Las Vegas, Nevada, December 3–6, 2002

Speaker Name: Alan Kalameja

Course Title: Productivity Techniques using AutoCAD LT 2002

Course ID: GD22-1

Course Outline: This session will concentrate on the many productivity enhancements available in AutoCAD LT 2002. Topics will include the following:

The LT 2002 User Interface

Drawing and Editing Enhancements

o Drafting Settings Dialog Box, Boundary Hatch Dialog Box

o Multiple Editing of Polylines

o Toggle Between Trim and Extend

o A Dimension Option of the Rectangle Command

o The Array Dialog Box

o The ability to perform multiple redo's

Text Enhancements

o Find and Replace, Scaletext, Justifytext, SpaceTrans

Object Properties and Layers

o Lineweights, Layer States

AutoCAD DesignCenter

The Multiple Design Environment

Changing Properties of Objects

Creating Layouts

Plotting Enhancements

o Configuring Plotters, Creating Color Dependent and Named Plot Styles

Publish to the Web

Dimensioning Enhancements

o Associative Dimensioning, Dimensioning in a Layout

Miscellaneous Enhancements

o AutoCAD Today, Active Assistance, UCS Icon Dialog Box, eTransmit,

2

The LT 2002 User Interface

Right Click Support Right click shortcut menus allow you to access options of commands currently active. These shortcut menus come in various forms. They include the Default, Edit-mode, Dialog-mode, and Command-mode menus. The shortcut menu illustrated below and to the left is an example of the Default menu, which appears they you right click in the drawing area and there is no command in progress. The example below and in the middle illustrates the results of right clicking when a dimension is highlighted. Various dimension options are present in the shortcut. The example below and to the right illustrates the results of right clicking on any toolbar button; a list of all toolbars appears allowing you to easily display or dismiss a toolbar.

The SAVEAS Dialog Box AutoCAD LT 2002 enables you to save files in various formats in the dialog box illustrated below. When you save a drawing to a version other than the default, AutoCAD LT 2002 will remember this file format unless changed.

3

Draw and Edit Enhancements

The Drafting Settings Dialog Box Snap, Grid, Polar Tracking, and Object Snap settings are now all consolidated into a single dialog box called Drafting Settings, as shown in the following image. This dialog box allows you to change settings more intuitively and effectively. A button has also been added to the Status Bar allowing you to toggle the Polar Tracking feature on and off.

The Boundary Hatch Dialog Box While the functionality of the BHATCH command has not changed, the appearance of the Boundary hatch dialog box has changed to enhance productivity and ease of use. The Quick and Advanced tabs are designed to better streamline the interface. Similarly, the Hatch Pattern Palette dialog box contains four tabs to better organize all hatch patterns (see the following image).

4

Multiple Editing of Polylines Multiple polylines can now be edited with a single PEDIT command. You can join multiple polylines that do not have their ends meet by entering a fuzz distance.

Command: PEDIT

Select polyline or [Multiple]: M (For Multiple)

Select objects: Select objects to convert to polylines

Select objects: (Press Enter to continue)

Convert Lines and Arcs to polylines [Yes/No]? <Y> (Press Enter)

Enter an option [Close/Open/Join/Width/Fit/Spline/Decurve/Ltype gen/Undo]: J (For Join)

Join Type = Extend

Enter fuzz distance or [Jointype] <0.0000>: (Enter a fuzz distance)

EXTEND and TRIM Commands Combined Holding down the SHIFT key while inside of the EXTEND command allows you to change to the TRIM command. This action also works if you are inside of the TRIM command and want to perform an extend operation. You can also trim and extend to objects within blocks.

Select object to trim or shift-select to extend or [Project/Edge/Undo]:

FILLET and CHAMFER Enhancements Make changes to the fillet radius without exiting the FILLET command. Make changes to chamfer distances without exiting the CHAMFER command.

RECTANGLE Command Enhancements The Enhanced RECTANGLE command has a Dimensions option that allows the rectangle to be drawn by entering length and width values.

Command: RECTANGLE

Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/Thickness/Width]: (Pick a point on the screen)

Specify other corner point or [Dimensions]: D (For Dimensions)

Specify length for rectangles <0.0000>: 7

Specify width for rectangles <0.0000>: 6

Specify other corner point or [Dimensions]: (Pick a point on the screen to designate the other corner)

5

Text Enhancements

Find and Replace Text To quickly find and replace text within your drawing, AutoCAD LT 2002 provides a Find feature. Text can be located inside of blocks, attributes, dimension annotations, and hyperlink, names. Use the Zoom To feature to find an item and perform a zoom to its location in the drawing.

SCALETEXT Enlarges or reduces selected text objects without changing their locations.

JUSTIFYTEXT Changes the justification point of selected text objects without changing their locations.

SPACETRANS Converts length values between model space and paper space.

6

Object Properties and Layers

Object Property Toolbar The Object Properties Toolbar has been updated to include the addition of Lineweight and PlotStyle control boxes. As in the past, this toolbar provides a quick way to access object properties easily and effectively.

Layer Properties Manager The Layer Properties Manager dialog box is now resizable and supports up to 255 characters for the naming of layers. Extra support for setting lineweight, Plot/No Plot, and Plot Style attributes is available. You also have the ability to save and recall layer filters. Right click to display a shortcut menu that allows for the more popular layer modes to be easily accessed.

7

Lineweights Assign lineweights either through the Layer Properties Manager dialog box or through the use of Plot Styles. Lineweights will give you more control when printing and line quality are important. If lineweights appear too thick in your drawing, use the Lineweight Settings dialog box to adjust the display scale of lineweights.

Layer States The "Save state…" button of the Layer Properties dialog box activates the Save Layer State dialog box. Layer states allow you to save the current layer settings under a unique name through the Layer Properties Manager dialog box. You would then restore the desired state, which makes it easier to change the layer properties inside of the dialog box. Layer states can also be exported into other drawings or imported from drawings.

8

The Options Dialog Box The Preferences dialog box of past LT versions has been replaced by the Options dialog box illustrated below. This new dialog box allows for greater control over the drawing environment. Eight tabs are available to improve and enhance the management of your system. A few of these tabs are illustrated below.

The Files Tab is used to specify the folders in which AutoCAD LT looks for text fonts, menu files, drawings to insert, linetypes, and hatch patterns that are not in the current folder. The Display Tab controls Window Elements such as screen colors and fonts, Layout Elements, Display Resolution, Display performance, and the Crosshair size. The Open and Save Tab controls the default file type when performing saves, File Safety Precautions such as automatic saves, and the demand loading of External References. The Plotting Tab controls the default plotter type, General plot options, and the type of Plot Style (Color Dependent or Named). The System Tab controls the Current pointing device, User name, and general options. The User Preferences Tab controls the Windows Standard Behavior, the system of units used by DesignCenter, the Priority for Coordinate Data Entry, Object Sorting Methods, Hyperlink, and Lineweight settings. The Drafting Tab controls AutoSnap Settings, the AutoSnap Marker Size, Tracking Settings, and the Aperture Size. The Selection Tab controls the Selection Modes, the Pickbox Size, Grips, and Grip Size.

9

AutoCAD DesignCenter

Users of AutoCAD LT 97 and 98 will recall the introduction of the Content Explorer as a means of dragging and dropping blocks from an on-screen browser into the drawing. In AutoCAD LT 2002, use the DesignCenter (ADC) to provide more efficient interface for performing similar Content Explorer tasks. With DesignCenter, you can still view and copy data such as blocks from any drawing. However this data is no longer limited to just blocks. You can now list other types of data such as layer definitions, layouts, dimension styles, linetypes, and external references. As in the past, this data can then be dragged and dropped from one drawing file into any file currently open.

An updated version of the powerful Find tool is also provided with the AutoCAD DesignCenter. This tool now enables you to search for drawings using drawing content information such as layer name, subject or title, block name, attribute data, or drawing date. Once found, this data is listed in an edit box and can be dragged and dropped into the currently open drawing file. A Favorites button is available that allows you to organize your most commonly used data under unique name to be retrieved later in the design process.

10

The Multiple Design Environment

To increase productivity, ease of use, and performance, use the Multiple Design Environment (MDE). With MDE, you can open multiple drawings in the same AutoCAD session and multitask between drawings. This can be accomplished either through the File>Open dialog box or by dropping drawings from the Windows Explorer into an AutoCAD LT 2002 session. As multiple drawing are opened, you can cycle through the drawings by pressing CTRL-TAB. You can also arrange numerous drawing windows by tiling them horizontally, vertically, or in cascade format in the example illustrated below.

Other features of MDE include the ability to copy or move objects within or between drawings using drag and drop. Using the right mouse button for dragging opens the shortcut menu illustrated below which gives you various options before completing the drop operation. You can also use the Property Painter to transfer color, layer, linetype, and linetype scale from one drawing to another.

Tip: Use the CLOSEALL command for closing all open drawings.

11

Changing Properties of Objects

The Properties Window Use the Properties Window dialog box to modify all properties of an AutoCAD LT object. You can isolate objects to modify by type, which enables you to modify object properties on a per-object basis. Whenever changing an object’s property, the results are automatically updated in the drawing without dismissing the dialog box.

Tips:

Double clicking on objects will automatically launch the Properties window.

Press ESC once to remove the object highlight and grips from the display.

Use the special PICKADD toggle button to eliminate the need for pressing ESC to remove grips during selection.

Quick Select The new Quick Select dialog box allows you to build selection sets easily. The selection set is based on object properties such as object type, layer, color, linetype and lineweight. You can also apply filters to the entire drawing or to the current selection set. In the illustration below, a selection set containing all circles has been created using the Quick Select dialog box. The selected circles are identified with grips. Quick Select is usually combined with the Properties Window to provide a more powerful and quick way of changing the properties of selected objects.

12

Layouts Layouts in AutoCAD LT 2002 allow you to create multiple paper space layouts in a single drawing file. Use the Page Setup dialog box illustrated below to save plot parameters with the drawing.

Illustrated below is the result of performing a page layout. You can easily switch from Paper Space to floating Model Space by double-clicking inside of the Paper Space viewport. A toolbar dedicated to Viewports allows you to easily scale the image inside of the floating Model Space Viewport.

Right-clicking on the layout name Ortho Views below activates the shortcut menu. Use this menu to create, move, copy, or rename layouts. Clicking the edge of a viewport and then right-clicking allows you to lock the viewport to prevent accidental scaling.

13

The Layout Wizard

The Layout wizard provides an easy means for creating a drawing layout. This command contains a series of dialog boxes that step you through the process of creating a new layout. This command is found by clicking on Wizards under the Tools menu, as shown in the following image. You can choose to create a new layout from scratch or use an existing layout template on which to base your new layout.

Eight steps are identified for creating the new layout. They are as follows:

1. Begin - Enter a name for the layout to be created.

2. Printer - Select a printer.

3. Paper Size - Select a paper size based on the printer selected in the last step.

4. Orientation - Pick either portrait or landscape.

5. Title Block - Select a title block from the list provided. By default, AutoCAD reads this list from the Templates folder. A different template location can be specified through the Files tab of the Options dialog box. This section of the layout wizard will only read dwg template files.

6. Define Viewports - Select the viewport setup and scale from the list provided.

7. Pick Location - Locate the viewport on the graphics screen.

8. Finish. This returns you to the graphics screen where the new layout is created.

Depending on which plotting device is currently configured, you can select a paper size from those available. You can select a predefined title block to apply to your new layout. The Preview area displays a preview image of the title block you select.

When you've finished using the wizard to specify your layout settings, you can modify any of the settings using Page Setup dialog box found under the Files menu.

14

Creating Multiple Layouts A single drawing file can have multiple layouts that show different views of the same object. Each layout can also contain different plot settings and paper sizes.

To create a copy of an existing layout, right-click on the tab of the existing layout, as shown in the following image. This will activate the Move or Copy dialog box. Place a check in the box next to Create a copy. You may also want to move the layout to the end of the layout listings.

When the new layout appears at the bottom of the graphics screen, right-click on the new layout name. This will activate the menu shown below. Select Rename to change the name of the layout. In this example, the copied layout “Floor Plan (2)” has been renamed to “Electrical Plan”.

15

The new layout appears in the following image. In this image, all layers that do not show electrical information need to be frozen in this viewport. This needs to be performed without affecting the layers in other viewports. To begin performing this operation, double-click inside of the viewport. This switches the graphics screen from paper space to floating model space.

Activate the Layer Properties Manager dialog box. In this example, all layers that deal with the foundation plan will be frozen only in the current viewport. Select the foundation layers and freeze the layers in the current viewport in addition to any new viewports that will be created in the future.

16

The results are displayed in the following image. In a similar fashion, all electrical layers can be frozen in a different viewport in order to show foundation information associated with different layout.

17

Plotting Enhancements

The Plotter Wizard Plotting in AutoCAD LT 2002 has been streamlined to offer power and flexibility, which take full advantage of today's output devices. As with layouts, plot settings are now saved with the drawing to reduce setup time. Plot preview provides the user with the most realistic image of what the plot will look like. In addition to colors and linetypes, Plot Preview will incorporate lineweight and fill patterns. Illustrated below is a sample screen of the Add a Plotter Wizard, which is used to configure a new plotter.

Color Dependent and Named Plot Styles Plot Styles are provided in AutoCAD LT 2002 as a means of controlling color, linetypes, lineweights, screening values, fill patterns and other characteristics. Plot Styles were formerly known as pen assignments and are saved in a file called a Plot Style Table. These tables are then attached to a drawing. Two types of Plot Styles are available in AutoCAD LT 2002. Color Dependent Plot Styles use color to control plot characteristics. The extension .CTB is assigned to this Plot Style file. The dialog box below and to the left deals with creating a Color Dependent Plot Style. The Named Plot Style is not color dependent. This means you can attach different plot styles to the same color through the Layer Properties Manager dialog box. This Plot style has the extension .STB assigned and is illustrated below and to the right.

18

Publish to Web A wizard is provided allowing you to publish drawings in HTML format to the Web. The wizard automatically generates a project, HTML pages, and design content in either DWF or JPG image format in the order of the following steps:

1. Create a new project (Web Page)

2. Create and define the location of the HTML pages

3. Select the image type (DWG, JPG, PNG formats)

4. Select a Template Web Page arrangement

5. Select a Theme (The appearance of the Web Page)

6. Enable i-drop (For dragging and dropping files from the Web Page into a drawing)

7. Select the Drawings to display

8. Generate the Web Page

9. Preview the results of the Web Page and Post the information

19

Dimensioning Enhancements Dimension Style Manager Dialog Box The Dimension Style Manager dialog box has been redesigned inside of AutoCAD LT 2002. The result is a faster more intuitive interface for setting and editing dimension variables. The main Dimension Style Manager dialog box illustrated below and to the left allows you to create, modify, override, and compare dimension styles. When modifying a dimension style, the dialog box illustrated below and to the right appears. Six different tabs guide you along as you make various changes to a dimension style. As changes are made to dimension variables, a preview window will automatically update to reflect those changes.

Quick Leader A new QLEADER or Quick Leader command allows for greater control when placing leader lines for the purposes of adding labels to a drawing. A Leader Settings dialog box contains three tabs for maintaining this control over leaders.

20

Associative Dimensioning Associative Dimensions are now considered tied to objects. Associative dimensions are controlled by the DIMASSOC system variable (Formerly DIMASO). Three types of associativity can exist between objects and dimensions in AutoCAD LT 2002:

Associative Dimensions Controlled by DIMASSOC set to a value of 2.

You can automatically adjust dimension locations and values whenever the geometric objects associated with them are modified.

New drawings created in AutoCAD LT 2002 have DIMASSOC set to 2.

Nonassociative Dimensions Controlled by DIMASSOC set to a value of 1.

Dimensions will not automatically change when geometric objects are modified.

Most drawings created prior to AutoCAD LT 2002 will have DIMASSOC set to 1.

Exploded Dimensions Controlled by DIMASSOC set to a value of 0.

Dimensions are considered separate objects and cannot be easily modified.

Associative Dimensioning Commands DIMREASSOCIATE - Used to associate a nonassociative dimension to an object.

DIMREGEN - Forces all associative dimensions in the current drawing to update.

DIMDISASSOCIATE - Used to break the associativity of a dimension with an object. This action does not explode a dimension.

Non-Associative Dimension

21

Dimensioning in a Layout

The ability to dimension model space geometry directly on a layout. These paper space dimensions maintain their associativity whenever the following occur:

• Changes are made to the model space geometry

• Changes are made to the layout viewport location

• Panning and zooming occur within a layout viewport

Steps to test Trans-spatial dimensioning:

1. Create a new drawing in Model Space.

2. Create a new drawing layout in Paper Space.

3. Activate floating Model Space.

4. Scale the image contained inside of the floating Model Space viewport.

5. Re-activate Paper Space

6. While in Paper Space, add a few dimensions to the object. Notice the correct values appear.

7. Click on the Model Space tab and make a few changes to the original drawing.

8. Click on the Paper Space layout tab and observe the dimensions are changed.

22

Miscellaneous Enhancements

AutoCAD LT Today This Internet driven feature allows you to access recently used files, obtain live updates, get information in the form of tips and techniques, and view content posted by a CAD manager. Other areas of AutoCAD LT Today include: the Bulletin Board (or CAD Managers Corner), Autodesk Point A, an enhanced Most Recently Used list (MRU), and Bookmarked Favorites.

UCS Icon Dialog Box The look and feel of the User Coordinate System can now be changed through the UCS Icon dialog box. The colors of the Model space icon and Layout tab icon can also be changed through this dialog box.

23

Using the Active Assistance Active Assistance continually monitors your actions in AutoCAD LT and displays information directly related to the active command or dialog box in the Active Assistance window.

ETransmit Used to compress currently open drawings with all associated files and external references into a single transmittal set. The transmittal file can be either in the form of a self-extracting executable or Zip file.