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Autocad 2016 Tips and Tricks Booklet PDF
Autocad 2016 Tips and Tricks Booklet PDF
Lynn Allen’s
Tips and
Tricks
User Interface User Interface
User Interface
The plethora of The updated modernized User Interface (UI) The Create page makes it easy for you to (so be sure to check them out to improve
in Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2016 software is start a new drawing, access recent files, and your AutoCAD skills!)
productivity tools easier to work with and reduces eye strain. connect with Autodesk® A360. Here you’ll
find various notifications as well as where to
in AutoCAD 2016 is Start Tab download offline Help.
certain to provide The Start tab (formerly the New tab) is filled
Use the icons at the bottom of the Recent
with information and speedy ways for you to
Documents list on the Create page to switch
a better design start new drawings or edit existing ones.
from thumbnail to text view (or both).
experience for
everyone!
Ctrl+Home or GOTOSTART gets you to the
.
Start tab quickly.
The Learn page is filled with What’s New and
Getting Started videos, and online resources. The Start tab can be turned on/off
The Tip of the Day is updated every 24 hours for deployments.
Set STARTMODE to 0 if you don’t You can easily switch AutoCAD back If you are new to AutoCAD, check out the Use the Lock User Interface tool to check/
want the Start tab to display. to the more traditional light theme by setting Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD Basics! uncheck multiple UI elements at one time.
the Color scheme control on the Display tab Click on the icon to quickly enable/disable
Right-click on a file tab to access the Close of Options or by setting COLORTHEME to 1. Status Bar locking.
All Other Drawings option (or use the Populate the Status bar with the tools you
CLOSEALLOTHER command). want by clicking on the three stacked lines
(the “hamburger”) in the lower-right corner
of the editor. Isolate Objects and Lock UI
options have been added.
Help
Can’t find a tool? Click on the Find link in the The Status bar will automatically wrap onto
Help window and an animated arrow points two rows when the icons can’t fit into a
to its location in the Quick access toolbar, single row.
ribbon, Status bar, and Application menu.
Color Schemes
Have you been staring at AutoCAD all day?
Give your eyes a rest with the dark-themed
interface.
the Classic Workspace has been The + icon lets you easily
removed—time to get onboard with the add more viewports …
You’ll also find helpful galleries for styles such just drag it to the proper
ribbon! as dimensions, mleaders, text, tables, and size.
table cells.
Improved Graphics
Are you tired of the jagged diagonal lines in Simply select the new “High quality If your hardware doesn’t support
AutoCAD? AutoCAD 2016 to the rescue! The geometry” option in the Graphics High quality geometry (isn’t DirectX®
LINESMOOTHING variable smooths out lines Performance dialog (easily found on the 11-capable), try using the Smooth line display
(including those with lineweights) and curves Status bar). for better graphics performance.
at any zoom level.
3D Orbit
Enjoy better control of the target point when
you turn off “Enable Orbit Auto Target” from
the 3D Orbit right-click menu. Then you can
click and hold the cursor to specify the pivot
point.
Object Selection
We spend so much of our AutoCAD time Don’t like the new highlight? Property preview performance is Command Preview
selecting and editing objects—check out Set SELECTIONEFFECT to 0. vastly improved with large selection sets. Preview the results of so many editing com-
these handy additions: mands including Blend, Erase, Stretch, Rotate
Customize the highlighting color on Lasso Selection and Scale.
Selecting Objects the Selection tab of Options (Selection effect
Click and drag your cursor to use the versatile
When selecting objects, the geometry ap- color). The Command Preview control on
Lasso selection—click and release for the
pears thicker and darker (or lighter, depend- traditional rectangular selection. the Selection tab of Options enables/disables
ing on your background color). Moving objects will be clearer with the this cool feature.
faded deletion effect. Both Move and Copy
previews are super speedy! Geometric Center Object Snap
New object snap (GCE) finds the geometric
Complex linetypes display true to form as you
center of polygons and closed polylines.
draw and edit them.
A new glyph indicates geometric
center.
Productivity Improvements
Badges AutoCAD 2016 has added many productivity Use the Modify option to create an additional System Variable Monitor
AutoCAD 2016 has added handy, relevant commands to help you get your designs revision cloud and delete selected portions of Tired of system variables being changed
badges that provide you with contextual completed faster! an existing revision cloud (put more than one without you knowing about it? Use the new
feedback right next to the crosshairs during revision cloud together). System Variable Monitor (SYSVARMONITOR)
selection, inquiring, and editing. Revision Clouds to quickly identify system variables that no
If you draw revision clouds, you’re going to Set your preferred default with longer conform to your standard.
love the updated REVCLOUD that supports REVCLOUDCREATEMODE
rectangular, polygonal, and freehand (and
Object from the command line). The new Set REVCLOUDGRIPS to Off to put
Revision clouds are easy to edit using grips grips back to legacy behavior.
(no more stretched, elongated arcs!).
Isometric Drafting Environment
Use the Isodraft tool on the Status bar to
Set CURSORBADGE to 1 to turn off switch the snap style to Isometric and move
the display of cursor badges (2 to turn them from one isometric plane to another.
back on).
You set up the variables and their preferred (including SHX) are fully supported. That Four different predefined PDF options can be Layout names are automatically displayed as
settings (although you’ll find some popular means that more text can be highlighted, found when plotting, so you can easily select page labels in the PDF file (much easier to
defaults already prepopulated). Turn on copied, and searched. the one to suit your needs. identify sheets!).
notifications to display at the command line,
on the Status bar icon, or even enable a Export to DWF™ and Export to PDF options
balloon notification should a variable on your have been split, and they each have their
monitored system variable list be changed. own Export Options dialogs.
Xref Enhancements
Control the display of layers from xref draw-
ings (even if they’re not set to Bylayer in the
host drawing). Set XREFOVERRIDE to 1 and
xref objects will take on Bylayer behavior.
Autodesk ReCap
Use Autodesk ReCap to convert scan file
data from a variety of popular formats to a
high-speed point cloud that can be viewed
and edited in AutoCAD and other products
(including Autodesk® Revit® and Autodesk® Use the Attach Point Cloud dialog to select
Slice generates a thin cut through the model The new contextual Section Plane tab is filled the file, scale, insertion point, and rotation
Inventor® software).
with parallel front and back section planes. with more section plane controls, including angle (and to display valuable data about
It has a thickness property (but no jogs a Live Section toggle, the ability to add jogs, your point cloud).
Autodesk ReCap is a separate
allowed!). generate section blocks from solids, and
application that is installed with AutoCAD
extract section lines from point clouds.
2016 (by default).
Dynamic UCS Point Cloud Object Snaps • Use the Intersection object snap to snap to
The handy to use Dynamic UCS tool now Control the point cloud object snaps from the the apparent intersection of two lines of a
works on point clouds! Just make sure 3D Object Snap tab of Drafting Settings. New sectioned point cloud.
Dynamic UCS is turned on and all the point osnap modes include Intersection, Edge, Cor- • Edge snaps to the edge of two intersecting
cloud object snaps are turned off. Pass your ner, Perpendicular to Edge, and Centerline! planes.
cursor over a point cloud face and begin • Corner snaps to the corner of three
drawing! intersecting planes.
• Use Perpendicular to edge to draw
The point cloud must include perpendicular to the edge of two
segmentation data (indicated in the intersecting planes.
Properties Palette).
• Use Centerline to snap to the centerline of a
cylindrical shape.
Annotation
Point Cloud Cropping Cropping states maintain the boundary as Annotation is an important part of our
Use the Cropping panel (rectangular, polyg- well as the visibility of scans and regions. designs—check out these timesavers!
onal, or circular) to clip your point clouds.
You can continue to crop your point cloud by Use command Text
changing the view. POINTCLOUDCROPSTATE to list Single line text remembers the last
and delete crop states. justification setting!
Now you can save and restore named
cropping states. Point Cloud Manager Bullets and Numbering
Use the Point Cloud Manager to work with Mtext now has automatic bullets or number-
multiple point clouds. New to AutoCAD 2016: ing. Begin a line with a symbol, number, or
On/Off buttons for scans and regions are letter followed by one of these symbols:
always displayed—names are truncated if
needed (but displayed in the tooltip). . , ) > } , ]—and then hit the spacebar to
create a bulleted or numbered list.
Smart Caps Lock Transparent background Modify them independently by using the Text Alignment
AutoCAD will automatically correct your text The transparent background in Mtext makes arrows on each edge. The TEXTALIGN command quickly aligns text
(and turn Caps Lock off) if you accidentally it easy to see objects underneath. to existing text (or by selecting points). You
had Caps Lock on while you’re holding down can easily control the spacing and alignment
the Shift Key. direction.
Match Text
Use the Match tool in the Text Editor ribbon
to apply properties of selected text within
any Mtext object.
AutoStack
Modify the height and width of columns at It’s easier to AutoStack! Just put a forward
the same time with the easy-to-use corner slash between numbers like 1/20.
You’ll find the Match tool is sticky! resizer.
(Use over and over again.)
Sub/Superscript
Highlight the text and use the Superscript/
Subscript tools on the ribbon.
Hover over a circle or arc and preview a If you prefer to specify a type
diameter or radial dimension—arcs come of dimension, you’ll find the various
with the additional option to create an dimensioning options in the right-click menu.
angular dimension.
Rendering
Use the new width sizing control to The new rendering engine in AutoCAD 2016 Render Presets The new Render Presets Manager is much
wrap dimension text! (One of the many AUGI is simpler to use and yields better results. Use the Render Presets list to control the easier to use. Create, modify, and delete
Wish List items granted!). render quality (in levels) or how much time it custom render presets.
You’ll find the updated Render panel
will take to render.
(Visualize ribbon tab) includes a Render to
Size drop-down list.
Render Environments Render Window Expand the window to view the render
Check out the new image-based lighting (IBL) Save a snapshot, zoom while rendering, and history.
environments! In the Render Environment print the image in the new Render window.
and Exposure palette you can automatically
apply lighting effects and 360-degree back-
ground images.
Coordination Model
Navisworks The new Attach Coordination Model dialog BIM 360
Now you can attach coordination models to a contains typical controls such as path type, AutoCAD 2016 makes it easy to access single or merged models to your AutoCAD
drawing! The Attach command and the Xref insertion point, etc. Autodesk® BIM 360® Glue™ software for drawings using the Attach tool on the BIM
Manager now have options for Autodesk® model sharing and clash detection. Attach 360 ribbon tab.
Navisworks® files (NWD or NWC).
Added Extras
Autodesk Exchange Apps Security! Single Service Pack
Get direct access to downloadable AutoCAD 2016 offers extra security controls Now you can install Auto-
applications and content that can increase to help protect your drawings. Set Trusted CAD service packs on any
your productivity. Simply click on the big X Locations folders to prevent unauthorized AutoCAD 2016 vertical-based
on Infocenter. execution of files such as scripts, AutoLISP® product (no need to wait for
files, or VBA applications. the integrated service pack
anymore!).
You will find a variety of Security Options on
the System tab of Options. Autodesk Application
Manager
This desktop tool helps
you stay current with the
Several valuable tools, such as the Featured latest updates for all your
Apps ribbon tab, the Exchange App Autodesk applications.
Manager, and the SketchUp Import app are The Autodesk® Application
automatically installed in AutoCAD 2016. Manager will send you timely
messages about service
packs, hot fixes, and more.
A360
Settings Sync customization files, Options, and support files
Be sure to set up your cloud settings to to A360 so you can restore them onto any
control when your design data and custom computer!
settings are synced. Choose to automatically
store your design data each time you save, or Choose Settings
only when you specify. Choose which settings you’d like A360 to
automatically sync.
It’s all about the cloud, baby! Connect to Open Local Sync Folder
your secure A360 account for file sharing, Opens the A360 folder your drawing is being
customization syncing, project management, synced to.
and more.
Open A360 Drive
A360 Tab
This tool takes you online to your stored
Use the A360 tab for all things related to documents and folders via browser.
your A360 account.
You’ll also find A360 access in many
Share Document of the Select File dialog boxes.
Makes it easy to save and share your docu-
ment with others via A360. You provide the When you upload drawings from AutoCAD Sync My Settings
email addresses and comments— A360 does to A360, external references and other We all set up AutoCAD to work the way
the rest! dependent files upload as well! we like to work! Now you can save and
sync those settings with A360. Save your
program appearance, profiles, tool palettes,
AutoCAD 360
AutoCAD Subscription Options
Desktop Subscription
Enjoy access to the latest software releases,
technical support, flexible licensing, and a
variety of A360 cloud benefits.
Maintenance Subscription
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with the latest upgrades, flexible licensing,
technical support, and access to select cloud
and software services.