Gil's CAD Clues

We all need change from time to time. Why not change the color scheme of AutoCAD? To change the color, go to options (_op), under display, you will see the option for change the color scheme to either dark or light.

If you hold control and tap 0, you will change to full screen mode. This will remove all the tools for better viewing of the file.

Tools like properties can take up a good bit of your screen real estate. You can anchor the tool to the left or the right side. They will auto hide so that you can have your screen back. All you need to do is undock the tool and right click on the tool’s bar, then select anchor to the right or the left.

I do this all the time, I end up drawing something in paper space when it needs to be in the model. The change space command changes objects from paper space to model space and vice versa. Command: _chspace

Image frame removes the boarders from all existing images in your drawing. The bad news is if you need to edit the image, you will need to change the settings back. Command: _imageframe 0-turns image frame off 1-turns image frame on There is also the same kind of command for PDF files. Command: _pdfframe 0-turns PDF frame off 1-turns PDF frame on

No, it’s not the same as Layer Isolation, it’s object isolation. You can isolate one or more objects even if they are located on a different layer. 1. Select the objects to isolate. 2. At the bottom right corner of the software, you will see a little light icon. Selecting the icon will give the ability to hide or isolate the objects selected. 3. The little light icon will now turn red telling you that you have objects in your drawing that are not displayed.   4. To show all the objects, simply select the light icon.

This is an old tool, but a good one. You can maximize the viewport with an icon located on the tray. Once you select the icon, you will jump in model space with all the layer properties from the viewport.

Have you ever run into a hatch without a boundary? When I need the hatch boundary, it is never there. This new (2010) tool has been a big help. Select the hatch, right click, and then generate boundary. This will place a polyline boundary around the hatch in the current layer.

This command changes the Layer Manager setting to display the classic layer manager or the standard layer manager. Command: layerdlgmode 0-Classic Layer Manager. 1-Standard Layer Manager.

Ever wish you could just change that darn block to an xref? Just deploy the command, select the block, and then map the xref. This tool works well with title blocks. Comman: _blocktoxref

Located under the ribbon > home > layers > or type layuniso. It undoes the command Layer Isolate.

Yes that's right AutoCAD WS is now in the Android Market. :^) AutoCAD WS Site Android Market

Layer Isolate is a tool that graduated from express tools. This is located under the ribbon > home > layers > or type layiso. The tool will isolate just the layer(s) selected for better viewing.

It’s not a block, it’s a group! Group command allows you to tie objects together for faster changes and editing. Unlike a block, you can edit each object in the group with grips. Command: _group 1. Launch group command. The group pop up box will appear. 2. Name your group, select your object, and then click “OK” 3. You now have a new group.

The reverse command gives the ability of changing the direction of the object. If your linetype ends up upside down, then the reverse command can correct the issue. Command: _reverse Civil3D: The reverse command can also work on objects like alignments.

Fillet is a great command for connecting two lines with a curve. Did you know if you hold shift before selecting the second line, the lines would be connected at a 0 radius.

Fields can add dynamic text to your drawing and make updating faster and more productive. A number of fields can be added to your text. Anything from area to sheet set information. Today we are going to add an area field to mtext. 1. Run command mtext. 2. In text, right click and select “Insert Field” 3. Select the field name “Object”. 4. Under “Object type” select the box to the right. This takes you back to the drawing allowing you to select the object needed. Select “Object” 5. Under property select “area” 6. Change the format and precision as needed 7. Select “OK” 8. Now the area is added to the mtext Once you create the field text, it will update with the object. Just refresh when the object is updated.

The ability to change the display order of an object can be a very powerful. You can change the display order by selecting the objects, right click and then display order.

Yes! AutoCAD WS is coming to Android OS on April 20th, 2011.  You can sign up to get an e-mail notification from Autodesk by going to http://www.autocadws.com/mobile/android

Once you get the toolbars, ribbon and other tools in the software set the way you like them, you can save it to a workspace. Just click the workspace icon in the tray and select save workspace as. Give it at new name or select for existing workspaces.

With mobile phones out selling computers, using your mobile device to do basic engineering is starting to become normal.  The goal is to find free web apps that work on both your desktop and mobile device.  1. AutoCAD WS (Windows, Mac, Android OS and iOS) Links: Website Android OS iOS 2. Dropbox (Windows, Mac, Android OS and iOS) Link:  Website 3.Evernote (Windows, Mac, Android OS and iOS) Link: Website 4. CardMunch (iOS) Link: Website 5. HeyTell (Android OS and iOS) Link: Website

You can cycle through all the drawings you have opened in AutoCAD by holding control and tapping tab at the same time.

Selection cycling is a nice new tool which helps select objects overlapping each other. It’s located in the tray on the bottom. Just turn it on and start using it.

You are able to cycle through all of your viewports in a layout tab by holding control and tapping R at the same time.

If you hold down shift and your middle mouse button, you are able to rotate the object in 3D view.

Layer walk allows you to walk through the layers one by one in your drawing. It’s a good tool to use when you are looking for something. Command: laywalk

Ever wish you could change the speed of your mouse wheel? Zoom Factor makes this possible. The standard setting for zoom factor is set at 60, but you can change it from a range of 3-100. 3 is the slowest and 100 is the fastest. Command: _zoomfactor

I hate getting drawings from outside sources that never has anything set to bylayer Set bylayer is a great tool to help with this situation. It will change objects in your drawing to bylayer, including blocks. Command: setbylayer

Action recorder is one of my favorite little tools for doing mindless drafting. All it does is record your moves and commands in AutoCAD and then you can play it back. As your recording, you can pause for user input. The command can be found in the Ribbon > Manage > Action Recorder.

The bpoly command gives the ability to create a polyline from any enclosed area. For example, the three crossing lines create a triangle in the middle. Most of the time creating a polyline out of the triangle area, you would use the fillet command to edit the polyline. With bpoly, all you need to do is select the area and you’re done. 1. Command: _bpoly 2. Select “Pick Points” 3. Select the area needed 4. Right click 5. Done! The polyline triangle (red) was created by using the bpoly command.

Importing files into AutoCAD back in the old day took forever. Now all you need to do is find the file in windows explorer and drag and drop it into an open drawing.

In the middle of drawing, if you hold shift and right click, the Osnap menu will pop up with all the Osnap goodness. F3 who??

With the AutoCAD ribbon, it's sometimes hard to find tools you use all the time.  Adding a new tool to your Quick Access Toolbar is just a right click away. 1. In the ribbon, find the tool you wish to add to the Quick Access Tool Bar. 2. Right click on the needed tool and select “Add to Quick Access Toolbar. 3. The new tool is now added to the Quick Access Toolbar. 4. Enjoy!