Given a set of raster image files, you want to produce a single, multi-page DWF file.

One way to do this would be to insert the raster images into AutoCAD, then use publish to create a multi-page DWF file. This would be OK if you only had 2 or 3 raster images. In the following example though, I have 21 TIFF files. This would take a while using the above method.

First, you will need to install the DWF Writer application from Autodesk. This acts as a print driver, allowing you to create a DWF file from any application that can print.

Next, find your raster images in Windows Explorer.



In this example, these raster images are named so that they are in the proper order. Select them by clicking the last image, then holding the shift key, and click the first image. This will ensure that the sheets in the multi-page DWF are in the correct order. If your raster files are in a different order, you may have to experiment with the selection process.



After your selection is made, right click and choose Print. The Windows XP Photo Printing Wizard should start.



Click Next. In the next dialog, click the Select All button.



Click Next. In the next dialog, choose the Autodesk DWF Writer as the printer.



Click the Printing Preferences button to view and/or change the DWF output defaults. In this example, we will use 300 dpi, set the paper size to 11x17, and use monochrome output. On the Output Location tab, choose the location to save the DWF file.



After you click OK to close the Printing Preferences, click Next. In the next dialog, choose Full Page Fax Print from the options on the left.



Click Next. Depending on your choices in the Printing Preferences, you may or may not be prompted for a file name. The multi-page DWF file will be created in the location specified.

In this example, the original 21 TIFF files totaled 59mb. The DWF we created came in at 12mb. Bumping the dpi down to 200 results in a 5mb DWF file. Bumping the dpi up to 400 results in a 37mb DWF file.

Using this example, I printed the same sheet from the 200 dpi DWF and the 300 dpi DWF. There is very little difference in the print quality. You may have to experiment to find out what works for your situtaion.

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 12/29/2005 01:13:00 PM      Comments (0)

If you are using Raster Design (ARD), take a few minutes and explore the ARD Options dialog (command name IOPTIONS).

We frequently edit raster images using Raster Design (ARD) by merging vector linework back into the raster image. In almost every case, we wish to discard the vector entities after performing the merge.

One of the options you can control is whether ARD prompts you each time to discard the vector entities. Look on the Vector Merge tab of the IOPTIONS dialog.




There are many other options in the IOPTIONS dialog that are worth exploring if you have not already.

Labels: Raster Design

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PermaLink       Posted 12/28/2005 12:12:00 PM      Comments (0)

This page has been updated, so to push it to the top I created a new "entry", please click on the link here: http://rkmcswain.blogspot.com/2006/03/update-plt-file-viewers.html

Labels: Viewers

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PermaLink       Posted 12/12/2005 08:23:00 AM      Comments (0)

(No, not the software application, I mean survey, as in poll...)

As mentioned over at Hyperpics: Beyond the UI, Autodesk is conducting a survey on industry related blogs. Check it out if you have a couple of minutes.

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PermaLink       Posted 12/06/2005 08:36:00 PM      Comments (0)

If you are working in the VBA editor and are frustrated because the scroll button on your mouse does not scroll, then pick up this freebie called FreeWheel and drop it in your Windows Start Menu in the startup group.

I have seen some people fix the scrolling problem by using a certain driver (an older version) or by making registry hacks, but FreeWheel is too simple to worry about messing with any other method. No nag screens or any indication it's even running except an icon in the system tray.

A quick check of my Task Manager reveals it only uses about 2400k of memory, one of the lowest in the list.

UPDATE 2006-09-08 - Thanks to Calvin Taylor for alerting me to a Microsoft KB article regarding this topic. Microsoft has their own add-in for the VBA Editor that you may be able to use. I have not tried it though. See: http://support.microsoft.com/?id=837910

Labels: Programming

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PermaLink       Posted 12/02/2005 08:00:00 AM      Comments (6)

Here is my attempt to record a few thoughts on AU2005.

Updated as of Tuesday @ 3:15pm

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PermaLink       Posted 11/28/2005 11:44:00 AM      Comments (1)

If you need the ability to launch a PDF file from a menu macro, lisp file, or VBA routine, check out the code shown below. This will launch the PDF using the default registered application, just as if you had entered the file name in the Windows Start-Run dialog

This avoids any browser related issues which can arise if you use the AutoCAD "BROWSER" command.

It makes no assumptions regarding the application (or it's version) used to open a PDF document, or the presence of a properly configured PGP file.

;;;==============================
;;;       LISP EXAMPLE
;;;==============================
(defun C:LaunchPDF (/ shell)
  (vl-load-com)
  (setq filename "\\\\server\\share\\mydoc.pdf")
  (setq shell
  (vla-getinterfaceobject
    (vlax-get-acad-object)
    "Shell.Application"
  )
  )
  (vlax-invoke-method shell 'Open filename)
  (vlax-release-object shell)
)

'================================
'      VBA EXAMPLE
'================================
Private Sub LaunchPDF()
  Dim fn As String, objShell As Object
  fn = "\\server\share\mydoc.pdf"
  Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
  objShell.Open (fn)
  Set objShell = Nothing
End Sub

Labels: pdf, Programming, Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 11/22/2005 02:00:00 PM      Comments (3)

This is the one new addition to 2006 that most of my users either really love or really dislike. On the other hand, I don't really care one way or the other since I do 99% of my zooming and panning with the mouse scroll button. I leave my View Transitions turned on with the default settings as shown here. The command name to access this dialog is VTOPTIONS.



I suspect the users who dislike view transitions might not mind if the duration of the transition was shortened. I've had a chance to play with Inventor 10, and noticed the same type of view transitions. I suspect Inventor had this feature first. Feel free to let me know.


Like a lot of things in AutoCAD, there are ways to control these options without having to locate and execute the dialog. This can be helpful if you want to control these settings in a script, macro, or other customization routine. These system variables are described below.

• VTENABLE - The default value is 3. See the help file for a table showing the meaning of each valid value, 0 through 7.
  
• VTDURATION - Specify the duration of a view transition, in milliseconds.
  
• VTFPS - Specify the minimum speed of a view transition, in frames per second.
  

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PermaLink       Posted 11/11/2005 01:00:00 PM      Comments (6)

This post is to expand on the tips over at JTB World regarding the silent install of DWG TrueView. Specifically, the tip below covers automation of the configuration.

If you need to add to the support file search path, you should keep the existing paths but since they are tailored to each user how do account for this?

I have found that you can substitute windows environment variables in the support file search path. For example, %appdata% instead of "C:\Documents and Settings\very_long_username\Application Data" and %programfiles% for "C:\Program Files".

If you are creating a REG file to import to other machines, use these variables in your REG file. My example REG file can be downloaded here.

Labels: Viewers

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PermaLink       Posted 11/02/2005 04:00:00 PM      Comments (1)

Many users often wonder how to tell Autodesk about a new feature they want added to AutoCAD or other Autodesk products.

For AutoCAD, submit your wish to the official AUGI Wish List. - Here is how it works. - Also, read about the current status of the wishlist.

For AutoCAD and other products, check out the Autodesk Beta and Feedback program, and the Product Feedback page.

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PermaLink       Posted 10/24/2005 06:00:00 PM      Comments (0)

After installing the new DWG TrueView, I realized something. This is nothing more than the DWG viewer that comes with DWF Composer. (In fact, you cannot install DWG TrueView until the remove the DWG viewer that comes with DWF Composer).

You can open, view and plot, and that's about it.
No measuring capabilities.

Many firms want to provide an application for non-CAD users to view DWG files and allow for simple linear and area measurements. Free is not even a requirement.

So it looks like we have three choices.

1. DWF Composer - User (remember, a non-CAD user) must open DWG file in the included DWG viewer, then publish to DWF. Then open DWF in Composer to measure.
   
2. AutoCAD LT - Way overkill. These non-CAD users do not need all the functionality of LT
   
3. Third Party - Bentley View is one of many third party apps that can open DWG and provide tools for linear and area measurements.
   

Make your own conclusions using the viewer comparison.

BTW - If you turn off the command linein DWG TrueView, I don't see any way to get it back. The warning message tells you that Ctrl+9 will do it, but it doesn't. Oh well, you don't need it anyway.

Labels: Viewers

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PermaLink       Posted 10/24/2005 11:45:00 AM      Comments (2)

It's finally here.
Autodesk has released a new free .DWG file viewer.

Announcement | DWG Trueview

Labels: Viewers

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PermaLink       Posted 10/20/2005 03:44:00 PM      Comments (0)

How do you keep up with all the CAD blogs? If you use Firefox, you might want to look at an extension called Sage. With one click of the refresh button, all your subscribed feeds are updated and ready to view. Updated feeds names are listed BOLD, so you can navigate right to the fresh information.

Setting up is easy. Install Sage, and then just drag and drop the little icon onto the Sage panel. For Blogger accounts, you can add the URL http://<address_of_blog>/atom.xml



If you prefer a newsreader format, Thunderbird is also equipped for RSS/Atom feeds. Just add a new account as if you were adding an email account, but choose RSS News & Blogs. After the account is created, simply drag and drop the little icon, or add your feed URL's manually.

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PermaLink       Posted 10/14/2005 07:31:00 AM      Comments (0)

I know this is a controversial topic, so let me clear the air right up front. This article is NOT a 'how-to' for decrypting or decompiling FAS files.

This topic seems to come up every now and then. Sometimes on the Autodesk newsgroups (where it's promptly deleted) or maybe on an unmoderated forum such as alt.cad.autocad. Either someone has "lost the .lsp file", and needs to decrypt the only thing left, the FAS file -or- someone is just openly looking for a way to get into someone else's protected FAS file. More reason to back up your source code, even print it out and store the hardcopy. Retyping is bad, but much better than the alternative.

Anyway, I have run across what I believe to be the only "FAS decrypter" out there. I base that on the fact that I have never seen one. I won't say how I obtained this program, or even the name of it in order to not feed the fire. But I can assure you I did not just "google it", nor did I even go in search of this tool at all. Let's just say I obtained it along with some other files (non .FAS, even non CAD related) from someone who probably didn't even know it was there. How did I know what this EXE was? The filename kind of gave it away.

Based on this thread in the autodesk.autocad.customization newsgroup, this topic has been around for awhile and by early 1999, FAS was already "cracked". I have no idea if that thread was referring to this tool or not.

Anyway, as an experiment, I tried to run this tool on one of my own FAS files, which is about 19k. Well about 30 minutes later, it was apparent that not much was being accomplished, at least based on the progress bar, so I stopped. No partial output file or anything.

I tried again on a much smaller file of mine, this time the file size is 949 bytes. Almost the same story, about 10 minutes later, I have to end task.

By this point, I'm thinking this program is a fake and not really doing anything. I decide to give it one more try. I write this one line of code (alert "hello") and save it as a LSP file. Then compile it into a FAS file which turns out to be a whopping 161 bytes.

7 minutes later, the program finishes. The output DOES contain the strings "Alert" and "Hello", but surrounded by a bunch of binary garbage. No indication of the original position of each string, or any parenthesis or quotation marks.

In summary, it appears that any decent size program would take hours to "decrypt" (if it would ever finish) - and that all you would have after you are done are the strings contained in the original LSP file. Not much else.

So if there is even a CHANCE you could lose your LSP source code, back it up today. Make a hard copy, whatever it takes. FAS file to source code doesn't look good at all.

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PermaLink       Posted 10/10/2005 06:00:00 PM      Comments (3)

eNotThatKindOfClass

eUnknownHandle

Unhandled Access Violation Reading 0x3b5cf24 Exception at 654fbd27h

unhandled exception


Who hasn't seen one of these errors at one time or another? How about while trying to OPEN a drawing? Oops, you know what that generally means, a corrupt drawing.

There are probably as many opinions regarding corrupt AutoCAD drawings as there are AutoCAD users. If you are reading this with a corrupt drawing in hand, you probably couldn't care less about how it got this way - you just want your drawing back. Here are some resources that might help.

• First off, how much time have you really lost? Check the time on your last BAK file (use the DRAWINGRECOVERY command if you have 2006). Consider how long it might take to recover your corrupt drawing vs. what it would take to just start with the BAK file.
  
• Try opening the drawing using another CAD program that can read DWG files, such as one of the IntelliCAD varieties [Cadopia | Autodsys | Bricscad | Complete List] or Microstation.
  
• Several ideas are documented in the Autodesk KB - http://support.autodesk.com/Getdoc.asp?ID=TS67106
  Be sure and check the links at the bottom of this page also since there are other drawing recovery techniques not noted on this main page.
  
• Here is some good information regarding drawing corruption
  
• Standalone DWG Audit Tool (v2000 and earlier)
  
• An older article, with some good info.
  
• As a last resort, send your DWG directly to Autodesk. See Looking for corrupted drawings for more information.
  

Good luck.

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 10/03/2005 12:23:00 PM      Comments (2)

Another great new CAD blog.

Title: Using Raster Design with AutoCAD
Author: Jane Smith
Link | Feed

Labels: New Blogs, Raster Design

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PermaLink       Posted 9/16/2005 12:30:00 PM      Comments (0)

Just ran across these articles regarding the new CUI menu system for AutoCAD 2006. If you have not upgraded yet, and menu customization is a priority, these articles will be of interest.

• AutoCAD 2006's Menu Overhaul Disaster
  
• 29 Flaws in CUI
  

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PermaLink       Posted 9/13/2005 05:00:00 PM      Comments (1)

Every now and then, I see someone wanting to convert a plot file back into a .DWG file. Unfortunately, this is a poor substitute for having the proper backup for your DWG file. Plot files only contain enough information for the plotter to draw the graphics that were plotted.

Having said that, there are programs that will create a DXF or DWG file from your plot file, but keep in mind that depending on the software used for the conversion, the output DXF/DWG will most likely only contain polylines. No arcs, dimensions, circles, text, etc., and no non-graphical information such as linetypes, block definitions, textstyles, layers, tablestyles, dimstyles, etc. either.

First off, PLT is a common file extension for plot files, but it is not a file format. Before you get started, it will help if you know the format of your plot file.

HPGL (Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language) is an older format used with many pen plotters. Most current HP plot drivers (and many other brands) produce HPGL/2 plot files, not HPGL.

Autodesk Express Tools provides a tool to convert HPGL format plot files. It does not work with HPGL/2 files.

HPGL2CAD can produce a DWG or DXF file from an HPGL/2 plot file. You can specify the DWG/DXF version, from AutoCAD r9 to r2000.

Here are some other tools designed for creating DWG/DXF files from plot files.

• Hp2Design
  
• Splot
  
• ViewCompanion
  
• HPGL2DXF
  

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PermaLink       Posted 9/13/2005 12:59:00 PM      Comments (1)

One new option you may have noticed when creating blocks is the ability to restrict the block from being exploded. See the illustration below, if the Allow Exploding box is not checked, then you will not be able to explode this block.

If you run into a block like this and use the EXPLODE command, you will see this at the command line:

Command: EXPLODE
Select objects: 1 found
Select objects:
1 could not be exploded.

To modify the block to allow exploding, run the BLOCK command, pick the block name from the list, check the Allow Exploding box, then the OK button. You will see the following dialog, then click Yes.

Now you are able to explode this block.

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 9/09/2005 07:24:00 AM      Comments (1)

You may find that even though you have prepared a successful AutoCAD deployment, there are a few items that you still find yourself doing by hand after the install. Here is one such item that we have encountered, and how we fixed it.

Per Autodesk support document http://support.autodesk.com/Getdoc.asp?ID=TS84445, you may need to turn off "Check for Publisher's Certificate Revocation" if AutoCAD 2005/2006 is hanging during initialization.

You can use the following .reg file contents to distribute this fix without having to make this change on each machine individually.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinTrust\Trust Providers\Software Publishing]"State"=dword:00023e00

Please read the entire Autodesk support document referenced above before making this modification yourself, a security risk is involved.

If you are unfamilier with .reg files, take a look at this page

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We have also found that our users prefer that the Task Pane (or Map Workspace) be turned OFF most of the time.

- - UPDATE - -

This lisp statement is a much easier way to turn off the Task Pane (or Map Workspace)

(ade_prefsetval "ShowWSpaceOnStartup" nil)

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 9/02/2005 07:38:00 AM      Comments (2)

Here is a simple lisp routine you can use to toggle the visibility of wipeout frames. Tested in 2002 and 2006.

wf.zip

Labels: Programming

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PermaLink       Posted 8/19/2005 07:11:00 PM      Comments (2)

The other day, our GIS department was trying to import a DWG file into ArcMap, but the linework in the drawing file would not show up after the import was complete. The problem turned out to be that the DWG file contained only AECC_CONTOUR objects.

Using Map to export the DWG contents to an ESRI .shp file didn't help either, since the export routine ignores the objects.

The solution was to explode the objects, and save a copy of the DWG for the GIS tech.

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 8/17/2005 06:00:00 AM      Comments (0)

Title: Civil 3D - Paving the Way
Author: Scott McEachron
Link | Feed

Title: TLConsulting
Author: Tracy Lincoln
Link | Feed

Also, looks like I'm going to have to turn OFF anonymous commenting since I'm starting to get SPAMMED daily... :-(

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PermaLink       Posted 8/16/2005 08:09:00 PM      Comments (0)

Another quick tip. You can use hyperlinks to navigate to named views in a drawing.

You can attach a hyperlink to almost any drawing entity, linking it to a named view.
You can even link to layout tabs.

Select the entity to which you want to attach the hyperlink, then use the shortcut "Ctrl+K", or run the properties command, then choose Hyperlink. The following dialog will appear. On the left pane, click "View of this Drawing"

Select the desired model space view or layout name.



Now when you hover this entity, the little hyperlink icon will be attached to your cursor. Hold the Ctrl key and click to go to this view. You can also right click, choose Hyperlink->Open...

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 8/16/2005 05:42:00 PM      Comments (0)

There seems to be a lot of confusion and misinformation out there regarding the operation of AutoCAD's automatic save function. First and foremost, it is not a replacement for the QSAVE command. AutoCAD's automatic save simply writes a copy of the current drawing to disk every so often, and when you shutdown AutoCAD normally, those file(s) are deleted.

Here is more or less a rundown of what occurs:

• As soon as a new drawing is modified (in other words, when DBMOD does not equal 0), a timer starts.
  
• When this timer reaches the value of the SAVETIME system variable, the automatic save function fires, an autosave file is created, and the timer is reset.
  
• The autosave file is created in the directory defined by the SAVEFILEPATH system variable. File naming syntax is described below.
  
• The timer is also reset anytime QSAVE, SAVE, or SAVEAS is executed.
  

Naming of the autosave file
The autosave file is named using this syntax:
drawing name_AutoCAD session number_MDE Window number_random number.sv$
...where

• drawing name = the original drawing name.
  
• AutoCAD session number = a number generated sequentially regarding concurrent sessions of AutoCAD.
  
• MDE Window number = a number generated sequentially regarding concurrent open drawings in each session.
  
• random number = a random number
  
• .sv$ = this is always the file extension for autosave files.
  

A typical autosave file name might be: siteplan_2_4_2810.sv$

Sometimes AutoCAD may 'crash', but the autosave files are deleted anyway. I have seen this after AutoCAD generates a fatal error and you get the dialog that says "AutoCAD can not continue, do you want to save changes?" - in this case, AutoCAD is giving you a chance to save your changes (although I recommend saying NO in this case - but I'll save that story for another day...) Anyway, in the above case, the autosave file(s) will be deleted.

Autosave files can be used by renaming them from .SV$ to .DWG

AutoCAD 2006 users get a new GUI called the "Drawing Recovery Manager" - now you don't have to search for and manually rename files anymore.

One more TIP: If you want to RETAIN all autosave files regardless of whether you crash or not. Set up a directory on your server with WRITE rights, but without DELETE rights. Use this as your SAVEFILEPATH. The autosave files will get written to this directory, but will not be deleted. Be sure to log in as a user with delete rights ever so often and clean out this directory.

Update:Always make sure ISAVEPERCENT is set to zero (0).

Moral of the story: QSAVE OFTEN

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 7/29/2005 09:02:00 PM      Comments (11)

Some links regarding the AutoCAD 2006 EULA

AutoCAD 2006 EULA available online.

Buyers beware of the fine print

Autodesk's Reply To An Article on the AutoCAD 2006 EULA

Going Too Far? Autodesk License Terms

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PermaLink       Posted 7/27/2005 09:08:00 PM      Comments (0)

AutoCAD Release History - Graphical Map

Unofficial AutoCAD History Pages

To find the version of a .DWG file, open the file in Notepad or some other ASCII or HEX editor and read the first six bytes, then reference this table.

AC1021 = 2007
AC1018 = 2004, 2005, 2006
AC1015 = 2002, 2000i, 2000
AC1014 = 14
AC1012 = 13
AC1009 = 12, 11
AC1006 = 10
AC1004 = 9
AC1002 = 2


While we are at it, how about a Windows history lesson...
(Green = 16bit , Gray = 16/32 bit , Orange = 32bit , Purple = 64bit)

11-1985 - Windows 1.01
11-1987 - Windows 2.02
04-1988 - Windows 2.10 (286/386)
03-1989 - Windows 2.11 (286/386)
05-1990 - Windows 3.0
04-1992 - Windows 3.1
10-1992 - Windows for Workgroups 3.1
07-1993 - Windows NT 3.1
12-1993 - Windows 3.11
12-1993 - Windows for Workgroups 3.11
09-1994 - Windows NT 3.5
05-1995 - Windows NT 3.51
08-1995 - Windows 95
08-1996 - Windows NT 4.0
06-1998 - Windows 98
06-1999 - Windows 98 SE
02-2000 - Windows 2000
09-2000 - Windows ME
10-2001 - Windows XP
04-2005 - Windows XP x64

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PermaLink       Posted 7/23/2005 09:05:00 AM      Comments (0)

I have ran into this problem a few times now so thought I would write it up...

If you have AutoCAD or a vertical installed along with Raster Design, and your Shift key stops working for things like "Shift+Pick" to remove objects from selection sets, or "Shift+Pick" to make mutiple grips hot, then this might be the solution.

Run the command IOPTIONS
Go to the User Preferences tab
Uncheck the toggle Shift+Left Click Image Select

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 7/21/2005 08:02:00 PM      Comments (0)

Here are a few of the new sysvars for 2006 (ok, one of them is not new, but it's worth mentioning again.)

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CENTERMT - Concerns moving a corner grip on center justified MTEXT.

• If set to 0, the MTEXT will move also.
  
• If set to 1, the MTEXT will remain in place (same as r2005 and earlier behavior).
  

DTEXTED - Specify editor for TEXT entities.

• 0 = use the default in-place text editor.
  
• 1 = use legacy edit text dialog box (same as r2005 and earlier behavior).
  

MTEXTED - Specify editor for MTEXT entities. Although not a new sysvar, there is a new option.

• . = use the default in-place text editor.
  
• internal = use the default in-place text editor.
  
• notepad = use Windows Notepad (you can specify any external editor)
  
• oldeditor = use legacy mtext editor (same as r2005 and earlier Mtext editor)
  

OSNAPZ - Specify Z coordinate when using Object Snap.

• 0 = Osnap uses Z coordinate from picked point.
  
• 1 = Osnap substitutes value of sysvar ELEVATION for the Z coordinate.
  

SHOWLAYERUSAGE - When turned on, Layer Manager will show which layers are used in the current drawing.

• 0 = Off
  
• 1 = On (this may cause a decrease in Layer Manager performance)
  

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PermaLink       Posted 7/19/2005 12:15:00 PM      Comments (0)

Sometimes while using AutoCAD, you want to delete a layer, but even
after removing all entities from the layer in question, it will not
purge. Hopefully the following troubleshooting will help.

Causes
There are really only two causes. An entity is referencing the
layer you are trying to delete, or it's a corrupt drawing. Look for
entities in these places:

• Block definitions


• Empty text strings


• Viewports with frozen layers
  
  

Solutions
Depending on the version of AutoCAD and 3rd party applications
that you have:

• If you have Express Tools, use the Layer Merge command to merge entities from the mystery layer onto layer 0 (zero).


• Go to http://www.manusoft.com
  and take a look at SuperPurge. This tool will delete any referenced item using it's hard purge method. This low cost tool is well worth it's price.


• Find the entities that are referencing the layer you wish to
  delete and delete those entities, or move them to another layer.
  
  
  
  • Use BEDIT or REFEDIT to check your block definitions.
    
  • Turn on QTEXTMODE in order to see empty text strings.
    
  • If you have viewports, switch to each and make sure the layer isn't frozen.
    
  
  

If none of these work, you may have a corrupt drawing. Try using WBLOCK to create a new drawing.

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 7/05/2005 05:17:00 PM      Comments (1)

Here is something I ran across today, using 2006.

Copy two columns of text from Excel spreadsheet to clipboard.
In Excel, the first column is formatted as 'General' and the second column is formatted as 'Number', set to 2 decimal places.
Edit | Paste Special into AutoCAD - as AutoCAD Entities
Resulting object is a TABLE.

First column in AutoCAD table is fine.
Second column of text is formatted like this:

{\fArial|b0|i0|c0;\H0.463x;5,303.21}

We don't want this text 0.463 times it's HEIGHT value (defined in the TABLE style). The font wasn't a big issue, but why not just let all of the imported text assume the properties of the current TABLE STYLE?

"Remove all property overrides" does not help (and it shouldn't)
"Remove Formatting" is grayed out in the context menu.

The only way to remove the formatting is through PROPERTIES, one at a time.

Wait, there is another way. Export the table from AutoCAD to CSV. Then open that file and repeat the copy/pastespec sequence. Better yet, export the original Excel file to CSV, then import it ONCE.

Based on that, it appears that if you remove the Excel formatting, you get nice clean TABLE objects in AutoCAD with no formatting applied to the text itself.

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PermaLink       Posted 7/01/2005 06:58:00 PM      Comments (3)

When using dates in FIELDS, you probably either want the date to remain static until you manually update it, or update automatically like other fields.

If you use the DATE field name, then the date string will remain static until you manually update it using the UDPATEFIELD command.

If you want a FIELD that includes a date that automatically updates, you can use the following DIESEL string in your field.

$(edtime, 0, MON DD"," YYYY-H:MM:SS am/pm)

Remember that the value of FIELDEVAL determines what events trigger the automatic field updates.

Labels: Fields

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PermaLink       Posted 7/01/2005 12:36:00 PM      Comments (1)

This page has been updated. For the latest version, visit: http://rkmcswain.blogspot.com/2006/08/drawing-viewers.html

Since Autodesk quit providing a free application to view it's own DWG files, there has been a demand for said application. Plenty of other software vendors have provided a solution for this need.

1. Autodesk does offer a DWG viewer, but it's only available bundled with their DWF Composer $
   
   
2. guthrie CAD Viewer $
   
   
3. Bentley View FREE
   
   
4. Cimmetry Systems $
   
   
5. Informative Graphics $ and FREE versions.
   
   
6. AutoDWG $
   
   
7. Trix Systems $
   

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DWG Conversion...

Note that Solidworks offers an add-on to "Open and edit any DWG file using any version of AutoCAD". For example, install this utility and you can open AutoCAD version 2004 drawings using AutoCAD 2000. Read what Autodesk has to say about this utility.

Autodesk also offers their own Batch Drawing Converter that will "convert any AutoCAD or AutoCAD-based drawing file to AutoCAD Release 14, AutoCAD 2000, AutoCAD 2000i, AutoCAD 2002, AutoCAD 2004, AutoCAD 2005, and AutoCAD 2006 file formats..."

Labels: Viewers

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PermaLink       Posted 6/09/2005 06:01:00 AM      Comments (4)

Here is a step by step process for creating a "blow up detail" in paper space. This is one method that works well for civil drawings where you need a circular shaped, larger scale view.

1. In model space, draw a circle around the area you want to blow up. Preferably an even number radius.
Example 75' radius circle
2. Divide the circle radius size by the horizontal scale, this gives you the viewport circle size.
Example 75/100 = 0.75
3. Next, determine the scale for the detail blow up, and divide the horizontal scale by this value
Example: if you want a 20 scale detail, so divide 100/20 = 5.0
4. Multiply the answer in #2 by the factor in #3. This is the 1:1 viewport size in paper space.
Example 5.0 * 0.75 = 3.75
5. Switch to your layout and draw a circle. Use the size calculated in step #4
6. Convert this circle to a viewport, using the MVIEW command, Object option.
7. Change to model space inside this new viewport and perform a Zoom Center, using the center of the circle in model space as
the center point, and using a scale factor that equals the scale you chose in step 3.
Example: Zoom;C;1/20XP
8. At this point, the viewport will show you exactly what you circled in model space. Switch back to paper space, and lock the viewport.

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 6/06/2005 12:49:00 PM      Comments (0)

Although it should be less of a problem nowdays in AutoCAD 2006, there still seems to be many people "losing" their command line in older versions of AutoCAD.

To restore the command line, follow the procedure titled Restoring a Lost Command Line at www.dotsoft.com

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 5/21/2005 05:12:00 PM      Comments (0)

I attended the Autodesk Realize Your Ideas Tour yesterday. Because this was a free program, I expected the "technical" sessions to be sales oriented, and for the most part they were. But, there was still some technical knowledge to be gained about the software (Civil 3D 2006 in my case).

Even if there were no technical sessions, it would have been worth my attendance just to hear Guy Kawasaki speak. I recommend trying to catch this tour if it's in your area. Of course Lynn Allen was there also, and did an excellent job as always. Be sure to attend her session and pick up her Tips and Tricks booklet.

Labels: Notices

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PermaLink       Posted 5/06/2005 06:27:00 AM      Comments (0)

This post has been updated. The new page is here http://rkmcswain.blogspot.com/2006/03/convert-pdf-to-dwg.html

Labels: pdf

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PermaLink       Posted 4/21/2005 07:10:00 AM      Comments (7)

Sometimes, it's the little things that make all the difference. One of the best features of the R2005 Mtext editor is the ability to quickly exit (while saving changes) by clicking anywhere in the drawing editor. This beats trying to pick the tiny OK button every time.

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To quickly hide all toolbars, and windows in the AutoCAD screen (such as tool palettes), use the shortcut Ctrl+0. This devotes all your screen real estate to the drawing editor, with the exception of the pull-down menu and the command line. Use the same shortcut to toggle your screen back to normal.

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 4/13/2005 12:31:00 PM      Comments (2)

Quick Tip

Many users must put notes in ALL CAPITALS, If you get tired of toggling the Caps Lock on and off between entering notes and working in other applications, read on.

While in the MTEXT editor, right click to view the context menu. Select AutoCAPS and whatever you type in the editor will be capitalized regardless of the status of Caps Lock.

Note: When AutoCAPS is on, use of the Shift key will cause characters to be lowercase.

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 4/06/2005 01:08:00 PM      Comments (0)

If you have ever tried making a custom linetype with inch symbol (") in the linetype definition, you know AutoCAD will complain, because it interprets this as an extra quote mark in the linetype string.

Instead, use %%34 to represent the inch mark ("). See the following example:

*15 Inch,-----15"-----15"-----15"-----15"-----15"-----
A,.5,-.2,["15%%34",standard,S=.10,R=0.0,X=-0.12,Y=-.06],-.2,.2

Note: The 34 is the ASCII code for (")

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 4/05/2005 07:00:00 AM      Comments (1)

If you are working in a crowded drawing and have difficulty using object snap, try TAB.

For example, you want to snap to an endpoint of a line in a crowded area but the other endpoint is in an open area. Just position your cursor on the clear endpoint until the Autosnap marker appears, then press TAB to highlight the entity. Press TAB again to move the Autosnap marker to the other endpoint. Left click to select this endpoint.

This also works in other logical situations like, QUA snap to a circle and END snap to an arc.

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 3/31/2005 07:32:00 PM      Comments (0)

Remember you can use @ to return the last picked point. Here is an example of using this in the BREAK command. Of course this is useful in macros.


Command: BREAK Select object:
Specify second break point or [First point]: F
Specify first break point: INT of
Specify second break point: @
Command:


Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 3/29/2005 07:41:00 PM      Comments (0)

With very few exceptions, you should never manually enter a dimension value. I see this all the time when I go to edit dimension text, and the text in the editor reads something like FUTURE 20' EASEMENT, when it should read FUTURE <> EASEMENT.

Remember, the <> holds the place of the actual linear or angular measurement. If you stretch or reposition a dimension with the hard coded numbers, those numbers do not change. Leave the <> alone. If the dimension value is not what you think it should be, then take a look at what you are dimensioning again.

Update: In AutoCAD 2006, while using the default editor, you no longer see the <> characters, but you now see the actual measurement, highlighted.

Labels: Tips

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PermaLink       Posted 3/28/2005 04:45:00 PM      Comments (0)