****ISOTOOLS  [Version 3.0] OCT/20/97 *****
              
         SHAREWARE VERSION FOR AUTOCAD R14

*** HOW TO INSTALL ISOTOOLS ***

  -Create a directory or folder named ISOTOOLS  
  -Copy the Iso tools shareware files to this directory.
  -Start AutoCAD R14. In the "Tools" menu select "Preferences"
   then "Support File Search Path". Add the ISOTOOLS directory
   to the list. Example :  C:\ISOTOOLS
  -To start ISOTOOLS, type (ARXLOAD "ISOTOOLS"), press [ENTER] then
   type ISOTOOLS [ENTER] at the Command Prompt inside AutoCAD R14.
   You can also use the APPLOAD command or select "Load Application"
   under the "Tools" menu to add C:\ISOTOOLS\ISOTOOLS.ARX to the list.
  

   Once AutoCAD is started, it is not necessary to arxload ISOTOOLS again.

   TIP: You can bypass the initial dialog box by typing the routine name
   you wish to activate at the Autocad Command Line. If you wish to load 
   ISOTOOLS every time you start AutoCAD, create or edit a file named 
   ACAD.RX in the R14\SUPPORT directory and add ISOTOOLS at the next 
   available line.


     IMPORTANT NOTE: In order for this program to properly work all files
     must be in a directory that Autocad recognizes in its Support File
     Search Path. Please do not change the date in your computer or ISOTOOLS
     maybe deactivated before the trial period ends. 


    ****OVERVIEW****

    ISOTOOLS is a set of useful routines to assist in the creation 
of isometric drawings. Its graphical interface through icons inside 
dialog boxes and extensive help makes this program fast and easy 
to use, greatly reducing the time needed to complete isometric details.
Isotools has been rewrited to take full advantage of the R14 ARX language,
resulting in an noticeable increase of performance and speed over 
previous versions.

This shareware version contains the same routines as in the registered
version, but it can only be used by a period of 30 days from the
day Isotools is initially loaded and cannot be reinstalled after the
trial period ends.

  The complete set consist of the following routines:

  ****ISOM2D (Isometric 2D conversion).-
Objects are projected in the current XY plane whenever possible, 
creating planar entities that can be edited. This way solid and thick 
polylines remain filled and standard Autocad commands (such as pedit 
and fillet) can be used on them.

   Objects that can be projected in isometric 2D are:

LINE, POINT, CIRCLE, ARC, TRACE, SOLID, TEXT, INSERT, ATTRIBUTE 
DEFINITION, POLYLINE, LWPOLYLINE, DIMENSION, 3DFACE, MLINE, MTEXT, XLINE, 
RAY, REGION.

   Block inserts must be uniformly and positively scaled. All other
objects are projected in 3D.

  The original objects are left intact, and the entities in the 
block retain the original properties (line type, color, layer, 
thickness). 

 If you want to edit individual objects you must first explode
the resulting block. There are four available viewpoints (one
for each quadrant)

   ****ISOM3D (Isometric 3D conversion).-

   Blocks are created from selected entities and then scaled and 
inserted rotated in space to view them in isometric. Some Autocad 
editing commands are not allowed on non planar entities (such as 
fillet and pedit), and solids, traces and polylines do not remain 
filled (they are represented as wireframes). The blocks created 
are named with the prefix "ISOBLK" and the next available number 
(ISOBLK1, ISOBLK2,...) 

     Prompts:

       Insertion base point:
       Select objects:

    ****ISODRAW (Isometric drawing).-

   Routine to assist in the creation of isometrics by displaying 
a short line that snaps at every 30 degrees or at user specified 
angular increments. Instead of typing something like "@3.5<120", 
you just type "3.5" and then move your mouse until the indicator 
line snaps to the desired angle. The command sequence is as 
follows:
              Prompts:   
              
              Angular increment<30>:   
              <Base point>/Ref:
              <Distance>/Undo/Ref:

              If you choose the "Ref" option you
              will get the following prompts:
              
              Reference point:
              Distance:

  Use the "Ref" option if you want to get a point at 
a certain distance and angle from another known point.

   ***ISOFITT (Isometric fittings).-

   Routine to globally place transversal lines ("ties") at the 
beginning and ending points of line and straight polyline 
segments to indicate fittings. It optionally rounds corners
to indicate elbow fittings, and also detects intersections with 
another lines to indicate "T" and "Y" fittings.

       Prompts:

       Select objects:  
       Tie length:
       Round corners?<Y>:

    ****ISOTEXT (Isometric Text).-

    Routine to generate dynamic isometric text. All text fonts 
can be used (*.SHX, *.PFB, *.TTF...). A text style is generated for
each font select in the following progression:

 ISOTEX-L1,ISOTEX-L2,...  ISOTEX-R1, ISOTEX-R2, ....
    
  After you choose the isometric text style from the dialogue 
box, all prompts are the same as in DTEXT command.

    ****ISODIM (Isometric Dimension).-

    Routine to generate isometric dimensions, optionally 
choosing a text font. After you choose the dimension style,
all prompts are the same as in the DIM HORIZONTAL command.
The dimensions generated retain their associativity and 
use the default Dim values (Dimscale, Dimasz,Dimtxt,..) 
except for the default block (Dimblk). If you stretch a 
dimension to modify it the text value and style will be changed, 
resulting in a loss of isometric text appearance. To avoid this, 
you can set the isometric style to ISOTEX-L1 or ISOTEX-R1 and 
update the dimension after the change is made.

    ****ISOPASTE (Isometric Paste).-

    Routine to project orthometric objects in the right or
left isoplane. You can quickly create an isometric drawing 
from existing plan views of an object using this and the other
isometric projection routines (ISOM2D and ISOM3D). You can also
draw a detail in plan view and then convert or paste it into 
an existing isometric object.  The original objects are left 
intact, and the entities in the block retain the original 
properties (linetype, color, layer, thickness). 

   Limitations:  

  -Text and blocks will always be projected in isometric 3D
  -The isometric 2D projection does not recognize objects with 
   thickness, but you can use the isometric 3D method instead 
  
    ****ISOSHAPE (Isometric Shape).-

    Routine to draw up to 28 parametric iso shapes. The basic 
types included are: cube, cylinder, cone, pyramid, wedge and 
arc. Within the dialog box you can select the shape from the 
listbox, icon image or by pressing the next and previous 
buttons. You then type in the required values in the edit boxes 
provided (zero, null and negative values are not allowed). 
The isometric shape will be created after pressing the ok
button or double-clicking on the icon image.


              
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           ****  Author:  Hector Martinez     ****
           ****                               ****
           ****  Artcad Software              ****
           ****  2498 Roll Dr #124            ****
           ****  San Diego CA 92173           ****
           ****  CompuServe ID:  102717,510   ****
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