Both NTUTILZ.ZIP and NTUTILZ.EXE contain all the files needed to install the RoboCAD NT Utilities Package. Both are compressed. To expand the ZIP file you will need PKUNZIP. To expand the EXE file, simply place it in the target directory and run it.

If you need to set up Windows NT or 2000 print capture, look here for information .

Windows NT does not handle files and folders in quite the same way as other the other Windows variants, and MS-DOS. Because of this, when you use RoboCAD on a Windows NT system you should use the RoboCAD NT Utilities to create libraries and indexes. If you are using RoboCAD's Run Other facilities (for example, to exchange data between RoboCAD and RoboSOLID or RoboMILL), you should also ensure you use the NT version of rsys.bat .

The following files are supplied as part of the utility package, and all need to be in the same directory as ROBOCAD.EXE:

• The new RZ_OTHE.RUN
• NT_UTILS.EXE
• README.TXT (optional)

Unlike the previous beta test versions, this version creates all the library housekeeping files itself - it does not need prototype files.

Installation and Operation:

After expanding the above three files and locating them in the RoboCAD directory, run RoboCAD in the usual way. Select the SETUP menu, and click on Run Other. A (new) entry, NT Utilities, will be there. Click on this, and you will get the above screen telling you:

• that you are in the NTU and showing the version number (1.0.04)
• what your current library path is, or Not Set (as above) if none is selected

Choose a function (Add Index/Select Library/New Library), or Exit. Make your selection by typing in the menu number, or by clicking on the menu text with the left mouse button. Use the Escape key or click the right mouse button to cancel what you are doing.

If your operating system is Windows NT:

• Use only the NT Utilities to create new libraries and to add indexes to existing libraries.
• Do not use RoboCAD's Library:SetPath:Library to create new libraries.
• Do not use RoboCAD's Library:Maintenance:Add Index, or the Add Index button on the library status palette, to add an index.

Using NT Utilities

General:

Select a menu item, or select from a list of items, by typing in the item number or by clicking on the item text with the left mouse button.

Cancel what you are doing by using the Escape key or clicking the right mouse button.

When typing an entry you can use the Insert, Delete, Backspace, Home, End, and cursor arrow keys in the usual way to edit the text you are entering. You can also use the mouse to position the text cursor within a text entry box. Put the mouse cursor where you want the text cursor to be, and click the left button.

Use NT Utilities on its own (outside RoboCAD) to make library diskettes.

1) Add Index to Current Library:

The Main Menu screen is replaced by the Add Index screen. At the top is the current library, and beneath it the function you are using, Add Index.

Enter a new index number to add to your current library. When you do this, NTU checks to see whether that index already exists. If it does you are warned. If it does not, NTU asks for an index name.

Enter the index name.

NTU will then create the new (blank) library index page, and return to RoboCAD. Your RoboCAD drawing screen should be preserved.

2) Select Different Library:

The Main Menu screen is replaced by the Select Library screen. At the top is the current library, and beneath it the function you are using, Select Library.

NTU reads the list of library paths from RoboCAD's catalog, and displays them (possibly more than one screen full). Left click the mouse on your chosen path, or type it's number. Your selection becomes the current library.

If the selected library path no longer exists, you will not be warned unless/until you try to do something with it (like Add Index).

3) Create New Library

The Main Menu screen is replaced by the Create New Library screen. At the top is the current library, and beneath it the function you are using, Create New Library.

Type in the new path name you want. You can include a drive letter, and you can create more than one level of sub-directory (folder). NT network computer names are not supported - you must map disk locations on other networked computers to drive letters. To reduce possible confusion, NTU converts all lowercase text that you type to upper case. Similarly, although spaces are legal in NT, and NTU supports their use, it's best to avoid using them. For maximum compatibility, continue to use the DOS "eight character plus three" (or 8.3) name format.

Example: You want to create a library d:\drawings\robo\project1 and all that exists so far is d:\drawings

Just select Create New Library, and type in the full path d:\drawings\robo\project1

NT Utilities will automatically create the new directory robo in the existing directory d:\drawings, then it will create directory project1 in the newly created directory robo, and then it will create a set of empty library files in directory project1.

4) Exit

If you are "inside" RoboCAD, this returns you to RoboCAD with your drawing still on the screen. You will usually get some messages as RoboCAD and NTU update the library path catalog. Simply click the left mouse button to acknowledge them.

If you are "outside" RoboCAD, you will be returned to the operating system, or calling program, as appropriate. Error returns (exit codes) are provided but not documented at this stage - they may change.

Notes:

1. The principal library housekeeping files LIBINFO.SYS and INDICES.DAT are backed up (to LIBINFO.BAK and INDICES.BAK ) before any changes are made to them.
2. The library catalog (list of known libraries) file RC_LIB.CAT is also backed up (to RC_LIB.BAK) before any new paths are added to it. When running "outside" RoboCAD (that is, not from Setup:Run Other) the catalog will always be updated with any new paths created. When running "inside" RoboCAD you should be aware that RoboCAD re-writes rc_lib.cat when you exit the program (Setup:Exit); this may sometimes result in your new path name being dropped from the list - see "4) Exit" above.
3. For maximum compatibility, NTU uses the system program XCOPY to copy files. This program must be present in the system search path. It will be unless someone has deleted it, or moved it to a location outside the search path.
4. NTU can be run directly from the system command prompt, and from a batch or other program. A valid RoboCAD Library path may be supplied as a command line parameter (argument) to specify which library path to use.
       Example:  NT_UTILS C:\ROBOCAD\LIB
   Other command line arguments exist but are not documented in this release. They may not be supported in future versions.
5. Although running NTU should not alter the current RoboCAD drawing(s) in any way, it's always possible that your system could crash unexpectedly. If your drawing is critical, FILE it or use SETUP:Backup:Backup Now before running NTU. (You should FILE every 30 minutes or so in any case to minimize data loss in the event of a problem).
6. Every RoboCAD Library is SINGLE SET of files and directories. Always treat it as a unit. Do not attempt to copy, erase, or alter individual files within the library. See your Reference Manual for more information.
7. NTU creates directories and files in your library path, creates backup files, copies files, and also edits existing files. Ensure that you have the appropriate NT security permissions to allow this.
8. The list of Library paths displayed in "Select Different Library" comes from the RoboCAD library catalog file RC_LIB.CAT file. NTU expects this file to be in the same directory that NTU is in.

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