Chapter 13: AutoCAD DesignCenter

After completing this Chapter, you will be able to use the following:

•Overview of DesignCenter•Container, Content Type and Content•Working with DesignCenter•Viewing Content•Adding Content to Drawings•Opening drawings from DesignCenter•Content Explorer, Content Service and Seek

What is AutoCAD DesignCenter?

AutoCAD DesignCenter is a specialized window that allows to manage content within your drawing.

Content includes blocks, external references, layers, raster images, linetypes, layouts, text styles, and dimension styles.

Content can be managed between currently open drawing and other sources such as other drawings, whether currently open, stored on any drive, or even elsewhere on a network or somewhere on the Internet.

Contents can be dragged and dropped into current drawing. In addition, you can create shortcuts to drawings, folders, and Internet locations that you access frequently.

Container, Content Type and Content

Container can be a drawing file or a folder that contains files. The primary container is a drawing that contains blocks, images, linetypes, and other definitions that are most commonly sought to add to your current drawing. Drawings, its contents, and images can be dragged and dropped into your current drawing from the Palette. So, a drawing can be both content and a container.

Content types are types or categories such as Blocks, Layers, Xrefs, etc. and not the items themselves.

Content includes block definitions, external references, layer names and compositions, raster images, linetypes, layouts, text styles, dimension styles, and custom content created by third-party applications.

DesignCenter Window

Opening the DesignCenter Window

The AutoCAD DesignCenter is a window rather than a dialog box. It is like calling up a special program that runs along with AutoCAD and expedites file managing and drawing content handling tasks.

Working with the DesignCenter Window

The DesignCenter consists of five major areas: Toolbar, Tree View Pane, Content Area, Preview pane, and Description pane.

The DesignCenter consists of five major areas: Toolbar, Tree View pane, Content Area, Preview pane, and Description pane.

Toolbar contains buttons designed especially to help you select and manage the type of content desired within the DesignCenter window.

Tree View or navigation pane is an optional area on the left side of the DesignCenter window for displaying files such as drawings and images and their paths. The Tree View also displays content types and displays multiple levels and operates in a manner similar to the Windows Explorer.

Content Area or content pane is AutoCAD DesignCenter’s primary area for displaying the names and icons representing content.

Preview pane displays a raster image in the Preview pane of the selected item of content if the item is a drawing, block, or image.

Description pane displays description of the selected item of content selected in the description pane if there is one available.

Managing DesignCenter

The buttons on the toolbar are used to manage the DesignCenter panes and what is being displayed in them.

Viewing Content

The names of content type, such as blocks, linetypes, linestyles, and so on, and containers such as drawings, image files, folders, drives, networks, and Internet locations, can be viewed in the Tree view as well as Content Area.

Names of content can be viewed in the Content Area but not in the Tree View pane.

Either pane can be used to move up and down through the path from the drive to the item of content. It is usually quicker to navigate the path in the Tree View because of its ability to display multiple levels of hierarchy.

When the container appears in the Tree View, select it and then view the name of the items of content (if any) in the content area.

Selection of a block named Pipe Support and the corresponding preview image and description are shown in the Preview pane and in the Description pane.

Viewing Images

If the item of content is a bitmap image, its name is displayed in the Content Area by selecting the name of its container in the Tree View. The preview of the image and description are displayed in the preview pane and description pane respectively.

DC Online

The DC Online tab of the DesignCenter window, when selected, causes AutoCAD to log on to the DesignCenter Online on the Internet, provided that your computer isconnected to the Internet.

Autodesk Seek Design Content

Autodesk Seek is a Web service that allows designers, architects, engineers, and students to search and find manufacturer-specific or generic building products and associated design content. This content could include 3D models, 2D drawings, and specifications..

Adding Content to Drawings

Layers, Linetypes, Text Styles and Dimensions Styles can be dragged into the current drawing from the Content Area. It will become part of the current drawing as though it had been created in that drawing.

A block definition can be inserted into the current drawing by dragging its icon from the Content Area into the drawing area. You cannot, however, do this while a command is active. Only one block definition at a time can be inserted from the Content Area.

There are two methods of inserting blocks from the AutoCAD DesignCenter: Autoscaling (scales the block reference as needed based on the comparison of the units in the source drawing to the units in the target drawing) and using Insert dialog box to insert block.

To insert the Block definition by Autoscaling, drag the block definition from the Content Area into your drawing, and release the button on the pointing device (drop) when the block is at the desired location.. The block will be inserted with the default scale and rotation.

To invoke the Insert dialog box, right-click the block definition in the Content Area and then select Insert Block from the shortcut menu. From the Insert dialog box, specify the Insertion Point, Scale, and Rotation, or select Specify On-Screen.

You can also drag and drop from the Content Area to tool palette.

A raster image such as a digital photo, print screen capture saved in a paint program as a bitmap, or a company logo can be copied into the current drawing by dragging its icon from the Content Area into the drawing area.

To attach an xref to the current drawing, drag its icon from the Content Area by holding right button on the pointing device into the drawing area. Then release the button and select Attach from the shortcut menu. The Attach Xref dialog box is displayed, from which choose the appropriate settings.

Opening Drawings

To open a drawing being displayed in the Content Area, right-click on its icon and choose Open In Window from the shortcut menu.

You can also drag and drop the icon in the drawing area. Be sure to drop the icon in an area that is clear of another drawing. If necessary, resize or minimize any open drawing(s)..

Exiting AutoCAD DesignCenter

You can exit AutoCAD DesignCenter by either selecting the X in the upper right corner of the DesignCenter Window or entering adcclose at the AutoCAD On-screen prompt.

CONTENT EXPLORER, CONTENT SERVICE AND SEEK

Content Explorer collects and makes available for access the design content from different folders that have been called out to be watched by the Content Service. Content Service accompanies the Content Explorer search client installed with AutoCAD.