Sunday, June 24, 2012

Twitter Posts Revisted

Below is a summary of topics we covered recently on Twitter. Click on the links at the end of each topic and explore the command or feature in more detail in AutoCAD/LT's HELP.
  • User's Guide: Controlling how objects mirror http://tinyurl.com/3eh6oz9
  • MIRRHATCH controls how MIRROR reflects hatch patterns. MIRRTEXT controls how MIRROR reflects text.
  • MENUBAR command controls the display of the menu bar. Yes, you can have a pulldown menu with the RIBBON.
  • MBUTTONPAN command controls the behavior of the third button or wheel on the pointing device http://tinyurl.com/3nyx32r
  • MSPACE in a layout, switches from paper space to model space in a layout viewport http://tinyurl.com/3ncuvz6
  • User's Guide: How to Correct Mistakes http://tinyurl.com/3d75hwe
  • LT tip: to add XREFs quickly to many files, attach them in one DWG file then use COPYCLIP/PASTEORIG to add them as XREFs in all other files.
  • MREDO command reverses the effects of several previous UNDO or U commands http://tinyurl.com/3unnbwy
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 Text Message (SMS) by texting FOLLOW LTISACAD to 40404 in the United States. To stop SMS updates, simply text UNFOLLOW LTISACAD to the same number.
Catch a listing of all our twitter postings HERE:
http://ltisacad.blogspot.com/search?q=tweets+this+week

Do you use Pinterest? We pin our favorite AutoCAD/LT news/tips/reviews/Op-Ed webpages to share with all of you at http://pinterest.com/pendeaninc/pins/
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Thursday, June 21, 2012

AutoCAD/LT and Touchscreens

You've seen those large touch-screens on the high budget flashy news shows, where the host, using one or more fingers on one or more hands to delight and amaze us with this visual mastery. You may have also seen the demonstration from Autodesk on youtube for the very impressive Multitouch Computing Labs demonstration (http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/multitouch/).

So how about the current Windows 7's Slate touchscreen computers (or the newly announced Microsoft Surface Tablet)?

I use the Samsung Series 7 Slate: unlike the iPad (or insert-your-favorite-Android-slate-here), this is a full operating system (Windows 7 64-bit). The Series 7 sports a 400 nit, 11.6-inch capacitive panel (1366 x 768 resolution), Intel's 1.6GHz Core i5-2467M CPU with integrated graphics, a 128GB SSD and 4GB of RAM. Connectivity comes courtesy of 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, plus there's a USB 2.0 port and a micro HDMI socket (and cameras front and rear with light sensor). While not as smooth and universally responsive as what we've come to expect on the iPad, the iPad (and Droid-slate) can't launch a full copy of Excel or Work or Photoshop or CAD (for better or worse). Windows 8 promises to trim the fat and bulk from Windows 7 and offer better touch-screen experiences.

So how does AutoCAD/LT fair on the Tablet PC/Slate? I installed LT 2013 and took it to a job site for the last few weeks for some real world testing. Battery life was good: just under three hours jumping between MSOffice applications, AutoCAD, Evernote for Windows (the best multi-platform notes taker), and when Wifi was available (finding a power outlet to recharge is so much easier) I added web access to the mix from DropBox access to FTP site access and more (and access to my desktop remotely).

What Works
  • Pinch zoom works whether you are in a command or have no command running: place two fingers on the screen simultaneously, bring together to zoom in, move apart to zoom out.
  • Pan without activating that command: place two fingers on screen simultaneously then drag in the opposite direction of where you want to go.
  • Deselect objects by reselecting one of them and holding for one second. Dropping an item from a selection set still requires a keyboard or menu selection.
  • Take advantage of an AutoCAD feature: MOVE command does not need to be active in order to move objects. Simply make a selection, the click/hold and drag the object(s) to the new location.
  • Floating commandline just gets in the way on a touchscreen: dock it.
  • Right-clicking on my screen is triggered in two ways: touch the screen with one finger and hold for a second (does not work in AutoCAD/LT), or touch the screen with one finger and tap close by with a second finger (works well in AutoCAD/LT).
Observed Limitations
  • Running Osnaps are critical. It takes too long to set any other way.
  • Forget keyboard shortcuts.
  • Ribbon shines over the "classic" interface of pulldown menus and toolbars.
  • Customization of the Ribbon through CUI command is critical: you have to compensate for a lack of a keyboard if you are a power user.
  • Keep that screen touch-pen that came with your device real close: sometimes precision selection require more finesse than an adult finger can offer.
  • Don't avoid Zooming in and out more often than you would on a desktop.
  • Use that USB keyboard (vs onscreen keyboard) every chance you get: AutoCAD is tethered to the command line more than you think.

Opinion

I prefer access to my DWG files in AutoCAD/LT over any viewer running on a lightweight status-symbol "pad" toy. Same with my other "office" work files. While great for collaboration, I find Cloud-based Cad tools like AutoCADWS limiting with their need for an Internet connection.
By the same token, touch-screen is not practical for production work: keyboard entry is still very critical to AutoCAD/LT even with the advent of the Ribbon. And I truly miss convenient right-clicking. So, hang on to that laptop (and mouse) for longer than you wished.
AutoCAD/LT (and Microstation for that matter) require a lot of information to be entered via the keyboard so that would restrict the use of a tablet PC. On screen keyboards are just too slow. The CAD software is just not there for true touchscreen keyboard-free use.

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Sunday, June 17, 2012

AutoCAD LT 2013 Info and Tips

  • Still using Vista? Better read this http://bit.ly/AeP8Jw
  • Jimmy Bergmark‏ System Requirements for AutoCAD 2013: AutoCAD 2013 is soon to be released and now the System… http://goo.gl/fb/nwyrg
  • Autodesk Labs Scott‏ Try AutoCAD LT 2013 without downloading anything http://dlvr.it/1N9nNn
  • Lynn Allen‏ Set new system variable in #AutoCAD 2013 - WIPEOUTFRAME to 2. Wipeout frames will display but not print!
  • Jeff Bartels‏ AutoCAD 2013 Tip: When finished revising MTEXT, press Ctrl+Enter to dismiss the editor.
  • Jeff Bartels‏ AutoCAD 2013 Tip: Use Annotation Monitor toggle in Status Bar to identify non-associative dims/leaders. Click "!" icons to reassociate.
  • Jimmy Bergmark‏ AutoCAD 2013 New Commands: In AutoCAD 2013 I have found these new commands. New commands… http://goo.gl/fb/6fQHp
  • AUGI: AUGIWorld April 2012 - What's New in Autodesk 2013 Products - http://bit.ly/zA9b4R
  • Autodesk‏ Exciting news for Google Drive users: Chrome Store apps @pixlr and #AutoCADWS have Drive integration: http://autode.sk/IptVZP via @LATimes
  • AutoCAD LT‏ 2013Updated Command Line http://bit.ly/J7pEaQ
  • CAD Clues‏ New Post: 3 Things You Need to Know Before Installing AutoCAD 2013 http://cadclues.blogspot.com/2012/04/3-things-you-need-to-know-before.html #AutoCAD #Autodesk #Autodesk360 #Autocad2013
  • Jeff Bartels‏ AutoCAD 2013 Tip: Use Ctrl+Shift+L to add previously selected objects to current selection set.
  • Vladimir Michl‏ New CAD tip: Localization of Autodesk 2013 products using "Language ... http://bit.ly/JeDWWv
  • Autodesk Care‏ http://autode.sk/HGHYLi Looking to purchase or already own AutoCAD LT 2013? Mac and Windows users can now unite #autodesktip
  • Robert Green @Cadalyst says, “you need to explore Autodesk's new cloud solution, it will change the way we use AutoCAD” http://bit.ly/Ioj2dm
  • Kate Morrical‏ Customization Sync in AutoCAD LT 2013 http://bit.ly/ImaY89

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Sunday, June 10, 2012

AutoCAD Tips that work in LT: Part 6

Below are posts from fellow AutoCAD users with tips that are of equal use to LT users. Explore each link and start being more productive tomorrow.
  • VMichl tip: The login name of the last "editor" of a DWG drawing is displayed in DWGPROPS command (Last saved in the Statistics tab).
  • Lynn Allen‏ Don't like the way #AutoCAD grips your centered MTEXT? Try setting CENTERMT to 1. (the Center grip will stay in place)
  • Jeff Bartels: Assign table cells an RGB 255,255,255 (white) fill color to always hide everything behind the table.
  • bcbenton‏ Can’t Detach an AutoCAD Reference File http://ow.ly/1hlZtQ
  • Vladimir Michl‏ New CAD tip: How to set the Select objects mode for the Hatch command? http://bit.ly/yGCm5l
  • Edwin Prakoso‏ Do you need to copy and trim objects within a boundary? See this AutoCAD tip how to do it quickly! http://cad-notes.com/2012/02/how-to-trim-and-copy-objects-within-a-boundary/
  • R.K. McSwain‏ Copy between #AutoCAD drawings without using Cut & Paste http://bit.ly/zOYU6C
  • Works in LT “@cadpanacea: #AutoCAD tip -- double click the wheel to Zoom Extents”
  • Vladimir Michl‏ New CAD tip: How to lock layers without changing their color? http://bit.ly/wAOa0n
  • An LT Table tip to explore “@VMichl: New CAD tip: How to wrap a long parts list to multiple columns? http://bit.ly/Az5369
  • bcbenton‏ AutoCAD – Color Change – WHY? http://ow.ly/1h4I2t
  • LT2012 tip “@JeffBartels: Paste text from other apps into MTEXT? Right-click & choose "Paste Special" to remove formatting on insertion.”
Catch a listing of all our twitter postings HERE.

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Sunday, June 3, 2012

Twitter Posts Revisted

Below is a summary of topics we covered recently on Twitter. Click on the links at the end of each topic and explore the command or feature in more detail in AutoCAD/LT's HELP.
  • Shhh... The secret command DIMROTATED finally gets documented in 2012's Help http://bit.ly/xmluY7 but it has been around for a while now.
  • MLEADEREDIT command adds leader lines to, or removes leader lines from, a multileader object http://tinyurl.com/4x9udgj
  • MLEADERCOLLECT Organizes selected multileaders that contain blocks into rows or columns, and displays the result with a single leader.
  • MLEADERALIGN command aligns and spaces selected multileader objects http://tinyurl.com/3puar4o
  • MAXACTVP command sets the maximum number of viewports that can be active at one time in a layout http://tinyurl.com/3lp3plp
  • MEASUREGEOM Measures the distance, radius, angle, area, and volume of selected objects or sequence of points http://tinyurl.com/3jjt28b
  • MEASURE Creates point objects or blocks at measured intervals along the length or perimeter of an object http://tinyurl.com/44pqf4d
    User's Guide: Add Text and Blocks to Tables http://tinyurl.com/3vfc59g
  • MATCHCELL command applies the properties of a selected table cell to other table cells http://tinyurl.com/3gey5pr
  • LT2012 tip: MANAGEUPLOADS command manages the uploading of files stored on the AutoCAD WS server http://tinyurl.com/42crxth
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 Text Message (SMS) by texting FOLLOW LTISACAD to 40404 in the United States. To stop SMS updates, simply text UNFOLLOW LTISACAD to the same number.

Catch a listing of all our twitter postings HERE:
http://ltisacad.blogspot.com/search?q=tweets+this+week

Do you use Pinterest? We pin our favorite AutoCAD/LT news/tips/reviews/Op-Ed webpages to share with all of you at http://pinterest.com/pendeaninc/pins/
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