LT2011 New (and older forgotten) Commands: Part 4

Here is the fourth of a series of blog entries on commands (click here for Part1, Part2, and Part3), 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.

Drafting variables:

• SKETCHINC: Sets the record increment for the SKETCH command.
• SKTOLERANCE: Determines how closely the spline fits to the freehand sketch.
• BLOCKEDITLOCK: Disallows opening of the Block Editor and editing of dynamic block definitions.
• MIRRHATCH: Controls how MIRROR reflects hatch patterns.
• MIRRTEXT: Controls how the MIRROR command reflects text.
• MTEXTCOLUMN: Sets the default column setting for a multiline text (mtext) object.
• MTEXTFIXED: Sets the display size and orientation of multiline text in a specified text editor.
• MYDOCUMENTSPREFIX: Stores the full path to the My Documents folder for the user currently logged on.
• TABLEINDICATOR: Controls the display of row numbers and column letters when the In-Place Text Editor is open for editing a table cell.

Current Object Settings:

• CLAYER: Sets the current layer. Ideal for macro writers wanting to be on the correct layer.
• CELTSCALE: Sets the current object linetype scaling factor. A setting of 1 is my recommendation.
• CECOLOR: Sets the color of new objects. Recommendation: BYLAYER.
• CELTYPE: Sets the linetype of new objects. Recommendation: BYLAYER.
• CELWEIGHT: Sets the lineweight of new objects. Recommendation: -1 (BYLAYER).
• CETRANSPARENCY: Sets the transparency level for new objects. Recommendation: BYLAYER.
• CPLOTSTYLE: Controls the current plot style for new objects. Recommendation: BYLAYER.
• CTABLESTYLE: Sets the name of the current table style.
• ELEVATION: Stores the current elevation of new objects relative to the current UCS. Recommenation: 0 (zero) for 2D drafting needs.
• PICKFIRST: Controls whether you select objects before (noun-verb selection) or after you issue a command.
• PICKADD: Controls whether subsequent selections replace the current selection set or add to it.
• PICKDRAG: Controls the method of drawing a selection window.
• PICKAUTO: Controls automatic windowing at the Select Objects prompt.
• PICKSTYLE: Controls the use of group selection and associative hatch selection.

Part 5 of the series coming up next will expand into additional system/display/usage variable categories that affect the display and behavior in the AutoCAD window. ◦

LT2011 New (and older forgotten) Commands: Part 4

Tweets this week

Below is a summary of topics we covered this week on Twitter, provided for those not able to follow our tweets. 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

• Explore the list of Autodesk University Featured Classes HERE.
• VIEWGO command is a quick way to switch to your saved VIEW in a drawing file without going through the main dialog pop-up.
• Alternatives to WIPEOUT command? With CECOLOR set to 255, use SOLID command or HATCH>Solid pattern. Control with DRAWORDER command.
• iPhone/iPad apps for Project Managers, Professionals, Designers and AutoCAD Users? Start with this list: http://j.mp/hJFlfY  
• When in BEDIT command use the BATTORDER command to set the order the attributes will be prompted. See extra tip in forum http://j.mp/esQFwy  
• PLINEGEN variable, if set to 1 may not display a segment of a dashed (or sim) Pline at each Vertex. Set it to 0 to see every one instead.
• AutoCAD/LT 2011 New and not so common commands worth exploring again : http://j.mp/eGAYsy

Get Twitter updates via SMS by texting FOLLOW LTISACAD to 40404 in the United States. ◦

Tweets this week

LT2011 New (and older forgotten) Commands: Part 3

Here is the third of a series of blog entries on commands (click for Part1 and Part2), 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.

Layers/Viewports:

• LAYERSTATESAVE: (hidden command) quickly save a new layer state or replacing an existing layer state with a minimalist interface that only allows a layer state name and description.
• LAYLOCKFADECTL: Controls the amount of fading for objects on locked layers.
• SHOWLAYERUSAGE: Displays icons in the Layer Properties Manager to indicate whether layers are in use.
• VPLAYEROVERRIDES: Indicates if there are any layers with viewport (VP) property overrides for the current layout viewport.
• VPLAYEROVERRIDESMODE: Controls whether layer property overrides for layout viewports are displayed and plotted.
• VPROTATEASSOC: Controls whether the view within a viewport is rotated with the viewport when the viewport is rotated.

Plotting/Publishing:

• AUTODWFPUBLISH: Controls whether DWF (Design Web Format) files are created automatically when you save or close drawing (DWG) files.
• PUBLISHALLSHEETS: Specifies whether to load the contents of the active document or of all open documents in the Publish dialog box.
• AUTOMATICPUB: Controls whether electronic files (DWF/PDF) are created automatically when you save or close drawing (DWG) files.
• BACKGROUNDPLOT: Controls whether background plotting is turned on or off for plotting and publishing.
• LTSCALE: Sets the global linetype scale factor.
• PSLTSCALE: Controls the linetype scaling of objects displayed in paper space viewports.
• MSLTSCALE: Scales linetypes displayed on the model tab by the scale representation.
• CELTSCALE: Sets the current object linetype scaling factor.

Text/Mtext/Dimensions:

• CENTERMT: Controls how grips stretch multiline text that is centered horizontally.
• DIMTXTDIRECTION: Specifies the reading direction of the dimension text.
• TEXTFILL: Controls the filling of TrueType fonts while plotting.
• HIDETEXT: Specifies whether text objects created by the TEXT or MTEXT command are processed during a HIDE command.
• CANNOSCALE: Sets the name of the current annotation scale for the current space.
• CANNOSCALEVALUE: Returns the value of the current annotation scale.
• ANNOALLVISIBLE: Hides or displays annotative objects that do not support the current annotation scale.
• ANNOAUTOSCALE: Updates annotative objects to support the annotation scale when the annotation scale is changed.
• ANNOTATIVEDWG: Specifies whether or not the drawing will behave as an annotative block when inserted into another drawing.
• DIMPOST: Specifies a text prefix or suffix (or both) to the dimension measurement.
• DIMAPOST: Specifies a text prefix or suffix (or both) to the alternate dimension measurement for all types of dimensions except angular.
• DIMGAP: Sets the distance around the dimension text when the dimension line breaks to accommodate dimension text.
• DIMRND: Rounds all dimensioning distances to the specified value.
• DIMTFILL: Controls the background of dimension text.

The future Part 4 of the series will expand into more variable categories: do you have a favorite to share? ◦

LT2011 New (and older forgotten) Commands: Part 3

iPhone/iPad apps for AutoCAD Users

So you've got that iPhone/iTouch/iPad and want to do more than Facetime with the Spouse or the next round of Angry Birds bragging with friends, where do you start? Below is a list of Apps I have found to be most useful, most are free, some are not. What would you add or delete from the list?

• AutoCADWS: this free mobile app enables you to view and work with AutoCAD drawings directly on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.  Using the touch and gesture interface of your iPad or iPhone you can accurately view, annotate, and revise drawings on the spot.  Change the way you work in the field or on the road by reducing the need to carry around over-sized paper drawings.  With a free add-on to AutoCAD on your desktop/laptop and you can share files seemlessly. Explore more at http://www.autocadws.com/
• TURBOVIEWER: a free application and the first native DWG viewer that supports both 2D and 3D CAD DWG files for the iOS platform. Enjoy smooth multi-touch navigation as you pan, zoom, and 3D orbit effortlessly around your DWG and DXF files. View drawing files by sending an email with DWG or DXF attachment to your iPad/iPhone email client. Drawing files can also be viewed through Web downloads, FTP, Dropbox and WebDav systems. Explore more at http://www.imsidesign.com/TurboViewer
• CadFaster iPad app: Bring your Autodesk® Revit, Bentley MicroStation or SolidWorks models to life, and share from wherever you are with whomever you want – collaborators don’t need CAD software.
• Dropbox: allows you to sync your files online and across your all of your computers (dekstop, laptop, iPhone, iPad, iTouch, Netbook etc.) automatically. Grab a free account from their website and for your phone, and any file you drop into that folder is available on all of your devices. The iPhone/iPad app also lets you open DWG files with AutoCADWS on your handheld device too.
• Box.net: an alternative to Dropbox.
• CamScanner Free: this free mobile app turn your iPhone camera into a scanner. You can crop, save and edit/save to PDF (single or multiple sheets) then email or upload to Dropbox and Box.net reviewed above.
• FileViewer USB FREE: Turn your iPhone into a USB drive. This free app is a file storage, transfer, viewing, and email application for the iPhone and iPod touch. Files are transferred between your computer and FileViewer USB over a USB connection via iTunes. Similar apps include iDrive USB and iFlash-drive.
• neu.Annotate PDF: Read, markup, redline, and annotate PDF documents. PDF files can be opened from any application that supports the "Open with..." menu command. This includes Mail, Safari, MobileMe iDisk, Dropbox and many others. PDF files can also be imported using iTunes File Sharing. Annotations are compatible with Apple Preview and Adobe Acrobat!
• Colorsnap: Capture real world colors and match them to Sherwin-Williams paint colors—for free. Use ColorSnap search to find the color name and values, quickly and easily. Browse hundreds of possibilities and adjust color lightness, saturation, or hue to get the perfect paint color and palette.
• ColorCapture: similar to Colorsnap above, from Benjamin Moore Paint.
• ContraCalc: a free calculator app that does fractions.
• iHandy Level: once calibrated, this free app can be used for Picture Alignment; Angle measurement; Measure angles of slope, escalator; Measure the verticality of a wall, or furniture; Measure the inclination of an aircraft, ship, car or mountain; Roof pitch calculation and so much more.
• SketchBook MobileX: Use it to digitally capture your ideas as napkin sketches or produce artwork on-the-go. This is a professional-grade paint and drawing application designed for the iPhone and iPod Touch. SketchBook Mobile Express offers a dedicated set of sketching tools and delivers them through a streamlined and intuitive user interface.
• HP iPrint Photo: With this free app you can capture and edit photos but most importantly Wirelessly print photos, PDF, and text files directly from your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad to HP Inkjet printers connected to a local wireless (WiFi) network.
• TeamViewer (Free): access your desktop PC and network (and files, folders and apps) from your iPhone screen. TeamViewer provides easy, fast and secure remote access to Windows, Mac and Linux systems. The Pro version is for use by business organizations.
• LogMeIn Ignition: No free version available, but it can be used with all LogMeIn accounts (free and not) to get full access to your PC/Network and files/folders and apps much like Teamview.
• Qik Video Camera Pro: Not free but this app allows you to share your live video feed over the internet with remote users logged into your webpage. It also allows you to save your videos to the remote site, as well as post to most social media sites like Facebook and MySpace.
• Free Wi-Fi Finder: a must-have app for any Apple mobile device user, it instantly finds FREE Wi-Fi Internet hotspots wherever you are in the world online or offline!
• iHandy Flashlight Free: free app that really works in a pinch when you need a flashlight but forgot it in the car or office.
• Twitter: yes, for business Twitter is the perfect Team commmunications tool. Far beyond eMail on smartphones, with the right Twitter app on the desktop and smartphone (or any phone with texting ability), you and your team have a deposit for all project related communications. Plus at a limit of 140 characters, you will only get the facts with no fluff. Tweetdeck and similar vendors have desktop as well as phone apps that allow you to sort groups (think projects or teams) and take the experience to the next level.

Look for Part 3 of our series on Commands and Variables in LT2011 to be continued soon. ◦

iPhone/iPad apps for AutoCAD Users

Tweets this week

Below is a summary of topics we covered this week on Twitter, provided for those not able to follow our tweets.  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

• Lynn Allen's 2011 Tips Booklet is free:  http://autocad.autodesk.com/ama/orig/tip_files/ACAD11_LynnAllenTips.PDF
• Temp Overrides in AutoCAD/LT are cool, try this one: while in a command like LINE, hold SHIFT down to toggle ORTHO's running status.
• LT users: wish you had the AutoCAD Google Earth plug-in too? Try this free alternate method from Autodesk instead http://j.mp/eY65JN
• They just let it slip out about Androids? Read the Link's last line “@AutoCAD_WS: Take a sneak preview of AutoCAD WS 1.2: http://tinyurl.com/6hlj89g ”
• Looking for your DWT Templates folder? In AutoCAD/LT, start OPTIONS command>FILES tab>Template Settings>Drawing Template File Location... .
• Can't log in at the restored AUGI forums? Try this tip http://j.mp/gZnF2m
• How to save and share ridiculously large files URL: http://j.mp/fYlF3M (link may not work on some mobile devices).
• You can grip edit Viewports (editing capabilities when object grips are selected) : stretching, moving, rotating, scaling, and mirroring.
• In AutoCAD/LT 2011 set VPROTATEASSOC variable to 1 and rotate your Viewport AND it's content together in one motion.
• ENTER keyboard key jump between cells. Use ALT+ENTER keyboard keys to type more than one line of text (hard return between them) in a Table cell.

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Tweets this week