GrayTech Software, Inc. 

GTWorks™ Enhancements in year 1998

  1. Modify Entity View of Display has been added as menu 5.14. This menu allows for restricting an entity to be displayed only its view of definition, versus being displayed in all views. - January 4, 1998
  2. The software is now up to 10 times faster when reading parts and drawings, and part merge - January 4, 1998
  3. The software is now up to 10 times faster when saving parts and patterns - January 4, 1998
  4. The software now supports loading parts and patterns by double clicking on the files in Windows Explorer - January 5, 1998
  5. The software shading module (menu 5.10.8) is now functional. The shading functions are designed for a 256 color video setting, but they also display images correctly in 24 bit color. Using 16 bit color will compromise the image display. To print a shaded image, use menu 5.10.8.5 to create a Windows bitmap file on the harddrive. Then use another Windows application such as Paint to route the image file to a printer - January 20, 1998
  6. A problem with auto max-mining of a multi-view layouts or in views greater than number 1 has been corrected - February 11, 1998
  7. The aiuse Application Interface function has been changed so that pressing the REJECT function key returns an AI code of 2039 which is consistent with the normal behavior of the main program - February 11, 1998
  8. The DXF translator output now includes Z values for all coordinates even if the value is zero - February 17, 1998
  9. Output of lines in the DXF translator is now correct for 3-D models - February 17, 1998
  10. The DXF translator now outputs 3D curves geometry correctly when the GTWorks part (drawing) file is saved with the current work view greater than view 1 - February 17, 1998
  11. The DXF translator output messages have been improved for the case when the current values in the startup.mf file are too low - February 17, 1998
  12. The DXF translator output has been improved to include machining curves (as grouped lines) and all surfaces (as 3D faces).  Previously surfaces of revolution and tabulated cylinders were supported  - February 17, 1998
  13. The tolerance value to determine when coordinates are coincident has been decreased.  This allows small coordinate value DXF polylines to be input - February 17, 1998
  14. The IGES translator (file gtwpre.exe) will now read IGES ASCII formatted files that have only a carriage return character separating the different lines of data.  Both translator files (gtwpre.exe and gtwpost.exe) have been decreased in size by approximately 30 percent - February 19, 1998
  15. The DXF and IGES translators have been decreased in size again (most likely the smallest size possible) - February 25, 1998
  16. Support has been added to the Application Interface default libraries for DEC Fortran (file ai.exe).  The DEC Fortran compiler appears to be one of the best replacements for Microsoft Fortran which has been discontinued.   Use directory libftn2 for the default DEC Fortran project files - February 25, 1998
  17. The DXF and IGES translators have been updated to correct for a few omissions that resulted in the effort to decrease the file sizes - March 11, 1998
  18. The DXF translator has been improved to match the normal DXF standard colors of red, green, blue, cyan, yellow and magenta without using a user defined map file - March 11, 1998
  19. Color support has been implemented for printing/plotting, activated by Menu 5.11.1.3. The modal file system.mf has a new entry (68) and the modal file quick_plot.mf has a new entry (23) for color plotting control.   The quick plot modals menu (7.3.2) has a new entry (15. PLOT USING) for color support.   See the latest on-line help for detailed documentation - April 1, 1998
  20. The button box sizes are now user definable. Menu 1.16.2.3, Define Button Layout, has two additional entries, Button Width and Button Height. The modal file interface.mf has four additional entries, 24 - maximum number of rows, 25 - number of buttons per row, 26 - button width, and 27 - button height. See the latest on-line help for detailed documentation - April 1, 1998
  21. The Mouse Button Definition can now be change from inside the GTWorks program.  The Interface Modals menu has one additional selection, Menu 1.16.1.11 - Mouse Button Definition.  The two selections are 1. [,C,] and 2. C,[,].  The Mouse Button Definition entry in the modal file interface.mf has been moved from number 24 to 28. See the latest on-line help for detailed documentation - April 1, 1998
  22. Selecting the System Storage Defaults menu (6.6) will display a Windows style file dialog box when using the "-w" option on the GTWorks program target line - April 1, 1998
  23. Data Verify All With Pen Number N is a new menu (14.7) - April 1, 1998
  24. Percent Complete messages are now displayed for Part Load, Part Save, Auto Max-Min Generation, Rebuild Neutral Display File, Zooming, Part Merge and Plot File Generation - April 1, 1998
  25. The GTWorks menu text size is now user definable. The Interface Modals menu has one additional selection, Menu 1.16.1.12 (Font Size) for height and width. The modal file interface.mf has two additional entries, 29 - font height, and 30 - font width. Values of zero mean use the system default font size. See the latest on-line help for detailed documentation - April 1, 1998
  26. Periodic Filing has been implemented as Menu 1.2. The filing interval is user defined in minutes and the user specifies the file name for the intermediate saves.  To permanently saved the drawing at the end of a design session, save the part using Part Save (Menu 6.1.1) - April 1, 1998
  27. When installing updates to the software, The GTWorks setup process now modifies your current application modal files and simply adds any additions to the file rather that replace the complete file with the data included in the update - April 1, 1998
  28. A preliminary viewer for displaying and printing GTWorks parts and drawings (unprotected and runs on Windows NT or 95) has been added.  To run the software, start an MS-DOS command prompt, move to the directory where the viewer has been loaded, and enter the command:  "viewer  -w".  - April 3, 1998
  29. A correction has been made for writing DXF files to correctly process 2D Splines that have been defined in views other than 1 - April 7, 1998
  30. A correction has been made to the installation of the new Viewer to make the file swfile  default to directory c:\GTWorksViewer and add the text fonts.  When the Viewer is finalized, the setup process will correctly update the file swfile to match a user's choice of installation directory.   If the user chooses a different installation directory other than the default, the file swfile must be edited by hand - April 7, 1998
  31. A correction has been made for the last full production release on April 1, 1998 for selection entities.  The selection menu would prematurely exit if you used the Operation Complete Key (] or right mouse button) to answer YES or NO to confirm the entities just selected. This problem was a side effect of enabling single selection of entities by Sequence Number, Pointer or entity name - File gtw.exe April 10, 1998
  32. The IGES input translator (program gtwpost.exe for reading IGES files) has been updated to skip ruled surfaces with only one base curve specified (e.g. Catia problem) and continue without interruption - April 10, 1998
  33. The IGES translators (gtwpost.exe and gtwpre.exe) have been updated to accept absolute and relative pathnames for the file names that the user is prompted to enter - April 17, 1998
  34. When using Advanced Shading (Menu 5.10.8), the message for Tessellating Surfaces has been changed to Tessellating 1 of N Surface(s), etc. to provide the user a clearer understanding of the time required to pre-process the data before shading can proceed - April 19, 1998
  35. When creating a picture file of a shaded image (Menu 5.10.8.5) and using the -w option when running GTWorks, improvements have been made so that changing directories to specify the output file name, or moving the dialog box with the mouse will not loose the shaded image underneath - April 19, 1998
  36. The IGES input translator (program gtwpost.exe for reading IGES files) has been updated to handle text strings that are longer than 132 characters (now 20,000) - April 21, 1998
  37. A revision has been made to the AI call aiuse3 for better handling of the 2038 and 2039 status codes - April 23, 1998
  38. A correction has been made for the Point function - Intersect 2 Curves to prevent random program aborts under Windows 95 - April 27, 1998
  39. A correction has been made to the AI function aimtxt for the replace text option - April 29, 1998
  40. A correction has been made to the DXF translator during reading of a DXF file to maintain the current depth at zero if not otherwise specified by the geometry being processed - April 29, 1998
  41. A new entry has been made to the interface.mf file to allow user suppression of the new percent complete messages.  The new entry is item 31 with a value of 0 to display the messages and 1 to suppress the messages.  Message suppression can be desirable when writing External Access programs - May 11, 1998
  42. A case of incorrect processing of a user defined NC APT word file has corrected.   The scenario was for the user to load a word file using Menu 17.1.13 (Load APT Word File), then save the NC Modals (Menu 17.1.18) and finally load the NC modals file just saved (Menu 17.1.18) - May 12, 1998
  43. Zero Z Coordinates (Menu 13.18) modifies the basic GTWorks entities (points, lines, arcs and circles, conics, 2D splines, point sets, strings, arrays, all text based entities, centerlines and crosshatching) and sets their Z coordinate values to zero.   This function is useful if inadvertently the user changed the DEPTH while creating a drawing or have imported IGES, DXF or Series 7000 .g1 files whose entities are not exactly on the zero Z plane.  Functions such as fillet, chamfer and intersection of 2 entities depend on the selected entities being on the same plane for 2D drawings - June 25, 1998
  44. An Undo/Redo function has been added that supports points, lines, arcs and circles, conics, 2D splines, composite curves, point sets, strings, arrays and groups.  The current support includes adding entities, deleting entities, blanking, changing of entity attributes (e.g. color, pen, level, fonts, etc.), translation, mirroring, and the point, line and arc menus.  The undo function is activated by pressing the U key on the keyboard.  When you are in the process of selecting entities, the Undo key is disabled.  CTRL U is the redo function.  There is no limit to the number of undo or undo operations that a user can perform, even past the last part or drawing save.   When the working storage is cleared or a new part or drawing is loaded, the undo/redo data is cleared and the undo process reset.  More support is being added daily.  Please Email GrayTech with any problems using this new important feature - June 25, 1998
  45. An error with clearing work storage with the new Undo/Redo capabilities has been corrected - June 30, 1998
  46. The Undo/Redo function has been improved.  An error have been corrected for processing very large groups and deleting large crosshatching entities.  Support has been added for all entities types.  If you encounter any situations where it appears that the Undo/Redo function does not work properly, please contact GrayTech.    GrayTech is continuing to check out out all menus for any omissions with this new functionality - July 17, 1998
  47. Two new utility programs have been added to the IGES translators for batch mode processing.  There is a readme file included in the new update which explains how to setup and run the translators in batch mode and any restrictions that apply - July 18, 1998
  48. Two new utility programs have been added to the DXF converter for batch mode processing.  There is a readme file included in the new update which explains how to setup and run the converter in batch mode and any restrictions that apply - July 18, 1998
  49. The ai1.dll and ai3.dll runtime libraries have been updated for those users who have their own applications built into GTWorks (aihooks.dll) to reflect the removal of the aiatfunfo routine (made obsolete by the new Undo/Redo capabilities) - July 22, 1998
  50. The Undo/Redo functions have been enhanced to support menus 1.8, 5.14, 12.8, 13.14, 13.16.1-2, 16.10.3-5 and 16.15.1.1 - July 22, 1998
  51. The Undo/Redo functions have been corrected to properly handle NURBS surfaces with very large data sets and entity names - August 6, 1998
  52. The on-line help has been updated to include the Nesting application module and the FEP Flow Analysis module - August 7, 1998
  53. European text input for all text based entities is now supported.  The user may enter the special characters from their country keyboards, or enter the ALT sequences from the numeric keypad, identified under the computer system character map function.   The Times New Roman character set is the default character definition that GrayTech is using to update the GTWorks fonts.  Very shortly the standard GTWorks font will be posted with the new character support.  Thereafter, the remaining fonts will be steadily updated. - August 11, 1998
  54. Several of the NC modals feedrates and spindle speeds can now be updated immediately with the AI function aismf when the user is already in a milling or lathe sequence - August 11, 1998
  55. An update was made to the Application Interface libraries (file ai.exe) to correct an omission when using the Microsoft PowerStation Fortran libraries - August 17, 1998
  56. The Undo/Redo functions have been enhanced to support Attribute Management data - August 19, 1998
  57. The Undo/Redo functions have been enhanced to properly support generation of Cones and Cylinders - August 11, 1998
  58. Older Series 7000 data files that may have excessively large numbers stored as the Z Depth value for lines and text (> 1.0e250) can now be loaded and used without the GTWorks software crashing - August 19, 1998
  59. The IGES and DXF translators have been updated to process older Series 7000 data files that may have excessively large numbers stored as the Z Depth value for lines and text (> 1.0e250) - August 19, 1998
  60. An omission with the Undo/Redo functions regarding Attribute Management data has been corrected - August 24, 1998
  61. An error when deleting very, very large cross-hatching entities has been corrected - September 2, 1998
  62. A problem with the Undo/Redo function not releasing all of its needed memory when clearing work storage has been corrected - September 2, 1998
  63. The first step toward improved 3D rendering has been implemented within menu 8.10, based on the Microsoft Direct3D library.  An OpenGL implementation (and later Fahrenheit) is planned for the future.  Once the user builds a surfaced model, select menu 8.10 to start a new window and pan the model using the first mouse button, rotate the model with the right mouse button, and click and hold both the left and right mouse buttons (or use a mouse thumb wheel) to zoom in and out.  If you rotate the model and release the right mouse button in the process, the model will continue to rotate.   Additional menus for view control, color selection and rendering options are at the top of the rendering window.  At this moment, you will need to press Alt PrintScreen to capture the shaded image onto the clipboard and then paste it into MS Word, etc. for printing.  Suggestions for enhancements are welcome - September 2, 1998
  64. An error when creating a pattern with entities that point to attribute data which does not exist has been corrected - September 10, 1998
  65. An export option (STL formatted file in ASCII) under the File Menu in the new Direct3D rendering option has been implemented (release 14.1.0 60).  At the present time, both sides of a surface are output so the model may be doubly defined in the target system.  Shortly the option to only display and output the front side of a surface will be implemented - September 21, 1998
  66. The new Direct3D rendering option now allows the user to only display the "outside" of surfaces (View->Display Surface's Reverse Side) (release 14.1.0 63).  The user must check the unit surface normals of all surfaces (menu 15.3.2) to make sure all surfaces in the part point to the outside - September 29, 1998
  67. When using the Direct3D rendering option the user can revert back to displaying the original colors of the part if the user has previously changed the global display color (release 14.1.0 63) - September 29, 1998
  68. An unnecessary warning message has been removed from advanced rendering and   Direct3D rendering for the user to change a surface's display paths for better trimmed surface processing (release 14.1.0 63) - September 29, 1998.
  69. An error that previously lead to software termination when using advanced rendering or Direct3D on large parts with multiple trimmed surfaces has been corrected (release 14.1.0 63) - September 29, 1998
  70. A new menu has been added to the Direct3D viewing initialization to globally change the surface display paths for all surfaces (release 14.1.0 63).  With this option, the user can create test models quickly to review unit surface normals and check display performance versus the number of facets for the model - September 29, 1998
  71. The GTWorks DXF converter has been enhanced to output arcs and circles in 3D space instead of converting the data to 3D linear strings (machining curves).  The converter has also been enhanced to properly read in arcs and circles in 3D space - October 3, 1998
  72. An error in rotation of centerline entities in 3D space has been corrected (release 14.1.0 71) - October 14, 1998
  73. A saving error with the message "not enough data in buffer" has been corrected (release 14.1.0 71) - October 14, 1998
  74. An AI programmer's call to routine AIUSM will now immediately display the user defined text message because a Win32 flush graphics call has been added to the routine (release 14.1.0 71) - October 14, 1998
  75. Drawings (parts) will now load faster because the routine that checks for invalid Z coordinate values upon opening of the part file has been improved (release 14.1.0 71) - October 14, 1998
  76. The Undo function now properly supports pattern inserts and part merge (release 14.1.0 71) - October 14, 1998
  77. The auto max-min function now works properly when loading and displaying for the first time a part file translated with either the DXF or IGES translators (release 14.1.0 71) - October 14, 1998
  78. Saving of the button definitions (menu 1.16.3.2.1) now results in a much smaller file for video settings of greater than 256 colors (release 14.1.0 71) - October 14, 1998
  79. The IGES output translator (file gtwpre.exe) has been improved to output lines to show the text bounding box for basic dimensions - October 15, 1998
  80. General Labels now support up to 9 leaders per label (Drafting release 14.1.0 16) - October 19, 1998
  81. The IGES and DXF translators have been updated to support 9 leaders per label - October 19, 1998
  82. The Convert13 translator for Series 7000 *.g1 files to GTWorks *.gx files no longer reverses the names of runtime variables - October 24, 1998
  83. The Convert13 translator for Series 7000 *.g1 files to GTWorks *.gx files can now process subdirectories as well as all files in the current directory - October 24, 1998
  84. The drawing or part name that the user is working on is now displayed in the GTWorks window banner (release 14.1.0 76) - October 24, 1998
  85. The software will now start up using the last used window size from the previous design session (release 14.1.0 76) - October 24, 1998
  86. The system will prompt the user for exit confirmation if the user selected the close button (X) in the upper right corner of the GTWorks window.  This message will also appear if the user selected the pop-up menu from a window edge and then selected the close option (release 14.1.0 78) - November 5, 1998
  87. Third party applications are now supported for users and developers to add specialized functions to the GTWorks system.  The user would select a third party menu from menu 5.15.  Developers should refer to the Third Party Developers section under the Miscellaneous book of the revised on-line help (release 14.1.0 78) - November 5, 1998
  88. The on-line help has been updated to include all of the enhancements to the software during the past 6 months (release 14.1.0 78) - November 5, 1998
  89. The function keys F4 and Shift F4 now function (release 14.1.0 83) - November 14, 1998
  90. The keypad is now only displayed if numerical input is desired (release 14.1.0 83) - November 14, 1998
  91. All ASCII data in the decimal range 130 through 255 can now be entered for text (‚ though ÿ) (release 14.1.0 83) - November 14, 1998
  92. The s7kfst.pf font file has been updated for character data up through decimal value 255 (ÿ) (release 14.1.0 83) - November 14, 1998
  93. The on-line help for character set examples in the drafting book (GTWorks fast font) has been updated (release 14.1.0 83) - November 14, 1998
  94. The IGES translators have been reposted to the Web site to remove a problem with the last update on November 5, 1998 that resulted in an IGES output file that only contained the Start and Global sections - November 24, 1998
  95. The IGES translators have been updated to support all printable ASCII text characters (decimal 32 though 255) - November 25, 1998
  96. The DXF translator has been updated to support all printable ASCII text characters (decimal 32 though 255) - November 25, 1998
  97. The GTWorks Viewer program has been updated for Year 2000 compliance and to support the new Direct3D shading capabilities under menu 1.14 - December 1, 1998
  98. Rubberbanding lines (menu 10.3) and arcs (menu 11.4) now work properly if a local coordinate system has been defined and is activated (release 14.1.0 89) - December 15, 1998
  99. A new AI routine has been added (AIGTSC) to get the trimming curve data for trimmed surfaces.  The latest ai.exe file must also be downloaded and your AI applications rebuilt in order to use this function (release 14.1.0 89) - December 15, 1998
  100. During output of Numerical Control CL file data, the first prompt is now the vendor selection for the expected postprocessor.  This allows a default file extension to be used for the file listings in the subsequent file open box.  The default file extension for Auto-trol GPost is .asc, the default file extension for ICAM is .cam, and the default file extension for IntelliPost is .np.  The binary file output (.nc file) is only used for intermediate toolpath output processing and will normally be deleted upon completion (release 14.1.0 89) - December 15, 1998
  101. The default file extension for Numerical Control CL file output for IntelliPost is .asc. (release 14.1.0 92) - December 16, 1998
  102. An infrequent program crash when operating under Windows 95 and selecting Enhanced Plot II and either an HPGL or HPGL/2 formatted output file has been corrected (release 14.1.0 92) - December 16, 1998
  103. A traceback feature has been added to GTWorks.  In the event of a program abort, the software will display a more detailed message to the user and create a gtwlog.txt file containing debugging information for GrayTech to more quickly locate the source of the error in the software.  This traceback function tries to output into the log file the routine that the software was calling at the time of the crash, and as many of the calling routines as possible (release 14.1.0 96) - December 20, 1998
  104. The traceback feature has been improved to handle errors and tracebacks that occur or proceed through the C and C++ code of the program.  Previously the traceback was limited to Fortran source code routines (release 14.1.0 97) - December 27, 1998
  105. The traceback feature has been added to the IGES and DXF translators - December 28, 1998
 
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