Features List for AutoScript^®  6.0

* new items in version 6
 

Note: AutoScript is no longer available. Development and production were shut down in September 1998. For several years after you could still use a competing program for these and other functions, CAD Publisher. That now appears to be defunct. See the box at the bottom of this page.


 
Program
 
* Windows
* 32-bit
* DDE links to control AutoScript from another windows program
* DDE programmer's kit with program-code examples
batch mode
* Batch mode now available from pull-down menu
* batch mode can designate a batch file
reads a parameter file (*.PRM) to further control batch processing
reads DXF's from AutoCAD 10, 11, 12, 13(*new) and 14(*new)
* recognizes new entities in R-13 and R-14
* reads shape files called by the DXF
* draws varying width polylines (only single width before)
* list fonts on the current connected PS printer
* use menu to upload error handler to PS printer
* print a service bureau report listing inks, fonts, etc.
* copy an existing PS or EPS file to printer port
* Windows help file
 
 
Output
 
PS file
PS printer
EPS file (no TIFF preview)
++(not here: was in five: tiff preview in EPS file)
specify copies
* Windows Printer
* Windows preview (with option to keep preview window on top)
* Save to BMP from preview window
* separate output for each color
* separate output for each  layer (**was in original 2.xx version as separation by layers)
set page size and margins
offset image *from center *from lower left
specify extents or limits *at any time - not just when loading
* scaling options
scale to page (as before) as best fit, portrait fit or landscape fit
scale by assigning a scale factor (as before)
*scale by ratio: page units to drawing units
* create a list of PPD files for the device code choice
scale to any page size (in PostScript) for proofing
x-scale and y-scale adjustments (for machine output calibrations)
inline PS - include user-written PostScript in the output file
* set to ignore any PSFills, overwriting them with AutoScript assignment
negative output (reverse tones)
emulsion down
CMYK to RGB conversion for older devices not recognizing "setcmykcolor"
set end-of-file character, default, control-d, control-z
* set fit-text handling to either widen (v5.xx) or space (v2.xx)
set font-scale factor to compensate for some older PS clones
choose: 4-color, 6-color, 7-color, layers, composite
plates: cyan, magenta, yellow, black, orange, green, violet
angles: 0's, defaults, load angles from PPD, write in angles
 
 
Overall Line Settings
 
line caps: butt, square, round
corner types: miter, bevel, round
fill only zero-width polylines (compatibility with 2.xx)
* do not stroke zero width pline
autoclose distance (set when to treat a polyline as a polygon)
vertex limit setting (for old level I PostScript devices)
set flatness
set bulge limit
 
 
*Line Settings per Process Row
 
Exactly the same as overall line settings but these override any
overall line settings when this particular row is being processed.
 
 
Colors
 
Define colors by colorants (CMYK, RGB, gray)
Grayscale
RGB
CMYK
* orange, green and violet colorants
* 6-color (for hexachrome)
* 7-color (i.e. Küipper)
flood fills
* linear gradient fills
origin point
direction
* radial gradient fills
origin point
percent of offset from center
direction of offset from center
* set fill for object only or page - important for gradient fills
halftone dot selection via menu
* aspect ratio (flattening) of some halftone dot defintions
frequency
angle
* can set colorants by picking color from Windows palette
* Color Libraries
FoxBase color libraries (with CDX indexes)
Can change libraries on the fly
Utility for user to create color libraries using existing color files
Can create libraries from scratch.
Can copy colors between the current library and the current config
Can select any color library from a pull-down menu during any color edit
* overprint setting for any color
* see color swatches on screen
Main swatch for fill color
swatch for base (line/stroke) color
swatch for ending color (2cnd color in a gradient fill)
swatches shown in color-assignment windows (grid, panel)
* on-the-fly support for any AutoCAD PSFILL entity color
* on-the-fly support for AutoCAD R-14 solid color fill
create new colors from scratch
* add new color by copying a current color definition
* add new colors by set
1) basic start set
2) based on current entity colors
3) based on a specified list of AutoCAD color numbers
* batch-set halftone screen settings by selecting a number of colors
No* Color-management by curve setting is in the code but not used - no interface
 
 
Processing Specifications and config files
 
* ini-style config file
* support for all three previous config-file formats (2.xx color, 2.xx b&w, 5.xx)
transparently reads all previous versions
writes version six config by default
writes previous version configs by selecting "save config as..."
arranges dxf processing in order of entity colors
* arranges dxf processing in order of layers
* arranges dxf processing in order of layers and then colors within the layers
print color patches
print calibration patches
print a full listing of configuration settings
Control processing order manually
* set processing order visually (drop and drag)
* See color swatch when setting color for any entity and row (any cell)
* May use any processing row element more than once (as more than one row)
Set line widths for each processing row
Set the linewidth as absolute or as scaled with drawing
* Set various exceptions to overall settings within each processing row
line caps
corner types
"autoclose" distance for polylines (threshold for treating as a polygon)
fill only zero width lines (2.xx compatibility)
don't stroke zero width
ignore PSFills
set overprint on or off
set line trapping size *** not sure about this one
* Spot color rows - sets a percent of the default color for each cell - prints as gray
* Two ways to assign colors to cells: table and panel (see below)
* panel view - assign color, line, process orders settings for rows
Table (grid or spreadsheet) view
* see color swatches showing color of highlighted grid cell
* assign multiple grid cells at one time (drag across cells to select)
* turn layers on and off to processing from within AutoScript (doesn't change dxf)
* save and load a file with layer names
 
 
Font Substitution Handling
 
substitute PostScript fonts for named AutoCAD styles
add and edit custom font settings
* insert PFA version of PostScript font into PS file
* browseable lookup table for font substitutions
* editable lookup table for font substitutions
* config file can override font substitutions (to maintain older config settings)
* retain ACAD 12's PS font height (compensate for ACAD bug in R12)
* interface to setup PFA resource list
* can view font substitution lists in either style or name order
 
 
Preferences Box - global program settings
 
* automatically load configs with same name/location as dxf
* create config color using AutoCAD color values
* use font defaults for similar style names (rather than always Helvetica)
* allow long file names
* do not show lines between cells in grid
* select default method to create processing rows
by entity colors (previous method)
by layers
by layers and colors within
set user path (normally to the home directory)
set a work path for file output
* specify a language file for all prompts in the program
* specify filenames by layer number or by layer name when writing separate layers
 
 
Languages
 
* all prompts can be replaced by prompts from *.lng files (ASCII text format)
* language prompts can be changed at any time without having to exit the program
* language prompts can be edited by any user (a bit tedious, but available)
 
 
*Separate Utilities
 
* Create PFA font files from PFB font files
* Insert PFA files in existing AutoScript PS/EPS files
* Create Libraries from user's existing color libraries (if they have Pantone, etc.)