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SpecManager for V8/XM
Easily
design with the right feature and symbology!
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SpecManager for V8/XM allows users to select
and place features (physical components like a specific
type of door, a masonry wall or a two-lane road)
from a pre-configured list of features that already
meet the required CAD standards. Unlike Axiom’s
SpecChecker
and SpecMonitor
— the company’s longstanding quality assurance
utilities — SpecManager doesn’t
correct MicroStation elements in violation of CAD
standards.
Rather, SpecManager for V8/XM helps MicroStation
users place design features on the correct levels
and with the correct symbology and other attributes.
Before placing any given feature, MicroStation users
select the name of the feature from the SpecManager
for V8/XM dialog box and the MicroStation tools
and attributes (like level, color, weight and style)
are automatically set to the CAD standard for that
feature. CAD standards are easily defined using
a simple text file.
SpecManager for V8/XM is installed on every
workstation that uses MicroStation for design purposes.
Though non-intrusive, SpecManager for V8/XM
is always active when designing as it is constantly
accessed in order to draw different features.
How SpecManager for
V8/XM works
When a user starts to design with SpecManager
for V8/XM, the dialog box presents a tabbed list
of “general categories” (categories are
usually defined by a CAD or project manager). The
tabs identify the top level of general categories
and when selected, each tab shows a list of “feature
categories”.
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| A sample SpecManager
for V8/XM dialog box |
A company or office has full control over the contents
and organization of the tabs and categories. To
start designing a particular feature, a user simply
needs to:
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Select a general category,
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Select a feature category
and then
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Select the feature needed
in the bottom section of the SpecManager dialog
box as shown below.
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| Using SpecManager
for V8/XM, a user has found and selected the
feature “Door symbol”. |
When the user selects a category or feature, a
lower level list of categories or features is displayed.
The categories with the yellow highlighting show
the path taken by the user to locate the needed
feature. There can be just one or as many as four
levels under a general category tab. The last selected
feature is highlighted in blue.
If a feature is selected, the appropriate MicroStation
tool is activated. For example, the “Place
Line”, “Cell Selector”, “Text
Editor” tools and the active attributes are
set according to the CAD standard that is defined
in a SpecManager input file (easy to build
text files define the tabbed lists, categories and
features used by SpecManager).
The user then places the feature where it is needed
in the design file and proceeds to select and place
the next feature.
SpecManager for V8/XM
is non-intrusive to the MicroStation workspace.
When a user starts to draw a selected feature, the
SpecManager dialog box immediately disappears
so that the user has a full MicroStation window
available to place the feature. The dialog box is
easily redisplayed by moving the cursor to the bottom
of the view window. The dialog box will reappear
with the same list of categories and highlighting
as when it was hidden.
A “History” tab is available and shows
the features that have been selected (most recently
used features are shown first). Selecting a feature
in the “History” tab activates the proper
MicroStation tool, sets the active attributes and
hides the dialog box just as if the feature was
selected from a list in one of the main categories.
This is a way to quickly redo a recent feature placement
action.
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| SpecManager’s
History tab lists recently selected features. |
What are the must-have
requirements in a solution for placing design features
per a CAD standard?
A tool that solves the problem of placing design
features per a CAD standard must meet the following
requirements:
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Accommodate lists of features
that are easy to build and are organized into
logical disciplines or categories.
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Allow users to quickly
and easily navigate through the feature lists
when trying to find a desired feature.
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Associate each feature
with the MicroStation tools to be activated
in order to place the feature and the CAD standard
symbology for the feature.
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Should not obscure MicroStation
view windows when placing features.
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Give users visual confirmation
of what was selected in the feature lists and
a history of what features have been selected.
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Must be fast to set up.
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Must speed up the design
process, not slow it down.
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Must be simple and not
contain a multitude of features that are not
used.
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The solution that meets
these requirements is Axiom’s new feature
placement tool, SpecManager!
Summary
SpecManager is a tool that replaces the MicroStation
Settings Manager. It is easy to setup and maintain
and provides great flexibility in defining any structure
of categories and features that a company might
need. SpecManager is simple and quick to
use and gets out of the way when placing features.
Call now!
For more information,
call 727-442-7774 extension 9109 in the U.S. or e-mail
us.
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