Installation
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| Setting up the server is a bit complex.
That's why we set up the hardware and software for you. CAD2data requires a web server running Windows XP or 2000. While the majority
of the code is written in Java, the application is still dependent
on Windows services like SQL Server/MSDE, Indexing Service, MSXML,
MSJVM and others. The clients, however, require no setup at all
-- no Java applets, no ActiveX (AutoCAD Express viewer (or the
older AutoCAD Whip!) is required to view the .DWF format). If
cookies, JavaScript, and/or XML are supported, we will use them,
but we don't require them. |
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Scanning: Configuration
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| The scanning process starts with ScanDWGs, a Windows application where you choose file folders to scan - local or over the network. You also set things like file name filters, file date filters, output folders and the like. You can load or save these options as a configuration file. |
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| Scanning |
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| When you hit the Go! button, the scanning process starts. CAD2data requires just a second or so per drawing, depending on your computer's power. Status messages scroll up the status window, and a log file is generated as well. Once a configuration file is set up properly, the process can be run from the command line as a scheduled task. |
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| Indexing |
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| When the scan process is done, before drawings appear in the search results, the indexing engine requires time to do its work. This is usually 30-60 minutes. |
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| Generating the graphics (Plotting) |
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| The final step is run on a PC running AutoCAD - preferably one set up with all the fonts, plotter drivers and external references. AutoPLOT, a small application, launches AutoCAD, sets the parameters for an AutoCAD VBA macro, and runs the macro. |
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| Plotting, continued |
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| The macro plots all the drawings successfully
scanned by ScanDWGs to files -- using
any combination of .DWF, .JPG, .PNG and/or .PDF format. This method
of doing things avoids a lot of problems plotting with third-party
software and can make an essentially perfect representation of
the paper drawing. |
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| Search by Text |
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| The basic search form couldn't be simpler. Designed
for non-technical users, yet supporting Boolean, "near", and wildcard queries. |
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| Search by Form |
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| If SmartScan is configured, the user can also search by Form -- sometimes better for a very specific search. |
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| Results page |
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| Results are ranked by relevance and organized
into pages. Each drawing listed has a short abstract. There are
several hyperlinks for each drawing - these let the user view detail
information in several ways. |
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| Detail as Form |
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| This is a form with buttons for printing, viewing as plain text, and entering edit mode. |
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| Detail as Form - Edit Mode |
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| Edit mode is designed for quick revisions, as well as manual creation of new records.
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| Detail as Text |
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| This view contains all the text in the drawing, with the search terms highlighted. |
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| Detail as Graphic |
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| This is the graphic generated previously, designed to be viewed in-house on any PC, or by your customers. |
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| Launch CAD Program |
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| Local network users can, if authorized, click
a link to open the original drawing in their CAD editor. This lets
your drafters quickly access drawings related to the project they're
working on. |
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