Managing Multiple drawings in a single session

[jhohman]

Whenever you have multiple drawing open in a session of AutoCAD, you can quickly jump from one drawing to the next by holding the CTRL key and pressing TAB. This will cycle through available windows. Saves a little time from minimizing drawings or accessing them through the Window pull-down.

[bbapties]

Please don't take this as stepping on your toes on this good tip for navigating thru opened drawings... I just wanted to add to this.... I used to use this same method but have been using doctabs for a while now, and I love it! It adds another row of tabs for each drawing open. The look just like the layout tabs...

Here is where to get it... (http://www.caelink.com/drawing_tabs.htm)

and a screen shot.

[rkmcswain]

Also consider one of the many "Drawing Tabs" apps out there.

Here is a free one (http://www.caelink.com/drawing_tabs.htm) as shown below

http://forums.augi.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11283&stc=1

[murrayc.49304]

The one I use is called DocBar which is available here http://www.cadwerx.net/?path=DocBar

[Wanderer]

Whenever you have multiple drawing open in a session of AutoCAD, you can quickly jump from one drawing to the next by holding the CTRL key and pressing TAB. This will cycle through available windows. Saves a little time from minimizing drawings or accessing them through the Window pull-down.
from help TASKBAR -
Set the TASKBAR command to 1 to display multiple open drawings as separate items on the Windows taskbar. You can then press Alt+TAB to quickly switch from drawing to drawing. If you prefer to display only the active drawing on the taskbar, set TASKBAR to 0.

[jhohman]

That's all good stuff to use, I appreciate the additional input.

[rkmcswain]

Set the TASKBAR command to 1 to display multiple open drawings as separate items on the Windows taskbar.
I can't imagine why anyone would want a taskbar button for each open drawing. Different strokes for different folks I guess... ;)

I suppose Autodesk was just copying Microsoft's bad idea, which goes against their (Microsoft's) own definitions of MDI & SDI. Then again, does Microsoft even know what MDI is (http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000262.html) anymore?

[jaberwok]

I used AcadTabs for a while but I just use CTRL+TAB now. Less screen clutter.

[Wanderer]

I used AcadTabs for a while but I just use CTRL+TAB now. Less screen clutter.
I believe that when you have SP2 installed in Win XP, you can see a thumbnail of the file/drawing rather than just the program icon and name (correct me if I am wrong and this was available earlier), which I really like...

[jaberwok]

I believe that when you have SP2 installed in Win XP, you can see a thumbnail of the file/drawing rather than just the program icon and name (correct me if I am wrong and this was available earlier), which I really like...

Would you please expand on that. I've not seen it.

[Wanderer]

Would you please expand on that. I've not seen it.
john, you're testing my powers of coordination here trying to get a screenshot of this... ;)

[Glenn Pope]

I believe that when you have SP2 installed in Win XP, you can see a thumbnail of the file/drawing rather than just the program icon and name (correct me if I am wrong and this was available earlier), which I really like...
I believe you are referring to Microsoft's Power Tools. A free download from Microsoft.com. There is one that will show a thumbnail of the program that are open when you use Alt+Tab to cycle through them. If you set Taskbar to 1 in AutoCAD, then you should see a thumbnail of AutoCAD with the drawing.

[Glenn Pope]

john, you're testing my powers of coordination here trying to get a screenshot of this... ;)That is part of Power Tools.

[Wanderer]

I believe you are referring to Microsoft's Power Tools. A free download from Microsoft.com. There is one that will show a thumbnail of the program that are open when you use Alt+Tab to cycle through them. If you set Taskbar to 1 in AutoCAD, then you should see a thumbnail of AutoCAD with the drawing.
Ah! :idea: The power tools... I didn't realize that was what did it... last time I wiped my pc I did the sp and powertools, etc all at the same time... Thanks Glenn! you da man!

[Glenn Pope]

Thanks Glenn! you da man!
Tell me something I don't know :p

[jaberwok]

That is part of Power Tools.


PowerToys will only work with US-English regional settings.

Aw. Nuts.

Last time I looked at Power Toys/Tools Win 98 was new.

Thanks anyway, Glenn and Melanie.

[Mike.Perry]

Aw. Nuts.

Last time I looked at Power Toys/Tools Win 98 was new.

Thanks anyway, Glenn and Melanie.Hi John

I have been using Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx) for over a year now, and have not! experienced an issues /problems with them (last famous words).

Windows XP Pro SP2 - Regional Settings set to English (United Kingdom).

:beer: Mike

[jaberwok]

Hi John

I have been using Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx) for over a year now, and have not! experienced an issues /problems with them (last famous words).

Windows XP Pro SP2 - Regional Settings set to English (United Kingdom).

:beer: Mike

Okay Mike. I'll take another look.

:beer:

[jhohman]

Let's make sure we're not confusing CTRL-Tab and ALT-Tab. Ctrl-Tab is the tip for switching between drawings in AutoCAD, the ALT-Tab is for switching between windows applications. Just seems like the tip got swerved into power tools and application switching.

[Mike.Perry]

Okay Mike. I'll take another look.Hi John

Also take a look at this (http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=22751) thread.

:beer: Mike

[jaberwok]

Okay. Power Toys works but it doesn't relate to the original point which was switching between documents not between applications. 8-)

[Glenn Pope]

I use Ctrl+Tab a lot for switching between drawings. Great tip Jay.

[pkennedy.71515]

This is fantastic thank you

[caduser051574]

Ctrl+Tab also works in most Windows software which allow multiple documents to be open.

I use it all the time in Excel and Word, and I also use the feature in Mozilla for switching between tabs.

Ray

[glee.94356]

Good post. I use ctrl+tab to cycle through my drawings.
Agree with not having all that additional screen clutter.
Thanks

[jaberwok]

Ctrl+Tab also works in most Windows software which allow multiple documents to be open.

I use it all the time in Excel and Word, and I also use the feature in Mozilla for switching between tabs.

Ray

The strange thing is that MS Word was one of the last applications to comply with this part of the Windows interface and that's assuming that the latest version does comply. It still didn't comply in Office 2k.

[Mike.Perry]

The strange thing is that MS Word was one of the last applications to comply with this part of the Windows interface and that's assuming that the latest version does comply. It still didn't comply in Office 2k.Hi John

Just for your info, Word 2003 does not "comply".

:beer: Mike

[robert.1.hall72202]

I tried using windows desktop manager from the power tools. I like how it works except I remember a program that put a 4 square icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
I cannot remember where I had found the program but it is way better than switching
the desktop with a keyboard shortcut or the taskbar.

Anybody know of any programs that would do something similar?

[macwizzy06]

I use Ctrl+Tab a lot for switching between drawings. Great tip Jay.

"Ctrl+Tab" I prefer to use in Mozilla, or Crazy Browser, or on keyboards without the F1 to F12 keys but, for switching opened drawings, I always find myself using Ctrl+F6 (it gets the job done). I know, I know, I know I need the DocBar or other thumbnail softwares.

[wolfgrrlone]

Thanks for these tips - they are priceless to me!

[VirtualBuilding]

That's correct. When using Windows XP Explorer (sp2), you can set the view options to THUMBNAILS and AutoCAD .dwgs will show up as a thumbnail the same as they will inside of AutoCAD under the Open dialog.

[amasella]

from help TASKBAR -
Set the TASKBAR command to 1 to display multiple open drawings as separate items on the Windows taskbar. You can then press Alt+TAB to quickly switch from drawing to drawing. If you prefer to display only the active drawing on the taskbar, set TASKBAR to 0.

Since we are in multiple drawing, I would like to know where did the windows pull go for
tile horizontally, tile vertically, etc.

[rkmcswain]

Since we are in multiple drawing, I would like to know where did the windows pull go for
tile horizontally, tile vertically, etc.

Is it included in your current workspace? If not, just add it.

[Wanderer]

Since we are in multiple drawing, I would like to know where did the windows pull go for tile horizontally, tile vertically, etc.I still have it... possible you might have that menu hidden (what version you on?)

[amasella]

I still have it... possible you might have that menu hidden (what version you on?)

Map 3D 2006 and where is the old right click for acad or acadmap menu

[amasella]

Map 3D 2006 and where is the old right click for acad or acadmap menu
Da, Found it, typed in menu and selected acad.
been in the clouds lately!

[Arnout]

Please don't take this as stepping on your toes on this good tip for navigating thru opened drawings... I just wanted to add to this.... I used to use this same method but have been using doctabs for a while now, and I love it! It adds another row of tabs for each drawing open. The look just like the layout tabs...

Here is where to get it... (http://www.caelink.com/drawing_tabs.htm)

and a screen shot.

Does it work with AutoCad2006 too?

Arnout

[rkmcswain]

Da, Found it, typed in menu and selected acad.
been in the clouds lately!

Map should use "acmap.cui", not "acad.cui"....

[rkmcswain]

Does it work with AutoCad2006 too?

Arnout

Yes.





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[andy.manninen]

This is the greatest, i use it all the time in my non-project based work!

[dzatto]

You can also use ctrl+shift+tab to cycle through the drawings the other direction. Its helpful so you dont have to cycle through all of your drawings just to go back one.
Also, I have the full project path displayed in the title so I can quickly see which drawing I am cycling to.