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The Tutorials section provides over 100 original tutorials for AutoCAD, 3ds Max and other design applications such as Photoshop and Bryce. Michael’s Corner is a monthly article that brings you the best up-to-date AutoCAD tips and tricks. The Forums are a lively bulletin board where AutoCAD users can ask questions and get answers. The Download area provides free AutoCAD blocks, free AutoLISP routines and free digital images.

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Michael’s Corner - February/March 2014

There He Is, Out Standing in His Field

Here in the UK, we're obsessed with the weather; our national pastime is talking about it. Usually, it's just a case of making conversation but not at the moment. We've just had the wettest January since records began, parts of southern England are under water and there seems to be no end in sight.

Fortunately, there's nothing wet about this month's Corner. Michael demonstrates a number of ways to keep you DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself). Need to run a script on a regular basis? Keep it simple and do so with a single click. Want to know how to write a script to avoid repetitive tasks? Michael's got that covered too. Do you find yourself repeating drawing setup tasks? Why not use ACADDOC.LSP? Yep, Michael gets seriously efficient this month.

In addition to all of this, there's also some neat tips and tricks for beginners (or anyone who has ever wondered what the Layer Previous command does).

And finally, I can't end this month's introduction without mentioning Michael Beall's fantastic achievement at Autodesk University in December. Many congratulations to him on receiving the AU Speaker award for the Hands-on Lab category. Once again proving that here at CADTutor, we only provide you with the best there is. Watch out for the next Corner at the beginning of April, when we hope the rain will have stopped.

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We've added a new Video Tutorials section to CADTutor! Some of our users have asked for video tutorials in addition to the text-based tutorials already on the site. Check them out and let us know what you think. Also, for those of you who prefer to watch your online video at YouTube, why not visit the CADTutor YouTube channel?

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Tip of the Day

Offset to the current layer

When you use the offset command, the new object always ends up on the same layer as the source object. That's the default option but you can have objects offset to the current layer.

Start the Offset command, ModifyOffset from the pull-down menu or OFFSET from the command line. At the prompt, enter L for "Layer" and then C for "Current". Now, each time you use Offset, objects will be created on the current layer.

To set Offset back to the default, use the same sequence but enter S for "Source".

Today's tip is by JBullseye74

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