AutoCAD

Wisey’s AutoCAD Tips and Tricks - Page 4

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Apparent Midpoint Snap

(18 May, 2002)
To snap to the apparent mid point of any two points, (for example to get the center point of
a square) use the online geometry calculator ‘CAL and enter the expression: (cur+cur)/2, then pick the two points you want to use. The command is transparent, so can be used in the middle of a circle command for example:

Command:_circle 3P/2P/TTR/<Center point: 'cal
Expression: (cur+cur)/2
Enter a point:_endp of
Enter a point:_endp of
Diameter/<Radius: enter radius

You can also assign this command to a toolbar button by using the macro 'cal;(cur+cur)/2;

How to – Repeat a command

(20 May, 2002)
A command can continuously repeat. The command is MULTIPLE. MULTIPLE command works well with the FILLET and CHAMFER commands.

To repeat command:

  • Type in MULTIPLE at the command line.
  • Then at the "Enter command name to repeat" prompt, type in the command you want to be repeating. This command is now started and will continuously repeat until you press the ESC key.

    • From a macro, in a toolbutton or pull-down menu item, the * character does the same thing. Example: *^C^C_fillet

    How to find - centroid, centre of gravity or center of mass - of an object

    (1 Oct 2002)
    With the creation of a REGION or a 3D SOLID, it is possible to find the centroid of an object, with the MASSPROP function. MASSPROP is an AutoCAD function.

    Set a dimension style so the content always appears blank

    (8 Oct 2002)
    To make the dimension contents permanently blank, input \H into the DDIM > Primary Units > Prefix. This hides the dimension text.

    Move or copy by displacement

    (14 Nov 2002)
    This prompt is seen in either the MOVE or COPY commands:

    Base point or displacement?

    Users tend to ignore the last word of this prompt. The displacement is simply how much an object will move in the X and Y direction. (Example 10,0 is 10 units in the X and 0 units in the Y.) At entry of the displacement, the objects may jump to an unexpected place or disappear from the screen. Do not cancel the command, as AutoCAD will be prompting with this:

    Second point of displacement:

    Ignore this prompt by hitting ENTER. The object will move to the correct displacement.

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