Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

This table of contents is interactive! Clicking on the section title or page number will bring you right to that section.

The User Interface

The Drawing Window The Ribbon Quick Access Toolbar

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Additional Time-Savers
External Reference Highlighting Default Scale List Ignore Missing SHX Files Text Orientation in Linetypes

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Transparency
For Layers For Objects For Images Display and Plotting

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New to AutoCAD LT 2011

Quick Dimension Layer Previous Sketch

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Hatches and Gradients

Creating Hatches Hatch Properties Editing Hatches

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Learning Resources
Welcome Screen Online Help

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Windows 7 Compatibility Additional Resources

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Polylines and Splines

Polylines Splines Join

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Object Visibility, Selection, & Creation

Hide and Isolate Objects Add Selected Select Similar Objects Selection Cycling

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The User Interface

AutoCAD LT 2011 offers a variety of user interface enhancements that enable you to work with greater ease and efficiency. This document has interactive links.
THE USER INTERFACE

The Drawing Window

The default model space background color is now a dark gray, although you can easily set it to the color of your choice from the Display tab of the Options dialog.

The traditional dot grid has been replaced with horizontal and vertical gridlines to more closely represent engineering graph paper. Red and green lines extend from the origin to represent the X and Y axes. The UCS icon has been updated and simplified. By default all the axes are white, but a checkbox in the UCS Icon Properties dialog enables you to display a different color for each axis: red for X, green for Y, and blue for Z. The new Navigation Bar includes the Pan, Zoom, and SteeringWheel functions. You can use the menu at the bottom to choose which of the three tools to display.

Bonus You can still display the dotted grid by checking one or more boxes in the Grid Style section of the Snap and Grid tab of the Drafting Settings dialog.

Tip Use the CUI editor to control whether the Navigation Bar is displayed in a particular workspace.

The Ribbon
A new pull-down menu has been added to the ribbon cycle button at the end of the list of tabs. It contains three ribbon display options, including the new Minimize to Panel Buttons. This option condenses panels into large icons. Hovering over the button causes the panel to expand, similar to the behavior you see when the ribbon is minimized to panel titles.

Bonus If you choose an option from the pulldown, clicking the button then alternates between that option and the full ribbon. To return to seeing all options, choose Cycle through All from the pulldown menu.

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Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

A Content panel has been added to the Insert tab, containing links to Design Center and Autodesk Seek. On the View tab, the Windows panel now includes User Interface and Toolbar controls that let you easily toggle the display of the Navigation Bar, the Text Window, and Toolbars.

Resource Meet and greet with your community on AutoCAD Exchange.

THE USER INTERFACE

Bonus The Status Bar controls have been removed from the Windows panel, but are still accessible from the status bar itself.

Customizable ribbon functionality in the Customize User Interface dialog box is enhanced to include new Fold panels. As you change the size of your AutoCAD LT window or add and remove panels from a tab, Fold panels resize horizontally to fill the available space. Bonus You can set the default, minimum, and maximum sizes for a Fold panel in the CUI editor.

Quick Access Toolbar

The default Quick Access toolbar now includes a Workspace pull-down menu and the Save As command in addition to the familiar commands like New, Open, Save, and Plot.

Tip Right-click on any command icon or pull-down on the ribbon to add it to the Quick Access toolbar.

Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

Transparency
AutoCAD LT 2011 includes a new property that enables you to apply transparency to objects and layers in the same way you apply colors, linetypes, and lineweights. Resources Need help? Peer support is available in the discussion forums.
TRANSPARENCY

For Layers
In the Layer Properties Manager, a new column for Transparency is available in model space and layouts, and a column for Viewport (VP) Transparency is available in layouts and floating model space viewports. The Layer States Manager, the Layer Filter dialog, and the Layer Translator have also been updated to reflect the new transparency property.

Tip The default transparency value is 0, and you can set it as high as 90.

For Objects
You can set transparency by layer, by block, or individually for an object, just like color or linetype. Setting a transparency value for an individual object overrides the layer transparency setting for that object. You can access object transparency from a number of places: the Properties palette, Quick Properties, or the ribbon. Bonus The new CETRANSPARENCY system variable sets the transparency property for new objects.

Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

For Images
In earlier versions of AutoCAD LT, images had a setting, also called transparency, that controlled whether the background of a bitonal image was clear or opaque. This property has been renamed to background transparency to distinguish it from the new transparency property.

Bonus You can apply both background and object transparencies to images in AutoCAD LT 2011.
TRANSPARENCY

Display and Plotting

A button has been added to the status bar to enable you to temporarily turn off transparency display, similar to the behavior of the lineweight display button. This does not affect plotting. However, you also have the option to turn on transparency when plotting. The Plot and Page Setup dialogs both include a checkbox for transparency. Transparent plotting is turned off by default, because transparency is rasterized for plotting and can slow down plotting in certain situations.

Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

Hatches and Gradients

Creating Hatches
When you start the Hatch command, a new contextual ribbon tab provides easy access to all hatch and gradient options. Resource Join the Autodesk User Group International community on augi.com.

HATCHES AND GRADEIENTS

Bonus Gradient hatches are now supported in AutoCAD LT 2011. Look for them in the pattern list.

When using the pick points method of creating hatches, simply passing your cursor over an eligible area shows you what the hatch would look like if you clicked there.

You can also see the result of each click as you pick points or objects in the drawing.

Tip Even though it looks as though a hatch was created as you clicked, it will not actually be a separate object unless you have the Create Separate Hatches option on.

Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

Hatch Properties
Hatches now support a background color in addition to line color. This enables you to create the effect of layering hatches in one object.

Resource Get educated! Visit Autodesk University Online.

HATCHES AND GRADEIENTS

You now also have the option to set a hatchs layer before you create it. You can choose either to use the current layer or to pick one from your drawing.

Bonus Like color, pattern, and other hatch properties, layer is a persistent setting during your drawing session.

Editing Hatches
When you select a hatch, the Hatch Edit contextual tab automatically appears, replacing the old dialog.

A new center grip enables you to move the hatch or change its origin, angle, or scale directly. You can view the available options by hovering over the grip, and choose an action directly from the list.

Bonus You can also left-click on the grip and press CTRL to cycle through the different behaviors. Icons next to the cursor indicate the active function.

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Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

Non-associative hatches have corner and middle grips in addition to the center grip. Those grips enable you to stretch, add, or remove vertices, and to convert segments from lines to arcs and vice versa.

Resource For the latest news on AutoCAD LT, subscribe to the LT Unlimited blog.

HATCHES AND GRADEIENTS

Send Hatches to Back is a new command in AutoCAD LT straight from the AUGI (Autodesk User Group International) wishlist. Available on the Modify panel of the Home tab under the Draw Order flyout, this command sends hatches under all other geometry in the drawing.

The new system variable MIRRHATCH enables you to mirror hatches and retain their orientation. When it is set to 0, mirroring hatches maintains their original angle. When MIRRHATCH is set to 1, the hatch angle mirrors along with the rest of the objects.

Bonus MIRRHATCH is set to 0 by default.

Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

Polylines and Splines

Polylines
In addition to the familiar grips at each end of a polyline segment, there are new secondary grips at the midpoint of each segment. All polyline grips are now multifunctional, similar to the grips for non-associative hatches. You can hover over a grip and choose an option from the menu that appears. Resource Follow Kate Morrical on Twitter.
POLYLINES AND SPLINES

Bonus You can also left-click on the grip and press CTRL to cycle through the different behaviors. Icons next to the cursor indicate the active function. Primary grips are used to stretch, add, or remove vertices. The options for secondary grips are Stretch, Add Vertex, and Convert to Arc (or Line).

Splines
You can now define splines using fit points or control vertices (CV). For Fit splines, you can specify start and end tangencies, tolerance (how close the spline must come to the fit point), and knot parameterization (controlling the shape of the curve as it passes through the fit point). The only option when creating CV splines is Degree, which controls how many bends the spline can take in a given span.

Tip CV splines are intended for use with 3D NURBS (non-uniform rational b-spline) surfaces.

Splines also have multi-functional grips, enabling you to switch between Fit Point and Control Vertices, add and remove points, edit end tangent directions, and refine vertices. Bonus The options visible in the grip menus vary depending on whether fit points or CV are displayed.

The Spline Edit command has a new Edit Vertex mode, enabling you to add, move, or remove control vertices. You can also add a Kink, or a sharp corner, to your spline with the Spline Edit command.

Join
You can now use the JOIN command to connect lines, arcs, polylines, 3D polylines, helixes, and splines. The objects must all be contiguous (in other words, they must share a common endpoint), but they do not need to be coplanar.

Tip You must select the most complex object firstusually a spline.

Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

Object Visibility, Selection, & Creation

Hide and Isolate Objects
You can now control object visibility independent from layer visibility. The Object Visibility tools are accessible from the right-click menu, whether or not you have objects selected. Resource Do you have questions? Ask the Expert on AutoCAD Exchange.
OBJECT VISIBILITY, SELECTION, & CREATION

Tip A light bulb icon on the status bar turns red to indicate that a drawing has hidden or isolated objects. A yellow light bulb indicates normal object visibility.

When you use the Isolate Objects tool, only the selected objects remain visible in the drawing. All other objects are hidden. Alternatively, when you use the Hide Objects tool, the selected objects are hidden.

Bonus You can use Hide and Isolate multiple times to efficiently display only the objects you need.

When youre finished, restore the normal view with the End Object Isolation tool.

Add Selected
With Add Selected, you can quickly create a new object in your drawing based on the properties of an existing object. For example, if you select a polyline, right-click, and choose Add Selected, AutoCAD LT automatically launches the PLINE command with basic object properties including color, layer, linetype, linetype scale, plotstyle, lineweight and transparency preset to match the selected object.

Tip By default, the hide and isolate setting for objects is not saved when you close a drawing. When you re-open the drawing, the visibility of all objects will be controlled by the layer visibility. You can use the system variable OBJECTISOLATIONMODE to have isolated or hidden objects persist between drawing sessions instead.

Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

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Select Similar Objects

Use the new Select Similar tool to quickly create a selection set consisting of objects that match the properties of one or more selected objects. Access Select Similar from the right-click menu when objects are selected.

Tip Entering SELECTSIMILAR at the command line enables you to access the Settings dialog, where you can specify which properties to use when creating the selection set. If more than one box is checked, all those properties must match in order to consider two objects as similar.

OBJECT VISIBILITY, SELECTION, & CREATION

Select Similar also enables you to select more than one object and create the matching selection set accordingly. For example, if you select two circles on different layers and run Select Similar, AutoCAD LT selects all the circles on both layers. If you select a circle and a line instead, AutoCAD LT selects all the circles on the same layer as the selected circle and all the lines on the same layer as the selected line.

Selection Cycling
Easily select overlapping objects with Selection Cycling. When you try to select an object that is near to or overlapping other objects, AutoCAD LT displays a list of all the nearby objects. As you pass your cursor over an object in the list, the relevant object in the drawing is highlighted. To select an object, left-click on an item in the list.

Bonus The PICKADD system variable, which controls whether each selection set replaces the current set or adds to it, is now set to 2 by default. This means that you can use the SELECT command and objects will remain selected after the command ends.

Tip Toggle Selection Cycling on and off from the status bar.

Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

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Additional Time-Savers
External Reference Highlighting
Selecting an external reference now highlights that references name in the External References palette, enabling you to quickly identify references in your drawing. Likewise, if you select a file reference in the palette, the reference is highlightedbut not selectedin the drawing. Resource Get more tips & tricks with AutoCAD LT videos on YouTube.

ADDITIONAL TIME SAVERS

Default Scale List

You can now save a customizable default list of metric or imperial annotation scales. This list defines the list of scales that automatically displays in all your drawings.

Bonus To set the scale list in a drawing back to your default, use the Reset option in the Edit Drawing Scales dialog.

Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

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Ignore Missing SHX Files

When opening a drawing, a new dialog gives you the option to ignore missing SHX filesfor shapes or fontsor specify replacements. If you check the box to remember your current choice, you wont be prompted again.

Bonus To bring back this dialog, check its listing in the Hidden Messages section of the Options dialog.

ADDITIONAL TIME SAVERS

And in the Text Style manager, text styles with missing fonts are now indicated with an icon.

Text Orientation in Linetypes

AutoCAD LT 2011 makes it possible to maintain linetype readability in any orientation. No matter the line, polyline, or spline directionand even for circlesthe text remains upright and readable.

Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

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New to AutoCAD LT 2011

In addition to gradient hatches, a few other long-time AutoCAD features are now supported in AutoCAD LT 2011. Resource Visit AutoCAD LT online for the latest product updates.

Quick Dimension
Quick Dimension, on the Dimensions panel of the Annotate tab, enables you to quickly create a series of baseline or continued dimensions for selected objects.

NEW TO AUTOCAD LT 2011

Tip After selecting objects, additional options enable you to choose the type of dimensions createdContinuous, Baseline, Radius, etc.

Layer Previous
Layer Previous enables you to undo the most recent set of changes to layer properties.

Sketch
Use the Sketch command, available at the command line to create irregular boundaries or to trace with a digitizer. You can set the increment for recording points, choose the type of sketch to create (lines, polylines, or splines), and set the tolerance for spline-fit sketches.

Tip Left-click to start a sketching, left-click again to end. Repeat this as many times as needed to create multiple sketch objects. Press Enter to complete the command.

Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

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Learning Resources
Welcome Screen
The new Welcome Screen contains short videos to help you learn about key topics in AutoCAD LT. Bonus Links at the bottom of the screen provide easy access to more learning resources, including the New Features Workshop, the Learning Path, and AutoCAD LT Online Help.
OBJECT VISIBILITY, SELECTION, & CREATION

Online Help
The web-based Help system for AutoCAD LT 2011 includes not only the traditional help content but related information from the AutoCAD LT Knowledge Base, discussion groups, blogs, and the AutoCAD Exchange. Tip If youre not connected to the internet, AutoCAD LT will use a local version of Help. You can also go to the System tab of the Options dialog to choose to use the offline version regardless of your internet connection.

Windows 7 Compatibility
AutoCAD LT 2011 is Microsoft Windows 7 certified. Upgrade your hardware and operating system with confidence, knowing that both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of AutoCAD LT 2011 software are compatible with and supported on Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate.

Bonus When you install AutoCAD LT on a computer with Windows 7, the TASKBAR system variable is automatically set to 1, enabling you to take advantage of the Aero Preview function. To use this, simply hover over the AutoCAD LT icon on the task bar until the previews appear. Then click on a drawing preview to make it active.

Kate Morricals Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD LT 2011

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Additional Resources
Resource AutoCAD Exchange is the online destination for AutoCAD users and CAD managers to share tips, learn and network.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

AutoCAD LT www.autodesk.com/autocadlt LT Unlimited ltunlimited.typepad.com Discussion Forums discussion.autodesk.com AutoCAD Exchange autocad.autodesk.com AutoCAD LT on YouTube www.youtube.com/katemorrical Kate Morrical on Twitter www.twitter.com/katemorrical Autodesk University Online au.autodesk.com AUGI (Autodesk User Group International) www.augi.com About the Author As the Technical Marketing Manager for AutoCAD LT, Kate works closely with the AutoCAD LT Product Development & Marketing teams and with AutoCAD LT users through discussion groups, her blog, and events such as Autodesk University and AUGI CAD Camps. She has over 10 years of experience with Autodesk products, starting with AutoCAD R14, and has been blogging about AutoCAD LT since April 2007. Kate is a licensed professional engineer in Maryland, and was employed as an engineer and CAD Manager for a 30-person office of a structural engineering firm before joining Autodesk.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, and AutoCAD LT are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document. 2010 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.