|
CAD X11® System Administrator's Guide
for Windows 7, Vista, XP and 2000
1. SYSTEM HARDWARE
GrayTech recommends a high performance graphics card for optimum results with the Direct3D and OpenGL dynamic 3D viewers. This software requires approximately 10 megabytes of free disk space.
2. SYSTEM SOFTWARE
CAD X11® is a Win32 application and will operate under Windows 7, Vista, XP and 2000. One of these Windows environments must be activated.
3. LOADING THE SOFTWARE
CAD X11® is provided on the Web as file x11pro.exe or x11enterprise.exe and is easily installed using the Windows setup utility. The installation process creates a separate directory (c:\Program Files\GrayTech\CAD X11 by default) for the CAD X11® files.
For Windows 7, Vista, XP or 2000 Network installations (an option in the installation sequence), you must have sufficient user privileges to register the Network License manager as a service.
After you download the software, double click on the .exe file you downloaded. This will invoke the setup program, which will prompt you for the information required for loading the software. Most of the prompts will be self-explanatory. Some of the prompts that may be confusing are described below.
The fourth screen prompt of the CAD X11 Enterprise version will be whether the License Type is Ethernet where the user will obtain a password from GrayTech to use the software on one station that has a network card, or whether the installation is Network where permission to run the software is granted by a network license manager program provided by GrayTech with the installation. Passwords are required for a new installation if you are setting up an Ethernet or Network installation, or setting up the Professional version. If you are reinstalling the software, you do not need to reenter passwords unless the installation operating system is different than before, or GrayTech provides new passwords.
If you select the Ethernet License Type for the Enterprise version or are installing the Professional version, the software will inquire and display the Ethernet Address of the computer on which you are loading the software. Email GrayTech with this number and a password will be emailed back to you. You must enter this password before continuing with the installation.
If you select the Network License Type when installing the Enterprise version of CAD X11, two prompts later will be for the Ethernet Address (License Servers) of the computer on which you are loading the software. To correctly answer this prompt, you should enter the Ethernet Address of the computer you are using, and click on ‘Add’. Then click on ‘Next’ to proceed. If the prompt already shows correct Ethernet Addresses from prior installations, you can continue past this prompt without entering data.
The next prompt for the Enterprise version installation will be for the number of utility files to load (Minimum, Typical, or Custom). The custom installation option allows you to load files not previously loaded (the License Manager, Viewer, network plotter driver for older HP plotters, .etc), or to omit selected files from a new installation.
At the end of a Network installation, the CAD X11® Password Editor will be automatically started for entering or verifying the passwords required to run the Network License Manager. The file cadx11.usr in the CADHOME directory is being created and/or modified with the Password Editor. If the passwords are correct, simply close the Password Editor. Otherwise, make the entries and save the file. If you do not yet have the passwords, contact GrayTech with the Ethernet Address of the computer that will be hosting the Network License Manager. Most likely, you will receive the cadx11.usr file via email so you can close out the Password Editor and copy the cadx11.usr file into the master cadx11 directory.
The following sections of this Administrator's Guide will assist you in setting up the computer for program use. The on-line help explains how to operate the programs.
4. SETTING THE USER'S ENVIRONMENT
The setup procedure defines the settings and user’s environment in the operating system registry that are required to control the CAD X11® application. The setup process creates the entries from information supplied during setup. To verify and/or change the entries, enter ‘regedit’ from the Run Command of Windows 7 Vista, XP or 2000. The registry entries are divided into the sections described below.
[Environment] Section
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\GrayTech\CADX11\Environment
CADHOME=<directory name>
The CADHOME string value defines the directory where the CAD X11® files are located. The user should not edit this section.
CADNET_SERVER=<ethernet_address>
The CADNET_SERVER string value specifies the Ethernet address of a computer running the CAD X11® Network License Manager. The Ethernet address must be a 12-digit hexadecimal number (without separating colons). This setting must be specified before CAD X11® can be run with Network security (unless the CAD X11® License Finder is used). This string value is not required for the single-user MAC Address mode of running CAD X11®.
HOME=<directory name>
The HOME string value defines the directory where user files (private patterns, config files, etc.) are located.
PATTERNS_DIRECTORY=<directory name>
The PATTERNS_DIRECTORY string value defines the directory where public patterns are stored.
TMPDIR=<directory name>
The TMPDIR string value defines the directory where CAD X11® creates temporary files. If TMPDIR is set to %Temp% (the default), CAD X11® uses the temporary directory defined by Windows.
INTERNATIONAL_DATE=<TRUE>
The INTERNATIONAL_DATE string value defines whether the date displayed for drawings and patterns in the Common Interface is displayed in the order of day, month and year. If the string value is omitted (the default) or defined as something other than TRUE, the date is displayed in the default order of month, day and year. This value is not defined during setup and must be entered afterwards if desired by the user.
[LicenseServers] Section
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\GrayTech\CADX11\LicenseServers
This section defines the list of computers in the network running the CAD X11 Network License Manager. The CAD X11 License Finder uses this list to find an available license and start CAD X11®. For each computer running the License Manager, the [LicenseServers] section contains an entry of the form
Server<n>=<ethernet address>
where <ethernet address> is the Ethernet address of the computer running the License Manager and <n> is an integer starting from 0, which denotes the order in which the servers are checked.
[Startup] Section
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\GrayTech\CADX11\Startup
This section defines values which control the startup of CAD X11®.
Interface=<Common | Windows>
This string value defines the default interface (Common or Windows) that will be used when starting CAD X11® by double clicking on a drawing using Windows Explorer or Internet Explorer, or by starting CAD X11® from the utility programs 'List All Drawings', 'List Drawings', or the ‘CAD X11 License Finder’.
License=<DirectNet | Net | DirectKey>
This string value defines the type of License Manager used by the program; local MAC address, network based or hardware key. The DirectKey value is for the Rainbow SuperPro keys that do not require passwords and only need to be connected to your parallel port.
Warmup Time=<time>
This DWORD value defines the time in seconds the Network License Manager waits for current CAD X11® programs to check in before issuing new licenses to run CAD X11®. The hardware key License Manager ignores this value. If the value is not defined, the warm-up time defaults to 180 seconds. This value is not defined during setup and must be entered afterwards if desired by the user. Open the registry and move to the Environment section. Highlight the Environment section, select Edit from the top menu bar, then select New, then select DWORD, then enter Warmup Time.
[Fonts] Section
\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\GrayTech\cadx11\Fonts
This section defines the menu fonts used by CAD X11® for the Common Interface. This section should not be edited by the user. To change the fonts, run CAD X11® in prompt mode and click on the Set Font button.
[Recent File List] Section
\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\GrayTech\cadx11\Recent File List
This section lists the last four drawing files that were either opened or saved. These drawings may be directly selected for retrieval when using CAD X11® in Windows interface mode by selecting the File menu and then choosing one of these files.
[Toolbars] Sections
\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\GrayTech\cadx11\Toolbars (x)
These sections define the toolbars used by CAD X11® for the Windows interface. The user should not edit this section except for one case. If for some unknown reason CAD X11® will not start in Windows interface mode, one or more of these sections may have stored data out of range and all toolbar sections should be deleted before restarting the software.
[Windows] Section
\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\GrayTech\cadx11\Windows
This section has entries for whether large buttons were being used for the toolbars, the last CAD X11® window x and y origin and width and height of the window, whether the window was maximized, and whether tool tips were being displayed. The user should not edit this section. In addition, all dialog boxes have a stored origin listed here after a particular pop-box was used. In this way, the user can move a dialog to view underlying data, and the system will remember and display the same dialog box at that new location when it is called again.
5. PUBLIC PATTERNS
The public pattern directory is specified by the PATTERNS_DIRECTORY entry in the [Environment] section of the CAD X11 entries in the registry (see Section 4).
While running the software, if a communication problem should arise, an error message is provided by the public pattern function. The error message is:
'CANNOT OPEN PUBLIC PATTERN DIRECTORY'
and can be caused by one of the following:
- an incorrect pathname is in the PATTERNS_DIRECTORY entry, or
- a network communication problem exists.
Contact the Computer System Administrator or your computer hardware representative to handle network communication problems.
6. CAD X11 Network License Manager
To run CAD X11® in a network environment (Enterprise version), you must first start one or more CAD X11® Network License Managers. If the managers do not start automatically upon a reboot or they have been deactivated after installation, follow these steps:
- Sign onto Windows on a computer authorized to run the Network License Manager.
- Activate the License Manager
- For Windows Vista, XP, 2000 or NT (using the Network Version), use the Control Panel's Services applet to start the License Manager.
- For Windows ME or 98, double click on the CAD X11 Network License Manager icon in the GrayTech Software program group.
The installation process sets up the Network License Manager to start automatically each time Windows starts. On Windows Vista, XP, 2000 or NT, the Network License Manager is set up as a Service started automatically at boot time. On Windows ME or 98, the registry entry \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices\CadNetMan is set to the path of the license manager executable, defining the Network License Manager as a service which starts at boot time.
The Network License Manager requires the NetBIOS protocol. With some network providers this may require the installation of additional components not normally installed with the network. The network software supplied with Windows Vista, XP, 2000, NT, ME and 98 supports NetBIOS.
- After starting the License Manager, you will need to wait three minutes (see the Warmup Time DWORD value discussion in Section 4) before starting CAD X11®. If you start CAD X11® before the three minutes are up, the program will display the time remaining and wait before starting the program.
- The CADNET_SERVER setting in the [Environment] section of the cadx11 registry section defines the Ethernet address of the computer running the License Manager. This entry must be set before running CAD X11 (unless the CAD X11 License Finder is used).
The License Manager keeps track of the number of users currently running CAD X11®. The number of authorized users and options available is defined in the file 'cadx11.usr' file in the CADHOME directory. If the message:
CAD X11 Not Available
appears, one of three possible situations may exist:
- The number of users running CAD X11® has reached the maximum that you have purchased. You will have to wait until at least 1 user exits the program.
- CAD X11® was killed prematurely somewhere on the network. The License Manager will detect this situation and free the license in two or three minutes.
- A lock may have been set to prevent you from running CAD X11®.
The file to lock licenses is named 'cadx11.lck' and is found (must be created by the user or administrator) in the CADHOME directory of the computer running the Network License Manager. The format of the file is as follows:
- #
- comments
- .
- .
- .
- *
- Program <program name>
- Lock <ethernet-address>
- LockOut <ethernet-address>
- *
- EOF
Where <program name> is CADX11, and <ethernet-address> is the Ethernet Address of the computer to be locked. A Lock statement ensures that a license to the program specified by the previous Program statement is always available for the computer specified by <ethernet-address>, and a LockOut statement ensures that the computer specified by <ethernet-address> can never get a license to the program specified by the previous Program Statement. A Lock or LockOut statement may only contain one address, but multiple Lock and LockOut statements are allowed. Multiple Program statements are allowed, but a line containing an asterisk should precede each Program statement.
The Network License Manager creates and maintains a log file named 'cadnet.log' in the CADHOME directory. This file records when the Network License Manager starts, and the following information for user access to the CAD X11® software; time, date, process ID, Internet Address of the user, and the action completed (obtain license, release license or difficulties encountered).
7. PROGRAM OPERATION
At this point, if you plan on using the Professional version of CAD X11, or using the Windows Interface in the Enterprise version, being familiar with the first on-line help topic, "Help Status And How To Use This Help" and at least skimming the subjects thereafter is highly recommended. If you plan on using the Common Interface available with the Enterprise version of CAD X11, being familiar with Sections 2-6 of the on-line help is highly recommended. You are now ready to operate the program by double clicking on a CAD X11 icon.
For Common Interface users, double clicking on the CAD X11 Prompt Mode icon allows the user to change the startup settings for the Common Interface (fonts, menu mode, backup options, etc.) before starting CAD X11®. Only the font settings are changed permanently. To change the other settings, edit the config.user file in the HOME directory (See the on-line help for further information).
For Enterprise users, starting the CAD X11 License Finder starts CAD X11® by searching for an available license on the list of servers given in the [LicenseServers] section of the cadx11 section of the registry. This is useful for large networks where multiple computers run the CAD X11® Network License Manager.
Again, follow the on-line help for additional clarification on activating the program.
8. TMP DIRECTORY
By default, CAD X11® creates temporary files in the temporary directory defined by Windows (usually the directory specified by the environment variable TEMP). To change the directory, set the TMPDIR setting in the [Environment] section of the cadx11 section of the registry (see Section 4).
9. ON-LINE HELP
CAD X11® can display the appropriate manual documentation for the menu currently displayed. To display the on-line help when running the Professional version of CAD X11, or using the Enterprise version in Windows Interface mode, select the help menu box, press the F1 function key or select the Help arrow button on the main tool bar and then select a menu. When using the Common Interface mode of the Enterprise version, press the '?' key. The ‘?’ help key is also useful in the Windows Interface when the crosshairs are displayed.
10. MENU TEXT FILES
CAD X11® has built-in menus in mixed-case English. When the 'menus' directory is present under the CAD X11 home directory (CADHOME), CAD X11® will load the available menu text files for the Common Interface. The default menu text files available for CAD X11® are mixed-case English also. Contact GrayTech for a copy of these text files if you desire to make changes in English or translate the menus into another language.
11. WINDOWS EXPLORER SETUP
CAD X11® supports double clicking on drawing files in Windows Explorer, and drag and drop of drawing files onto the CAD X11 executable icon in Windows Explorer.
12. MASTER CONFIG FILE
The System Administrator can lock several config file settings so that the user cannot override them for individual use. This will allow some global control for overall consistency of several drawing modals and program operation. The System Administrator simply adds the word 'fixed' with at least one preceding blank space on any line of the config file in the CADHOME directory that he/she desires to be unchangeable. The following config settings can be fixed; autosave, arrowtype, label text position, data display mode, plot area fills, implicit point, default sheet no., and single drawing backup management.
13. PLOTTING
To plot a drawing when using the Professional version of CAD X11, or the Enterprise version in Windows Interface mode, use the Print function, or export a plot file from the File Menu and then plot it with the CAD X11® Windows Plot Printer icon in the GrayTech Software program group. If your plotter is not yet selectable with this program, you need to add the Windows support from your operating system by proceeding to Start->Settings->Printers (Start->PrintersAndFaxes for Windows XP) and selecting ‘Add Printer’.
CAD X11® provides two plotter drivers for plotters not supported by Windows. Individual plotter drivers are provided for Hewlett Packard and Calcomp plotters. If you have two or more computers in a network that need to plot to the same plotter, then you need to install the NetPlot support that is found under the Custom option of the software installation. The NetPlot software only needs to be loaded on the computer that is connected to the plotter. From the other computers, select the Net box when running the plotting program and enter the name of the computer connected to the plotter.
The protocols that are supported are tried in the following order:
"ncacn_nb_tcp",
"ncacn_nb_ipx",
"ncacn_nb_nb",
"ncacn_ip_tcp",
"ncacn_np",
"ncacn_spx",
"ncacn_dnet_nsp",
"ncacn_at_dsp",
"ncacn_vns_spp",
"ncadg_ip_udp",
"ncadg_ipx",
"ncadq_mq",
"ncacn_http",
"ncalrpc"
The first three are NetBEUI protocols.
If you have loaded the Network Plotter Driver, which starts whenever the computer is rebooted, and you wish to deactivate the software, you have two options depending if the operating system is Windows Vista, XP, 2000, NT, ME or 98. For Vista, XP, 2000 or NT, proceed to the Control Panel and select Services (found under Administrative Tools for Windows Vista, XP or 2000). You can then stop the CAD X11 Network Plotter Driver service and disable the service when the machine reboots. To totally eliminate the service under Windows Vista, XP, 2000 or NT, delete the registry Key \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSetcontrolst00x\Services\CadNetPlot. To totally eliminate the service under Windows ME or 98, delete the registry entry \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices\NetPlot.
If at all possible, Windows support for the printer/plotter should be used.
14. OLDER PLOTTER CONFIGURATIONS
14.1 Calcomp (1040 Series)
Use the DTE setting for proper communication signals. In addition, change the communication setup on the plotter to the following specifications:
Item
- 1. - No parity, 8 bits per character
- 2. - 1 stop bit, clock set to 0
- 3. - Serial interface, 00 address
- 4. - 9600 Baud, 0=PCI
- 5. - No terminal muting, Yes chksum
- 6. - No Isochronous, 03 End of message character
- 7. - No direct control, No XON-XOFF
- 8. - 9600 Baud, full duplex
- 9. - 1 sync code, code value 002
14.2 Calcomp 1023
Item
- 1. - Format - PCA
- 2. - 8 bits per character, 1 stop bit, No parity
- 3. - Ack, Nak Handshake
- 4. - 9600 Baud
- 5. - # of sync =1, Sync char=2
- 6. - Chksum enabled
- 7. - End Msg=3
14.3 Hewlett Packard (HPGL and HPGL/2 based plotters)
The baud rate should be set at 9600 and a serial interface should be used. All other factory default settings should be acceptable. The CAD X11 plotting programs set the computer communication mode at 8 bits per character, no parity and one stop bit.
15. BACKUP PROCEDURES
System backup is vital to ensure valuable information. If a regular backup routine to off-line storage is performed daily or weekly, the user can avoid serious setbacks in case of hardware problems.
16. ERROR REPORTING
Good error reporting procedures are advantageous both to users and GrayTech. Send correspondence to GrayTech regarding errors and desirable feature improvements to the program. If at all possible, send data files to support any error reports.