Tips & Tools Weekly (Vol. 12, No. 33)
16 Sep, 2007 Note to Readers: We recently introduced some small changes to the |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 August Winner! Center Mark Routine CL should match your center line layer.
You can also change the block name, but for now CENTERMARK.DWG should match your block name.
The routine scales the block by the diameter of the circle plus the distance the center mark should extend past the circle. This value defaults to 0.25" if you don't set it. Once set, the value is stored for future use. The user is prompted for this value at run time. If multiple circles share the same center point, only the largest circle is referenced for locating the center mark so you avoid multiple center marks at the same location. The routine is set to automatically unload itself after it executes. Unfortunately, this method doesn't let you simply hit Enter to run the routine again. To stop automatic unloading, comment out this line:
Dan uses the following macro on a toolbar button to on-demand load and run the routine:
NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: We give this tip a thumbs up after testing it successfully in AutoCAD 2007. Just make sure that the block and the routine files are in a folder that AutoCAD searches; otherwise, the program won't work. Also, note that this routine works differently from AutoCAD's Center Mark command. You change the settings for the AutoCAD Center Mark command in the Dimension Style editor. There you can set it to a fixed size, to no mark at all, or to a line setting. This routine creates a block on the CL layer that must already exist. If the block is edited, then all instances of the mark are changed in that file. The nice function of this routine is that you can alter the size of the mark every time you start the command. The default AutoCAD command has one setting, unless you change your dimension settings. If you don't create the button macro to run the routine, here is the syntax to enter at the Command line:
Change Tag Information To change invisible tag information globally
NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: This is a good method for globally changing values of a block that is in a file. The method provided is to change text values, but with the -Attedit command you can change any value of any tag, including height, color, layer, size, style, angle, and position. It also works for tags that are already visible. Make sure you know what the attribute tag name is before entering the command. When entering the attribute value specification, you must enter the type of attribute you want to alter -- for example, value, height, color, layer, and the like. When selecting the attributes (or the blocks you want to change), you can't simply select the block; you must select the exact item you want to change within the block. You have to either select that particular text inside each block, or select them with a window selection. Simply clicking on the block doesn't work. Exterior Elevations HC.LSP, for horizontal construction lines
VC.LSP, for vertical construction lines
NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: These are nice macros, but they won't work if layer 0 is off or frozen. You can easily change the routine to place the construction lines on any layer you want by changing the "0" to "yourlayer" in the fifth line of each routine, where "yourlayer" is the layer name that you want to use. (command "LAYER" "S" "0" "") This routine lets you create multiple horizontal and vertical construction lines from different points in a file during one session. It uses the Xline command that creates a construction line from any angle from one point. If you didn't use these routines, the Xline command would have to be executed multiple times. Thanks to Michael and to our Tip Patrol member for this helpful information. Multiple Hot Grips Select all objects first. Then, while holding down the Shift key, select the grips you want to move, stretch, or alter in unison. Release the Shift key, then click on one of the hot grips and drag it to the desired position. NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: This is a good time saver. This method can provide unique alternatives to object modification that the Stretch command can't do. Follow-Up: Delete Layers Select object on layer to delete or [Name]: "When you type N, you see a dialog box with all the layers that are available to delete. Note that locked layers don't show up because Laydel doesn't work with them. You can select as many layers as you want to delete by using Ctrl or Shift." Follow-Up: Mtext Combo Editor's note: The Tip Patrol did not test this follow-up tip. MicroStation Tip: Match the Leader's Attributes Answer: Because the text note is driven by a dimension style and a text style, you need to match it in two steps.
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'sHot Tip Harry-Help discussion forum.
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