ToolsDraw2Flash

Created: June 11, 2016 | Updated: April 11, 2017 | Applies to versions: 15.1, 16.0, 16.1, 17.0, 17.1, 18.0, 18.1, 19.0, 19.1, 20.0, 20.1, 20.2 and 21

Parent page: CAMtastic Commands

The following pre-packaged resource, derived from this base command, is available:

Automatically Convert Drawn Pads to Flashed Apertures

Applied Parameters: CommandMode=CAM

Summary

This command is used to convert selected drawn pads to flashed apertures, and enables you to have new apertures automatically created and assigned, depending on the object being represented.

Access

This command is accessed from the CAMtastic Editor by choosing the Edit » Groups » Automatic command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a small square and you will enter conversion mode. The procedure involves the following sequence of actions:

Click on the drawn pads that you wish to convert to flashed pads, making them selected.
When all pads have been selected as required, right-click. The Draw Flash (Auto-Detect) dialog will appear. The dialog offers the following:
- In the Shape/Dcode for New Flashes region of the dialog, you can choose to assign an existing Dcode to the selected pads, or create a new one. If you choose the Create New Dcode option, then the shape you choose in the Shape field will be applied to all pads in the selection, varying the size automatically in relation to the pad being represented. The CAMtastic Editor will detect the sizes required and automatically assign Dcodes for each new instance, starting from the first available (empty) Dcode.
- If you choose the Use Dcode option, the same Dcode will be applied to all pads in the selection, regardless of their differences.
- You can choose to have the resulting flashes drawn on the same layer, a new layer, or any one of the existing layers in the current document.
- Various other conversion options are available from the dialog, including the ability to set a flash tolerance - when matching pads that are identical in the selection - and whether to keep old pads, or delete them completely.
After defining the options as required, clicking OK will perform the conversion and all pads in the selection will be replaced by the appropriate flashed apertures.
Continue converting other drawn pads to flashed apertures, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit.