"Known Symbols and Commands"

DataCAD How-To's

KNOWN LIST OF SYMBOLS AND COMMANDS

(For a Word 6-format version of this How-to,
click here to download)

"ACTION" COLUMN

; -- (colon) go to DCad’s EDIT menu

: -- (semicolon) go to DCad’s UTILITY menu

^ -- (caret) a required separator between each command

(Alt-183)^(Alt-200)^ -- turns DataCad’s Menus & Messages OFF. Input these by turning NumLock OFF at your keyboard, then while holding down the ALT key press 183 on the number pad (NOT the numbers at the top of the keyboard); release the ALT key. Insert a caret (^) then do the same thing, typing in 200 on the number pad.

(Alt-184)^(Alt-201)^ -- turns DataCad’s Menus & Messages back ON.

Fx -- (where x is a number) corresponds to the appropriate Function key to press if you were "walking" through the DCad menus to execute a desired DCad function or macro.

Sx -- (where x is a number) corresponds to the appropriate SHIFT-Function key to press if you were "walking" through the DCad menus to execute a desired DCad function or macro.

$ -- <ENTER>

__ <SPACE>: DCad Immediate Mode Command for Keyed-In Coordinate (for inputting distances or angles).

Note: Keep in mind that you can and should use DCad’s "Immediate Mode Commands." These are the shortcut commands you find on DCad’s Reference Card and in the Manual, such as:

` -- Reference Point

~ -- Snap Point

= -- Walls Toggle

/ -- Window In etc., etc.

ALT + # Combinations (Thank you to Rick Morse, Mark Madura & Evan Shu for these!)

13 [ENTER] 180 Set Input Mode to Rel. Cartesian

18 ESC to refresh display list/database 181 Set Input Mode to Abs. Polar

27 [ESC] (also: Alt-028) 182 Set Input Mode to Rel. Polar

31 WindowIn/Extents 183 Turn display of menus off

32 [Spacebar] 184 Turn display of menus on

33 Goto 3D View 1 185 Turn Walls On

35 Goto 3D View 3 186 Turn Walls Off

36 [ENTER] 187 Enter Walls by Centerline

37 Goto 3D View 5 188 Enter Walls by Sides

38 Goto 3D View 7 200 Turn display of messages off

40 Goto 3D View 9 201 Turn display of messages off

41 Goto 3D View 10 202 Turn display of messages on

64 Goto 3D View 2 203 Set Z offset for symbols

176 Set Selection to Entity 209 Arrow Left

177 Set Selection to Group 210 Arrow Right

178 Set Selection to Area 211 Arrow Up

179 Set Input Mode to Abs. Cartesian 212 Arrow Down

218 Page Up

219 Page Down

"ACTION CODES"

"Action Codes" are the single characters which go in the first column (col. 1) of the icon KEY file. You MUST make sure that this code matches the action you will be performing in the Action Column (cols. 24-103). Failure to coordinate these two columns is one of the most common causes of failure for a macro to execute. If you click on an icon in DataCAD and nothing at all happens, check to make sure these two columns agree with one another. Again, remember there is an Action Code column, and Action column. Here are all the Action Codes which DataCAD recognizes:

! To provide a method for you to place comments, or to leave a note for yourself, within the key file.

A To execute a macro key sequence, just like a keyboard macro. A key sequence, for example, ^:^S6^F1^F1^F5, calls function keys, or keystrokes, in this order. This function allows you to create your own shortcuts to bind to icons. When making a key sequence to access a macro, enter the name of the macro as it appears in the DCX directory, followed by a $. For instance, ;^S9^S8^F2^DCX^$^TOUCHUP$. The final $ can go after a carrat ( TOUCHUP^$ ) but occasionally a macro will not work unless the $ directly follows the macro name.

C Up to an eight-character .KEY file name, used to load a new .KEY file for a new toolbar. This is a great feature because it lets you easily load a new icon bar via an icon on your present toolbar, rather than having to dig through DataCAD’s menus (UTILITY/DISPLAY/MENUS/ICONFILE) to change to a new icon bar.

D To access the DOS prompt. You are still in DataCAD, but "shelled out" to DOS. The same limitations apply when you choose DOSShell in DataCAD’s menu. Note that nothing goes in the Action column.

K To execute a DataCAD shortcut key (keyboard macro). By using this, you can assign one or more of your keyboard macros (Alt-letter) to an icon. For example, the default DataCAD keyboard macro for the ARCHITECT menu is A . Type a in the Action column (not A ; these characters are case sensitive). You cannot use the ALT, TAB, or arrow keys in the Action column.

L To access an internal DataCAD function, for example, MOVE. In the Action column you will simply type in the number (1 to 117) from the INTERNAL MENU FUNCTION NUMBERS list on the next page.

M To execute a DCAL macro in the DataCAD TOOLBOX. These are the macros kept in your \DCX directory. In the Action column you will type the name of the macro, exactly as it appears in the DCX directory.
One caveat: you may want to use the A Action Code method instead of the M Action code so you can type out the entire path to the DCX directory, just as you would for a keyboard macro, followed by the name of the macro. If you don’t you may be temporarily frozen out of all menu bar DCAL macros whenever you interrupt a DCAL macro with a keyboard command. For instance, instead of using the M Action Code and typing ROOFIT in the Action column, you might want to use the A Action Code, and type ;^S9^S8^F2^DCX^$^ROOFIT$ instead.

P To access an external program, for example, RenderStar and Help. In the Action column you would type the path and program name. A comma is required between the path and program name. For example, to access the PrintAPlot Pro program, type ppp,ppp in the Action column. Note that the program name does not have an extension after it, and note that in this case since the path exists within your DataCAD directory you do not have to type a full path.

T To bind a template file to an icon. In the Action column you would type in the path and filename of the template file. A comma is required between the path and filename. For example:tpl/plumb,residenc.tpl Note that the filename must include the file extension, tpl, and note that in this case since the path exists within your DataCAD directory you do not have to type a full path.

"INTERNAL MENU FUNCTION NUMBERS"

Used in conjunction with the L Action Code (col. 1), these are the numbers which would go in the Action column to access an internal DataCAD function, for example, MOVE. In the list below, 2DMOVE would be Internal Menu Function Number 1 . 3DMOVE would be number 98 .

1 - 2d move
2 - 2d copy
3 - 2d rotate
4 - 2d mirror
5 - 2d stretch
6 - 2d enlarge
7 - identity
8 - 2d change
9 - 2d erase
10 - cleanup
11 - architect
12 - 2d polygons
13 - curves
14 - text
15 - linetype
16 - hatch
17 - 3d edit
18 - window in
19 - to_scale
20 - geometry
21 - 2d gotoview
22 - grids
23 - layers
24 - template
25 - 2d settings
26 - measure
27 - plotter
28 - dimension
29 - display
30 - object snap
31 - freehand
32 - link entities
33 - file I/O
34 - directory
35 - 2pt_arc
36 - 3pt_arc
37 - cent_ang_arc
38 - cent_arc
39 - cent_chord
40 - arc_tangent
41 - ellipse
42 - rad_circle
43 - dia_circle
44 - 3pt_circ
45 - 2d move drag
46 - 2d rect array
47 - 2d circ array
48 - fillets
49 - chamfer
50 - 1 line trim
51 - 2 line trim
52 - weldline
53 - T intersection
54 - L intersection
55 - architect door
56 - architect window
57 - cut wall
58 - divide
59 - intersection
60 - tangents
61 - selection sets
62 - 3d viewer
63 - elevation
64 - view controls
65 - edit plane
66 - plane snap
67 - set perspective
68 - walk thru
69 - set oblique
70 - 3d gotoview
71 - save image
72 - clip cube
73 - hide
74 - 3d line
75 - 3d settings
76 - blocks
77 - vert cylinder
78 - horz cylinder
79 - cone
80 - trunc cone
81 - sphere
82 - torus
83 - mesh surface
84 - rev_surface
85 - marker (3D)
86 - 3d polygon
87 - slab
88 - horizontal polygon
89 - horizontal slab
90 - rectangular polygon
91 - rectangular slab
92 - vertical polygon
93 - veritcal slab
94 - inclined polygon
95 - inclined slab
96 - voids
97 - partial
98 - 3d move
99 - 3d copy
100 - 3d rotate
101 - 3d enlarge
102 - 3d erase
103 - 3d stretch
104 - 3d change
105 - 3d explode
106 - 3d edit
107 - 3d entity
108 - quick shader
109 - linear dimension
110 - layer on/off
111 - layer name
112 - layer delete
113 - DXF read
114 - DXF write
115 - pixel out
116 - toolbox
117 - Renderstar 2

13	[ENTER]	180	Set Input Mode to Rel. Cartesian
18	ESC to refresh display list/database	181	Set Input Mode to Abs. Polar
27	[ESC] (also: Alt-028)	182	Set Input Mode to Rel. Polar
31	WindowIn/Extents	183	Turn display of menus off
32	[Spacebar]	184	Turn display of menus on
33	Goto 3D View 1	185	Turn Walls On
35	Goto 3D View 3	186	Turn Walls Off
36	[ENTER]	187	Enter Walls by Centerline
37	Goto 3D View 5	188	Enter Walls by Sides
38	Goto 3D View 7	200	Turn display of messages off
40	Goto 3D View 9	201	Turn display of messages off
41	Goto 3D View 10	202	Turn display of messages on
64	Goto 3D View 2	203	Set Z offset for symbols
176	Set Selection to Entity	209	Arrow Left
177	Set Selection to Group	210	Arrow Right
178	Set Selection to Area	211	Arrow Up
179	Set Input Mode to Abs. Cartesian	212	Arrow Down
		218	Page Up
		219	Page Down

!	To provide a method for you to place comments, or to leave a note for yourself, within the key file.
A	To execute a macro key sequence, just like a keyboard macro. A key sequence, for example, ^:^S6^F1^F1^F5, calls function keys, or keystrokes, in this order. This function allows you to create your own shortcuts to bind to icons. When making a key sequence to access a macro, enter the name of the macro as it appears in the DCX directory, followed by a $. For instance, ;^S9^S8^F2^DCX^$^TOUCHUP$. The final $ can go after a carrat ( TOUCHUP^$ ) but occasionally a macro will not work unless the $ directly follows the macro name.
C	Up to an eight-character .KEY file name, used to load a new .KEY file for a new toolbar. This is a great feature because it lets you easily load a new icon bar via an icon on your present toolbar, rather than having to dig through DataCAD’s menus (UTILITY/DISPLAY/MENUS/ICONFILE) to change to a new icon bar.
D	To access the DOS prompt. You are still in DataCAD, but "shelled out" to DOS. The same limitations apply when you choose DOSShell in DataCAD’s menu. Note that nothing goes in the Action column.
K	To execute a DataCAD shortcut key (keyboard macro). By using this, you can assign one or more of your keyboard macros (Alt-letter) to an icon. For example, the default DataCAD keyboard macro for the ARCHITECT menu is A . Type a in the Action column (not A ; these characters are case sensitive). You cannot use the ALT, TAB, or arrow keys in the Action column.
L	To access an internal DataCAD function, for example, MOVE. In the Action column you will simply type in the number (1 to 117) from the INTERNAL MENU FUNCTION NUMBERS list on the next page.
M	To execute a DCAL macro in the DataCAD TOOLBOX. These are the macros kept in your \DCX directory. In the Action column you will type the name of the macro, exactly as it appears in the DCX directory. One caveat: you may want to use the A Action Code method instead of the M Action code so you can type out the entire path to the DCX directory, just as you would for a keyboard macro, followed by the name of the macro. If you don’t you may be temporarily frozen out of all menu bar DCAL macros whenever you interrupt a DCAL macro with a keyboard command. For instance, instead of using the M Action Code and typing ROOFIT in the Action column, you might want to use the A Action Code, and type ;^S9^S8^F2^DCX^$^ROOFIT$ instead.
P	To access an external program, for example, RenderStar and Help. In the Action column you would type the path and program name. A comma is required between the path and program name. For example, to access the PrintAPlot Pro program, type ppp,ppp in the Action column. Note that the program name does not have an extension after it, and note that in this case since the path exists within your DataCAD directory you do not have to type a full path.
T	To bind a template file to an icon. In the Action column you would type in the path and filename of the template file. A comma is required between the path and filename. For example:tpl/plumb,residenc.tpl Note that the filename must include the file extension, tpl, and note that in this case since the path exists within your DataCAD directory you do not have to type a full path.