SubscribeCadalyst just released another of my Quick Tip Videos. on Tracking. I find that so few people even know about this extremely powerful feature which has been in AutoCAD for so many releases. I strongly suggest watching the video to really get the gist of it but I'll cover it here as well. A few weeks ago I wrote about using Tracking to update your dimensions - but you can use it at any time on any type of object.
An AutoCAD Hip Tip on Tracking:
Let's say you wanted to insert a block of a sink 2'6" to the right of an existing corner. How would you do it? Would you insert it at the corner and then move it? Would you draw a construction point of some type? Tracking makes it very easy. We know we want the sink to be inserted relative to a specific corner - so we'll use that as our tracking point.
Enter the INSERT command and select the Sink block. When prompted for an insertion point you're going to turn Tracking ON by keying in the letters TK. Then select the tracking point you want to work from (which would be the corner). Then simply move your cursor to the right (direct distance) and key in the distance of 2'6".
The sequence looks like this:
Command: INSERT
(Select the Sink Block from the dialog)
Specify insertion point or [Basepoint/Scale/Rotate]: TK
First tracking point:
Next point (Press ENTER to end tracking): 2'6
Next point (Press ENTER to end tracking): (hit enter)
And Presto! Your sink block is now in the correct location! Be sure to watch the Cadalyst video for more tracking tips!