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CADTutor delivers the best free tutorials and articles for AutoCAD, 3ds Max and associated applications along with a friendly AutoCAD forum and an AutoCAD FAQ. If you need to learn AutoCAD, you're in the right place. Visit the AutoCAD tutorials page for more information or see our tip of the day to start learning right now!

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The Tutorials section provides over 80 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 - November 2009

Very Thankful

Another month, another Corner. This is the season for celebrations and for giving thanks for the year behind us. We've had Halloween and Bonfire Night and we have Thanksgiving on the horizon. And I am sure there are lots of similar year-end celebrations around the world that I am not aware of. 2009 may be coming to an end but our learning never stops. Some of you may be lucky enough to be going to Autodesk University 2009 in Las Vegas. If you are there, be sure to say "hello" to Michael Beall and let him know that you're a CADTutor visitor and hopefully a regular reader of his monthly Corner.

Those of you who can't be in Las Vegas (1st to 3rd December) and let's face it, that's most of us, will have to make do with Michael's November Corner. It may not be a substitute for being part of a great learning experience (and vacation!) but it will keep you on that learning path where every trick learned pays you back dividends.

In this month's Corner, Michael looks at the Quick Access Toolbar and demonstrates how to add your favourite commands to it and how to change it with your workspace - very cool and a good way to overcome some of those Ribbon niggles. In other articles, Michael shows you how to avoid the giant Mtext editor (doesn't that drive you mad?) and how to edit dimensions with grips. All in all, a fully rounded corner.

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.