Cycling through grip modes
When you have a grip selected, the normal mode is to stretch the selected object and AutoCAD displays ** STRETCH ** on the command line to let you know. But did you know that by hitting <Enter> you can cycle through the other grip modes - move, rotate, scale and mirror?
This is a really efficient way of working and means you can spend less time clicking the buttons on the Modify toolbar and more time editing.
Fillet solid objects...
The Fillet command can be used to fillet solid objects as well as just the usual 2D stuff. Not only does the Fillet command fillet edges but it also correctly mitres the corners where two filleted edges meet.
Easily set properties for multiple blocks in Tool Palettes...
Lots of people think that when you have blocks saved in a Tool Palette, you have to Right-click
Properties each individual block to apply custom settings. What if you have 20 blocks and you want them all to have the same setting? Well, just hold Ctrl and highlight the blocks you want within the Tool Palette, then right click on any of the selected blocks to apply global settings.
Properties each individual block to apply custom settings. What if you have 20 blocks and you want them all to have the same setting? Well, just hold Ctrl and highlight the blocks you want within the Tool Palette, then right click on any of the selected blocks to apply global settings.
Also, you can hold the Ctrl button to select your first block, then hold the Shift button to select the last block, then right click on any of the selected blocks to apply a global settings. Makes things much easier than one at a time.
Absolute and Relative Coordinates...
It used to be very simple. Enter a coordinate and AutoCAD interpreted it as an absolute coordinate. Enter a coordinate preceded by "@" (the at sign) and AutoCAD interpreted it as a relative coordinate. This simple rule changed when dynamic input was introduced and now the interpretation of coordinates is contextual. For example, when you draw a rectangle using RECTANG, the coordinate for the second point is interpreted as absolute with dynamic input turned off and as relative with dynamic input turned on. Really, try it and see.
Fortunately, there's a new coordinate prefix that forces an absolute coordinate, even when AutoCAD decides you want a relative one. Precede any coordinate with "#" (the hash sign) to force an absolute coordinate.
Quick Extrusions with Presspull...
As of AutoCAD 2007, there's no need to draw closed shapes before extruding. The Presspull tool will find any enclosed area (just like BHATCH) and extrude it.
Any objects can be used as boundaries; lines, circles, splines, they all work. This makes building 3D solid models much quicker than before.
Object snap tracking...
Finding the centre (centroid) of a square or rectangle used to require the use of at least one construction line but with object snap tracking, the same point can be found without having to draw any other objects.
This technique relies on the fact that "Midpoint" is set as one of your running object snaps and that polar tracking (POLAR) and object snap tracking (OTRACK) are on. Say you have a square and you want to draw an inscribed circle. Start the circle command and then hover the cursor over one of the vertical sides of the square until the midpoint snap icon appears. Move towards the centre and a dotted tracking like will appear. Next, hover the cursor over one of the horizontal sides of the square until the midpoint icon appears, again, move towards the centre of the square. This time, when you get close to the centre, both horizontal and vertical tracking lines appear and you can snap to the intersection simply by left-clicking. Finish the circle by snapping to any midpoint.
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