Moss Designs
January 14, 2005 CADzette
CAD News Large and Small
 
Wishing for AutoCAD 2006
 
Users wrote in to Ralph Grabowski's ezine with several things they would like to see in AutoCAD 2006, when it comes out in March. The problem is that some of their wishes are already in AutoCAD, and in some cases have been around for several releases.

This is one of the problems with wish lists....something that AUGI combats when they submit their wish list to Autodesk every year. A lot of people submit wishes for features that Autodesk already has. One more argument for better training among users.

For example, one of Ralph's readers asked for a way to create arrowheads without a leader. The best way I know is to use the PLINE command.

  1. Start the PLINE command.
  2. Set the W to 0 for the tip of the arrowhead.
  3. Pick the point for the arrowhead tip.
  4. Change the W to 0.4 or whatever thickness you want for the arrowhead base.
  5. Pick the end point for the arrowhead.

Another reader complained that they are unable to zoom or pan in the middle of commands. Again, this is a training issue as you have been able to do "transparent zooming and panning" in the middle of commands for a while now...it is especially easy if you have a mouse with a scroll wheel...press down on the wheel to pan, turn the wheel up/down to zoom.

On the complaint side, several readers complained about the fact that AutoCAD 2000 and beyond saves the printer/plotter setting with the drawing. This is annoying when someone sends you a drawing and you have to reset the plotter. This has happened to me, as well. Frankly, it didn't bug me all that much.

Readers also weighed in against the new "jazzy" icons that were unveiled in 2005. They are too hard to read for baby boomer eyes...the old icons were a lot easier to make out for those of us over 40. While other software companies, like Microsoft, are adapting their software for older users, Autodesk doesn't seem to be paying attention. You can set your toolbars to Large Buttons.

  1. Go to Options.
  2. Select the Display tab.
  3. Under Window Elements, enable Use large buttons for toolbars.

You may decide you liked the toolbars smaller, but the larger toolbars are definitely easier to see.

AutoCAD Tips
 
When you have Mtext you can use the Enter key to break the paragraph or add a space. But when the Mtext is in an AutoCAD 2005 Table Enter moves you to the next cell. What you do is just like in Microsoft Excel and use ALT+Enter.

In AutoCAD 2005, the TASKBAR system variable will allow you to have multiple drawings open as separate items on the Windows taskbar. By default, the system variable is setto <0>. With the default setting, you could use the CTRL-TAB or CTRL-F6 key combination to switch between the drawings, but with the system variable set to<1>, you can now use the CTRL-ALT key combination as well.
On the command line type "TASKBAR"
Variables:
0 - one taskbar item for all open drawings
1- multiple taskbar items for all open drawings

New Tool Available to Inventor Users on Subscription
 
In its ongoing effort to provide manufacturers with the most comprehensive and innovative design solutions, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, today announced a preview of significant new functionality for subscription customers of Autodesk Inventor Series software, the world's #1 selling 3D mechanical design software, and Autodesk Inventor Professional. Subscription customers will receive early access to new tools that will enhance their ability to quickly arrive at accurate and optimal designs. This is another component of Autodesk's new design standard called "Functional Design", creating a different, more direct way to design in 3D. With Functional Design, only Autodesk helps manufacturing customers progress beyond parametric modeling and fully leverage the Autodesk Inventor product line to bring better products to market faster.

This preview of Design Accelerator tools, reflects the integration of technology acquired from MechSoft.com, Inc., announced in February, 2004. With this technology, product designers can focus on their product's end function rather than its form. The Design Accelerator preview will include elements such as a dynamic engineering reference database, mechanical calculators and a component generator to create frequently used machine parts based on real- world attributes such as speed, power and material properties. These tools supplement the geometric design capabilities of Autodesk Inventor Series with engineering-driven design functionality.

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