Some questions for Nostromo N52 users

[madcadder]

I've been looking at this thing for close to a year now and have decided to get one... Maybe.


What I'm curious to is:

1) Does the D-pad control the cross-hair in acad?
2) Can the D-pad be programmed to keystrokes?
3) What key is the orange "fire" button programmed to by default?
4) Can the "fire" button be reprogrammed to keystokes?
5) Any issues with programming the 14 programmable keys?

6) How is yours set up?

[cstanley]

I've been looking at this thing for close to a year now and have decided to get one... Maybe.


What I'm curious to is:

1) Does the D-pad control the cross-hair in acad?
2) Can the D-pad be programmed to keystrokes?
3) What key is the orange "fire" button programmed to by default?
4) Can the "fire" button be reprogrammed to keystokes?
5) Any issues with programming the 14 programmable keys?

6) How is yours set up?

1) No
2) Yes
3) "enter" i think. i'm not at my N52. it can be whatever you want.
4) yes
5) none, whatsoever. i love using it. the cool part is programming multiple keystrokes, macros, pauses between strokes, and multiple commands.
6) i used default settings in cad, just to test it out. mine is set up for revit. i will post pics of my mappings below, but they may not do you much good.

well worth the coin, IMO. I use mine for Revit (i can run it faster than revit can respond) and it runs like a scalded dog in acad...

also, there are really more than 14 programmable keys.
15 keys
1 d-pad (x8 directions)
scroll wheel with button (3 programmable "buttons")
1 red button

all x4 (there are 4 separate "states" that can be programmed individually and switch between on the fly.)

that's a lot of buttons!

all that plus a 5 button mouse makes for a mean cad machine...

[madcadder]

PERFECT!

Those answers were exactly what I needed to hear.

Even the added info was what I wanted to hear.

Thanks ya sir,

[cstanley]

PERFECT!

Those answers were exactly what I needed to hear.

Even the added info was what I wanted to hear.

Thanks ya sir,

glad it helped. note that i also edited my post for a little more info.

[madcadder]

Decisions has been made!

I'm running around the corner to Best Buy at lunch to pick one up. It's $37 and change there.

Cheapest on the net through PriceGrabber at $30 delivered to my zip code.

[madcadder]

I've got my new toy and it's COOL

But I'm trying to figure out the quickest way to program this button into it the UP on the D-Pad.

'-pan (trans (list 0 (* -0.125 (getvar "viewsize"))) 0 1);;

Right now I get to watch it type out every letter and it takes a second. Even with all the delays set to "0.01".

Idea? Thoughts? Workarounds?

Right now my only idea is to turn it into a command (PanUp), maybe set it to an accelerator like CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+8, and launch that.

[Richard McDonald]

Just out of interest what time span are we talking about to train the hand eye co-ordination to get the max. out of this pad?

[madcadder]

Just out of interest what time span are we talking about to train the hand eye co-ordination to get the max. out of this pad?

As a new user I'm not expecting it to take long.
When I was a kid my step-father was a Director of Finance and my mother was a Accountant, so I learned 10-key with my left hand in high school. Not counting all the countless hours with a video game controller in hand.
Plus, I printed my attachment as a cheat sheet and it's hanging right above my monitors.


I'm thinking the next set, under RED, will be a group for NEW, OPEN, SAVE, PLOT, etc.

[dzatto]

okay, so you use a mouse with the right hand, the N52 with the left hand, and keep the keyboard in the middle for typing? Seems like a lot of stuff to remember. Is it worth it? I may pick up one, its only $37, right?

[cstanley]

Don't set a delay
if you record your macros and leave the "record delays between events" unchecked, it should zoom right through them pretty quickly. if you set the delay, it will delay it that long.
also, you can hit the "select all delays" button at the bottom and then hit the "delete" button. I don't think it's going to be an instant entry, but it will be pretty quick.

I've got my new toy and it's COOL

But I'm trying to figure out the quickest way to program this button into it the UP on the D-Pad.

'-pan (trans (list 0 (* -0.125 (getvar "viewsize"))) 0 1);;

Right now I get to watch it type out every letter and it takes a second. Even with all the delays set to "0.01".

Idea? Thoughts? Workarounds?

Right now my only idea is to turn it into a command (PanUp), maybe set it to an accelerator like CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+8, and launch that.