AutoCAD WS graduates: well, for a fee

AutoCAD WS, the highly successful free platform-independent DWG files viewer, markup, and collaboration tool, available as a mobile app (ideal for remote access and fieldwork), and also available as a web app (for easy sharing, drawings reviews, and collaboration), turns a new leaf today to show us a sneak preview into the CAD of tomorrow where loyalties to an OS become irrelevant and the choices of devices open up for all users.

Wow, that's a long sentence with a lot of promise. So what is the reality:

• AutoCAD WS has a new name: AutoCAD 360. It now reflects the commitment Autodesk is making to the Cloud with the Autodesk 360 Service and Storage offerings.
• Look for this new AutoCAD 360 as a mobile app that will replace the old AutoCAD WS starting today from your mobile devices' app stores.
• New mobile features include a "smart pen" that helps you sketch ideas faster, simplify and improve fieldwork with some additional tools.
• AutoCAD 360 Mobile will be available in three versions: FREE, Pro, and Pro Plus.
• AutoCAD 360 Web App is also being introduced: released as a full public "beta" it has a redesigned user interface focused on ease of use and collaboration. Thus new app is HTML5 based and it will eventually replace the AutoCAD WS Web App eventually.
• Look for this new "360" branding to expand into all of Autodesk's web and mobile apps.

AUTOCAD 360 MOBILE

• FREE: This free version will not differ significantly from the old AutoCAD WS mobile app. You can easily view, edit and share DWG files from any smartphone or tablet running iOS or Android OS. Simplify site visits (take your drawings with you, not a big roll of paper); fast and easy design review for your client, partners and supervisors; collaborate with team members remotely, even access the same drawings on the web on any computer with a browser. Plus 5Gig of free storage.
• PRO: starting at $4.99/month (or $49.99/year), you gain access to more tools. You can create new drawings from scratch; larger file support (30MB DWG files); easily view, markup and edit drawings from popular sites like Dropbox, Box, Egnyte, Buzzsaw and custom WebDAV connections; addition of coordinates points for better drawing accuracy; Arc and Arrow drawing tools added; more drawing tools like Extended Vertex, Offset and Mirror; advanced Layer management (add, rename, isolate, invert and lock); view object properties (layer, length, area); view, edit and add block attributes; access a drawing's blocks to add and place in the file; more measuring and dimensioning tools; AND Priority Support (you are paying for it after all. Plus free storage up to 25Gig.
• PRO PLUS: for $99.99/year, you get all the features of the PRO version, with drawing files size increase to 40MB and access to 100Gig of storage.

Visit your mobile device's apps store to download the free app and find out for yourself.
Or explore it all now at http://www.autocad360.com (replaces the old site at http://www.autocadws.com), sign up for free account and see where the future of CAD is headed whether you are ready for it or not. Be aware though: you need to use a modern webbrowser like Google Chrome for best results.
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AutoCAD WS graduates: well, for a fee

AutoCAD LT2014 Updated Commands/Variables

The following commands have been updated in LT2014 as follow:

• ARC: Adds the ability to create arcs in a clockwise direction by holding down the Ctrl key as you drag.
• CHAMFER: Now chamfers the first and last segments of an open polyline to create a closed object.
• CONVERTPSTYLES: Now retains spaces in the names of converted plot styles.
• DIMBASELINE: By default, the baseline dimension now inherits the style of the dimension that is being continued. This setting is affected by DIMCONTINUEMODE.
• DIMCONTINUE: By default, the continued dimension now inherits the style of the dimension that is being continued. This setting is affected by DIMCONTINUEMODE.
• EXTERNALREFERENCES: Adds the ability to convert xrefs between overlays and attachments. Also adds the ability to change a path to be absolute.
• FILLET: Now fillets the first and last segments of an open polyline to create a closed object.
• HATCH: Adds Undo to command prompts.
• LAYER: Now uses natural language sorting for the layer list, so that numerals are sorted in order of their values. Also adds the ability to merge selected layers by using the shortcut menu in the Layer Manager
• MTEXT: Annotation scale in the Select Annotation Scale dialog box is set only with a drop-down list (no direct entry).
• NEWSHEETSET: The Creation Date (CreateDate) field in a new sheet now reflects the drawing creation date, not the template creation date.
• PROPERTIES: Xref-dependent linetypes are no longer displayed in the Preferences window.
• TEXT: Adds Left to the Justification prompt options. Retains the last used justification during the session.
• -XREF: Adds Pathtype prompt.

Updated system variables in LT2014:

• ATTDIA: Default value changed from 0 (off) to 1 (on).
• LATITUDE: Now linked to the Latitude setting in the Geographic Location dialog box.
• LONGITUDE: Now linked to the Latitude setting in the Geographic Location dialog box.
• NORTHDIRECTION, which pecifies the angle between the Y axis of WCS and the grid north is now also available in AutoCAD LT.
• ONLINESYNCTIME: Default value changed from 5 to 300 minutes.
• SNAPGRIDLEGACY, which controls whether the cursor snaps to the snap grid only when an operation is in progress, is now also available in AutoCAD LT.

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AutoCAD LT2014 Updated Commands/Variables

AutoCAD LT2014 Obsolete Commands/Variables

The following commands are now obsolete in LT2014:

• AUTOCOMPLETE: Replaced by INPUTSEARCHOPTIONS.
• ONLINEUPLOAD: Replaced by ONLINEOPENFOLDER. In addition, the automatic upload process has been revised. It is now turned on or off for all drawings in the Options dialog box, Autodesk 360 tab.
• OPENONMOBILE, which sent a notification to your mobile devices for opening the current drawing: Notification is now handled by email.

Obsolete System Variables:

• AUTOCOMPLETEDELAY: Replaced by INPUTSEARCHDELAY
• AUTOCOMPLETEMODE: Replaced by INPUTSEARCHOPTIONS
• ONLINEDOCUMENTS, which Stores whether you can open and save drawing files directly to your Autodesk 360 account, has been removed.

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AutoCAD LT2014 Obsolete Commands/Variables

AutoCAD LT2014 New Commands/Variables

Below is a list of new Commands that have been added to LT2014:

• DESIGNFEEDCLOSE: Closes the Design Feed palette.
• DESIGNFEEDOPEN: Opens the Design Feed palette.
• FILETAB: Displays the File tabs at the top of the drawing area.
• FILETABCLOSE: Hides the File tabs at the top of the drawing area.
• GEOLOCATEME: Displays or hides an indicator that shows your current position.
• GEOMAP: Displays a map from an online maps service, in the current viewport.
• GEOMARKLATLONG: Places a position marker at a location defined by a latitude and longitude.
• GEOMARKME: Places a position marker in model space at the spot corresponding to your current position.
• GEOMARKPOINT: Places a position marker at a specified point in model space.
• GEOMARKPOSITION: Places a position marker at a location you specify.
• GEOREMOVE: Removes all geographic location information from the drawing file.
• GEOREORIENTMARKER: Modifies the orientation and position of the geographic marker without changing its latitude and longitude properties.
• INSERTSEARCHOPTIONS: Controls settings for working with AutoComplete and AutoCorrect suggestions on the command line.
• ONLINEOPENFOLDER: Opens your local Autodesk 360 folder in Windows Explorer.

New system variables added to LT2014:

• CGEOCS: Stores the name of the GIS coordinate system assigned to the drawing file.
• CLAYOUT: Sets the current layout.
• DESIGNFEEDSTATE: Indicates whether the Design Feed palette is open or closed.
• DIMCONTINUEMODE: Determines whether the style of a continued dimension is based on the dimension that is being continued or on the current dimension style.
• FILETABPREVIEW: Controls the type of preview, list view or thumbnail view, when you hover over a file tab.
• FILETABSTATE: Indicates the display status of the file tabs at the top of the drawing area.
• FILETABTHUMBHOVER: Specifies whether the corresponding model or layout loads in the drawing window when you hover over a file tab thumbnail.
• GEOMARKPOSITIONSIZE: Specifies the scale factor to use for point objects and multiline text objects when creating position markers.
• HPPICKMODE: Sets whether the default method for identifying what to hatch is to select a point or to select an object.
• INPUTSEARCHDELAY: Sets the number of milliseconds to delay before the command line suggestion list is displayed.
• TOUCHMODE: For those using a touch-enabled screen or interface, controls the display of the Touch panel on the ribbon.
• TEXTJUSTIFY: Displays the default justification used by the TEXT command to create single-line text.

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AutoCAD LT2014 New Commands/Variables

LT2014's Command Line: it's here to stay.

The New Command Line interface, docked or floating, has been enhanced in AutoCAD/LT 2014 to provide easier, more efficient access to commands, system variables and to find other content such as blocks, hatch patterns, visual styles, and Internet help if needed.

• AutoCorrect. If you mistype a command, instead responding with “Unknown command”, AutoCAD/LT autocorrects to the most relevant and valid AutoCAD command. For example, if you accidently type TABEL, the TABLE command is automatically launched.
• AutoComplete command entry is enhanced to support mid‐string search. For example, if
  you type SETTING on the Command line, the suggestion list displays commands containing the word SETTING anywhere within it, not just at the beginning.
• Adaptive Suggestion: As you continue to use AutoCAD/LT, the order of commands in the suggestion list will adapt to your own usage habits. The command usage data is stored in the profile and adapts to each user.
• The Command line now has a built in synonym list. Enter a word at the command line and it will return a command if a match is found in the synonym list. For example, if you enter Symbol, AutoCAD finds the INSERT command so you can insert a block. Or if you enter Round, AutoCAD finds the FILLET command so you can add a fillet to a corner. And YES, you can add your own words to the AutoCorrect and Synonym lists using the Edit Aliases tool from the Manage ribbon tab.
• You can quickly search for more information on a command or system variable in the suggestion list in an Internet Search. Move the cursor over the command or system variable in the list and choose the Help or Internet icons to search for relevant information.
• You can use the command line to access layers, blocks, hatch patterns/gradients, text styles, dimension styles and visual styles. For example, if you enter Door at the command line and the current drawing has a block definition with the name Door, you can quickly insert it right from the suggestion list.
• To make the suggestion list easier to navigate, system variables and other content are organized into expandable categories. You can expand a category to see the results or press the Tab key to cycle through each category.
• You can customize the behavior of the command line using controls in the Input Settings menu when you right‐click on the command line. In addition to the previous options to enable AutoComplete and search for system variables, you can enable AutoCorrect, search content and mid‐string search. All of these options are turned on by default. Yes, that does mean you need to use that right-click mouse button for more than .
• Much of the new command line functionality including AutoCorrect, mid-string search, and adaptive suggestions is also available using dynamic input.

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LT2014's Command Line: it's here to stay.