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Tips & Tools Weekly (Vol. 14, No. 26)

13 Jul, 2009 By: various

This Week's Software Tips

Instant Arrowheads
CAD instructor Val Newfield gives us a routine that instantly draws arrowheads on the end of a selected line. "I wrote the tiny LISP routine, AHL.LSP, so they [students] can put the arrowheads on quickly. It works with any version of AutoCAD, and puts the arrow on the end of the line nearest to the pick point." View the complete tip and post your feedback.

Edit Block Attributes Instantly
Frequent tipster Leonid Nemirovsky sends us a tip to use when editing AutoCAD block attributes. "By accident I ran into a tiny, but very useful AutoCAD tip. If you hold the Ctrl key and double click on any attribute in the attributed block, it becomes available for editing as a single text entity." View the complete tip and post your feedback.

Background Mask for Dimensions
James Olszewski sends a method for masking text in an AutoCAD dimension object. "While there have been other background mask tips (including my own) submitted before, none solve the problem of background masking dimension text." View the complete tip and post your feedback

Restore Xrefs
James Bainbridge shows us a method for quickly restoring xrefs that have been broken. "Recently we have upgraded some of our file structures and added servers, which changed drive letters on some of our projects. Unfortunately this has broken the folder path to our external references. So instead of reloading all of the references, I've been using the Projectname command to quickly fix the problem." View the complete tip and post your feedback.

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.

By submitting code, you grant Cadalyst the right to print and distribute your code in print, digitally, and by other means. Cadalyst and individual authors retain all rights to the code; published code is not to be used for commercial purposes.

Got Feedback? To share feedback about one of today's tips, navigate to the tip using the link provided above, then click Comment. The Comment tool is available to registered users of Cadalyst's CAD Tips site.

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. 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 for assistance with AutoLISP and other AutoCAD customization questions.

Sincere thanks to our volunteer Tip Patrol members: Brian Benton, Don Boyer,
Mitchell Hirschklau, R.K. McSwain, and Billy Wooten.

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Resources

Luxology Unveils Community-Based Asset Sharing Web site for Modo
Luxology, a developer of artist-focused 3D software, unveiled Luxology Community Asset Sharing Site, a participatory content-sharing portal and learning resource. Users can upload and download presets, exchange associated usage tips and techniques with other artists, and browse through the site's visual interface to select presets, which can be utilized in modo 401.

Transoft Solutions Launches Corporate Blog
Transoft Solutions, developer of AEC software, announced the launch of its new corporate blog, Ahead of the Curve. The site includes information on the AEC industry, CAD technology, as well as Transoft news. Readers can provide comments, view upcoming events and webinars, and follow Transoft Solutions on Twitter.

Sescoi's New Guide Examines Cost Benefits of Automated CAM
Developer and vendor of manufacturing software Sescoi released a new whitepaper titled Real Cost Benefits From Automated CAD/CAM (PDF), which offers information and advice to help evaluate the risk benefits of automation when applied to computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programming. The paper also examines the real cost benefits that can be achieved by switching to an automated CAD/CAM system.

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Deals & Freebies

Total Training Offers Subscriptions for Online CAD Training and More
Total Training Online: All Access is Total Training's largest online library, which includes more than 800 hours of training with a range of courses covering topics for creative design, video production, digital photography, computer aided design, animation, audio technical, and office productivity programs. The monthly subscription is available for $24.99/month. Customers can recognize additional savings by signing up for a six month, one year or two year subscription.

Mastering Revit 2009 book by Paul F. Aubin

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Opportunities & Honors

Win Free ProgeCAD Software in the ICADsales Pick-a-Logo Contest
ICADsales, a progeCAD reseller, is looking for a new logo and web site design. Enter the Pick-a-Logo Contest and choose your favorite design for a chance to win free progeCAD software. The winner will be picked by random drawing and announced in September 2009. Registration on iCADsales.com is required to enter.

Winners Announced in KOMPAS-3D Modeling Contest
ASCON, developer and integrator of CAD/AEC/PLM software, announced the results of the KOMPAS-3D Modeling Contest 2009. This year the contest established a new record with 81 projects from 54 industrial enterprises. Winners are listed on the company's web site.

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Books & Training

Doc Walt University Offers CAD Training
CAD training provider Conceptual Product Development announced it is now accepting charter memberships to the online Doc Walt University, which will be live on August 4, 2009. Training will be provided in the form of downloadable lessons in Adobe Acrobat documents and windows AVI files. The first of the many colleges that will be accessible to charter members is the KeyCreator College, to be followed by CADKEY, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, and the Mathematic Colleges.

I Get It Releases Online Autodesk Inventor 2010 Course
The Autodesk Inventor 2010 update is now available through I Get It online training. It is designed to help users transition from Inventor 2009 to Inventor 2010. This course explores changes and enhancements to the interface, part design (including sheet metal and plastic parts), assemblies, weldments, drawing, interoperability, content management, and bills of materials.

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Mark Your Calendar

Summer Series: Splash into Futurecasting

July 14-August 11, 2009
Various dates and times.
For six weeks this summer, Fiatech is hosting webinars to share its tips and trends. The series looks at future forecasts in energy, economics, cities, organizations, and technologies. Read more

Workshop: Implementing AutoCAD Civil 3D 101

July 22, 2009
Portland, Oregon
In this seminar, Ideate's civil engineers will share their best practices for implementing Civil 3D within an organization. Read more

Revit MEP Hands-on Test Drive

July 22, 2009
Portland, Oregon
Ideate is hosting a free Revit MEP test drive, designed as a first look at this program. If you are considering moving to Revit, this is your chance for a hands-on experience with the software. Read more

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

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What's New at Cadalyst.com

CAD Management in a Continuing Recession, Part 1
Learn how to protect your job in the current economic downturn. Read more

Configuration Tips for Windows Vista 64 (CAD Manager's Toolbox)
The right system architecture, RAM, and graphics card make the difference in 64-bit operating systems. Read more

Solid Edge Tutorial: Learn Synchronous Technology at Your Own Pace
Choose the proper template to complete existing designs in the mode they began as you transition to Synchronous Technology. Read more

About the Author: various

AutoCAD Tips!

Lynn Allen

Autodesk Technical Evangelist Lynn Allen guides you through a different AutoCAD feature in every edition of her popular "Circles and Lines" tutorial series. For even more AutoCAD how-to, check out Lynn's quick tips in the Cadalyst Video Gallery. Subscribe to Cadalyst's Tips & Tricks Tuesdays free e-newsletter and we'll notify you every time a new video tip is available. All exclusively from Cadalyst!
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