Autodesk Plant Exchange

Hi Hassan,

Polyline is just like drawing lines and arcs. The difference is: it can have multi segments lines and arcs, and you can modify it as a single entity.

And unlike line or arc, you can control the polyline width. You can read the tutorial in Daly AutoCAD blog here.

Hi Wade,

I'm not familiar with Pathfinder office. However, I did some searching in Autodesk forum and find this thread. They mention that both are using different coordinate systems. You might want to check it out.

Ndukwe, please see my answer for your other question.

Hi Ndukwe,

I'm not really clear what is your problem during installation. I assume that your installer is not corrupted, and you can run the installer but failed during installation.

There are many possibilities that cause this, and mostly the failure is when AutoCAD trying to install the prerequisite.

I suggest you to contact your reseller to get support. However, if you want to try to solve it by yourself, try to read this installation troubleshoot.

Hi Rick,

DWF format can be opened with Autodesk Design Review. You can get a free copy of Design Review here: http://www.autodesk.com/designreview

Hi Joseph,

Have you tried to login as different user and start AutoCAD? I believe it has something to do with the user permission in Windows.

Hi Bob,

The open drawing menu is no longer available since ACA 2010.

Hi David,

line type scale is controlled by LTSCALE variable. It control general line type scale in your drawing.

If you able to see the dashed line in your model, but not in your layout/sheet, you need to check the MSLTSCALE and PSLTSCALE. Try to change them both to 1.

If you are still unable to see your dashed line, check your annotation scale for your model and your viewport.

When the annotation scale for your model and viewport have the same value, and MSLTSCALE and PSLTSCALE have the same value... you should be able to see the dashed line both in your model and sheet. If you don't see the dashed line both in sheet and model, then try to change the LTSCALE.

Hi Michael,

I'm sorry, but I'm not familiar with Civil 3D. I'll try to look around and update it when I found it.

Nathaniel,

It's good to see that you have that passion! Become a building designer is not only about learning an application. I believe you can join a local group of Architects and cad users to extend your knowledge and skills in building design.

Good luck!

Hi Nathaniel,

You need to contact a local reseller to get an AutoCAD license. If you are referring to get free 30 days trial, you can download it here: http://www.autodesk.com/autocad

If you are a student, you can also get a free copy by joining the education community here: http://www.autodesk.com/educommunity

Chris,

I'm not sure if you can modify CUI in AutoCAD LT. If you can modify your CUI file, then you can add any command to your [shift] + right click menu.

You can create tracking command and place it under shortcut menus> object snap cursor menu.

I have posted how to create a new command in your contextual menu on my blog: http://cad-notes.com/2009/08/adding-command-to-your-right-click/

If you still have problem, let me know.

Hi Biju,

ARG files can be used to export and import your AutoCAD profile. You can create the file from AutoCAD option, profile tab. Click export to save your AutoCAD profile, then you can import it in another computer.

Hi Selim,

There are many possibilities that can cause the fatal error. It can be file specific, or machine specific. Have you tried to eliminate the possibilities that the error occur when you open a specific file? Does it happen only on a specific machine?

You can submit the CER (customer error reporting) and send the error log to Autodesk. If you provided your email address, Autodesk support will reply and suggest you what you should do to fix the problem.

Brandon,

I'm sorry, but I can't reproduce this problem on my machine. Can you guide me how to reproduce it?

Ndukwe,

enexpected end of archieve means that your cab file is corrupted. There is no other way that trying to get another installer DVD. Did you download the file? Try to get a copy from your reseller, they should have it.

Rex,

Some AutoCAD tools are added to AutoCAD LT in later version. For example, as far as I can remember, you can't create dynamic block in AutoCAD LT 2006, but you can do it in later version. You need to check if the express tools are actually available for your version.

In AutoCAD LT 2009, there are some express tools available. But only 19 from 122 available in AutoCAD 2009. I tried to find official documentation about express tools in AutoCAD LT 2006, but can't find any. But if 2006 has it, then it should be available in your installation CD.

Tim,

I found this thread that might be able to solve the issue:

http://discussion.autodesk.com/forums/message.jspa?messageID=6193789

Look at the last post in the discussion thread.

Hi Alan,

The behavior is controlled by PICKFIRST system variable. Type PICKFIRST then [enter], enter value 1 then [enter] again to change the value.

Kelly,

Is that drawing came from Civil 3D? I suspect that 'the boxes' are the Civil 3D objects and can't be viewed outside Civil 3D environment. You need to install AutoCAD Civil object enabler to see the civil objects.

Another workaround is ask your engineers to set the PROXYGRAPHICS variable to 1, before sending you the drawing. Then change PROXYSHOW variable to 1 in your AutoCAD LT.

HTH

Trupti,

As far as I know we can't do it directly in AutoCAD. There is no such option to rotate the leader text during placement, or in leader style. However, you can rotate the text after you place your leader (or change the rotation value in properties palette). If you set the leader angle to specific value (30 or 45 deg for example) it will be easier for you to rotate the text later.

I also aware that AutoCAD communities have develop vba and autolisp routine to do the job.

Basically ARG files are used to transfer your profile settings from one computer to another computer. The benefit is you don't have to set everything again when you reinstall your AutoCAD or you are using a new computer.

I snipped this from the help file:

Profiles store drawing environment settings. You can create profiles for different users or projects, and you can share profiles by importing and exporting them as files.

Profiles store settings such as the following:

• Default search and project file paths
• Template file locations
• Initial folder specified in file navigation dialog boxes
• Default linetype and hatch pattern files
• Printer defaults

Profile information is typically set on the Files tab of the Options dialog box, stored in the system registry, and can be exported to a text file (an ARG file).

Hi Lesley,

Unfortunately no. You need to ask them to convert the drawing to DWG or DXF before you can open the file.

Yes Jeff,

There is a workaround before you can convert them to xref. First you need to save the block as a file. You can use WBLOCK to do it. Then you can convert the block in your drawing as xref, select the new file as your xref.

You can use express tool to do it. Find 'convert block to xref' tool, or type BLOCKTOXREF then [enter].

Hi Ruben,

I'm sorry but I'm not clear what you are referring to 'drag wizard'. Can you be more specific?

It should control the text behavior when the arc is modified by dragging the grips. It doesn't give significant effects you can see. One effect that I have seen is when you created arctext inward to center. Try to create two texts, one with activating drag wizard, and the other without activating it.

Drag the arc grips until the arc center flipped to the other side. You should see the difference.

Hi  Trupti,

One common reason that cause this is because your are using 'illegal characters' in the drawing file name. Characters like @[ ] # is not recognize by the system.

If this is what cause your problem, rename the file name in reference manager, then you can detach it.

You are refering to block attributes, aren't you?

Yes, using attributes gives many advantages in your block. Text and Mtext can be used if the block annotation is static and you don't need to change it. Attributes are editable, even after you place the block, and can have unique value for each block. You can also use fields that automatically updated in attributes.

The most important thing is attributes give your block identity. You can extract the data later for many purposes.

You might be interested in some samples of using attributes and data extractions:

• Automatic coordinate labeling
• Reporting coordinates using data extraction
• Creating schedules from your drawing.

Hi Arsalan, your question is not as easy as it sounds :)

AutoCAD has several standard line types in acad.lin and acadiso.lin. But we can create our own quite easily. So my answer would be there are virtually unlimited.

The standard line width depends on the standard you are using. There are some international standards that you can use as a guide.

Hello Paulo,

I never heard your first issue. It is strange. Only those two commands are affected?

For your second issue, it's probably your printer/plotter settings. Is this problem also accur in other application or just AutoCAD?

Robert,

You are correct. There is no 'view name' field for viewport. I'm not sure if we can create a custom field for 'saved view'. If it is possible, it might need some programming that beyond my knowledge.

I'm sorry that I can be more helpful.

Hi Duane,

Unfortunately no. Publish is only for sheets.