DXFV PRO 3.0 for PALM OS
User's manual
© GEOSYNN 2002-2006

DXFV PRO: Quick start
DXFV PRO is a viewer of DXF files compatible with Autocad v12 (use save as type "Autocad V.12/Autocad LT2"), written on CF/SD card or Memory Stick. You can start the program by clicking the DXFV PRO icon. Within the program you can zoom in/out, pan, measure the elements using snap (intersection, end, middle or no snap), write notes on the drawing and save the dxf file.

The size of the dxf files that you can open depends on the size of the dynamic memory of your PDA/Smartphone.

DXFV PRO should not be used for more than 30 days after its installation. The unregistered version can not perform snap to middle and zoom in/window when the size of the dxf file exceeds the limit of 400 Kbytes.

Minimum requirements:
- PALM OS 4.1 and higher (DXFV PRO is OS 5 compatible).
- CF/SD card or Memory Stick (sold separately).
- Color display.
- Card reader/writer (sold separately), or equivalent software.

If you have problems with the operation of DXFV PRO read the troubleshooting section at the end of the page.

The author takes no responsibilities about any possible problems that may be caused by the use of program or its installation. You use the program by your own responsibility. If you disagree with these terms you should uninstall the program from your machine. The installation and the use of DXFV PRO implies the acceptance of the End User License Agreement EULA.txt which is part of DXFV PRO installation zip file.
The trademarks, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") mentioned in this help file or within DXFV PRO are trademarks of their respective owners.
 

Transferring dxf files to your PDA/Smartphone
DXFV PRO displays dxf files compatible with Autocad V.12/Autocad LT2. You should select to export your drawing from the CAD program you are using in Autocad 12 dxf format (ASCII dxf, not binary). Before exporting the drawing it is advisable to use the purge command in order to delete any unused elements from the drawing, thus creating smaller dxf file.

The dxf files can be written to CF/SD/Memory Stick using hotsync or using a card reader.

- If you want to move the dxf files using hotsync, you should first insert a CF/SD/Memory Stick card in you PDA/Smartphone and run DXFV PRO. This will create a /DXF directory on the card. On your desktop computer you can drop the dxf files to the QuickInstall icon, and they will be written to PDA/Smartphone's card the next time you hotsync. We suggest to transfer only one dxf file per hotsync operation. Please note that the transfer of dxf files using hotsync may take several (e.g. 10) minutes.

- You may also write the dxf files directly to the CF/SD/Memory Stick using a card reader. You must create a directory named DXF under the root directory of you card, and copy the dxf files in this directory. For example the path of the sample file should be \DXF\sample.dxf. You may also use software such as PFB.

- You can also receive dxf files using an e-mail client (e.g. Versamail), and save the dxf file(s) to the SD card. DXFV PRO searches for dxf files the root (/) directory of the SD card/Memory Stick where the e-mail client has saved the dxf file.
 

Transferring dxf files to your desktop computer
With DXFV PRO you can add notes to you drawings and save them to the SD card or Memory Stick. You can copy the dxf files from the SD/Memory Stick to your desktop computer using a card reader. You may use software which provides equivalent functionality of a card reader such as PFB.

Viewing the drawing
You can navigate through the drawing by using the zoom and pan commands. You can zoom using:

Zoom window. You can select this state from Menu->Zoom->Zoom window or by tapping the first graphic button of the left toolbar on the top of the screen. When zoom window is selected you can easily draw on the screen the area you want to zoom in by pressing down the pen to the first point of the zoom rectangle and dragging it to the ending point of the rectangle.

Zoom all. By clicking the Menu->Zoom->Zoom all the DXFV PRO program will present all the drawing.

Zoom in. You can zoom in from the current view by selecting Menu->Zoom->Zoom in or by pressing the Scroll Up hardware button of your PDA. The percentage of zoom is defined from the Menu->Options-> Zoom level window.

Zoom out. You can zoom out from the current view by selecting Menu->Zoom->Zoom out or by pressing the Scroll Down hardware button of your PDA. The percentage of zoom is defined from the Options->Zoom level window.

Pan. You can move around the drawing by selecting the pan state from Menu->Zoom->pan, or by tapping the second graphic button of the left toolbar on the top of the screen. When pan is selected you can move up/down/left/right by pressing on the screen and dragging the pen to the appropriate direction.

You may perform zoom in/out and pan using the 5 way navigation keys. Press the select (center) button to toggle between pan and zoom. When the pan graphic button is active you can move the view up/down/left/right using the same 5 way navigation buttons. When the zoom  graphic button is active you can zoom in/out by pressing the up/down button of the 5 way navigator. 

If your PDA/Smartphone does not support 5 way navigation you can zoom in/out by pressing the up/down button.
 

Writing and deleting notes
You can draw notes directly on the drawing by selecting  Menu->Options->Draw note  or by tapping the third graphic button of the left toolbar on the top of the screen. While 'draw note' is active you can freehand draw on the screen. All your notes are placed in DXFV_NOTES_LAYER which must be active while you draw. You should not use DXFV_NOTES_LAYER for drawing on your desktop CAD.

To delete notes you must select them using Menu->Options->Select note or by tapping the fourth graphic button of the left toolbar on the top of the screen. While 'Select note' is active you can drag the pen on the PDA screen and select the notes that are inside the area you have defined. The selected notes are drawn with dashed line. Once you have selected the notes you want to delete use Menu->Options->Delete selected notes to delete them.

To save the drawing with your notes use Menu->File->Save. The file will be saved with its original name in the /DXF directory of your SD card or Memory Stick.
 

Layer control
You can show/hide the different layers of the drawing by selecting Menu->Options->Layers.
A pop-up window will appear with all the layers defined inside the drawing as well as the state of each of them.

You may activate/deactivate the layers by tapping on a layer name and then pressing the "Activate" or "Deactivate" buttons. After you have finished all the activations/deactivations press the OK button to see the changes on the drawing.
 

Options
If the contrast of the colors on the screen does not allow you to inspect the details of the drawing you can select the black and white drawing mode by selecting Menu->Options->Black and white mode. To switch back to color drawing select Menu->Options->Color mode.

If you want to change the background color of the drawing to white select Menu->Options->Background color white. To switch back to black background select Menu->Options->Background color black.

In order to speed up the drawing of the screen you may select not draw the text, by selecting Menu->Options->Hide text. To switch back select Menu->Options->Display text.

The percentage of zoom in/out, when you press Scroll Up/Down hardware buttons of your PDA, can be set from the Menu->Options->Zoom level window.

The number of decimals points presented on the dimension pop up window are defined from the Menu->Options->Dimension accuracy. Note that the result of the measurement is rounded to the nearest decimal number with the accuracy you have defined. For example if you define 2 decimal points and the dimension result is 1.0052 you will see 1.01. If the dimension result is 1.0042 you will see 1.00.

Registering your copy of DXFV PRO
If you want to use DXFV PRO for more than 30 days you must register.
Important: Please check thoroughly DXFV PRO operation, drawing representation, maximum file size that can be opened by your PDA/Smartphone, compatibility with your PDA/Smartphone and desktop CAD before registering.

You can register DXFV PRO at: http://www.palmgear.com

You should not use DXFV PRO for more than 30 days after its initial installation. Unregistered copies of DXFV PRO do not perform the zoom functions when the size of the dxf file exceeds the limit of 400 Kbytes, and do not perform snap to middle.

Troubleshooting
1) File seems to load but I see a black screen at the end of loading.
Some PALM OS PDAs present some incompatibilities with the color system. Just press Menu->Zoom-> Zoom all and you will see the drawing without any other problems.

2) On Zire 71/Tungsten E/Tungsten T3/other I have opened some files, but after some time DXFV PRO stops when I try to open a dxf.
Palm Zire 71 and Tungsten E and T3 have a bug with the SD card reading operation. Download and install the patch from PALMONE. The link was at the time of DXFV PRO release:
http://www.palm.com/us/support/downloads/

3) Sometimes it takes some seconds to perform a snap during measurements, when I open a big file.
Snap finishes more quickly when you have performed zoom to the area where the line/arc you want to snap is located. 

4) I see my drawing rotated.
DXFV PRO presents the TOP view of your drawing. Try View->3D Views->Top at you desktop CAD to have a coherent view of the drawing.

5) When I have the mp3 player running at the background DXFV PRO sometimes seems to stop working.
Please turn off the mp3 player while you work with DXFV PRO. The same applies to any other program that works at the background.