ARES for AutoCAD Users

204 Pages·2015·11.01 MB·English

ARES
for AutoCAD Users
Designed to ease your transition
to ARES Commander 2015
Fourth Edition
by Ralph Grabowski
© Copyr ig ©ht 2C0o1p5y rbigy hGtr 2a0e1b5e rbty G GmrabeHb ert GmbH Fourth EdiFtioounr,t Jha Enduiatiroyn 2, 0J1a5nuary 2015
http://wwwh.tgtrpa:/e/bwewrtw.c.gormae bert.com
written by wRrailtptehn G brya bRoawlpshk iGrabowski
All rights rAelsl errigvehdts w roersledrwveidde w. orldwide. upFront.eZuinpeF rPounbt.leisZhinineg P, uLbtdli.shing, Ltd.
World CADW Aocrcleds CsAD Access
Technical Twercithenri c al wRariltpehr G rabRoawlpshk iGrabowski
Technical Teedcithonri cal eRdoibtoerr t GräRboebret rt Gräbert
Copy editoCr o py editoHr e rbert GrHaebrobwesrkt iGrabowski
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should nots hboeu rledg naordt ebde arse ginatrednetd taos i ninfrtienngte t oo nin tfhrein gpero opne rtthye o pf roperty of including ibnuctl undointg libmuitt end ott o limimitpelide dt ow iamrrpalnietdie sw aforrr anthtiee s for the
others. Thoet hpuerbsli.s Thheer rpeucbolgisnhiezer sr eacnodg rneizsepse catnsd a rlle smpaercktss ualsle md abryk s used by book’s quabloitoy,k ’pse qrfuoarlmitya,n pceer, fmoremrcahnacne,t ambielirtcyh, aonr tfaitbnielistys, foorr fitness for
companiesc,o mmapnaunfiaecst,u mrearnsu, faancdtu dreevresl,o apnedr sd eavse alo mpeerasn ass t oa dmisetainngsu tios hdistinguish any particualnayr ppaurrtpicouslea.r purpose.
their produthcetsir. products.
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The ARES TLhoeg oA,R AERSE LSo agnod, AARREESS aCnodm AmRaEnSd Cero marme arengdiesrt earreed r egistered with respewcitt ht or easnpye clita btoil itayn, yl olsiasb, iloitry ,d laomssa,g eo r cdaaumseadg eo rc aused or
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book. book.
Table of Contents
ARES 2015 System Requirements..........................................................................................................................................................ix
1 — ARES for AutoCAD Users ........................................................1
About The ARES NAME ...................................................................................................................1
THE HISTORY OF GRAEBERT .................................................................................2
From Felix to ARES .........................................................................................................................2
THE ADVANTAGES OF ARES ....................................................................................3
Near-identical User Interface ........................................................................................................3
Multiple Operating Systems ..........................................................................................................4
Lower Purchase and Maintenance Prices .....................................................................................4
SimOilnaer AARPEISs C ..o..m..m...a..n.d..e..r. .L.i.c..e.n..s.e.. .o.n.. .T.w...o.. o..r. .M...o.r..e. .C..o.m...p..u.t.e..r.s.. ...........................................................................................................................................................................54
FEATURE COMPARISONS .......................................................................................6
What’s Missing from ARES ............................................................................................................6
WHAT ARES HAS THAT’S MISSING FROM AUTOCAD ........................................6
Faster Drawing and Editing ...........................................................................................................7
Real-time Trimming and Extending ..........................................................................................................................................................7
Simpler Polygon Construction ....................................................................................................................................................................7
Creating Trapezoids ........................................................................................................................................................................................8
Sophisticated Explosions ...............................................................................................................................................................................8
iv ARES 2015 for AutoCAD Users
Advanced Points Specification ...................................................................................................................................................................8
Mirroring Without Copying ..........................................................................................................................................................................9
Placing Audio Notes ........................................................................................................................................................................................9
EnhQaunicckeedr PDriinmtienng s...i.o....n...i.n....g... ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1..09
Dimension Adjustments .............................................................................................................................................................................10
Dimension Text Palette ................................................................................................................................................................................10
MoVreer Fifyilien gO Dpimtioennssio..n..s. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1111
Template-free Attribute Extraction ........................................................................................................................................................11
Opening and Replacing Drawings ..........................................................................................................................................................11
Saving All Drawings at Once .....................................................................................................................................................................11
AddEixtpioorntainl gI nDtreawrfiangcse i nO EpMpFo, rStVuGn ..i.t..i..e...s.. ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1122
Better Support for 3D Mice ........................................................................................................................................................................12
Commands by Gesture .................................................................................................................................................................................12
Consolidated Options Dialog Box ............................................................................................................................................................13
Accessible VSTA Macros ..............................................................................................................................................................................14
Options Toolbar ..............................................................................................................................................................................................14
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................................15
Recommended Hardware ............................................................................................................15
30-day Trial Software, Free Forever .............................................................................................15
Here’s What’s New in ARES Commander 2015 .............................................................................................................................17
2 — Comparing User Interfaces ..................................................29
DIFFERENCES IN USER INTERFACE BETWEEN ARES AND AUTOCAD ............35
ARES’ ‘:’ vs AutoCAD’s ‘Command:’ Prompts .............................................................................35
Colors of the ARES Command Text ...................................................................................................................................................35
COMPARING USER INTERFACE ELEMENTS .......................................................36
Top of AutoCAD ...........................................................................................................................36
Middle of AutoCAD ......................................................................................................................36
Bottom of AutoCAD .....................................................................................................................36
Top of ARES ..................................................................................................................................37
Middle of ARES.............................................................................................................................37
Bottom of ARES ...........................................................................................................................37
ComTuptaorriianlg: C Chaonmgimnga tnhed C Nomammaensd a Pnrdom Aplti ains eAsR .E..S. .......................................................................................................................................................................................................3398
Richer Command Options in ARES ..............................................................................................39
About Shortcut Keystrokes .........................................................................................................40
Table of Contents v
COMPARING GRAPHICAL UI ELEMENTS ............................................................40
About Mouse Buttons .................................................................................................................40
About the Status Bar ....................................................................................................................41
ARERSev’ eOaplitniog nUsI ETloeomlebnatrs vHsi dAduento inC AARDE’Ss .D....y...n...a...m.....i..c.. ..I.n....p...u...t.. ....................................................................................................................................................................4432
ARES’ Tool Matrix vs AutoCAD’s Tools Palette ...........................................................................44
OPTIONS DIALOG BOX IN ARES AND AUTOCAD ..............................................45
Palettes in AutoCAD and ARES ....................................................................................................45
ARES DESIGN RESOURCES VS AUTOCAD DRAWING CENTER ........................46
3— Drawing File Compatibility ....................................................49
DWG COMPATIBILITY ...........................................................................................50
How Entities ARE Tested .............................................................................................................50
Compatibility LEgend ....................................................................................................................51
Summary of Problem Entities ......................................................................................................52
Dimensions and Text ....................................................................................................................................................................................52
Blocks and Glyphs ..........................................................................................................................................................................................52
2D Entities .........................................................................................................................................................................................................53
3D Entities .........................................................................................................................................................................................................53
DWG OBJECT SUPPORT .........................................................................................55
2D EntitY Support ........................................................................................................................55
Text Entity Support ......................................................................................................................58
Geometric and Dimensional Constraints ....................................................................................59
Model Documentation ................................................................................................................59
Dimension EntitY Support ...........................................................................................................60
Complex 2D Entities Supported ..................................................................................................62
3D EntitY Support ........................................................................................................................65
PROPERTIES SUPPORTED ....................................................................................68
Basic Properties for Entities ........................................................................................................68
Layer Properties ...........................................................................................................................70
Layer Filters......................................................................................................................................................................................................71
Layer States ......................................................................................................................................................................................................71
vi ARES 2015 for AutoCAD Users
STYLES ......................................................................................................................71
Dimension Styles ..........................................................................................................................72
MText (Note) and Text (SimpleNote) Styles ..............................................................................75
MuMltiTleinxte E (dRitiocrhsl iinn eA)R ESSt yalneds A ..u..t.o.C..A..D.. . ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................7786
QLeader (SmartLeader) Styles ....................................................................................................79
Plot (Print) Styles .........................................................................................................................80
Table Styles ....................................................................................................................................81
4 — Customizing & Programming ..............................................83
Comparing Areas of Customization...................................................................................................................................................84
ARES CUSTOMIZE VS AUTOCAD CUI ..................................................................85
CusHtoowm tizoi nImgp UorIt E AleumtoeCnADts M ...e.n..u.. .f.i.l..e.s.. i.n..t..o.. A..R..E..S.. .......................................................................................................................................................................................................8876
Customizing Menus in ARES ........................................................................................................87
Tutorial: Adding an Item to a Menu .......................................................................................................................................................88
CreTaotuinrg t hMe ACCusRtOomSi zinat AioRnE DSi a.l..o..g. .b..o.x.. ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9932
Tutorial: Writing Macros ............................................................................................................................................................................93
Tutorial: Editing Command Names and Descriptions ....................................................................................................................94
Tutorial: Entering Command Strings ....................................................................................................................................................95
Tutorial: Assigning Icons ............................................................................................................................................................................95
CusUtosimngi Mziancgro T Moeotlabcaharsra icnte ArsR aEnSd .D..i.e..s.e.l. .i.n.. A..R..E..S.. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................9966
Customizing Ribbon Tabs and Panels in ARES ............................................................................97
Customizing Quick ACCESS Toolbars in ARES .............................................................................98
CUSTOMIZING MOUSE ACTIONS IN ARES .........................................................99
Changing right-clicks ....................................................................................................................99
ChaTnugtoinrigal :d Mooudbiflyein-cgl iRcikg hAt cMtoiousnes B .u..t.t.o..n.. A..c..t.i.o.n..s.. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................1..0909
ChaTnugtoinrigal :s Mhoodritfcyuintg MDoeunbules-c .l.i.c.k.. .A..c.t.i.o..n.s.. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................110020
About Common Shortcut Menus ...........................................................................................................................................................103
About Contextual Shortcut Menus .......................................................................................................................................................103
CUSTOMIZING KEYSTROKES IN ARES ...............................................................104
Changing Keyboard Shortcuts ..................................................................................................104
Changing override keys .............................................................................................................104
Table of Contents vii
ChaTnugtoinrigal :A Mlioadsiefysi ning KAeRybEoSa.r.d.. .S.h..o..r.t.c.u..t.s.. a..n..d. .O..v..e.r..r.i.d..e.s. ...................................................................................................................................................................................110064
Tutorial: Customizing Aliases .................................................................................................................................................................106
Using AutoCAD Aliases in ARES .............................................................................................................................................................107
Shell Commands ...........................................................................................................................................................................................107
CUSTOMIZING WORKSPACES IN ARES .............................................................107
Customizing UI Profiles in ARES ................................................................................................108
ChaTnugtoinrigal :P UrIo Pfirloefisle .s.. M...o..d.e.. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................110181
About Roaming Profiles.............................................................................................................................................................................112
Accessing Hidden Folders in ARES .......................................................................................................................................................112
Tutorial: Creating a New Profile ............................................................................................................................................................113
OTHER TYPES OF CUSTOMIZATIONS IN ARES .................................................113
Tool Matrix .................................................................................................................................113
Tablet Overlays ............................................................................................................................113
Image Menus ...............................................................................................................................114
Using Fonts .................................................................................................................................114
Mapping Fonts ...............................................................................................................................................................................................115
ChaAnbgoiunt gS hLaipnee Ftiylepse ...s.. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................111166
Changing Hatch Patterns ............................................................................................................116
Changing richline styles (multLines) ..........................................................................................117
ChaAnbgoiunt gT aPblloe ta nSdt yOltehse r.. S..t.y.l.e..s............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................111198
ChaAnbgoiunt gP lFoitlteer P Maatnhasg .e..r. ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................112200
PROGRAMMING CONSIDERATIONS ..................................................................122
Porting ARX to TX ........................................................................................................................................................................................123
Porting AutoLISP to LISP ..........................................................................................................................................................................123
Porting DCL to ARES ...................................................................................................................................................................................123
Porting Diesel to ARES ...............................................................................................................................................................................123
Porting ADS to FDT .....................................................................................................................................................................................123
LoaPdoirntign gA CpOpMli ctoa AtiRoEnSs .. .i..n...t..o... ..A....R...E...S.... ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................112233
AboCuont ttrholeli nAgR AEdSd -OinEs .M..... .L...i..c..e....n...s..e.... ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................112244
Building Your Own Stand-alone Application ....................................................................................................................................124
viii ARES 2015 for AutoCAD Users

Appendices
A — ARES-AutoCAD Command Cross-reference ......................127
B — ARES-AutoCAD System Variable Cross-reference .............153
C — ARES-AutoCAD Dictionary ..................................................179
D — ARES-AutoCAD Keystroke & Button Cross-reference ......185
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR .............................................................................186
Function Keys ..............................................................................................................................187
MOUSE BUTTONS .................................................................................................188
Primary Buttons .........................................................................................................................188
Shift+Buttons .................................................................................................................................................................................................188
Ctrl+Button .....................................................................................................................................................................................................188
Shift+Ctrl+Buttons .......................................................................................................................................................................................188
Double-click ....................................................................................................................................................................................................188
DouRbolllee rC Wlichkee Al ..c...t..i.o....n...s.. ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................118898
Left Button ......................................................................................................................................................................................................189
Middle button ................................................................................................................................................................................................189
3D MOUSE OPTIONS ............................................................................................190
MOUSE GESTURES ...............................................................................................192
Table of Contents ix
ARES 2015 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
As a minimum, Graebert suggests that your computer have the hardware and software specified below. For better per-
formance, Graebert recommends that your computer have stronger hardware.
WINDOWS
Available for 32- and 64-bit systems
Operating system 32-bit version: Vista, 7, or 8
64-bit version: Windows 7 or 8
Works on Windows 10, though not officially supported at time of writing
CPU 2GHz Intel Pentium 4 CPU minimum
Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core CPU recommended
Free disk space 400MB minimum
1GB recommended
RAM 2GB minimum
4GB recommended
Graphics board 1024x768 (XGA) with 16-bit color minimum
3D graphics accelerator on full HD monitor recommended
Input Mouse minimum
Wheel mouse recommended
LINUX
Available for 64-bit systems only
Operating systems Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Fedora 18 (Gnome or KDE)
OpenSUSE 12.2 (Gnome or KDE)
Or other dialect
CPU 1GHz x86 processor
Free disk space 1GB
RAM 1GB minimum
2GB recommended
Graphics board 1024x768 with TrueColor graphics minimum
1680x1050 recommended
Input Mouse minimum
Wheel mouse recommended
MAC OS X
Available for 64-bit systems only.
Any current model of Mac computer runs ARES for OS X. The operating system should be Mac OS X v10.7 (Lion), v10.8
(Mountain Lion), v10.9 (Mavericks), or newer.
x ARES 2015 for AutoCAD Users