Representative Projects

This page shows of sampling of projects done for a variety of clients, for some idea of what KCS can do. 
Click on any image to see a full size image or series of images.

Equipment Tags and Schedules

The client has fast food establishments all over the world. The system created allows them to place their standard equipment items in the plan drawing for a new franchise, then tag each piece of equipment, and create either (or both) of two types of schedules. 

Each equipment block name is keyed to a database entry. This allows tagging the equipment correctly by simply clicking on it. Schedules are also created using information from the database. The image at right shows some equipment with tags, plus a short-form schedule. A long-form schedule is shown below.  (Click on the images to see full size, with additional info.)
 

Note: This project was done using an Excel data file.  

Block Count Report

The client wanted to extract a count of approved blocks in a drawing and output the results to an Excel file. Only approved blocks (those listed in a database) are included. The report includes information obtained from the database for each block. 

The client wants the report to compare the current extract with the previous extract, and show any differences. He also wants to retain the results of each extract, regardless of how many were done. The extract includes blocks contained in xrefs (provided they are loaded and inserted on a layer that is not frozen), including nested xrefs.

(Click on the image to see full size, with additional info.)

Glass Pattern Generator

The client needs to create glass patterns, using a special tape applied with a CNC machine. There are a number of patterns, and each pattern can have varying dimensions and can be applied to any size glass. The process starts with one command that displays a screen to select the desired pattern. A choice is made, and a screen is displayed for inputting values for that pattern. At OK, the pattern is drawn, and output to four different .DXF files (one for each tape direction) to be used by the CNC machine.

Window Elevation Generator

The client, Centex Homes,  is a large home builder that needs to create window elevations, including window assemblies, that accurately reflect the options the company offers. 

The dialog box is highly interactive, with sections being enabled or disabled according to various choices made. The image also updates according to those choices. This allows windows ranging from simple to complex to be created very intuitively. (Click the image to see a series of images.)

The setting shown have been saved to a data file, by Catalog and Elevation name. Any changes to specifications result in a new elevation to be saved. Import/Export and Delete options are provided.

Shower Calculation and Drawing

The client manufactures "showers" that are used for cleaning in paper manufacturing. They have a few basic configurations where the specifications can vary widely according to each individual application. Although the drawings were done using not-to-scale templates, calculating all the values necessary for creating the shower was a time-consuming process, involving numerous complex formulas and lookup tables. 

The solution was to create an easy to use dialog box for inputting the known specifications. The program then handles all the lookups and calculations, and creates a set of three drawings with the resulting values plugged in. Some values are in dimensions, some are in the title block, and others are in various notes.

A process that used to take an engineer a full day now takes 5 minutes.

Symbol Management and Take-off

The client needed a Symbol Manager to display symbols organized by Categories and Palettes, as stored in a .DBF file, which also contains additional information. Each symbol has a “friendly name�, as seen in the column at left, plus an extended description, as seen at bottom left. The actual block name is also shown at lower right.

This was actually a replacement for the Softdesk Symbol Manager that the client had been using, with AutoCAD R13, for many years. The Symbol Manager created by KCS uses the same data file as Softdesk, which allowed the client to migrate all their methodology, and associated custom programming, to AutoCAD R2005.

One feature of the Symbol Manager, not found the standard AutoCAD Design Center, is that a layer can be specified for the block insertion. Lisp routines can also be run.

Take-off
The block selected above has been inserted and shows up in a Take-off file. The take-off can include several types of items that have been created by custom programming for the client. Each item has an appropriate format for the item, as displayed in the file header. (This client has an external program that processes this data further, to create a highly detailed estimate.)

Block Rename Utility

The client, Centex Homes, has company-wide standard blocks, which are counted in an extract process. They often receive "outsource" drawings - from someone outside of the company - that they wish to use and count from. Since these drawings use blocks that do not match the client's block names, a utility was desired to match up an outsource block with a valid company standard block, and rename the outsource block accordingly.

The left side of the dialog screen shows the outsource blocks, paired up with the company standard block name (once a match has been made). Selecting a block in this list displays an image of that block below.

The right side shows a tree view of all the client's standard blocks, arranged by categories and sub-categories, as determined by a data file that had already been created for other purposes. Selecting a block in this list displays both a description (from the data file) and an image (the thumbnail of the drawing file itself). Clicking the "assign" button [<=] assigns that standard block name to the outsource block selected on the left. (Click the image for full size images and additional information.)

Drawing Settings

The client wanted a dialog screen for setting the elevation of each floor level, along with text sizes and fonts for various purposes. A dialog screen with multiple tabs accomplishes this, with pictorial information to illustrate what each setting represents.

These settings are used by various custom commands. 

KCS Productivity Pack for AEC

This program includes an extensive HTML based Help system.

Don't see anything like what you have in mind? Well, there was a first time for each of the examples shown above. They should at least give you some idea of the logical approach, user friendliness, and technology available at KCS for creating your solution.

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