Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The AutoCAD® Workbench ~ 2nd Edition ~
Tips & Insights for Maximizing your AutoCAD Productivity A Compilation of AutoCAD Insights from Michael's Corner & the AutoCAD Toolbelt Seminars
Written and compiled by
Michael E. Beall
Authorized Author
i
Table of Contents
Chapter One: The User Interface
The Governing Body of Workspaces 1
Quick Access Toolbar 1
The Ribbon 2
Application Menu Tidbits 3
Partial Open + Partial Load 4
The Command Line 5
The Status Bar 7
Optimum Options 8
Template Fundamentals 15
Export the AutoCAD Settings 17
Files of Importance When Upgrading 17
Got HELP? Use It! 18
‘Places’ For Quicker Access 19
Display Adjustments 19
Clean Screen … or Open a Drawing 20
Wheel Mouse Tidbits 21
Viewport Controls 21
Navigation Bar 22
Tiled Drawings and the Taskbar 23
Quick View Layouts + Quick View Drawings 23
Need‐To‐Know Tech Tools 24
Startup Insights 25
User Coordinate System Icon Properties 26
Position the User Coordinate System Origin 27
Split Views in Model Space 28
Named Views 29
Save the UCS by Name 31
Off vs. Freeze 32
Layer Properties Header Organization 33
Optimized Viewing of Your Drawing Info 33
Freeze Individual Layers with Layer Freeze 34
Layer Isolate & Layer Lock 35
View Layers with Layer Walk 36
Layer States 38
Layer Translator 40
Viewport Overrides for Layers 41
Assign a Linetype to a Layer 42
Assorted Layer Insights 42
Chapter Two: Creating & Editing
The Lowly Rectangle 45
Graphic Rectangle Fit 45
Why a Closed Polyline 46
Variable Width Polylines 47
Blended Curves 47
Polar Tracking 48
Additional Polar Angle Settings 48
Polar Coordinate Entry 49
Draw with Surveyor’s Units 49
Snap From 50
Object Snap Tracking 50
Otrack with Direct Distance Entry 51
Snap to Perpendicular 52
Midpoint Between Two Points (M2P) 52
Snapang Setting 52
Hatch Creation Tab 54
Hatch Options 56
Download and Install Custom Hatch Patterns 58
Gradient Hatch 58
Hatch Order & Hatch Transparency 59
Variable Governing the Hatch Boundary 60
Snap to Hatch Patterns 60
Add Batt Insulation to Walls as a Linetype 60
Super (User‐Defined) Hatch 61
Boundary Creation 62
Quick and Easy Parallel Lines with Dline 63
Create a Door Opening with Dline 64
ii
Revision Cloud 64
Group Toggle Notice 65
Edit Polylines 66
Add a Vertex to a Polyline 66
Add an Arc to a Polyline 67
Offset Corners & Options 67
Preview Feature for Fillets and Chamfers 68
Fast Fillets on Polylines 68
Convert 2D Polylines to LWPolylines 69
The JOIN Command 69
Need‐To‐Know Variables 70
Save and Restore Your System Variables 72
Select the Right Stuff 73
Select Similar 73
Hide & Isolate Objects 74
Quick Properties & the Properties Window 75
Draw Order 76
LTSCALE (Lyin’ Type Scale) 77
Measurements 77
Find the 2D Distance Between 3D Points 79
Cycle Through Stacked Objects 80
SETBYLAYER 80
The ‘Multiple’ Modifier 81
Do U, OOPS, or UNDO? 81
Rotate to Parallel 82
Extend along Odd Angles 83
Align 83
Lengthen 84
Move and Copy With ‘CTRL’ 85
Copy with a Basepoint 85
Paste to Original Coordinates 86
‘Single’ Option for Copy 87
Delete Duplicate Objects [Overkill] 87
Scale With ‘Reference’ 88
Rotate With ‘Reference’ 88
Rotate Using Properties 89
Stretch 89
Create an Associative Rectangular Array 90
Edit a Source Object in an Array 91
Create an Array Along a Path 92
Subdivide Your Linework 93
Trim & Extend 94
The Old ‘Cookie Cutter Trim’: EXTRIM 95
Uses for the Wipeout Object 95
The Lost Art of Grips 98
That ‘DYN’ Button 100
Come to Terms with Blocks 101
How to Create a Block 101
The Insert Command 102
Insta‐Block! 103
Wblock [Write Block] 103
Bcount [Block Count] 104
External Reference Mechanics 104
Attach an Xref 106
Manage Xrefs 107
Edit the Reference Drawing 108
Xref Layer Insights 109
Key Features of eTransmit 110
Reference Manager to Update Xref Paths 111
Dynamic Blocks: An Introduction 112
Dynamic Blocks: Visibility Parameters 112
Add Another Block as a Visibility Parameter 114
Dynamic Blocks: Alignment Parameters 114
Dynamic Blocks: Multiple Insertion Points 115
Dynamic Blocks: Two‐Directional Stretch 116
Dynamic Blocks: Add a Rotation Parameter 117
Use the Block Editor to Redefine Blocks 118
Considerations Regarding Blocks 119
DesignCenter Review 119
Autodesk Seek 121
AEC_Walls from AutoCAD Architecture 121
Attach and Snap to PDF Underlay 122
EXPRESS | MoCoRo 124
EXPRESS | Break‐Line Symbol 125
iii
EXPRESS | System Variables Editor 126
EXPRESS | Replace Block 126
Drawing Alerts 127
Chapter Three: Annotation & Dimensioning
Raster Image Mechanics 131
Raster Image Cropping 132
Raster Image Display 133
Create a Text Style 134
Text Justification 135
Text Editor Settings 136
Special Text Characters 136
Annotative Text 137
Annotative Text Visibility Button 138
Multiline Text 139
Multiple Columns in Mtext 141
Mtext Line Spacing Factor 142
EXPRESS | Convert Text to Mtext 142
Orient Your Text with TORIENT 143
Stacking Fractions in Mtext 143
Quick Select with a Wildcard for Text 144
Add Leaders – QLEADER 145
Add Leaders – MULTILEADER 146
EXPRESS | Text Mask 148
EXPRESS | Enclose Text in Object 148
EXPRESS | Arc‐Aligned Text 149
Qtext for Mystery Dots 150
Find Annotation in the Drawing 150
BROWSER Command 151
Attribute Fundamentals 152
Edit the Block Geometry ‘In‐Place’ 154
Add a Multiline Attribute to an Existing Block 155
Edit Existing Attribute Definitions 157
Edit the Attribute Definition Order 157
The Block Attribute Manager [BATTMAN] 158
Global Attribute Edit [GATTE] 159
EXPRESS | Explode Attributes to Text [BURST] 160
Extract Attribute Data 161
Create a Table Style 162
Insert and Edit a Table Style 163
Tables and Excel Files 165
Coordinates from Excel in AutoCAD 166
Field Fundamentals 167
Create a User‐Defined Format for a Field 168
Display Area Values with a Field 168
Drawing Properties in a Field 169
Plot Scale in a Field 170
Create a Dimension Style 171
Add Linear and Aligned Dimensions 174
Display Metric with Imperial Dimensions 174
Dimension Grips 175
Dimension Continue 175
Dimension with Text Only 176
Dimension with Inches Only 176
Add Text to a Dimension 177
Feet & Inches and Inches, Too 177
Arc Dimensions 178
Move Dimension Text with Leader 178
Aligned vs. Rotated Dimensions 179
Dimension Box and Background 180
Dimension Overall Scale 180
Dimension Text Height 180
Associative Dimension Editing 181
Dimension Model Objects in Paper Space 181
Chapter Four: Plotting & Layouts
Convert Plot Styles 183
Layout Fundamentals 184
Viewports in a Layout 185
Maximize Viewports 187
Layout Tab Tidbits 187
Viewports Dialog Box [Layout Tab] 187
iv
Maximum Active Viewports 188
Irregular Shaped Viewports 189
Lock a Viewport Display 189
Rotate a Viewport 190
Copy and ‘Peel’ a Viewport 190
Viewport Alignment with MVSETUP 191
UCSFOLLOW and Viewports 192
Layouts from DesignCenter 192
Change Space 192
Paper Space Linetype Scale 193
Make a Plot Style Table 193
Publish [Batch Plot] 194
Write and Read a .DWF 196
Sheet Set Fundamentals 198
Plot a Drawing to .PDF 199
Solution to Fat .PDF Lines 200
Plot to a Raster Image 200
Chapter Five: Customizing AutoCAD
Customize User Interface [CUI]: An Intro 201
Customize the Quick Access Toolbar 202
QAT Button: Add the Single Viewport 203
QAT Button: Create New Layer 203
QAT Button: Edit Attributes 204
QAT Button: Favorite Osnaps 205
QAT Button: Set a Standard Viewpoint 206
QAT Button: Reload all Xrefs 207
QAT Button: Load Linetypes 208
Assign a Quick Access Toolbar to a Workspace 209
Float a Panel from the Ribbon 210
Add a New Tab and a Panel to the Ribbon 211
Add Another Row to Your Panel 212
Add Rename to a Panel’s Dialog Box Launcher 213
Add Another Dimension to the Dropdown 214
Put the Firecracker Back on Explode! 215
Display Toolbars with the Ribbon 216
Double‐Click to Edit Dimension Text 216
Add a Contextual Tab State for a Dimension 217
Export Your Custom Ribbon Using Transfer 218
Introduction to Tool Palettes 220
The Importance of the Block Source File 222
Blocks From DesignCenter on a Tool Palette 223
Tool Properties for Blocks on a Palette 224
Palette Button: Hatch on a Palette 225
Palette Button: Automated Revision Cloud 226
Palette Button: Revcloud from an Object 227
Palette Button: Automate the UCS Position 228
Palette Button: Pushbutton Mtext 229
Palette Button: Dimensions 230
Palette Button: Plot Stamp Using a Field 230
Palette Button: Blank Button 231
Palette Button: Linetypes in a Viewport 232
Palette Button: Double‐Line 232
Palette Button: Node Snap 234
Palette Button: M2P 235
Palette Button: Enclose Text in Object 235
Palette Button: Favorite Settings 236
Palette Button: Layout Tabs with Title Blocks 237
Lock a Tool Palette 238
Palette Groups 239
Export a Tool Palette 240
Change the Block Source File Globally 241
Toggle the Background Mask in QP 242
Find the Hatch Area in Quick Properties 242
Edit Rollover Tips 243
Change Ctrl + F to Find 244
Change the F2 Key Assignment 244
Add MIRROR to Your Right‐Click Menu 245
Edit the Command Aliases 246
Hyperlink Insights 247
Use RENAME For Named Objects 248
Autodesk Exchange Apps for AutoCAD 248
v
Lazy Lisp Fundamentals 249
Use the Startup Suite to Launch Lisp Routines 251
Michael’s Favorite Command Aliases 252
Data Link Excel® Files to AutoCAD 253
Chapter Six: 3D Stuff
3D Workspaces 255
The View Cube 255
Region 256
User Coordinate System [UCS] in 3D 257
Surface Modeling Fundamentals 258
Create 3D Surface Objects 259
Create Curved Surfaces 260
Presspull 261
Dynamic UCS [DUCS] 262
3D Editing Gizmos 263
Isolines or Facetres? 264
Visual Style Review 265
Create a Style with the Visual Style Manager 266
3D Clip and a Named View 268
Apply Materials to Surfaces and Solids 269
Add Dimensions to a 3D Object 271
Appendix A: AutoCAD File Extensions 273
Appendix B: Control & Function Keys 275
Appendix C: Left Field Compilation 277
Index 287
287
INDEX
@ 45
3D Clip 268
3D Gizmos 263
3D Dimensions 271
3D Solids, apply materials 269
3D Solids, from Presspull 261
3D Surfaces 259
3D Surfaces, curved 260
3D Surfaces, fundamentals 258
3D User Coordinate System [UCS] 257
3D Workspaces 255
ACAD.PGP, editing aliases in 246
ACAD.PGP, support file search path for 24
AEC_Walls 121
Aliases, for commands 246
Aliases, Michael's favorites 252
Align Objects 83
Align Viewports 191
Aligned Dimensions 174
Alignment Parameters, dynamic block 114
Angle, polar settings 48
Annotation, find in a drawing 150
Annotative Text 137
Application Menu 3
Arc, added to a Polyline 67
Arc‐Aligned Text 149
Arc Dimensions 178
Area Calculations Using Measure 78
Area from a Field 168
Area from a Hatch, in quick properties 242
Array, adjust spacing of associative 91
Array, along a path 92
Array, associative rectangular 90
Array, edit the source object of 91
Array, linear created with grips 99
Array, polar created with grips 100
Assign a Linetype to a Layer 42
Associative Dimension Editing 181
Attach a .PDF Underlay 122
Attach an External Reference [Xref] 106
Attribute Fundamentals 152
Attribute Manager [BATTMAN] 158
Attribute, edit definition order 157
Attribute, extracting data 161
Attribute, global edit [GATTE] 159
Attribute, multiline 155
Attributes, explode to text [BURST] 160
AutoCAD Architecture, walls/doors from 121
AutoCAD Control Keys & Function Keys APX B
AutoCAD Settings, export 17
AutoCAD‐Related File Extensions APX A
Autodesk Exchange Apps 248
Autodesk Seek 121
Automatic Save File Location 8
Background, opaque in the Mtext Editor 140
Background, in a dimension text box 180
Background Mask, toggle using QP 242
Background Mask for Mtext 140
Basepoint, copy with 85
Batch Plot [PUBLISH] 194
BATTMAN, Block Attribute Manager 158
BCOUNT 104
Blank Button on a Tool Palette 231
Blended Curves 47
Block, create 101
Block, double‐click 119
Block, edit 'in‐place' with Refedit 154
Block, edit with the Block Editor 118
Block, insert 102
Block, instant 103
Block, source file for a tool palette 222
Block Attribute Manager 158
Block Count [BCOUNT] 104
Block Editor 118
Block Properties, on a Tool Palette 224
Block Replace, [Express] 126
Block Source File Update, global 241
Block Terms 101
Blocks from DesignCenter 223
Boundary Creation 62
Break‐line Symbol 125
Browser, launched from within AutoCAD 121
BURST, explode attributes to text 160
ByLayer, use SETBYLAYER to modify properties 80
CUI 201
CUI, exporting custom content using 218
CUI, transfer tab 218
CUI, partial customization files 211
288
Change Space 192
Clean Screen 20
CMDDIA 71
Color, use SETBYLAYER to modify 80
Command aliases, editing 246
Command line, AutoCAD 2013 5
Commands, tab through 22
Context tab for Dimensions, create 217
Convert Text to Mtext 142
Convert Plot Styles 183
Convert Polylines 69
Copy, option for Single 87
Cookie Cutter Trim [EXTRIM] 95
Coordinate Entry, polar 49
Coordinates from Excel, bring into AutoCAD 166
Copy with Basepoint 85
Copy with CTRL Key 85
Count Blocks [BCOUNT] 104
Crop a Raster Image 132
Crossing Polygon [CP], selection method 73
Curves, blended 47
Custom Hatch Patterns 58
Custom tab, export 218
Customize Dialog Box, for tool palettes 223
Customize User Interface 201
Data Link, for Excel files 253
Definition, attribute 152
DesignCenter, layouts from 192
DesignCenter, search from 120
DesignCenter Blocks 223
DesignCenter Review 119
Dialog Box Launcher, customizing 213
Dialog Box Variables 71
Dimension 3D Objects 271
Dimension Context Tab, customized 217
Dimension Dropdown Button, customizing 214
Dimension Edit with a Double‐Click 216
Dimension Grips 175
Dimension in Paper Space 181
Dimension Style 171
Dimension Text Background 180
Dimension Text Height 180
Dimension on a Tool Palette Button 230
Dimension, add text to 177
Dimension, aligned 174
Dimension, aligned vs. rotated 179
Dimension, arc 178
Dimension, editing associative 181
Dimension, boxed 180
Dimension, continue 175
Dimension, feet & inches and inches 177
Dimension, inches only 176
Dimension, linear 174
Dimension, metric 174
Dimension, move with leader 178
Dimension, overall scale 180
Dimension, rotated 179
Dimension, text only 176
Direct Distance Entry, with Otrack 51
Display Adjustments 19
Distance, between 3D points 78
Distance, option of Measuregeom 77
Divide command, with points 93
Dline Fundamentals 63
Dline on a Tool Palette Button 232
Dline, create a door open with 64
Door Opening Created with Dline 64
Draw Order 76
Drawing Alerts 127
Drawing Encryption 10
Drawing Information, optimized viewing 33
Drawing Properties in a Field 169
Drawing Recovery Manager 9
Drawings, quick view 23
DUCS, 262
Duplicate Objects, delete with Overkill 87
DWF, writing and reading 196
DYN Button 100
Dynamic Block Alignment Parameters 114
Dynamic Block Introduction 112
Dynamic Block Multiple Insertion Points 115
Dynamic Block Rotation Parameter 117
Dynamic Block Two‐Direction Stretch 116
Dynamic Block Visibility Parameters 112
Dynamic UCS [DUCS] 262
Edit 3D Objects, using a 3D Gizmo 263
Edit Attribute Definitions 157
Edit the AutoCAD 'Start In' Folder 25
Edit the Default Scale List 11
Edit Polylines 66
Edit Shortcut Key Assignments 246
Editor, attribute [BATTMAN] 158
Editor, block 118
Editor, mtext 139
289
Editor, system variable 126
eTransmit, when sending Xrefs 110
Excel Data in a Table 165
Excel, coordinates from 166
Explode Command Icon, customizing 215
Export AutoCAD Settings 17
Export, custom tab from the Ribbon 218
Export, tool palette 240
Express Tools, arc‐aligned text 149
Express Tools, block replace 126
Express Tools, break‐line symbol 125
Express Tools, enclose text in object 148
Express Tools, mocoro 124
Express Tools, system variable editor 126
Express Tools, text mask 148
Extend Existing Geometry 94
Extend, along odd angles 83
Extension, object snap feature 83
Extract Attribute Data from Drawings 161
FACETRES 264
Fence, selection method 73
Field Fundamentals 167
Field, display area values 168
Field, drawing properties from 169
Field, plot scale in 170
FILEDIA 71
Files of Importance, upgrading 17
Fill‐Related Variables, for fonts and hatches 71
Fillets on Polylines 68
Find command, to find text in a drawing 150
Fractions, stacking in mtext 143
Freeze Layers 34
Global Attribute Edit [GATTE] 159
Gradient Hatch 58
Grips 98
Grips, dimension 175
Group Toggle 65
Hatch Area in Quick Properties, customizing 242
Hatch Boundary Variable, PICKSTYLE 60
Hatch Creation Tab 54
Hatch Options 56
Hatch Origin 56
Hatch on a Tool Palette Button 225
Hatch Transparency 59
Hatch, gradient 58
Hatch, ignore when snapping 60
Hatch, island detection 57
Hatch, order of 59
Hatch, selected object 57
Hatch, separate 56
Hatch, user‐defined superhatch 61
Help 18
Hide Objects 74
Hot Keys, aka Alias / Shortcut keys 246
Hyperlink 247
Insert a Block 102
Irregular Shaped Viewports 189
Isolate Layers 35
Isolate Objects 74
ISOLINES 264
Join command 69
Last, selection method 73
Layer, assorted insights 42
Layer, assign a linetype 42
Layer, delete by name 43
Layer, delete by selection 43
Layer, freezing 34
Layer, isolate 35
Layer, lock 35
Layer, off vs. freeze 32
Layer, properties set by 80
Layer Filters and Evaluations 70
Layer Properties, header organization 33
Layer Properties Manager, classic 43
Layer Overrides, in a viewport; color 41
Layer States from Layer Walk 37
Layer States Manager 38
Layer States, export and import 39
Layer Translator 40
Layer Walk 36
Layout from DesignCenter 192
Layout Fundamentals 184
Layout Tab Tidbits 187
Layout Tabs, on a palette button 237
Layouts, quick view 23
Leaders, multileader 146
Leaders, qleader 145
Legacy Variable Settings 70
Lengthen Existing Geometry 84
Linetype, assign to a layer 42
Linetype Scale 77
Linetype Scale, in a viewport 193
Linetype Scale, on a palette button 232
Lisp, fundamentals 249
290
Lisp, launched from the Startup Suite 251
List Drawings by Access Date 3
List Drawings in Ordered List 3
Lock Layers 35
Lock Tool Palettes 238
Lock Viewports 189
LSP, fundamentals of 249
M2P 52
M2P, on a tool palette button 235
Maximize a Viewport 187
Maximum Active Viewports Setting 188
Measure Area 78
Measure command, divide with points 93
Measure Distance 77
Metric Dimensions, display 174
Mirror command, added to the right‐click menu 245
MoCoRo, MoveCopyRotate [Express] 124
Move, pick and drag; with CTRL 85
Mouse, insights to the wheel 21
Multileader 146
Multiple Modifier 81
Multiple Viewports in Model Space 28
Multiline Attribute, added to existing 155
Multiline Text Fundamentals 139
Multiline Text Line Space Factor 142
Multiline Text, on a palette button 229
Multiline Text, converted from single‐line 142
Multiline Text, multiple columns 141
MVSETUP, to create multiple viewports 191
Named Objects, Rename 248
Named View 29
Named View, with 3D clip 268
Node Snap, on a palette button 234
Object Isolation 74
Object Snap Tracking 50
Object Snap, from 50
Object Snap, node; on a palette button 234
Object Snap, parallel 82
Object Snap, perpendicular 52
Off, layers 32
Offset Corner Types 67
Oops command 81
Open a Drawing 20
Options Dialog Box 8
Orient Text 143
OSMODE 234
Otrack, used with direct distance entry 51
Overrides, for layer colors in a viewport 41
Palette Button, blank 231
Palette Button, dimensions 230
Palette Button, Dline 232
Palette Button, enclose text in object 235
Palette Button, favorite settings 236
Palette Button, field with drawing data 230
Palette Button, hatch an open area 225
Palette Button, layout tabs from a template 237
Palette Button, linetypes in a viewport 232
Palette Button, M2P 235
Palette Button, mtext 229
Palette Button, node snap 234
Palette Button, revcloud from an object 227
Palette Button, revision cloud 226
Palette Button, UCS position 228
Palette Groups 197
Panels on a Ribbon 2
Paper Space, fundamentals (Layout) 184
Paper Space Linetype Scale 193
Parallel Lines Created with Dline 63
Parallel Object Snap, to rotate objects 82
Password Protect a Drawing 10
Paste to Original Coordinates 67
Path, Support File Search 24
PDF, plot to 199
PDF, solution to fat lines 200
PDF Underlay, attach and snap to 122
Perpendicular Object Snap 52
PICKSTYLE, for snapping to a hatch 60
Places for Quicker Drawing Access 19
Plot Scale Associated with a Field 170
Plot Style Conversion 183
Plot Style Table 193
Plot to .PDF 199
Plot to Raster Image 200
Point Objects, used with Divide/Measure 93
Point Style 93
Polar Array, created with grips 99
Polar Coordinate Entry 49
Polar Tracking 48
Polar, additional angles 48
Polylines, add a vertex 66
Polylines, closed 46
Polylines, convert 66
Polylines, editing 66
Polylines, fillet 68
291
Polylines, variable width 47
Presspull 261
Previous, selection method 73
Profiles 13
Properties Window 75
Publish 194
Pushpin a Drawing in the List 4
QAT, Quick Access Toolbar, customize 202
QAT Button, add a single viewport 203
QAT Button, create a new layer 203
QAT Button, edit attributes using DDATTE 204
QAT Button, favorite Osnaps 205
QAT Button, load linetypes 208
QAT Button, reload all Xrefs 207
QAT Button, set a standard viewpoint 206
Qleader 145
QTEXT Variable 150
Quick Access Toolbar, assign to a workspace 209
Quick Access Toolbar, customizing 202
Quick Access Toolbar, add a user‐defined button 204
Quick Properties, customized with hatch area 242
Quick Properties Window 75
Quick Select, polyline selection 69
Quick Select, wildcard for text 144
Quick View Drawings + Quick View Layouts 23
Raster Images, cropping 132
Raster Images, definition 131
Raster Images, plot to 200
Rectangle 45
Rename Named Objects 248
Redefine Blocks Using the Block Editor 118
Relative Path for References, attachment 106
Refedit to Edit Blocks 144
Reference, option for rotating & scaling 88
Reference Manager to Update Xref Paths 111
Region command 256
REMEMBERFOLDERS for Startup 25
Revision Cloud 64
Revision Cloud, from an object; palette button 227
Revision Cloud, on a palette button 226
Ribbon Fundamentals 2
Ribbon, add a new tab and panel 211
Ribbon, add another row to the panel 212
Ribbon Panel, floating 210
Rollover Tips, edit 243
Rotate Objects, with Parallel osnap 82
Rotate Objects, with Properties 89
Rotate Objects, with Reference 88
Rotate a Viewport 190
Save a Drawing using Wblock 103
Save a Profile 13
Save a System Variable File 72
Save a UCS by Name 31
Save a View by Name 29
Scale, linetype 77
Scale Objects with Reference 88
Search Drawing Content Using DesignCenter 120
Search for Variables, wildcard 72
Selection Cycling 80
Select Objects, hide 74
Select Objects, isolate 74
Select Objects, similar 73
Select Objects, unisolate 74
Selection Options 73
SETBYLAYER, modify object properties 80
Sheet Set Fundamentals 198
Shift + Pick, selection method 73
Shortcut Keys, changing the assignment 244
Snap From, object snap 50
Snap to Hatch Patterns 60
Snap to Parallel, to rotate 82
Snap to Perpendicular 52
Snapang Setting 52
Source file, blocks on a palette 222
Special Text Characters 136
Stacking Fractions, mtext 143
STARTUP for a Dialog Box 25
Startup Suite 251
Status Bar 7
Stretch Existing Geometry 89
Style, dimension 171
Style, multileader 146
Style, plot 193
Style, table 162
Style, text 134
Subdividing Your Linework, using points 93
Super‐Hatch 61
Surveyor's Units, draw with 49
System Variables, save to a file 72
System Variables, wildcard search 72
Table, inserting and editing 163
Table, with Excel data 165
Table Style 162
Taskbar, to display individual drawings 15
292
Template Fundamentals 15
Text Editor Settings 136
Text Justification 135
Text Mask 148
Text Style 134
Text, added to a dimension 177
Text, annotative 137
Text, arc‐aligned 149
Text, converted from mtext 142
Text, dimension background 180
Text, enclose in object 148
Text, enclose in object on a tool palette 235
Text, from attributes [BURST] 160
Text, height for dimensions 180
Text, multiple column 141
Text, orient with Torient 143
Text, special characters 136
Tiled Drawings 23
Tool Palette Block Properties 224
Tool Palette Introduction 220
Tool Palette, export 240
Tool Palette, importance of the block source file 222
Tool Palette, lock 238
Toolbars, displayed with the Ribbon 216
Tooltip, autoTrack setting for Ortho & Polar 11
Tracking, polar 48
Trim, 'Cookie Cutter Trim' [EXTRIM] 95
Trim Existing Geometry 94
U, single Undo 81
UCS, saved by name 31
UCS in 2D, position the UCS origin 27
UCS Icon Properties 26
UCS on a Palette Button 228
Ucsfollow command, viewport conditions 192
Ucsicon command 27
Underlay a .PDF 122
Underline Text 136
Undo command 81
Unisolate Objects 74
Units, surveyor's 49
Units, template setting 15
Updating a Workspace 3
Upgrading AutoCAD, important files 17
User‐Defined Hatch 61
Variables You Should Know 70
Variables, dialog box display 72
Variables, fill‐related 71
Variables, save and restore system variables 72
Version, important files when upgrading 17
Vertex, add 66
View, named 29
View, named with 3D Clip 268
View Cube 255
Viewport Fundamentals 185
Viewport, copy and 'peel' 190
Viewport, irregular shaped 189
Viewport, lock the display 189
Viewport, maximize 187
Viewport, rotate 190
Viewport Controls 21
Viewport Overrides, layer property 41
Viewports Alignment Using MVSETUP 191
Viewports Dialog Box, Layout tab 187
Viewports, maximum active variable 188
Viewports, split in model space 28
Visibility Parameters, dynamic block 112
Visual Style Manager 266
Visual Style Review 265
Walk, layer 36
Wblock 103
Wheel Mouse 21
Wildcard System Variable Search 72
Window Polygon [WP], selection method 73
Wipeout 95
WHOHAS, for 'Read Only' drawings 26
Workspace Fundamentals 1
Workspace, updating 3
Workspaces, 3D 255
Workspaces, quick access toolbar assigned 209
X‐Ray Visual Style 265
Xref Fundamentals 104
Xref, attach 106
Xref, bind 107
Xref, editing the reference drawing 108
Xref, layer insights 109
Xref, managing 107
Xref, overlay 107
The AutoCAD® Workbench ~ 2nd Edition ~
Tips & Insights for Maximizing your AutoCAD Productivity A Compilation of AutoCAD Insights from Michael's Corner & the AutoCAD Toolbelt Seminars
This 2nd edition of The AutoCAD® Workbench has been updated to AutoCAD 2013 and includes dozens of new topics. Compiled from nearly a decade of monthly articles from the popular ‘Michael’s Corner’, The AutoCAD Workbench, 2nd
Edition is a collection of exercises, Gold Star tips, and topical insights with hundreds of figures and illustrations designed to make you more productive with AutoCAD. Easy‐to‐follow “How To” steps give you practical examples to guide you through a broad array of commands and applications. You have a life, The AutoCAD Workbench will help you get it back!
Comments on the 1st Edition …
"It is an excellent book and this old AutoCAD horse has learned a great deal from it. Many thanks and keep up the good work."
"Letting you know that my signed copy of The AutoCAD Workbench book was received safely in Australia today. Just a short 5‐minute flick through the book has revealed it to be an invaluable investment.
So much good stuff. Will be spending a fair amount of time devouring its contents."
“I was one of those lucky ones who ordered a .PDF copy of your [book], and I am very glad I did! There were many informative articles inside and it is worth every penny. Though I have made a compilation of all your
on‐line articles as part of a self‐study, this is like a shortcut to any AutoCAD query I need for work.”
Michael E. Beall is the owner of CAD Trainer Guy, LLC in Shelbyville, KY. Mr. Beall provides professional,
customized, hands‐on, application‐specific training on all versions of the core AutoCAD® and AutoCAD LT®
products, either on‐site or webinar.
Michael has been presenting CAD seminars to the A&D community, facility departments and the contract
furniture industry since 1982 and on AutoCAD since 1990. A popular speaker, Michael has presented ‘The
AutoCAD Toolbelt’ at numerous trade shows, including NeoCon and Metrocon, and presented AutoCAD
customization sessions at Autodesk University in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Over the last 30 years he has trained
on 6 continents, 10 countries, and 40 states and Guam.
He is an Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI) and received Autodesk's Instructional Quality Award' in 1997 and 2000 while teaching at the University
of Louisville’s Authorized Training Center. As an Autodesk Authorized Author , he authored two volumes of Autodesk Official Training Courseware,
and has authored or co‐authored five titles published by New Riders Publishing, including the popular ‘Inside AutoCAD’ series.
Mr. Beall received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Cincinnati/DAA in 1978. For additional information on his current
training seminars, visit his website, www.cadtrainerguy.com, where you will also find AutoCAD tips, downloads, and references. Additional
AutoCAD insights can be found at www.cadtutor.net where he writes the monthly column, ‘Michael's Corner’, from which this book was inspired.
Michael is also the webmaster and coordinator for the Christian AutoCAD User Group, www.cadtrainerguy.com/caught, with over 100 members in
several countries.
“If you have questions on AutoCAD or would like to inquire about my training seminars or speaking engagements, please feel free to contact me at
Authorized Author
m i c h a e l . b e a l l @ c a d t r a i n e r g u y . c o m
w w w . c a d t r a i n e r g u y . c o m
