AutoCAD Tips and Tricks: The Basics

If you’re new to using AutoCAD for your system design process, these basic tips from Autodesk, the software developers behind AutoCAD, can help you make better use of the software.To get more news about cad tips and tricks, you can visit shine news official website.

AutoCAD comes complete with its own keyboard shortcuts, but you can create a more customized experience by modifying these shortcuts or creating your own. Do this by finding the Manage tab, then navigating to the Customization Panel and then User Interface. (You can also type CUI in the command line.) In the Customize tab, click + next to the Keyboard Shortcuts node in the Customizations In pane. Click + again next to the Shortcut Keys, then drag a command to the Shortcut Keys node in the Customizations In pane. You can modify a shortcut key by selecting it under the Shortcut Keys node.

Autosave
There’s nothing more frustrating than spending hours on a project only to lose it when your computer crashes or the power goes out. Protect your hard work by making the most of your Autosave settings. You can change the setting to any interval length that works for you by using the SAVETIME command or by going to the Open and Save tab in the Options dialog box. You can manually save whenever needed with the QSAVE or SAVEALL commands.
Quick Access Toolbar
The Quick Access Toolbar, or QAT, lets you keep your most frequently used tools a click away at all times. Customize this menu by clicking on the pull-down control button on the right, then toggle the commands you use most.

Right-Click
You can access contextual pop-up menus by right-clicking on an area of the screen. Contextual menus mean that the commands you’ll see are specific to the object you’ve clicked on. Turn on these menus by going to the User Preferences tab via the Options drag box, then choosing the Right-Click Customization button.

Layers
Layers are key to working more efficiently in AutoCAD. Each layer should represent a different purpose or function in your design. By setting up your design in this way, you can easily hide features you’re not currently working on or display all of the related objects when you need to. Use the LAYER command, then open the Layer Properties Manager.

Zoom
The ZOOM command gives you the flexibility to view your system design in different ways. ZOOM All shows all of the visible objects or the drawing limits set with the LIMITS command, ZOOM Extents displays the maximum extent of all objects, and ZOOM Dynamic allows you to zoom and pan, shrink and enlarge.

Display Plot Styles
This is a particularly useful AutoCAD tip and trick if you plan on printing your design to show it to a client. You can get a print preview by going to the Page Setup dialog box and choosing Display Plot Styles.

Shared Views
Perhaps instead of printing your system design, you plan on emailing it to a client. In this case, the Shared Views feature will come in handy. It allows you to share your design with anyone without releasing the original DWG files. Instead, you’ll be able to share a link that clients can view in any browser and leave comments on. Access Shared Views by going to the Application menu, under Publish.