Sunday, February 27, 2011

Tweets this week

Below is a summary of topics we covered this week on Twitter.
  • Need to breathe life into an older computer to use with AutoCAD/LT? Install Windows 7: http://bit.ly/fBmiAW
  • TEXTTOFRONT command brings text, or dimensions, or both of them in front of all other objects in the drawing: http://bit.ly/dUNCny
  • RT: One of the best things about #AutoCADWS 1.2 - http://autode.sk/hlPANM
  • HATCHEDIT command abilities: Add and Remove Boundaries, Change Type, DrawOrder, Layer, Color, Transparency, Hatch origin and more. TMI
  • HATCHEDIT command: use to separate hatch objects. Start the command, select one of the hatches, then check the Separate Hatches box.
  • HPSEPARATE variable controls whether your consecutively drawn hatches are treated as one hatch object, or as separate hatch objects.
  • At the "Select Objects" prompt, type F (for Fence): it draws a continuous multi-click selection "pline", anything it crosses is selected.
We post daily on the topic of AutoCAD/LT and features/abilities of interest to users: you can find us at http://twitter.com/LTisACAD
Get Twitter updates via SMS by texting FOLLOW LTISACAD to 40404 in the United States. ◦
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Saturday, February 26, 2011

How to remove AutoCAD/LT from your system

You have experienced installation problems with Autodesk software products after a failed installation or uninstallation of other Autodesk products. In these cases, it is strongly recommended that you completely remove all Autodesk products from the system and then attempt to reinstall them on the cleaned system.

You have a few options. Autodesk provides the following advice:
  • How to remove all Autodesk software products from a system to ensure a clean install HERE.
  • You are using an AutoCAD® product and you want to know if you should install the latest Service Pack or Update. You also want to know how the Service Pack or Update should be applied. Click HERE.
  • Error on startup or AutoCAD is not installed properly? Please reinstall? Try this solution posted HERE.
A 3rd party tool is sometimes easier to use than trying to follow complicated and long instructions as posted above. For clean uninstalls and removal of unwanted or troublesome software I have used versions of the following software for quite some time and have had very good success:
  • Remove any unwanted program and all traces (as well as Windows Registry entries) easily with the freeware Revo Uninstaller. Buy the Pro version if you need more add-in features. There is even a Portable version that requires no installation at all (use it from a thumb-drive).
  • CCLeaner is another freeware that is very good at optimizing Windows and is one of the few Windows Registry cleaners that does not harm AutoCAD/LT's installation if you need to use that ability.

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Sunday, February 20, 2011

Tweets this week

Below is a summary of topics we covered this week on Twitter.
  • Free tutorials and webcasts that can help you improve your skills and take full advantage of AutoCAD LT CAD software: http://j.mp/gMnu3x  
  • Cut/Paste into MTEXT bring unwanted formatting? Instead of CTRL+V, right-click, select Paste Special, then pick one of three Paste options.
  • LTisACAD Blog: AutoCAD/LT Temporary Override Keys http://dlvr.it/GryJ8
  • Turn on POLAR TRACKING (F10 key) and set it to 15 instead of using ORTHO (F8 key): think of it as Ortho+extra http://j.mp/f3Bp0r
  • Migrating Toolbars to the Ribbon? Start CUI command, right-click over a Toolbar and turn it into a Panel then place it on a Ribbon Tab.
  • QVLAYOUT command is the quickest way to preview all of those many Layouts you have in a single DWG file: http://j.mp/emk4qO
  • Upgrade from LT2008 before March 15, 2011 and save more than buying direct from Autodesk: http://j.mp/dFNCZt
  • Are you using LT2008? Discounted upgrade pricing, 50% off MSRP, expires March 15th. Yes, next month http://j.mp/gpIDVR
We post daily on the topic of AutoCAD/LT and features/abilities of interest to users: you can find us at http://twitter.com/LTisACAD
Get Twitter updates via SMS by texting FOLLOW LTISACAD to 40404 in the United States. ◦
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Thursday, February 17, 2011

AutoCAD/LT Temporary Override Keys

Temporary Override Keys are used to temporarily turn on or off running drafting settings: these are keyboard buttons or button combinations you can use while in a command to trigger another action. They are called temporary because they stop once you release the keyobard buttons that trigger them.
For example, while in a command holding down the Shift key toggles the current setting of Ortho mode (turn it on if it is off, turn it off if it is running). Another Example: while panning, hold SHIFT to constrain pan to horizontal and vertical movements (works in modelspace and inside viewports).

The following is a list of temporary override keys built into AutoCAD/LT by default and available to everyone:

SHIFT Toggles ORTHOMODE

SHIFT+’  Toggles OSNAP
SHIFT+,  Object Snap Override: Center
SHIFT+.  Toggles Polar Tracking
SHIFT+/  Toggles UCSDETECT (not in LT)
SHIFT+;  Enables Object Snap Enforcement
SHIFT+]  Toggles Object Snap Tracking

SHIFT+A  Toggles OSNAP
SHIFT+C  Object Snap Override: Center
SHIFT+D  Disable All Snapping and Tracking
SHIFT+E  Object Snap Override: Endpoint
SHIFT+L  Disable All Snapping and Tracking
SHIFT+M Object Snap Override: Midpoint
SHIFT+P  Object Snap Override: Endpoint
SHIFT+Q  Toggles Object Snap Tracking
SHIFT+S  Enables Object Snap Enforcement
SHIFT+V  Object Snap Override: Midpoint
SHIFT+X  Toggles Polar Tracking
SHIFT+Z  Toggles UCSDETECT (not in LT)

You can also use the stock F-keys while in most running commands:
F3  Toggles OSNAP
F6  Toggles UCSDETECT (not in LT)
F8  Toggles ORTHOMODE
F9  Toggles SNAPMODE
F10 Toggles Polar Tracking
F11 Toggles Object Snap Tracking
F12 Toggles Dynamic Input

To create a temporary override key : explore HERE.
To modify an existing temporary override key: tap this HELP document for details. ◦
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Sunday, February 13, 2011

Tweets this week

Below is a summary of topics we covered this week on Twitter.
  • Lose your LT installation disk? Order product documentation and replacement software here: http://autodeskdocandmedia.com/
  • LTisACAD Blog: AutoCAD/LT Shortcut Keys http://dlvr.it/GKcrr
  • PICKSTYLE variable controls the use of group selection and associative hatch selection. Explored in the video here http://j.mp/ebvjbb
  • Use TINSERT command to place blocks within TABLE cells in your drawing file. Shortcut: select a cell, right-click and click Insert Block.
  • HATCHTOBACK selects all hatches in the drawing (plus solid fills and gradient fills) and sets their draw order behind all other objects.
  • Use QSELECT to select all text items; open PROPERTIES and change the rotation of the text to one direction. No more head twisting to read.
We post daily on the topic of AutoCAD/LT and features/abilities of interest to end users: you can find us at http://twitter.com/LTisACAD
Get Twitter updates via SMS by texting FOLLOW LTISACAD to 40404 in the United States. ◦
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Friday, February 11, 2011

AutoCAD/LT Shortcut Keys

Windows Operating System (OS) has many commands and options triggered when you press certain keyobard keys or combinations of keys (see list HERE), as do many other Operating Systems (full list HERE) and applications such as MSOffice, IE and more (check this LINK).

AutoCAD (and LT) share many of the common keyboard functions found in the OS and other apps, plus a few more. The following is a List of the most common found out-of-the-box with no additional effort on your part to create:

ESC key: cancel a running command or close a pop-up.

SHIFT+Click: default behavior is to deselect Objects in a selection.
Ctrl+Tab: cycle between drawings

TAB key: cycle through all nearby running OSNAPS, highlighting them so you know exactly what you’re snapping to in a cluttered area of a drawing.
TAB key: can be used as most of the time for many commandline commands.
TAB key: begin by typing the first few letters of a command or variable, then use this key to cycle through all the commands & variables that begin with those letters.

CTRL+0: Toggles Clean Screen
CTRL+1: Toggles the Properties palette
CTRL+2: Toggles the DesignCenter palette
CTRL+3: Toggles the Tool Palettes Window
CTRL+4: nothing assigned to this one, feel free to use it if you need it.

CTRL+5: nothing assigned to this one, feel free to use it if you need it.
CTRL+6: nothing assigned to this one, feel free to use it if you need it.

CTRL+7: Toggles the Markup Set Manager
CTRL+8: Toggles the QuickCalc calculator palette
CTRL+9: Toggles the command window

CTRL+A: Selects all objects in the drawing
CTRL+SHIFT+A: Toggles Groups Selection on and off
CTRL+B: Toggles Snap mode
CTRL+C: Copies objects to Clipboard
CTRL+SHIFT+C: Copies objects to Clipboard with Base Point
CTRL+D: Toggles Dynamic UCS
CTRL+E: Cycles through isometric planes
CTRL+F: Toggles running object snaps. While in the MTEXT Editor, CTRL+F creates a field.
CTRL+G: Toggles the grid
CTRL+H: Toggles groups selection on and off (similar to CTRL+SHIFT+A)
CTRL+SHIFT+H: toggles the screen/interface tools to have more room to display an open drawing.

CTRL+I: Toggles COORDS
CTRL+J; CTRL+M: Repeats the last command (pressing Enter does the same)
CTRL+K: apply a hyperlink to any selected entity
CTRL+L: Toggles Ortho mode
CTRL+N: Creates a new drawing
CTRL+O: Opens an existing drawing
CTRL+P: Prints/plots thecurrent drawing
CTRL+R: Cycles through layout viewports
CTRL+S: Saves the current drawing
CTRL+SHIFT+S: Opens the Save As dialog box
CTRL+T: Toggles TABLET mode
CTRL+V: Pastes data from the Clipboard
CTRL+SHIFT+V: Pastes data from the Clipboard as a Block
CTRL+W: Toggles Selection Cycling. Reference the VARIABLE for information.
CTRL+X: Cuts objects to Clipboard
CTRL+Y: Cancels the preceding Undo action
CTRL+Z: Reverses the last action
CTRL+[; CTRL+\: Cancels the current command (pressing Esc does the same)
CTRL+PAGE UP: Moves to the next layout tab to the left of the current tab
CTRL+PAGE DOWN: Moves to the next layout tab to the right of the current tab
LEGACYCTRLPICK command: Specifies the keys for selection cycling and the behavior for Ctrl+click.

TEXT/MText Editing Shortcuts:
TAB key: jumps to the next defined tab point in Mtext.
Ctrl+Backspace: remove entire words at once, instead of single character like backspace alone does.
Ctrl+Delete, which erases whole words to the right of the cursor.
Alt+Backspace: undo all of your latest Ctrl+Delete or Ctrl+Backspace
Ctrl+Shift+U: changes selected text to uppercase (AutoCAD only)
Ctrl+Shift+L: changes selected text to lowercase (AutoCAD only)
Ctrl+Spacebar: removes font formatting -- bold, underline, etc. (AutoCAD only).

To create or modify a shortcut key: click to read the HELP file posted Procedure. ◦
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Sunday, February 6, 2011

Tweets this week

Below is a summary of topics we covered this week on Twitter. We post daily on the topic of AutoCAD/LT and features/abilities of interest to users: you can find us at http://twitter.com/LTisACAD 
  • Need to find patches, known issues and updates quickly? Explore Autodesk's Knowledge Base webpage for information: http://j.mp/igrT0t  
  • LTisACAD Blog: LT2011 New (and older forgotten) Commands: Part 6 (finally!) http://dlvr.it/Fnrd6
  • "Object selected is not a polyline, do you want to turn it into one?" Set PEDITACCEPT to 1 to answer yes and never see that qestion again.
  • AutoCAD/LT2011: Do you have many DWG files open right now? Type QVDRAWING command and get a preview of each one on screen.
  • LTisACAD Blog: LT2011 New (and older forgotten) Commands: Part 5 http://dlvr.it/Fdgk1
  • CLIP command is a single command to clip Images, XREFs, Viewports, and underlays (DGN, PDF, DWF and DWFx) in your drawing file.
  • Extract a list of layers from an AutoCAD file: Select ALL then CTRL+C from the open Layer Dialog Box into a Microsoft Excel worksheet.
  • You can set MTEXT (but not TEXT) to always type in ALL CAPS ALL THE TIME. when inside the MTEXT editor, right-click select AutoCAPS.
Get Twitter updates via SMS by texting FOLLOW LTISACAD to 40404 in the United States. ◦
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Friday, February 4, 2011

LT2011 New (and older forgotten) Commands: Part 6 (finally!)

Here is the last of a series of blog entries on commands (click for Part1, Part2, Part3, Part4 and Part5), variables, and other AutoCAD/LT abilities that are either new or just not often used, presented in a list format with a brief description of each. Each command listed in hyperlinked to LT2011's online help file for you to explore and increase your abilities wtihin the program. Note: these commands also apply to any AutoCAD 2011 variant and most may be found in earlier versions.

Images/OLEs/Underlays:
  • OLEHIDE: Controls the display and plotting of OLE objects.
  • FRAME: Turns the display of frames on and off for all external references, images, and DWF, DWFx, PDF, and DGN underlays.
  • DGNFRAME: Determines whether DGN underlay frames are visible or plotted in the current drawing.
  • PDFFRAME: Determines whether the PDF underlay frame is visible.
  • OLEFRAME: Controls whether a frame is displayed and plotted on all OLE objects in the drawing. IMAGEFRAME: Controls whether image frames are displayed and plotted.
  • XCLIPFRAME: Determines whether xref clipping boundaries are visible or plotted in the current drawing.
  • IMAGEHLT: Controls whether the entire raster image or only the raster image frame is highlighted.
System Options:
  • INSNAME: Sets a default block name for the INSERT command.
  • INSUNITS: Specifies a drawing-units value for automatic scaling of blocks, images, or xrefs inserted or attached to a drawing.
  • OBJECTISOLATIONMODE: Controls whether hidden objects remain hidden between drawing sessions.
  • OPENPARTIAL: Controls whether a drawing file can be worked on before it is fully open. There is a catch with this one: the drawing needs to have been saved last in modelspace and INDEXCTL variable must not be set to Zero.
  • PEDITACCEPT: Suppresses display of the Object Selected Is Not a Polyline prompt in PEDIT.
  • RASTERDPI: Controls paper size and plot scaling when changing from dimensional to dimensionless output devices, or vice versa.
  • RECOVERAUTO: Controls the display of recovery notifications before or after opening a damaged drawing file. Suggestion: try it and seee if it helps.
  • RECOVERYMODE: Controls whether drawing recovery information is recorded after a system failure. Recommendation: turn it on.
Hatches:
  • HPDLGMODE: (turn off if your PC cannot hadle it) Controls the display of the Hatch and Gradient dialog box and the Hatch Edit dialog box.
  • HPQUICKPREVIEW: (turn off if your PC cannot hadle it) Controls whether to display a preview when specifying internal points for a hatch.
  • HPSEPARATE: Controls whether a single hatch object or separate hatch objects are created when operating on several closed boundaries.
  • HPTRANSPARENCY: Sets the default transparency for new hatches and fills.
  • GFCLR1: Specifies the color for a one-color gradient fill or the first color for a two-color gradient fill.
  • GFCLR2: Specifies the second color for a two-color gradient fill.
  • GFCLRSTATE: Specifies whether a gradient fill uses one color or two colors.

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Wednesday, February 2, 2011

LT2011 New (and older forgotten) Commands: Part 5

Here is the fifth of a series of blog entries on commands (click for Part1, Part2, Part3 and Part4), variables, and other AutoCAD/LT abilities that are either new or just not often used, presented in a list format with a brief description of each. Each command listed in hyperlinked to LT2011's online help file for you to explore and increase your abilities wtihin the program. Note: these commands also apply to any AutoCAD 2011 variant and most may be found in earlier versions.
  • LOCKUI: Locks the position and size of toolbars and dockable windows such as the ribbon, DesignCenter, and the Properties palette.
  • GRIDSTYLE: Controls the style of grid displayed for 2D model space, Block Editor, 3D parallel projection, 3D perspective projection, and Sheet and Layout tabs.
  • GRIDDISPLAY: Controls the display behavior and display limits of the grid.
  • GRIPOBJLIMIT: Suppresses the display of grips when the selection set includes more than the specified number of objects.
  • QVDRAWINGPIN: Controls the default display state of preview images of drawings.
  • QVLAYOUTPIN: Controls the default display state of preview images of model space and layouts in a drawing.
  • STARTUP: Controls whether the Create New Drawing dialog box is displayed when a new drawing is started with NEW or QNEW.
  • STATUSBAR: Controls the display of the application and drawing status bars.

  • UOSNAP: Determines whether object snapping is active for geometry in DWF, DWFx, PDF, and DGN underlays that are attached to the drawing.
  • CALCINPUT: Controls whether mathematical expressions and global constants are evaluated in text and numeric entry boxes of windows and dialog boxes.
  • DGNOSNAP: Determines whether object snapping is active for geometry in DGN underlays that are attached to the drawing.
  • DWFOSNAP: Determines whether object snapping is active for geometry in DWF or DWFx underlays that are attached to the drawing.
  • DWGCHECK: Checks drawings for potential problems when opening them.
  • DRAWORDERCTL: Controls the default display behavior of overlapping objects when they are created or edited.
  • DYNTOOLTIPS: Controls which tooltips are affected by tooltip appearance settings.
  • FULLPLOTPATH: Controls whether the full path of the drawing file is sent to the plot spooler.
  • APPLYGLOBALOPACITIES: Applies transparency settings to all palettes.

  • SELECTIONPREVIEW: Controls the display of selection previewing
  • SELECTSIMILARMODE: Controls which properties must match for an object of the same type to be selected with SELECTSIMILAR.
  • SELECTIONANNODISPLAY: Controls whether alternate scale representations are temporarily displayed in a dimmed state when an annotative object is selected.
  • SELECTIONCYCLING: Turns selection cycling on and off.
  • SETBYLAYERMODE: Controls which properties are selected for the SETBYLAYER command.
  • ATTIPE: Controls the display of the in-place editor used to create multiline attributes.
  • ATTMULTI: Controls whether multiline attributes can be created.
  • FILEDIA: Suppresses display of file navigation dialog boxes like OPEN, NEW and -WBLOCK commands.
  • INPUTHISTORYMODE: Controls the content and location of the display of a history of user input.
  • REMEMBERFOLDERS: Controls the default path displayed in standard file selection dialog boxes: for example, you open a file from Windows Explorer in folder X; next time you start OPEN command, it will start in folder X.

  • SAVEFIDELITY: Controls whether the drawing is saved with visual fidelity for LT2007 and lower. Note: turn this feature off if you do not need it all the time, it can be an issue for some users.
  • SHORTCUTMENU: Controls whether Default, Edit, and Command mode shortcut menus are available in the drawing area.
  • UNDOCTL: Indicates the state of the Auto, Control, and Group options of the UNDO command. One of the setting options is to combine pan and zoom functions as one. Explore it in more detail.
  • UNDOMARKS: Stores the number of marks placed in the UNDO control stream by the Mark option.
  • ZOOMFACTOR: Controls how much the magnification changes when the mouse wheel moves forward or backward.
  • ZOOMWHEEL: Toggles the direction of transparent zoom operations when you scroll the middle mouse wheel.
  • ERHIGHLIGHT: (turn off if LT crashes often) Controls whether reference names or reference objects are highlighted when their counterparts are selected in the External References palette or in the drawing window.
  • EDGEMODE: Controls how the TRIM and EXTEND commands determine cutting and boundary edges. Useful if you would rather not draw extra lines from other entities just to trim or extend.
  • EXPLMODE: Controls whether the EXPLODE command supports nonuniformly scaled (NUS) blocks. For example, your block is scaled 2 in the X direction and 3 in the Y direction, and you need to explode it with that nonuniform scale.

  • LIMCHECK: Controls the creation of objects outside the grid limits (set with LIMITS command).
  • CLASSICKEYS: Sets shortcuts to pre-Windows AutoCAD shortcuts or Windows shortcuts (that's AutoCAD R12, pre-LT v.1. Yes, that's old).
  • CMDDIA: Controls the display of the In-Place Text Editor for the LEADER and QLEADER commands. MLEADERS are not affected by this variable.
  • CMDINPUTHISTORYMAX: Sets the maximum number of previous input values that are stored for a prompt in a command.
  • CMLEADERSTYLE: Sets the name of the current multileader style.
  • ROLLOVERTIPS: Controls the display of rollover tooltips in the application.
  • TOOLTIPMERGE: Combines drafting tooltips into a single tooltip.
  • TOOLTIPS: Controls the display of tooltips on the ribbon, toolbars, and other user interface elements.
  • TRANSPARENCYDISPLAY: Controls whether the object transparency is displayed.
The final Part 6 of the series coming up next will expand into hatch/xrefs/OLEs variable categories. ◦
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