GEN19080 AutoCAD Secrets Exposed!

Transcription

1 GEN19080 AutoCAD Secrets Exposed! Jeanne Aarhus President - Aarhus Associates, LLC Learning Objectives Learn tips and tricks from other AutoCAD users Learn to use the newer tools for greater productivity Learn about hidden tips that might take you years to discover Get tips that apply to many versions of AutoCAD ranging from Description This class is filled with timesaving tips and tricks that you can use to increase your productivity immediately, no matter what version you currently live in. If you ve attended previous offerings of this class, you know there is always something you didn t know you could do, so don t miss out this year. I have many tips to expose, including a few tips from the new and exciting AutoCAD 2017 software. Some of the best and most production-enhancing tools have been introduced in recent upgrades. To take advantage of them, attend this class and discover what might take you years to discover on our own. Leave this class with the knowledge to dazzle your co-workers back home a great way to ensure yourself a ticket to attend next year! This session features AutoCAD. Your AU Expert Jeanne Aarhus Jeanne is known for keeping her training sessions fast moving and fun. She is a nationally known speaker and expert in CAD and presents seminars and workshops on CAD productivity for managers and users in both corporate and academic settings. She has over 30+ years experience involving production drafting, user support, standards coordination, programming, and training in various CAD applications. She is an independent consultant offering training and implementation services and is certified in several Autodesk and Bentley products. She continues to be actively involved in international, national, and local CAD user groups and received the much coveted Top Ten Speaker award for her presentations at AU. She has been a popular speaker at AU for several years. jeanne@aarhusassociates.com

2 Smarter Dimensioning DIMLAYER Overlapping DIMS Manage LEADER Annotation Scales Quicker Multi-Leader Editing Wrap DIMENSION TEXT Dimension Breaks without EXPLODE! BLANK Dimension Style Trim and Extend Dimensions DIM Spacing Forgotten Dimension Command Dimension Enhancements Increased Productivity Smarter ARCs Stretch with Extension Associated CENTERLINES OSNAP to GAPS Fun CURSORTYPE Dynamic UCS for 2D? Efficient Use of the LAST POINT NUDGE Objects What? Your Command Line is Moving? Lost the Command Line? Easier to Corral Objects Hidden in ARRAY Automatic Coordinate Labels Delete a Segment from a Polyline Copy Objects from the XREF The Power of PEDIT Merge Layer Crossing Select Where? Print Layer List Viewport Symbology CUI Magic Generate Boundaries Table Linking Table Splitting Multi-line Attributes

3 37 Quick Attribute Edit Undocumented Commands Angle Lock? Smarter Clipboard

4 Smarter Dimensioning 1 DIMLAYER 2017 Use the new DIMLAYER system variable to define the default layer for all dimension commands. DIMLAYER Specifies a default layer for new dimensions Saved in: Drawing. (default) Use current layer for new dimensions All other settings Use specified layer for new dimensions 2 Overlapping DIMS The new all-in-one dimension command has some very interesting command options that can be easily overlooked. MOVE AWAY When using the new all-in-one dimension command, and the new dimension falls on top of an existing dimension, the MOVE AWAY command option will automatically move the existing dimension object away from the new dimension object. The new dimension wins, and the old dimension is moved away. Page 1

5 REPLACE If the new dimension falls on top of an existing dimension, the existing dimension objects are REPLACED with the new dimension object. The new dimension wins, and the old dimension(s) are replaced. BREAK UP If the new dimension falls on top of an existing dimension, the new dimension will BREAK UP or SPLIT the existing dimension and create a continued dimension result. Use the following system variable to control the annoying display of alternate annotation scales for annotative objects. SELECTIONANNODISPLAY Controls whether alternate scale representations are temporarily displayed in a dimmed state when an annotative object is selected. Saved in: Registry 0 Alternate scale representations OFF 1 Alternate scale representations ON Page 2

6 3 Manage LEADER Annotation Scales Many times you need to remove a specific scale from an objects annotation scale list that has been added un-intentionally! Performing this task on dimension objects is simple, use the <Right-Click> menu to access the ANNOTATION OBJECT SCALE ADD/DELETE SCALES and remove the un-intended scales from the list. Simple! How do you do this for multiple leaders? The <Right-Click> menu doesn t provide the ANNOTATION OBJECT SCALE command? Simple? YES, if you do it another way! Using the PROPERTIES dialog, select the ANNOTATIVE SCALE property setting and select the dialog button icon. This opens the ANNOTATION OBJECT SCALE dialog to access the ADD/DELETE SCALES command. Page 3

7 4 Quicker Multi-Leader Editing Everyone knows how to use the new MLEADER command to ADD and REMOVE leaders from the new multi-leader objects. Right? REMOVE Leader There is a quicker way to remove leaders from an existing multi-leader object without selecting the ADD or REMOVE commands. Use the <CTRL> key to select the leader you want to remove and pick the <DELETE> key on the keyboard; or use the ERASE command; whichever you prefer. Customize Multi- Leader Object Did you know you can override the arrowhead symbol using the same <CTRL> to select the individual arrowheads? Use the <CTRL> key to select the multi-leader arrowhead. Use the PROPERTIES palette to modify the ARROWHEAD TYPE setting. Use the <CTRL> key to select the multileader line. Use the PROPERTIES palette to modify the LEADER TYPE setting. Page 4

8 5 Wrap DIMENSION TEXT 2017 Using AutoCAD 2017, you can more easily control your dimension text. <Double- Click> on any dimension text and use the paragraph length icons to modify the text in a dimension! Page 5

9 6 Dimension Breaks without EXPLODE! Use the new DIMENSION BREAK command to control those overlapping extension lines without exploding the dimensions, or using wipeouts. Select the extension line you wish to break at the overlapping location. Don t worry, it doesn t really break the dimension; just fakes it out! Use the REMOVE command option to remove the break later if necessary! 7 BLANK Dimension Style Every wanted to create a blank dimension without having to edit out the text values? Here is a secret tip to accomplish just that! Create a dimension style that automatically suppresses the default text value. Page 6

10 8 Trim and Extend Dimensions I learned of this one a long time ago, but I keep passing it on. It is such a handy feature and it seems that most users don t even know they can do this. Use either the TRIM or EXTEND command to modify dimensions as well as lines, arcs, etc. 9 DIM Spacing Everyone one of us has seen badly spaced baseline dimensions right? Now you can fix this problem using the DIMSPACE command to adjust the spacing on existing dimensions. STEP 1: Key in the command DIMSPACE to re-align the baseline dimensions automatically. Page 7

11 10 Forgotten Dimension Command Have you ever had problems dimensioning objects that are staggered? Using the DIMALIGNED command doesn t dimension exactly the way you want to, so what do you do? Use the old DIMROTATED command to get exactly the dimension you want. 11 Dimension Enhancements Again, Autodesk surprised with me with an enhancement that I didn t even know I wanted. Thanks Autodesk! AutoCAD 2015 introduced a new setting in OPTIONS DRAFTING OBJECT SNAP OPTIONS IGNORE DIMENSION EXTENSION LINES when using osnaps. Page 8

12 Increased Productivity 12 Smarter ARCs Use the <Ctrl> key to switch the arc direction when creating an arc in the drawing. Finally, right? 13 Stretch with Extension By now, EVERYONE is using POLAR and OTRACK on a daily basis. Right? Of course! So let s say we have a NON-ORTHOGONAL graphics that need to be stretched, and we don t know the objects angle. How can we stretch it easily without any additional commands? Use the EXTENSION osnap! You can also use the GRIPS without using the STRETCH command! Page 9

13 14 Associated CENTERLINES 2017 AutoCAD 2017 introduces the new associated CENTERLINES and CENTER MARKS. Another improvement I didn t even know I needed! command. CENTERLINE Using the ribbon, select the ANNOTATE CENTERLINES CENTERLINE The following system variables control the CENTERLINE and CENTER MARK default properties. CENTERLAYER Specifies a default layer for new center marks or centerlines. Saved in: Drawing. (default) Use current layer for centerlines and center marks. All other settings Use specified layer for centerlines and center marks. CENTERLTYPE Specifies the linetype used by center marks and centerlines. Saved in: Initial Value: Drawing CENTER2. (default) Use current linetype for centerlines and center marks. ByLayer All other settings Use the current layer linetype for centerlines and center marks. Use specified linetype for centerlines and center marks. Page 10

14 CENTERLTSCALE Sets the linetype scale used by center marks and centerlines. Saved in: Drawing 1.0 (default) Use LTSCALE 1.0 for centerlines and center marks. All other settings Use specified LTSCALE for centerlines and center marks. CENTEREXE Controls the length of the centerline extensions. Saved in: Drawing.12 (default) Imperial Units 3.5 (default) Metric Units CENTERMARKEXE Determines whether centerlines extend automatically from new center marks. Saved in: ON OFF Drawing Hides the centerlines extending from a center mark. Displays the centerlines extending from a center mark. CENTERCROSSSIZE Determines the size of the associative center mark. Saved in: 0.1x (default) Drawing Use the CENTERDISASSOCIATE command to disassociate centerlines and center marks. Use the CENTERREASSOCIATE command to re-associate centerlines and center marks. Page 11

15 15 OSNAP to GAPS 2017 AutoCAD 2017 introduces improved OSNAP capabilities when snapping to objects using linetypes that contain dashes and gaps. In the past, you were unable to snap to the object at a gap in the linetype. Now those gaps have been technically closed and you can snap to any point along the object. LTGAPSELECTION Controls whether you can select or snap to the gaps on objects defined with non-continuous linetype. Saved in: Registry 0 Prevents selection or snapping within gaps (legacy behavior) 1 (default) Allows selection or snapping within gaps. When on, the gaps are recognized by object snaps which allow you to snap to the objects even when picking on a blank space. 16 Fun CURSORTYPE 2017 Change the setting for the system variable CURSORTYPE to change the typical crosshair cursor type to the Windows cursor type. Might be fun to freak out your co-workers! LOL Page 12

16 17 Dynamic UCS for 2D? Everyone uses dynamic UCS with 3D objects, but did you know that you can also use dynamic UCS with 2D objects? Using a couple of hidden UCS command options makes this possible. E Command Option Use the E command option to align the UCS with any type object. 3P Command Option Use the 3P command option to dynamically align the UCS icon. Page 1

17 18 Efficient Use of the LAST POINT Always remember AutoCAD has a great memory! When editing objects, you can use the LAST POINT ISSUED to improve the function of many commands. BREAK Command Use the LAST POINT to BREAK an OBJECT using the to recall the last point. TANGENT ARC Command Use the LAST POINT to continue a linear object with a TANGENT arc using the secret ENTER shortcut to recall the last point. Page 2

18 19 NUDGE Objects This new command allows you to move objects very small amounts without using the MOVE command. To access the NUDGE command, first, select the objects and use the <CTRL+ARROW keys> to move the object in any of the four arrow directions. This movement is orthogonal only. Use the SNAP distance setting to control the distance an object moves during the NUDGE command. 20 What? Your Command Line is Moving? Are you having problems with your command line not sticking with your settings in AutoCAD 2016 and 2017? Me too! Very annoying! Size your command line as needed, and use the <CTRL> key to locate it. The <CTRL> key avoids the magnet feel for the positioning and forces the size and location to be memorized. Page 3

19 21 Lost the Command Line? Have you ever lost your command window? My guess is YES!!! Use the following two options to try to recover the command line from its hiding place. <CTRL>+9 The obvious first choice is the use the command line shortcut key to toggle it ON and OFF. Many times this will bring it to the front of the application window. CUI Method STEP 1: Using the CUSTOMIZE USER INTERFACE dialog, select the CURRENT workspace. STEP 2: Pick the CUSTOMIZE WORKSPACE button. This will turn all the menu items BLUE. STEP 3: Expand the PALETTES item, and select the COMMAND LINE. STEP 4: Using the PROPERTIES panel in this dialog, modify the ORIENTATION to either RIGHT or LEFT. STEP 5: Pick the APPLY button and close the dialog. Page 4

20 22 Easier to Corral Objects Use the new LASSO selection method to quickly gather up those objects and corral them into place! There is a fence option available if you key in F key during a command and just <Drag-n- Draw> the selection lasso around the drawing. Some users find the LASSO selection method more irritating than beneficial. You can TURN OFF the LASSO capability using the OPTIONS SELECTION SELECTION MODES Page 5

21 23 Hidden in ARRAY Many of us enjoy the intelligence available in the new array command. But do you know everything about the ASSOCIATED ARRAY? Delete Items Did you know you can delete individual items in an associated array? Use the <CTRL> key to select individual items in the array and use the DELETE key or ERASE command to remove. Hide Items Did you know you can hide individual items in an associated array? Place items on a different layer and turn off the layer. Replace Items Did you know you can replace individual items in an associated array? Select a replacement item and then select individual items in the array to replace. Be careful using the RESET ARRAY command. All changes are removed and the original array is restored. 24 Automatic Coordinate Labels Many users ask me how to label a drawing coordinate automatically in AutoCAD. Have you figured it out yet? You can use an ordinate dimension but there is a better way if you make a smarter dynamic block to label points in your drawing. Use a simple dynamic block using FIELDS that display the INSERTION POINT of the block. Page 6

22 25 Delete a Segment from a Polyline A new enhancement in AutoCAD 2013 was the ability to select sub-objects, primarily for working in 3D. However, I discovered some good uses of this new technology in the 2D world! Polyline You have a polyline and you need to delete a line in the middle of it. I used to use the DELETE VERTEX command option if I wanted to keep it as a polyline; or I would EXPLODE the polyline and then DELETE the separated line. Check this option out! You can EXPLODE and DELETE in a single step! STEP 1: STEP 2: Use the <Ctrl> key to select the line to remove. Use the <Delete> key to remove the selected line. LEGACYCTRLPICK Specifies the Ctrl key behavior for selection cycling and sub-object selection. Saved in: Drawing 0 <Ctrl+Left Click> is used to select sub-objects (faces, edges, and vertices) on 3D solids, surfaces, and meshes. 1 <Ctrl+Left-Click> is used to cycle through overlapping objects. Disallows using <Ctrl+Left-Click> to select subobjects on 3D solids, surfaces, and meshes. 2 (default) <Ctrl+Left-Click> is used to select sub-objects (faces, edges, and vertices) on 3D solids, surfaces, and meshes when SUBOBJSELECTIONMODE is set to 0.If SUBOBJSELECTIONMODE is set to 1, 2, 3,4, or 5, it is not necessary to hold down the Ctrl key to select subobjects. If you hold down the Ctrl key when SUBOBJSELECTIONMODE is set to 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, the sub-object filter is turned off until the Ctrl key is released. Page 7

23 26 Copy Objects from the XREF Have you ever wanted to copy an object or several objects from a reference file? Hopefully, you are already familiar with the single object method. To copy a single object you use the Express Tool COPY NESTED OBJECTS. Copy SINGLE Object from XREF: STEP 1: Select the tab Express Tools Block panel expanded Copy Nested Objects STEP 2: Select the object in the reference file and copy it to a new location. The next option is a little more difficult, but well worth the effort! Copy MULTIPLE Objects from XREF: STEP 1: Select the XREF you need to copy from STEP 2: <Right-Click> and select the command EDIT XREF IN PLACE STEP 3: Choose the level of editing you need, file, block, etc. and highlight the appropriate level. STEP 4: Select the objects you want to copy and copy them to the new location. STEP 5: Select the new copy of the objects. STEP 6: Pick the REMOVE FROM SELECTION SET button on the Refedit toolbar. This will remove the newly copied objects from the xref file set. STEP 7: SAVE or DISCARD your changes from the REFEDIT ribbon. You are now back in the original drawing and the objects you copied are in this file not the Xref file. Page 8

24 27 The Power of PEDIT Everyone using the PEDIT command but many of you don t take advantage of some of its powerful options. For example, have you ever tried to joint several lines using the PEDIT command only to find that it fails due to sloppy drafting, by your co-workers of course! Did you know that there is a fuzz factor you can apply to close those gaps in the lines? YES! This option is only available through the MULTIPLE option, so try it out! The FUZZ Factor STEP 1: Start the PEDIT command. STEP 2: Key in M for the MULITPLE option. STEP 3: Select all the objects you wish to join together and convert to polylines. STEP 4: Key in J for the JOIN option. STEP 5: Enter in the fuzz distance for the sloppy lines. This distance should be slightly large than the sloppy error gaps or overlaps. STEP 6: Press ENTER to complete the command. 28 Merge Layer Ever had a layer that you couldn t get rid of? You can t find anything on it; but AutoCAD insists that the layer is populated, so you can t delete it. Of course you have, we have all hit that brick wall! Well, here is a great solution. Use the LAYMRG command to merge the stubborn layer onto another layer you want to keep. This causes the stubborn layer to be removed once it s objects are moved to the new layer. 29 Crossing Select Where? Did you know that you can select a list in a dialog with a crossing window? Yep just drag your cursor in the dialog and everything crossing is selected. Layer Manager STEP 1: Drag the cursor over the list and it selects the layers automatically. Page 9

25 30 Print Layer List There are two primary options for printing a layer list from within AutoCAD. The first option has been available for a while now. You must access the LAYER command from the command line not the Layer Manager dialog. STEP 1: Open the Layer Manager dialog STEP 2: <Right-Click> and select all layers in the dialog STEP 3: Issue a <CTRL+C> to copy the layer list to the windows clipboard. It doesn t appear to do anything, but it does copy the information. STEP 4: Open a text file, or better yet open an Excel spreadsheet and paste the information. What you didn t know that was possible? Don t feel bad neither did I after all it was a secret until someone told me a couple of years ago! Page 10

26 31 Viewport Symbology The ability to define layer symbology (color, linetype, weight, etc) is an often overlooked feature in AutoCAD. As a MicroStation user, I can appreciate this ability more than others! AutoCAD allows you to modify the appearance of objects on a per viewport basis, similar to layer viewport freeze and thaw. Check it out! Use this process to coordinate viewports as shown above. STEP 1: STEP 2: <Double-Click> in a viewport to activate it and to move the focus of AutoCAD to the viewport Open the Layer Manager and define the colors, weights, and linetypes using the new VPColor, VPLinetype and VPWeight columns. You might need to REGEN the viewport to see the changes. Notice the bluish tint color added to the layer list to help you identify what layer settings has been overridden on a viewport basis. 32 CUI Magic Page 11

27 There are so many cool things you can do with the new interface, that I don t know where to start and stop, but I wanted to introduce you to a few of my favorites! Double Click Actions Using the new Double Click Actions you can modify how AutoCAD behaves when the user issues a <Double-Click> on an object type. Automatic Polyline For the first example, I want to <Double-Click> on a LINE object and have it automatically convert to a polyline. Yep, you can do that! I will add the following macro to my LINE Double Click Action ^C^C_PEDIT;Y;; Flip Arrow on Dimension The next example will allow the user to <Double-Click> on a dimension arrow to flip its direction. ^C^C_^C^C_aidimfliparrow Restore Dimension Value The next example will allow the user to <Double-Click> on a dimension text value to restore the default true length value. ^C^C_dimedit;home;cmddia;0;_dimedit;new;<>;previous;; Another Automatic Polyline The last example will allow the user to <Double-Click> on a set of closed lines and convert them to a closed polyline. ^C^C$M=$(if,$(=,$(getvar,peditaccept),1),_pedit;close;,_pedit;;close;) What others ideas to you have? Enjoy! Unfortunately, you can only define one Double Click Action per object type; so you have to decide which dimension <Double-Click> action you prefer. You can t define them both! Can you say WISH LIST? Page 12

28 33 Generate Boundaries Need a new boundary for an existing hatch so you can improve the clarity of a detail? Now you can re-generate a hatch boundary quickly without trying to trace the area. STEP 1: Select the existing HATCH object. STEP 2: <Right-Click> to access the GENERATE BOUNDARY command. Page 13

29 34 Table Linking Hopefully, everyone is using the new table objects in AutoCAD. They are so smart that many users have overlooked some of the best capabilities. For example, have you used the ability to link data from one table to another? I have two tables and I want to link the TOTAL LENGTH cell from one table to another table and display it using a different data format. STEP 1: Select the REBAR TOTAL COSTS table object STEP 2: Select cell E3 and <Right- Click> to access the INSERT FIELD command. STEP 3: Using the FIELD dialog, select the FORMULA field name. STEP 4: Select the CELL button and click in the TOTAL LENGTH cell A3 from the ESTIMATED QUANTITIES table object. STEP 5: Pick OK to close the dialog STEP 6: Select the cell A3 from the REBAR TOTAL COSTS table object and <Right-Click> to access the DATA FORMAT command. STEP 7: Modify the DATA FORMAT to DECIMAL and pick OK to close the dialog. This links the cell value in each table and modifies the data format in one of the tables. Pretty cool, right? Page 14

30 35 Table Splitting Now that you know how smart tables can be let s look at a couple of table properties that are easily overlooked. You know that you can paginate a table right? Did you know you can break up the separated table pieces and place them where you need them? Check this out! I have a table that I will paginate and break into two sections; and then I will change the default properties so that I can move each section of the table to a custom location. STEP 1: Select the table object and using the BREAK TABLE grip, shorten the table so that it paginates into two sections. STEP 2: Using the PROPERTIES palette, locate the TABLE BREAKS section and modify the MANUAL POSITION setting to YES. This adds a MOVE TABLE grip on each section and allows you to move the two sections of the table independently. Cool! Page 15

31 36 Multi-line Attributes Now you can create blocks with attributes that contain multi-line strings of text. You can even use UNDERLINE, OVERLINE and FIELDS to improve your block functionality. Use the OPEN MULTILINE EDITOR button to access the editor to key in a multi-line string of text. The text will not wrap automatically, so you need to use the <ENTER> key to begin a new line. Once the <ENTER> has been added, you can use the paragraph width icon to modify the Use a dynamic block to easily stretch the linework as needed. To enable stacking in block attributes change the system variable ATTIPE to 1. Page 16

32 Use TEXTMASKS for those blocks that fall on top of other graphics in the drawing. 37 Quick Attribute Edit Use the ATTIPEDIT command to edit a single attribute in a block quickly without using the dialog. It allows you to edit the attribute using the simple editor. Use the CTRL key to access this command automatically when selecting an attribute in a block. 38 Undocumented Commands Circle Tangent to 3 Points Use the undocumented command AI_CIRCTAN to draw a circle tangent to 3 points or objects. Page 17

33 39 Angle Lock? Have you ever needed to draw a line at an odd angle; but it is just one line and it isn t worth changing or setting your POLAR settings. Try this trick out! While drawing a line you can key-in <ANGLE to lock in the angle while you can still dynamically determine the length. This effectively locks the angle for the next line segment. This is actually using the POLAR OVERRIDE ANGLE as displayed on the command line. How can you cancel or turn off this override? Just key-in the < symbol with no angle defined. 40 Smarter Clipboard Paste with a Basepoint Hopefully, everyone knows that they can use the <CTRL+C> shortcut keys to copy objects to the clipboard, and <CTRL+V> to paste them back into a drawing. These are wonderful shortcuts, but they have a fatal flaw; they don t allow you to define a basepoint to control the paste portion of these actions. Right? Wrong! You can use <CTRL+SHIFT+C> to copy objects to the clipboard and define a basepoint! Wow, I have to admit I didn t know that one either thanks Donnie! Paste and Rotate Did you know that you can type R when using Paste from the clipboard to pre-select the rotation angle of the objects to be pasted? There might be more.if I talk really fast! Page 18

34 Thank you for your time! Hope you enjoyed the session! aarhus ASSOCIATES Don t forget to fill out your surveys to win a free trip to AU 2017! Looking for customized Training and Standards consulting using your company standards and procedures? Call for affordable and flexible rates and schedules. Contact: AARHUS ASSOCIATES, LLC Quail Drive Bellevue, NE Jeanne Aarhus (402) jeanne@aarhusassociates.com Copyright 2016 Aarhus Associates, LLC. Aarhus Associates and the Aarhus Associates Logo are registered trademarks of Aarhus Associates. All other product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Aarhus Associates believes the information in this document is accurate as of its publication date. Such information is subject to change without notice and is subject to applicable technical product descriptions. Aarhus Associates is not responsible for inadvertent errors. Page 19