Mouse/digitizer/typing
c...@digisys.net
mouse / digitizer / typing.
Timothy B. Storey
There have been and probably will be more threads on this newsgroup, on the
pn.take5 newsgroup and on the autocadr14.general newsgroup relating to this
issue. As far as I can tell, people feel quite strongly about their
particular input device. Everyone has their own opinions about what they
use. Nobody has really stood up for typing. As a long time Autocad user
(R2.18) I find that when I am assisting someone else with problems (I do
consult, honest) that I end up typing commands until I figure out what are
the shortcuts on their system. Newer users get a bit nervous thinking that
they might have to type also. I think I even scared an architect, once.
However, when you learn what the shortcuts are and what lisp routines and
accelerator keys there are on each system, typing commands is tedious and
the most prone to mistakes of all the methods of input. (At one point I
used lisp to generate a command called "RTSDR" for running the "erase"
command)
OK, next we have the proponents of mice as opposed to digitizers. This is
where the messages on the newsgroups start.
When the first versions of Autocad were released, DOS was the primary
operating system available. I know that there was a MAC version, a UNIX
port, and people could run Autocad on OS/2, but until R13, most Autocad
stations were either run on a DOS box or limped along on WFWG. Setting up
a mouse on a DOS system was not easy, and the interface often crude. The
digitizer was used because everyone could figure out that you might need to
actually trace some drawing into Autocad, and it wasn't any more difficult
to setup than a mouse. Then came tablet areas and templates and
programmable buttons etc. It was pretty easy to learn all the short-cuts on
the digitizer template, and the absolute positioning of the cross-hairs made
it easy to work with. (When you moved the puck in the drawing window, there
was an exact movement on the monitor, and you never had to lift the puck up
to get the cross-hairs back to the other side of the monitor). You did,
however, have to shift your eyes from the screen to the digitizer to see the
template for picking commands.
Then came the proliferation of PCs with a mouse and Windows of some flavour
or other. Autodesk jumped on the Microsoft bandwagon (as did most software
developers) and R13 would install with a DOS version and/or a windows
version. R14 only runs on windows. People would set-up a system without
digitizers and new users would learn the mice and pull-down menus. etc.
Even better, they would define or learn (2) or (3) keystroke short-cuts (a
real time saver, until you go to a different system with different
shortcuts). Plus, on top of this, support for digitizers within Autocad
became very poor. It took more trouble and time to get one set up properly,
and, when running multiple sessions, there were problems with Autocad
exiting and clearing memory. Digitizers also took up valuable cubicle space
that could be used for mission statements, etc. and other vital business
items.
However, a digitizer has programmable buttons. You can (with a 16 button
puck) have as many as 45 different commands available without having to look
at a template or find your way through a series of pulldown menus or
toolbars. I once looked at which commands I used the most during an editing
session (undo and redo were the winners, yes, I bill by the hour) and
programmed the buttons on the puck to run these commands.
So, as you will find out, mice vs digitizers is an issue that will cause
great deal of discussion about speed, ergonomics, etc. These differences
are not that important. It is possible to set up a digitizer correctly. It
is also possible to set up a mouse correctly. What is important is knowing
the program and knowing what you are trying to accomplish. Input devices
are a personal preference and one type won't make you a better
drafter/designer than another.
My personal system has a digitizer (left-hand), and a Trackman Marble (right
hand). I use the Marble in spreadsheets and word processing. I use the
digitizer in Autocad (left-hand operating the puck and buttons, right hand
on keyboard for accelerator keys and short-cuts).
Hope this helps
Tim Storey
c...@digisys.net wrote in message <36466B...@digisys.net>...
John Alderson
c...@digisys.net wrote:
> I currently use the three button mouse and want to know the pros/cons of
> mouse / digitizer / typing.
The following is a copy/paste of one of my posts to autocad.general
outlining my views on the merits of digitizers. It would be worth your while
to read the rest of that thread and others for alternate views.
HTH
John
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Subject:
Re: Autocad R14.01 Sucks
Date:
Thu, 29 Oct 1998 13:05:20 +1000
From:
John Alderson <j...@powerup.com.au>
Organization:
Dis-
Newsgroups:
autodesk.autocad.r14general
References:
1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8
Use of a digitizer does exclude me from banging on the keyboard with my
left,
as is often the case for answering attribute prompts.
My own experience with a mouse and a digitizer at various points in time, is
that I am faster with the digitizer. The difference, for me, seems to be the
quantity of additional key strokes/mouse clicks to activate commands and the
non-absolute motion of mice.
For the basic stuff like 'L'ine 'C'opy 'E'rase single letter keyboards
macros
aren't any different than a single pick off a digitizer. That's only 26
single
letter options available (or can other characters be used) and 676 (26x26)
two
letter options. I have 40 columns by 28 rows (1120 positions less screen
pointing area etc) on my digitizer setup for whatever commands and blocks I
wish.
The more difficult sfuff like 'S'napunit 2.5 require 4 letters to make the
definitive keyboard macro S2.5, as opposed to my other 1 pick digitizer
choices
of S0.5, S1.0, S5.0, S Half current setting, and the labour intensive '?'
for
snapunit of my choice.
Another example is insertion of blocks, as an example I have 20 different
types
of auxillary contacts and oodles of other blocks that I insert into my
drawings
with one pick from the digitizer. They're technically called things like;
Normally Open Auxillary
Normally Open Delay Close Auxillary
Normally Open Delay ReOpen Auxillary
Normally Closed Delay Open Delay Reclose Auxillary
Early Make Late Break Auxillary
And so on.
I defy anyone to create definitive useable KB macro's for this type of stuff
and remember the correct permutations, let alone be quicker than 1 button
pick
for inserting them.
The looking down at the digitizer argument does not make sense to me as I
look
down to use the keyboard, no doubt typing skills would improve this. The
flip
side is I find one's reflexes become attuned to picking from the digitizer
without looking (just like a touch typist) for the great majority of tasks
due
to the absolute nature of the digitizer.
Regards
John
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