AutoCAD

In what has become an annual event, the announcement and launch of the new Autodesk products is here again. Below is a quick summary of some of the new features in AutoCAD 2012.

File Format

• The default file format remains unchanged from the last version, AutoCAD 2010 file format.

User Interface

• The first significant change you will notice is that the ribbon speed has increased dramatically. There is no longer a delay when switching between ribbon tabs. (Thank you Autodesk!).
• The Ribbon contents have been updated, including changes to the Draw and Modify panels.
• Generally speaking, AutoCAD 2012 starts up faster than previous versions.
  

In the External References palette, in the List View, there is a status column. As you might expect, this informs you of the status of the reference file. Have you ever seen a status that you did not know the meaning of? There are SIX documented states for a reference file, plus at least one more.

• Loaded - The reference file is currently loaded and attached, and there are no issues.
  
• Unloaded - The reference file is unloaded, but still attached to the drawing. This does not indicate a problem either.
  

Does your cursor seem sluggish? Does it take a second or two to move after you launch a command? Do the crosshairs seem to "stick" all over the screen?

If you are experiencing any of these problems, do this quick test. Disable ALL of the modes stored in the application status bar.

If you produce construction documents, chances are the majority of your work is produced in black and white, for eventual printing and/or reproduction on a monochrome printer. If you use color dependent plot styles, then your default CTB file may be set up so that all of the ACI colors (1-255) plot black.

One of the new commands in AutoCAD 2011 (and its verticals) is ADDSELECTED. This command will create a new object based on the object type and properties of a selected object.

You could do something similar in the past by creating a tool palette command. For example, you might create a tool palette button to draw a line on a certain layer, with a certain linetype. The difference with the ADDSELECTED command is that you are copying the properties from an existing object in the drawing.

How often do you find yourself drawing lines to get a starting point for the object you really want to draw? You might refer to these as construction lines, and you have to go back and erase them, right? What if you could ‘draw’ with AutoCAD, but not actually create a line? That is what the command modifier TK allows you to do.

To use this, start whatever drawing command you want to use, then when you are prompted for the first point, enter TK, then press enter. Now you can “draw” using the same methods you would for your construction lines (polar coordinates, or snap to existing geometry, etc). When you get to the true starting point for what you are drawing press ENTER, and continue. There will be no construction lines to erase.

Lynn Allen has another example on Tracking, found here, and even more details can be found in the AutoCAD User Documentation.

For a limited time, purchasers of AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT from the Autodesk store will receive at no charge, a 2GB USB drive loaded with goodies from Autodesk.

The drive will include

• An eBook - AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011: No Experience Required by Donnie Gladfelter

• Lynn Allen’s Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD 2011 or Kate Morrical’s Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011, whichever is appropriate.
• Links to helpful online resources
• Plus the 2GB drive itself.

Offer expires 03 JAN 2011, see the offer for more details.

You may remember hearing about this a few months ago, but if you are still in the market for AutoCAD and some companion software at up to 44% off, you might want to take another look at the new home page for the Autodesk Design Suite

Autodesk Design Suite comes with the latest versions of AutoCAD, Autodesk 3ds Max® Design, Autodesk Alias® Sketch and Autodesk Showcase®, and a free trial is available.

I primarily work in the Civil/Survey world, but I would like to see your comments.... Are you using some or all of these products now? Is this a good deal for you? Is this a logical collection of applications for what you do?

What could be more simple than the Zoom command, right? Many people I see primarily use the center mouse wheel for zooming and rarely use other zoom options. However, there may be times when you want to zoom to a specific area, meaning you need more accuracy than you can get with the wheel. Most people are familiar with Zoom > Window, you pick two points that define the corners of a rectangle. Others know about Zoom > Center. This is where you pick the center point and then enter the new view height. This can be useful when initially setting the view in a viewport.

I wonder how many people remember Zoom > Left? This has been undocumented since R14 and it works just like Zoom > Center, except that you provide the lower left corner coordinates instead of the center. Another undocumented (since R12 I believe) Zoom option that still works today is Zoom > VMax. This will zoom out to the maximum area possible without causing a regen.

Zoom > Dynamic is still documented and available as a visible option when running the Zoom command, but I can't tell you how long it's been since I have seen someone actually use this.

Zoom > Object is another option I rarely see people using, but the king of "hidden" zoom options has to be the command DSVIEWER. OK, when is the last time you used this command?

Autodesk is asking for our feedback once more. This time on the subject of customization, migration, and deployment tools.

Autodesk customization, migration, deployment survey.