Plot View Help Contents

For Help on online Help, Press F1

Use Plot View to preview plots and to view and save raster images.

Overview

About Plot View

Training Cards

Working with Image Windows

Viewing Images

Modifying Images

Working with Plots

Technical Reference

Automatic Previewing from Other Applications


About Plot View

Plot View allows you to view and modify raster images. All images displayed by Plot View can be altered through a variety of image processing tools. You can rotate, flip, and invert images and perform despeckling and deskewing.

You can save images to disk in about 30 different raster image formats.

With Plot View, you can also preview plots. You can submit plots for plotting through Plot Manager.

Note: The preview and submit functions are available only if you have purchased the Plot View product. These functions are grayed if you have received Plot View as part of ScanXpress.


Using Plot View

Choose a topic for instructions:

Working with Image Windows

Viewing Images

Modifying Images

Working with Plots


Working with Image Windows

You can open images individually or as thumbnails.

When you have finished viewing or modifying an image, you can save it to the same name, to a different name, or to a different file format.

Choose a topic:

Opening an Image

Closing an Image

Opening a New Window

Fitting the Window to the Image

Displaying Thumbnails

Saving an Image

Saving an Image to a Different Name or File Format


Opening an Image

Use this procedure to open an image.

To open an image…

1	From the File menu, choose Open.

OR

Click the Open toolbar button [image].

The Open dialog box appears.

2	Choose the directory and file that you want to open.

3	Click Open.

The image appears in a window.


Closing an Image

Use this procedure to close an image.

To close an image…

1	From the File menu, choose Close.

If the image has not been changed, the window closes.

If the image is new or has been changed, Plot View prompts you to save changes.

2	Click Yes to save changes.

If the image was saved previously, it is saved to the same name.

If the image is new and does not have a name, the Save As dialog box appears.

3	Choose a new directory, file name, and/or file type for the image and click Save.

Note: In Windows NT 3.5.1, click OK.


Opening a New Window

Use this procedure to open a new empty window into which you can paste images from the clipboard.

To open a new window…

•	From the File menu, choose New.

A new empty window appears.


Fitting the Window to an Image

Use this procedure to fit the window to the size of the image. Use this command when you have zoomed in or out and you want to adjust the window to fit the current zoom.

To fit the window to an image…

•	Click the View menu or the right mouse button, then choose Fit Window to Image.

The window is sized to fit the current image size.


Displaying Thumbnails

Use this procedure to create a window containing small replicas of images found in a chosen directory.

To display thumbnails…

1	From the File menu, choose Display Thumbnails.

The Select Images to Thumbnail dialog box appears.

2	In the Drives field, choose the drive containing the images you want to thumbnail.

3	In the Directories field, choose the directory containing the desired images.

4	In the File Types field, select the file type extensions for the desired images.

Note: All file types that are readable by Plot View are selected by default.

5	Click OK.

The images with the selected file extensions appear in a window.

Note: You can click a thumbnail to display it in full size.


Saving an Image

Use this procedure to save a new image, or to save an existing image to the same name.

To save an image…

1	From the File menu, choose Save.

OR

Click the Save toolbar button [image].

If the image has already been saved, it is saved again to the same name.

If the image is new, the Save As dialog box appears.

2	Choose a directory, file name, and file type for the image and click Save.

Note: In Windows NT 3.5.1, click OK.


Saving an Image to a Different Name or File Format

Use this procedure to save an image to a different name or file format.

To save an image to a different name or file format…

1	From the File menu, choose Save As.

The Save As dialog box appears.

2	Choose a new directory, file name, and/or file type for the image and click Save.

Note: In Windows NT 3.5.1, click OK.


Viewing Images

Plot View allows you to view details about your drawing by zooming in and out, and by moving left, right, up and down.

Choose a topic:

Zooming In and Out

Moving Around in a Window

Panning an Image

Displaying an Image in Actual Size


Zooming In and Out

Use these procedures to zoom in and out of a drawing. You can zoom in and out by ten percent or you can select a specific area to view.

To zoom in or out…

•	Click  the View menu or the right mouse button, then choose Zoom In or Zoom Out.

OR

•	Click the Zoom In [image] or Zoom Out [image] toolbar button.

OR

•	Using the numeric keypad on your keyboard, press the plus (+) key to zoom in or the minus (-) key to zoom out.

Your view of the image is moved closer or farther by approximately ten percent (or one percent, once the zoom is less than ten percent). The zoom percentage is displayed in the image window’s title bar and on the application status bar.

To view a specific area…

1	Click the Zoom Rectangle toolbar button [image].

2	Click and drag the mouse cursor from one corner of the desired rectangle to the opposite corner.

3	Release the mouse button.

The window displays the area in the selected rectangle.


Moving Around in a Window

Use this procedure to move left, right, up, and down in a window.

To move around in a window…

•	Press the arrow keys on the keyboard to move in a window.

OR

•	Click the scroll bars on the right and bottom of the window.


Panning an Image

Use this procedure to move an image within a window.

To pan an image…

1	Click the Pan Image toolbar button [image].

2	Position the mouse cursor over the image.

3	Click and hold the left mouse button down and drag the image within the window.

The image moves while you drag.

4	Release the mouse button.

5	Click the Pan Image toolbar button to turn it off.


Displaying an Image in Actual Size

If you have zoomed in or out of an image and wish to display the image at its actual size (at 100% zoom), use the following procedure.

To display an Image in Actual Size…

•	Click the View menu or the right mouse button, then choose Display Actual Size.

The image is displayed at 100%.


Modifying Images

Use these procedures to modify raster images.

Choose a topic:

Rotating an Image

Flipping an Image

Inverting an Image

Despeckling an Image

Deskewing an Image

Despeckling and Deskewing Multiple Images

Copying Images between Programs


Rotating an Image

Use these procedures to rotate an image in several different ways.

To rotate an image 90 degrees…

•	Click the View menu or the right mouse button, then choose Rotate -90 to rotate counter-clockwise or Rotate +90 to rotate clockwise.

OR

•	Click the Rotate Right [image] or Rotate Left [image] toolbar button.

To rotate an image 180 degrees…

•	Click the View menu or the right mouse button, then choose Rotate 180.

To specify image rotation…

1	Click the View menu or the right mouse button, then choose Rotate Any Angle.

The Rotate Any Angle dialog box appears.

2	Type the desired angle of rotation in the Rotation field, or use the slider bar to choose an angle.

A negative number rotates the image counter-clockwise; a positive number rotates the image clockwise.

3	In the Resulting Image group, choose whether you want the resulting image size expanded to fit the new rotated image or if you want the rotated image clipped to fit the original image size.

4	Click OK.

The image rotates.

Note: Specifying an image rotation on large images can be time consuming.


Flipping an Image

Use this procedure to flip an image horizontally or vertically.

To flip an image…

•	Click the View menu or the right mouse button, then choose Flip Horizontal to flip the image along the y-axis or Flip Vertical to flip the image along the x-axis.

OR

•	Click the Flip Horizontal [image] or Flip Vertical [image] toolbar button.

The image flips.


Inverting an Image

Use this procedure to invert the colors in an image. Inverting an image twice returns the image to its original color settings.

Note: This command only works on monochrome or true color images.

To invert an image…

•	Click the View menu or the right mouse button, then choose Invert Colors.

The colors in the image are inverted.


Despeckling an Image

Use this procedure to remove excess dots appearing on an image. These dots may appear from an oversensitive scanner or from a dirty original. This command works best on black and white images; color images generally become less sharp. The despeckling process my take a long time for large images.

Do not use this procedure on fine line drawings; it may remove single pixel lines and dots.

Caution: You may wish to save your image before performing a despeckle. The despeckle command cannot be undone.

To despeckle an entire image…

•	Click the Effects menu or the right mouse button, then choose Despeckle.

The entire image is despeckled.

To despeckle part of an image…

1	Click the Mouse Select toolbar button [image].

2	Click and drag the mouse cursor from one corner of the desired rectangle to the opposite corner.

3	Release the mouse button.

4	Click the Effects menu or the right mouse button, then choose Despeckle.

The area inside the selected rectangle is despeckled.


Deskewing an Image

Use this procedure to rotate an image that was scanned at an angle. This command works only on black and white line drawings. The deskewing process may take a long time for large images.

Note: If an image is heavily skewed, you may need to perform multiple deskews and/or rotations before it is acceptable.

To deskew an image…

•	Click the Effects menu or the right mouse button, then choose Deskew.

The image is rotated.


Despeckling and Deskewing Multiple Images

Use this procedure to despeckle and/or deskew more than one image at a time. This process may take a considerable amount of time per image. Click the Cancel button if you want to stop the process after the current image is complete.

Note: The deskewing process only performs one deskew on each image. If an image is heavily skewed, you may need to open the image individually and perform multiple deskews and/or rotations before it is acceptable.

Caution: This command saves the results back into the original file and cannot be undone. You may wish to make copies of your files before performing this command.

To despeckle and deskew multiple images…

1	From the File menu, choose Image Processing.

The Image Processing dialog box appears.

2	Click the Add Files button.

The Open dialog box appears.

3	Select the files you want to process.

4	In the Operations box, select the Despeckle and/or Deskew check boxes.

5	Click the Start button to begin processing.

Plot View performs the chosen operations on the selected files.


Copying Images Between Programs

Use these procedures to copy images or parts of images between programs.

To copy an image into another program…

1	Click the Mouse Select toolbar button [image].

2	Select the area you want to copy or cut by clicking and dragging the mouse cursor from one corner of the desired rectangle to the opposite corner.

3	Release the mouse button.

A rectangle appears around the selected area.

4	From the Edit menu, select Copy.

OR

Click the Copy toolbar button [image].

5	In the program where you want the image to appear, click the place where you want to put the image.

6	From the Edit menu, select Paste.

The copied image appears in the selected program.

Note: You can paste the image multiple times.


Working with Plots

Plot View allows you to view plots before sending them to Plot Station for plotting. Once you have previewed a plot, you can use Plot View to submit it to Plot Station.

Note: These functions are available only if you have purchased the Plot View product. They are grayed if you have received Plot View as part of ScanXpress.

Choose a topic:

Previewing a Plot

Submitting a Previewed Plot


Previewing  a Plot

Use this procedure to preview a plot before you send it to Plot Station for plotting.

Note: This command is available only if you have purchased the Plot View product. It is grayed if you have received Plot View as part of ScanXpress.

To preview a plot…

1	From the File Menu, select Plot Preview.

The Plot Preview dialog box appears.

2	In the File to Plot field, type the file you wish to preview, or click the Browse button to search for and select a file.

3	Optional: In the Pen Table field, type the name of a pen table you want applied to the plot, or click the Browse button to search for and select a pen table.

4	Choose whether you want to use the default configuration or a logical plotter definition to preview the plot.

5	 If you chose to use the default configuration:

•	In the Search Path List field, type the search paths where Plot View should look for tables, fonts, resources, and reference drawings. Separate each path with a semi-colon (;).

Note: By default, Plot View searches the current directory and the plot file’s directory.

•	In the Preview Color field, indicate whether color in used in the previewed plot.

6	If you chose to use a logical plotter definition, select a plotter in the Plotter Name field.

Note: You can only chose this if you have access to a PS.CFG, the configuration file used by Plot Station, via the PS_DIR_CFG environment variable. The variable is normally set when installing Plot View or another client tool such as Plot Manager.

7	Click the Preview button.

The Progress tab appears containing progress information as Plot View processes the plot. When the plot has been processed, the image appears in the Plot View window.


Submitting a Previewed Plot

Before you can submit a file to Plot Station for plotting, you must have Plot Manager Submit installed. If you do not have Plot Manager installed, the submit button will not be enabled. You should also first preview your file to make sure it will plot correctly.

Note: This command is available only if you have purchased the Plot View product. You cannot preview or submit if you have received Plot View as part of ScanXpress.

To submit a plot…

1	Preview the plot.

2	Click the Submit button on the Plot Preview dialog box.

Plot Manager opens with the file appearing in the Submit List.

Note: If the plot preview fails, the Submit button will not be enabled. The plot preview must be successful before the plot can be submitted.

3	Follow Plot Manager directions for submitting a file.


Automatic Previewing from Other Applications

Plot View contains a code that allows another program to establish a DDE conversation. With this feature, you can use Plot View as a previewer for another program. Send the following DDE command to Plot View in order to invoke the preview command:

[preview("plotfile,plotter,pentable")]

where

plotfile = the file to preview

plotter  = the destination logical plotter (from ps.cfg)

pentable = the overriding pen table, optional

Upon receiving the DDE command, Plot View attempts to preview based on the given parameters.

Note: Invoke the DDE preview command using the 'SYSTEM' topic. This topic is the same one used by Windows Explorer and File Manager.


CADNET Technical Support

The CADNET Technical Support team is available to answer any questions you may have about installation, configuration, and operation.

CADNET support is available by telephone, e-mail and through the Bulletin Board System.

Reaching CADNET Support by Telephone

When calling CADNET support, please have the following information ready to give the support analyst:

•	your name and customer ID number,

•	your company’s name,

•	your telephone number and FAX number,

•	your e-mail address,

•	the CADNET product and its version number,

•	a brief description of the problem

•	exact error code(s) and/or message(s) you encountered and the order in which they appeared, and

•	the severity of the problem, according to the following codes:

Code	Extent of Problem
1	Product is not usable. Critical impact on operations, and production halted. Return call within two working hours.
2	Product usable. Operations severely restricted. Return call within four working hours.
3	Product usable with limited functions. Not critical to overall operations. Return call within six working hours.
4	Problem circumvented by customer. Minimal effect, if any, on operations. Return call within eight working hours.
CADNET support will call you back within the time specified for each code above.

The following table lists the phone and fax numbers for CADNET Technical Support:

Telephone:	770-671-0102 ext. 221 Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. EST
FAX:	770-671-0720
Reaching CADNET Support Through E-Mail

You can reach CADNET Support through e-mail at support@cadnet.com.

Reaching CADNET Support Through the Bulletin Board System

The following table lists the numbers for the CADNET BBS:

BBS	770-671-0777 (For BBS setup, see the information below.)
Sysop	770-671-0102 ext.221
To access the Bulletin Board System, you need a PC with a modem and a communications package such as PROCOMM, PMCOMM, Telix, etc. The necessary settings are:

Data Bits:	8
Parity:	None
Stop Bits:	1
Our modem is a 19200 baud U.S. Robotics HST with ASL which defaults to the baud rate of the modem making the call.

After uploading files, contact the support team by telephone or e-mail to discuss the problem you are experiencing, or summon the Sysop by entering Y from the main menu during normal office hours.  Confidential messages and/or data files can be sent to the Sysop through the Sysop Directory. Messages sent to the Sysop are only accessible by the Sysop or other users with that level of security. Messages and/or files indicated as confidential are treated in an appropriate manner.


Plot Preview

Use this command to preview a file before submitting it to Plot Station for plotting.

Note: This command is available only if you have purchased the Plot View product. It is grayed if you have received Plot View as part of ScanXpress.


Print

Use this command to print an image using the default Windows printer driver. You can choose another installed Windows printer driver using the Print Setup command.


Print Setup

Use this command to set up a Windows printer driver for printing images. You can also set paper size, source, and orientation.


Display Thumbnails...

Use this command to display the Select Images to Thumbnail dialog box. Use this dialog box to open a window containing small versions of selected drawings in a specified directory.


Image Processing

Use this command to display the Image Processing dialog box. Use this dialog box to despeckle and/or deskew multiple images at one time.


Display Actual Size

Use this command to display the image at 100% size (neither zoomed in or out.)


Zoom In

Use this command to zoom in on an image to view finer details.


Zoom Out

Use this command to zoom out from an image so that more of the image appears in the window.


Fit Window to Image

Use this command to fit the window to the image size.


Rotate -90

Use this command to rotate an image 90 degrees to the left (counter-clockwise).


Rotate +90

Use this command to rotate an image 90 degrees to the right (clockwise).


Rotate 180

Use this command to rotate an image 180 degrees.


Rotate Any Angle...

Use this command to open the Rotate Any Angle dialog box. Use this dialog box to specify how many degrees to rotate the current image.


Flip Horizontal

Use this command to flip an image horizontally so that it appears backwards.


Flip Vertical

Use this command to flip an image vertically so that it appears upside down.


Invert Colors

Use this command to invert the colors of an image. This command only works for monochrome and true color images.


Despeckle

Use this command to remove small dots appearing on black and white images. This process may take a long time for large images.


Deskew

Use this command fix to an image that is skewed or stretched. This may happen to scanned images when they are rotated when inserted in the scanner. The deskewing process may take a long time for large images.


Display Images in Separate Window

Use this command to display each image in a new window. If this command is turned off, each new image appears in the same window, overwriting the previous image. This command acts as a toggle. A check mark to the left indicates that the command is turned on.

Note: Each image displayed uses a portion of the available computer memory. Conserve memory by closing unnecessary images.


Save Settings on Exit

Use this command to save all current settings when you exit Plot View. These settings will be turned on automatically the next time you start Plot View. This command displays a check mark to the left when enabled.


About Plot View

Choose this command to view information about the Plot View version number and copyright date.


Mouse Select

Use this command to define an area within an image. You can select the whole image, if desired. The selection can be copied to the clipboard. This command is a toggle. Select the command again to turn the mouse select off.


Zoom Rectangle

Use this command to zoom in on a selected area of an image. This command is a toggle. Select the command again to turn Zoom Rectangle off.


Pan Image

Use this command to drag the whole image within the window. This command is a toggle. Select the command again to turn Pan Image off.


Image Window

This window displays the image file you have opened.


Select Images to Thumbnail Dialog Box

Use this dialog box to select the images you want displayed in the thumbnail window. The thumbnail window contains small versions of all selected images with their corresponding names. You can click on each thumbnail to open it individually. All images must be in a single directory.

Dialog Box Options

Directories

Select the directory containing the images to thumbnail.

Drives

Select the drive containing the images to thumbnail.

File Types

Select the file extensions for the images to thumbnail.


Image Processing Dialog Box

Use this dialog box to despeckle and/or deskew multiple images at one time.

Dialog Box Options

Image Files to Process

Lists the selected files to process.

Despeckle

Select this check box to despeckle files in the Image Files to Process list. The despeckling process may take a long time for large images.

Deskew

Select this check box to deskew files in the Image Files to Process list. The deskewing process may take a long time for large images.

Buttons

Choose...	To...
Add Files	add files to the list of images to process.
Remove Files	remove files from the list of images to be processed.
Start	start processing.


Rotate Any Angle Dialog Box

Use this dialog box to specify the angle of rotation for an image. A negative number rotates the image counter-clockwise; a positive number rotates the image clockwise.

Note: This process may be time consuming for large images. If you want to rotate an image -90, +90, or 180 degrees, use the appropriate commands from the View menu.

Dialog Box Options

Rotation Angle

Type the desired angle of rotation or use the slider bar to choose an angle.

Resulting Image

Choose whether you want the resulting image size expanded to fit the new rotated image or if you want the rotated image clipped to fit the original image size.


Plot Preview Dialog Box

Use this dialog box to preview a plot file. Use the Select tab to specify a plot file and its parameters for previewing. Use the Progress tab to monitor the progress of a plot file as it is being processed.

Select Tab

Progress Tab


Select Tab

Use this tab to specify a plot file to preview. You can also specify a pen table and configuration for the plot.

Fields and Controls

File to Plot

Pen Table

Search Path List

Use default configuration to preview plot

Preview Color

Use a logical plotter definition to preview plot

Plotter Name

Submit

Preview

Close


File to Plot Field

Type the name of the plot file you want to preview, or click the Browse button to search for and select a plot file.


Pen Table Field

Type the name of the pen table you want applied to the plot file, or click the Browse button to search for and select a pen table.


Search Path List Field

Type the search paths Plot View should use to find tables, fonts, resources, and reference drawings. Separate each path with a semi-colon. Click the Browse button to search for and select paths.


Use default configuration to preview plot

Choose this option to use the default configuration to preview the plot. Plot View uses the Plot Station auto detect input driver to determine the input type. If Plot View cannot determine the input type, you must select a logical plotter that does not use the auto detect input driver to preview the plot.


Preview Color Field

Choose whether the plot is monochrome or contains color. This field is only valid when the Use default configuration to preview plot option is selected.


Use a logical plotter definition to preview plot

Choose this option to select a logical plotter to preview a plot. You must choose this option if you want to submit the previewed plot.

Note: If you use this option, the image color is determined by the logical plotter’s output driver.


Plotter Name Field

Use this field to select a logical plotter. Plotters in the drop-down list come from the current Plot Station configuration file. Click the Details button to view current settings for the selected plotter.

Note: This field is grayed if no PS.CFG is available.


Submit Button

Click this button to submit a previewed plot to Plot Manager. This button is inactive if you do not have Plot Manager Submit installed.


Preview/Stop Preview Button

Click this button to preview the selected plot using the indicated options on the Select tab. During a preview, this button changes to Stop Preview. Click the Stop Preview button to cancel the previewing process.


Close Button

Click this button to close this dialog box.


Progress Tab

This tab indicates the progress of a plot preview.

Fields and Controls

Plot File

Activity

Log

Submit

Stop Preview

Close


Plot File Field

Shows the name of the plot file being processed.


Activity Field

Describes what is happening as the plot file is being processed.


Log Field

Displays all of the log entries generated for the plot preview. This log information is the same as would be generated by a normal Plot Station plot. Use this information for diagnosing possible problems in the event of plot preview failure.


New

Use this command to open a new empty window.


Open...

Use this command to open a new file.


Close

Use this command to close the current file.


Save

Use this command to save the current file.


Save As...

Use this command to save the current file to a new name or new file format.


Exit

Use this command to exit this application.


1, 2, 3, 4 commands

Use these commands to open the most recently used files.


Copy

Use this command to copy a section of an image to the Clipboard. Use the Mouse Select toolbar button to select a rectangle to copy.


Paste

Use this command to insert the contents of the Clipboard.


Toolbar

Use this command to turn on or off the toolbar. This command displays a check mark to the left when enabled.


Status Bar

Use this toggle command to turn on or off the status bar. This command displays a check mark to the left when enabled.


Cascade

Use this command to arrange all windows one on top of another with the title bars showing.


Tile

Use this command to arrange the windows in the application so they can all be seen.


Arrange Icons

Use this command to arrange all minimized icons at the bottom of the window.


Open Windows

These commands list the windows that are open within the applications. Choose a window to bring it to the front.


Help Topics

Use this command to view the Help Contents.


CADNET Technical Support

Use this command to view information on how to contact CADNET’s technical support team.


Training Cards

Use this command to open a Help window providing step-by-step instructions for various tasks.


Context Help Button

Use this button to get context sensitive Help on different parts of the window. Click this button and then click on the part of the window in question.