Computer Aided Design Tips & Tricks

Fed up trying to achieve a task through a pull down try these Shortcuts in AutoCAD to maximise speed:

CTRL&1 Opens and Closes the properties dialogue box
CTRL&2 opens and closes the Designcentre
CTRL&3 Opens the 2004 Tools Pallette
CTRL&4 Opens and closes the Content Browser in ADT 2004
CTRL&5 Opens and closes the Project Navigator in ADT 2004

Remember: want to edit something in AutoCAD, simply double click on the object.

Hold down the CTRL key while trying to select objects will cycle though a series until you get the correct object.

A common Question is: My AutoCAD always deselects an object when I try to add another one in. ANSWER > Go to tools and options and on the selection tab make sure "Use shift to add selection is deselected". This sometimes can be reset after the license server can not be found.

Holding down the shift key while a polyline is selected will enable multiple hot grips (red) to be selected, to make the stretch command easier.

Did you know if you have a repeatative number that is renetered such as a line at 100 units that needs to be drawn again, you can use the "Up Arrow" key to recall the last figure entered!

If you have ever wanted to paste your AutoCAD DWG file into a Microsoft Word or other Office document but forgot to turn the background colour to white so that you don't get the background colour, you can now turn off that feature. All you need to do is to set the system variable
WMFBKGND to "OFF

Repetitive Commands in AutoCAD 2000/2000i/2002

Ever noticed that when you use the command such as fillet that you have to hit enter or RMC to recall. Simply change the macro properties to include a "*" before the button properties and the command automatically starts up again. i.e.
*^C^C_fillet

Groups

Groups is a tool that many users would forget about, but can prove very useful. The group command is basically a saved set of objects
in the drawing, that can be edited together or separately if required.

Type "Group" at the command line and give it a try

Tip of the Week

Holding down the shift key while selecting objects will remove them from the current selection.

For Additional Tips & Tricks please use the following links:

Caddigest: http://www.caddigest.com/subjects/autocad/reviews.htm

Lynn Allen @ Autodesk: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?id=2260446&siteID=123112