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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 - May 2012

30 Years of CAD

Well I hope you're all having fun with AutoCAD 2013, synching with the cloud via Autodesk 360 and backing up your local settings to… exactly where is the cloud? Some of us will remember when AutoCAD went all "Internet". In fact, AutoCAD 2000i was the internet enabled version of AutoCAD 2000 — it was pretty sophisticated; hyperlinks could be added to drawing objects! Those were the days when a few hundred megabytes seemed lavish — these days, every AutoCAD subscriber gets 25GB of storage in the cloud — that's one BIG cloud.

So, this month, Michael takes a quick look at that cloud and investigates Autodesk 360. It is a really interesting development and I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about this in the future. Elsewhere (not in the cloud), Michael demonstrates how to import custom CUI elements from one AutoCAD install to another. He also considers the various option values for the PICKFIRST variable and explains what they do. Finally, this month's Basic article covers the creation of irregular-shaped viewports using Clip.

All this talk of meteorology reminded me that there is an excellent website dedicated to those white fluffy things. The Cloud Appreciation Society doesn't have much to say about online storage but they sure have some great pictures!

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

Absolute and Relative Coordinates

It used to be very simple. Enter a coordinate and AutoCAD interpreted it as an absolute coordinate. Enter a coordinate preceded by "@" (the at sign) and AutoCAD interpreted it as a relative coordinate. This simple rule changed when dynamic input was introduced and now the interpretation of coordinates is contextual. For example, when you draw a rectangle using RECTANG, the coordinate for the second point is interpreted as absolute with dynamic input turned off and as relative with dynamic input turned on. Really, try it and see.

Fortunately, there's a new coordinate prefix that forces an absolute coordinate, even when AutoCAD decides you want a relative one. Precede any coordinate with "#" (the hash sign) to force an absolute coordinate.

Today's tip is by dbroada

Missed a Tip?

Did you miss yesterday's tip? Maybe you forgot to drop by or maybe you don't visit over the weekend. If so, you can now see all the tips published during the past week. Also, if you have a tip you'd like to share with us, you can post it on our forum and if we like it, we'll publish it here.