AutoCAD Tips & Tricks

Today's Tip

Offset to the current layer

When you use the offset command, the new object always ends up on the same layer as the source object. That's the default option but you can have objects offset to the current layer.

Start the Offset command, ModifyOffset from the pull-down menu or OFFSET from the command line. At the prompt, enter L for "Layer" and then C for "Current". Now, each time you use Offset, objects will be created on the current layer.

To set Offset back to the default, use the same sequence but enter S for "Source".

Today's tip is by JBullseye74

Yesterday's Tip

AutoCAD's Spell Checker

You can spell check one or more blocks of text using AutoCAD's in-built spell checker. Select ToolsSpelling from the pull-down menu or just type SPELL at the command line. When prompted, select as many blocks of text as you like and then hit (Enter). What you get is the Check Spelling dialogue box, which works in exactly the same way as the spell checker in Microsoft Word.

Yesterday's tip was by StykFacE

Tuesday's Tip

Copy and Move without commands

You can copy or move objects without using any commands!

To move an object select it once, then click and drag it (not the grips) to move it to wherever you want. Release the mouse button to drop it.

To copy an object, select it once, then right-click and drag it. When you release the mouse button, you are presented with a menu, allowing you to Move, Copy or Paste as Block.

Tuesday's tip was by hotrodz0321

Monday's Tip

Moving vertically in 3D

Moving objects vertically always used to be a bit of a chore with AutoCAD, usually involving some relative coordinate entry for the Z direction or maybe the .XY filter. Fortunately, AutoCAD 2007 introduced a new command that makes moving objects vertically a snap.

You'll find the 3D Move button on the Dashboard or Modify3D Operations3D Move from the pull-down menu.

As with the normal Move command, you're first prompted to select objects. Once a selection is made, the cursor changes to the move grip tool. Now, pick any point on the base plane to fix the move grip tool at that elevation. Next, hover your cursor over the blue axis handle (Z axis) until it changes to a gold colour and left-click. This has the effect of constraining movement in the z direction. All you need do now is enter the distance you want the object to be moved or use the mouse to pick a distance.

Monday's tip was by David Watson

Sunday's Tip

Dashboard's hidden depths

Did you know that there's more to the Dashboard than is apparent on the surface? When I first started working with it, I thought, "wouldn't it be great if all the 2D drawing tools were on there as well". Fortunately, they are. All you need to know is how to get at them.

Simply right-click on any part of the body of the Dashboard (not the vertical title bar) and select "Control panels" from the menu and then click "2D Draw control panel". You should see that the Draw and Modify toolbars are added as a new panel to the top of the dashboard.

Now you can keep your work area cleaner when using the 3D Modeling Workspace.

Sunday's tip was by David Watson

Saturday's Tip

AutoCAD Alias Editor

If you're new to AutoCAD or even if you're not and you find it difficult to remember all the keyboard shortcuts to your favourite commands like L for Line and C for Circle or even 3DO for 3DOrbit, then you need to know about the AutoCAD Alias Editor.

Enter ALIASEDIT at the command line and AutoCAD will launch a tiny application window that lists all the shortcuts in alphabetical order. As this is a seperate application, you can keep it minimised on your taskbar until you need it for reference.

Essentially, this editor simply lists the contents of the acad.pgp file where all the command aliases are stored. Those of you who are a bit more adventurous, may even like to use the Alias Editor to create your own aliases or edit existing ones.

Saturday's tip was by Starkey

Friday's Tip

Extend/Trim commands

While in the middle of either of the Trim or Extend command, you don't have to exit out of one to start the other; they're virtually the same command. So if you're using Trim, and need to Extend, simply hold down the SHIFT key and it will convert to the Extend command, and vice-versa.

Friday's tip was by StykFacE