At Mapped working drive X:, double-click Folder Prepre_2 as shown below:

At Folder Prepre_2, double-click Xprog.exe as shown below:

From the above graph for this example:
1) MODEL.DAT is premade/existing to define the range of screen scope with
2) TWO joint coordinates B1 and B2 as shown below:

$ MODEL.DAT FILE
$ NODE X-VALUE Y-VALUE Z-VALUE BOUND. CONDITION
$ ------ ------- ------- ------- ----------------
     B1         0.            0.         -20.   1
     B2       500.       500.      -20.   1
   END DATA

If it had been from BLANK SCRATCH, the Program would have prompted you to make a selection as shown below:
Thus, the MENU below will NOT appear in the DIALOG SEQUENCE for this case.

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Then, the Program will read:

1. First line of KEYPLOT.DAT TEXT File for RUN TIME DYNAMIC PARAMETERS.
2. SETPACE.DAT TEXT File for screen graph speed.
3. KEY.REC File,which PREPRE_1 made or you converted from text editing.
4. MAT.DAT TEXT File (always premade) if needed.
5. Section Data Base (AISC TEXT File provided) that you provided if needed.

The Program is METERED to produce a BILLING RECORD when it finishes.

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The Instructions with screen graphs below show you how to generate MODEL.DAT File. (Note: Maximize Windows for clarity if needed.)

PROGRAM READS KEY.REC ONE-KEY-BUTTON FILE

After Cross-hair from this menu has generated FIRST BASIC POINT,
it prompts you for Z-coordinate input.
You press [Carriage Return] to give 0. for Z value.
(Note: It can be any other appropriate number)

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Generated THREE BASIC POINTS
(2-D and 3-D Minimum Requirement)
You generate more than THREE for ODD SPACINGS situation.

It prompts you for Amount (Number) of INTERIOR POINTS Input along X-direction.
You press 4 and then [CR]
(Note: It can be any other appropriate number)

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It prompts you for Amount (Number) of INTERIOR POINTS Input along Y-direction.
You press 8 and then [CR]
(Note: It can be any other appropriate number.)

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2-D MESH GENERATED with GRID SYSTEM NODE NOTATION

NOTE: Notation for a NODE gives clue to its coordinate values

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It prompts you for Z-direction expansions for a 3-D frame

You input 40 80 30 and then [CR]
[NOTE:The input items can be more than three. (Subject to limitation Vendor sets from pratical consideration, currently 15 or so.) Also the spacing can vary.]

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3-D MESH GENERATED BUT IN SUPERIMPOSED ELEVATION VIEW

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NEXT TO OBTAIN 3-D ISOMETRIC VIEW

It prompts you to input angle of rotation about X-axis.
You input for X-axis -45 [CR]

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You input for Y-axis 30 [CR]
You input for Z-axis [CR]

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3-D MESH ISOMETRIC VIEW OBTAINED

Note: To capture/print screen graph, hold down [Alt] key and press [CR], you can toggle out to Windows Mode. (and later on toggle into Graph Mode again. It will not affect the Prepre2|Prepre1 operation push-one-key sequence)

Many softwares from third partie available. (one or several from CAEinc)

Windows 98/ME/2000/NT all capable too.

At this point the SAVED MODEL.DAT File is correct for geometry.
[In this example, Prepre2 Tutorial ends the session here.]
It propmts you to PRESS any key to continue.
You press the space bar.

REMIDER:

For a complex structure ,while work-on, to print screen graph(s) often is highly advisable. You can quickly modify/correct the geometry to generate/prepare correct data. The Program enable you to do key-in on screen-graph-spot for correction/input. This way the input data stream is continuous through completion. If you start a new task with a text editor it will take longer for a complex structure. (However, this example is a simple structure with only vertical and horizontal elelemnts, you do not have need to use such capability.)

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GRAPH PROGRAM FINISHES and SHOWS BILLING INFORMATION

(Note: For this run, 101.9 seconds from remote dual-up)

Computer keeps a record internally also.
You can make a paper copy by print screen for your record.

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(242 NODES; 597 ELEMENTS; 845 INPUT LINES in 101.9 second.)