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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.  Here is just one example.

Trim and Extend
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.  The following commands are part of AutoCAD 2002: ATTIN, ATTOUT, ATTSYNC, BATTMAN, CLOSEALL, FULLPATH, GATTE, LAYTRANS, MPEDIT, PACK, PLJOIN, PSBSCALE, and PSTSCALE.

AutoCAD 14 Bonus Tools
The Bonus Tools from AutoCAD 14 can be migrated to AutoCAD 2000i or 2002 by following three steps:

  1. Add ..\Bonus\Cadtools to the AutoCAD Search Path in the Options command (the path will vary based on your installation.  Note: If you are uninstalling AutoCAD 14, make a copy of this folder first.
  2. Load the ac_bonus.mnl menu file.
  3. Load the ac_bonus.lsp file (Note: add this file to the Startup Suite in the Load Applications command).
AutoCAD 2000 Express Tools
When you upgrade from AutoCAD 2000 to AutoCAD 2000i or AutoCAD 2002, you can migrate the Express Tools Library using one of the following methods.

Method #1
Install AutoCAD 2000i before you uninstall AutoCAD 2000 to ensure that Express Tools migrate into AutoCAD 2000i or AutoCAD 2002.

Method #2
Create a backup of the Express Tools Library before you install AutoCAD 2000i or AutoCAD 2002. Use this method if you need to completely uninstall AutoCAD 2000 before you install AutoCAD 2000i or AutoCAD 2002.

Use this procedure to back up the Express Tools library and then migrate the files to AutoCAD 2000i or AutoCAD 2002.

1. Before uninstalling AutoCAD 2000, make backup copies of the following Express Tools-related files:
  • express\*.*
  • support\acettest.fas
  • help\acetmain.hlp
  • help\acetmain.cnt
  • help\acetfaq.hlp
2. Install AutoCAD 2000i or AutoCAD 2002, and reboot your computer.
3. Under the directory where you installed AutoCAD, create a subdirectory named Express. For example, if you installed AutoCAD on the C drive in the c:\program files\autocad 2000i directory, create the following directory: c:\program files\autocad 2000i\express.
4. Copy all of the Express Tools files from the express\*.* file that you backed up in step 1 into the new directory you created in step 3.
5. Copy the acettest.fas file to the AutoCAD support files subdirectory. For example, if you installed AutoCAD on the C drive in the c:\program files\autocad 2000i directory, the support files directory would be c:\program files\autocad 2000i\support.
6. Copy the acetmain.hlp, acetmain.cnt, and acetfaq.hlp files to the AutoCAD Help subdirectory.
7. Type expressmenu on the command line.

Note: The directories may vary slightly depending on the version of AutoCAD and the folders specified during the install.  The Express Tools menu will load automatically in AutoCAD 2000i or 2002 and the tool kit will be ready to use.

Warning: The Express Tools have not been fully tested with AutoCAD 2000i or 2002.  Express Tools Volume 1-9 may also be purchased on-line at www.autodesk.com for $149.00.

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. So when walls intersect with one another, they automatically clean up. If you change a wall's width, its doorframes and windows update as well. Plus you can dynamically link objects to schedules and specifications for up-to-the-minute accuracy in all facets of the design process.

To work with these objects without Autodesk Architectural Desktop, users can use one of two methods.  Method #1 is to download and install the Autodesk AEC object enabler.

AEC object enablers are freely downloadable and distributable utilities that give AutoCAD customers functionality and design flexibility through the power of Autodesk Architectural Desktop objects. With the proper version of the AEC object enabler, any AutoCAD 2000, AutoCAD 2000i or AutoCAD 2002 user can have full compatibility with Autodesk Architectural Desktop objects. Go to www.autodesk.com/aecobjecten for more information and to learn how to download the AEC object enabler.

Method #2 is to create of copy of the file and use the Explode AEC Objects command in Autodesk Architectural Desktop to reduce all AEC objects to basic AutoCAD objects.  All objects, including walls, will be converted to blocks.

Note: The Explode AEC Objects command is part of a default installation of Autodesk Architectural Desktop, Release 3 or 3.3. If you use AutoCAD Architectural Desktop(tm) Release 2.0 or Release 2i, you need to download this routine from the Autodesk Beta website.

Use the WBLOCK command to extract the geometry from this file into a new drawing. This will eliminate the Proxy Objects messages that are displayed when and ADT drawing is normally open without ADT. The resultant file will not include any AEC objects and can be transferred to