                      AUTOSKETCH FOR WINDOWS 
                         README DOCUMENT
                            05/14/92


  This document contains information on late developments not
  included in the AutoSketch manuals.

  To view this document online:

  - Click the Maximize button in the upper-right corner
    of this window. The readme document is easier to read
    in a maximized window.

  To move through this document:

  - Click the scroll arrow buttons at the right side of
    this window or press PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN. 

  To print this document:

  - Choose Print from the File menu.


  AUTOSKETCH README TOPICS

  This readme document contains the following topics:

  1. INSTALLING AUTOSKETCH

     1.1  Upgrading to Microsoft Windows 3.1
     1.2  Using the AutoSketch Setup Program
     1.3  Upgrading from a DOS Version
     1.4  Printer Drivers
     1.5  Hewlett-Packard Plotters
     1.6  Hewlett-Packard LaserJet Printers

  2. USING AUTOSKETCH

     2.1 File Menu
     2.2 Toolboxes
     2.3 Text Editor
     2.4 Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)
     2.5 Pasting Color Drawings into Other Applications
     2.6 Print Settings
     2.7 Color Printing 
     2.8 Macros
         2.2.1 Recording Macros
         2.2.2 Editing Macro Files   
         2.2.3 New SET Variables
         2.2.4 New Macro Commands



  1. INSTALLING AUTOSKETCH


     1.1 Upgrading to Microsoft Windows 3.1

         If you haven't already done so, we highly recommend that
         you upgrade to Microsoft Windows 3.1.  This new version
         of Windows has many enhancements, including increases in
         speed and performance and improved printer support.



     1.2 Using the AutoSketch Setup Program

         If the wrong Setup program appears, you might have the
         wrong disk in drive A or you might have typed the wrong
         information.  Make sure you insert AutoSketch disk 1 in
         drive A, close the drive door, and enter a:setup.

         Depending on your system configuration, the Setup program
         might offer RAM drives and network drives as valid
         installation drives.  Make sure that you select a FIXED
         DISK drive.



     1.3 Upgrading from a DOS Version

         If you're upgrading from a DOS version of AutoSketch, we
         recommend that you install AutoSketch for Windows in a
         separate directory.  If you install it in the same
         directory as your DOS version, the Setup program displays
         a message asking if you want to overwrite the file every
         time it finds an existing AutoSketch file.  This slows
         down the installation process considerably.



     1.4 Printer Drivers

         Many printer drivers have been improved in Windows 3.1.

         If you have problems using your Epson printer with
         Windows 3.0, try upgrading to Windows 3.1.

         If you have problems using your Okidata printer with
         AutoSketch for Windows, contact your Okidata dealer.
   

     1.5 Hewlett-Packard Plotters

         There are two ways to connect a Hewlett-Packard plotter
         to your computer: using Hardware Handshaking or XON/XOFF
         Flow Control.  When plotting with AutoSketch for Windows,
         we've had more success using Hardware Handshaking.
         Depending upon the model of your Hewlett-Packard plotter,
         you might need to use Hardware Handshake cabling and the
         following settings:

               Baud Rate:  9600
               Data Bits:  7
               Parity:     Even
               Stop Bits:  1
               Flow Control: Hardware


         To change these settings, open the Control Panel and
         select the Printers icon.  Select the Connect... option
         and select one of the available serial communication
         ports (for example, COM1 or COM2).  Then select the
         Settings... option.  The "Settings for COMx" dialog box
         lets you configure the communication settings for that
         port.


         Following is a diagram of a Hewlett-Packard serial cable
         that works with AutoSketch for Windows.

                 HP Serial Cable 17255D

                 Computer    Plotter


                    1 --------- 1

                    3 --------- 2

                    2 --------- 3

                    5 ----+            
                          |
                    6 --------- 20

                   20 --------- 5    (not necessary)
                          |
                          +---- 6    (not necessary)

                    7 --------- 7

         Note: The top 5 to 6 to 20 connection with the loopback
         on the computer end is necessary for Hardware Handshaking
         to work properly.  The bottom 5 to 6 to 20 pin connection
         with the loopback on the plotter side is NOT necessary.
         Many serial cables include this extra set of pin
         connections so the cable can be reversed and still
         function properly.


     1.6 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet Printers

         If you have problems printing to a HP LaserJet, you might
         have insufficient memory installed in your printer or the
         Memory option in the Printer Setup might be set
         incorrectly.  To print with a HP LaserJet, we recommend
         that you have at least one megabyte of memory installed.

         To see how much memory is installed in your printer, run
         the printer's Self Test.  (See your printer manual for
         instructions.)  If the printer has sufficient memory and
         you still have problems, open the Windows Printer Setup
         dialog box and make sure that the Memory option is set to
         one or more megabytes of memory.  You can open the
         Printer Setup dialog box from the Window's Control Panel
         or from the Print Settings dialog box in AutoSketch.



  2. USING AUTOSKETCH


     2.1 File Menu

         At the bottom of the File menu, AutoSketch displays the
         names of the last five drawings you opened.  You can open
         one of those drawings from the File menu by clicking the
         filename.


     2.2 Toolboxes

         When you create a custom toolbox, AutoSketch displays its
         name in the menu bar.

         If a toolbox appears in the main toolbox window, its
         Control menu contains a Close command.  The Close command
         lets you close the toolbox in the main toolbox window
         without removing its name from the menu bar.  You can
         then display another toolbox in the main toolbox window
         by clicking the corresponding name on the menu bar.

         If part of a toolbox is obscured when you resize the
         AutoSketch window, an arrow button appears next to the
         toolbox Control-menu button.  You can click the arrow
         button to scroll the buttons in the toolbox.



     2.3 Text Editor

         When you open the Text Editor, Word Wrap is turned off.
         If you import a text file or edit a text entity, you
         might need to click the Word Wrap check box to display
         all of the text.  (A check mark indicates that Word Wrap
         is on.)

         If you accidentally remove text with the Backspace key,
         you can restore it by pressing Alt+Backspace immediately.



     2.4 Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)

         When you run AutoSketch for the first time, it is
         automatically registered as an OLE application.
         Information about AutoSketch, AutoSketch drawing files,
         and the location of the AutoSketch executable file
         (sketch.exe) are recorded in the registration process.
         If you move the AutoSketch executable file after running
         AutoSketch, OLE will not work correctly.  If you move
         sketch.exe, you must use the Microsoft Windows 3.1
         Regedit utility to delete "AutoSketch" as a "Registered
         File Type."  The next time you start AutoSketch, it will
         be registered automatically at its new location.


         To make a few changes to an AutoSketch drawing linked to
         a document, you can simply double-click the object to
         start AutoSketch.  To make extensive changes to an
         AutoSketch drawing linked to a document, we recommend
         that you exit the document's application and start
         AutoSketch from the Program Manager.  If you start
         AutoSketch from the document's application, the link is
         dynamically updated with each change to the drawing,
         which can slow down the editing process.



     2.5 Pasting Color Drawings into Other Applications

         If you use the Clipboard to paste an AutoSketch drawing
         into a document created with another application, objects
         drawn in some of the lighter colors might not display or
         print.  Usually this is because the lighter colors in
         AutoSketch are mapped to white in other applications.
         The color white is often the background color and
         therefore does not display or print.  If you experience
         this problem, you can use the Change Property tool in the
         Edit toolbox to change "missing" objects to other colors
         before copying them to the Clipboard.



     2.6 Print Settings

         In the Print Settings dialog box, if you turn off Print
         to Extents, AutoSketch resets the scaling factors to
         their default values (1 Drawing Unit = 1 Printing Unit).
         If you turn on Print to Extents, AutoSketch automatically
         adjusts the scaling factors to the extents of the current
         print box (indicated by the X Print Size and Y Print
         Size).

         AutoSketch saves the X Print Size and Y Print Size with
         the drawing.  If a drawing contains a print box sized for
         a printer other than the one you're currently using, you
         might have to change the print sizes.  To reset the X
         Print Size and Y Print Size to the maximum sizes for the
         current printer, click the Setup button in the Print
         Settings dialog box.  Then click OK in the Setup dialog
         box.  AutoSketch resets the X Print Size and Y Print Size
         for the current printer.



     2.7 Color Printing 

         In AutoSketch, color number 255 is white.  Objects drawn
         using color 255 are displayed in a shade of gray in
         AutoSketch.  However, those objects are sent to the
         Windows Print Manager as the color white.  Since most
         Windows printer drivers recognize white as the background
         color, these objects might not print.

         If your color printer uses dithering to create 255 colors
         (as the HP PaintJet does) and you plan to use colors
         other than numbers 1 through 7, you might want to make a
         test drawing to see how those colors print on your color
         printer.  We suggest drawing small Pattern Fill objects
         with the solid fill pattern.  First try printing the
         drawing with Fill turned off, then try printing the
         drawing with Fill turned on.  These tests will show how
         filled objects and narrow lines print in color.



     2.8 Macros


         2.8.1 Recording Macros

         You cannot play a macro while recording a macro.  Because
         all custom SketchTools play macros, you should NOT select
         custom SketchTools while recording a macro.  If you
         select a custom SketchTool, the Record Macro tool
         terminates.


         
         2.8.2 Editing Macro Files

         You can modify a macro file using any ASCII text editor.
         Appendix C of the "AutoSketch Reference Manual" describes
         the commands that macro files use.  If you use the SET
         command to set system variables that use specific data
         types, this information might be helpful:


         - For the Boolean data type, 1=On and 0=Off.


         - For the Real data type, you can use any number
           (including decimal numbers, exponential notation, and
           architectural units), such as 3, -5, 1/2", .0987, 10.0,
           1.345e2, and 10.51.


         - For the Integer data type, you can use whole numbers
           only, such as 1, 8, and -16.


         - For the String data type, you create a list of text
           characters (where a character can also be a number).




         2.8.3 New SET Variables    

         We added some new SET variables to the AutoSketch Macro
         Language after the "AutoSketch Reference Manual" went to
         press.  These new variables are described below.


         VARIABLE NAME  DATA TYPE  DESCRIPTION
         -------------  ---------  -------------------------------
         ARCMODE        Boolean    Arc Mode On/Off

         BUTTONDIR      String     Location of button bitmap files

         CAPTIONHELP    Boolean    Caption Help On/Off

         COORDTYPE      Integer    Coordinate display type
                                     0 = Absolute Coordinates
                                     1 = Polar Coordinates
                                     2 = Relative Coordinates
                                     3 = Last Point Coordinates
                                     4 = No coordinates

         DIMSLIDE       Boolean    Dimension slide mode On/Off

         ENTHILIGHTON   Boolean    Highlight selected entities 
                                   On/Off

         FILLMODE       Boolean    Fill/Outline pattern-fill 
                                   entities On/Off

         FRAME          Boolean    Display curve frame On/Off

         POPUPS         Boolean    Show/Hide pop-up toolboxes 
                                   On/Off

         PRINTTOFILE    Boolean    Print to file On/Off

         SAVETODOS      Boolean    Save drawing to AutoSketch DOS
                                   Version 3.0 file format during
                                   SaveFileAs command

         SMARTCURSOR    Boolean    SmartCursor(R) On/Off

         TEXTMODE       Boolean    Draw/Outline text entities 
                                   On/Off

         TOOLBOXES      Boolean    Show/Hide all toolboxes On/Off

         UNDODIR        String     Undo file directory

         UNDOON         Boolean    Undo On/Off

         WINDOWCENTERX  Real       Drawing x coordinate for center
                                   of current view

         WINDOWCENTERY  Real       Drawing y coordinate for center
                                   of current view

         WINDOWSIZE     Real       Height of current view in
                                   drawing units


         2.8.4 New Macro Commands

         We added some new macro commands to the AutoSketch Macro
         Language after the "AutoSketch Reference Manual" went to
         press.  These new macro commands are described below.


         COMMAND NAME      DESCRIPTION
         ------------      --------------------------------------
         ButtonEditor      Displays the Button Editor dialog box. 

         CreateToolbox     Displays the Toolbox Editor dialog box.

         EditToolbox       Displays the Toolbox Editor dialog box.

         Game              Displays the AutoSketch game.

                           Note: Actions you make in the Button
                                 Editor, Toolbox Editor, or
                                 AutoSketch game cannot be
                                 recorded in a macro.

         Information       Displays the About AutoSketch
                           information box.

         OpenToolBox       Displays the Open Toolbox dialog box.
                           Actions you make in this dialog box
                           cannot be recorded in a macro.

         Preferences       Opens the AutoSketch Preferences dialog
                           box.

         SetPrintName      Opens the Print Filename dialog box.

         ToggleCaptionHelp Toggles Caption Help on or off.

         TogglePopups      Shows or hides pop-up toolboxes.

         ToggleSmartCursor Toggles the SmartCursor on or off.

         ToggleTextMode    Toggles between displaying text 
                           entities or their outlines.

         ToggleToolboxes   Shows or hides all toolboxes.
