18. AlfaCAD configuration parameters


Configuration
file ALFACAD.INI contains declarations of variables and default parameters of AlfaCAD.

Parameters can be changed using any text editor or in the function / Parameters // Edit ALFACAD.INI / .

The configuration set is divided into groups marked with mnemonic names in parentheses [] . Each group contains parameters saved in the format:

Parameter_name = Parameter_value

The semicolon ( ; ) is the terminator that separates the variable definition from their optional comment. All characters preceded by a semicolon till the end of the row are treated as comments.

Empty lines are ignored by the program. Below is a description of the individual groups of variables.

; AlfaCAD configuration file 
; [Name of Parameter Group] 
; Parameter Name = Parameter Value 
; CHR $ (n) ACSI character number n (n - decimal)


The group
[Directory] includes the declaration of default paths to the source files of drawings and blocks, the declaration of the time interval between subsequent automatic drawing saves in the backup file BACKUP.ALF, the time interval of switching on the screen saver, size of the macro buffer, number of mouse buttons and its speed, standard diacritics etc .

; -------------- DIRECTORY ----------------------------

[Directory] 
Drawings = Drawings; Default drawings folder 
Blocks = Blocks; Default blocks folder
Catalogs = Catalogs; Default catalogs folder 
Log = LOG; Default log folder 
Images = Images; Default images folder 
AutoSave = 5; Time in minutes between successive auto-saves 
Memory Size for Drawing = 120000; [KB] 
Macro Buffer = 1000; [KB] 
Printing Buffer = 48000; [KB] 
Image Virtual Screen Segment Size = 254000; [KB] 
Image Buffer = 45000; [KB]; 
Mouse Buttons Number = 3; 
Mouse Speed In Menu = 24; faster - 1 .... 99 - slower, standard 24
Mouse Speed In Aux Menu = 48; faster - 1 .... 99 - slower, standard 48 
Diacritic TXT = 1; 0- other, 1-Latin2 
Diacritic DXF = 2; 0-other, 1-Latin2, 2-Acad for Windows 

The [DESKTOP] group includes declarations of desktop background, pan ratio and dynamic menu.  

[DESKTOP] 
Wallpaper = Background\tartan_green_black.pcx; 
Panorama = 0.05; Auto-panning factor 
Dynamic menu = 1; 

The group [NAMEPLATE] includes declarations of individual fields of the system table. These parameters are adopted for a new drawing in the case of ignoring or missing a prototype drawing. 

[NAMEPLATE] 
Order number = 
Project (1) =
Project (2) =
Object (1) = 
Object (2) = 
Project number = 
Drawing number = 
Drawing (1) = 
Drawing (2) = 
Scale = 
Designer = 
Developed by = 
Checked by = 
Date = 
Archive number = 
Stage =

The [Chart] group includes definitions of user functions. These functions are available as standard functions in the chart drawing procedure.
The parameter value (function definition) may contain standard calculator functions and pre-definitions of constants and variables.

; -------------- CHART ----------------------------- 
[Chart] 
Function_1 = 10*cos(10*x); 
Function_2 = 10*sin(10*x); 
SECANS = 1/(cos(x)) ;
Tangent = tan(x);
Witch of Angesi= a=1000 | pow(a,3)/((a*a)+(x*x)) ;

The groups [Printer-Image] and [Printer-Windows] include definitions of parameters for saving to graphic files and printing on Windows printers

; ------------- PRINTER ----------------------------- 
[Printer-Image];

Draft Density = 75
Better Density = 150
Good Density = 300
Fine Density = 600
Extra Fine Density = 1200
Arc Segment = 0.5; Length of the straight arc segment in millimeters

[Printer-Windows];

Draft Density = 75
Better Density = 150
Good Density = 300
Fine Density = 600
Extra Fine Density = 1200
Arc Segment = 0.5; Length of the straight arc segment in millimeters

The [Printing] group contains parameters of printing on a printer or saving in graphic file, which always can be changed in the / File // Printing / function dialog window.
Any changes to this group of parameters in the print function are automatically saved in the ALFACAD.INI file

The [Plotter] group includes the definition of plotter parameters in the range of the plotter's working area, resolution, definitions of all necessary commands for servicing the head movement and the parameter of approximating a circle (arc) with the use of vectors.

This group in the ALFACAD.INI file provided with the AlfaCAD package contains the command declaration in HP-GL (HP-GL / 2);

CHR $ (n) stands for the ASCII character number n. Since the semicolon is a terminator in the RYSUJ.INI file, it cannot be used as a command declaration character. Hence, instead of the ";" use "CHR $ (59)".

[Plotter]
Plotter Type = 1; 
Extreme Points = 0 0 18000 13200; only for the array plotter - no centering 
Resolution = 40; (steps / mm) 40 
Centering = 0; 
Initiation = IN; 
Ending = SP0CHR $ (59) VS0; 
Pen Selection = SP; 
Pen Velocity = VS; 
Pen Width = PW; 
Pen Up = PU; 
Pen Down = PD; 
Absolute displacement = PA; 
Draw Lines =; (for MERA POLTIC only) 
Absolute Jump =; Move pen without drawing (for MERA POLTIC only) 
Coordinate terminator =, ; 
Command Terminator = CHR $ (59);   ; 
Arc Segment Length= 0.5; Length of the straight line segment of the arc in millimeters

The [Plotting ] group contains parameters for drawing a drawing on a plotter, which can also be changed in the / File // Legacy plotting / procedure . Any changes to this group of parameters in the plotting function are automatically saved in the ALFACAD.INI file

[Plotting]

Shift=0 0		;dx, dy

Rotation=0	; 0 No, 1 Yes

Scale=1.00	;

Window=0		;0-whole drawing, 1-window

Sheet=0		;0-drawing/window, 1-selected sheet

Ink Plotter=0	;0-pen plotter, 1- ink plotter
Port=AB10.PLT		

Pen Width for Fillings=0.30		

Fixed Name=1		;fixed name of print file

Set Page Dimensions=0	;for HP=1, for OCE=0

Color Plotting=0	;0=B/W, 1=color

255 Colors=0		;0=mapped colors, 1=255 colors RGB->CMYK",

Pen Velocities=20 15 15 15 25 25 25 25 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10		;2 to 25

Pen Widths=0.10 0.25 0.35 0.50 0.75		;0.0 to 2.0

Number of Pens=255		;1 to 255, default 255",

Color1=1 2 3 4 5		;Pen numbers for colors and widths ,(0=SP)",

Color2=1 2 3 4 5		

Color3=1 2 3 4 5		

Color4=1 2 3 4 5		

Color5=1 2 3 4 5		

Color6=1 2 3 4 5		

Color7=1 2 3 4 5		

Color8=1 2 3 4 5		

Color9=1 2 3 4 5		

Color10=1 2 3 4 5		

Color11=1 2 3 4 5		

Color12=1 2 3 4 5		

Color13=1 2 3 4 5		

Color14=1 2 3 4 5		

Color15=1 2 3 4 5		

Color16=1 2 3 4 5		


The [Lines] group includes declarations of dashed lines. Each pattern is expressed in [mm] as a sequence of line segments. A positive value means the length of a segment, a negative value - the length of the interval between segments.

A value of 0 means a point (a segment of length 0).

Each pattern can contain up to 6 segments.
An additional comment allows the identification of a line pattern in a text file.

[Lines]; Line Patterns 

Dashed = 4, -2; - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Dashdotted = 4, -2.0, -2 ; - · - · - · - · - · - · - 
2-dotted = 4, -2.0, -2.0, -2; - · · - · · - · · - · 
Dotted = 0.5, -2; ······························· 
Border = 4, -2.4, -2.0, -2; - - · - - · - - · - - 
Center = 10, -2.2, -2; ----- - ----- - ----- - ----- - 
Hidden = 2.5, -1.5; - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Phantom = 10, -2.2, -2, 2, -2; ----- - - ----- - - ----- - - 
Dashed_2 = 2, -1; ----------------- ------------------- 
Dashdotted_2 = 2, -1.0, -1; - · - · - · - · - · - · - · - · - · - · - · - · - · - · - · - 
2-Dotted_2 = 2, -1.0, -1.0, -1; - ·· - ·· - ·· - ·· - ·· - ·· - ·· - · 
Dotted_2 = 0.25, -1; ····························
Border_2 = 2, -1.2, -1.0, -1; - - · - · - - · - · - - · 
Center_2 = 5, -1.1, -1; --- - - - - --- - --- - --- - 
Hidden_2 = 1.5, -1; - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Phantom_2 = 5, -1,1, -1 , 1, -1; --- - - --- - - --- - - --- 
Dashed_x2 = 8, -4; ---- ---- ---- ---- --- - ---- ---- 
Dashdotted_x2 = 8, -4.0, -4; ---- · ---- · ---- · ---- · 
2-dotted_x2 = 8, -4.0, -4,0, -4; ---- · · ---- · · ---- 
Dotted_x2 = 1, -4; - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Border_x2 = 8, - 4.8, -4.0, -4; ---- ---- · ---- ---- 
Center_x2 = 20, -4.4, -4; -------- - - ---------- - 
Hidden_x2 = 6, -3; - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Phantom_x2 = 20 , -4.4, -4.4, -4; ---------- - - ---------- 
3-dotted = 4, -2.0, - 2.0, -2.0, -2; - · · · - · · · - · ·
2-center = 4, -2.4, -2.0, -2.0, -2; - - · · - - · · - - 
3-dashed = 4, -2.4 , -2.4, -2.0, -2; - - - · - - - · - - - 
Phantom_3 = 5, -2.1, -2.1, -2 , 1, -2; --- - - - --- - - - --- - - - 
2-center_x2 = 5, -2.5, -2.1, -2.1, -2; - - --- - - --- --- - - 
3-dashed_x2 = 5, -2.5, -2.5, -2.1, -2; --- --- --- - - - --- --- - 
Multidashed = 2, -2.4, -2.8, -2.16, -2; - - ---- -------- - - - - --------

The [LINES-DXF] group declares line weights for DFX conversion purpose, [mm]

[LINES-DXF]

very thin=0.18;

thin=0.26;

thick=0.36;

very thick=0.52;

extra thick=0.72;

The [Fonts] group includes the declaration of particular numbers of font patterns in the form:
Pattern_number = [path] font_set_name, line thickness, SHX_set_name scale factor
where:

line thickness - a numerical parameter expressing the thickness of the text line in relation to the text height ( text_line_thickness = text_height * line_thickness )

SHX_set_name - is the font name saved in the DXF file. It should correspond to one of the font names in the graphics program for which the drawing set in DXF format is being prepared.

scale_coefficient - expresses the value by which the text width factor is multiplied during the transformation to DXF format

It is not necessary to keep the increasing numbering of the patterns.

[Fonts]

1=FONTS\AFF\STANDARD.AFF  ,0.1  ,txt 1.0    ;

2=FONTS\AFF\SIMPLEX.AFF  ,0.1  ,txt 1.0    ;

3=FONTS\AFF\ISO.AFF  ,0.1  ,txt 1.0    ;

4=FONTS\AFF\ROMANS.AFF  ,0.1  ,txt 1.0    ;

5=FONTS\AFF\ROMANSI.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

6=FONTS\AFF\ROMANC.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

7=FONTS\AFF\ROMANCS.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

8=FONTS\AFF\ROMAND.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

9=FONTS\AFF\ROMANT.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

10=FONTS\AFF\ROMANP.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

11=FONTS\AFF\ITALICCS.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

12=FONTS\AFF\ITALICC.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

13=FONTS\AFF\ITALICT.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

14=FONTS\AFF\SCRIPTS.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

15=FONTS\AFF\SCRIPTC.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

16=FONTS\AFF\GOTHGBT.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

17=FONTS\AFF\GOTHGRT.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

18=FONTS\AFF\GOTHITT.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;

19=FONTS\AFF\GREEKS.AFF  ,0.05  ,txt 1.0    ;
etc...

The [Fonts - DXF] group defines font equivalents in DXF files in the form:

font_DXF = font_ALFACAD, width_factor

[Fonts-DXF] 
POLTECH = POLTECH, 1.428571429; 
POLTECH1 = POLTECH1, 0.588235294; 
ROMAN = ROMAN, 1; 
BLOCK = BLOCK, 1; 
FUTURA = FUTURA, 1; 
SYSTEM = SYSTEM, 1; 
SYSTEM1 = SYSTEM1, 1; 
COMPLEX8 = ROMANC, 1; 
COMPLEX = ROMANC, 1; 
CYRILLIC = ROMANC, 1; 
CYRILTLC = ROMANC, 1; 
GOTHICE8 = ROMANC, 1; 
GOTHICG8 = ROMANC, 1; 
GOTHICI8 = ROMANC, 1; 
GOTHICE = ROMANC, 1; 
GOTHICG = ROMANC, 1; 
GOTHICI = ROMANC, 1; 
GREEKC = ROMANC, 1; 
GREEKS = ROMANC, 1; 
ISO8 = ROMANS, 1; 
ITALIC8 = ITALICC, 1; 
ITALICC8 = ITALICC, 1; 
ITALICT8 = ITALICT, 1; 
MONOTXT8 = ITALICT, 1; 
ISO = ROMANS, 1; 
ITALIC = ITALIC, 1;
ITALICC = ITALICC, 1; 
ITALICT = ITALICT, 1; 
MONOTXT = SYSTEM, 1; 
ROMANC8 = ROMANC, 1; 
ROMAND8 = ROMAND, 1; 
ROMANS8 = ROMANS, 1; 
ROMANT8 = ROMANT, 1; 
SCRIPTC8 = SCRIPTC, 1; 
SCRIPTS8 = SCRIPTS, 1; 
SIMPLEX7 = SYSTEM, 1; 
SIMPLEX8 = SYSTEM, 1; 
ROMANC = ROMANC, 1; 
ROMAND = ROMAND, 1; 
ROMANCE = ROMANCE, 1; 
ROMANT = ROMANT, 1; 
SCRIPTC = SCRIPTC, 1; 
SCRIPTS = SCRIPTS, 1; 
SIMPLEX = SYSTEM, 1; 
SYASTRO = ROMANS, 1; 
SYMAP = ROMANS, 1; 
SYMATH = ROMANS, 1; 
SYMETEO = ROMANS, 1; 
SYMUSIC = ROMANS, 1; 
TXT8 = SYSTEM, 1; 
TXT = SYSTEM, 1; 
CIBT ____ = POLTECH, 1; 
COBT ____ = POLTECH, 1;
EUR _____ = ROMANC, 1; 
EURO ____ = ITALICC, 1; 
PAR _____ = ROMANC, 1; 
ROM _____ = ROMAND, 1; 
ROMB ____ = ROMAND, 1; 
ROMI ____ = ITALICC, 1; 
SAS _____ = FUTURA, 1; 
SASB ____ = FUTURA, 1; 
SASBO ___ = FUTURA, 1; 
SASO ____ = FUTURA, 1; 
SUF _____ = ROMANC, 1; 
TE ______ = FUTURA, 1; 
TEB _____ = FUTURA, 1; 
TEL _____ = FUTURA, 1; 
CIBT ____ = POLTECH, 1; 
COBT ____ = POLTECH, 1; 
EUR _____ = ROMANC, 1; 
EURO ____ = ITALICC, 1; 
PAR _____ = ROMANC, 1; 
ROM _____ = ROMAND, 1; 
ROMB ____ = ROMAND, 1; 
ROMI ____ = ITALICC, 1; 
SAS _____ = FUTURA, 1; 
SASB ____ = FUTURA, 1; 
SASBO ___ = FUTURA, 1; 
SASO ____ = FUTURA, 1;
SUF _____ = ROMANC, 1; 
TE ______ = FUTURA, 1; 
TEB _____ = FUTURA, 1; 
TEL _____ = FUTURA, 1; 
STANDARD = SYSTEM, 1; 
COURSE = ITALICC, 1; 
2D-PROS = SYSTEM, 1; 
2D-COURSE = SYSTEM, 1; 
POLICE7 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE8 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE9 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE20 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE21 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE22 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE23 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE24 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE25 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE26 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE27 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE28 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE29 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE30 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE31 = POLTECH, 1; 
POLICE32 = POLTECH, 1; 
EURO = ROMAN, 1; 
GOTH = POLTECH, 1;
LCOM = POLTECH, 1; 
LITT = ROMAN, 1; 
SANS = ROMANC, 1; 
SCRI = SCRIPTS, 1; 
SIMP = ROMANS, 1; 
TRIP = ROMANT, 1; 
TSCR = ROMANT, 1;


The
[Patterns] group includes definitions of all filling (hatching) patterns available in AlfaCAD.

The way of defining own patterns by the user is described in chapter 11.

[Patterns] 
AEC-ANGLE = 2; 
45,0,0,0,0.5 
AEC-COLUMN = 2; 
90,0,0,0,1.0 
AEC-BRICK = 2; 
AEC brick wall in section 
45, 0.0, 0.1.5 45, 0.0.5, 0.1.5 
AEC-BRICK-1 = 0.02; AEC brick in the facade with uniform bond 
0, 0.0, 0.75 90, 0.0, 75, 112.5, 75, -75 
AEC-BRICK-M1 = 0.02; AEC brick 200x75 in the façade with a trolley bond 
0, 0.0, 0.75 90, 0.0, 75, 100, 75, -75 
AEC-BRICK-M2 = 0.02; AEC brick 200x100 in the facade with a trolley bond 
0, 0.0, 0.100 90, 0.0, 100, 100, 100, -100 
PARQUET1 = 0.01; floor plank - pattern 50x300 
90, 0.0, 300,300, 300, -300 
90, 50.0, 300,300, 300, -300 
90, 100.0, 300,300, 300, -300 
90, 150.0, 300,300, 300 , -300
90, 200.0, 300.300, 300, -300 
90, 250.0, 300.300, 300, -300 
90, 300.0, 300.300, 300, -300 
0, 0.300, 300.300, 300, -300 
0, 0.350, 300,300, 300, -300 
0, 0.400, 300.300, 300, -300 
0, 0.450, 300.300, 300, -300 
0, 0.500, 300.300, 300, -300 
0, 0.550, 300.300, 300, -300 
0, 0.600, 300,300, 300, -300
 ..................... 
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