Lynn Allen's Blog

An AutoCAD Hip Tip on Speeding up the Break Command

2012 is off and running and so is Autodesk!  So many exciting things going on - I think 2012 is going to be a great year.

I thought I'd kick off the weekend with a handy AutoCAD tip!

An AutoCAD Hip Tip on the Break Command

We often use the BREAK command to karate chop an object (break it in the same spot twice). The AutoCAD ribbon takes an extra step to do this (and we hate extra steps - don't we?). Check out my video that shows you the super speedy means of doing this as well as how to add this handy tool to the ribbon!

Note:  If you have your OSNAPS on - you could get a gap.  Be sure to turn your OSNAPS off to get this to work properly! (should have mentioned this in the video)

This tool allows you to select the object to break at the exact location you also want to break it at  - saving you an extra step (and those extra steps all add up - don't they?).

So go ahead and try it - and kill two birds with one stone.  (come to think of it - that is really a terrible phrase!  Poor birds!).

Enjoy your weekend...

 

An AutoCAD Hip Tip on a Secret Dimensioning Command

The temperature has been in the 60's here in Northern California and my roses don't know whether they should be blooming or going to sleep.  Our goats just love the rosebuds (caviar for a goat!) so I'm not complaining...and incidentally - either are the goats! 

A Top Secret AutoCAD Dimensioning Command

Nearly all designs need dimensions in their final drawings - so I have a top secret dimensioning command to share with you.  It's no longer on the ribbon - so you just might not know about it!

How would you get the dimension shown below?

Dimaligned?  If you used Dimaligned you'd probably end up with part of the second extension line lying on top of the far right edge of the part. Then you'd have to edit that extension line...

You just want to dimension the length of this part that happens to lie at an angle - that's where DIMROTATED can really help you out.  DIMROTATED let's you select the angle for the dimension line first - and then you cna choose where the two extension lines should go - it's a fabulous command!  Check out the video below and I'll show you exactly how it works.

Why it fell out of favor with the AutoCAD Ribbon gods - I'll never know!  Check it out - it might just save you some time the next time you're faced with the dreaded task of dimensioning!

Recording your own Technical Demos

My work days in 2012, so far, have been filled with recording various technical videos.  When you spend so much time making videos - you become either friends or enemies with your recording software!  Though the relationship was a bit tumultuous at first - we've fast become good friends (inseparable actually). Sure there are the occasional fights (with the software usually winning while I cower in defeat).  But all in all - I stand by my recording software - Camtasia by Techsmith.

No I don't get anything for promoting Camtasia...I just thought I'd offer up a shout out to my good software buddy of four years now - especially after all we've been through!  I am constantly asked what software I use to create my videos - so now you know.

Why should YOU record technical videos?

I record videos to share technical tips with the world (primarily on AutoCAD).  Why would you want to record videos?  Have you ever been asked the same technical question multiple times?  Do you find yourself showing the same techniques to your coworkers over and over again?  I believe that if you find yourself demoing the same technical process more than 3 times- it's time to put it in a video!  Record it once - share it forever.  That is MUCH better than spending your time demoing the same technique over and over.  Besides - you have much better things to do!

If you're a CAD manager - I think video recordings are a must (if for no other reason than to maintain sanity!).  Are you rolling out a new standard or new process?  Maybe you've loaded the latest release of a software product and want to offer up some helpful hints.  Maybe you find your users have some bad habits you want to try to correct - or maybe you just want to make your coworker's life a little easier by sharing some helpful hints.  All the above are a reason to create technical videos.

Besides - if you start creating technical videos for your team - you'll look like a star!  You might just discover you have amazing technical insight to share.  Maybe you'll become a Technical Evangelist too!

Now I won't lie to you - you'll need to be patient as you learn to fully use the recording software.  The key to software like Camtasia is in the editing - not just the recording.  I can actually edit out the ums and mistakes where needed.  I can goof and pick right back up where I left off (and believe me - there is plenty of goofing that occurs).  I can edit out the barking from my white, fluffy, dog - or the occasional curse word that occurs when the software misbehaves.  Oh if you only knew what went on behind those videos!

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and give it a try!  You can download Camtasia for free for 30 days (that's what I did at first).  So what have you got to lose?  This might just launch you up the ladder at work - now wouldn't that be nice?

 

 

A Happy New Year Tip on Translating Layers in AutoCAD

Happy New Year everyone!  As Autodesk is kind enough to give us a week off during the holidays - it seems to be taking some time for me to get ramped back up and running!  I didn't go anywhere during the holidays - I just stayed home and enjoyed some family time.  I hope that all of you had a nice holiday season and are ready for 2012!

A Happy New Year Tip on Translating Layers

Most of us have to abide by some type of standard in our AutoCAD drawings, and those standards nearly always involve layers.  If you've ever needed to change a vast number of layer names or properties in your AutoCAD drawings you know how time consuming it can be!  Many releases ago the LAYTRANS command was added into AutoCAD - but I find that so few people really know about it.

Before executing LAYTRANS - you'll need to have a drawing with the correct layers and layer properties.  You will be mapping the layers in the current drawing to this drawing.

LAYTRANS can be found on the Manage tab of the ribbon (Layer Translator)

The layers from your current drawing will appear on the left side of the Layer Translator dialog.

Pick "Load" and select the drawing file with the correct layers - those layers will load into the dialog as seen below.

now you simply map the layers in your current drawing to the layers in the drawing with the correct layers and properties.  The results of the Mappings will appear in the dialog. When all the layers are mapped a simple Translate will make quick work of the changes.

If you have several drawings with the same mapping - you'll want to Save this file in the dialog (it will create a .DWS file).  Then the next time you enter LAYTRANS you will Load up the DWS file and the mapping will happen instantly (hoorah!).

Using LAYTRANS is much easier than making the changes manually in the Layer dialog box.  Give it a try - it might just save you so much time you can go home early!  (alright...that rarely happens).

Happy New Year!