The function assigned to each key is determined in the CAD.MEN file. This file is stored in the following folder: c:\allycad34\users\<log on name>\ ...

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PRODUCT INFORMATION - version 3.4

How to Customize your AllyCAD Interface

In this week's newsletter, we take a closer look at how to create a new toolbar.

Toolbars need three essential components in order to make them operational:

• A Heading / Name - this helps to identify the toolbar and must be unique.

• A Style - this determines where the toolbar is docked on the AllyCAD screen.

• A BEGIN and END - this signifies the toolbar's boundary.
   

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Create your new toolbar by following five easy steps:

1. Go to Windows Explorer C:\ drive, or whichever drive your AllyCAD version 3.4 is installed on. Select the subfolder User and choose your login user name as set up at the start of AllyCAD. You then go to the CAD.MEN file and select the desired program to open the file with, preferably Notepad or some other text editor. Do not use Word or Wordpad, and ensure that you make a backup copy of the CAD.MEN file as a safety measure before you continue.
    

2. Once you are in the CAD.MEN file, scroll down to beyond the first toolbar after the word END. Enter a line and then type in the Heading: TOOLBAR followed by a space and the name of your toolbar in inverted commas. This name indicates the toolbar name that appears at the top of the toolbar dialog when floating, and also on the AllyCAD drop down menu.
    

3. Your toolbar will now require a style. The STYLE determines if and where the toolbar is docked on the AllyCAD screen, and takes the following settings:
    

   • The Location - this may either be Top, Bottom, Left, Right or Float, and determines if the toolbar is docked to one side of the AllyCAD main window, or free floating.

   • Visible or Hidden - this means that the toolbar is either visible when AllyCAD is open, or created in a hidden (invisible) state.

   • Flat or Raised - this is when the button icons on the screen are either drawn flat or raised.

   
   NOTE:
   The location and visible settings only have meaning when the menu file is read the first time after changes have been made. When AllyCAD is exited, the current positions and visibility of the toolbars is stored and they will be restored to the saved state the next time AllyCAD is run.

    

4. Once you have indicated the style, type in the word BEGIN in the following line. You may now start to copy your preferred commands from the standard AllyCAD toolbars in the CAD.MEN file to your personalized toolbar. To copy a command, you must copy the full command line, which begins with the word BUTTON and ends just before the next button. This may now be placed in your personalized toolbar after the word BEGIN. Close your toolbar by typing in the word END after the final entry.
   
   Example:
   
   TOOLBAR "My Custom Toolbar"
   STYLE top
   BEGIN
   BUTTON "filenew" {filenew;} {delall;} {Left: Start a new drawing. Right: Clear drawing memory;}
   SEPARATOR
   BUTTON "fileopen" {readanyfile;} {opendr;} {Left: Load a drawing. Right: Open a drawing file.;}
   END
   
   You may also create new buttons instead of copying existing settings. Refer to the section entitled "Sections of the MEN file" under "Customising" in the help file for more information on how to create toolbar buttons.
    

5. When you exit Notepad, it will prompt you to save the changes, click yes. The changes will now be displayed when you next use AllyCAD under your login user name.

TRAINING AND VISITS

TRAINING

VISITS

Our Customer Consultants will be involved in the following visitations and training activities over the next couple of weeks. Please feel free to give us a call on (021) 701-1850. We would be happy to meet up with you to discuss your training or product needs.

AWARDS

The Faculty of Engineering, Information & Communication Technology at the Free State Central University of Technology, recently held their annual prize giving ceremony on Friday 10 September 2004.

The ceremony was held at the University’s Art Gallery of the Library and Information Centre, and was hosted by the Faculty’s Marketing Committee in honour of their top students.

Seen below, is the Director: Civil Engineering & Built Environment, Dr Lize Pretorius as she hands over the AllyCAD trophy to the Best CAD Drawing Student for 2003, Mr JA Marx.

We would like to take this opportunity of congratulating Mr Marx on his outstanding achievement!
 

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