Lynn Allen's Blog

AutoCAD Quick Tip - Deleting Stubborn Layers

What a beautiful weekend we had in California - and it's been so nice spending a little time at home this summer!  I'm hanging out in my room with my cat by my side after enjoying a nice afternoon brunch in the wine country.  So what better way to end the day but to throw another quick tip your way?

We all know what it's like to have that pesky layer that refuses to purge.  We turn off all the other layers and zoom around trying to find something on the militant layer but alas there is nothing to be found!  So why won't it let you delete it?  There are many possible reasons.

The brilliant Bill Fane once sent me an email with an entire page full of possible reasons why a layer won't delete.  It could be that the layer is referenced in a block definition, used for dimensioning at one time, or something as frustrating as someone placed a text string comprised of just a "space" on the layer (hopefully I didn't give anyone any ideas there!).  I don't suppose we really care why the layer won't delete - we just want to remove it from our CAD life!  So here is the magical solution:

The awesome Express Tool LAYDEL will come to your rescue.  Of course you've installed the Express Tools - you'll find Delete Layer under the Layer sub-menu of the Express Tools.  This command does not care what is on the layer - it is happy to vanish it into oblivion.  Even if that layer is referenced in a block definition, LAYDEL is smart enough to open that block definition, remove the layer from the block, and then delete the layer - now that is power!  But remember...where there is power - there is Danger!  So be careful what you ask for...Since the layer doesn't have to be empty to be removed with LAYDEL - your drawing could definitely incur some damage if you aren't paying attention.

So there's your Quick Tip - Don't forget you can all sign up for Autodesk University on Tuesday - get your credit cards ready!  The Early Bird gets the best classes...for sure!  (a little California speak for you there)

Are You Ready for Autodesk University?

Autodesk University (AU) Registration is right around the corner...don't miss your opportunity to sign up for the best classes before they fill up!  If you're an AUGI member or on the Autodesk Subscription program you can already sign up...

Ready, Set, Go...I hope to see you there in Orlando!

Take a look:  Autodesk University

Have a wonderful weekend!

More AutoCAD Setvar Tips to Increase your Productivity!

I'm on my way to Chicago for a couple days of meetings where I'll get to talk briefly about User Groups (one of my favorite topics!).  Just watched "Monster-In-Law" on the plane which was good enough to pass the time and thought I'd finish off the flight by sharing some more AutoCAD system variables with you.  Thanks so much for all the positive feedback on my movie reviews - I'm sure the San Francisco Chronicle will be calling me soon to add me to their entertainment staff!  LOL!

Fine tuning the system variables in AutoCAD can make a world of difference to your productivity.  You'll want to make sure you set them up precisely to your liking.  And after you've set your system variables up just right - be sure to save them out to a file in case you need to reinstall AutoCAD, or you accidentally do something that resets them (or perhaps someone else does that for you!).

You can save your system variables out to a file by using the Express Tool: SYSVDLG.  This can be found in the Express Menu under Tools=>System Variable Editor

So here are a few more to add to my many days of system variable offerings (are you keeping track?):

UCSFOLLOW:  You 3D users may have discovered that your view automatically updated to reflect the new plan view whenever you change your UCS in AutoCAD 2005 and AutoCAD 2006. Surprise!  If this new setting is not to your liking simply turn UCSFOLLOW to off.

TBCUSTOMIZE:  Turns off the ability to customize toolbars and tool palettes should you not want your users to have access (not exactly rocket science to see that you can simply turn it back on so I wouldn't count on this as your main deterrent)

SIGWARN:  If you use digital signatures on your drawings and are tired of seeing the warning appear letting you know there is a digital signature attached to the drawing you can disable it with SIGWARN

SNAPBASE:  The best use for SNAPBASE is controlling the origin point for your cross-hatching in releases prior to AutoCAD 2006.  Simply set the SNAPBASE to the location where you'd like your hatching to begin.  AutoCAD 2006 added in a option to the BHATCH command that let's you easily control the origin for hatch patterns so you AutoCAD 2006 users can ignore this one!

Well that's just a few - will add more later!  Try to stay out of the heat...