I particularly like the first suggestion...which never occurred to me ;p
I use AutoCAD for the final touchings to the sundial and I find it
extremely useful to be able to import the DXF sundial
into a CAD program. I may then trim extend colour add text and zodiacal
symbols (from fonts) into the final design to be printed
or plotted.
regards
alexei
I agree Zonwvlak is a fantastic program by Fer de Vries. Here are a few
ways I
have "marked" the lines.
1. When selecting the lines to make, duplicate a few of the key lines. For
example, calculate the local time from hours 4 to 20 step 1. Then select
local
time again and do hour 12 step 12. It will be drawn twice, but you will
not see
it until you select and delete it with a CAD program. This is only useful
if you
use a CAD program to process a DXF file of the dial. A CAD program will also
allow you to select or deselect layers (each type of hour has its own
layer) to
see as you process the dial.
2. If the confusion comes from the different types of lines, use the
"Settings"
button to select and deselect which lines to show. I keep a card above my
desk
that lists the purpose of each layer. For example layer K is for date lines.
With a color printer and a CAD program you can color the layers and lines
different colors.
3. Make and print two files of the same design. Make one drawing your
complete
with all lines. Make the second a much simpler version, with only a few key
lines. Use the simpler one to help you locate lines on the more complex one.
4. I always draw the declination lines for -23.44, 0, and +23.44. They
help me
locate the time of the year.
Do you use a CAD program with Zonwvlak? I worked with Zonwvlak for over a
year
before I investigated a CAD program. I would do choice 3 above to help
keep the
lines clear. With a CAD program you can mark the lines directly with text
as soon
as you know what each represents. The December 1997 Compendium of NASS has an
article I wrote using Delta Cad with Zonwvlak. I do not have any
relationship
with Delta Cad. Walmart had it for $10 USD a year ago, but they had none last
month at the store near me. I did get a notice that they have a new
version out
since November. It has a script language in the new version. If you use the
methods provided by Fer de Vries and are comfortable with Visual Basic (I
am not),
Delta Cad scripts can be very powerful. It sells for around $40 from
their web
site of: <http://www.dcad.com/> They have a 45 day free demo available.
Take Care & Happy New Year,
Warren Thom ( 41.649N 88.096W)
"Behind every man alive stand 16.7 ghosts, for that is the ratio by
which the dead outnumber the living. Since the dawn of time, a hundred
billion human beings have walked the planet Earth." -- arthur c. clarke
updated1999
