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)