If you are experiencing errors such as cannot load base.dcl on starting up the CADS Detailing Suite your profile may not be configured correctly.

Checking the AutoCAD Profile

Open up AutoCAD, type options at the command prompt and check that the current profile is set to CADS as shown below.

Go to the Files tab and expand 'Support File Search Path' and check that the following paths exist as shown in the above diagram;

"C:\Documents and Settings\'Users login name'\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2007\R17.0\enu\Support"
"C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2007\Support"
"C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2007\Fonts"
"C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2007\Help"
"C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2007\Express"
"C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2007\Support\Color"
"C:\Cads\Support"

Add any missing paths, pick apply and then OK to close the dialog box

• Create a folder on your server to hold your CADS RC configuration files.

• Copy the following support files from your \CADS\CADS-RC\params folder into you new folder on the server.

• Once these file have been copied, launch CADS RC on one machine and open the Configuration Centre and pick "Support Files". Change the path for the first five files to point to the new folder on the server.

• When these files have been updated, return to the "Configuration Centre" and pick "Miscellaneous Configuration" and then pick "More Miscellaneous Config..." Update the Group Layer File and the Layer Definition File to point to the files on the server.

• Once all of these paths have been updated, pick OK and then pick "Write Prototype Settings" and confirm that you wish to write these settings.

• With the new .ini file written to your \cads\cads-rc\params folder close AutoCAD and copy the .ini file into the folder on the server. Now rename this file to a suitable filename with the extension of DEF.

• Open the cads.mnl file located in your \cads\support folder using notepad.

• Locate the line that reads:

(defun cads_root_directory (/ path len pos flag char fullpath)

• Add a new line underneath this and enter the following text and change the path and filename at the end of the line to your new DEF file. (Note: use \\ to separate folders)

(command "set_cfg_full_path" "x:\\folder1\\xyz.def")

• Save this cads.mnl file and copy this into the \cads\support on all the other machines running CADS RC that you wish to use this common configuration.

CADS have found that installing Microsoft's .NET Framework version 3 has increased the system performance on most computers running AutoCAD 2007.

The .NET Framework is a free upgrade which can be downloaded using windows update or from the following link:

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.

The DWG Gateway program is a free data translation plug-in for AutoCAD users that enables you to work with .dwg data generated by any version of the software.  It will allow you to open any AutoCAD .dwg version up to AutoCAD 2007.

Download this free application here.

 Get DWGgateway

Your OSNAPS are incorrectly set or you are not using the correct technique to pick node points.

Solution:  First check your OSNAP settings.  At the bottom of the screen, right click over the OSNAP button and click on "Settings".  Only the "Node" snap should be checked.

When snapping to the node of an object, resist the temptation to try and pick the point directly with your cursor, as there may be many other node points in the same vicinity.  The correct way to snap a node point of a beam for example, is to touch part of the beam (in a place where you are unlikely to touch another object by mistake) and the snap point will automatically jump to the node nearest the end of the beam you are touching.  This is indicated by the appearance of the node symbol (a crossed circle) at the actual node point, and the text "Node" appearing next to your cursor.

Each line defining a profile has a midpoint snap.  Therefore it is important to make sure your cursor touches the system line and not the profile.

Solution 1: Zoom in close enough to see what you are snapping to.

Solution 2: Use symbolic presentation of the beam.  It is then very easy to touch just the system line and snap to its midpoint.

The presentation type of the member needs to be changed.

Solution:  Change the presentation of the member to either 'Standard' or 'Symbolic' so the system line is visible.  When selected, there should only be 3 grips visible.  In these modes, you can stretch the member.  Also note that if using the AutoCAD 'Ortho' mode, the X or Y axis of the UCS must be in the direction you want to stretch the member.

The joint 'boxes' need to be selected and then turned off using AdvanceSteel tools.

Solution:  Click on the "Filter Database" button from the main AdvanceSteel toolbar.  Then from the flyout to the left, pick "Connection Objects".  All joint definition 'boxes' will then be selected.  From the main AdvanceSteel toolbar, pick "Presentation objects off".  All joint definition 'boxes' will now be hidden.

NOTE:
Remember to press the [Esc] key afterward to make sure they are not still selected.

The presentation type of the bolts needs to be changed.

Solution:  Select the bolts you wish to display in solid form.  From the main AdvanceSteel toolbar, click the "Change presentation type" button twice to set presentation type 3.  The bolts will now be displayed in solid form.  There is also a default setting in the 'Management Tool' to change the default bolt presentation.