[Pythoncad-developer] Notes on Pythoncad and drawing
CAD Application entire developed in Python
Status: Beta
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From: Yagnesh D. <yn...@gm...> - 2010-01-13 02:05:20
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Dear Friends; Following is the note from Mr David Young whose request I found received by email and helped him download pythoncad ver R38 for testing, I am trying to have him on our group but till then following is his note for the record Quote: Notes on Pythoncad and drawing David Young I am a professional architect (building design and construction), having completed my degree in 1976. I started electronic drawing in 1989, and have used Cadam (originally from Lockheed) and its later Helix version for most of my technical drawings since 1989. An offshoot went into Catia (Dassault Systemes) when Cadam and Helix support terminated outside Japan. I have been trying to learn to use Blender, and have done some translation of manuals for gCAD3D. I had started looking at Python (I have done some web and intranet work with PHP) when I came across the Pythoncad site, and thought the idea was interesting. Some asides: There are a number of FOSS and similar CAD and modelling programmes around, but each seems to be incomplete in various ways, or perhaps I do not have sufficient understanding of how they work. The idea of a standard type of file format (OCA) seems good, in that the aim is not to work around the Autocads, but to make a useful product which stands on its own and can import and export readily. Pythoncad communications: >From what I have seen, there seems to be a need for better communication for the project. The Sourceforge site is fine for downloads and development, but it seems to me that there needs to be a current web site and wiki type facility (I get a dead end clicking on the wiki link on Sourceforge, and the link to the web site which points back to Sourceforge is not helpful). The download packages need to be complete, with instructions, and with pointers to help. Without this, the project creates a bad impression. Drawing in general The least moves and clicks to get the most accurate data on to each drawing is the aim. I can only try to generalise from my experience. Interface: Needs to be as customisable as possible. More useful items need to appear on the display. One feature with Cadam is that a short list of next possible actions is given on screen. The three-button mouse gives a potential six actions, plus scaling using the wheel. Must work for left and right hands. Inner button, middle mouse, outer button, inner+outer, inner+middle and outer+middle. Cadam uses 5 of these, and has its own consistent usage of 'select' (inner), 'indicate' (middle) and 'yes/no' (outer) plus 'window' (one 2-button combination) and 'pop-up menu' (another 2-button combination). Because the list of functions and actions neccessarily gets long in order for the software to be useful, one potential thing from Cadam is that each main function appears on the pop-up menu, with sub-menus appearing in context relative to the function. Output must be plottable to scale on paper for the software to be usable. It is necessary for a drawing to be able to include a variety of scales and rotations of work, and plotting must handle these correctly. Analysis of existing points, lines etc must be quick and easy. There must be access to standard symbols and details. 1989+ Cadam allows dipping in to any drawing on the network to extract details for use in your current drawing. And things like area fills are essential for use of the software. I will give a detailed list of Cadam functionality when time permits, just as a checklist of things needed in useful software, as well as a bare-bones minimum list. Backward compatibilty is highly desirable for me. Cadam has removed limits and added features, but one can open the oldest drawing and save it as a current model. There is no end to what is needed to make CAD simpler to use and more productive. It goes on from 2D to 2.5D (Cadam) to 3D to models with extraction of 2D and 3D sheets (Archicad etc). And we are just at the beginning. Other comments will follow. All is hopefully seen as positive comment. David :UnQuote -- Best regards Yagnesh Desai |