Adding Objects to Libraries
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Adding Objects to Libraries
ARC+ is supplied with a large set of predefined libraries containing standard objects such as furniture, trees, human figures, vehicles, appliances, symbols, etc. You can add new objects to the predefined libraries or you can create new libraries for the objects you design.
Every library is actually a separate directory on your hard disk, containing source files of the objects as well as icons corresponding to the objects-small graphical representations that are displayed in the dialog boxes of the placing commands. The libraries are collected in sub-directories (irrespective of the level) of your arcalib directory, in the main directory of the ARC+ system.
Libraries may contain both ordinary and parametric objects and presentations of both ordinary and parametric objects.
Presentations
When you store an object in a library, you may optionally define several presentations of the object. The presentations of an object are all stored in the object file with sub names for each presentation.
Presentations may include:
The complete three-dimensional object design
Detail levels of the object, e.g., with reduced detail for use in small scale plots or increased detail for use in large scale plots
Sections of the object
Views (two-dimensional projections) of the object
To prepare a presentation, open the object source file and edit it as you wish to appear, e.g. by deleting fine details, sectioning, or projection. Then save the file under the desired presentation name using the Library manager (\libedit) command.
The presentations of an object are all collected together in a single library source file. Using the library dialog box, you can preview the presentations and choose the one you want for placing (see Using the library dialog box).
Editing Library Objects
To open or save the source file of a library object or presentation, use the Library manager (\libedit) command. Do not use the Opening an existing file (\open) or Saving a file (\save) commands. This ensures that presentations and icons of the object are correctly organized and displayed.
Otherwise, you may edit a library object exactly like any other object source file.
Converting Libraries from Previous Versions of ARC+.
If you are an experienced user of ARC+, you may have libraries that you created or edited using a previous version of ARC+. These are all stored in the system arcalib directory of your previous version. You may continue to access three-dimensional library source files in that directory using the library dialog box (see Using the library dialog box). The source files all appear to be part of a single library, however.
You can transfer the source files into separate libraries for use with ARC+ Version 10 in the following way:
Exit ARC+ to your operating system environment
Create subdirectories of the ARC+ Version 10 system arcalib directory with the desired library names
Copy your previous library source files into the subdirectories that you have created. Remember to copy both the *. ddd and *. iii component files, if these exist on your computer system.
The library files are ready for use. Optionally, you may create icons and presentations of the files by opening each file on the ARC+ Version 13 screen and resaving it using the Library manager (\libedit) command.
For further information regarding conversion of library files, see Version 7 Compatibility.
Related Topics
Setting Path and Drives for Libraries