Tablet Digitizer

The required components for tablet digitizer are as follows:

• Digitizing Tablet - Any tablet that conforms to Summagraphic's Microgrid Format.

• Tablet Toolbar - A "stick on" template that closely resembles the DesignShop input toolbar

• Computer Serial Port - capable of handling 2400baud, no parity, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit.

• DesignShop Pro Level - The tablet will only function with the DesignShop Pro or higher product level.

Digitizing Tablet Requirements:

• Baud Rate: 2400

• Parity: None

• Stop Bits: One

• Echo: Off

• Proximity Transmission: Off

• Grid Diagnostics: Off

• Resolution: Metric Low (254 lines per inch)

• ASCII Report Terminator: Off

• ASCII Decimal Point: Off

• Report Collection Mode: Point Mode

Tablet Setup

If you have the DesignShop Pro or higher product level, the tablet may be set up by selecting Tools-> Options. Then click on the Digitizing Properties tab.

All controls (except sound) will initially be disabled. To enable all controls, click on the Tablet Present checkbox. Select the COM port per your hardware capabilities. You can select how your puck buttons are mapped. Default mappings are as follows:

• Button 1 - Straight Point

• Button 2 - Enter

• Button 3 - Curved Point

• Button 4 - Move Tablet Toolbar

Please note that another method of inputting a curve point is to press and hold down the CTRL button, then click the button used to input a straight point.

The Tablet Toolbar

The tablet toolbar is a stick on device that contains tools for the various digitizing functions. Because of its similarity to the Design Shop input toolbar, only differences are described below. For reference on any item other than the six provided below, click on the desired toolbar button.

To position the Tablet Toolbar on the Digitizing Tablet, perform the following steps:

1. Place the Tablet Toolbar in the desired location on the Digitizing Tablet.

2. Using the button on the tablet puck that is assigned to Move Tablet Bar, click on Index 1(the point above 1 in the picture above), followed by a click on Index 2 (the point above 2 in the picture above).

3. Positioning of the Tablet Toolbar is now complete.

• Set Origin - To set the origin of the artwork, click on this tool followed by a puck click (any puck button not mapped as the Move Menu button) on the origin of the artwork.

• Set Horizontal - To set the angle of the artwork, click on this tool followed by a puck click (any puck button not mapped as the Move Menu button) on the bottom left edge of the artwork followed by another click on the bottom right edge of the artwork.

• Move Artwork - This function allows you to digitize a design which has artwork larger than the active area of the tablet digitizer. You are able to digitize up to a point, then move your artwork and resume digitizing with no break in the design. To move artwork and maintain the original origin, perform the following steps:

1. Click on the Move Artwork tool.

2. Click on a point (example point x) on the artwork.

3. Move the artwork.

4. Click on point x again.

5. Click on the bottom left edge of the artwork followed by another click on the bottom right edge of the artwork.

6. Continue digitizing as normal.

• Retrace On/Off - Click on the retrace button to switch from On to Off. When this function is On, any newly digitized walk stitches will retrace back to the first digitized point.

• Backspace - This tool simulates the pressing of the BACKSPACE key on the keyboard. Each time this tool is clicked, the last entered point is removed from the screen.

• Escape - This tool simulates the pressing of the ESCAPE key on the keyboard. Click on this tool to remove the last digitized element.

Digitizing Hints

1. The artwork origin and angle are saved in the registry. Once the parameters are set, it is only necessary to change them when the artwork is moved.

2. It is not necessary to "start a digitizing session" as it was in EDS III. Once the tablet is configured you may enter points by choosing the appropriate input tool from the tablet toolbar or the DesignShop input toolbar and then entering straight and/or curved wireframe points.

3. While an element is being digitized from the tablet, mouse input from DesignShop is ignored. Mouse input will be recognized once the element is finished being digitized.

4. All element parameters such as density, underlay, stitch length, etc. are set from the property sheets as done for on screen digitizing. Click here for further reference on Property Tabs, Properties.

Digitizing Sound Effects

This feature only applies to DesignShop Pro product level. DesignShop supports the ability to produce audible sounds when a mouse button or puck button is clicked during digitizing. To enable this effect, Tools-> Options. Then click on the Digitizing Properties tab.

When "Sound" is selected to On, an audible tone will be heard from the computer each time a button is pressed on the active digitizing device (mouse / puck). The following table shows what tones will be heard depending on the operating system and hardware present: