All CADRaster commands are available from the keyboard, from the CADRaster toolbar and from the CADRaster ribbon (ribbon since CADRaster 2012). Under AutoCAD LT97-2007 CADRaster commands are available only from toolbar. All keyboard commands begin with R, as in Raster.

The following CADRaster commands may be used transparently:

RNEW, ROPEN, RCLOSE, RSAVE, RSAVEAS, RDOC, RCONVERT, RSPLIT, RZOOM, RSELECT, RVIEW, RUNDO, RREDO, RREGEN, ROFF, RON, RSUSPEND, RCFG, RHELP, RABOUT

Most of CADRaster commands may be flavored in various ways by choosing one or more options from their Options and Tools Menu (OTM). When a command is called for the first time, its OTM pops up automatically, so that the user must choose the necessary options, e.g. for the Cut command you must choose either Rectangle or Polygon and either Clipboard or File, as shown below:

When the same CADRaster command is called next time, it assumes that the previously chosen options should be used, so that you don’t need to repeat the same clicking again. When any change is needed, you may simply use the OTM hotkey (default: Ctrl+RightClick) immediately after clicking the command’s button on the toolbar and choose new options for the command.

Besides command options OTM provides convenient access to various tools, like command parameters, transparent raster snaps (RS) and the Zoom raster command. You can redefine OTM hotkey using RCfg command (see Other tab description).

The ROpen command is used for selection of a composite document or a single image file to be opened by CADRaster. In the dialog box launched by the ROpen command you can select a needed file format type, disk drive and directory on this drive.

As a result of these selections the program will display the list of all files in the selected directory that have the chosen extension. Every change of the format type, disk or directory is immediately reflected in the displayed list of files. Opening of a document file from that list is done by selecting the file name with the left mouse button click and then clicking the Open (OK) button; the left mouse button double click on the file name on the list is an alternative method.

When you select a Composite Document for opening and the Open foreground drawing automatically option is on, CADRaster checks for a foreground drawing reference in the composite document and, if there is one, calls AutoCAD to open the foreground drawing. See the description of RDoc command for more information on foreground drawings in CADRaster.

When you select a raster image or vector drawing file for opening, CADRaster creates a new composite document that contains a reference to the single drawing just opened. The configuration option Support Single Image Mode allows you to operate on a single image without creating a new TCD file (see the section called “RCfg”). If this option is checked then file commands (RClose, RSave, RSaveAs) operate directly on an image file and the RDoc command displays a subdocument properties dialog instead of the Composite Document dialog. The Single Image Mode described above facilitates viewing and editing of single raster and vector files without creating trivial composite documents that refer to one file only.

ROpenex is an extended version of the ROpen command. It allows to open a raster image file with a name specified in the command line. Use one of the following syntaxes according to your needs:

AutoCAD command prompt example:

ROPENEX&C:\CADRPRO\DOC\electric.tif

AutoCAD script line example:

ROPENEX&C:\CADRPRO\DOC\electric.tif

AutoLISP example:

setq filename "C:\\CADRPRO\\DOC\\electric.tif"
command (strcat "ROPENEX&" filename) 

The RDoc command launches the Composite Document dialog. This dialog box groups together commands for composite document management on the subdocument level.

All command buttons located on the right side of the Subdocuments list apply to one or more subdocument files that are highlighted at the moment. Using this commands it is possible to:

The Common Extents of the current composite document are displayed below the Subdocuments list, together with two additional controls that let you do the following:

The Composite Document dialog box displays a list of subdocuments that are linked to the current composite document. You can highlight the entries on this list in order to choose subdocuments for commands to operate on.

The Composite Document dialog box lists path names to subdocuments’ files preceded by four (4) status columns. The first column contains plus sign (+), if the corresponding subdocument is enabled (visible) or minus sign (-), if the subdocument is disabled (invisible). The second column may be empty or it may contain either the N/A text, if the subdocument’s file can not be found, or the R/O text, if the subdocument is open in the read-only mode. The third column contains the S character, if the corresponding subdocument is in the selected state. The names of selected subdocuments are printed in a different color in the listbox. The fourth column contains the F character for foreground DWG subdocuments. Additionally, a foreground subdocuments file name is displayed in gray color on the list. There can only one foreground subdocument in each Composite Document. CADRaster never opens Foreground subdocuments. It calls AutoCAD to open them automatically, when Composite Document is opened and the Open foreground drawing automatically option (available through the RCfg command) is on. Other Tessel Software Line applications may, however, open and edit foreground subdocuments. In CADRaster the only way to add a foreground subdocument to Composite Document is by using the RDWG2TCD command.

For each subdocument its visible area, called viewport, is defined. Initially, right after adding a image to the composite document, the image’s viewport is set to its full extents. Viewport extents can be changed using the RSelect command. The RResetVp command sets the viewports of currently selected images to their initial size (full extents of each respective image).

For each subdocument there is a possibility to change the displayed name of subdocument. To enter rename mode, select document name and press F2 button or click once more at the selected name.

CADRaster’s editing commands (RMove, RClear, etc.) operate only on subdocuments that are selected. Subdocuments may be selected using either the Select and Unselect buttons in the Composite Document dialog, or using the RSelect command from the keyboard or CADRaster toolbar.

The following sections describe commands (buttons) available from the Composite Document dialog.

The Properties... command is active only when exactly one subdocument is highlighted on the Subdocuments list. This command launches the Raster Image Properties dialog (or Vector Drawing Properties, depending on the current subdocument type) for viewing and changing various properties and parameters of the highlighted subdocument.

The Raster Image Properties dialog can have one, two or three tabbed pages. The page titled Parameters is always present. The page titled Pages is present only when the current raster image has multiple pages. The page titled Colors is present only when at least one image page is monochrome, so that it may have a presentation color assigned.

The Parameters page presents the following parameters that, except for the Extents, have been read from the image file header, its attributes file (TAF), or defined by the user using this dialog:

On the Pages page you can select the current page of the multi-page raster image.

On the Colors page you can select a presentation color for monochrome raster image.

The values of image parameters are saved in the image file, if the image format allows for it, and in an additional attribute file with the same name as the image file name but with TAF extension (see the section called “Appendices” for description of the TAF file format). The additional file is located in the same disk directory as the image file. The additional attribute file is necessary, because not every parameter can be saved in the original image file. Parameters saved in the image file override parameters saved in its additional attribute file (TAF). The creation and reading of attribute files can be controlled using the Parameters File Options located on the Configuration dialog (see the section called “RCfg”).

Views manager, closely integrated with the TCD document, provides the means for fast previewing and defining named zoom views that are stored in the document (or in TCV files for single-file documents) for future reference. For each view the user may add additional remarks in the description field. Because the process of regeneration takes some time, storing prepared image bitmap in the TCD document may accelerate the viewing.

When CADRaster works in Single Image Mode, i.e. file operations are performed on a single image without TCD file, views’ definitions are stored in a ImageName.TCV file. This additional file is automatically created by the Save command and used by CADRaster if found in the image’s directory.

Full view, representing the entire document, is created and stored by CADRaster automatically. Additionally the user may define named views. Both types of views may be selected as default to be shown on open.

The RViews command opens a dialog that displays the list of named views and offers the choice of views-related operations. Views may be selected by clicking their names. Double-clicking on the name of the view on the list is equivalent to pressing the Show button for this view. The default view is shown at the bottom of the dialog. Views-related operations are executed in response to pressing respective buttons. The Views dialog remains on the screen until the Close button is pressed.

The following command buttons are offered in the Views dialog:

New - define new named view. You can give a name to the currently displayed part of document. World coordinates of the current zoom window will be stored as the view definition.

Modify - modify the parameters or name of the selected view. You may give a new name (it must be unique) for an existing view. You may also change this view definition by typing world coordinates into appropriate boxes.

Delete - delete the selected view(s). After deleting, the list of views is updated accordingly.

Show - show the selected view. After pressing this button, the view is shown in the AutoCAD’s drawing window. Pressing this button is equivalent to double-clicking on the name of the view on the list.

Mark - define the selected view as a default one. Only one default view is assigned to each TCD document. This view may be selected for showing when the document is initially opened.

The RSelect command is used to select graphically those subdocuments from the Subdocuments list that are to be affected by CADRaster editing commands. Alternatively, the selection process may be done also in the Composite Document dialog by highlighting entries on the Subdocuments list and using the Select and Unselect buttons. When no subdocument is selected all editing commands are disabled and their toolbar buttons grayed.

When the RSelect command is invoked it cancels all previous selections, if any, and displays the boundaries of the subdocuments’ viewports. A subdocument may be simply selected by clicking the left mouse button anywhere within its area. First the currently defined viewports are taken into account, but if there is no viewport at the mouse click point, the full image extents are considered. Two keys, Ctrl and Shift, modify the action taken by the RSelect command, as described below.

The Ctrl key decides which subdocuments are affected by the selecting action, whenever they overlap each other at the click point. When the Ctrl key is released, only the subdocument that is on top at the click point is affected by the action. When the Ctrl key is pressed, the selecting action will affect all subdocuments that may be overlaying each other at the click point.

The Shift key decides which of two possible selection styles is used. When the Shift key is released, the subdocuments affected by the click get selected and the remaining subdocuments get unselected. Pressing the Shift key toggles the selection state of relevant subdocuments is from selected to unselected and vice versa. The Shift key is most often used for selecting groups of subdocuments.

The groups of neighboring subdocuments may be affected by the above described selection actions by clicking and dragging the mouse, instead of simple clicking. If the mouse is dragged from left to right, those subdocuments that lie completely inside the entered window are affected. If the mouse is dragged from right to left, subdocuments with extents intersecting the entered window are affected.

For each subdocument its visible area, called viewport, is defined. Initially (after adding a drawing to the composite document) it is set to full drawing extents. A viewport can be resized by selecting the relevant drawing and dragging small black rectangles (called trackers) that appear in the corners and in the middles of edges of the selected drawing’s viewport. Under AutoCAD Rel. 14 use RVports command for viewports edition. The RResetVp command resets the viewports of currently selected documents to their initial sizes (full extents of each respective drawing).

Note, that while doing the graphical selection you can transparently perform only those AutoCAD commands that do not require mouse input. If you must let AutoCAD control the mouse while in a CADRaster command, temporarily suspend CADRaster mouse processing by pressing the Ctrl-S key or pressing the Suspend mouse input button on the toolbar.

Pressing the ESC key cancels this command and deselects all subdocuments.

Clicking the right mouse button accepts selections and ends the command.

While in the Single image mode, the RSelect command may be automatically executed, immediately after the ROpen command, to select the only subdocument for editing. In order to enable this feature, check the option AutoSelect single file documents in the RCfg dialog.

Options: Rectangle or Polygon, Opaque or Transparent

Rectangle

RCLEAR - Clear raster rectangles - press Ctrl+RightClick for options
            Define rectangle to clear. First corner: Specify a point
            Second corner: Specify a point
            Define rectangle to clear. First corner: Specify a point or Enter
            RCLEAR <OK>/Cancel/Modify: Enter an option or press Enter

Polygon

RCLEAR - Clear raster polygons - press Ctrl+RightClick for options
                Define polygon to clear. First point: Specify a point
                Next point: Specify a point
                Next point: Specify a point or Enter
                Define polygon to clear. First point: Specify a point or Enter
                RCLEAR <OK>/Cancel/Modify: Enter an option or press Enter

The RClear command is used to erase unwanted areas from raster images (Opaque option) or to perform operations on the transparency mask (Transparent option). Editing operation on the transparency mask is allowed on True-Color TIFF images only. Opaque operations work on all images. After issuing the RClear command, click the left mouse button to define vertices of the rectangle/polygon. Click the right mouse button to finish defining vertices (the point of the right click is not included in the polygon definition).

After issuing the RClear command, click the left mouse button to define vertices of the rectangle/polygon. Click the right mouse button to finish defining vertices (the point of the right click is not included in the polygon definition).

While performing editing operations on the transparent mask there is sometimes a need to specify which pixels should be made transparent. By default all pixels in selected area are made transparent. The RColors/Transparent colors command can be used to restrict RClear operations to pixels with color value between lower and upper range.

RCOLORS - Define transparent color of raster image- press Ctrl+RightClick for options
Sample point: Specify a point

You define Transparent Colors using the RColors command with the OTM Transparent Colors option. First you pick a point on raster image where the color sample will be taken from. You may use the transparent RSnap command to change the pickbox size, if you wish. After clicking a point, the Transparent Colors Filter dialog will appear on the screen.

The Colors sample window on the left side displays the chosen raster sample, while the Image example window on the right shows a filtered view of the raster image around the pick point.

You can define Transparent Colors set (that consists of two color’s values, minimal and maximal) by clicking pixels in the Colors sample window or by entering color value from keyboard. When you pick a new color, it is added to the color set and all image pixels with colors in the selected range are made transparent. The ranges of colors currently in the set are shown at the bottom of the dialog. The Reset button restores default color set. The default range of transparency mask includes all colors, so all pixels are set to transparent during RClear command. You may select a different background color (available inside the dialog) to preview corresponding raster image on changed background.

RRotate command options are: Rotate, Align and Rotate by …

Rotate

RROTATE - Rotate raster - press Ctrl+RightClick for options
Base raster point: Specify a point
Rotation angle: Specify an angle or specify a point
RROTATE <OK>/Cancel/Modify: Enter an option or press Enter

Align

RROTATE - Align raster - press Ctrl+RightClick for options
First point of reference line: Specify a point
Second point of reference line: Specify a point
Second point of aligned line <Horizontal>/Vertical: Specify a point or enter an option
RROTATE <OK>/Cancel/Modify: Enter an option or press Enter

Rotate by …

RROTATE - Rotate raster - press Ctrl+RightClick for options
In CADRaster OTM menu following options will be available:
left by 90 degrees, left by 180 degrees, left by 270 degreess, flip horizontal, flip vertical
RROTATE <OK>/Cancel/Modify: Enter an option or press Enter

The rotation of raster images is one of the most important capabilities of CADRaster. Using the RRotate command you can match the raster image and the vector drawing if the first one needs to be rotated. The image rotation may be specified starting from any of the image orientation angles.

The RRotate function interactively supports the specification of a rotation angle.

The rotate operation modifies the raster image file according to the new image layout. Functions RPage and RMove may then be used in order to place the rotated image in AutoCAD coordinates.

The alignment of raster images is similar to the rotation. The alignment function is controlled by a different interactive interface.

Using this function you can easily match any line of the background raster image to the foreground vector drawing. The alignment operation is done by rotation, independently of the standard orientation of the raster image.

The RRotate/Align function interactively supports specification of a new aligned position of the raster image. You define base reference line and aligned line position. Selected images are rotated in such a way, that the reference line is rotated to the position of the destination line.

RRotate command may be also used when multiple raster images are selected - all of them will be rotated around the same angle.

The RRotate By … function rotates the raster image by 90, 180 or 270 degrees, turns it upside down or makes a mirror image of it, depending on user's choice. It performs physical rotation of raster data contrary to orientation change done by the RDoc command.

Options for RMatch command : Match or Resize

Match

RMATCH - Match raster - press Ctrl+RightClick for options
Raster point #1: Specify a point
Target point #1: Specify a point
Raster point #2: Specify a point
Target point #2: Specify a point
Raster point #3: Specify a point
Target point #3: Specify a point or press Enter
RMATCH <OK>/Cancel/Modify: Enter an option or press Enter

The Match option is used to easily match raster background to vector objects or specific world coordinates. It uses CADRaster calibrator do perform one of 3 basic raster transformations: Helmert, Affine or bilinear. The transformation parameters are defined easily by simple clicking of raster points and then picking target positions for them. The function chooses appropriate calibration model automatically, depending on the number of specified matching vectors:

2 vectors

Helmert transformation, results in raster move, rotation and resizing equal in both X&Y directions.

3 vectors

Affine transformation, results in raster move, rotation and resizing independently in both X&Y directions.

more vectors

as above or bilinear transformation capable of compensating rhomboid distortions.

The bilinear transformation is chosen only if and OTM option Bilinear model is checked. Use OTM hotkey (default: Ctrl-RightClick) to popup OTM menu and choose the option accordingly to the raster matching operation you need

Resize

RMATCH - Resize raster - press Ctrl+RightClick for options
Base raster point: Specify a point
Raster reference point or X scale factor: Specify a point
Destination point: Specify a point
X scale factor
Y scale factor 
RMATCH <OK>/Cancel/Modify: Enter an option or press Enter

The Resize option is used to expand or shrink raster images independently in X & Y directions by scale factors.

First you enter a Base raster point of resizing. This point will remain fixed at its original position. Then, you define Raster reference point and drag it to its Destination point. This defines X and Y scale factors that will be used to resize the entire image accordingly. Instead of defining Raster reference point and destination point you can enter X and Y scale factors directly.

This command may be also used when multiple raster images are selected - all of them will be resized using the same values of vertical and horizontal factors.

Optoins for RFilter command: : Filter spots, Filter holes or Change Density

Filter spots

RFILTER - Filter raster spots - press Ctrl+RightClick for options
Enter spots size in pixels, or
Use window to select a sample spot to remove: Specify a point or enter number
Second corner: Specify a point
Found size is 1822
Define rectangle to remove spots <whole image>: Specify a point or press Enter
Second corner: Specify a point
RFILTER <OK>/Cancel/Modify: Enter an option or press Enter

Filter holes

RFILTER - Filter raster holes - press Ctrl+RightClick for options
Enter holes size in pixels, or
Use window to select a sample spot to remove: Specify a point or enter number
Second corner: Specify a point
Found size is 22
Define rectangle to remove holes <whole image>: Specify a point or press Enter
Second corner: Specify a point
RFILTER <OK>/Cancel/Modify: Enter an option or press Enter

Change density

RFILTER - Change raster density - press Ctrl+RightClick for options
X resolution <300.0000>: Enter a value or press Enter
Y resolution <300.0000>: Enter a value or press Enter
RFILTER <OK>/Cancel/Modify: Enter an option or press Enter

Scanned drawings often contain small spots or holes (areas of connected pixels) as a result of bad quality of their paper originals. The Filter Spots or Filter Holes options allows you to remove spot or holes that contain less or equal pixels than defined by the user. You can define maximal spot/hole to remove by selecting sample spot/hole from the raster image or entering maximal spot/hole size from the keyboard. You can remove spots/holes from the whole raster image or defined rectangular area.

The Change Density option is used to change the resolution of raster image. It changes the Resolution property of the raster image to a new value (independently for X & Y, if needed) and recalculates raster data accordingly, so that the resulting image extents do not change. Raster pixels are glued together when decreasing resolution, or they are replicated when increasing it. This option is available only when one raster image is selected.

This command can edit monochrome images only.

The RCreate command creates a new raster image by rasterizing the current vector drawing or any part of it. The command internally uses the standard PLOT command and then internal CADRaster's rasterization engine to produce an image of the requested size and resolution.

First, a dialog page Window is used to determine which rectangular area of the current drawing will be rasterized and at what scale. When you specify any rectangular area option, AutoCAD applies the rectangular area to the current viewport and the current space, whether it's model or paper space. A raster space plot includes all visible viewports and their contents. Viewports that have been turned off will not be rasterized. The MAXACTVP system variable is ignored. If a viewport is on and within the plottable paper space view, it will be plotted.

Display - plots the view in the current viewport

Extents - plots the portions of the current space of the drawing that contains object. This options is similar to ZOOM/Extents. If you plot extents with perspective view and the camera position is within the drawing extents, RCreate proceeds as though you have used the Display options.

Limits - plots the entire drawing area as defined by the drawing limits.

Window - plots any portions of the drawing. Click the Pick button and use the pointing device to designate the window if the area you want to specify is totally visible on the screen. You can also specify the window by entering the coordinates in the First Corner and Other Corner text boxes.

The Resolution page is used to specify created image resolution and to verify its size. To change resolution select first Resolution list box and then choose appropriate value. Choose Custom value if required resolution is not shown on this list. Then enter required value using X dpi or Y dpi edit field.

Calculated image width and height will be shown in inches, millimeters or in pixels.

Third dialog page Color is used to determine color type of the created image. You can choose between black and white, grayscale or some colors of different depth.

After pressing OK on RCreate dialog you select a raster file name, format and compression options for a file CADRaster will produce as a result of rasterization of AutoCAD’s vectors.

When RCreate is executed on AutoCAD 14 or LT97-2007 then new image file will contain currently displayed raster drawing. If you want to create an image of vectors only, please turn off raster visibility using ROff command or close the raster drawing.

Scanned drawings are often skewed, stretched, crumpled or damaged in some other way. The RMatch command allows correction of the whole raster image based on simple calibration model or the comparison of vertical and horizontal distances between selected points. This is not sufficient in more complicated situations when only a part of the raster image requires, sometimes non-linear, corrections. Multi-point Calibration supports this kind of correction of deformed scanned images by applying a transformation computed according to one of five models: Helmert, Affine, bilinear, biquadratic or bicubic.

Mathematically these models can be described as follows.

Isotropic linear (Helmert) model - requires at least 2 correction vectors.

x’ = a10 + a1 x + a2 y
        y’ = a20 - a2 x + as y

Anisotropic linear (Affine) model - requires at least 3 correction vectors.

x’ = a10 + a11 x + a12 y
y’ = a20 + a21 x + a22 y

Bilinear model, requires at least 4 correction vectors.

x’ = a10 + a11 x + a12 y + a13 xy
y’ = a20 + a21 x + a22 y + a23 xy

Biquadratic model, requires at least 9 correction vectors.

x’ = a10 + a11 x + a12 y + a13 xy + a14 x2 + a15 y2 +
a16 x2y + a17 xy2 + a18 x2y2
y’ = a20 + a21 x + a22 y + a23 xy + a24 x2 + a25 y2 +
a26 x2y + a27 xy2 + a28 x2y2

Bicubic model, requires at least 16 correction vectors.

x’ = a10 + a11 x + a12 y + a13 xy + a14 x2 + a15 y2 +
a16 x2y + a17 xy2 + a18x2y2+a19 x3 + a20 x3y +
     a21 x3y2 + a22 x3y3 + a23 x2y3 + a24 xy3 + a25 y3
y’ = a30 + a31 x + a32 y + a33 xy + a34 x2 + a35 y2 +
a36 x2y + a37 xy2 + a38 x2y2 + a39 x3 + a40 x3y +
     a41 x3y2 + a42 x3y3 + a43 x2y3 + a44 xy3 + a45 y3

The aij parameters in each model are computed from the least mean squares formula, based on data provided by correction vectors. Each correction vector starts from the actual point (xno, yno) of the raster and ends in its desired position (xn*, yn*). The evaluated calibration function generates actual raster modification vectors that try to approximate the corrections imposed by user within the limits imposed by the chosen calibration model. They are shown as calculated vectors, each of which starts from the corresponding actual point (xno, yno) and ends in the model-computed corrected point (xn’, yn’).

The measure of accuracy may be achieved by comparing two mean square values: sqrt of mean-square correction (mean square length of correction vectors):

where N is the number of calibration data (correction vectors), and sqrt of mean-square error (mean-square difference between the requested and model-computed positions):

where M is the model order (the minimal number of vectors required to determine the model coefficients). With M == N, the Diff is not computed because it has no statistical meaning, as the all requested points will be matched exactly. Generally, the Diff should be small enough comparing to Corr.

Calibration parameters are controlled by the Raster Calibration Parameters dialog.

This command is used to define correction vectors one by one but with reference to pre-defined set of target points. In the situation when a raster image needs to be calibrated to match, lets say, map coordinates grid, the functions automates the most standard activities, like a zoom to next grid point, and provides precise definition of target points without typing their coordinates.

The net points defined using the Define base net command are used as Target points (ends) of correction vectors - the user needs only to select the corresponding Raster points of correction vectors. Moreover, automatic zooms are performed around the points in question, which maximizes the operator's speed. The system zooms around the first point of the base net and you are asked to provide the corresponding raster point of the correction vector.

Here you may also choose one of the four OTM options: AutoZoom, Next Point, Previous Point, Skip defined.

The AutoZoom option allows choosing the level of zooming around the characteristic points of the calibration base. The AutoZoom ratio (number of the raster image pixels per one screen pixel) can have one of 5 values: Current, 2 to 1, 1 to 1, 1 to 2 and 1 to 4. Instead of the AutoZoom option you can, of course, issue transparent ZOOM command and specify zoom for a given characteristic point, as it might be needed. The Current option will keep next automatic zoom on the level used most recently.

The Next Point option allows you to skip defining the correction vector ending at the current characteristic point.

The Previous Point option moves you back to definition of previous point.

After using the Add net-based vectors command and skipping some vectors by Next Point, you may decide, that in fact you want to define them. For that purpose you may use the Skip Defined option. You press the Add net-based vectors again and OTM Skip Defined takes you to the first characteristic point you have skipped and then to any other that is undefined. You can stop defining the correction vectors using the calibration net base by pressing Esc.

The RUndo command is active only when there are some unsaved changes made to the current Tessel Composite Document. The RUndo command cancels the changes made in the last step of editing. If there are several unsaved steps of editing, the maximal number of available Undo steps is defined by the MaxUndoSteps parameter in the cadrpro.ini file (see the section called “CADRPRO.INI file” for the description of cadrpro.ini file). All changes made to image properties during each visit to the Composite Document dialog box are considered a single editing step.

To cancel all changes made to the composite document and its subdocuments, close it without saving and reopen the same document.

CADRaster supports scanners with the TWAIN interface. The scanning commands are available only if you have installed TWAIN-compatible software. CADRaster checks if the TWAIN_32.DLL file exists in the Windows directory. Use the RScanSource command to select a scanning device and the RScanPars command to set technical parameters of the scanning process. You may also activate these commands using buttons from Other tab in the configuration dialog. The RScanOne command starts scanning of a new single-page document. The RScanMany command starts scanning of a new multiple page document that will be saved in a single image file. You will be asked to select a file name and a raster format for the image that will be created as a result of scanning. CADRaster creates a new composite document containing reference to this file, unless the Support Single Image Mode configuration option is checked.

The above commands are available only if you have properly installed TWAIN-compatible software.

CADRaster provides the user with the set of tools for snapping to raster features and to trace raster lines both in monochrome and color images. The snap options may be used in any AutoCAD or CADRaster command transparently or you may set the continuous snapping mode, so that every mouse pick will be snapped to the currently chosen raster feature.

Options for Filter color are: Color fill, Filter color.

While snapping to selected features of color raster images CADRaster uses color filtering tool, called Color Range Mask, to pre-define the set of colors that belong to the objects being snapped to.

Filter color option

RCOLORS - Define snap/trace color filter - press Ctrl+RightClick for options
        Sample point: Specify a point

You define Color Range Mask using the RColors command with OTM Color Filter option. First you pick a point on raster image where the color sample will be taken from. You may use the transparent RSnap command to change the pickbox size, if you wish. After clicking a point, the Snap Colors Filter dialog will appear on the screen.

The Colors sample window on the left side displays the chosen raster sample, while the Filtered image example window on the right shows a filtered view of the raster image around the pick point.

You define Color Range Mask (that consists of discrete color’s RGB values) by clicking pixels in the Colors sample window. When you pick a new color, it is added to the mask and all its pixels are marked. When you pick a previously selected color (marked pixel) it is removed from the mask. You may also use the Undo/Redo and Select/Unselect all buttons to control this process. The number of colors currently in the mask is shown at the bottom of the dialog.

The Filtered image example window shows only those parts of the raster image that will be ‘seen’ by the CADRaster’s snapping utility. You may click inside the window to display the corresponding B&W raster image instead of its color original.

The process of image filtering is additionally controlled by two parameters:

You may try different values to check their influence on the image filtering results.

Color filter definitions may be saved and loaded from named files using the appropriate buttons.

RTrace is a specialized tool for semiautomatic tracing of raster lines. The command allows covering raster lines with vector polylines built of segments that are automatically fitted to raster lines curvature.

After the command is started you have to click a point on raster line you want to trace. The CADRaster tracer analyses raster background and returns a polyline segment that matches the pointed raster line. The line stops at breaks and intersections, so if you want to continue tracing you must click the next segment. CADRaster finds the next segment and connects its start point to an end point of the previous one. At the end you get a single polyline covering the whole road you passed. Each segment after tracing has a direction, a property that is designed to help you following raster image lines. CADRaster assumes that the start point of the segment is an end-point closer to the last user click. Is you do not like the segment direction CADRaster assumed, you may change it with a Flip option.

There are several options that modify the behavior of this basic function. They may be accessed through OTM activated by OTM hotkey (default: Ctrl+RightClick).

  • Last segment

    you may perform some additional actions with the last traced segment:

    discard - discard whole segment and start again from the last good point

    flip - the last segment direction

    edit - perform grips editing of the segment or add/remove vertex as well

    break - finish the currently traced polyline with the previous segment and start a new polyline from the current segment.

  • View points

    the grips of traced segments are shown in order to give you an orientation in tracing precision and possible errors

  • View widths

    shows the traced line width that matches raster line width; this option does not work if the tracer option Use raster line width in RCfg command is not set.

  • Optimize merging

    if the option is set, the sequence of segments that form a single polyline is connected in such a way that end point of previous segment is connected to start point of next one. There is no double point in the place connecting segments.

The Configuration dialog contains the Tracer page where additional options controlling tracing are located (see the section called “RCfg”).

The RCfg command provides you with a tabbed dialog box for easy modification important configurable options of CADRaster. The RCfg command causes the changes to have an immediate effect for all commands in the current CADRaster session. The same options are set in the cadrpro.ini file and may be changed manually there, but that way requires restarting of CADRaster.

Magnifying Glass tab

The Magnifying Glass tab allows you to configure the Magnifying Glass tool. Checking Magnifying Glass active box activates the function. When the Magnifying Glass window is displayed, you see a zoomed raster area around the position of the mouse pointer (the AutoCAD’s cross-hair) at the moment of the Magnifying Glass activation. If raster snap was active and successful, its result will be indicated by a cross symbol. If the snap result is not satisfactory, you may pick a new point precisely. The Keep on display option controls the method of closing the Magnifying Glass window. If option is not selected the Magnifying Glass window is closed automatically if you move the mouse cursor outside the window or you pick a new point inside the window. Otherwise the Magnifying Glass window disappears after pressing the Esc key or right mouse click. The Esc key cancels the point in the Magnifying Glass window. The right mouse click accepts the point and passes its coordinates to AutoCAD or CADRaster command, whichever was active at the time.

There are several methods of using the Magnifying Glass:

Other parameters on the Magnifying Glass tab allows the user to customize the Magnifying Glass window size in pixels and the magnification scale of raster. Current hot key may be changed simply by deleting it from its box and pressing a new key (or combination).

Snap tab

The Snap tab allows you to configure the Raster snap feature.

If the Snap to raster active option is checked, CADRaster is put into continuous snap mode. Every click in the AutoCAD window is passed to CADRaster that searches for the best possible raster point that matches specified snap modes. The function works similarly to AutoCAD’s OSNAP. You may snap to the nearest point on the centerline, end of raster line, intersection of raster lines, corner of raster line, to edge of raster area or to the center of small circular raster shape. Raster Snap modes may be selected (and combined, if necessary) by checking their boxes in the dialog.

When multiple Snap modes are selected, CADRaster attempts to detect the relevant features of raster images according to the following hierarchy that corresponds to the order of the snap modes options shown in the dialog:

RCCR, RINT, REND, RCOR, RCEN, REDG.

If, for example, both raster line corner and intersection are detected within the snap pickbox area, the point of intersection, that is higher in the hierarchy, will be returned.

Similarly to AutoCAD CADRaster activates a pickbox to show the area where to look for a snap point. Depending on raster image contents and zoom level the user should chose a convenient pickbox size.

Tracer tab

The Tracer tab allows you to configure line tracing parameters.

View tab

The View tab allows you to define view options:

View and Print Cache Options

The View cache options or Print cache options buttons invoke configuration dialogs of CADRaster’s integrated view and print cache. All modified parameters are stored in the cadrpro.ini file. More information about modified property is specified in the section called “Appendices”.

Open tab

The Open tab allows you to configure options that control opening CADRaster files:

  • Open foreground drawing

    If this option is checked and you open Tessel Composite Document containing a reference to a DWG foreground drawing, CADRaster calls AutoCAD to open that drawing. This option corresponds to the OpenForegroundDrawing parameter from the [TSLRVC Library Settings] section in the cadrpro.ini file.

  • Select single file documents

    If this option is checked CADRaster automatically selects a single image file, or a TCD file with only one subdocument, immediately after the open operation. This option prepares the image to be ready for editing, not only viewing. This option corresponds to the AutoSelectSingleFile parameter from the [TSLRVC Library Settings] section in the cadrpro.ini file.

  • Zoom default document view

    If this option is checked, immediately after opening a raster image or a composite document CADRaster uses default view parameters defined by the RView command. If the option is cleared CADRaster keeps the current AutoCAD view’s extents unchanged. This option corresponds to the AutoZoom parameter from the [CADRaster General] section in the cadrpro.ini file.

  • Import R14 raster images

    If the option is set during opening DWG document CADRaster looks for raster files stored in DWG as AutoCAD’s R14 Image objects. If any exist the CADRaster dialog appears and let’s you choose which images should be imported. This feature is disabled if the DWG file already contains CADRaster’s reference to previously opened raster image.

  • Send image to back

    If the option is set, CADRaster forces sending its image object to background to display it under vector entities. This option is accessible only for AutoCAD R14 and LT97-2007 because in older versions of AutoCAD CADRaster’s image object is always placed in background.

The Parameters file options… button invokes the External Parameters File Options dialog that lets you set options and priority of particular file formats. The parameter values are read from the image file and possibly from its attribute file. All of them can be changed, except for the Effective Image Extents that are calculated from other parameters. When any parameter has been changed, the image is considered as changed, and CADRaster asks the user for saving changes in a file, when it is about to be closed.

Former CADRaster versions support image parameters files in the RLD and TAF formats. This version additionally allows to import/export image parameters using files in formats supported by Map-Info and ARC/INFO applications.

You can specify the following options for each parameter file format:

  • Enable to Read

    if selected CADRaster tries to find parameters file corresponding to currently opened image and read missing parameters,

  • Enable to Write

    if selected CADRaster tries to find parameters file corresponding to currently saved image and write new parameters values,

  • Create file if not exists

    Create file if not exists – Accessible only when Enable to write is selected. Controls whether a file in this format should be created if it does not exist.

Additionally you can define parameter file priority by sorting them in the list.

Save tab

The Save tab allows you to defining the following options:

  • Copy subdocs while Saving As... TCD file

    If this option is checked CADRaster saves not only TCD file with links to raster images or vector drawings, but also copy all subdocuments to new files. See the RSaveAs command description for more details. This option corresponds to the TCDSaveMode parameter from the [TSLRVC Library Settings] section in the cadrpro.ini file.

  • Convert to one file

    If option is selected CADRaster creates the multi-page destination file while converting multiple input files.

  • Save raster reference as R14 Image Object

    If option is selected CADRaster saves in DWG document references to raster images opened by CADRaster using AutoCAD's Image Object. It allows to autoload raster file while opening DWG document in AutoCAD without CADRaster.

  • Save reference to selected raster images only

    This option is accessible only while Save raster reference as Image Object is checked. It controls if all or only selected TCD subdocuments are saved as the references in DWG drawing.

  • Autoload geographical transformation

    If this option is set on, then CADRastar tries to set geographical mapping taken from raster map.

  • Save preview bitmap for R14 images

    This option is accessible only while Save raster reference as Image Object is checked. It allows the user save Image preview that may be seen in AutoCAD’s File Open dialog box.

Note

AutoCAD is equipped with limited set of raster format filters what may cause problems while trying to save Image Object with reference to file that format is supported by CADRaster but not by AutoCAD, e.g. VIDAR. In such case you should convert CADRaster image file to format supported by AutoCAD and after that save DWG drawing. You may also install additional raster filters available on Autodesk Web Site: http://www.autodesk.com

  • Preferred save file extension

    Some raster formats may be saved under different file extensions. These include Tiff, Vidar, CALS and Bitmap. You can define preferred extension for each format.

Edit tab

The Edit tab allows you to define the following options:

  • Support Single Image Mode

    This option affects all file operations on a single image opened by the ROpen command. If the option is checked CADRaster supports the Single Image Mode, i.e. all file operations, like RSave or RSaveAs, are performed for single images directly on the image file, as to avoid creating a trivial TCD document that refers to one image only. If the option is cleared CADRaster creates a new composite document (TCD) for the image file being open, and attempts to save this new TCD document before closing. This option corresponds to the SingleDrwMode parameter from the [CADRaster General] section in the cadrpro.ini file.

  • Ask for editing confirmation

    If this option is checked CADRaster asks the user for confirmation before executing any editing. This option corresponds to the ConfirmEditing parameter from the [CADRaster General] section in the cadrpro.ini file.

  • Maximal Undo level

    Option defines how many undo steps are allowed.

  • Default units

    Default units for new TCD documents and raster/vector files without defined units.

  • Directory for temporary files

    Path name to the disk directory where CADRaster’s temporary files will be created.

  • Raster editor settings button

    The Raster editor settings button opens dialog with parameters controlling editing of color images. They are grouped in three boxes described below. All settings chosen during editing session are stored in INI file.

Filter type

Choice of filter type influences the way of calculating color of each pixel in transformed image during resizing, rotating and calibrating. The Linear and Cubic filters interpolate color value taking two or four adjacent pixels according to linear and cubic interpolation formulae, appropriately. The Lanczos, Hamming and Blackman filters take into account color values from six neighboring pixels. The default setting is Linear filter, which is the fastest one and precise enough for simple applications, like technical drawings and maps.

Use filters for files

Although precise choice of filter type may be individual for each type of image, the general decision when to use filter and when to not filter at all may be taken basing on image color format. Option In any color format enables filtering always when transforming color and gray-scaled images. Option Above 16 colors enables filtering for color and gray-scaled 256-palette images as well as for true-color images. Option In true-color only limits filtering only to true-color images. Option Do not use disables filtering at all.

The default setting is Above 16 colors.

Round bits number to

When the palette image is to be transformed using filtering, it requires converting to true-color format for processing and converting result back while storing. Rounding 8 bits per each basic color to some lower value, e.g. 7, 6, 5 or 4 bits may shorten converting and processing time, with slight degradation of color precision. Successive options named 4 bits per color, 5 bits per color, 6 bits per color and 7 bits per color declare which rounding is to be used. The default setting is rounding to 6 bits per each basic color.

Other tab

The Other tab allows you to define the following options:

  • Select scan source

    This button activates the RScanSource command that is used for selection of the current scanning device (see description of the RScanSource command).

  • Scan parameters...

    This button activates the RScanPars command that is used to set technical parameters of the scanning process (see description of the RScanPars command).

  • Show scan dialog

    This check box controls whether the Scan dialog appears while scanning from CADRaster. If switched off the scanning process starts immediately after pushing Scan one page button on CADRaster toolbar.

  • Plotter for vectors rasterization

    You can define plotter device used to rasterize vector entities in RCreate and RInsert commands. CADRaster displays only named platter devices. If you don’t define CADRaster will use plotter named “CADRaster Rasterizer” or current plotter.

  • OTM hotkey

    This option allows you to define CADRaster’s Options and Tools Menu hotkey. Default hotkey is Ctrl+RightClick.

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