System Variables

This section contains A complete list of the DPVAR variables and settings of AutoCAD variables can also be found here. The final section lists the parametric hardware library.

DPVAR Variables

The following is a complete list of all SI Mechanical drawing variables. Each has an associated type; integer, real, or text string. These variables can be examined and changed (unless read only) at the command line, by means of the DPVAR command, through the DDPVAR dialogue box, and with the API dp_getdpvar and dp_setdpvar functions. All DPVAR variables are saved in the drawing itself.

DPVAR variables
Variable name	Type	Default	Meaning
ALTFMT	String	"ALT"	Default alternate format prefix used for custom formats. Requires three characters
APPID	String	"SI-MECH"	The SI Mechanical application ID (read only)
APPVER	Real	5.2	The SI Mechanical application version (read only)
BALLBLK	String	"BALL-STD"	Name of block to use for balloon tags. The first four characters must be "BALL-". BALL-ELP, BALL-NON, BALL-SQR, BALL-STD, and BALL-TRI are supplied. Used by Balloon command
BALLTAG	Integer	0	Controls leader configuration and balloon placement. Used by TAG Balloon option 0 = tail, vertical balloons 1 = tail, horizontal balloons 2 = no tail, vertical balloons 3 = no tail, horizontal balloons
BLKCHK	String	""	Name of other application to attempt block compatibility conversion. Used by SYMCHG
CLIPHID	Integer	0	Controls display of clipped areas of items. Used by ITEMCLIP 0 = Do not show clipped area 1 = Show clipped area as hidden lines
DBWRITE	Integer	0	Controls write permission to the SI Mechanical database. Used by DBEDIT 0 = Disable database writes 1 = Write changes to memory only 2 = Write changes to file 3 = Remove comments during write
DRILLANG	Real	118	The drill tip angle for drilled holes. Used by HOLE
DRILLDIST	Real	20.0	Default drill depth for drilled holes. Used by HOLE
DRILLM	Integer	0	Controls way drilled hole depth is measured. Used by HOLE 0 = Measure full diameter depth 1 = Measure drill depth to tip
DWGSCALE	Real	1.0	Default drawing scale used for scaling annotation and plotting
FMTSUPPL	Integer	1	Controls which title block supplements to include in drawing formats. Used by SETUP 0 = no supplements 1 = 1st supplement 2 = 2nd supplement 3 = both supplements
FORMAT	String	"ASM000A3"	Default drawing format block. Used by SETUP
FULLTHD	Integer	0	Controls external thread on items with calculated thread length. Used by HARDWARE 0 = Calculated length 1 = Full length
GEODAT	String	"A"	Default datum reference for geometric tolerancing. Used by GEODIM
GEOPTS	Real	10.0	Default projected tolerance zone length. Used by GEODIM
GEOSYM	String	"POS"	Default feature control symbol. Used by GEODIM
GEOTGT	String	"A1"	Default datum target symbol string. Used by GEODIM
GEOTOL	Real	0.1	Default tolerance value. Used by GEODIM
GEOTSZ	Real	0.0	Default target size. Used by GEODIM. 0.0 value will not display
HDWCAT	String	"ALL"	Category specification for hardware selection filter. Used by HARDWARE
HDWCSKH	Integer	0	Creation of countersink type heads. Used by HARDWARE 0 = Calculate head height values 1 = Use table head height values
HDWGROUP	String	"HARDWARE"	Default hardware group table. Used by HARDWARE
HDWLG	Real	0.0	Length override for hardware. 0.0 causes the value to be read from hardware table
HDWPEME	Integer	0	Controls display of clinch nut material edge limits. Used by HARDWARE 0 = No display of edges 1 = Display edge limits
HDWSTD	String	"ALL"	Standard specification for hardware selection filter. Used by HARDWARE
HDWTYPE	String	"ISO 4017"	Default hardware type. Used by HARDWARE
HOLEEANG	Real	0.0	Default hole end angle. Used by HOLE
HOLESTART	Integer	0	Default hole start condition. Used by HOLE 0 = Plain hole 1 = Counterbore 2 = Countersink 3 = Combine 1 and 2
HOLETYPE	String	"MM-STD"	Default hole type. Used by HOLE
ITEMALTD	Integer	0	Controls alternate generation mode of some items. Used by HARDWARE, HOLE, and SHAFT 0 = Normal generation mode 1 = First alternate generation mode 2 = Second alternate generation mode
ITEMCLRH	Integer	5	Color number of hidden lines. Used by HARDWARE, HOLE, ITEMCLIP, and SHAFT
ITEMCLYR	Integer	0	Controls which layer to create items on. Used by HARDWARE, HOLE, and SHAFT 0 = Use layer map 1 = Use current layer
ITEMCTRL	Integer	0	Controls drawing of item center lines. Used by HARDWARE, HOLE, and SHAFT 0 = Do not draw center lines 1 = Draw center lines
ITEMCTRM	Integer	0	Controls drawing of item center marks. Used by HARDWARE, HOLE, and SHAFT 0 = Do not draw center marks 1 = Draw center marks
ITEMDSPL	Integer	0	Controls display mode of items. Used by HARDWARE, HOLE, and SHAFT -1 = Designer 0 = Solid 1 = Surface (not supported) 2 = Wire frame 3 = 2D
ITEMGEN	Integer	1	Controls direct mode for faster creation of some items. Used by HARDWARE, HOLE, and SHAFT 0 = Use solid projections 1 = Use direct generation if possible
ITEMHIDLIN	Integer	0	Controls display of hidden lines for projected items. Used by HARDWARE, HOLE, and SHAFT 0 = Do not show hidden lines 1 = Show hidden lines
ITEMLTYPEH	String	"HIDDEN"	Default hidden linetype for items. Used by HARDWARE, HOLE, and SHAFT
ITEMSIZE	String	"M6 X 1"	Default item size. Used by HARDWARE and HOLE
ITEMTAND	Integer	0	Controls display of tangent lines for projected items. Used by HARDWARE, HOLE, and SHAFT 0 = Do not show tangent lines 1 = Show tangent lines
ITEMVIEW	Integer	0	Controls view of item insertion. Used by HARDWARE, HOLE, and SHAFT 0 = Front 1 = Right 2 = Back 3 = Left 4 = Top 5 = Bottom 6 = SW isometric 7 = SE isometric 8 = NE isometric 9 = NW isometric 10 = North isometric 11 = South isometric 12 = Top back
LYRDEF	String	"LYRDEF"	Layer definition table name
LYRMAP	String	"LYRMAP"	Layer map table name
SFTHDW	Integer	0	Controls data and editing of hardware items created through the shaft generator. Used by HARDWARE and SYMCHG 0 = store HARDWARE data only 1 = store SHAFT data only 2 = store both and edit as HARDWARE 3 = store both and edit as SHAFT
SHTSET	Integer	7	Default settings used by SETSHT to activate a drawing sheet 0 = Activate sheet 1 = 0 and set new limits 2 = 0 and zoom to sheet size 3 = 0,1, and 2 4 = 0 and load dimension settings 5 = 0, 1, and 4 6 = 0, 2, and 4 7 = 0, 1, 2, and 4
STANDARD	String	"ASME-MM"	Drafting standard
SURFAREA	Real	0	Default minimum area contact percentage. Used by SURFDIM. 0 value will not display
SURFLAY	String	""	Default lay designation. Used by SURFDIM
SURFMAT	Real	0.0	Default material removal allowance. Used by SURFDIM. 0.0 value will not display
SURFMAXR	Real	1.6	Default maximum roughness height rating. Used by SURFDIM. 0.0 value will not display
SURFMINR	Real	0.0	Default minimum roughness height rating. Used by SURFDIM. 0.0 value will not display
SURFSPEC	String	""	Default specification text. Used by SURFDIM
SURFTYPE	String	""	Default surface type. Used by SURFDIM
SURFWAVH	Real	0.0	Default maximum waviness height rating. Used by SURFDIM. 0.0 value will not display
SURFWAVW	Real	0.0	Default maximum waviness width rating. Used by SURFDIM. 0.0 value will not display
SURFWIDC	Real	0.0	Default roughness-width cutoff. Used by SURFDIM. 0.0 value will not display
SURFWIDM	Real	0.0	Default maximum roughness width rating. Used by SURFDIM. 0.0 value will not display
TAPDIST	Real	0.0	Default tap depth. Used by HOLE. Negative value indicates through hole
THREAD	Integer	0	Controls thread display 0 = Simplified 1 = Schematic 2 = Detailed 3 = Helical
TOOTHMAX	Integer	3	Controls maximum number of gear teeth and sprocket recesses to display 0 = No teeth n = number of teeth on item
TOOTHSEG	Integer	1	Controls gear tooth accuracy n = number of arcs to form gear tooth involute
UNIT	String	"MM"	Measurement units used in drawing
WELDALL	Integer	1	Controls display of the weld all around designation. Used by WELDIM 0 = No all around designation 1 = Display all around designation
WELDANG	Real	0	Default angle display notation. Used by WELDIM. 0 value will not display
WELDBACK	Integer	0	Controls display of backing designation. Used by WELDIM 0 = No backing designation 1 = Display backing designation
WELDCON	String	""	Default contour symbol. Used by WELDIM
WELDFIN	String	""	Default finish symbol. Used by WELDIM
WELDFLD	Integer	0	Controls display of field weld designation. Used by WELDIM 0 = No field weld designation 1 = Display field weld designation
WELDLG	Real	10.0	Default weld length. Used by WELDIM. 0.0 value will not display
WELDMELT	Integer	0	Controls the display of the melt-thru designation. Used by WELDIM 0 = No melt-thru designation 1 = Display melt-thru designation
WELDNUM	Integer	0	Default number of welds. Used by WELDIM. 0 value will not display
WELDOPP	String	""	Default opposite side weld symbol. Used by WELDIM
WELDPIT	Real	30.0	Default pitch distance. Used by WELDIM. 0.0 value will not display
WELDROOT	Real	0.0	Default root size. Used by WELDIM. 0.0 value will not display
WELDSIZE	Real	3.0	Default weld size. Used by WELDIM. 0.0 value will not display
WELDSPEC	String	""	Default specification text. Used by WELDIM
WELDSYM	String	"BEV"	Default weld symbol. Used by WELDIM
WELDTHRT	Real	0.0	Default weld throat. Used by WELDIM. 0.0 value will not display
XLINEO	Integer	3	Controls extension line offsets. Used by EXLINE 0 = No offsets 1 = Offset at start point 2 = Offset at endpoint 3 = Combine 1 and 2
XYMINUS	Integer	0	Controls display of negative dimensions in datum dimensions and hole tables 0 = Do not show negative sign 1 = Show negative sign
ZPOINT	Integer	0	Controls display of Z coordinates in point dimensions. Used by TAG 0 = Do not show Z coordinate 1 = Show Z coordinate

Initial Settings

The settings.lsp file sets many AutoCAD and SI Mechanical system variables when a drawing is setup. It can be loaded when the drawing is setup with the SETUP command or when the SETSHT command is used. The SHTSET DPVAR variable must be set to 4 or greater. There are four classes of variables: fixed, calculated, UNIT dependent, and STANDARD dependent. Fixed settings are the same for every drawing. These initial settings can be changed after a drawing is setup.

Fixed variables
Variable name	Value
AUNITS	0
LUNITS	2
MENUECHO	0
TEXTEVAL	1

Calculated variables
Variable name	Value
DIMLFAC	-1.0/DWGSCALE
DIMGAP	DIMTXT x 0.5
HPSCALE	UNIT/(DWGSCALE x INCH)
LTSCALE	4 x TXTSIZE

UNIT dependent variables
Variable name	UNIT value
Variable name	"IN"	"MM"	"FT"	"M"
DIMDEC	3	1	Default	Default
DIMZIN	4	0	Default	Default
LUPREC	3	1	2	2

STANDARD dependent variables

The standard dependent variables are AutoCAD system variables that control the size of drawing annotation. They include DIMASZ, DIMCEN, DIMDLI, DIMEXE, DIMEXO, and DIMTXT. Each standard has an associated size table to set the sizes of these items (see Database Tables - Size tables).