Autocad Book, Salary Survey, CAD Standards and Happy New Year

Well, I've been a little slim on tips and tricks here lately, but, I've been understandably busy.

I'm going to be offline for about a week, so expect silence here.

I did want to highlight a couple of things so you aren't totally without technical content...

Read any good books lately?
Ever notice the 'chapter' setup on the Autocad Community Forums?
Pick a topic and skim through to brush up on certain features such as:
Frequently Asked Questions, General, 3d, Fields, Plotting, Sheet Set Manager, General 2006, Dynamic Blocks, Tables and CUI Menus.

Salary Survey Results
Keep an eye out on next month's AUGIworld, then hop up to the AUGI site to get more detailed information.

Don't We All Love CAD Standards?
We recently added a CAD Standards forum to the AUGI site, and we've already had 61 topics added pertaining to CAD and drafting standards. Quite a few of those threads are started to gauge others' procedures. It's always nice to know what works for our peers to evaluate our own processes and understand one anothers' preferences.

The forums in general have also been recently reorganized, and in my opinion are set up a bit more intuitively. Many props to those guys who work behind the scenes and balance our requests and preferences with practicality and universal usibility.

I'm off to finish up a few things right now.

Made many fabulous memories with my 2 year old, as this was his first Christmas really getting into things. I experienced a Christmas miracle in that I picked all food that my mother would actually eat. ;) She and my sister are really picky, but, I always do the cooking anyway. A great time was had by all, my gingerbread how wasn't constructed according to specs, but, it did come out looking quite good anyway, much better than last year's. I'll try to post a pic, as I'm very proud. lol.

Happy (and SAFE) New Year's celebration to all.

Don't dock that palette...

I don't remember where I first heard this, but, it stuck in the back of my mind til I needed it...
I am working with my properties palette open, and I have my SSM up as well... I like to keep them both on the left side of the screen... I don't need to see all of my properties, just a couple, but, I'd like my SSM up without squishing both of them by docking them on the same side.

So, with my properties docked and my SSM floating, I grab the bar on the SSM and drag to the left... with the CTRL key held down, which prevents the palette from docking...

(also, you can right click on the palette, and uncheck 'allow docking' but, if it's only a temp thing, I like the use of the CTRL key)

Merry Christmas!

AU mainstage rundown, Blog Survey, PDF of 2006 System Variables

Take a blog survey from Autodesk

See a rundown of AU's mainstage presentation and download a video

I posted a pdf of all of the 2006 system variables and their switches in the Autodesk Newsgroups.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays. All the blessings you and your family deserve in the coming year.

Quick Navigation Tip and Response Request to GAUG Members at AU

I took Donnia Tabor-Hanson's AUGI Tips and Tricks class at AU and it was fabulous!
Jen Leamy (aka augi CADKitty and ATP Recruiter) suggested a tip about qselect, and I asked if I could say something about it, hopped up on stage and mentioned one of my favorite uses for qselect...
I have some pretty big floor plans, and sometimes I am asked for measurements or other information of a specific room, and rather than zoom in close enough to read the numbers and pan around until I find it... I use a combination of qselect and zoom to object...
Let's assume I know the exact room number, Qselect > Object Type: Text (or Mtext) > Properties: Contents > Operator: =Equals > Value: 4401 (or whatever your number is) > OK
so, somewhere on that drawing, that room number has been selected, so you can hit 'Z' 'O' (for Zoom to Object) which will take you right to the room that you are looking for.
Enjoy!

Also, I sent out a notice today to all of the members of the Gateway AUG asking who attended AU this year, but, I got a lot of bounces... if you attended Autodesk University in Orlando and DID NOT get that message, please send me an email as soon as possible at mstone@icadc.com.
Thank you!

2006 System Variables O-W

Continuing from previous posts, (part 3 of 3)

From the help files... 2006 system variables beginning with the letters 'O' through 'W':


OSNAPZ
Controls whether object snaps are automatically projected onto a plane parallel to the XY plane of the current UCS at the current elevation.
0
Osnap uses the Z-value of the specified point
1
Osnap substitutes the Z-value of the specified point with the elevation (ELEV) set for the current UCS

PREVIEWEFFECT
Specifies the visual effect used for previewing selection of objects.
0
Dashed lines (the default display for selected objects)
1
Thickened lines
2
Dashed and thickened lines

PREVIEWFILTER
Excludes specified object types from selection previewing. The setting is stored as a bitcode using the sum of the following values:
0
Excludes nothing
1
Excludes objects on locked layers
2
Excludes objects in xrefs
4
Excludes tables
8
Excludes multiline text objects
16
Excludes hatch objects
32
Excludes objects in groups

QCSTATE
Determines whether the QuickCalc calculator is active or not.
0
Not active
1
Active

RECOVERYMODE
Controls whether drawing recovery information is recorded after a system failure.
0
Recovery information is not recorded, the Drawing Recovery window does not display automatically after a system failure, and any recovery information in the system registry is removed
1
Recovery information is recorded, but the Drawing Recovery window does not display automatically after a system failure
2
Recovery information is recorded, and the Drawing Recovery window displays automatically in the next session after a system failure

SELECTIONAREA
Controls the display of effects for selection areas. Selection areas are created by the Window, Crossing, WPolygon, and CPolygon options of SELECT.
0
Off
1
On

SELECTIONAREAOPACITY
Controls the transparency of the selection area during window and crossing selection. The valid range is 0 to 100. The lower the setting, the more transparent the area. A value of 100 makes the area opaque. The SELECTIONAREA system variable must be on.

SELECTIONPREVIEW
Controls the display of selection previewing. Objects are highlighted when the pickbox cursor rolls over them. This selection previewing indicates that the object would be selected if you clicked. The setting is stored as a bitcode using the sum of the following values:
0
Off
1
On when no commands are active
2
On when a command prompts for object selection

SHOWLAYERUSAGE
Displays icons in the Layer Properties Manager to indicate whether layers are in use. Setting this system variable to Off improves performance in the Layer Properties Manager.
0
Off
1
On

SSMPOLLTIME
Controls the time interval between automatic refreshes of the status data in a sheet set.
The SSMPOLLTIME timer sets the time in seconds between automatic refreshes of the status data of sheets in a sheet set. Valid values are 20-600. The SSMSHEETSTATUS system variable must be set to 2 for the timer to operate.

SSMSHEETSTATUS
Controls how the status data in a sheet set is refreshed.
The status data for sheets in the current sheet set includes whether a sheet is locked and whether a sheet is missing (or found in an unexpected location). This status data can be updated automatically for all sheets.
To refresh the sheet set manually, use the Refresh Sheet Status button on the Sheet List tab of the Sheet Set Manager.
0
Do not automatically refresh the status data in a sheet set
1
Refresh the status data when the sheet set is loaded or updated
2
In addition, refresh the status data at a time interval set by SSMPOLLTIME

TABLEINDICATOR
Controls the display of row numbers and column letters when the In-Place Text Editor is open for editing a table cell.
0
Off
1
On

TEMPOVERRIDES
Turns temporary override keys on and off. A temporary override key is a key that you can hold down to temporarily turn on or turn off one of the drawing aids that are set in the Drafting Settings dialog box; for example, Ortho mode, object snaps, or Polar mode.
0
Off
1
On

TOOLTIPMERGE
Combines drafting tooltips into a single tooltip. The appearance of the merged tooltip is controlled by the settings in the Tooltip Appearance dialog box.
0
Off
1
On

VTDURATION
Sets the duration of a smooth view transition, in milliseconds. The valid range is 0 to 5000. (initial value: 750)

VTENABLE
Controls when smooth view transitions are used. Smooth view transitions can be on or off for panning and zooming, for changes of view angle, or for scripts. The valid range is 0 to 7. (see help file for detailed table)

VTFPS
Sets the minimum speed of a smooth view transition, in frames per second. When a smooth view transition cannot maintain this speed, an instant transition is used. The valid range is 1.0 to 30.0. (initial value: 7.0)

WINDOWAREACOLOR
Controls the color of the transparent selection area during window selection. The valid range is 1 to 255. SELECTIONAREA must be on.

WSCURRENT
Returns the current workspace name in the command line interface and sets a workspace to current.

2006 System Variables D-L

Continuing from yesterday's posts,

From the help files... 2006 system variables beginning with the letters 'D' through 'L':

DRSTATE
Determines whether the Drawing Recovery window is active or not.
0
The Drawing Recovery window is not active
1
The Drawing Recovery window is active

DTEXTED
Specifies the user interface for editing single-line text.
0
Displays the In-Place Text Editor
1
Displays the Edit Text dialog box

DYNDIGRIP
Controls which dynamic dimensions are displayed during grip stretch editing. The DYNDIVIS system variable must be set to 2, which displays all dynamic dimensions.
0
None
1
Resulting dimension
2
Length change dimension
4
Absolute angle dimension
8
Angle change dimension
16
Arc radius dimension
The DYNMODE system variable turns Dynamic Input features on and off.

DYNDIVIS
Controls how many dynamic dimensions are displayed during grip stretch editing. DYNDIGRIP controls which dynamic dimensions are displayed during grip stretch editing.
0
Only the first dynamic dimension in the cycle order
1
Only the first two dynamic dimensions in the cycle order
2
All dynamic dimensions, as controlled by the DYNDIGRIP system variable
The DYNMODE system variable turns Dynamic Input features on and off.

DYNMODE
Turns Dynamic Input features on and off. When all features are on, the context governs what is displayed.
When DYNMODE is set to a negative value, the Dynamic Input features are not visible, but the setting is stored. Press the Dyn button in the status bar to set DYNMODE to the corresponding positive value.
0
All off
1
Only pointer input on
2
Only dimensional input on
3
All on
When DYNMODE is set to anything but 0, you can turn off all features temporarily by holding down the temporary override key, F12.
Settings are on the Dynamic Input tab in the Drafting Settings dialog box.

DYNPICOORDS
Controls whether pointer input uses relative or absolute format for coordinates.
0
Relative
1
Absolute
The DYNMODE system variable turns Dynamic Input features on and off.

DYNPIFORMAT
Controls whether pointer input uses polar or Cartesian format for coordinates. This setting applies only to a second or next point.
0
Polar
1
Cartesian
The DYNMODE system variable turns Dynamic Input features on and off.

DYNPIVIS
Controls when pointer input is displayed.
0
Only when you type at a prompt for a point
1
Automatically at a prompt for a point
2
Always
The DYNMODE system variable turns Dynamic Input features on and off.

DYNPROMPT
Controls display of prompts in Dynamic Input tooltips.
0
Off
1
On
The DYNMODE system variable turns Dynamic Input features on and off.

DYNTOOLTIPS
Controls which tooltips are affected by tooltip appearance settings.
0
Only Dynamic Input value fields
1
All drafting tooltips

ENTERPRISEMENU
Stores the CUI file name (if defined), including the path for the file name.

FULLPLOTPATH
Controls whether the full path of the drawing file is sent to the plot spooler.
0
Sends the drawing file name only
1
Sends the full path of the drawing file

GRIPDYNCOLOR
Controls the color of custom grips for dynamic blocks. The valid range is 1 to 255.

HPINHERIT
Controls the hatch origin of the resulting hatch when using Inherit Properties in HATCH and HATCHEDIT.
0
The hatch origin is taken from HPORIGIN
1
The hatch origin is taken from the source hatch object

HPOBJWARNING
Sets the number of hatch boundary objects that can be selected before displaying a warning message.

HPORIGIN
Sets the hatch origin point for new hatch objects relative to the current user coordinate system.

HPORIGINMODE
Controls how HATCH determines the default hatch origin point.
0
Hatch origins are set using HPORIGIN
1
Hatch origins are set using the bottom-left corner of the rectangular extents of the hatch boundaries
2
Hatch origins are set using the bottom-right corner of the rectangular extents of the hatch boundaries
3
Hatch origins are set using the top-right corner of the rectangular extents of the hatch boundaries
4
Hatch origins are set using the top-left corner of the rectangular extents of the hatch boundaries
5
Hatch origins are set using the center of the rectangular extents of the hatch boundaries

HPSEPARATE
Controls whether HATCH creates a single hatch object or separate hatch objects when operating on several closed boundaries.
0
A single hatch object is created
1
Separate hatch objects are created

INPUTHISTORYMODE
Controls the content and location of the display of a history of user input.
The setting is stored as a bitcode using the sum of the following values:
0
No history of recent input is displayed
1
History of recent input is displayed at the command line or in a dynamic prompt tooltip with access through Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys
2
History of recent input for the current command is displayed in the shortcut menu
4
History of recent input for all commands in the current session is displayed in the shortcut menu
8
Markers for recent input of point locations are displayed in the drawing

INTELLIGENTUPDATE
Controls the graphics refresh rate. The default value is 20 frames per second. If you encounter problems related to graphics generation or timing, turn off the variable by setting it to 0. INTELLIGENTUPDATE works by suppressing the graphics update until the timer expires. Subsequent updates reset the timer.
The performance improvement significantly affects updates for scripts and AutoLISP graphics. Those using regular AutoCAD commands will not see a noticeable difference in performance.

LAYERFILTERALERT
Deletes excessive layer filters to improve performance. When a drawing has 100 or more layer filters, and the number of layer filters exceeds the number of layers, LAYERFILTERALERT provides a method for deleting layer filters to improve performance.
0
Off
1
When the Layer Manager is opened, deletes all layer filters; no message is displayed
2
When the Layer Manager is opened, displays a message that states the problem, recommends deleting all filters, and offers a choice: "Do you want to delete all layer filters now?"
3
When the drawing is opened, displays a message that states the problem and offers to display a dialog box where you can choose which filters to delete

LOCKUI
Locks the position and size of toolbars and windows such as DesignCenter and Properties palette. Locked toolbars and windows can still be opened and closed and items can be added and deleted. To unlock them temporarily, hold down CTRL.
A lock icon in the status bar tray indicates whether toolbars and windows are locked. Right-click the icon to display locking options.
The setting is stored as a bitcode using the sum of the following values:
0
Toolbars and windows not locked
1
Docked toolbars locked
2
Docked windows locked
4
Floating toolbars locked
8
Floating windows locked

2006 System Variables B-C

From the help files... 2006 system variables beginning with the letters 'B' and 'C':

BACTIONCOLOR
Sets the text color of actions in the Block Editor. Valid values include BYLAYER, BYBLOCK, and an integer from 1 to 255.
Valid values for True Colors are a string of integers each from 1 to 255 separated by commas and preceded by RGB. The True Color setting is entered as follows:
RGB:000,000,000

BDEPENDENCYHIGHLIGHT
Controls whether or not dependent objects are dependency highlighted when a parameter, action, or grip is selected in the Block Editor.
0
Specifies that dependent objects are not highlighted
1
Specifies that dependent objects are highlighted
Dependency highlighting displays objects with a halo effect.

BGRIPOBJCOLOR
Sets the color of grips in the Block Editor. Valid values include BYLAYER, BYBLOCK, and an integer from 1 to 255.
Valid values for True Colors are a string of integers each from 1 to 255 separated by commas and preceded by RGB. The True Color setting is entered as follows:
RGB:000,000,000

BGRIPOBJSIZE
Sets the display size of custom grips in the Block Editor relative to the screen display. Valid values include an integer from 1 to 255.
Use the REGEN command to update the display size of custom grips in the Block Editor.

BLOCKEDITLOCK
Disallows opening of the Block Editor and editing of dynamic block definitions. When BLOCKEDITLOCK is set to 1, double-clicking a dynamic block in a drawing opens the Reference Edit dialog box. If the block contains attributes, double-clicking the block reference opens the Enhanced Attribute Editor
0
Specifies that the Block Editor can be opened
1
Specifies that the Block Editor cannot be opened

BLOCKEDITOR
Reflects whether or not the Block Editor is open.
0
Indicates that the Block Editor is not open
1
Indicates that the Block Editor is open

BPARAMETERCOLOR
Sets the color of parameters in the Block Editor. Valid values include BYLAYER, BYBLOCK, and an integer from 1 to 255.
Valid values for True Colors are a string of integers each from 1 to 255 separated by commas and preceded by RGB. The True Color setting is entered as follows:
RGB:000,000,000

BPARAMETERFONT
Sets the font used for parameters and actions in the Block Editor.
You can specify either a True Type font or a SHX font (for example, Verdana or Verdana.ttf). You must add the .shx extension to specify an AutoCAD SHX font. When specifying an Asian Big Font, use the following naming convention: an SHX file followed by a comma (,), followed by the Big Font file name (for example, Simplex.shx,Bigfont.shx).

BPARAMETERSIZE
Sets the size of parameter text and features in the Block Editor relative to the screen display. Valid values include an integer from 1 to 255.

BTMARKDISPLAY
Controls whether or not value set markers are displayed for dynamic block references.
0
Specifies that value set markers are not displayed
1
Specifies that value set markers are displayed

BVMODE
Controls how objects that are made invisible for the current visibility state are displayed in the Block Editor.
0
Specifies that hidden objects are not visible
1
Specifies that hidden objects are visible but dimmed

CALCINPUT
Controls whether mathematical expressions and global constants are evaluated in text and numeric entry boxes of windows and dialog boxes.
0
Expressions are not evaluated
1
Expressions are evaluated after you press the END key

CENTERMT
Controls how grips stretch multiline text that is centered horizontally. CENTERMT does not apply to stretching multiline text by using the ruler in the In-Place Text Editor.
0
When you move a corner grip in centered multiline text, the center grip moves in the same direction, and the grip on the opposite side remains in place
1
When you move a corner grip in centered multiline text, the center grip stays in place, and both sets of side grips move in the direction of the stretch

CLISTATE
Stores a value that indicates whether the command window is hidden or displayed.
0
Hidden
1
Displayed

CMDINPUTHISTORYMAX
Sets the maximum number of previous input values that are stored for a prompt in a command. Display of the history of user input is controlled by the INPUTHISTORYMODE system variable.

CROSSINGAREACOLOR
Controls the color of the selection area during crossing selection. The valid range is 1 to 255. The SELECTIONAREA system variable must be on.

System Variables New in 2006

~sings~ These are a few of my favorite things!
Well, not really, but, when you're in a jamb, that odd little system variable can mean the difference between bald patches and a full head of hair.

I always appreciate the detailed list on Hyperpics, and that's where I pulled out all of these variables that are new in AutoCAD 2006. Stay tuned as I add the explanations from the Help files for them.

BACTIONCOLOR
BDEPENDENCYHIGHLIGHT
BGRIPOBJCOLOR
BGRIPOBJSIZE
BLOCKEDITLOCK
BLOCKEDITOR
BPARAMETERCOLOR
BPARAMETERFONT
BPARAMETERSIZE
BTMARKDISPLAY
BVMODE
CALCINPUT
CENTERMT
CLISTATE
CMDINPUTHISTORYMAX
CROSSINGAREACOLOR
DRSTATE
DTEXTED
DYNDIGRIP
DYNDIVIS
DYNMODE
DYNPICOORDS
DYNPIFORMAT
DYNPIVIS
DYNPROMPT
DYNTOOLTIPS
ENTERPRISEMENU
FULLPLOTPATH
GRIPDYNCOLOR
HPINHERIT
HPOBJWARNING
HPORIGIN
HPORIGINMODE
HPSEPARATE
INPUTHISTORYMODE
INTELLIGENTUPDATE
LAYERFILTERALERT
LOCKUI
OSNAPOVERRIDE
OSNAPZ
PREVIEWEFFECT
PREVIEWFILTER
QCSTATE
RECOVERYMODE
SELECTIONAREA
SELECTIONAREAOPACITY
SELECTIONPREVIEW
SHOWLAYERUSAGE
SSMPOLLTIME
SSMSHEETSTATUS
TABLEINDICATOR
TEMPOVERRIDES
TOOLTIPMERGE
VTDURATION
VTENABLE
VTFPS
WINDOWAREACOLOR
WSCURRENT

You Might be a CAD Diva

I put together goodie-bags for the ladies from CWC and a couple others, and my favorite part was the magnets (all original, I might point out), that I created for them, ala' Jeff Foxworthy, hope you enjoy:

You Might be a CAD Diva…
A Woman’s Touch:
If you love redecorating your house… and always do three alternate layouts before moving anything.
If you have the cutest little purse for going out, but, you’re torn between taking your compact or your ipaq.
If your jewelry box is chock-full of necklaces, earrings and drill bits.
If you debate with your girlfriends on jean cuts, liquid vs. powder foundation and graphics cards.

Hobbies:
If you’re regularly called by friends and family members to setup/troubleshoot anything containing a digital clock.
If your wildest stories always start out: ‘This one time, at CAD Camp’.
If your favorite magazines include Glamour, Redbook and CADalyst.

Dating:
If you’ve ever turned down a guy with the line ‘I’m sorry, I don’t date guys who use R12’
If your boyfriend/husband owns fewer power tools than you.
If you’re bar-hopping with your girlfriends and you give out your email instead of your phone number.
If your personal ad lists customization or beta-testing among your turn-ons.
If your wedding gifts are bought from registries at the following stores; the AUGI store, Office Max, the Discovery Channel Store and Bed, Bath & Beyond. (~hint, hint~)

Life at the Office:
If you are the only woman in the office, and no one would dare to ask you to make coffee.
If you doubt your ability to survive more than two days without chocolate and/or coffee.
If your desktop contents include a coffee mug, a french curve and floral hand lotion.

You just might be... a CAD Diva.

I am posting an edit here 08/06 to include a link to You might be a Redneck CAD Tech if... from MEP blogger Kelly Swa. Good stuff.

I'm posting an edit here 07/08 to include a link to You might be using AutoCAD Too much if... from blogger Brian Benton.