Tips & Tools Weekly (Vol. 14, No. 15)

19 Apr, 2009

This Week's Software Tips

Scale Bar Automatic Update
Gary Evenson sends us a file that uses tables and fields to create a scale bar that will automatically update its scale when the corresponding viewport changes its scale. "I created a scale bar (static linework) with a table for the values. The values for the scale divisions are automatically created from a formula in the table." View the complete tip and post your feedback.

Convert 3D to 2D with Flatshot
Ian Whistler sends us a method for creating 2D views of 3D objects. "I have a very useful AutoCAD tip myself that does not seem to be that commonly used but saves me hours of work. When drawing a 3D model, the command Flatshot can be used to easily and quickly generate an accurate flat view of the model." View the complete tip and post your feedback.

Bisect Polylines
Douglas Lerner writes, "Bisect Polylines draws lines bisecting the angle between vertices of a polyline. Length of bisector line is half the distance to the previous vertex in the vertex order of the polyline." View the complete tip and post your feedback.

File Dialog Box Setting
Kevin Mukbel discusses the system variable in AutoCAD that allow users to work with dialog boxes when accessing files. "Did you ever try to open an AutoCAD drawing file and all you could see is a Command line asking you to input the drawing name? Annoying, right?" View the complete tip and post your feedback.

And More Tips!
Following are this week's reminders, tidbits, and miscellaneous updates from the Cadalyst Tip Patrol.

Balloon Leaders LISP Routines: Many of us through the years have made or used LISP routines that enable us to draw ballooned leaders. AutoCAD 2008 introduced Multileaders, which can use balloons for the callouts. Or you can use a custom-made block.

Copy/Paste: Use the Windows Copy/Past keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+C for copy and Ctrl+V for paste) to copy and paste anything (even referenced drawings) from one drawing to another.

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 remember:

Submit only code and other tips that are your original work (or provide the original source so we can include proper credit).
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. To share feedback about one of today's tips, locate the tip using the link provided, then click Comment. The Comment tool is available to registered users of Cadalyst'sCAD Tips site. 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.

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Resources

Autodesk Brings Historic Designs to Life in DOING DAVINCI
A new Discovery Channel series, DOING DAVINCI, explores Leonardo daVinci's designs, using Autodesk Inventor software to put a modern twist on daVinci classics by taking viewers through the building process in order to determine whether daVinci’s designs really work.

Parametric Macros for AutoCAD and Prosteel
The ProsteeLisp site offers a series of parametric macros based on AutoLISP and VBA/COM programming to speed design processes in AutoCAD and Prosteel. Users are invited to download, test, and modify code, then share results and new routines. The site is presented in Italian and English.

Ideate Joins Autodesk Assistance Program
Autodesk reseller Ideate announced it will participate in the Autodesk Assistance Program for displaced workers, providing education, support, and tools to its customers. Qualifying individuals may enroll in any of Ideate's 201-level online training classes during 2009 through Ideate Assistance.

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Deals & Freebies

CADLearning Offers Savings on Autodesk Tutorial Subscriptions
Purchase an online subscription to one of the new Autodesk Tutorial Suites during April and receive $100 savings from CADLearning. Enter the coupon code 16B7E33613 to take advantage of this offer.

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Opportunities & Honors

Autodesk Challenges 3D Designers to Create Virtual Office
Autodesk launched General Shadowfinger's Benign Design Contest in 3D, a competition to support the online video series, The TeknoChronicles of Z.Designers are asked to create an office and all of its contents for the General using the new free-form design tools in AutoCAD 2010. The winner's design will appear in a future episode of the series.

ZWSOFT Announces Winners of ZWCAD CAD Design Contest
ZWCAD Software announced the winners of its ZWCAD CAD Design Contest, a challenge created to inspire architects, engineers, designers, and drafters from around the globe. The finalists and designs are featured in the drawing gallery of the ZWCAD web site.

ESRI Honors Dewberry as a Partner of the Year
AEC design and services provider Dewberry has been named Partner of the Year for the Washington, D.C. region by ESRI for outstanding achievements over the past year in the areas of innovative product development and fostering ESRI technology in key markets.

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Books & Training

Autodesk Offers AutoCAD 2010 to Student Community
Autodesk announced the availability of the AutoCAD 2010 software on its Student Engineering and Design Community site. The Student Community offers more than 570,000 students and educators (representing more than 19,000 schools in 139 countries) free access to design software and resources.

CDV Systems Training Approach Generates Revit Success for AEC Firms
CDV Systems' Train the Project training series includes senior executives, project managers, and production users offering a firmwide focus on the conversion to Autodesk Revit. The multistage training model for Autodesk Revit is first taught as a design development tool using the client's current DD phase project(s), enabling users to learn the basics of the program and model their completed designs.

MicroStation V8i User Update
The newest of Envision Group's courseware focuses on the new features and changes to MicroStation V8i. This 270-page manual ($65) includes a dataset CD with civil engineering lab files designed for the efficient learning of the new features found in MicroStation V8i.

Receive PDU Credits Through Meridian Systems 2009 User Conference
Meridian Systems announced that its 2009 User Conference has been accepted as a Project Management Institute Registered Education Provider Program. Conference attendees have the opportunity to qualify for professional development units (PDUs). Meridian Systems will issue a PDU certificate to qualifying project management professionals upon completion of the conference.

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Mark Your Calendar

Autodesk 2010 Software: Turning Ideas into Reality
April 23, 2009
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Autodesk is hosting the Autodesk Imagine Event to show how AutoCAD 2010 software provides new capabilities to tackle the most challenging design problems. Read more

DataCAD 12 Advanced Training
April 28, 2009
Irvine, California
This course is intended for design professionals who would like to advance their DataCAD skills in production drawing, 3D modeling, and rendering. Read more

Simulation Driven Design with CAE Data Management
May 14, 2009
11 a.m. ET
In this webinar from CPD Associates, Chris Rupiper of John Deere's Southeast Engineering Center will discuss his company's experience using a CAE data manager to address problems in the CAE simulation process. Read more

For a complete list of CAD meetings, conferences, training sessions, and more, check out our calendar of events on Cadalyst.com.

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What's New at Cadalyst.com

Lynn Allen's Circles & Lines: AutoCAD 2010 Makes Everyday Drawing Easier
Updates to layer colors, hatching, line conversions, purge, and more will help speed up common tasks. Read more

First Look Review: Newforma Project Center Sixth Edition
Project information management software for AEC teams embraces more file types and integrates markups in a simple, e-mail-like interface. Read more