Lynn Allen's Blog

AutoCAD Tip to Open Large Drawings Quickly!

Friday at last...it's been a very busy week at work after a month out of the office.  I leave for Europe on Monday  (didn't I just get used to this time zone?) so I can't promise a new Hip Tip every day but I'll do my best!

Friday's AutoCAD Hip Tip:

If you've ever needed to open a very large drawing to make a quick edit you know the pain of waiting endlessly for your drawing file to open (even 15 seconds can seem like forever when you're waiting).  So here's a tip - if you don't need to see all of the geometry in your drawing - you can perform a Partial Open.  By selecting only those layers you need for your quick edit you can be in and out in no time!

Most of us blast right through the Open dialog - so we wouldn't even notice the drop-down list to the right of the Open button as seen below.

 

If you select Partial Open, you can quickly choose just the needed layers to load, or even a saved view as seen in the dialog box below:

If you select a previously saved view to load (rather than selecting by layers) AutoCAD will load only the geometry and layers that are relevant to the selected view.  Any previously saved views will display in the upper left corner under "View Geometry to load".  (this particular drawing has one saved view called "Dining Room") 

Note:  All named objects such as inserted blocks and dimension styles will be loaded regardless.

If you have multiple Xrefs in the drawing slowing you down you can very quickly select "Load All" to select all the layers and then select "Unload all Xrefs on open"...this will only load the base geometry.  This can be a tremendous time saver!

If you find that you missed some crucial geometry - you can always add as you go with the PARTIALOAD command.  This gives you a second chance to grab any additional geometry you might need.

Give Partial Load a try for super speedy file editing in large drawings!  Enjoy your Hip Tip and your weekend!

Bringing DWF files into AutoCAD

For starters, I hope you are familiar with the world of DWF.  If you're still publishing your AutoCAD drawing files to PDF you really need to take a look at the smarter, smaller and faster DWF filetype.  You can create a DWF out of anything that runs on Windows (even from those "other" CAD systems).  And DWF is vector-based (just like your CAD drawings) vs. PDF which is raster based.  That means your files will be more accurate, faster (and so much smaller!) - for more info see on PDF vs. DWF see DWF vs PDF

Most Autodesk products have the ability to create DWF files built right into it, but if you'd like to create a DWF out of something that isn't Autodesk based - download the free writer at: Autodesk DWF Writer.  And if someone sends you a DWF file and you want to view it, simply download the free viewer at: Autodesk DWF Viewer  (free, free, free - we all love free!).

AutoCAD Hip Tip:

so...I'm often asked why we can't insert a DWF file into AutoCAD - and that's a very good question!  While you can't insert a DWF and have AutoCAD recognize it as a DWF, you can definitely get the information into AutoCAD as an OLE object so all is not lost.  I'm sure the Autodesk powers-that-be are working on the former but here's a fix for now:

While in the DWF viewer:

Right click on the DWF, and select Copy Drawing:  You can also select this from the Edit pull-down menu.  If you are selecting a 3D DWF you'll select Copy Image from the Edit pull-down menu.

Simply go into AutoCAD, Right Click and select Paste.  That should do it!  If you highlight it and check the Properties you'll see that it's an OLE object. 

So give that Hip Tip a try!

Hip Tip on AutoCAD

So my first tip is to sign up for Autodesk University before the price goes up!  Our sign-ups have sky-rocketed this year and I'm guessing it won't be long before we run out of room so run to your manager and get approval today!  Here is your opportunity to pick from over 375 courses taught by the industry's top authorities.  Fine-tune your skills, fill in the holes of product knowledge (we all have a few) by attending the best classes on the planet!  Sign up today at Autodesk University 2005.  I look forward to seeing you there!

So here is your AutoCAD Hip Tip (Do you like the new catchy title?)

Extra Quick AutoCAD File Searches:

We all hate drilling down through directories searching for our files.  I wrestle with this all the time with Windows - I wish the feature I'm about to define existed there!

The File Open dialog box has a column on the left that is customizable.  It's super easy to place your frequently visited directories in this column for super fast access.  You can even delete the current directories listed if you don't like them!  The below figure shows you the shortcut menu that pops up when you right click in the far left column.

You can also drag and drop directories over to the column if that's easier for you.  I have my AutoCAD 2005 and AutoCAD 2006 drawing directories listed so it's easy to find my files when I am doing a presentation.  I never have to waste time wading through directories!

(Like I said - I wish Windows Explorer had this cool feature - and "no" Favorites doesn't cut it for me).

Free AutoCAD Webcasts of Tips Straight from Autodesk

Here's your chance to hear it straight from the horse's mouth!  Well in this case - the horse is the awesome Heidi Hewett (who is far from a horse).  Who do I go to when I can't figure out something in AutoCAD?  Heidi!  Which means you won't want to miss out on these great webcasts.  I know I'm a bit late posting this information - but clear your calendars today!  Heidi is the one who teaches us the new features in each new release of AutoCAD.

So here's the link: Free AutoCAD webcasts

Heidi will hold a training webcast on Dynamic Blocks, one on Tables, the new Customization User Interface, and more!  Be sure to sign up today (before it fills up).

So that's a marvelous tip for you - I'm off to sign up myself!

A Tip and some Pics from Singapore

After 18 hours of flying and 4 weeks on the road in Asia I am finally home! I had a wonderful trip and I was a little sad as I boarded the flight home.  But seeing my dogs again was fabulous!  So let's start with the AutoCAD Tip - and end with some pics from Singapore...

Multiple Insertion Points for a Block

Have you ever wished you could have more than one insertion point for a block?  Or have you taken this one step further and actually created separate blocks with different insertion points?  Yikes!  If so, you'll love this new feature they snuck into AutoCAD 2006. 

When you go into the Insert command you'll see a new option of Basepoint.  This allows you to select an insertion point of your choice for the block you're inserting.  Take a look:

Command: insert
Specify insertion point or [Basepoint/Scale/Rotate/PScale/PRotate]: b
Specify base point:

If you still aren't happy you can continue to key in a "b" until you get it right!

So onto some pics from Singapore...First a picture of Yours Truly during a press interview.  I met with two different journalists on Wednesday, Elaine Ng, of TODAY and Goh Tz'e Long, who writes for three different magazines.  Elaine thought I was about 10 years younger than I am which completely made my day (Thanks Elaine!). One article was focussed on blogging, and the other was focused on Manufacturing and 3D. 

A picture of the wonderful audience in Singapore.  This presentation was specifically for our Subscription customers, just another of the advantages of being on the Autodesk Subscription program.

James was a little shy of the microphone so I actually had to stand there and hold his arm up to make sure he was close enough to the mike for the audience to hear...it was hysterical!

My favorite discovery in Singapore?  The hand dryers in the Ladies Room.  These devices were awesome!  Dried my hands in seconds (not like those ones posted on the walls that take forever to work)...You simply slide your hands all the way in and presto!  Check this out...

Since it was the last night of my tour, Vincent Chia took me out to a delightful dinner by the famous Singaporean Lion fountain ("Singa" actually means lion).

 

Does it look like the water is going right through my head?  And last but not least - a final toast with Vincent...the end of a fabulous trip through Asia (we dined on the popular Pepper Crab)

 

A good time was certainly had by all...I hope to return again soon...

If it's Wednesday it must be Singapore!

The event in Malaysia was wonderful (the audience in Kuala Lumpur is always enthusiastic).  After 3 hours of AutoCAD Tips and Tricks I switched gears to Autodesk Inventor.  The crowd was so impressed with the advanced capabilities of Inventor they actually broke out into applause during the demonstration - wonderful!  (Did I mention I love presenting in Malaysia?).  Here is a picture of the wonderful attendees from yesterday:

and here's a picture of the great team that organized the Malaysian event. (and NO - that isn't Matthew McConaughy in the middle!)

Chung-Ngin (on the right end) is one of my favorite business traveling companions.  Last year we travelled all through India together and bless-her-heart she had to take me to the hospital last year when I got food poisoning...she took very good care of me...

I'm off and running...will post a tip tomorrow!

A Tip from Kuala Lumpur

It's a beautiful day in Malaysia (although it did rain VERY hard for a bit).  Today I had two press interviews to discuss the world of blogging.  Since I suspect they will be perusing my blog tonight as they write up their articles I thought it only appropriate to say "hello" to them.  So hello to Lee Chung Yen, who has promised to write a nice article about me for his Chinese magazine.  Of course, since I don't speak Chinese, it will be difficult for me to check up on that!  And another "hello" to my afternoon interviewers who interviewed me right by the beautiful Petronas Twin Towers of KL.  First to Oon Yeoh who suggested strongly that I permit comments in my blog (what do you think about that?  If I did would you all promise to be nice to me?) and Kashminder Singh who took many pictures of me (while I pretended not to notice).  All three of them also have personal blogs themselves which I find very interesting.  Apparently - every 3 minutes somewhere in the world a new blog is created.  Who knew?

So on to your promised tip...this one on customizing your tool palettes...(since I've been wrestling a bit with the new CUI preparing for my presentation tomorrow).

How to get toolbar buttons onto a tool palette (any release):

Right click on the tool palette and select "Customize".  Follow this up by dragging and dropping the desired toobar button to the tool palette.  If you have AutoCAD 2004 or 2005 you can also drag and drop any command from the Commands tab in the Customize dialog as seen below.  Do yourself a favor and scroll the left column down until it says "All commands" for a complete listing of all options.

How do I drag and drop a command from the command list to a palette in AutoCAD 2006?

Well that's a bit tougher in AutoCAD 2006...if the command you're after isn't already on a toolbar button you're going to have to do a little extra work.  You'll have to make a toolbar button out of the command first - and then drag and drop it to the palette as in earlier releases.  So that means you'll need to go into the CUI command and create a toolbar button with the desired command on it.  Exit the CUI (bummer that we can't just drag and drop directly from the new CUI to the tool palette).  Then right click on the palette and select Customize... just as you did in previous releases, followed by a drag and drop the tool from the toolbar to the tool palette.  Phew!

So there's a tip to start off your week...more to come...

If it's Sunday...it must be Kuala Lumpur!

I've left the wonderful country of Australia and have moved on to Malaysia.  Last year I had a marvelous time in KL, the people were so appreciative and responsive to my AutoCAD and Inventor presentations.  This year I am doing both again...first an AutoCAD Tips and Tricks presentation (3 hours worth!) and then an Autodesk Inventor presentation after lunch for those in the manufacturing industry.  It's been great fun planning which tips and tricks I intend to show.  I'll be sure to share some of those tips with you throughout the week - okay?

I'm certainly going to miss my travel companions from Australia.  Imagine traveling for over a week with someone - 24/7!  We became great comrades and I look forward to joining them again in the future.  Below is a pic from our last dinner together...I'll miss you Rod and Manoj!

One last "Whatever!" for you guys...  (an inside joke between the three of us...)

Will share a tip with you bright and early on Monday morning! 

A day in Sydney - and another AutoCAD Tip

We've been hitting a town a day here in Australia (it's a pretty tough schedule)...seen lots of airports and hotel rooms, not much of Australia!  Today's event was in the Sydney Olympic Park- a beautiful site. 

So I just have enough time for a quick AutoCAD tip today before I have to run and catch my next flight to Brisbane...

Letting the Command Prompt do the Searching for you:

Have you ever forgotten the name of an AutoCAD system variable?  What do you normally do - search through the list of system variables in help?  Or do you go into the SETVAR command and list them all out?  AutoCAD 2006 allows you to be extra lazy (something I definitely support whenever possible in AutoCAD).  Just key in the starting characters of the system variable (as much as you know) and then hit the tab key.  AutoCAD will cycle through all of the commands and system variables that start with those characters until you get to the one you want!  Gotta love it...

You can also use this just to save a few character strokes (don't want to burn off too many calories!).   I've got to run my flight is leaving!

Back in Australia (with another tip)

I'm back in Australia (Adelaide) and the Inventor tour continues!  My voice is getting back to normal and the audiences don't have to work nearly so hard to hear me...I was very sad about missing the start of NFL football this past weekend - so imagine my delight when I turned on the TV and found the Packers/Lions game!  I was absolutely thrilled...I was also able to catch some of the highlights of the other games. Mind you the game was playing at 6:00am Monday morning since I'm a day ahead of the US but that's fine with me!

So here is your AutoCAD tip for the day...

Changing your text to upper/lower case:

You get a drawing from someone else and they have entered all the text in the wrong case - what a drag!  There are two different means of changing your text to another case, depending on what type of text it is.  If your text is MTEXT, simply highlight the offending text, right click, and choose Change Case from the shortcut menu followed by a selection of upper or lower case.  As an added shortcut, you can also highlight the text and enter Ctrl+Shift+U for upper case, or Ctrl+Shift+L for lower case.

If your text is single-line - you can use the Express Tool TCASE to change it.  TCASE is much more powerful and gives you many more options (TCASE also works on MTEXT).  The figure below shows you the TCASE dialog and the many different options.

 

So there is another tip from Down Under!