DataCAD has some wonderful ways to create/access shortcuts.
The three primary ways are:
1. Single alphabet keys. When you press a single letter, DataCAD goes directly to a preset command. The destination for the keys can be modified, but are constrained to certain commands. Modifying those key/locations is something that is best left to when one becomes fairly familiar with the inner workings of DataCAD.
2. Use of almost all keys in conjunction with the Ctrl key. This are limited to commands that are located somewhere along the menu choices at the top of the screen, but in the drop down selections. Some of those are Windows specific and changing them does not result in a different command. Most work fine, but there are a few that can't be changed. The file that control these is dcadwin.mnu. If you open this file, you will see a command such as Weldline. After the command, you will see two pipe symbols. ||. The quick key combination that you want to use to activate that command is placed in between the pipes. i.e. |Ctrl+E| or |Ctrl+F1|
3. The most flexible of all is the use of the Alt+letter key. The Alt+ quick keys can go through a multitude of steps and can adjust settings to meet certain conditions. Any menu item that you can see on the menus along the side of the screen. You can go multiple commands deep and even have the single Alt+key invoke several commands. About the only restriction is that it can not pause for input and then continue. An example of multiple commands deep might be when you want to create a swing style door. You can have the command go into Architect, Doors, Door Style, Swing Style, Set the angle to 45 degrees, and so on. One keystroke and six or seven mouse picks are done. Use the Alt+ key for complex commands that can't be invoked with the choices available in 1 or 2. This file is dcadwin.mcr.
Remember... before altering any file, save a copy of the original file. That way if you make a serious error, you can revert to the original and start over.
I would suggest that you take a sheet of paper and start by opening each drop down menu item. Evaluate how often you might use any command in there and write it down. After you have a dozen or so, attempt to customize dcadwin.mnu. One thing to be aware of is that your choices for the Ctrl+key might already be used so do a search before you put your choice between the appropriate pipes. If it is used already, just erase the existing and put yours in the correct location. This is also where you want to think about your choices and not try to compete with the internal commands of windows. For example, if you try to use Ctrl+C or Ctrl+V, those are probably Windows specific and your commands will be ignored. I think that there are several others like Ctrl+N, but you will need to just experiment until you get what you want.
After you get the commands in dcadwin.mnu working, you can go to the menus at the side of the screen and go through them looking for often accessed commands that are several menus deep. These are where the Alt+key macros shine. They are accessed in the dcadwin.mcr file. Each of those commands has a specific structure, but after doing one or two and seeing how the syntax is, others come easily.
If you bump into a problem, folks here on the forum can give you great help. Or if you need "quick" assistance, feel free to contact me directly at
orwoody@gmail.com.
Have fun,
Woody
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2016 8:18 am