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Format of the input-ouput files

The input/output data is stored in a file of text type (.txt) that can be especially edited with Windows Notepad, GNU/Linux Gedit, Mac OSX TextEdit or a more advanced text editor. From the version V14avr12, the extension change and become .ccd. It is automatically linked to Calcad by the Windows installer. From the version V4oct14, the coding change to UTF-8. The file includes three parts, separated by lines of 3 dashes (---):
o   The first part includes all the input values and the configuration of the layouts
o   The second holds the user comments
o   The third includes the calculated results as shown in the large text window

The desktop sundial file (*.ccb) is automatically generated when Calcad run this mode. It mainly holds the positions and sizes of the windows. It is a text file.

The output diagram file is a .png file (Portable Network Graphics). It contains the diagram of the sundial as it is shown in the main Calcad window.

The format of the dxf file was defined by the company Autodesk Inc. for its popular software AutoCAD. It is a vector format that is now accepted by the majority of CAD systems, as well as many graphics software packages. The dxf file generated by Calcad holds the layout of the dial as it was configured and the complete geometry of the shadow-caster. It holds also 3D elements that allow you to visualize the sundial in the space.

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