC_ 3 // X centre, Y centre and radius of zoom window
ZS_ 0
ZR_ 0

Snap modes and Snap once:

NI_ 0 NL_ 0
NE_ 0 NH_ 0

458
NB_ 0 NV_ 0
NG_ 0 NM_ 0
NF_ 0 NT_ 0

459
Index
(see also Contents)
distribution zone, 83
Dots and rings, 84
A drawing commands, 33
active window, 6 drawing file, 9
arc, 231 DTM file, 275
ASCII data file, 149 DWG files, 121
attribute, 72 DXF drawings, 123

B E
backups, 13 edit, 38
bar marks, 92 edit layer information, 195
Baseline mode, 68 ellipse, 236
bending schedule, 97 entity information, 153
block handles, 60 erase, 46
block scope, 59
blocks, 63 F
button bars, 126
file management functions, 9
file names, 10
C fillet, 165
chamfer, 167 fillet radius, 166
Change block entity parameters, 382 foreign drawing files, 119
circle, 228 function keys, 127
colour printing, 14
combine the bending schedule files, 117 G
concrete cover, 90, 319
construction crosshair, 216 generates an input file, 117
Construction lines, 36 Gif file, 146
construction mode, 36
coordinate system, 17
curtailment, 83 H
customised configuration, 404 hatch, 37
customizing bending schedules, 129 hatch origin, 277
help, 8
D
detailing, 75 I
dimension parameters, 66 indicate drawn rebars, 76
dimensioning, 65 input file for PROKON analysis, 395

461
insert a picture, 141
R
rebar angle, 81
L rebar distribution zone, 96
layer table, 11, 111 rebar drawing commands, 78
layers, 49 Rebar orientation, 81
line parameters, 34 redo, 183
reinforcement bars, 84
rescheduling a rebar, 106
M
macros, 115 S
magnetic cursor, 188
manipulating fixed size details, 63 scale, 50
Master bending schedule, 101 schedule numbers, 12
Merging an entity, 201 scripting, 115
modify, 116 SDI file, 15
moving and copying, 47 set a point, 261
shape code, 78
sketch, 213
O snap function, 20
oblique circle, 238 snap mode, 203
orientation, 81 snap mode aperture, 20
ortho angle, 190 snap once function, 203
Ortho mode, 27 Special characters, 40
spline, 222
stretching, 43
P survey coordinates, 32
system settings, 33
paper orientation, 19 system text parameters, 251
paper size, 19, 110
parabola, 226
parent rebar, 89 T
pen numbers, 113
points, 18 text, 39
Points, 5 text files, 40
presetting points, 28 text parameters, 39
prestressed tendons, 308 Transpose scale, 193, 194
print, 11
print window, 14 U
undo, 182

462
units of measurement, 18 working folder, 134
uppercase characters, 255
Z
W zoom, 7
windows, 2

463