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Software: ELSA Synergy Force User's Guide

ELSA POWERdraft for AutoCADELSAview 3D for AutoCADELSA MAXtreme for 3D Studio MAX/VIZ


ELSA POWERdraft for AutoCAD

note.gif (555 Byte) NOTE:  This software is not pre-installed. You can install it from the CD-ROM assuming that the associated application software is already available on your system.

ELSA POWERdraft is one of the most powerful productivity enhancement tools for AutoCAD for Windows. Seamlessly integrated into the AutoCAD environment, your POWERdraft driver offers significant improvements over existing driver technology. POWERdraft is an extremely fast and reliable driver platform for AutoCAD. Proven 32-bit display list technology and an intimate knowledge of your ELSA graphics adapter combine to provide an excellent solution for the most demanding AutoCAD users.

Additionally, your POWERdraft driver includes the powerful utility MultiView, which is designed to accent the AutoCAD drafting environment without inhibiting it. Fully dynamic and integrated through ELSA's SmartFocus technology, this utility is fully transparent to AutoCAD and available during any AutoCAD command.
 

ELSA POWERdraft hardware renderer

For AutoCAD 2000, there is the ELSA hardware renderer (ELSA.hdi), which is responsible for the graphics acceleration of the 3D views. The driver directly accesses the ELSA OpenGL ICD, and makes 100% use of the implemented AutoCAD 2000 extensions. This results in more than twice the 3D graphics performance of the standard AutoCAD driver.

Smart Focus

ELSA's SmartFocus technology, which is used in all POWERdraft windows, keeps you from having to switch the focus between driver windows and the AutoCAD windows. After using a function in one of the driver windows, any keyboard entry or crosshair movement automatically makes AutoCAD the active window again. You don't have to expressly click in a window to activate it, as is in the case with other drivers.
 

MultiView

The MultiView offers a configurable visual history of previous views. Displaying a record of one to one hundred prior views, the MultiView represents each view visually on a button face. This gives instant access to any previous view, and can be used to record and playback selected views consistently.

Installation

  1. Insert the Dell Resource CD into your CD-ROM drive. Refer to the Resource CD documentation for the specific location of ELSA POWERdraft for AutoCAD.
  2. Double-click the Setup icon.
  3. Choose your language from the pull down menu, then click OK.
  4. On the Welcome window click Next.
  5. Confirm the path to your AutoCAD installation, then click Next.
  6. Ensure that both components are checked in the list box, then click Next.
  7. To add program icons to your Start Menu click Next.
  8. Now click Finish to complete the installation.

Uninstallation

  1. From the Start menu, click Start Settings Control Panel
  2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon to access the Add/Remove dialog.
  3. Select ELSA POWERdraft  and then click the Add/Remove button.
  4. Click on Yes to start uninstallation process, Click Yes to restart your system.

ELSAview 3D for AutoCAD

note.gif (555 Byte) NOTE:  This software is not pre-installed. You can install it from the CD-ROM assuming that the associated application software is already available on your system.

ELSAview 3D is a tool for observing complex 3D objects and scenes. It can be run either as a stand-alone program, or in conjunction with AutoCAD. Because ELSAview 3D can read the major 3D import formats, it is able to import data from other CAD applications.

Software environments

ELSAview 3D currently supports the following environments:

What does ELSAview 3D offer?

ELSAview 3D integrates seamlessly into existing AutoCAD installations, directly accessing the database of the CAD application. New objects, editing operations, etc. are automatically identified, and are immediately displayed in ELSAview 3D. Since objects are depicted in a separate window, the user can immediately manipulate them and observe them from all sides, without losing their context to the current work. With a press of a button, a chosen camera setting can be sent to AutoCAD, to update the current work. This greatly simplifies the complicated AutoCAD camera setting, thus increasing productivity. ELSAview 3D offers a user friendly interface. 3D objects can easily be moved, zoomed, and rotated with the mouse. Each camera setting can be saved as a predefined setting, which can be called up later.

ELSAview 3D not only allows objects to be turned and observed from all sides with the mouse, but it also allows the viewer to walk or even fly through complex scenes. This way, any planning or construction deficiencies can be identified early on. Also, clients can be given a preview of the product, before it is actually created.

In its stand-alone mode, ELSAview 3D is excellent for presentations. This removes the necessity for installing extensive CAD software at the client's premises. A prepared data file and ELSAview 3D are all that is needed. The editing capability makes it easy to change materials and lighting of individual objects during the presentation with the client. The newly created impression can be immediately assessed.

elsaview.gif (28169 Byte)

Here are just a few of the capabilities that ELSAview 3D offers:

Installation

  1. Insert the Dell Resource CD into your CD-ROM drive. Refer to the Resource CD documentation for the specific location of ELSAview 3D for AutoCAD.
  2. Double-click the Setup icon.
  3. Choose your language from the pull down menu, then click OK.
  4. On the Welcome window click Next.
  5. In Select Components specify the installation type, then click Next.
  6. Confirm the path to your AutoCAD installation, then click Next.
  7. Confirm the path of the installation folder of ELSAview 3D and click Next.
  8. To add program icons to your Start Menu click Next.
  9. Confirm the path of your AutoCAD startup files, then click Next.
  10. Confirm the choice of your AutoCAD startup files and click Next.
  11. Now click Finish to complete the installation.

Uninstallation

  1. From the Start menu, click Start Settings Control Panel
  2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon to access the Add/Remove dialog.
  3. Select ELSA POWERview and then click the Add/Remove button.
  4. Click on Yes to start uninstallation process, Click Yes to restart your system.

ELSA MAXtreme driver for 3D Studio MAX/VIZ

note.gif (555 Byte) NOTE:  This software is not pre-installed. You can install it from the CD-ROM assuming that the associated application software is already available on your system.

ELSA MAXtreme is a special driver for 3D Studio MAX/VIZ Version R2.x and R3.0 which makes the most of the special features of the ELSA GLoria and ELSA Synergy graphics boards. It offers many improvements over standard drivers and thus considerable increases performance and productivity when used with these applications.

Installation

  1. Insert the Dell Resource CD into your CD-ROM drive. Refer to the Resource CD documentation for the specific location of ELSA MAXtreme for 3D Studio MAX/VIZ.
  2. Double-click the Setup icon.
  3. Choose your language from the pull down menu, then click OK.
  4. On the Welcome window click Next.
  5. Confirm the path to your 3D Studio MAX/VIZ installation, then click Next.
  6. Choose your Setup Type, then click Next.
  7. Confirm that the default driver box is checked and click Finish to complete the installation.

Uninstallation

  1. From the Start menu, click Start Settings Control Panel
  2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon to access the Add/Remove dialog.
  3. Select the ELSA MAXtreme and then click the Add/Remove button.
  4. Click on Yes to start uninstallation process, Click Yes to restart your system.

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