From my AU 2007 class – Preventative CAD Management:
I call it Critical Customization. Customization that works may include the following principles:
- Only customize the stuff you have to
- Only customize when it returns major benefits
Use the tools that are provided via the AutoCAD GUI- When customizing, use the programming tools that are provided via the AutoCAD GUI
- Look for the easiest method for customization and use that
- Only escalate to another (harder) customization method when you have too
- Do not replace any Out of the Box commands
- Jettison your old stuff as soon as it is replaced by AutoCAD
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October 23rd, 2007 at 12:15 AM
Couldn’t disagree more. Customization takes trial and error – you try out a new routine and if it doesn’t work then disregard it. Without this approach you would never reach the following state-
-) BOM tables (that also automatically reflect changes to your model)
-) Tags (i.e. leaders with text that describe a part) that also change to suit new part descriptions
-) Quick working methods (i.e. have tooltips appear showing the description, item number etc when you hover over a part without the need to look it up).
Basically the AutoDesk standard tools will never create the perfect workflow for your company because every company has unique problems / workflows. Through customization you can get AutoCAD to work far better than some remote programmer who hasn’t worked within your company.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:52 AM
I agree with you – and I reworded my post to hopefully reflect that.
I am not saying that you should not customize. I am saying that WHEN you customize, you should not go overboard. Of the standard tools may never cut it for your firm, I am all for creating custom tools.
I am concerned with custom tools that cannot be supported if the person who created them leaves.