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AutoCAD 2015 and AutoCAD LT 2015 Bible

The most comprehensive AutoCAD book around!

Know when unwanted layers creep into your drawing with layer notification

Layers are a big issue when it comes to maintaining drawing standards. Where you work, you may have lots of rules about which layers your drawings can have.

Xrefs can be a problem for drawing standards, because when you attach an xref, its layers come along for the ride. This is especially an issue when […]

Batch check multiple AutoCAD drawings against a standards file

In a previous post, “Use a Standards file to bring an AutoCAD drawing into line,” I explained how to check a drawing for certain standards, such as layers. This process is important for maintaining drawing standards where you work.

But suppose you want to check standards for many drawings at once? You can, using the […]

Autodesk 360 is a new cloud-based workflow for AutoCAD drawings

Autodesk 360 is a cloud-based online service is used primarily for storing and reviewing drawing files on the go. There is also AutoCAD WS, which is a web app that lets you edit DWG files online, including on mobile devices. In this post, I’ll focus on Autodesk 360.

You can add apps for specific capabilities […]

Use a Standards file to bring an AutoCAD drawing into line

All AutoCAD professionals have to deal with standards. But when a drawing is worked on by multiple people and revised over months or even years, standards can deteriorate quickly. AutoCAD’s CAD Standards tools let you check drawings against your standards. You can check the following in a drawing:

Layers Text styles Dimension styles Linetypes Create […]

Fix old, messy AutoCAD drawings

Ralph, a subscriber to my AutoCAD Tips Newsletter, sent me a drawing that he called “an embarrassment.” He wouldn’t explain the details of why he thought it was so bad, but wanted some advice about how to fix drawings that have been revised over many years.

Old system variables

Some of the issues could […]

How to undo almost anything in AutoCAD

We all make mistakes, so we all need to undo tasks in AutoCAD. Here’s a list of ways to undo actions. Please leave a comment to add to this list.

The UNDO command

Everyone knows about the UNDO and U commands. Let’s start with the U command. It undoes your last command (if possible–you can’t […]

Reverse a polyline in AutoCAD

This is a guest post by Will Forty, who runs www.HowToAutoCAD.com. I recommend that you visit Will’s website and sign up for his newsletter to get blog posts like this.

Probably my favourite entity in AutoCAD is the polyline. However, there have been a few things in the past that I’ve found somewhat annoying, one […]

How to break walls to insert a door

In an architectural drawing, you often need to break walls to insert a door. There are many ways to do this, but here is one way:

Let’s assume that you have a simple wall 4 inches thick. You want to insert a door that is 28 inches wide. You can easily translate these numbers into […]

A different way to create an ellipse or oval

The ELLIPSE command is the usual way to create an ellipse — or oval — but there’s a different way that may be more intuitive for you.

Here are the steps:

Draw a rectangle. Select the rectangle. Start the PEDIT command (polyline edit). Choose the Spline option.

Now, select the oval. This is what […]

Create views in your AutoCAD drawing

Do you create large drawings? If so, you probably spend a lot of time panning and zooming. Named views, which are pre-saved displays of part of your drawing, can help! A view can show any area of your drawing at any zoom value.

For the purpose of this tip, I’ll stick to views that you […]