RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide A quick guide to help you Implement your company standards

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 3 Configuring your System ................................................................................................. 4 Sharing your Configuration ........................................................................................... 10 Bar List Configuration Settings ...................................................................................... 13 Configuring your Title Block to Create Drawing Sheets ................................................. 21 Configuring your Title Block to work with the Revision Table......................................... 24 Customizing your Printed Report Templates ................................................................. 28 Customizing your Bar List on Drawing Reports ............................................................. 32 Working with Profiles & Workspaces ............................................................................. 37

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

Introduction This guide aims to instruct RebarCAD users on how to undertake some of the most common configuration and customization tasks associated with using this product. This guide explains how to configure and customize RebarCAD on your own system and how to share your configuration with others.

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

Configuring your System This chapter describes how to configure RebarCAD so that it defaults to your required settings. You use the Change Detailing Standard command to set which configuration you would like to use for the current drawing sessions. (As shown below) Using this command alone will not establish a configuration for future drawing sessions.

For RebarCAD V9 the Bar List configuration settings have been separated from the drafting configuration settings. These two aspects of the program are now configured independently. You can freely configure the drafting settings via the Configuration Centre and the bar list settings either via the Configuration Centre, or from the Configure Settings command within the bar list itself. All configuration changes are retained within the drawing itself following use of an AutoCAD Save or Save as command. This means that you can open RebarCAD drawings in the confidence that it is configured to reflect the originators settings regardless of the configuration on the current system. If you wish to retain your custom settings as the default settings for all future drawing sessions then you will need to use either (or both) the Write Prototype Settings and/or Save Bar List Configuration commands. The Write Prototype Settings command will create an INI file containing all your drafting settings. The program automatically loads this INI file in preference to the any out-of-the-box configuration settings. You can repeatedly use the Write Prototype Settings command to refine or redefine your required custom configuration settings. You can manually delete this INI file in order to return the program to its out-of-the-box configuration. The Write Prototype Settings dialog is shown below.

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

You can save your custom bar list settings by selecting the Save option from the Bar List Settings command. This allows you to create new custom XML file.

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If bar list configuration XML file currently in use is shown in the Support Files area of the Configuration Centre, as shown below:

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If you decide to save the bar list configuration to a new custom XML file then you can configure RebarCAD to use this file for all future drawing sessions by using the Write Prototype Settings command. This will save this XML file name and location to the INI file.

FYI: The order in which RebarCAD drafting configuration settings are loaded is as follows: 1

The out-of-the-box DEF files settings are loaded first

2

These settings are overwritten by any settings within any INI file

3

These are in-turn overwritten by any settings stored within any drawing being opened

As you can see the settings within the drawing itself actually supersedes the settings within the INI file which in term supersedes the settings within the DEF file.

Try it: Set RebarCAD to default to USASM (Soft Metric) for all future drawing sessions 1

Launch RebarCAD

2

Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Change Detailing Standard command

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3

Select USASM.DEF and click OK

4

Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Configuration Centre->Miscellaneous Configuration

5

Click Write Prototype Settings. Click Ok to all dialogs to Write Prototype Settings

6

RebarCAD is now configured to USASM for the current and all future drawing sessions

Try it: Set RebarCAD to default to my specific drafting settings on all future drawing sessions 1

Launch RebarCAD

2

Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Configuration Centre command

3

Set a variety of settings. (e.g. Bar Layer in Bar Configuration dialog)

4

Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Configuration Centre->Miscellaneous Configuration

5

Click Write Prototype Settings. Click Ok to all dialogs to Write Prototype Settings

6

Click Close on the main Configuration Centre dialog

7

RebarCAD is now configured to use your custom drafting settings for the current and all future drawing sessions

Try it: Set RebarCAD to default to my specific bar list settings on all future drawing sessions 1

Launch RebarCAD

2

Click RebarCAD->View Bar List

3

Select the Settings->Configure Command

4

Set a variety of settings. (e.g. Define a custom Bar List report format)

5

Click Save

6

Specify an alternative file name (e.g. MyConfig.XML) and click save.

7

Click Close to exit the Configure Settings command

8

Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Configuration Centre->Support Files icon

9

Ensure the Bar List Configuration File button is set to MyConfig.XML. Click OK.

10 Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Configuration Centre->Miscellaneous Configuration 11 Click Write Prototype Settings. Click OK to all dialogs to all Write Prototype Settings dialogs 12 Click Close on the main Configuration Centre dialog 13 RebarCAD is now configured to use your custom Bar List settings for the current and all future drawing sessions

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

Key Points 

All configuration settings are retained within the drawing on saving. So when you next open the drawing it will always be configured to the same state as when it was saved, regardless of the systems current configuration settings.



Use the Change Detailing Standards command to switch to an alternative configuration for just the current drawing session



The drafting and bar list configuration settings are stored in separate files



You can configure the program to always use your custom drafting settings by using the Write Prototype Setting command



You can configure the program to always use your custom bar list settings by creating your own XML file via the Save Bar List Configuration command and then using the Write Prototype Setting command

Commands

Action

Menu

Toolbar

View Bar List

RebarCAD > View Bar List…

Change Default Configuration

RebarCAD > Configuration > Change Default Configuration Config .

Change Detailing Standard

RebarCAD > Configuration > Change Detailing Standard

Config.

Configuration Centre

RebarCAD > Configuration > Configuration Centre

Config.

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RebarCAD

RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

Sharing your Configuration This chapter describes how to distribute RebarCAD configuration settings to other systems.

How to transfer just your bar list configuration settings to another machine You must first define your required bar list configuration setting via the Configure Settings command. You will then need to save the bar list configuration to create an XML file as described in the previous chapter. The entire bar list configuration will be packaged into this XML file which can now be transferred to an alternative system. On this alternative system you will simply need to load the configuration using one of following two methods. Use the Load Configuration command that’s available from the Bar List->Settings menu.

Any additional bar list on drawing XML files will need to be transferred with the schedule configuration XML file. If you place these files in a different location on the new system then you will need to configure RebarCAD to locate them. You can do this from the Bar List->Settings>Configure->Bar List tab->Template File Name. The same applies to the custom printed report templates (REPX) files. You will need to remember to use Write Prototype Settings command if you wish establish the transferred Bar List configuration setting as the default on the new system.

How to transfer both your Bar List and drafting configuration settings to another machine You must first define your required bar list and drafting configuration setting as described in the previous chapter. You should save the bar list configuration to an XML file as described above. You will then need to use the Write Prototype Settings command to generate an INI file. This INI file will store the name and location of the XML file. You will now need to transfer the INI, XML and any additional report template files (XML or REPX) to the new system. If you locate the XML file to a different location than on the existing system then you will need to configure RebarCAD to locate this file via the Support Files area of the Configuration Centre. You will need to remember to use Write Prototype Settings command if you wish establish the transferred drafting and bar list configuration settings as the default on the new system.

Key Points

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

You can save the bar list configuration to an XML file. This file can then be distributed to other systems



Use either the Load Configuration or Support Files options to tell RebarCAD to load an XML file that contains Bar List configuration settings



Remember to transfer any custom bar list on drawing or printed report templates (XML, REPX files)



You can save the drafting configuration to an INI file. This INI file can also holds the path the XML file.

Try it: Transfer your bar list configuration settings to another system 1

Launch RebarCAD

2

Click RebarCAD->View Bar List

3

Select the Configure->Settings Command

4

Set a variety of settings.

5

Click Save

6

Specify an alternative file name (e.g. MyConfig.XML) and click save.

7

Click Close to exit the Configure Settings command

8

Copy XML file to the other system

9

Launch RebarCAD on this system

10 Click RebarCAD->View Bar List 11 Click Settings->Load Configuration and select the transferred XML file 12 This system is now configured use your custom RebarCAD bar list settings for the current drawing sessions. You can use the Write Prototype Settings command to establish this as your required settings for all future drawing sessions

Try it: Transfer both your Bar List and drafting configuration settings to another system 1

Launch RebarCAD

2

Follow steps 1-7 in the previous exercise

3

Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Configuration Centre command

4

Set a variety of settings. (e.g. Bar Layer in Bar Configuration dialog)

5

Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Configuration Centre->Miscellaneous Configuration

6

Click Write Prototype Settings command. Click Ok to all dialogs to Write Prototype Settings

7

Click Close on the main Configuration Centre dialog

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Copy the INI and XML file to the other system. The XML should be placed in the same location as in the original system

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Launch RebarCAD on this system

10 This system is now configured to use your custom RebarCAD drafting and Bar List settings for the current and all future drawing sessions.

Commands

Action

Menu

Toolbar

Configuration Centre

RebarCAD > Configuration > Configuration Centre

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Config.

RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

Bar List Configuration Settings This chapter explains the purpose of all the Bar List configuration settings.

General Bar List Settings

Detailing – These options control whether the members and/or releases dialog is display when drawing the first bar Electronic Bar List Data File – You can configure RebarCAD to automatically generate a data file containing all the bar list data whenever you save the drawing.

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

Management – These options allow you to synchronize the drawing with compatible managements systems. (e.g. RebarCAD Manager) Note PDF refers to Project Data File and not the Adobe format.

Bar List Settings

Bar List Type/Number of Lines Per Page – You can configure RebarCAD to use a fixed number of lines per page. The variable length option allows for more control on page placement whilst placing a Bar List on Drawing. Display Bar List by – You can configure the Bar List on Drawing to be displayed on either a drawing sheet, member or release basis. You will need to ensure the Bar List Table on Drawing Template setting is set accordingly. Place Weight Summary Table/Place Shape Diagrams Tables – You can tell RebarCAD to automatically add additional weights or shape diagram tables as part of process of placing a Bar List on Drawing. The additional Shape Table Type option controls the layout of the additional shape diagram table.

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Bar List on Drawing and Print Report Data Options – These options allows for the inclusion/exclusion of specific data from all reports. You can also configure when you want the program to combines bars as shown below:

Selecting “Always” will result in bars being combined immediately following creation, although the continuous combining of the bar list may have implications for the performance (speed) of the software. If you would rather control exactly when the bar list is combined then you should disable all the “When” options and instead use either the Combine Bars command or option within the Format Bar List dialog. Preset Bar List Formats – This dialog allows you to define your default Bar List formatting options. These options will only be apply to future drawing sessions. Template Details – Specify the format to use for the Bar List on Drawing. You can define custom formats in separate XML files.

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Issuing and Revision Settings

Issue Type – List all the issue types that should be offered when issuing a drawing sheet. Click on the * to add additional entries. Revision Level – Define the revision marks that should be offered when issuing a Bar List or drawing sheet. To save having to specify all values we have supplied an Auto-Generate feature. Set the Revision 1 value, click Auto-Generate and allow the program to populate the remaining values. Bar List Revision System – When this is set to custom you have complete control over how the revision system will behave via the following options. Show Revision Marks – This option determines whether bars being added to new pages following an issue, should receive a revision mark. Show Revision History – This option determines whether all revision marks are shown in the Bar List, or whether only the changes in the current revision are displayed.

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Bar List Header Revision Mark – The option determines which revision mark is displayed in the header of each bar list page Lock Issued Pages – This option determines whether issued bar lists pages are locked so that they can’t be formatted and new bars can’t be added. e.g. set this option to lock issued pages and new bars will be add to a new page following an issue. Set this to lock issued lines and new bars will be appended to the issued Bar List page. Always Issue Bar List with Drawing – If this option is selected then the Issue Bar List command will be unavailable and you will be forced to always issue the Bar Lists and drawing sheets together, via the Issue Drawing Sheet command. If you wish to issue just Bar Lists, or bar lists and drawing sheets independently, then un-tick this option. Callout Symbol – Specify the AutoCAD block that should be used to contain the revision mark on the drawing. The shipped block is a triangle. Bar List Strike-out Format - Specify your preferred way of denoting a stuck out line.

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Localization Settings

The dialog offers various settings that control the units, and unit precision, to be shown throughout the program.

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Release & Order Settings

Specify your preferred production output system and the default location that these files should be created in.

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

Report Settings

Specify the format of your printed reports. The three report sections related to the three options offered from the Print and Print Preview commands, as shown below.

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

Configuring your Title Block to Create Drawing Sheets This chapter describes how to configure your title blocks to create drawing. You can configure your own title blocks to work with RebarCAD V9 by selecting the Configure Title Block command. This feature will be shown when you first run RebarCAD following installation and when the program detects that a title block may have been inserted. This Configure Title Block feature allows you to select your own title block and then map its attributes to RebarCAD’s data fields. In order to create drawing sheets and therefore formatted reports you will need to ensure that the drawing number field is mapped to an appropriate attribute within your title block. Mapping the remaining RebarCAD data fields to title block attributes will result in the bar list headers and footers being automatically populated from the title block. If your title block has no attributes then the Configure Title Block command will offer you the chance to automatically add a single attribute to represent the drawing number. The Configure Title Block dialog is shown below.

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The apply button will cement the configuration of this specific title block for all future drawing sessions. This configuration data is stored with (e.g.) C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\CADS\AutoCAD 2008\RebarCAD 9.01\CADS-RC\Titleblockconfig.xml should you need to transfer this to an alternative system. Conversely the cancel button will tell the program that this block is not a title block and the program will never again query the configuration of this block in order to generate drawing sheets. You can configure any number of title blocks to work with RebarCAD. You can review which blocks you have configured and make any further changes by using the Block Name list.

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

Key Points 

Drawing sheets are created when suitable title blocks are inserted



You can configure your title blocks to work with RebarCAD by using the Configure Title Block command.



You can also use the Configure Title Block command to ensure the Bar List headers and footers are automatically populated from your title block



The apply button will mean the program retains this information for all future drawing sessions on this system

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

Configuring your Title Block to work with the Revision Table This chapter describes how to configure your title block to work with the extended revision functionality within v9. When you first issue a drawing sheet the programs adds a revision table. The program looks at the associated title block for a specific REVISIONTABLE attribute that identifies where the revision table should be located. You can see this attribute defined in one of the standard title blocks supplied with CADS VPM, below.

If this attribute is not located then the program will ask you to specific a preferred location for the revision table. The revision table is an AutoCAD table object and is customizable in much the same way as the Bar List on Drawing feature. The following tutorials cover some of the basic revision table customization tasks but should you wish to undertake more substantial report customization then you may like to contact CADS–USA Support for advice and assistance. (see www.cadsusa.com for contact details) It should be noted that in cases where the revision table is not the correct size then it might be simpler to adjust you title blocks to match the shipped revision table.

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

Key Points 

The revision table will only be automatically placed into your title block if it contains a specific attribute



You use the same method of customizing revision tables as you would use for Bar List on drawing customization

Try it: How to resize the revision table to better fit with your title blocks 1

Launch RebarCAD

2

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\CADS\AutoCAD 2008\RebarCAD 9.01\CADS-RC\Templates\Template Creation Tables\Revision Table - Imperial.dwg

3

Click on the two tables and adjust as required. I reduced the size of the revision details field.

4

Select the RebarCAD->Configuration->Select Tables For Templates->Revision Table Command

5

Type “MyRevisionTable” into the Template name.

6

Use the select buttons to select each corresponding table from the drawing and specify how many rows you would like to display by default. I specified 5 but additional rows will be added

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

automatically when the number of issues exceeds this figure. The dialog should now look like

this. 7

Select the Save As button and type “MyRevisionTables”

8

Close the drawing

9

Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Configuration Centre command

10 Click Configure Bar List Settings icon 11 Click Bar List tab 12 Click the … button next to the Template File Name field and locate the MyRevisionTables.XML file 13 Select the “MyRevisionTable” item from the Bar List Table on Drawing Template list.

14 Click Apply 15 Create a drawing sheet and draw same bars assigned to this drawing sheet. Issue this drawing sheet in order to confirm your revision table customization.

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Commands

Action

Menu

Toolbar

Configuration Centre

RebarCAD > Configuration > Configuration Centre

Config.

Refine custom revision table. Revision Table

RebarCAD > Configuration > Select Revision Table Template > Config.

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

Customizing your Printed Report Templates This section describes how to undertake some of the most common report template customization tasks.

RebarCAD V9 contains a free report designer. This designer is accessed via the customize buttons on the report section of Bar List Configure Settings command, as show below.

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

If you select the customize button in relation to the default bar then the Report Designer will be loaded, as show below.

This report designer provides all the options required to produce any style report from the bar list data. These report formats are stored in REPX files. Whilst this report designer can look very intimidating some basic changes can be made with limited knowledge and effort. The following tutorials take you through some of the most common report customization tasks. Should you wish to undertake more substantial report customization then you may like to contact CADS-USA Support for advice and assistance. (see www.cadsusa.com for contact details)

Try it: How to add my company name to the standard bar list printed report 1

Launch RebarCAD

2

Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Configuration Centre command

3

Click Configure Bar List Settings icons

4

Click Reports tab

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

5

Click the Customize button within the Default Bar List Report Format section

6

Select where it says CADS-USA INC

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Type your company name over the “CADS-USA INC”

8

Click File->Save As and specific a name for this REPX file. (e.g. MyCustomReport)

9

Exit the report designer. Your custom report should now be listed in the Template field.

10 Click Apply to save these configuration changes 11 Draw some bars and do a print preview to check your custom report.

Try it: Change the font used in the standard printed Bar List report 1

Launch RebarCAD

2

Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Configuration Centre command

3

Click Configure Bar List Settings icons

4

Click Reports tab

5

Click the Customize button within the Default Bar List Report Format section

6

In the Report Designer pick two selection points in order to highlight/select everything in the design area.

7

Select the required font from the toolbar area

8

Click File->Save As and specific a name for this REPX file. (e.g. MyCustomReport)

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9

Exit the report designer. Your custom report should now be listed in the Template field.

10 Click Apply 11 Draw some bars and do a print preview to check your custom report.

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Customizing your Bar List on Drawing Reports This section describes how to undertake some of the most common Bar List on Drawing customization tasks.

RebarCAD V9 uses AutoCAD Tables to generate the Bar Lists on Drawings. You can customize the format of the Bar List on Drawing report by defining a series of AutoCAD tables that describe the various rows shown in the Bar List on drawing. These AutoCAD tables need to be defined in a very specific way and we provide some tool palettes to aid this process. The entire Bar List on Drawing format is stored within an XML file. This XML file may contain definitions for any number of Bar List on Drawing formats. The customization of the Bar List on Drawing can look very intimidating but some basic changes can be made with limited knowledge and effort. The following tutorials take you through some of the most common customization tasks. Should you wish to undertake more substantial customization then you may like to contact CADSUSA Support for advice and assistance. (see www.cadsusa.com for contact details)

Try it: How to change the title on the Bar List on Drawing 1

Launch RebarCAD

2

Open C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\CADS\AutoCAD 2008\RebarCAD 9.01\CADS-RC\Templates\Template Creation Tables\Bent Bar List By Release Number - Imperial.dwg

3

Select the cell that says “Var:HeaderTitle”

4

Press delete to remove the “Var:HeaderTitle” and type “My Title” into the cell

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5

Select the RebarCAD->Configuration->Select Tables For Templates->Bar List on Drawing Command

6

Type “MyReport” into the Template name.

7

Use the select buttons to select each corresponding table from the drawing. The dialog should now look like this:-

8

Select the Save As button and type “MyReports”

9

Close the drawing.

10 Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Configuration Centre command 11 Click Configure Bar List Settings icons 12 Click Bar List tab 13 Click the … button next to the Template File Name field and locate the MyReports.XML file 14 Select the “MyReport” item from the Bar List Table on Drawing Template list. 15 Click Apply

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

16 Draw some bars and place a Bar List on drawing to confirm that it now the revised title.

Try it: How to change one of the columns on the Bar List on Drawing 1

Launch RebarCAD

2

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\CADS\AutoCAD 2008\RebarCAD 9.01\CADS-RC\Templates\Template Creation Tables\Bent Bar List By Release Number Imperial.dwg

3

Activate the Tools Palette (using CTRL-3) and select the Bar Information Palette.

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4

Select the column in the data table that corresponds to the total length

5

Press delete to remove the “Db:Length” label

6

Select Total Weight icon from the Tool Palette and drag it into where the “Db:Length” label was previously. Pick a point within the cell when prompted. Keep picking points until one is accepted.

7

Select the RebarCAD->Configuration->Select Tables For Templates->Bar List on Drawing Command

8

Type “MyReport” into the Template name.

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

9

Use the select buttons to select each corresponding table from the drawing. The dialog should now look like this:-

10 Select the Save As button and type “MyReports” 11 Close the drawing without saving. 12 Click RebarCAD->Configuration->Configuration Centre command 13 Click Configure Bar List Settings icons 14 Click Bar List tab 15 Click the … button next to the Template File Name field and locate the MyReports.XML file 16 Select the “MyReport” item from the Bar List Table on Drawing Template list. 17 Click Apply 18 Draw some bars and place a Bar List on drawing to confirm that it now shows your logo.

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Working with Profiles & Workspaces This chapter describes how you can customize your AutoCAD environment whilst still running CADS applications. AutoCAD Profiles store your drawing environment settings. You can create profiles for different users or projects, and you can share profiles by importing and exporting them as files. Installation of RebarCAD will result in the creation of a new profile called (e.g.) RebarCAD V9-03. This profile is based on the default AutoCAD profile but includes the following Support File Search Paths and Working Support File Search Paths. These paths are essential for the loading and running of CADS products.

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If you want to run RebarCAD using your own profile then you will need to port these paths to your profile. Alternatively, you could copy and rename the RebarCAD profile and update this to your requirements. The RebarCAD profile may be overwritten during the installing of any future upgrades so it is advised not to heavily customize this profile. The RebarCAD desktop icons created following installation includes a (/p) profile designator that forces the loading of the RebarCAD profile when selected, as shown below.

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

If you would like to use an alternative profile then you should copy the RebarCAD desktop icon and revise this designator to point at your profile. If you edit the RebarCAD desktop icon itself then again you risk having this overwritten by a subsequence update. If you wish to run AutoCAD without loading any CADS application then you can specify a (/p) profile designator that loads the AutoCAD , as shown below.

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AutoCAD Workspaces are sets of menus, toolbars, palettes, and ribbon control panels that are grouped and organized so that you can work in a custom, task-oriented drawing environment. A RebarCAD workspace is created as part of the RebarCAD installation, as shown below.

This RebarCAD workspace is a custom version of the standard 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace but with the addition of the menus, toolbars, palettes and ribbons control panels necessary for running RebarCAD. This RebarCAD workspace (i.e. CADS.CUI file) is supplied in a read-only state, as shown below in the Customize User Interface (CUI) dialog. This is to prevent direct editing that would be overwritten by any subsequent RebarCAD updates.

If you wish to customize your user environment then you should create your own workspace. It may be beneficial to copy the existing RebarCAD workspace as the basis for your new workspace. If you have an existing workspace setup then the RebarCAD menus, toolbars, etc should be ported across using the CUI.

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The RebarCAD workspace will be set as the current workspace following installation. If you change workspace then the next time you start AutoCAD then the previously set workspace will remain current. You can force the loading of a specific workspace by adding a (/w) designator to the RebarCAD (or your own) desktop icon as illustrated below.

Try it: Creating a new workspace and add just the RebarCAD menus, toolbars, etc. 8

Launch RebarCAD

9

Type CUI to load the Customize User Interface feature

10 Right click on Workspaces and select New Workspace 11 Specify a name for your new workspace (e.g. MyWorkspace) 12 Select the Customize Workspace button within the right-hand panel of the CUI dialog 13 You can now tick which menus, toolbars, ribbons you wish to include in your workspace. In the left-hand panel of the CUI, navigate to the section marked as CADS, and tick all the options as shown below:

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited

14 Select the Done button within the right-hand panel of the CUI dialog 15 Right click on your workspace and select the Set Current option 16 Click Apply and then OK as the bottom of the CUI dialog 17 The AutoCAD user environment shown should include all the RebarCAD menus, toolbars (and the RebarCAD ribbon for AutoCAD 2009 users) You will notice that only a limited number of AutoCAD menus are shown because we did not specific their inclusion in our workspace. These can be added in exactly the same way as with the CADS ones.

Key Points 

Profiles store the drawing environment settings



Any custom profile must include the RebarCAD Support File Search Paths and Working Support File Search Paths if you wish to run RebarCAD



Do not edit the RebarCAD profile itself



You can force the loading of a profile by editing the (/p) designator in the desktop icon



Workspaces group together menus, toolbars, ribbons, etc.



You cannot edit the RebarCAD workspace, instead you must create your own and port the required RebarCAD menus, toolbars, ribbons, etc.



You can force the loading of a workspace using a (/w) designator in the desktop icon

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Hints & Tips



AutoCAD 2009 users will notice that the menu bar is not displayed by default when the RebarCAD workspace is activated. The menu bar can be displayed by setting the Menubar AutoCAD system variable to 1. Type menubar on the command line to access this setting. You can specify whether the menu bar appears as part of your workspace customization, as shown below.



Those AutoCAD 2009 users who do not wish to use the ribbon can choose to either minimize its display via the right-click options, or to deactivate this using the CUI



AutoCAD 2009 user can activate toolbars by right clicking on the quick access toolbar, and selecting the Toolbars option, as shown below.

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Commands

Action

Menu

Customize User Environment

AutoCAD->Tools->Workspace->Customize

Options

AutoCAD->Tools->Options

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RebarCAD Customization & Configuration Guide Copyright © 2006 Computer and Design Services Limited