Ways to save time

[wardyboi]

Ok... I'm pretty confident on the CAD but I'm no expert.. I wondered if any of you experts out there have got any tips to really speed me (and others) up. I'm not talking anything profound just general pointers.. I look forward to hearing everyones input.

[YosSa]

What do you mean exactly ?? Be more specific please.
Then i can cee i have a LISP file or VBA routine for it.
Or can make it rapidly.

grtz YosSa

[architech]

Some tips I got from "veteran" users (formly trained & self-taught)

1. Always use 2 hands. Left hand on the keyboard for "PGP" input commands. Right hand on the mouse to accept commands and drawing.

2. Modify you PGP list to hold your 50 most used commands and memorize them. Don't go beyond that ... some users go crazy here.

3. And always have 4 LISPs at your hand, as well. These can be launched via key input or some custom button.

4. Between these 54 commands one should be able to draw anything his/ her discipline requires. To go beyond that will slow you down. This is not to say to abandone all other tools. The tip is to always limit your usage of commands and NOT make a project of getting things done.
Add-on products, LISPs, & Scripts sometimes add 2 or 3 MORE steps to accomplish a simple task, where the basics would've accomplish the same thing in shorter steps.

Hope these help.
I'm sure I'll get some flak & criticism for these tips but you can't please everyone ....

Good luck

[CADMAN]

good tips :D

[wardyboi]

helpful! thanx

[csiarch]

In addition to architect's timely tips (especially the one about 2 hands), adopt the rule: "Never draw anything more than once." Create a block if you find yourself drawing something again and again. Store the blocks in CSI numbered folders and insert them instead of drawing them. I have about 120mb of common US materials and drawings that I use regularly instead of drawing common objects more than once.

[VERYCIVILDRAFTER]

csiarch and architech are totally correct:

When you modify your PGP file set it up so that your right hand stays on the right side of the keyboard. Sooo, your most often used commands that take two keys or a key on the left side of the keyboard are set to a right hand key.

examples = "2" for LIST, "3" for POLYLINE, "4" for MATCHPROP, and "Q" for DIST,

Less movement = less hand cramps. Screw convention and set up quick keys to be quickest for you, and feel free to replace old quick keys with your own.
(how often do you draw a circle vs. copy something, or use layers vs. regen)

examples = "C" for COPY, "R" for LAYER

Just be aware that no one else will be able to use your AutoCAD. :twisted:
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Save screen "acreage" by making custom fly-out toolbars

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As with all windows programs try a RIGHT CLICK!!! There might be a hidden goody.

[Eddie]

8) I like to have addons that automated certain process' for me.
Eg..I have a drawing manager that changes/creates layer based on the command I run..that way I know things will be on the correct layer on every drawing I create.

If you can get addons like that they start to become real time savers.

[Exxit]

It's not my workplace, but it saves Your time...:lol:

Lothar

[Eddie]

:lol: Don't give the boss any ideas :lol: :lol: :lol:

[YosSa]

where's the toilet-paper ?? And i miss the 456456 cups of coffee :)

[James]

i remember this from my day in school, my professor did some command and it completely cut the drawing out as he select a rectrangle or a square.. i'm not sure how.. but i never figure it out.

like you would trim using fence but not like that. everything inside that box will be cut out.. pretty neat.

[csiarch]

Sounds like maybe he was using the XCLIP command? Gets rid of everything inside OR outside the boundary depending on what you tell the software to do. Could be some other command as well; there are many ways to do the same thing in AutoCad in some respects.

A perusal of the on-line help files works wonders for your cad knowledge.

[James]

csiarch, thanks that was some what close to what i want to do, but xclip only work with block :?

[csiarch]

Sorry that didn't help. Post your question on CADCHAT.COM; there's a guy that teaches cad out in Oklahoma that may be able to shed some light on this issue.

[Exxit]

like you would trim using fence but not like that. everything inside that box will be cut out.. pretty neat.

Maybe James is talking about "extrim" from the Exprss Tools V1-9 :?:

regards, Lothar

[zephyrgold]

I like to save time, just by looking for similar project and edit them to suit my purpose.
It saves time by over 70%.

zephyrgold,
http://www.1autocad.com

[mad@cad]

Lots of cadiots don't use both hands. I however do and my pgp is also pimped way out.
Of course you really should never share speed tips with co-slackers. It's called job security.

A programmable keyboard is also good.

I suggest changing the heck out of your co-workers pgp and sit back and listen to them curse.

[mad@cad]

Hey Dude, was it the wipeout command?



i remember this from my day in school, my professor did some command and it completely cut the drawing out as he select a rectrangle or a square.. i'm not sure how.. but i never figure it out.

like you would trim using fence but not like that. everything inside that box will be cut out.. pretty neat.

[mad@cad]

The easiest way to be a fast cadder is to slow everyone else down.

Open a co-cadders drawing and fill it slap up with lots of exploded hatch patterns. (hide them of course)


Change their pgp file by either renaming or deleting commands.

Go into the menu and add a line that causes
"Do you really want to do that?" to come up during every command.

Really slow them down by adding
" Are you really really sure you want to do that?"

Reset ALL the paths under options. Several times a day is most effective.

Rename file extensions.

I hope you find these tips to be useful. I can't reveal all of my secrets.

One last tip...ALWAYS kiss up to the cad manager so you have the admin password. That way you can bump your plots ahead of everyone else and leave them :banghead3:banghead3:banghead3:banghead3:banghead3

[mad@cad]

8) I like to have addons that automated certain process' for me.
Eg..I have a drawing manager that changes/creates layer based on the command I run..that way I know things will be on the correct layer on every drawing I create.

If you can get addons like that they start to become real time savers.

I cheated and changed my blocks that ALWAYS go on the same layer...from bylayer to the layer they belong on. I am still in the process of convincing the h honcho (but I still do it thatg way anyway).

[Eddie]

A shame you're not already doing something similar.
sometimes though this can be annoying, we need to be careful about what which commands we apply this to.

[mad@cad]

What do you mean? I am talking about putting fire alarm symbols on the fire alarm layer instead of having them on 0 and bylayer...

[Eddie]

Exactly that, that it would be easy if you didn;t have worry about the layer and have it go on the correct layer on insertion.

[mad@cad]

I was not (don't faint) fussing at you.:)

You can lead an engineer to water.....lol

I find that I can use my little tricks and everyone else can just drudge through like a manual drafter on qualudes(?)....


The best part about cadding fast is getting your work done HOURS before your co-slackers and then coming here and posting.....:):):)

[VERYCIVILDRAFTER]

Tool Palettes can do what you speak of, you just need the time to set them up.

I've tried to do the "fire alarm symbols on the fire alarm layer instead of having them on 0" but it didn't work here. People would insert the block on a different layer and then I had to freeze two layers to freeze just one symbol.

We've been using blocks with layer 0, color byblock, linetype byblock with some success now. However, I'm able to make our peoples lives pretty miserable if they don't follow CAD standards. :mad:

But I make most peoples lives miserable. :p

[acadder]

8) I like to have addons that automated certain process' for me.
Eg..I have a drawing manager that changes/creates layer based on the command I run..that way I know things will be on the correct layer on every drawing I create.

If you can get addons like that they start to become real time savers.

yeah how is that done again.....

recently re-installed Acad on a new machine & 'forgot' to take that setting/command down.

I had some commands set to change layers based on the command

eg I hit dim linear & the layer changes to 'dimensions'.......

anyone know what to add to the command macro? it currently is ^C^C_dimlinear. i know i have to add a _layer dimensions in there somewhere.

please help

[CarLB]

Just add the commands you'd type on the command line. Use semicolon (or space) for 'enter'. Something like:

^C^C-layer;set;dimensions;;dimlinear

[acadder]

Just add the commands you'd type on the command line. Use semicolon (or space) for 'enter'. Something like:

^C^C-layer;set;dimensions;;dimlinear

cheers - worked a treat ;->

just couldnt remember the combination - its been 3 years since i had to input it into the macro's

[Pinkguju]

It is the wipeout command. Wipeout is alot easier to use than Xclip.

Hey Dude, was it the wipeout command?

[Grape Dude]

create your own personal tool bar w/ your most often used tools in the cui menu. ie: layer isolate, layer freeze, insert break line, revision cloud...

[Pinkguju]

I'm suprised that no one has posted this here but when you're in a drawing command (pline, line) and sometimes in a move you can find the center of two points without having to draw a guideline:
start the line command
before you select your first point type mtp on the command line
proceed to selecting your first point
then your second
and the line will start in the middle of those two points!!

People at work don't understand my excitement for this but then again they are the ones taking forever drawing division line between divisions (i work in retail)

[NukeCad]

You could just turn on the midpoint snap in the options dialogue.

[VERYCIVILDRAFTER]

@Nuke
Pink's referring to the "Mid Between 2 Points" snap. It snaps to the half way point between any two picked points. For example; it lets you pick the center of a box or rectangle when you pick the opposite corners.

Not that it really matters but you can also type in "m2p" to start it.

[Grape Dude]

Not that it really matters but you can also type in "m2p" to start it.[/QUOTE]

It does matter, I've wanted to know that one for a while...
THX:thumbsup:

[Pinkguju]

No problem Grape Dude...i never thought of myself as a geek but when i found that out i jumped up for joy...and that's when i realized that i'm the biggest geek of them all!! :)

Nice pic of the baby!!

[deke01]

[QUOTE=... Screw convention and set up quick keys to be quickest for you, and feel free to replace old quick keys with your own.[/QUOTE]

That works well if you are the only person ever to use that setup.
If someone else has to use it, they can go crazy finding the commands they want.
My belief is the standard shortcuts should remain and add to them with personalized ones.

[VERYCIVILDRAFTER]

That works well if you are the only person ever to use that setup.
If someone else has to use it, they can go crazy finding the commands they want.
My belief is the standard shortcuts should remain and add to them with personalized ones.

That goes for your own sanity as well. I try to "mostly" leave the default shortcuts alone and then add to them. I don't want to be so out of practice with the defaults, that when (not if) I have to help someone at their computer, I won't be sitting there poking at the keyboard as if one of the buttons is randomly electrified but one of them will put food in my dish.