Working with Layers

          Layers. One of the most important factor that affects the way in creating plans and drawings. It is used to group information in the drawing by function and to designate linetype, color, lineweight and other elements. In creating layers, you can associate similar types of objects by assigning them to the same layer or same group. For example, you can put construction lines, dimensions, text and title blocks on separate layers. Doing so, you can control the following : (1) whether the objects on the specific group of layers are visible or hidden in any viewports; (2) whether and how the objects on the layer are plotted; (3) what color are to be assigned on the objects belonging to  layer; (4) whether or not the objects on the layer can be modified and (5) whether objects display with different layer properties in individual layout viewports. These are the functions that can be obtain from using layer. This makes things easier in working with different field of design in a single planning. You will notice that every drawing has a layer named 0. Layer 0 cannot be deleted or renamed. Its purpose is to (1) ensure that every drawing includes at least one layer and (2) to provide special layer that relates to controlling colors in blocks. Another thing is, when you start to put dimensions, you will notice that their is a new layer named Defpoints. Layer Defpoints or definition points cannot be plotted. It is the small dot of the dimension line wherein the dimension came from. It indicates the starting line of the dimension line itself. You can changed the color but you cannot plot it. So anytime you create a plan, always don't forget to work with layers. See yah..

AutoCAD eTransmit

Going back spontaneously with our AutoCAD tips and tricks. let us now talk about eTransmit function. The AutoCAD eTransmit command allows you to make a package set of files for internet transmission including all dependent files such as xrefs, images and font files. This command put you at ease while sending drawing files because sometimes we fail to include all the associated files like xrefs, images and font sizes. In most cases, failure to include those files makes the file unusable for the recipient and makes it hard to understand. It takes more time to realize or empathizing the idea of the design. With eTransmit, dependent files are automatically included in the transmittal package making it usable and more reliable.

Choosing files for transmittal. In choosing files to be package, under the Create Transmittal dialog box, it displays two tabs option for individual drawing files and/or three tabs option for sheet sets and drawing files that are referenced by sheet sets. Using these options, you can view and change the files to be included in the package. These tab options are sheets, files tree and files table. In sheets option, this is only available when a sheet set is open in the drawing. Use this options to automatically include all referenced files for transmittal package. Next is the files tree tab/option, in this option you can expand and collapse each drawing and choose the files to be included in the transmittal. By default, it includes all the referenced files in it. Last is the files table tab/option. This option gives you the most direct control over the files to be transmitted. You need to checked all the files to be included in the package which differs from the files tree tab option wherein files are automatically included.

The files that area automatically included in the transmittal are files type like: *.dwg, various image file types (i.e., jpeg, bmp, png, etc.), *.dgn, *.dwf, *.dwfx, *.pdf, *.dxe, *.xls,  *.fmp, *.ctb, *.stb, *.pc3, *.dwt, *.dst, and *.dws. While the following file types are types of files which are not automatically added to a transmittal package like *.arx, *.dbx, *.lsp, *.vlx, *.dvb, *.dll, *.shx, *.ttf, *.pfa/*.pfb, *.pat, *.lin, *.mln, *.pmp, *.unt, *.pss, OLE objects (linked files), Rtext objects (linked files), *.xls (miscrosoft excel files).

In creating a transmittal package, you can also include your own instruction or note to the recipient so he can fully understand what must be done drawing-dependent files such as x-refs and font files so they are usable for future revisions. In saving a transmittal package, eTransmit feature provides a method to name and save your transmittal settings as transmittal setups. The Transmittal Setups dialog box displays a list of saved transmittal setups from which you can select each time you transmit a set of files. It is like creating a new layout for the drawing. The default transmittal setup is named Standard.

AutoCAD 's Snapstyl Command

Isometric drawings. Are you familiar with the "SNAPSTYL" command? Well, this command is used in creating isometric drawing. Instead of using "ISOPLANE" command for each angle, and then enter those corresponding values and options, you can use this command to easily produce or create an isometric drawing. It's more reliable and comfortable in using this command because you can simply navigate or toggle-up from isoplane right, left or top.  Using isometric drawing  is one the simplest way  show the perspective of an object  in 3-dimensional state while in 2-dimensional  command. This gives you the idea of how does a design looks like in 3-D, but it only has limited faces and views. Most isometric drawing used to express an orthographic view of a plan, design or even a drawing.

In addition to this, I will also give you some tricks in creating an isometric text, dimensioning and creating a circle in isometric view. Lets first start in creating an object using the "SNAPSTYL" command then follow-up with isometric text.

-First, open Autocad, create new file, then press F8 for Orthographic Projection and F3 for Osnap (Object Snap Tracking) to specify precise location on objects. After that, enter the command "SNAPSTYL" on the command line then press 1 <↵>. There you can see that the crosshair changes from rectangular to isometric snap. It means, it is now ready to create isometric objects. Now you can draw your desired shape or object.


-Then follows the text. Create a text using text command. Type "TEXT" in the command line then enter. (Note: Don't use the command "T" only because it will make an m-text which lacks some properties of  being an isometric text or otherwise you'll have to explode the text itself just to make it text only.) After you've created a text, open the object properties dialog box. There you can see options under text, the options rotation and obliquing. These options controls the direction and the obliquing angle of the text . You can try to explore and you'll find out for yourself. Most commonly used angles are the 30°, 330°, -30°  and -330° because these are the corresponding angles used in isometric drawings.

-Next is the circle or ellipse. To create a circle in isometric view, you will use the ellipse shape. It possess the property of being in isometric or even in rectangular view. Type "EL" (for ellipse shortcut command) then enter. After that, you can see an option in the command line, press "I" for isocircle then enter, click on the desired location for the center of the ellipse, then enter the radius or press <enter> if diameter. You can press F5 to change the direction of the isoplane. That is how you can create a circle in an isometric drawing.

-Finally, dimensioning. To dimension an isometric drawing, first create a text style thru command line or thru dimension style dialog box and named it 30 Degrees, and put 30 on its obliquing angle option. Then, create another one and named it-30 Degrees and put on -30 on its obliquing angle option. Next, create a dimension style in relation with the text styles we've created. Named it 30 Degrees and -30 Degrees respectively. After that, put a dimension on an object. Then type "DIMEDIT" <enter>, type "O" <enter> to change the obliquing angle of the dimension line. Choose the object itself as the reference for its angle. That's it! You have now the steps on making an isometric drawing. Feel free to ask questions.

Example: 

AutoCAD Single-Letter Command

Let's now proceed with our next tricks and tips sharing. Let me give you some of the most commonly used single letter command. The advantage in using these keyboard shortcuts lets you enhance your typing ability plus you can save more time and effort. You don't need to  memorize or familiarize yourself with its icons. All you have to do is get yourself associated with your most commonly used command to insert an object. For example, instead of clicking the icon for inserting a LINE object, you can simply input letter "L" then enter for the command "line". This trick is widely used now by most auto CAD operator and draftsman around the world due to its simplicity and more comfortability. The table below shows the complete list of single letter command:

Shortcut Key    Function
A <Enter>       Draws an Arc
B <Enter>       Block Definition
C <Enter>       Draws a Circle
D <Enter>       Dimension Style Manager
E <Enter>       Erase an object
F <Enter>       Fillet
G <Enter>      Object Grouping
H <Enter>      Hatch and Gradient
I <Enter>       Insert
J <Enter>       Join an object
L <Enter>       Draws a Line
M <Enter>      Moves an object
O <Enter>      Open a File
P <Enter>       Pan
R <Enter>       Redraw
S <Enter>       Stretch an object
T <Enter>       Insert text
U <Enter>       Undo last action
V <Enter>       View Manager
W <Enter>      Write Block
X <Enter>       Explodes an object/block
Z <Enter>       Zoom

Those are the single-letter command that helps you make your work faster and reliable. In this way of making drafting plans and design, you can say that it is more accurate than the icon-clicking way because you are more focused in your work. Therefore, I should suggest that you better try and make this as your principal way in making drawings. More comfortable, more reliable. Hope that it helps you a little bit. Thanks for reading. :D

AutoCAD Shortcut Keys

          Hey there guys, jumping on to my second blog post in which i will be sharing some of the tricks and ideas i learned from using AutoCAD Application.

         First of all, let me discuss to you what is the meaning of CAD in the word "AutoCAD". It technically means any kind of computer aided drafting used in creating computer generated drawing and design which is basically first introduced as computer aided drafting and design, then later on replaced with CAD only. The word "auto" doesn't mean anything but just a reference to the company's producer, the Autodesk. That is the basic knowledge in learning new things. Study first the abbreviations to help you understand the basic thought before going any further

          Coming back in sharing tricks and tips in using AutoCAD, well the very first basic step in learning autoCAD is to know how to open and close a file. It's just the same as opening and closing a microsoft file. There a keyboard shortcut for opening, i.e., ctrl + o for open a file and ctrl + x for closing a file. Those shortcuts keys are not different from basic microsoft word hot keys and the AutoCAD shortcut keys. They resemble most of the same shortcut keys except for some additional functionality from AutoCAD. Those ctrl + A-Z from microsoft word compared to AutoCAD application only differs in some functions which shown as follows:

Shortcut Keys       AutoCAD                                              Microsoft Office
Ctrl + A                 Select All                                             Select All
Ctrl + B                 Snap On/Off                                         Bold
Ctrl + C                 Copy                                                   Copy
Ctrl + D                 Dynamic UCS On/Off                            Font Dialog Box
Ctrl + E                 Cycles through isometric planes            Center
Ctrl + F                 Osnap On/Off                                       Find
Ctrl + G                 Grid On/Off                                          Go To
Ctrl + H                 Set Variables for Pick style Group          Replace
Ctrl + I                   Insert Coordinate Values                       Italic
Ctrl + J                  Insert Coordinate Values for 1                Fully Justify
Ctrl + K                 Insert Hyperlink                                     Insert Hyperlink
Ctrl + L                  Ortho On/Off                                         Left Justify
Ctrl + M                 Repeats the Last Action                        Hanging Indent
Ctrl + N                 Create New File                                    Create New File
Ctrl + O                 Open a File                                          Open a File
Ctrl + P                 Print/Plot                                              Print
Ctrl + Q                 Exit/Quit a File                                       -
Ctrl + R                 -                                                           Right Justify
Ctrl + S                 Quick Save                                           Quick Save
Ctrl + T                 Tablet On/Off                                          Left Indent
Ctrl + U                Polar On/Off                                           Underline
Ctrl + V                Paste                                                     Paste
Ctrl + W               Selection Cycling On/Off                          Exit a File/Document
Ctrl + X                Cut                                                         Cut
Ctrl + Y                Redo the Last Action                               Redo the Last Action
Ctrl + Z                Undo the Last Action                               Undo the Last Action

          There you have it! Having these list of comparisons gives you a wide variety of idea in trying and exploring new things.So it won't be hard on you whether you're a beginner or pro in AutoCAD. Hope you like post. Next time I make a post regarding AutoCAD, I'll share you some of the shortcut keys for express tools that I frequently used in creating plans and designs. See you next time...