Tips & Tools Weekly (Vol. 13, No. 2)
13 Jan, 2008This Week's Software Tips Plot Xrefs NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: Image plotting from AutoCAD is often problematic. Users (especially contractors) should note that some firms do not permit modification of CTB files. Often, only the CAD manager or IT personnel have permission. Diplomacy, as well as technique, may be required. AutoCAD also provides several Plot Style tables with various levels of screening (from 25% to 100%). A new feature of AutoCAD 2008 allows fading of locked layers. How this translates to a hard-copy printout will probably vary based on your particular setup. Another approach to consider is creating a DWF file of your base drawing and attaching it as an underlay. Similar to a locked layer, this too can be faded. Create MicroStation Layers in AutoCAD
NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: This routine will work well with MicroStation V8 and XM; prior releases allow a maximum of 63 levels. The While sequence in the LISP code is a good example of an extensive listing setup. (FYI: Layers in AutoCAD are the same as Levels in MicroStation.) AutoCAD will still have a layer 0 in its drawing; there is, of course, no layer 0 in a MicroStation drawing. Note: These follow-up tips have not been tested by the Cadalyst Tip Patrol. Follow-Up: Hatch to Correct Scale For those who have migrated to AutoCAD 2008, Bill notes that new annotative objects features now handle all this automatically. Upcoming editions of "Learning Curve" will address the topic in detail. Kate Morrical wrote to say that the Hatch tool itself can be used with the same results. She said, "The properties of a Hatch tool include Layer, Pattern, Scale, and Auxiliary Scale (which may be set to Dimscale), and others. This allows hatches to be created on the correct layer at the correct scale every time, with the only caveat that the pick points method of selection must be used, not select objects." Follow-Up: Generate Drawing Title "You also can accomplish this process via sheet sets, using standard or custom properties of the sheet set or individual sheets in the set. Using this approach, there's no need to open drawings to make changes. For example, Total Sheet Count can be set and changed in the Sheet Set Properties dialog box (custom fields), etc." MicroStation Tip: Text Style Indicators This tip is one of many available from Axiom on its MicroStationTips.com Web site.
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 | |
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