The CAD Zone's Technical FAQ's


The program gives me a "Trackmouse event comctl32.dll" error when I try to run the program.

How do I load previous Version (.DW2) files into the new Version 5.0?

How do I import drawings from other CAD programs into the new Version 5.0?

Previous version drawings (DW2 files) do not show up in the new Version 5.0.

When I load a previous version drawing (DW2) into the new Version 5.0, all of the curves are messed up.

How do I find and load up a file from the auto-backup feature?

When I place a dimension, all of the measurements are rounding off to the nearest foot.

My drawing looks fine on the screen, but when I print it all of the text is rotated.

When I try to print I get an "error creating print file" message.


Q: The program gives me a "Trackmouse event comctl32.dll" error when I try to run the program.
A: Load the comctl32.dll file into your \windows\system directory. The comctl32.dll file is included as an individual file on your program CD-ROM.
1) Click on the Start button and select Windows Explorer from the Programs menu.
2) In Windows Explorer click the View pull-down menu and select Options.
3) Select the View tab and make sure the "Show all files" option is checked.
4) Insert the Program CD and log to the CD drive. Select the file comctl32.dll file from the program CD.
5) Click on the Edit pull-down menu, and select Copy.
6) Navigate to the \Windows\System folder. Select paste from the Edit pull-down menu. (If you receive an error message proceed to step #9)
7) After the file has been copied from the CD to the System directory, reboot your computer by selecting "Restart" from the Shut Down menu on the start button.
8) After your computer re-starts, open the Diagram Program and run it. You should no longer receive the error message.
9) If you received an error message when copying that the comctl32.dll file was already in use by Windows, do the following.
Select the Start Button from the task bar, and select the Shut-Down command. Choose the "Re-start in MS-DOS mode" option.
At the DOS prompt (C:>Windows) type the following: 
copy D:\comctl32.dll C:\windows\system 
(If your CD-ROM drive is some letter other than D: substitute it here)
You should receive a message that "one file has been copied." At the DOS prompt, type Exit to re-start Windows.
Open the Diagram Program and run it. You should no longer receive the Error message.

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Q: How do I load previous version (.DW2) files into the new Version 5.0?
A: Previous version files will load in the new Version 5.0 without any conversion process. To load previous version drawing files:
  1. Select the Open command from the File pull-down menu.
  2. On the Open Dialog box select the down arrow on the "files of type" field, and choose the option:
    Prev CAD Zone (DW2).
  3. Navigate to the folder where your previous diagrams are located and select the desired .DW2 file.
  4. Once the drawing loads, select "Save As" from the File Pull-down menu and re-save the drawing as a Version 5 .CZD file.

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Q: How do I import drawings from other CAD programs into the new Version 5.0?
A: CAD files such as AutoCAD (.DWG), .DXF, Generic CADD (.GCD), and Visual CADD (.VCD) files will load into the new Version 5.0 without any conversion process. To import drawing files from other CAD programs:
  1. Select the Open command from the File pull-down menu.
  2. On the Open Dialog box select the down arrow on the "files of type" field, and choose the file type.
  3. Navigate to the folder where the files to be imported are located and select the desired file.
  4. Once the drawing loads, select "Save As" from the File Pull-down menu and re-save the drawing as a Version 5 .CZD file.

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Q: Previous version drawings (DW2 files) do not show up in the new Version 5.0.
A: You may have an older executable file that has since been repaired. Select About from the Help pull-down menu, and look at the version number. If the version number is 4.0. please contact us. You may need to purchase an upgrade version of the program CD-ROM.
Until you receive your replacement CD-ROM, load the previous version of your drawing program and export the .DW2 file as a .DXF file. Then open that .DXF file in Version 5.0. Refer to the Tech Support question "How do I import drawings from other CAD programs" question on how to do this.

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Q: When I load a previous version drawing (DW2) into the new Version 5.0, all of the curves are messed up.
A: Unfortunately, the curve command is much more powerful in the new Version 5.0. This means that the construction points are at a more precise location in 5.0 than they were in the previous version. This may result in some of your curves and arcs being moved into a different position once the drawing has been loaded into the new version. At this time there is no fix for this issue, and you will need to re-draw your arcs and curves in Version 5.0.

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Q: How do I find and load up a file from the auto-backup feature?
A: Once you select the Save As command and save a drawing as a .CZD, Version 5.0 automatically makes a backup copy of your file every 5 minutes. If your program crashes, and you lose a diagram that you have been working on, you can load up the .BAK (backup) file and rescue your work. To load up a backup file.
  1. Select the Open command from the File pull-down menu.
  2. On the Open Dialog box select the down arrow on the "files of type" field, and choose the "all files" type.
  3. Navigate to the diagrams folder and select your file with the .BAK extension (example test.bak).
  4. Once the diagram loads, select "Save As" from the File Pull-down menu and re-save the drawing as a Version 5 .CZD file.
  5. If for some reason the above steps don't work for you, call our technical support staff at (503) 641-0334. You may need to purchase an upgrade CD to Version 5.0.

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Q: When I place a dimension, all of the measurements are rounding off to the nearest foot.
A: You need to set the precision options to a greater numeric value.
  1. Select the Numeric Tab from the Settings option on the Utilities pull-down menu.
  2. Change the Dimensions Unit to Decimal Feet and Inches, by clicking on the down arrow.
  3. Change the Decimal Places to a higher precision by clicking on the down arrow and choosing a new decimal value.

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Q: My drawing looks fine on the screen, but when I print it all of the text is rotated.
A: You may have an older executable file that has since been repaired. Select About from the Help pull-down menu, and look at the version number. If the version number is 4.0. please contact us. You may need to purchase an Upgrade version of the program. If you have Version 5.0 and are still experiencing the text rotate problem do the following.
  1. Make sure that you have the most recent printer drivers loaded from your printer manufacturer. Many times outdated drivers are the reason behind strange print outputs. Refer to the Links page for direct links to some of the most popular Printer's web sites.
  2. Once the newest printer drivers are loaded into your system, open a drawing and select the Print command from the File pull-down menu.
  3. On the Print dialog box checkmark the "Text rotate adjust" option, located in the lower left-hand corner of the dialog box.
  4. Print the Diagram. The text should now print at the correct rotation.

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Q: When I try to print I get an "error creating print file" message.
A: Make sure that you have the most recent printer drivers loaded from your printer manufacturer. Many times outdated drivers are the reason behind strange print outputs. Refer to the Links page for direct links to some of the most popular Printer's web sites.
  1. Once the newest printer drivers are loaded into your system, open a drawing and select the Print Setup command from the File pull-down menu.
  2. On the Print Setup dialog box click the down arrow on the Printer Name field and re-select your default printer.
  3. Print the diagram.
  4. If you still receive this message, edit the .ini file in the following manner:
Open Windows Explorer and log to the Diagram Program's root folder (Crime Zone, Crash Zone, Fire Zone, or Insurance Zone depending on which program you are using.)
Find the crimezone.ini file (or crashzone.ini, firezone.ini, or insurancezone.ini) and double click on it to open it in Notepad.
Locate the Print Settings paragraph, and find the line that reads Device =.
Delete all of the printer information immediately after Device = on that line only.
Save the INI file and re-boot your computer.
Open the Diagram Program and perform steps 1-4 again.

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