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c12CommandsHere we provide some information on the use of gCADPlus commands. Commands are listed in alphabetic order.

ARRAY

The ARRAY command is used to create duplicates of existing objects in either a rectangular or circular (polar) pattern. It is a little different

Setting up prior to drawing an array.

ADDPLANTDATA command

This command is used to marry a selected symbol in the design to an entry in a plan data file (.gcp file) that’s already attached to the design. It is started by typing the command in full or selected using the following sequence gCADPlus > Plant Schedules and Lists > Set data to plant. Suggested shortcut AP.

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to other gCADPlus commands in that there are no Command line options you need to respond to. Rather than use a series of command line prompts, a dialog box to set your preferences for both polar and rectangular arrays.

The array is drawn.

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Here, the array is drawn with a different rotate objects setting. The objects are not rotated as they are drawn

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The figure below shows the ARRAY dialog box. Prior to starting the ARRAY command, a rectangle was drawn with its center placed over the quadrant of an existing circle. The dialog box allows for selection of the item to be arrayed (the rectangle) and in this case, stipulates that seven items will be arrayed, each is to be rotated as the array is generated. The result is shown in the figure below. This is a powerful

An easy way to accurately pave an area.

400 mm paving bricks.

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command and when used in the correct landscape design situation, much drafting time can be saved.

Rectangular arrays - two landscape examplesHere a 400 mm paving brick has been drawn and a 4 by 4 array is about to be generated and the result with a 10 mm gap (after we corrected a spacing error). A quick way to pave an area.

A contractor who specializes in custom paving solutions uses the ARRAY command to build a symbol.

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This short movie shows how the array command can be used to create a circular pattern for some custom paving stones.

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ARC command

An arc is part of a circle defined by a center point and two end points. In gCADPlus, as shown in the figure below, you have a number of different options for placing an arc. Osnaps are usually selected to control placement of start, endpoints and center of arcs.

Various arc options are shown in the figure below.

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To draw an arc

Do one of the following:

Choose Draw > Arc from the Draw drop down menu. Choose from one of the many methods of drawing an arc.

On a toolbar, click the Arc tool.

Type ARC or A in the command area and then press Enter. [the command defaults to drawing a 3 point arc]

Specify the first point of the arc, then the second and finally the third point to set the arc.

Specify the direction.

To complete the command, right click or press Enter.

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Area command

There are a number of different ways the area of part of the drawing can be determined.

The area command (selected from the standard toolbar or started from the command area by typing AREA), sets a yellow shape over what can be quite complex areas. Entity snap tools can be used to precisely mark points on the perimeter of the area to be measured if precision is needed. The value for area will be reported in the command area in square units - mm square, m square or square feet depending on the base unit in use.

That value can be copies from the command area (use Control C combination), the single line text or leader command started and the value

pasted into the text box. Round off the value to a suitable number of decimal places.

Tip: Turn off all entity snap operations while using this tool when trying to measure the area of complex garden beds as shown above.

This movie illustrates the use of the AREA command.

This movie shows how the properties box can be used to determine the area of a polyline.

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Area mark

This command takes a closed polyline associates a species from an attached plant list and calculates the number of specimens needed to cover the area at the chosen density.

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Block related commands

Several commands are used to manage the creation and insertion of blocks in the gCADPlus environment viz. BLOCK, BLOCKS and INSERT.

The BLOCK command takes a group of entities and combines them to a single entity•

The BLOCKS command activates a dialog box to help manage blocks in a drawing•

The INSERT command is used to select an existing block and stamp it into a drawing.•

Each of these can be activated in a number of ways - from toolbar icons, drop down menus or by typing at the keyboard.

BLOCK command.

BLOCKS command.INSERT command.

BLOCKs command on toolbar

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BLOCK command

The BLOCK command is be used to gather together a number of entities and turn them into a single entity. The term block was introduced by Autodesk (publishers of AutoCAD) more than 30 years ago and comes from the printing industry where a block contained type that was stamped on the page during the printing process.

CAD software such gCADPlus (and AutoCAD) use blocks in order to increase drawing efficiency. Gathering a group of entities into one and copying that single entity is much more efficient in terms of file size than copying groups of entities over and over.

This movie explains the concept of blocks and shows how to make a block while working in gCADPlus, and also shows how to make a block external such that is can be used in other drawings. Editing a block ‘on the fly’ is also demonstrated.

The figure below shows a typical symbol for a plant species. The top symbol is composed of several elements such as polylines, but these have been combined into a single named entity. The lower symbol looks identical, but it is made up of individual entities.

Every block has an identifying name.

A block is a single entity. Copying a block is much more efficient than copying a group of entities

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Why use blocks?A landscape plan made by copying the block to create the plan is much smaller in file size and will zoom and pan more quickly than one made by copying entities If, as is commonly needed, you need to move a symbol, it is much easier to select a block than pick all the entities that make up a symbol. That is especially the case when symbols overlap one another.

A block can be used for shapes other than planting symbols.

Blocks are not just used for planting symbols, any group of entities can be a block. The figure below shows some examples.

A block is not necessarily a plant symbol. All sorts of blocks are possible - shown here are north points, vehicles, seating etc.

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Blocks can be made inside and outside drawings

As the previous movie showed, a block can be made ‘inside’ a drawing by selecting a group of entities, right clicking and selecting make block. Selecting that option throws up a dialog box that enables users to apply a name, make a selection of base point and the ability to add a description.

This movie shows how to make a block for a new plant symbol. We discuss a number of options that present when using the BLOCK command.

The figure below shows the block definition dialog box that pops up when a group of entities is selected and

Making a block - the block definition dialog box

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Making new blocks outside a designA block made inside a drawing is not available for use in other designs. For a block to be used in many designs, start a new drawing and build the design. Once saved, the drawing (block) can be used over and over in future design work. It is important to take color into consideration when making blocks.

Tip: Make coordinate 0,0 a convenient part of the design for a block. That point becomes the base (or anchor) point for the block.

How to make a new plant symbol so it matches the gCADPlus symbol standard

This movie discusses the use of color when making new plant symbols.

The figure below shows a design for a block for an existing tree on site that needs to be removed. When inserted into a drawing, the block name is the same as the file name.

Nested blocksIt is possible to create blocks within blocks. These are often known as nested blocks. The figure below shows importation of a block containing other blocks into a gCADPlus drawing. This can be a powerful tool as it is possible to pick out just the sub block you require from the nested set.

These movies illustrates the use and value of drawings with nested blocks.

Using a nested block.

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This movie shows importation of a whole block containing nested references coupled with the importation of a second block where we select just those parts of the nested block we require.

BLOCKS

The BLOCKS command differs from the BLOCK command; it enables the management and insertion of existing block in drawings.

This movie provides an overview of the BLOCKS command.

The BLOCKS command allows for manipulation and insertion of blocks in a drawing.

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Editing blocks on flyThe ability of gCADPlus to edit blocks on the go is a valuable feature. This means that any symbol needing minor ‘tweaking‘ or even a major re-design can be effected while drafting. It is only necessary to make a change to one instance of a block for all instances of the block to be updated automatically once the block editor is closed.

This movie illustrates the advantage of editing blocks while drafting.

Here we show how to update a symbol for a plant species while drafting.

Editing a block while on the go in gCADPlus.

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Dealing with empty blocksIt is not uncommon to find when using the BLOCKS command and scrolling through the list of blocks associated with a drawing to find that there are blocks in the drawing which are empty. Since they do not contain any entities, the blocks do not show in model space. They are part of the drawing so cannot be deleted.

This movie (made by DW) shows how to delete blocks of that type.

Here is a another movie where we work on the same problem.

INSERT Command

This command - the final command in the series that manage blocks - is normally activated from the file drop down menu although the option to browse to an external block in the BLOCKS dialog box calls the same command.

Using File > Insert in gCADPlus.

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Load ArcInfo shape filesOne important file type used in GIS work is the ArcInfo shape file, files generated by ESRI software. Along with native gCADPlus files, DXF and GardenCAD .Vec files, it is possible to insert shp files into the gCADplus environment.

Tip: www.naturalearthdata.com has a good store of free shp data files)

This movie shows using the INSERT command to load a shp files showing countries of the world.

ARCINFO shape files load easily in gCADPlus.

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Backup time

This command sets the time for an automatic backup. The default time is set at 10 minutes. If left at the default value, a reminder to save the drawing will appear every 10 minutes. The units for the backup time are minutes.

It is possible to set the backup time interval with the BACKTIME command.

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CLOUD command

This command is available from the Tools drop down menu and can be used for a variety of purposes. In traditional CAD drafting a “hold cloud” drawn with this command is used to ring an area of a drawing requiring modification. In landscape use, the most common application is to draw shapes to indicate ground cover planting.

This movie shows how the CLOUD command in gCADPlus can be used to draw some shapes indicating the intended planting of some ground cover specimens.

Shapes drawn with CLOUD command.

Shapes drawn with the CLOUD command indicate ground cover planting.

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CUSTSCHD command

This command is used to run the standard plant schedule tool. It is started by typing the command in full or selected using the following sequence gCADPlus > Plant Schedules and Lists > Plant Schedule > Draw schedule - custom content. Suggested shortcut CSH.

DXFIN and DXFOUT

Commands used to exchange information with other CAD software. Both commands are started by typing in full or selected from the File drop down menu.

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SPPTAG command

This command is used to show species information associated with a symbol that has had data from a gcp file set to it. It is started by typing the command in full or selected using the following sequence gCADPlus > > Plant Schedules and Lists > Set data to plant - right click to finish. Suggested shortcut SP.

PLANTSCHD command

This command is used to draw a standard plant schedule using data associated with a symbol taken from a gcp file. It is started by typing the command in full or selected using the following sequence gCADPlus > Plant Schedules and Lists > Plant Sched-ules > Draw standard schedule. Suggested shortcut PS.

TININ command

This command is used to import a file generated using our terrain modelling software TIN MAKER.

PRINT

Starts the print dialog box. Type the command in full. No shortcut.