Lynda.COM AutoCAD 2011: Tips, Tricks, and Industry Secrets

Author:
Jeff Bartels

Duration:
03h 48m

Released on:
1/31/2011

Exercise files:
Yes

Software works on:
Windows only


In AutoCAD 2011: Tips, Tricks, and Industry Secrets, Jeff Bartels shows AutoCAD users how to become more efficient power users, reducing the amount of time it takes to accomplish a task, increasing profit margins, and strengthening marketplace competitiveness. The course covers everything from shortcuts used in geometry creation, to program customization, to real world solutions to common problems. Interface customization, block and reference management skills, and express tool usage are also covered. Exercise files are included with the course.
Topics include:

    Creating macro enabled tools
    Using Auto Complete
    Disabling tool mode settings on the fly
    Moving and copying entities using Windows shortcuts
    Using the Calculator palette
    Formatting text
    Creating parent/child dimension styles
    Making dimensions easier to read
    Making global edits to attribute data and layer names
    Exchanging one block symbol for another
    Inserting content using drag and drop
    Navigating layer list using the keyboard
    Importing layouts from template files
    Consolidating backup files




Introduction
Welcome           00m 53s
Using the exercise files           00m 35s

1. Interface
Adding relevant data to Quick Properties and tooltips           05m 38s
Creating custom ribbon tabs and panels           08m 55s
Creating macro-enabled tools           10m 29s
Increasing speed with command aliases           04m 44s
Finding commands and system variables using Auto Complete           02m 35s
Optimizing the size of palettes           03m 17s
Accessing drawings using Favorites           02m 25s
Controlling notification bubbles           02m 24s
Restoring hidden messages           03m 53s
Following a blog from within AutoCAD           02m 51s

2. Drawing Tools
Disabling mode settings on the fly           03m 28s
Finding hatch boundaries in busy drawings           03m 32s
Generating boundaries from difficult shapes           02m 20s
Calculating the overall length of multiple entities           06m 16s
Calculating the area of multiple shapes           04m 42s
Flattening geometry to a single elevation           04m 00s
Trimming all entities to one side of an object           02m 42s
Eliminating duplicated geometry           05m 10s
Creating true offsets           03m 44s
Finding errors when joining multiple entities           06m 48s
Moving and copying entities using Windows shortcuts           02m 24s
Solving expressions using the command prompt calculator           05m 01s
Using the Calculator palette           10m 25s

3. Text
Bringing all text objects to the front           01m 20s
Underlining single-line text           01m 21s
Managing numbered and lettered lists           03m 36s
Creating superscript and subscript text           03m 18s
Removing formatting from MTEXT           03m 26s
Using fields to identify who revised a drawing           03m 10s
Squeezing text into tight spaces           03m 05s
Hiding extra annotative scales           02m 01s

4. Dimensions
Creating "one-click" dimensions           01m 52s
Dimensioning angles greater than 180 degrees           01m 40s
Creating dynamic dimension breaks           02m 20s
Making linear dimensions act like aligned dimensions           02m 44s
Finding dimensions with false values           01m 38s
Creating parent/child dimension styles           04m 45s
Making dimensions easier to read           01m 56s

5. Blocks and References
Making global edits to attribute data           04m 01s
Clipping references using curved geometry           02m 21s
Exchanging one block symbol for another           03m 03s
Using drag-and-drop to insert content           03m 17s
Creating a block library in two clicks           01m 58s

6. Layers
Making global changes to layer names           03m 19s
Converting all object properties to BYLAYER           01m 43s
Navigating layer lists using the keyboard           02m 05s
Producing a hard copy of the layer settings           01m 34s
Removing stubborn layers           02m 01s

7. Layouts
Accessing viewports within viewports           03m 21s
Creating viewports with islands           06m 05s
Creating legends using the Change Space tool           03m 55s
Rotating viewport content to match layout           04m 55s
Importing layouts from template files           02m 03s
Visualizing multiple design alternates           04m 42s

8. Miscellaneous Tools
Consolidating backup files into a single folder           02m 48s
Launching applications from within AutoCAD           03m 53s
Creating custom linetypes           05m 09s
Incorporating symbols into custom linetypes           02m 48s
Salvaging data from a corrupt drawing           03m 57s
Applying hyperlinks to drawing objects           03m 34s
Converting drawings from name-based to color-based plot styles           02m 00s
Identifying the owner of a drawing           01m 18s
Incorporating drawings into PowerPoint presentations           04m 51s

Conclusion
Goodbye           00m 31s