Repetitive CAD tasks can be carried out faster and more accurately if you have a system to apply to the work. What type of system works best? That depends on the task. Generally, a system works best when there are many similar or identical tasks that can be grouped together . . .
A common cause of lost speed in CAD is being mired in a complex, high-density drawing with so many objects crammed into so little work space that it’s hard to maneuver. In this tip, I will focus on one highly effective technique that I developed. I call it: The power of big even numbers. Here’s how it works . . .
A great time-saving AutoCAD tool that is under-appreciated is Quick Select. With this tool you can select all objects having a property that you specify, and the options for specifying that property are practically endless. Quick Select works on . . .
When you find yourself doing lots of panning and zooming, you may be able to save time by splitting your screen into two or more panes. There are two basic ways to use the split screen. The first . . .
It’s impossible to overestimate the importance of good vision. All CAD users need to take definite steps to preserve and protect their eyesight. One thing you can do to bring relief to your eyes is to follow the 20-20-20 rule…
Did you know that you can snap to hatch lines and other hatch objects if you want to, or change a setting and have OSNAP ignore all hatch lines if you prefer? The setting can be found in the Options dialog box…
Here’s a CAD tip for anyone who has experienced having a hatch pattern cover up linework in a drawing, when you want the linework to display “in front of” the hatch pattern. This issue often comes up in xreffed drawings, but may also affect “live” drawings.
Did you know that the SHIFT key can be used to temporarily turn Ortho mode on and off? Here’s how…