P.O. Box 1881
Port Angeles, WA
USA
_______________
****
(360) 457-0855
*****
Designer Plus
Users area:
Designer Plus is constantly being upgraded and improved. New versions are released only if the improvements to the Designer Plus I am using makes it incompatible with the versions I have made available for sale. I will continue to support older versions but no new development is undertaken on them.
This site will post all changes and repairs to Designer Plus so that you can download the updates at your convenience. The manual changes are in Adobe Acrobat format so that you can print them and keep your manual current.
Areas specific to:
Version 1: Version 2: Version 3:
Tips usable for all versions of Designer Plus:
- I can't delete a part of the drawing.
- Using DP with newer versions of DesignCAD:
- Nothing happens when I enter CAB on the command line.
- How do I print when I have a Windows only printer?
- I want to use a higher resolution on my monitor than 640x480, and I don't know what kind of video card I have.
- I need more memory for DesignCAD?
Increasing memory available to DesignCAD:
Page 413 of the DesignCAD manual gives instructions for creating a "PIF" file (a file used by Windows to configure a DOS window) for Windows 3.1
For Windows XP:
- Find the DesignCAD program shortcut icon, highlight it and right (mouse button) click it. Select "Properties'
- Select the "Memory" tab and set the maximum values EMS and XMS memory to 2048. Click OK.
Other operating systems may be different, but they will be similar.
Using DP with newer versions of DesignCAD:
Use Designer Plus as a cabinet builder.
Run DesignCAD 3D in a DOS window of Windows. Draw a cabinet, set a reference point and save it to a catalog, return to DesignCAD xx and load the drawing you just made as a symbol. It will be grouped with a block handle at the point you set when it was saved. Place the cabinet, then explode (ungroup) it so that you can set gravity points on any of the other points in the drawing.
This way you will not need to learn DesignCAD 3D other than how to set points save and run Designer Plus.
DesignCAD's path statement Setup:
Nothing happens when I enter CAB on the command line.
When you issue a command to DesignCAD from the command line DesignCAD checks its path setting to determine where to look for the information to complete the task that you have told it to do. If the path statement is in error or too long, DesignCAD will return to idle, waiting for a command that can be executed.
To check the paths, under files in the DesignCAD program is the 'SET PATH' command. DC3v4 is a DOS program and the file and directory names can be no longer than 8 characters. Your DC3v4 directory should be short (DC3) and the paths for drawings (DW3) and BasicCAD progams (BSC & BSX) must be the same as the program directory.
I can't delete a part of the drawing.
Under the Parameter menu item is 'SYSTEM PARAMETER' set manipulate current layer to 'N' for no.
When this is set to 'yes' you can only work with elements of the drawing that are in the current working layer.
Some Windows only printers will capture the printer output from a DOS program then switch to Windows and print it. (Using 3DSETUP.EXE pick a printer as close to yours as possible, then set your printer as the default in the Windows' print manager and try printing.) However others won't and if you have one of these you will will have to get a DesignCAD upgrade or buy a DOS - Windows print utility available on the web. I recommend the Windows version of DesignCAD, because of speed and other features.
I want to use a higher resolution on my monitor than 640x480, and I don't know what kind of video card I have.
Exit all other programs because testing will probably crash the system, from the DOS prompt enter ‘SETUP3D’ and enter (you can run this in a DOS window of Windows). This starts the DesignCAD setup program, select monitor from the list and you are given a list of video card drivers to choose from.
Select a video driver in the resolution you want. Exit and save the settings then from the DOS prompt start DesignCAD by entering DC3. If the video driver you selected is compatible with your hardware the DesignCAD screen will appear full sized with smaller text and the screen colors may be different. If you are using Windows check program swapping with ALT-TAB if this is ok then change the screen colors with the screen color command under the display menu.
More than likely it will take you several tries to find a compatible driver. If after starting DesignCAD the screen is not usable, press the F8 key to exit DesignCAD. In most cases this will return you to the DOS prompt where you can run SETUP3D again. On occasion however the computer will freeze or reboot this is to be expected, return to the DOS prompt and run SETUP3D again and try another setting do not restart DesignCAD as this will only crash the system again.
If none of the drivers will work with your hardware you will have to use the standard VGA 16 color setting and forgo color shading, or upgrade to DesignCAD 3D MAX and use Designer Plus and DesignCAD 3D as a cabinet/kitchen builder, then edit and finish in DesignCAD 2000.