In this example you are going to create an icon to startup RebarCAD using a metric template.

Once RebarCAD Version 9 has been installed you will have an icon placed onto your desktop which will look similar to the one below:

To create new icons right pick on this icon and pick copy.

Then right pick on the desktop and pick paste.

This will create a copy of the icon on your desktop.

Right pick on the icon and pick "Rename" and label the icon something suitable. i.e. RebarCAD 9.01 Metric

With the icon renamed, we can now customise the shortcut to load the template file to be used.

Right pick on the new shortcut, pick properties and then pick the "Shortcut" tab.

Ensure that the 'Start in:' option is set to:

"C:\Program Files\CADS \AutoCAD 200x\RebarCAD 9.01"

Set the "Target" option to:

(paths may be slightly different depending upon where it has been installed.)

RebarCAD V9.0 is not currently compatible with 64-bit AutoCAD 2008! If you are running a 64-bit Operating System (OS) (e.g. Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows Vista 64-bit) then you can only install 64-bit AutoCAD 2008. So users with a 64-bit OS can therefore not install RebarCAD.

If you have a 64-bit machine (AMD64 or Intel EM64T) then we currently advise you to install only a 32-bit Operating System (e.g. Microsoft® Windows Vista™, Windows® XP Home/Professional) so as to enable installation of 32-bit AutoCAD, and therefore RebarCAD V9.0

Please contact us if you are considering upgrading to the 64-bit edition of AutoCAD using our Support Enquiry Form or email us as

CADS RC V9.0 is not currently compatible with 64-bit AutoCAD 2008! If you are running a 64-bit Operating System (OS) (e.g. Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows Vista 64-bit) then you can only install 64-bit AutoCAD 2008. So users with a 64-bit OS can therefore not install CADS RC.

If you have a 64-bit machine (AMD64 or Intel EM64T) then we currently advise you to install only a 32-bit Operating System (e.g. Microsoft® Windows Vista™, Windows® XP Home/Professional) so as to enable installation of 32-bit AutoCAD, and therefore CADS RC V9.0

Please contact us if you are considering upgrading to the 64-bit edition of AutoCAD using our Support Enquiry Form or email us as

CADS would like to offer the following advice to maximize the performance of RebarCAD V9

System

1. Ensure your systems meets the minimum system requirements of AutoCAD

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=8446045

2. Ensure your AutoCAD is fully patched.

AutoCAD 2007 service pack 2 is available.

AutoCAD 2008 service pack 1 is available.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/index?siteID=123112&id=2334435&linkID=9240618

3. Ensure you install Microsoft's .NET Framework version 3

http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Click on the "Custom" button.

• Click on the "Software, Optional" link on the left hand side.
• Tick the box next to "Microsoft .NET Framework 3".
• Click "Review and install updates" at the top of the screen.
• Review the updates that are to be installed and if correct click "Install Updates".

4. Get up-to-date with AutoCAD!  We have found that AutoCAD 2008 is faster than AutoCAD 2007.

5. Follow the Autodesk advice on optimizing the performance of AutoCAD. (search for "Control Performance" in the AutoCAD help)

Usage

If you are experiencing slower than expected performance they try:

6. Occasionally save, close and restart AutoCAD and RebarCAD completely.

  

There is a CUI file for AutoCAD 2008 with a sample RebarCAD dashboard panel which you can download, see download section below.

Extract the dashboard icons file into the relevant folder as shown below: Windows XP C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2008\R17.1\enu\Icons Windows Vista C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\CADS Icons

Backup your original RebarCAD-V9-00.CUI file from your \cads\AutoCAD 2008\RebarCAD 9.01\CADS-RC folder, and extract the RebarCAD Customization file from the file below into this folder.

With the new CUI file installed open RebarCAD, and load the dashboard by picking the Tools menu, then Palettes and then Dashboard.

The dashboard window will then open as shown below:

Right click on the dashboard window and pick the "Control Panels" menu and then pick "RebarCAD"

This will load the RebarCAD Dashboard.

Downloads
Windows XP	Windows Vista
Customization File	Customization File
Dashboard Icons	Dashboard Icons

  

There is a CUI file for AutoCAD 2008 with a sample CADS RC dashboard panel which you can download, see download section below.

Extract the dashboard icons file into the relevant folder as shown below: Windows XP C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2008\R17.1\enu\Icons Windows Vista C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\CADS Icons

Backup your original CADS-RC-V9-00.CUI file from your \cads\AutoCAD 2008\CADS RC 9.01\CADS-RC folder, and extract the CADS RC Customization file from the file below into this folder.

With the new CUI file installed open CADS RC, and load the dashboard by picking the Tools menu, then Palettes and then Dashboard.

The dashboard window will then open as shown below:

Right click on the dashboard window and pick the "Control Panels" menu and then pick "CADS RC"

This will load the CADS RC Dashboard.

Downloads
Windows XP	Windows Vista
Customization File	Customization File
Dashboard Icons	Dashboard Icons

To stop this conflict, set the AutoCAD system variable called fieldeval to 0, then this will immediately stop the fields from automatically updating, and therefore remove any problems related to RC.

To change variable:

• Type fieldeval at the AutoCAD command line and press enter.
  
• When prompted to enter the new value type 0 and press enter.

You can manually refresh any fields by using the AutoCAD updatefield command.

To update fields:

• Type updatefield at the AutoCAD command line and press enter.
  
• Pick the fields you wish to update and then press enter.