murrayc.49304
2005-12-21, 01:28 PM
Here are some of my favourite tricks when trying to extract info from AutoCAD or AutoCAD Entities:
When creating AutoCAD drawings, we are constantly extracting information about AutoCAD objects. For example, we’ll use the LIST command to obtain info about objects like the radius of a circle, or the length of a polyline (sidebar: using the PROPERTIES command is way easier than the LIST command because not only can you view info about objects, but you can also change those values too. Give it a try).
However, there are times when we need info about AutoCAD itself. Below is a list of tricks that will help you gain more knowledge about AutoCAD that you can learn “on-the-fly”.
*Need to know more about an AutoCAD command? (Part 1) Simply start any command (eg. CIRCLE) and then press the F1 key on your keyboard, and then the HELP window will appear listing all the info you need about that command.
*Need to know more about an AutoCAD command? (Part 2) If you need to know more about a command, but don’t want to keep pressing the F1 key as previously described, you can turn on the Info Palette. Simply enter the command ASSIST (introduced in AutoCAD 2000i), or press Ctrl-5 on your keyboard, and a Palette will appear giving you real-time info about a command as you are using that command.
*Want to know what a particular toolbar button does? Simply hover your cursor over a toolbar button, and a tool-tip will appear telling you what the command is. Also, look at the bottom of your AutoCAD screen, and you will see a detailed explanation of what that toolbar button command does.
*Need to know what selection methods are available for a command? When using a modifying type command like MOVE or ERASE, enter a “?” at the command line (when prompted to “Select Objects”) and when you press the Enter key, you will see a list of selection methods for that command (eg. Window, Fence, All, etc).
*Need to change the Coordinate display during a command? When using a command the LINE, PLINE or CIRCLE, you may want to change the Coordinate display from “absolute” to “relative” coordinates. While you are in the command, simply click once on the coordinate display window at the bottom of your AutoCAD window (aka. Status Bar) and you will see it change from one type of coordinate system to another. When you click the Coordinate Display again, it will turn off.
*Need to know the RGB value of a basic AutoCAD color? When you are in a situation where you have the AutoCAD Color Window open (eg. When assigning a color for a layer), simply hover your cursor over any AutoCAD color, and not only will you see the AutoCAD color number, but you will get the RBG value as well.
When creating AutoCAD drawings, we are constantly extracting information about AutoCAD objects. For example, we’ll use the LIST command to obtain info about objects like the radius of a circle, or the length of a polyline (sidebar: using the PROPERTIES command is way easier than the LIST command because not only can you view info about objects, but you can also change those values too. Give it a try).
However, there are times when we need info about AutoCAD itself. Below is a list of tricks that will help you gain more knowledge about AutoCAD that you can learn “on-the-fly”.
*Need to know more about an AutoCAD command? (Part 1) Simply start any command (eg. CIRCLE) and then press the F1 key on your keyboard, and then the HELP window will appear listing all the info you need about that command.
*Need to know more about an AutoCAD command? (Part 2) If you need to know more about a command, but don’t want to keep pressing the F1 key as previously described, you can turn on the Info Palette. Simply enter the command ASSIST (introduced in AutoCAD 2000i), or press Ctrl-5 on your keyboard, and a Palette will appear giving you real-time info about a command as you are using that command.
*Want to know what a particular toolbar button does? Simply hover your cursor over a toolbar button, and a tool-tip will appear telling you what the command is. Also, look at the bottom of your AutoCAD screen, and you will see a detailed explanation of what that toolbar button command does.
*Need to know what selection methods are available for a command? When using a modifying type command like MOVE or ERASE, enter a “?” at the command line (when prompted to “Select Objects”) and when you press the Enter key, you will see a list of selection methods for that command (eg. Window, Fence, All, etc).
*Need to change the Coordinate display during a command? When using a command the LINE, PLINE or CIRCLE, you may want to change the Coordinate display from “absolute” to “relative” coordinates. While you are in the command, simply click once on the coordinate display window at the bottom of your AutoCAD window (aka. Status Bar) and you will see it change from one type of coordinate system to another. When you click the Coordinate Display again, it will turn off.
*Need to know the RGB value of a basic AutoCAD color? When you are in a situation where you have the AutoCAD Color Window open (eg. When assigning a color for a layer), simply hover your cursor over any AutoCAD color, and not only will you see the AutoCAD color number, but you will get the RBG value as well.