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Working Effectively with AutoCad

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PCQ Bureau
New Update

AutoCAD 14 is the most popular

version of AutoCAD, though there are still several users of version 12 around. Release 14

brought about a shift from DOS to Windows, bringing in the new GUI interface. As this

shift is only partial, it retains the command prompt too. Most of these tips are generic,

and work across several versions of AutoCAD

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Restoring erased objects

If you leave the retain objects option unchecked when using

the block command, the source objects you selected will disappear. Restore them with the

oops command. It can also restore accidentally erased objects, even if you have made any

movements or used other commands after the last erase.

Using easily visible point styles

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It sometimes becomes necessary to highlight a point

overlapped by an object. You can set the point display by Format>Point style. An

easy-to-see point style is useful, especially with divide and measure commands.

Using parts of external references

You may want to see only parts of external references

(xref). The xclip command makes clipping easier, especially in a very large xref

drawing. To clip an xref, choose Modify> Object>Clip or External Reference Clip from

the Reference toolbar. When AutoCAD prompts you to select Objects, pick the xref you want.

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Mirroring objects with text

At times you may want to mirror a group of objects that

also contain some text. But this operation causes the text to be mirrored too, that is,

appear backward. You can change the settings to make the text read normally. Type mirrtext

at the command prompt and change the default value of 1 to 0.

Your own arrowhead

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It’s possible to create your own arrowhead. Just draw

the arrowhead once and convert it into a block. Then go to Style in the Dimension toolbar

and click on Geometry in the Dimension Style dialog. In the first and second drop-down

lists of arrowheads, choose User arrow. Type the name of the block you have created in the

dialog that appears.

Repositioning dimension-text

To reposition the dimension-text, dimedit command is

used. This changes the position of the written text to left, right or to any other

required position. Go for it by clicking Dimension>Align text or typing dimedit

at the command prompt.

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Spellchecker

AutoCAD 14 has a spellchecker, like in any word processor.

Click on the spelling icon on the standard toolbar or type sp in the command box.

At the select object prompt, select a text object. When the spell-checker encounters a

word it doesn’t recognize, the check spelling dialog box appears.

Quick stretching of objects

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Grips can be used to stretch or de-stretch any object,

except blocks. Just press Enter in the command prompt, without writing any command. Square

boxes will appear on the current object. Click on the required box and drag it as

required.

Dividing large drawings into parts

You can create four or more views of a large drawing, after

creating the title block–for example, for each quadrant of the drawing. This helps

you move quickly from one section of the drawing to another. When you determine the need

for more specific views, you can add more.

Trim multiple objects

It can be quite cumbersome, trimming several objects along

a single cutting edge. Use the fence object selection command by typing F at the command

prompt instead. It will ask for the fence points (two or more points that cross all the

objects to be trimmed, and is outside the cutting edge). The command is used after the

cutting edge has been defined.

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