ParaMASK objects

are standard block inserts and images which are fully supported by Autodesk and are fully editable using standard AutoCAD methods and commands.

ParaMASK will mask under dimension text as well as normal text and mtext entities. Command line functions included will mask areas: circles, ellipses, donuts, pie wedges, arc segments (donut pie wedges), triangles, squares, rectangles and any closed polyline with arcs and without arcs.

ParaMASK command line functions do circles, arcs, and ellipses!

Wipeout objects

were not supported by Autodesk until release 2004. They are custom objects which require the parent application before they can be used or edited. Editing is limited to only the editing abilities provided within the Wipeout application. Standard AutoCAD methods and commands cannot be used to edit Wipeouts.

Wipeouts cannot be made from circles, ellipses, or from polylines containing arcs.

Wipeout cannot do circles, arcs, or ellipses.


Program Options

Location:
ParaMASK will process one location per use. It will not affect ParaMASK objects that are not in the current process location, choose either Model Space or Paper Space to be processed.

Selection:
Choose to process either All or a Selection of the entity types for processing. Only the entity types checked below under "Apply to:" will be processed.

MARGIN:
The default margin for ParaMASK objects is 0.35x text height. A text height of 1.0 unit will have a ParaMASK object height of 1.7 units extending above and below the text 0.35 units. The width of the ParaMASK object will be the text width + 0.7 units extending to the right and left of the text 0.35 units.

Check the "Custom" check box under "Margins" to enter a custom margin for the ParaMASK objects.

Apply to:
Choose the entity type(s) to process. ParaMASK will process Text, Mtext, and/or Dimension entities.

Existing Mask Objects:
Choose whether to keep or erase existing ParaMASK objects.

 

Command Line Functions

paramask, pmask
Starts the ParaMASK Dialog.

Demask
Removes all ParaMASK objects from the drawing.

HDANG
Places a scaled right-triangle mask object (block named "HDANG"). X-scale is the base length specified. Y-scale is the height specified. Base is always oriented to the right of the right angle and height is 90° counter-clockwise from the base. Use this to accomplish geometric masking of any right angle area.
TIP: Use this with the other HD functions to accomplish geometric masking of almost any shape.

HDArea
Places a scaled square mask object (block named "HDAREA"). X-scale is the base length specified. Y-scale is the height specified. Base is always oriented to the right of the origin point and height is 90° counter-clockwise from the base. Differing X-Y scales of the square mask object produce a rectangular mask object. Use this to accomplish geometric masking of any rectangular area.
TIP: Use this with the other HD functions to accomplish geometric masking of almost any shape.

HDbox
Places a scaled square mask object (block named "HDBOX"). X-scale is the base length specified. Y-scale is the height specified. Base is always oriented to the right of the origin point and height is 90° counter-clockwise from the base. Differing X-Y scales of the square mask object produce a rectangular mask object. Use this to accomplish geometric masking of any rectangular area.
TIP: Use this with Text, Mtext, Dimension entities only because the HDUPD command will perform a draworder command on it to bring it above all other objects.

HDCIRC
Places a scaled circular mask object (block named "HDCIRC"). X-scale is the first axis of the selected ellipse or the diameter of the selected circle. Y-scale is the second axis of the selected ellipse or the diameter of the selected circle. Differing X-Y scales of the circular mask object produce an elliptical mask object.
TIP: Use this with the other HD functions to accomplish geometric masking of almost any shape.

HDMATCH
Sets special margin sizing for text containing the match string specified.

HdUPD
Performs Draworder command on ParaMASK objects, Text, Mtext, and Dimensions to bring them above all other entities and objects.
NOTE: This function will only affect blocks named "HDBOX" which only ParaMASK and the HDBOX command create. Objects placed using HDAREA, HDANG, and HDCIRC will not be affected.

Imgprep
Attaches the image 1x1.bmp to the drawing. Use this function if there is a problem with any IMG... function not displaying the 1x1.bmp masking image.
NOTE: All IMG functions produce an instance of a scaled, clipped image named "1x1.bmp". You may use AutoCAD's image handling tools and commands to manage these independently of the commands provided herein.

Imgarc
Inserts a scaled instance of 1x1.bmp and performs an image clip to produce an arc segment. User specifies start angle, end angle, outside radius and inside radius. A pie wedge can be made using an inside radius of zero (0).

ImgDonut
Inserts a scaled instance of 1x1.bmp and performs an image clip to produce a donut. User specifies outside radius and inside radius.

Imgpl
Inserts a scaled instance of 1x1.bmp and performs an image clip to produce a mask of the same shape as the selected polyline, not LWPOLYLINE (Use AutoCAD's CONVERTPOLY command to convert LWPOLYLINEs into POLYLINEs). Polyline containing arcs is OK.


Problems or questions, contact:

admin@paracadd.com