Showing posts with label Customizing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Customizing. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

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.
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Sunday, October 28, 2012

Twitter Posts Revisited

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.
  • STATUSBAR controls the display of the application and drawing status bars http://dld.bz/as872
  • STARTUP controls what displays when the application is started, or when a new drawing is opened http://dld.bz/as873 .
  • LTisACAD Blog: AutoCAD Abilities You Can Control in LT http://dlvr.it/1dC6Zr
  • STATUSBAR controls the display of the application and drawing status bars http://dld.bz/as872
  • SHOWPAGESETUPFORNEWLAYOUTS specifies whether the Page Setup Manager is displayed when a new layout is created http://dld.bz/as87m
  • SHOWLAYERUSAGE displays icons in the Layer Properties Manager to indicate whether layers are in use http://dld.bz/as87h
  • SETBYLAYERMODE controls which properties are selected for the SETBYLAYER command http://dld.bz/as87g
  • Selection Modes control how you create selection sets http://dld.bz/as87d
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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Sunday, September 9, 2012

AutoCAD Tips that work in LT: Part 10

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 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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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

AutoCAD LT for Mac: Tips

Whether you use LT on an Apple or MS Windows PC, finding fellow users and sharing tips with them s a goal many of us have in common.

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Specifying a different TEMP folder for AutoCAD/LT

AutoCAD/LT defaults to your Windows Log-in Temp folder location for many items (including your Autosave files) it needs to run every time you use the program. While this is convenient to program for the, it becomes difficult for you the end user to find these items when you need them the most.

To access your default Windows TEMP folder, you can either use Windows Explorer to go to the following folder:
C:\Users\YourNameHere\appdata\local\temp\
or Click Start menu (Windows) then Run: In the Run dialog box, enter %TEMP% and click OK.

You can however set up AutoCAD/LT to use any other folder you may have or wish to create: this can me one single folder on your local PC that you can access quickly (in the screenshot example below I use a folder called TEMP located on my computer's C primary drive).


Or you can create multiple folders, one for each of the five categories in the screenshot above, or just one additional folder for your Autosave files for example. After you create one or ore of these folders in Windows Explorer, open OPTIONS command's FILES tab, select the entry you wish to change, select the folder name, tap the BROWSE button and browse to the new folder to select it.Just follow the sequence of numbers in the screenshot below.


You now can easily find your temp files and SV$ extention Autosave files quickly. ◦
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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Calling External Applications from AutoCAD/LT

While AutoCAD/LT is running, you can invoke (start) other programs or utilities such Windows system commands, utilities, and applications: the coding is simple and coded in the same file that AutoCAD/LT uses to read those command shortcuts we all use instead of typing full command names, the ACADLT.PGP file (for AutoCAD users, it's the ACAD.PGP file).

You define external commands by specifying a command name to be used from the AutoCAD command prompt and an executable command string that is passed to the operating system. By default, defined in the acadlt.pgp file are three commands that work to call up a couple of the most common Windows based Applications. These commands are listed as follows.

EXPLORER - Launches a session of Windows Explorer
NOTEPAD - Launches a session of NotePad with file provided if one is given
PBRUSH - Launches a session Windows Paint (or Paintbrush).

The coding structure inside the PGP for these external commands are as follows:
,[],,[*],

Examples of external commands for Windows built into LT by default:
EXPLORER,  START EXPLORER, 1,,
NOTEPAD,   START NOTEPAD,  1,,
PBRUSH,    START PBRUSH,   1,,

What does all ths coding mean?
  • The first part represents the command name that you type in AutoCAD to execute the line of code.Feel free to abbreviate any of these to your preference, we show them with full names for clarity of this article.
  • The second part calls a defined command from earlier in the Acad.pgp file.  This command is used to launch an executable that is registered on the current system (basically, how Windows calls the command).
  • The third part is used to allocate memory.  This field is used maintains compatibility with previous versions of AutoCAD.  Typically the number zero is present.
  • The fourth part is used to display a prompt at the AutoCAD Command Line.  This field is optional to use and the response to this prompt is appended to the string supplied in the executable field. If the first character of the prompt field is an asterisk (*), the response can contain spaces and the user must press ENTER to terminate it.
  • The fifth part is an optional bit-coded parameter.  These codes can be added together in order to reach the desired results.
Here are examples of external commands from Windows we modified and added to LT. In these first to examples, we added additional prompts at the command line to prompt the user:
EXPLORER,  START EXPLORER, 1,*Directory to Start in: ,
NOTEPAD,   START NOTEPAD,  1,*File to edit: ,
 
Other examples of external programs to call from inside LT at the command line, or a menu/screen button:
EXCEL,    START EXCEL,   1,,
WORD,    START WINWORD,   1,,
POWERPOINT,    START POWERPNT,   1,,
WORDPAD,    START WRITE,   1,,
OUTLOOK,    START OUTLOOK,   1,,
 
What external programs would you find useful to call from inside LT?

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Sunday, April 1, 2012

AutoCAD Tips that work in LT: Part 5

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 (no April Fools tips here).
  • bcbenton File Naming Conventions are Really Data Management Rules http://ow.ly/1gx9s8
  • bcbenton Training: Why Are You Waiting for “Training” from Someone Else … Now that the new year… http://goo.gl/m5Mll
  • bcbenton How Not to CAD – File Paths and Name Changes http://ow.ly/1gyov4
  • AutoCAD_WS Practical tips on how to improve your design pitch with #AutoCADWS - http://autode.sk/wdRzhO
  • bcbenton Where do AutoCAD Dimensions Belong? Paper Space or Model Space?: There are some topics that… http://goo.gl/fb/hwwLB
  • Jeff Bartels AutoCAD Tip: Want to lengthen the Recent Documents list? Launch OPTIONS (Open & Save tab) & change # of recently-used files. Max=50
  • Vladimir Michl New CAD tip: Selecting multiple objects in a particular order. http://bit.ly/yb7fvW
  • Lynn Allen DIMROTATED (top secret dim command in #AutoCAD) http://bit.ly/18zzrt
  • Jeff Bartels AutoCAD Tip: Have a hatch object that's missing a boundary? Select hatch, right-click & choose "Generate Boundary" to create a new one.
  • Vladimir Michl New CAD tip: Batch print for multiple drawings, multiple printers and copies. http://bit.ly/way1rC
  • Lynn Allen: the new Path Array in AutoCAD 2012 let's you array along a spline (awesome!) No need to use divide or measure! Work with LT2012 as well.
  • EFinkelstein:"Open AutoCAD with a specific template http://bit.ly/wEJOii
  • LT users can use this tip too “Vladimir Michl New CAD tip: How to increase width of the layer control in AutoCAD ribbon? http://bit.ly/yugdPP
  • cadpanacea: Example uses for the internal AutoCAD CAL command http://bit.ly/z3Amxp. Works in LT.
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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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
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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). ◦
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Saturday, January 1, 2011

Adding Blog or Twitter Feeds in AutoCAD/LT's InfoCenter

Jeff Bartels provides a good tip on how to add and follow blogs and tweets inside AutoCAD and LT's InfoCenter blog HERE. Look at the bottom of that webpage to find some of the many blogs and tweets around from and for AutoCAD Users and Experts, sign up and add your favorite ones.

You can follow us within your browser, or inside AutoCAD and LT using the following details:
This weekly blog: http://ltisacad.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
Daily Twitter postings: http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/230815754.rss

 Link back to this post with http://bit.ly/PDfeeds
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Saturday, September 22, 2007

Free Online Tutorials Links

  • Lynn Allen's free video Tips and Tricks online HERE.
  • LT2008's new text/annotation features explored HERE.
  • Creating attributes: labels, tags and editable text inside blocks HERE and in this MOVIE. And in case you need it, here is a Block OVERVIEW as well as WBLOCK command. Many more links found HERE.
  • An overview of Palettes with Blocks HERE.
  • Help with PLOT command provided at the great SITE. And more importantly, understanding UNITS and Scales settings inside AutoCAD HERE.
  • CUI video tutorials HERE: originally developed for 2006, still very useful for an overview if you use later versions. Additional customization tips and ideas HERE.
  • eTransmit command, the best way to send/email drawing files to others HERE.
  • Using Groups in AutoCAD, tips and insight HERE.
  • Creating a Dynamic Block in LT2007 and higher HERE: this example creates a door block HERE to see it all in action.
  • Layers and Linetypes overviews HERE.
  • Dealing with gaps, either in lines, plines or hatch areas, click HERE.
  • Setting up text and dimensions, PART1 and PART2. More links on Dimensioning HERE and HERE for Text.
  • Selection options other than W and C discussed HERE.
  • Creating your own custom Plot Style Table (CTB) HERE.
  • Creating your own custom simple linetype HERE.
  • Creating and using Layer Filters HERE.
  • Learn how to best use Grips with objects in AutoCAD HERE.
  • Tables in AutoCAD are introduced HERE as well as this SITE.
  • Paperspace/Layouts overview explained in TWO VIDEOS. Many more links HERE. Examine some good links on VIEWPORTS as well.
  • OPTIONS command and it's many tabs and selections explained HERE.
  • Understanding Xrefs and paths HERE.
  • Using OTRACK, or Object Snap Tracking new to LT2007 and higher HERE.
  • POLAR, or Polarmode use, and alternative to ORTHO on/off discussed HERE.
  • Rotating views in your drawing discussed HERE.

For LT2008 tutorials on CD, 100 video lessons in 10-hours for one low cost, review the option to purchase HERE.

Free lessons here that comes from a great book LT2008 For Designers, click HERE.

More LT lessons here: LT2005, LT2007 and LT2008.


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Friday, September 7, 2007

JPG, PNG, BMP, TIFF and more from LT

Similar to the EPS file creation tip below, LT has the ability to create many popular Raster File formats as well. These allow you to generate graphic content for other apps like MSWord or MSPowerpoint from your AutoCAD files.

To use this ability, you first need to set up a Raster File plotter, then PLOT to that format. Setup is as follows:
  1. Choose File > Plotter Manager.
  2. Choose 'Add-A-Plotter Wizard'.
  3. Choose Next, then Next again (accepting My Computer).
  4. Under Manufacturers, choose 'Raster File Formats'.
  5. Under Models, choose the raster file format you need.
  6. Choose Next until the Finish button becomes available. Note that some additional options exist to set if you so desire, including the ability to control the raster file background color.

Now start PLOT command, select the plotter you just create, and use any or all of PLOT command's options and features to create your custom raster file.

Click HERE for Autodesk's topic "Understanding dpi resolution with the Raster File Formats HDI plotter driver".


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Monday, September 3, 2007

Change the Default Drawing Folder

Each time you start AutoCAD/LT, the My Documents folder is the default path in each standard file selection dialog box. Alternatively, you can configure AutoCAD/LT to always default to a specified path by changing the default drawing folder using the REMEMBERFOLDERS system variable.
Restarting LT helps set it if it acts up after the change. ◦
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F1 key reprogram to stop calling HELP

These directions will remap your F1 key in LT2006 or higher to act like theescape key: same concept should work for other F-keys too:

1. Right-click on a toolbar and select Customize... to open the CUI Editor.
2. In the upper left area, expand Keyboard Shortcuts and then Shortcut Keys.
3. Drag a command from the command list below into the Shortcut Keys (I used the first command .XY).
4. The command should now be in the Shortcut Keys area. This creates a new shortcut key with the same name as the command. Right-click on the new shortcut key and select Rename. Rename it to "F1 Remap" (no quotes).
5. In the properties area for the new shortcut key, Change the description to something else (or just delete the text there).
6. Change the macro to the following, which basically cancels any running command, you can add another command if you desire: ^C^C
7. In the Keys text area of the access heading, clickinside the text area to activate it and then press the button on the right with the three dots.
8. The shortcut keys dialogue box comes up. Place a cursor in the area called "Press new shortcut key:" and press the F1 Key on your keyboard. F1 should now appear in that box. Click on the Assign button. F1 should now appear in the Current Keys section. Click on OK.
9. Click on Apply in the CUI editor and then OK.

If you have LT2005 or lower, click HERE. ◦
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Sunday, September 2, 2007

Track Plotting from AutoCAD/LT for FREE

Here ia a tip that will make you popular with you billing folks, plot tracking: LT offers a free and simple way to track each plot you do, whether an image (pdf, dwf etc.) or to your printer, or plotter. And every AutoCAD/LT seat can write to the same simgle file too.
  1. Go to the Plot and Publish tab in OPTIONS command. Click Automatically save plot and publish log, and select the Save one continuous plot log button.
  2. After enabling the feature, go to the Files tab in OPTIONS command, and find Plot and Publish Log Location: change the path to a shared directory all your AutoCAD/LT seats can access, then Click OK.
  3. AutoCAD will create a CSV (comma separated) file in that location. Each time someone sends a new plot it will be appended with the information about that plot. Open the CSV file with MSExcel or similar program to sort the file and generate a billing report for all your plotting.

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Friday, August 31, 2007

Customizing LT's screen menu and toolbars

Since LT2006 customizing the toolbars, but especially the screen menu (pulldowns, right-clicks and more) has moved away from the realm of the CAD Manager and is mor easily available to the individual user.

CUI command launches you into the customizing window that let's you change almost everything you see on screen in LT. The following free tutorials are LT2006 specific but the majority still applies to LT2007 and LT2008:

http://autodesk.blogs.com/between_the_lines/2005/05/autocad_2006_tu.html
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Abbreviations for LT commands

You would like to abbreviate commands such as Layer, Chprop, AI_MOLC and more with simpler one, two or three letters for quicker typing or macro writing.

These are called Aliases, and you can create them by editing LT's PGP file and adding or deleting what you need as you need it. To access the file, click on LT's Tools Pulldown Menu, Customize selection, Edit Program Parameters.
You will be presented with a new pop-up, scroll down and match exactly the format to add your own abbreviations/Aliases:
When you are done, save and close this file. At the LT command line, type REINIT, select PGP File from the new pop-up, then click OK: this reloads the PGP file you just edited. Your changes are now available for use.

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Cannot Fillet and more: lines are non coplanar errors

You cannot Fillet, Trim, Extend, Chamfer or Hatch in a file, LT reports that the lines you select are "non coplanar".
LT is still AutoCAD, a 3D program that has a Z height elevation: those 2D commands require your lines to all be on the same Z height, ideally set to O (zero).

Create a new toolbar button on a toolbar (preferably a custom toolbar on your own), and add the following macro (ideally just cut and paste from here, watch out for word wrap):

^C^C_UCS;;_move _all;;0,0,1e99;;_move _all;;0,0,-1e99;;_chprop;_all;;_thickness;0;;^M;

Now click on the toolbar button you just created, and select the entities in question (or your entire drawing if needed). Make sure your UCS is set to World. This routine will not convert 3D objects in your file to 2D entities. ◦
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