Tips & Tools Weekly (Vol. 14, No. 2)

This Week's Software Tips

Set Insertion Scale Units
Carole Hibbard works in the GIS field and does a lot of mapping in CAD. She sent us this tip on inserting xrefs: "Back around the 2004 release of AutoCAD Land Desktop, I had a problem when I inserted another drawing as an xref. The xref should overlay the current map. Instead, it was sent out to 'La la Land' and the maps would be miles apart on the screen. I spoke to others who had the same problem but couldn't find a fix. After much research, I found the system variables were to blame." View the full tip.

ShortArchDims (S.A.D.)
Shawn Evjen designed a routine that converts dimensions from feet/inches to just inches. "ShortArchDims (SAD) is a routine I wrote last night to 'skinny up' architectural dimensions from the 2'-0" format to 24". Type in ShortArchDims or SAD, set your tolerance, and select dimensions. Anything smaller than the tolerance will be modified; anything larger will be ignored. Manually modified dimension strings will also be ignored." View the full tip.

Match Text Content
Eli Kay thought of this LISP routine, similar to the AutoCAD command Match Properties, to "match" text in a drawing. "The Match Text routine will ask the user for a primary text object (dtext or mtext) and match the contents to newly selected object(s) (dtext or mtext). I use a modified error trap (also attached) to help with error control." View the full tip.

Zoom to VMAX
Allen Jessup sent us a tip on using the Zoom command. "This is a nice function of the Zoom command that hasn't been documented since the R12 manual. After initiating the Zoom command at the command line, enter V for Vmax. This will cause AutoCAD to zoom out to the maximum area possible without a regeneration." View the full tip.

Fully Purge Those Files
Jonathan Jonas noticed that when you do a Purge All at the command line, it does not really do a purge all. What does not get purged are the Registered Applications embedded within a DWG file. "For years now I used a simple routine to do Purge All for all my drawings, but now that I know it doesn't work. I've adjusted the code to force AutoCAD to truly purge everything with the following changes to the code." View the full tip.

Microstation Tip: Change Case
MicroStation v8i has added a Change Case selection to the right-click menu in the Text Editor -- Word Processor dialog. Simply right click in the text area of the dialog to display the menu, then select Change Case and the desired case setting.  Download the PDF. This tip courtesy of the Envision Group.

Submit Your Tip for your favorite CAD software. If we publish your tip, we'll send you a Cadalyst T-shirt, and each month Cadalyst editors will randomly select one published tip and send a $100 gift card to its author. Please remember:

• Submit only code and other tips that are your original work (or provide the original source so we can include proper credit).
• Tell us which software version you use.

Tips & Tools Weekly software tips for AutoCAD are reviewed by Cadalyst staff and the Tip Patrol before publication. Use all tips at your own discretion, please, and watch later editions of this newsletter for updates and corrections. We're sorry, but editors and Tip Patrol members cannot provide assistance with technical problems; please refer to Cadalyst's Hot Tip Harry-Help discussion forum.

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Resources

Contex Americas Webinars
Contex Americas hosts webinars about the company's hardware and software for customers and dealers. Educational webinars cover introductory large-format topics; viewers can watch online software demonstrations and ask questions about software functionality.

Bentley Releases The Year in Infrastructure 2008
The 192-page yearbook from Bentley Systems highlights the work of Bentley users. It features descriptions and color illustrations of more than 250 project nominations and 23 winners honored in the professional and academic portions of the 2008 BE Awards of Excellence competition. Read more.

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Opportunities & Honors

ZWCAD Launches Design Contest
ZWCAD Software has launched its ZWCAD CAD Design Contest to showcase talent in the 2D design industry. The contest features designers of all types using ZWCAD 2009. All qualified designs will be displayed on the company's web site. Deadline for registration and submission is February 7, 2009.

Objet Geometries' Connex500 Receives Frost & Sullivan Award
Objet Geometries' Connex500 printer has been honored by international business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan with the 2008 European 3D Printing Product Innovation of the Year Award.

Graphtec CSX300HDPlus Honored With Bertl's Best Award
Paradigm Imaging Group announced that Graphtec's CSX300HDPlus has received a BERTL's Best 2008 award for Best Value for Price -- Wide-Format 36" Scanner. BERTL reviews current product lines and new product introductions. BERTL's Best covers the entire digital imaging and document management arena.

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Books & Training

Revit Training Manuals
ProSoft released Revit Architecture 2009 Fundamentals Level II and Creating Parametric Families in Revit Architecture 2009 exercise workbooks. Topics of the workbooks include design phases and options, site components, reference planes, and family types.
Read more.

MicroStation XM Courseware
The Envision Group released its new MicroStation v8 XM Fundamentals and Update training manuals. The civil edition contains civil engineering lab examples to complement its reference material. The architectural edition focuses on achieving Architectural MicroStation mastery. MicroStation XM Update is for current users moving to MicroStation XM, with a focus on its new features.

Professional Training Bundle
The NX 6 Advanced Manufacturing course focuses on advanced manufacturing topics. The manufacturing assemblies unit covers the advantages of using assemblies. The Z-Level unit covers the creation of surface regions and creation of Z-Level operations. Other units include surface contouring, template creation, and sequential milling.

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The Week's New CAD and Related Products

AEC: ZWCAD 2009
New functions of ZWSOFT's application include Aerial View window, eTransmit command, jogged and arc length dimensions, filters, and multiple grips editing. Read more.

MCAD: GEM V2
ParaCloud's 3D pattern modeler overlays mesh geometry with 3D objects sampled from CAD software. Read more.

CAE: GrafiCalc 2010
Software from GEOMATE enables engineers to conceptualize, analyze, and validate critical product performance and producibility parameters. Read more.

CAM: progeCAM
The software includes iCADsales' progeCAD Professional and PartMaster CNC programming software for CNC mills, lathes, or wire EDM machining. Read more.

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Mark Your Calendar

2009 PLM Vendor Forum: PLM in Uncertain Economic Times
March 25, 2009 - April 8, 2009
Various Cities
Participants should gain an understanding of the current PLM market, dynamics that are impacting it, and expectations for its continued evolution. Read more.

International ARCHIBUS Users' Conference
April 26-29, 2009
Scottsdale, Arizona
Attendees will be introduced to new web-based ARCHIBUS software, including Lease Administration and Preventive Maintenance. Read more.

ESRI International User Conference
July 13-17, 2009
San Diego, California
ESRI UC provides an opportunity for ESRI users to extend their GIS skills and connect with the GIS community. Read more.

Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference
July 20 - 24, 2009
Louisville, Kentucky
Attendees are encouraged to network and learn about the latest innovations in the field of portable 3D industrial measurement technologies. Read more.

For a complete list of CAD meetings, conferences, training sessions, and more, check out our calendar of events on Cadalyst.com.