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.

• UPDATEFIELD command manually updates fields in selected objects in the drawing http://dld.bz/as8AW
• UNISOLATEOBJECTS command displays previously hidden objects http://dld.bz/as8AR
• UNGROUP command disassociates the objects from a group http://dld.bz/as8AE
• DIMANGULAR command video tips http://www.nyacad.com/FReeStuffFiles …
• Explore VIEW command and saved views in AutoCAD/LT http://cadtips.cadalyst.com/named-views/al …
• Put A Spell On Your Text Print http://cadtips.cadalyst.com/edit-text/put- …
• ULAYERS commnd controls the display of layers in a DWF, DWFx, PDF, or DGN underlay http://dld.bz/as8An
• Layers and Old-Timers http://www.cadtutor.net/corner/2012/ju …
• TRACKING (Command Modifier) locates a point from a series of temporary points http://dld.bz/as8Ae
• TEMPOVERRIDES command turns temporary override keys on and off http://dld.bz/as89U

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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Twitter Posts Revisited

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.

• TEXTFILL command controls the filling of TrueType fonts while plotting http://dld.bz/as89N
• TABLETOOLBAR commands controls the display of the Table toolbar http://dld.bz/as89D
• TABLEINDICATOR controls the display of row numbers and column letters when the In-Place Text Editor is open for editing a table cell.
• User's Guide: Trim or Extend Objects http://dld.bz/as89p
• TRANSPARENCY controls whether background pixels in an image are transparent or opaque http://dld.bz/as89g
• TPNAVIGATE command displays a specified tool palette or palette group http://dld.bz/as88g
• TINSERT command inserts a block in a table cell http://dld.bz/as88b
• LT2012: TIMELINE provides access to previous versions of the AutoCAD WS online copy of the current drawing http://dld.bz/as87X
• TEXTTOFRONT brings text and dimensions in front of all other objects in the drawing http://dld.bz/as87F
• TASKBAR controls whether multiple open drawings are displayed separately or grouped on the Windows taskbar http://dld.bz/as87A .

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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Twitter Posts Revisited

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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Twitter Posts Revisited

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.

• SELECTSIMILARMODE controls which properties must match for an object of the same type to be selected with SELECTSIMILAR http://dld.bz/as87c
• SELECTIONANNODISPLAY controls whether alternate scale representations are temp displayed in a dimmed state when annotative object selected.
• SUBTRACT command combines selected regions by subtraction http://dld.bz/as869
• SKETCH creates a series of freehand line segments http://dld.bz/as86w
• SETBYLAYER changes the property overrides of selected objects to ByLayer http://dld.bz/as855
• SELECTSIMILAR adds similar objects to the selection set based on selected objects http://dld.bz/as85m
• SCALETEXT enlarges or reduces selected text objects without changing their locations http://dld.bz/as844

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
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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Twitter Posts Revisited

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.

• RIBBONSELECTMODE command in more detail: http://dld.bz/as83T
• RIBBONSELECTMODE determines whether pickfirst selection set remains selected after ribbon contextual tab is invoked and command is completed
• RIBBONCONTEXTSELLIM limits the number of objects that can be changed at one time with the ribbon property controls http://dld.bz/as83B
• RIBBONCONTEXTSELECT controls how ribbon contextual tabs are displayed when you single- or double-click an object http://dld.bz/as839
• REMEMBERFOLDERS controls the default path displayed in standard file selection dialog boxes http://dld.bz/as834
• RECOVERYMODE controls whether drawing recovery information is recorded after a system failure http://dld.bz/as83z
• REVERSE reverses the vertices of selected lines, polylines, splines, and helixes, which is useful for linetypes with included text and more.
• RECOVERAUTO controls the display of recovery notifications before or after opening a damaged drawing file http://dld.bz/as82F

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
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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Twitter Posts Revisited

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.

• XREF Drawings from Autodesk 360: http://tinyurl.com/7ffgxtk
• Four Simple Rules for Drawing with AutoCAD: http://www.augi.com/library/four-simple-rules-for-drawing-with-autocad
• RESETBLOCK resets one or more dynamic block references to the default values of the block definition http://dld.bz/as82p
• REFSET command adds/removes objects from a working set during in-place editing of a reference, in an xref or block http://dld.bz/as8zM
• Dimensioning basics, Part I: Create an accurate linear dimension http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/dimensioning-basics-part-i-create-an-accurate-linear-dimension/
• RECOVERALL command repairs a damaged drawing file along with all attached xrefs http://dld.bz/as8zH
• RAY command creates a line that starts at a point and continues to infinity http://dld.bz/as8z8
• QVLAYOUTPIN controls the default display state of preview images of model space and layouts in a drawing http://dld.bz/as8z3
• QVLAYOUT command displays preview images of model space and layouts in a drawing http://dld.bz/as8zz
• QVDRAWINGPIN controls the default display state of preview images of drawings http://dld.bz/as8zt
• QVDRAWING command displays open drawings and layouts in a drawing in preview images http://dld.bz/as8zm

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
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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Twitter Posts Revisited

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.

• QPLOCATION command sets the location for the Quick Properties palette.
• QDIM command creates a series of dimensions quickly from selected objects http://dld.bz/as8yE
• PUBLISHCOLLATE controls whether plotting a sheet set, multi-sheet plot file, or plot spool file can be interrupted http://dld.bz/as8xT
• PUBLISHALLSHEETS specifies whether to load the contents of the active document or all open documents in Publish pop-up http://dld.bz/as8xB
• PSTYLEMODE indicates whether the current drawing is in a Color-Dependent or Named Plot Style mode http://dld.bz/as8x4
• How to add custom hatch pattern to AutoCAD/LT http://alturl.com/ho35c
• PSLTSCALE command controls the linetype scaling of objects displayed in paper space viewports http://dld.bz/as8xz
• PROPOBJLIMIT limits number of objects that can be changed at one time with the Properties and Quick Properties palettes http://dld.bz/as8wP
• PREVIEWFILTER command excludes specified object types from selection previewing http://dld.bz/as8wK
• POLYSIDES sets the default number of sides for the POLYGON command http://dld.bz/as8wD

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
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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Twitter Posts Revisited

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.

• PLOTTRANSPARENCYOVERRIDE command controls whether object transparency is plotted http://dld.bz/as8w4
• PLOTROTMODE command controls the orientation of plots http://dld.bz/as8wb
• PLOTOFFSET controls whether the plot offset is relative to the printable area or to the edge of the paper http://dld.bz/as8vU
• PLINEWID command stores the default polyline width http://dld.bz/as8v4
• PELLIPSE command controls the ellipse type created with ELLIPSE http://dld.bz/as8v3
• PEDITACCEPT suppresses display of the Object Selected Is Not a Polyline prompt in PEDIT http://dld.bz/as8vy
• PDMODE command controls how point objects are displayed: try a setting of 3 http://dld.bz/as8vw
• PAPERUPDATE command in more details http://dld.bz/as8ve
• PAPERUPDATE controls display of warning dialog box when attempting to print a layout with a paper size different from paper size specified.
• PALETTEOPAQUE command controls whether palettes can be made transparent (but can cripple weak computer systems) http://dld.bz/as8uE

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
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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Twitter Posts Revisited

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.

• PUBLISH command: http://dld.bz/as8uh
• PSPACE command in a layout, switches from model space in a viewport to paper space http://tinyurl.com/3q9zf4g
• PSETUPIN command imports a user-defined page setup into a new drawing layout http://tinyurl.com/3hzjg8a
• PLAN command displays an orthographic view of the XY plane of a specified user coordinate system http://tinyurl.com/3whlncf
• User's Guide: Modifying Polylines http://dld.bz/as8tm
• PDFLAYERS controls the display of layers in a PDF underlay http://tinyurl.com/3nbwlkd
• PDFCLIP crops the display of a selected PDF underlay to a specified boundary http://tinyurl.com/3jg7dgh
• User's Guide: Adjust Underlay Contrast, Fade, Monochrome, and Colors for the Background http://dld.bz/as8sS
• PDFADJUST command adjust the fade, contrast, and monochrome settings of a PDF underlay http://tinyurl.com/3k9dqqq

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
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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Twitter Posts Revisited

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

Did you know...?

• DIMANGULAR command can create angular dimensions larger than 180 degrees by manually selecting the Specify Vertex sub-option (select the intersection, then opposite ends of each of the two angle-lines).
• ALIGN command: Move, Rotate, and Scale Your Object at once, instead of using move, rotate, and scale separately.
• FILLET and CHAMFER commands can be used to join Plines and Lines (and other Plines) together into a single Pline.
• LAYMRG command can also be used to delete Layers without losing any content: Merge with Layer 0 when prompted.
• HYPERLINK command provides a simple and powerful way to quickly associate a variety of documents (such as other drawings, bills of materials, project schedules, a saved-view in the file or another file, access an external file, create an Email message, start a new drawing and more) with a drawing. It can also be used to only add pop-up information to an object without a 'link'.
• Yes, you can access the Ribbon through keyboard shortcuts too: explore HERE.
• More Selection options: QSELECT command Creates a selection set based on filtering criteria.  FILTER command Creates a list of requirements that an object must meet to be included in a selection set. SELECTSIMILAR command Adds similar objects to the selection set based on selected objects.
• Two ways to convert splines to polylines:
  - Run the WMFOUT command, enter a filename, then select the splines. Now erase the spline, and then run the WMFIN command. Use the upper left corner of the viewport as the insertion point, and then scale it 2X. The resulting entity is a POLYLINE.
  - If you save a drawing as R12 DXF format, all splines will be converted to POLYLINE entities.
• TRIM command can be used on more than just Lines and Plines: trim around text objects, trim hatches back to a cutting plane, trim between Hatch-lines, trim an associative Dimension, and trim using a block's entities as cutting planes without exploding the block.
• Match Properties options:
  MATCHPROP command Applies the properties of a selected object to other objects (using MATCHPROP on viewports transfers their visiblity, on/off, locking, and scale). Control what gets matched by using the Settings option for the command.
  LAYMCH command Changes the layer of a selected object to match the destination layer.
• OSOPTIONS command controls whether Osnaps ignore or snap to Hatches.
• PROPERTIES and QUICKPROPERTIES commands can be used to Filter selections into object types.
• Create a Drawing with X,Y Coordinates from Microsoft Excel: tip HERE.
• DIMROTATED command Creates a rotated linear dimension: when you need your dimension string to be at a fixed angle instead of the limitation of DIMALIGNED command.
• ADCENTER command can be used to copy the following between drawing files (or from your template files): Dimension Styles, Layers, Layouts, Linetypes, Multi-Leader Styles, Table Styles and Text Styles.
• Do you have a folder full of blocks, and want them in a Tool Palette? Use ADCENTER command, browse to that folder, right-click and select CREAT TOOL PALETTE.
• Need a list of ALL the AutoCAD variables? Just type SETVAR [enter] then type ? [enter]. Enter once again to see the whole list.
• Transparent commands enable you to make changes or get information without exiting the current command. These are: ABOUT, ADCENTER, ADCLOSE, APERTURE, ATTDISP, BASE, CAL, COLOR, DIMSTYLE, DIST, DRAGMODE, ELEV, FILL, FILTER, GRAPHSCR, GRID, HELP, ID, LAYER, LIMITS, LINETYPE, LWEIGHT, MATCHPROP, OBJECTSCALE, OSNAP, PAN, QTEXT, REDRAW, REDRAWALL, SCALELISTEDIT, SCRIPT, SETVAR, SNAP, SPELL, STYLE, UNITS, and ZOOM. Just add an ' in front of the name if you type it, or click on the appropriate menu or Ribbon icon.

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Did you know...?

More LT Resources: YouTube Videos

In addition to the AutoCAD LT Resources available to end users for support, training, and education outlined in our previous blog HERE, there is a growing number of excellent short LT-topic-specific training material found at YouTube.

LT2012, the newest shiping version, has amassed quite the collection of videos and continues to expand. From What's New through the new Array functionality, the offerings are quite plentiful and worth exploring in your own time. Start HERE.

LT2011 is equally represented, with a long list of DEMO videos and additonal topic-specific videos: your exploration starts HERE.

LT2010 and LT2009 specific videos are prolific, many of the topics are equally specific to these two versions and are great tools to help you understand what each version added from earlier iterations of LT. There are a few LT2008 videos and non-English LT2007 videos, an LT2006 tip, but LT versions below that are few and rare. But YouTube posting is free, if you are an LT user of these lower versions perhaps you could post tips and tricks for other fellow users. ◦

More LT Resources: YouTube Videos

LT Resources: free from Autodesk

LT users, new as well as experienced, have a plethora of resources to expand on their skills with new and modified commands, as well as to decipher error messages, program or command limitations, installation guides and more.  Many of the resources are free and designed to be available for you to seek and explore if and when you need help.

Starting within LT itself, HELP (hit the F1 key on your keyboard to start) is the place to start searching for basic how-to instructions for standard installations, command abilities, and variable searches. If you are a user of more current versions HELP, located at the top-right corner with a ready-to-use Search bar, will also search the internet and Autodesk's open Discussion Forums for additional topics that can provide additional (or historical) answers. Get AutoCAD LT training materials directly from the AutoCAD LT Help menu or the New Features Workshop as well. Start Exploring today.
HELP is also available online for LT2011 and LT2012, as are the Getting Started Videos for LT2012 (LT2011: Getting Started videos are accessible from the Welcome Screen), New Features (LT2012 and LT2011), and Downloadable Manuals (User and Installation documentation for LT2012 and LT2011) For other Languages, additional documentation is available in multiple languages from the language drop-down list in Autodesk Exchange.

Autodesk's additional training and help resources can be found if you start at the LT Product Webpage: Below the AutoCAD LT page title is a bar with many links, start with a click on the Support link on SUPPORT. The next page presents you with many topics and additional links to start your search.

SUPPORT

• Knowledge Base is the place to search the support database for answers, hotfixes, tips and service packs. Top Knowledge Base Issues are listed on this page for your immediate use, but if you need more click on the Knowledge Base link to get to a detailed search form to seek out your exact need or question.
• Product Registration: Register your product online outside of LT's startup if you have the need to register multiple licenses or are not able to do so from within LT.
• Installation & Licensing Discussion Forum: Get answers to your installation questions - fast. Moderated by Autodesk Product Support Specialists, this forum can help you get your Autodesk software up and running in no time.
• Up & Ready Support: You are entitled to 30 days of support covering installation and configuration of your new Autodesk software.
• Per-Incident Support: Speak directly to an Autodesk product support technician when you call for Autodesk Safety Net Support and pay per incident.
• Updates & Services Packs: Get the latest service packs and other maintenance releases for all versions of AutoCAD LT.
• Utilities & Drivers: The latest free enhancements and Object Enablers available for each LT version are listed here. Autodesk offers free downloadable enablers that you can use to access, display, and manipulate object data in applications different from their native environment. Note that these are version-specific only.

TIPS, TUTORIALS, HOW-TOS

• AutoCAD LT Blog is a great resource for the latest AutoCAD LT news, tips and tricks of the current new shipping LT features and commands. LTUnlimited Blog's Tips Section is the continuation of a dedicated previous LT Tips Blog from Kate Morrical, Technical Marketing Manager for AutoCAD LT.
• Autodesk Exchange: is a single information hub that offers learning and productivity tools, news, discussions, blog posts, and more for the AutoCAD family of products. Explore their Tips&Tricks offerings, Ask An Expert, explore the Community (blogs, twitter, forums and fun), see what others are doing in the Design Showcase, and explore additional end-user Resources. Membership is totally free, sign up HERE.
• Training Videos: These handy tutorials and webcasts can help you to improve your skills and take full advantage of your AutoCAD LT 2D CAD software.
• AutoCAD LT Services & Support webpage offers Tutorials for LT2009, LT2010 and LT2011.

TRAINING

• Learning Paths: Discover the many learning resources available using the AutoCAD LT Learning Path.
• Custom Training: Most training is not one size fits all. Autodesk can provide you with a custom training program designed to fit your company's unique training needs.
• Tutorials: Find AutoCAD LT online tutorials, tips, and tricks to help you make the most of your 2D drafting and drawing software.
• Authorized Training Centers: Get the greatest return on your software investment, faster, by building your knowledge in the areas you need the most at an Autodesk Authorized Training Center (ATC).
• Tips: Looking for a quick suggestion that you can implement right now? Take a look at the available collection of Autodesk tips.

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE

• AutoCAD WikiHelp: Access online product help and contribute to the growing AutoCAD (not LT specific) community on the wiki, where you can rate and comment on help information, plus share tips, real-world examples, images, and videos with your peers.
• Join AutoCAD Exchange: Free access to extensive online eLearning; View exclusive content only available to registered members; Share your designs; Comment, rate and Exchange your thoughts and ideas; Ask the Industry Experts questions and Network, discuss and collaborate on everything AutoCAD/LT.
• Autodesk Discussion Groups: Ask questions and share information about using Autodesk® software in peer-to-peer forums.
• Autodesk Blogs: Get news, expert tips, and insider resources directly from Autodesk staff.
• AUGI LT forum help: The AUGI forum is an online community where AUGI members can discuss what they use everyday. The forum is the place to ask questions about your favorite design software or help others with their questions. AUGI membership is free, join now.
• AutoCAD LT on Facebook: social networking at a company level.
• Subscription Member Login: Autodesk® Subscription members receive access to training and learning materials, one-on-one product support with technology experts, and a wide range of resources to help them stay competitive. Not a Member? Learn More.

Explore these many free Support Resources in LT from Autodesk: you are not alone out there, Help is always nearby, seek it out. ◦

LT Resources: free from Autodesk

Quick Tips for LT: Part 2

This is the second of a short series of AutoCAD/LT tips for quick reference. Where noted, some tips require LT2012:

• LAYERNOTIFY variable: Set to 0 (turn it off) so AutoCAD won’t ask to verify new layers added to a drawing or xref. http://t.co/aW7Eu1C
• COLOR command: when you select a new color, a preview is shown in the lower-left. Behind the new color is your previous color selection.
• WSSAVE command to save your current WORKSPACE after you rearrange AuotCAD/LT menus/toolbars. Or the old layout is restored after a restart.
• You have AUTOCAPS turned on in your TABLE text editor? turn AUTOCAPS off in MTEXT first to turn it off in TABLE as well when editing.
• Need to compare 2 DWGs? Plot both to DWF & use the "Compare Sheets" tool in Design Review to highlight differences.
• Polar tracking: Press F10 to toggle on/off. It provides an "ortho" cursor limit at incremental angles that you define. http://t.co/wOAq2vY
• Create PDF quickly, model or paperspace: EXPORTPDF command, no need to change any predefined PAGESETUPs that aim for another printer or plotter.
• Use ADCENTER to share content between DWG files: Blocks, Dimstyles, Layers, Layouts, Linetypes, Xrefs, and Mleader/Table/Text Styles.
• Start LINE command: PERP, snap at edge of circle; PERP, snap at the edge of second circle. LINE is between two circles' common centerline.
• Set PELLIPSE variable to 1 and you will then be able to draw and explode an ELLIPSE.
• PELLIPSE changes the way Ellipses are drawn (true ellipse vs Pline ellipse): it has no effect in previously created Ellipses.
• HATCH command will display small red circles at the location of every gap in your boundary that will prevent the command from completion.
• MULTIPLE command is often missed for it's power: type it, then type MOVE and start selecting many lines to MOVE non-stop. ESC to end.
• Use any copy/paste command to copy XREFs from one file to another: PASTEORIG to locate the Xrefs in the same ccordinates in the new file.
• AutoCAD's Design Center (ADCENTER command) can be used to Reverse Search for Xrefs, two tips:: http://ow.ly/1siulw and http://ow.ly/1siulv
• Instead of SAVEAS (moves your current file) use WBLOCK command’s ENTIRE DRAWING option: it creates a new file with all the layouts intact
• A hidden command in older LT versions: DIMROTATED command, use it in lieu of DIMALIGNED command, when you need your dimension string to align with an object or specific angle.
• You can copy Layouts between drawings by either using ADCENTER, or right-click over any layout>Template>File Type>DWG>then find the file.
• Set DIMASSOC to 2 and your dimensions will move along with your objects if you snapped to those objects.
• SELECTIONANNODISPLAY turns OFF (or ON) all of the ghosting that occurs if you select an annotative object when using Annotation Scaling.
• Restore any Dismissed Pop-ups that you turned off and now need back on by using OPTIONS command>System Tab>Hidden Messages Settings button
• XLINE command's Offset feature: http://ow.ly/1ssCkF Resulting XLINE’s center point is the start point of the Line or PLine you offset from.
• Bisect an angle tip. Use XLINE command’s BISECT option: select the intersection point, then the first leg of the angle then the second.
• XLINE command can create Horizontal, Vertical, set Angle construction lines too: watch the command line for HOR, VER and ANG options.
• When you finish editing Mtext, instead of clicking OK button, just click in the background screen area to accept the changes you made.
• Add some extra text in your dims and still keep the actual dimension: use <> when you edit a dimension's text with DDEDIT or PROPERTIES.
• Need to move/copy to a specific point? @x,y is for relative coordinates. #x,y is absolute to the current UCS. *x,y,z is absolute to WCS.
• LT2012's DWGCONVERT command has a REPLACE PAGE SETUPS: use it to assign a new page setup to DWG layouts aiming at a missing printer/plotter.
• Not using LT2012? DWGTRUEVIEW built-in option called TRUECONVERT has a REPLACE PAGE SETUPS option: use it to fix/assign a new page setup to DWG layouts.
• Press/hold middle mouse button down then hold the SHIFT key: you will be in the PAN command in a horizontal or vertical constraint mode.
• Hold down CTRL keyboard key and double-click any attribute in a block: now you edit the attribute in-place just like editing Text objects.
• When EDGEMODE variable is set to 1, you can extend and trim lines that do not intersect: AutoCAD creates an invisible extension to use.
• DIMROTATED command, instead of DIMALIGNED, when you need your dimension string to align with an object/angle and not two points picked.
• COPYTOLAYER command does what it's name implies, COPY entities you select TO another or different LAYER: http://ow.ly/1sHzHH
• Is the RIBBON taking up too much screen space? Minimize it to Panel Buttons (it looks like the Classic Workspace menus) http://ow.ly/1sIFnd
• LAYER command's list of layer names can be daunting to sort through if you have many layers, especially as you add more content or bring in content from other files. Layer Property Filters are a great way to help sort through them, making the display list of names easier to manage. Explore this excellent list of tips HERE.
• Switch Layer Filters directly by using +LAYER command (note the + sign to type) in AutoCAD/LT without going into the LAYER Command/Palette.
• At the "Select Objects" prompt, type F for FENCE: it draws continuous selection "lines", anything it crosses is selected without having to use a rectangular selection window. Try it in place of a crossing window or polygon selection method.
• FILTER or QSELECT commands are great entity selection tools, a way of pre-sorting objects with shared properties quickly. Both commands can also be used to count blocks: after the selection process is complete, type SELECT command and AutoCAD will return a count at the command line. In LT2011 and LT2012 right-click and pick SELECTSIMILAR as an alternate to those two commands for an even qicker selection sorting method.
• FIND command can be used to Select specific blocks, with specific attribute settings: see the tip HERE.

Next week, we tap resources all over the internet to outline more tips and methods to speed up your LT usage. ◦

Quick Tips for LT: Part 2

Quick Tips for LT: Part 1

This is the first of a short series of AutoCAD/LT tips presented here in simple entries to share and read at your convenience. Where noted, some tips are LT2012 specific:

• Renaming the BAK file is the quickest way to recover a corrupt DWG file. Review the LT forum discussion topic here http://j.mp/hg3Hkg
• UNITS settings in files from different sources may be difficult to decipher, but this forum tip is one option to explore http://j.mp/hsGNe5
• Another method of adding office standards like layers to existing files, without using template files: http://j.mp/ecUUxw
• Rotate and Scale commands both have a COPY option: your original will remain intact should you need it without exiting and restarting.
• Use the ENTER keyboard key jump between Table cells.
• Use ALT+ENTER keyboard keys to type more than one line of text (hard return between them) in a Table cell.
• In AutoCAD/LT 2011 and higher, set VPROTATEASSOC variable to 1 and rotate your Viewport AND it's content together in one motion.
• You can grip edit Viewports (editing capabilities when object grips are selected) : stretching, moving, rotating, scaling, and mirroring.
• Temp Overrides in AutoCAD/LT: while in a command like LINE, hold SHIFT down to toggle ORTHO's running status.
• 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.
• 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
• Alternatives to WIPEOUT command? With CECOLOR set to 255, use SOLID command or HATCH>Solid pattern. Control with DRAWORDER command.
• VIEWGO command is a quick way to switch to your saved VIEW in a drawing file without going through the main dialog pop-up.
• Highlight your text and press Ctrl+Shift+U to convert your selection to Uppercase or Ctrl+Shift+L for Lowercase: works with Text and Mtext.
• SPLINEDIT and PEDIT commands allow you to easily convert a Spline to a Pline.
• Use CHSPACE command to move objects from modelspace to paperspace, or vice-versa, while keeping their relative scale intact.
• Prefer to see frames but not have them plot around Raster Images, DWF, PDF, XCLIP and DGN files? Set FRAME command to 2.
• MULTIPLE command repeats the command-line command that you enter until you press ESC button on keyboard. Abbreviate it and others for speed.
• Change the Text Case to/from ALL CAPS: Right click the highlighted text and select CHANGE CASE. Works with both MText and Text editors.
• Highlight your text and press Ctrl+Shift+U to convert your selection to Uppercase or Ctrl+Shift+L for Lowercase: works with Text and Mtext.
• You can set MTEXT (but not TEXT) to always type in ALL CAPS ALL THE TIME. when inside the MTEXT editor, right-click select AutoCAPS.
• Extract a list of layers from an AutoCAD file: Select ALL then CTRL+C from the open Layer Dialog Box into a Microsoft Excel worksheet.
• CLIP command is a single command to clip Images, XREFs, Viewports, and underlays (DGN, PDF, DWF and DWFx) in your drawing file.
• AutoCAD/LT2011 and higher: Do you have many DWG files open right now? Type QVDRAWING command and get a preview of each one on screen.
• Do you get the message "Object selected is not a polyline, do you want to turn it into one?" Set PEDITACCEPT to 1 to answer yes and never see that qestion again.
• Need to find patches, known issues and updates quickly? Explore Autodesk's Knowledge Base webpage for information: http://j.mp/igrT0t
• Use QSELECT to select all text items; open PROPERTIES and change the rotation of the text to one direction. No more head twisting to read.
• HATCHTOBACK selects all hatches in the drawing (plus solid fills and gradient fills) and sets their draw order behind all other objects.
• Use TINSERT command to place blocks within TABLE cells in your drawing file. Shortcut: select a cell, right-click and click Insert Block.
• PICKSTYLE variable controls the use of group selection and associative hatch selection. Explored in the video here http://j.mp/ebvjbb
• Lose your LT2009 (as of this post's date) or higher version installation disk? Order product documentation and replacement software here: http://autodeskdocandmedia.com/
• QVLAYOUT command is the quickest way to preview all of those many Layouts you have in a single DWG file: http://j.mp/emk4qO
• Migrating Toolbars to the Ribbon? Start CUI command, right-click over a Toolbar and turn it into a Panel then place it on a Ribbon Tab.
• Turn on POLAR TRACKING (F10 key) and set it to 15 instead of using ORTHO (F8 key): think of it as Ortho+extra http://j.mp/f3Bp0r
• Cut/Paste into MTEXT bring unwanted formatting? Instead of CTRL+V, right-click, select Paste Special, then pick one of three Paste options.
• HPSEPARATE variable controls whether your consecutively drawn hatches are treated as one hatch object, or as separate hatch objects.
• HATCHEDIT command: use to separate hatch objects. Start the command, select one of the hatches, then check the Separate Hatches box.
• HATCHEDIT command abilities: Add and Remove Boundaries, Change Type, DrawOrder, Layer, Color, Transparency, Hatch origin and more.
• TEXTTOFRONT command brings text, or dimensions, or both of them in front of all other objects in the drawing: http://bit.ly/dUNCny
• Need to add plot style tables to PLOT command’s choices STYLESMANAGER command opens the folder AutoCAD/LT is using. Move them there.
• Can't see your preferred CTB plot style tables on the PLOT pop-up? Convert your drawing to that format using CONVERTPSTYLES command.
• Fields are updated automatically when the drawing is opened, saved, plotted, regenerated, or sent through ETRANSMIT: http://bit.ly/fRzWKT
• When DEMANDLOAD system variable is set to 2, fields cannot be updated until you use FIELD or UPDATEFIELD: http://t.co/m466ngL
• To lengthen or shorten a dimension, you can use TRIM or EXTEND commands: the edge you aim for must be in line with the dimension extension.

Look for additional quick tips next week. ◦

Quick Tips for LT: Part 1

EXPORT from AutoCAD/LT

AutoCAD and LT offer many formats to export: these are ideal if you need to share files with other not running AutoCAD, as well as creating formats to import into other programs (when you need to create a Powerpoint presentation, or an MSWord report or Excel spreadsheet for example).

Note that PLOT command offers many, but not all, of the same capabilities as export and offers additional controls such as controls for Layers information, background colors of the output files and more.

The following commands allow you to quickly export your DWG file to other formats to share with others. They can use the predefined pagesetup of your Layout or Model tab for a quick method of plotting (you can also change the settings in the command). The links below expand on the items with practical applications direct from HELP found in LT:

• EXPORT command: Saves the objects in a drawing to a different file format (images, DGN, DWF, DWFX, and PDF).
• EXPORTDWF command: Creates a DWF file and allows you to set individual page setup overrides on a sheet by sheet basis.
• EXPORTDWFX command: Creates a DWFx file where you can set individual page setup overrides on a sheet-by-sheet basis.
• EXPORTPDF command: Creates a PDF file where you can set individual page setup overrides on a sheet-by-sheet basis.
• EXPORTSETTINGS command: Adjusts the page setup and drawing selection when exporting to a DWF, DWFx, or PDF file.

The next set of commands export to Raster formats: ideal for importing into other programs that need a 'picture' of your drawing as well as for posting on the web as images. Remember that Raster images are created by drawing dots, so there is no 'zooming in' these types of formats to get a bigger image. Create the size and view you want the first time:

• JPGOUT command: Saves selected objects to a file in JPEG file format.
• PNGOUT command: Saves selected objects to a file in a Portable Network Graphics format. We would recommend this format over JPG, even for web use, as it is loss-less and better quality for a smaller file size.
• BMPOUT command: Saves selected objects to a file in device-independent bitmap format.
• TIFOUT command: Saves selected objects to a file in TIFF file format. If you need specific TIFF file formats, explore setting up a custom plotter with your desired setting using PLOTTERMANAGER command's Add-A-Plotter wizard to create the custom Raster driver option.
• RASTERDPI: Controls paper size and plot scaling when changing from dimensional to dimensionless output devices, or vice versa. The default 100dpi may not be ideal, so experiment and see what best works for you. Realize that the larger the DPI number the larger your resulting file will be: test and experiment before your deadline looms.

The two commands below export your AutoCAD file into external DWG AutoCAD files, but allow you to do more than SAVEAS:

• -EXPORTTOAUTOCAD command: Creates a new DWG file with all AEC objects exploded. This a great tool when sending files to those still in much earlier AutoCAD/LT versions that cannot use or access any of those new entities found in current LT versions like MLeaders. It's also a great command to 'fix' files received from outside sources that don't seem to allow you to edit or handle objects in the file.
•  EXPORTLAYOUT command: Creates a visual representation of the current layout in the model space of a new drawing. In short, you can only send that One Paperspace Layout in your very complex drawing file. It creates a stand-alone DWG file. Simply amazing.

The following allow you to preselect choices for some of the commands listed above:

• EXPORTEPLOTFORMAT: Sets the default electronic file output type: PDF, DWF, or DWFx.
• EXPORTMODELSPACE: Specifies what part of the drawing to export to a DWF, DWFx, or PDF file from Model space
• EXPORTPAPERSPACE: Specifies what part of the drawing to export to a DWF, DWFx, or PDF file from paper space.
• EXPORTPAGESETUP: Specifies whether to export to a DWF, DWFx, or PDF file with the current page setup.

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EXPORT from AutoCAD/LT

LT2010 added features overview

The big feature additions for LT2010 users are as follows:

• Update #1 is out: it's safe to install and use LT2010 now.
• The Ribbon is here to stay: yep, the new screen menu introduced with LT2009 is here to stay. You can turn it off and go to the old style with the Classic Workspace, but to encourage you to stay with the 'new' some newer features just cannot be reached any other way. And if you really go old-school and make right-click mouse button set to be only, you lose another 30% of the program.
• QAT: A god spot to drop some of your most freuqent commands here in this quick access toolbar. Problem is most of us power users have more than a handful and there is just not enough room.
• Update and Synchronize Attributes: watch the youtube video HERE.
• edit the boundary of a non-associative hatch object: yes, now instead of erasing the old hatch pattern that is too short/small for the new area and re-hatching, you simply click on it, grab it by it's grips, and stretch it to fit the new outline.
• Creating non-rectangular viewports in LT: a feature that finally works without crashing my system. Give it a try. You can even create viewports with 'holes'.
• Layer Pulldown menu improvements:
• ALIGN command: Finally here from full AutoCAD, align/scale/rotate all in one command. For an intoduction, click HERE.
• REVERSE command: Ever draw a a line, assign it a custom linetype that includes letters or numbers, and find the display is upside down? No more, use this command to Reverse the line's direction.
• MEASUREGEOM command: Distance, Radius, Angle, Area and Volume all rolled into one command, a great tool to report on objects you select.
• Edit Xrefs in place: Ye, without opening the Xref file as it's own drawing file. Be careful with this if you tend to save down to a lower version, this command defaults to the current DWG format.
• XOPEN command is here: Open an Xref file in a separate window simply by picking an entity in that Xref.
• Clip External References: Trim around an Xref when you don't really want to display the whole drawing. Nothing is deleted, think of it as a smoke-and-mirrors type visual trick.
• Added Measuring tools:
• BATTMAN command: nope, not the caped crusade. Edit attributes settings inside blocks without exploding or redefining or editng the blocks. Properties settings (color etc.), text style and more.
• Enhanced Attribute Editor: The better attribute editor, with more features and settings.
• BEDIT command improvements: More from full AutoCAD. Best tool for creating Dynmic Blocks.
• Dimensions improvements: Great new tools added. More later.
• MLeader improvements: Simpler to create custom blocks to include with this excellent replacement to the tired LEADER and QLEADER commands.
• LT on-screen feedback features: Ye, more pop-ups, tooltips, and cursor-location information. Old dogs will find these cumbersome, Noobs will be overwhelmed, true CAD users will appreciate the level of information being imparted.
• Spline conversion and Spline reshaping is improved.
• EXPORT and PLOT to PDF and DWF: You can PLOT to both DWF and PDF, and you can Export. Plotting gives you the ultimate control for 2D output, exporting is for those needing to export models.
• Fading objects: DWFADJUST, PDFADJUST, DGNADJUST and ADJUST commands let you fade imported files without affecting the content.
• PDF output and underlays: exporting explored.
• PDF Tools: Export features to be explored.
• PURGE command additions: finally you can delete empty text objects, zero length geometry and more. Dive in.

◦

LT2010 added features overview