TurboDLD
Classic
Version 2.0
for AutoCADr Release 12, 11/386, and
10/386, AutoShade 2 with RenderMan, and 3D Studio
Part of the CAD AcceleratorsTM family from
Panacea Inc.
FEATURES
========
Includes a bird's eye view and a graphics-mode text window.
Accelerates redraws, pans, and zooms.
Easy to use - no new commands or special menus to learn.
Protected-mode ADI 4.2 driver - completely compatible with AutoCAD Release 12, Release 11/386, Release 10/386, 3D Studio and AutoShade 2 with RenderMan.
No memory conflicts. Works with AutoCAD's built-in Virtual Memory Manager.
Includes CustomColors™, which lets you interactively customize your logical and physical colors from within AutoCAD.
Completely compatible with all AutoCAD ADI 4.2 compatible third party software.
Will support higher resolutions on all popular graphics boards.
Supports all AutoCAD Release 12 features, including rendering to viewports and 31-Bit regen space.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
===================
A '386, '486 or Pentium based PC which supports AutoCAD Release 12, 11/386, 10/386, AutoShade 2 with RenderMan, or 3D Studio v1, v2 or v3.
A compatible graphics board. TurboDLDClassic will work with all popular graphics boards - VGA, SuperVGA, 8514/A, TIGA, XGA, S3, Weitek P9000 and Compaq QVision.
Additional extended memory is recommended for optimal performance.
Installation Guide
TurboDLDClassic
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Panacea Inc. (Late additions to this document may be found in the READ.ME file on the distribution disk.)
==================
Table of Contents
==================
Introduction .... About This Manual
Chapter - 1 ..... Quick Start
Chapter - 2 ..... Panacea's TurboDLDClassic
Chapter - 3 ..... Installing and Configuring TurboDLDClassic
Chapter - 4 ..... Changing Colors
Chapter - 5 ..... TurboDLD Features
Chapter - 6 ..... Memory Usage and Lists
Chapter - 7 ..... Tips, Tricks and Troubleshooting
Chapter - 8 ..... Rendering With TurboDLDClassic
Appendix - A .... Appendix A - Support Information
Appendix - B .... TurboDLDClassic Commands
Appendix - C .... Changes From Previous Versions
i - About This Manual
=====================
Thank you for purchasing TurboDLDClassic v2.0 -- and also for reading this
manual. We are very excited about this release of TurboDLD, mainly because
of you, the AutoCAD user. Many of the features and enhancements of this
version are the result of your comments and requests. With that input, we
are able to offer you a complete productivity solution at an affordable
price.
This introduction provides a quick overview of the terms and conventions
used throughout the manual. Please take a few minutes to familiarize
yourself with it.
AutoCAD Installations
---------------------
We know that every AutoCAD installation is different. However each one
requires the configuration of the same basic parameters in order to
function. The examples we use in this manual assume that you have
installed AutoCAD on drive C using the installation defaults. This means
that your main AutoCAD directory is C:\ACAD and all other directories
(i.e., SUPPORT, FONTS, DRV, etc.) fall under it.
We also assume that you are using the AutoCAD created ACADR12.BAT file
to start AutoCAD Release 12. For AutoCAD Releases 10/386 and 11, it is
not as critical to use a batch file to start the program, however it is
much easier.
If you have not configured AutoCAD using defaults, don't worry, you can
still easily install TurboDLDClassic. All you have to do is substitute
your specific sub-directory names with those in our examples. If you
are using a menuing system or other AutoCAD start-up file, use that when
we reference ACADR12.BAT.
TurboDLD Installation
----------------------
Our references to the location of TurboDLD files assume that you have
chosen to install TurboDLDClassic into the C:\ACAD\DRV sub-directory for
AutoCAD Release 12, or in a sub-directory named C:\TURBODLD for AutoCAD
Release 10 or 11.
Naming Conventions
------------------
To save some space (not to mention a tree or two) and to make the manual
a little easier to read, we have abbreviated some name references. If
you see the terms below used later in these pages, here's what they mean.
BP = Big Picture, TurboDLD's
bird's eye view
R12 = AutoCAD Release 12
R11 = AutoCAD Release 11
R10 = AutoCAD Release 10/386
Keyboard References
-------------------
CTRL-C = Hold the CTRL key down and then press the "C" key.
ESC = The ESCape key in the upper left-hand corner of your keyboard.
ARROW key references are to the cursor control keys on your keyboard,
the four keys in-between the main keys and the numeric keypad.
Chapter 1 - Quick Start
=======================
These pages sum up the basics of installing and using TurboDLDClassic.
Please read the rest of the manual for complete details.
What's it do?
-------------
TurboDLDClassic 's main function is to speed up AutoCAD pans, zooms and
redraws. The driver accomplishes this by creating and maintaining a
Display List - a fast-displaying object list of the current
drawing - dramatically increasing performance on pans and zooms.
In addition to offering display list speed enhancement, TurboDLDClassic
provides add-on productivity features - a bird's-eye view and a graphics
mode text window - to further speed up the use of AutoCAD.
What's the Catch?
-----------------
The only resource used by TurboDLDClassic is memory. The driver actively
uses about 300Kbytes of RAM from extended memory for its operation. This
memory is drawn from AutoCAD's memory pool and therefore does not affect
normal DOS operation. The driver is loaded by AutoCAD at AutoCAD load
time and is unloaded when AutoCAD is exited.
Additionally, the Display List size can vary from one tenth to three times
the size of the current drawing file. We recommend that you use 8Mb of
RAM with AutoCAD Release 10/386 or 11, and 12Mb for AutoCAD Release 12.
Thanks For the Memory
---------------------
You may wish to purchase and install additional RAM before installing
TurboDLDClassic, since it shares memory with AutoCAD. If AutoCAD is usin
g a lot of memory, TurboDLDClassic may not have enough. If there is
significant hard disk activity while you are using TurboDLDClassic, it
may be an indication that you should add more memory to your system.
Install
-------
Run the TurboDLDClassic installation program by typing:
A: (or B: if you are using drive B)
INSTALL
TurboDLDClassic's install program will ask for registration information
and then prompt for AutoCAD information. The remaining prompts will ask
for sub-directory information. After all information has been provided,
TurboDLDClassic files will be copied from the distribution floppy to the
hard drive.
To Configure AutoCAD Release 12
-------------------------------
Since the start-up is a little bit different for AutoCAD Release 12 than
for older versions, please follow the instructions for the version of
AutoCAD which you are installing TurboDLDClassic for.
Begin AutoCAD with the reconfigure switch by typing
ACAD -R
Choose option 3, Configure Video Display from the AutoCAD configuration
menu.
Type Y at the "Do you want to select..." message to display the available
video options for AutoCAD.
Select "TurboDLD Classic by Panacea Inc." from the list of display options.
Continue installation at the Driver Configuration section below.
To Configure AutoCAD Release 10/386 or 11
-----------------------------------------
Run the FASTACAD batch file created in your TurboDLDClassic sub-directory
and then start AutoCAD.
Reconfigure AutoCAD to use TurboDLDClassic by selecting option 5, Configure
AutoCAD from the AutoCAD main menu. From the next menu, select option 3,
Configure Video Display. Choose Item 1, P386 ADI 4.0/4.1 (R11) or
ADI P386 (R10), as your display device. (For more information, see your
AutoCAD "Installation and Performance Guide.")
After selecting the proper display device, the TurboDLD Driver Configuration
menu will appear.
Set-up of TurboDLDClassic requires configuration of its various operating
parameters. These parameters have been logically grouped into menus based
on their interaction with AutoCAD. A quick trip through each menu will
complete the configuration process. Context sensitive help can be obtained
by typing "?" at any menu option.
The first menu, Select Graphics Board/Resolution, configures
TurboDLDClassic for the graphics board, and display and rendering
resolutions to be used.
Select Graphics Board
- Selects graphics platform to be used
Select Display Resolution
- Selects AutoCAD, 3D Studio and AutoShade main display screen
resolutions
Select Rendering Resolution
- Selects AVE Render, 3D Studio and AutoShade rendering resolutions
----------------------------------- NOTE ----------------------------------
Rendering menu options only appear when configuring the rendering screens
of AVE Render, 3D Studio and AutoShade2 with RenderMan. You will not see
both menu options at the same time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Configuration options set AutoCAD screen characteristics, number of
text lines in the command-line area, font size and screen configuration mode.
AutoCAD Text Lines
- Selects number of lines in AutoCAD command prompt area
Screen Configuration
- Provides a choice of single screen, dual screen or single screen with
a graphics mode text window.
Font Selection
- Allows selection of TurboDLDClassic supplied fonts or Autodesk
supplied .BDF fonts menus and pull-downs.
User Interface options include the parameters for maneuvering within
AutoCAD.
Double Click
- Sets mouse/digitizer double click detect time.
BP Button
- Select which mouse or tablet button to use for bird's eye pop-up.
BP Highlight Mode
- Controls how the Big Picture is displayed.
BP Refresh
- Controls the refresh mode of the Big Picture.
Expert Configuration options set the function of TurboDLD itself. This
menu allows for customization of the driver for speed or to adjust for
memory constraints.
Display List
- Enables or disables the display list feature of TurboDLDClassic.
AutoCAD Logical Drawing Space
- Sets AutoCAD's logical space to 15-bits or 31-bits (R12 only).
Internal Command Echo
- Enables or disables the echo of TurboDLDClassic internal commands at
the AutoCAD Command line when such commands are executed.
Big Picture Zoom Mode
- Sets Big Picture zoom area display options
Once all options have been set, scroll down to the Save and Exit option
and then press the ENTER key to continue.
Next, configure the AutoCAD screen display characteristics and then type
Y to accept the changes.
Exit to the AutoCAD drawing editor to begin using TurboDLDClassic.
The last step in setting-up TurboDLDClassic is to configure the colors
for AutoCAD. From the AutoCAD Command Line, type DLDCOLOR, to start
CustomColors, TurboDLD's color configuration utility. Make any desired
color changes and then Save the new color palette and then Exit to return
to the drawing editor.
What If I have Problems?
------------------------
If you encounter a problem or abnormality, please review the installation
procedure and Chapter 8 - Tips, Tricks & Troubleshooting. to be sure you
haven't overlooked or skipped a step. If you still cannot resolve the
problem, refer to Appendix A to obtain Technical Support.Panacea's
TurboDLDClassic has only two purposes: 1) to speed up AutoCAD REDRAWs,
PANs, and ZOOMs; and 2) to provide a more productive, user-friendly,
interface to AutoCAD (via the features described in Chapter 5 - TurboDLD
Features.
Chapter 2 - Panacea's TurboDLD Classic
======================================
The driver is memory-resident and inserts itself between AutoCAD and the
graphics board. It has no other effect on AutoCAD's operation besides
speeding the program up; it runs with AutoShade 2 with RenderMan and all
versions of 3D Studio, but does not affect the speed of these programs,
since they do not support Display Lists.
Installing TurboDLDClassic does not change any of the AutoCAD program files
or alter any of the drawing files stored on disk. TurboDLDClassic was
designed to be an easy-to-use, feature-filled product that makes using
AutoCAD faster and more productive, not one that makes AutoCAD more
complicated and difficult to use.
How does TurboDLDClassic make AutoCAD run faster? There main advantages
of TurboDLDClassic lie within the Display List.
AutoCAD stores drawings in a hierarchical structure, with simple
elements intermixed with complex ones. Every time the screen is
updated, AutoCAD must decode this structure. TurboDLDClassic works
differently. While you are working, it translates the normal
hierarchical structure into a Display List, a series of vectors or
polygon fills. (The ability to support display lists was specifically
added to AutoCAD with Release 10 via the ADI 4.0 interface.) When you
pan or zoom, TurboDLDClassic uses the Display List, then writes the
resulting vectors to the video board hardware. Since the hierarchical
structure does not have to be decoded, drawing proceeds very quickly.
TurboDLDClassic also gives you new user-interface features,
including a bird's eye view and a graphics-mode text window. (See
Chapter 5 - TurboDLD Features.)
By how much does TurboDLDClassic increase the speed of AutoCAD? PANs
and ZOOMs, aided by only the Display List, run from two to twelve
times faster than a non-display list driver. TurboDLDClassic's internal
display list processing can speed things up to the point that REDRAWs can
be up to twenty-five times faster than the graphics drivers shipped with
AutoCAD.
Chapter 3 - Installing and Configuring
======================================
Before starting, please make a backup copy of the distribution
disk, using the DOS DISKCOPY command, and put it in a safe place. Also,
if you have been using an older version of a Panacea driver - DLD-VGA,
DLD386-VGA, MACH-12... - be sure to remove any references to that driver
which may be in your AutoCAD start-up files or in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
The TurboDLDClassic installation procedure below is exact, and describes
what to do at each step.
Installation is slightly different for older releases of AutoCAD than it
is with AutoCAD Release 12. Be sure to follow any directions that may be
specific to your particular AutoCAD release. For brief installation
instructions, see the Quick Start section at the front of the manual.
Installation
------------
Insert your TurboDLDClassic distribution disk into a floppy disk drive and
then type:
{Drive}:INSTALL
Where {Drive} is the floppy drive that holds the TurboDLDClassic disk.
The first time the installation program is run, you will be prompted for
registration information. This information must be given. If you choose to
ignore this step, TurboDLDClassic will not run.
After completing the registration information, TurboDLDClassic's
installation will prompt you for the version of AutoCAD you are installing
the driver for.
Next, you will be asked for the the name of the directory you wish to
install TurboDLDClassic into. In the space provided, enter a complete
sub-directory path name.
Once the path name has been entered, verify that the information is correct
and then press ENTER. The TurboDLDClassic files are then copied from the
distribution floppy to your hard drive.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
For TIGA installations, you must copy the file DLDEXT.RLM from your
TurboDLDClassic sub-directory to your TIGA software sub-directory before
reconfiguring AutoCAD.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once all of the program files have been successfully transferred, it is
necessary to reconfigure AutoCAD to use TurboDLDClassic. Follow the steps
below for use with either AutoCAD Release 12, or Release 10/11, and then
proceed to the Driver Configuration section below, to complete the
installation.
For Use With AutoCAD Release 12
--------------------------------
Begin AutoCAD with the reconfigure switch by typing
ACAD -R
Choose option 3, Configure Video Display from the AutoCAD configuration
menu. (See Figure 3.1.) Type Y at the "Do you want to select..." message
to display the available video options for AutoCAD.
Select "TurboDLD Classic by Panacea Inc - v2.0" from the list of display
options.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
TurboDLDClassic usually appears as option 11 in most installations of
AutoCAD Release 12. If TurboDLD does not appear in the list of available
video drivers, be sure that the AutoCAD environment variables in your
AutoCAD start-up file, ACADDRV in particular, have been properly set
before typing ACAD -R.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continue to the "Driver Configuration" section below.
For Use With AutoCAD Release 10/386 or 11/386
---------------------------------------------
Run the FASTACAD.BAT file that was copied to the TurboDLDClassic
sub-directory by typing:
C:\TURBODLD\FASTACAD
The above example assumes that TurboDLDClassic was installed on drive C:
in a sub-directory named TURBODLD.
FASTACAD sets up the necessary AutoCAD environment variables for use with
TurboDLDClassic. For more information on FASTACAD.BAT, refer to the
Configuring the AutoCAD Operating Environment section at the end of this
chapter.
Start AutoCAD and reconfigure the program to use TurboDLDClassic by
selecting option 5, Configure AutoCAD from the AutoCAD main menu. From
the next menu, select option 3, Configure Video Display. Choose Item
1, P386 ADI 4.0/4.1 (R11) or ADI P386 (R10) as your display device.
(for more information about configuring for ADI drivers, see the AutoCAD
"Installation and Performance Guide".
Driver Configuration
--------------------
Once you have selected the proper display device, the TurboDLD Welcome
screen will appear. This screen is an informational screen about what the
TurboDLDClassic setup program does. Press any key to continue once you
have read the overview.
As you continue past the Welcome screen, the TurboDLDClassic Driver
Configuration menu will appear.
--------------------------------- TIP -----------------------------------
Help during TurboDLDClassic setup is only a keystroke away. At any time,
you may press the question mark ("?") key to get help information
pertaining to the current prompt. Please note that the DLDSETUP.HLP file
must be present in order for help to appear. If you get an error message,
be sure that the file DLDSETUP.HLP is in the ACAD\DRV sub-directory (R12),
or in the TURBODLD sub-directory (R10/R11). Also, as mentioned earlier,
be sure that there are no references to older DLD drivers which may cause
TurboDLDClassic to look elsewhere for DLDSETUP.HLP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------- TIP -----------------------------------
If at any point during the configuration process you want to change an
item on a previous screen, just press the ESC key to back up. Selecting
NO SAVE, EXIT at the main configuration menu will return you to the AutoCAD
configuration menu without making any changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Set-up of TurboDLDClassic requires configuration of the various operating
parameters of the driver. These parameters have been logically grouped
into five menus based on their interaction with AutoCAD. A quick trip
through each menu will complete the configuration process.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
If none of TurboDLDClassic's options are configured, the driver will be
automatically configured as a Generic VGA, with 640 x 480 resolution at
16 colors. All other driver options will assume Panacea's defaults.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Select Graphics Board/Resolution Menu
--------------------------------------
The Select Graphics Board/Resolution menu configures TurboDLDClassic for
video parameters. From this menu, graphics board/type and display and
rendering resolutions for TurboDLDClassic will be determined.
Select Graphics Board (See Figure 3.4) allows you to manually select your
computer's graphics board. A list of video cards is given, based on the the
findings of TurboDLDClassic's built-in graphics platform detection utility.
Use the Up and Down arrow keys, and the Pg Up and Pg Dn keys to scroll
through the list and highlight your graphics board. Please note that
graphics boards are listed by both platform type and manufacturer's name,
alphabetically, therefore you may need to scroll to the bottom of the list
to find your particular board.
If your graphics board is not listed, you may choose the generic board
option for your video chip type.
Press ENTER to accept your choice and return to the Select Graphics
Board/Resolution menu.
Select Display Resolution configures the resolution of the AutoCAD drawing
screen. Display screen options are based on the findings of TurboDLDClassic's
graphics platform detection utility. Use the Up and Down arrow keys, and
the Pg Up and Pg Dn keys to scroll through and highlight the resolution and
color option you wish to use.
Press the ENTER key to accept your resolution choice and return to the
Select Graphics Board/Resolution menu.
-------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
When configuring TurboDLDClassic's video options, the Rendering
Board/Resolution options described below will automatically appear ONLY
when configuring the rendering modes of AVE Render, 3D Studio or AutoShade 2
with RenderMan. Otherwise, the Display Board/Resolution options will be the
only menu choices available.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Similar to the Select Display Resolution menu, Select Rendering Resolution
configures the resolution of the AutoCAD rendering screen. Rendering screen
options are also based on the findings of TurboDLDClassic's detection
utility. Use the Up and Down arrow keys, and the Pg Up and Pg Dn keys to
scroll through and highlight the resolution and color option you wish to
use.
Press ENTER to accept your choice and return to the Select Graphics
Board/Resolution menu.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
TurboDLDClassic's graphics platform detection utility queries the graphics
card for graphics platform type and installed memory. Based on the
detector's information, TurboDLDClassic will list a set of Display and
Rendering resolutions. Due to the variety of graphics boards and their
specific implementations of platform chip sets, the detector is general
purpose and cannot always be 100% accurate. Therefore, when selecting a
Display or Rendering resolution, be sure to use only resolutions that you
know your graphics board, and monitor, will support. If you are unsure
which resolutions are supported by your graphics board and monitor, refer
to your owner's manual(s).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highlight Return To Previous Menu and press the RETURN key to return to
the Main Configuration Menu.
Basic Configuration Menu
------------------------
The Basic Configuration menu configures TurboDLDClassic's AutoCAD screen
characteristics; text lines; screen mode; and font size.
The first Basic option is the number of text lines you wish to use for the
AutoCAD command line. The default is 3 lines, but values from 1 to 10 can
be specified. A number larger than 3 might be useful if you are using this
driver in a high resolution mode with small fonts, eliminating the need to
frequently swap back and forth between the text and graphics screens.
If you do not want any lines of text at the bottom of the display, use
AutoCAD to disable the command area (see the AutoCAD "Interface,
Installation and Performance Guide" for more information).
The Screen Configuration section is used to tell TurboDLDClassic under
which of three available modes you wish to use AutoCAD -- dual screen, one
monitor for graphics and a second for text; single screen with combined text
and graphics; or single screen with combined text and graphics using a
graphics mode text window.
Use the arrow keys to highlight a choice based on the following
explanations of each mode. Select Dual to run in dual screen mode.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
Do not select Dual if you don't have a second video board in your system,
unpredictable results will occur. To use dual screens, you must have either
a Monochrome board installed with a VGA, TIGA, 8514/A or XGA board, or a
VGA board installed with a TIGA, 8514/A or XGA board. Please also note that
you cannot have two VGA boards in the same system.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose Single, to run AutoCAD in the standard single screen mode, using a
video mode switch to standard VGA text mode during a flip screen. To
eliminate the video mode switch to text mode and back into high resolution
graphics, choose Text Window on Single to configure the single screen to
use a graphics mode text window. Using graphics mode to display text allows
an instantaneous return from a flip screen. The graphics text window is
especially useful when using large monitors which tend to be slow when
switching modes. A SHELL command will switch to text mode regardless of the
setting.
TurboDLDClassic provides a choice of fonts to use for AutoCAD menus,
pull-downs, and dialog boxes. For resolutions over 800x600 we recommend the
12x20 or 12x24 fonts. Provided by Panacea are 6x8, 8x8, 8x14, 8x16, 12x20
and 12x24 font options. Also available for use are any of the .BDF fonts,
included with AutoCAD Release 12, you may have on your system.
To make a font selection, highlight Select Font From List to display a list
of available fonts. Use the Up and Down arrow keys, and the Pg Up and Pg Dn
keys to scroll through the list and highlight the font you wish to use. Press
the ENTER key to return to the Basic Configuration menu. To limit the
available font choices, choose the Select Font Filter menu selection to
choose a .BDF font type from those listed. When you return to the Select
Font From List option again, only those files matching the filter name will
be available for use.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
If you do not see any .BDF font selections listed in the Basic Configuration menu, you will need to add the following line to your AutoCAD start-up batch file.
SET DLDFONT = C:\ACAD\DRV
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highlight Return To Previous Menu and press the RETURN key to return to
the Main Configuration Menu.
User Interface Menu
-------------------
The User Interface options configure the productivity features of
TurboDLDClassic. These features change the way you manuever around AutoCAD
and execute commands.
Double Click Timing
-------------------
The first timing option sets the Double Click delay. This time represents
the largest amount of time that can elapse between the release of the
digitizer button and the subsequent press of the same button in order to
detect a double click. Setting this number too low may result in the
computer seeing two separate clicks, while setting the time too high may
slow down response time for single button presses. Values between 10 and 30
are recommended. Double Click time is measured in hundredths of seconds.
PC systems have a timing resolution of 5/100ths of a second, therefore, the
entered time is rounded internally by the driver to most closely approximate
the nearest multiple of 5. This means that a time setting of 23 is the same
as a setting of 27, both of which get rounded to 25 (or one-quarter of a
second). In simplest terms, when adjusting these values, it is best to use
multiples of 5.
Big Picture Options
--------------------
The Big Picture, Panacea's bird's-eye view, can be configured to suit your
needs or allow for better differentiation within a complex drawing.
At the BP Button menu option, enter the number of the button on your mouse
or tablet that you wish to use as your bird's eye "hot key". A Double Click
on that button will cause TurboDLDClassic's bird's eye to pop-up on -screen.
BP Highlight controls how the current viewport reference in the Big Picture
appears on the screen. Patt Line displays the viewport reference using dotted
lines. XOR Rect uses a contrasting rectangle to display the viewport
reference. The Both option will use a combination of Patt Line and XOR Rect
to display the viewport reference.
In its fastest mode, TurboDLDClassic only refreshes the Big Picture when
objects are added to a drawing, until a DLDREFRESH command is issued. Moved
or erased objects will remain in the Big Picture. Depending on a drawing's
complexity, if BP Refresh is Disabled, the Big Picture could become
confusing, displaying vectors that are actually erased, and no longer part
of the drawing. To configure the Big Picture to be updated as objects are
drawn AND erased, ENABLE the BP Refresh. If speed is a major concern,
DISABLE it.
Highlight Return To Previous Menu and press the RETURN key to return to
the Main Configuration Menu.
Expert Configuration Menu
--------------------------
The Expert Configuration menu sets the basic internal functions of
TurboDLDClassic. Options in this menu allow for customization of the driver
for speed or to adjust for memory constraints.
Display List enables or disables the display list feature of
TurboDLDClassic', the core of the driver's AutoCAD performance boost. This
option should always be set to ENABLE, as disabling the Display List will
cause TurboDLDClassic to run as an ordinary non-display list driver.
Use AutoCAD 31-bit Space, configures TurboDLDClassic for use with AutoCAD
R12's 31-bit logical drawing space. When set to Yes, the driver will use
AutoCAD's extended 31-bit drawing space. Selecting No, will use a 15-bit
drawing space, similar to that of AutoCAD R10/R11.
The 31-bit logical space allows you to extend your Regen-less zooming
ability by a factor of several million, at the cost of more memory.
Additional memory is used by AutoCAD for the drawing space, and by
TurboDLDClassic for the Display List. 31-bit zooming and panning is about
10%-20% slower than for 15-bit logical space.
The Use AutoCAD 31-bit Space setting is ignored for AutoCAD R10/R11
installations as these versions only support a 15-bit logical drawing space.
The echo of TurboDLDClassic internal commands can be enabled or disabled
with the Internal Command Echo option. If you would like to see
TurboDLDClassic's internal commands display at the AutoCAD command line
as they are executed, enable this option.
BP Zoom Mode sets the Big Picture (BP) zoom definition area display options.
In a zoomed view of the static BP, as the current viewport is zoomed or
panned, Float mode causes the image in the BP to move around within the
bird's-eye window, keeping the zoomed viewport area fixed in the center of
the bird's-eye. Freeze mode will lock the current BP contents into place to
provide a better overall frame of reference.
After all Expert options have been set, highlight Return To Previous Menu
and press the RETURN key to return to the Main Configuration Menu.
Saving Configuration Information
--------------------------------
Once all of the TurboDLDClassic parameters have been configured, select
SAVE, EXIT to save the configuration information and create DLDSETUP.DAT,
DLXBUTTN.DAT, and DLXMENUS.DAT in either the ACAD\DRV sub-directory (R12)
or the TURBODLD (R10/R11) sub-directory. DLDSETUP.DAT is TurboDLDClassic's
configuration file while DLXBUTTN.DAT and DLXMENUS.DAT are the configuration
files for the digitizer buttons and pop-up menus, respectively.
After answering AutoCAD's standard driver configuration questions, you will
return back to the AutoCAD configuration menu. To begin your accelerated
AutoCAD, for AutoCAD R12, select option 0, Exit to Drawing Editor; for
AutoCAD R10/11, choose option 1 or 2, Open New/Existing Drawing.
Verifying Your TurboDLDClassic Installation
-------------------------------------------
To verify that TurboDLDClassic is running and installed correctly, follow
one of these two simple tests.
If you have the AutoCAD side menu enabled, look for the Panacea Logo
in the lower right-hand corner.
If you are running AutoCAD without a side menu, type DLDVER at the
AutoCAD command prompt. If TurboDLDClassic is loaded and running, this
command should return your current version, serial number and the
registered user's name.
If TurboDLDClassic was not correctly installed, you will receive an
AutoCAD error when the DLDVER command is entered.
Reconfiguring TurboDLDClassic
-----------------------------
To reconfigure TurboDLDClassic follow the instructions for AutoCAD Release
12 or Release 11/10 below.
AutoCAD Release 12
------------------
If you need to make changes to your Release 12 TurboDLDClassic configuration,
type CONFIG at the AutoCAD command prompt or use ACAD -R when starting the
program. Select option 3, Configure Video Display. Answer No to the "Select
a new video driver ..." prompt to start the TurboDLDClassic configuration
program. Make the desired changes to the driver and then Save and Exit to
continue to the AutoCAD drawing editor.
AutoCAD Release 10/11
---------------------
To change a Release 10/11 configuration, select option 5, Configure AutoCAD
from the AutoCAD main menu. and then from the configuration menu, select
option 3, Configure Video Display. Answer No to the "Select a new video
driver ..." prompt to start the TurboDLDClassic configuration program.
Change the desired driver options. Save and Exit to return to the AutoCAD
configuration menu. Open or begin a new drawing.
--------------------------------- TIP -----------------------------------
To completely reconfigure TurboDLDClassic using Panacea's defaults, delete
DLDSETUP.DAT, DLXBUTTN.DAT, and DLXMENUS.DAT from either the \ACAD\DRV
sub-directory (R12) or the TURBODLD sub-directory (R10/11) and then follow
the Driver Configuration instructions at the beginning of this chapter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Configuring The AutoCAD R10/11 Operating Environment
----------------------------------------------------
During the TurboDLDClassic installation process, a FASTACAD.BAT file is
created and placed into the TURBODLD sub-directory. FASTACAD.BAT contains
four lines that set four separate environment variables: DLDCFG - used by
TurboDLDClassic to find all of its configuration files; and DSPADI, RCPADI,
RDPADI - used by AutoCAD, 3D Studio and AutoShade 2 w/RenderMan,
respectively, to find the driver file. FASTACAD.BAT must be run prior to
starting AutoCAD R10 or R11 and only needs to be run once per system boot.
For automatic loading of the environment variables, FASTACAD.BAT may be
added to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file or an AutoCAD start-up batch file.
To add execution of FASTACAD.BAT to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, insert the line
CALL D:\TURBODLD\FASTACAD
anywhere in the file. The above example assumes that FASTACAD.BAT resides
in a sub-directory on drive D: called \TURBODLD.
If you don't wish to put FASTACAD in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you may put
it in a batch file which also starts AutoCAD, or simply remember to run the
file before starting AutoCAD. (You should also stop using any other ADI
display driver that may have come with your graphics board, since
TurboDLDClassic is a superset of that type of driver).
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
If you get the message
Out of Environment Space
when you run FASTACAD.BAT, you will need to enlarge your system's
environment. This is accomplished by adding the following line,
SHELL=C:\COMMAND.COM /P /E:768
to your CONFIG.SYS file. The /E:768 specifies an environment size of 768
bytes. Change this number as appropriate. You will need to reboot if you
modify your CONFIG.SYS file, in order for the changes to take effect.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Configuring TurboDLDClassic for Rendering
-----------------------------------------
To install and configure TurboDLDClassic for use with AutoCAD R12's AVE
Render, 3D Studio or AutoShade 2 w/RenderMan, please read Chapter 10 -
Rendering with TurboDLDClassic.
Chapter 4 - Changing Colors
===========================
Included with TurboDLDClassic, is Panacea's revolutionary CustomColors
color configuration utility. What's so unique about CustomColors is that
it gives you the ability to modify all your changeable AutoCAD colors,
including menu colors, text colors, dialog box colors, and even drawing
colors, while running AutoCAD.
CustomColors simulates an AutoCAD screen, complete with all possible
objects. At the AutoCAD drawing editor command line, type DLDCOLOR to edit
the color configuration. If you have configured TurboDLDClassic for 256
colors, you will be greeted with an informational warning message. The
message appears to remind you that if you assign a drawing color to a
physical color above color 15, you may experience unusual results from AVE
Render.
Once you enter the utility, you are provided with the following
configuration menu at the bottom of the screen:
(O)bject,
(D)rawing,
(P)hysical,
(A)DI reset,
(V)GA reset,
(L)oad,
(S)ave,
(E)xit
The menu items perform the following functions.
Object
------
Selecting this option will allow you to change the color of any AutoCAD
screen object, such as the graphics area background color, the menu area
text color, or the border line color.
Select the object whose color you want to change by moving the highlight
box around with the left and right cursor control keys and pressing ENTER
when you have highlighted the desired object. Note that a one line
description of the object type is displayed at the top of the screen as you
move the box around.
Once you have selected the object, another highlight box will appear around
the color boxes nearest the bottom of the screen. These are the physical
colors that the video board supports. Use the left and right cursor keys to
select the physical color to be used for the object you have selected and
press ENTER. The screen will quickly redraw with the new color selection for
the object you have chosen, and you will be back at the start of object
selection in case you want to change the color of another object.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
Note that at any time during color configuration, you can press the ESC key
once or twice and return to AutoCAD. Also, pressing the question mark ("?")
key will provide you with context sensitive help.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drawing
-------
This 16 color configuration option allows you to modify all AutoCAD
drawing in a fashion similar to the way you change object colors.
When this option is selected, a highlight square appears in the drawing
color area of the simulated AutoCAD display. The square can be manipulated
using the four cursor keys. You may notice that the drawing color portion of
the display is laid out just like the CHROMA drawing supplied with AutoCAD.
When you press ENTER, the highlight moves down to the 16 physical colors,
just as it does during the object color selection. Using the arrow keys,
pick the physical color you want to represent the selected drawing color.
Press ENTER for your selection to take effect. When using 256 colors, you
do not have a (D)rawing Color option. All 256 colors are available as
drawing colors.
Physical
--------
Choosing the Physical option from the menu allows you to alter the red,
green, and blue components of the physical colors. A highlight box will
appear in the row of 16 physical colors at the bottom of the screen.
Use the arrow keys to select the color you wish to edit and press ENTER.
Three "sliders" will appear near the bottom of the display, with the
horizontal position of the slider for each of the color components (red,
green, or blue - RGB) indicating the relative intensity of the component.
You can use the left and right arrow keys to move the slider for the
selected component, or type in a number from 0 to 255.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
Many graphics boards do not support 255 different intensities for each color
component. Therefore, when you enter an intensity, Custom Colors will round
it to the nearest intensity which your graphics board supports.
For example, VGAs support 64 intensities
per RGB color component. This means intensities increase in multiples of
4 (256/64), therefore an intensity of 0 is the same as an intensity of 3.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The up and down arrows allow you to select which component you want to
alter. As you manipulate the sliders, all objects on the display that are
of the same color as the selected physical color will change in hue. This
way you can visually determine the most appropriate setting for your display.
Pressing ENTER will set the RGB values you have selected for the physical
color you were modifying.
ADI reset
---------
This constructs a default ADI color palette, as defined in the Autodesk
Device Interface Driver Development Kit, and in Panacea's 8514/A and XGA
non-display list drivers shipped with AutoCAD Release 12.
VGA reset
---------
This constructs a default VGA color palette in the first 16 color entries.
The remaining palette colors remain identical to those used for ADI devices
Load
----
This reloads the color information from the file DLDCOLOR.DAT. It will be
loaded from the directory pointed to by DLDCFG (AutoCAD R10/R11), or from
the AutoCAD R12 \DRV directory. If DLDCOLOR.DAT cannot be found, an error
message will be displayed.
This command is useful because it allows you to go back to your previously
edited color configuration in case you have made some mistakes in configuring
your colors that you want to undo.
--------------------------------- CAUTION ---------------------------------
Don't Accidently Wipe Out Your Changes
Selecting ADIreset, VGAreset, or Load will irrevocably wipe out any current
color changes you may have made, unless you have just saved your new setting,
so use them only when you really need to, such as when you have made so many
color changes that you can't seem to get back to a reasonable place and just
want to start over.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Save
-----
Saves the current color palette to DLDCOLOR.DAT. It will be saved to the
directory pointed to by the DLDCFG environment variable in FASTACAD, or to
the \ACAD\DRV (R12) directory if FASTACAD is not used.
Exit
----
Exits CustomColors. If you have made palette changes, but not saved them,
you will be asked if you want to save your changes before exiting.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
When running at more than 8 bits-per-pixel (256 colors), setting physical
colors via DLDCOLOR will have no visible effect until a SAVE and EXIT occurs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 5 - TurboDLD Features
==============================
TurboDLDClassic offers AutoCAD users many features and productivity options.
This chapter alphabetically lists the basic commands found in all TurboDLD
versions and provides the correct syntax for their usage. For a brief
summary of TurboDLDClassic commands, see Appendix B or while running
AutoCAD, type DLDHELP at the command prompt.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
Please note that the commands above with a "*" following them, when issued
within AutoCAD, will override the selections made during TurboDLDClassic
configuration, for the current drawing session only. Exiting AutoCAD and
subsequently restarting will cause all feature settings to revert back to
those selected in the TurboDLDClassic configuration menu. If you wish to
make the current changes permanent, reconfigure TurboDLDClassic by following
the reconfiguration instructions in Chapter 3.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Big Picture
---------------
The most important feature of TurboDLDClassic is the support of a world
view called The Big PictureTM or just BP for short. Bringing up the BP
allows you to view where in the current drawing you are currently located
in your active viewport, and it also gives you the ability to dynamically
move to another part of the drawing without having to exit the function
you're currently executing.
DLDBIGPIC
---------
To call up the Big Picture, at the AutoCAD command line, type DLDBIGPIC,
or double click the right mouse button or button 2 on your digitizer puck
(assuming you haven't redefined your Button 2 double click function - see
Chapter 3). This will bring up the BP on the display. You will see
cross-hairs and a highlighted section indicating which part of the whole
drawing you're currently viewing - the size of the image will be determined
by the AutoCAD logical drawing space being used, 15-Bit or 31-Bit. The
selection or pick box will have an "X" through it. Move the mouse/digitizer
around to locate your pick box. If you can't see a small box moving, click
the left mouse button (the pick button) to size down the pick area. In size
mode, the pick box will have a right pointing arrow in it ("-->"). If the
contents of the BP are too small to work with, you may increase the size of
the image in the window by pressing the "+" key on your numeric keypad this
performs an incremental zoom within the BP. Likewise, pressing the "-" key
will reduce the size of the contents of the BP. Pressing the HOME and END
keys will put the BP into its smallest and largest size, respectively. The
smallest BP size is defined as being exactly the same view as that in the
viewport referenced by the BP. The largest BP size is defined as the
largest image possible without causing a Regen.
The BP pick box is always proportioned to the proper aspect ratio for the
current viewport. Clicking the pick button again will put you back into the
pick box move mode ("X"). This operation is very similar to using the Zoom
Dynamic feature of AutoCAD. Once you have positioned the pick box on the
area you would like displayed in the active viewport, click any button other
than the pick button to initiate the zoom, or press the Enter key. If you
want to abort the operation, just hold any mouse or digitizer button down,
other than the pick button, until the BP disappears. You can also hit any
key on the keyboard, other than Enter, to cancel the BP. Note that the BP
is updated with new drawing commands, but that moves or erases will not
update the image unless BPREFRESH is enabled. A DLDREFRESH or a REGEN will
manually update the BP with the current drawing changes.
DLDBPDIM
--------
Resizing and repositioning the BP can be accomplished by typing this command
at the AutoCAD prompt. DLDBPDIM allows you to tell the driver where you want
the BP placed and how large you want it to be. The size is limited to being
between one-quarter and one-half the width of the display. This command
functions like the pan/zoom selection box in the BP, as far as positioning
and dimensioning goes. To abort, hold the right mouse button, or any other
digitizer button, down until the moving box disappears.
DLDBPFREEZE
-----------
Sets the Big Picture (BP) zoom definition area display options.
DLDBPFREEZE toggles the Big Picture Zoom Mode parameter in TurboDLDClassic's
Expert Configuration Menu.
In a zoomed view of the static BP, as the current viewport is zoomed or
panned, Float mode causes the image in the BP to move around within the
bird's-eye window, keeping the zoomed viewport area fixed in the center of
the bird's-eye. Fixed mode will lock the current BP contents into place to
provide a better overall frame of reference.
DLDBPHILIGHT*
-------------
Changes the highlight used to display the Big Picture among three modes,
Patt Line, XOR Rect, and Both. Patt Lines will use dotted lines to outline
the Big Picture pick box. XOR Rect will use a contrasting rectangle to
highlight the pick box, and Both will use a combination of Patt Lines and
XOR Rect.
DLDBPMODE
---------
Toggles the Big Picture between Panning and Zooming modes. In panning mode,
the AutoCAD drawing will dynamically display the contents of the Big Picture
pick box as you size and move it. In Zoom mode, the AutoCAD drawing remains
stationary until the area in the Big Picture pick box is accepted. At which
time it changes to the chosen zoom level.
DLDBPREFRSH*
------------
This convenience feature of TurboDLDClassic, toggles the Big Picture update
mode. If disabled, the BP is updated manually by issuing a DLDREFRESH
command. When enabled, DLDBPREFRSH will cause the BP to refresh
automatically when an object is drawn or erased. The BP operations therefore
will be slower with DLDBPREFRSH enabled.
DLDBPSTATIC
-----------
Toggles the BP to stay on the screen at all times. Use this command if you
want the BP on the screen in order to conveniently move into it whenever you
want to zoom or pan. Typing DLDBPSTATIC will put up the BP at the position
you set with DLDBPDIM. Note that the static BP will disappear when other
menus pop-up on the screen, and it will also disappear if you draw any
objects which may overwrite the BP. With these exceptions, the BP will
remain on-screen until you either exit the drawing screen or you type
DLDBPSTATIC again.
DLDCOLOR
--------
Invokes CustomColorsTM, Panacea's color configuration program. See Chapter
4 - Configuring Colors for more information on configuring TurboDLDClassic
colors.
DLDCOMPACT
----------
Forces a manual garbage collect of Display List memory thereby returning
unused display list memory back to the AutoCAD memory pool.
DLDDLIST*
---------
This command toggles the display list function of TurboDLDClassic on and
off.
-------------------------------- NOTE -------------------------------------
Please note that if the display list is turned off, you will be running
AutoCAD as though you were using a standard non display list driver - pans,
zooms and redraws will be MUCH slower with DLDDLIST disabled.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DLDECHO*
--------
Toggles internal TurboDLDClassic command echoing at the AutoCAD command
line. When TurboDLDClassic commands are executed via the digitizer or
pop-up menus, they generate internal commands which will be displayed at
the AutoCAD command line if DLDECHO is enabled. Disable DLDECHO to simplify
the command line.
DLDHELP
-------
Provides a list of TurboDLDClassic commands with one-line description of
each, within AutoCAD. It's recommended that you flip to the text screen by
pressing the <F1> key to view the output.
DLDREFRESH
----------
Refreshes the Big Picture to reflect the most current changes to a drawing.
If the static BP is up, it will be updated. If not, the next time the BP is
brought up, it will contain a current representation of your drawing,
provided no changes were made between the DLDREFRESH command and the
DLDBIGPIC command. For Automatic update of the Big Picture, see the
DLDBPREFRSH command above.
DLDSAVECFG
----------
The DLDSAVECFG command saves the current TurboDLDClassic configuration for
use in a later AutoCAD drawing session. The size and location of the Big
Picture, edgepan state, and the width of the spy glass cursor, are saved
with this command. DLDSAVECFG creates a file named DLXSTATE.DAT, in the
directory that TurboDLDClassic was installed in. DLXSTATE.DAT may be deleted
in order to return the above features to TurboDLDClassic's default settings.
DLDSTAT
-------
Displays the current TurboDLDClassic status. A listing of the current
TurboDLDClassic parameters is displayed at the AutoCAD command line. A flip
to the graphics screen is recommended to view the status report.
DLDUSAGE
--------
Use DLDUSAGE if you want a to-the-byte breakdown of how memory is being
used, specifically for display list processing. DLDUSAGE returns
information regarding the memory each viewport is occupying. Since AutoCAD
supports multiple viewports, it is possible to have multiple display lists.
A new or empty drawing will have a display list of 4k bytes.
DLDVER
------
Displays the TurboDLDClassic version, serial number and registered user's
name at the AutoCAD command line.
DLDZMVMAX
----------
TurboDLDClassic supports a REGEN-less Zoom ALL capability, identical to
AutoCAD's Zoom VMAX command. Just type DLDZMVMAX at the AutoCAD prompt, and
the current viewport will zoom to its full size. This function is designed
primarily for AutoCAD Release 10/386 users, who do not have an AutoCAD
command to do this.
PD, ZD, ZW
-----------
PD - Pan Dynamic, ZD - Zoom Dynamic and ZW - Zoom Window are included in
TurboDLDClassic for backwards compatibility with MACH-12. These commands
will invoke the Big Picture.
ZI, ZO
------
ZI - Zoom In and ZO - Zoom Out will zoom the current viewport in or out
incrementally.
Chapter 6 - Memory Usage and Lists
==================================
TurboDLDClassic shares extended memory with AutoCAD via the PharLap Virtual
Memory Manager. This means that TurboDLDClassic will automatically page to
disk if it uses up all the RAM that AutoCAD has left for its use. See the
AutoCAD "Installation and Performance Guide" for more information on Virtual
Memory Management. Please note that if you start seeing excessive hard disk
accesses during PANs, REDRAWs, and ZOOMs while using AutoCAD with
TurboDLDClassic, try using the DLDCOMPACT command. If this doesn't affect
the amount of disk access it's probably time to add more memory to your
system. Contact your AutoCAD dealer for assistance in upgrading your memory.
Regarding display list memory, it's important to realize that TurboDLDClassic
speeds up AutoCAD operations by creating a Display List in memory, and
sending that list to the graphics board for pans, zooms and redraws. But a
display list takes up memory.
How much memory?
----------------
For production use, we recommend that at least 1 megabyte is available for
TurboDLDClassic. To determine how much memory AutoCAD is using, use the
status command while in AutoCAD (refer to the AutoCAD "Installation and
Performance Guide" for more information). The Display List for a simple
drawing like the shuttle Columbia might only require 20 Kbytes for the
Display List. Complex drawings may require several megabytes. We have seen
Display Lists for a drawing range from one-tenth the size of the drawing
file to three times the size; in general, the Display List averages about
one and one-half times the size of the DWG file size. This means that you
should reserve approximately two and one-half times your average DWG file
size in RAM for the drawing and the Display List. Also, complex objects
such as circles and text "expand" when translated into display list format,
so a drawing with a lot of complex objects and text will have a larger
Display List than a simpler drawing.
If there is significant hard disk activity while you are using
TurboDLDClassic, it may be an indication that you should add more memory
to your system.
-------------------------------- TIP -------------------------------------
Text takes up a disproportionate amount of space in the Display List. To
keep the list small, put text in its own layer of the drawing. Then don't
display the text layer when editing the rest of the figure. This will keep
memory consumption down and speed up PANs, REDRAWs, and ZOOMs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------- TIP -------------------------------------
The AutoCAD manuals have an excellent section on performance, concentrating
on memory usage. To get the most performance out of the program, read the
appropriate sections of those manuals as well as this one.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 7 - Tips, Tricks & Troubleshooting
==========================================
Because TurboDLDClassic supports such a wide range of graphics board
platforms, it is necessary to be aware of certain idiosyncrasies. This
chapter outlines known configuration and usage problems of TurboDLDClassic
and of various graphics platforms. Also included are tips to help gain
performance from AutoCAD itself. These tips and tricks are a compilation of
the most commonly asked Technical Support questions. Therefore, if you are
having problems, please review this chapter, you may be able to quickly
answer your own question.
Memory Management
-----------------
System lock-ups, random re-boots or missing displays, indicate you may have
a memory conflict on your system. Different video platforms access different,
specific, portions of upper memory blocks. If these memory addresses are in
use by TSRs or other programs or memory managers, the above symptoms will
occur. To avoid these problems it is necessary to use an expanded memory
manager to allocate the specific address range to the graphics board. The
address to exclude usually falls within the range of A000 to C7FF. XGAs and
some TIGAs go beyond C7FF up to DFFF. Some common expanded memory managers
are QEMM, 386MAX and EMM386 (which comes with DOS 5.0 and later and Windows).
QEMM and EMM386 use similar commands to perform the exclusion.
X=B000-B7FF
is added to the QEMM386.SYS or EMM386.EXE command line in the CONFIG.SYS
file.
386MAX uses a video memory parameter which look like this
VIDMEM=B000-B7FF
Note that it may be necessary to run an optimization utility with some
memory managers in order for the exclusion to take effect. Refer to your
memory manager's documentation for specific details.
If the range of A000-C7FF seems like a large area to exclude, you may
decrease the range by changing the ending address to determine the exact
range that you need to exclude. Typically B000-B7FF, as shown in the
examples above, will be sufficient. You may try other ranges, by altering
the beginning and/or ending address, to isolate the exact region the
graphics board requires. Remember to re-boot after changing the CONFIG.SYS
file. Some common requirements are shown below.
-------------------------------- CAUTION ---------------------------------
Due to the manner in which they re-map video BIOS memory regions in RAM,
memory optimization utilities, such as QEMM's Stealth and EMM386's HIGHSCAN,
should be avoided.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
XGA
---
XGA-based graphics boards must have at least the range of B000-DFFF
available.
SVGA and S3
-----------
SVGA and S3 boards usually use the area of B000-B7FF.
TI 34020-based TIGA Boards
--------------------------
TI 34020 graphics chip-based TIGA boards request the range of A000-DFFF,
however, C000-CFFF usually works.
Upgrading From Older Panacea DLD Drivers
-----------------------------------------
Be sure to remove any reference to previous DLD driver commands (FASTACAD
calls or SET DLDCFG, RCPADI, RDPADI and DSPADI parameters) or sub-directories
that may be in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file or in AutoCAD start-up batch files.
Such references could cause AutoCAD and TurboDLDClassic to look in the
wrong place for setup information.
If have been using a previous Panacea DLD driver and wish to use the color
palette you customized for it with TurboDLDClassic, you may copy the
DLDCOLOR.DAT file from your older DLD's sub-directory to the sub-directory
you specified during the TurboDLDClassic installation process.
Maneuvering Through AutoCAD
---------------------------
Zooming
-------
Watch the Snap
--------------
When zooming into an image, be aware of your AutoCAD grid snap setting.
If you are zoomed extremely far into a drawing and you are having trouble
moving your digitizer cursor, you may be snapping to a point which is
not part of the zoomed viewport. If the cursor only moves to a single
point, or is not on screen at all Snap might be turned on. Check the
status bar to be sure. If you see "Snap" listed, press the F8 key to turn
it off.
Zoom $1
-------
An undocumented AutoCAD command can help speed up performance in some
situations, ZOOM $1. ZOOM $1 will allow you to set the extents of AutoCAD
Release 12's logical drawing space. by issuing the following command
sequence:
ZOOM
$1
CTRL-C
CTRL-C
CTRL-C
CTRL-C
The catch is that the command is only in effect until a REGEN is issued.
Be sure to zoom to the view of your drawing you wish to use as the
extents before issuing the above. If you find this command to be useful,
you may also want to try configuring for a 15-bit drawing space -- See
Chapter 3 - Installing and Configuring, "Expert Configuration" menu.
Zoom Dynamic
------------
We do not recommended using ANY Classic features while in the Zoom
Dynamic mode of AutoCAD. Because TurboDLDClassic cannot detect when Zoom
Dynamic has been initiated, unpredictable results will occur. Use the Big
Picture feature of TurboDLDClassic to accomplish the same task as Zoom
Dynamic, in a much more efficient fashion.
TurboDLDClassic and Paper Space
--------------------------------
TurboDLDClassic features do not work in AutoCAD's Paper Space. The
execution of any TurboDLDClassic command in Paper Space, due to a
limitation in AutoCAD, will result in an error message at the command
prompt.
AutoCAD Release 12's CONFIG Command
-----------------------------------
Configuring TurboDLDClassic in the middle of a drawing session using the
CONFIG command is a bit like exiting and re-starting AutoCAD. If are using
the static Big Picture and wish to resume your drawing session with it on,
issue the DLDSAVECFG command before issuing the CONFIG command.
Sticky Cursors
--------------
In the Big Picture
------------------
Sometimes, when using the Big Picture, the digitizer cursor will appear to
stick to the edge of the bird's-eye. This is normal and is the result of
the digitizer puck responding to the whole screen area while the Big Picture
only occupies a small portion of the screen. Because of the difference in
resolutions between the screen and the digitizer, when the screen cursor
enters the Big Picture area, the digitizer puck has more drawing area to
cover in order to get to the same location as the screen cursor.
Within AutoCAD
--------------
The following solutions have been used to fix slow mouse/digitizer response
problems when using TurboDLD drivers.
Make sure that you are not using a real mode driver for your digitizer.
Real-mode drivers do not interact properly with protected-mode drivers.
AutoCAD Releases 10/386, 11/386, and 12, are all protected-mode. We
recommended that you switch to either the AutoCAD supplied driver or the
manufacturer's latest ADI 4.2 driver for the digitizer.
Make sure that no digitizer key re-assigning TSR's are being used. Some
digitizers, specifically the Kurta IS/One, use TSR's to allow digitizer
programming; these will not work with TurboDLD.
Try deleting all files with a .DAT extension from your TurboDLD
sub-directory and re-configuring TurboDLD from scratch. Occasionally,
these .DAT files can be corrupted or updated improperly during
installation or reconfiguration.
Try changing the double-click interval time to 5 or 10. This can be
adjusted from the User Interface Menu of TurboDLD.
If a specific digitizer key is causing a problem, use the Delete key to
remove any AutoCAD commands from that button. Button programming commands
are in the User Interface menu within the Button Configuration Menu. Be
sure to use the Delete key, not Spaces to remove existing commands.
Depending on the digitizer you are using and how it is configured, try
adjusting CFIG386's -VSCAN parameter. Check the AutoCAD "Interface,
Installation and Performance Guide" for specific instructions on how to
use CFIG386.
Try using the CFIG386 -DEMANDLOAD ON setting for AutoCAD.
If there is one available, try to duplicate the problem with a second
mouse or digitizer, this will help to isolate the cause of the problem.
If your digitizer is capable of it, try configuring for SummaSketch
emulation and use the driver included with AutoCAD.
If there is a choice in your digitizer's configuration, try configuring
it for Polled vs. Interrupt driven, or vice versa.
Using AutoCAD Commands
----------------------
Since TurboDLDClassic is totally transparent to users with respect to using
normal AutoCAD commands to REDRAW, PAN, and ZOOM, you still have to suffer
from some of AutoCAD's nuances. One of these nuances is that ZOOM ALL and
ZOOM EXTENTS both force a REGEN, because AutoCAD does not keep track of
various boundaries necessary to avoid the REGENs. And REGENs are rather
time-consuming and don't use any display list processing to speed themselves
up. One way around this problem is to use another of AutoCAD's built-in
features, namely the VIEW command.
When you first load your image and see the whole drawing on the screen at
once, just type VIEW Save ALL, which will save the display position you see
under a view named "All". Then, after you've done some detailed editing and
want to return back to the big picture, type VIEW Restore ALL, instead of
ZOOM All or ZOOM Extents, and the full drawing will be restored to the
display at display list speeds, without a REGEN.
Another nuance of AutoCAD's is that if you zoom in too far or pan over too
far, you may inadvertently cause a REGEN. AutoCAD again provides a very
simple solution: the REGENAUTO command. Just type REGENAUTO Off at the
AutoCAD command prompt, and automatic REGENs will be disabled. The REGENAUTO
setting is also saved as part of your drawing file, so you only need to
execute it once per drawing. You may even want to set REGENAUTO off in your
ACAD.DWG drawing template so that all your drawings are created with
REGENAUTO set off.
Third-Party Software
--------------------
If you are having trouble with TurboDLDClassic and third-party AutoCAD
applications, be sure that the third-party application supports ADI 4.2. In
order to use the ADI 4.2 specification, third-party applications require new
T-Drivers and therefore must be revised. If an application does not
specifically say that it is ADI 4.2 compatible, it probably is not. Check
with the manufacturer to be sure.
If your third-party application is ADI 4.2 compatible and you are having
trouble using TurboDLDClassic, try running AutoCAD without the third-party
application to try to isolate the problem. Also, try the third-party
application with the SVADI driver shipped with AutoCAD, this will also help
to isolate the source of the problem.
Also note that any third-party TSR that needs to access the display may not
work properly when using AutoCAD with any advanced ADI display driver,
especially if the TSR switches graphics modes. Most TSRs will not support
the same graphics platforms as TurboDLDClassic and therefore, will not be
able to accommodate mode switching back and forth.
Troubleshooting TIGA Installations
----------------------------------
TIGA board software version 2.0 or later MUST be loaded prior to installing
and using TurboDLDClassic. Usually with TIGA boards, the problem is with the
TIGA software initialization and not with TurboDLDClassic.
If you are having trouble configuring your TIGA graphics board, check the
following:
1. Make sure that the TIGA software is the correct version and is loaded
properly by changing into the TIGA software sub-directory and typing
TIGACD. This command will return the version and status of the software.
2. Make sure that the TIGA environment variables are pointing to the correct
TIGA sub-directory and that a system compatible interrupt is being
specified.
SET TIGA = -mC:\TIGA -lC:\TIGA -i0x60
Using the example above, the -m and -l parameters point to a TIGA v2.0 or
later software sub-directory named TIGA. The -i parameter indicates the
hex value of 0x60. Another common interrupt is 0x7F. (Please note that
the -m, -l and -i references above are lower case M, L and I,
respectively.)
If you have upgraded your TIGA software, and are using your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file to initialize the TIGA board, be sure that the path
(see above example) is pointing to the new software and not the previous
version. Try remarking out the TIGA initialization line(s) from the
AUTOEXEC.BAT and entering them manually at the DOS prompt.
3. Make sure that the DLDEXT.RLM file from the TurboDLDClassic sub-directory
has been copied into the TIGA sub-directory.
4. Try running your TIGA demo program if you have one. If you get errors
similar to "Can't initialize TIGA .." verify the installation per the steps
above.
Slow Scrolling
--------------
If you have configured for the graphics mode text window and are experiencing
slow script file execution, it might be your graphics board. Some graphics
boards do not handle graphics mode text scrolling very quickly. To test
this, try configuring for the SINGLE screen option in the Basic Configuration
sub-menu of the TurboDLDClassic Configuration menu.
Color Considerations
--------------------
Switching Color Modes
---------------------
When switching color modes, (i.e. from 16 to 256 or vice versa) the
DLDCOLOR command should be run in order to reconfigure your color palette
for the number of colors selected.
Changing to a Light Background
------------------------------
If you would like to switch from TurboDLDClassic's default black background
to a white or light background, type
DLDCOLOR
at the Command prompt to start the CustomColors utility. Once there, press
O for (O)bject and then move the highlight to the Background item and then
press ENTER. Move the color highlight to the desired new background color
and press ENTER. Next, move the highlight to the Cursor item and press
ENTER. Move the color highlight to the desired new Cursor color and press
ENTER. Press the ESC key and then S to (S)ave and E to (E)xit. You should
now have a light background with a dark crosshair.
Corrupt TurboDLDClassic Data Files
----------------------------------
If you are having problems configuring TurboDLDClassic, be sure that you are
using either the original distribution diskettes or a faithful copy made
with the DOS DISKCOPY command. We have at times received Tech calls where
we could not trace a specific recurring problem which later turned out to
be a bad duplicate disk.
If everything appears to have installed correctly and you still can't seem
to figure out what's happening, try deleting the DLDSETUP.DAT, DLXMENUS.DAT
and DLXBUTTN.DAT files from your TurboDLDClassic sub-directory. You'll then
have to reconfigure the driver from scratch. We've seen some strange things
happen when these files have become corrupted.
Configuring TurboDLD for Your Graphics Board
--------------------------------------------
You may need to look for your graphics board by its video chip instead of
its name. There are many graphics board manufacturers, some not so famous
enough to be known by a brand name. In these cases, you must configure for
your graphics board by its video chip type. Check your documentation, or if
you already know it, use the Generic selection for your chip type.
Static BP in Panning Mode
--------------------------
When using the static Big Picture in panning mode, the drawing screen will
continue to pan until you move the cursor out of the Big Picture viewport.
The drawing screen will display the selected view correctly.
Pull-Downs and Crosshairs Leave Trash on the Screen
---------------------------------------------------
If you are using an S3-based graphics board, a problem may exist if you have
more than two COM ports configured. Internally, the S3 chip uses address
2E8h which is also used for a COM4 address. If you have a modem or another
COM port assigned as COM4, you will have a conflict. The problem shows up in
graphics mode and usually leaves lines from the cross-hair cursor or
pull-downs on the screen. To correct the problem, remove the conflicting COM
port. If your modem or COM board allows you to assign it to other ports,
change the settings according to your device to leave COM4 available for your
S3 based graphics board.
Chapter 8 - Rendering with TurboDLDClassic
==========================================
Since TurboDLDClassic is a combined, display and rendering, device driver,
it can be used to generate high-resolution renderings with Autodesk's
3D Studio and AutoShade programs, as well as with AutoCAD R12's built-in
AVE Render. Configuration for these programs basically involves selecting
the proper Display and Rendering resolutions from the TurboDLDClassic
configuration menu. The other driver configuration options, except for font
selection options for 3D Studio, are ignored for rendering because a
Display List, and its configuration parameters, is not used during the
rendering process.
Configuring 3D Studio requires three steps. First, you need to set the
environment variables for 3D Studio by running the PANA3DS.BAT file that
was copied into your TurboDLDClassic sub-directory. Next, you must edit the
3DS.SET file located in your 3DS directory.
The following three lines of the 3DS.SET file tell 3D Studio which driver
to use for the rendering screen, main screen and materiald editor screen,
respectively. Locate the lines that begin with:
RENDER-DISPLAY
MAIN-DISPLAY
MATERIAL-DISPLAY
and change them to use the RCPADI driver as follows:
RENDER-DISPLAY=RCPADI
MAIN-DISPLAY=RCPADI
MATERIAL-DISPLAY=RCPADI
Make sure to remove the ";" or any spaces that may be present at the
beginning of the line.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
Note that it is only necessary for the RENDER-DISPLAY line to be set to
RCPADI in order to render at high resolution. If you do not need a high
resolution main display screen or if you will not be using the materials
editor, you may keep MAIN-DISPLAY and MATERIAL-DISPLAY set to their defaults.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For 3D Studio v3.x, use the Autodesk supplied utility to edit the 3DS.SET
file. From your 3DS sub-directory, type:
3DS VIBCFG
to display the configuration screen. Use the TAB key to move the cursor
among the available parameters. The ENTER key allows you to select an
available driver. Change the RENDER-DISPLAY, MAIN-DISPLAY and
MATERIAL-DISPLAY fields to use RCPADI and then press SHIFT-TAB to move to
OK. Press ENTER and save your changes.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
For 3D Studio versions 1, and 2, use any text editor to make the above
changes. For 3D Studio 1.x, there is no RENDER-DISPLAY line. The
corresponding line is DEFAULT-DISPLAY and should be changed to read
DEFAULT-DISPLAY="RCPADI"
The quotes around RCPADI must be used for this version of 3D Studio.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------- CAUTION --------------------------------
The MATERIAL-DISPLAY should only be configured for RCPADI when BOTH the
Display AND Rendering Resolutions of TurboDLDClassic are configured for 256
color resolutions. An unpredictable Materials Editor screen will appear if
anything other than 256 colors is selected. If you are unsure about the
function of the Materials Editor screen, use the Materials Editor as VGA,
you should not have any problems at all. Please note too, that the use of
the Materials Editor will not give you any more colors to choose from, just
higher resolution.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
After saving 3DS.SET changes, the final steps in the configuration process
configure TurboDLDClassic for use with 3D Studio.
Delete (or rename) the 3DADI.CFG file from your 3D Studio sub-directory by
typing,
DEL 3DADI.CFG
Deleting this file will cause 3D Studio to start in its reconfiguration
mode. 3DADI.CFG will be recreated after 3D Studio has been reconfigured.
Start the 3D Studio reconfiguration by typing;
3DS
During the 3D Studio start-up, you are prompted with a series of
configuration questions. After each question is answered, TurboDLDClassic
will display either its Display or Rendering Configuration menu.
To configure the 3D Studio Main Display for your graphics board, from the
Display Configuration menu, select a display graphics board and then a
display resolution.
To configure 3D Studio for the Rendering and/or Materials screens, select
a rendering graphics board (usually the same as the Display board) and a
rendering resolution. (For detailed information on choosing graphics boards
or display and rendering resolutions, See Chapter 3 - Installing and
Configuring.)
Because RCPADI device drivers, by definition, are combined Display and
Rendering devices, during 3D Studio reconfiguration, you may be brought to
the TurboDLDClassic Configuration Menu more than one time each, each for
Display and Rendering. It is not necessary to select display and/or rendering
resolutions a second time. Simply press the ENTER key to remove the help
screen and then highlight Save and Exit to continue to the next question.
Also, if FASTACAD.BAT is used instead of PANA3DS.BAT to define the AutoCAD
operating environment, the TurboDLDClassic Configuration Menu will also
appear for RDPADI and DSPADI devices if they are present.
--------------------------------- NOTE -----------------------------------
Some 3D Studio Limitations
TurboDLDClassic only provides still rendering support for 3D Studio. This
driver will not play back rendered FLI or FLC files at resolutions above the
320x200 default of 3D Studio.
If you have a VESA compatible graphics board you may be able to use the
RCPVESA.EXP driver that comes with 3D Studio to display animations at high
resolution. Refer to your 3D Studio Installation and Performance Guide for
specific information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Configuring AVE Render
----------------------
AutoCAD 12's AVE Render uses TurboDLDClassic's rendering capabilities to
render objects and drawings. If AVE Render has never been configured, when
you select the AutoCAD render command, you are required to run through its
configuration process. In this case, you are prompted through the following
questions and/or menus.
1. Select a Rendering Display device. Since TurboDLDClassic is a combined
display/rendering device, choose item 1, P386 ADI Combined
Display/Rendering Driver from the available choices.
2. Configure the Rendering Graphics Board and Resolution. Here the
TurboDLDClassic configuration program will appear on the screen. Press
the Return key to continue past the help screen and display the Rendering
Configuration menu. Choose Select Graphics Board/Resolution to display
graphics board and resolution menu selections. Select a rendering graphics
board and then a rendering resolution.
3. Select Render Mode. The next step is to select the rendering mode for
TurboDLDClassic. Select either Render to Viewport or Render to Screen
depending on how you wish to view your renderings. Note that in order to
render to a viewport you must be using a Display resolution of more than
16 colors. Otherwise, AVE Render will not allow the render to viewport
selection.
4. Select Render Hard Copy Device. If you are using a rendering hard copy
device select your device type from the list of choices. If you are not
using a hard copy device, accept the default of NULL.
After configuring AVE Render, you will return to the drawing to render the
current drawing.
If you have previously configured AVE Render for another driver, you will
need to reconfigure. Type RCONFIG at the AutoCAD command prompt to manually
invoke the Render Configuration Menu. Follow these steps to re-configure
AVE Render.
1. Select option 2, Configure Rendering Device to choose a new rendering
driver. Answer Yes to the "Select Different Rendering Device" question.
2. Select option 1, P386 Combined Display/Rendering Driver to choose the
type of driver being used.
3. Configure the Rendering Graphics Board and Resolution. At this point,
the TurboDLDClassic configuration program will appear on the screen.
Press the Return key to continue past the help screen and display the
Rendering Configuration menu. Choose Select Graphics Board/Resolution to
display graphics board and resolution menu selections. Select a rendering
graphics board and then a rendering resolution.
4. Select Render Mode. The next step is to select the rendering mode for
TurboDLDClassic. Select either Render to Viewport or Render to Screen
depending on how you wish to view your renderings. Note that in order to
render to a viewport you must be using a Display resolution of at least
256 colors. Otherwise, AVE Render will not allow a render to viewport
selection.
5. Select Exit to the Drawing Editor from the Render Configuration menu and
then type Y to keep the changes you've just made. Press the <F1> key to
change to the graphics screen if necessary.
AutoShade 2 with RenderMan
--------------------------
To configure AutoShade v2.0 to use TurboDLDClassic, first run the
FASTACAD.BAT file from your TurboDLDClassic sub-directory to set the
AutoShade environment variables. Next, start AutoShade with SHADE /R, which
will allow you to reconfigure AutoShade. For the display device, select
P386 Autodesk Device Interface display driver, and for the rendering display
select the P386 Autodesk Device Interface rendering driver. If you are
running the display and rendering screen on the same monitor (i.e. single
monitor), make sure to tell AutoShade this. A single monitor approach will
require a redraw of the display screen after a rendering screen.
Once the P386 ADI devices have been selected, the TurboDLDClassic
configuration menu will be displayed. Follow the same installation steps
that were used to select the graphics board and display and rendering
resolutions for AutoCAD (see Chapter 3 - Installing and Configuring).
Appendix A - Support Information
================================
Just the Fax, Ma'am
When possible, please send problem reports by fax, on-line message, or
regular mail, including the information requested below.
It is much easier and more productive for us to work with a page of
information or an on-line message than it is to try and get the information
from you during a voice phone call over a busy, noisy line. Once we get
your faxed request, we will call you or fax you back with an answer or with
additional questions to learn more about the problem. You may reach our
Technical Support, staff via fax, phone or mail at:
XXXXX
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXX
Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX
Fax: XXX-XXX-XXXX
E-mail: Tech_Support@XXXXXX.XXX
Please put the following information in a faxed request, or have this
information ready for a phone request:
Your name, and the serial and version number of your copy of
TurboDLDClassic.
A list of what appears on the screen when you type "SET" at a DOS
prompt. (Or print out a screen shot and attach it to the fax).
Print-outs of your DLDSETUP.DAT and FASTACAD.BAT (R10/11) files.
Print-outs of your CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT and any AutoCAD start-up
files.
A complete description of what the problem was and how many times,
and under which circumstances, it has occurred. We can help you most
efficiently if you can recreate the problem with some consistency.
Many of the problems which may occur in setting up and using TurboDLDClassic
are not really problems with the driver; instead, the problems occur in
installing and getting access to additional memory for the driver.
Memory management programs, such as QEMM, 386MAX, and EMM386, can cause
memory conflicts on certain graphics platforms. In order to avoid these
conflicts, it may be necessary to exclude certain memory regions from being
used by the memory manager.
Also, if you are using a memory manager, avoid using any switches or
utilities of the manager that may re-map upper memory blocks in order to
load as many programs and TSR's "high" as possible (i.e. QEMM's "Stealth"
mode or EMM386's HIGHSCAN). These features can make it difficult or
impossible for TurboDLDClassic utility programs to locate certain video
BIOS information. If you have memory problems, carefully check both the
system documentation and the memory manager documentation before contacting
Technical Support. System memory problems probably won't be solvable by us.
We aren't able to fix mis-set jumpers and incorrect configuration options
over the phone. Please be sure that all hardware is installed and operating
correctly before assuming that the driver is at fault. Carefully check your
hardware documentation for the correct switch and jumper settings.
Our support policy is to offer free phone and fax support to our users.
This policy is basically unlimited; we want our users to enjoy
TurboDLDClassic and get the most out of it. We are especially appreciative
if you can help us identify a problem in using the driver or the
documentation which we can fix in a subsequent upgrade, benefiting all
customers. We reserve the option to limit, withhold, or charge for support.
Appendix B - TurboDLDClassic Commands
=====================================
This chapter alphabetically lists the basic commands found in all TurboDLD
versions providing a quick reference. Commands have been listed
alphabetically. For complete information regarding the use of these commands,
see Chapter 5 - TurboDLD Features.
Commands
DLDBIGPIC Calls up the Big Picture - use digitizer clicks to define an
area and zoom into it.
DLDBPDIM Allows resizing and repositioning of the Big Picture.
DLDBPFREEZE Toggles the Big Picture Zoom Mode between Float and Freeze
modes.
DLDBPHILIGHT Selects the highlight mode used to display the Big Picture.
DLDBPMODE Toggles Big Picture between Zoom and Pan modes.
DLDBPREFRSH Enables and Disables the Big Picture automatic update mode.
DLDBPSTATIC Toggles the Big Picture to stay on the screen at all times.
DLDCOLOR Invokes CustomColorsTM, Panacea's color configuration
program.
DLDCOMPACT Forces a manual clean-up of Display List memory returning
any unused memory back to the AutoCAD memory pool.
DLDDLIST Toggles the display list function of TurboDLDClassic on
and off.
DLDECHO Toggles internal TurboDLDClassic command echoing at the
AutoCAD command line.
DLDHELP Provides a list of TurboDLDClassic commands with one-line
description of each, within AutoCAD. It's recommended that
you flip to the text screen to view the output.
DLDREFRESH Refreshes the Big Picture to reflect the most current
changes to a drawing.
DLDSAVECFG Saves the current TurboDLDClassic configuration for use in
a later AutoCAD drawing session. Retains the size and
location of the Big Picture/MicroScope, edgepan state,
and spy glass cursor size.
DLDSTAT Displays a listing of the current TurboDLDClassic
parameters. A flip to the graphics screen is recommended
for this command.
DLDUSAGE Gives a to-the-byte breakdown of how memory is being used
for display list processing.
DLDVER Displays the TurboDLDClassic version, serial number and
registered user's name at the AutoCAD command line.
DLDZMVMAX Performs a REGEN-less Zoom ALL. This function is designed
primarily for AutoCAD Release 10/386.
PD, ZD, ZW PD - Pan Dynamic, ZD - Zoom Dynamic and ZW - Zoom Window
are included in TurboDLDClassic for backwards compatibility
with MACH-12. These commands will invoke the Big Picture.
ZI, ZO ZI - Zoom In and ZO - Zoom Out will zoom the current
viewport in or out incrementally.This Appendix describes
the major program changes in this version compared to
earlier versions of TurboDLD and MACH-12.
Appendix C - Changes from Previous Versions
===========================================
Changes From TurboDLD v1.0
BP Cache
--------
The memory cache for TurboDLD commands has been removed. A separate cache
is no longer necessary due to the optimization of the driver's Display List
performance. The effect of the BP Cache is now achieved internally, for all
graphics platforms. This affects the BP Cache command DLDBPCACHE and the
Configuration menu option to enable BP Cache.
Fast/Incremental REGEN
----------------------
The Fast/Incremental REGEN mode option has also been removed from TurboDLD.
TurboDLD v2.0 now offers a fast, incremental REGEN eliminating the need for
a toggle command.
Changes From MACH-12
During the integration of MACH-12 and TurboDLD, we found that various
commands were duplicated. Because of this overlap, it was necessary to
combine commands where it was possible and eliminate them where it was not.
The following have been removed or are different from earlier MACH-12
versions.
ALLON
All Color Toggle commands
CA - Cancel
CCP - Continuous Center Pan
RD - Quick Redraw
FS - Fill Enable/Disable
SCP - Single Center Pan
ZA - Zoom All
ZP - Zoom Previous
ZT - Zoom Tiniest
The ZP and ZA commands are not processed by TurboDLDClassic. The driver
simply passes these instructions on to AutoCAD as corresponding ZOOM All and
ZOOM Previous AutoCAD commands. Using either of these two commands may cause
an AutoCAD REGEN, unlike MACH-12 which did not. If you wish to obtain a
REGENless zoom all or zoom previous, use the bird's eye to do the zoom.
Anti-Aliasing
-------------
Because only a limited number of graphics boards (those with the Edsun CEG
RAMDAC in 256-color modes and Sierra HiColor RAMDAC in 32k-color modes)
support anti-aliasing, TurboDLDClassic does not include this MACH-12 feature.
We have chosen to offer speed instead of a limited, less useful feature. The
anti-aliasing commands
AP - Anti-Aliasing On
AO - Anti-Aliasing On
AF - Anti-Aliasing Off
AS - Enable Split Screen Anti-Aliasing
are no longer available.
Display-List (DL) Compression
-----------------------------
Is now done automatically, internally, by TurboDLDClassic as needed.
Bird's Eye redraw ratio
-----------------------
TurboDLDClassic's DLDBPREFRSH command functions the same as this MACH-12
configuration setting. The difference however, is that the MACH-12 command
was configurable. DLDBPREFRSH is not, it is either enabled or disabled.
Flip Screen Save
----------------
This feature is no longer necessary and has been removed.
Set Custom Command Names
------------------------
Command names cannot be changed through TurboDLDClassic or the driver
configuration utility. If you wish to change, or Alias, command names, you
may do so by editing the ACAD.PGP file in your AutoCAD SUPPORT sub-directory.
Set Command Names Sent to Foreign AutoCAD
-----------------------------------------
This MACH-12 setting is no longer necessary. TurboDLDClassic supports
English versions of AutoCAD. For use with foreign AutoCAD versions,
TurboDLDClassic supports .BDF fonts (supplied by Autodesk) for menus and
pull-downs. This allows support for foreign versions of AutoCAD via font
selection.
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.