        #
        | README file for
        |
        | POWERview 3D for AutoCAD R13, Ver. 1.00 Beta5
        |
        |       ELSA GLoria
        |
        | Copyright (c) 1996-97 ELSA GmbH, Aachen (Germany)
        |
        |                                     Subsidiary:
        | ELSA GmbH                           ELSA Inc.
        | Sonnenweg 11                        2150 Trade Zone Blvd.
        | D-52070 Aachen                      Suite 101
        | Germany                             San Jose, CA 95131
        |                                     USA
        |
        | Phone      : +49-241-606-0          Phone: +1-408-935-0350
        | Support Fax: +49-241-606-9830       Phone:  1-800-272-ELSA
        | BBS (modem): +49-241-606-9800       Fax  : +1-408-935-0370
        | BBS (ISDN) : +49-241-606-9820       BBS  : +1-408-935-0380
        | CompuServe : GO ELSA                CIS  : GO ELSA
        | WWW        : http://www.elsa.de     WWW  : http://www.elsa.com
        |
        | 04/04/97, M. Kuhn


        Table of Contents

        1.  Overview
        2.  Directory Contents
        3.  Installation
        4.  Notes
        5.  Release Notes
        6.  Using Accelerator Keys
            6.1 AutoCAD R13
            6.2 AMD 1.1
            6.3 Connventions For Using Accelerators
        7.  AMD 1.1 Menu Problem
        8.  Working with large entities
        9.  Caveats / Known Problems

**********************************************************************

1.      Overview

        This disk contains all components of the add-on application
        POWERview 3D for AutoCAD R13.

        Supported platforms are Windows NT 3.51 and NT 4.0.

        Since this is a beta version documentation is not yet
        complete.


**********************************************************************

2.      Directory Contents

        The program's setup directory contains the following files:

        README.TXT      this file
        LIESMICH.TXT    German version of this file
        SETUP.EXE       Installation program for Windows
        (all others)    files that will be installed


**********************************************************************

3.      Installation

        Start SETUP.EXE by the menu item File/Run in the Program
        Manager or double click SETUP.EXE in the File Manager or
        Windows Explorer.

**********************************************************************

4.      Notes

        If you got this file set in compressed format, make sure to
        expand it retaining the subdirectory structure. Use the option
        "-d" for PKUNZIP or an equivalent option, if you use another
        program.

**********************************************************************

5.      Release Notes

        This is a beta release. Please do not rely on this program
        for critical production work.

        Please report problems with a detailed description and - if
        applicable - with a sample data set. Reports can be sent to
        the email address betapv3d@elsa.de .

**********************************************************************

6.      Using Accelerators Keys

        NOTE: You should have experience with AutoCAD menu files,
              otherwise consult your AutoCAD documentation.

        To make the switching between AutoCAD and POWERview3d more
        comfortable you can define an accelerator key for AutoCAD.


6.1     AutoCAD R13

        Perform the following steps:

        (0) Close all AutoCAD applications

        (1) Make a backup of the following files in ..ACAD\win\support:

              - acad.mnc   acadfull.mnc
              - acad.mns   acadfull.mns
              - acad.mnr   acadfull.mnr
              - acad.mnu   acadfull.mnu

        (2) Delete the following files in the path
            ..ACAD\win\support:

              - acad.mnc   acadfull.mnc
              - acad.mns   acadfull.mns
              - acad.mnr   acadfull.mnr

        (3) Edit acad.mnu and acadfull.mnu with e.g. the notepad.

        (4) In both files search for the section : ***ACCELERATORS

        (5) Append the following line to the end of this sections:

               ["F3"]^C^C_pvfront
            This command establishes an accelerator on the command
            key F3 so you will be able to switch to the viewer by
            simly pressing F3.

        (6) Save these files.

        (7) Start AutoCAD.


6.2     AMD 1.1

        Apply the same changes as described in section 6.1 to the
        files in ..\mcad\win :

            - mcad.mnc    mcadfull.mnc
            - mcad.mns    mcadfull.mns
            - mcad.mnr    mcadfull.mnr
            - mcad.mnu    mcadfull.mnu


6.3    Conventions For Using Accelerators

       You can combine several keys by using +, e.g.:
       [SHIFT+"F3"]

       control keys         CONTROL SHIFT
       F1-F12               "F1' "F2" ... (except F10)
       cursor keys          "UP" "DOWN" "LEFT" "RIGHT"
       position keys        "HOME" "END"
       numeric keypad       "NUMPAD0" "NUMPAD1" ...
       other keys           "INS" "DEL" "ESC"

       Please do not use keys that are used by the system, e.g. "F1"
       for help.

**********************************************************************
7.     AMD 1.1 menu problem

       Using AMD 1.1 results in the following little problem.
       The commands _open and _new  close the POWERvie3D toolbar.
       To get the toolbar back after such commands you can manually
       execute _pvmenuload. This command reestablishes the POWERview3D
       toolbar.
       Experienced users can try the following tip:

       In ..\mcad\win edit the following files:

          mcadfull.mnl
          mcad.mnl

       Append this command:

          (command "_pvmenuload" nil )

       This results in automatic toolbar load after
       _new and _load.

**********************************************************************
8.     working with large entities

       In some cases working with large or complex entities
       (low deviation value..) result in a communication buffer overflow.
       One can avoid this by inserting the following entry
       to the registry:

                        ServerComSize: n       where n means the
                                               buffersize in bytes

       (path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/ELSA/POWERview 3D/Settings ) 

**********************************************************************

9.      Caveats / Known Problems

	Light sources are not yet transferred from AutoCAD to 
        POWERview3D. This will be added in the next release.

        Named views in AutoCAD are not transferred to POWERview 3D.
        This will be added in a later release.

        When used with Mechanical desktop the POWERview 3D toolbox
        is unloaded every time you load a new drawing. This will be
        fixed later. See section 7 for a workaround.

	Nested blocks are not (yet!) supported.

9.1     Changes from earlier Beta releases

	A separate render mode for animated rendering has been added.

	Preference options, e.g. filter settings, are updated without
        restart now. 

        Saving a scene in iv format, reloading it and using predefined
        views (SW,NW,TOP,...) works correct now.
