Tips for drawing and outputing an electronic system diagram in ZWCAD

[Sirine]

I recently learned some tricks on drawing and exporting an electronic system diagram, which has been really helpful in saving my time. So I thought it'd be nice to share with you guys.

I did my drawing on ZWCAD, as I recently switched from AutoCAD to it for a lower cost. If you also use ZWCAD, feel free to comment below.

Tip 1 - Use Block Attribute to create a customized component library for easy reuse
 

Step 1. Start the Tool Palette through [Tools] and click [Tool Palette Window] or use the shortcut command [Ctrl+3] on the menu bar.

 

Step 2. Select the required component block on the current drawing, then hold down the left mouse button, drag it to the tool palette and release it. After that, the block will be added to the Tool Palette.

Tip 2 - Use ZWCAD Smart Plot to output multiple electronic diagrams all at once

Step 1. Open the drawing to be printed, click [File] in the toolbar, and then click [Smart Batch Plot].

Step 2. Select the printing device and choose a [Frame Style] in the pop-up dialog box.

Step 3. Click [Select batch drawings], and select the drawings to be printed.

Step 4. Click [Highlight], and finally click [Plot].

 

[BIGAL]

Its been a while since I played with ZWCAD. Does Zwcad support VL if so opens a world of code that will overwhelm you. Jump over comes to mind in electrical, showing cables crossing.

 

Try this lisp pick an object you should see all the properties when you pick an object.

 

;;;===================================================================; 
;;; DumpIt                                                            ; 
;;;-------------------------------------------------------------------; 
;;; Dump all methods and properties for selected objects              ; 
;;;===================================================================; 
(defun C:Dumpit ( / ent) 
  (while (setq ent (entsel)) 
    (vlax-Dump-Object 
      (vlax-Ename->Vla-Object (car ent)) 
    ) 
  ) 
  (princ) 
)

 

; IAcadLWPolyline 239a75a0 : TeighaX Interface of 2D line with adjustable width composed of line and arc segments entity
; Property values :
;   Area (RO) = 69.4873606884766
;   Closed = -1
;   Color = 256
;   ConstantWidth = 0.0
;   Coordinate = NIL
;   Coordinates = (-4.1 0.6 8.79885080690132 0.6 7.09885080690132 -7.89230504881907 3.16140580524884 -9.49230504881907 3.16140580524884 -5.89476188374651 -1.23803240011145 -5.89476188374651 -1.23803240011145 -3.43051283836951 1.55950298008096 -3.43051283836951 1.55950298008096 -1.230514148244 -1.94034419979808 -1.230514148244)

...................

 

 

Edited June 15, 2022 by BIGAL

[Sirine]

9 hours ago, BIGAL said:

Its been a while since I played with ZWCAD. Does Zwcad support VL if so opens a world of code that will overwhelm you. Jump over comes to mind in electrical, showing cables crossing.

 

Try this lisp pick an object you should see all the properties when you pick an object.

 

;;;===================================================================; 
;;; DumpIt                                                            ; 
;;;-------------------------------------------------------------------; 
;;; Dump all methods and properties for selected objects              ; 
;;;===================================================================; 
(defun C:Dumpit ( / ent) 
  (while (setq ent (entsel)) 
    (vlax-Dump-Object 
      (vlax-Ename->Vla-Object (car ent)) 
    ) 
  ) 
  (princ) 
)

 

; IAcadLWPolyline 239a75a0 : TeighaX Interface of 2D line with adjustable width composed of line and arc segments entity
; Property values :
;   Area (RO) = 69.4873606884766
;   Closed = -1
;   Color = 256
;   ConstantWidth = 0.0
;   Coordinate = NIL
;   Coordinates = (-4.1 0.6 8.79885080690132 0.6 7.09885080690132 -7.89230504881907 3.16140580524884 -9.49230504881907 3.16140580524884 -5.89476188374651 -1.23803240011145 -5.89476188374651 -1.23803240011145 -3.43051283836951 1.55950298008096 -3.43051283836951 1.55950298008096 -1.230514148244 -1.94034419979808 -1.230514148244)

...................

 

 

That's so cooool! Thanks for sharing this trick!

[BIGAL]

So it worked Ok ?

 

Sent you a private mail also.

 

Just google "Electric yoursubject autocad lisp" should reveal lots of programs.

[Sirine]

9 hours ago, BIGAL said:

So it worked Ok ?

 

Sent you a private mail also.

 

Just google "Electric yoursubject autocad lisp" should reveal lots of programs.

Yes! I copied the code, created a script file, and loaded it in ZWCAD.

 

It works perfectly in ZWCAD as well! Check out the attched screenshot.

[BIGAL]

Good to see, Google your next question about a customisation your looking for.