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Michael’s Corner

Michael BeallMichael's Corner is a monthly publication written by Michael E. Beall, Autodesk Authorized Author and peripatetic AutoCAD trainer. Michael travels all over the USA, bringing his fantastic experience and great understanding of AutoCAD to his clients. Michael's Corner brings together many of the tips, tricks and methods developed during these training sessions for the benefit of all users.

Michael's Corner provides something for every AutoCAD user. Every month, a number of articles cover a wide range of topics, suitable for users at all levels, including "The Basics" for those just starting out. Essentially, the aim of Michael's Corner is to help all AutoCAD users work smarter and faster.

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This month…

June - The Big Three: Layers, Text, & Blocks

When you boil down a drawing—(so, what would that be? Alphabet soup?)—the key ingredients are Layers, Annotation, and Blocks. To communicate effectively, every drawing must have some component of each of those. You could probably go without having blocks, but what drawing doesn't contain blocks these days? This month, I touch on each of those.

…Merge Layers is a new arrival in AutoCAD 2014
…Another trick for the Single Line text devotees: Symbols ala Mtext
…An Mtext setting that will make you want to use Single Line text (until you figure it out)
…Clarification of what the Wblock command can do for you

This month I return to NeoCon with my Revit for Dealership Designers [Monday, 6/11, 4:00] in the official NeoCon seminar listing, and I'll also be presenting an off-site AutoCAD Toolbelt seminar [Tuesday, 6/12, 2:30], graciously hosted at the Kimball showroom across from the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago (my favorite U.S. destination).

Looks to be a great month ahead. Hope yours is, too!

This month's articles

Merge Layers in AutoCAD 2014
Hexadecimal Code in Dtext
AutoCAPS in Mtext
Block to .DWG with Wblock

From the Vault

Originally published December 2011

‘Isolate Objects’ Status Bar Icon

Isolate Objects"Can't see the forest for the trees". That's the only explanation I have for my oversight, and leave it to a customer to (graciously) bring it to my attention (thanks, Aga!)

Back in May 2010, I covered the really cool new features in AutoCAD 2011 of Isolate Objects and Hide Objects, and to this day, I incorporate these features in my training courses. I even addressed them in my Autodesk University 2011 Lab! "Live and Learn" is another one that comes to mind here.

Insights and Applications

  1. Isolate Additional ObjectsThe Isolate Objects button is tucked way down in the bottom right corner of the Status bar.

  2. It's always there and doesn't even have a presence on the menu when you right-click on the Status bar!

  3. After Hiding or Isolating objects, the icon turns Red. Click the icon for a menu of options regarding hidden or isolated objects.

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