Configuring the Bentley Tablet Driver with GTCO Tablets TechNote

This document provides configuration instructions for the Bentley Wintab driver used with GTCO tablets.

The Bentley Wintab driver is available from the Bentley FTP site. The two files (wintab.exe and wintab32.dll) should be unzipped to the …Bentley\Program\MicroStation directory.

When the computer boots, the operating system will scan for devices on the serial ports. If a device is found and a service is not loaded, the operating system will sometimes disable the serial port. The Bentley Wintab driver does not deliver a service, so the tablet should be turned off when starting the computer. It is possible that you could leave the tablet turned on, as some newer tablets with a Plug and Play BIOS will not cause the port to be disabled.

Checking for Other Wintab Drivers
Go to the Windows File Manager or Explorer and search the entire hard drive for the following files: DIGISERV.*, WINTAB*.*, GTCO*.*, FDWIN*.*, FDMOUSE*.* and DGFD*.*. The only files you need are WINTAB.EXE and WINTAB32.DLL. Both of these files are delivered with the Bentley Wintab and should be in the ..\ustation directory. If the search finds any other Wintab files, delete them and reboot the system. If you are using Windows NT, go into the System Control Panel and select the Services and Devices icons. In the drivers list look for following drivers: Wintab, Wintab32, FDWIN, FDMOUSE, and DGFD. If found, disable these drivers under the Start­Up option and restart Windows NT.

Configuring the Bentley Wintab
Start the Bentley Wintab Driver, WINTAB.EXE. At the interface screen select the appropriate tablet, size, buttons and COM port. There are quite a few GTCO Series tablets available­­see the chart below to select the right tablet driver. If the COM ports are grayed out repeat the Checking for Other Wintab Drivers step above.

Once the tablet driver is configured click the OK button to close Wintab. Run the WINTAB.EXE program once again. This time the tablet should be tracking. If it is, select the Close button to exit the Wintab. If not, reboot the computer with the tablet turned off and double check the steps above.

You can either start the tablet driver prior to entering MicroStation or leave it disabled. If disabled, MicroStation will automatically load the tablet driver when started. If MicroStation starts and the cursor is gone, open a design file and enter the DIG PAR command in the Command Window or Key­in browser. You should then see a little + sign; follow the prompts for the lower­left and upper­right corners.

Configuring the Buttons in MicroStation
To configure the cursor buttons choose Workspace > Button Assignments in MicroStation. The Button Assignments dialog box will open (see Figure 1). With the upper­left cursor button click the name of the button you wish to configure (Data, Tentative, Reset, Command, etc.) in the top section of the dialog box. The button name will highlight. After highlighting the appropriate button name, move your cursor to the lower section (Button Definition Area) and press the cursor button you want to assign to the action highlighted above. Place the cursor on the word "here" to make sure you're at the right location. In the top section you should see the "Invoked by" setting change.

Note: The Data button should always be invoked by the Left Button, the Reset button should be invoked by the Right button and all the remaining buttons should be invoked by a button number (for example Button 4, 5, 6, ...).

Figure 1

Note: MicroStation Version 5.0 will not display the cursor in the digitizer setup area. The cursor is still active and will function properly when tracing. Elements placed in the digitizing area will display.

GTCO Tablet Driver Chart

Configuring the Tablet for 9100 Emulation
The GTCO Ultima II tablet must be configured for the CalComp 9100 format, which is required for the Bentley Wintab.

Here are the configuration instructions:

1. Using the cursor's zero button select the CONFIG/EXIT button on the tablet (you should hear one beep).
2. Select BankA on the tablet using the zero button (you should hear a slight click).
3. Place the crosshairs of the cursor on the number ONE(1) box on the tablet. The power light should turn on or off. If the power light is on, the switch is ON, if the light is off the switch is OFF. To turn the switch on or off press the zero button on the cursor­­the power light will then switch.
4. The settings for BankA should be:

   	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
   BankA	ON	ON	OFF	OFF	OFF	ON	ON	ON	ON	ON	OFF	OFF	OFF	ON	OFF	ON	OFF	ON

5. Select BankB using the zero button and follow the same procedure. The settings for BankB should be:

   	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
   BankB	OFF	OFF	ON	ON	OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	ON

6. Select the SAVE DEFAULT box (you should hear a double beep).
7. Select the CONFIG/EXIT box. This exits the configuration mode, you should hear 2 beeps.
8. The tablet is now properly configured.

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