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Customizing the Keyboard
AutoCAD functions can be assigned to keys on the keyboard using the Customize window or by manually modifying a menu file. Many shortcut keys are already assigned to AutoCAD functions. This tip sheet outlines how you can quickly create keyboard shortcuts.
Free AutoCAD Tips and Tricks
Working in 3D - 1
This tip sheet is a must see primer for anyone thinking about working in 3D. It includes an overview of coordinates and 3D viewing.
Creating Leaders with Custom Arrows
Leaders can be created with one of several different arrow styles or with your very own customized arrow. If you use multiple arrow styles within the same drawing, you might want to consider creating a pull down menu or custom toolbar for quick access to these different styles.
Customizing the Keyboard
AutoCAD functions can be assigned to keys on the keyboard using the Customize window or by manually modifying a menu file. Many shortcut keys are already assigned to AutoCAD functions. This tip sheet outlines how you can quickly create keyboard shortcuts.
Working with Tables
A table is similar to a spreadsheet. It is an object comprised of rows and columns with data. The basic format of a table is controlled by a Table Style.
Creating CAD Standards
CAD Standards are a set of guidelines established by a group of users sharing drawing files to facilitate the use and exchange of the data contained within the drawing files. Typically, a CAD Standard will cover the naming and use of layers and linetypes, the appearance of text and dimensions and title block formats. This Tip Sheet Explores techniques and commans releated to estblishing a CAD Standard.
Creating a Linetype with Text
Linetypes may include text, as well as dashes, spaces and dots. To create these more complex linetypes, you will need to use a text editor or AutoCAD's Visual Lisp Editor.
Creating a Simple Linetype
A simple linetype consists of a series of dashes, dots and spaces. The easiest way to create simple linetypes is with the LINETYPE command.
AutoCAD 2004 Support Files
Support Files, Printer Files Paths & Template Locations have change in AutoCAD 2003 as a result of support fot Power Users and Roaming Profiles. Where are these files now and where should you locate your customized files?
Customizing the Default Right-Click Menu
AutoCAD 2000 introduced several context-sensitive right-click menus. These menus display different commands and options based on the location of your cursor and the active command when the right-click is executed. Two of the right-click menus you have probably used are the CmDefault and CmEdit menus. This tips explores customization options for the CmdDefaultEdit menu (Right-click in the drawing area and this menu displays when nothing is selected and no command is active.).
Customizing the Edit Right-Click Menu
AutoCAD 2000 introduced several context-sensitive right-click menus. These menus display different commands and options based on the location of your cursor and the active command when the right-click is executed. Two of the right-click menus you have probably used are the CmDefault and CmdEdit menus. This tips explores customization options for the CmEdit menu (Right-click in the drawing area when at least one object is selected, no grips are selected and no command is active).
Image Menus
An Image Menu is a graphic menu element that lets you make menu choices using an image or a picture. Image menus are frequently used to insert blocks. Unlike using DesignCenter to insert blocks, an Image menu selection can include additional parameters, like layer, scale and rotation options. This tip covers the basics of Image Menu customization.
Plotting Shaded and Rendered Models in AutoCAD 2004
In previous versions of AutoCAD, if you wanted a plot of your shaded 3D model, you were just plain out of luck. Your only option was to redirect the output of the Render command to a file (bmp, pcx, tiff, tga, postscript) and print the image using another software application.
Now with AutoCAD 2004®, you can assign hide, shade and rendered properties to viewports, controlling the plotted appearance of your model.
Installing Custom Menus and AutoLISP Files
Whether you've created your own customized menus and AutoLISP programs or you are installing an application from a developer, it pays to know where to locate these support files and how to access them.
Mtext - Tabs and Indents
Support for tabs and indents is one of the features most AutoCAD users have been dreaming of for years. Well, it is finally here in AutoCAD 2004!
Finding the Midpoint between Two Points
The 'cal command in AutoCAD can be used to perform typical arithmetic operations as well as geometry and point functions. See how you can take advantage of this feature to locate the Midpoint between two points.
Viewports -- Locking and Unlocking
For Paper Spaces users, one of the best features introduced in AutoCAD 2000 was the ability to lock a viewport's display. Locking a viewport means no more accidental scale changes and allows transparent Paper Space zooming and panning.
Selecting Objects
Dozens of AutoCAD commands (like Erase, Move, Copy, Stretch, Scale and Rotate) allow the selection of multiple objects. Learn how you can more quickly select objects.
Creating a Web Library
With Publish to Web you can post your drawings to a Web Site, sharing work in progress with your clients and customers. Using iDrop, you can create a web library of blocks that you and others can to insert into drawings. The great part of all this is the easy to use Publish to Web Wizard.
Who Has That Drawing Open???
Want to know who has a drawing open? Try the WHOHAS command. Once only an Express Tools command, WHOHAS is incorporated into AutoCAD 2000, AutoCAD 2000i and AutoCAD 2002.
Communicating with the Today Window Bulletin Board
AutoCAD 2000i introduced the Today Window, which includes a Bulletin Board providing a central source of CAD and project information for users. See how you can communicate with your design group using the Bulletin Board feature.
Creating a Template
Creating a Template is probably the single most productive act an AutoCAD user can perform. A template drawing is used to begin a new drawing with the layers, text styles, dimension styles, linetypes and layouts typically used in a particular type of drawing. Different templates can be developed for different types of drawings and applications.
Defining Command Aliases
A Command Alias is an abbreviation of an AutoCAD command. For instance, E is the abbreviation for Erase. Command Aliases are defined in the AutoCAD Program Parameter file (ACAD.PGP). When you enter a command that isn't a nomal command, AutoCAD searches the ACAD.PGP file.
Creating a User Defined Toolbar Button
Creating a User Defined toolbar button can save a lot of time but there are some special considerations when doing so. This tip outlines how to create a macro for a button, edit the button image and manage button icons.
Creating a Custom Toolbar Flyout
A toolbar flyout allows you to organize a series of related buttons and conserve space. For instance, a circle flyout can be created with buttons of all the different ways to draw circles.
Creating a Custom Toolbar
Save time and valuable screen space by creating a custom toolbar using existing commands.
Plotter Configuration
Plotter configuration may be the most confusing aspect of AutoCAD, particularly for people upgrading to AutoCAD 2000/2000i/2002. This Tip Sheet will attempt to shed some light several issues related to plotter configuration. Adobe Acrobat Required.
Plotting a Plot File Without Using AutoCAD
I was recently asked how to send an AutoCAD PLT file to a printer without using AutoCAD. First of all, the PLT must be created using the appropriate device driver and settings for the printer. In other words, you must configure a printer as though you will be actually printing the drawing from AutoCAD. For this example, the plot file name is MYDRAWING.PLT.
Using Autodesk DesignCenter to Create Libraries
The simplest way to improve AutoCAD productivity is to develop one or more collections of commonly used objects. Commonly known as block libraries, the objects in these collections are typically grouped by type or function. For example, an architect might create a libraries of doors, windows or wall details.
Creating Custom Hatch Patterns
Custom hatch patterns can be very helpful in applying repetitive patterns to an area of a drawing. Patterns created to represent dimension patterns can be especially useful. For example, ceiling grids or floor tiles can be developed as hatch patterns.
AutoCAD 2002 is Here!
AutoCAD 2002 is now shipping and is full of many new features. Don't be fooled by all the hype about Internet tools and collaboration, there are dozens of other new features that make creating drawings quicker and easier. Many mainstream AutoCAD commands have been enhanced since Release 14. Trim and Extend both now allow the selection of block entities for boundaries. Previously only one of the Bonus Tools allowed this capability. In addition, Trim and Extend allow you to toggle by using the Shift key. This means while using the Trim command you can switch to extending by holding the Shift key while selecting objects.
Bonus & Express Tools are Gone, But...
As of AutoCAD 2000i, the Bonus and Express Tools were omitted from AutoCAD. You can regain the use of some of these commands with a little trickery. Keep in mind that several of these tools have been incorporated into AutoCAD 2002.
Using Autodesk Architectural Desktop Drawings
Autodesk Architectural Desktop employs "intelligent" architectural objects, which lets you create intelligent building design objects that know their form, fit and function and behave according to their real-world properties. Intelligent building objects respond directly to standard AutoCAD editing commands in the same way that common AutoCAD drawing objects, such as lines, arcs, and circles do. But they also display according to context and interact with other building objects intelligently. To work with these objects without Autodesk Architectural Desktop, users can use one of two methods.
Custom Menus
Creating a custom menu can be one of the most productive tasks that an AutoCAD user can tackle. Fortunately, it is not a particularly difficult job if you know AutoCAD reasonably well and can use a text editor.
Drawing Scales
One of the concepts that can be difficult to grasp in AutoCAD is the use of different drawing scales. Drawing scales are used to relate the size of the object being drawn to the image on the paper.One of the concepts that can be difficult to grasp in AutoCAD is the use of different drawing scales. Drawing scales are used to relate the size of the object being drawn to the image on the paper.
Symbol Text Fonts
Very often, technical drawings use characters and symbols which are not on the keyboard. It is possible to include a wide variety of characters and symbols by using a symbolic text font.
Dimension Styles
Dimension styles affect the appearance of dimensions and can be used to create a consistent standard for dimensioning techniques. One of the options when creating a new dimension style is to use it for all dimension types or to limit it to a particular type of dimension.
Regions
Regions are 2 dimensional shapes created from closed shapes or loops. Regions are helpful when calculating areas, perimeters, centroids and other mass properties.
Shortcut Menus
Shortcut menus can be displayed by right-clicking your pointing device. Some keyboards have a Shortcut Menu key.
Lineweights
AutoCAD 2000 provides several new methods of varying lineweights in drawings.
In Place Reference Editing
AutoCAD 2000 contains a new command that allows you to modify a block or xreference in place.
Polar Tracking, Extension and Parallel Object Snaps
Polar Tracking is similar to using Ortho to constrain screen pointing motion. One big difference is the ability to specify your own angles.
Quick Dimensions
One of the new features that will be a great time saver is Quick Dimensions. Quick Dimensions allow you to select a group of objects and automatically apply baseline, continuous, staggered, ordinate, radius or diameter dimensions.
Creating a Dimension Suffix
A Dimension Suffix can be used to eliminate the diameter symbol normally places before a diameter dimension.
Managing Multiple Configurations
If you are using several third party applications, share your computer with other users, or have different configuration requirements for various customers or types of jobs, Profiles could be the solution to your configuration nightmare.
Jazzing Up Dimensions with Alternate Units
An alternate unit is a measurement of a different system placed between []. Millimeters are commonly used as an Alternate Unit. Alternate Units can be enabled and controlled in the Dimension Style Dialog box.
Recovering From Disaster
How to cope with AutoCAD disasters, like losing a file, lockups, power failures and fatal errors. In some cases you'll have to prepare in advance by using Autosave and creating a backup procedure.
Rotate with a Reference Option
Often when assembling parts it is necessary to rotate one component to mate with another. When rotating parts in this situation, the rotation is frequently unknown.
Dimension Fit Options
AutoCAD r13 & r14 improved the automatic placement of dimension text with a dimension setting named Fit. Fit can be found in the Dimension Style dialog, Format button.
Object Snap Tracking
Tracking is an object snap enhancement that allows you to build a new point, in a way, to project a point without drawing a temporary line.
Text Styles and Big Fonts
When transferring AutoCAD drawings between users, problems can arise with missing text fonts and big-fonts. To correct or prevent these problems, it is helpful to understand how AutoCAD deals with text styles and text fonts. A text style determines the appearance of the text characters in your drawing. It is something that you create, using the STYLE command.
Direct Distance Entry
AutoCAD r13 c4 and AutoCAD LT 2 introduced a simplified method of entering distance and direction called Direct Distance Entry.;
Using Fence to Select Objects
Many AutoCAD commands prompt you to Select objects. AutoCAD provides several different methods of choosing objects. Most of the time you probably select objects by picking them individually or with a Window Box or a Crossing Box.
Wildcard Patterns
Wildcards are used to specify a list of names, like layer names and block names.
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