Where is AutoCAD/LT to download?

If you are just looking for an Autodesk product download you should be able to find it at the Autodesk Customer Service Virtual Agent. First, you should do the following to prepare:

1. In the preferences or options area of your preferred browser, remove pop-up blockers and allow access to all *autodesk.com sites.
2. In the preferences or options area of your preferred browser, delete cookies, temporary internet files, and history.
3. Turn off your personal firewall or VPN, if you use one.
4. Disable UAC in Windows, temporarily.
5. Close and reopen your preferred browser.
6. Now follow these instructions: http://knowledge.autodesk.com/topics/account-management/software-downloads/download-methods/virtual-agent

Note: as of today, the date of this posting, Autodesk only stores product versions from 2015 down to 2012. If you use one of these versions go and get it now, today, and store the download somewhere safe to use later. Because once Autodesk stops making it available you will be hard pressed to find it ever again.

DWGTrueview (DTV) 2014 download links can be found in this post:
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Installation-Licensing/TrueView-download/m-p/4427763#M68123
DWGTrueview (DTV) 2015 64bit Download is here:
http://download.autodesk.com/esd/dwgtrueview/2015/SetupDWGTrueView2015_ENU_64bit.sfx.exe

There are several download links for older products on this page that may help you: ftp://ftp.autodesk.com/prodsupp/downloads/ ◦

Where is AutoCAD/LT to download?

The serial number you have entered is not valid

When you attempt to open the freshly installed software it asks for the serial number of the product. You enter the serial number listed on the back of the product case/box, but it is rejected with the message "The serial number you have entered is not valid". So what's going on?

If this is an older version of AutoCAD/LT, usually when you see that type of error it means that the license has been marked upgraded or returned. To have your license status verified, please contact the Activation and Registration team directly:

1. Visit http://knowledge.autodesk.com/contactus
2. Select “Activation & Registration” or “License Management”
3. Select appropriate subtopics from the pull-down menus
4. Select “I Still Need Help”  if you need personal assistance.

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The serial number you have entered is not valid

Reset AutoCAD/LT without losing customizations

Sometimes you just need to reset AutoCAD/LT. It happens. Problem is, you lose all those menu customizations and/or workspace you spent time creating, moving and rearranging.

It is fairly painless to back up your customizations before resetting:

1. Windows START button, click on All Programs, then Autodesk, then AutoCAD LT 2015 (or lower), then Migrate custom settings, select Export AutoCAD LT 2015 settings.
2. Click the EXPORT button.
3. In the Export custom settings dialog box, select a location (like your desktop) to save the ZIP file created by the program.
4. Now you are ready to Reset AutoCAD to Defaults: go to Windows START button>All Programs>Autodesk>AutoCAD  LT 2015>Reset Settings to Default and it will reset and restart AutoCAD LT. 
5. Ensure the gremlins you wanted fixed are gone.
6. Exit AutoCAD/LT, then go to START>All Programs>Autodesk>AutoCAD LT 2015>Migrate custom settings>Import AutoCAD LT 2015 settings to bring your customizations back in.

Using Windows 8? Upgrade to Win8.1 first, then grab the free Start Button add-on and get back that useful functionality. ◦

Reset AutoCAD/LT without losing customizations

Random Links of Interest: light reading

• bcbenton Archive an original AutoCAD file after you have made changes to it. http://ow.ly/1l7abk
• Cadalyst_Mag: What could you do with ?#AutoCAD? 360? ?#CADspeed? explores: http://bit.ly/MFE0Ui
• Autodesk 2013 Educational Offerings Include Cloud Computing http://www.tenlinks.com/news/PR/AUTODE …
• Without a Net: Product Keys for Autodesk Software http://bit.ly/MOAkgj
• AutoCAD WS Teams Up with Google Drive ?#AutoCAD? http://bit.ly/K1Kol5
• iOS and Android Apps for Mobile CAD Users http://www.cadalyst.com/general-softwa …
• Jimmy Bergmark: Compare AutoCAD Products: Autodesk has a site where you can compare AutoCAD products… http://goo.gl/fb/M2M7W
• AutoCAD LT humor... pic.twitter.com/4gaVBbhe
• bcbenton: HP Announces new HP Z220 Workstations and EliteBook Mobile Workstations http://ow.ly/1koQl0
• The Cad Geek: 1st copy of my latest book AutoCAD 2013 and AutoCAD LT 2013: No Experience Required! http://instagr.am/p/LjEH4vgEEH/
• Autodesk CEO @carlbass talks smart failure, passion, and innovation with @techvibes http://autode.sk/JRT0un
• AutoCAD LT Autodesk 360 Sync Hotfix Now Available http://bit.ly/KWXfZH
• AutoCAD_WS: Part 1 of an amazing 7-part series of blog posts about integrating ?#AutoCADWS? with ?#Salesforce? - http://aucad.ws/LyrpEO
• bcbenton How to Trick Get Your Boss to Buy You an iPad (Tablet): I wrote a Guest Post for Shaan Hurley… http://goo.gl/fb/G5hA0
• AutoCAD LT for Mac purchase options http://bit.ly/LSgjID

Catch a listing of all our twitter postings HERE http://twitter.com/#!/LTisACAD.

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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Random Links of Interest: light reading

Commands for Creating Leaders

Use these commands to create leaders for notes and labels.

Commands

• LEADER Creates a line that connects annotation to a feature. Explore this link to the Leader Settings Dialog Box.

• MLEADERALIGN Aligns and spaces selected multileader objects.
• MLEADERCOLLECT Organizes selected multileaders that contain blocks into rows or columns, and displays the result with a single leader.
• MLEADEREDIT Adds leader lines to, or removes leader lines from, a multileader object.
• MLEADERSTYLE Creates and modifies multileader styles.
• MLEADER Creates a multileader object.
• PROPERTIES Controls properties of existing objects.
• QLEADER Creates a leader and leader annotation.

System Variables

• CMDDIA Controls the display of the In-Place Text Editor for the LEADER and QLEADER commands.
• CMLEADERSTYLE Sets the name of the current multileader style.
• DIMASSOC Controls the associativity of dimension objects and whether dimensions are exploded.
• DIMASZ Controls the size of dimension line and leader line arrowheads. Also controls the size of hook lines.
• DIMCLRD Assigns colors to dimension lines, arrowheads, and dimension leader lines.
• DIMGAP Sets the distance around the dimension text when the dimension line breaks to accommodate dimension text.
• DIMLDRBLK Specifies the arrow type for leaders.
• DIMSCALE Sets the overall scale factor applied to dimensioning variables that specify sizes, distances, or offsets.
• DIMTAD Controls the vertical position of text in relation to the dimension line.
• DIMTXTDIRECTION Specifies the reading direction of the dimension text.
• MLEADERSCALE Sets the overall scale factor applied to multileader objects.

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Commands for Creating Leaders

Commands for Publishing Settings

Use these commands and system variables to set options for publishing.

Commands

• EXPORT Saves the objects in a drawing to a different file format.
• PAGESETUP Controls the page layout, plotting device, paper size, and other settings for each new layout.
• PLOTTERMANAGER Displays the Plotter Manager, where you can add or edit a plotter configuration.

• PLOT Plots a drawing to a plotter, printer, or file.
• PUBLISH Publishes drawings to DWF, DWFx, and PDF files, or to printers or plotters. Note that -PUBLISH command is not available in LT.
• SHEETSET Opens the Sheet Set Manager.
• VIEWPLOTDETAILS Displays information about completed plot and publish jobs.

System Variables

• BACKGROUNDPLOT Controls whether background plotting is turned on or off for plotting and publishing. Recommend this always be tuned off/set to 0.
• PUBLISHALLSHEETS Specifies whether to load the contents of the active document or of all open documents in the Publish dialog box.
• PUBLISHCOLLATE Controls whether plotting a sheet set, multi-sheet plot file, or plot spool file can be interrupted by other plot jobs.

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Commands for Publishing Settings

AutoCAD/LT 2013 Tips and Links of Interest

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.

• 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: 2013 Updated 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

Catch a listing of all our twitter postings HERE http://twitter.com/#!/LTisACAD.
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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AutoCAD/LT 2013 Tips and Links of Interest

Commands for Layers

These commands and system variables are used to work with Layers in AutoCAD LT:

Commands

• -LAYMCH Changes the layer of a selected object to match the layer of a selected object.
• -PURGE Removes unused named objects, such as block definitions and layers, from the drawing using the command line.
• CHANGE Changes the properties of existing objects.
• CHPROP Changes the properties of an object.
• CLASSICLAYER Opens the legacy Layer Properties Manager.
• COPYTOLAYER Copies one or more objects to another layer.
• LAYCUR Changes the layer property of selected objects to the current layer.
• LAYDEL Deletes all objects on a layer and purges the layer.
• LAYERCLOSE Closes the Layer Properties Manager.
• LAYERPMODE Turns on and off the tracking of changes made to layer settings.
• LAYERP Undoes the last change or set of changes made to layer settings.
• LAYERSTATE Saves, restores, and manages sets of layer settings that are called named layer states.
• LAYER Manages layers and layer properties.
• LAYFRZ Freezes the layer of selected objects.
• LAYISO Hides or locks all layers except those of the selected objects.
• LAYMCH nges the layer of a selected object to match the destination layer.
• LAYMCUR Sets the current layer to that of a selected object.
• LAYMRG Opens the Merge Layers dialog box, where you can merge selected layers into a target layer, removing the previous layers from the drawing.
• LAYOFF Turns off the layer of a selected object.
• LAYON Turns on all layers in the drawing.
• LAYTHW Thaws all layers in the drawing.
• LAYULK Unlocks the layer of a selected object.
• LAYUNISO Restores all layers that were hidden or locked with the LAYISO command.
• LAYVPI Freezes selected layers in all layout viewports except the current viewport.
• LAYWALK Displays objects on selected layers and hides objects on all other layers.
• PROPERTIES Controls properties of existing objects, including Layers.
• PURGE Removes unused items, such as block definitions and layers, from the drawing.
• RENAME Changes the names assigned to items such as layers and dimension styles.
• ULAYERS Controls the display of layers in a DWF, DWFx, PDF, or DGN underlay.

System Variables

• CLAYER Sets the current layer.
• LAYEREVALCTL Controls the Unreconciled New Layer filter list in the Layer Properties Manager, which is evaluated for new layers.
• LAYEREVAL Specifies whether the layer list is evaluated for new layers when added to the drawing or to attached xrefs.
• LAYERFILTERALERT Deletes excess layer filters to improve performance.
• LAYERMANAGERSTATE Indicates whether the Layer Properties Manager is open or closed.
• LAYERNOTIFY Specifies when an alert displays when unreconciled new layers are found.
• LAYLOCKFADECTL Controls the amount of fading for objects on locked layers.
• SETBYLAYERMODE Controls which properties are selected for the SETBYLAYER command.
• SHOWLAYERUSAGE Displays icons in the Layer Properties Manager to indicate whether layers are in use.
• VPLAYEROVERRIDESMODE Controls whether layer property overrides for layout viewports are displayed and plotted.
• VPLAYEROVERRIDES Indicates if there are any layers with viewport (VP) property overrides for the current layout viewport.

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Commands for Layers

Commands for Linetypes

These commands and system variables are used to work with Linetypes in AutoCAD LT:

Commands

• -PURGE Removes unused named objects, such as unused linetypes, from the drawing using the command line.
• LINETYPE Loads, sets, and modifies linetypes.
• LTSCALE Sets the global linetype scale factor.
• PURGE Removes unused items, such as block definitions and layersand linetypes, from the drawing.
• RENAME Changes the names assigned to items such as linetypes and more.
• REVERSE Reverses the vertices of selected lines, polylines, splines, and helixes, which is useful for linetypes with included text, or wide polylines with differing beginning and ending widths.
• SETBYLAYER Changes the property overrides of selected objects to ByLayer.

System Variables

• CELTSCALE Sets the current object linetype scaling factor.
• CELTYPE Sets the linetype of new objects.
• LTSCALE Sets the global linetype scale factor.
• MEASUREINIT Controls whether a drawing you start from scratch uses imperial or metric default settings.
• MEASUREMENT Controls whether the current drawing uses imperial or metric hatch pattern and linetype files.
• MSLTSCALE Scales linetypes displayed on the model tab by the annotation scale.
• PLINEGEN Controls how linetype patterns generate around the vertices of a 2D polyline.
• PSLTSCALE Controls the linetype scaling of objects displayed in paper space viewports.

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Commands for Linetypes

Commands for Tables

These commands and system variables are used to work with Tables in AutoCAD LT:

Commands

• -TABLE Creates an empty table object.
• FIELD Creates a multiline text object with a field that can be updated automatically as the field value changes.
• TABLEDIT Edits text in a table cell.
• TABLEEXPORT Exports data from a table object in CSV file format.
• TABLESTYLE Creates, modifies, or specifies table styles.
• TABLE Creates an empty table object.
• TINSERT Inserts a block in a table cell.
• UPDATEFIELD Manually updates fields in selected objects in the drawing.

System Variables

• CTABLESTYLE Sets the name of the current table style.
• FIELDDISPLAY Controls whether fields are displayed with a gray background.
• TABLEINDICATOR Controls the display of row numbers and column letters when the In-Place Text Editor is open for editing a table cell.
• TABLETOOLBAR Controls the display of the Table toolbar.

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Commands for Tables

Commands for Lineweights

These commands and system variables are used to work with Lineweights in AutoCAD LT:

Commands

• LWEIGHT Sets the current lineweight, lineweight display options, and lineweight units.
• SETBYLAYER Changes the property overrides of selected objects to ByLayer.

System Variables

• CELWEIGHT Sets the lineweight of new objects.
• LWDEFAULT Sets the value for the default lineweight.
• LWDISPLAY Controls whether the lineweights of objects are displayed.
• LWUNITS Controls whether lineweight units are displayed in inches or in millimeters.

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Commands for Lineweights

LT 2013 Obsolete Commands and Variables

Below is a list of now Obsolete Commands and System Variables Reference in AutoCAD LT 2013:

• GETLINK  Gets a link to the current document to paste or e-mail:  Removed from product.
• MANAGEUPLOADS  Manages uploading of additional documents:  Removed from product.
• MESSAGES  Displays messages about updates to AutoCAD WS drawings:  Removed from product.
• ONLINEDRAWINGS  Opens web browser to access all online documents.  Removed from product.
• OPENONLINE  Opens current drawing in AutoCAD WS:  Removed from product.
• SHARE  Makes current drawings available to other AutoCAD WS users:  Replaced by ONLINESHARE.
• SHAREWITHSEEK  Uploads a selected block or the current drawing to the Autodesk Seek website:  Removed from product.
• UPLOAD  Uploads the current document to Autodesk 360:  Removed from product.
• UPLOADFILES  Opens file dialog box to upload additional documents:  Removed from product.
• WHATSNEW  Opens New Features Workshop:  Removed from product. 
• PROXYWEBSEARCH  Specifies how AutoCAD checks for Object Enablers:  Removed from product.
• RASTERPREVIEW  Controls whether BMP preview images are saved with the drawing:  Replaced by THUMBSAVE.

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LT 2013 Obsolete Commands and Variables

LT 2013 Updated Commands and Variables

Below is a list of Updated Commands and System Variables Reference found in AutoCAD LT 2013:

• ACISOUT  Exports solid objects to an ACIS file:  Saves SAT files as Version 7.0.
• ADCENTER  Manages content:  Updated to support Section View and Detail View styles.
• ARRAY  Creates multiple copies of objects in a pattern:  Displays contextual tab during array creation.
• ARRAYEDIT  Edits multiple copies of objects in a pattern:  Path array automatically calculates the item count based on the item spacing and length of path curve.
• ATTACH  Allows the user to insert various file types as attachments or underlays into a DWG file:  Now attaches point clouds files (PCG and ISG).  X  X 
• -ATTACH  Allows the user to insert various file types as attachments or underlays into a DWG file from the command prompt:  Now attaches point clouds files (PCG and ISG).
• CLIP  Allows the user to clip viewports, xrefs, DWF, DWFx and DGN underlays, PDF underlays and point clouds:  Now creates clipping boundaries for point clouds.
• -HATCHEDIT  Modifies an existing hatch object from command line:  Now allows multiple-hatch selection.
• LIST  Displays property data for selected objects.  If the command window is not docked, displays object information in the extended command history. If the command window is docked, information is displayed in the text screen.
• MLEADER  Creates a line that connects annotation to a feature:  Now supports strikethrough formatting.
• MOVE  Displaces objects a specified distance in a specified direction:  Now supports section view and detail view types.
• MTEDIT  Edits multiline text:  Text style drop-down list display changed to show more options.
• MTEXT  Creates multiline text:  Text style drop-down list display changed to show more options.
• PURGE  Removes unused named items, such as block definitions and layers, from the drawing:  Now purges Detail View styles.
• RENAME  Changes the names of objects:  Now supports purging of Detail View styles.
• -RENAME  Changes the names of objects from command line:  Now supports purging of Detail View styles.
• ROTATE  Moves objects about a base point:  Now supports rotation of section views and detail views.
• STYLE  Creates named styles:  Text style drop-down list display changed to show more options. 
• TEXTTOFRONT  Brings text and dimensions in front of all other objects in the drawing:  Now supports leaders. 
• XFADECTL  Controls the fading intensity percentage for references being edited in-place:  Controls the degree of fading when editing a reference in place or when in a view sketching state (editing view-specific geometry).
• XREFNOTIFY  Controls the notification for updated or missing xrefs:  Now communicates with the Inventor Server to check for updates to Inventor models placed in Model Documentation views. 

 

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LT 2013 Updated Commands and Variables

LT2013 New Commands and Variables

Below is a list of  New Commands and System Variables Reference found in LT2013:

• ARRAYCLASSIC: Displays the legacy Array dialog box.
• ARRAYASSOCIATIVITY: Sets the default behavior of new arrays to be associative or non-associative.
• CACHEMAXFILES: Sets the maximum number of graphics cache files saved in the local configured temporary folder for the product. 
• PLINEREVERSEWIDTHS  Controls the appearance of a polyline when it is reversed.
• POINTCLOUDBOUNDARY  Turns the display of a point cloud bounding box on and off.
• POINTCLOUDCLIPFRAME  Controls whether a point cloud clipping boundary is visible on the screen and when printed. 
• SELECTIONPREVIEWLIMIT  Limits the number of objects that can display preview highlighting during a window or crossing selection. 
• THUMBSAVE  Controls whether BMP preview images are saved with the drawing. 
• WIPEOUTFRAME  Controls the display of frames for wipeout objects.

Plus a host of commands and variables to support the new Autodesk Cloud:

• ONLINECOLNOW: Starts an online session with AutoCAD WS, in which people that you invite can simultaneously view and edit your current drawing,
• ONLINEDOCS: Opens your Autodesk 360 documents list and folders in a browser.
• ONLINEOPTIONS: Opens the Online tab of the Options dialog box.
• ONLINESHARE: Designates who can access the current document from your Autodesk 360.
• ONLINESYNC: Starts or stops syncing your custom settings with your Autodesk 360 account.
• ONLINESYNCSETTINGS: Displays the Choose Which Settings Are Synced dialog box where you can specify selected settings to be synced.
• ONLINETOMOBILE: Sends a notification to your mobile devices, enabling you to find and open the current drawing on your mobile devices quickly. 
• ONLINEDOCMODE  Indicates whether a copy of a new drawing is saved automatically to your Autodesk 360 account.
• ONLINEDOCUMENTS  Stores whether you can open and save drawing files directly to your Autodesk 360 account.
• ONLINESYNCTIME  Controls the time interval for synchronizing current customization settings with a local cache, which then stored in your Autodesk 360 account. 

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LT2013 New Commands and Variables

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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AutoCAD/LT and Touchscreens

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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AutoCAD LT 2013 Info and Tips