Lynn Allen's Blog

The AutoCAD Express Tools

Everyone knows that the Express Tools are still the greatest feature in AutoCAD. These fabulous commands written by programmers who used AutoCAD themselves for many years before turning to programming (and it shows) can exponentially increase your productivity.  Take away my Express Tools and there's certain to be a river of tears to follow!

AutoCAD 2004 brought back nearly 100 Express Tools (that alone was worth the price of the upgrade).  Both AutoCAD 2004 and 2005 had the Express Tools as a separate install that you could easily miss if you weren't paying attention (let's face it - we just hit enter enter enter whenever we install a program - right?).  AutoCAD 2006 asks you if you want to load the Express Tools during the installation process,  making it much easier to ensure more people are able to take advantage of these fabulous productivity boosters.

That said...I've received many emails from AutoCAD 2006 users who installed the Express Tools...but can't see the menus.  If you find yourself in this position, simply key in the command EXPRESSMENU.  The Express Tool pull-down menu and toolbars will magically appear!

If you haven't taken advantage of the Express Tools, and you have AutoCAD 2004 or higher - definitely take a look ...you'll wonder how you ever survived without them!  Sadly the ETs don't work on AutoCAD LT...  (LT means no ET). 

In Lynn's Perfect World, the originally Express Tool programmers would be brought back together so they could pick up where they left off - creating more fabulous Express Tools for us all to enjoy for many years to come...nothing would make me happier (well that's a bit of a stretch).   The Express Tool fan club continues, many years after the Express Tool team was disbanded.. I doubt it's going to happen - but hey - Loggins and Messina just got back together after 20 years - so who knows!

Should we start a petition?  : )

On my way to Milwaukee...

If it's Monday, I must be on my way to Milwaukee!  Tomorrow I'll be speaking at the fabulous annual Winning Through Change event (courtesy of Mastergraphics) in Wisconsin.  I think it's been about 8 years (maybe 9) that I've been making my annual trek to the land of Cheese heads...and I wouldn't miss it for the world! 

Watched the Tony's last night...I have to admit to being a bit of a theatre fanatic.  Next week while in NYC I'm hoping to take in a play (if there's time)...of course I'd do just about anything to see Spamalot!  (any of you have tickets laying around you don't know what to do with?) ...I didn't think so.  : (

Wisconsin here I come!

AutoCAD 2006 Tips and Tricks Booklet!

Well I'm back on the road again with the Realize Your Ideas Tour (slightly tanner from vacation).  Yesterday was San Francisco...today we are in Orange County (or the OC to you TV aficionados).  I grew up in So. California - and we never referred to Orange County as the OC - I am convinced that must be Hollywood's doing.  It's great being back in my old stomping grounds, seeing old friends and colleagues.  I used to teach at an Autodesk Training Center for many, many years just down the street from this hotel! I wonder if any of my old students are in the audience today? I'm shocked at how much the neighborhood has changed in 10 years - I can barely tell it's the same neighborhood.  I was bragging about how well I know the neighborhood last night and was quickly humbled when I promptly got lost!  (that's what you get for bragging).

I promised a tab a week on my new AutoCAD Tips and Tricks booklet - so here's the first half of tab 2 on Palettes.