I think manipulating graphic elements is cumbersome (being polite!!) and absolutely, positively no substitute for actual coordinate geometry. I am not interested in clicking/scrolling/highlighting graphic elements and then reading output in a separate dialog box.

Since you asked for a WISH LIST for the ORD software, here it is. It is my wish that all these listed utilities be accessed by typing in commands in a command window which also displays the output of the commands invoked.

• I want to be able to LOCATE points by….

1)Running from a known point a certain distance and direction.

2)By angle & distance

3)Bearing-bearing intersection.

4)Bearing-distance intersection.

5)Distance-distance intersection.

6)Intersections of stored elements with each other (ie. Curves, chains, spirals.)

7)Dividing lines into as many segments as I wish

8)Along a stored chain at a station and offset

• I want to be able to STORE…

1)Points at a coordinate value.

2)Curves using many different variations of knowns.

a)By defining PC point, the direction of back tangent, the radius and the delta.

b)By defining PC point, PT point, radius and direction of curve.

c)By defining PI point, the direction of back tangent, radius, direction of ahead tangent.

d)By making a curve concentric to another curve and defining offset distance and direction.

And I want to be able to redefine these stored curves by transposition.

3)Chains using a list of points and/or curves, thereby defining them as one element and then station them at will

4)Chains parallel to an already stored chain

5)Parcels using a list of points and/or curves and other information, thereby defining all of it as one element.

• I want utilities that can QUERY the database and ascertain facts therefrom by typing in commands, for instance….

A command listing all POINTS

A command displaying the COORDINATES of points that I specify

A command that lists all CURVES

A command that displays complete CURVE DATA for the curve, or curves, that I specify

An INVERSE command to tell me the bearing and distance between points that I specify

A command listing all CHAINS

A command that gives me complete description of every aspect of a CHAIN that I specify

A command listing all PARCELS

A command that gives me complete description of every aspect of a PARCEL that I specify

A command to tell the DISTANCE ALONG, and the OFFSET LEFT OR RIGHT FROM, a line that I specify, to any number of points that I specify

• I want to be able to record, in text form, with the ability to edit on the fly, all of the commands or queries that I type in. I want to be able to save these files of input and be able to recall them and read them at will.

Gerald