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Previously we published what are the all time popular articles on CAD notes. It means most seen articles by you. This time the editor (it means me) picked 10 best articles published on CAD notes. I decided not to include the 100 tip article. It was something special, but it’s time for other articles to get the spotlight. Aren’t they?

Good articles are not always get the highest views. Sometimes getting highest views simple means it covers popular topic. For example the new array command in version 2012 gets high hits because people get irritated and want to use it the old way. Well, you get the idea.

So I picked 10 articles that I consider as all time best of CAD notes. Because they’re cool, things that we never thought we can do, and things that are useful.

The best articles are

1. What’s new in AutoCAD

This article is really new. This was provided for AutoCAD veterans who recently upgrade to new version and want to skim through all new features. Not specific to a version, but for the last several versions. I will update it regularly, add new key features and removes feature that are no longer ‘new’.

Read what’s new in AutoCAD in several last versions here.

2. 10 reasons to use AutoCAD layout

Layout has become a very important productivity tool. It allows you to do many things that you can’t when you use model space alone. Here are the top 10 reasons to use layout. If you haven’t used it yet, you should read it!

Read why you should use layout here.

3. Modify AutoCAD status line for real time reporting

A great guest post by Paul Munford of CAD Setter Out. I never thought we can do it in AutoCAD! He shared how you can change what information is shown in status line. Do you want it to show what workspace, user, and profile that currently active? Peace of cake!

Read this great tip how to modify your status line here.

4. 10 ways to select object in AutoCAD

AutoCAD object selection works differently with other Windows application. There are many ways to select objects. You will need these tricks when you are working in a crowded drawing.

Read all the 10 ways you can select objects here.

5. 10 days to work better with AutoCAD

This was an ambitious article series. I expected we can discus and explore things we can do to improve our productivity significantly. However, it wasn’t received as many discussions as I expected. But I still think it’s worth noting. Probably we can have another session next time!

Get all the tasks to improve your productivity here.

6. AutoCAD customize user interface (CUI) tutorial

Customizing AutoCAD means you need to know how to work with CUI. Here we have 5 articles from the basic until you can create your own CUI. However, they doesn’t cover details about macros. AutoCAD is very customizable. While most people are happy using AutoLISP, you probably prefer using ribbon or toolbar!

Read all the basic CUI tutorial here.

7. 11 killer tools tool palette macros for working with AutoCAD viewports

Paul Munford doesn’t write often. Even on his blog. But when he does, it surely worth reading. This time he shared how you can use tool palettes for working with viewport. The macros he used are awesome! I never thought we can use macro like that. Interested?

Read the killer macros here.

8. 5 steps to prepare AutoCAD plot

This is a simple guide for beginners. Plotting can be a big problem for beginners. This is a guide how you can prepare your drawing for plotting, in 5 easy steps!

Follow the plot preparation steps here.

9. Controlling linetype scale is as easy as 123

Very similar with plotting, if you prepare your drawing properly, it’s very easy to control your linetype scale. It’s as easy as 123!

Read the 3 steps to control linetype scale here.

10. Setting AutoCAD sun light is easy

I must say that I’m not a master in rendering. That’s why I’m proud of this article. With my limited knowledge, I can make a pretty good rendering. And you know what, to make this awesome rendering is very easy!

Read the short tutorial to setup sunlight here.

Which one do you think is the best article?

Those are best articles on CAD notes until today. At least I think they are. You might have different opinion. Would you share which article is the best on CAD notes? Share in the comment section below.

From those great people and those great feedbacks, come many popular articles in CAD notes. These are the most popular since the first article published at 29 May 2009 until today.

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1. 100 AutoCAD tips you should know

If you regularly visit CAD notes, you should see this article is always shown at ‘popular today’ section on this website sidebar. These 100 tips are compiled from several CAD bloggers, in the list you will find links to other CAD blogs too. If you haven’t seen it yet, see the 100 tips compilation here.

2. How to convert DWG from one unit to another

This article is also shown regularly as ‘popular today’ article. Apparently it’s a common user’s problem. We have the freedom to draw in any units, because AutoCAD only recognize drawing unit, not real world measurement.

Have the same problem? See the unit conversion tip here!

3. Introduction to annotation scale

Annotation scaling is a great feature, introduced in AutoCAD 2008. We can easily create readable annotations, without having to think in what size we should draw them. However, without understanding the concept properly, it can be confusing. Especially if you receive a drawing with annotation scaling from others.

Read the annotation scaling introduction here.

4. Introduction to MicroStation

This is the first article in MicroStation tutorial series. I posted old MicroStation tutorial I published before (originally in Indonesian). I didn’t expect the tutorial becomes popular.

I was hoping I can write more if I can get a license. I managed to access MicroStation once in a while, but I simply can’t keep up. So I apologize if at this moment I can’t publish new MicroStation articles anymore. I hope I can do it again soon, but I can’t promise you.

However those tutorials should give you a good start to learn MicroStation. And they are free! Read introduction to MicroStation here.

5. Controlling linetype scale is as easy as 1,2,3!

To make linetypes appear in our AutoCAD drawing can be very irritating. It is a simple task, but sometimes we can’t just get it done until dozens of trials and errors with linetype scale!

So curious how to do it easily? It is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Read how to control linetype scale here.

6. Creating title block  from AutoCAD sheet

This is a Revit tip. When you decide to migrate from AutoCAD to Revit, then the first thing you want is having your standards transferred to your new CAD software. Family libraries, templates, you name it!

In this article, we cover how you can import your AutoCAD sheet to create a new Revit sheet.

7. Creating your own linetype

We always need to customize AutoCAD to fit our needs. One feature that we want to customize is linetype. It would be cool if we can create our own linetype, isn’t it? You can, and it’s very easy with express tool!

So here is how you can create your own AutoCAD linetype!

8. How to label coordinate in AutoCAD

Doing automatic task in AutoCAD can be done in many ways. For veterans, probably AutoLISP is the first answer. But if you use AutoCAD LT or don’t know anything about writing LISP, there are other ways!

In this article, we covered how you can label coordinate automatically using AutoCAD block!

9. AutoCAD isometric text and dimension

So you create isometric drawings in AutoCAD? You probably already know how to do it. But the dimension and text don’t appear properly unless you set them for isometric drawings.

This one is the tip how you can make isometric text and dimension for your drawing.

10. AutoCAD 2012: New array command

I think the biggest failure in AutoCAD 2012 is the array command. Of course the new associative array is great. But using the array command itself is very annoying. Users have strong reaction about it, and Autodesk had to give ARRAYCLASSIC command back in service pack 1.

I believe that’s why this article becomes popular: people wants to know more about it.

if you haven’t use 2012, then you probably also want to know why array in AutoCAD 2012  becomes so popular.

11. Preparing your AutoCAD template

I can’t say anything about this. I know it’s an important topic. And every company must have standard templates. But this topic already discussed since a long time. So I don’t know why it becomes popular.

Do you know why this article becomes popular? Preparing AutoCAD template.

12. Working with workspace and design files

Another early article in MicroStation tutorial series. I don’t know articles after the first two are not become viral. Probably people lost interest in those articles :)

Here is how you work with MicroStation workspace and design files (DGN).

13. Where can I see AutoCAD command alias list?

Command alias is the ultimate weapon for many AutoCAD users. In my early days of using AutoCAD, I wish someone told me where I can find the complete list of those aliases. Not only see the aliases, you can modify them to work better with you!

Read how you can see and edit aliases here.

14. AutoCAD 2012: Creating drawing views from 3D model

People hate the 2012 array, but people like this one. In 2012, creating 2D drawings from 3D models is easier than ever.

See details of this new feature in 2012 here.

15. Dynamic block tutorial: Creating door

Like annotation scaling, dynamic block is also a great feature in AutoCAD. It can simplify your block library and automatically do different tasks. Door is probably the most created block, so this one becomes popular.

Read about creating door in dynamic block here.

16. Creating Revit family: door

Another door tutorial becomes famous. But this time it’s a Revit family tutorial. It’s interesting to see that creating door becomes popular topics. Probably if I wrote MicroStation tutorial about door, it will be popular too!

Read how you can create door family in Revit here.

17. How to draw an arc with specific length

We can’t create arc with specific length directly in AutoCAD. There is a workaround, and this is how you can do it.

Read how you can draw arc with specific length here.

18. Setting up AutoCAD sun light is easy

I don’t use AutoCAD for 3D modeling that much. However, if you have AutoCAD, then you must use it optimally. This post was published to answer a friend’s question: can AutoCAD give good rendering result? Yes, sure! AutoCAD does render!

Lighting is the basic of rendering. See how you can work with sunlight easily here.

19. Isometric drawing in AutoCAD

Apparently there are many people create isometric drawings with AutoCAD.

Do you also need to create it? See how you can create isometric drawings here.

20. 10 reasons to use AutoCAD layout

I love using layout. I always encourage people to use it. At least try it and all of it’s benefits before you decide it doesn’t work for you.

I know it’s not for everybody.But I have 10 reasons why you should use AutoCAD layout. How many do you have not to use it?

Which one is your favorite?

There are no judges to pick those winners. The articles in this list are the most seen by CAD notes readers, according to this site statistic (I use Google Analytics to record that).

I always amaze how an article can be viral. Sometimes what I think will soon be forgotten become more popular than I think.

What about you? After these 3 years cad-notes.com has been around, what is your favorite article?

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In the last few weeks, we published a tutorial series to work with customization file. This is the roundup of the tutorial, 5 steps on how you work with AutoCAD customization.

1. Exploring CUI and create your own customization file

In this first tutorial, we cover how you can access CUI dialog box. We explore elements in cuix file. And also how you can create your own customization file as partial cui.

Having separate customization file from default acad.cuix is important. Many things can make us to reset acad.cuix to its original state. And when you do this, you will loose your customization!

Find out more about accessing CUI dialog and exploring customization elements here.

2. Creating a command and ribbon tab

After having our own customization file, the common thing we do is to add our custom command. Here you can learn how to define a command, change it’s properties. And to give you a quick feel how to place it to your interface, you will create a panel and ribbon tab. Then place the command there.

Find out more about creating a command, panel, and ribbon tab here.

3. More about ribbon

Now after we can create commands, panels and tabs, we need to arrange them to make it looks neat. Ribbon is the default interface, so we start from here. You will learn about rows, sub panel and slideout panel. How to use them, and how to adjust their properties.

Find out more about ribbon elements’ properties here.

4. Working with toolbar and menu

Old timer like me? I don’t use toolbar and menu anymore because I’m not really a CAD user now. I have to use ribbon for presentation and training. I quite like it, but I’m not sure if I will stick to ribbon if I have to work 9-5 as AutoCAD user.

So here we cover how you can create your own toolbar and menu.

Find out more about creating toolbar and menu here.

5. More things you can do with CUI

There are several more things you can do with CUI. Not limited to creating commands, toolbar, menu and ribbon, you can tweak several more things. Rollover tooltip and mouse click are some of them.

Find out more cool things you can do with AutoCAD CUI here.

Bonus: Reusing CUI and sharing with team

As we mentioned before, we use our own customization file. Partial CUI can be saved in a custom (and safe) location, including a shared location over a network. This is safer and you can make it read only so users won’t be able to modify it.

Loading Partial customization file

So you have a partial CUI and want to load it. How you can do that? You can click load partial customization file in CUI dialog box. Just browse and find your file, then load it.

Unloading partial customization file

What about unloading it? expand partial customization file and right click above file you want to unload. Choose unload from contextual menu.

Using CUILOAD or MENULOAD

There is another way to load and unload cuix files. In older version, you can load your .mnu files using MENULOAD. This functionality is still exist. Alternatively, you can use CUILOAD. Both will load the same dialog box. You can click browse and load it. Or select loaded files in the list and click unload.

Few things to consider

What you need to consider is, your CUI may use image files for icons and load LISPs. Make sure these files’ path is also available when you load your CUI. If you tend to work locally, probably put CUI, all images and LISPs to a folder. For example C:\ACADLIB.

If you want to share it to all users from a network location, use that location when you create CUI.

After you master customization and you need to maintain it for dozens or more users, you might want to explore enterprise CUI. By defining it, you can make all users have same interface and commands. It’s also can be set as read only – no one else can modify it. This is a good start: create an Enterprise CUIx file (AutoCAD help).

Do you think you will use CUI?

Do you manage commands and interface using CUIx or planning to do it? I know many veterans prefer to create AutoLISP only but never bother to place it to AutoCAD interface. However, if you want other users to use your customization in your company, you must consider to place them to interface. Not everyone is command line kind of guy. But if you are a veteran who only customize AutoCAD for your own use, you probably never bother to use it.

Share your opinion here. Also if you used to do this using old way (mnu, mns) you can compare which is better in your opinon.

1. Do you work at small business company? It means less than 300 employees.
2. Is your company based in US or Canada?
3. And do you use outdated Autodesk software? It means version 2008 or older.

If all of the answers above it yes, then you are eligible to join Autodesk and Lenovo technology makeover contest.

Join the contest, and you can win five Lenovo ThinkStation workstation and five Autodesk suites licenses (you even can choose which suite!).

If you are interested, see the details in this Business Wire news. Or see in this AutoCAD facebook page. I think the facebook page is limited to US and Canada visitors only, I only see restricted warning :(

So go ahead. You might be the lucky one!

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But we were just trying to get the job done quickly. It was pain when we need to modify the drawings. When we need to create schedules and drawing list we had to do them manually. Of course they were prone to mistakes. I remember our team failed to meet the deadline because we sent wrong drawings. Those were our pain when we were just trying to get the drawings done.

Yes those CAD software are impressive

Have you ever seen Revit, Inventor, or other vertical products demonstration? OK vertical products sounds so Autodesk, you might know them as BIM or PLM software. They were pretty impressive, weren’t they? Why they look very fast when working with those products?

1. They have many reusable components specific for your design. You can just place walls, doors, and windows in Revit. You can quickly add standard components from Inventor content library. Of course if you use them, you will need to create some of your own custom components. But after you created them once, you can quickly reuse them later.
2. Those objects are intelligent. You can create Bill of Materials in Inventor in seconds. You can quickly create various building component schedules in Revit. It’s because they have information. You also provide more information when you’re doing the design.
3. They are easy to modify. You can replace one standard component with another. You can change building components just by selecting other type from drop down menu.
4. The drawings are also intelligent. You can have orthogonal drawings and sections quickly. There are a bunch of information automatically placed on the title block.
5. And many more impressive features.

Sometimes we just use what we have

Not all companies can invest and purchase those sophisticated CAD software. It’s not always about budget. Sometimes you have to use software that project owners ask you to use it. There are several reasons that make us stay with what we use today: AutoCAD. Some of the reasons are pretty good reasons.

As a user, of course we just use it. And we do our best to improve how we work. Those software can give some ideas to imitate them in AutoCAD. Remember the wall in our dynamic block tutorial? It’s kind of look like Revit in 2D, isn’t it?

That’s why we are here on CAD notes, aren’t we? We’re looking for ways to complete our job, efficiently. Become more productive.

So we do these

That’s why I started this blog. We launched work better with AutoCAD program. It’s our framework, and we want to go to bit size tutorials and tips from it. Unfortunately we don’t get as many responses as we expected.

Your feedback is very important to improve our future articles. We need your experience and discuss with us in each topic.

If you’re interested, you can also share your experience in an article. Write for us.

We also launched e-books to improve your productivity.

AutoCAD Block Best Practices should help you to work with reusable contents. Not just placing common components, but also giving them information. And automate some process in your design.

Document management with AutoCAD sheet set should help you to manage your drawings. You can group all sheets in a project. You can get common information from that project to place them on title blocks. You can create sheet list quickly, and batch plot all drawings in your projects quickly.

You can help

You can help us to provide articles to help all readers. The easiest thing to do it is by actively involved in discussion. And you can write great articles for us.

What’s your opinion about CAD notes so far? Tell it in one word!

Of course you can write in a whole sentence or paragraph. But we can accept a word like ‘boring’ too.

Do you like what we’re doing here?

Today I get the great news: Our own AutoCAD Block Best Practices e-book is approved an can be purchased from AutoCAD exchange store!

The payment is available through PayPal only, with the same price as we offer here.

If you want to purchase it from app store, you can find it under learning tools and productivity tools category. You have to open AutoCAD Exchange from within AutoCAD, you can’t do it just using regular browser.

I also have problem with search tool, so you might need to navigate to the last page of the app list. (Is it just me, or the app have problem with the search engine?)

Here is the sales page on the app store:

I’ve seen people comparing AutoCAD and MicroStation. How they love it, and don’t understand why would people choose the other one. So which one is the best? Which one should you use?

This article is my personal opinion, you are welcome if you want to write yours on comment section below.

It’s not an apple-to-apple comparison

To me, it’s not really apple-to-apple comparison. They are not really competing each other.

Really? Aren’t they both can do about the same thing? Well yeah, but it doesn’t mean they are competing on the same area.

AutoCAD was designed as drafting tool

Yes. AutoCAD was designed as drafting tool. It was the best ever, and still is. If you mainly work with detailed drawings, I think most likely you will say AutoCAD is better than MicroStation. Later, many applications use AutoCAD as platform. Autodesk puts many tools to AutoCAD, even change the rendering engine to mental ray. The same rendering engine for 3ds Max. But still, the AutoCAD strongest point is its drafting capability.

MicroStation was designed as platform

MicroStation was optimized as a CAD platform. Bentley is working hard to make almost all of their products run on MicroStation. It makes MicroStation has the ability for drafting/detailing, 3D modeling, rendering, and even animations. I’m not talking about simple walkthrough here, but complex animation like I found here on YouTube:

Here also some sample tutorial how you can create traffic animation in MicroStation, and this is a result from Bentley Civil channel.

Yes, Bentley can create great renderings too.

Image copyright: Vincent

So MicroStation is better than AutoCAD? As a CAD platform, yes. But not as drafting tool.

Of course you can create detailed drawings in MicroStation. MicroStation has tools for drafting, but I find AutoCAD is much more convenient than MicroStation.

I believe that’s why Autodesk acquire Revit, replace AutoCAD Mechanical Desktop with Inventor, and bundle their products as suite. Because AutoCAD is not enough.

In the end, it’s about solution

So Bentley is better than Autodesk? Not really.

Today, 2D drafting probably is still dominating many industries. So it makes sense if more people use AutoCAD than other CAD software. But today, many industries emphasize to move further. In building industries, they have BIM. In manufacturing, they have digital prototyping or PLM. Not sure what are other terms in different industries.

Autodesk already have AutoCAD as the most powerful drafting tool. They have the most powerful visualization tools in their portfolio too. The reason why I didn’t put Autodesk rendering samples is because you must have seen them. Almost every computer graphics in Hollywood movies used their solution.

The problem is they need more power in their arsenal, because AutoCAD can’t handle more than what it can handle now. So now they have Revit for BIM. They have Inventor for manufacturing. Each of them are good.

Bentley won’t have many problem because they already have good CAD platform. Autodesk needs to create interoperability between their products. Bentley doesn’t have to. They all use the same CAD platform and file format.

Yes, Autodesk has the best drafting and visualization tool. But MicroStation offers enough capabilities. By using it, you can avoid steep learning curve because basically it’s the same tool.

But do you really need to master that many software?

So what do you think?

Above is just my two cents. I believe there are many of you who use both AutoCAD and MicroStation.

You probably want to share yours?

Do you realize that there are hundreds of CAD applications out there? If you’re currently planning to purchase new CAD application, I mean not only purchasing additional seats, but trying to catch up with all those new technology… aren’t they confused you?

One interesting thing about choosing a CAD application, it’s often not because it’s feature. Not because it’s better than its competitors.

I’ve seen an international company decided to switch to other CAD package here, because it’s not easy to find people who can use theirs. So their HQ still use CAD A, here they use CAD B.

I also see people chose a CAD application because their project owner told them to use it. I’ve seen people chose it because of its price.

You probably have your own reason that I probably never knew before. Would you care to share it here?

I’m also wondering… how many of you actually chose a CAD program because you think it is better than its competitor?