You have some great tools to assist you with importing your menus, toolbar items, and keyboard shortcuts (accelerators) from previous versions of AutoCAD into AutoCAD 2005. Autodesk has provided the tools on their web site.
Just a reminder – and I am so thankful for this…
No more Object Enablers
Clipped directly from the Autodesk site…
“Drawings are saved in their native format and transferred to the recipient with no additional steps required. The Autodesk Architectural Desktop 2005 Object Enabler is incorporated into the installation of AutoCAD 2005-based products, including Autodesk VIZ 2005 and Autodesk DWG Viewer, to enable Autodesk Architectural Desktop objects.”
The February Issue of the Journal has been published.
In This Journal
Pareto Analysis – Selecting the Most Important Problem to Address
ETransmit – Part 3
Tech Tip – ABS Export to AutoCAD
Autodesk ScriptPro
Latest CAD News – link to our website
Latest Web Update – CAD Leadership – Part 4
Take our latest Survey – Tell us about your office…
Just how much do you know about your software?
How much do you use of the overall software tools available in your package?
Most of the firms I have come in contact with will admit that the users in their offices do not use all of the power that the software provides. They would also admit that they struggle with old habits that were developed many releases back. Do you find this to be true?
Part of our jobs as CAD Managers is to get people to realize what is in the products and get them trained and then get them to use a fuller expression of the bandwidth in modern products. Think thru how you are using the tools. Are you stuck in an old rut? Many of your users are also. Gently show them the newest tools and urge them to move ahead.
If you are working in Multiple Drawing Interface (SDI mode set to “1”) you can view multiple drawings on the Windows Taskbar. Set the TASKBAR system variable to 1 to display multiple open drawings as separate items on the Windows taskbar. You can then use the Alt+TAB keys to quickly switch from drawing to drawing. If you prefer to display only the active drawing on the taskbar, set the system variable to 0. This is a dynamic setting so when you change it the Taskbar will respond.
When TASKBAR is set to “1” (on) and you have multiple files open, it will display the file name of each drawing as a separate item.
Check out the variable VISRETAIN. Type in on the command line. It most likely is set to “1” which means retain the XREF layer settings. This is a good thing and it should be set to “1”.
But if there are visibility problems – it may have become corrupted. You may start getting layers not showing up, or layers that are the wrong color. Detach the offending xref. Set VISRETAIN to “0” (off). Purgeall. Then reattach the XREF. See if that fixes it. Be sure to set VISRETAIN back to “1”.
By the way, when you set it to “0” – you will loose all of your layer ON/Off settings for all xrefs, not just the one that was not working right.
I was reading a discussion group thread about REVIT this morning and how it is difficult to create a FLAT roof. This is because flat roofs are not really flat. The discussion thread provided a lot of suggested solutions, but there was not a definite answer in the thread.
At lunch I was talking with someone who was exploring REVIT and I asked about his impressions of the product. He mentioned that he could not create a FLAT roof. Hmmm … a pattern?
It is most likely the little things that will prevent some folks from moving ahead with implementation of software.
I do not know if flat roofs are possible or not. I have not tried to create one. But I do know that it is often little things like this (not to demean the need for flat roofs) that prevent people from adopting new technology. A bad taste in the mouth.
Now I know that software is not perfect. It can be limiting to those who use it. But you (CAD Manager) need to help people move past a bad tasting bite with their software and embrace the rest of the meal.
I have often forgotten some of those obscure Shortcut keys…
So here is a list…
For a PDF of the Shortcut Keys go to this post
[NOTE: the FULL and latest list is here]
CTRL+A – Selects ALL objects in drawing
CTRL+B – Toggles Snap
CTRL+C- Copies objects to Clipboard
CTRL+D- Toggles coordinate display
CTRL+E- Cycles through isometric planes
CTRL+F- Toggles running object snaps
CTRL+G- Toggles Grid
CTRL+H- Toggles PICKSTYLE on/off
CTRL+J- Executes last command
CTRL+L- Toggles Ortho mode
CTRL+N- Creates a new drawing
CTRL+O- Opens existing drawing
CTRL+P- Prints current drawing
CTRL+R- Cycles layout viewports
CTRL+S- Saves current drawing
CTRL+T- Toggles Tablet mode
CTRL+V- Pastes data from Clipboard
CTRL+X- Cuts objects to Clipboard
CTRL+Y- Repeats last action
CTRL+Z- Reverses last action
CTRL+[- Cancels current command – forget this – use escape key
CTRL+\ – Cancels current command – forget this – use escape key
F1 – Displays Help
F2- Toggles text window on/off
F3- Toggles OSNAP
F4- Toggles TABMODE
F5- Toggles ISOPLANE
F6- Toggles COORDS
F7- Toggles GRIDMODE
F8- Toggles ORTHOMODE
F9- Toggles SNAPMODE
I use to think that there were no more people out there that needed basic AutoCAD training. Boy was I wrong. I continue to run across new users of the product. Most of them are over 30 or so and I wonder if the basic training needs are being taken care of in school. High School, College, whatever…
Most of the younger people who are entering the engineering and architectural fields have some basic training background under their belts. Most of them come to companies with a very good, if not excellent level of CAD use.
There is a great need for everyone in the area of advanced users of advanced products. ADT, LDD, REVIT and so on.
Training lives…!
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