@1 Click any mouse button to begin. @2 To get help on a particular item, click on the box for the item - then click on Help. Click on RETURN to go back to the main drawing screen. @3 To get help on any item, click on the item and then click on Help. Click on $3=highlighted words to get more help. $6=General $7=Tools $9=Rulers $95=Coordinates $22=Fonts $30=Linewidth $8=Demo $99=Trouble? $101=More_layers $132=Help++ @6 This program has several SCREENS as follows - MAIN Where you do your drawing. OPTIONS To setup video, printing, and mouse parameters etc. PRINTERS For selecting a printer or installing a new printer. ICON EDIT Where you can modify and create ICONS. $3=(back) @7 The TOOL controls are on the left side of the screen. To get help on using a tool, first select it by clicking on the tool symbol, then click on Help. $3=(back) @8 The demo version of the program does not save drawing files. It does save icon files, printer setups and the program configuration file. To obtain a copy of the full program and printed manual ( for just $8=$99 ), call AEROUX Engineering at - 805/962-9695 9:am to 5:pm PST M-F @9 The ruler lines show where you are in the drawing relative to the printed page. The scales on the rulers depend on the type of printer you have selected. $3=(back) @4 Select a new printer by clicking on its title in printer list. SELECT - Printer selection (if changed) is written to disk and you are returned to the main drawing screen. MODIFY - Sends you to the Printer Setup screen to modify the print driver or create a new one. @5 To get help on a particular item, click on the box for the item - then click on Help. SAVE - Saves changes to disk. ABORT - Abandon all changes. NEW - Adds new printer to printer list. @10 LINE drawing tool: Draws line of currently selected $30=LINEWIDTH. LEFT button: draws a line that terminates when it encounters an object at either end. RIGHT button: draws a complete line from end to end extending across all objects. $3=(help) @11 BOX drawing tool: Draws boxes from corner to corner. LEFT button: Draws in $51=NORMAL mode. RIGHT button: Draws in $51=REVERSAL mode. @12 Eraser: Erases whatever it touches while any button is held down. It moves freely, ignoring the state of the $21=GRID-toggle. The mouse ballistics are controlled while any button is held down to prevent skipping. LEFT button - erases on current plane RIGHT button - erases on both planes $3=(help) @21 The GRID toggle forces the cursor to move only on the current grid. The $40=grid-spacing and the grid-display functions are set on the $2=OPTIONS screen. $3=(help) @51 A NORMAL line is one which is solid and continuous as it crosses other objects on the screen. A REVERSAL line blanks out the areas of objects it crosses. $11=(back) @40 The grid spacing is entered in this box. Values of 2 to 60 are allowed. @43 The FILE PACKING option enables dual-axis file compression when a file is written out. Either type of file is read in automatically. @44 The PRINT WIDTH setting should be set to the maximum width (in whole inches) of your printer. @45 BIDIRECTIONAL printing is usually selected along with the $46=DRAFT option for fast test printouts. @46 DRAFT printing does not perform overlaps on the printed output. @47 VERTICAL printing prints sideways. If your printer is only 8 inches wide, you can print a drawing that is up to 8 by 15 inches using continuous feed paper. @57 NEGATIVE printouts are useful if your board is mostly copper due to heavy flooding. It can also save a step in making a negative transparency. @48 Setting the MOUSE number HIGHER causes the cursor to move SLOWER relative to the mouse. Valid values here are 1 to 99. Other values may cause $84=problems. @49 Setting the THRESHHOLD higher means you must move the mouse faster to get the double-speed effect. @84 Range checking is not performed on some options and parameters. @50 The two empty square boxes are used to select one of the video modes. @52 This is the actual value (in decimal) that activates a specific video mode. Non-standard video modes (such as 800 by 600) can be engaged if the proper code (see your video card documentation) is entered here. You must also set the $53=horizontal and $54=vertical resolution. @53 Enter the horizontal resolution for the video $52=mode here. @54 Enter the vertical resolution of the video $52=mode here. @13 The TEXT tool writes text on the screen. LEFT button places cursor. RIGHT button sets direction. When placing text on the rear drawing plane, all text is written in mirror-image. @14 The OUTLINE tool moves,copies,and deletes rectangular areas. Press $120=button on one corner of the area and $77=drag the mouse to the opposite corner. An outline will appear. Now position the cursor inside the outline and hold down - LEFT button to move the area RIGHT button to copy the area See: $35=Edit $120=(more) @120 In LAYOUT mode, use LEFT button to select area on currently active plane. Use RIGHT button to select area on both planes. The size of the area you can outline is determined by the amount of free memory available. $14=(back) @75 If you are using a 2 button mouse, press the SPACEBAR when the MIDDLE button is needed. $3=(help) @15 The ICON tool places ready-made patterns on the screen in any one of 8 $31=orientations. These include your own $83=custom icons. LEFT put icon on current plane RIGHT put icon on both planes MIDDLE erase icon $3=(help) @16 The PAGE mover slides the drawing around. LEFT button - repositions $116=view of drawing. RIGHT button - repositions $117=drawing itself. $3=(help) @116 To move the viewing screen - Position the cursor anywhere on the drawing. $77=Drag the mouse to the new position. Release the button. $16=(back) @117 To reposition the drawing - Position the cursor and $77=drag the mouse to the new position. Note: This operation takes several seconds. An $115=error condition may result. $16=(back) @115 If the repositioning would cause some of the drawing to be lost, the operation is aborted and a beep will sound. $117=(back) @17 The LINE MOVER repositions lines and traces. Be sure the $30=linewidth is set to match the line you want to move. Position the cursor directly on a vertical or horizontal line and press the LEFT button. Drag the cursor to the new position and release the button. There are some $78=limitations to using this tool. $3=(help) @78 The LINE MOVER is handy but not infallible. If you attempt to move a line to where it collides with something, you hear a beep and the move is aborted. (Use RIGHT button to override) Other lines connecting at right angles to your original line are lengthened or shortened appropriately. Collisions are not detected on these other line. $17=(back) $122=(more) @122 When any 2 lines are moved or drawn to coincide with each other, as opposed to crossing each other, the lines become indistinguishable to the program, and cannot be later separated. $78=(back) @18 The line KILLER removes vertical & horizontal lines and traces. The $30=linewidth must be set to match line you want to remove. Position the cursor directly on the line and use the - LEFT button to remove just that line RIGHT button to remove (deroute) the whole set of connecting (vertical & horizontal) lines. $3=(help) @19 The PENCIL writes and erases individual dots. LEFT button writes RIGHT button erases $75=MIDDLE button $79=expands the drawing $3=(help) @20 The PLANE toggle switches you between the front and rear drawing planes. This tool only functions when in LAYOUT mode. This is not the same as the SWAP function on the $33=Special menu. $3=(help) @30 The LINEWIDTH control (short line just below drawing tool controls) sets the width of lines and boxes. It is also used by the program in moving or killing lines. LEFT button wider (max = 10) RIGHT button narrower See tools under: $10=line $11=box $18=kill $17=move $23=flood @31 Cliking directly on the ICON image (lower left corner of screen), rotates it through all 8 orientations. @22 Clicking directly on the "ABC" selects and displays the available fonts. $3=(help) @23 The FLOOD tool fills in a region of the drawing while keeping a distance (set by $30=LINEWIDTH) from the existing pads and traces. First outline the region in the same way as when using the $14=outline tool. Then move inside the region. You can flood the entire $24=rectange, or just one floodable $25=section, or $26=remove a flooded section. @24 Position the cursor anywhere inside the outlined region and press the RIGHT button to fill all blank spaces inside the region. $23=(back) @25 Position the cursor to a blank floodable section inside the outlined region and press the LEFT button. Flooding will be restricted to the outline of the region. $23=(back) @26 Position the cursor over a flooded section inside the outlined region and press the $75=MIDDLE button. The deflooding operation will be limited to the area inside the outline. $23=(back) @27 The UNDO tool is a small window that shows you what the "undone" image will be at any place on the screen. Using any MENU or using the PAGE MOVER updates the memory image of your drawing. Changes made to the drawing since it was last updated may be restored with this tool. $28=(more) @28 Pressing any button will restore the drawing with what you see in the window. This tool employs controlled mouse ballistics to prevent skipping as the window is dragged around. @35 For help on individual Edit menu functions, click on one of the following: $80=CUT $80=COPY $80=PASTE $90=FILL $90=INVERT $91=FLIP-H $91=FLIP-V $123=ROTATE-R $123=ROTATE-L $83=EDIT_ICON $83=NEW_ICON See:$14=outline @123 The outlined area will be rotated either left or right 90 degrees. $35=(back) @80 After outlining an area using the $14=OUTLINE tool, go to the Edit menu and select - CUT to capture the outlined area and then clears it. COPY to capture the area but not clear it. PASTE to put the previously captured area into the current drawing and $81=plane. $35=(back) @90 After outlining an area using the $14=OUTLINE tool, go to the Edit menu and select - FILL to fill in the entire area INVERT to reverse the entire area $35=(back) @91 After outlining an area using the $14=OUTLINE tool, go to the Edit menu and select - FLIP-H to reverse the area left to right FLIP-V to reverse the area top to bottom $35=(back) @40 Set the grid spacing to a number between 2 and 60. To activate the grid, use the $21=GRID-toggle on the main drawing screen. @33 The Special menu has the following functions - OPTIONS sends you to the options screen. PRINTER sends you to printer selection screen. $76=PRINT begins printing. $94=SWAP swaps front and rear $81=planes. $93=OVERLAY toggles between single and dual mode. $101=CLEAR Clears current drawing plane. QUIT exits the program and abandons changes. DONE/SAVE save current drawing and exits. @101 You can create additional drawing layers (for solder masks or silkscreens) by: Using SAVE AS to copy a layout into a new file. Clearing the front plane of the new file. Drawing on the front plane. Printing the front plane. $33=(back) $3=help @93 The OVERLAY function toggles between displaying one side of the layout at a time and displaying both sides superimposed. $33=(back) @94 This swaps the front and rear drawing planes. If you have completed a layout only to find that you had the planes switched, this will fix the problem. $33=(back) @76 The type of printout is controlled by settings on the OPTIONS screen (accessed via the $33=Special menu). Hit any key on the keyboard to abort printing. @34 The ICON menu is used to select an icon. Once selected, its name appears as the menu title and its image appears in the lower left corner. $3=(help) @36 Drawing files (schematics and layouts) are loaded by selecting form the D-File menu. The currently loaded filename is displayed as the menu title. The ICON file tagged to the drawing will also be loaded. SAVE AS $38=Saves the current drawing under a new name. CLEAR Clears drawing from screen (any changes will be lost). @38 When saving a file under a new name, you will be prompted for a filename. Enter just the BASE name of the file (no .ext) or just hit ENTER to not save the file. @37 The I-File menu loads an icon file directly. SAVE AS Saves the current icon file under a new name. NEW Creates an empty icon file. $3=(help) @81 Drawing Plane: One of the 2 superimposed drawings used in the layout mode for double sided circuit boards. @79 The expanded drawing function of the $19=PENCIL tool allows you to click individual dots on and off. LEFT button writes; RIGHT button erases; $75=MIDDLE button returns to normal view. @77 Drag means: Press and hold a mouse button. Move the mouse. Release the button. @62 Put the name (any characters) in the box marked PRINTER. This is the name that will be displayed on the PRINTERS selection screen. @63 Enter the $85=codes here that put your printer into unidirectional print mode. Or, for a $68=laser printer, put the codes here for PORTRAIT mode. @64 Enter the $85=codes here that put your printer into bidirectional print mode. Or, for a $68=laser printer, put the codes here for LANDSCAPE mode. @65 Select one of the printer ports for this printer. LPT1 or LPT2 for parallel (centronics) interfaces. Select COM1-COM4 for serial interfaces. If connecting a serial printer, be sure to set the $66=baud rate. @66 Enter the BAUD RATE for your $65=serial printer. All data is sent as - 8 data bits 1 stop bit no parity @67 Some printers assign bits to the print wires in reverse order. This control reverses the bits as they go out to the printer. @68 The LASER control causes the data to be sent to the printer as a single line of dots rather than as a set of bytes for 8 lines of dots. When this option is enabled, see special use of the $63=unidirectional and $64=bidirectional boxes. @69 Put the $85=codes that enable graphics printing in the box marked PRINT INIT. @70 Put the $85=codes that are to be sent to the printer at the start of each graphics line in the box marked PRINT SEQ. @71 Put the $85=codes (if any) that cause your printer to move down for the next line in the box marked NEXT LINE. @72 This number tells the PROGRAM how many dots per inch are printed by this printer. (Used by the program to position horizontal dots in such a way as to make the vertical and horizontal scales equal) @73 This number tells the PROGRAM what the vertical resolution of your printer is. This number is used in conjuntion with the $72=horizontal resolution in scaleing the printout. It also sets the scales of the rulers on the main drawing screen. @74 This number tells the PROGRAM what the $69=PRINT-INIT has told the PRINTER about how far to move down the drawing on each successive line. In this way the program can do overlapping printouts. @83 The ICON editing screen lets you modify or $89=create new icons. LEFT button writes a dot RIGHT button clears a dot $75=MIDDLE button moves hotspot CLEAR clears display SAVE saves icon with same name SAVE AS saves with new name DELETE removes icon from list ABORT abandons changes @89 There is a limit of 60 icons per file. An icon created with the same name as an existing icon will not replace it. If you have two icons with the same name, choose EDIT ICON from the $35=Edit menu and then SAVE AS on the icon editing screen. $83=(back) @86 These options work the same as the normal printing options. Return and click on the corresponding print option to get help. @85 You may enter byte codes in the boxes in decimal, hexidecimal, or ascii form as follows: ddd 1 to 4 decimal digits Xdd 2 hexidicimal digits preceded by an X 'ccc' Ascii characters in single quotes You may also enter special print $87=length codes. @87 Print length codes are special values sent to the printer that represent the number of graphics charaters per line that are being sent. *H high byte of data length *L low byte of data length * 4 ascii decimal digits representing the data length $85=(back) @88 Click inside of box to abandon changes made to this drawing. If you want to save the changes, click outside of box and choose DONE/SAVE from the $33=Special menu. $3=(help) @95 The X and Y cursor coordinates are displayed at the right side of the menu bar. Relative movement values are shown while any mouse button is held down. Clicking directly on these numbers will cycle the display format thru $96=pixels, $97=print inches, and $98=board inches. $3=(help) @96 Pixel coordinates are the exact 'dot' position on the screen displayed as a whole number. $95=(back) @97 Print inch coordinates show the exact position on the printed output displayed to 2 decimal places. $95=(back) @98 Board inch coordinates show what the position on the artwork will be once it is reduced - diplayed to 2 decimal places. This mode assumes that your grid spacing is intended to represent 1/20th of an inch. That is, 2 grid spacings are 1/10th inch - the usual setting to allow running traces between pads with the grid active. $95=(back) @99 Should the screen fail to replot after using Help, try clicking Help again. If something goes wrong in the menu bar or the tool selection area, select OPTIONS from the Special menu - then return to the main drawing screen. This forces a complete screen replot. $92=more $3=(help) @92 If the mouse is not responding, hit F2 to reset the mouse driver. Use F9 in extreme emergency - this saves your drawing under the name ABORT.EC and your icons (if modified) under the name ABORT.ECI without overwriting your currently active files. $99=(back) $3=(help) @100 In the LAYOUT mode, a matrix of dots is displayed on the screen every 2 grid spacings. Grid spacing is usually set to represent 1/20th inch, so the grid dots are at 1/10th inch. @114 All 64 colors are accessible with each of the color controls. All of these controls "wrap around" at both ends. LEFT next color RIGHT previous color $75=MIDDLE first color (black) @105 Sets $114=color of FRONT layer of double sided board. @106 Sets $114=color of REAR layer of double sided board. @107 Sets $114=color of SCHEMATIC drawings. @108 Sets $114=color of intersection of FRONT and REAR data on board layout. @109 Sets BOARDER $114=color. This is also the color of the GRID (in layout mode), and background (off) color for tool controls. @110 Sets CURSOR $114=color. @111 Sets HILITE $114=color for menus and color for pop-up windows. @112 Sets Menu bar $114=color. Alse sets color for coordinate display and ruler legends. @113 These seven boxes set the remaining $114=colors used on the various auxiliary screens. Numbers 1-4 are used for ICON editing and should all be distinct. @125 Sets BACKGROUND $114=color. Note: This control is diplayed in the HILITE color so that it is visible when BLACK background is selected. @130 Select from one of the drawing formats provided. This option is disabled when a drawing is present. Choose from the D-File menu if you get an error beep here. The SCHEMATIC formats are twice as large as the LAYOUT formats. See also: $131=LAYOUT @131 The LAYOUT formats are used for double-sided circuit boards. As with the $130=SCHEMATIC formats, you cannot change the format of an existing drawing. @132 You may extend or modify the file HELP.TXT using a text editor. The program scans the help file for "at" signs followed by a number from 1 to 199. All of the text up to the next "at" sign appears in the help window. You must limit the number of lines (including blank lines) to 10 and the number of characters per line to 49. $133=more $3=(back) @133 To tag a word to vector to another help screen, place a "dollar" sign followed by the help number and an "equal" sign before the word. The program is context-sensitive to go directly to certain help numbers. Putting extra tag words in these places will allow access to your additional help screens. The end of the help file is marked with number 999. $132=(back) @999