Customizing the AutoCAD Environment · on the acad3D.dwt template. Context: list Names of all contexts. Model Space Layout Space Block Editor Command line Plot preview 3D parallel

Customizing the AutoCAD Environment 1

Customizing the AutoCAD

Environment

Sacramento City College

Engineering Design Technology


Objectives

Identify and manage AutoCAD file and system settings.

Assign colors and fonts to the text and graphics windows.

Control AutoCAD system variables.

Set options that control display quality and AutoCAD performance

Control shortcut menus


OSNAP

The Options dialog box

All changes take place after clicking Apply or

OK.

Settings that are stored within the drawing file

have the AutoCAD drawing icon next to them.

Settings without the icon affect all AutoCAD

drawing sessions.


System Variables

System variables

Store values that control AutoCAD functions.

Can be changed by:

Typing the name of the variable at the Command:

prompt.

Specifying a value

Many variables are changed dynamically by

choices made in a dialog box.


Managing AutoCAD File and Folder

Paths


File and Folder Paths

Options dialog box - Files Tab

Some files reside on a network drive.

Other files reside locally and are specifically

created for a particular AutoCAD user.

Locations can be specified.



File and Folder Paths

Paths

For support and driver files

Text fonts

Menus

AutoLISP files

Object ARX files

Blocks

Linetypes and

Hatch Patterns



Support File Search Path

Search paths are searched sequentially.

\support

\fonts

\help

\express

\support\color



Folders can be added to this list

Suppose you create a folder named Blocks

All of your blocks could be stored there.

Adding a file

Click ADD button

Click Browse button

Path

C:\Blocks



Add… button



Browse Button:


Other File Settings

Device drivers

Are specifications for peripherals that work with

AutoCAD

Plotters

Digitizer tablets

Other hardware

By default are stored in the \DRV folder


Device Driver Path


Working Support File Search Path

Working Support File Search Path

Lists the active support paths AutoCAD is using.

Are only listed for reference; they cannot be

changed.


Project Files Search Path

Options dialog box – Project Files

List folder locations for project folders.


Customization Files

Options dialog box – Customization Files

Specifies the names of the main and enterprise

customization files.

Specifies the location of custom icon files.


Help and Misc File Names

Options dialog box – Help/Misc Files

Specifies which files are used for the help file and

default Internet location.

Also specifies the location of the configuration file


Text Editor, Dictionary, Font Files

Options dialog box – Text Editor/Dictionary

Specifies which files are used for the text editor

application

Main and custom dictionaries

Alternative font file

Location of font mapping file.


Print File, Spooler, Prolog Section Names

Options dialog box – Print/Spooler Files

Sets the file names for

the plot file for legacy plotting scripts

The print spool executable file

The PostScript prolog section name.


Printer Support File Path

Options dialog box – Printer Support File Path

Specifies the print spool file path

The printer configuration search path

The printer description file search path

The plot style table search path.


Automatic Save File Location

Options dialog box – Automatic Save File

Location

Specifies path where the autosave (.sv$) file is

stored.

An autosave file is only created if the Automatic

save option is checked in the Open and Save tab

of the Options dialog box.


Color Book Location

Options dialog box – Color Book Location

Specifies paths for Color Book files that can be

used when specifying colors in the Select Color

dialog box.


Data Sources Location

Options dialog box – Data Sources Location

Specifies the path for database source (.udl) files


Template Settings

Options dialog box – Template Settings

Specifies the default location for drawing and sheet

set template files and the file names for the

defaults.


Tool Palettes File Locations

Options dialog box – Tool Palettes

Specifies the path for tool palette support files.


Log File Location

Options dialog box – Help/Misc Files

Specifies the path for the AutoCAD log file.

A log file is only created if the Maintain a log file

option is checked in the Open and Save tab of the

Options dialog box.


Action Recorder Settings

Options dialog box – Action Recorder

Specifies search and storage paths for the action

recorder macro (.actm) files.


Plot and Publish Log File Locations

Options dialog box – Plot/Publish Log Files

Specifies the path for the log file for “plot and

publish” operations.

A log file is only created if the Automatically save

plot and publish log check box in the Plot and

Publish tab of the Options dialog box is checked.


Temporary Drawing File Location

Options dialog box – Temporary Drawing File

Specifies the folder where AutoCAD stores

temporary drawing files.


Temporary External Reference File Location

Options dialog box – Temporary Xref File

Specifies the location where temporary external

reference files are placed.


Texture Maps Search Path

Options dialog box – Texture Map Search

Path

Specifies the folder where AutoCAD stores texture

map files for rendering.

3D applications


Web File Search Path

Options dialog box – Web File Search Path

Specifies the folders to search for files associated

with photometric weblight lighting.


Customizing the Graphics Window


Customizing Graphics Window

Tools > Options > Display Tab



Window Elements

Controls the color scheme

Color scheme controls the outline color of the

ribbon and status bar.






On/Off choices

Scroll bars on/off

Drawing status bar on/off

Large/small buttons for toolbars

Resizing ribbon icons

Showing tooltips

Showing shortcut keys

Extended commands in tooltips

Showing roll-over tooltips.

Cross-hair size




Colors

Select a context

Context is one of the environments or modes that

is set current when a new drawing is started based

on the acad3D.dwt template.

Context: list

Names of all contexts.

Model Space

Layout Space

Block Editor

Command line

Plot preview

3D parallel projection / 3D perspective projection



Interface elements

An item that is visible in a given context.

Uniform background

Crosshairs

Viewport control

Grid major lines

Grid minor lines

Autotract vector

2d Autosnap marker

3d Autosnap marker

Dynamic dimension lines

Drafting tool tip

Drafting tool tip background



Restore current element

Resets to default color

Restore current context

Resets all elements to default colors

Restore all contexts

Resets all elements in all contexts to defaults.

Restore classic colors

Traditional black background in 2D model space





Changing Fonts

Font used in the Command: prompt window

Has NO effect on the drawing text.

Default is Courier New 10 point.



Layout Display Settings

Affects layout space

Display Layout and Model Tabs

Display printable area

Display paper background

Display paper shadow

Show Page Setup Manager for new layouts

Create viewport in new layouts.


Display Resolution/Performance

Display resolution

Arc and circle smoothness

Segments in a polyline curve

Rendered object smoothness

Display performance

Pan and Zoom with raster and OLE

Highlight raster image frame only

Apply solid fill

Show text boundary frame only

Draw true silhouettes for solids and surfaces


File Saving Options

Default Settings for Saving Files

AutoCAD 2010, 2011, 2012 files are all compatible

Maintain visual fidelity for annotative objects

Determines how drawings with individual objects greater

than 256 MB are handled.

Previous versions could not have objects larger than

256 MB.

If save drawing to a legacy format (2009 or earlier), will

have compatibility with large drawing objects (> 256 MB)

Checking this option maintans compatibility with earlier

versions by telling AutoCAD to check for large objects.

If large objects exist, an alert will be generated requiring

resolution of this issue before drawing can be saved.


File Saving Options

Maintain drawing size compatibility

Variable - LARGEOBJECTSUPPORT.

Thumbnails Preview Settings dialog box

Save a thumbnail box

If checked thumbnail will be generated.

Use View when drawing last saved

Bases thumbnail on the last zoom when saved.

Use Home View

Bases thumbnail on the view defined as the home

view.

Set current View as Home

Sets home view to the current view.

Reset Home to default

Resets home view to default setting


File Saving Options

Generate Sheet, Sheet View and Model View

Thumbnails

Thumbnail Preview Settings

When checked, thumbnails are based on one of

three choices.

Middle position – (default setting) thumbnails are

updated when they are accessed

Left Position – thumbnails must be manually updated

Right position – thumbnails are updated when drawing is

saved.


File Saving Options

Variable – UPDATETHUMBNAIL settings:

0 – The Generate sheet, Sheet View, and Model

View Thumbnails check box is unchecked.

7 – The check box is checked and the slider is in

the left-hand position


the middle position.


the right hand position

Maximum size in pixels slider:

Controls size of thumbnails

0 = 64, 1 = 128, 2 = 256 pixels


Autosave Settings

When working in AutoCAD, data loss can

occur if power outage occurs.

Automatic save check box

If checked, AutoCAD automatically creates a

backup file at the specified time interval.


Autosave Settings

Minutes between saves edit box

Sets the time between automatic saves

Does not overwrite the source drawing file with

incremental saves.

Saves temporary files instead, which have

extension .sv$

Temporary files can be renamed to .dwg and

opened.


Autosave Settings

Time interval value

Set to the maximum amount of work you are willing to

redo.

If set too long, will lose a lot of work

If set too soon, computer will constantly be unavailable

because of file saves.


Autosave Settings

Backup Files

Can automatically be created when current

drawing is saved.

Has a .bak extension

Backup is not overwritten when a different drawing

is opened or saved.

Create backup copy with each save

When checked, backup file is created

Good idea to have this option enabled.


CRC Validation

CRC – cyclic redundancy check

Verifies that the number of data bits sent is the

same as the number received.

Useful when drawing files are being corrupted, and

a hardware or software problem is suspected.

Check is performed every time data are read into

the drawing.

Ensures all data are correctly received.


Log Files

Log files

Record of command actions

Can be used for

Finding the source of drawing errors that produce

the incorrect results.

By a CAD manager to determine the need for staff

training or customization of a system.

Evaluating potential employees for CAD

competence.


Log Files

Maintain a log file check box.

File requires a name

Extension: .log

Variables

LOGFILEON

LOGFILEOFF


Security Settings

Can be used to apply a password and digital

signature to the drawing.

Display digital signature information

When checked, shows this information when

opening a drawing that has a digital signature.


File Opening Settings

File Open Area – Number of recently-used

files

Controls the number of drawing files listed in the

File pull-down menu.

0 to 9 files

Display full path in title

Controls whether the entire drawing file path or just

the file name is displayed in the title bar of the

AutoCAD window.


Application Menu Settings

Application Menu

Controls the number of drawing files displayed in

the Recent Documents entry in the application

menu.

Range: 0-50


External Reference Settings

External References Area

Demand load Xrefs:

Affects system performance

Affects the ability of another user to edit a drawing

currently referenced into another drawing.

Enabled

Disabled

Enabled with Copy

Variable: XLOADCTL


External Reference Settings

Retain changes to Xref layers option

If checked, xref layer settings are saved with the

drawing file.

Allow other users to Refedit current drawing

Controls whether or not the drawing can be edited

in-place when it is referenced by another drawing.


System Settings

System Settings - Options for

Pointing device

Graphics settings

General system options

dbConnect and

Web-based help


System Settings

Options for default Pointing device

Usually the mouse

Could be a digitizer tablet

Layout Regen Options

Controls what is regenerated and when it is

regenerated when working with layout tabs.


System Settings

Options for dbConnect

Store Links index in drawing file

When checked, the database index is saved within the

drawing file.

This makes the link selection operation quicker, but

increases the drawing file size.

Open tables in read-only mode

Determines whether tables are opened in read-only

mode.


System Settings

Options for General system options

Control general system function

Hidden meesages Settings

When checked, the Hidden Message Settings dialog box

is displayed.

All messages hidden by the user when picking the “do

not show again” option in a message box are available in

this dialog box.

Allows you to re-enable display of the “do not show

again” messages even though they have been disabled

by previous users.


System Settings


Display OLE Text Size Dialog

When inserting an OLE object, the OLE Text Size dialog

box is displayed.

Beep on error in user input

Specifies whether AutoCAD alerts you of incorrect user

input with an audible beep.

Default setting is off

Load acad.lsp with every drawing

Turns the persistent AuoLISP feature on/off

Default setting is off


System Settings


Allow long symbol names

If checked, symbol names can be 255 characters.

If unchecked, symbol names can only be 31 characters.

Access online content (including Help)

Determines how assistance is obtained with Help

Command.

If checked, a web browser is opened, and online help

from the Autodesk’s website will be displayed.

If unchecked, local help file is used

Default browser can be selected.


System Settings


Balloon notifications

Button opens the InfoCenter Settings dialog box.

Enable balloon notification for these sources

If checked, balloon notifications are enabled.

Live update channel

Software updates enable on/off

Did you know

Messages and tips enabled on/off


User Preferences

AutoCAD allows users to optimize the way

they work in the program. Double-click editing

Shortcut menu functions

Insertion units

Hyperlink icon display

Working with fields

Coordinate data entry

Associative dimensions

Undo/redo control

Block editor settings

Default lineweight settings and

Scale list settings


User Preferences

Double-click editing

Opens the most appropriate editing tool for that

object type.

Often is the Properties palette.


User Preferences

Double-click editing

Opens the most appropriate editing tool for that

object type.

Often is the Properties palette.


User Preferences

Short-cut menus

Displayed by right-clicking

Are context sensitive.

The options available in the shortcut menu are

determined by the active command, cursor location or

selected object.

If off

Right-click is like [Enter]

Generally not recommended


User Preferences

Right-click Customization

Turn on time-sensitive right-click.

Quick click = [Enter]

Long click = [shortcut menu]

Duration of long click is set in milliseconds.

Default

No objects are selected, and no command is active

Repeat Last Command

Activates the last command issued.

Shortcut Menu

Displays the shortcut menu


User Preferences

Edit Mode

An object is selected, but no command is active

Repeat Last Command

Activates the last command issued.

Shortcut Menu

Displays the shortcut menu


User Preferences

Command Mode

A command mode is active

Enter option

[right-click] = [Enter]

Shortcut Menu: always enabled

Always displayed

Shortcut Menu: enabled when command options are

present

The shortcut menu is only displayed when command

options are available on the command line.

If no commands are active, a right-click is the same

as pressing [Enter]


User Preferences

Insertion Scale

Unit values can be set for objects when they are

inserted into drawings.

Either Unitless objects dragged from the Design Center

OR

Inserted objects using the i-drop method.

Source content units:

Specifies the units for objects being inserted into the

drawing.

Target drawing units:

Determines the units in the current drawing.


Hyperlinks

User Preferences Tab - Hyperlink area

Controls whether or not the hyperlink cursor and

tooltip are displayed when the cursor is over a

hyperlink.

Display hyperlink cursor, tooltip, and shortcut

menu

If enabled, the hyperlink icon appears next to the

crosshairs when over a hyperlink object.

Tooltip is displayed.


Fields

Field

Is a special type of text object that displays a

specific property value, setting or characteristic.

Can display

Information related to a specific object

General drawing properties

Information related to the current user or computer.


Fields

User-preferences – Fields

Can control whether or not a field is displayed with

a non-plotting background

Display background of fields

When checked, the field background is displayed light

gray.

Field Update Settings dialog box

Can set when fields are automatically updated.

Open

Save

Plot

eTransmit

Regen


Coordinate Data Priority

User Preferences – Priority for Coordinate

Data Entry

Controls how AutoCAD responds to input of

coordinate data.

Three options

Running object snap

Object snaps always override coordinate entry

Keyboard entry

Coordinate entry always overrides object snaps

Keyboard entry except scripts

Coordinate entry will override object snaps except

object snaps contained within scripts


Associative Dimensioning

By default, all dimensions are associative

The dimension value automatically changes when

a dimension’s defpoints are moved.

This option can be turned off

User Preferences – Associative Dimensioning

When unchecked, dimensions do not have

associativity.


Undo/Redo

User Preferences – Undo/Redo

Control how multiple consecutive zooms and pans

are handled within the UNDO and REDO

commands.

Combine zoom and pan commands

When checked back-to-back zooms and pans are

considered a single operation for undo and redo

purposes.

When unchecked, each zoom and pan are separate

events when using UNDO and REDO.


Undo/Redo

User Preferences – Undo/Redo

Combine layer property change

When checked, all changes made in the Layer Properties

Manager palette are considered one operation.

When unchecked, all changes made in the Layer

Properties Manager palette are considered as separate

events when using UNDO and REDO.


Block Editor Settings

User Preferences - Lineweight Settings

Can set default lineweight.



User Preferences - Edit Scale List

Controls list of scales that appear in various dialog

boxes.

Used with viewports, page setups and plot scaling.

Custom scales can be added / removed.

You may want to remove scales from the list that are

never used in your work.



User Preferences - Block Editor Settings

Lineweight Settings and

Edit Scale List
