Tips & Tools Weekly (Vol. 13, No. 11)
23 Mar, 2008This Week's Software Tips Place Text Along an Object Sharing Sheet Sets NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: Maybe a future release of AutoCAD will address this issue and allow layouts of opened sheet sets to be modified by concurrent users -- similar to xrefs. Automated Engineering Stamp (defun trap1 (errmsg) (setvar "insunits" iu) (setq *error* temperr) NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: Good thinking! Keep in mind that insertion locations can vary a lot (requiring user input), so an AutoLISP routine might not work for everyone. For some users, the Stamp command along with AutoCAD's Digital Signature feature might be exactly what you need. Also be sure to check the client's standards. Some may require drawings to be real-time signed (not a photocopied signature image). AEC Object Clean-Up "I recently discovered the command ExportToAutocad. This will essentially Wblock your entire drawing into a new AutoCAD file and remove all AEC objects. It will also flatten 3D objects such as wall styles created in AutoCAD Architecture. This has been a lifesaver for me. The command can be a little complicated, though. When you enter it at the Command line, you have a series of options: Export options [Format / Bind / Bind Type / Maintain / Prefix / Suffix / ?] <Enter for filename: "Some of these are useful, but typically I just want to remove the AEC objects without binding or changing file formats. In addition, the command is very tedious to type into the Command line. So I wrote a LISP routine for this command: (defun C:exp () "This will execute the command and create a new file in the same folder with the same file name and a '-fixed' suffix added to it. I simply overwrite the original file with this new one and all AEC objects are removed." NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: Be careful with this procedure. It dumps a lot of valuable information that another drafter included in the drawings for a purpose. Consider upgrading to the appropriate vertical release to maintain this extra information or at least have the original creator of the drawings send you a version sans the AEC objects. Special Characters NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: Good tip! Add to that the Windows Character Map (accessed through the Mtext Editor), and users will have a vast array of characters at their disposal. In the Mtext Editor, right-click then select Symbols / Other to access this feature. Note: These follow-up tips have not been tested by the Cadalyst Tip Patrol. Follow-Up: Isolate and Unisolate Layers Ron Adams followed up on the same tip, saying, "In addition to the excellent information already shared for Isolate and Unisolate layers, I have altered the ACAD.PGP file to automate the following commands as well, and am quite happy with the results.
LAI, *LAYISO MicroStation Tip: Study Model Rendering for the Masses Today's MicroStation tip courtesy of Axiom and MicroStationTips.com.
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 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. 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. Sincere thanks to our volunteer Tip Patrol members: Brian Benton, Don Boyer, Mitchell Hirschklau, R.K. McSwain, Kevin Sawyer, and Billy Wooten.Back to Top | |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opportunities & Honors Russian Magazine Wins Gold Medal Rapid Prototyping Contest Winners Announced Back to Top | |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Week's New CAD and Related Products General Software: ZEdit Pro CAD: TurboCAD Professional v15 MCAD: FiberSIM MCAD: Abaqus BioRID II Back to Top | |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Your Calendar Bellingham AutoCAD User Group Meeting 3D Modeling Symposium Berlin Synergis Field to Finish Civil 3D Workshop 2008 ESRI Southeast Regional User Group Conference 12th Annual Portland CANstruction Competition CPDA Design/Simulation Workshops 2008 ESRI Education User Conference 2008 ESRI International User Conference 2008 Society for Conservation GIS Conference 2008 ESRI Health GIS Conference 2008 ESRI Europe, Middle East, & Africa User Conference For a complete list of CAD meetings, conferences, training sessions, and more, check out our calendar of events on Cadalyst.com. Back to Top |