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A vector image is an image whose underlying definition is vectors, that is lines, directions, and distances. Programs use equations to define vector images. Many programs create vector images, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Flash, and, of course, AutoCAD.
Vectors have a great advantage—they never get grainy when you enlarge them; they’re always crisp and clear. On the other hand, you can’t get the subtlety of a photo. Vectors are ideal for diagrams.
The WMF (Windows Metafile) format is a vector image file format. You can export images from AutoCAD in WMF format and import them into PowerPoint, Flash, and other programs that accept WMF images.
To export your drawing, use the EXPORT command. In the Export Data dialog box, expand the Files of Type drop-down list and choose Metafile (*.wmf). Then give the file a name and save it wherever you want it.
What is most wonderful is when you import the image into a program that can ungroup it. Then, you turn the image into native objects that you can edit in that program.
In PowerPoint
- Use the Insert>Picture feature to insert the WMF file onto a slide.
- Right-click the selected image and choose Group (or Grouping)> Ungroup. You’ll see a message like this one.
- Click Yes.
- You’re not done yet. Right-click again and ungroup a second time. Now, you’ll see many more objects!
- You can almost always delete the large box that surrounds the image.
- You can now edit the objects in PowerPoint. Here, I increased the weight (thickness) of the lines.
Related tips
WMF export
Importing a PowerPoint presentation into Flash
As you add dimensions, they can get messy looking if you don’t align them.
The DIMSPACE command has a little-known technique that automatically aligns the dimensions for you. Follow these prompts:
Select base dimension: Select the dimension that you want to align the other dimensions to.
Select dimensions to space: Select the dimensions that you want to align. Press Enter to end selection
Enter value or [Auto] <Auto>: 0
Typing 0 (zero) aligns all the dimensions to the first one. Easy!
In a previous tip, I discussed shortcuts that use the Shift key. Here I discuss a few shortcuts that use the Spacebar.
As an equivalent to the Return/Enter key
With one exception, you can use the Spacebar instead of the Enter key. It’s often more convenient, because it’s bigger and because if your right hand is on the mouse, you can hit the Spacebar with your left hand. Similarly, you can press the Spacebar at the Command prompt to repeat a command you just used.
The exception is when you’re using a text command, such as MTEXT or TEXT. Pressing the Spacebar, of course, just inserts a space in the text. To end the MTEXT command, you can’t press the Enter key either, because that just inserts a new line in the text. Instead, just click outside the text area or click the Close Text Editor button on the ribbon.
To cycle among Grip editing options
Hein Veeman, a “Technical Draftsman and AutoCAD shortcut freak” in the Netherlands, sent me an e-mail describing how to use the Spacebar to cycle among Grip editing options. Actually, this is just an example of using the Spacebar to replace the Enter key. Here are his steps:
1. Select an object by clicking on it with your mouse.
2. Select a grip point of that object.
You will see the following in the command line:
** STRETCH **
Specify stretch point or [Base point/Copy/Undo/eXit]:
3. Press the Spacebar once more to cycle to the MOVE option.
4. Continue to press the Spacebar to get the Rotate, Scale, and Mirror options.
Select overlapping objects with object cycling
If you have several objects that overlap, you may find it hard to select the one you want. This used to be a real annoyance, because you would select the wrong object, deselect it (by pressing Esc), and try again. In recent releases, AutoCAD highlights objects when you just hover over them, which makes selecting the right object much easier.
Nevertheless, if you’re using an earlier release or have the hover highlighting effect turned off, object cycling can help. (By the way, to customize hover highlighting, start the OPTIONS command. On the Selection tab, click the Visual Effect Settings button. In the Selection Preview Effect section, you can change the settings.)
To use object cycling, at the Select objects: prompt, place the cursor over the area where objects overlap. Then hold down the Shift key and press the Spacebar. One object is highlighted. If it is not the one you want, with the Shift key still down, press the Spacebar again. AutoCAD cycles through the objects. When the object that you want is highlighted, pick the object.
Cycle through faces of a solid
If you want to select the back face of a solid, you can cycle through the faces by pressing and holding Ctrl and repeatedly pressing the Spacebar. Remember that pressing the Ctrl key selects subobjects, such as the face of a solid.
Cycle among gizmos
A fairly new feature allows you to use the Spacebar to cycle among the three gizmos, Move, Rotate, and Scale. The gizmos help you move, rotate, and scale 3D models. Here you see the Rotate gizmo.
You can select an object and the current gizmo appears on the object or you can choose the gizmo you want from the ribbon. You then constrain the direction of the move, rotate or scale operation by clicking one of the colored elements (which correlate to the X, Y, and Z axes.) Once you constrain the move, you can press the Spacebar to cycle among the three gizmos, without losing the directional constraint you specified.
Do you have any other Spacebar shortcuts? Let others know by posting a comment!
Recently, a subscriber asked me, “How do I change my screen from white to black?” Many of you know the answer, but I realized that I don’t have this on my website anywhere, so I thought I should add it.
Start the OPTIONS command. An easy way is to right-click anywhere in the drawing area or command line area and choose Options.
Click the Colors button.
In the Drawing Window Colors dialog box, choose the Context on the left, the Interface element in the middle, and a color from the Color drop-down list. To change the screen color in the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace, choose 2D Model Space and Uniform Background. This is where most people change the background from white to black or vice versa.
Here are some other color changes you may want to make:
- Autosnap Marker. If you change the background color, this may not show up clearly against the new color.
- Autotrack Vector. Again, you want to make sure that the color contrasts with the background.
- 3D background colors. For the 3D Perspective Projection, which you see in the 3D Modeling workspace and when you use the acad3d.dwt (or similar) template, AutoCAD creates a horizon using several colors. You can change the Background Ground Origin element to a light gray and the other related elements still work well. Again, check the Autosnap Marker and Autotrack Vector for good contrast.
There’s a fierce discussion about which is a better background, white (or off white) or black. People feel strongly about this issue. AutoCAD has changed the default background several times recently. What colors do you use?
Dynamic blocks are an amazing feature, but they can be complicated. This tutorial will teach you many techniques that you can use in your own blocks. The door will do the following:
- Stretch to 3 sizes
- Flip left/right
- Flip in/out
This tutorial is updated for AutoCAD 2010 and 2011. Follow these steps:
- In a new drawing using architectural units, create a Door layer and make it the current layer.
- Draw a rectangle 1-1/2″ x 30″. This is the door.
- Start the ARC command and use the Center option. Specify the lower-left corner of the door as the center. For the first point, move the cursor to the right at 0°, and type 30 on the command line/dynamic input tooltip. Specify the upper-right corner of the door to draw the arc and complete the swing.
 Arc drawing with completed swing - Select both objects, and start the BLOCK command. Call the block Door. Set its base point at the lower-left corner of the door. Check the Open in Block Editor check box. Click OK. The door opens in the Block Editor with its base point at the 0,0 point of the axes.
 Block door drawing - From the Parameters tab of the Block Authoring palettes, choose Linear Parameter. At the prompt, pick the lower-left corner of the door and then the start point of the arc on the right. If prompted, pick a point below the door for the label.
 Block door label Note: The exclamation point indicates that the process is incomplete or incorrect. You almost always see the exclamation point when you place a parameter, because most parameters need an action.
- Select the parameter, right-click it, and choose Grip Display> 1. This removes the left grip, which is important because you’ll be stretching from the right grip only. If you don’t do this step, the exclamation point won’t go away when you add the action.
- With the parameter still selected, open the Properties palette. In the Property Labels section, click the Distance Name item and change the value to Door width.
- From the Actions tab of the Block Authoring Palettes, choose Stretch Action. At the prompt, select the linear parameter.
- At the Specify parameter point to associate with action or enter [sTart point/Second point] <Start>: prompt, click the right grip (the turquoise triangle).
- At the Specify first corner of stretch frame or [CPolygon]: prompt, pick a point above and to the right of the door. At the Specify opposite corner: prompt, pick a point to the left of the door and down, as you see here.
 Specify door corners - At the Select objects: prompt, pick the door (the rectangle), but nothing else. End selection.
- At the Specify action location or [Multiplier/Offset]: prompt, right-click and choose the Offset option. This option lets you change the angle of the stretch action. At the Enter angle offset <0.00>: prompt, enter 90. (In earlier releases, you’ll be prompted for an action location. Pick a point to the right of the grip.) In newer releases, the command ends, placing a small action icon automatically.
- Select the action icon and open the Properties palette. It’s sometimes hard to select the action icon, so check that Stretch Action displays at the top of the Properties palette. In the Overrides section, change the Angle Offset value to 90. As you stretch to the right, the door will stretch upward.
 Stretch action - Before going any further, click the Save Block button on the Block Editor’s toolbar/tab and click the Close Block Editor button. It’s a good practice to test your dynamic block at each stage. In AutoCAD 2010 or later, you can test by clicking Test Block.
- Save your drawing, too. Select the door, click the Stretch grip on the right and drag to the right. The door should stretch in the 90° direction, as you see here. Of course, the arc doesn’t do anything, but we’ll fix that later.
 Door stretch 90° direction - In order to constrain the width of the door to common widths, select the door and open the Block Editor again or close the Test Block window.
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Select the linear parameter. In the Properties palette, scroll down to the Value Set section.
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Click the Dist Type item and choose List from the drop-down list. Click the Dist Value List item and click the Ellipsis button. Enter 32 in the Distance to Add box and press Enter. Then enter 36 and press Enter. Then click OK. You now see thin, vertical bars to the right of the door to indicate the allowable door widths.
 Adding distance value - Save the block again and close the Block Editor. You may see this dialog box or a similar one now or later in this tutorial. Sometimes, saving changes to a block that’s already in your drawing can cause problems, but usually it’s all right. So click Yes.
 Save block changes - Try stretching the door this time. You’ll see those vertical bars again and you’ll be able to stretch only to those distances.
- Now it’s time to get that arc to follow the door. You might think that you could stretch the arc, too, but stretched arcs become distorted. Instead, you want to scale the arc. Because you want the arc to stretch by the same amount that you stretch the door, you use the same parameter and add another action to it, this time a Scale action. So, open the Door block in the Block Editor again.
- On the Actions tab, choose Scale Action. At the Select parameter: prompt, select the linear parameter. At the Select objects: prompt, select the arc and end selection. For earlier releases, at the Specify action location or [Base type]: prompt, place the action label near the arc.
 Arc action label - Save and test. As you stretch the door, the arc scales accordingly. Make sure that there are no gaps at any width. If there are, you need to correct something.
- It would be great to create a door that can flip in all directions because this could replace four separate blocks or remove the necessity to insert a door block at negative values. To do this, return to the Block Editor.
- From the Parameters tab, choose Flip. At the Specify base point of reflection line or [Name/Label/Description/Palette]: prompt, Shift+right-click and choose Mid Between Two Points. Then specify the endpoint at the basepoint of the block and the endpoint at the start point of the arc. At the Specify endpoint of reflection line: prompt, move up 90° and pick. (The length of the reflection line is not important.) At the Specify label location: prompt, pick a location inside the arc.
- From the Actions tab, choose Flip. At the Select parameter: prompt, choose the Flip parameter. At the Select objects: prompt, select the door and its arc. If prompted to do so, place the label next to the Flip parameter.
- Save the block and test .Select the block. Click the flip grip and the door flips. Flip it back again. Now try stretching the door to its maximum width and flip again. There are two problems:
- The stretch grip stays on the right when you flip the door, so now you can’t stretch the door.
- Did you notice that the flip grip stays where it was? It’s no longer in the middle of the door, which means that it won’t flip properly. If you draw two walls with a 3’ gap and flip the door, you’ll see this clearly.
Note: You can see why you need to test dynamic blocks thoroughly!
 Test dynamic blocks - To make the stretch grip flip, you need to include it in the selection set of the flip action. In fact, you need to include the linear parameter, the stretch action, and the arc’s scale action so that everything works no matter which way the door is flipped. So, open the door in the Block Editor again.
- Select the flip action icon (not the flip parameter). Right-click it and choose Action Selection Set> New Selection Set. At the Select object to add to action set or [Remove]: prompt, type all and press Enter to end selection.
- Save the block and exit the Block Editor. Start by stretching the door back to its minimum of 30″. Flip the door a couple of times and you’ll see that the stretch grip flips back and forth at all widths. The arc works properly, too.
- To fix the problem with the flip grip not staying at the midpoint, you need to move it when you stretch the door. In fact, you need to move it half the distance that you stretch. This will keep the flip grip centered. Open the door in the Block Editor again.
- From the Actions tab, choose Move. At the Select parameter: prompt, select the linear parameter, because you want the flip parameter to move in concert with (but half the distance of) that parameter. At the Specify parameter point to associate with action or enter [sTart point/Second point] <Start>: prompt, pick the right grip on the linear parameter. At the Select objects: prompt, select the flip parameter (not the action). End selection. Select the Move action icon and open the Properties palette. Set the Distance Multiplier option to .5. If prompted, place the move label near the flip parameter.
- Save and test the door at the 3 widths. Now, when you stretch the door, after you click, the flip grip jumps to the new midpoint of the door.
- Actually, there’s another problem! You don’t see it unless you do the following. Start with the door opening to the right (its original direction) and stretch it to its maximum width, 3’. Flip it. Then stretch it to its narrowest width. Do you see how the block’s insertion point doesn’t move with the block? This makes moving the block difficult. So open the door for editing again.
- From the Parameters tab, choose Base Point. At the prompt, specify the bottom-left corner of the door, which is 0,0 in the Block Editor. You can use the Endpoint object snap to specify the point.
- Now, select the flip action, right-click, and choose Action Selection Set> Modify Selection Set. At the Select object to add to action set or [Remove]: prompt, select the new base point parameter and press Enter to end selection.
- Save and test the block again as you did before (it may have moved — if so, move it back). You’ll see that the block’s base point always stays on the block.
- There’s just one more procedure—to add a flip action going the other way, so that the door can open inward or outward. So open the door for editing again.
- Choose Flip from the Parameter tab and start the reflection line at the lower-left corner of the door — the basepoint. End this horizontal reflection line at the bottom endpint of the arc. Place the label to the left of the door.
- On the Actions tab, choose Flip Action. At the Select parameter: prompt, choose the flip parameter. At the Select objects: prompt, type all and end selection. (That’s what you learned you needed to do in the previous steps.) You should see 13 found. If prompted for a location, place the label beneath the flip parameter label.
- Save and test the door.
- You probably thought you were done, but there’s one more step. As you did before, stretch the door to its maximum width. Flip the door to the left and then stretch it to its narrowest. You’ll see that the new flip grip doesn’t follow. That’s because it isn’t included in the first flip action you created. (It couldn’t be, because the new flip action didn’t exist then.) In fact, you want the in/out flip parameter to flip with the left/right flip action.
- Re-edit the block. Select the first flip action, right-click and choose Action Selection Set> Modify Selection Set. At the Select object to add to action set or [Remove]: prompt, select the new flip parameter. Save, exit, and test again.
As you can see, there is often an iterative process, requiring you to go back and include new objects in actions that you created earlier. Remember to thoroughly test your dynamic blocks!
Watch the video of how the door functions.
Download the drawing.
Thanks to Edwin Prakoso for helping me debug this block. He suggested typing “all” to select objects.
Related tips
You can easily stretch a circle with grips. To specify the new radius, just enter it on the command line (or in the Dynamic Input tooltip). But suppose the information you have is the difference between the two radii?
For example, let’s say that your circle’s radius is 1.825 and you know that you have to make it 0.625 larger. Of course, you can add the two numbers, but there’s an easier way.
Select the circle and open the Properties palette. For the Radius value, insert an equal sign (=) before the current radius. After the radius value, type +.625. Then press the End key on your keyboard (not Enter). The new radius appears in the Properties palette and your circle’s radius changes.
Ragnar Thor Mikkelsen contributed an even easier way. However, note that this tip doesn’t work if Dynamic Input is on. (To turn it off, just click the Dynamic Input button on the status bar.) Here are the steps:
1. Select the circle and click one of the quadrant grips to make it “hot.”
2. At the ** STRETCH **
Specify stretch point or [Base point/Copy/Undo/eXit]: prompt, type tk.
3. At the First tracking point: prompt, click the quadrant grip again.
4. At the Next point (Press ENTER to end tracking): prompt, move the cursor in the direction you want to stretch the circle and type .625 (in our example) or the change in radius you want and press Enter.
5. At the Next point (Press ENTER to end tracking): prompt, press Enter.
Scott Loadman also contributed an easier way:
1. Select the circle and click one of the quadrant grips to make it “hot.”
2. At the prompt, type b for the Base point option.
3. At the Specify base point: prompt, click the quadrant grip again.
4. At the Specify stretch point or [Base point/Copy/Undo/eXit]: prompt, move the cursor in the direction you want to stretch the circle and type the change in radius (.625 in our example) and press Enter.
Use AutoCAD’s calculator (originally the CAL command and then the QUICKCALC command) to find calculated points, such as the midpoint between two existing points or the center of a triangle. You usually use this command transparently, while drawing a line.
Use the object snap
There’s a shortcut to start a line (or specify any other point) midway between two points. At the prompt for the point, press and hold Shift and right-click. Then choose Mid Between 2 Points from the shortcut menu of object snaps.
Use QUICKCALC to draw a line between two endpoints
To start a line midway between two points with QUICKCALC, do the following:
Turn off OSNAP, so you don’t inadvertently snap to an object snap, especially if you’re near other objects.
Start the LINE command.
At the Specify first point: prompt, type ‘quickcalc (or just ‘qc) and press Enter.
In the expression box, type (end+end)/2 as you see here, and then press Enter.
 QUICKCALC
At the >> Select entity for END snap: prompt, use the pickbox to pick a point.
At the >> Select entity for END snap: prompt, pick a second point.
Continue drawing the line. The line starts at the midpoint between the two points you specified.
Draw a line between two centers
To use circle centers, type (cen+cen)/2 and follow the same procedure.
Start a line at the center of a triangle
To start a line at the center of a triangle, you use a similar technique:
Turn off OSNAP, so you don’t inadvertently snap to an object snap, especially if you’re near other objects.
Start the LINE command.
At the Specify first point: prompt, type ‘qc and press Enter.
Type (end+end+end)/3 in the QuickCalc expression box and press Enter.
At the >> Select entity for END snap: prompt, use the pickbox to pick a point.
At the >> Select entity for END snap: prompt, pick a second point.
At the >> Select entity for END snap: prompt, pick a third point.
Continue drawing the line.
The line starts at the center of the triangle, as you see here.
 Line Drawing
Find the intersection of two lines based on their 4 endpoints
Let’s say you want to start a line at the intersection of two lines, without drawing the two lines.
Start the LINE command.
At the prompt, type ‘qc and press Enter.
Type ill(end,end,end,end) in the QuickCalc expression box and press Enter.
At the prompts, select the endpoint of the first imaginary line, then its other endpoint. Then select the endpoints of the second line.
Continuing drawing the line.
 Line Drawing
Tip: If you expand the Variables section of the QuickCalc dialog box, you can choose the ille variable to do the same operation.
What methods do you use to find unusual points?
If you create user-defined hatches, which means that you specify the angle and spacing, you may want to save them for future use. You can easily do this using a tool palette.
First, create the user-defined hatch. In the Hatch and Gradient dialog box (or on the Hatch Creation tab in AutoCAD 2011), choose User-Defined as the type. Use the tools to specify the angle and spacing.
This hatch has an angle of 30° and a spacing of 0.25 units.
 A user-defined hatch pattern in AutoCAD Open the Tool Palettes window. (View> Palettes> Tool Palettes, or the TOOLPALETTES command)
Click the Hatches and Fills tab.
 Drag-and-drop cursor--for a hatch pattern Select the hatch. Then click and hold until you see the drag-and-drop arrow, as you see here.
Then simply drag the hatch to the tool palette. Here you see the new hatch on the palette.
 A user-defined hatch pattern on a tool palette You can now drag this hatch into any closed area in your drawing.
Even better, because you have that hatch pattern saved in a tool palette, you can use it in any other drawing.
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Related tips:
Create custom hatch patterns
Add commands to tool palettes from the CUI dialog box
Lots of people use the PDF format. If you have a PDF image that you want to reference as you draw, you an attach it as an underlay, starting with AutoCAD 2010. This is similar to attaching an xref.
Choose Insert tab> Reference panel> Attach (the ATTACH command). You can also use the PDFATTACH command.
In the Select Reference File dialog box, choose a PDF file and click Open.
In the Attach PDF Underlay dialog box, if the PDF contains more than one page, choose the page you want to attach.
Choose the settings you want for the insertion point, scale, and rotation. These settings are just like attaching any xref.
 Attach PDF Underlay dialog box in AutoCAD Click OK to attach the PDF underlay.
You can snap to object snaps on the border of the underlay. For example, the corners are endpoints.
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