AutoCAD 2008 : New Dimensioning Tools

1. DIMSPACE lets dimensions on a drawing to space out from each other at an inputed value.

Dimensions not dimspaced

After DIMSPACE at 12”.

Dimensions are separated at 12” apart.

Auto spacing value for DIMSPACE uses the height of the dimension text multiplied twice. So if the text height of a dimension style is 12”, the Auto spacing value would be 24”.

2. DIMJOGLINE
Places a jog on a dimension, simple as that.

3. DIMBREAK
Places dimension breaks automatically at all the intersection points of the objects that intersect the selected dimension. Any dimension breaks that are created using this option are updated automatically when the dimension or intersecting object is modified.

AutoCAD 2008: MTJIGSTRING, Want To Have Some Fun?

System Variable MTJIGSTRING sets the content of the sample text displayed at the cursor location when the MTEXT command is started.

At command Line, Type MTJIGSTRING

And type in the sample text you want to be seen on your Mtext window.

And click enter

Then type MTEXT

And your done.


Sick Note:

If your co-worker CADmonk does’nt know this feature, this could be a very sick joke if you let him figure it out how to undo.
This Cadmonk blogger does'nt encourage mischievousness, He..he..he.. Enjoy.

AutoCAD 2008: Quick Select, An Alternative To Using Layer Isolate From Express Tools

Quick Select feature offers an alternative to Cadmonks in selecting drawing objects in Autocad instead of the usual Layer Tools from Express.

Unlike the Layer Tools, Quick select can fine tune selection of drawing objects in Autocad with a certain object property including the layer property which the Layer Tools from express is only limited to.

Example of How to use Quick Select feature on Text Objects with Standard Text Style and changing the selected Text Objects to Romans Text Style.

1. From the drawing, select a text or any other objects inside the drawing (which is an anomaly) just so we have a selection, then right click,

then choose Quick Select from pop out menu

2. Quick Select Dialog Box Pops Out

And we choose All text in the drawing with Standard Text Style in the entire drawing as shown, and then click OK.

3. All Text with that property selected from above will be highlighted or selected.

4. Then open up the Properties Pallette/window

And Change/Modify the Text Style to Romans.

And your all DONE.

Notes:

1. Quick Select is a good selection tool for us Cadmonks and it can be also be used in

-selection on blocks to be deleted

-change dimension style from present one to new one

2. When selecting a drawing object, on the Properties Pallette/Window, notice that icon with a funnel and lightning, clicking it would also start Quick Select.

AutoCAD : Scripts

Creating and running AutoCAD scripts:

-You have to make windows recognize an Autocad script file, because by default windows interpret scr files as screen savers by default.

At windows explorer, go Tools/Folder Options/File Types/New/scr/Advance/AutoCAD Script.

-It is preferred to use Notepad on Windows instead of word processors like Microsoft Word to avoid embedded hidden codes.

-Be careful of multiple spaces between words. Spaces in a script has the same effect as the Enter Key and of creating a new line

-Save the text file with a “.scr” extension.

-Scripts can be run on AutoCad by using SCRIPT or SCR command, or Tools/Run Script on the Menu.

-When debugging or figuring out the script,it is best to set the file dialog box FILEDIA to 0.

Notes:

1. Hit Backspace Key to pause script in progress
   
2. Type Resume at Keyboard to resume paused script
3. ; Indicates Remarks on the script
4. A space between text is the same as pressing enter on the script
5. RSCRIPT Repeats the entire script when placed on the script file
6. DELAY delays the next line on the script at specified time
7. Scripts can load and run AutoLISP programs
8. Scripts can run other scripts with SCRIPT command
   
9. Save~ save with a tilde will open the file-management dialog box

AutoCAD 2008: Customize User Interface ( CUI )

Customize User Interface otherwise known as CUI is where we set our customizations for AutoCAD releases starting on the AutoCAD 2006 release. Before the AutoCAD 2006 release, all our customizations are set and can be found on the MNU, MNS, MNC, and MNR files.

The Acad.cui that comes standard with the AutoCAD program is called the Program CUI.

The Customs CUI comes standard too with the AutoCAD program but it is empty by default and it is this CUI that we should ideally set our own customizations.

CUI’s can be designated as Main (editable) or Enterprise (non-editable)on the Options Menu.

Additional CUI’s can be designated or added as Partial CUI to either Main or Enterprise CUI’s.

The Pecking order of CUI:

1. Enterprise CUI (the non-editable CUI otherwise known as the Organizational CUI)
2. Partial CUI’s on the Enterprise CUI.
3. Main CUI (such as ACAD CUI, Custom CUI, if you set your Organizational CUI as main, it will now becomes editable by the users)
4. Partial CUI’s on the Main CUI.

Note: It is of utmost importance to understand this pecking order for the CUI’s.

The CUI configuration that came out of the box after AutoCAD install will look like this,

Main CUI – Acad.cui

Partial CUI’s to the Main CUI – Express.cui and Custom.cui

Enterprise CUI – is not set

The CUI configuration that I set up for a corporate office that allows a Cadmonk user to access company standards without overwriting it but still allows the Cadmonk to customize is as follows:

Main CUI – Custom.cui

Enterprise CUI – Office standard CUI

Partial CUI’s to the Enterprise CUI – ACAD.cui, Express.cui, and all other company-add ons CUI’s that need to be protected from user changes)

Save the Cadmonk’s user profile to be used on another Cadmonk’s workstation in the office. This is the best way as far as I know to implement this Cadmonk standard officewide.

The CUI configuration mentioned above were also mentioned by KaDe King of the USCAD from one of the sessions she made in the 4^th Annual Southern California CAD Summit in Anaheim Convention Center as one of the preferred CUI configuration in an office implementing an office wide CAD standards.

4th Annual Southern California CAD Summit

4th Annual Southern California CAD Summit had exceeded my expectation for a one day CAD Seminar Event. All the presenters that I enrolled had done a good job of imparting relevant solutions for a real day to day situation in the office and for some things you overlook when you’re busy in the office.

It’s kind of mixed feeling though that the handouts are not handed out during the seminar and you have to wait for an email of their survey to be filled-up and only then that you can download the handouts from their website.

So, I need and did access my company’s e-mail system tonight and forward it to myself on my AT&T account, only to find out after clicking the link in their email, that there’s a server’s error on the USCAD website. Sweet.

I wonder what all those other participants doing tonight…. …

……could it be that they’re playing solitaires on their computers when they got back home? After all, having the USCAD website downed, is a good excuse not to give feedbacks on the following morning for the guys in the office, right?..He..he…he.. yah! Let them wait.

We’ll, the other good things though, of not having the handouts right away is, that it forces you to listen to the presentors during the presentation and saves USCAD some paper and saves our planet's trees as well.

As usual, it’s always nice to listen to Lynn Allen on her Autocad 2008 Tips and Tricks during Lunch Break. She always is a good communicator that is why she is always popular among CADmonks. (Even if again the USCAD did’nt materialized to hand out Lynn Allen’s Tips & Tricks Booklets).

I also would like to make special mentioned of KaDe King, a fabulous presenter on the AutoCAD’s CUI. Her presentation of it, is just pure excellence. And for you who wanted to know about CUI's, she will be speaking at the Autodesk University 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

All in all, I’m glad I came to this USCAD event.

Shots taken at the Event:

Ahh! It’s always nice to be early….and the only line is me. Next stop…. The breakfast Area
Yah!!... I’m wearing shorts and sandals. Southern California…baby…
With Lynn Allen….I always enjoy her presentations and it always happen during Lunch Time….all the more important…..he..he..he..
With Kade King……If you need to know more on CUI’s…..She is the one.

She will be a speaker on Autodesk Univerity 2007 in Las Vegas according to USCAD website…..so lets go see her again.

With fellow CADmonk Tito Montero. If you have CAD Questions this CADMonk has the answers. His cellphone # is _1_-____-_____.

The 4th Annual Southern California CAD Summit

Tomorrow, Thursday August 23rd, the 4th Annual Southern California CAD Summit will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center at 800 W. Katella Ave.Anaheim, CA 92802.

This would be a non-AUGI event that I will be observing. It is touted as the
biggest L.A. CAD / S.D. CAD event of the year.

Lynn Allen who is best remembered from our great AUGI CAD Camps and of course from last year’s AU 2006 in Las Vegas, will be speaking during lunch between 11:45 and 12:45 and will be presenting AutoCAD 2008 Tips & Tricks.

I will be blogging as usual, but about this event, so stay tune for tomorrow.

AutoCAD 2008: Dtexted , VToptions and VTenable to be Old School

If you prefer Old school way of editing single line text?

If so, at command prompt, set value of Dtexted to 1.

The values of Dtexted is 0, 1, and 2:

Do you want to change the speed of View Transitions, otherwise known as the Matrix effect when transitioning views?

Type VToptions,

And adjust accordingly.

Do you want to eliminate this Matrix Effect cause you’re not used to it and get motion sickness from this?

Type VTenable,

And set VTenable value to 0.

There you go Mr. Anderson.

New on AutoCAD 2008: Drawing Status Bar

Did you ever draw something, a detail maybe in 1”=1’-0” scale, then after finishing the detail, it was decided finally, that it is best shown in ½”=1’-0” scale?

Those &$#@^& ! !.

I know. Don’t despair anymore.

We will use the annotative properties found in the Drawing Status Bar.

The principle is to make our text , dimension and multileader styles to annotative and we can add Dynamic Blocks of Section/Elevation callouts or detail Titles provided as defaults in the Tool Pallette.

For the text style dialog box, check box for Annotative under Size parameter and input Paper Text Height, in our case, it’s 1/8” as our CAD Standard.

Click Modify, under Text tab, choose text style as Annotative.

Click OK, click set current, click Close.

Then, lets set the multileader style under Multileader Style Manager’s dialog box to Annotative.

Click Modify, click Content Tab, and choose Text Style as Annotative.
And under Leader Structure Tab, check box Annotative under Scale Parameter.
Click OK, and then click Set Current on Multileader Style Manager dialog box.

Back At Drawing Status Bar, choose Annotative Scale.

At Tool Pallete:

Dynamic Blocks for Section and Elevation Callouts and as well as Drawing Title can be used.

Hence, begin drafting.

Note:

When the drawing status bar is turned off, its tools are moved to the application status bar (lower right on a drawing window).

Autodesk University 2007: Registration For AU2007 Have Started

For many Autodesk subscribers and members of AUGI (Autocad Users Group International), registration for AU2007 started early. Registration started last Wednesday the 15^th of August.

The first day of registration have been beset with technical difficulties that followed to the next day. There was bandwith issues and the servers were beset by the huge influx of would be attendees. But by late afternoon of Thursday, it went by rather smoothly but not until all the disappointment and consternation for sure of the many early birders.

Some Autocad vendors particularly ours, emailed some codes for discounts on AU. It was never recognized. It was like a bad joke. Use all (3) codes for the discount the e-mail says and not even one works. It was real pathetic, a total joke. Well if you are a member of AUGI, they promise a $500 discount if you say you are a member on your registration. I can’t remember last year’s discount promise by AUGI, I think it was a $150 discount, but I remember that they deliver. Long Live AUGI.

The way the registration started, I don’t know if these are good signs, that would probably indicate the increasing importance of AU for us CADmonks.. Hopely the event would not start sloppy like this one.

An AU Blog mentioned, that for the first 24 hours of registration last year, there were 985 registrations compared to this years wopping 2000 registrations.

I don’t know, they better be prepared for this year's huge gathering, 'cause last year’s AU, ROCKS ALL THE WAY!

General registration for the public will open on Wednesday the 22^nd of August.

The 4 day AU 2007 event will be held in The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on the 27^th of November till the 30^th.

Zen Living: Using Sportfishing As A way to Meditate Inside Of You But Out to the Sea

I need to see the ocean, So Late Friday afternoon I took a boat for a Twilight Sportfishing Trip that starts at 6:00PM to 11:00PM.

Just to see, the beautiful ocean, gives me a feeling of Meditation.

This boat was’nt chartered. But with so few fisherman like me on this boat, we had this one for ourselves to enjoy.

This shot is typical of what’s happening, on our way to the fishing grounds.

My second Sea Bass of the night, for this Twilight Fishing Trip.

By the end of the night, I had (4) Sea Basses and a Barracuda,

to be cleaned and stored, ready to be cook for the following morning.

It’s always fun to show what I end up caughting, but it’s the one that I caught in me

that I can’t show, is the one that I really wanted to show.

Peace.

New on AutoCAD 2008: Layereval

Layereval Command is new on AutoCAD 2008. This is used mainly for better control of new layers being created in drawings. This is good tool for CAD Quality Controllers/Managers to maintain standards and prevent plotting errors.

But on most of my projects, I mostly turn this off by setting Layereval=0.


More on Autodesk official definition:


Type: Integer
Saved in: Drawing
Initial value:1

Controls when the Unreconciled New Layer filter list in the Layer Properties Manager is evaluated for new layers.
The setting is stored in an integer using one of the following values:

0
Off

1
Detects when new xref layers have been added in the drawing

2
Detects when new layers have been added in the drawing and xrefs



Unreconciled layers are new layers that have been added to the drawing and have not yet been acknowledged by the user and manually marked as reconciled.
Reconciling new layers is the process of manually reviewing new layers so that you can avoid potential errors before plotting your drawing or when restoring a layer state.
Unreconciled layers are new layers that have been added to the drawing or to attached xrefs since the layer list was last evaluated. The layer list is checked for new layers when a command, such as PLOT is used. In new drawings, the layer baseline is created when the drawing is saved or plotted for the first time. When a new drawing is first saved, the layer baseline is created, and all layers present in the saved drawing are considered reconciled (not new). Layers that are added after a drawing is first saved are considered new unreconciled layers.
NoteThe layer baseline is created when the
LAYEREVAL system variable is set to 1 or 2.

When a command that is set in the Layer Settings dialog box or LAYEREVAL system variable is used, the layer list is checked at that time and compared to the baseline. If there are new layers, notification will display and the Unreconciled New Layers filter is automatically created and activated in the Layer Properties Manager.
Unreconciled layers become reconciled by right-clicking the layer and clicking the Reconcile Layer option. Once a layer has become reconciled, it is removed from the Unreconciled New Layers filter. After all new layers are reconciled, the Unreconciled New Layers filter is removed.

NoteYou can reconcile multiple unreconciled layers at the same time.

Zen Life: These Badass CADMonks Bowled in Championship form

Our CADmonk Bowling Championship yesterday, was a huge success.

It started with our veteran Cadmonk, Jose Gutierrez the “Deal Maker”.

Just as he set up those important company projects, he showed the

Way with a massive STRIKE.

Then getting the queue, Yours Truly "the blogger" followed up with another

Shattering STRIKE.

Not to be left undone, our expert Reviteer Cadmonk, Juan Rodriguez made

a series of volleys himself, silencing the watching crowds with

a "shock and awe" STRIKE from the lanes.

Finally when one of the CAD World’s Guru appeared, Paul Cabigao sealed the

deal like the way he wrap up a 100% CD Deadline with a

250 points of his own.

It was’nt even close, the CHAMPIONSHIP is ours for the taking.

I retreated to my waiting warm and juicy Cheeseburger served by

Ms Hilton herself (her picture not included to maintain this site’s

professional setting.)

Our secret championship Zen:
". . . . .CADmonks do the Calcs . . . . . in the bowling lane"

Some FACTS:

Bowling is a game in which players attempt to score points by rolling a bowling ball along a flat surface in order to knock down objects called pins. There are many forms of bowling, with the earliest dating back to ancient India. Origins can also be traced to ancient Finland and Yemen, and much later in 300 A.D. in Germany. In the US the best known form of bowling is probably the North American game of ten-pin bowling. This form, in both amateur and professional versions, is played around the world, making it one of the largest participation activities.

• Ten-pin bowling, which evolved from ninepin bowling in the 19th century.
• Candlepin bowling, played in eastern Canada and New England, is a variation of ten-pin bowling.
• Duckpin bowling, commonly found in the mid-Atlantic and southern New England United States and eastern Canada, is a variation of ten-pin bowling involving small, squat pins, sometimes with rubber at their widest points (rubber band duckpin bowling).
• Five-pin bowling, played in Canada.
• Nine-pin skittles, played in Europe.

No of pins:

1 pin (dot)

             *

2 pins (short line)

          *

          *

3 pins (small triangle)

          *

             *

          *

4 pins (small diamond)

          *

       *     *

          *    

5 pins (small ship)

       * 

          *  

             *

          *

       *

6 pins (medium-size triangle)

       * 

          *  

       *     *

          *

       *

7 pins (hexagon)

         *

       *   *

         *

       *   *

         *

8 pins (big ship)

       *

         *

           *

         *   *

           *

         *

       *

9 pins (big diamond)

           *

         *   *

       *   *   *

         *   *

           *

10 pins (big triangle)

         *

           *

         *   *

           *   *

         *   *

           *

         *

Terminology

Strike: a X symbol, first throw knocks down all 10 pins.
Names of sets of strikes thrown in a row: strike, double, turkey; four-bagger (all other strikes are followed by bagger), thanksgiving turkey (perfect game)
Spare: a / symbol, first throw knocks down 0–9 pins, second throw knocks down the remaining pins.
Open: The player fails to knock down all 10 pins with both throws.
Foul: The approach to the physical lane contains a foul line. When you step on or over the foul line on any throw, you get a 0 pin count for that throw.
Gutter Ball: When the ball goes in the gutter. If a ball bounces out of the gutter, any pins it hits do not count and must be reset.
Split: A difficult combination of pins that involves pins separated by at least one space and does not involve the head (number 1) pin. A well known split is the 7-10, involving both outside corners. Another example would be the baby split: 3-10 and 2-7. However, a washout (1-2-4-10 for righties, 1-3-6-7 for lefties) does not count as a split because the head pin is still standing.

AutoCAD2008: Inserting/Xreferencing a Metric Drawing

How to Insert/Xreference a Metric drawing to an Imperial drawing.

1.
Facts on the Imperial drawing:
Units are set to architectural, where 1 unit is an inch.

2.
Facts on the Metric drawing.
Units are set to decimal, where 1 unit is a meter.

3.

To insert/xreference the Metric drawing into the Imperial drawing,
We need to know the insertion scale factor.

Fact: 1 inch = 25.4 mm , 1 / 25.4 = 0.03937

To insert a metric drawing where 1 unit is a meter,
The scale factor would be 0.03937x1000= 39.37

4.
Hence,

To insert a metric drawing where the 1 unit is a centimeter,
The scale factor would be .03937x100=3.937

And to insert a metric drawing where 1 unit is a millimeter,
The scale factor would be 0.03937.

AutoCAD 2008: Publishing/Plotting with "Plot to file" Options

If you prefer publishing/plottting with "plot to file Option", you can include all plot files made into a single file, by setting "Publishcollate" value at command line to "0".


"Publishcollate"

Type: Integer


Saved in: User-settings


Initial value:1


Controls whether sheets are published as a single job


Publishing sheets as a single job requires all of the following:


A plot or PDF driver that supports the multi-sheet plotting or printing option


The page setup override option is selected, if publishing from the Sheet Set Manager.


Value=0
A published sheet set is processed one sheet at a time. Separate PLT and PDF files are created for each sheet. If the sheet set is published, the sheets might be interleaved with other plot jobs.

Value=1
A published sheet set is processed as a single job. A multi-sheet PLT or PDF file is created. If the sheet set is published, it is never interleaved with other plot jobs.

AutoCAD 2008: View Opened Drawing in Windows Explorer

Did it happen to you, that when you open some job drawing in your office network,
you wanted to see that file in the windows explorer by clicking a toolbar on your AutoCAD menu?

Well, here it is.

Create a new toolbar on your custom menu,
In my case I named it “View Opened Job in Explorer” with an icon showing a folder with a curved arrow.

Create your new toolbar on the CUI interface on your office/personal toolbar group.

On Properties, type in Command Macro:

^C^C(STARTAPP (strcat "EXPLORER /select, " (getvar "dwgprefix") (getvar "dwgname")", /e"))

Click Apply and OK, and that’s it.

Using AutoCAD Detail into Revit Structure with Detail Callout Referencing

1. We all know that making details in AutoCad is still way faster than doing it on Revit Structure especially, if you are new to Revit Structure.
2. The goal is we make our details in AutoCad, and Wblock the detail for import to Revit Structure on a Drafting View Family.
3. In Revit Structure, we will make a Drafting View Family, and name it as “S600-4 Detail” as our example.

From Revit Menu, Click : View/New/Drafting View

Fill in the Dialog Box,

4. Import AutoCad Detail which you wblocked from AutoCAD.

From Revit Menu, Click : File/Import/Link/Cad Formats

Fill in the Dialog Box,

-At Import or Link,

Check box for Current view only,

-At Layer/Level Colors

Choose Preserve colors

-At Positioning,

Choose Automatically place/Center to Center

5. Drag View to Sheet “S620 – Steel Details"

6. Now, for calling out it on the plan,

From Design Bar, click Basic, Section

From Options Bar, chose Detail view: Detail CAD, Input scale

Check box for Reference other view, from pulldown button,

choose “Drafting View S620-4 Section”

The Callout Bubble should look like this,


7. By using this method, your huge AutoCAD Library will still be of good use.

8. Happy Riveting.