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Anybody who works in architecture or engineering knows about AutoCAD. It is one of the
most recognizable digital design software in both industries. Masters of the AutoCAD
software can create detailed drawings that show clients exactly what they can expect from
construction work.
AutoCAD also has a ton of depth. You could work with it for years and still not use all of
what it has to offer. That’s where this article can help. We are going to look at 30 little
AutoCAD secrets that you may not know.
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5/16/2019 30 Great AutoCAD Secrets You Didn’t Know | ArchiStar Academy
The AutoCAD software offers much more than the ability to design objects. A lot of data lies
underneath any drawing you create in the software. You can access all of it using the Data
Extraction tool. A wizard in AutoCAD shows you how to use the tool. Select the data you
want and you can use it to generate reports, schedules, and lists of the parts you will use.
There’s a lot to see in the Plug-ins ribbon tab. If you head to the Content panel and click the
Content Explorer tool, you can search for anything related to your drawing. Just type a
keyword into the search bar. AutoCAD will then find whatever you’re looking for and take
you to it. You can use this to find different layers and any text you’ve added to your
drawings.
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5/16/2019 30 Great AutoCAD Secrets You Didn’t Know | ArchiStar Academy
The AutoCAD software comes with a command prompt that you can use to execute actions
quickly. This is where you would use the “closeall” command. All it does is close any
drawings you have open in the software. It may not seem like much but it’s a huge
timesaver if you’re working on a lot of drawings simultaneously and need to finish up fast.
We’re back to the command prompt again. Before using “closeall” to shut your drawings
down, use “saveall”. The name says it all. The command will save every drawing you have
open. It’s ideal for quickly getting all of your work saved when you have to leave the office in
a hurry.
Did you know that you can create PDF files featuring your AutoCAD drawings? It’s true. The
digital design software actually has a big button on the ribbon for the task. This creates a
PDF using the software’s default settings. You can change these settings if you click Plot and
select DWG to PDF from the drop-down list. Head into properties and make whatever
changes you need to the file.
Do you need to separate all of the elements of an object or block quickly? Need to keep the
original attributes in-tact when you do? That’s where the “burst” command proves useful.
Type it into the command prompt and it will separate all of the elements of your selected
object while keeping the object’s attributes.
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5/16/2019 30 Great AutoCAD Secrets You Didn’t Know | ArchiStar Academy
Older versions of the AutoCAD software allow you to snap to a hatch. Later versions don’t,
which could irritate some people who used the tool a lot. Happily, Snap to Hatch still exists
in AutoCAD. You can head into the Drafting Settings in the Option tab. Scroll to the Object
Snap Options section and uncheck “Ignore hatch objects” to get the functionality back.
It’s annoying when you type text out and realise you wanted it in the opposite case. Happily,
you don’t have to retype the text in AutoCAD. Instead, right click the text editor and select
the option to Change Case to do the job quicker. You could also use keyboard shortcuts. Ctrl
+ Shift + L changes the text to lowercase whereas Ctrl + Shift + U sets it to uppercase.
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5/16/2019 30 Great AutoCAD Secrets You Didn’t Know | ArchiStar Academy
Blocking objects together is great for the finished drawing but it may not offer the flexibility
you need. That’s where grouping comes in. Grouped objects have several grip points
relevant to the original set of objects. Blocks only have a single grip point for the entire set
of objects. Group first, make any edits you need, then Block the objects together for best
results.
Ideal for bringing a bunch of lines together, the “join” command works in a similar way to
the “pedit” command. Just select every line you want to pull together and type “join” into the
command prompt. AutoCAD will do the rest of the work for you and you’ll have a set of
joined lines in no time.
Have you heard of the DIMROTATED command? It’s a surprise if you have. It doesn’t make
an appearance in the AutoCAD software’s documentation. You won’t even find it in the
toolbar. Still, it exists. It’s ideal for working with the dimensions of staggered drawings,
especially when the DIMALIGNED command doesn’t get the job done properly.
Chamfer is one of the AutoCAD software’s most used commands. You can use it for all sorts
of things, including creating corners quickly. Combine the Trim tool with chamfer. Use 0 as
the chamfer distance and then extend or trim the lines as needed. You can also hold the
Shift key to set the chamfer distance back to 0 until you let go of the key.
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5/16/2019 30 Great AutoCAD Secrets You Didn’t Know | ArchiStar Academy
Select Objects prompt and select Text Value in the Selected Filter list. Type the word
fragment into the X field with * on either end of the fragment. For example, use *CUT* to
find any text strings that have the word “cut” at any place in the string.
This is really useful if you have a bunch of blocks that you use in a lot of drawings. Open the
Design Centre and click the file in question. Click the + sign and then right click on any
blocks you want to add to your Tool Palette. When you’re done, click on Create Tool Palette.
The command alias is one of the AutoCAD software’s most useful tools. Activate it and use it
to create basic shapes and objects quickly. For example, you can type “C” to get a circle or
“L” to generate a quick line. You can even customize the different commands if you edit the
acad.pgp file.
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5/16/2019 30 Great AutoCAD Secrets You Didn’t Know | ArchiStar Academy
Whether you’re new to the AutoCAD or have used it for years, we hope you have found
something useful in this list. ArchiStar Academy offers more in-depth tutorials and offers
the latest versions of AutoCAD at lower prices than you will find anywhere else.
Archistar Academy offers several courses across the spectrum of digital design software.
You’ll develop your skills, allowing you to create more accurate and functional models.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Archistar Academy today if you have any
questions.
https://academy.archistar.ai
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5/16/2019 30 Great AutoCAD Secrets You Didn’t Know | ArchiStar Academy
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