AutoCAD Tips and Tricks Meeting Tips and Tricks Meeting Free Food & Drink! Productivity Tips and Tricks! All are welcome to attend October 3rd Meeting of the Gateway Autodesk User

October 3rd Meeting of the Gateway Autodesk User Group – Local Chapter of AUGIwww.GatewayAUG.com www.AUGI.com

AutoCAD Tips and TricksMeeting

Free Food & Drink!

Productivity Tips and Tricks!

All are welcome to attend


Enter for Prize Drawing

ONE entry per person!

We will be giving away two seats of Autodesk 2007 software

Winner's choice of the following:

Architectural Desktop - Raster Design - Map 3D - Inventor Series 11

(ADT and Map3D can be used as plain AutoCAD)


Architectural Desktop

Autodesk Architectural Desktop enables you to create yourarchitectural documentation faster. The software also gives youmore tools that automate tedious drafting tasks, makingdocument coordination even easier.Autodesk® Architectural Desktop provides the best AutoCAD®–based design and documentation productivity for architects.

ADT Resources

Weblogs:http://2d-or-not-2d.blogspot.com/http://adt.blogspot.com/http://www.gkmoon.com/blog/index.htmlhttp://cadrebsd.blogspot.com/http://www.bim-wit.blogspot.com/http://www.rndr4food.blogspot.com/

Newsgrops:http://forums.augi.com/forumdisplay.php?f=39http://discussion.autodesk.com/index2.jspa?categoryID=10

Tutorials:http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=7490562&linkID=2475897http://www.dgcad.com/http://www.mossdesigns.com/adt-tutorials.htm


Inventor Series 11

Create designs with the standard featuresavailable in the Autodesk® Inventor™product family.

• Design Your Entire Product Line• Create Quality Products the First

Time Around• Deliver the Design in Less Time• Manage & Share Design Data• 2D to 3D

Inventor Resources:

Weblogs:http://autodesk.blogs.com/in_the_machine/http://mfgcommunity.autodesk.com/blog/amy/http://mfgcommunity.autodesk.com/blog/nate/

Newsgroups:http://discussion.autodesk.com/index2.jspa?categoryID=21http://forums.augi.com/forumdisplay.php?f=79

Tutorials:http://www.sdotson.com/http://www.cadcim.com/inventor_11/inventor_11.htmhttp://www.caddigest.com/


Raster Design

1. Minimize costly redrafting and accelerate drawing revisions withfast and accurate raster-to-vector conversion tools.2. Streamline your raster editing and drawing cleanup tasks.3. Work with raster data in formats of your choice.4. Use ESRI’s GRID raster format.5. Use raster data analysis to make better business decisions.6. Use imagery that is not georeferenced.7. Create high-quality, eye-popping displays with imagery.8. Enhance your existing image archive.9. Adapt existing and new imagery to meet your project requirements.10. Use Autodesk Raster Design with industry-leading AutoCAD 2007

Raster Design Resources

Weblog:http://rasterdesign.blogspot.com/

Newsgroups:http://forums.augi.com/forumdisplay.php?f=101http://discussion.autodesk.com/index2.jspa?categoryID=26

Tutorials:http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=4218059http://tinyurl.com/h8fbs


Map 3D

Autodesk Map 3D 2007 delivers powerful new functionality to solvebusiness challenges in the following areas:

• Data Access and Management• Spatial Data File (SDF)• Map Creation and Publishing

MAP 3D Resources

Weblogs:http://mappingitout.blogspot.com/http://www.acmap.blogspot.com/http://autocadman.blogspot.com/http://autocadman.blogspot.com/http://mistressofthedorkness.blogspot.com/http://mappinghacks.com/http://www.measuremap.com/

Newsgroups:http://discussion.autodesk.com/forum.jspa?forumID=85http://forums.augi.com/forumdisplay.php?f=69

Tutorials:http://www.autodesk.com/map3d-skillbuildershttp://augi.com/education/auhandouts.asp?page=726

GAUG Meeting Handout October 2006

1 of 8


What is GAUG?The Gateway Autodesk User Group

(GAUG) is a not for profit organizationdedicated to educating, enhancing andenlightening its members in the effective use ofAutodesk software applications.

The group will exchange informationabout software packages, add-ons andcustomizations, as well as discuss design,drafting and productivity issues.

GAUG is a local chapter of the AutodeskUser Group International (AUGI).

What is AUGI?The Autodesk User Group International

is the official user representative to Autodeskand receives approval and support from them,but, operates independently by the efforts ofvolunteers.

Thank you!Thank you to Vatterott Technical

College for allowing us to hold our meetinghere tonight!http://www.vatterott-college.com/

Thank you to Seiler Instruments forsponsoring our refreshments! We appreciateyour support!http://www.seilerinst.com/

Free Online Classes for Fall!AUGI offers classes through the ATP,

you’ll find a list of upcoming classes and thosewith open enrollment on pages 7-8.

SALARY SURVEY IS OPEN!The AUGI Annual Salary Survey runs

from October 1st through 31st. Look for initialresults in the December issue of AUGIWorldmagazine, and more in-depth results on theAUGI Website after that.

Please take a few minutes out of yourday to reply to the survey to help ensure theanswers accurately reflect what your positionearns.

This survey is anonymous and resultsare given by job title and industry and in noway tied to you individually.

See last year’s results here:http://augi.com/surveys/default.asp?page=1053

Keep in the loopTo keep up with happenings here in St.

Louis and with various Autodesk products andAUGI, be sure to pop by my weblog, orsubscribe to it via an rss reader:http://mistressofthedorkness.blogspot.com

Thank you to AUGI Board Member, MikePerry, for presenting our Acad Tips and Trickstonight!


2 of 8

Some AutoCAD Tips and Tricks to take home

2006/2007 only - Deletes excessive layer filters to improve performance. When a drawing has 100or more layer filters, and the number of layer filters exceeds the number of layers, system variableLAYERFILTERALERT provides a method for deleting layer filters to improve performance.

0 - Off1 - When the Layer Manager is opened, deletes all layer filters; no message is displayed2 - When the Layer Manager is opened, displays a message that states the problem, recommendsdeleting all filters, and offers a choice: "Do you want to delete all layer filters now?"3 - When the drawing is opened, displays a message that states the problem and offers to display adialog box where you can choose which filters to delete(don’t forget to google ‘layer filters delete .lsp’ for a handy routine to get rid of these in older versions)

Control whether or not you see a line around an image inserted in your drawing.Command line: imageframeEnter image frame setting [0, 1, 2] : Enter an option or press ENTER

0 Image frames are not displayed and not plotted.1 Image frames are both displayed and plotted.2 Image frames are displayed but not plotted.

Suppressing the display of the Object Selected Is Not a Polyline ('do you want to turn it into one?')prompt when invoking PEDIT.Entering y converts the selected object to a polyline. When the prompt is suppressed, the selectedobject is automatically converted to a polyline. To suppress it, type PEDITACCEPT0 - The prompt is displayed1 - The prompt is suppressed

Controlling the size/display of the Mtext Editor BoxOkay, so, MTEXTFIXED used to allow you to set the size of the text editor box, but that doesn't workanymore. Now, with the in-place text editing, things that are small on the screen are nearly impossibleto edit.

So, if you want to return to the old mtext editor type MTEXTED, then OldEditor... to get it back to thenew one, MTEXTED, then Internal... I believe that you can also set external programs as your defaulteditor for mtext, but I’ve never felt the need to explore that myself.

Filleted Corners on Offset?Are you unable to offset a closed polyline, so you open it and it fillets all funny?Check your system variable OFFSETGAPTYPE and set to ‘0’.

List of CTRL+’x’ Commands?Default Accelerator Keys - http://support.autodesk.com/getdoc.asp?id=TS18355Creating keyboard shortcuts for commands - http://support.autodesk.com/getdoc.asp?id=TS22496

Repath X-refsIf you have the Express Tools installed, you can use the XPATH command to repath external


3 of 8

reference files.Type XPATHUse the "..." button at top right to browse to the folder with the drawings whose paths you need tomodify.Click the "Find" button to see the current xref paths for drawings in a certain folder.Click on long column heading button "Xref Path" to sort drawings by xref path.Select all of the drawings that you need to change the xref path for (use Shift to select multiple files).Tell xpath which folder is contains the correct xref files by clicking on the "..." button at the bottom-right of the window and browsing to the necessary folder."Queue Changes" button.Click "OK" to implement the changes.

Right-Click Shortcut MenuR14 had trim and extend in this menu, how can you put it back in?Open up the Acad.mns with notepad, look under the ***POP501 section, and paste in the below:ID_Trim [&Trim]^C^C_trimID_Extend [Exten&d]^C^C_extend

My X-refs keep changing?You’ve x-ref’d in a drawing, and changed all of the layers to display as black/grey, etc, but, the nexttime you open the drawing, they are all their original colors?!?!Change your VISRETAIN variable from ‘0’ to ‘1’.

Properties Dialog Dragged OffscreenIf you’ve dragged your box offscreen, here’s how to get it back…Type –TOOLBAR (that’s a hyphen, you’ll need to include it) > type OBJECT_PROPERTIESEnter an option: [Show/Hide/Left/Right/Top/Bottom/Float] : FloatEnter new position (screen coordinates) <0,0>:Enter number of rows for toolbar <1>:

I get a prompt at the command line instead of a dialog box!?!?Check the following system variables (which can be turned off by certain routines that suppress themin order to run correctly, but aren’t programmed properly to turn them back on again on completion).FILEDIACMDDIAATTDIAThey should all be set to ‘1’ to display.Although, if you do prefer to do things (something quick and dirty such as freezing all of the layersexcept the current layer by typing layer, F, then an *.) via the command line as in older releases, youcan type the command with a hyphen in front (this will work for some, but not all commands. –layerand –style will work, but, for example, -plot will not)

Middle Mouse Button ClickYou can change what you see when you click by adjusting the MBUTTONPAN variable.Controls the behavior of the third button or wheel on the pointing device.0 Shows the OSNAP menu1 Supports panning when you hold and drag the button or wheelAlso, if you CTRL and click on the center button, you can pan in ‘joystick’ mode.


4 of 8

File Format NuggetJust a remind that the file format is the same in Release 2000/2000i/2002Likewise, the file format does not change between Release 2004/2005/2006Drawings can be saved back to R2000 format, but, newer features such as Tables, Fields andDynamic blocks will become ‘dumb’ objects again.If you have a file saved by a newer release, you can download the DWG True Convert to save itdown to an older version (you don’t even have to have AutoCAD on your machine to do this)There is also a free dwg viewer on this page.http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=6703438&siteID=123112&DCMP=ILC-DWG-PUV

If you don't want to see all of the x-ref layers in your layer dropdown box, go into the layerdialog, and in the pane on the left-hand side where you see the filters, select the one which says Xref(if there is more than one file attached you'll see a + to view the layers separately, or all together), soyou select that filter, then go down to the bottom and choose to invert the selection and apply tolayers toolbar.

I found a bug in AutoCAD, what is the best way to report it?Go to this site: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?id=1073063&siteID=123112Don’t forget to fill out and submit crash reports anytime AutoCAD goes belly-up on you. Theprogrammers DO look at those and make changes based on the errors and feedback that comealong with them.

I know how to pick em: SelectSimilar routineIn MAP3D 2006 there is a tool, accessed by most via the right-click menu, called SelectSimilar.Once you’ve selected an object(s), you use this command to add all other similar entities throughoutthe drawing to your selection set. (I believe this tool is also available in Architectural Desktop [ADT])I’ve heard quite a buzz on the newsgroups from MAP users who’ve upgraded to 2007 and aredisappointed to see that this command is no longer available in it’s current form. That made meupset, so I’d been keeping my eyes open to see if anyone had come up with a routine which willaccomplish the same thing… even going so far as asking people if they knew what sorts of things acommand like that would look at and could they write something up.

Well… I finally found that special someone! Adam Wuellner, whose acquaintance I made via theAutodesk Newsgroups. He has kindly allowed me to share his code.He created the following routine:

; written by Adam Wuellner <[email protected]>; all rights released(defun c:selsim (/ ss1 i ent filter_list type-layer filter sstemp) (if (not (setq ss1 (cadr (ssgetfirst)))) (setq ss1 (ssget))) (setq i 0 filter_list '()) (repeat (sslength ss1) (setq ent (entget (ssname ss1 i)) i (1+ i)) (setq type-layer (list (assoc 0 ent) (assoc 8 ent))) (if (not (member type-layer filter_list)) (setq filter_list (cons type-layer filter_list)))) (foreach filter filter_list (princ (strcat "selecting all " (cdar filter) " entities on layer "(cdadr filter) "...\n")) (setq sstemp (ssget "X" filter)) (setq ss1 (ss:union ss1 sstemp)


5 of 8

sstemp nil)) (sssetfirst nil ss1) (princ))

(defun ss:union (ss1 ss2 / ename ss-smaller ss-larger c) (cond ((and ss1 ss2) (setq c 0) (if (< (sslength ss1) (sslength ss2)) (setq ss-smaller ss1 ss-larger ss2) (setq ss-larger ss1 ss-smaller ss2)) (while (< c (sslength ss-smaller)) (setq ename (ssname ss-smaller c) c (1+ c)) (if (not (ssmemb ename ss-larger)) (ssadd ename ss-larger))) ss-larger) (ss1 ss1) (ss2 ss2) (t nil)))

I used this with success in MAP2005 as well as 2006.If you’re not sure how to use the code, here are the steps to take.Copy the above code, paste into notepad, save as SelectSimilar.lsp into an appropriate location onyour hard drive. When in AutoCAD (whatever flavor) type APPLOAD at the command line; navigate tothe .lsp file you’ve just created. (while accessing APPLOAD look for the little briefcase icon, whereyou can set to have the routine load on startup)

Once the routine is loaded: select an item, then type ‘selsim’ to run.

Adding SelectSimilar to the right-click menu in AutoCAD 2005:http://mistressofthedorkness.blogspot.com/2006/07/i-know-how-to-pick-em-selectsimilar.htmlFirst, I’ve got to find the ACAD.MNS file (runROAMABLEROOTPREFIX to find = "C:\Documents andSettings\UserName\Application Data\Autodesk\Autodesk Map 3D2005\R16.1\enu\Support"(I usually like to make a copy of this before I get started… just in case ;) )We’ll be adding the new command under the ***POP502 section(this is the right-click menu that shows when objects are selected)

You can navigate to desired location in your .mns in Notepad byusing C TRL+F and typing in the section name. Then enter thefollowing code where you’d like the command inserted:ID_SelectSimilar [Select &Similar]selsim ^PI chose to place it under QSELECT’s entry.Save the file and restart AutoCAD.

Once you’ve selected an entity, you’ll have the ability to find all similar items without tedious picking(or figuring out the right options in QSELECT, which is also handy at times).

To Add SelectSimilar to the Right-click menu in 2006 and above:http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=7634233&linkID=2786831


6 of 8

After loading the lisp routine:The following paragraph taken from the Autodesk knowledgebase with notes and screenshotsprovided by myselfTo add the Select Similar command to the defaultshortcut menu1. On the Tools menu, click Customize >Interface.2. In the Customize User Interface dialog box,under Customizations in All CUI Files, expandShortcut Menus > Default Menu.3. Under Command List, click New.4. Under Properties, in the Name field, enterSelect Similar. Add a Description.

5. In the Macro Field, enter Selsim.6. From the Command List, drag the SelectSimilar command to the Default Menu node of theShortcut Menus tree under Customizations In All CUI Files.7. In the Customize User Interface dialog box, click OK.When you right-click on the screen, you will now see that the Select Similar command has beenadded to the default shortcut menu.If you want this command to be available in other shortcut menus, repeat this procedure for each ofthe shortcut menus you want to customize.

Another Handy Tip!

Need to exchange some large files, but hampered by a 3 or 4mb limit on email? You’ll want to checkout the following two sites…http://dropload.com/Dropload is a place for you to drop your files off and have them picked up by someone else at a later time. Recipients youspecify are sent an email with instructions on how to download the file. Files are removed from the system after 7 days,regardless if they have been picked up or not. You can upload any type of file, mp3, movies, docs, pdfs, up to 100MBeach! Recipients can be anyone with an email addresshttp://www.yousendit.com/whyyousendit.aspxChoose whom you want to send a file to. It can be anyone with an email address. You can specify multiple emailaddresses separated by commas.Select a file to send. You can send photos, audio, documents or anything else. Your file will be stored by YouSendItwithout ever filling up your recipient's mailbox. Send Large Files Up to 1000MB.Click on Send. YouSendIt will automatically email your recipient a link to your file stored onour server. Your file will be deleted after seven days.No passwords to share, no software to install, no accounts to create, and no full mailboxes.

Melanie Perry is the President of the Gateway Autodesk User’s Group, a local Chapter ofAUGI. She has also been the AUGI Salary Survey Manager since 2004. By day she works in

Facilities Management as a CAD Tech, and by night she is a freelance writer and proofreader.She can be reached at [email protected]


8 of 8

Free Online Classes at AUGI.comOctober 2006 Courses

ATP146 AutoLisp programming with Visual LISP EditorStart Date: Monday, October 9, 2006

Some Autolisp programmers fail to use the VLIDE because they assume that one must know Visual Lisp to use it.Level: Intermediate Instructor: Gilbert Hoellerich

ATP148 Creating and Modifying Entities Using the Properties Window and CalculatorStart Date: Monday, October 9, 2006

What if you want to change multiple properties about one entity, and not have to use multiple commands such as move, rotate andscale?

Level: Intermediate Instructor: Andra Marquardt

ATP149 ADT Models into Autodesk VIZ ModelsStart Date: Monday, October 9, 2006

In this course you learn how to put materials in an ADT 3D Model, and export this model to Autodesk Viz.Level: Intermediate Instructor: Antonio Fontenele

ATP151 Creating and Implementing Script filesStart Date: Monday, October 9, 2006

Goals: learn what script files are and what they can do for you Accomplish: write script files and find usage Course material: step-by-step instructions on creating script files

Level: Intermediate Instructor: Renata Pfeifer

ATP153 Theme It With Map 3DStart Date: Monday, October 9, 2006

A beginner course on thematic mapping " Theme It With Map 3D".Level: Intermediate Instructor: animesh kundu

ATP154 Knee Deep in RasterStart Date: Monday, October 9, 2006

Basics of using Raster Design with AutoCAD.Level: Beginner Instructor: Jane Smith

ATP158 REVIT 9 Mastering RoofsStart Date: Monday, October 9, 2006

This REVIT tutorial is made up of hard copy handouts and video media.Level: Intermediate Instructor: Daryl Gregoire

ATP161 ADT 2007 Wall CleanupsStart Date: Monday, October 9, 2006

Contrary to your concerted efforts, walls will cleanup properly if you know the rules and the expected wall behaviors.Level: Intermediate Instructor: Daryl Gregoire

ATP163 AutoCAD VBA Take your first VBA by StepsStart Date: Monday, October 9, 2006

Want to learn a skill that can be used inside and outside AutoCAD? Have you ever wished you could automate repetitive draftingtasks but didn't want to learn a foreign language to do it?

Level: Intermediate Instructor: Richard Binning

ATP167 AutoCAD 102 – Improving Your AutoCAD Survival SkillsStart Date: Monday, October 9, 2006

This course will delve more into the program and reveal some lesser known and, sometimes nearly hidden, powerful commands inAutoCAD.

Level: Beginner Instructor: Kenneth Leary

November 2006 CoursesATP155 LDT Line and Curve Labels and Tables

Start Date: Monday, November 6, 2006We will go through how to customize and create the line and curve labels used and also the line and curve data tables

Level: Intermediate Instructor: Ammon Nelson

ATP156 From the Inside Looking OutStart Date: Monday, November 6, 2006

Tackling common problems when working with files created by other companies.Level: Intermediate Instructor: Melanie Perry

ATP157 Think 3D with AutoCAD


8 of 8

Start Date: Monday, November 6, 2006An open invitation for taking a safe dive into 3D uncharted water. I wish to invite those who are still sitting on the bank of 2D and

happily.... unhappy with the depth of 3D water.Level: Intermediate Instructor: Mohmed Zuber Shaikh

ATP159 ADT 2007 Walls, Doors and Windows Close upStart Date: Monday, November 6, 2006

This ADT tutorial is made up of hard copy handouts and video media. In this 3 part series we will cover Walls, Doors and Windowsin great detail.

Level: Intermediate Instructor: Daryl Gregoire

ATP162 Using the Display Manager to camouflages your drawings.Start Date: Monday, November 6, 2006

By understanding how the Display Manager works. It will help you to camouflage your drawings in many appearances...Level: Beginner Instructor: Brad Crouse

ATP165 How to access and use Accurender materials for rendering inside of RevitStart Date: Monday, November 6, 2006

How to make and assign materials in Accurender for use in RevitLevel: All Levels Instructor: s south

ATP168 AutoCAD 103 – From Surviving to Excelling at AutoCADStart Date: Monday, November 6, 2006

This course will teach you some of the tools you don’t usually learn in school, help you avoid the common mistakes most peoplemake, and get you up to speed and working like a pro faster than you thought possible.

Level: Beginner Instructor: Kenneth Leary

Some CAD Funnies

A MATTER OF INTERPRETATIONWhen I take a long time, I am slow When my boss takes a long time, he is thorough.When I don't do it, I am lazy When my boss doesn't do it, he is too busy.When I do something without being told, I am trying to be smart

When my boss does the same, that is initiative.When I please my boss, I'm a butt-kisser When my boss pleases his boss, he's co-operating.When I do good, my boss never remembers When I do wrong, he never forgets.

In the high school gym, all the girls in the class were lined up against one wall, and all the boys against the opposite wall.Then, every ten seconds, they walked toward each other until they were half the previous distance apart. Amathematician, a physicist, and an engineer were asked, "When will the girls and boys meet?"The mathematician said: "Never."The physicist said: "In an infinite amount of time."The engineer said: "Well... in about two minutes, they'll be close enough for all practical purposes."

A firm recently hired several cannibals "You are all part of our team now," said the Human Resources rep during thewelcome briefing. "You get all of the usual benefits and you can go to the cafeteria for something to eat, but please do noteat any of the other employees." The cannibals promised that they would not.Four weeks later, their boss remarked, "You're all working very hard and I'm very satisfied with you. However, one of ourdrafters staff has disappeared. Do any of you know what happened?" The cannibals all shook their heads "no".After the boss left, the leader of the cannibals said to the others, "Which one of you idiots ate the CAD Tech?!?!"A hand rose hesitantly, to which the leader of the cannibals shouted, "You fool!!! For four weeks we've been eatingmanagers and no one noticed anything! But you had to go and eat someone important!"