This is an archive of CompuServe forum messages from 1985 to 1995, as saved in transcripts by John Foust.
Search Results (831 messages)
#DWG's on MACs and PCs
Message #135385
Question: How portable are the DWG's created using the MAC version of Autocad. Specifically, what do I need to do to use a DWG created on a MAC, on a PC. I have MAC's and PC connected to a Novell network so I can get the file back and forth…
DWG Deciphered?
Message #134903
Congrats on your deal with Softdesk for their Windows product! You must have a great Windows viewer. Any chance on me getting a copy? Patrick Schutte Western Regional Sales Manager Cyco International 2100 Lincoln Village Circle Suite 2205 Larkspur, CA 94939
Thanx, I'll pass the info on to the draftsman. John E. Frank
John: Yes, AutoDesk sells an add-on IGES Translator (Version 5.1, although it is the first version – the 5.1 refers to the version of the IGES spec it works against). It is $1200 USD. It is much better than the "free" translator that comes with AutoCAD. If you are not…
#IGES->DWG Translator?
Message #133919
Howdy, I understand ADESK sells a IGES Translator; is this true? The reason I ask is tha some of our customers send us IGES files created with GCD (Computer Vision) and/or UNIGRAFIX software. Most of the time our draftsman can import the images into ACAD (R12/386) but occasionally he can't.…
#133197-
DWG Deciphered?
Message #133591
>> I can understand things that break when versions change, but what about other forms of bugs? I've made too much money as a consultant, hired to fix and work-around "unrepairable" bugs in import/export code like this, that I'm not confident in anyone's libraries except my own. 🙂
J.– 1. The Sirlin CAD++ ENGINE libraries definately support Metaware on DOS. We are working on a Mac port now. Your's is the first request I've seen for Amiga. 2. Perhaps you could just use a DWG2DXF utility to convert drawings before importing them into your program using DXF. Sirlin's…
Sirlin's CAD++ ENGINE provides full DWG read/write support for DOS, Extended DOS, ADS, Windows, and Unix platforms, including Sun, HP700, SGI. RS600, Ultrix, NT, and Mac are on the way. Regarding cost, if you just want to access the DWG information, our read-only library only costs $495 and no royalties.…
#133369-
DWG Deciphered?
Message #133587
It was a precedent, it was greatly speculated over, and it didn't get *yanked*.
I guess if you haven't been following the ebb and flow of the forum over the last couple of years you wouldn't understand the political implications of an Autodesk Registered developer selling access to the DWG code to AutoCAD's #1 competitor.
#133197-
DWG Deciphered?
Message #133328
The few bugs that I've encountered in Marcomp's package, Matt was real quick to fix and get me an update. It is in his best intrest as well to get things fixed quickly.
Marcomp's library is available in Metaware's 32-bit Windows form>> 32-bit libraries are available, as well as 16-bit. They work for both DOS and Windows. (Although you never know when/if Windows will be a separate license) I expect things will get exciting when R13 hits, but I also expect Mcomp &…
Matt Richards wrote Autodirect and a few other utilities. Thus the name MARcomp as in MAtt Richards. (he's also from MARyland) Don't you ever get on CIS Matt???
Why would Marcomp lose developer status? For supporting an unsupported file format? If they released proprietary info, I would understand… but they deciphered the undocumented. Are you saying that Bentley had troubles with Marcomp's code?
Intergraph announced in their press release over DWG that Marcomp supplied the library. There was some discussion on the Forum whether Marcomp would loose its Registered Autodesk Developer status for that–they didn't. However, it took Bentley Systems a year to produce the DWG-write code to work between MicroStation and the…
Sorry, never heard of it 'til now. Dennis
What I've got is the source for my own library which reads DWG files using the familiar ADS function interface. I've used it to develop a standalone DXF translator and am working towards a windows viewer. My guess is that Autodesk will eventually provide an external API but will not…
Thank you for your comments. As I said in one of my other postings, my company makes a 3D translator. We're at the fringes of the CAD market, the bulk of our customers are shuttling data between what are more commonly called "3D" programs, used for video and animation. A…
>> I'd love to know the least little bit about the format of DWG files. Several companies have deciphered the format. Is anyone talking about it? Any clues would be appreciated…
I guess that means it's not such a secret, then? 🙂 Also, someone mentioned an old v2.6-era book that discussed the format of DWGs. Had anyone heard of that book, or do they have a copy they could lend?
Who is Matt Richards? Also, in a previous message I disparagingly said that Marcomp only supported a few platforms with link libraries. No one corrected me, but my sense of honesty requires me to state that thaey do support a half-dozen platforms.
I believe the book was co-authored by Fred Jones, of the late Eclat. He is now with E-BOOK. If you can find him, he'll be able to say where to get the book.
Intergraph sent a flier about a year or so ago. I also know MAtt Richards.
J. I'm sure you'll be contacted by somebody now that you say you're willing to pay for it. Dennis
I didn't know that Integraph licensed Marcomp's code. How did you learn that?
"Well… I've got it": what exactly have you "got"?
>> It's not as if they've got the details of DWG printed in a little book that costs $1000.00.
There's a big difference between "deciphering" the DWG file for your own purpose and marketing a DWG access library. Most people who access DWG files are just trying to get at a small part of the file. BTW, Intergraph licensed the source from Marcomp.
I'm well aware of that. But really, they're not charging for the information, they're charging for their implementation. It's not as if they've got the details of DWG printed in a little book that costs $1000.00. They've got link libraries you can use on the PC and maybe one or…
J, Those that have deciphered it are charging for the information. Dennis
#132229-
AutoLISP
Message #132279
I'm off to Nantucket for a couple of days, then the Jersey shore … jrf
The RANS function does what you want. The syntax is (trans ). and may be 0 for WCS, 1 for UCS, an entity name, or an entity extrusion vector, or a few other things. To translate a polyline vertex to WCS: (trans vertex 0) jrf
#132108-
AutoLISP
Message #132277
I relized there's a way to do the innermost loop more efficiently, so here's a better version of (bsort): ; A routine to sort a list of items using the bubble sort algorithm. ; The bubble sort isn't particularly fast, but it's simple and needs ; no auxiliary storage. An…
Acad & Rprinter
Message #132276
Hallo, I hope I'm right here. I have some problems with Acad and Netware 3.11 I want to print to a printer connected to another workstation in hte network over Rprinter. But either the workstation, I print from, hangs totally or there are only errors while printing. Please can somebody…
#132135-
Is all ACADs with dongle
Message #132274
David – I'd never heard the "copyright laws" argument before. The laws here in the Netherlands can't be all that different, and are perhaps even a bit tougher than in the States. And since AutoDesk has an official office here (AutoDesk Nederland B.V.), they should be able to enforce copyright…
#132192-
Plot files
Message #132271
Rickie: With R11c2, we always printed to a file, so I don't know if you can or not. What happens when you try? Mike
#132156-
R12 buglist format poll
Message #132270
David: >> So… what about your "circle that doesn't hide bug?" Where is it? Careful… you're about to get two very large lists for the latest bugs. Mike
#132131-
c2 upgrade woes!!!
Message #132269
David: >> It includes a zip file of the updated drivers / documentation and a >> exe file that patches your acad.exe (fixes the Insert ~ renaming the >> drawing). It is available from the library here on CIS and from our Global >> Village BBS. It got pulled from…
#132248-
R12- Windows or DOS????
Message #132268
Tony: >> How good is the ACAD for Unix based workstations like SparcStations, >> ect.? Can't help you there. I'm a DOS user to the core, and have probably spent 3 hours total on a Sparc, and most of that was playing flight simulator. Mike
#132222-
AutoCad Rel 10 Install
Message #132267
Susan: I went back and dug through some old messages. The FMTOUT error is coprocessor related. I don't remember what kind of machine you have. If it is a 386, try reseating the math chip to see if it fixes the problem. Also, make sure the BIOS recognizes that the…
#AUTOCAD12
Message #132265
I have a problem with AUTOCAD 12 How can I get the real-world coordinates of a polyline-vertex, when the element has been created in a user-coordinate system ucs? in which way ca a transformation between the vertex entity-group 10 to world-coordinates been done, using the polyline entity group 10 an…
#132050-
R12- Windows or DOS????
Message #132258
The only problem with going to SparcStations is that if we do, we will probably drop AutoCAD as our main CAD package, and to to ARGOS. From what little I know of ARGOS right now, it is based on the AutoCAD concept, with many improvements. We will probably keep ACAD…
Product for OS/2
Message #132256
I wonder your company will offer ACAD for OS/2 ? I currently have to run AcadWin12. But our company want to move to OS/2. Do I have a choice between AutoCad or OS/2 ? please give us some idea. Thanks
#131938-
486 R12c2 stretch gpe!
Message #132255
I don't use my HPgl plotter anymore myself. I conned the upper brass into buying a Calcomp CCL 600 laser printer. At my current job, I don't use anything larger that 11×17 (took a while to get used to that). I think that sometime when I get time (if ever,…
#131858-
486 R12c2 stretch gpe!
Message #132254
No, all my drivers right now are 4.2. I don't use the plotter anymore, since I got the CCL 600 printer, but I was kind of put off by all the messages from everyone about c2 problems…I still don't have time to install c2, so it will have to sit……
DWG Deciphered?
Message #132253
I'd love to know the least little bit about the format of DWG files. Several companies have deciphered the format. Is anyone talking about it? Any clues would be appreciated… (I know, you're supposed to use DXF.)
#91388-
Binary DXF vs. DXB?
Message #91614
We use dxb format to convert 3D drawings to 2D isometrics. The procedure is described in several books including the ACAD manuals (I can't remember where exactly). The output is fair. Small details are lost or misinterpreted so there is a tradeoff. I have never used dxf binary, but you…
#91388-
Binary DXF vs. DXB?
Message #91418
DXB files do not convey an AutoCAD drawing in its entirety. They only convey basic geometry. So, a comparison of the relative file sizes of DXFB and DXB isn't too meaningful. The DXB format is relatively unpopular as well, and I wouldn't recommend it for much. -TonyT.
#80413-
Layer+Tag Names?
Message #80481
J.: Layer name restrictions are listed on p. 263 of my Release 11 "AutoCAD Reference Manual". Page 334 offers a little bit of information on attribute tags. Briefly: layer names can be up to 31 characters long, and AutoCAD converts 'em to uppercase automatically. Letters, numbers, and the three special…
Myron, Hope you're getting the information you're looking for. As you can see, the folks who use AutoCAD are very loyal to a great product. It's making them money for their CADD investment. So how you plan to use CADD will quite naturally determine what you decide to purchase, whether…
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