After I have this site running for 9 months, I decided to have a small and simple giveaway contest. This contest is simple: submit your favorite AutoCAD tip, and tell us why it’s your favorite.
UPDATE: There are some updates related to this competition. Please read about it here.
The Prizes
We will choose 5 winners:
- 3 winners will get a batik painting AND a batik shirt/blouse.
- 2 winners will get a batik painting.
The prizes now become:
- 3 winners will get Batik paintings + shirt + Revit Architecture 2010 e-book + AutoCAD Block Best Practices e-book.
- 2 Winners will get Revit Architecture 2010 e-book OR AutoCAD Block Best Practices e-book (You may choose one of them).
What is Batik?
Batik is recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage from Indonesia. The prizes we provide are batik paintings from Central Java. The size is a bit larger than A2 paper size. If you like traditional culture accessories, you must love this one! I know that many people come to Bali or Yogyakarta buy this as souvenirs.
These are some images from UNESCO about batik. You can see the batik shirts/blouses on our sponsor page. And below are the batik I provide as the prizes.
The Jury Members
I asked some fellow CAD bloggers who are very active in their blog and social media, and thankfully they agree to spend their valuable time to be a jury member. We have four juries and each jury will choose their winner. So I think this will be objective enough, especially because the juries come from different background and different countries :)
The juries are:
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Shaan HurleyBlog: http://autodesk.blogs.com/ | Twitter: @mrcadman
Shaan has worked for Autodesk since 1998 currently as a Platform Technology Evangelist for the AutoCAD & Platform Products Division. Shaan has used many of the Autodesk products as a customer prior to joining Autodesk in 1998 previously as a mechanical designer involved in various large projects. Shaan’s blog “Between the Lines” covers all things Autodesk, AutoCAD, technology and more at http://autodesk.blogs.com |
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Robin Capper “A Kiwi who likes blogging about design, technology, autos and life!”Blog: http://rcd.typepad.com/ | Twitter: @robincapper My day job is CAD Manager & Retail Design for The Warehouse Group, a large format general merchandise retailer in New Zealand. I’ve been using CAD for general and retail design since the 80s and own AutoCAD Architecture & Max. I use & manage AutoCAD & Revit Architecture, AutoCAD & Revit MEP and 3ds Max Design Licenses at work. I started blogging about CAD, and related topics, in 2004 and haven’t been able to give up yet! |
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Assis HaubertBlog: http://cadklein.blogspot.com | Twitter: @haubert
I’m a CAD Technician, Consultant and Instructor. An AutoCAD 2009 and 2010 Certified Professional and AutoCAD 2009 and 2010 Certified Associate. Book Author, Partner of CADKLein website and Company, Webmaster of www.cadklein.com (in Brazilian Portuguese), Member of AUGI Brazil BOD and more. Handle many Autodesk products. Began professional use with AutoCAD R11 in 1992, when he worked as a technician at am Autodesk Reseller in Brazil. |
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Edwin Prakoso “CAD AE for AEC industry and data management”Blog: http://cad-notes.com | Twitter: @cad_notes I’m a CAD application engineer that handle many Autodesk products. Focusing on AEC, and currently also handles data management system.I started to use AutoCAD since R.13. And learn more CAD products (especially Autodesk) since I join a reseller here. Start to blog about CAD since 2007 in Indonesian. Encourage myself to start writing in English, and start this blog since last year. Just like Robin, I’m kind of addicted to it :) |
How to Join the Contest
Promote This Contest
To join the contest is easy. No registration required. However, to be entitled to join this contest, you have to help us promoting this contest. You can choose either one of the following: DIGG, del.icio.us, StumbleUpon, Technorati, Twitter, Facebook, or Reddit. I believe many of you have at least one account to those services. If you haven’t, you can register and get an account in a few minutes for free.
You need to submit at least to one of the services.
You can find the button to publish this contest at the bottom of the post. Sorry, you can’t use messenger or email :)
Submit Your Tips
After you have promoted this page, you can fill the comment form and submit your tips. Please use the same username or email address with the social networks so I can trace it.
You can submit a tip in comments form along with the description. And explain why it’s your favorite tip. Your reason is important! Many simple tips can be very powerful in certain industries or workflow, but not in other areas. So let us know how it can help you.
That’s it. After you submit it, the jury will review the submission and choose their favorite.
Additional Points
You can get additional points if you reply on the others tip. The objective is not to find the other mistakes, but you can explain another tips how to do it, if you think it’s as a better way. We appreciate if you can have a discussion to get AutoCAD best practices on topics submitted.
Contest Deadline and Winner Announcement
This contest starts immediately, and ends on March 15th 8th, 12.00 pm Jakarta time. It should be around March 14th 7th midnight in US. The winners will be announced on March 21st 14th on this blog.
Let the contest begins!
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Application Engineer. Jakarta, Indonesia.
5+ years experience as CAD engineering application. AutoCAD, MicroStation, Inventor, Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 certified professional, and certified CATIA part design specialist. Here are some topics I am currently focusing on 
Loading autolisp permanently program in autocad
How to upload a LISP 2 ways. ie
1. Any open file should be included / loading LISP program
2. Upload LISP program permanently into your AutoCAD each time you open the autocad program
Tips that I will explain is the second way. How does it work?
1. Open your AutoCAD program
2. Click the Tools menu> AutoLISP> Load Application
3. Appears Load / Unload Application Dialog Box
4. In the Look In field, browse your LISP files to upload and select it
5. Click Load button
6. Dikotak dialogue right down there with the Startup Suite Contents button
7. Click the Contents button will appear Stratup Suite Dialog Box
8.Click Add button and browse your LISP file and add it
9. In List Application has emerged LISP files you then press the Close Button
10. Done. You have entered your LISP programs permanently every time you open the AutoCAD program.
It.s my favorite tips because I dont need to load Lisp files everytime I run my autocad.
This is AutoCAD tips from me.
Hopefully useful and I get a batik shirt :-)
Peace form me, Puji Triastono
Thank you for the submission Puji :)
Everybody have the same chance to win. I’m not the only one who will decide the winners of this contest ;)
hehe..mantaps dah..om edwin prakoso..kalo boleh saya ikutan yah. lumayan batiknya pasti keren. :)
Silahkan Halim :)
Selamat berkompetisi dengan kontestan lain. Tipsnya ditulis dalam bahasa Inggris ya?
Be my guest Halim :)
have a nice competition with the other participant. Write your tips in English, will you?
Mesti dalam bahasa Inggris yaa..Edwin…???
Tipsnya???
Make Hatch ini Autocad like “Ceramic Tile” with Measurament
1. Open File on Autocad and Open Drawing when will be creating Hatch
2. Klik Hatch in Toolbar Draw
3.Choose Type and Choose user defined
4. next click icon box with Chiklest
5. Write Spacing in box example 30
6. next click Pick Point and click where do you like to crate ceramic tile with measurament 30 x 30 cm
7. Click Ok
8. Hatch Finish.
This is Tips Autocad For Me..enjoy
I hope I get a batik shirt :-)..Trims
Here is my tips from my own experience when use array.
When you use array command and set everything up and then u go to preview and can’t see the whole array, don’t press cancel.
To solve the problem, click modify and re-select the object. Before right click, zoom out far enough to see the entire array, then press preview.
Finish the problem solved and no more click cancel and start over.
This is simple and little tips from me,
I hope it useful and i get a batik shirt.
note: sorry for my bad english language =)
My experience working in manufacturing companies that need short time or a deadline…phew. so simple but actually tips for me possible because according to the function of our hands so left hand on keyboard and other on the mouse.
tips the trim command is :
(left hand mouse)
1. click the tr
2. click space twice time (2x)
(right hand on mouse)
3. select the line which would cut.
4.finish.
please try and hope get the batik… hehehe : )
regards,
uppsss…..sorry i mean:
tips the trim command is :
(left hand on the keyboard)
1. click the tr
2. click space twice time (2x)
(right hand on mouse)
3. select the line which would cut.
4.finish.
please try and hope get the batik… hehehe : )
regards,
To expand on that trick… Hold down the SHIFT key, and each object’s endpoint you select will now EXTEND to the closest boundary
To quick trim you can try by using –Extrim– command, it just by clicking the boundary and click any side from boundary. I used AutoCAD 2007 with Express Tools, i’m not sure this command available on AutoCAD earlier version.
Make Grid or Make working area in Autocad
1. Open programs Autocad
2. Typing “Limits”
3. Then Typing 0,0 and Working area Example Measurament A4
4. Then yping Grid chosse Grid with 1
5.Ok. u can drawing in working area
MASKING AND STACKING FRACTIONS IN ATTRIBUTES (AutoCAD 2009+):
If you want your block attributes to have background masking as wel as stack fractions, simply set the attribute definition to “Multiline” (ie. Multiline attributes use MText, which of course, has built-in background masking and fraction stacking options)
This works well because it prevents you from having to create a dynamic block that contains visibility states and/or wipeout frames that need to be dynamically stretched.
As for stacking fractions, you have full control on how the fractions are stacked (via MText) so you don’t have to create separate and smaller attributes that represent the fractions
DUPLICATE DYNAMIC BLOCK
If you want to [re]create a new Dynamic Block which is very similar to an existing Dynamic Block, simply open the existing Dynamic Block with the block editor, enter the command BSAVEAS, enter a name for the new block, and then make your modifications as necessary.
This prevents you from having to “reinvent the wheel” when creating a new Dynamic Block.
ROTATED DIMENSION WITHOUT HAVING TO USE DIMALIGNED.
If you want to have a rotated dimension with syaggered origin base points without having to use the Dimaligned command, simply use the undocumented command DIMROTATED.
1. Enter the command DIMROTATED
2. When prompted for an angle, simply pick two points [along an object] on your screen for the desired angle.
3. Then simply pick the origin points for the extension lines and place the dimension like you normally would.
This works better than DIMALIGNED because the origin points may be staggered, and if one of the objects being dimension gets moved or stretched, the rotated dimension maintains its desired angle.
FINALLY PURGE “$AUDIT_BAD_LAYER”
To finally purge that annoying $AUDIT_BAD_LAYER layer, simply do the following:
1. Run the AUDIT command
2. Run the PURGE command to get rid of the $AUDIT_BAD_LAYER layer
3. SAVE the drawing and QUIT
4. Reopen the drawing, and the $AUDIT_BAD_LAYER layer will be gone!
NAVIGATE BETWEEN MODEL SPACE AND PAPERSPACE WITH HYPERLINKS
Below is a step-by-step process that helps you quickly navigate between Modelspace orientations and multiple Layout tabs using Saved Views and Hyperlinks (this tip is lengthy, but so worth the effort).
1. While in a Layout tab, use the VIEW command to save a view name (usually, I would name the view based on whatever the sheet number would be, like “A101”)
2. Then, draw a closed pline around the perimeter of a Viewport (either on Layer “defpoints” or a unique layer set to “no plot”), and then use the CHSPACE command to send the pline into Modelspace through that Viewport.
3. With your cursor still within Modelspace via inside the Viewport, save a new view name to something reflecting what is going on within the viewport and including the sheet number (eg. “Plan 1 – A101”), and then bring your cursor back into the Layout environment (ie. PSPACE command)
4. Enter the command HYPERLINK
5. When prompted to “Select Objects”, select the Viewport boundary that you just saved a view in.
6. When the “Edit Hyperlink” dialog box appears, click on the “View of this Drawing” button
7. Expand the Model tree by clicking on the “+” symbol, select the view name you just created, and then click the OK button
Now, hold down your Ctrl key, and click once on the Viewport boundary with your left mouse button. AutoCAD will then switch to Modelspace and zoom into the area of the saved Modelspace view that you created earlier – and you will also see the closed pline that you sent through the Viewport.
To get back to the Layout tab, repeat steps 4 through 7, but this time, select the closed pline and select the saved view for the Layout.
CREATE A CIRCULAR WIPEOUT
As you may or may not know, you cannot create a wipeout using a circle, only a closed pline without any arcs.
Instead, use the POLYGON command.
1. Enter the command POLYGON,
2. When prompted to enter the number of sides, enter a value of 36 which will create a closed pline that looks just like a circle.
3. The use the WIPEOUT command like you normally would, and select the 36-sided pline
I use 36 sides because it looks just like a circle without having too many vertices that make the closed pline too “busy”
Using AutoCAD Drawing tools is simple
There’s nothing hard in using AutoCAD drawing tools. Let’s try this simple steps. You can see the screenshot below, click next/forward button to move to the next step.
1. Click the tool you want to use on the ribbon. AutoCAD drawing tools is on home tab. Let’s start with line.
2. You will see the dynamic input near your pointer. It will tell you what you need to do next. Most of drawing tools will ask you a point location. We will learn how to input the coordinate precisely later. Just click anywhere on your drawing area.
3. Again, dynamic input will tell you what to do. Another point location. Click anywhere again. Pay attention that information in dynamic input is also shown in command line.
4. AutoCAD is continue asking you for point location. Click again.
5. When you finish drawing line segments, press [enter] to finish it. Many veteran AutoCAD users like to use [space] as an alternative.
6. Now let’s try to draw a rectangle.
7. Just like drawing lines, it will ask you for a point location. Click anywhere.
8. And just like line tool, it will ask next point. But don’t click your mouse yet. Press down arrow on your keyboard, or click the small arrow next to ‘specify other corner point or’
9. This is how you can see options for creating rectangle. The most common way is defining 2 points, but you can also define it by using other methods. If you see in the command line, you can see the options too. You can use the option by typing the capital letters in available options.
I am a new person because of the need to learn AutoCAD, because the company I worked to change their cad program from Unigraphics NX to AutoCAD, some time ago I had taken the training but there are some parts that I do not understand. one of them is the above tips so I chose this to be the best tips for me cause help me alot, Thanks
How to make use of more then one search folder in the Printer Configuration Search Path.
And how users then can have their own space for managing their PC3 files.
The Printer Configuration Search Path in Options allows you to assign only one folder.
But the trick here is that it will search for PC3 files in all sub folders too.
All PC3 files will be seen in AutoCAD as if there is only one location.
As a CAD manager you can separate PC3 files into sub folders for maintenace purposes. I.e for several clients or projects.
But what I like most about this that you can add a folder shortcut into this search folder which will point to the user’s (home) folder.
This way the user can create and manage his/her own PC3 files while the ones assigned in the Printer Configuration Search Path are (should be) only managed by the CAD manager.
This trick will also work with the Plot Style Table Search Path so users can manage their own Plot Styles aside from the ones configurated by the CAD manager.
When we use datalinks in our drawing, the reference datalinks are seen on xref manager. And when we do not need anymore the datalink, we can remove the datalink but not on the xref manager lists. One guy asked this in one forum, here is my workaround tip for him.
1. rename the dxe file so that it will be not found then save drawing, just to make sure it is not found or not referenced.
2. Copy and Paste the code below to the commandline then press enter, save drawing, close it then reopen again.
Code:
(dictremove (namedobjdict) “ACAD_DATALINK”)
When you open again the Xref Manager, it is now clean.
Thank you for all your submission :) I see that some CAD bloggers are joining this competition. I would like to inform that you may link to a tip on your blog. So you can simply write a short description and your reason, then link to your site for detailed information.
Hello all,
my tips:
1) Using user defined fields in file of Sheet Set Manager (DTS file) for automatic fill text field in label of drawings.
I attach simple project with sample: http://rapidshare.com/files/359788641/DWG_project_JR.zip.html
2) Use different scales for dimensions and viewports in one drawing. Trick is in using annotative dimensions and setup scales in propertios
dialog of viewport.
Sample a viewport’s properties dialog: http://rapidshare.com/files/359790437/AutoCAD_LT_Scales.jpg.html
3) Learn more about dimansion properties:
- Set mask as background in dimension style for better view a value of dimension
- Lear more about character for create dimension a opennings and use special chracters for it
- Scrrenshots is here: http://rapidshare.com/files/359793740/AutoCAD_Dimensions.zip.html
4) Simply convert lines to polylines using command for modify polyline to line or PLJOIN tools from Express Tools.
5) Create right angle via command chamfer of fillet with setup values of chamfering to 0.
Nice character of this commnad is possiblity to join lines to polylines. You can simply draw first entity as poline and then use chamfer; first select poline, then line and result is one polyline.
6) Using text field for get area from polyline … it’s great for counting room places with curved shape.
7) Dynamic block and combine dynamic actions with text filed eg. for width of door or for getting height.
Sample of this block is here: http://rapidshare.com/files/359797442/DB_Doors_JR.dwg.html
8) Using some nice tools as MtmdEdit, GGmenu (http://www.cadforum.cz/cadforum/CAD-Standardy/) and others…
9) Drawing more effectively with gestures. You can use it StrokeIt (http://www.tcbmi.com/strokeit/) for AutoCAD or other applications. I create custom file for StrokeIt and AutoCAd and you can download it here: http://rapidshare.com/files/359799365/StrokeIt_AutoCAD_gestures.zip.html
More informations you can find in this article (sorry just in czech): http://www.autodeskclub.cz/clanek/4376-efektivne-autocadu
I had a lots of other ideas so I think it’s inaf for this comment…
Best Regards
Josef Remes (CAD lab)
Tips : “Paste zero point zero”
Hi all,
what is “Paste zero point zero” ?
I called that because it come from –Copy with base point– command
What case?
Sometimes i work with many layer on my AutoCAD drawing. On that drawing of course many revison too. In course of planning surely will be happened by a lot of change, but sometimes some part of old drawing used again and i must get that desirable part into my new revision drawing.
How i do it?
In this case each part of drawing must have layer it self and same coordinate/position in every drawing revision. Look lively to same block name!
At old drawing :
1. Go to –Layer Properties Manager– and turn off all undesirable layer by click lamp icon to off.
So we just have desirable layer only (desirable part of drawing).
2. Set UCS to World
3. Run –Copy with base point– command, type “0,0″ (zero point zero) on specify base point
4. Select desirable object
At new drawing :
1. Set UCS to World
2. Run –Paste– command, type “0,0″ (zero point zero) on Specify insertion point
Now i have part of old drawing in my new drawing
thanks
These are a few AutoCad tips from me. These help me a lot.
As one of the posts here rightly says the use of left hand on the keyboard & the right one on the mouse. I take a little more sharp turn on this. Change your command aliases in such a way that you use only the keys on the left hand of the keyboard.
Zoom in & zoom previous are the commands which we require very frequently. I like to do it with very simple lisp. “zx” for zoom extents & “zs” for zoom previous. As I said earlier both of these command fit on the left side of the keyboard & are very easy to access. Here are the short lisps for your reference,
;FOR ZOOM EXTENTS
(defun c:zx()
(command “zoom” “E”))
;FOR ZOOM PREVIOUS;
(defun c:zs()
(command “zoom” “p”))
This command is the most favorite in my company. It prints in clicks. Complete the page setup & then just type “pp” & enter while in layout. No need of seeing that print dialog box again & again. Here is the lisp for your reference.
;THIS LISP IS FOR PLOTTING IN ONE CLICK- IN LAYOUTS ONLY
(defun c:pp()
(princ “Prints in one click,provided layout is set.
\n Made easy by Vivian Carvalho”)
(setvar “cmdecho” 0)
(command “plot” “n” “” “” “” “n” “n” “y”))
We all require to make zero fillets many a times. But the fillet command remembers the last radius we have input which is controlled by a system variable “filletrad”. To make zero fillets we need not change the radius every time. It is easily done by the use of shift key.
Simply activate the fillet command (by toolbar or the shortcut key) then press & hold down the shift key & select the lines you want to fillet. This overrides the “filletrad” variable, while still maintaining it after the command is over.
Offsetting an entity to the current layer.
When we invoke the offset command the following appears on the command line
“Specify offset distance or [Through/Erase/Layer] : “
On this instance type in “L”
The command line will say
“Enter layer option for offset objects [Current/Source] : “
On this instance type “c” & continue the command as usual. Now all the new entities will be drawn in the current layer.
Thanks for reading.
this competition boost up our skill and a platform for deep lovers of cad i will post my tips soon thanks.
rafi.interior designer
how can i download free autocad 2007 i had downloaded from brothersoft but on installation it shows an error ‘not a valid win32 application’ can any one help
maybe the installation corrupt, try to download again.
Note : Autocad is’nt free
nice info, thanks.
your article help me a lot for my job.