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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 CADTutor Forum is 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 2010

Customizing for Fun & Profit

Yikes! Where did January go? Here, all ready, is the second Corner of 2010 and with it, a bucket-full of top tips and tricks. This month, Michael takes pity on AutoCAD LT users and introduces the DIESEL programming language (OK, it works in full AutoCAD too but LT users are often left out of these customization features) and shows you what can be done. It's a very useful main feature and explains how block insertions can be sequentially numbered.

Elsewhere, Michael explains how to set the Workspace when launching AutoCAD (that's a top tip) and how to resolve an Mtext annoyance after changing space. Beginners are amply catered for by an excellent overview of the Support File Search Path and a demonstration of how to add your own to the list.

Have fun with AutoCAD and keep up with those New Year resolutions!

Video Tutorials - 14th August 2009

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

Keeping the UCS icon in its place

By default, AutoCAD always displays the UCS icon at the drawing origin (0,0) unless the origin is off screen, in which case, the UCS icon sits quietly in the bottom left-hand corner of the drawing area.

If you find the UCS icon distracting when it's floating in the middle of the screen, you can force it to be displayed in the bottom left-hand corner using the ucsicon command.
Enter an option [ON/OFF/All/Noorigin/ORigin/Properties] <ON>:
Use the "Noorigin" option to force the icon into the bottom left corner and the "ORigin" option to set it back to the default.

See the UCS Icon tutorial for more details.

Today's tip is by David Watson

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