Autodesk AutoCAD

Getting Started with Autodesk AutoCAD

System Requirements

Minimum:

The following minimal combination of hardware and software is required to install and operate the RPC Plug-in.

Computer: System running at 500 megahertz or better.
Operating system: Microsoft® Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or Windows 7.
RAM: 256 megabytes (MB).
Free hard disk space: 100 megabytes (MB). See application documentation for the amount of space required at run time.

Software: AutoCAD 2013 or later, AutoCAD Architecture 2013 or later.
Computer: System running at 900 megahertz or better.
Operating system: Microsoft® Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7.
RAM: 1024 MB. Depending on number of RPC objects used, more RAM may be desirable.
Free hard disk space: This varies according to the number of RPC content files to be placed on the drive. Typical RPC content file size ranges from 10 to 100 MB per file. See application documentation for the amount of space required at run time.
Swap File: Recommended swap file size is three times the amount of physical RAM on your computer. Depending the number of RPC content files, more Windows swap space may be desirable.

Installation

Start by running the RPC Plug-in installer. Be sure to select the desired version of Autodesk AutoCAD or AutoCAD Architecture. It is recommended that you use the latest version of the RPC Plug-in available for AutoCAD or AutoCAD Architecture for optimum performance. The latest version of the RPC Plug-in can be downloaded from www.archvision.com.

Libraries

The RPC content (.rpc files) contained on your CDs will not be copied automatically into your Maps directory. An entire RPC library may consist of hundreds of megabytes (or more) of content. Because of their size, ArchVision opted not to force these libraries into your Maps directory during installation. The location of the RPC content files is handled solely by the user.

The content files must reside in the Content Paths of the ACM. If you choose to leave the content on the CD, add the CD-drive directory to your Content Paths. However, as content will only be available while the CD is present, the RPC Plug-in will not function properly if the CD is removed. RPC content must be available at all times during rendering.

Additional content can be licensed from ArchVision. Check out the latest libraries by visiting our web site at www.archvision.com.

Configuring Content Paths

The ArchVision Content Manager (ACM) manages all of your content paths. It is necessary to configure content paths in the ACM to access your RPC Objects. You can access the ACM by double clicking on the icon in the system tray or selecting Start ⇒ Programs ⇒ ArchVision ⇒ ArchVision Content Manager ⇒ ArchVision Content Manager.

Click the Paths tab.
Select Add a Path and then browse for the location of the RPC Objects.
Choose Scan Paths. All RPC Objects detected will appear under the current content dialog.

Loading the RPC Plug-in

To load the RPC Plug-in into AutoCAD or AutoCAD Architecture, browse to C:\Program Files\ArchVision\RPC Plugin for AutoCAD\200x then drag the file RprcDb.dbx into the AutoCAD Viewport.

Alternatively it is possible to load the plug-in by keying in the following: ARXLOAD "C:/Program Files/ArchVision/RPC Plugin for AutoCAD/RpcDb.dbx"

Accessing the RPC Plug-in

Left click on the RPC tab.
Select RPC.

The RPC tool bar will then appear.

Click on the RPC Place button to access the RPC Selection dialog.

Configuring the RPC Plug-in

Once the installer is finished, you will need to configure a path to the ArchVision Content Manager (ACM). You can access the Configure Content button by clicking on RPC Place. The Configure Content button is located at the bottom of the RPC Selection dialog.

Select Configure Content.
Click on the Update tab.
Specify a path to the ACM.

Note: If the ACM is located on your network, select Network and then type in the machine name, IP address or select Scan to choose it from a list of available ACMs.

If the ACM is installed locally, select Local and browse to C:\Program Files\ArchVision\ArchVision Content Manager, for a file named rpcacmapp.exe.

Select Update Content and the RPC Content in the path of the ACM will now be available.

At this point, the RPC Plug-in has been successfully installed and configured and is ready to use.

configure

Placing RPC Content

To place an RPC object into AutoCAD or AutoCAD Architecture:

Click on the RPC Place button or type the command rpcPlace.
Select the desired RPC Library from the drop-down menu and then click on the name of the RPC that you would like to place in your scene then click on OK.
Place the cursor in the scene where the RPC is to appear and hold down the left button of the mouse down. Moving the mouse while the left button is depressed will allow you to rotate the direction that the RPC is facing. Release the button when the RPC is position desired.