Skip to main content
W
willq1-Visitor
1-Visitor
August 2, 2010
Question

vector image insertion and manipulation

  • August 2, 2010
  • 2 replies
  • 10797 views

Greetings -- (I did some searching, but didn't find this exact discussion -- apologies in advance if it exists)

Before mathcad, I used excel almost exclusively. I would create calculations, and a simple diagrams explaining what my parameters were. I didn't need a parametrized sketch (a la smartsketch, or other linked object). My sketches were crude, but fast, tweakable, and self-contained with my calculations.

Along these lines -- I would *love* to be able to create and manipulate simple, dumb, vector sketches within Mathcad. Barring creation, it would be great at least to be able to tweak vector images I've pasted-special from (say) excel -- drag, resize, edit text, etc for individual entities within a vector image (even if created elsewhere). Is there a way to accomplish this, via a plugin, or otherwise? (I'm running Mathcad 2001i professional -- perhaps this functionality exists in later versions?)

Thanks in advance,

--Will

2 replies

F
f.kohlhepp1-Visitor
1-Visitor
August 2, 2010

Sorry!

Sketching capability has been missing (and requested) in MathCad for a long time. It does not exist up through version 14. (I doubt it's in 15, but I don't know.) Closest I've seen is the ability to embed SmartSketch into MatbhCad and link to the sketch; very cumbersome, very buggy, not what you're looking for.

W
willq1-VisitorAuthor
1-Visitor
August 2, 2010

Well, drat.

I've often had to revert to other tools (whether excel, or my good old fashioned design notebook) over Mathcad because of my I knew I needed to sketch, and wanted to keep all my calcs and information in one place. Sketching was the missing piece. I was hoping it was just my lack of saavy...

What's more, when I've returned to some Mathcad tool I've made, precious time can be lost trying to remember what my parameters are.

Mathcad would likely become my go-to tool for calcs, etc. if I could *really* treat it like a notebook...

Thanks for the information Fred.

--Will

F
f.kohlhepp1-Visitor
1-Visitor
August 2, 2010

I have resorted to sketching (in the tool of your choice) and pasting a picture into MathCad.

MathCad is too valuable and usefull to stop using because it can't draw!

M
MikeArmstrong1-Visitor
1-Visitor
August 2, 2010

Will,

As Fred suggests, there are no sketching capability within the recent versions of Mathcad. In the past I have used Powerpoint, Excel......etc to produce my sketches and then insert into Mathcad - This process can become a little tedious if you are constantly updating calc's and need to constantly change the sketch.

For simple sketches I have used an embedded Excel component. Variables can be passed and displayed in Excel and also updated within the calc itself. Good if you want to dimension a generic sketch where the dimensions are more important than the scale of the sketch itself.

Mike

J
jeanGiraud1-Visitor
1-Visitor
August 2, 2010

There is longggggg web survey about image to vector converters. The solution is a pro version $. Often the zoom function from Improc does a good reduction. What does e-Drawing ? What's the relationship PTC/e-Drawing ? ... The PTC banner is one of them in e-Drawing. You don't have much zooming from *.PDF but not bad either for reducing. If you would have few "sketches modules" and/or enough patience, you can use De Casteljau nurbs to draw your items . At this point, they are scalable and resident as a Mathcad item ... how to fill those Mathcad objects ? Don't know.

jmG

W
willq1-VisitorAuthor
1-Visitor
August 5, 2010

Thanks jmG --

I'm a bit unclear. Sorry to be a bit of a noob on this stuff, and requiring a bit more pedantic explanation...

1. How exactly were these graphics created and then placed in mathcad (with excel97)?

2. How does one use "ImageMatricClipboardOperation"

3. What exactly is the Improc pack? (is it a separate download for $$, a separate install, etc)

Thanks for the patience. Trying to do this research on the side, in between other pressures at work (I regret having little time to really jump in and do a bunch of research on the web).

--Will

Terms & ConditionsCookie settingsAccessibility statement