Tweets this week: tips and retweets

Below is a summary of topics we covered this week on Twitter. This week we cover many core tips and share info from other Twitter users:

• LT2011 suffering from mystery crashes? Explore this http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=15832414&linkID=9240617 and this http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=15832507&linkID=9240617
• Lynn_Allen: Did someone send you an #AutoCAD drawing file from a newer release than what you have? Download TrueView (free!) http://bit.ly/6seedy
• @katemorrical @bcbenton If Kate mentions and blogs it, then it is LT in Linux (or MAC) #design816
• The AutoCAD Design team is experimenting with new ways to get feedback from actual users. Go to http://ow.ly/1vmmlq now to contribute.
• While panning, hold SHIFT to constrain pan to horizontal and vertical movements. Works in modelspace and inside viewports.
• Wish @AutoCAD_WS did that... “@bcbenton: I politely request suggestiins for a good DWF viewer fro Android. Suggestions? What do you use?”
• Tie into 3D printing and you got a market “@Lynn_Allen: #Autodesk buys a DIY online recipe book http://t.co/btPtVhK (so what do you think?)”
• LTisACAD Blog: Understand the Effect of Format Changes http://dlvr.it/dg2Jg
• Select an Object, right click, pick ADD SELECTED: use this to create a matching new object with the same properties as the existing one.
• Switch between Trim and Extend Quickly: while in one of those commands, hold [shift] key to switch to the other.

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

 

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Tweets this week: tips and retweets

Understand the Effect of Format Changes

You can convert a drawing to a format compatible with previous versions of the AutoCAD/LT by using AECTOACAD command (or in LT2012 DWGCONVERT command). This process however creates a drawing with information specific to the current release stripped out or converted to another object type. When the drawing is converted, a log file lists changed or lost information. These commands also strip any information created by vertical versions of AutoCAD (such as AutoCAD Architecture or Civil 3D) to regular AutoCAD entities, stripping any roundtripping of the new file back to the original application.

Since converting a drawing to an earlier release format may cause some data loss, you should considerassigning a unique file name (or by adding the year-version number to the current file name) to avoid overwriting the current drawing file. The following items are affected:

• Visual Fidelity of Dimension. The following dimension enhancements do not lose visual fidelity in previous releases if they are not edited: Dimension breaks, Jogged linear dimensions, Inspection dimensions, Angular dimensions that are dimensioned using the quadrant option, and Arc extension lines for radial and diameter dimensions
• Visual Fidelity for Annotative Objects and Annotative Blocks can be set in OPTIONS command: ideal if you want to allow the lower versions of AutoCAD to see each of your annotative block representations as individual objects on individual layers.
• Layer Property Overrides are not visible in LT versions lower than LT2008, but remain intact if returned to the later LT version.
• Multiline Text Objects: Some of the paragraph spacing and paragraph line spacing options are not supported when an AutoCAD/LT 2008 or higher multiline text object is opened in AutoCAD/LT 2007 and earlier releases.
• Tables and Data Extraction: Editing AutoCAD 2008 tables in previous releases removes AutoCAD/LT 2008 table formatting. Also, AutoCAD/LT 2008 table cells with long block and text strings may extend outside of cell borders when opened in previous releases.
• AutoCAD Architecture (ACA) Custom Objects are converted to plain AutoCAD/LT object types.

Additional limitations of Saving to Earlier Versions:
Converting a drawing to AutoCAD 2007 format is subject to the following limitations:

• DGN underlays do not display in releases prior to AutoCAD/LT 2008.
• Multileaders display as proxy objects in releases prior to AutoCAD/LT 2008.

Converting a drawing to AutoCAD 2004 format is subject to the following limitations:

• Dynamic block geometry can be redefined independent of the block’s dynamic elements, and the geometry in the block reference is not updated when the drawing is opened in a product based on AutoCAD 2007 or later.

Converting a drawing to AutoCAD 2000 format is subject to the following limitations:

• File size can increase.
• Encryption and digital signatures are not preserved.

Converting a drawing in AutoCAD Release 14/AutoCAD LT 98/AutoCAD LT 97 format is subject to the following limitations:

• Hyperlinks are converted to AutoCAD Release 14 attached URLs.
• Database links and freestanding labels are converted to AutoCAD Release 14 links and displayable attributes.
• Database attached labels are converted to multiline text and leader objects, and their link information is not available. Attached labels are restored if you open the drawing in AutoCAD 2000 or later.
• Arc length and jogged dimension objects might not retain their original color in AutoCAD Release 14.

Conversion or not, the free DWGTRUEVIEW free viewer from Autodesk has it's own limitations that are not related to any of the above:

• Dynamic Constraints: Dynamic contraints created in AutoCAD 2010-based products do not display in DWG TrueView.
• DWGTrueView does not convert of pen-width settings to lineweights when exporting to R14DWG format.

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Understand the Effect of Format Changes

Tweets this week: Tips and Books

Below is a summary of topics we covered this week on Twitter. This week we cover books, publications, and of course, user tips:

• LT2012 tip: you can now BIND a DGN file.
• Selecting an Annotative Object shows the other scales/ghosts? set the system variable SELECTIONANNODISPLAY to 0 to hide the other scales.
• In a DWG file and suspect a problem? run AUDIT command (answer Yes to question), then use PURGE command to remove unused items, and SAVE.
• LTisACAD Blog: Draw 2D Isometric Views http://dlvr.it/cmCGB
• AutoCADLT: AutoCAD 2012 books out now http://bit.ly/qZVnrj
• Having trouble in a file? Fix it: Start LT, then start RECOVER command and open your file. Use RECOVERALL command if it contains Xrefs.
• Lynn_Allen: Check out Jeanne Aarhus video on the @ACADExchange as she talks about using PDF Overlays as reference files http://bit.ly/o0lLZP
• Have many Toolbars from an older LT version? Start CUI command, right-click over a Toolbar and turn it into a Panel, place on a Ribbon Tab.

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 ◦

Tweets this week: Tips and Books

Draw 2D Isometric Views

AutoCAD/LT allows you to simulate a 3D object from a particular viewpoint by aligning along three major axes by setting the Isometric Snap/Grid; however, although the isometric drawing appears to be 3D, it is actually a 2D representation. You cannot expect to extract 3D distances and areas, display objects from different viewpoints, or remove hidden lines automatically with this method of drafting.

When you create an Isometric drawing you are basically drawing "vertical" lines at 90 degrees with "horizontal" lines drawn at either 30 degrees or 150 degrees to give the impression of depth to the drawing. You start by setting the Isometric Grid and Snap using either of these methods:

• The command SNAP, then selecting STYLE and assigning the style to ISOMETRIC.
• DSETTINGS command's Snap and Grid tab (the Drafting Settings dialog box can also be accessed when you right-click on any status bar icon and choose "Settings"), under Snap Type, select Isometric Snap, and close the dialog:

Your Cursor will change shape: one axes remains vertical, the other aligns with one of the angles for  horizontal lines. The initial cursor mode is Isoplane Left: lined up with the left side of your isometric drawing. To switch to one of the two other isoplanes (Right or Top), you can use the F5 keyboard key or by typing CTRL+E to toggle between all three planes, or by typing ISOPLANE and picking Left, Right or Top. To draw circles with these settings, start ELLIPSE command and select the ISOCIRCLE option (need arc? Trim the Isocircles).

Creating Isometric Text and Dimensions are not so straight forward. First the Text, you must create two new text STYLES, the first with an Oblique Angle of 30 deg, and the other set to -30 (that's a minus-30 degrees). You would use each text style based on the location in relationship to your Isometric drawing, and alter the rotation angle of Text to suit:

Dimensions are the same: create two DIMSTYLES, one for each of the two text styles created above, and use DIMALIGNED command when drawing dimensions. You also must use DIMEDIT command's OBLIQUE option to assign a matching Obliquing Angle (30deg or -30 deg). You can do it all with one DIMSTYLE, but some users prefer the visual control of two, see example HERE.

If your dimension styles use arrows, you may need to also fix their appearance: explore this tip HERE.

While it takes many steps to create and set up the file to start drawing, consider taking the time to add these in Template file and reuse as often as needed. Give the two text styles and the two dimstyles unique but matching names to reduce the confusion of selection.

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Draw 2D Isometric Views

Tweets this week: worthy retweets

Below is a summary of topics we covered this week on Twitter. This week we cover tips and shred content from other postings on Twitter:

• "How To Use Twitter Hashtags in Tweets Without Looking Like An #Idiot" tinyurl.com/3o9ecbg
• RETWEET JeffBartels: AutoCAD Tip: CUIX files can also be loaded by dragging from Windows Explorer into AutoCAD.
• Freehand draw in LT2011-12 with SKETCH command: the drawn elements can be LINES, PLINES or SPLINES. Pick your choice with SKPOLY variable.
• RETWEET: Best to remember “@bcbenton: AutoCAD tip: in order for objects to print, thier layer must be on, thawed & set to print”
• RETWEET AutoCADLT: Multiple Plotter Support File Paths http://bit.ly/ouj2AP
• Do you use SELECTSIMILAR in LT2011-2012? explore SELECTSIMILARMODE variable to control the matching properties used by it.
• Count objects/blocks in LT: Select one, right-click and pick SELECTSIMILAR. Then use SELECT command and LT will return the total number.
• AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD LT 2012: No Experience Required:Amazon Books: http://ow.ly/1uOdvo 
• Are you familiar with Object Snap Tracking? Explore this useful topic here: http://ow.ly/1uNEOq 
• LT2011+: Quickly create a string of dimensions for selected objects: QDIM command, select objects, click to place the dimensions.
• Do you PUBLISH sets of prints in LT often? Use +PUBLISH command (note the + in the name) to open previously saved DSD sheet set to publish.

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  ◦

Tweets this week: worthy retweets