New Features:

This section discusses a series of new features that have been added to ARRIS++ that do not exist in the standard ARRIS distribution.

C-PEN System:

A comprehensive system for managing pen/color mapping has been added to ARRIS++. This facility allows pens 0 through 15 and pen none to be mapped to specific colors. This mapping may then be saved as a style for later recall. Using the :cj_cpen command, selecting a pen will then automatically set the associated color.

The :cj_cpen command is not assigned to any menu button by default, but for those who wish to use this command, one possibility is to assign it as a customized right-click option for the two PEN and two COL boxes on the _BOTTOM menu. A left-click on these boxes will still accesses the normal pen and color functions while a right-click provides immediate access to the default user cj_cpen style.


 Standard :cj_cpen prompt


To review existing cpen styles or create new ones, select the SETUP option from the standard prompt. This will display the C-PEN SETUP menu.


 C-PEN SETUP Menu      (Click on image for pop-up window showing menu supporting 256 colors)


To create a new style, select a pen from the top row of the menu and then select the color from the color bar that is to be associated with that pen. When an entire set of pen/color assignments have been made, select SAVE and enter a name for the style. Any number of styles may be saved and then quickly recalled for special purposes. Note that if a special style named user is created, it will be automatically loaded the first time :cj_cpen is used during an ARRIS++ session.

For additional information see the Cpen Manual Page.

If the optional cj_mnopt.sm sigmac library is loaded, a series of abbreviated mnemonic commands (:cp0, :cp1, :cp2, ... :cp15 and :cpn) are also provided to quickly change to a new pen/color.

For easy placement on the toolbar, the C-PEN command can be found in the Toolbar Command Database under the ARRIS++: CUSTOM group.

Macro Tools:  (Or Sigmac Programming for the Common Man!)

ARRIS has a simplistic utility called $ctrc() which can be used to capture keyboard and mouse events and record them to a file on disk. These stored operations can then be later recalled and executed using $flin().

This feature can be very useful in certain circumstances. For example, if you found yourself performing a series of uniformly repeating tasks, it would be really convenient to be able to record those actions and then execute them at any time with the push of a button. In ARRIS++, a number of new sigmac commands were developed to make this not only possible, but extremely easy.

NEW COMMAND	DESCRIPTION
:cj_ma_edit	Edit the contents of the specified macro file
:cj_ma_mkdir	Check for and/or create the usr:macros.dir directory
:cj_ma_play	Execute the commands in the specified macro file
:cj_ma_record	Record to a macro file. If that file exists, prompt before overwriting its contents
:cj_ma_records	Record to a macro file. If that file exists, silently overwrite its contents
:cj_ma_save	Save a temporary macro to a new file with a more permanent name
:cj_ma_tmpbak	Backup (rotate) the three temporary macro files tmp1, tmp2 and tmp3

All macro files are automatically assigned a .mac suffix and are stored by default in the macros.dir directory located under $GRUSR. To make these tools easy to use there are a few temporary filenames which are used by these command. These are: tmp0, tmp1, tmp2 and tmp3.

It would be inconvenient to have to type these commands from the keyboard, so a set of customized toolbar buttons have been created and included in the TOOLBAR command database for immediate use.

TOOLBAR CMD	DESCRIPTION
RECORD MACRO	Start recording to the specified macro disk file. If the macro name is already used, the user is prompted as to whether or not that file should be overwritten.
STOP MACRO	Stop recording to the current macro disk file. This works in conjunction with any of the macro RECORD buttons.
PLAY MACRO	Execute the macro commands stored under the specified name. All of the commands will be executed sequentially just as if they had been entered through the keyboard or by using the mouse.
EDIT MACRO	Edit the contents of the specified macro file using the external text editor. This is useful if you wish to review what has been recorded and possibly make some corrections.
SAVE MACRO	Assign a temporary macro a more permanent name. If a useful macro sequence has been recorded to one of the temporary macro files, this command allows it to be saved using a more permanent name so that it is not accidentally overwritten at a later time.
MACRO RECORD	Start recording to the temporary macro file named tmp0. This is the standard one-shot macro file. Use the STOP MACRO command to end the recording session. Each time a record session is started the previously stored macro is silently replaced. Use the SAVE MACRO command to copy an important macro before it is overwritten.
MACRO PLAY	Execute the macro commands stored in the temporary file named tmp0. All of the commands will be executed sequentially just as if they had been entered through the keyboard or mouse.
MACRO EDIT	Edit the contents of the temporary macro file named tmp0 using the external text editor. This is useful if you wish to review what has been recorded and possibly make some corrections.
MACRO RECRD 1	Start recording to the temporary macro file named tmp1. Use the STOP MACRO command to end the recording session. By using this macro file, the last three recorded macros are automatically retained without special intervention. When this button is selected, the contents of tmp2 is written to tmp3 and the contents of tmp1 is written to tmp2 before the new macro is recorded in tmp1. Thus, the previous two macros are still available and may be accessed using the MACRO PLAY 2 and MACRO PLAY 3 commands listed below. Of course, the macro that was previously in tmp3 is now lost. Use the SAVE MACRO command to copy an important macro before it is overwritten.
MACRO PLAY 1	Execute the macro commands stored in the temporary file named tmp1.
MACRO EDIT 1	Edit the contents of the temporary macro file named tmp1.
MACRO RECRD 2	Start recording to the temporary macro file named tmp2. Use the STOP MACRO command to end the recording session. When this button is selected, the contents of tmp2 is written to tmp3 before the new macro is recorded in tmp2. The contents of tmp1 remains unchanged. This command is generally not used (see MACRO RECRD 1 above), but is provided for the sake of completeness. Use the SAVE MACRO command to copy an important macro before it is overwritten.
MACRO PLAY 2	Execute the macro commands stored in the temporary file named tmp2.
MACRO EDIT 2	Edit the contents of the temporary macro file named tmp2.
MACRO RECRD 3	Start recording to the temporary macro file named tmp3. Use the STOP MACRO command to end the recording session. This command is generally not used (see MACRO RECRD 1 above), but is provided for the sake of completeness. Use the SAVE MACRO command to copy an important macro before it is overwritten.
MACRO PLAY 3	Execute the macro commands stored in the temporary file named tmp3.
MACRO EDIT 3>	Edit the contents of the temporary macro file named tmp3.

Here is a suggestion to get you started. Place the following four buttons on your toolbar and try them out.


Sample Macro Buttons

These buttons use the one-shot tmp0 file, so every time a recording session is started the previous macro will be lost, but they are the easiest macro commands to use and therefore a good way to test the waters.

Hint:

• To save valuable space on the toolbar, consider placing the two bottom button on the background toolbar behind the upper two buttons. You can then stop a recording session by right-clicking on the the MACRO RECORD button and edit the macro by right-clicking on the MACRO PLAY button!

As you get more comfortable working with macros, you may wish to switch to the following buttons:


Sample Macro Buttons

These commands use the tmp1 macro storage file and automatically save the last three macros in tmp1, tmp2 and tmp3. This provides more flexibility while trying out macros since you can quickly run a test or two without having lost the original macro you started with.

For maximum flexibility consider using some or all of the following:


Sample Macro Buttons

These commands allow macros to be stored under any name. The increased flexibility comes at the price of having to answer an additional prompt each time the commands are used. A little experimentation with each of these commands will help you decide which ones are right for you.

Example:

To make things clearer, let's consider a real-world example where using a macro would be a significant time-saver.

Assume that you are working on the drawing that makes heavy use of line type 2, drawn in pen #3 and color #19, and realize that you are constantly setting these parameters on the edit menu so that you can delete these specific lines using an AREA-IN fence. When you encounter a repeating task like this you should immediately think of using a macro. Here are the steps to take:

1. Select MACRO RECORD on the toolbar to start a macro session
   
   
2. * Click on the EDIT button to display the EDIT menu
   * Click on the LINES entity filter
   * Click on the AREA IN search method
   * Click on the LINE TYPE property and enter 2 from the keyboard
   * Click on the PEN filter and enter 3 from the keyboard
   * Click on the COLOR filter and enter 19 from the keyboard
   * Click on the DELETE edit action
   
   
3. Select MACRO STOP on the toolbar to end the macro session
   
   

That's it! Now, every time you need to delete lines of this particular type, simply select MACRO PLAY from the toolbar and all of this setup work will be automatically performed and you will be prompted to begin defining the fence area for the line deletion.

Menu Explorer:

For those individuals interested in creating their own menus, it is often necessary to determine how existing menus are constructed. A new tool has been added to ARRIS++ which allows the existing menu system to be easily explored.

When the new command, :menu, is executed, it prompts:

Position cursor on the desired menu box and hit <CR>   (e: exit):

As prompted, place the cursor over any active menu box and press the return key. The MENU PARAMETERS menu will be displayed:


 The MENU PARAMETERS pop-up menu

This menu displays a detailed set of information. The top section describes the parameters of the target menu itself while the lower section describes the particular menu box selected.

The command repeats, allowing additional menu boxes to be examined. The mouse may be used to load different menus without terminating the command. When finished, type an "e" to exit the routine.

Prompt Arguments:

• A number of existing commands were modified to remember a set of previous input values and present these as prompt options when the command is executed. Checks are performed to insure that duplicate values are excluded. In addition, changes were made to improve prompt messages, user input and error handling.

  This following image shows an example of prompting for a new repeated item (RI) name.

  
   Prompt for new RI Name

  As can be seen, in addition to the current RI, the previous six names are available for immediate selection, saving the time of having to retype the name or search for the entity on the SELECT menu.

• The following commands have been modified to offer this feature:

  COMMAND	DESCRIPTION
  :mn__rim	Remember current RI name plus previous 6 names
  :mn_chamfer	Remember two current chamfer distances plus previous 6 values
  :mn_fillet	Remember current fillet radius plus previous 6 values
  :mn_offset	Remember current offset distance plus previous 6 values
  :mn_penmap	Remember current penmap style plus previous 6 styles
  :mn_plotmen	Remember current penmap style plus previous 6 styles
  :mn_ridraw	Remember current RI name plus previous 6 names
  :mn_rin	Remember current RI name plus previous 6 names
  :mn_riselect	Remember current RI name plus previous 6 names
  :mn_sfload	Remembers the current as well as previous LINE, RI and SOLID FILL pattern styles
  :mn_sfsave	Remembers the current as well as previous LINE, RI and SOLID FILL pattern styles
  :mn_trimex	Remembers the previous 6 trim/extend distances
  :mn_vpstat	Remember current penmap style plus previous 6 styles

Stop Command:

A new sigmac named :cj_stop has been added. This enhanced command is intended to replace the use of the <ESC> key and may be attached to a mouse motion or a toolbar button for quick execution. In addition to terminating the current ARRIS operation, this command will:

• Automatically deactivate the object snap cursor
  
  
• Dismiss all pop-up menus
  
  
• Insure that the line-thru editing mode is turned off
  
  
• Makes sure that the reference blip is turned on
  
  
• Reset the cursor to normal mode
  
  
• Clear any search window lines from the screen
  
  
• Clear the message line

In addition, when working within a viewport, when executed, the Viewport Outline will be redisplayed assuming the user has turned on this feature for ALL COMMANDS AND CONTROLS on the ARRIS++ OPTIONS menu.

Other Tools:

Many other new tools have been added to the ARRIS++ TOOLS menu. Click on the image below to go to that section of the manual for a complete description.


 ARRIS++ TOOLS Overwrite Menu

See Also:

• General Features