Drawing Forms and Rules

There are two kinds of drawing forms used in Drafting:

• Modelling drawing forms

• "Normal" drawing forms

Modelling drawing forms are forms that include a layout of projections that can be used in modelling applications, one example of these is the CV4 form that is included in the system distribution.

Normal drawing forms are used as a background for a drawing and can contain for example, a frame, some fixed text and some dynamic test. The dynamic text is created by using rules, where for example, the rule $2000 will automatically be replaced by the drawing name.

There are two kinds of rules (dynamic texts):

1. Single item rules are denoted as an integer preceded with a $ (dollar sign), for example, $2000 meaning the drawing name. When the drawing is processed, the system will search for all occurrences of text entities that contain an integer, preceded with a dollar sign. If found, and if known to the particular system function, that text entity will then be replaced for a new text entity, containing the actual data. In the case of $2000, the real drawing name will replace $2000.

2. Table item rules are denoted as an integer preceded with a @ (commercial at sign), for example, @600 meaning the revision number. Table rules are used to build up tables, that means, a number of rows (maximum 20) with data. In the case of @600, a table with revision data for a number of revisions may be built, including for example, the date for each revision. (The date as such would then have another rule associated - @603.)

In the replacement process, the position of the $ or @ text will be used for the new text, and so will the text height and rotation angle.

The technique of using rules for dynamic texts is used for many types of drawings and lists in the system. The rules are unique only within one form/list. (Consequently, $2000 may mean something totally different in another list.) The rules are listed where the appropriate functions are documented. Below is a list of links for the currently available rules: