MycadKEYS is UPGRADING to MycadHELPER and while doing so is refining its command alias system.
Aliases are best understood and hence named by examining the functionl nature of commands and command work-flow.
As a general principle single character aliases are reserved for the most commonly used commands e.g. C Copy, M Move, but what does one do when we have two common commands such as Copy and Circle with the same first character? MycadKEYS solves this by using a single character for editing commands such as Copy and Move and two-characters for commands like PC Place Circle or PP Place Poyline. Improved `HELPER functions may also use two characters such as CL Copy Last. From this you can see that many commands (like PL) create new objects and others (like CL) use or change existing objects.
In addition use is made of several keyboard non-alphabet characters that have a nemonic relaionship with a command such as @ for attribute commands, # for numerically related commands, $, &, *,<, \, @ etc.
Command workflow.
Autocad commands fall into one of the two common workflows:
- Select some objects then execute an edit command on them – e.g. Select some objects and Erase them.
- Begin an edit command then select some objects to process – e.g. Issue command Erase then select the objects to erase. `HELPER uses action/select in preference to select/action workflow.
Two character aliases
Object make commands such as: PC for Place Circle, PE for Place Elipse, PH for Place Hatch, (note the ceation of new object).
Object edit commands are mostly two characters and include the subject of the command such as CL Copy Last.
Many commands include an option e.g. Query commands such as: QA Query Area, QO Query Object (LIST), QI Query ID and Layer, Text and Dim commands that follow the principle of command plus a specific variation e.g. LM Layer Make, LH Layer Hide, L- Layer Off, DR Dim Radial, TL Text Leader.
Compound aliases
Although most MycadKEYS aliases are two-character the system is designed, when necessary, to accomodate multi-stage command alaises such as FRS File Run Script.
Typical Alias Groups.
! ALERT/Constraint (!)
^SELECT (^) ^select objects
<IMPORT (^)
>EXPORT (>)
%SCALE (%) %scale objects or annotations
\MIRROR (\)
#CALC (#) Calculations or numbering
?query (?) e.g. ?A ?query Area
3D.. (3) 3D commands e.g. 3EM 3D Edges Manage
FILE commands (F) e.g. FL File Lisp, FX File >eXit, FS File Save
DIM (D) commands
TEXT (T) commands
JOIN (J) commands e.g. JF Join Fillet, JT Join Trim
SETTINGS (S) Default enviroment Settings are supplied by a template drawing file (often set up by a CAD manager) on startup or exist in a previously edited file before any work is done on the newly opened file. e.g. World UCS, Units, Snapmode, Dimstyle, current, Layername, Osnapmode, Orthomode, Properties
ATTRIBUTES (@) ATTEDIT etc.
PLACE (P) New objects e.g. Lines, Circles, Arcs, Hatch etc are made by commands of the relevant name.
MAKE (M) Make new object(s) from existing e.g. MA Make Array
XREF (X) Objects are imported e.g. Wblock,
BLOCKS (B) All Block commands
CHANGE (G) Objects are chanGed when a property or attribute is changed, e.g.GFC Change Field Color (Layers)
EDIT (E) Usually single characters e.g. ~stretch, Erase, Move, Join (JM Join-triM, JF Join-Fillet)
WORKZONE (W) workZones are MycadHELPER concept.
LAYER (L) Layer Command – both Settings and Action commands. A Layername becomes an applied Property when an object is made or may be changed via the Layer Command. LAYER Given its own grouping because of its major significance in drawings.
RENDER (R) Render commands – both Settings and Action commands. A Render becomes an applied Property when an object is made or may be changed via the Render Command. Given its own grouping because of its distinctivness from 2D drawing.
Vports, Vpoint, View Mview
Although having different meanings and workspace functions can be coveniently all listed under (V) withot too much confusion.
Associated with short aliases is MycadHELPER concept of eliminating many of the otherwise repeated <enter> keys required to confirm responses.
Example – E Erase
Returns: =byproperty/*everything/All/Block/Crossing/Dialogue/Entlast/Fen/Grp
Just-bfr/Last/New/Over(WP)/Prev/Under(CP)/Visible/Window/eXcl
+/-/?/<[done]>/<> Press option keyletter:
L (Last is highlighted -No enter required)
Returns: =byproperty/*everything/All/Block/Crossing/Dialogue/Entlast/Fen/Grp
Just-bfr/Last/New/Over(WP)/Prev/Under(CP)/Visible/Window/eXcl
+/-/?/<[done]>/<> Select objects:
Alternatively one could have simply entered EL Erase Last. <enter>
W (Window) (No enter required)
Returns: First point of Window: Select a point.
Returns: Select other point of Window. Select a point.
Returns: =byproperty/*everything/All/Block/Crossing/Dialogue/Entlast/Fen/Grp
Just-bfr/Last/New/Over(WP)/Prev/Under(CP)/Visible/Window/eXcl
+/-/?/<[done]>/<> Select objects:
<enter> or [spacebar] Function completes and terminates.
Another example.
Command: PL (Place Line) <enter>
Returns: OSNAPS…Along/Cen/noD/End/From/Gmid/Home/Int/Jmid/Kwik/parL/Mid/Nea/Per
/Qua/inS/Tan/Vert/Xval/Yval/Zval/|ine
Returns: From point: />done> NON:
M (pick an object with a Midpoint no enter rquired)
Returns: To point: />done> NON:
C (pick an object with a Centerpoint no enter required)
Returns: To point: />done> NON:
<enter> or [spacebar] terminates command.
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List of Commands and Aliases
Go to Alias-Master-List.