Protogen: Drawing Cloning Tool
Introduction
Protogen is a tool which can quickly clone many similar drawings from a prototype drawing and a database.
Definitions
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Drawing. File created with a CAD package. Protogen drawings must be AutoCAD DWG file format.
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Prototype drawing / template drawing - Drawing created by the user from which other drawings will be cloned.
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Clone drawing. - Drawing created by Protogen from a prototype drawing and database.
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Protogen database. - Database containing the textual data to place on each cloned drawing.
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Formula. - Special text "link" in a prototype drawing that will be replaced by text from a Protogen database.
Getting Started
Are you ready to use Protogen?..
A Guide to Using Protogen
For a description of the steps used to produce drawings with Protogen press...
Protogen Exercise
How to...
Understand a Prototype / Protogen template.
Understand a Protogen database.
Create a Protogen database with Protoedit.
Create a Protogen database manually.
Create a Protogen database from existing templates/ prototypes.
Link templates to a database with Protoedit.
Link templates to a database manually.
Populate the database and special fields.
Create a Protogen Relational System / Sub Databases
Use anchor points to locate graphics and subcircuits within circuits.
Merge Elecdes Catalog data within circuits.
Use Incrementing data within circuits.
Update databases from clone drawings.
Run Protogen in automatic batch mode.
Reference
Editing database files in general; New files; Changing file structure.
Navigating between relational DBFs.
Choosing Clone and Anchor for Sub Databases.
Choosing Prototypes / Templates.
Choosing Sub Databases for Anchors.
Use of AutoCAD's "Paperspace" and Protogen.
Changing folders / Linking to Ebase