Understanding LT's many versions

Every so many versions, or version, AutoCAD/LT, Autodesk changes the file format of the DWG file. They also happen to change the DXF file format at the same time, a point often missed.

The following is a summary description of the many versions and what file formats they create:
AutoCAD/LT2007 and 2008 create R2007 DWG/DXF files.
AutoCAD/LT2004, 2005 and 2006 create R2004 DWG/DXF files.
AutoCAD/LT2000, 2000i and 2002 create R2000 DWG/DXF files.
AutoCAD LT97 and 98 create R14 DWG/DXF files.
AutoCAD LT95 create R13 DWG/DXF files.
AutoCAD LT V1 and V2 create R11/R12 DWG/DXF files.

Click HERE for Autodesk's free viewer and converter when you need to open files in older AutoCAD/LT versions.

For a list of changes from AutoCAD LT 2005 thru AutoCAD LT 2008, download the Release Comparison Matrix PDF file HERE. Web page summary HERE.

Watch the free LT2008 demo HERE.

Open and Browse the Lynn Allen LT2008 PDF file for tips HERE. ◦

Understanding LT's many versions

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 ◦

Customizing LT's screen menu and toolbars

LT cursor movement not smooth

The LT cursor no longer moves smoothly across the screen, it appears to jump and stutter and makes selection of entities and drafting quite difficult.

Tap the F9 key on your keyboard once and see if that helps: you may have turned on SNAP, explained in Help in LT if you don't know what that is.

Clean your mouse, especially if it's the older roller-ball type (or roller-ball trackball): and clean the roller guides too, build-up can also exhibit such behavior.

Replace the mouse and/or uninstall the mouse driver and let Windows run it to see if the problem goes away. ◦

LT cursor movement not smooth

Free Tools from Autodesk

How about a free DWG viewer that you can plot with as well as convert down to a version of AutoCAD lower than a file you cannot open with your older version:
http://www.autodesk.com/dwgtrueview

How about a free DWG/DXF/DWF/DGN/JT file format viewer that will allow a user to electronically comment on and/or measure content in those files and return to the file originator for an update:
http://www.autodesk.com/designreview ◦

Free Tools from Autodesk

LT locks up while using Trim, Extend or Hatch....

Or worse, LT crashes.
First, rule out the problem is the file by running RECOVER command (instead of OPEN) or AUDIT command if you are already in the file (remember to answer Yes to fix any errors found).
Another fix you can try is to turn off video card hardware acceleration in Windows: In WindowsXP for example, this is found in Control Panel> Appearance and Themes> Display> Settings Tab> Advanced Button> Troubleshoot Tab> Hardware Acceleration slider:

◦

LT locks up while using Trim, Extend or Hatch....