Help for an old CADDS4X dog

Asking this question surely reveals my age! But, if I'm to find the answer, surely it will be here. I'm looking for a kind of translator either online or hard-copy to help a person with Computervision's original CADDS 4X, later Personal Designer, to convert their command syntax into AutoCAD. Like in CADDS I would say 'insert line' then be prompted, and I'd say x0y0z0, ix 10, iy, 10 - enter. Then let's say I want to draw a line perpendicular to the xy axis so Id say 'Insert line' (prompt from computer) and I'd say org and click the line, then I'd say ix5, enter and I'd have a T off that line. Stuff like that.

Anybody?

Wayne

Reply to
Wayne Lundberg
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I do remember some of the old CADDS 4 syntax. We put one of the first ones in Australia way back in the early 1980's!

I don't know if you will find an online translator. Making the transition should not be too difficult. Basically unlike the CV system, you enter the full command or an abbreviation for one if it is defined. You can't do what the CV system did and that is enter the command until the keystrokes become lowercase.

In AutoCAD, you don't have to enter INSERT as this is a separate command used to insert types of objects. To draw a line you simply enter L (because it is a pre-defined shortcut or alias) or the full command LINE. You are then prompted for the From point. Pick it, or enter the coordinates as x,y,z (you don't have to prefix them with x y or z). if you want to use an object snap, you can enter the particular snap using the first 3 characters. Then for the To point. Here you can use the object snap or you can enter the absolute coordinates, or if you want the next point to be relative to the last point specified or picked, prefix the coordinates with @ as in @x,y,z. You don't have to specify the z value. If you don't the current value for ELEVATION is used. Because the line command allows you to enter a chain of independent line segments, you end it with an enter for a To point.

This is a brief introduction. The key is to watch the command prompt area as this is where AutoCAD communicates with you. If you have this area reduced to anything other than the default 3 lines, you can miss prompts. You see the text screen with the F2 key, unlike CV where the text area displayed over part of the drawing area.

I hope this gives you a start.

Oh yes, AutoCAD does not have a SHUTUP command! We used to get quite a laugh out of it.

Reply to
Ian A. White

Thank you Ian.

Reply to
Wayne Lundberg

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