Problem Solving FAQ’s for paraCAD+

 

 

·         paraCAD+ SNAPS BAR/ Tab Hotkeys and F Keys Information

- use ‘Tab’ to get to ‘one-shot’ LIST…’pick’ or type -L=Perp: M=Mid:etc.
- Bearing and Distance….enter distance 1000 and angle 60 degrees
- Snap From in X & Y…enter both X and Y distances in sml Dialog
- Ortho of two Points…X first then Y
- Cursor Snap…also uses Intellisnap settings if ‘ON’
- Point Snap…snaps to nearest point (sml cross or sq at drg origin)
- Intersection Snap…finds intersection between lines/arcs/circles
- Grid Snap…snaps to Grid wether Visible or Not
- End Point…snaps to the end point of a line or arc or circle
- Mid Point…snaps to the mid point of a line or arc or circle
- Centre snap…snaps to the centre point of an arc or circle
- Quadrant snap…snaps to the 3/6/9/12 oclock points of an arc or circle
- Perpendicular snap…snaps to the perp’l point of a line or arc or circle
- Tangent snap…snaps to the Tang’t point of an arc or circle
- Nearest point…snaps to the nearest point of an entity
- Distance along… snaps to a given distance from end point of an entity
- Snap to Insert…snaps to the Insertion point of a Symbol
- Fraction snap… snaps to a Fract’nal point from end point of an entity
- Ortho snap…Forces Lines orthoganally…indicate Dir’n then Distance
- Active Angle snap…Forces Lines at AA…indicate Angle then Distance

TAB SNAPS:- If you Press the Tab key then the following Keys you can get a ‘one-shot’ Snap (this means that after this one-shot snap the snaps revert back to the IntelliSNAP settings if used) as follows:-

C=Centre: A=Absolute (from origin): B=Bearing: D=Distance: E=End: I=Intersection: K=fraKtion along: L=perpL: M=Mid: N=Nearest: O=Ortho : P=Point: Q=Quadrant: R=Relative (X/Y): S=inSertion: T=Tangent: V=ang(V): X=active angle direcXion (X).

F-Keys:- F1 Help: F2 N/Used : F3 Box Mode: F4 Crossing Mode: F5 Zoom Window: F6 Zoom Sheet: F7 Zoom Extents: F8 Recalc: F9 Mouse Buttons: F10 Text Window Toggle

Diameter and Degrees (TEXT) - To get Dia in Text use ALT-0216 for Degree use ALT-0176

MORE- paraCAD+ Hints and Tips

These are in no particular order, but may be useful to both Beginers and the more ‘seasoned’ user.

Ø paraCAD+ is a ‘Pre-Select’ then ‘Action’ system, where you select the Entities you wish to Copy/Move/Array and then pick the command. (Note – Not the case when inserting intelligent Door/Window Symbols.

Ø Zooms and Layer changes are ‘transparent’ in commands ie: if you are starting to draw a line and realise you are in the incorrect layer you may change halfway through drawing it.

Ø Try to get to know all of the Snaps and the snap Hotkeys – it can save you a lot of mouse selection.

Ø Construction Lines/Arcs etc are automatically sent to the Constructions Layer – Dimensions similarly can be pre-set to be sent to any layer you prefer. See Settings: Drawing Settings: Current.

Ø To Delete Entities…Select then press DEL key

Ø Use Crossing Box and Box Modes to Help when Selecting Entities.

Ø Holding down the CTRL Key allows you to remove Items from the Selection Set (Or re-add if/as required). Similarly you can use CTRL with Crossing and Box selections.

Ø Holding down the CTRL Key (90/45/22.5) or Shift Key (30/60/90) when drawing Lines can force the Line to the various Angles (Used Angular constraint shown - command line)

Ø Do Not use TIDY until you have finished a drawing as TIDY Clears the Undo Buffer.

Ø F8 is the recalulate Shortcut button…if you have some strange result and if in doubt - Recalc your drg with F8.

Ø In VIEW…tick ‘Visual Snaps’ to get the Yellow circle to show you where you are snapping to.

Ø If you do not Like ‘cascading Menus’ go into Settings: Customise: Options: and Untick ‘Menus show recently used commands first’

Ø If you change any Toolbar settings to suit your own use…just go out of archCAD+ to save this set-up…then back in and the Toolbars will be as you want them.

Ø Try creating your own Custom Toolbars by going into Settings: Customise: Toolbars…Use NEW to create and then go to the Commands Tab – Pick Command and Drag & Drop onto your Toolbar. To remove – drag Icon into space and ‘drop’.

Ø Try NOT to use any ‘Names’ for Text/ Dimensions that are DEFAULT as you cannot copy DEFAULT across from another Drg.

Ø To Copy Settings from another Drg…such as Layers/ Text/ DIM Styles etc…use:- Settings: Copy Settings and Browse for the Drg you wish to copy from. (NOTE that Drg MUST be closed to allow you to copy settings from it). This is a great time-saver.

Ø If you are Importing a DXF try to get your ‘blank’ Sheet set to the correct (approx) Sheet Size and Scale. It can help you ‘find’ the DXF File.

Ø If you forgot to do the above and cannot see the DXF File then use Zoom Extents and you should find the geometry.

Ø Note if your DXF Provider/Surveyor has used Meters for Units instead of mm then you will have to Scale by 1000 to get to the correct size.

Ø Check out the archCAD+ Options in – Start- Programs- archCAD+- archCAD+ Options…this is where you can change the AutoCAD DXF/DWG Export compatibility and your Rotation (on end of cursor using PageUP/PageDOWN Keys. (Default 5 degrees). Setting in here for Wheel mouse/ Layers/ Office XP Look etc.

 

 

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