The primary tutorial/reference/instruction document for RogCAD
is the RogCAD_for_Windows Tutorial/reference guide:
https://rogcad.com/instructions
See https://luebeckdownloads for RogCAD_for_Windows software.
CONTENTS
RogCAD for DOS is the original RogCAD. Graphics
routines such as auto-surfacing are carried out
at about the same speed as in RogCAD for Windows.
In other words, it's charming.
RogCAD_QB64 is RogCAD_for_DOS converted to C code
in QB64. Its auto-surfacing routine runs about
100 times faster. It has 256 on-screen colors,
same as RogCAD_for_Windows. Otherwise, it has the
identical look and functionality of RogCAD_for_DOS.
In fact it is the same program code. It comes in
the traditional DOS 640x480 size and also in a
1580x1022 size.
No mouse is used in the DOS and QB64 versions.
The menu items are displayed on screen, and they
function in the same manner as the functions
associated with the buttons in RogCAD_for_Windows.
None of the menu items are case sensitive.
You type the letter or combination of letters as
shown on the menus, then hit the enter key.
The menu on startup is the main menu. In that mode,
you can display only wireframe models:
Main menu mode
DOS:
FC: xf xz yf yz zf zz 1-6 A CV SH G CH EN QT
QB64:
FC: xf xz yf yz zf zz 1-6 SA MPA CA A CV SH GP G EN QT
CLS and FILL are not shown on the menu. CLS clears
the screen using the color you specify in START.TXT.
FILL clears the screen using the background color
specified in the active group's data file.
You will see your perspective, focus and magnification
values at the bottom of the screen. Sorry, no vertical
shift or horizontal shift information is displayed.
FC xf = x far view
xz = x zoom
yf = y far view
yz = y zoom
zf = z far view
zz = z zoom
You can also choose 1,2,3,4,5 or 6.
These are the same twelve fast-change views
as in RogCAD_for_Windows. You edit them in
START.TXT or START256.TXT (see below).
A is for "arrows". You use the up and down arrows
on your keyboard to increase or decrease values.
You thus change perspective, focus and magnification.
Follow the on-screen prompts.
P, F and M are hot keys -- no hitting the enter key.
Same is true for X, Y and Z.
Next you'll be prompted for an increment. For that
you do use the enter key.
E is a hot key. Each time you hit E you will be
moved backwards through the arrows menu. If you keep
hitting it, you will get back to the main menu.
Important: If you've returned to the main menu
from the enhance menu, you must call
a data-group again before using the
arrows routine.
--------------------------------------------------
Rotations
(as opposed to changing perspective and focus)
One other option in the arrows mode is R, which
stands for rotate. To use it, you must have your
focus values set to 0,0,0
(actually RogCAD will make it .0001 .0001 .0001).
As with RogCAD_for_Windows, that function is
pretty much just a toy. After using it, you
will need to recall your data group to reset its
values.
QB64 version only:
While in the main menu mode, you can enter
SA, MPA or CA, which correlate with s-.txt,
mxyz-.txt or cxyz-.txt data groups.
That will also place you in the arrows mode.
But this time, when you work the arrow keys,
you will see a surfaced model rotating about,
rather than a wireframe model. You will of course
need to have set up your data files in the usual
manner to facilitate surface modeling.
To rotate a particular range of points in a
data-file, you edit the BEGIN-END section in
the data-file. It makes for some nifty effects,
as certain elements remain fixed while other
elements get rotated in the x, y or z direction
relative to them. See the rogcad.com home page
for a sample video of that.
--------------------------------------------------
Main menu mode (continued)
DOS:
FC: xf xz yf yz zf zz 1-6 A CV SH G CH EN QT
QB64:
FC: xf xz yf yz zf zz 1-6 SA MPA CA A CV SH GP G EN QT
CV change view. Follow the prompts.
SH vertical and horizontal shifting.
GP get palette. Do not include the .pal extension.
G call a data group.
EN go to enhance menu.
QT quit the program (or you can just close the window).
It all functions the same as in RogCAD_for_Windows.
The on-screen prompts which appear will guide you.
Enhance menu mode
In practice, you will use very few of the following menu items.
Rather, auto-surfacing and/or your macro files will handle everything.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOS:
H-S G H1 H2 H3 HP P1 P2 P3 PP MP1 CP1 Q K K1 K2 J J1 J2 C
SQ SK SJ F L P A MA MG SC SS GP SP CH V CV CLS QT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QB64:
H-S G P1 P2 P3 PP H1 H2 H3 HP SP1 CP1 MP1 J J1 J2 K K1 K2
SQ SJ SK C F L P A MG MA SC SS GP V CV CLS QT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H-S hide-show. Works just like in RogCAD_for_Windows.
Default value is hide. When "hide" shows on the menu,
the next data-group you call will not have its wireframe
lines displayed. That is, nothing will appear on screen.
G call a data group. You will be prompted for a group
type and name. You will additionally be prompted for a
group type and name whenever you call an auto-surfacing routine
or when you enter CV to return to the main menu. You will
soon learn to avoid redundancy by not calling a data-group when
you know that you are about to call an auto-surfacing routine or CV.
Q quick plane. Uses a flood fill rather than dense crosshatching
to color a plane. Works as long as most of the plane is on-screen.
This is a DOS and QB64 function only.
K J K and J draw dense lines perpendicular to each other. It's for
plane coloring just as in RogCAD_for_Windows. K1, K2, J1, J2
employ denser cross-hatching, which is needed for larger planes.
SQ string of Q planes.
C cross hatch lines.
F framing lines.
L line.
P plane, using J and K combination.
A add a point.
MG macro-g. You call it for the active group.
Note: When calling a group, use upper/lower case
that matches the macro-g file names.
Otherwise, the program will crash.
MA macro-a. You will be prompted for a macro-a number.
SC screen capture. Do not include the .cap extension.
SS screen set. Do not include the .cap extension.
GP get palette. Do not include the .pal extension.
CH change colors. Works the same as in RogCAD_for_Windows.
Follow the on-screen prompts.
V shows your current perspective, focus and magnification.
Hit E to return to the enhance menu.
CV You will be prompted for a group type and group name,
then will be returned to the main menu mode.
Set the show/hide mode to show before entering CV.
If you forget, then just go back to the enhance menu
and do it.
CLS clears the screen using the color you specify in START.TXT.
FILL clears the screen using the background color specified in
the active group's data file.
CP1 auto-surfacing for cxyz-.txt data groups.
MP1 auto-surfacing for mxyz-.txt data groups.
DOS only:
SP save palette. Do not include the .pal extension.
Not shown on enhance menu:
When in enhance mode, type HCHT (and enter)
to hide the color chart.
SCHT will undo the HCHT command.
QB64 only:
SP1 redundant. Same as P1
P1 P2 P3 PP H1 H2 H3 HP are the same as in RogCAD_for_Windows.
(Auto1 Auto2 Auto3 Plane HL1 HL2 HL3 Plane)
Data folder
-----------
Different from RogCAD_for_Windows:
No groupnames.txt file is needed.
s-.txt data files instead of st-.txt files
Screen capture files are in the data folder.
The QB64 version uses START256.TXT
Colors and palettes
-------------------
RogCAD_for_DOS has a permanent 15-color array
in its viewport. The methods for changing the
colors in that array is the same as in RogCAD_for_Windows.
------------------------------------------------------
RogCAD_QB64 has 256 on-screen colors, just as in
RogCAD_for_Windows.
RogCAD_QB64 has a separate program for displaying
and generating palettes. It functions in the same
manner as RogCAD_for_Windows.
That program is RGB.exe, and must be kept in the same
folder as RogCAD_QB64. The palettes must reside in
the pals folder along with ST-PAL.TXT, which you can
edit. It is the startup file for RGB.exe.
RogCAD_QB64 can call palettes using GP on the menu,
but RogCAD_QB64 cannot change any colors, create
palettes or display palettes. You use RGB.exe for that.
RGB.exe works in the same manner as in RogCAD_for_Windows.
It has an additional feature for creating graduated
colors from 1 to 150 with less data entry. Enter C at
at the menu prompt, then enter 150. Next enter high
values for red, green and blue. (63 is max.)
Included in the download are:
blu_150.pal
gra_150.pal
grn_150.pal
red_150.pal
yel_150.pal
The 150 shades are useful for creating very smooth
gradient lighting on curved surfaces. You specify
a quite high number as the darkest color.
Enter 999 at the menu prompt for the normal graduated
color function. Use the same rules as in RogCAD_for_Windows.
Enter C to change individual colors. SP (save palette)
and GP (get palette) are used without including the
file extension.
In RogCAD for DOS, you will also use 999 for graduated
shades. Hitting E returns you to the main menu.
Again, no file extension when saving or getting palettes.
----------------------------------------------------------
You can capture DOS screens in Windows XP or in DOSBox
using Screen Thief, which can be downloaded at
luebeckdownloads.com. Files can be saved in the
excellent .pcx format and converted to .bmp or .jpg.
You can capture QB64 screens using your Windows
screen capture keys or by using PCS, which is
freeware from JASC Paint Shop Pro, downloadable
at luebeckdownloads.com. Windows or areas are
captured and sent to your clipboard.
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