Tips & Tools Weekly (Vol. 12, No. 23)
24 Jun, 2007What's New at Cadalyst.com Attention Readers of Tips & Tools Weekly Check Out the Buzz on Cadalyst Discussion Forums Cadalyst Daily Update
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SIGGRAPH Announces Interactive Technology Studio ThomasNet.com Offers New CAD Features > Back to Top This Week's Software Tips Send us your tip, code or shortcut 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 award a $100 gift card to its author. Please submit only code and other tips that are your original work (or provide the original source so we can include proper credit) and tell us which software version you use. By submitting any tip or code, you grant Cadalyst the right to print and distribute that tip or 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. Congratulations May Winner! Using a Template File "To begin, create a new drawing with all the required standards in the project, such as draft setting, layers, colors, linetypes; include dimension styles, text styles, text size, and so on; create a border if needed. Now the file is ready to save as template. Enter Saveas at the Command prompt, and name it something easy to remember. Then, select Save as type: / AutoCAD Drawing Template File (*.DWT). The Save in folder automatically shows the Template directory. You can also select this folder as a file-saving location, which is now below the Program Files / ACAD. Now your template file is ready to use. Whenever you want to create a new drawing in the project, just select the template file." NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: One of our faithful Patrollers agrees that you can have template files for each project, but he reiterates that you must maintain strict control according to company standards. He continues, "Alternatively, have a single template file for each discipline in your company, such as structural, civil, etc., that contains the company standards. Then use this template to create a new drawing on a project and bring in the desired drawing sheet size and fill in some of the typical information in the title block. This can then be 'saved as' for your subsequent files. While you may have a DWT (template) file, it's also worth having a DWG file with the same settings. This can be inserted into existing drawings; you can't insert a template file as a block." A second Patroller agrees that this is a great reminder. He shares, "I use a template file for clients (if they provide the necessary information). It's amazing how many companies don't have a template file that they can hand to companies. We often have to do one for them, and by doing so, run the risk of errors. After you create the DWT file, you should also create the DST file, which checks for deviations from the standard." Add Commands Panel NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: "The Dashboard seems to be the natural progression of the palettes. I see a day when only the dashboard is required, and tool palettes will go the same way as the screen menu." Use Sheet Sets to Navigate NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: "Sheet sets are an underutilized aspect of AutoCAD." Create Tool Palettes Easily NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: "This is good for not-too-complicated blocks, as the resolution on macro buttons is not good." Follow-Up: Text Styles
MicroStation Tip: Creating a Dimension with No Dimension Lines in V8 Answer: Although this is not directly possible, there are ways to achieve this effect. One possibility is to make your dimension line the same color as the background. Alternatively, you can use the Label Line tool and have it display the distance that would provide you with the dimension without the dimension line. Axiom offers many MicroStation tips on its MicroStationTips.com Web 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, 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. |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Books & Training CATIA for Designers Textbook Online Course Series: Revit 201 |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Week's New CAD and Related Products Hardware: SATA Drives Hardware: Break-Resistant Reflectors General Software: VPindex v3 General Software: RockAUTO v17.1 General Software: AfterCAD RealWorld Beta Visualization: trueSpace v7.5 Service Pack 1 Visualization: Vue 6 xStream for SOFTIMAGE|XSI Visualization: PlanVu Landscape Volume 1 and Mini Paks MCAD: Rhino Plug-Ins MCAD: SolidWorks 2008 CAE: Automation Studio CAE: SimEnterprise v2 |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Your Calendar Webinars: 10 Project Pain Points -- and How to Relieve Them MicroStation PowerDay AutoCAD PowerDay ISEIT 2007 Americas Click here to view the complete calendar of events at Cadalyst.com. |