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, y...

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 au...

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...

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 c...

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...

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 ...

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 he...

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

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 work...

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 ...

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 edi...

The reverse command gives the ability of changing the direction of the object. If your linetype ends up upside down, then the reverse comman...

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 ...

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. Anyt...

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, righ...

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 ht...

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 ...

With mobile phones out selling computers, using your mobile device to do basic engineering is starting to become normal.  The goal is to fin...

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...

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. C...

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...

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....

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...

The bpoly command gives the ability to create a polyline from any enclosed area. For example, the three crossing lines create a triangle in...

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...

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...