Control Panel

The Control Panel is the center where you control the way Scadd Draft draws.  Here you can set up multiple standards for layers, colors, linetypes, textstyles, dimstyles, section marks etc.  To access the Scadd Control Panel, click on Control Panel under the Scadd menu or click on the button in the _General - Main toolbar.

Here is the main dialog box for the Control Panel.

Project Standards

To add, remove, modify or import Project Standards, click on the Add... button.

The above dialog box Shows and example of five different Project Standards.  The "SCADD, Inc." Project Standard is the factory default Project Standard that comes with Scadd Draft.  Use the buttons to the right of the Standards list to Create, Modify, Import or Remove a Standard.  Note that the "SCADD, Inc." Project Standard can not be removed or modified.  The following example will show how to create a new Project Standard.

Example:

1. To create a new Project Standard based on a current standard, highlight a current standard and click on "New."

2. In the "Create New Standard" dialog box (shown below), enter the name of the folder for the standard.

3. Enter the Standard "Name".  This name will be saved with the drawing that has this standard assigned to it.

Layers

The layers dialog box allows you to assign a layer name, color, linetype, linewieght and plot style to a Scadd Object.  Scadd objects are divided into three categories: Text, Object lines, Annotation, Plan and Detail objects.

Each object has a description and a AutoCAD Layer associated with it.  This allows you to change and customize the way Scadd Drafts.  Lets take the following example:

To change what layer Scadd Draft will put notes on, do the following.

1. Double-click on the item in the list box with the description "Notes."

2. The edit boxes below the list box will fill with the current parameters of the object.

3. Modify the parameters you wish to change.  Note that only the parameters with the check box selected above the parameter will change.

4. Click on "Change Layer(s)" to update the list box with the proposed change.

After you have made all your changes, click on the OK button to accept these changes.

Creating Layers:

Scadd will automatically create these layers on the fly as you select routines such as creating dimensions, text, leaders or object lines using Scadd's Smart Lines.  However, If you wish to create certain layers such as Plan, Elevation or Detail objects when you exit Control Panel, you can highlight the desired layer(s) you whish to create then click on the "Create Layer(s)" button.  Remember to click on the OK button for the layers as well as the main control panel dialog box to create these layers.  See note below.

Note:

You must click on OK back at the main Control Panel dialog box in order to accept all changes to the Control Panel.  If you click OK here and decide you don't want the proposed changes, you can click on Cancel at the main control panel dialog box.

Store, Load, Factory

You will find these three buttons on many of Scadd Drafts dialog boxes.  This allows the user to store the contents in the dialog box. This is useful if you need to load these settings while working on other standards or if you made mistakes while setting up a standard.

• Store button saves the layer configuration for future loading if required.

• Load button loads the users last stored layer configuration.

• Factory button loads Scadd Draft's factory layer configuration.

Textstyles

The textstyle dialog box allows you to choose your own textstyle parameters for each of Scadd Draft's text object including font, height, width factor etc.  Scadd Draft uses these Textstyles for each text object type as described on the left side of the dialog box.

To change the parameters of a text object, perform the following steps.

1. Double-click on the item in the list box with the description "Notes."

2. The edit boxes below the list box will fill with the current parameters of the object.

3. Modify the parameters you wish to change.  Note that only the parameters with the check box selected above the parameter will change.

4. Click on "Change Textsyle(s)" to update the list box with the proposed change.

After you have made all your changes, click on the OK button to accept these changes.

Note: You must click on OK back at the main Control Panel dialog box in order to accept all changes to the Control Panel.  If you click OK here and decide you don't want the proposed changes, you can click on Cancel at the main control panel dialog box.

Store, Load, Factory

You will find these three buttons on many of Scadd Drafts dialog boxes.  This allows the user to store the contents in the dialog box. This is useful if you need to load these settings while working on other standards or if you made mistakes while setting up a standard.

• Store button saves the textstyle configuration for future loading if required.

• Load button loads the users last stored textstyle configuration.

• Factory button loads Scadd Draft's factory textstyle configuration.

Dimension and Leader Styles

The Dimension and Leader Styles dialog box allows you to choose your own Dimstyle parameters for each of Scadd Draft's Dimension and Leader objects including Name, Colors Arrow size etc.  Scadd Draft uses these styles for each Dimension and Leader object type as described on the left side of the dialog box.

To change the parameters of a Dimension or Leader object, perform the following steps.

1. Use the edit boxes and drop-down edit boxes to modify parameters. To modify additional Dimstyle parameters, click on the Modify button to the right. See below for description.

After you have made all your changes, click on the OK button to accept these changes.

Note: You must click on OK back at the main Control Panel dialog box in order to accept all changes to the Control Panel.  If you click OK here and decide you don't want the proposed changes, you can click on Cancel at the main control panel dialog box.

Store, Load, Factory

You will find these three buttons on many of Scadd Drafts dialog boxes.  This allows the user to store the contents in the dialog box. This is useful if you need to load these settings while working on other standards or if you made mistakes while setting up a standard.

• Store button saves the dimstyle configuration for future loading if required.

• Load button loads the users last stored dimstyle configuration.

• Factory button loads Scadd Draft's factory dimstyle configuration.

Modify Dimstyles

To modify a Dimstyle parameter, click on the variables list box and modify parameter in the Value section of the dialog box.

Annotation Marks

In this dialog, you can modify Scadd Draft's Section Marks, Detail Marks and Title parameters.

Just select the type of mark you wish to modify and change the parameters or the default options located just below the parameters section.  Note that the sample section gives you the definitions of the variables used in the parameters section.  Also, a sample of the look of the section mark appears in sample section for the different types of marks.

Project System Variables

This is where a AutoCAD system variables can be set according to your needs for the Project Standard.  These system variables will be set each time a drawing is opened according to the standard selected.  This way you can control AutoCAD system variables for each standard you create.

To modify an AutoCAD system variable for your standard, select the variable to the left and click on the arrow pointing to the right to add this variable to your list of variables to maintain for the standard.  Modify the variable in the Value edit box located in the center of the dialog box.

User System Variables

The user system variable dialog box is similar to the project dialog box (see above) except that these AutoCAD system variables will override a project system variables.  This will allow an individual to set custom variables for their own use.

User Preferences

This dialog box allows users to set Scadd Draft preferences.  Scadd Draft allow different options text, leaders default Osnap etc.

Click on the SCADD option you wish to modify and adjust the value in the drop-down edit box.  A brief description is provided below the list for the particular preference selected.

The Control Panel is a powerful tool to enable CADD managers to set up certain standards for particular clients.  Once this is set up for your particular set of standards, Scadd Draft will take care of the rest to make sure your contract drawing look consistent every time.