VARKON Version 1.17 1999-04-14

### MODULE type and attribute

Each time a new job is started VARKON asks if the new job is meant to be done using 2D drawing mode or 3D geometric modeling mode. The two modes are referred to as DRAWING (2D) and GEOMETRY (3D).

In DRAWING mode no geometry is created outside the XY-plane of VARKON's BASIC coordinate system. Z-coordinates are never specified and rotations are only permitted in the BASIC XY-plane. A module of type DRAWING may however call a module of type GEOMETRY. A GEOMETRY MODULE called by a DRAWING MODULE will create a true 3D result but project it onto the XY-plane of the BASIC coordinate system. This is useful for creating one or more 3D views on a 2D drawing.

A DRAWING MODULE can create the following entities....

point, line, arc, curve, transformation, coordinate system, group, part, symbol, hatch
linear dimension, circular dimension, radius dimension, angular dimension, text

while a MODULE of type GEOMETRY is restricted to.....

point, line, arc, curve, b_plane, surface, transformation, coordinate system, group, part, text

A module also has the LOCAL GLOBAL BASIC or MACRO attribute.

A LOCAL MODULE executes with a specific local coordinate system as its GLOBAL system. A GLOBAL MODULE executes in the same coordinate system as the calling module and a BASIC MODULE executes in VARKON's BASIC coordinate system.

The MACRO attribute is used for modules that perform other services than modeling. A MACRO MODULE can not create any entities directly and is not a part of a generic model. A MACRO module can only be called interactively or by another module with the MACRO attribute. MACRO modules can be used for traditional programming of any kind. They are often used to define user interfaces and other functionality related to a certain application. A MACRO module can produce a cost estimation or start a printing or do just anything...

A MODULE is declared in the following manner....

attribute type MODULE name(declaration of parameters);
declaration of local variables and constants
BEGINMODULE
statements
ENDMODULE

Attribute and type are optional and default to LOCAL and GEOMETRY if not explicitly declared.

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