ASCII Group

The ASCII Group utility (ascgroup.ma) reads a settings group specification from a text file and creates a settings file.

Keep the following in mind when using ASCII Group:

Any text following a # sign is considered a comment.
Keywords are case sensitive.
Each keyword must be placed with its value on a separate line (there cannot be a line feed between the keyword and its value).
Maximum line length is 255 characters.
Each “add” or “set” group or component keyword must have a matching “end” keyword. Keywords between the “add” and “end” group or component keyword apply only to that group or component.

For general information about settings files, see “Settings Files”.

To load the ASCII Group utility

From the Utilities menu, choose Key-in.

In the Key-in window, key in MDL LOAD ASCGROUP

ASCII Group Commands

All ASCII Group utility commands display a File Open dialog box if filenames are not keyed in.

Key-in	Description
ASCGROUP CONVERT SETTINGS <text filename> <settings filename> ASCGROUP CONVERT SCALES <text filename> <settings filename>	Creates a new .stg file from the input settings or scales text file.
ASCGROUP EXPORT SETTINGS <settings filename> <text filename> ASCGROUP EXPORT SCALES <settings filename> <text filename>	Creates a new text file from the input .stg file.
ASCGROUP MERGE SETTINGS <text filename> <settings filename> ASGCROUP MERGE SCALES <text filename> <settings filename>	Merges the settings or scales in the input text file into the output .stg file.

Key-in

Description

ASCGROUP CONVERT SETTINGS <text filename> <settings filename>

ASCGROUP CONVERT SCALES <text filename> <settings filename>

Creates a new .stg file from the input settings or scales text file.

ASCGROUP EXPORT SETTINGS <settings filename> <text filename>

ASCGROUP EXPORT SCALES <settings filename> <text filename>

Creates a new text file from the input .stg file.

ASCGROUP MERGE SETTINGS <text filename> <settings filename>

ASGCROUP MERGE SCALES <text filename> <settings filename>

Merges the settings or scales in the input text file into the output .stg file.

Supported Keywords

Values listed in quotations indicate that only the listed values apply. In the input file, the quotations around the values should be omitted.

Keyword	Value	Description
setGroup	group name	Modifies an existing settings group
addGroup	group name	Adds a new settings group
endGroup	none	Ends specifications/modifications to the group named by the last “setGroup” or “addGroup” statement
setLinear	component name	Modifies an existing linear settings component
addLinear	component name	Adds a new linear settings component (must be inside a “setGroup” or “addGroup” block)
endLinear	none	Ends specifications/modifications to the linear settings component named in by the last “setLinear” or “addLinear” statement
setText	component name	Modifies an existing text settings component
addText	component name	Adds a new text settings component (must be inside a “setGroup” or “addGroup” block)
endText	none	Ends specifications/modifications to the text settings component named by the last “setText” or “addText” statement
setCell	component name	Modifies an existing cell settings component
addCell	component name	Adds a new cell setting component (must be inside a “setGroup” or “addGroup” block)
endCell	none	Ends specifications/modifications to the cell settings component named in the last “setCell” or “addCell” statement

Generic Settings

These apply to all components and must be contained within a “set<X>” or “add<X>” component block.

Keyword	Value	Description
setLevel	integer	Sets active level
setColor	integer	Sets active color
setWeight	integer	Sets active weight
setStyle	style name	Sets the active line style
setName	component name	Changes the component's name/description
setCommand	key-in string	Sets the active command
setStyleScale	double	Sets the active line style scale

Linear Settings

These apply only to linear settings components and must be contained within a “setLinear” or “addLinear” component block.

Keyword	Value	Description
setArea	“solid,” “hole”	Sets the active area for the linear component
setFill	“none,” filled, “boundary”	Sets the active fill type for the linear component
setFillColor	integer	Sets the active fill color for the linear component

Text Settings

These apply only to text settings components and must be contained within a “setText” or “addText” component block.

Keyword	Value	Description
setTextHeight	double	Sets the active text height
setTextWidth	double	Sets the active text width
setLineSpacing	double	Sets the active line spacing
setCharSpacing	double	Sets the active character spacing
setUnits	double	Sets the active units name (e.g., “mm” or “'”)
setTextAngle	double	Sets the active angle
setTextJust	Possible values: “LT” “LC” “LB” “CT” “CC” “CB” “RT” “RC” “RB”	Sets the single line text justification: “LT” - left top “LC” - left center “LB” - left bottom “CT” - center top “CC” - center center “CB” - center bottom “RT” - right top “RC” - right center “RB” - right bottom
setNodeJust	Possible values: “LT” “LC” “LB” “LMT” “LMC” “LMB” “CT” “CC” “CB” “RT” “RC” “RB” “RMT” “RMC” “RMB”	Sets the multi-line text justification: “LT” - left top “LC” - left center “LB” - left bottom “LMT” - left margin top “LMC” - left margin center “LMB” - left margin bottom “CT” - center top “CC” - center center “CB” - center bottom “RT” - right top “RC” - right center “RB” - right bottom “RMT” - right margin top “RMC” - right margin center “RMB” - right margin bottom
setFont	font name	Sets the active font
setFractions	“on,” “off”	Sets fractions on or off
setLineLength	integer	Sets the active line length
setSlant	double	Sets the amount of slant
setVertical	“on,” “off”	Sets vertical text setting on or off
setUnderline	“on,” “off”	Sets the underline text setting on or off
setUsePaperSize	“on,” “off”	Sets the paper size setting on or off

Cell Settings

These apply only to cell settings components and must be contained within a “setCell” or “addCell” component block.

Keyword	Value	Description
setCellXScale	double	Sets the active scale in the X direction
setCellYScale	double	Sets the active scale in the Y direction
setCellZScale	double	Sets the active scale in the Z direction
setApplyDrawing Scale	“on,” “off”	Sets the apply drawing scale setting on or off
setAllowSharedCells	“on,” “off”	Sets the use shared cells setting on or off
setCellLibrary	library name	Sets the active cell library
setCellName	cell name	Sets the active cell name
setCellAngle	double	Sets the active angle in degrees
setCellType	“placement,” “terminator”	Indicates whether the component refers to a placement or terminator cell
setSharedCell	“enabled,” “disabled”	Indicates whether cells should be placed as shared