Using the Pre-Production Editor

ADS includes an editor that can display DXF/DWG designs. Using the editor, you can compare the DXF/DWG files to the original ADS layout design to verify that the design was exported correctly. Similarly, DXF/DWG files can be previewed prior to import into ADS:

• to edit a large design down to a smaller design prior to importing it into ADS. This edited design can be saved and then imported in ADS.
• or after import, to verify that the DXF/DWG design data and the ADS-imported design appear similar.

File Menu

The File menu contains common Open, Save, Save As, and Close functions and lists the four most recent files viewed in the editor.

Edit Menu

The Edit menu contains common and specialized editing commands.

Enable Editing

Enables editing commands to be performed on the current design. Deselect this item to view the design in read-only mode. In this mode, editing commands are unavailable.

Undo

Undoes the last editing command. A stack of edit commands is created enabling you to choose Undo repeatedly to return to an earlier state of your design. A stack is maintained for each window, thus the Undo command works independently from window to window.

Redo

Returns the file to the pre-undo state.

Cut

Enables you to delete one or more items from one window, and paste in another window.

Copy

Enables you to copy items in a given design window and then paste those items within the same design window or another design window.

Paste

Enables you to paste items that you previously cut or copied. You are prompted to enter the X and Y coordinates of the position where you want to paste the copied items. Select Apply to paste or Cancel to dismiss pasting.

Delete

To delete selected items, click the Delete button on the toolbar, or press the Delete key on the keyboard, or choose Delete from the Edit menu. Deleted items can be restored using the Undo command.

Select All

Enables you to select all figure(s).

Deselect All

Deselects all the selected figure.

Modify

This choice lets you modify the following items:

• Select figures and click Union to perform union of the figures.
• Select figures and click Intersection to perform union of the figures.
• Select figures and click Union Minus Intersection to perform union of the figures
• Select Crop to crop an area from a figure(s).
• Select Chop to chop an area from a figure.

Note Union, Intersection, Union Minus Intersection, Crop, and Chop do not work for open ended figures with zero width (for example arc and polylines).

View Menu

The view menu contains commands that allow you to alter the view of the current design.

View All

Your design is scaled and repositioned to fit within the viewing area.

The Zoom Commands

The Zoom commands enable you to enlarge or shrink the area being viewed. You can zoom in and zoom out using mouse wheel. The enlarged or condensed figure is moved towards the center of the window.

Click Zoom To Area > click a point and then with the mouse button pressed move the mouse to the bottom right of the area and release the mouse button to define a new view.

Click Zoom to Point to zoom in on a specified point in the window. Click to specify a point and the current view is magnified by a factor of two, moving the point you specify to the center of the window.

Click Zoom In By 2 to zoom in by a factor of 2.

Click Zoom Out By 2 to zoom out by a factor of 2.

Measure

The Measure dialog allows you to measure lengths.

• Absolute X, Y displays the absolute coordinates of the point of mouse click.
• Delta X, Y gives the relative X and Y coordinates from previous mouse click.
• Angle gives the angle with respect to a line horizontal to the X axis.
• Cumulative distance gives the total length from starting point to current point.
• Click Clear to reset the values for Absolute X,Y, Delta X, Y, Angle and Cumulative distance.
• Click Cancel to dismiss the measure dialog box.

Undo/Redo Stack

Shows last performed actions. You have an option to undo or redo the last operations performed.

Layer Table

The layer Table displays the layer information. It enables you to switch on/off layers from display. It also enables you to view layer number, layer name and layer color. Click Select All to view all the layers and Deselect All to switch off all the layers. All the layers are displayed by default.

Status

The status window displays messages about the status of the current design, as well as warning and error messages.

Window Menu

This menu contains the following common Window commands.

Click Close to close the active window.
Click Close All to close all open designs.
Click Tile to arrange all child windows in a tile pattern.
Click Cascade to arrange all the child windows in a cascade pattern.
Click Arrange Icons to arrange all iconified windows at the bottom of the workspace.
Click Next to navigate to next open window.
Click Previous to navigate to previous open window.

Viewing Files in the Pre-Production Editor During Export

To view a DXF/DWG file during export from ADS:

1. Select DXF/DWG from File type drop-down list in Export dialog.
2. Select the View file after export checkbox and click OK.
   This will display the exported DXF/DWG file. A status window shows if the export is complete or failed and the design is displayed in the Pre-Production Editor.

Viewing Files in the Pre-Production Editor During Import

To view a DXF/DWG file during import to ADS:

1. Select DXF/DWG from File type drop-down list in Import dialog.
2. Click Preview to view the file in the Pre-Production Editor.

Editing Files in the Pre-Production Editor

Using the Pre-Production Editor you can cut, copy, paste and modify designs. From the Modify menu, you can perform editing functions like union, intersection, union minus intersection, crop, and chop.

To edit using the Pre-Production Editor:

1. Open a design in the Pre-Production Editor as described above.
2. Click Edit > Edit Enable.
   • To cut a figure, select the figure and then click Edit > Cut.
   • To copy a figure, select the figure and then click Edit > Copy.
3. To crop or chop a figure:
   1. Select the figure.
      
   2. Click Crop or Chop.
   3. Mark the area to crop/chop using mouse.
      
   4. Release the mouse to crop/chop the selected area.
      
4. Click Delete to delete selected item.
5. Click Undo to revoke last Edit command.