Tips & Tools Weekly (Vol. 12, No. 35)
30 Sep, 2007This Week's Software Tips Relative Pathing
"Do an Appload and modify the PGP file -- I used XA as my command. Each time I type in XA, instead of XR, I don't have to save before using relative pathing." NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: This is a good example of using single-line LISP to stop those annoying quirks in AutoCAD. Another option is to use AutoLoad instead of Appload so that it loads on demand. Add this line in the ACAD.LSP or ACADDOC.LSP file:
Nested Fields
Also, you can enter one or more of the standard formulas. Here's a full list of other functions taken from Land Desktop's 3D Help that also work for plain AutoCAD." "Note that parentheses ( ) should be used with formulas as required by standard mathematical notation. Now your formulas can look like this: cos(sin(Obj.Angle)+atan(PI))." NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: Fields can be a very powerful function, indeed. We hope this tip gets people interested enough in fields to look more closely at how to implement them into their work practices. UCS Coordinates: The Real World
NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: This is a slick little routine. We updated the alert prompt to be a bit more user friendly. Another suggestion is that this point could be assigned to a variable that could then be processed by another routine to do something that you required the WCS point for in the first place, such as input text showing the coordinate of that point or similar. Mtext Default "To prevent this, set the TSPACETYPE variable to 2. This sets spacing to Exact globally (all new text is set to exact). To change one piece of Mtext, use the Change Property box. It's also possible to change spacing of MText globally by setting the TSPACEFAC variable to a different than default settings, such as increasing the size from 1.0 to 1.2. (all new text is set to new spacing)." NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: Mtext is a good tip and beats exploded mtext. Nothing looks worse than mtext with irregularly spaced lines. I have a line in my ACADDOC.LSP that sets TSPACETYPE to 2 whenever opening a drawing. Also, remember the TSPACEFAC system variable is a factor of the text height and not drawing units. It's not saved anywhere, so if you need to use any setting other than 1, you must also set this either in your ACADDOC.LSP or in a menu macro. Note that the ACADDOC is loaded on opening every drawing, while ACAD.LSP can be loaded when starting AutoCAD or on opening every drawing by setting the ACADLSPASDOC system variable. Note to readers: Follow-up tips have not been tested by the Cadalyst Tip Patrol. Follow-Up: Purge Stubborn Layers Follow-Up: Keep Files Clean To begin, open the CUI and create a new command in the Command list, such as Clean Drawing. In the macro line, place this text string:
Select an image so that you have an icon, and you're all set. You can now use this button in anything that you can edit. Put it in menus, toolbars, or even the Dashboard if you use AutoCAD 2008. Note that Overkill only works if you have Express Tools installed. If you don't have Express Tools, you can leave the macro as is, but the Command line will tell you that Overkill is an unknown command. You can also just leave off this part:
Follow-Up: Backup Plan "Below is the sample code for the BAT file. It deletes the old backup folder before the new one is created. This example uses E:\ for the USB drive."
Follow-Up: Mtext Combo Merv remembered that, back in November 1998, Cadalyst published Dtext to Mtext (DTOM.LSP) by David Adie that combines an unlimited number of text entities. Just select them in the order you wish them to be strung together. Thanks for the great recall, Merv! STAAD.Pro Tip: Reverse a Group of Members
Submit 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 send 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 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.
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