$$$HelpSection005Adjust Screen Saver$$$
ADJUST SCREEN SAVER

Permits adjusting the idle time of the screen saver.
$$$

$$$HelpSection019Change the Screen Saver Idle Time$$$


CHANGE THE SCREEN SAVER IDLE TIME

The screen saver idle time is the duration between key strokes
before the screen saver is activated.  It can be changed by
pressing the Up and Down arrow keys until the desired number of
seconds is displayed and then pressing ENTER.

Press ESC to abort the change.
$$$


$$$HelpSection002Command Summary$$$


COMMAND SUMMARY

The DXF Bill of Materials Generators commands are summarized
below:

File .........Open DXF File............Opens a DXF file and 
                                       locates blocks and
                                       variables.
              Save BOM File............Saves the generated BOM
                                       file to disk in a 
                                       variety of delimited
                                       formats.
              Print BOM File...........Prints the generated BOM
              Quit.....................Quits the generator and
                                       returns to DOS.

Activities....Edit the BOM.............Allows editing of the 
                                       header, column titles,
                                       and block descriptions.
              File Format Selection....Offers selection from 
                                       three delimiting schemes
                                       for the stored BOM file.
                                      
              Adjust Screen Saver......The idle time can be 
                                       adjusted from 10 to 990
                                       seconds.

Help..........Instructions.............The on-line help system.
              About the BOM Generator..Company and copyright
                                       information.
              About Shareware..........A statement describing the
                                       concept of Shareware and
                                       more information on
                                       registration.


A summary of the accelerator keys follow:

F1.......Activates the on-line help system.  Can be used during   
         most of the Generator's activities.

ALT-A....Pulls down the Activities menu.
ALT-F....Pulls down the File menu.
ALT H....Pulls down the Help menu.

CTRL-E...Edit the BOM.
CTRL-F...File Format Selection.
CTRL-O...Open DXF File.
CTRL-P...Print BOM File.
CTRL-Q...Quit.
CTRL-S...Save BOM File. 
$$$


$$$HelpSection004Edit the BOM$$$


EDIT THE BOM

To use this option, a DXF file must be open--see Open DXF File. 
Selecting this option presents a sequence of screens which allow
selection or control of the appearance of the generated bill of
materials and a specification of the items to be counted:

First Screen.....Blocks found in the DXF file may be selected.
                 Selecting means that block will be counted in 
                 the bill of materials.

Second Screen....Each selected block may be edited as desired for
                 its appearance in the bill of materials.  If 
                 variables are present in the blocks, they may
                 be added to the descriptions.

Third Screen.....The four header lines of the bill of materials 
                 may be edited and the current date, time, and 
                 DXF file name may be included.

Fourth Screen....The title of the block description may be 
                 edited.  The current date, time, and DXF file
                 name may be included.

Fifth Screen.....The title of the block count column may be 
                 edited.  The current date, time, and DXF file
                 name may be included.

Sixth Screen.....If the Generator determines that more than one
                 column pair can be printed, a menu of 
                 possibilities is presented for selection.

Seventh Screen...Selection of the number of lines of print per
                 page.

Eight Screen.....Selection of whether to print the four header 
                 lines after the first page. 
$$$


$$$HelpSection003Edit the File Format$$$


EDIT THE FILE FORMAT

Allows the selection of one of three methods of delimiting
between the columns in the saved BOM file.
$$$


$$$HelpSection014Editing a String$$$


EDITING A STRING

This option is a full-featured line editor allowing the following
operations:

ENTER......Records the edit and leaves the Editor.

ESC........Disregards the edit and leaves the Editor.

CTRL-V.....If editing the Print Header this option allows the
           insertion of the current date, time or DXF file name.
           If editing a block description and variables have been
           found in the block, this option allows the insertion
           of those variables.

CTRL ->....Moves the cursor to the end of the string.
(and END)


CTRL <-....Moves the cursor to the beginning of the string.
(and HOME)

CTRL-END...Erases from the cursor to the end of the string.

Backspace..Erases to the left of the cursor.

Delete.....Erases at the cursor.

<- ->......Moves cursor one position.

The remaining keys can be used to compose the description.

Note that variables in the description affect the way that blocks
will be counted.
$$$


$$$HelpSection022Header After the First Page$$$


HEADER AFTER THE FIRST PAGE

On multiple page reports you have the option of printing the four
header lines after the first page.  Simply press "Y" to print
them on all pages and press "N" to suppress the header after the
first page.
$$$


$$$HelpSection016Insert a Descriptor Variable$$$


INSERT A DESCRIPTOR VARIABLE

There are three descriptor variables available: the current date,
time, and DXF file name.  They can be inserted into any of the
four lines of the report header or either of the two column
(Block and Block Count) titles.

To select a descriptor variable, move the highlighter to the
desired entry and press ENTER.  The insertion will appear
highlighted in the edited string and will be replaced by the
current date, time, or DXF file name when the bill of materials
is generated.

ESC aborts the variable insertion process.
$$$


$$$HelpSection015Insert a Tag Variable$$$


INSERT A TAG VARIABLE

If tags are present in the block currently being edited, those
tags will be presented in a menu.  Highlight the tag to be
inserted into the block description which is currently being
edited and press ENTER.

The inserted tag will appear highlighted within the description. 
When the bill of materials is generated, the actual variable
corresponding to that tag will be inserted into the description.

ESC aborts the tag insertion process.
$$$


$$$HelpSection020Lines of Print per Report Page$$$


LINES OF PRINT PER REPORT PAGE

Use the Up and Down arrow keys to adjust the number of lines
which will be printed on each page of the report.  This can be
set as low as 20 and as high as 70.  Press ENTER when set as
desired.

Press ESC to abort the change.
$$$


$$$HelpSection001Menus and Accelerator Keys$$$


MENUS AND ACCELERATOR KEYS

When the DXF Bill of Materials Generator is started it displays a
blank screen with a menu bar at the top and an information bar at
the bottom. The menu bar presents the major actions available
with the Generator along with the time and date while the bottom
bar displays the currently active instructions.  The instructions
change depending upon which option is currently active and the
Menu Bar options are only presented when they are available.  You
should Develop the habit of looking at these two lines for
options and instructions.

Note the presence of red characters in both the instruction and
the menu bar.  These are the action keys or key-combinations. 
For example, to quit and return to DOS use CTRL-Q and to activate
the File menu use ALT-F.  To use a key-combination, like CTRL-Q,
press the "Q" while holding the "CTRL" key depressed--it's like
typing an upper-case "A" by pressing the "A" while holding the
"SHIFT" key depressed.

All of the Generator's features are available through the Menu
Bar and some can be activated by using accelerator keys.  To
activate the Menu bar use the appropriate key-combination ALT-F,
A, or H.  Doing this will cause a menu to drop from the menu bar. 
Once a drop-down menu is displayed, you may switch between the
three available menus by using the Right and Left arrow keys. 
Selection within a menu is made by highlighting the desired
option and then pressing ENTER.  The highlighter is moved with
the Up and Down arrow keys.

Help for a particular option is available by pressing the
function key F1 whenever that option is highlighted.

Notice that some of the menu items are accompanied by a letter
inclosed by square brackets--"Open DXF File...[O].  These are the
"accelerator keys" which directly activate the associated option
without using the menu system.
$$$


$$$HelpSection018Number of Column Pairs$$$


NUMBER OF COLUMN PAIRS

The bill of materials is presented in a pair of columns, one
representing the Block Description and one for the Block Count. 
Under some circumstances, you will be offered the selection of
more than one column pair in the report.  The conditions are:

1.  The number of column pairs cannot exceed the number of 
    blocks.

2.  There must be sufficient space to accommodate the largest
    column titles and the largest block descriptions in each line
    of the report.

These conditions are checked automatically by the system and if
satisfied, a selection menu will be presented.  The menu consists
of a list of the number of column pairs which are acceptable. 
Make the selection by moving the highlighter and pressing ENTER.
$$$



$$$HelpSection006Open DXF File$$$


OPEN DXF FILE

Presents a dialog box which displays only directories and DXF
files.  You may change drives, navigate through the directories
of that drive, and select a DXF file.  The commands are:

Up and Down Arrow.....Move the highlighter one directory.

Page Up and Down......Move one dialog screen at a time.

HOME..................Move to the beginning of the list of 
                      directories.

END...................Move to the end of the list of directories.

\.....................Moves the cursor to the title bar of the 
                      dialog box to edit the drive.  Use the 
                      Delete, Backspace, arrow keys, and the 
                      Alpha-numeric keys to edit.  Press ENTER 
                      when finished editing the drive.

ENTER.................If the highlighter is at a directory, that
                      directory is opened displaying any sub 
                      directories.

                      If the highlighter is at a DXF file, that
                      file will be opened and scanned for blocks
                      and variables.


After the DXF file is opened, it is scanned for blocks and
variables and then the "Edit the BOM" option is automatically
activated.
$$$


$$$HelpSection010Print the BOM File$$$


PRINT THE BOM FILE

Prints the generated BOM file as it appears on the screen.  After
selecting this item you will have an opportunity to prepare the
printer.
$$$


$$$HelpSection011Quit$$$


QUIT

Terminates the DXF Bill of Materials Generator and returns
control to DOS.  You are given an opportunity to abort the
process of quitting.
$$$

$$$HelpSection007Save BOM File$$$


SAVE BOM FILE

The generated BOM file is saved to disk but not in the form which
is presented on the screen or the form which is printed.  Rather
it is stored as two columns of information--block description
column and the count for each description in the other column. 
The columns are delimited by the method selected in "File Format
Selection."

A dialog box is presented which allows you to change drives and
navigate through the directories of that drive.  

After a directory is selected you are asked to name the file. 
The system automatically filters illegal characters from the
filename and limits it to eight characters.
$$$


$$$HelpSection008Select Header Line for Edit$$$


SELECT HEADER LINE FOR EDIT

The first page of the generated BOM file includes four lines,
each of which can be edited.  

To edit one of the lines move the highlighter, using the Up and
Down arrow keys, to the desired line and press ENTER. A dialog
field will be presented which will allow you to edit the line and
insert the current date, time, or DXF file name--see "Editing a
Description"  
$$$


$$$HelpSection013Selecting a Block for Editing$$$


SELECTING A BLOCK FOR EDITING

This screen lists all of the blocks which were selected to be
counted in the Bill of Materials.  The presentation of each Block
Description is a follows:

     Selected Block -->  Block Description
             |                   |
             |                   |
             V                   +---> The editable block         
       This is the block               description as it will
       name as it was orig-            appear in the bill of
       initially assigned as a         materials.  Variables, if
       Tag in the AutoCAD              present, may be included 
       drawing. It is not              and will affect the count.
       editable.           

To edit a block, use the arrow keys to highlight the desired
block and press ENTER.

Use CTRL-ENTER to record the edits and move to the next step of
editing the header of the bill of materials report.
$$$


$$$HelpSection009Selecting a Directory for Saving$$$


SELECTING A DIRECTORY FOR SAVING

This dialog box will permit you to select a drive and directory
for storage of the generated BOM file.  The commands are:

Up and Down Arrow.....Move the highlighter one directory.

Page Up and Down......Move one dialog screen at a time.

HOME..................Move to the beginning of the list of 
                      directories.

END...................Move to the end of the list of directories.

\.....................Moves the cursor to the title bar of the 
                      dialog box to edit the drive.  Use the 
                      Delete, Backspace, arrow keys, and the 
                      Alpha-numeric keys to edit.  Press ENTER 
                      when finished editing the drive.

ENTER.................If the highlighter is at a directory, that
                      directory is opened displaying any sub 
                      directories.


                      If the highligher is at the top of the 
                      Dialog box (..\), the next higher directory
                      is opened and its sub directories are 
                      listed. 

CTRL-ENTER............If the highlighter is at a directory, that
                      directory is selected for use in the path
                      for storing the generated BOM file.

                      If the highlighter is at the top of the 
                      dialog box, then its parent directory is
                      selected.

ESC...................Aborts the file-save process.
$$$


$$$HelpSection021Selecting a File Format$$$


SELECTING A FILE FORMAT

This menu presents three selections for delimiting the columns of
the generated bill of materials which will be stored on disk.

The Bill of Materials can be saved to disk as a text file in the
form of two columns of information--Block Description and Block
Count:

                       Block Description    Block Count
                     ------------------    -------------
                      Resistor: 1/2 Watt          3
                      Resistor: 1/4 Watt          9

Only the content of the columns, not the titles (Block
Description and Block Count), are placed in the file.  Since the
purpose of storing this information to disk would be for use by
another application (a spreadsheet for example) several
delimiting formats are available:

          PRN - Separates, delimits, the columns with
                four spaces.

          TXT - Delimits with tabs.

          CSV - Quote marks and commas.

Make a selection by moving the highlighter to the desired format
and press ENTER.

Press ESC to abort the process.
$$$

$$$HelpSection012Selecting Blocks for the BOM$$$


SELECTING BLOCKS FOR THE BOM

All of the blocks found when the DXF file was opened are
displayed.  Placing a check mark beside a block will cause that
block to be counted in the bill of materials.  Any blocks which
are not checked will not be counted.

Alternately pressing the ENTER key will select and deselect the
currently highlighted block.  The highlighter can be moved with
the Up and Down arrow keys and the other positional keys.

Pressing CNTL-ENTER records the selection and causes the system
to move to the next step of editing the Block Descriptions.
$$$

$$$HelpSection017Typing the File Name$$$


TYPING THE FILE NAME

This will be the file name used for storing the generated bill of
materials.  The extension for this file name is selected in the
File Format Selection option of the Activities item of the Menu
Bar.  For example, if you selected to delimit the Block and Count
columns with a TAB, the filename would be set to:

                    FILENAME.TXT
                         |    |
                         |    +--> Set in the File Format
                         |         Selection option.
                         V        
                 The file name which
                 you type.

DOS allows only specific characters in a filename and restricts
the length to eight characters.  This editor will filter anything
not allowed by DOS so type freely.  The editor includes the
following features:

ENTER......Records the file name and leaves the Editor.

ESC........Aborts the BOM file save process.

CTRL ->....Moves the cursor to the end of the file name.
(and END)


CTRL <-....Moves the cursor to the beginning of the file name.
(and HOME)

CTRL-END...Erases from the cursor to the end of the file name.

Backspace..Erases to the left of the cursor.

Delete.....Erases at the cursor.

<- ->......Moves cursor one position.
$$$