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1. The installation of PostalCAD 2006 will
be now be available as a download from engineering servers via the USPS
intranet. Certain locations or operating conditions may not have the
capabilities for the download, in which case a CD can be requested. The
installation no longer needs to use a welcome dialogue box for installation.
Once the setup program is initiated, the program will install itself. An
operating system reboot will be required after the installation program has
completed the transfer of files. Important, PostalCAD 2006 can
only be installed after the compatible AutoCAD program is operating on the
target system. PostalCAD is an overlay system that works on top of an
existing AutoCAD installation.
Previous releases of PostalCAD contained
accessory installations for Autodesk Volo View and Adobe Acrobat Reader.
These installations are no longer available with the PostalCAD installation.
See the related vendor’s websites for these products to be installed
separately.
2.
The workbook format has been retained for all new and existing training
exercises and tutorials included with PostalCAD 2006. The workbook
format focuses on individual commands or interfaces separately, rather than
using a chapter format, to provide a more thorough understanding of concepts
and commands. The main index groups exercises into relevant concepts and
applications. Each exercise lists the command with an approximate time to
complete reading and executing the exercise at the top. The associated
command(s), keyboard shortcut(s), and toolbar icon(s) are then listed. A
comprehension level is also shown to define the level of experience needed
to comprehend the exercise. An in depth summary is then presented to fully
describe the commands, concepts and actions before the exercise begins. The
exercises are presented step by step with many illustrations and screen
captures to fully embrace the concepts presented. These exercises are in PDF
format and therefore require Adobe Acrobat reader to view the files. All
exercises can be opened from the PostalCAD tutorials folder, which is
installed with a new installation.
3. The comprehensive USPS layering
standard has been integrated into all PostalCAD 2006 utilities and
blocks. See a listing of additional new layers in the Layer menu section of
this document.
4. The new Workspace format for the
AutoCAD interface is honored with the PostalCAD installation. Users may wish
to set up a new workspace with several changes to personalize the interface
before the installation of PostalCAD, in order to return the application
window to this user defined state. The workspaces that come with Autodesk
Map 3D 2006 are titled “Original Map 3D” and “Map Classic”. Most users will
want to use the “Map Classic” workspace to remain familiar with the AutoCAD
application window of the previous releases. The workspace may also be
changed from “Original Map 3D” and “Map Classic” by using the View menu
pull-down listing for Menu/ Toolbar Layout cascade.
5. The basic Autodesk Map 3D 2006 toolbar
listings now include all of the optional Map toolbars from previous versions
and the 2006 listings. Users should review this new list by right-clicking
on any toolbar icon.
6.
PostalCAD toolbar icons will now appear to the left of their associated
PostalCAD menu listings.
7. Users who wish to create their own
toolbars will have to use the new Custom User Interface dialogue box to do
so. Transferring of custom toolbars from previous installations can also be
accomplished with this dialogue box. See the literature supplied with the
AutoCAD installation.
8. A new PostalCAD 2006 splash screen now
appears on the start of a new AutoCAD session and whenever a drawing is
opened. This splash screen will let the user know that PostalCAD is present
and working.
8a.
The INSUNITS variable is set to zero on the start of a new PostalCAD session
to allow blocks and Xref’s that have their units set incorrectly to be able
to insert at their original size rather than be scaled by the corresponding
conversion factor.
9. Search functionality has been
integrated into many previous PostalCAD commands and utilities.
10. The Library Manager interface has
been reorganized to allow users to see the related file information with the
file name easier. A search area has been added to find any instance of a
text string entered within the default PostalCAD directories. The option of
inserting files as blocks or Xrefs is no longer available. PostalCAD
blocks will still automatically insert on the correct standardized layer.
The 2005 long file names are used in the libraries to give users more
information about the contents of blocks. A pop-up menu has been added to
the default PostalCAD AS504 directory listing in the Look In section, to
help translate older AS504 numbers to the newer text descriptions in block
names. Right-clicking on top of the AS504 folder will allow this menu to be
seen. (Alias: LIB)
11. The
“Set Architectural Scale” dialogue box will now set the Insertion units to
Inches after closing. This will comply with the new 2006 Insert Units
functionality between drawing files when inserting as a block or attaching
files as external references. (Alias: SAS)
12. The
Properties command is used to label all PostalCAD blocks for the
Library Manager interface. The summary tab contains information in all the
available fields. The Title area will show the AS504 manual listing for
appropriate equipment blocks. The Custom tab is reserved for PostalCAD
insertion criteria. Note: all PostalCAD blocks have this information.
The Layer listing in the Custom tab uses a special code to create and insert
files on the correct PostalCAD standard layer. This special code and
all other information on the Summary and Custom tabs should not be altered
in order for these files to behave correctly in the PostalCAD 2006
Library Manager. (Alias: DWGPROPS)
13. The PostalCAD Osnap pop-up
menu has several additions.
- The new “Select Color” command has been added. (Alias: SCO)
- The new “Flash Previous” command has been added. (Alias: FP)
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