Using the Drawing Format Definition Program Tool

Overview

Formats

*        Add

*        Format Definition

*        Format Size

*        Modify

*        Add

*        Edit

*        Remove

*        Remove

*        Copy

Blocks

*        Add

*        Modify

*        Remove

*        Copy

Overview

A UG Open (UFUNC) program is provided to all users to create, modify, remove and copy formats and blocks that are used to define drawing formats.  The data used to define formats and blocks are stored in definition files as UG Open user-defined objects that can only be edited with this program in a UG part file.  This file UG file should be stored in the appropriate divisional or customer’s format_defs directory.

 

The program is called da_edit.uf and is in the following two directories:

*  da_format/hp/application/

*  da_format/sun/application/

 Use the copy that reflects the platform that you are running.  To execute the program:

1.      Create a UG part file in the appropriate format catagories’ format_defs directory that’s name reflects the data to be created, or open a previously defined file.  For example, the name of the corporate definition file is “delphi_product.prt”

2.      Run the da_edit.uf program by selecting:

File->Execute UG Open->User Function…

Navigate to the the hp or sun application directory in the da_format directory and select the da_edit.uf user function program and hit the “OK” button or double-click the program’s name.  The “Drawing Format Definition” dialog  will be displayed  (See figure below).  Format and block options will be available if they are present in the current definitions file.

Formats

Formats are the top-level objects that are used to define drawing formats.  They can be classified using categories, format ID and Description.

Creating (Adding) A New Format

To create a new format, select the “Add Format” button on the “Format Definition” dialog, and an empty “Format Definition” dialog will be displayed.  (See figure below)

Enter/select the following for the “Format Definition” dialog:

Format ID

Internal identifier used to represent the data required representing a drawing format by usage.  For example, “delphiProduct” and “delphiExtProduct” are used to define standard formats for internal and external Delphi use.

Restrictions:

1.      Use a unique identifier name to represent usage.

2.      No blanks.

3.      Use only alphanumeric characters.

4.      Use lowercase characters for all but use uppercase for first letter of the second or more joined words.

Category

Format program dialog text used in Delphi Automotive format program as the top-level classification for formats. Used, for example, in the  “Add/Replace Format” dialog pull-down category option.  For example: “Corporate” is category name that includes all corporate standard size formats.

Options/Restrictions:

1.      Be descriptive.

2.      No  limit to the length of the category description, but try to keep it less that about 32 characters.

Description

Used in the Delphi Format menus to describe the type of format.  For example, the corporate standard size formats (A0, A1, A2) are classified as one the following:

1.      “Internal Cut Sizes” (Component and assembly drawings that are A0, A1, or A2 in size.)

2.      “External Cut Sizes” (Outline drawings that are A0, A1, or A2 in size.)Required Block Ids

Required Block Ids

The format ids for the format blocks required defining the format.  Blocks in this list will be automatically added.  Optional blocks can be added after the format is added.

Options/Restrictions:

1.      The required blocks must be previously defined.

Units

Name of units used to define the size of the format sheets.

Options/Restrictions:

1.      Metric (mm)

2.      English (inches)

Don’t Show In Menu

Toggle to suppress the format option from displaying.

Options/Restrictions:

1.      Off (Default)

2.      On

Sizes

Used to define/access the data required for each size of format sheet.  When creating a new format definition, the “Empty List” option in the sizes pull-down menu is displayed until a format size definition is created.  To create a new size definition, click on the “Add” button, and the “Format Size” dialog will be displayed (See figure below).

Enter/select the following for the “Format Size” dialog:
Name

Internal identifier used to represent the format size.  For example, “a0” and “a1” are used to define standard A0 (E size) and A1 (D size) formats.

Restrictions:

1.      Use a unique identifier name to represent the size of the format.

2.      No blanks.

3.      Use only alphanumeric characters.

4.      Use lowercase characters for all but use uppercase for first letter of the second or more joined words.

Description

Used in the Delphi Format menus to describe the size of format.  For example, the corporate standard size formats A0, A1, and A2.

Options/Restrictions:

1.      Be descriptive.

2.      No  limit to the length, but try to keep it simple.

Frame Pattern

The name of the UG pattern file that contains the static geometry and text used to define the size of format.

Options/Restrictions:

1.      The pattern file must be in the categories pattern directory.

2.      A link must be defined from the $DAFORMAT_BASE_DIR/pattern directory to the pattern in the in the format categories’ pattern sub-directory in the.  Example:

ln –s ../../delco_format/pattern/delcomma0.prt .

3.      A link must be defined from the $UGII_PATDIR pattern directory to the frame pattern file.

4.      Be descriptive.

Frame Layer

This value is used to define the layer number to be used form the geometry and text in frame pattern when added to a drawing.

Options/Restrictions:

1.      Layer 254 is the Delphi Design Standards layer for formats.

UG Size Code

This option is used to define the size of the drawing to be created when selected this format size.

Options:

1.      A0/A size (Should be “E” size)

2.      A1/B size (Should be “D” size)

3.      A2/C size

4.      A3/D size (Should be “B” size)

5.      A4/E size (Should be “A” size)

6.      Custom Size

Height

This option is used to define the height of the drawing to be created.

Restrictions/Options:

1.      Only used if the “Custom Size” option is selected for the “UG Size Code”

Length

This option is used to define the length of the drawing to be created.

Restrictions/Options:

1.      Only used if the “Custom Size” option is selected for the “UG Size Code”

Right Offset

This value is the distance from the right edge of the format to start of the first zone.  (The right edge of the paper to the first vertical line on the format.)

Number Horz. Zones

The number of horizontal zones on the format sheet.

Number Vert. Zones

The number of horizontal zones on the format sheet.

Horz. Zone Length

The length of each of the horizontal zones.

Vert. Zone Length

The length (height) of each of the vertical zones.

Horz. Zone Type

The type of horizontal zone designator to be used.

*  Numbers

*  Letters

Vert. Zone Type

The type of vertical zone designator to be used.

*  Numbers

*  Letters

Modifying A Format

To modify a format, select the “Modify Format” button on the “Format Definition” dialog, and a  “Edit Format” dialog will be displayed.  (See figure below.)

Select the format to edit, and hit the “OK” button and a  “Format Definition” dialog will be displayed with the previously enter format definition data.  (See figure below.)

Use the directions from the “Add Format” command to modify the values for the format.

Add

Use the add button to add new format sizes to the format definition.

Edit

Use the edit button to edit the selected size using size pull-down menu.

Remove

Use the remove button to remove the selected size using size pull-down menu.

Removing A Format

To remove a format, select the “Remove Format” button on the “Format Definition” dialog, and a  “Remove Format” dialog will be displayed.  (See figure below.)

Select the format to remove from the pull-down menu and hit the “OK” button.