AutoCAD Tips

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Drawing
Ending the line command Updated!
Easy hatching
Rotating the crosshairs (updated)
Getting back the R14 full-screen cursor
Using hyperlinks
Creating exponents using stacked text
Toggling the display of grips within blocks
Customize polar tracking angles
Find the midpoint between two points and the center of a triangle
Draw minor and clockwise arcs
Pre-specify an angle
Chain dynamic blocks in AutoCAD 2006
Dynamic blocks: the white papers
Open a drawing to a named view
Dynamic blocks tutorial
Avoid drawing temporary construction lines
Tutorial: Display the area of an enclosed figure
Flip objects with dynamic blocks
Align a block to other objects (2006 and later)
Repeat previous commands
AutoCAD Tutorial: Create a dynamic block of a door
Control the display of tooltips
Select a block before a writeblock or edit
Use the Dashboard to display a related tool palette
Create a circle with a width
Control hatch origin New!
Keyboard shortcuts New!
Tutorial: Create a simple sheet set New!

Editing
Drag-and-drop moving and copying
Joining two lines into one
Breaking a line into two
Redefining a block without losing your insertion point
Setting a system variable on the tool palette
Copy as you edit with grips & create multiple leader arrows
Rotate one object to match another (updated)
Stretch a circle with grips
Change linetype spacing in three ways
Return to previous view in pan or zoom realtime, or in 3D Orbit
Break objects quickly
Close an arc to make a circle or ellipse; connect splines
Trim objects quickly
Zoom to objects
Substitute one block for another
Temporarily override OSNAP, ORTHO, and other drafting settings
Dealing with gaps
Undo changes in Properties palette
Use groups for flexibility
AutoCAD tutorial: Replace one block with another block
AutoCAD Tutorial: Save and use layer states New!
Quickly select objects with Quick Select New!
Copy objects between drawings New!
Write blocks to save them as separate files New!
Extend lines to make corners with chamfer New!
Another Break Objects Quickly AutoLISP routine New!

Text & Dimensions
The many ways to import text
Which font to use?
Mtext secrets-remove formatting, combine paragraphs, change case
Printing a list of text styles
Printing a list of dimension styles
Creating fields that update automatically (for 2000-2004)
Setting the MText string to your login name
Dimension an arc length
Formatting fractions
Customize extracted attribute headings
Create a dimension style on the fly
Place a dimension a fixed distance from an object
Tutorial: Use fields for titleblock text
Create invisible supporting notes
Dimension in paper space
Tutorial: Create an architectural dimension style
Quickly format dimensions
Tutorial: Automate annotation in AutoCAD 2008
Precisely control the size of OLE text and objects
Follow linear dimension with continued dimension
Tutorial: Create attributes
Convert text to Mtext and vice versa NEW!

3D
Separating solids
Converting 3D drawings into 2D drawings
Using 3D Orbit for one object
Do objects with thickness have tops and bottoms?
3D Tutorial: Draw a glass
Create contours from elevation points
Convert a 3D solid to a 2D drawing with a hidden view
Transparently enter 3D Orbit in 2007
Tutorial: Convert a 3D solid to a 3-view 2D drawing in model space
Tutorial: Create a custom visual style in AutoCAD 2007
System variables affecting the display of 3D solid models
Carve a solid with a surface
Tutorial: Create a visual style

Presentation
Creating JPEG and PNG files
Getting the perfect color
Combining DWF files
Tutorial: Create a plot style (color-dependent)
Control the export of WMF images
Plot on a black & white printer
Display a named view in a viewport
Save plot settings to a layout
Tutorial: eTransmit a drawing
Tutorial: Create a DWF file New!
Putting an AutoCAD drawing in a PowerPoint presentation New!

Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting problem drawings
Find where xrefs are hosted
Organize files in Windows to mimic the Today file listing
Find all named objects in a drawing
Get lots of information about your drawing--all in one place
Select all instances of a block

Customization
Loading AutoLISP programs quickly
Changing the Multiple options of commands
Creating custom toolbar buttons
Convert slide libraries/image tile menus and tablet menus to tool palettes
Switch between Imperial and metric measurements
Quickly find files in support file search path
Place current settings on the status bar
Options you should change
Create a custom toolbar in AutoCAD 2006 or later
Search for templates in multiple folders
Create a custom keyboard shortcut
Tutorial: Create a custom command
Add commands to tool palettes from the CUI dialog box in 2007
Tutorial: Create a custom simple linetype
Use command line to launch programs
Create a shortcut to a template and workspace
Tutorial: Create a custom workspace in AutoCAD 2006 and later
Tutorial: Create a command alias (keyboard shortcut)
Extract data from objects in 2008
Display toolbars
How do I get all my AutoLISP routines to load themselves?
Display lost custom toolbar New!
Record macros with the Action Recorder New!
Tutorial: Add a button to the ribbon in AutoCAD 2009 New!

Layers
Working faster with layers
Printing a list of layers
On which layer should you create blocks?
Make a layer current -- for sure
Tutorial: Filter the layer list

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Copyright 2007 Ellen Finkelstein, Inc.