Knowledge detail

Convert .plt files to DWG

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 Question: I have a lot of .plt (HPGL plotter) files. I would like to convert them to .dwg files in ZWCAD. Is there a function available to do that?
Answer: First of all, you need to make sure that the .plt files were created with a printer, plotter, or program that output the drawing in HPGL Standard format. For instance, they were plotted by the Generic SHPGL plotter or Generic LHPGL plotter driver in AutoCAD. To convert them, use PLT2DWG command.

Knowledge detail

Isolate a layer

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Q: There are many layers in my drawings. Is it possible for me to isolate just one of them?
A: Just input the LayIso command, and you are prompted for the name of the layer to isolate. (The other layers are not displayed.) If you want to return the layers to their normal state of visibility, enter the LayUniso command.

Knowledge detail

Remove duplicate entities

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Q: My drawings have a number of duplicated entities. I find them  annoying. How can I delete them?
A: There is a function that removes duplicate entities, and here are two ways access it. You can enter DelDupl at the command line and then delete the duplicate entities; or, you can access the command from the menu: Choose Express, Draw, and then Delete Duplicate Circles/Arcs/Lines.

Knowledge detail

Add revision clouds to a drawing

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Q: I cannot figure out how to add revision clouds to my drawings. How can I do that?
A: You can enter the RevCloud command, which runs the revision cloud function at the command prompt. (Alternatively, you can access it from the Express menu: choose Draw and then Revision Cloud.)

Knowledge detail

Align text along arc

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Question: I want to draw a small label in the drawing, but I want to align it along an arc. How can I do this?
Answer: In ZWCAD, you can use the Arctext function from Express tools. From the Express menu, choose Text and then choose Arc-Aligned Text. Place the label aligned with an arc.

Knowledge detail

Layer properties Manager

Q: Why do some options of Layer Properties Manager seem to not work?

A: As shown by the figure below, the “Freeze in current viewpoint” and “Freeze new viewpoints” are dimmed out and seem to not work. This occurs when the drawing is in Model space; the options are available only in Paper space.

Ÿ Freeze in current viewport

freezes the selected layer in current layout viewport. You can freeze or thaw the layer in the current viewport of a layout without affecting visibility of the layer in other viewports. (Note that you must activate a viewport before freezing the layer: double-click the viewport to get into model mode.) Frozen layers are invisible and unable to regenerate or plot; you restore visibility through thawing the layer. This option is only available on layouts.

Ÿ Freeze in new viewports

freezes selected layers in newly-created viewports of layouts. This option is only available on layouts.

Knowledge detail

Entities missing from plots

Q: Why are some entities are missing in my plotted output?

A: If you find some entities missing from the printout, first check the Layer Properties Manager to see whether some layers have plot turned off.

 Note that objects on the DEFPOINTS layer will never be allowed to print, because this layer is by default a non-printing layer,because it is used to store information used by ZWCAD for dimensions.

A known problem is that some portions may go missing when drawings are printed to large paper sizes, such as A0 (metric) and E (imperial).

If this does not solve the problem, then it may be due to a problem with the drawing. Feel free to send the drawing to tech@zwcad.com for further investigation.

Figure: If the layer is not allowed to plot, then the objects on this layer are not be printed.