2007-2013

Hi all,

Some months ago we upgraded from 2007 to 2013, which I have not touched until today (my job isn't just cad related so I have been a little out of the loop). I know this is a broad question but with the many changes that have bound to have happened in a six year period could someone enlighten me as to the important ones I should look out for?

I am just in the process of getting my workspace how I want it but not sure whether I should keep it how it was in 07 or bite the bullet and get used to the Ribbon.

Any useful new commands

As I said, bit of a broad question but any input is appreciated

Thanks

Iain

The Ribbon will be the biggest change. Hope you weren't too attached to the Dashboard.

Do you work primarily in 2D, 3D or a combination of both?

Give the Ribbon a try for a week or so, it's there for a while and not going away. Also some commands are on the ribbon that unless you know the command and the command line it's the only way to get to them.

A few features that were not in 2007 are the Constraints that mess with users mind until they turn them off also Bedit, the block editor allows you to edit blocks a little easier (depending on how you use blocks), then the view cube and navcube are a nice idea but are a take or leave it for me. Others will give some more tips.

There will certainly be times you will be scratching your head about how things work,

and you should probably know about the SYSVDLG command which will take you to a compendium of system variable

options, where you can learn a great deal, and tune the program behavior to suit your own personal style.

Remember to save a .svf file once you get things set up how you want them (you will see that

option at the bottom of the system variable dialog box).

if you like the keyboard make sure Dynamic Input is turned on (F12) and keep an eye at your cursor while you type. A list of commands is there and can be selected - a bit like an extended pgp. If you have any custom commands loaded they will appear in this list too.

if you use snap, its default is to not be active untill needed. VERY confusing to start with.

Thanks so far chaps. ReMark, 95% 2D but after a little bit of playing around I like VIEWBASE very much for the small amount of 3D that I do.

One question regarding dynamic UCS....when it is enabled, how do I get the UCS icon to move to where I have selected? What I mean is say if I was modelling a cylinder on the face of a pyramid, DUCS will automatically align with that face but the UCS Icon won't. It's only a little thing but I'm there's a way, right?

Thanks again

Iain

Hi all,

Some months ago we upgraded from 2007 to 2013, which I have not touched until today (my job isn't just cad related so I have been a little out of the loop). I know this is a broad question but with the many changes that have bound to have happened in a six year period could someone enlighten me as to the important ones I should look out for?

I am just in the process of getting my workspace how I want it but not sure whether I should keep it how it was in 07 or bite the bullet and get used to the Ribbon.

Any useful new commands

As I said, bit of a broad question but any input is appreciated

Thanks

Iain

Here is my list of the most important enhancements (2D) There were significant 3D enhancements most of which I didn't list.

2008-

Annotation property

Multiline Leaders - MLeaderStyle, MLeaderAlign, MLeaderCollect, MLeaderEdit, AiMLeaderEditAdd

Layer Dimming and Layout Overrides

Dimensions - DimBreak, DimInspect, DimJogLine, DimSpace

DimArc extension line, DimAng Quadrant option

Dynamic blocks - displays tooltips with the purpose of grips

CopyMode system variable

new LayLockFadeCtl system variable

LayIso command can lock and fade instead of freezing

Mtext - annotative scaling, column wrapping, and spacing between paragraphs.

Xclip adds invert option

2009-

Ribbon

Layers dialog into a palette (ClassicLayer command added)

Quick Properties

Quick Views

Ribbon (dashboard removed)

ExportLayout

GenerateSection

Big Red A application menu, QAT quick access toolbar

rollover tips

extended tooltips

spell check - real time checking

2010-

2D parametrics - Geometric and Dimensional Constraints

Super commands - Attach, Adjust, Clip, MeasureGeom, Ulayers, TextEdit

MeasureGeom

segment editing - hold down Ctrl during scale, rotate, move

SECTIONPLANE, SECTIONPLANEJOG, SECTIONPLANETOBLOCK, SECTIONPLANESETTINGS

Parameters Manager

mtext grips added triangle grips for editing

2011 -

Grid - lines in 2D

Ribbon updates, added 3D Basic WS

Grip added to polyline

Selection cycling enhancement - SC toggle at bottom of screen

Multifunctional grips

SelectSimilar command added, HideObjects, Unhide,

AddSelected command added

HideObjects command added

IsolateObjects, UnisolateObjects

3D object snaps

2012 -

Autocomplete command

VpControl viewport controls - navigation, views and visual styles on screen

Ribbon sizing - three minimized settings

mtext background remembers last used fill color and offset

grip with lengthen option

grips are multi-functional for more objects - arcs, assoc arrays, dims, elliptical arcs, lines, mleaders, 3d faces edges vertices

Associative Arrays, grips editing

Blend - connects two objects using a spline

Extend works with Splines, Fillet works with Splines

Support for multiple paths for PMP, PC3, CTB, STB files

Snap can be set to work only while in a command, SnapMode sysvar

Drawing Views - 2D drawing views from 3D model and 1st or 3rd angle projection Base View

3D editing - ChamferEdge and FilletEdge added Loop option

3D editing - OffsetEdge

MeshCap has options added

Point Clouds enhanced

2013 -

drawing views additions, create details and sections

Properties - shows realtime previews for colors, lineweights, lintypes, transparency, layers

Array - displays contextual tab, uses default values to show instant previews

Offset has preview before picking

Polylines - reversed plines with varying widths handled with new sysvar PlineReverseWidths

2014-

command line - spell checking, synonyms, block names, layer names, hatch name, visual styles, dim style

autocorrect - after three misspellings the word is added

type at command line to change layer, text style, dim style, visual style

type at command line with hatch name to start hatch command

type at the command line with a block name and the insert command will start

mid string search at command line

Drawing Tabs - tabs displayed for each drawing

Chamfer command closes polylines

Filleting polylines will close polylines

Layers - merge selected layers in layer manager (LAYERDLGMODE must equal 1)

Xref layer names are not shown in the properties palette

Xrefs can be selected in quantities and the path or xref type changed in-mass

That is quite an impressive list rkent, off the top of your head!

Not that I would expect any less!

Well that was not off the top of my head, but thanks. I lost my memory years ago when I grew too tall for my hair. I have xls files for everything, that is my memory. Maybe the Momento method is next.

Grew too tall for your hair?

I've never heard that one before, and I like it.

I lost my memory years ago when I grew too tall for my hair.....

Assuming the hair stayed at the same height, while you continued to grow - would that make you "hair brained"?

I always wondered where that phrase came from.

Assuming the hair stayed at the same height, while you continued to grow - would that make you "hair brained"?

 

I resemble that remark.

Assuming the hair stayed at the same height, while you continued to grow - would that make you "hair brained"?

 

I always wondered where that phrase came from.

I should think that at a certain point one might be said to have transcended hair brainedness. No doubt rkent would be a member in good standing of such a group. Like the secret society to which he belongs where he learns, and or propogates all the dark secrets like SPACESWITCH. Maybe the expression hair brained was coined by some old codger, meaning still 'wet behind the ears', or in this case more like wet behind in years, as a way to disparage those (younger than he) who were still fortunate enough to have some hair. Bad hair day? I figure any day that you still have hair, is a good hair day!

I made a roundup blog post about it. Just in case you are interested.

http://www.cad-notes.com/2012/05/whats-new-in-autocad-a-veteran-guide/

Thanks all, it's much appreciated.

Is there a significant difference between VIEWBASE and BASE VIEW?

Thanks all, it's much appreciated.

Is there a significant difference between VIEWBASE and BASE VIEW?

They are different iterations of the same function.

Have you figured out how to set your drafting standards settings for VIEWBASE?

Right clicking on the LAYOUT tab in the lower left corner of your screen is how I like to do it,

as I don't use the ribbon. There you can set the function for either first or third projection style,

and you will find some other options available in that short cut menu.

You might want to check out the use of QUICK PROPERTIES, and TIME SENSITIVE RIGHT CLICK,

which you can find on the USER PREFERENCES tab in OPTIONS.

Thanks all, it's much appreciated.

Is there a significant difference between VIEWBASE and BASE VIEW?

AutoDesk's way of introducing confusion where it had no business doing so.

AutoDesk's way of introducing confusion where it had no business doing so.

That must have really made them chuckle

Ok, so a few more questions.......

I'm currently doing a bit of sample modelling and have used VIEWBASE (very nice) and section from the layout tab. I think the command is VIEWSECTION. All I want to do know is fiddle with the layers a bit but when I pick on any of my views or the section is takes me to the 'drawing view' tab. I just want to see what layer the views and sections are on, surely this is possible?

Just check your Properties palette. The layer should be listed there.