Configuring AutoCAD


In this section, you will learn how to configure AutoCAD to work the way you want it to work. You can configure AutoCAD at any time during an AutoCAD session by using the Options dialog box.

The tutorials in this book assume that you are using the default Options settings. As you become more familiar with the workings of AutoCAD, you might want to make adjustments to the way AutoCAD works, using the Options dialog box. You can also set many of the options in the Options dialog box through system variables .

Choose Tools   Options to open the Options dialog box, which has the following tabs and settings.

Tip  

Many of the options in the Options dialog box show an AutoCAD file icon. This icon indicates that the option's setting is saved with the file, as opposed to being saved as part of AutoCAD's default settings.

The Files Tab

You use the options on the Files tab to tell AutoCAD where to place or find files it needs to operate . It uses a hierarchical list, similar to the one presented by Windows Explorer. You first see the general topics in the Search Paths, File Names , And File Locations list box. You can expand any item in the list by clicking its plus sign.

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The following explanations describe each item in the list box. Chances are you won't have to use most of them, but you might change others occasionally.

Tip  

The related system variable is shown in brackets at the end of the description of each item.

Support File Search Path

AutoCAD relies on external files for many of its functions. Menus , text fonts, line types, and hatch patterns are a few examples of features that rely on external files. The Support File Search Path item tells AutoCAD where to look for these files. You can add folder paths to this listing by clicking the Add button and entering a new path or using the Browse button. It's probably not a good idea to delete any of the existing items under this heading unless you really know what you are doing.

If you are familiar with using environment variables, you can include them in the search paths.

Working Support File Search Path

The Working Support File Search Path item contains a read-only list of the support file search path for the current session, including any special settings that might be included with command switches and environment settings.

Device Driver File Search Path

The Device Driver File Search Path item locates the device drivers for AutoCAD. Device drivers are applications that enable AutoCAD to communicate directly with the printers, plotters , and input devices. In most cases, you do not have to do anything with this setting.

Project Files Search Path

Eventually, a consultant or other AutoCAD user will provide you with files that rely on Xrefs or raster images. Often, such files will expect the Xref or raster image to be in a particular folder. When such files are moved to another location with a different folder system, Xref-dependent files will not be able to find their Xrefs. The Project Files Search Path item enables you to specify a folder where Xrefs or other dependent files are stored. If AutoCAD is unable to find an Xref or other file, it will look in the folder you specify in this listing.

To specify this folder, highlight Project Files Search Path and then click the Add button. AutoCAD suggests Project1 as the folder name. You can change the name if you prefer. Click the plus sign next to Project1 , and then click Browse to select a location for your project file search path. The project file search path is stored in a system variable called Projectname [Projectname].

Menu, Help, And Miscellaneous File Names

This item lets you set the location of a variety of support files including menu, help, automatic save, log, and configuration files. It also lets you set the default Internet address for the Launch Browser button on the AutoCAD Standard toolbar. If you have a network installation, you can also set the License Manager location on your network.

Text Editor, Dictionary, And Font File Names

Use this item to set the location of the text editor [mtexted], the Custom and Standard dictionaries [Dctmain, Dctust], and the alternate font and font mapping files [Fontalt]. Chapter 8 describes these tools in more detail.

Print File, Spooler, And Prolog Section Names

You can specify a print filename other than the default that is supplied by AutoCAD whenever you plot to a file. The Spooler option lets you specify an application intended to read and plot a plot file. The Prolog option is intended for PostScript export. It lets you specify the Prolog section from the

Acad.psf file that you want AutoCAD to include with exported Encapsulated PostScript files. See Appendix B and Chapter 14 for more information on exporting PostScript files and the Acad.psf file [Psprolog].

Printer Support File Path

Several support files are associated with the AutoCAD printing and plotting system. This item enables you to indicate where you want AutoCAD to look for these files.

Automatic Save File Location

You can indicate the location for AutoCAD's automatic save file by using this item [Savefilepath].

Color Book Locations

This item lets you specify the locations for the PANTONE color book. This is an optional installation item so if the PANTONE color books are not installed, you can install them through your AutoCAD 2005 Installation CD.

Data Sources Location

This item lets you specify the location for ODBC Data Link files for linking AutoCAD drawings to database files.

Template Settings

When you select the Use A Template option in the Create New Drawing dialog box, AutoCAD looks at this setting for the location of template files. You can modify this setting, but chances are you won't need to.

Tool Palettes File Locations

This item lets you specify a location for your custom Tool palettes resource files. When you create custom palettes, AutoCAD will store its data regarding those palettes in this location.

Log File Location

With this item, you can indicate where log files are to be placed [Logfilepath].

Plot And Publish Log File Location

With this item, you can indicate where Plot and Publish log files are to be placed [Logfilepath].

Temporary Drawing File Location

AutoCAD creates temporary files to store portions of your drawings as you work on them. You usually don't have to think about these temporary files unless they start crowding your hard disk or unless you are working on a particularly large file on a system with little memory. This item lets you set the location for temporary files. The default location is the C:\Documents and Settings\ User Name \Local Settings\Temp\ folder. User Name is your login name. If you have a hard disk that has lots of room and is very fast, you might want to change this setting to a location on that drive to improve performance [Tempprefix, read-only].

Temporary External Reference File Location

If you are on a network and you foresee a situation in which another user will want to open an Xref of a file you are working on, you can set the Demand Load Xrefs setting in the Open And Save tab to Enabled With Copy. This causes AutoCAD to make and use a copy of any Xref that is currently loaded. This way, others can open the original file. The Temporary External Reference File Location lets you specify the folder where AutoCAD will store this copy of an Xref [Xloadpath].

Texture Maps Search Path

This item specifies the location for AutoCAD Render texture maps. In most cases, you won't have to change this setting. You can, however, add a folder name to this item for your own texture maps as you acquire or create them.

i-drop Associated File Location

This is where you specify the location of files imported to your computer through the i-drop function in AutoCAD. By default, no location is specified, so the i-drop imported DWG file is placed in the same folder location as the current drawing.

Note  

While in AutoCAD, you might want to quickly find the location of a resource file such as a log file or the automatic save file. You can do so by using the AutoLISP Getvar function along with the name of the system variable associated with the resource. For example, to quickly find the location of the log file path, enter (getvar "logfilepath") at the command prompt. For the automatic save file, enter (getvar "savefilepath") . LT users can employ the Modemacro command as in Modemacro $(getvar,logfilepath) or Modemacro $(getvar,savefilepath) . See Chapter 20 for more on Modemacro.

The Display Tab

The settings on this tab let you control the appearance of AutoCAD. You can make AutoCAD look completely different with these settings if you choose. Scroll bars, fonts, and colors are all up for grabs.

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The Window Elements Group

These options control the general settings for AutoCAD windows:

Display Scroll Bars In Drawing Window     Lets you turn the scroll bars on and off. If you have a small monitor with low resolution, you might want to turn the scroll bars off for a larger drawing area.

Display Screen Menu     Turns on the old AutoCAD Format Screen menu that once appeared on the right side of the screen. If you really must have it displayed, this is where you can turn it back on.

Colors     Opens a dialog box that lets you set the color for the various components of the AutoCAD window. This is where you can change the background color of the drawing area if you find that black doesn't work for you.

Fonts     Opens a dialog box that lets you set the fonts of the AutoCAD window. You can select from the standard set of Windows fonts available in your system.

The Display Resolution Group

These options control the way different types of objects are displayed in AutoCAD. You can choose between display accuracy and speed:

Arc And Circle Smoothness     Controls the appearance of arcs and circles, particularly when you zoom in on them. In some instances, arcs and circles will appear to be octagons, even though they will plot as smooth arcs and circles. If you want arcs and circles to appear smoother, you can increase this setting. An increase will also increase memory use. This setting is also controlled by the Viewres system variable [Viewres].

Segments In A Polyline Curve     Controls the smoothness of polyline curves. Increase the value to make curved polylines appear smoother and less segmented. Decrease the value for improved display performance. This option is also set by the Splinesegs system variable [Splinesegs].

Rendered Object Smoothness     Controls the smoothness of curved solids when they are rendered or shaded. Values can range from 0.01 to 10 [Facetres].

Contour Lines Per Surface     Lets you set the number of contour lines used to represent solid, curved surfaces. Values can range from 0 to 2047 [Isolines].

The Layout Elements Group

These options control the display of elements in the Paper Space Layout tabs. See Chapters 7 and 13 for more information. Most of these options are self-explanatory. The Show Page Setup Manager For New Layouts option opens the Page Setup Manager dialog box whenever a layout is first opened. The Create Viewport In New Layouts option automatically creates a viewport in a layout when it is first opened.

The Display Performance Group

You can adjust a variety of display-related settings from this group:

Pan And Zoom With Raster & OLE     Controls the way raster images react to real-time pans and zooms. If this option is selected, raster images move with the cursor. Turn this option off for better performance [Rtdisplay].

Highlight Raster Image Frame Only     Determines how raster images appear when selected. Turn this option on for better performance [Imagehlt].

Apply Solid Fill     Controls the display of filled objects such as wide polylines and areas filled with the solid hatch pattern. This option is also controlled by the Fillmode system variable. See Chapter 13 for more information on filled polylines and the solid hatch pattern. Turn this option off for better performance [Fillmode].

Show Text Boundary Frame Only     Controls the way text is displayed. Turn this option on to display text as rectangular boundaries [Qtextmode].

Show Silhouettes In Wireframe     Controls whether surface meshes for solid models are displayed. Turn this option off for better performance [Dispsilh].

The Crosshair Size Slider

This slider controls the size of the crosshair cursor. You can set this to 100 percent to simulate the full-screen crosshair cursor of earlier versions of AutoCAD [Cursorsize].

The Reference Edit Fading Intensity Slider

This slider controls the display of nonselected objects during in-place reference editing. See Chapter 6 for more information on in-place reference editing [Xfadectl].

The Open And Save Tab

The Open And Save tab offers general file-related options such as Automatic Save and the default file version for the Save and Save As options.

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The File Save Group

You can control how AutoCAD saves files by using the options in this group:

Save As     This drop-down list lets you set the default file type for the File   Save and the File   Save As options. If you are working in an environment that requires Release 14 files as the standard file type, for example, you can use this option to select Release 14 as the default file type.You can also set up AutoCAD to save DXF files by default.

Thumbnail Preview Settings     Lets you determine whether a preview image is saved with a draw- ing. Preview images are used in the AutoCAD File dialog box and in DesignCenter to let you preview a file before opening it [Rasterpreview]. You can also control the display of the sheet set preview [Updatethumbnail].

Incremental Save Percentage     Controls the degree to which the incremental save feature is used whenever you use the File   Save or the File   Save As options. An incremental save improves the time it takes to save a file to disk, but it also makes the file size larger. If you have limited disk space, you can set this value to 25. A value of 0 turns off incremental save altogether, but will reduce AutoCAD performance. This option is also controlled through the Isavepercent system variable [Isavepercent].

The File Safety Precautions Group

These options control the automatic backup features of AutoCAD:

Automatic Save     Offers control over the Automatic Save features. You can turn it on or off by using the check box or set the frequency at which files are saved by using the Minutes Between Saves input box. You can set the location for the automatic save files by using the Automatic Save File Location listing in the Files tab of the Options dialog box. You can also set the frequency of automatic saves through the Savetime system variable [Savefilepath, Savefile].

Create Backup Copy With Each Save     Lets you determine whether a BAK file is saved along with every save you perform. You can turn this option off to conserve disk space. You can also use the Isavebak system variable to turn this option on or off [Isavebak, Tempprefix].

Full-Time CRC Validation     Controls the cyclic redundancy check feature, which checks for file errors whenever AutoCAD reads a file. This feature is helpful in troubleshooting hardware problems in your system.

Maintain A Log File     Lets you record the data in the AutoCAD Text window. See Chapter 14 for more on this feature. You can set the location for log files in the Files tab of the Options dialog box [Logfilemode, Logfilename].

File Extension For Temporary Files     Lets you set the filename extension for AutoCAD temporary files. These are files AutoCAD uses to store drawing data temporarily as you work on a file. If you are working on a network where temporary files from multiple users might be stored in the same folder, you might want to change this setting to identify your temporary files.

Security Options     Opens the Security Options dialog box, in which you can either password- protect a file or add a digital signature. See Chapter 21 for more on these features.

Display Digital Signature Information     When a file containing a digital signature is opened, this option will display a warning message alerting you to the presence of the signature [Sigwarn]. See Chapter 21 for more on the digital signature feature.

The File Open Group

You can control how AutoCAD displays filenames in the File menu or the drawing title bar:

Number Of Recently Used Files To List This input box lets you specify the number of files listed in the File menu history list. The default is 4, but you can enter a value from 0 to 9.

Display Full Path In Title Just as its name indicates, this option controls whether the full path is included in the title bar with a drawing's name.

The External References (Xrefs) Group

These options let you control memory and layer features of Xrefs:

Demand Load Xrefs     Lets you turn on the Demand Load feature of Xrefs. Demand Load helps to improve the performance of files that use Xrefs by loading only those portions of an Xref drawing that are required for the current open drawing. This option is a drop-down list with three options: Disabled turns off demand loading, Enabled turns on demand loading, and Enabled With Copy turns on demand loading by using a copy of the Xref source file. This last option enables others on a network to edit the Xref source file while you're working on a file that also uses the file [Xloadctl].

Retain Changes To Xref Layers     Lets you save layer settings of Xref files in the current drawing. This does not affect the source Xref file. With this setting turned off, the current file will import the layer settings of the Xref file when it loads that file. This setting is also controlled by the Visretain system variable [Visretain].

Allow Other Users To Refedit Current Drawing     Lets you specify whether others can simultaneously edit a file that you are editing. This option is intended to enable others to use the Modify   Xref And Block Editing option (the Refedit command) on files that you currently have loaded in AutoCAD [Xedit].

The Object ARX Applications Group

AutoCAD allows users and third-party developers to create custom objects that usually require the presence of a custom ObjectARX application to support the object. These options control the way AutoCAD treats custom objects and their related ObjectARX applications:

Demand Load ObjectARX Apps     Controls when a supporting third-party application is loaded if a custom object is present in a file. This option offers several settings that you can select from a drop-down list. The available settings are Disable Load On Demand, Custom Object Detect,Command Invoke, and Object Detect And Command Invoke. Disable Load On Demand prevents AutoCAD from loading third-party applications when a custom object is present. Note that some standard AutoCAD commands will not work if you select Disable Load On Demand because AutoCAD itself uses ObjectARX applications. Custom Object Detect causes AutoCAD to automatically load an ARX application if a custom object is present. Command Invoke loads a custom application when you invoke a command from that application. The Object Detect And Command Invoke option loads an ARX application when either a custom object is present or when you invoke a command from that application [Demandload].

Proxy Images For Custom Objects     Offers a drop-down list with three settings that control the display of custom objects when the objects supporting ARX applications are not present on your system. Do Not Show Proxy Graphics turns off the display of custom objects. Show Proxy Graphics displays the custom object. Show Proxy Bounding Box shows a bounding box in place of the custom object.

Show Proxy Information Dialog Box     Lets you determine whether the Show Proxy Information warning dialog box is used. When this option is selected, the Show Proxy Information warning appears when a drawing with custom objects is opened but the objects' associated ARX application cannot be found by AutoCAD [Proxynotice].

The Plot And Publish Tab

The Plot And Publish tab in the Options dialog box offers settings related to printing and plotting. See Chapter 7 and Appendix B for a description of these options.

The System Tab

These options in the System tab offer control over some of AutoCAD's general interface settings such as display drivers and pointing devices.

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The Current 3D Graphics Display Group

This group offers a drop-down list and a Properties button. The drop-down list offers any available 3D graphics display systems. The GSHEIDI10 default option is Autodesk's own Heidi 3D Graphics display system. Other options can be provided by third-party vendors .

Clicking the Properties button opens the 3D Graphics System Configuration dialog box that offers further options for controlling the 3D Orbit and Shade Mode tools. The options in the Properties dialog box depend on the option selected in the drop-down list. If you are using the default GSHEIDI10 display system, see the "Adjusting AutoCAD's 3D Graphics System" section later in this appendix.

The Current Pointing Device Group

You can choose the type of pointing device you want to use with AutoCAD through the options in this group. The drop-down list offers Current System Pointing Device and Wintab Compatible Digitizer. If you want to use the default Windows pointing device, choose Current System Pointing Device. If you have a digitizer that uses the Wintab driver, you can select Wintab Compatible Digitizer .

You can further limit AutoCAD's use to the Wintab Compatible Digitizer by selecting the Digitizer Only radio button. If you select the Digitizer And Mouse radio button, AutoCAD will accept input from both devices.

The Layout Regen Options Group

This set of radio buttons enables you to specify how regens are applied when working with layout tabs:

Regen When Switching Layouts     This causes AutoCAD to force a regen when you select a Layout or Model tab. Use this option when your computer is limited in RAM.

Cache Model Tab And Last Layout     This causes AutoCAD to suppress regens when switching to the Model tab or the most recently opened Layout tab. Other layouts will regen when selected.

Cache Model Tab And All Layouts     This causes AutoCAD to suppress regens when selecting any Layout tabs or the Model tab.

The dbConnect Options Group

The check boxes in this group offer controls over the dbConnect feature:

Store Links Index In Drawing File     Lets you specify where database link data is stored. If this check box is selected, link data is stored in the drawing that is linked to a database. This increases file size and file-loading time.

Open Tables In Read-Only Mode     Lets you limit access to database files.

The General Options Group

This set of check boxes enables you to set options related to the general operation of AutoCAD:

Single-Drawing Compatibility Mode     Lets you control whether AutoCAD allows you to open multiple documents or limits you to a single document, as in earlier versions of AutoCAD [Sdi].

Display OLE Properties Dialog     Lets you control the display of the OLE Properties dialog box, which normally appears when you insert OLE objects into an AutoCAD drawing. You can turn this feature off by clearing the Display OLE Properties Dialog When Pasting New OLE Objects option in the OLE Properties dialog box. You can restore the OLE Properties dialog box by using this option.

Show All Warning Messages     If you turn off a warning message with the Don't Display This Warning Again option, this option enables you to turn all warning messages back on. If no warning messages have been turned off, this option is grayed out.

Beep On Error In User Input     Turns on an alarm beep that sounds whenever there is an input error.

Load Acad.lsp With Every Drawing     Lets you determine whether an Acad.lsp file is loaded with every drawing. If you are used to using an Acad.lsp file with your AutoCAD system, you can select this option; otherwise , AutoCAD will load only the Acaddoc.lsp file [Acadlspasdoc].

Allow Long Symbol Names     Enables you to use long names for items such as layer, block, line- type, and text-style names. With this option turned on, you can enter as many as 255 characters for names [Extnames].

Startup     This drop-down list lets you determine whether AutoCAD displays the AutoCAD Startup dialog box when you first start AutoCAD, or the Create New Drawing dialog box when you select File   New. If Show Startup Dialog Box is selected, these dialog boxes appear. Otherwise, AutoCAD automatically opens a default blank file based on the last template file used, and the Select Template dialog box appears when you select File   New.

The Live Enabler Options Group

Since AutoCAD 14, third-party developers have had the ability to create custom objects, also known as proxy objects, through a programming tool known as ObjectARX. When this feature was first introduced, you had to have the third-party application installed on your computer in order to view or edit such custom objects. Object enablers are small programs, like plug-ins to AutoCAD, that enable you to view and edit custom third-party objects without having the full third-party application present.

These object enablers might be available on the Web for free download if the third-party producer has posted them. By selecting the Check Web for Live Enablers option, AutoCAD will look for enablers over the Internet. For example, if you receive a file created in Architectural Desktop that contains a custom object, AutoCAD can automatically go to the Autodesk website and download the Architectural Desktop Object Enabler so that you can edit and view the file. The Live Enabler options let you control how the Object Enabler feature is engaged when AutoCAD encounters custom objects.

Maximum Number Of Unsuccessful Checks     This option lets you specify the number of times AutoCAD checks the Internet for object enablers after an attempt to make a connection has failed.

The User Preferences Tab

The options in the User Preferences tab enable you to adjust the way AutoCAD reacts to user input.

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The Windows Standard Behavior Group

These settings enable you to control how AutoCAD reacts to keyboard accelerators and mouse right-clicks:

Windows Standard Accelerator Keys     Causes AutoCAD to use the standard Windows behavior for Ctrl+C (Copy to Clipboard) and Ctrl+V (Paste from Clipboard) keystrokes. When this is not selected, AutoCAD interprets Ctrl+C as Cancel and Ctrl+V as Viewport Toggle.

Shortcut Menus In Drawing Areas     Lets you see the shortcut menu when you right-click. When this check box is not selected, AutoCAD responds to a right-click with an [Shortcutmenu].

Right-Click Customization     Opens the Right-Click Customization dialog box, which offers further options for the behavior of the right-click in AutoCAD.

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Tip  

The Turn On Time-Sensitive Right-Click option causes AutoCAD to respond differently depending on whether you right-click quickly or hold the right mouse button down momentarily. With this option, a rapid right-click issues an as if you press the Enter key. If you hold the right mouse button down, the shortcut menu appears. You can further adjust the time required to hold down the mouse button.

The Drag-And-Drop Scale Group

These settings control how the DesignCenter or i-drop feature determines the scale of blocks when blocks are given a unitless setting for their DesignCenter unit type. Each drop-down list offers the standard set of unit types that are available in the Block Definition dialog box under the Insert Units drop-down list. See Chapter 6 for more information on blocks and Chapter 21 for information on DesignCenter [Insunits].

The Priority For Coordinate Data Entry Group

These options control the way AutoCAD responds to coordinate input:

Running Object Snap     Forces AutoCAD to use Running Osnaps at all times [Osnapcoord].

Keyboard Entry     Enables you to use keyboard entry for coordinate input.

Keyboard Entry Except Scripts     Enables you to use keyboard entry for coordinate input, except in scripts [Osnapcoord].

The Associative Dimensioning Group

This area has one option, Make New Dimensions Associative, which you can toggle on or off. This option lets you control whether AutoCAD uses the true associative dimension feature introduced in AutoCAD 2002. With true associative dimension, a dimension will follow changes to an object whenever the object is edited. In the old method, you have to include a dimension definition point during the editing process in order to have the dimension follow changes in an object.

The Hyperlink Group

The one option in this group turns on or off the display of the Hyperlink icon and its shortcut menu.

Hidden Line Settings

Tip  

Click the Hidden Line Settings button to open the Hidden Line Settings dialog box, in which you can control how 3D hidden-line views appear. The options presented let you control how hidden lines appear in a 3D hidden-line view generated by the Hide command or the Hidden Shaded view. By default, hidden lines are invisible, but you can make them appear in a different color or in a different line type.

The Hidden Line Settings dialog box also lets you control whether intersecting 3D planes are indicated with a line. In past versions of AutoCAD, intersecting planes were not indicated, but beginning with AutoCAD 2004, you have the option to show intersecting planes with a line in hidden-line views. You can also control the color of the line.

Lineweight Settings

Click the Lineweight Settings button to open the Lineweight Settings dialog box. See Chapters 7 and 12 for more information about the Lineweight Settings dialog box.

The Fields Group

These settings offer control over the display and refresh of fields. Display Background Of Fields lets you control the display of the gray background on fields. This background lets you see at a glance which text object in a drawing is a field. The background does not print. The Field Update Settings button opens a dialog box that lets you select the action that updates fields.

The Drafting Tab

The Drafting tab offers settings that relate to the drawing cursor, including the AutoSnap and Auto- Track features.

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The AutoSnap Settings Group

The options in this group control the AutoSnap features that are engaged when you use Osnaps:

Marker     Turns on the small, square graphic that appears on the Osnap location. If you prefer not to see this marker, clear this check box [Autosnap].

Magnet     Causes the Osnap cursor to "jump to" an Osnap location as the cursor moves close to that location [Autosnap].

Display AutoSnap Tooltip     Controls the display of the Osnap tool tip [Autosnap].

Display AutoSnap Aperture Box     Displays a square over the cursor whenever Osnaps are active. If you are familiar with earlier versions of AutoCAD, you'll recognize the Aperture Box as the graphic used to indicate Osnaps before the AutoSnap feature was introduced [Apbox].

AutoSnap Marker Color     Lets you determine the color for the AutoSnap marker.

The AutoSnap Marker Size Slider

Move the slider to control the size of the AutoSnap marker.

The AutoTrack Settings Group

These options offer control over the tracking vector used for Polar Tracking and Osnap Tracking:

Display Polar Tracking Vector     Turns the Polar Tracking vector on or off [Trackpath].

Display Full-Screen Tracking Vector     Lets you control whether the tracking vector appears across the full width of the drawing window or stops at the cursor location or the intersection of two tracking vectors [Trackpath].

Display AutoTrack Tooltip     Turns the Osnap Tracking tool tip on or off [Autosnap].

The Alignment Point Acquisition Group

This option lets you determine the method for acquiring Osnap Tracking alignment points.

The Aperture Size Slider

Move the slider to set the size of the Osnap aperture pickbox [Aperture].

The Object Snap Options Group

This group offers the Ignore Hatch Objects option. When turned on, this option does just what it says; otherwise, object snaps will attempt to snap to geometry within hatch patterns.

The Selection Tab

The options in the Selection tab of the Options dialog box control the way you select objects in AutoCAD. You can also make adjustments to the Grips feature.

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The Pickbox Size Slider

This slider lets you adjust the size of the pickbox [Pickbox].

The Grip Size Slider

This slider lets you adjust the size of grips [Gripsize].

The Selection Modes Group

The Selection Modes group lets you control the degree to which AutoCAD conforms to standard graphical user interface (GUI) methods of operation:

Noun/Verb Selection     Makes AutoCAD work more like other Windows programs by enabling you to select objects before you choose an action or command [Pickfirst].

Use Shift To Add To Selection     Lets you use the standard GUI method of holding down the Shift key to select multiple objects. When the Shift key is not held down, only the single object picked or the group of objects indicated with a window will be selected. Previously selected objects are deselected, unless the Shift key is held down during selection. To turn this feature on by using system variables, set Pickadd to 0 [Pickadd].

Press And Drag     Lets you use the standard GUI method for placing selection windows: First, click and hold down the Pick button on the first corner of the window; then, while holding down the Pick button, drag the other corner of the window into position. When the other corner is in place, you let go of the Pick button to finish the window. This setting applies to both Verb/Noun and Noun/Verb operations. In the system variables, set Pickdrag to 1 for this option [Pickdrag].

Implied Windowing     Causes a window or crossing window to start automatically if no object is picked at the Select objects: prompt. This setting has no effect on the Noun/Verb setting. In the system variables, set Pickauto to 1 for this option [Pickauto].

Object Grouping     Enables you to select groups as single objects [Pickstyle].

Associative Hatch     Enables you to select both a hatch pattern and its associated boundary by using a single pick [Pickstyle].

The Grips Group

These options control the Grips feature:

Unselected Grip Color     Lets you select a color for grips that are exposed but not selected [Gripcolor].

Selected Grip Color     Lets you set the color for grips that are exposed and selected [Griphot].

Hover Grip Color     Lets you set the color for grips when the cursor hovers over the grip [Griphover].

Enable Grips     Turns on grips.

Enable Grips Within Blocks     Turns on the display of grips within blocks. Although you cannot edit grips within blocks, you can use grips within blocks as selection points [Gripblock].

Enable Grip Tips     Turns on the display of grip tool tips for custom objects that have them [Griptips].

Object Selection Limit for Display of Grips     Controls the display of grips based on the number of objects selected. If set to 1, grips are not displayed if more than one object is selected. You can select a range from 1 to 32,767. The default is 100 [Gripobjlimit].

The Profiles Tab

In Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000, a user profile is saved for each login name. Depending on the login name you use, you can have a different Windows setup. The Profiles tab offers a similar function for AutoCAD users. You can store different settings from the Options dialog box in a profile and recall them at any time. You can also save them to a file with the .arg extension and then take that file to another system. It's a bit like being able to take your Options settings with you wherever you go.

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The main part of the Profiles tab displays a listing of available profiles. The default profile is shown as <<Unnamed Profile>> . As you add more profiles, they will appear in the list.

To create a new profile, highlight a profile name from the list and then click Add To List. The Add Profile dialog box opens, enabling you to enter a profile name and a description of the profile. The description appears in the box below the list on the Profiles tab whenever that profile is selected.

After you've created a new profile, you can modify the settings on the other tabs of the Options dialog box, and the new settings will be associated with the new profile. Profiles will store the way menus are set up, so you can use them as an aid to managing both your own custom schemes and third-party software. Here is a brief description of the options on the Profiles tab:

Set Current     Installs the settings from the selected profile.

Add To List     Creates a new profile from an existing one.

Rename     Enables you to rename a profile and change its description.

Delete     Removes the selected profile from the list.

Export     Lets you save a profile to a file.

Import     Imports a profile that has been saved to a file.

Reset     Resets the values for a selected profile to its default settings.




Mastering AutoCAD 2005 and AutoCAD LT 2005
Mastering AutoCAD 2005 and AutoCAD LT 2005
ISBN: 0782143407
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 261
Authors: George Omura

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