Sunday, February 26, 2012

Twitter Posts revisited: Dimensioning Variables

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.
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
Share/Bookmark

Sunday, February 19, 2012

AutoCAD Tips that work in LT: Part 2

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 today.
  • Kate Morrical Export AutoCAD LT Table to CSV http://bit.ly/vFKwk6
  • AutoCAD VIDEO: Use the MENU command to migrate old CUI or MNS format files to CUIX format files in AutoCAD 2012. http://autode.sk/rSIg8j
  • Lynn Allen AutoCAD Twitter Tip: Set SELECTIONANNODISPLAY to 0 if you get tired of seeing that Annotation Scaling ghosting
  • Lynn Allen Master AutoCAD linetypes through Viewports http://bit.ly/rz3Wad @Cadalyst_Mag
  • AutoCAD VIDEO: Robert Green describes how to take advantage of partial CUI files in AutoCAD 2012. http://autode.sk/vCmsI9
  • AutoCAD VIDEO: Robert Green offers tips for educating users on the basics of sheet set functionality in AutoCAD 2012. http://autode.sk/uW9hsD
  • Jeff Bartels AutoCAD Tip: Use saved layer states? Quickly access them by pressing ALT+S when in the Layer Properties Palette.
  • AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011: No Experience Required Donnie Gladfelter download, read, buy online http://mtny.mobi/1iiJ
  • Vladimir Michl New CAD tip: Importing CSV file into an AutoCAD table. http://bit.ly/vTZQGG
  • R.K. McSwain AutoCAD Text Editing tips http://cadpanacea.com/node/335
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
Share/Bookmark

Monday, February 13, 2012

Customizing LT: start with the Ribbon

During a slow work week recently, I had the opportunity to tackle a long list of to-do items in the office, including Network and desktop software updates for all of my colleagues' PCs and laptops.
I also took up the task of revamping our LT and AutoCAD screen Ribbon menus to create a more uniform appearance, as well as rewriting more common command shortcuts keys. For reasons more to do with legacy routines than anything else, both AutoCAD versions have had differing appearances and slightly different shortcuts abbreviations (mostly Lisp shortcuts in full AutoCAD).

Below are screenshots of LT: since we have a mix of LT2011 and LT2012 (as well as AutoCAD 2011 and 2012), I started with LT2011 for one simple reason. CUIx menu files are by design from Autodesk able to go up a version but they are not backwards compatible. So had I started with LT2012, I would have had to recreate the screen menu changes from scratch in LT2011. I sought out feedback from my coworkers on what they wanted to see, what they used often, and what things they wanted to do more with in order to spedd up their work day.

The approach to the redesign was simple: make the most used tools visible at the top of each panel, and less frequent tools are placed in the Panel's pulldown portion. Where possible, each tool is a smaller pulldown that offers more abilities to that command: for example, the LINE button on the first panel of the Home tab is a pulldown that also offers DLINE command, XLINE and RAY commands.

Here is version 1.0 1.1.
Home Tab

 Having moved the most frequently used commands up, and the less frequent commands down in each panel (see above, two views of the Home Tab), I also added a few more panels our users wanted: these include Osnaps (coded so the user can add or drop when clicked) and Group.

Insert Tab


Here I expanded many of the default Panels in this tab, and added available online libraries of blocks from manufacturers we use often.

View Tab


 In this tab I added several new Panels for Script files we use most often, Viewport Layer controls (yes, you can control viewport layers separate from modelspace layers), and enhanced the existing panels with some additional commands, variables and customizations.

Annotate Tab


This tab is set up for all things Annotation related: In addition to text and dimension tools, I added a panel for Notation blocks, Room numbers, and dimension overrides.

Custom Tab


In our field of Architecture, the LT users have few tools to work with that are native to LT: I have added custom routines over the years for adding doors/windows/sidelights (with wall breaks), ceiling grid routines and more. Now I just need to work on my icons to look less sloppy.

Output Tab


In addition to having more tools on display, I added a panel to simplify the built-in Export options available in LT for the users.

Manage Tab


This Tab is mostly dedicated to "fixing" a DWG file and I added new panels to adress exactly that need: Linetype Scales settings, Recovery, Purge, Variables settings, Variables toggles (on and off), as well as a few customizations to fix objects not residing at Z=0 elevations.

Online and Parametric Tabs

These are core tabs that I did not change: the ONLINE tab is available with no effort in LT2012, bur in LT2011 you must install this add-on to gain access to the excellent cloud service AutoCADWS.

Field testing went well with a few key employees in both full AutoCAD and LT. Their feedback resulted in the Versions 1.1 you now see above in the snapshots. In a future blog I will cover some of the basics of using the CUI command to customize the Ribbon to match your needs and requirements, but in the meantime I must finish migrating the above into LT2012 (and AutoCAD 2012). ◦
Share/Bookmark

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Twitter Posts revisited: Transparency and Shortcuts

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. 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
Share/Bookmark

Monday, February 6, 2012

Autodesk ends support for Windows Vista: a comment

The official statement reads as follows:
"Beginning January 1, 2012, Autodesk will have formally ceased support of the Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System for all new (and upgraded versions) of its products and services released in 2012.
Currently shipping versions and previous versions of our software (delivered prior to January 1, 2012) will continue to be supported on this operating system."
To read the entire FAQ document, click HERE: the move is based on Microsoft's termination of sales of the Vista Operating System and eventual end of support in 2012.

In a way, this is understandable: Vista was more of a transitional Operating System for Windows XP. It fixes many XP issues, especially in the 64bit version, but was never compelling enough for many firms to migrate to it. And with Microsoft's questionable marketing for Vista, or lack of, Vista never established itself in the corporate world.

So what's the problem you say: this is old news. And you are right: the problem is what is missing from the Autodesk FAQ that in my opinion is a huge disservice to it's customers. Autodesk will still list Windows XP as a viable Operating system for the current and at least the next version of AutoCAD/LT.

Most Windows XP users are most likely only using the 32bit version of the Operating System (OS): most AutoCAD/LT2012 upgrades from users still using this old OS had legitimate expectations that the new software would perform well, but they soon discover that "slow" has a whole new meaning, and if they regularly access DWG files of any significant size ( a low 12-15MB limit usually), the operating system simply gives up and crashes AutoCAD/LT.

This disease of making software appear truly usable with older OS is prevalent in the CAD Industry, Autodesk is not alone in this attempt to appear accessible to everyone (LT starts at $1200, AutoCAD starts at $4000, hardly accessible pricing), it's an almost universal disgrace with all software companies. If your software truly cannot do more that merely "function" in an operating system, it should not be sold to that market. This is espcially sad in the 32bit versions of Windows XP (Vista, and Windows7 are equally underpowered in the 32bit versions).

Look at Autodesk's current behavior to see the conflict: they currently offer Technology Makeovers to move companies to new systems (they do not install Windows XP or Windows 7 32bit).
Then there is the huge topic of using Workstations instead of Desktop PCs for CAD, including this Lynn Allen recent video inteview, and this well written review by a frequent AutoCAD contributor from CADSPEED.

Autodesk needs to take the lead in the CAD Industry and speak the truth: Windows 7 64bit (and the Apple offering of equal Horsepower) should be the only specified Operating System for AutoCAD/LT 2012 and higher. It should start doing so today, not when Microsoft ends support. ◦
Share/Bookmark

Sunday, February 5, 2012

AutoCAD Tips that work in LT: Part 1


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 today.
  • Vladimir Michl New CAD tip: Connecting polylines by fillet - change in version 2012. http://bit.ly/nYCPWm
  • bcbenton CADspeed article: Tips on Buying Wide-Format Printers for CAD, Part 1: Determine Your Needs… http://goo.gl/fb/4jAxr
  • Kate Morrical Sheet Set Manager Video Series http://bit.ly/ofUnUh
  • bcbenton CAD Speed-Tips on Buying Wide-Format Printers for CAD,Part2: Choosing the Right One: http://ow.ly/1yQGXM
  • AutoCAD Free up your desktop with #AutodeskCloud. Access 2D and 3D DWG™ files from anywhere when you save to the cloud. http://autode.sk/pCQgfC
  • Lynn Allen A simple macro for instantly loading and unloading Xrefs http://bit.ly/sikqXv @Cadalyst_Mag #AutoCAD
  • Jeff Bartels AutoCAD Tip: Insert something into drawing & can't find it? Zoom directly to last object created, Press Z Enter O Enter L Enter.
  • AutoCAD VIDEO: Robert Green describes how to add sheets and subsets to a sheet set in AutoCAD 2012. http://autode.sk/uHi9C6
  • Lynn Allen Setting IMAGEFRAME in #AutoCAD (nice and simple explanation) http://bit.ly/unq5k2 @cadaddict
  • bcbenton Sheet Set Manager just came to AutoCAD LT 2012? There were no sheet sets in LT before 2012?
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
Share/Bookmark