Grid drawing - SOLVED

[Michael_1138]

Okay, new project, new tasks.

Industrial storage facility. Of course I need a grid for the column and support structure layout.

So, does anyone have an idea on how to quickly whip up a grid with fixed spacing in x-direction and different spacing in y-direction, without having to change the global grid. The reason I donŽt want to have to change the global grid is that I have several smaller areas with a repetitive column structure.

Tables could be a starting point, and having constraints would be nice, too (although I have only a slight idea how constraints might work, not being on PRO (yet!because of, you know, regionalization issues)).

So, anyone?

[Marek]

Hi Michael

I'm not sure what exactly you mean. If you want to have your grid, you can draw a rectangle with size x, y that you want  and use "Modify / Array / Array", to determine the required number of rows and columns. For this grid will work snaping to nodes. You can put it on layer and then turn on and off visibility.

[thebrian]

That is the best method of making an altenate 'grid'
I would add two items
 
set the color of the rectangles close to the color of your background - this will reduce visual clutter as you draw
 
lock the layer on which you put the alternate grid. You can still snap to it, but you won't accidentally select one of its elements

[Nick]

If he were using Pro, would a PPM work pretty well, or some Ruby script?

[thebrian]

Yes, that could work quiter well, and it would be readily reconformable.

[Michael_1138]

Hey guys,

excellent!!! Marek, exactly what I was looking for!!!

I created a reference point marker and put it into an array.

THEN I had the idea to see what would happen with a selection of that array, and lo and behold, of course scaling that selection works like a charm! So, now I have a grid that I can scale, stretch, skewer (in theory, have to try that one yet). So, for the moment IŽm a happy camper

Thanks guys!

Oh, and IŽll definitely have to read up on PPM objects (I know what parts per million are, but not what PPM stands for in DoubleCAD/AutoCAD)

Michael

[John R]

re: …IŽll definitely have to read up on PPM objects (I know what parts per million are, but not what PPM stands for in DoubleCAD/AutoCAD).

Try Parametric Part Manager in the Help file; that may it.

[Michael_1138]

Thanks, will do!

Now I wonder if PPM-objects are interchangeable between TurboCAD and DoubleCad, and whether I should give TurboCAD a try or not ...

[Marek]

Hi Michael

DCAD and Turbocad  have the same engine. Scripts in VB, which were written for DCAD, I could use also in TCAD (I tried them in TCAD 15.2 Pro). I ran a few scripts PPM written for DCAD  in TCAD,also. TCAD is a great 3D program with lots of tools that allow for 3D modeling and rendering. I think you should try it, as it would be useful for your needs. There are several versions of this program, varying in price depending on the availability of different tools.

[Michael_1138]

Hi Marek,

already looking into this, atm I canŽt see a real difference between DCad and TurboCAD, so IŽll stick with DoubleCAD for the moment, especially since it looks like there are not more architectural features hidden in Turbocad than in DCAD, and TC does not have those tools that I am looking for, either.

[Marek]

I have not tried yet the 18th version of TC.  I think , that it is not  probably a big difference in terms of architectural tools IN Tc and Dcad. Some probably there are. I read somewhere that for example in TC18 is a new way  for dimensioning windows. If you do not need to draw in 3D, Dcad  actually gives the necessary possibilities. I did in  TC  3D visualization of 2D projects and then the TC gave opportunities that are not available in DCAD. Recently, however, I draw only in 2D and I'm doing it in the DCAD.

[Michael_1138]

Hey Marek,

no, atm I donŽt need any 3D, but a few basic but critical dimensioning features are missing from both DoubleCAD and TurboCAD as it seems.