Looking for a top 10 Autocad issues list

Hi,

I am looking for some input from people that use AutoCad or Architecture on what they think the top issues/problems are that could use some "tweaking" Or Little tools like "I wish there was a better/easier way to do this"

Example1:

We use AutoCad Arch 2008-2011 and we do everything in 3d, when walls are added they are not always put in "exact" by cad but the program requires it to be, go figure. So if your wall was put in at an elevation of 8'-0" it might actually put the wall in at 8'-0 1/64" so in an elevation view materials won't merge and you end up with extra lines on your elevation. So we created a tool that would snap walls and blocks to the nearest 1/16" (or user input dist)

Example2:

We did some projects for a company that had 700+ page mastersets per house. On every sheet there was a release date that was manually typed in and they changed enough that the whole set just needed re-released so that means someone had to open every sheet and edit that text. (or copy paste) So we created a Global search and replace that would search/replace text across multiple drawings.

A way to tell AutoCAD how many layout tabs you want would be great. I commonly have between 5 and 50 layouts in a drawing, and it would be sweet to be able to set up the first one and then say "I want 17 (or however many) more". there's probably a lisp out there somewhere that does this, but I haven't taken time to find it.

This is perfect. So like a duplicate layout viewports and all? Means layout tabs would need to be re-named this could be done by prompting while its creating them. We mainly use project nav. anymore so its been awhile since I have had to worry about layouts how long does it take to create 50ish.

This is perfect. So like a duplicate layout viewports and all? Means layout tabs would need to be re-named this could be done by prompting while its creating them. We mainly use project nav. anymore so its been awhile since I have had to worry about layouts how long does it take to create 50ish.

Well, it takes a while. If you start with one, it will let you make another. Then you can "select all" and make two more for a total of four. Repeat that process and you get 8, then 16, etc. I didn't even think about renaming them as you go, that would be sweet too. Give it a starting page number and let it number up from there.

The top issue for many users has to be the "slowness" of the software as it has ballooned.

3D rendering could use some improvement too. It shouldn't be as difficult to get a good, usable render.

I don't see where we can do much about the slowness. ACA 2008 I think was the last version we were able to use on a 32 bit computer since then we have to have top of line computer specs to feel functional.

Maybe you haven't read some of the threads started here about AutoCAD being slow even on a high end computer. Believe me...it is an issue.

Oh I'm not saying that it isn't slow. I know this is an issue we deal with it daily when the boss man says "What takes so long anymore..."

That it is to much used?

And it is pretty serious it shouldn't be used in a lot of companies that use it.

Using it because everyone else uses it or because we always used it are not valid reasons in my view.

That it is to much used?

And it is pretty serious it shouldn't be used in a lot of companies that use it.

Using it because everyone else uses it or because we always used it are not valid reasons in my view.

There's no really good common format to use for electronic drawings. Lets say you are a manufacturer of "widgets" that have aluminum "whatsits" on it, and you can't or don't want to make the "whatsits" yourself. Sure makes it nice to be able to share your design with the person that's going to make them for you. If you've already drawn it in AutoCAD, and your supplier has AutoCAD too, you can email him the design, he can then take it and make the drawings he needs for tooling or whatever without having to draw your part again. It may have improved over the years, but my experience with DXF has been less than satisfactory. The higher end products like AutoCAD and up do ok, but dxf's from some of the lower end products don't always translate very well. Scale goes all wonky, text disappears or gets turned into lines and arcs, stuff like that. I spend as much time cleaning them up as drawing them over from a paper print out would take. PDF's make very nice, clear images that everyone can generate and see, but there's no good way to go from PDF back to drawing file. I don't foresee a time when the different publishers get together and figure out a way to do it either. They are all competitors and think thier way is "the" way.

That it is to much used?

And it is pretty serious it shouldn't be used in a lot of companies that use it.

Using it because everyone else uses it or because we always used it are not valid reasons in my view.

Yep, I see AutoDesk running right out and changing their software immediately.

The opening splash screen during the installation phase will read:

STOP! You really don't need this software do you? Please return it for a full refund.

:lol: