Forgotten Habits of AutoCAD Users – Part 3

Habit #1 was reading – reading whatever you can get your hands on.  Now we move on to other forgotten habits.

Forgotten Habit #2 – Looking Backwards

Many of us find that we are constantly moving forward and trying to embrace the “new features” of each release of the software.  We strain to understand the latest new tool that Autodesk provides.  Many of these tools really do improve our CAD experience and enhance our production efforts.  Just when I think that AutoCAD has matured so much that there is nothing left to add, Autodesk developers pop out some unexpected treats.

But let’s not forget the old tools, the tried and true tools that have gotten us this far.  Good AutoCAD users will take a look back to see what they have not fully exploited in the existing tools.  I do this by re-reading the User Guide that comes with the software.  By reading the book again you may be surprised by how much more you find.  You may not have the same needs or perspectives you did the first time you went through the book.  By taking time to review the tools you thought you knew so well, you may find some hidden jewels.  If your software did not come with the book, then go to www.autodeskbookrequest.com.

I often go to the help files and do a search on some of the basics, like “layer” and find some little trick to help me get more bang for my CAD buck.  Sometimes you get a good laugh from what might be in the Help files.  Like this…

Note: It is recommended that you create several new layers with which to organize your drawing rather than create your entire drawing on layer 0.

Yes – that is really in the help files.  Do you know anyone who might need to read that?

Here is something I just found.  Did you know this? – Straight from the AutoCAD Help files.

To rename more than one layer

1. On the command line, enter rename.
2. In the Rename dialog box, in the Named Objects list, select Layers.
3. In Old Name, enter the old name, using wild-card characters; for example, enter stairs$*.
4. In Rename To, enter the new name using wild-card characters; for example, enter s_*.
5. Click Rename To to apply changes and continue, or click OK.

Results for this example are as follows: the layers STAIR$LEVEL-1, STAIR$LEVEL-2, STAIR$LEVEL-3 are renamed S_LEVEL-1, S_LEVEL-2, S_LEVEL-3.

Well, maybe you did know this trick – but I bet some of you did not.  So take some time and look at the old tools again.

I went back and created links to all the CAD Management Articles I have written on my web site.

Take a look

Here is the tool I used to read the CTB and STB files.

http://www.noliturbare.com/TablePrintGUI.html

See the rest of my CAD related Tools…

https://www.caddmanager.com/Management/MyTools.html

It is very hard to maintain a consistent level of expertise in your users ability to use CAD. You should be constantly seeking to have a fairly consistent understanding of your CAD tools by all of your users.

There will obviously be those in your firm who are superstars in CAD. These users should be encouraged to improve and experiment and test new concepts. But they are usually about 5-10% of your users.

There will also be the tech stragglers who cannot keep up and are using AutoCAD like it was still Release 10. These folks need to be move ahead in their thinking and use of the tools.

What I want to discuss is how these differing levels of expertise actually handcuff some of your efforts, limit your capabilities and derail your efforts to make progress.

Here is a brief list of some of the areas that may be undermined by having a gap that is too wide between your best user and your worst.

1. The expert users will be frustrated because they have to slow down and use CAD at a lower level than they want to.
2. Slow users will be frustrated trying to understand and keep up with advanced users? constant pushing the tools to the cutting edge.
3. Differing levels of expertise create files that are a confusion of standards. You end up with high end entities created by advanced users that are often exploded down to their base units by lagging users. This creates a confusing mixture of entities that are often corrupted in the process.
4. Advanced users often set up projects differently than lagging users. This creates a twisted mixture of file names, drawing content, settings, configurations and more.

Can you think of any more?

Quick Tip – Zooming to an object with AutoCAD.

Highlight the object you need to zoom to, type in the zoom command and use the Object option by typing in “O”.

Or you can select the “Zoom Object” tool on the Zoom Toolbar

I like to think of it as Zoom Extents on an Object

You can also select multiple objects.

I am always encouraged by some of the stories about computer users who just don’t get it. Because it makes me realize that I am not alone in my frustration with some of my end users.

Here is a long list of them collected by Network World that is good for a few laughs.

Just published! Are you on the mailing list?

In this Issue…

Destination CAD – Where Users want to be

BAD CAD – Part Three – Wrapping up the series

January Survey Says – What are your #1 problems

Book Review – A Revit Book Review

Go to the February 2006 Journal

ArchVision Offers Street Clutter Content Collection Vol 1
Collection contains 3D models for civil design market

LEXINGTON, Kentucky, February 8, 2006 – ArchVision, Inc. today announced the availability of Street Clutter Volume 1. This collection contains 30 3D+ RPCs designed for use in Civil Engineering and Urban Planning projects. Content in this library includes a broad range of common street-side items ranging from an outdoor ATM and standalone Bus Stop to a Parking Meter and Street Lights.

Sounds like a cool set of models. Why build your own.

See more…

Autodesk to Acquire Constructware; Reinforces Commitment to Collaborative Project Management Delivered On-demand

Acquisition to Accelerate Autodesk’s Ability to Deliver Comprehensive Solutions for the Building and Construction Industries

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb. 7 — Autodesk, Inc. ADSK today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Constructware for $46 million USD in cash, subject to a working capital adjustment. Constructware, privately held and based in Alpharetta, Georgia, provides on-demand communication and collaboration solutions that streamline design, construction and facility project management.

Read more…