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What Is 2DE?

2DE is an Excel© spreadsheet template that is used to write a script for AutoCAD® or LT® to draw the 2009 Federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) D Series signs per the 2004 Standard Highway Signs and Markings Book. 2DE's primary function is to provide letter and arrow spacing for the FHWA standard alphabet, and to draw the sign borders. While this can be done by hand, 2DE significantly speeds up the process and reduces the potential for errors. 2DE individually places each letter, number, arrow and space with individual and overall dimensions.

The signs 2DE has been designed to draw are:

• D1 Series, Destination Signs
• D2 Series, Distance Signs
• D3 Series, Street Name Signs

While not specifically designed for other signs, 2DE can also be used to provide letter spacing for other signs, but may not provide the appropriate borders,sign colors, symbols, etc. Since the end result is a drawing with plain AutoCAD objects, the user can modify the drawing as needed. 2DE can be used to draw multi-line signs with up to five lines of text, but typically five lines are not needed. One or more of the second, third and fourth lines can be used for horizontal lines, shown in the sign below.

2DE comes with fonts for the FHWA Series 2000, and Clearview fonts are anticipated by the fall of 2011. It also comes with the arrow blocks.

2DE is current written to work only with AutoCAD 2011 and LT 2011. Future versions of 2DE are expected with the ability to work with earlier versions of AutoCAD. Most of the programming was done on a computer with LT 2011, so no LISP or other programming is used. The 2DE scripts are simple AutoCAD commands and inputs.

Purchase 2DE

While 2DE is licensed per computer and only a single copy may be installed on the computer, data files can be saved as many times as needed and may be saved on server or network drives. The drawing files may also be saved on a server or network file, and may be opened on any computer running AutoCAD, but the computer will need the 2DE fonts installed on the computer.

Pricing for 2DE is $500 per single computer license with the blocks and 2DE Series 2000 fonts. Additional font sets are available at $250 per set per computer.

To purchase 2DE, call Yarger Engineering, Inc. at 317-475-1100, 800-965-4587, or email 2DEsales@yargerengineering.com.

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