Mirrored Symbols

[Philip C. Hart <phart@polar.Bowdoin.EDU>]

In response to Greg's grumblings about mirrored symbols-

There are two main conditions under which a mirrored symbol will create 
problems:  1) When exploded, a mirrored symbol reverts to its "as created" 
orientation  2) When DXF'd, a mirrored symbol appears in the source drawing 
in its "as created" state, rotated 180 degrees about its insertion point - a 
workaround that only works with symetrical geometries.

The short answer to the problem is that you should avoid mirroring symbols 
when you work in DataCAD.  Once you accept this limitation, you will develop 
a series of strategies to deal with the limitation.  You strategies will be 
particular to your own use of the software.  Two things that I do:

Make separate symbols for left-handed and right handed versions of the same 
thing.

Mirror snapping points about a center line (of a plumbing chase, for 
instance), then place symbols to the snapping points.

A longer discussion of the problem would start with an explanation of the 
difficulties the software has in recognizing and dealing with mirrored 
symbols--it is very difficult.  Chris Davis' Detail Master macro recognized 
and correctly adjusted mirrored symbols when exploding them (to my 
knowledge, the only DataCAD product that ever addressed the problem).  So, 
though difficult, a solution is possible.
 

Philip C. Hart
Brunswick, ME
phart@polar.bowdoin.edu