CAD is the acronym for " Computer Aided Design". It's applications cover a broad range from Architecture to Industry. A drawing created by a CAD program is quite different than a picture (RASTER file) you see on a computer monitor. A CAD drawing (VECTOR file) carries within it intelligent information. For instance, a CAD operator will draw a line by telling the computer where to start the line, at what distance to place the endpoint of the line, the width, color and type (dash, solid etc.) of the line. Each of these characteristics may have a meaning; a Cable, running 120 feet (end to end), and underground (dashed line). This same CAD drawing can also store hidden information that can be queried. This information is associated to the drawing symbols by tags and attribute files. An attribute file for the line mentioned in this example may specify: The Name of a telephone company, Size of the Cable, Type of Cable, the Depth the cable is buried at , which customers receive their service from this cable etc. It is evident that just a single line can represent a lot of information in a CAD program.
There are several CAD programs available in many file formats, this is referred to as the CAD platform. As an example a commonly used CAD platform is AutoCAD by AutoDESK in native DXF (Data Exchange) format. CCS provides services in several CAD Platforms.
As mentioned above there are several CAD formats, and sometimes it is necessary to change from one to another e.g. InterGRAPH to AutoCAD or Main Frame to PC. When making this conversion, a prime concern is usability of existing data. This concern is often the result of incompatibility between CAD Platforms or with obsolete software programs. Resulting is the necessity to Translate and Post between formats. This process can be complicated to set up in a program, and when the rules are established the processing speed of a computer is needed to execute them. The time and effort put into a successful data conversion is well spent when thousands of records are upgraded into a new generation of software.
Conversions also include the mass capture of information on paper drawings and records (Hard Copies). There are techniques that can reduce this labor intensive operation. Some of these methods involve scanners with optical character recognition and input operators who have expertise in specific phases of the conversion. When beginning a conversion from paper to CAD every avenue of automation should be taken into consideration. This can also include importing fields of data from external sources.
In either case, whether it be a Digital or Paper Conversion, careful analysis and planning is key to precise and accurate data transfer.
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article by w.ziskowski Copyright (C) 1996 by CCS Inc. Factoryville, Pennsylvania, USA.
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