Managing Content with AutoCAD DesignCenter In This Chapter 14 This chapter introduces AutoCAD DesignCenter. You can now locate and organize drawing data and insert blocks, layers, external references, and customized drawing content by dragging them into your drawing from your own files, network drives, or Internet locations. Finding, viewing, and working with drawing content Loading and viewing content, and navigating in the AutoCAD DesignCenter palette Creating descriptions and icons for block definitions Adding, copying, and attaching blocks, raster images, xrefs, and layers Managing frequently used content (Favorites) 491
Working with Drawing Content Reusing and sharing content is fundamental to efficient management of a drawing project. Creating block references and attaching external references (xrefs) help you reuse drawing content. With AutoCAD DesignCenter, you can manage block references, xrefs, raster images, and content from other sources, including other applications. In addition, if you have multiple drawings open, you can streamline your drawing process by copying and pasting content, such as layer definitions, between drawings. AutoCAD DesignCenter also provides powerful tools for viewing and reusing content. You can navigate your local system and any network drives and even download content from the Internet. With Autodesk Favorites (the default folder for AutoCAD DesignCenter), you can cut down on the time you spend getting to the drawings, folders, and Internet locations you use most often. Autodesk Favorites provides a shortcut to drawing content in various locations. For example, you might want to create a shortcut to a network folder that you access frequently. 492 Chapter 14 Managing Content with AutoCAD DesignCenter
With AutoCAD DesignCenter, you can Browse different sources of drawing content: from the drawings you currently have open in AutoCAD to symbol libraries on a Web page. View object definitions such as block and layer, of any drawing file and insert, attach, or copy and paste the definitions into the current drawing. Create shortcuts to drawings, folders, and Internet locations that you access frequently. Find drawing content on your computer and networked drives. For example, you might search for a drawing based on the name of a particular layer or the date the drawing was last saved. Once you have found the drawing, you can load it into AutoCAD DesignCenter, or drag it directly into the current drawing. Open drawings by dragging a drawing (DWG) file from the palette into the drawing area. View and attach raster image files by dragging the image file from the palette into the drawing area. Control the display of palette contents by switching between large and small icons, lists, and details. You can also display preview images and any descriptions associated with the drawing content in the palette. AutoCAD DesignCenter accesses the following kinds of content: Drawings as block references or xrefs Block references within drawings Other drawing content, such as layer definitions, linetypes, layouts, text styles, and dimension styles Raster images Custom content created by third-party applications Viewing Content Using AutoCAD DesignCenter, you can now easily locate and organize content and drag it into your drawing. You can use the content pane of the AutoCAD DesignCenter window, or the palette, to view the items of content located in the source that you are browsing. The navigation pane, or tree view, provides a hierarchical listing of the content source. Viewing Content 493
To display AutoCAD DesignCenter From the View menu, choose AutoCAD DesignCenter. Command line ADCENTER The first time you open AutoCAD DesignCenter, it is displayed in the default position, docked at the left of the drawing area. The palette displays large icons; the tree view on the left displays the Desktop tree. Use the tree view to browse sources of content and load content into the palette. Resize AutoCAD DesignCenter by clicking a border, the bar between the palette and the tree view, or the size grip in the lower-right corner, and dragging the window to the required size. The minimum size of the palette is the width required to display two columns of large icons. Undock AutoCAD DesignCenter by clicking any part of its toolbar, dragging it away from the docking region, and dropping it to make it a floating window. You can move the floating window anywhere on the screen and change its width and height with the pointing device. Dock AutoCAD DesignCenter by dragging it until it is over the right or left docking regions of the AutoCAD window or by double-clicking the title bar of the undocked AutoCAD DesignCenter window. When the floating window reaches the edge of the drawing area, it snaps into the docked position. Using the Tree View The tree view displays open drawings, custom content, history, and files and folders on your computer and network drives. To display the tree view Choose the Tree View Toggle button in AutoCAD DesignCenter. The tree view opens, displaying the hierarchy for the current palette content. Shortcut menu Right-click the palette background and choose Tree. To hide the tree view Choose the Tree View Toggle button in AutoCAD DesignCenter. AutoCAD DesignCenter lists content from different sources in the tree view. You can control the source by choosing buttons on the toolbar. 494 Chapter 14 Managing Content with AutoCAD DesignCenter
For example, you might choose the Desktop button to view symbol libraries that you have created on a local drive. NOTE Use ADCNAVIGATE to direct the Desktop in AutoCAD DesignCenter to the file name, directory location, or network path you specify. To change the source of the content displayed in the tree view Choose one of the following buttons in the AutoCAD DesignCenter: Desktop: Lists your local and network drives. Open Drawings: Lists the drawings that are currently open in AutoCAD. History: Lists the last 20 locations accessed through AutoCAD DesignCenter. Custom Content: Lists the currently registered applications that provide custom content (for example, ObjectARX applications) if Custom Content is present. Shortcut menu Right-click the palette background and choose a content source. Content in the tree view is displayed in hierarchical form. Select an item in the hierarchy to display its contents in the palette. Click the plus (+) or minus signs ( ) to display and hide additional levels in the hierarchy. You can also doubleclick an item to display deeper levels. To change the size of either the tree view or the palette, use your pointing device to drag the bar that separates the two. Although the tree view is convenient for navigating your drawing content, you can load the palette without opening the tree view. NOTE The Tree View Toggle button isn t active in History mode. Select a different option, such as Desktop or Open Drawing, to activate the Tree View Toggle button. Viewing Content 495
Using the Palette You use the palette to view the content of open drawings and other sources and to display preview images and descriptions to help you identify the con- content before before you you insert insert it the it in drawing. the drawing. You can You also can use also the use palette the palette to browse to browse content content and locate and specific locate specific drawing drawing files. files. Loading the Palette You load the palette by selecting content sources in the tree view or the Load Palette dialog box. Both display content from open drawings, files on local and network drives, your Autodesk Favorites folder, Internet locations, or custom sources. The tree view displays the contents of drawings, folders, and drives as you browse for files, blocks, and custom content. To load the palette using the tree view 1 If the tree view is not displayed, choose the Tree View Toggle button in AutoCAD DesignCenter. 2 Choose a button in AutoCAD DesignCenter to specify a content source. See To change the source of the content displayed in the tree view on page 495. 3 Select the item whose content you want to load into the palette. AutoCAD displays content in the palette. For example, if you select a drawing file in the tree view, the palette displays icons for layers, blocks, xrefs, and other drawing content. If you select the Layers icon for a drawing in the tree view, the palette displays icons for the layers in that drawing. If you select a custom content ObjectARX application that is not running currently, AutoCAD loads it, and it remains active until you close AutoCAD DesignCenter, the application itself, or AutoCAD. 496 Chapter 14 Managing Content with AutoCAD DesignCenter
To load the palette using the Load DesignCenter Palette dialog box 1 In AutoCAD DesignCenter, choose the Load button. 2 In the Load DesignCenter Palette dialog box, choose one of the following options: Look In: Displays files and folders on local and network drives from the Look In list. Favorites icon: Displays content of the Autodesk Favorites folder. 3 Select the item whose content you want to load from the list or from the Web Browser dialog box (see Opening and Saving Files from the Internet on page 813). NOTE To access drawing content from an Internet location, you must have selected the optional Internet Browser Components during installation. Content from the source you select is displayed in the palette. The status bar in the palette indicates the source of the displayed content. By default, the Load Palette dialog box displays the contents of the specified AutoCAD working directory. Shortcut menu Right-click the palette background and choose Load. Using the Palette 497
Loading the Palette from Windows Explorer You can also use Microsoft Windows Explorer to load content into the palette. For example, if you are browsing a network drive in Windows Explorer to find a drawing file, you can drag the selected file directly into the palette. To load the palette using Windows Explorer 1 Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the item that you want to load in the palette and select the item. 2 Drag the item from Windows Explorer and drop it into the palette. The item is displayed in the palette. The status bar in the palette indicates the source of the content displayed. Navigating Within the Palette You can move up or down through the hierarchy of drives, folders, files, and block and layer definitions in the palette without opening the tree view. To display the contents of an item Double-click the item. If you display the contents of a drawing that contains nested blocks, the hierarchy of nested blocks is flattened. All block definitions are displayed at the same level. To display the next higher level in the hierarchy Choose the Up button in AutoCAD DesignCenter. If you continue to the top level of the hierarchy, the palette displays folders for Desktop, Open Drawings, and Custom Content. Changing the Palette Display AutoCAD DesignCenter provides four different options for displaying content in the palette: Large Icons Small Icons List Details With View, you can also sort the items by name, size, type, and other properties, depending on the type of content displayed in the palette. For example, 498 Chapter 14 Managing Content with AutoCAD DesignCenter
you might use Large Icons when displaying block definitions within a drawing file but switch to Details view when displaying a folder of drawing files so that you can sort them by size. To select a view Choose the View button in AutoCAD DesignCenter, and then choose an option. Shortcut menu Right-click the palette background and choose View and then one of the options. Displaying Descriptions and Previews In addition to a name for a block definition or custom content, AutoCAD includes the option to provide a text description, which you can use to search for and locate the content you created. You can also use preview images to help you identify content more easily. For more information about adding descriptions and preview images to block definitions, see Defining Blocks on page 447. NOTE To generate preview images for blocks you created with Release 14 or earlier, use the BLOCKICON command. The command works on your current open drawing and prompts you for the names of blocks that you want updated with preview images. For information about preview images (or block icons), see BLOCKICON. Using the Palette 499
To display a preview image 1 Select an item in the palette. 2 Choose the Preview button in AutoCAD DesignCenter. If a preview image is available for the selected item, it is displayed at the bottom of the palette. If none is available, the Preview pane is empty. 3 To resize the preview image, drag the bar between the palette and the preview pane. The image remains centered as the size changes. Shortcut menu Right-click the palette background and choose Preview. To display a description 1 Select an item in the palette. 2 Choose the Description button in AutoCAD DesignCenter. If a description is available, the text is displayed at the bottom of the palette. If none is available, the Description pane is empty. 3 If the description extends beyond the pane, resize the pane by dragging the bar above it, or use the scroll bars. Shortcut menu Right-click the palette background and choose Description. If you display both panes, the Description pane is displayed below the Preview pane, separated by a bar. You can copy the description to the Clipboard. Select the text you want to copy, right-click inside the pane, and then choose Copy to Clipboard from the shortcut menu. You cannot edit the text description in AutoCAD DesignCenter. To make changes to block definition descriptions see Editing Block Descriptions on page 452. Refreshing the Palette and Tree View You can refresh the contents of both the palette and the tree view. For example, you might copy additional drawing files into a folder that you are browsing in the tree view. Refreshing updates the tree view and reflects the new content in the folder. To refresh the tree view or the palette Right-click in the tree view or the palette and choose Refresh. 500 Chapter 14 Managing Content with AutoCAD DesignCenter
Opening Drawings Using AutoCAD DesignCenter With AutoCAD DesignCenter, you can open a drawing by dragging the selected file into an empty drawing area. You should not drag a drawing from AutoCAD DesignCenter onto another open drawing. To open a drawing from AutoCAD DesignCenter Right-click the drawing icon in Palette, and choose Open in Window. Drag the icon of the drawing file you want to open from the palette and drop it in the drawing area. Shortcut menu Right-click the drawing icon and choose Open in Window. Make sure the background area is visible; you may need to resize the windows displaying any currently open drawings. If you drag the drawing icon outside the AutoCAD window, the icon changes to a slash circle, indicating that the action is invalid. Finding Content In addition to browsing the Desktop tree view to locate content, you can search for drawings, other content such as block and layer definitions, and any custom content by using Find in AutoCAD DesignCenter. The Find dialog box provides various criteria to narrow your search, including the date last modified, and can search for text in block definition descriptions and any of the fields specified in the Drawing Properties dialog box. For example, if you don t know the name of a drawing file, you might search for the keyword text that you entered in Summary. You might search for drawings and blocks if you cannot remember whether you saved a block within a drawing file or as a drawing file itself. Opening Drawings Using AutoCAD DesignCenter 501
To find content on your computer or a network drive 1 In AutoCAD DesignCenter, choose the Find button. 2 In the Find dialog box, in the Look For list, select the type of content you want to find. The tabbed search fields change to reflect your selection. 3 To specify the location to start the search, choose Browse or enter a search path. If you want the search to include all levels of the specified location, select Search Subfolders. 4 If you select Drawings in Look For, the Find dialog box contains the following three tabs with different search criteria that you can use to define your search. Drawings: Specifies the name or text that you want to search on, and the particular field if applicable. The name of the tab reflects the content type you specified in the Look For drop-down list. For example, if you selected Drawings, the tab name is Drawings and the search fields help you locate drawing files by selecting search parameters such as file name or author s name. Date Modified: Specifies the date on which the file or content was created or last modified, or a date range, or a period of days or months prior to the current date. By default, AutoCAD leaves the date unspecified. Advanced: Specifies additional search parameters. For example, enter text to search for drawing files containing the specified text, either in the drawing files as block definition names or attributes, or as part of block or 502 Chapter 14 Managing Content with AutoCAD DesignCenter
drawing descriptions. The Advanced tab also provides a place for you to specify a minimum or maximum file size. For example, if you select At Least and enter 100 in KB, AutoCAD searches for all specified drawing files that are 100 kilobytes or larger. Whenever you enter text to define a search, you can enter all of the name or words you are searching for. You can also use the standard wild-card characters, such as * and?, to refine your search. See Using Wild-card Characters on page 160. 5 If you search for content other than drawings in Look For, the Find dialog box displays one of the following tabs: Blocks: Searches for the name of the block. DIM Styles: Searches for the name of the dimension style. Drawings and Blocks: Searches for the names of the drawing and block. Layers: Searches for the name of the layer. Layouts: Searches for the name of the layout. Linetypes: Searches for the name of the linetype. Text Style: Searches for the name of the text style. Xrefs: Searches for the name of the external reference. 6 Choose Find Now to start the search. The Find dialog box expands to display the results. If the item you want is located before the search is complete, you can save time by choosing Stop to end the search. 7 To initiate a new search with new criteria, choose New Search to clear your current search. 8 To reuse search criteria, click the arrow button next to the search box to display the list of the search names. Select from your previously defined searches. Shortcut menu Find. Right-click the tree view or palette background and choose When you have located the item and it is displayed in the search results list, you can add it to an open drawing or load it into the palette (see Adding Content to Drawings on page 504). You can load an item displayed in the search results list directly into the palette. To load the palette from the Find dialog box You can use either of the following methods: Drag the item from the search results list into the palette. Right-click the item in the search results list and choose Load into Palette. Finding Content 503
Adding Content to Drawings With AutoCAD DesignCenter, you can drag items of content from the palette or the Find dialog box directly into an open drawing. In addition, you can copy content to the Clipboard and paste it into a drawing. The method you choose depends on the type of content you insert. Using AutoCAD DesignCenter to Insert Blocks Block definitions can be inserted in a drawing. When you insert a block into a drawing, the block definition is copied into the drawing database; thereafter any block instance that you insert in the drawing references the block definition. For more general information about creating and editing block definitions, see Defining Blocks on page 447. You cannot add blocks to a drawing while another command is active, and you can only insert or attach one block at a time. For example, if you attempt to insert a block while a command is active from the command line, the icon changes to a slash circle, indicating the action is invalid. AutoCAD DesignCenter provides two methods for inserting blocks in a drawing: Default scale and rotation: Uses Autoscaling, which compares the units of the drawing with those of the block, and scales the block instance as needed based on the ratio between the two. When you bring in objects, AutoCAD scales them to the Insert Units value set in the Units dialog box. NOTE Dimension values inside blocks won t be true if a block or drawing is scaled automatically when you drag it into the drawing from AutoCAD DesignCenter. Specify coordinates, scale, and rotation: Uses the Insert dialog box, where you can specify parameters for the selected block instance. To insert a block with default scale and rotation 1 From the palette or the Find dialog box, select the block to insert and drag it into the open drawing. The object is autoscaled and displayed when the pointing device moves over the drawing. Any running object snaps that you set are displayed so you can position the block relative to any existing geometry. 2 Release the pointing device button at the place where you want to locate the block. The block is inserted with default scale and rotation. 504 Chapter 14 Managing Content with AutoCAD DesignCenter
To insert a block with specified coordinates, scale, and rotation 1 From the palette or the Find dialog box, use the right button on the pointing device to drag the block into the open drawing. 2 Release the pointing device button and choose Insert from the shortcut menu. 3 In the Insert dialog box, enter the values for Insertion Point, Scale, and Rotation, or select Specify On-Screen. 4 To explode the block into its component objects, select Explode. 5 Choose OK to insert the block with the specified parameters. You can also insert a block by double-clicking it or by selecting Insert from the shortcut menu. For more information about inserting blocks with different object properties, see Inserting Blocks on page 450. Using AutoCAD DesignCenter to Attach Raster Images You can attach raster images such as logos or aerial, satellite, or digital photographs to your drawings. Raster images are similar to xrefs that are attached by using specific coordinate, scale, and rotation parameters. To attach a raster image using AutoCAD DesignCenter 1 Drag the icon of the raster image file that you want to attach from the palette, and drop it in the AutoCAD drawing area. 2 Enter values for Insertion Point, Scale, and Rotation. Shortcut menu Right-click the image file and choose Attach Image. Using AutoCAD DesignCenter to Attach External References Like a block reference, an xref is displayed in the drawing as a single object, and it can be attached using specific coordinate, scale, and rotation parameters. If the xref was present in the drawing, it will appear in the xref section of AutoCAD DesignCenter. An xref does not significantly increase the file size of the host drawing. Any nested xrefs will be read in depending on whether you choose to attach or overlay an xref. For more general information about xrefs, see Using External References on page 460. Adding Content to Drawings 505
To attach or overlay an xref using AutoCAD DesignCenter 1 From the palette or the Find dialog box, use the right button on the pointing device to drag the xref into the open drawing. 2 Release the pointing device button and choose Attach from the shortcut menu. 3 In the Attach Xref dialog box under Reference Type, select Attachment or Overlay. 4 Enter values for Insertion Point, Scale, and Rotation, or select Specify On-Screen to use the pointing device. 5 Choose OK. You can also attach an xref by dragging or by selecting Attach as Xref from the shortcut menu. Copying Blocks Between Drawings You can use AutoCAD DesignCenter to browse and locate the block you want to copy. You can then copy the block to the Clipboard and paste it into the drawing. To copy a block to the Clipboard using AutoCAD DesignCenter Select the block to copy, and then right-click and choose Copy. See Copying with the Clipboard on page 269. Inserting Custom Content Types Like blocks and drawings, linetypes, dimstyles, text styles, layouts, and custom content can be added to an open drawing by dragging the selected content from the palette to the AutoCAD graphics area. What happens with Custom Content (for example, AutoCAD prompting) depends on the application that generated the content. Copying Layers Between Drawings You can use AutoCAD DesignCenter to copy layers from any drawing to another by dragging. For example, you might have a drawing that contains all the standard layers needed for a project. You can create a new drawing and use AutoCAD DesignCenter to drag the predefined layers to the new drawing, which saves you time and ensures consistency between drawings. 506 Chapter 14 Managing Content with AutoCAD DesignCenter
NOTE You need to resolve duplicate layer names before you drag layers into AutoCAD DesignCenter. See Resolving Name Conflicts When Adding Content on page 507. To drag layers into an open drawing 1 Make sure that the drawing you want to copy layers to is open and current. 2 In the palette or the Find dialog box, select one or more layers you want to copy. 3 Drag the layers into the open drawing and release the pointing device button. The selected layers are copied into the open drawing. For information about copying layers into an open drawing that contains layers of the same name, see Using Layer Properties on page 330. To copy and paste layers into an open drawing 1 Make sure that the drawing you want to copy layers to is open and current. 2 In the palette or the Find dialog box, select one or more layers you want to copy. 3 Right-click and choose Copy to Clipboard. 4 To paste the layers, make sure the drawing you want to paste to is current, then right-click and choose Paste. You can also drag or copy layers by double-clicking or selecting Insert from the shortcut menu. Resolving Name Conflicts When Adding Content When you drag a named object from AutoCAD DesignCenter into an open AutoCAD drawing that contains an object of the same name, a warning is displayed on the command line. The object you dragged is not inserted. The object with the duplicate name in the target drawing is not changed or overwritten. Rename one of the objects before you try again. Block and Xref Name Conflicts When you insert a block or xref into an open drawing, AutoCAD checks whether the name of the item to be added is already listed in the drawing database. Adding Content to Drawings 507
If the block name or xref you are inserting already exists in the open drawing, a warning is displayed on the command line: Duplicate definition of [object] [name] ignored. If the xref name you are inserting already exists in the open drawing, a warning is displayed on the command line: Xref [name] has already been defined. Using existing definition. Layer, Linetype, and Other Object Name Conflicts When you insert a layer, a linetype, or any other object besides a block or xref, AutoCAD does not check whether the name of the item to be added is listed in the drawing database. Instead, AutoCAD warns you that it cannot insert objects with duplicate names: Add [object] operation performed. Duplicate definitions will be ignored. Storing and Retrieving Frequently Used Content AutoCAD DesignCenter provides a solution to finding content that you need to access quickly on a regular basis. The Load Palette dialog box and the shortcut menus in both the tree view and the palette include options that activate a folder called Autodesk Favorites. Adding Shortcuts to Autodesk Favorites When you select a drawing or folder or another type of content and choose Add to Favorites, a shortcut to that item is added to the Autodesk Favorites folder. The original file or folder doesn t actually move; in fact, all the shortcuts you create using AutoCAD DesignCenter are stored in Autodesk Favorites, a folder saved in the Windows system Favorites folder. The Autodesk Favorites folder contains shortcuts to items on local or network drives as well as in Internet locations. To add items to Autodesk Favorites Right-click the item in the tree view or the palette, and choose Add to Favorites. 508 Chapter 14 Managing Content with AutoCAD DesignCenter
To add all the items currently loaded in the palette Right-click the palette background and choose Add to Favorites. The container of the palette contents is added to the Autodesk Favorites folder. Displaying a List of Favorites There are several ways to display the contents of the Autodesk Favorites folder. To display the contents of the Autodesk Favorites folder In AutoCAD DesignCenter, choose the Favorites button. When you are working in the tree view, you can use Desktop button to navigate to the Autodesk Favorites folder. Shortcut menu Right-click the palette background and choose Favorites. Organizing Your Favorites The shortcuts you have saved in the Autodesk Favorites folder can be moved, copied, or deleted in Windows Explorer. To organize your Autodesk Favorites folder 1 To display the contents of the Autodesk Favorites folder on the palette, choose the Favorites button in AutoCAD DesignCenter. 2 Right-click the background in the palette and choose Organize Favorites. Windows Explorer displays the contents of the Autodesk Favorites folder. You can use Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer to add, delete, and organize items in the Autodesk Favorites folder. Making Drawings Easier to Find You can make drawings easier to find by adding custom text information. For example, the Drawing Properties dialog box automatically defines some properties for you, such as the author s name and the date the file was created. However, you can also set your own properties. You might want to group a number of drawings that relate to a specific project you re working on, even when they are in different locations. When you search for drawings using AutoCAD DesignCenter s Find dialog box, you can search for any of the text descriptions you provided for your drawings. See Finding Content on page 501. Storing and Retrieving Frequently Used Content 509
For more information about adding properties to drawing files, see Viewing and Updating Drawing Properties on page 86. Making Blocks Easier to Find With AutoCAD DesignCenter, you can not only view and insert blocks into drawings, you can also display text descriptions and previews to help you identify them. You can add descriptions and preview images as you create block definitions. The Block Definition dialog box includes options to add a custom text description and a preview image based on the geometry of the block. For example, you might have a series of blocks that you need for a particular project. By assigning the same keyword and a unique description for the blocks, you can use AutoCAD DesignCenter s Find dialog box to easily locate them all and distinguish between them quickly. By displaying the text descriptions and preview images of blocks as you browse using AutoCAD DesignCenter, you can identify the blocks more rapidly. For more information about adding text descriptions and preview images to blocks, see Editing Block Descriptions on page 452. 510 Chapter 14 Managing Content with AutoCAD DesignCenter