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Chapter 14: Utility Commands

Chapter 14: Utility Commands. After completing this Chapter, you will be able to use the following features (cont’d on the next slide) :. Create, customize, and use tool palettes Partial Load drawings Manage drawing properties QuickCalc Manage named objects Command Modifier - Multiples

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Chapter 14: Utility Commands

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  1. Chapter 14: Utility Commands

  2. After completing this Chapter, you will be able to use the followingfeatures (cont’d on the next slide) : • Create, customize, and use tool palettes • Partial Load drawings • Manage drawing properties • QuickCalc • Manage named objects • Command Modifier - Multiples • Utility display commands • Changing The Display Order Of Objects • Object Properties • Use X,Y,Z filters • Set up a drawing by means of the MVSETUP utility

  3. After completing this Chapter, you will be able to use the followingfeatures (cont’d from previous slide) : • Use the Layer Translator • Use the TIME and AUDIT commands • Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) • Passwords, Encryption, Digital Signature • Customize AutoCAD settings • Export and Import data • Working with CAD Standards • Action Recorder • Working with Slides and Scripts • Set up and use workspaces

  4. Tool Palettes Tool palettes are created to make it quicker and easier to insert blocks, draw hatch patterns and implement custom tools developed by a third party. Tool palettes are separate tabbed areas within the Tool Palettes window. This allows blocks and hatch patterns of similar usage and type to be grouped in their own tool palette. The TOOLPALETTES command causes the Tool Palettes window to be displayed.

  5. The default position for the Tool Palettes window is docked on the right side of the screen. Double-clicking causes the Tool Palettes window to become undocked and to float in the drawing area.

  6. Shortcut menu in the Tool Palettes window tab.

  7. Shortcut menu in the Tool Palettes window with the selection of the element.

  8. Shortcut menu in an open area Tool Palettes window.

  9. The Customize dialog box lets you manage the palettes and groups of palettes shown in the Tool Palettes window.

  10. Shortcut menu in the title bar of the Tool Palettes window

  11. The Tool Properties dialog box for block/drawing tools

  12. The Tool Properties dialog box for pattern tools

  13. Creating tool palette from DesignCenter

  14. Partial Load The PARTIAL LOAD command allows to work with just part of a drawing by loading geometry only from named objects. Named objects include blocks, layers, dimension styles, linetypes, layouts, text styles, viewport configurations, UCSs, and views. With the PARTIAL LOAD command you can load additional information into the current drawing as long as the drawing is partially open.

  15. Partial Load dialog box

  16. Drawing Properties Drawing Properties allows to keep track of the drawings by having properties assigned to them. The properties that are assigned will identify the drawing by its title, author, subject, and keywords for the model or other data. Hyperlink addresses or paths can be stored along with ten custom properties. You can use the Search feature to locate the drawings by using one or more assigned properties.

  17. The General tab in the Drawing Properties dialog box displays the drawing type, location, size, and other information. These come from the operating system. These fields are read-only.

  18. The Summary tab in the Drawing Properties dialog box lets you specify title, subject, author, keywords, comments, and a hyperlink base for the drawing. Keywords for drawings sharing a common property will help in search.

  19. The Statistics tab in the Drawing Properties dialog box displays information such as the dates files were created and last modified. You can use Search feature for files created at a certain date and time.

  20. The Custom tab in the Drawing properties lets you specify up to ten custom properties. Enter the names of the custom fields in the left column, and the value for each custom field in the right column.

  21. QuickCalc AutoCAD provides an “on demand” calculator with a full range of mathematical, scientific, and geometric calculations, which can be used to create and use variables and convert units of measurement. This QuickCalc calculator includes shortcut functions that are found in the Geometric Calculator but are more easily accessed in QuickCalc.

  22. The QuickCalc Palette

  23. Managing Named Objects The RENAME command allows to rename blocks, dimension styles, layers, linetypes, text styles, views, User Coordinate Systems, or viewport configurations.

  24. Deleting Unused Named Objects The PURGE command is used to selectively delete any unused named objects.

  25. Command Modifier - Multiples MULTIPLE is not a command, but when used with another AutoCAD command, it causes automatic recalling of that command when it is completed. You must press ESC to terminate this repeating process. You can use the MULTIPLE command modifier with any of the draw, modify, and inquiry commands. PLOT, however, will ignore the MULTIPLE command modifier.

  26. Utility Display Commands AutoCAD provides the following Utility display commands to enhance the performance of the drawing. • Saving View • Controlling the Regeneration • Controlling the Drawing of Objects • Controlling the Display of Marker Blips

  27. Saving View The VIEW command allows to give a name to the display in the current viewport and have it saved as a view. You can recall a view later by using the VIEW command and responding with the name of the view desired. This is useful for moving back quickly to needed areas in the drawing without having to resort to zoom and pan.

  28. View Manager and New View/Short Properties dialog boxes

  29. Controlling the Regeneration The REGENAUTO command controls automatic regeneration. When the REGENAUTO is set to ON, AutoCAD drawings regenerate automatically. When it is set to OFF, then you may have to regenerate the drawing manually to see the current status of the drawing. When you set REGENAUTO to OFF, what you see on the screen may not always represent the current state of the drawing.

  30. Controlling the Drawing of Objects The DRAGMODE command controls the way dragged objects are displayed. Certain draw and modify commands display highlighted dynamic (cursor-following) representations of the objects being drawn or edited. This can slow down the drawing process if the objects are very complex. Setting DRAGMODE to OFF turns off dragging. When DRAGMODE is set to OFF, all calls for dragging are ignored. Setting DRAGMODE to ON allows dragging by use of the DRAG command modifier. Setting DRAGMODE to Auto (default) causes dragging wherever possible.

  31. Controlling the Display of Marker Blips The BLIPMODE command controls the display of marker blips. When BLIPMODE is set to ON, a small cross mark is displayed when points on the screen are specified with the cursor or by entering their coordinates. They have no effect other than visual reference and can be removed at any time by using the REDRAW, REGEN, ZOOM, or PAN commands. Any other command requiring regeneration causes the blips to be removed.When BLIPMODE is set to OFF, the blips marks are not displaced.

  32. Changing The Display Order Of Objects The DRAWORDER command allows you to change the display order of objects as well as images. This will ensure proper display and plotting output when two or more objects overlay one another.For instance, when a raster image is attached over an existing object, AutoCAD obscures them from view. With the help of the DRAWORDER command you can display the existing object over the raster image.

  33. Object Properties There are three important properties that control the appearance of objects: color, linetype, and lineweight. You can specify the color, linetype, and lineweight for the objects to be drawn with the help of the LAYER command or you can assign the properties by invoking the appropriate command: • Color • Linetype • Lineweight • Transparency

  34. Color COLOR command allows you to specify a color for the objects to be drawn, separate from the layer color.

  35. AutoCAD displays the Select Color dialog box. The color may be entered as a standard name or by the number code (1 through 255). Or you can respond with BYLAYER or BYBLOCK . BYLAYER (default) causes the objects drawn to assume the color of the layer on which it is drawn. BYBLOCK causes objects to be drawn in white until selected for inclusion in a block definition. Subsequent insertion of a block that contains objects drawn under the BYBLOCK option causes those objects to assume the color of the current setting of the COLOR command. In addition you can also choose true from True Color tab and colors of actual materials from Color Books tab.

  36. Linetype LINETYPE command allows to load linetype definitions from a linetype library file (default ACAD.LIN), make a linetype current, or modify linetype scales.A linetype must exist in a library file and be loaded before you can apply it to an object or layer.

  37. Linetype Manager dialog box.

  38. AutoCAD lists the available linetypes for the current drawing and displays the current linetype (default is ByLayer) setting next to the Current: button. To change the current linetype setting, select the appropriate linetype from the Linetype list box and select the Current: button. To load a linetype explicitly into your drawing, choose the Load button and select the linetype from Load or Reload linetypes dialog box.

  39. Lineweight The LINEWEIGHT command allows you to specify a lineweight for the objects to be drawn, separate from the assigned lineweight for the layer.

  40. Lineweight Settings dialog box.

  41. Transparency The Transparency option of the Properties panel in the Home tab allows you to control the transparency level of objects and layers. Transparency can be set to ByLayer, ByBlock, or to a specified value.

  42. X, Y, and Z filters The AutoCAD filter feature allows to establish a 2D point by specifying the individual (X and Y) coordinates one at a time in separate steps. In the case of a 3D point you can specify the individual (X, Y, and Z) coordinates in three steps. Or you can specify one of the three coordinate values in one step and a point in another step, from which AutoCAD extracts the other two coordinate values for use in the point being established. The filter feature is used when being prompted to establish a point, as in the starting point of a line, the center of a circle, drawing a node with the POINT command, or specifying a base point or second point in displacement for the MOVE or COPY command, to mention just a few.

  43. Setting up a Drawing The MVSETUP command is used to control and set up the view(s) of a drawing, including the choice of standard plotted sheet sizes with a border, the scale for plotting on the selected sheet size, and multiple viewports. MVSETUP can be customized to insert any type of border and title block. Options and associated prompts depend on whether the TILEMODE system variable is set to ON (1) or OFF (0). When TILEMODE is set to ON, Tiled Viewports is enabled. When TILEMODE is set to OFF, the Floating Viewports menu item is enabled. Other paper space–related drawing setup options are available.

  44. Layer Translator The Layer Translator is used to make selected layers in the current drawing match layers in another drawing or in a CAD standards file.

  45. Time Command The TIME command displays the current time and date related to your current drawing session. In addition, you can find out how long you have been working in AutoCAD.The command uses the clock in your computer to keep track of the time functions and displays to the nearest millisecond using 24-hour military format.

  46. Audit Command The AUDIT command serves as a diagnostic tool to correct any errors or defects in the database of the current drawing. AutoCAD generates an extensive report of the problems, and for every error detected AutoCAD recommends an action to correct it.

  47. Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) Object linking and embedding (OLE) is a Windows feature that combines data from different applications into one document. To use OLE, you need both server and container applications that support OLE.A source application is called the server and creates the OLE objects that you embed or link. A destination application is called the container and accepts those OLE objects. AutoCAD supports OLE as both a server (source) and a container (destination) application. The relationship between embedding and linking is similar to that between inserting a block and creating an external reference in AutoCAD respectively.

  48. An embedded OLE object is a copy of information from another document. When you embed objects, there is no link to the original document and any changes made to the original document are not reflected in other (container) documents. A linked object is a reference to information in another document. Link objects when you want to use the same information in more than one document. Then, if you change the original information, you need to update only the links in order to update the document containing the OLE objects. You can also set links to be updated automatically.

  49. COPYLINK command copies the current view to the Clipboard. You can paste the contents of the Clipboard into a document as an OLE object.

  50. INSERTOBJ command inserts a linked or embedded object into an AutoCAD drawing.

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