Posted by Ralph Vince on December 17, 2000 at 20:58:02:
With build 39 of the Technadraw ActiveX control, the proprietary Technasales, "SuperSmart Dimensioning," is enabled.
In doing paramettric drawings, given that millions, often billions of various configurations can be drawn, given different Window sizes, different monitors, different font sizes, not to mention the myriad of configurations, trying to lay in dimensioning lines has been something of an iterative nightmare for the Instrux developer. Even in a perfectly done job, one is always left wondering if there isnt that one part number out there, that anoe configuration, which wont show the dimensioning lines and text just perfectly.
SuperSmart dimensioning is a means to alleviate all that, reducing the development time greatly, and eliminating the tedium which used to accompany laying in acceptable dimensioning on a drawing.
What SuperSmart dimensioning does is determine the LEVEL parameter of the DIM statement. That is, when SuperSmart is turned on in a drawing, the LEVELs of all DIMensions specified in INSTRUX are ignored, and the LEVELs determined algorithmically, at display time for the drawing, such that for any of the, "Head On," views (i.e. all views in the 2D setup dialog box, excluding the isometric view), the dimensions look perfect, with no overlap, as an engineer would draw put them in, and look as though they were created specifically for that particular part number only.
Furthermore, if a dimension text cannot fit into the leader lines, it is usually moved outside the leader lines, the direction which used to be specified within the INSTRUX DIM command. Now, that direction to move out is used as a, "suggestion," to the algorithm, the algorithm making the final determination which direction to move it out to based on numerous other factors.
In short, SuperSmart dimensioning is a means of providing artificial intelligence at render time to the dimensioning problem. Now, the Instrux programmer need not concern himself with what level to set a dimension at, only that he wants it set, and the program wil take care of the rest perfectly for him.
To turn on SuperSmart dimension, the METRIC command is used, by using a 2 in the 3rd field. Previously, a non-zero value in this field turned on what was previously known as, "Smart Dimensioning." Now, a 2 turns on SuperSmart Dimensioning.
If SuperSmart dimensioning is NOT turned on, the dimensioning process works just as it always has, thus allowing old programs which were completed to customer satisfaction to be compatible.