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GstarCAD2021 Express Tools

The document provides a table of contents for various tools in GstarCAD including block tools, text tools, dimension tools, selection tools, modify tools, draw tools, AutoXLS table tools, GstarCAD tools, print tools, coordinate tools, and drawing tools. It describes tools for working with blocks, text, dimensions, selections, modifications, drawings, tables, coordinates, and printing. Many of the tools allow modifying, copying, exploding, importing/exporting, and incrementing blocks, text, and other drawing elements.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
111 views74 pages

GstarCAD2021 Express Tools

The document provides a table of contents for various tools in GstarCAD including block tools, text tools, dimension tools, selection tools, modify tools, draw tools, AutoXLS table tools, GstarCAD tools, print tools, coordinate tools, and drawing tools. It describes tools for working with blocks, text, dimensions, selections, modifications, drawings, tables, coordinates, and printing. Many of the tools allow modifying, copying, exploding, importing/exporting, and incrementing blocks, text, and other drawing elements.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1

Table of Contents
Block Tools

Replace Block with Another Count Blocks……………….8 Convert Block to Xref ……….9
Block ……...………………5 Change Block Color…............8 List Xref/Block Properties…....10
Copy Nested Objects………..5 Change Block Linewidth……..8 Trim to Nested Objects……....10
Explode Attribute to Text……..6 Change Block Text Angle…….9 Extend to Nested Objects……10
Attribute Increment…… ……6 Change Block Text High……...9 External Reference Relocate….11
Export Attribute Information….7 Change Block Layer…………9 Block Break…………………11
Import Attribute Information….7
Statistics Blocks Number……8

Text Tools

Justify Text……………..… 21 Character Break……………..23 Position………………….…24


Rotate text……………..…. 21 Change Character…………...23 Delete Annotation…………...25
Change Text Style……….….22 Change One Character…….....23 Adjust Character………….…25
Chinese Characters Split……23 ChangeText Height/Width/Angle/

Text Tab (The following features have been moved to Text menu from Express tools)

Text Match …...............……12 Make Rtext…………..……17 Scale …..……………...…20


Change Text…………...…..13 Change Rtext…………...…17 Text Outline …..………… 21
Text Align………..………..14 Text Fit…………………....18 Document Input…………...22
Text on Line………..……...15 Extended Text Editor……….18 Convert Text to Mtext……....22
Arc-Aligned Text………..…16 Enclose Text with Object…...18 Change Text Case………. ..22
Text Mask………..….….…16 Automatic Text Numbering…18
Unmask Text..…………..…16 Text Incremental Copy……..19

Dimension Tools

Area Table……………………………24 Dimstyle Export………………………26


Change Dimension Text……………….25 Dimstyle Import………………………26
Change Dimstyle……………………..25 Attach Leader to Annotation.....................27
Reset Dim Text Value……………….....25 Detach Leaders from Annotation……......27
Update Dimension……………………26 Global Attach Leader Annotation……......27
Rapid Distance…………………….....28

2
Selection Tools
Get Selection by Layer…………...…29
Get Selection Set………………..…28 Get Selection by Color…………...…30
Select Filter……………………….28 Get Selection by Object/Layer..............30
Get Selection by Block Name…….…29 Get Selection by Object/Color……….30
Get Selection by Object Type……..…29 Get Selection by Layer/Color………...30

Modify Tools

Layoutbypath……………………...…34 Overkill…………………………….39
Move/Copy/Rotate………....................35 Multiple Copy…………................….40
Region Scale……………....................37 Statistics Summation………………..41
Trim Enhancement............................... 37 Break Object………………..…….. 41
Extended Offset…………….….....… 38
Multiple Pedit……………………… 37

Align Tool……………………..……..33
Arrange Tool…………………………33 Areasum…………………………......36
(Areasum has been moved to Tools menu from Modify tools, Align Tool and Arrange Tool have been moved to Modify menu)

Draw Tools

Superhatch……………..42 Spline to Pline………….46


Breakline Symbol…….....43 Line to Pline…………....46
Spline to Line…………..45

Pline Boolean…………..44 Cloud Line........................47


(Pline Boolean has been moved to Modify menu and Cloud line has been moved to Draw menu from Express Tools)

Tools

Command Alias……………….48 System Variable Editor…………49 Make Linetype…………..……..50


Attach Xdata……………..……50 List Object Xdata………..……...50

Table Tools

Table Fill In…………….50 Add Bias………………52 Selection Scale…….….53


Draw Table……………..51 Drag Multiple Lines…….52 Add Row….……….… 54
Merge Cells…………....51 Drag Line…………..….53 Add Column…….…..……54
Split Cells…………..…52 Drag Segment……..…..53

3
Delete Row………………54 Delete Table…………...…55 CAD Table to Excel………..55
Delete Column…………...54 Text Orientation Adjust…….55

Coordinate Tools

Export Coordinate………...56 Coordinate Point……….57 Change Z Coordinate…...57

Drawing Tools
Drawing Lock……….... .58 Graphic comprare……….60
Drawing Compare…….. 59 batchpurge…….. ….. . ..62

AutoXLS Table Tools GstarCAD Tools

Create Table…………...63 Drawing Scale…….…...66 Modify Linewidfth…….....69


Edit Table…….....……..63 Rotate Cursor……….…67 Cross to Break………….69
Update Table……….….64 Draw Axonometric Line…67 Control Break Width…….69
Update All the Tables…..64 Visual Extension………..68 Modify Text………….…70
File Link Management.....64 Normal Connect...............68 Super Axonometric…….71
Path Settings…………..65 Flex Connect………......68
Selection Management....65 Super Fillet…………....68

Print Tools

Print Plt……….71 Batch Print…….72 Arrange Frame Automatically....72

4
GstarCAD Express Tools

Express Tools

The GstarCAD Express Tools contain a library of productivity tools designed to help you extend the power of your design. They
are easy to use, easily integrated into your menus and toolbars, and cover a wide range of functions, including dimensioning,
drawing, and selecting and modifying objects. GstarCAD Express Tools are organized on:

Block Tools

Replace Block with Another Block: In the current drawing, you can use one
block to replace another one, moreover, you can purge the unreferenced
block when the operation is finished.

Menu: Expresstools>Blocks>ReplaceBlock C
ommand Entry: BLOCKREPLACE

Select a block to replace: Double bed. Then select: OK


Select the block to be replaced: Sofa. Then select: OK
Purge unreferenced items when finished? Yes/No

See the result below:

Copy Nested Objects: Copy objects in a xref or a block.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Copy Nested Objects


Command Entry: NCOPY

Command line prompts as follows:

Select nested objects to copy: Use an object selection method


Base point: Specify a point, or enter M for multiple copies
Specify second point or <use first point as displacement>: Specify a point

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Explode Attribute to Text: Explode blocks, converting value of attributes to text objects.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Explode Attributes to Text


Command Entry: BURST

Command line prompts as follows: Select entities: Use an object selection method

For example: Explode attributes and convert them to text objects.

1. Select a block containing two attributes. 2. Block exploded and attribute values converted to text.

Attribute Increment: ATTINC command helps to specify attribute of blocks with incremental value, and to modify attribute value
of blocks according to the sort method.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Attribute Increment


Command Entry: ATTINC

This command can increase block attribute value that contains a number or letter. When ATTINC command is on, as long as the
drawing is not closed, when copying, inserting and deleting a block attribute in the drawing, the property number or letter can
be updated automatically.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Export Attribute Information: Export block attribute to an external file in tab-delimited ASCII format.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Export Attribute Information


Command Entry: ATTOUT

Once performed ATTOUT command, specify file name and save path in "Enter output filename" dialog box, then command line
prompts: Select entities: Specify the blocks whose attributes you want to export.

The block names and attributes are exported to the


named file. If the file already exists, you are
prompted before it is overwritten. You can easily
view attributes in a spreadsheet format and edit
individual attribute values. Then you can enter the
new values into the drawing file, using the ATTIN
command.

Import Attribute Information: Import block attribute to an external file in tab-delimited ASCII format.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Import Attribute Information


Command Entry: ATTIN

Using ATTIN and ATTOUT together, you can quickly make changes to attribute values for selected block references.

Once this command is performed,


the "Enter input filename" dialog
will pop up for the user to search
file, import the block attributes
along with the same handle and
block name into the drawing, and
make changes to the block
attributes as well.

Once an attribute value is modified,


it will be integrated into the specified block. It should be noticed that the imported file can't be attribute file exported by
ATTOUT command, whereas the file format should be identical to that of ATTOUT command exporting.

Reads through imported file and processes each line when performing ATTIN command. If the block with the same handle and
name is found in the process of treating lines, the modified attribute value of this block will be applied. If several blocks with
the same handle and name are found, then system prompts whether to interactively assign saving data when processing these
blocks. If "Yes" is selected, the data of each command line will be listed enabling selection of a block to apply this attribute.
Press ENTER to skip to next line, press ESC to exit.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Statistics Blocks Number: You can statistics the quantity of various blocks through this function.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Statistics Blocks Number


Command Entry: TJNUM

Once this command is performed, its dialog box will


pop up. Under Stat. Condition, you can input a block
name, layer or check the options: Ignore the blocks in
the same insert point and also ignore the scale.

Count Blocks: This function is used to count the number of the blocks by list.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Count Blocks


Command Entry: BCOUNT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command, the command line
prompts “Enter to select all blocks or ...”.
2. You can press enter to select all the
blocks within the drawing or by selecting
blocks.
3. Once pressing “Enter” the system will display the result in the command line.

Change Block Color: Modify the block color quickly.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Change Block Color


Command Entry: bChgCol

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Input new color number, here we input 30 for example.
3. Select block objects, for which the color needs to be changed.
4. Finished modifying.

Change Block Linewidth: This function can modify block linewidth quickly.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Change Block Linewidth


Command Entry: bChgWid

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Input a new line width value.
3. Select block objects, for which the line widths need to be changed.
4. Finish changing the line width.
8
GstarCAD Express Tools

Change Block Text Angle: This function can change the text rotation angle of the block and it only takes effect on text or mtext,
attribute text can’t be changed.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Change Block Text Angle


Command Entry: bChgAng

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Input new text angle(comparative with @)<0>: input 0.
3. Select the block to change text angle: then Select objects:
4. Finish changing the text angle.

Change Block Text High: This function can change the height of the block, it only takes effect on text or mtext, attribute text
can’t be changed.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Change Block Text High


Command Entry: bChgHei

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Input a new text height value.
3. Select objects whose text heights need to be changed.
4. Enter to finish the command.

Change Block Layer: This function can change the block layer.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Change Block Layer


Command Entry: bChgLay

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Input target layer name.
3. Select block objects to change layer.
4. Press Enter. If the target layer exists, the selected
block will be moved to the target layer, if a target does
not exist, the software will make a new layer
automatically and move the block object to the new layer.

Convert BLOCK to XREF: Replace all instances of a standard


block with an xref. Unbind xrefs that are bound.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Convert Block to Xref


Command Entry: BLOCKTOXREF

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GstarCAD Express Tools

-BLOCKTOXREF searches the entire drawing for references to a specified block name and replaces them with an xref that you
specify. You can have the unreferenced block purged when done. In BLOCKTOXREF dialog box. Select a block to replace: Table
and 4 chairs. Then select OK button.

-In Select a Xref file. Select the Xref you want. Then
select Open button.
Purge unreferenced items when finished? Yes/No

List Xref/Block Properties: List the type, block name, layer name, color and linetype of a nested object in a block or an xref.

Menu: Express>Blocks>List Xref/Block Properties


Command Entry: XLIST

Command line prompts as follow: Select nested xref or block object to list: Use an
object selection method. After selecting an external reference, the "Xref/Block object"
dialog box will display attributes of specified blocks and xref, including object type,
block name, color and linetype.

Trim to Nested Objects: Trims objects with a block as a cutting boundary.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Trim to Nested Objects


Command Entry: BTRIM

Command line prompts as follow:


-Select objects or <select all>: Select one or
more blocks and press ENTER.
-Select the object to Trim or Shift-select to
Extend or [Edge/Fence/Crossing/Project]:
Select object(s) or enter an option and press
ENTER.

Extend to Nested Objects: Extends objects such as line segment, arc, polyline or ray to a block. Objects would be extended to a
block as close as possible if they cannot intersect with each other.

Menu: Express>Blocks>Extend to Nested Objects


Command Entry: BEXTEND

Command line prompts as follow:


-Select objects or <select all>: Select one or more
blocks and press ENTER.
-Select the object to Extend or Shift-select to Trim or
[Edge/Fence/Crossing/Project]: Select object(s) or
enter an option and press ENTER.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

External Reference Relocate: With this function, our software can recognize the reference in the drawing and give you the
reference state, if you want to select another reference path, click the “Relocate” button and the reference will be displayed in
the drawing again.

Menu: Express>Blocks>External Reference Relocate


Command Entry: CHGXREFPATHa

Operation steps:
1. Start the command and a dialog box will pop up.
2. Select the external reference name which you want to modify.
3. If you click the “Relative Path” button, you will get a relative path
of the reference; If you click “Relocate” button, the system will
relocate the external reference.

Block Break: Working with block references that represent symbols are essential in some industrial application drawings like
electrical schematics, piping, etc.
But a headache comes when try to place these blocks accurately overlapping or even breaking other objects on your drawing.
Now get rid of this headache with BLOCKBREAK command. This innovative tool is able to wipeout or breaks an object that is
overlapped by a reference block.
For example, insome cases we may need to insert block symbols into a cable line in electrical schematic. And normally the
cable line is required to be broken by the symbols at where the symbols are inserted. Similar request are also exists in other
application designs.

Menu: Express tools>Blocks>Block Break


Command Entry: BLOCKBREAK

Block break dialog box:


Name: List all available blocks created in the
drawing.
Browse: Browse to open specific drawing file.
Pick: You can pick an existing block reference in
the current drawing.
Scale: Scales the block reference size
according to X, Y and Z coordinates. Uniform
Scale option keeps the original size of block
reference.
Rotation: You can rotate a block reference by
inputting an angle value or keep aligned.
Process Mode: You can use a block reference to
break or wipeout objects when overlapping.

11
GstarCAD Express Tools

Block Break Process Mode Illustration


Break: Breaks background object(s) when a block reference is overlapped.

Wipeout: Wipeout background object(s) when a block reference is overlapped.

Text Tools

Text Match: TextMatch is a specific tool to match both text and Mtext attributes in the current drawing, avoiding select and edit
text attributes one by one.

Menu: Text > Text Match


Command Entry: Textmatch

After started the command, a message will display in the command line > Select the sample
text, Settings (S). If we enter the keyword S (settings) the follow Text Match Settings window
will be display. From this settings window, we can see the text matching options such as: Text
content, Color, Height, Angle, Align, Layer, Width factor and Style. And also you can select
more than one option according to your need.

12
GstarCAD Express Tools

Content: Match only text or Mtext content from the sample text to the destination object(s).
Color: Match only color from the sample text or Mtext to the destination object(s).
Height: Match only text or Mtext height from the sample text to the destination object(s).
Angle: Match only text or Mtext angle from the sample text to the destination object(s).
Align: Match only Mtext alignment attribute from the sample text to the destination object(s).
Layer: Match only the text or Mtext layer to which the sample text belongs to the destination object(s).
Width factor: Match only the text width factor text frame from the sample text to the destination object(s).
Style: Match only text or Mtext style from the sample text to the destination objects(s).

Change Text: When there are several texts in the drawing which need to be modified, it would be much more tedious and
inefficient if modify one by one. Change text allows users make bulk modification to several texts. For example, this function
can modify the alignment, height, width, position, rotation, style and content of several texts simultaneously. It greatly improves
the efficiency of single text and Mtext modifications.

Menu: Text > Change Text


Command Entry: Changetext

For example, in a table or part list created, we can apply change text. After started the command, a message will display in the
command line: Please select object: Then select the text to be modified, immediately a prompt message will display>Height
(H) / Justify (J) / Location (L) / Rotation (R) / Style (S) / Text (T) / Undo (U) / Width (W):

Height: Changes the text height. Within this option there


are three more: Single (I) / List (L) / New height for all
objects:

Single: This changes the text height one by one.


List: This shows the text information such as: Min. and
Max. text height and average.
New Height for all objects: This changes the height of all
the selected text at once.

Justify: Changes the text justification. Within this option there are several more: Align (A) / Fit (F) / Center (C) / Left (L) /
Middle (M) / Right (R) / TL / TC / ML / MC / MR / BL / BC / BR:

Align: This aligns text according to a Right: Justify the context at right of the MR: Justify the context at middle right
specific point. frame area text. of the frame area text.
Fit: Adjust the length of a single text TL: Justify the context at top left of the BL: Justify the context at bottom left of
by specifying two points. frame area text. the frame area text.
Center: Justify the context at center of TC: Justify the context at top center of BC: Justify the context at bottom
the frame area text. the frame area text. center of the frame area text.
Left: Justify the context at left of the ML: Justify the context at middle left BR: Justify the context at bottom right
frame area text. of the frame area text. of the frame area text.
Middle: Justify the context at middle MC: Justify the context at middle
of the frame area text. center of the frame area text.

13
GstarCAD Express Tools

Location: Changes the text location by selecting and moving


the text frame base point.
Rotation: Changes the text rotation according with the input
value.
Style: Changes the text style by typing the style name in the
command line.
Text: Find and replace text. Within this option there are three
more: Single (I) / Re-enter (R) / Global (G):
Single: If you select one or more texts, this will match and
change any context within the text selected in sequence (one
by one).
Re-enter: This retype a new content by typing in the command
line and then replace it.
Global: If you select one or more text, this will match and change any
context within text group selected at once.
Undo: Like CTRL+Z, this will undo operation after select any other.
Width: Changes the frame area text by entering a new width factor value.

Text Align: As the name describes, this function is used to align text. You can select several texts in your drawing to align along

X or Y coordinates, or along a line of specific direction.

Menu: Text > Text Align


Command Entry: Textalign

For example, when we create a table or part list


and some contents are not in the correct location,
using this tool improves the efficiency of adjusting
text. After started the command, a message will
display: Please select object: Then select the
text(s) to be aligned. After select the text(s), a

14
GstarCAD Express Tools

message will display > Select the align method: X axis (X) / Y axis (Y) / Two points (P):
In this case, we choose Y axis align method and then specify a point to align the texts in the correct location. The result as
follow:

Another example, we choose


X axis alignment method and
then specify a point to align
the texts in the correct
location (end point of
Leader). The result as follow:

And finally, If we choose Two points (P) alignment method for and then specify two points to align the texts in the correct
location (start and end point of Leader). The result as follow:

Text on Line: It can distribute the text uniformly along a selected spline, polyline or arc, but this can also create text online
quickly for multiple curves.

Menu: Text > Text on Line


Command Entry: GC_textonline

Operation steps:
1. Pick the "text on line" icon.
2. Click one certain point on the line as insert point of the character.
3. Input character, here, we input "GstarCAD".

15
GstarCAD Express Tools

4. Enter the height of the character, here, we enter "3".


5. Select input mode, here we can choose "Breakline" or "wipeout".

Breakline: It breaks the line automatically according to insert point and length
of the character. Wipeout: Generate one overlay area matched to the length of
the character, cover the line with it and put the character in the insert point.

Arc-Aligned Text : You can use this function to create Arc-Aligned Text.

Menu: Text > Arc-Aligned Text


Command Entry: ARCTEXT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select an Arc or an Arc- Aligned Text, as shown below.
3. Input texts in “Arc-Aligned Text” dialog box and set the relevant properties.
4. Click the “OK” button to finish creating Arc-Aligned Text.

Text Mask: Place a mask object behind selected text or mtext. The rectangular mask is offset from the text by a specified value.

Menu: Text > Text Mask


Command Entry: TEXTMASK

Command line prompts as follows:


-Current settings: Offset factor = 0.500000, Mask type = Solid,
Mask color = 150
-Select text objects to mask or [Masktype/Offset]: Select an option or text or press ENTER to exit.
Text objects are grouped together with the mask objects so that they are moved, copied and erased together. To update the
mask after editing the text, run TEXTMASK again, and select the text item to be updated.
Masktype:
Mask type currently set to Solid
Specify entity type to use for mask [3dface/Solid] <Solid>: Specify a type to use for mask.

3DFACE option: Places a 3D Face behind the text. SOLID option: Masks with a 2D solid in a specified color.
WIPEOUT option: Places the mask in front of the text. Offset: Specify offset distance between shielded entity and text object.
Enter offset factor relative to text height <0.500000>: Specify a value, or select points to set the mask size.

Unmask Text: Removes mask from text that has been masked with the TEXTMASK command

Menu: Text > Unmask Text


Command Entry: TEXTUNMASK

16
GstarCAD Express Tools

Command line prompts as follow:


-Select text or MText object from which mask is to be
removed.
-Select object: Use an object selection method.

Make RText: We can use RText function to display the content of a text file or the calculation results of a DIESEL expression in
the drawing.

Menu: Text > Make RText


Command Entry: RTEXT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command and command line prompts.

Options: Style: Select a text style. Height: Specify a text height. Rotation: Specify a rotation value.
File: Use an external text file. Diesel: Use DIESEL code.

2. Capital letters “S”, “H” or “R” are used to set text style, text height, text
rotation; If you enter “F”, a dialog box will pop up and you can select a text
file(*.txt) as RText display object. While the content of text file is changing, the
RText is also changing automatically. If you select “Diesel” and a dialog box will
pop up, the calculation results of a DIESEL expression can be displayed in the
drawing.
3. Input Diesel expression, here for example we input $(getvar,
"dwgprefix")$(getvar, "dwgname") as shown below. The expression means to get
current path.
4. Select insertion point to insert RText object.
5. Finish creating RText object.

Change RText: Allows you to edit existing remote text (Rtext) objects in the drawing.

Menu: Text > Change RText


Command Entry: RTEDIT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select an Rtext object.
3. You can enter the option to be modified, system will prompt several options.
4. Input “S” can specify text style; Input “H” can input text height value directly;
Input “R” can specify text rotation angle; Input “E” will pop up a dialog box.
5. Finish modifying Diesel expression and click “OK”.

17
GstarCAD Express Tools

Text Fit: Stretches or shrinks text object(s) by selecting new start and/or end points.

Menu: Text > Text Fit


Command Entry: TEXTFIT

Command line prompts as follow:

-Select Text to stretch/shrink:


-Specify end point or [Start point]: Specify a new end point, or enter S to specify a new start point.
Note: The default uses the text's justification as the start point. If a new start point is specified,
prompts are displayed to specify new points.

Extended Text Editor: This function is a specific function of GstarCAD, you can input some particular texts, for example,
subscript text, single underline, double underline text and some special symbols and also you can set row spacing, alignment,
text height and other parameters, moreover it can input and output *.txt document. This function improves the CAD text editing
ability greatly.

Menu: Text > Extended Text Editor


Command Entry: MMTEXT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command and a dialog box will pop up.
2. Input corresponding texts in the dialog box.
3. Click “OK” to finish creating texts.

Enclose Text with Object: Place a circle, a slot, or a rectangle around each selected text or mtext object. The diameters of the
circles can be constant or fitted to each object. The width and height of the slots and rectangles can be constant or variable.

Menu: Text > Enclose Text with Object


Command Entry: TCIRCLE

Usage Example:
-Circles: Constant radius( Fig 1). -Circles: Variable radius( Fig 2).

Automatic Text Numbering: Adds sequential numbering to text objects. The numbering can appear as a prefix, suffix or
replacement text. After selecting one or multiple texts, you can set the text sorting method, the starting number and increment
of text sorting and generated numbers placement mode.

Menu: Text > Automatic Text Numbering


Command Entry: TCOUNT
18
GstarCAD Express Tools

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select TEXT, MTEXT or ATTDEF objects.
3. Sort selected objects by [X/Y/Select-order]
X: Places numbers by increasing the x-coordinate value of the selected text.
Y: Places numbers by decreasing the y-coordinate value of the selected text.
Select-order: Places numbers according to the order in which the text was selected. After specifying the method of order, the
following prompts will be displayed in the command line.

4. Specify starting number and increment (Start increment) <1,1>: Enter the starting number and increment, separated by a
comma, or press ENTER. Note: Negative increments (decrements) are supported. Precede decrements with a minus sign.

5. Specify the placement of numbers in text [Overwrite/Prefix/Suffix/Find&replace..] < Prefix>:, Enter an option or press ENTER

Overwrite: Replaces selected text strings with numbers. Prefix: Adds the number as a prefix to text.
Suffix: Adds the number as a suffix to text. Find&replace: Replaces a user specified text string with a number

Usage Example:

1. Starting number = 1, increment = 2. Starting number = 20, increment 3. Starting number = 2, increment =
1 added as prefix: = -10 added as suffix: 2, Overwrite:

Text Incremental Copy: This command can accomplish kinds of incremental methods for text.

Menu: Text > Text Incremental Copy Command Entry: GC_dztext

The incrementation dialog box is displayed:


Distance: Specify incremental Distance, you can input value directly or single click the
button on the right to specify by the crosshair.
Amount: If do not specify Amount, the system will calculate the amount according to the
initial points of the crosshair.
Incrementation: Specify the incrementation.

Select Incremental Object: If there are mixed letter cases and numbers in the text, user can specify different incremental
objects.

19
GstarCAD Express Tools

1. Open Text Incremental Copy.


2. Select the incremental objects.
3. Set incremental methods, the completed incrementation
effect is displayed.

Free Incremental: It is used when the Incremental Copy


location is relatively free, for example: number of spare parts
in the assembly drawing.

1. Open Text Incremental Copy.


2. Do not select Distance or Amount, please set
incrementation as you need. Then select the text.
3. Specify incremental text location.

Distance only: It is used if the distance of incremental text is fixed, for example: number column in the form.

1. Open Text Incremental Copy.


2. Select Distance and do not select Amount, please specify Incrementation and Distance as you need. You can input value
directly or single click the button on the right to specify by the crosshair. Then Select the text.
3. Specify incremental distance and direction. The system will automatically calculate the amount according to the initial points
of the crosshair.

Amount only: It is used when you know the incremental amount and do not know the incremental distance.

1. Open Text Incremental Copy.


2. Select Amount and don't select Distance, please specify the Incrementation and Amount as you need. Then select the text.
4. Specify the incremental distance and direction. The system will place the incremental text between initial points of the
crosshair as below:

Distance and Amount: You can fix the Amout and Distance first, and use the crosshair to specify the incremental direction.

Scale: This command can be used for single line text and multiline text, you can specify scale center and text height with this
command.

Menu: Text > Scale Command Entry: SCALETEXT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select objects which need to scale.
3. Specify scale center.
4. Specify the text height and Press enter to finish scaling.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Text Outline: Text Outline function will split more thoroughly, after processing, texts are no longer words, but lines. When
editing single line fonts, precision can be set to 1, set to higher numerical will make text warp, using truetype font from
operating system, you can increase accuracy appropriately. The higher the accuracy, the shorter segments you will get, so you
will get more segments.

Menu: Text > Text Outline


Command Entry: EXPLODETEXT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select objects to explode.
3. Press enter to finish. The text will break up into outline.

Justify Text: Change a text object's justification without changing its position. Works with text, mtext, and attribute definition
objects.

Menu: Express > Text Tools > Justify Text


Command Entry: TJUST

Select objects: Use an object selection method.


[Start/Center/Middle/Right/TL/TC/TR/ML/MC/MR/BL/BC/BR] <Start>: Choose the new justification

Usage Example: Covert text to middle justified


-Text left justified. -Text after justification change.

Rotate Text: Aligns text, mtext and block attribute objects to new orientation. Rotates text, mtext, and attribute definition objects
so that they end up being as close as possible to horizontal or right-read (similar to the behavior of dimension text). Objects are
rotated about their middle point in 180-degree increments. For example, if the text is upside-down, it becomes right-side up
after a TORIENT operation. Similarly, left-read text becomes right-read text.

Menu: Express > Text Tools > Rotate Text


Command Entry: TORIENT

-Select objects: Use an object selection method


-New absolute rotation <0>:Enter a new absolute orientation angle
for all selected text. Usage Example: -Text before rotation (Fig 3)
-Text after rotation specified angle of 0 degrees (Fig 4)

Fig 3 Fig 4

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Document Input: This function can input document(*.txt)to the drawing directly.

Menu: Text > Document Input


Command Entry: WJSR

Operation steps:
1. Start the command and a dialog box will pop up.
2. Select a TXT file.
3. Specify the insert point of the first line text.
4. Specify the height of text.
5. Specify line space.
6. Press enter to finish inputting.

Convert Text to Mtext: Convert one or more normal text objects


to Mtext.

Menu: Text > Convert Text to Mtext


Command Entry: TXT2MTXT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select objects: Here we select two text objects and convert them to Mtext object.
3. 1 Text objects removed, 1 MText object added.

Change Text Case: Changes the case of selected text, mtext, attributes and dimension text.

Menu: Text > Change Text Case


Command Entry: TCASE

Command line prompts as follow:


-Select object: Use a selection method to select annotation
objects.
-Execute this command, start "TCASE - change text case"
dialog box, select an option.

Change Text Style: This function can change current text style for specified text and single line text, multiline texts are available.

Menu: Express > Text Tools > Change Text Style


Command Entry: CHGSTY

Operation steps:

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GstarCAD Express Tools

1. Start the command.


2. Select the text to change text style and you can modify several objects at a time. Then Press enter to finish the command.

Chinese Characters Split: This function can split single line texts to single text one by one, because the English word is a
combination of several letters, this function only make sense for Chinese Characters.

Menu: Express > Text Tools > Chinese Characters Split Command Entry: HZCF

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select the text to be split.
3. Press enter to finish splitting.

Character Break: Menu: Express > Text Tools > Character Break Command Entry: WZDD

Operation steps:
1. Start the command. 2. Select the text to break. 3. Specify the position for the break.

Change Character: This function can continuously revise multiple text objects, single line and Mtext are applicable.

Menu: Express > Text Tools > Change Character


Command Entry: _DDEDIT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select the text to be replaced.
3. Input characters to replace and press Enter to finish.

Change One Character: This function can change texts in selected single line texts, you can just input characters to be replaced
and characters to replace according to the prompts, Moreover it can be used in several single line texts at the same time.

Menu: Express > Text Tools > Change One Character Command Entry: CHGTXT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select the text to be replaced.
3. Input the characters to be replaced.
4. Input characters to replace.
5. Press enter to finish.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Change Text Height/Width/Angle/Position: This function is used to modify text height, text width, text angle and text position.
You can click or select characters by window selection.

Menu: Express > Text Tools > Change Text Height/Width/Angle/Position


Command Entry: TXTHEI / TXTWID / TXTANG / TXTPOS

Delete Annotation: This function is based on this kind of circumstance, you can select one text annotation to be deleted , the
software will register all the annotations in one layer, you can just press enter and all the text annotations will be deleted or you
can select the texts by window selection and it will not affect the texts of other layers.

Menu: Express > Text Tools > Delete Annotation


Command Entry: WZOFF

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Specify a text annotation to be deleted. At this time you only specify the operation layer, if you directly press enter, the entire
layer single texts will be deleted.
3. Select annotations to be deleted (you can select several objects by window selection) and press enter to finish.

Adjust Character: When the texts are mixed with Chinese characters, English letters and Arabic numerals, the text height will be
different and the visual effect is not good. You can use this function to match the text height, but this function will explode the
text's and it will be difficult to re-edit, so we suggest using this function after the user finished editing the drawing.

Menu: Express > Text Tools > Adjust Character


Command Entry: TTL2

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select the text object which needs to adjust the height.
3. Press enter to finish.

Dimension Tools

Area Table: AREATABLE command automatically dimension and count the area of anenclosed object and export the result to a
table in the current drawing area.

Menu: Express>Dimension>AreaTable
Command Entry: AREATABLE

The enclosed area or object can be marked with a number or area symbol, and the area table data can be generated at the same
time. The area data can be exported to a text or table file. The values in the table can be changed automatically when the
number or area size is changed.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Change Dimension Text: Change the dimension content into the specified value.

Menu: Express>Dimension>Change Dimension Text


Command Entry: CHGDIMTXT

Command line prompts as follows:


-Select dimension objects: Select a dimension
-Currently label content <129.9>, input new dimension text <practically
measure dimension>: Type a new value (130)

Change Dimstyle: Apply the current dimension style


to the dimensions in the drawing.

Menu: Express>Dimension>Change Dimstyle


Command Entry: Dimstyle

Reset Dim Text Value: Restore a measurement value to overridden or


modified dimension text.

Menu: Express>Dimension>Reset Dim Text Value


Command Entry: DIMREASSOC

Command line prompts as follows: Select object: Select dimension


objects with non-associative text or press ENTER to quit.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Update Dimension: Updates any other dimension(s) to the current dimension style you want to apply.
Menu: Express>Dimension>Update Dimension Command Entry: DIMUPDATE

Command line prompts as follow:


-Select a dimension for standard: Select a dimension as a base.
-Select a dimension, ensure update the dimension style: Select dimension(s) to be update.

Dimstyle Export: Exports named dimension styles and their settings to an external file.

Menu: Express>Dimension>Dimstyle Export


Command Entry: DIMEX

Executing this command, starts the following dialog box:


Export Filename: Creates a DIM file. Enter the DIM file name or select Browse to locate the
file. If the file does not exist, it is created. If the file does exist, a prompt requests permission
to overwrite. The new file is an ASCII file.
Available Dimension Styles: Selects the dimension styles to write to the ASCII file. The current
dimension styles are displayed. Each selected style is written to the file indicated in the Export Filename group.
Text Style Options: Saves either the dimension's Full Text Style
Information or the Text Style Name Only to the ASCII file.

Note: Dimstyles are created and saved with the DDIM command. You
must select at least one Dimstyle for the export to be successful.

Dimstyle Import: Imports named dimension styles from a DIM file into the current drawing.

Menu: Express>Dimension>Dimstyle Import


Command Entry: DIMIM

Executing this command, starts the following dialog box:

Import Filename: Names the file you want


to import. Enter an existing file name or
select Browse to specify a DIM file to
import. The file must be of the form
generated by the corresponding DIMEX
command. All dimension styles in the
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GstarCAD Express Tools

selected file are imported into the current drawing. Text styles are also imported.

Import Options: Includes Keep the Existing Style, to keep the dimension style in the current drawing and Overwrite Existing
Style, to overwrite styles in the current drawing. The Keep the Existing Style option ignores the similarly named style being
imported; Overwrite Existing Style uses the similarly named style being imported.

Attach Leader to Annotation: Attach leader line to Mtext, tolerance, or block reference
object.

Menu: Express>Dimension>Attach Leader to Annotation


Command Entry: QLATTACH

-Select Leader: Select a leader


-Select a dimension: Select the Mtext, tolerance, or block reference object for the
annotation.

Usage Example:
-Select a leader, and then specify the Mtext object to attach.
-Separate leader line and Mtext objects.
-Leader line with mtext attached as one object.

At the Select Leader: prompt, you will be prompted until you select a leader object or abort the command.
At the Select Annotation: prompt, you will be prompted until you select an MText, Tolerance, or Block Reference object for the
annotation.

Detach Leaders from Annotation: Detach leader line from mtext, tolerance, or block reference object.

Menu: Express>Dimension>Detach Leaders from Annotation Command Entry: QLDETACHSET

-Select objects: Select leader line.

Usage Example:
-Select a leader line to detach from an mtext object.

Global Attach Leader to Annotation: Globally attaches leaders line to mtext, tolerance, or block reference objects.

Menu: Express>Dimension>Global Attach Leader to Annotation Command Entry: QLATTACHSET

-Select objects: Select one or multiple leader lines and annotation objects.

Usage Example:
-Select leader line(s), and mtext objects to attach.
-Select objects: Select one or multiple leader lines and annotation objects,
the command line prompts: Number of unlocked leaders = 2, Number with
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GstarCAD Express Tools

annotation detached = 2
-Leader with detached Mtext object (Fig 5)
-Leader attached to block object (Fig 6)

Rapid Dist : Rapid distance can measures distance and angle between 2D objects along X, Y axis rapidly by moving mouse.

Menu: Express>Dimension>Rapid Dist Command Entry: RAPIDDIST

Distances that only can be measured along X, Y axis based on the position of your mouse, are displayed dynamically as you
move your mouse over and between objects. Angles between the objects touched by distance lines, are displayed dynamically
at the same time.The command only can be used under WCS, and only measure the 2D objects. And the angles of the blocks
can’t be measured.

Type “Settings”, you can set unit conversion and scale in setting window.

Type “Record”, you can save the current result in command line window, which is convenient to check or copy data to other
documents.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Selection Tools

Get Selection Set: Create a temporary selection set of objects.

Menu: Express>Selection>Get Selection Set Command Entry: GETSEL

-Select an object on the Source layer: Use a selection set method or press
ENTER for all layers.
-Select an object of the Type you want: Use a selection set method or press
ENTER for all object types.

Select Filter: Select, edit, and name filters for object selection.

Menu: Express>Selection>Select Filter Command Entry: Filter

Select Object Filter dialog box Options:

1. X, Y, Z Parameters: Defines 5. Add Selected Object: Adds one Select a filter list to make it current.
additional filter parameters depending selected object in the drawing to the The named filter and its list of
on the object. In the filter parameters, filter list. properties are loaded from the default
you can use relative operators such as 6. Edit Item: Moves the selected filter file, filter.nfl
< (less than) or > (greater than). property into the Select Filter area for 11. Save As: Saves a filter and its list
2. Select: Displays a dialog box listing editing. To edit a filter property, select of properties. The filter is saved in the
all items of the specified type in the it and choose Edit Item. Edit the filter filter.nfl file. Names can contain up to
drawing. Select the items to filter. property and choose Substitute. The 18 characters.
3. Add to List: Adds the current Select edited filter replaces the selected filter 12. Delete Current Filter List: Deletes a
Filter property to the filter list. Filter property. filter and all its properties from the
properties that you add to the 7. Delete: Deletes a selected filter default filter file.
unnamed filter remain available during property from the current filter. 13. Apply: Exits the dialog box and
the current work session unless you 8. Clear List: Deletes all the listed displays the Select Objects prompt,
manually delete them. properties from the current filter. where you create a selection set. The
4. Replace: Replaces the filter current filter is used on the objects
property selected in the filter property 9. The filter name is used: Displays, you select.
list with the one displayed in Select saves, and deletes filters.
Filter. 10. Current: Displays saved filters.

Get Selection by Block Name: You can use this function to multi-select objects
with the same name in specified area.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Menu: Express>Selection Tools>Get Selection by Block Name Command Entry: GETBLKSEL

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select object, specify a block name for operation.
3. Specify the region.
4. System will bring all the blocks with same name in region selected area into the selection.

Get Selection by Object Type: You can use this function to multi-select
objects with the same entity type in specified area.

Menu: Express>Selection Tools>Get Selection by Object Type


Command Entry: GETENTSEL
Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select object and system will take the specified entity type as target
type. Then specify region.
3. System will bring all the blocks with same entity type in region
selected area into the selection.

Get Selection by Layer: You can use this function to select all the objects in specified layer and specified region at one time.

Menu: Express>Selection Tools>Get Selection by Layer

Command Entry: GETLAYSEL

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Specify an entity which is in the target layer, then specify region.
3. System will

select all the objects in specified layer and specified region.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Get Selection by Color: Quick select the objects with the same color.
Menu: Express>Selection Tools>Get Selection by Color
Command Entry: GETCOLSEL
Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select one object and system will take the object’s color as target color.
3. Specify region.
4. System will select the objects which have the same color as the target object automatically.

Get Selection by Object/Layer: Select entities by entity type and layer.


Menu: Express>Selection Tools>Get Selection by Object/Layer
Command Entry: GETENTLAYSEL
Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select one object and system will take the object layer as target layer.
3. Specify region.
4. System will select the objects which are in the same layer and with same entity type automatically.

Get Selection by Object/Color: Select entities by entity type and color.


Menu: Express>Selection Tools>Get Selection by Object/Color
Command Entry: GETENTCOLSEL
Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select one object and system will take the object’s color as target color.
3. Specify region.
4. System will select the objects which have the same entity type and color as the target object automatically.

Get Selection by Layer/Color: Select entities by color and layer.


Menu: Express>Selection Tools>Get Selection by Layer/Color
Command Entry: GETLAYCOLSEL
Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Specify an entity which is in the target layer.
3. Specify region.
4. System will select the objects which have the same color and same layer as the target object automatically.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Modify Tools

Align Tool: Allows align selected objects such as: rectangle, circle, line, spline, arc, pline, block and even 3D model object
along X or Y axis coordinates. This tool has different alignment methods, includes offset option for each axis and can be
combined as well.
Menu: Express tools>Modify>Align Tool Command Entry: Aligntool

There are several align tool options within align tool window. All the options
are design-intent to align objects X and Y axis as a reference.

1.- Left object X axis Align: Aligns the the selected object(s) at central
selected object(s) at left side X axis. side Y axis.
2.- Center object X axis Align: Aligns 7.- Bottom object Y axis Align:
the selected object(s) at central side Aligns the selected object(s)
X axis. downwards Y axis.
3.- Right object X axis Align: Aligns the 8.- Y offset: Offset object(s) after selected object(s) to a specific point
selected object(s) at right side X axis. select any Y axis alignment option. of the second selected object, after
4.- X offset: Offset object(s) after 9.- Specified object: Aligns the select any X or Y axis alignment
select any X axis alignment option. selected object(s) to a specific object option.
5.- Top object Y axis Align: Aligns the or any end point of it, after select any 11.- Selection boundary: This option
selected object(s) upwards Y axis. X or Y axis alignment option. is by default when you select any X or
6.- Center object Y axis Align: Aligns 10.- Specified point: Aligns the Y alignment option.

We can apply this tool to align a quantity


objects (columns) in the correct place. Also
notice that the objects are not aligned at same
position each other, and also these are
independent blocks. We will perform Top
object Y axis alignment and specified object.
After started the command Aligntool, a prompt
message will display > Please select the
object to align: Then select the objects in any
order you want:

After you have selected the objects, the Align tool


settings window will pop up: first we have to
check the option Top object under Y axis
alignment. After check this option the objects
(columns) will be aligned at same level:

After the objects have been aligned, we have to


select the option specified object under Align to.
Then select the object (blue line) where we want
to align and place the objects. Finally you will
get a faster result performing this operation:

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Arrange Tool: ArrangeTool can quickly adjust the arrangement of multiple objects. It can align multiple objects at left, right, top,
bottom and center and also can arrange vertical or laterally.

Menu: Express tools>Modify>Arrange Tool Command Entry: ARRANGETOOL

For example, ArrangeTool makes the bearings evenly distributed in the shaft.
ArrangeTool supports real-time preview when user adjusts the parameters. In
addition it supports distribution specifies.

There are several arrange tool


options within arrange tool
window. All the options are design-intent to arrange object’s position
horizontally or vertically. This tool can work at least with 2 or more objects
selected.

1.-Left horizontal arrangement: object as arrangement reference. arrangement and raw for vertical
Arranges selected objects horizontally, 6.-Middle vertical arrangement: objects arrangement.
taking leftmost object as arrangement Arranges selected objects vertically, 10.-Specify region: Can be combined
reference. taking middle of the top object as with any horizontal and vertical
2.-Middle horizontal arrangement: arrangement reference. options by specifying the start and
Arranges selected objects horizontally 7.-Nearest side vertical arrangement: end points of the new region. Then,
in two ways (top or bottom left object). Arranges selected objects vertically to the objects selected will be arranged
3.-Nearest side horizontal arrangement: the nearest side object taking top according to the new region.
Arranges selected objects horizontally object as reference. 11.-Selection boundary: After
to the nearest side object taking top 8.-Right vertical arrangement: selecting objects, the arrange tool
left object as reference. Arranges selected objects vertically, dialog box pop up, this option is
4.-Right horizontal arrangement: taking bottom edge of the top object selected by default, so just you need
Arranges selected objects horizontally, as arrangement reference. to select any horizontal or vertical
taking right edge of the leftmost 9.-Specify spacing: Can be combined arrangement option. And the objects
object as arrangement reference. with any horizontal and vertical selected will be arranged horizontally
5.-Top vertical arrangement: Arranges options. Also you can input a value for or vertically and equidistant each
selected objects vertically, taking top column in horizontal objects other according to the boundary.

Remarks: Under Specify spacing there are 2 titles: Raw and Column. Raw value only works if we combine it with any vertical
arrangement option. And Column value works with any horizontal arrangement option.

For example, we can apply this for


arrange the part numbers distribution
over the leader lines. Notice that the
objects to be selected are Mtext and
will be distributed according to the
top object level as a reference.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

After started the command, a prompt message will display > Please select the object to arrange:

Then select the part numbers. After select the part numbers, the arrange tool window will pop up, select the option: Specify
spacing and then check or select the option: Top vertical arrangement. See the result below:

Layout By Path: Unlike common array function, LayoutByPath distributes object copies along a path (curve) with a variety of
array options. Users can choose ra8ndom, division and measure options and array in different directions along the path.

Menu: Express tools>Modify>Layout by path Command Entry: Layouthbypath

For example, on mapping drawing, we can apply this


tool to array the discontinuous central axis of the road
or highway as shown in the picture:

After started the command Layoutbypath, a message will


display in the command line>Please select the object to
array:

After select the object, a prompt message will display:


Please specify the base point:
The base point is the point where you want to start doing array from
the object. We can select the low left end point of this object:

After select base point of the object, a prompt message will display:
Specify the object’s direction along the curve<Y axis of WCS>:
This message is important because this will play with the object’s direction along
the path. Because we select the end low point of the object as base point, we have
to specify a parallel point direction to keep the object parallel along the path (long
green line):

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GstarCAD Express Tools

After specify the object’s direction, a prompt message will


display:
Please select the curve:
Then select the long green line. This line is the curve or path
that the object will follow.

After select the curve or path, a prompt message will display:


Specify select along which side of the curve <left side or forward
direction>: T
his message is also important because we will specify the side
which the object will be array. For example, we specify left
side of the curve as shown in the picture.

After specify the side of the curve, a prompt message will


display: Select the method Random (R) / Division (F) / Measure (D):

There are three options random, division and measure:

Random: This allows to array the selected object along the path in a specify point according to user’s need.
Division: This allows to array automatically the selected object along the path by inputting the number of objects.
Measure: This allows to array automatically the selected object along the path by inputting the distance value.

For example, if we do not know the distance between objects but we know the objects quantity, we can select the option
Division:

After select the option, a prompt message will display:


Enter the number: And we enter the value 11

After enter the value, a prompt message will display:


Pick a point on the curve as start point (Distribute from the
end curve when selection is empty):
Then pick one of the end points of the curve:

After pick the point of


the curve, you will get
accurate result: And
also you can repeat
the same array option
for the other blue
central axis of the
road.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Area Sum: When using traditional area command, users usually need to redraw the boundary of the region, or convert the
boundary into a single object, and then get the area of the closed region. AreaSum can automatically search the boundary of
complex graphic. After selecting multi close regions, the command line will add the current region value and area sum
sequence faster in real time.

Menu: Express tools>Modify>Areasum


Command Entry: Areasum

After started the command, you have to


pick points in closed regions to be added
according to your need. For example,
pick up the hatching regions of each
object. After pick point the hatched
regions, the command line will show up
in real time the region value sequence
and area sum in (mm2):

Move/Copy/Rotate: Move, copy, rotate, and scales object(s) with a single command.

Menu: Express tools>Modify>Move/Copy/Rotate


Command Entry: MOCORO

Command line prompts as follow: Select objects: Select object(s) and press Enter (Fig 7).
Base point: Specify a base point (Fig 8)
[Move/Copy/Rotate/Scale/Base/Undo]<eXit>: Once an option is specified (Fig 9\Fig10)

Fig 7 Fig 8 Fig 9 Fig10

Options
Move: Move object(s). Copy: Make multiple copies of object(s). Rotate: Rotate object(s). Scale: Dynamically scale object(s).
Base: Specifies a base point for object(s) to be moved, copied, scaled or rotated.
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GstarCAD Express Tools

Region Scale: You can select a region of a drawing to be cut and copied to a new location.

Menu: Express tools>Modify>Region Scale


Command Entry: ICAD_DYJT

Command line prompts as follow:


Specify left up corner point for full-page proof: Select a region from left up to
right down corner

Specify the position to copy: Specify any place you want to copy to the selected region

Select the object to Trim or shift-select to Extend or [Edge/Fence/Crossing/Project]:


Select objects to trim or press Enter to finish the operation.

Input zoom scaling, the block and text will zoom together <Enter- No Zoom>: Press Enter to finish the
operation.

Trim Enhancement: Trim one side of an object which is intersecting with other objects. The object can be polyline, line, circle,
arc, ellipse, image or text.

Menu: Express tools>Modify>Trim Enhancement


Command Entry: EXTRIM

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select an object as trim reference, here we select the rectangle for example. (Fig 11)
3. Specify the side to trim on. (Fig 12)
4. Here we select the internal point of the rectangle, you will see that the internal lines of the rectangle are trimmed. (Fig 13)

37
GstarCAD Express Tools

Fig 11 Fig 12 Fig13

Extended Offset: This enhanced version of the OFFSET command offers several advantages over the standard command,
including layer control, undo, and a multiple option.

Menu: Express tools>Modify>Extended Offset


Command Entry: EXOFFSET

1 .Specify offset distance or [Through] <T>: Specify the offset distance or through point
2 .Select object(s) to offset or [Options/Undo]: Select an object to offset, change options or undo
3 .Specify an option to set [Distance/Layer/Gaptype]: Specify an option

EXOFFSET Options:
Distance: Specify the offset distance or through point
Layer: Specify the layer for new objects. Current Layer or Source Object Layer
GapType: Sets or changes the offset mode as controlled by the OFFSETGAPTYPE variable. The options are: Normal, Fillet or
Chamfer.

Distance Layer GapType

Multiple Pedit: This command is almost the same as the standard command.

Menu: Express tools>Modify>Multiple Pedit


Command Entry: MPEDIT

1 .Start the command.


2. Select object
3 . Specify an option to set [Open/Close/Decurve/Fit/Linetype-mode/Spline/Width/eXit]<eXit>:

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Example to close plines:


1 .Select object: select plines which you want to close.

2 .[Open/Close/Decurve/Fit/Linetype-mode/Spline/Width/eXit]<eXit>:Input keyword: C and enter.


3 . You will get the plines closed.

Overkill: This function can not only manage overlapped lines, circles, Plines linear objects etc, but can also manage entire
coincident blocks, texts, dimensions and regions .Moreover, remove does not simply mean delete, it judges by layer, color, line
type and many relevant attributes and can delete or connect coincident parts of 2D and 3D Plines, circles, arcs and overlapping
line parts. Using this option can not only delete redundancy objects, but can also avoid editing and printing problems caused
by overlapped objects.

Menu: Express tools > Modify > Overkill


Command Entry: OVERKILL

Start the command and the command line prompts as follow: Select objects: Select the objects to be compared and deleted.
In the overkill dialog box, you can set-up the object comparison, comparison precision (distance between objects) and the
object type. After selecting the options according to your need, select OK.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Multiple Copy: Copy multiple objects with Repeat, Array, Divide and Measure options.

Menu: Express tools>Modify>Multiple Copy


Command Entry: COPYM

Start the command and the command line prompts as follow: Select objects: Select the objects to be copied
Base point: Specify a base point
Second point or [Repeat (last)/Divide/Measure/Array (dynamic)/Undo] <exit>: Select a second point or any option
Options:
Repeat: Repeat the last copy using the same offset distance.
Divide: Linear divide option. Prompts for an additional point and the number of copies to make. Makes evenly spaced copies of
the selected objects between the base point and the second selected point

Repeat Divide

Measure: Linear measure option. Prompts for an additional point and the distance between copies. Makes evenly spaced
copies at the specified distance between the base point and the second selected point.
Array: Displays the Array Options prompt.

Measure Array

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Statistics Summation: This function sums up selected text or mtext. The selected text can not contain any other characters
behind the number and the selected mtext can only contain a row of numerical values without blank spaces. Figures with prefix
can also make statistics Summation and the system will summate them by different prefixes.

Menu: Express tools>Modify>Statistics Summation


Command Entry: KLL01

Start the command and the command line prompts as follow:


Select objects: Select Text or Mtext numerical value

In the Statistics dialog box, you can see the cumulative


sum from the selected text numerical values. You can
also re-select, replace, copy text numerical value again
plus fill-in (show) the cumulative sum in any point of
your current drawing.

Break Object: In some industrial application design,


sometimes we need to break pipes or cable lines in our
schematic drawing to indicate their spatial relationship.
Sometimes we also need to break lines at crossing point to
make it convenient for the later edit. Break Object tool
came from this kind of needs.

Menu: Express tools>Modify>Break Object


Command Entry: BREAKOBJECT

This tool provides four breaking modes with gap distance to visualize the differences between breaking options.

Gap: Indicates the gap value between broken objects


Break all objects selected with each other: This option breaks all intersected objects each other. You can select objects by
window selection or picking each object.
Break selected objects with other selected objects: This option breaks all intersected objects by two selection sets (A and B). The
objects selected under the first set (A) will be broken meanwhile the objects selected under the second set (B) will be not
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GstarCAD Express Tools

broken.
Break objects touching selected objects: This option breaks all intersected objects that touch at first instance selected object.
Break selected objects with any objects that touch it: This option breaks the first instance selected object with all intersected
objects to it.

Draw Tools

Superhatch: Fills an enclosed area or selected objects with a hatch pattern, solid fill or gradient hatch.

Menu: Express>Draw>Superhatch
Command Entry: Superhatch

The Superhatch dialog box is displayed:

Image: Accesses the Select Image dialog box to specify the image for the hatch pattern.
Block: Opens the Superhatch_Insert dialog box to specify the block for the hatch pattern.
Xref Attach: Accesses the Select reference file dialog box for specifying an xref file for a
hatch pattern.
WipeOut: Selects a wipeout object as a hatch pattern.
Select Existing: Selects an existing image, block, xref, or Wipeout as a hatch pattern.

For Images:

1. Open Superhatch dialog box.


2. Click Image... button, choose an image file, the
Superhatch Imageraster dialog box is displayed.
3. Pick the OK button in the Superhatch
Imageraster dialog box, specify insertion point,
scale factor and angle of rotation.
4. The prompt “Is the placement of this IMAGE
acceptable? [Yes/No]<yes>”:
5. Pick a point in the rectangle, press ENTER to
finish.
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GstarCAD Express Tools

For Blocks:

1. Open Superhatch dialog box.


2. Click the Block... button to access the
Superhatch_Insert dialog box:
Block: Click the Block... button to select a block in
the current file.
File: Pick the File... button to select a drawing file
as the block
3. Select the block in the Defined Blocks dialog box and press OK.
4. Specify insertion point, scale factor and angle of rotation.
5. The prompt “Is the placement of this IMAGE acceptable?
[Yes/No]<yes>”is displayed. Choose No to Esc. If you
choose Yes, GstarCAD will ask you to specify the first point
and the next point to place the image.
6. Specify an internal point of the objects for hatch boundary
then press ENTER to finish hatch

For WipeOut:
1. Access Superhatch dialog box and
click the Wipeout button:
2. GstarCAD will ask you to specify
insertion point to create an area that
masks underlying objects
3. Press ENTER to finish creating the
boundary that masks underlying objects.
4. As shown in the picture, move the new block to the carpet, the block will automatically cover
the object under it:

Breakline Symbol: Creates a polyline and inserts the breakline symbol. The options within this command are provided to control
the relative size and appearance of the breakline symbol and an extension of the polyline beyond the selected start and end
points.

Menu: Express tools>Draw>Breakline Symbol


Command Entry: BREAKLINE

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Once start the command, the command line prompts as


follow:

Block = BRKLINE.DWG, Size = 1.000, Extension = 1.250 .


Specify first point for breakline or [Block/Size/Extension/sPecify
line for breakline]: Specify a point, or enter options

Options:

Specify first point for breakline: Draws break line through specifying its
start point and end point.

Block: Determines the block to be used as the breakline symbol.


Enter the block name for breakline symbol <BRKLINE.DWG>:
Enter a block name and press ENTER or press ENTER. If you press
ENTER directly, the saving path of the break symbol file will be
displayed on the command line.

Size: Determines the size of the breakline symbol.


Breakline symbol size <1>: Specify the size of the breakline symbol

Extension: Determines the length of the line extension beyond selected


points.
Breakline extension distance <1.25>: Specify the extension distance.
Once the start point for the break line or the setup break symbol is
assigned, the command line prompts as follows:
Specify second point for breakline: Specify a point

Specify location for break symbol <Midpoint>: Specify the point on the line
segment to specify the location of the breakline symbol, or press ENTER to use the midpoint of the line.

Pline Boolean:

Menu: Express>Draw>Pline Boolean


Command Entry: GC_BoolOP

The Pline Boolean dialog box is displayed as shown in the following


picture.
Delete the entity chosen by second selection: Choose whether to delete
the second selected object. There are different Boolean operation
options such as union, intersection and subtraction. After the operation the object will be a polyline.

Operation case: Here, we use two boolean operations as shown below to complete the design of mechanical parts.
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GstarCAD Express Tools

1. Start command, the dialog box will pop up;


2. Select the option "union" and uncheck the option "Delete the entity
choosen by second selection", as shown below.

3. First select the exterior circle and then the small circles around it, it will keep all small
circles around enabled for the next operation and you will get the first polyline as shown right
side;
4. Start again the boolean operations, select option "subtraction" and check "Delete the entity
chosen by second selection".
5. Then select the interior circle and then the
small circles around it, then the small circles will
be automatically deleted.

Spline to Line: Converts spline(s) to numbers of straight lines.

Menu: Express tools>Draw> Spline to Line Command Entry: SPLINE2LINE

Once the command is started, the command line prompts as follow:


Select spline or [Set parameters(S)]: Select spline(s) or input “S” to set parameters
[The line precision/Starting point (S)<1.00>]: Input a new value bigger than 0 to join precision between segment lines
Conversion in a straight line to allow the greatest number of <5000>]: Input a new value smaller than 5000 to number of lines

At first, the system will fit the spline with a segment line which precision (Length) has been specified, if the line’s number
needed is more than the maximum number, the system will extend the length of the lines by force, using the maximum number
of lines to fit the spline.
Select spline or [Set parameters(S)]: Then select the spline(s) to be converted and press Enter to finish the operation

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Spline to Pline: With this tool the SPline created can be converted to a polyline according to the accuracy (number of segments
of the arc) that the user assigns. The more specified the segment number is, the higher is the matching degree between the
converted Polyline.

Menu: Express tools>Draw>Spline to Pline Command Entry: SPTPL

For example, draw the follow spline sample with 5 arcs as shown:

After the command SPTPL is started, Please select the object (Spline).
After selecting the object, a prompt message will be displayed > Delete
the spline? Yes(Y) / No(N): In this case, if we select Yes, this option will
delete the spline in place but if we select No, it will keep the spline.
After inputting the delete spline option, a prompt message will be
displayed > Please enter the number of arcs Non-zero: And we have to
input a value higher than zero, for example 8. This value determines the
segment number of arcs to be created in the new Polyline.

Line to Pline: This function can convert one or multiple connected straight line(s), arc(s) to one polyline. You can access from:

Menu: Express tools>Draw>Line to Polyline


Command Entry: Line2pl

After starting the command, a


prompt message will be displayed>
Please enter the join precision: 0
The Join precision will determine
the union space between end
points of each object. In this case,
we will input value 0 to ensure the
connection between objects (lines).

After inputting the join value, Please select the objects to be joined and converted to Polyline:

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GstarCAD Express Tools

And finally, you have successfully created a polyline:

Cloud Line: Creates polyline objects comprised of arcs that


resemble cloud lines.

Menu: Express tools>Draw>Cloud Line


Command Entry: REVCLOUD

Once the command is started, the command line prompts as


follow:

Minimum arc length: Current Maximum arc length: Current


Style: Normal
Specify start point or [Arc length/Object/Style]<Object>: Specify a point or enter an option or press ENTER.
Starting point: Specifies the starting point of the cloud lines.
Guide crosshairs along cloud path...
Once the first arc links to the last arc, the prompts is displayed: Reverse direction [Yes (Y)/No (N)]: By inputting “Y”, all the arcs
will change into an inverse position. By inputting “N”, the arcs will keep the current position.

Arc: Specifies the arc length.


Specify minimum length of arc <current>: Specify the arc length value or press ENTER.
Specify the maximum arc length <current>: Specify the arc length value or press ENTER.

Then specify start and end point to finish the operation.


Note: The maximum arc length should not be greater than 3 times the minimum arc length. The value of arc length is stored in
the register.

Object:
Convert
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GstarCAD Express Tools

s the closed object to the cloud lines. It can only be applied to the closed
object.

Select objects: Select a closed object(s)


Reverse direction [Yes (Y)/No (N)]: By inputting “Y”, all the arcs will
change into an inverse position. By inputting “N”, the arcs will keep the
current position. Select any option and press Enter to finish the operation.

Style: There are two styles: Normal (same as above) and Calligraphy,
which makes the arcs of the cloud thicker than the normal one.
Select arc style [Normal/Calligraphy]<Normal>: Select
Calligraphic

Reverse direction [Yes (Y)/No (N)]: By inputting “Y”, all the arcs will
change into an inverse position. By inputting “N”, the arcs will keep
the current position. Select any option and press Enter to finish the
operation.

Tools

Command Alias:This function allows users to add, modify, delete command alias and shell commands.

Menu: Express tools>Tools>Command Alias


Command Entry: ALIAS

Operation steps:
1. Start the command and a dialog box
will pop up.
2. Select commands to be deleted and
click “Remove” button to delete
command alias.
3. Select the command to be modified
and click “Edit” button, a dialog box will
pop up.
4. Click “OK” to finish editing.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

System Variable Editor: Allows you to view, save, load and compare system variable settings.

Menu: Express tools>Tools>System Variable Editor


Command Entry: SYSVDLG

System Variables Dialog Box Options:

List Box: Displays a list of system variables. The edit field


above the list box allows for filtering the list box display
based on user input. For example, entering DIM* in the
edit field filters the list to display only system variables
that start with DIM. If nothing is entered in the edit field,
the list displays all system variables. If more than one
system variable is highlighted, all edit and display options are unavailable.

New Value: Displays the current value Saved In: Displays where the value of Save All, Save Selected or Save
of the system variable highlighted in the highlighted system variable is Filtered depending on the condition of
the list box and allows you to edit that saved. the system variable list.
value. No changes are committed
until the dialog is closed with the OK Type: Displays the type of the Read: Restores saved settings from an
button. highlighted system variable; for SVF file. No changes are saved to the
example, integer, real, string, and so drawing until you choose OK. All
Current Value: Displays the value of on. pending changes can be discarded
the system variable highlighted in the with the Cancel button. SYSVDLG will
list box as if SYSVDLG was started. Save All: Saves the current system validate new system variable values as
variable settings to an SVF or SCR file. they are changed.
Initial Value: Displays the initial value SVF files can be read into SYSVDLG
of the system variable highlighted in and SCR files are AutoCAD scripts Compare with saved: Compares the
the list box. This is the value the that can be run from the AutoCAD variables of the drawing with the
system variable has in a new drawing. command line. The button will display saved SCR file.

Make Linetype: Creates a linetype based on selected objects.

Menu: Express tools>Tools>Make Linetype


Command Entry: MKLTYPE

Once the command is started, the following window will be displayed.


You can find the Line files (*.lin) and apply them to the current drawing.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Attach Xdata: Attaches extended object data (xdata) to a selected object.

Menu: Express tools>Tools>Attach Xdata


Command Entry: XDATA

Select object: Use an object selection method.


Input application name: Specify application name.
Enter an option [3Real/DIR/DISP/DIST/Hand/Int/LAyer/LOng/Pos/Real/SCale/STr/eXit] <eXit>:

Options:

Application name: An ASCII string up to 255 bytes long Int: A 16-bit integer (group code 1070).
(group code 1000). Layer: A layer name (group code 1003).
3Real: 3 real numbers (group code 1010). Long: A 32-bit signed long integer (group code 1071).
Dir: A 3D World space direction (group code 1013). Pos: A 3D World space position (group code 1011).
Disp: A 3D World space displacement (group code 1012). Real: A real number (group code 1040).
Dist: A distance (group code 1041). Scale: A scale factor (group code 1042).
Hand: An object handle (group code 1005).

List Object Xdata: Lists the xdata associated with an object.

Menu: Express tools>Tools>List Object Xdata


Command Entry:XDLIST

Select objects: Use an object selection method.


Input application name <*>: Specify an application name or press ENTER for all applications.

Table Tools

Table Fill In: You can use this function to fill in the table or edit the texts.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Table Fill In


Command Entry: FORMTXT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Click in the cell or input “Q” and a dialog box will pop up.
3. In the dialog box you can set the text height fashion, just fashion
and other text attributes.
4. Click the blank area of a cell and input texts directly.
5. Enter to finish filling in.
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GstarCAD Express Tools

Draw Table: This function can help you draw a table.

Menu: Express>Table Tools> Draw Table


Command Entry: BGE

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Specify the first point of the table.
3. The command line prompts.
a. Press Q key and the width of the form will increase a little, is used to adjust the horizontal width.
b. Press W key and the width of the form will decrease a little, used to adjust the horizontal width.
c. Press A key and the height of the form will increase a little, used to adjust the vertical height.
d. Press S key and the height of the form will decrease a little, used to adjust the vertical height.
4. You can input the corresponding options to adjust the size of the table.
5. Specify the second point to finish drawing the table.

Merge Cells: This function is similar to merge cells in Excel.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Merge Cells


Command Entry: BGH

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Specify the borderline of the form to merge or the first cell, as shown below.
3. Merging effect as below. And press Enter to finish the command.

Sample1: Specify the borderline of the form

Sample2: Specify the first cell and another cell

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Split Cells: This function is similar to split cells in Excel.


Fig 14

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Split Cells


Command Entry: BGFG

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
Fig 15
2. Specify the cell which needs to be split. (Fig14).
3. Move the cursor, when the rows and columns are a size up,
click the mouse and the cell will be split automatically, (Fig15).

Add Bias: This function can add bias for a cell.


Click the start and end point according to the prompts and the system will provide an intersection snap and can easily find the
start and end point of the bias, or you can click any area in one cell and the system will find the top left point of the cell
automatically, then the system will prompt you to select the end point, you can also click any area in the cell, system will take
the bottom right point as the end point automatically, this way, a bias is added in a cell.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Add Bias


Command Entry: BGX

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Specify start point, you can click the top left point or click
the blank area in the cell.
3. Specify end point to finish drawing the bias.

Drag Multiple Lines: You can change the row and column width by dragging the line of the table and the corresponding parts of
the line will also change. For example, drag the line you selected to the right side and all the lines in the right side will move to
the right side correspondingly.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Drag Multiple Lines


Command Entry: BGMT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Specify the line of table for dragging. (Fig16)
3. Specify the place or distance to drag to (left is positive). (Fig17)
4. Enter to finish moving. (Fig18)

Fig 16 Fig 17 Fig 18

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Drag Line: Different to Multiline drag, Drag line will just move the line you selected and other relevant lines will not move.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Drag Line

Command Entry: BGST

Operation steps:
1.Start the command.
2.Specify the line of the table for dragging. (Fig19)
3.Specify the place or distance to drag to (left is positive). (Fig20)
4.Enter to finish the command. (Fig21)

Fig 19 Fig 20 Fig 21

Drag Segment: This command will not change the lines of the whole table, but just move the side line of a cell.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Drag Segment


Command Entry: BGJT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command. Fig 22 Fig 23
2. Specify the line of the table for dragging (Fig22).
3. Specify the place or distance to drag (left is positive). (Fig23)
4. Enter to finish the command (Fig24).

Fig 24

Selection Scale: This function can zoom in and zoom out the whole table base on the point you specified.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Selection Scale


Command Entry: BGSF

Operation steps:
1. Start the command and specify the base point for the line of table. (Fig25)
2. Move the cursor and the table will zoom. (Fig26)
3. Drag to a suitable position and click. (Fig27)

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Fig 25 Fig 26 Fig 27

Add Row: This function can add rows to the table.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Add Row


Command Entry: BGZH

Operation steps:
1.Start the command.
2. Specify the position of the new row.
3. The system will add a row below the point you specified.

Add Column: This function can add new columns to the table.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Add Column


Command Entry: BGZL

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Specify the direction of the new column.
3. The system will add a new column on the right side of the table.

Delete Row: This function can delete the row of the table you specified.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Delete Row


Command Entry: BGSH

Operation steps:
1. Start the command and specify the cell of row for delete.
2. The system will delete the row you specified.

Delete Column: This function can delete columns you specified.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Delete Column


Command Entry: BGSL

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

2. Specify the cell of column for delete.


3. The system will delete the column you specified.

Delete Table: This function can delete the table you selected.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Delete Table


Command Entry: BGSC

Operation steps:
1. Start the command and specify the table for delete.
2. Enter to finish deleting.

Text Orientation Adjust: This function is used to adjust the alignment of the texts.

Menu: Express>Table Tools>Text Orientation Adjust


Command Entry: BGJS

Operation steps:
1. Start the command and select the text for adjust.

2. Press Enter and the command line will prompt the location mode.
3. Here we input “1” to select left alignment.

4. The text you specified will align to the left, as shown below.

Notice:
1. This function can only orient and adjust the table text in the TABLE layer.
2. The distance to the table line using left alignment or right alignment has already been set by the program, if you thunk that
the distance is not suitable, you can use the GstarCAD command to adjust the distance.

CAD Table to Excel: This command will convert sheets, composed by line/Spline and text/Mtext in CAD, to EXCEL.

Menu: Express>Table Tools> CAD Table to Excel


Command Entry: GC_CTE

Operation method:
1. Start the command and specify the conversion ratio.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

2. Select the table that need to be changed and press enter, the system will automatically open EXCEL after conversion.

3. Save the EXCEL sheet.

Coordinate Tools

Export Coordinate: It is easier to extract coordinate data from dawing with COEXPORT innovative tool.

Menu: Express>Coordinate Tools>Export Coordinate


Command Entry: DIMCOORD

You can pick as many points as you need from your drawing and export all the coordinate data to .txt or .xls file. This tool could
be applied conveniently on planning, surveying, mapping, and construction drawings.

Execute COEXPORT command and select what format (.txt/.xls) you want to save the file.Then pick all the coordinate points on
your current drawing. Each time you pick a point, its data will be automatically storage in the file you selected. To finish the
process, press Enter. You can open the saved file and check out all coordinate data (X,Y,Z) extracted.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Coordinate Point: Dimensions the point coordinate in the drawing.

Menu: Express>Coordinate Tools>Coordinate Point


Command Entry: DIMCOORD

Change Z Coordinate: Choose several objects at one time and then change
the Z coordinates together.

Menu: Express>Coordinate Tools>Change Z Coordinate


Command Entry: CHANGEZ

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Drawing Tools

Drawing Lock: Sometimes a designer sends drawings to other people, but doesn’t want others to modify the drawings. The
“Drawing Lock” function can turn the drawing into a whole block. You can’t explode it or modify the objects of the original
drawing. It is a good way to prevent others from modifying the drawing.

Menu: Express tools>Drawing Tools>Drawing Lock


Command Entry: LOCKUP

Once the command is started, the follow wizard will be displayed:

Select objects: Select all the objects in the current drawing to be locked and press Enter. Note: Please save your drawing before
using this function, because the locked drawing can’t be modified.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Drawing Compare: Drawing compare is an exclusive function in GstarCAD which is added according to the user’s requirement.
It enhances collaboration by using color-coded displays to show items on a drawing that have been changed, added, or deleted
by other members of the design team. Changes to items such as styles, block attribute, object of block can also be tracked. The
program will analyze the differences between two drawings automatically. Then the differences will be marked with different
colors. Users can also set the marking color by clicking the “option” button.

Menu: Express tools>Drawing Tools>Drawing Compare


Command Entry: CMP

Once the command is started, the following window will be displayed:

In this window, you have to browse the old DWG (original drawing) and the new DWG (drawing modified). You can also assign
a path to save the compared drawing. Then select the button Option to set-up the comparison parameters.

After setting up the comparison parameters such as:


colors, layers, line type, etc. select Ok to confirm
these parameters. Note: Pay attention to the mark color
because the deleted, modified and added objects will
assume these into the compared drawing. Then select
the button Compare in the window below to compare
both drawings.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Graphic Compare: As we know the drawing compare function in GstarCAD can be used to compare similar drawings containing
nearly number of drawn objects to each other, especially to compare different versions of revision drawings.

Menu: Express tools>Drawing Tools>Graphic Compare


Command Entry: OCMP

Drawing compare can make comparisons between two similar


drawings (old DWG and New DWG) and generate them as separate
files. After pressing COMPARE button within CompareDwg dialog box,
the program will generate and open _old and _new.dwg files, where
you can see the differences between drawings.
Drawing Compare can find out differences (drawn objects) and show
the result with different colors, e.g. if a line is modified, removed or
newly drawn, it will be displayed in different colors.

But there is something else that drawing compare


could not accomplish so accurately. Drawing compare
can’t insert and show the compared objects on the
current drawing working space that you are working at
real time. Besides, drawing compare can’t show the
details of how the objects were located before they
were modified.
So the details are very important when comparing
objects. Now the new and innovative Graphic Compare tool can do more! It does not only compare two drawingswith similar
objects geometry and find out the differences but also display the details of any change at the current workspace of your

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GstarCAD Express Tools

drawing in real time, e.g. if a line is modified, only the changed part of the line is displayed in different color. The unchanged
part remains unchanged.

Graphic compare dialog box


You can invoke the Graphic Compare dialog box by tipping OCMP command at command line or by dynamic input.

Specify Drawing: Offerstwo options of drawing comparison


between select objects on your current drawing or specify
files.
Select Objects: Offers two options of objects selection
including their base points to be compared.
Select base objects and base point: This option allows select
all objects, including a basis point as a first selection set to
be compared.
Select compare objects and base point: This option allows
select all objects, including a basis point as a second
selection set to be compared with the first selection set.

Specify File: Checkingthis option allows browse two drawing file to be


compared known as base and compare file.

Output Drawing: Offers two options of drawing compared output.

Insert current document: This option allows insert the compared set of
selected objects on the current workspace.

Export to a file: This option allows output the compared set of selected
objects to a drawing file.

Output settings: You can setup properties like layer, color and linetype for
all selected objects to be compared to enhance visual differences
between them.

Inserting Compared Objects Set into Current Drawing


To insert compared objects set into current drawing, first select the
button Select base objects and base point. Then select allobjects as
first selection set called base objects and specify a base point for the
base objects.Then select the button Select compare objects and base
point and repeat all previous process mentioned above.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Under Output Drawing, check the option Insert current document.


If you want setup visual properties for the compared objects,
click Output settings button. After that you can place the
compared objects set in a convenient point according your need.

Batch Purge (Batch Files Cleaning): This new function allows to batch purge the excess objects such as blocks, layers, line
type, dimension style or text style on several DWG files. The Batpurge tool doesn’t need to open files. It executes the command
of purge directly, which makes it run with very high efficiency. You can access it from:

Menu: Express>Drawing Tools>Batch Purge Command Entry: Batpurge

After the command is started, a dialog box will be displayed. In this dialog box you can add, select, unselect, clean and start
purging objects within DWG files with the following options:

Add Files: Add one or more batch files from the selected
path.
Add Folder: Add DWG files from a selected folder.
Select All: Select all the DWG file lists at once.
Select None: Unselect all the DWG files at once.
Delete: Delete selected object(s) in the file list.
Clear: Clean all the DWG file lists at once.
Start Purge: Starts purging the selected DWG file list. After
purging, GstarCAD will generate a notepad file where you can see the purge details.
Log: After the purge operation is finished, you can Login in to the created notepad file and see the batch purge detail record.
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GstarCAD Express Tools

AutoXLS Table Tools

Create Table: Menu: Express tools>AutoXlsTable>Create Table Command Entry:_CAOT_AUTOXLSTABLE_CREATE

Operation steps:
1. In the AutoXLSTable pull-down menu, click Create Table.
2. Create an Excel spreadsheet or open an existing Excel spreadsheet in
Excel.
3. Click Finish button in the AutoXlsTable pull-down menu in Excel.
4. Specify insertion point in GstarCAD.

Edit Table: Menu: Express tools>AutoXlsTable>Edit Table Command Entry: _CAOT_AUTOXLSTABLE_EDIT

Operation steps:
1. Click Edit Table.
2. Select a table created by AutoXlsTable in GstarCAD then the Excel file will
open.

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Update Table: Update table whose original Excel spreadsheet was modified.

Menu: Express tools>AutoXlsTable>Update Table


Command Entry:_CAOT_AUTOXLSTABLE_UPDATETBL

Operation steps:
1. Click Update table.
2. Select the table to update then the table will update
automatically according to the relevant Excel.

Update All the Tables:

Menu: Express>AutoXlsTable>Update All the Tables Command


Entry: CAOT_AUTOXLSTABLE_UPDATEALLTBL

After executing this command, the system will update all the table objects created by “Create Table” command.

File Link Management: You can use this function to edit, manage the link relation between a table object and an external EXCEL
file.

Menu: Express>AutoXlsTable>File Link Management


Command Entry: CAOT_AUTOXLSTABLE_MANAGELINK

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select table object in the drawing and a dialog box will pop up.
3. Click the “ Browse” button to open the file selection dialog box.
4. Select an XLS file which needs to be connected with a table
object and click “OK”, then return to the Link Manager dialog box.
5. You can use the “Attach”, “Delete” and “Update” button to
complete link related editing and management.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Path Settings: This function is used to set the path of an Excel file.

Menu: Express>AutoXlsTable>Path Settings


Command Entry: CAOT_AUTOXLSTABLE_USINGPATH

Operation steps:
1. Start the command and a dialog box will pop up as below.
2. In the dialog box, you can set the path pattern of the Excel file.

Selection Management: You can use this function to calculate objects length and area, when the length and area change, the
calculating data will update automatically.

Menu: Express>AutoXlsTable>Selection Management


Command Entry: CAOT_AUTOXLSTABLE_SELECTION

Purpose: use the “Selection Management” function to calculate the area of a circle and a rectangle, when length and area
change, the calculating data will update automatically.

1. Draw a circle and a rectangle as below, use the “Create Table” function to create a table as below.

2. Start the “Selection Management” command and a


dialog box will pop up.
3. Input “CIRCLE” and click the “New Group” button.
4. Select the circle.
5. Press enter, the “Selection Management” dialog box
will add a new item “CIRCLE”, as shown below.
6. You can add a “RECTANGLE” item using the same
operation as above.
7. Click “Close” to exit “Selection Management”.
8. Use the “Edit Table” command to edit the table.
9. Click the cell on the right side of “CIRCLE” and click
the “Insert Function” icon, as shown below:
10. In the dialog box, you can specify the entity as “CIRCLE”, Layer as “All” and click “OK”.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

11. Use the same operation to insert the rectangle area


calculating function. Then Click the pull-down menu “Finish”
option of AutoXlsTabl as shown.
12. Back to CAD and the table will calculate the area of the
circle and rectangle.
13. Scale the rectangle and the table data will change
automatically.

GstarCAD Tools

Drawing Scale: You can set the drawing scale before drawing, when you are using other tools (for example “Line Such as Chord”
and “Modify Line width”), our software will adjust the scale automatically.

Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Drawing Scale


Command Entry: SASCL
Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Input a drawing ratio and enter to finish.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Rotate Cursor: The cursor can rotate anti-clockwise by 0 degree or 45 degree.

Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Rotate Cursor>0 or 45


Command Entry: RTCUR0/RTCUR45

Side Line: Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Rotate Cursor>Side Line


Command Entry: RTCUR1

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select the reference segment and system will align the X axis of the cursor to
the selected segment.

Real Time Rotate:

Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Rotate Cursor>Real Time Rotate


Command Entry: RTCUR

Operation steps:
1. After executing the command, the command line prompts as below.
2. You can use the AWSD four keys to control the cursor direction until you are satisfied and press enter.

Draw Axonometric Line: Using this function can easily draw an axonometric drawing.

Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Draw Axonometric Line


Command Entry: SALPL

Operation steps:
1. Start the command and input the line width value.
2. The command line will prompt as below, input corresponding options,
you can use it to switch between 0 degree and 45 degree and you can
also input any angle value. Then press Enter to finish the command.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Visual Extension: Normally after extension, the extension effect will be displayed,
but Visual Extension can display the effect in real time until you confirm the
position.

Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Visual Extension


Command Entry: ETT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select the line that needs to be extended, the system will choose the nearest side you clicked as extension side
automatically.
3. Move the cursor and the segment will extend in real time.

Normal Connect: The Normal Connect function is similar to zero distance chamfer, it can delete the lines of actual intersection
or apparent intersection parts.

Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Normal Connect


Command Entry: GXFILT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select the first line segment.
3. Select the second line.
4. The result will be as shown in the picture.

Flex Connect: This function can extend or cut down the line to the actual intersection or apparent intersection point.

Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Flex Connect


Command Entry: GXFSS

Operation sample:
1. Start the command.
2. Select the elongation (or shortening) of the line.

Super Fillet: This function can not only do the fillet operation but can also
unify the filleted line layer, color and line type and the unified standard
will take the first selected fillet object as reference.

Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Super Fillet


Command Entry: SFILLET

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Operation steps:
1. Start the command and input fillet radius.
2. Choose the first segment, as shown below. After executing the command, the layer, color, line type of another line and fillet
will match with the first segment.
3. Choose the second segment.

Modify Linewidth: Modify the line width you specified, if what you specified is a line and our software will convert the line to
Pline automatically and change the line width. This function is similar to the pedit function, we can use it as a shortcut version
and it is very convenient for modifying the line width.

Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Modify Linewidth


Command Entry: LCW

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select the line.
3. Enter a new line width value and here we input “2” for example.
4. Enter to finish and the effect will be as shown in the picture.

Cross to Break: In engineering drawings, many places need to break the cross line. If we do this the original way, it will be very
complex. Using this function breaking lines can be easily done.

Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Cross to Break


Command Entry: CBK

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Specify the occluded line.
3. Choose the occluded (to be disconnected) line and what you selected will be
cut off automatically.
4. Enter to finish the command.

Control Break Width: This function is used to set break width for Cross objects.

Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Control Break Width


Command Entry: CBKWID

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Enter the width of the break space.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Modify Text: In here you can find several tools to modify text properties.

Text Height:
Menu: Express tools>GstarCAD Tools>Modify Text>Text Height
Command Entry: TXT40

1. Start the command.


2. Select a single line text.
3. Input text height.
4. Press enter to finish the command.

Width Factor:
Menu: Express tools>GstarCAD Tools>Modify Text>Width
Factor
Command Entry: TXT41

1. Start the command.


2. Select a single line text.
3. Input Width height ratio.
4. Press enter to finish the command.

Angle:
Menu: Express tools>GstarCAD Tools>Modify Text>Angle
Command Entry: TXT50

1. Start the command.


2. Select a single line text.
3. Input rotation angle.
4. Press enter to finish the command.

Obliquing Angle: Different to the rotation angle, after executing the command, the text will get an inclination deformation effect.

Menu: Express tools>GstarCAD Tools>Modify Text>Obliquing Angle


Command Entry: TXT51

1. Start the command.


2. Select a single line text.
3. Input tilt angle.
4. Press enter to finish the command.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

Options Modify: You can use this function to modify all the options above.

Menu: Express tools>GstarCAD Tools>Modify Text>Options Modify


Command Entry: EDTXT

Super Axonometric:It is a quintessential function that can easily convert a plan drawing to an axonometric drawing.

Menu: Express>GstarCAD Tools>Super Axonometric


Command Entry: ZC

Operation steps:

1.Start the command.


2.Select objects and press enter, as shown below.
3.Enter the axonometric point of view, such as 45 degree.
4.The effect will be as below.

Print Tools

Print PLT: Users can send PLT files to printer for printing.

Menu: Express tools>Plot Tool>Print PLT


Command Entry: PrintPlt

Operation Steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Select PrintPlt.exe in the dialog box.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

3. Double-click the PrintPlt.exe file, then the “Print” dialog box will be displayed, in the dialog box you can select printer or
change settings.
4. Click the OK button, the “Open” dialog box will be displayed and you can select the printed file.

Batch Print: Batch print drawings with the same drawing frame attribute.

Menu: Express tools>Plot Tool>Batch Print


Command Entry: BP

Operation steps:
1. Start the command.
2. Specify the type of frame, you can select Layer/ Block/ Polyline so that
the system can recognize the frame.
3. Corner select the frame you want to print, you will get a dialog box.
4. Set the print Parameters, click “OK” to execute bath print.

Arrange Frame Automatically: This function can search frames


automatically, calculate according to the size of the frame and then
arrange several drawings to a big drawing.

Menu: Express tools>Plot Tool>Arrange Frame Automatically


Command Entry: ZDPT

Operation steps:
1. Start the command, a dialog box will pop up.
2. In order to get a reasonable drawing plot
arrangement, you can choose which industry
you want to use in advance. Click “Options”
and you will get a dialog box.

3. Click “Insert files”, a “Add file Manner” dialog box will pop up, you can set the manner
you like to add to the file.
Folder: This option will add all the DWG files from the root directory to the arranged list, if
you check “File that contains subfolders” option and all the DWG files from subfolders will be
added to the arranged list.
Drawing list: Add specified LST file list.
File: Add specified DWG file.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

4. After selecting, all the files will be in the list.


5. Click the “Preview” button to preview the arrangement effect. The
system will arrange the drawings intelligently according to the frame
above.
6. If you are satisfied with the effect, you can click “OK”, then the system
will arrange the drawings and insert the drawing frames into the current
file.

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GstarCAD Express Tools

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