Here are some links to some free AutoCAD linetypes.

LP_Linetypes.zip

linetypes.zip

NCS.lin

fs-site2.lin

NEN2322.lin

HM_LTyp.lin

ball.lin

CCAD.LIN

pR.lin

mpa.lin

Another way to get some free AutoCAD linetypes....? Make your own. Here are some tutorials.
Simple linetypes
Shape linetypes
Custom simple linetypes

How custom can you get? The following is a custom AutoCAD linetype defined using a shape file.

Labels: AutoCAD, Free, Linetypes, Tips

---

PermaLink       Posted 9/29/2007 03:22:00 PM      Comments (1)

If you have a CUI file that you would like to convert back to an MNU file, download cuitomnu.vlx.
( alternative download URL )

Disclaimer: This routine works on some CUI files, but not all. I tried converting the stock OOTB "acad.cui" from AutoCAD 2007, and it failed. I tried converting a custom CUI and the Express Tools CUI from AutoCAD 2007, and it worked OK.

Labels: Add-on utilities, CUI, MNU, Notices, Tips

---

PermaLink       Posted 9/29/2007 03:06:00 PM      Comments (2)

Samuli commented on the Toggle AutoCAD Background post from February, asking for a way to toggle the layout background color also (the original function only toggled the model space background color...)

Here it is. This will toggle the background color from white to black to white in whatever space you are in. (no effect on the block editor though...)

(vl-load-com)
(defun c:TBC (/ pref col tm)
  (setq tm (getvar "tilemode"))
  (setq pref (vla-get-display
        (vla-get-Preferences
                  (vlax-get-acad-object)
               )
      )
  )
  (if (zerop tm)
    (setq cur (vla-get-graphicswinlayoutbackgrndcolor pref))
    (setq cur (vla-get-graphicswinmodelbackgrndcolor pref))
  )
  (setq col (vlax-variant-value
       (vlax-variant-change-type
         cur
         vlax-vblong
       )
     )
  )
  (if (not (or (eq col 0) (eq col 16777215)))
    (setq col 0)
  )
  (cond ((zerop tm)
  (vla-put-graphicswinlayoutbackgrndcolor
      pref
      (vlax-make-variant (abs (- col 16777215)) vlax-vblong)
  )
  (vla-put-layoutcrosshaircolor
      pref
      (vlax-make-variant col vlax-vblong)
  )
 )
 (t
  (vla-put-graphicswinmodelbackgrndcolor
      pref
      (vlax-make-variant (abs (- col 16777215)) vlax-vblong)
  )
  (vla-put-modelcrosshaircolor
      pref
      (vlax-make-variant col vlax-vblong)
  )
 )
  )
  (vlax-release-object pref)
  (princ)
)

Labels: Programming, Tips

---

PermaLink       Posted 9/25/2007 12:16:00 PM      Comments (0)

In a recent, highly unscientific poll with only 81 respondents, 60% of readers said they use PDF when they send drawings outside the office. 7% said they use DWF.

The reason I bring this back up is a statement made by Mike Hudspeth in an article titled MCAD Modeling, in the September 2007 Cadalyst. The statement was...

Everything is 3D today. It's hard to avoid it. Even Adobe Acrobat, the industry de facto standard document-transfer format, is offering 3D capability...

I know Autodesk has been making strides in 3D capabilities with DWF, but this article flat out calls PDF the "de facto" standard for document transfer. So is DWF gaining or losing ground?

We primarily work with what I consider 2D drawings in Land Desktop and AutoCAD (no 3D solids), so we have little to no experience with portable 3D files in DWF or PDF format.

If you work with 3D files and share them using either method, please leave a comment with any thoughts you have on this matter. Thanks!

Labels: Cadalyst, Document sharing, DWF, pdf

---

PermaLink       Posted 9/20/2007 06:36:00 PM      Comments (1)

This is one of the new commands in AutoCAD 2008 that is sort of overlooked, but can save you a lot of time. If you use xrefs, then how many times have you had a problem with the parent drawing crashing? You might try running AUDIT or RECOVER on the parent drawing and find there are no errors, but you continue to have problems with this drawing.

Remember, if one of the child xrefs is corrupt, then this will affect your main drawing also. In the past, you would have to run RECOVER on each child drawing. If you had several xrefs, you might even have to open the main drawing and make note of the path and name of each drawing.

With RECOVERALL, you simply pick the main drawing and it, along with all the child xrefs are fed through the RECOVER command. All errors are fixed, and each drawing is saved in the current format.

The first time you run this command, you will get this dialog.

Press Continue and select the main drawing. After the process has completed, you will be presented with the Drawing Recover Log which will look something like this.

Labels: AutoCAD 2008, Tips

---

PermaLink       Posted 9/19/2007 07:15:00 AM      Comments (0)

If you are an LT user or even if you are not, check out these two blogs. A lot of good information on both.

Kate's CAD Tips
By: Kate M
Blog: http://katescadtips.blogspot.com/
Feed: http://katescadtips.blogspot.com/atom.xml


The LT Side of Things
By: Erik
Blog: http://ltsideofthings.blogspot.com/
Feed: http://ltsideofthings.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Labels: AutoCAD LT, Notices

---

PermaLink       Posted 9/09/2007 08:21:00 AM      Comments (0)

The other day, I saw a link to Novedge about CAD companies editing each others Wikipedia entries. At the time, I didn't pay much attention, but then I ran across this article from Deelip Menezes that pointed me back there again, so I took another look at this occurrence.

There are a couple of examples that I really like.

1. The Wikipedia article on SolidWorks, edited on 17 Nov 2006.

The original text read "and is now part of the midrange CAD market along with [[Autodesk Inventor]], launched in 1999"

After editing by an Autodesk IP, it reads "and is now part of the midrange CAD market. In recent years it has begun to loose ground to more sophisticated modeling systems like [[Autodesk Inventor]], launched in 1999" (The misspelling of the word "lose" (as loose) was part of the entry)

2. On that same date, under the entry for Inventor, someone at Autodesk was back at work.

The original text read "It is one of the mid-range 3D CAD products including [[SolidWorks]], [[Pro/ENGINEER]], and [[Solid Edge]]. Introduced in 1999, years after [[SolidWorks]] and [[Pro/ENGINEER]]"

After editing by an Autodesk IP, it reads "It is one the number one selling 3D modler on the market out selling both [[SolidWorks]], [[Pro/ENGINEER]], and [[Solid Edge]] for the last 5 years in a row" (Yes, the misspelling of modeler (as modler) was included in this post also)

3.  Earlier on 31 Oct 2006, the entry for Inventor was changed as shown below.

The original entry, last edited by an Autodesk IP, read "It is the best selling 3D mechanical design software package in the world, out selling it's nearest competitor [[SolidWorks]] for five years in a row. It is a cost effective alternative to more expensive programs such as: [[Solidworks]]"

After an edit by a SolidWorks IP, it reads "It is one of the mid-range 3D CAD products including [[SolidWorks]], [[Pro/ENGINEER]], and [[Solid Edge]]. Introduced in 1999, years after [[SolidWorks]]"

 

Check out the WikiScanner for yourself at Virgil

---

PermaLink       Posted 9/02/2007 09:24:00 PM      Comments (2)