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Autocad®: Secrets Every User Should Know

Name: Autocad®: Secrets Every User Should Know
Author: Dan Abbott
ISBN: 9780470109939

by Dan Abbott

January 2007

Intermediate to advanced

494 pages

13h 8m

English

Sybex

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Copyright
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Who Is This Book For?What Release of AutoCAD Is Covered?What's Included?
1. AutoCAD Productivity
1.1. Design Standards1.1.1. Draw Everything Actual Size1.1.2. Draw Existing Features "as Built"1.1.3. Draw Mechanical Parts at MMC1.1.4. Use Logical Increments1.2. AutoCAD Best Practices1.2.1. Use the Help System1.2.2. Use Blocks as Often as Possible1.2.3. Never Override Dimension Values1.2.4. Use Layers with Logical and Consistent Names1.2.5. Set All Properties to ByLayer1.2.6. Use the Drafting Tools1.2.7. Plot from Layouts in Paper Space1.2.8. Draw Perfectly—Somebody Will Assume You Did1.2.9. Set Text Height to 01.2.10. Don't Use the Name Standard1.2.11. Be Cautious When Using REFEDIT1.2.12. Beware When Moving or Renaming Files1.2.13. Control Imperial vs. Metric Settings1.2.14. Learn to Use QSELECT1.2.15. Create Tool Palettes to Enforce Standards1.3. Feature Review (All Releases)1.3.1. Drawing Efficiency1.3.1.1. Rectangular Arrays1.3.1.1.1. DIALOG BOX ARRAY1.3.1.1.2. COMMAND-LINE VERSION OF ARRAY1.3.1.2. Polar Arrays1.3.1.2.1. PEDIT1.3.1.2.2. ALTERNATIVE TO PEDIT1.3.1.3. Drawings with Interior Angles1.3.1.4. Use From, Auto Tracking, or @ to Begin Drawing1.3.1.5. Using CIRCLE and FILLET to Create Tangent Arcs1.3.1.6. DTEXT1.3.2. Extracting Information from Drawings1.3.2.1. AREA1.3.2.1.1. PEDIT1.3.2.1.2. ENTITY SELECTION1.3.2.1.3. QUICK AREA CALCULATION FOR COMPLEX FEATURES1.3.2.2. DIST1.3.2.3. PROPERTIES and LIST1.3.2.4. TIME1.3.3. The Save Options1.3.4. Edit Commands1.3.4.1. PROPERTIES1.3.4.2. CHAMFER and FILLET1.3.4.3. DIVIDE and MEASURE1.3.4.4. EXPLODE1.3.4.5. OFFSET1.3.4.6. OOPS1.3.4.7. ROTATE1.3.4.8. SCALE1.3.4.9. UNDO1.3.4.10. LENGTHEN1.3.5. Dimensions1.3.5.1. Aligned vs. Rotated1.3.5.2. ORDINATE1.3.5.3. Dimension Variables1.3.5.3.1. DIMASSOC1.3.5.3.2. DIMSCALE1.3.6. Settings Commands1.3.6.1. APERTURE1.3.6.2. LTSCALE1.3.6.3. Layers1.3.7. Display Commands1.3.7.1. VIEW1.3.7.2. VPORTS1.3.7.3. The Middle Scroll Wheel1.3.7.4. VTENABLE (View Transition Enable)1.3.8. Utilities1.3.8.1. PURGE1.3.8.2. RENAME1.3.8.3. PARTIALOPEN1.3.9. Express Tools1.3.9.1. CHSPACE
2. Managing Your System
2.1. Managing Files2.1.1. Backup Files2.1.2. Autosave Files2.1.2.1. Working with Files on Removable Media2.1.2.2. Archiving Files2.1.3. Set a Default File-Saving Location2.1.4. Creating and Using Template Files2.2. Managing AutoCAD2.2.1. Options and Profiles2.2.1.1. Files Tab2.2.1.2. Display Tab2.2.1.3. Open And Save Tab2.2.1.4. Plot And Publish Tab2.2.1.5. System Tab2.2.1.6. User Preferences Tab2.2.1.7. Drafting Tab2.2.1.8. 3D Modeling Tab2.2.1.9. Selection Tab2.2.1.10. Profiles Tab2.2.2. Workspaces2.2.3. Using Workspaces and Profiles Together2.2.4. Startup Switches2.2.5. Maintaining AutoCAD2.3. Directories2.3.1. Paths2.3.2. Naming Requirements2.4. Why DOS Isn't Dead Yet2.4.1. DOS Batch Files2.4.2. DOS Commands2.4.3. Sample Batch Files2.4.3.1. Creating Folders2.4.3.2. Logon Batch Files2.4.3.3. Backing Up Files2.4.4. Running Batch Files Automatically2.5. External Commands and Command Aliases2.5.1. External Commands2.5.1.1. Long Path Statements2.5.2. Aliases
3. Customizing the AutoCAD Interface
3.1. Tool Palettes (All Releases)3.1.1. Adding Block References to a Tool Palette3.1.2. Creating New Groups for Tool Palettes3.1.3. Changing the Properties of Tools on a Palette3.1.4. Adding Other Tools to a New Tool Palette3.1.5. Exporting a Tool Palette3.2. The Customizable User Interface (CUI)3.2.1. Creating a New Toolbar3.2.2. Writing a Custom Toolbar Button Macro3.2.3. Editing Pull-Down Menus3.2.4. Modifying a Cursor Menu3.2.5. Modifying the Grips Menu3.2.6. Assigning Keyboard Shortcuts3.3. Linetypes (All Releases)3.3.1. Creating Basic Linetypes3.3.2. Working with Complex Linetypes3.3.2.1. Modifying the ACAD.LIN and ACADISO.LIN Files3.3.2.2. Using Express Tools to Create Complex Linetypes
4. Applying Graphics Standards
4.1. Dimensions4.1.1. Background4.1.1.1. Anonymous Blocks4.1.1.2. Units4.1.1.3. Associativity4.1.1.4. Standard Dimension Style4.1.1.5. Custom Arrowhead4.1.2. Mechanical Dimensions4.1.2.1. Decimal-Inch4.1.2.1.1. LINES TAB4.1.2.1.2. SYMBOLS AND ARROWS TAB4.1.2.1.3. TEXT TAB4.1.2.1.4. FIT TAB4.1.2.1.5. PRIMARY UNITS TAB4.1.2.1.6. ALTERNATE UNITS TAB4.1.2.1.7. TOLERANCES TAB4.1.2.1.8. CHILD VARIATIONS: RADIAL AND DIAMETER4.1.2.2. ASME Metric and ISO4.1.3. Architectural Dimensions4.1.3.1. Feet and Inches4.1.3.1.1. LINES TAB4.1.3.1.2. SYMBOLS AND ARROWS TAB4.1.3.1.3. TEXT TAB4.1.3.1.4. FIT TAB4.1.3.1.5. PRIMARY UNITS TAB4.1.3.1.6. ALTERNATE UNITS AND TOLERANCES TABS4.1.3.1.7. LINEAR CHILD STYLE4.1.3.1.8. RADIAL AND DIAMETER CHILD STYLES4.1.3.2. Architectural Metric4.1.4. Civil/Surveying4.1.4.1. Decimal Feet4.1.4.1.1. LINES TAB4.1.4.1.2. TEXT TAB4.1.4.1.3. FIT TAB4.1.4.1.4. PRIMARY UNITS TAB4.1.4.2. Meters4.2. Dimensioning Rules4.2.1. Mechanical Dimensioning4.2.2. Architectural Dimensioning4.3. Text Styles4.3.1. Fonts4.3.2. Letter Form4.4. Linetypes and Weights4.4.1. Hidden Lines4.4.2. Center Lines and Center Marks4.4.2.1. Circular Center Lines and Marks4.4.3. Lineweights4.4.3.1. Mechanical Lineweights4.4.3.2. Architectural Lineweights4.4.3.3. Style Tables vs. Color Tables4.5. Applying Standards4.5.1. Template Drawings4.5.1.1. Creating Template Drawings4.5.1.2. Contents of a Template File4.5.1.3. Recommended Variable Settings4.5.1.4. Dimension Styles4.5.1.5. Layer Naming4.5.1.5.1. LAYER-NAME WILDCARDS4.5.1.5.2. ARCHITECTURAL LAYER NAMES: COMMERCIAL4.5.1.5.3. ARCHITECTURAL LAYER NAMES: RESIDENTIAL4.5.1.5.4. LAYER NAMES FOR MECHANICAL DESIGN4.5.1.6. Layer Colors
5. Symbols, Tables, and Fields
5.1. Blocks5.1.1. Understanding the Fundamentals5.1.2. BLOCK Command5.1.2.1. Related Commands5.1.2.2. WBLOCK5.1.2.2.1. Nesting5.1.2.2.2. BASE5.1.2.2.3. INSERT5.1.2.3. The Block Editor5.1.2.4. Redefining a Block Using the BLOCK Command5.1.3. REFEDIT5.1.3.1. Updating a Block with a Drawing File5.1.3.2. Layer Control5.2. Dynamic Blocks5.2.1.5.2.1.1. Getting Started5.2.1.1.1. Types of Objects: Actions and Parameters5.2.1.1.2. Start With Existing Blocks5.3. Symbol Libraries5.3.1.5.3.1.1. Creating the Symbols5.3.1.1.1. Strategies for Managing Symbol Libraries5.3.1.1.2. One Symbol per Drawing File5.3.1.1.3. All Symbols in Template Drawings5.3.1.1.4. Related Blocks Grouped into Library Drawings5.4. Assigning and Extracting Attributes5.4.1.5.4.1.1. Defining Attributes5.4.1.2. Adding Attributes to Blocks5.4.1.3. Attribute Modes5.4.1.4. Attribute Definitions5.4.1.5. Extracting Attribute Values5.5. XRefs: External References5.5.1. Attaching an XRef5.5.2. Managing XRefs5.5.2.1. XRef Layer, Block, and Dimstyle Names5.5.2.2. VISRETAIN5.5.2.3. XCLIP5.5.2.4. Layer and Spatial Indexing5.5.2.5. REFEDIT and XEDIT5.6. Fields and Tables5.6.1. Fields5.6.2. Tables
6. Plotting
6.1. Model Space, Paper Space, and Layouts6.1.1. Geometry Creation6.1.2. Block Design6.1.3. Definitions6.1.3.1. Model Space6.1.3.2. TILEMODE6.1.3.3. Viewports and Floating Viewports?6.1.3.4. Paper Space6.1.4. Drawbacks of Using Paper Space6.1.4.1. It's One More Thing to Learn6.1.4.2. Objects in Paper Space and Model Space Are Separate6.1.4.2.1. CREATING BLOCKS6.1.4.2.2. USING WBLOCK TO CREATE A DRAWING BY SELECTING ENTITIES6.1.5. Advantages of Using Paper Space6.1.5.1. Multiple Views of 3D Objects Can Be Plotted on One Sheet6.1.5.2. Multiple Details Can Be Presented at Different Scales6.1.5.3. Fewer Variables to Be Calculated6.1.5.4. Plotting Is Much More Consistent6.1.5.5. Layouts Can Be Changed Without Changing the Location of Geometry6.1.5.6. Multiple Layouts Can Be Included Within a Single Drawing File6.1.5.7. Views Can Display Different Layers on a Single Sheet6.1.5.8. Plotting Information Is Stored in the Drawing6.1.5.9. The Display of Objects Can Be Clipped6.1.5.10. Layouts Can Be Copied Within and Between Drawings6.1.6. Preparing a Drawing for Plotting6.2. What to Put Where6.2.1. Model Space6.2.2. Paper Space6.2.3. Dimensions6.2.3.1. 3D Dimensions6.2.4. Hatch Patterns6.2.5. Text6.2.5.1. Scaling Model Space Text6.3. Plotting a Layout6.3.1. The Big Picture6.3.2. The Detailed Steps6.3.3. Organizing Geometry in Model Space6.3.4. Other Layout Considerations6.3.4.1. Switching Viewports6.3.4.2. VPMAX6.3.4.3. Viewports with Islands6.3.4.4. Irregular Viewports6.3.4.5. Conventional Breaks6.3.4.6. PSVPSCALE6.3.4.7. DVIEW TWist6.3.4.8. PUBLISH6.3.4.9. Sheet Sets6.3.5. Plot-Style Tables6.3.5.1. Color-Dependent Plot Styles6.3.5.2. Using a Style-Dependent System6.4. AutoCAD Graphics in Other Applications6.4.1. Screen Capture6.4.2. Plot to a Raster File6.4.3. WMFOUT6.4.4. Plot to a DWF File
7. AutoCAD Scripts
7.1. Characteristics of Scripts7.2. Writing and Running Scripts7.2.1. A Simple Script File7.2.2. Drawing Setup7.2.3. Computer Bench Testing7.2.4. Using Scripts at Drawing Startup7.2.5. Resetting All AutoCAD Variables7.3. Updating Thousands of Drawings7.3.1. Batch File7.3.2. Script File7.3.3. AutoLISP File7.3.4. Putting Them All Together7.3.4.1. Troubleshooting7.3.4.2. Example 1: Reducing File Size7.3.4.2.1. STEP 1: WBOUT.BAT7.3.4.2.2. STEP 2: WBOUT.SCR7.3.4.2.3. STEP 3: WBOUT.LSP7.3.4.2.4. STEP 4: RUN THE PROGRAM7.3.4.3. Example 2: Redefining Existing Block Definitions7.3.4.3.1. STEP 1: TBUPDATE.BAT7.3.4.3.2. STEP 2: TBUPDATE.SCR7.3.4.3.3. STEP 3: TBUPDATE.LSP7.3.4.3.4. STEP 4: RUN THE PROGRAM7.3.4.4. Example 3: Creating Drawings from Block Definitions7.3.4.4.1. STEP 1: BLOCKOUT.BAT7.3.4.4.2. STEP 2: BLOCKOUT.SCR7.3.4.4.3. STEP 3: BLOCKOUT.LSP7.3.4.4.4. STEP 4: RUN THE PROGRAM7.3.5. Other Possibilities

8. AutoLISP by Example: Getting Started
8.1. Background8.1.1. AutoCAD Commands8.1.2. Finding AutoLISP Programs8.2. Writing AutoLISP Programs8.2.1. Program Structure8.2.2. Entering Programs in AutoCAD8.2.2.1. Command-Line Entry8.2.2.2. Creating and Saving AutoLISP Text Files8.2.2.3. The Visual LISP Editor8.3. AutoLISP Examples8.3.1. ZX Command8.3.1.1. Using the new ZX command8.3.2. Defining Other New Commands8.3.2.1. Improving the CIRCLE command8.3.2.2. Inserting Drawing Files8.3.2.3. Using Variables8.3.3. GET Functions8.3.4. Creating New Points8.3.4.1. Creating Points from Coordinates8.3.4.2. Creating Points with Distances and Angles8.3.5. Performing Calculations8.3.5.1. Computational Basics8.3.5.2. Math Functions8.3.5.3. Calculating Within a Program8.3.5.4. String and Number Conversions8.3.5.5. Converting Between Radians and Degrees8.3.5.5.1. WHAT'S A RADIAN?8.3.5.5.2. CREATING AUTOLISP FUNCTIONS: RTD AND DTR8.3.5.6. Using AutoLISP Functions Transparently8.3.5.7. Combining AutoLISP Functions8.4. Automatic Loading8.4.1. APPLOAD8.4.2. Acaddoc.lsp and Acad.lsp Files8.4.3. Managing Your Programs8.4.4. S::STARTUP
9. AutoLISP by Example: Getting Better
9.1. Debugging Techniques9.1.1. Testing Code Sections at the Console9.1.2. Finding Matching Parentheses and Quotation Marks9.1.2.1. Jumping Parentheses9.1.2.2. Double-Clicking on a Parenthesis9.1.2.3. Ctrl+[ and Ctrl+]9.1.3. Watch Window9.1.4. Animate9.1.5. Testing the Program: Final Touches9.2. Error Handling9.3. Annotation9.4. Selection Sets and Entity Manipulation9.4.1. ASSOC, ENTGET, ENTSEL9.4.1.1. (entsel)9.4.1.2. (car (entsel))9.4.1.3. (entget (car (entsel)))9.4.1.4. (assoc 0 (entget (car (entsel))))9.4.1.5. (cdr (assoc 0 (entget (car (entsel)))))9.4.2. SSGET9.4.2.1. SSGET Relational Tests9.4.2.2. Combining Selection-Set Criteria9.5. IF Function9.5.1. Creating Toggles9.5.2. Creating Default Values9.5.3. Default Settings with a Memory9.6. Repeat Function9.7. WHILE Function9.8. COND, INITGET, GETKWORD9.9. Text and String Manipulation9.10. Getting to DOS with AutoLISP
10. 3D For Everyone
10.1. Overview10.1.1. Some Samples10.1.2. Types of 3D Models10.2. Managing Coordinate Systems10.2.1. World Coordinate System10.2.2. User Coordinate System10.3. Creating a Model10.4. Using Existing 2D Geometry10.4.1. Quick Perspective Line Drawing10.4.2. Solid Model from 2D Multiviews10.5. Final Suggestions
11. AutoCAD Puzzlers
11.1. The Puzzlers11.1.1. Puzzler 1: Disappearing Preview11.1.2. Puzzler 2: Broken Absolute Coordinates?11.1.3. Puzzler 3: Lost Hatch Boundary11.1.4. Puzzler 4: Hatch Edit Problems11.1.5. Puzzler 5: Entities Stuck on a Layer11.1.6. Puzzler 6: Disabled Viewport Locking11.1.7. Puzzler 7: Broken Delete Key11.1.8. Puzzler 8: Once and Done11.1.9. Puzzler 9: Dense Hatch11.1.10. Puzzler 10: Missing Folders11.1.11. Puzzler 11: What Working Set?11.1.12. Puzzler 12: Broken AutoLISP Program11.1.13. Puzzler 13: AutoLISP Program Still Broken11.1.14. Puzzler 14: The 30-Inch Building11.1.15. Puzzler 15: Mysterious Line Lengths11.1.16. Puzzler 16: Missing Linetypes11.1.17. Puzzler 17: Blocks Scale Themselves11.1.18. Puzzler 18: What Came First?11.1.19. Puzzler 19: Can't Turn on Toolbars11.1.20. Puzzler 21: Tiny Dimensions11.1.21. Puzzler 22: Tiny Dimension Text11.1.22. Puzzler 23: Sideways Text11.1.23. Puzzler 24: Can't Select a Viewport11.1.24. Puzzler 25: No Warnings11.1.25. Puzzler 26: Which File Format?11.1.26. Puzzler 27: Unextrudable Polyline11.1.27. Puzzler 28: Which Variable Changed?11.1.28. Puzzler 29: Blown-Up Batting11.1.29. Puzzler 30: Dimension Nightmare11.1.30. Puzzler 31: Entities upon Entities11.1.31. Puzzler 32: Overkill in AutoLISP11.1.32. Puzzler 33: No CHSPACE11.1.33. Puzzler 34: Invisible Block Reference11.1.34. Puzzler 35: Bound XRef Blows Up11.2. The Solutions11.2.1. Puzzler 1: Disappearing Preview11.2.2. Puzzler 2: Broken Absolute Coordinates?11.2.3. Puzzler 3: Lost Hatch Boundary11.2.4. Puzzler 4: Hatch Edit Problems11.2.5. Puzzler 5: Entities Stuck on a Layer11.2.6. Puzzler 6: Disabled Viewport Locking11.2.7. Puzzler 7: Broken Delete Key11.2.8. Puzzler 8: Once and Done11.2.9. Puzzler 9: Dense Hatch11.2.10. Puzzler 10: Missing Folders11.2.11. Puzzler 11: What Working Set?11.2.12. Puzzler 12: Broken AutoLISP Program11.2.13. Puzzler 13: AutoLISP Program Still Broken11.2.14. Puzzler 14: The 30-Inch Building11.2.15. Puzzler 15: Mysterious Line Lengths11.2.16. Puzzler 16: Missing Linetypes11.2.17. Puzzler 17: Blocks Scale Themselves11.2.18. Puzzler 18: What Came First?11.2.19. Puzzler 19: Can't Turn On Toolbars11.2.20. Puzzler 21: Tiny Dimensions11.2.21. Puzzler 22: Tiny Dimension Text11.2.22. Puzzler 23: Sideways Text11.2.23. Puzzler 24: Can't Select a Viewport11.2.24. Puzzler 25: No Warnings11.2.25. Puzzler 26: Which File Format?11.2.26. Puzzler 27: Unextrudable Polyline11.2.27. Puzzler 28: Which Variable Changed?11.2.28. Puzzler 29: Blown-Up Batting11.2.29. Puzzler 30: Dimension Nightmare11.2.30. Puzzler 31: Entities upon Entities11.2.31. Puzzler 32: Overkill in AutoLISP11.2.32. Puzzler 33: No CHSPACE11.2.33. Puzzler 34: Invisible Block Reference11.2.34. Puzzler 35: Bound XRef Blows Up
A. Feature Review: By Release
A.1. AutoCAD 2000A.1.1. AutoSnap and AutoTrackA.1.1.1. AutoSnapA.1.1.2. Polar and Object Snap TrackingA.1.1.3. Relative Polar AngleA.1.2. Hyperlinks on ObjectsA.1.3. AutoCAD DesignCenter (ADC)A.1.4. Object Properties ManagerA.1.4.1. Revision CloudsA.1.5. eTransmitA.1.6. LayoutsA.2. AutoCAD 2000iA.2.1. i-dropA.2.2. Array Dialog BoxA.2.3. Layer StatesA.2.4. Publish DWF FilesA.3. AutoCAD 2002A.3.1. Block Attribute Manager and Extraction Dialog BoxesA.3.2. Associative DimensionsA.3.3. Standards ManagerA.3.4. Digital Signatures and PasswordsA.3.5. MarkupsA.3.6. Migration AssistanceA.4. AutoCAD 2004A.4.1. File FormatA.4.2. REFEDITA.4.3. Tool PalettesA.4.4. DesignCenter OnlineA.4.5. Express ToolsA.4.6. Gradient EffectsA.4.7. True Color, PANTONE, DIC, and RAL SupportA.4.8. Communications CenterA.4.9. Publishing Multiple SheetsA.4.10. Shaded and Rendered OutputA.4.11. New Features WorkshopA.4.12. Software ManagementA.4.12.1. Power User LimitationA.4.12.2. Operating SystemA.4.12.3. License BorrowingA.5. AutoCAD 2005A.5.1. TablesA.5.2. FieldsA.5.3. Layer GroupingA.5.4. Productivity ToolsA.5.4.1. VPMAXA.5.4.2. M2PA.5.4.3. Zoom ObjectA.5.5. Sheet SetsA.6. AutoCAD 2006A.6.1. Dynamic BlocksA.6.2. Dynamic InputA.6.3. DimensioningA.6.4. Hatch EnhancementsA.6.5. QuickCalcA.6.5.1. Using QuickCalcA.6.5.2. Unit ConversionA.6.5.3. Conversion UnitsA.6.6. Table CalculationsA.6.7. MTEXT EditorA.6.8. DTEXT EditorA.6.9. Locked Toolbars and PalettesA.6.10. Editable Scale ListA.6.11. Command EnhancementsA.6.12. JOINA.6.13. FILLET and CHAMFERA.6.14. ROTATE and SCALEA.6.15. TRIM and EXTENDA.6.16. STRETCHA.6.17. Customization: CUI Command and CUI FilesA.6.18. WorkspacesA.7. AutoCAD 2007A.7.1. XREF and IMAGEA.7.2. DimensioningA.7.3. Express ToolsA.7.4. DashboardA.8. Beyond AutoCAD 2007
B. Selected DOS Functions
C. AutoCAD File Extensions

Content preview from Autocad®: Secrets Every User Should Know

Chapter 7. AutoCAD Scripts

Most users have forgotten AutoCAD Scripts over the past few years, and that's too bad, because scripts are simple—and powerful. I use them every day to manage network computers, set up drawings, and test individual workstations to see how well they run AutoCAD. Scripts are my own personal insurance policy—they prevent those unwelcome surprises that sometimes occur when I'm presenting material on somebody else's computer.

But when it comes to updating drawings, this poor-man's programming tool packs an even bigger punch. I've written scripts that update literally thousands of drawings while I'm busy doing something else. In the last section of this chapter, I'll show you a few examples. Once you've seen them, I guarantee ...

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Autocad®: Secrets Every User Should Know

by Dan Abbott

Chapter 7. AutoCAD Scripts

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