Tips and Tricks - Golden Rules

The following tips will help you produce a better AutoCAD drawing with minimum problems.

• Draw everything to full (actual) scale in model space.
• Draw accurately.
• Use Object Snaps and Ortho.
• Use Associative Hatching and Dimensioning.
• Use the Spell Checker before printing.
• Always save your drawing before printing.
• Place everything on its own layer. Do not draw on layer 0.
• Use color to represent line weight and adjust the widths of pens in the plotter. You can also use the Lineweight options to accomplish the same result. The trick is to be consistant throughout the drawing, project or even the office.
• DO NOT Explode Attributes or Dimensions. Use the appropriate editing tool. In 2000i and above, just double-click on the object you want to edit, AutoCAD will open the correct editor for the selected object.
• When using layouts (paper space in R14), keep it simple. Use model space for everything that has a scale and relates to these objects like dimensions, notes, etc.
  Use layouts and paper space for setting up your sheets to plot. The only objects placed in PS, are the title block, title block information, notes not related to the object, and viewports. Set the scale and layer visibility in the viewports, and plot everything 1 to 1. Remember, Keep it simple. You may have to pass the drawing on to your boss.
• Never open a drawing from a floppy. You will crash AutoCAD.
• Defragment your computer's harddrive once a week to keep AutoCAD and windows running smoothly.
• Keep your boss away from your computer. (Just joking.)

New Users

Always keep your eye on the command prompt. AutoCAD will walk you through any command and its options, as long as you read the command prompt. Set the command prompt area to 3 lines. Some commands list information above the command prompt that cannot be seen with only one or two lines showing in the command prompt area.

TIP: Move the command line to the top of the screen. This makes it easy to keep an eye on the commands.

New Tips and Tricks will be added to this page often. So check back periodically.

If you have a neat tip, trick, LISP routine, or macro and would like us to consider adding it to our site with your name, please e-mail us @ support@CADtechSeminars.com