Lesson in Lite

The Monu-Cad Lite program with our data base has evolved over the years. When we first came out with the program, we only had 4,000 designs. The operation of the program was slow, as you had to use the catalogue to find a design. Then the “Thumbnail” program came out where you could see the design and click on it but still had to use the books. If you had an older slower computer the thumbnails took forever to load.

Over the last few years, the program has greatly increased its usability and speed. We now have over 22,000 designs and 170 fonts. You can see on the back of this page, a breakdown of the folders with subfolders. The “Title” folder Crosses is empty and the subfolders have the designs. If you click the + symbol to the left of the Crosses and open Dogwood, all you see is crosses with dogwood designs. Since you are going into a folder with fewer designs, they open fast. It took us six months to redo the database and it was worth the effort. Also Monu-Cad has redesigned the program engine to give more speed. Now you do not have to use the books in the design process. Some customers may use the books.

When you first enter the program and you are asked for a file name, type the first letter of your name and press the “Enter” key. Answer the prompt Yes which will give you a blank drawing. You then click o the Wizards menu (Fig. 1) and click on Die Maker. Notice that you can also access the full Help manual from the Wizards menu without leaving the program.

The next screen (Fig. 2) shows the blank dies that can be made. The top left is a flat top die or marker. The top right is an oval top die. The center left is a serp top. The center right is a wing half die. Clicking on the picture will take you to the next screen (Fig. 3). Here you give the width and height of the die. If you use taper sided dies in your area you put the amount of taper into that box. The drop is usually left at default unless you have a manufacturer that uses a different measurement. Click on the serp top die and make it 30 wide and 24 high. The die will come on the screen when you click OK. It will be at the bottom of the screen so type “ZA” (zoom all) on the keyboard and the die will fill the drawing area.

The next step is to type CP on the keyboard to put a component on the die. In the component place window that pops up (Fig. 4) I want the bottom right cross (component). Place your mouse over the picture (thumbnail) and double click the left mouse button or click once on the thumbnail to highlight it and click the OK button at the bottom left of the window.

You are now switched back to the drawing and the component is attached to your mouse. I want the component in the top right corner of the monument so move the mouse to position it as I have it in Fig. 5, left click once to place the component.

Each component has a RED DOT which is a Reference Point. Move your mouse over top of the Reference Point and Right click once. A window (Fig. 6) appears.

I want the same component “AD-CROSS59” in the exact same position in the top left corner of the monument and flipped, so left click once on the word Mirror and Fig. 7 shows the mirrored design. Now we want to add the Family Name to the monument. Fig. 7 shows the position of the mouse with the + symbol.

Place the mouse in the center of the monument where you would like the bottom center of the family name to be placed. Now right click the mouse once and a prompt will appear saying Add Lettering. To enter the dropdown window for the lettering program left click once on this prompt.

The “Advanced Kern Dialog” window (Fig. 8) is now displayed.

Type (with Caps Lock ON) the family name “Brown” in the blue highlighted area and press the Enter key. Left click the mouse on the family name to highlight it again.

In the Primary Font box select the Pressed Modified Roman font. The down arrow at the right end of the box will let you scroll through all the available fonts. When you find the one you need, click OK to accept.

In the Primary Size box left click once and type 2.5 to set the letters to 2 ½ inches high.

In the bottom left corner, make sure the Justification is Center by clicking in the circle to the left.

In the Panel Style section click in the circle next to Normal. A pop up will ask you for Space Above. Type .5 to add .5” of space between the top of the lettering and the panel line and .5” space below the lettering.

In the End Space click the boxes and type 1.0 to add 1” of space between each end of the name and the panel.

In the Group Anchor box make sure the X number is 0.

X: is the center line of the monument. Any number with a “-” preceding the number means the center of that lettering group is to the left of center by that amount. If “+”, it is to the right of center.

Y: is the distance from the bottom of the monument. In this example the red dot or Reference Point is 14.0 inches up from the bottom. A “-“ shows the lettering to be below the bottom.

For more information on this window click on Wizard, then Help. Go to Monu-Cad Lite! Help and click on Lettering.

The family name is now on the monument (Fig. 9). You can play with the other panel types by right clicking on the reference point for the family name lettering group. When you right click, the simple edit window will appear. This will allow you to change the lettering, font and size. In this window click the Advanced button and this will bring up the advanced edit window. First change the panel to a double outline by clicking in the circle and then OK. The chip and round panels will ask you for the radius of the arc or circle. Give it the same measurement as the space above measurement, which was .5”.

Now we want to put the left inscription panel on. Put your mouse where the symbol is (Fig.9) and right click. Type in the three lines of lettering. Give the Name line a size of 1.25 and the date lines a size of 1.0. You want Normal panel, 1.0 added space, X= -7, Y=4.0 (notice “-“sign -7.0).

Fig. 10 shows completed panel.

Now we want to Duplicate this first panel and place it to the right side in the exact same place. (Fig. 11)

Right click on the reference point of the left panel. In the drop down window click on Duplicate. The panel is attached to your mouse. Take your hand off the mouse!!! Now type 7,4 (type the comma no spaces) then press the Enter key. Right click on Mary’s panel and type in her name and dates.

You will notice that Mary’s panel is not as wide as Leonard’s panel. Right click on the left panel and go to Advanced Lettering. Look above Leonard’s and you will see the line length. Click each line and write down the longest line. Jan. 26, 2005 is 9.564”. Click in Panel Width and type 11.5 and click OK. Now right click Mary’s panel and click Panel Width. Type in 11.5 and click OK. Both panels are now the same size.

Lettering on Arc

Type PCRD (Points of Construction and ReDraw). This is a toggle, like alight switch. PCRD turn them on PCRD turn them off. We want hem on. Every arc has 3 points of construction. First Middle Last (Fig. 12)

To put lettering on an arc at the top of a serp top or oval top monument, follow the following steps.

Turn on the points of construction. PCRD

Right click near the top center of the curve of the monument.

Click on Add Lettering pop up.

In the Advanced Edit type IN LOVING MEMORY on first line (Fig. 13) Primary font is Pressed Modified Roman. Primary size is .875 In Panel Style click Normal, in space above, click OK. Single line panel type should be selected. End space is .5 in justification click Arc. In Arc Method pop up (Fig. 13) click Use Mouse. In next pop up click Outside.

On the center arc of the top of the die, place your mouse over the left point of construction (Fig. 12) Do Not Click Mouse just move mouse near point. Now type NP (Nearest Point) on the keyboard. Move mouse to the Center Point and type NP again. Move mouse to right point and type NP again. Now you have Fig. 14. Your can read instructions about Arc Adjust Justification in Help manual in Wizard. For now click the X in top right corner or arc adjust window. Type RD to clean up the screen. Now you have Fig.15

Right click the Reference Point for the verse and left click on Move. Move the verse down to look like Fig. 16

This Monument is 30 inches wide so another way to write this is 2-6

Now we wish to put a base under this monument. Type CP (Component Place). Select the Bases folder and double click (2 left clicks quickly) on B2-6. The base is attached to your mouse. Take hand off mouse. Type 0,0 and press the Enter Key. (type the coma NO spaces). The bases are designed with the reference point to attach to the bottom center of the monument (Fig. 18)

Right click beside DWG: at the left side of the base and put the name of the drawing you are creating. The convention we have used successfully is: the first 3 letters of the family name BRO the year of the first death 05 and the first three letters of the person still living MAR

To get the death date for Mary to be empty, right click the reference point for her lettering group and you will get Fig. 19. Left click on death date and you get Fig. 20. Left click again on death date and you get Fig. 21. Press Backspace key, then press the Enter key. Now press the OK and you have Fig. 18.

Drawing Save

First we have to make a folder called Customers in the MCD folder. Open Lite 7-T. When it opens the MCD file will be open. At the bottom of the screen you will see a button called Make new folder (Fig. 1). Click on it with your mouse. In the pop-up, type the word Customers. Click OK. In (Fig. 2) it asks “You have instructed me to make a new folder called “Customers” as a child folder to C:\MCD\ is this correct? Click OK. This new folder will be at the bottom of the list under the MCD folder. To get it in the correct order close out the program and open again.

This new folder is where you save your Customer files. Keep all your files forever in this folder. Since 1987 using this way of saving Customer files I have never duplicated a file name. Type DL (Drawing Load). Use your first initial of your first name to put in the box called “File Name”. Click OK. Now click the + to the left of AD MKRS and open the 24 WIDE folder. Scroll down to ADM048-24X12 and DOUBLE CLICK on it (Fig. 3). A pop-up will ask “Do you want to change the name of the drawing?) Click NO (Fig.4). Your Drawing name is still your 1^st initial. If it is NOT then type DX to give you a blank screen and start over with DL and 1^st initial. Don’t forget DX you will use this command a lot.

To Save a file type DS (Drawing Save). In the pop-up window double click on the “Customers” folder to open it. In the File Name Box type MAR01CLA (Fig.5) If you ever get a warning like (Fig. 6) there are many reasons such as:

Overwrite: You’ve made changes. Save Again.

Backup: I have never used this one.

Numeric Save: Adds a number such as “2”

Cancel: Start over renaming by adding a number or Back for back of die, or Vase, Base, Plinth or anything.

How to make a Wing Monument

Step 1: When you enter Monu-Cad Lite and are asked for a file name, type the first letter of your name and press OK. Click on the Snaps menu and click on Snap to Grid to put a check mark in front. Now in the Snaps menu click on Grid Size and change the size to (.25)

Step 2: The first object we make is the Plynth. Go to the Wizards menu and select Die Maker. Select the flat top die. In Width enter the width in inches (18). Enter the Height in inches (8). Press OK. You now have a Plynth on the screen.

Step 3: Next we want our left wing. Type CP (Component Place). On the left side click on AD Wing Dies. On the right side “double click” on the wing size you wish to have. Now move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the Plynth and while holding down the “shift” key, Right click (click the right mouse button one time). Now place your mouse on the “red” Dot and in the drop down menu select “mirror”.

Step 4: We now want a vase to go on top of the Plynth. Type CP and click on AD Wing Vases. Double click on the vase of your choice. Place the vase as shown below with a single click OR since the plynth is 8” high, just type 0,8

Step 5: Type CP and click AD Wing Designs. Double click on the design of your choice. Place the design on the wing. Be careful how to place it to give a good balanced look. Now “right click” the red dot for the component and select mirror or put any other component on and do the lettering and panels any way you wish.

You can now put the lettering on the plynth and wings, then go to “wizards” and “die maker” and put a base under the wing job.