AutoCAD User s Guide 2006 February 2005
Copyright 2005 Autodesk, Inc. All Rights Reserved This publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose. AUTODESK, INC., MAKES NO WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING THESE MATERIALS, AND MAKES SUCH MATERIALS AVAILABLE SOLELY ON AN "AS-IS" BASIS. IN NO EVENT SHALL AUTODESK, INC., BE LIABLE TO ANYONE FOR SPECIAL, COLLATERAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF PURCHASE OR USE OF THESE MATERIALS. THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE LIABILITY TO AUTODESK, INC., REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, SHALL NOT EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE MATERIALS DESCRIBED HEREIN. Autodesk, Inc., reserves the right to revise and improve its products as it sees fit. This publication describes the state of this product at the time of its publication, and may not reflect the product at all times in the future. 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Trademarks The following are registered trademarks of Autodesk Canada Co. in the USA and/or Canada, and/or other countries: discreet, fire, flame, flint, flint RT, frost, glass, inferno, MountStone, riot, river, smoke, sparks, stone, stream, vapour, wire. The following are trademarks of Autodesk Canada Co., in the USA, Canada, and/or other countries: backburner, Multi-Master Editing. Third-Party Trademarks All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Third-Party Software Program Credits ACIS Copyright 1989-2001 Spatial Corp. Portions Copyright 2002 Autodesk, Inc. Copyright 1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Flash is a registered trademark of Macromedia, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. International CorrectSpell Spelling Correction System 1995 by Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products, N.V. All rights reserved. InstallShield 3.0. Copyright 1997 InstallShield Software Corporation. All rights reserved. PANTONE Colors displayed in the software application or in the user documentation may not match PANTONE-identified standards. Consult current PANTONE Color Publications for accurate color. PANTONE and other Pantone, Inc. trademarks are the property of Pantone, Inc. Pantone, Inc., 2002 Pantone, Inc. is the copyright owner of color data and/or software which are licensed to Autodesk, Inc., to distribute for use only in combination with certain Autodesk software products. PANTONE Color Data and/or Software shall not be copied onto another disk or into memory unless as part of the execution of this Autodesk software product. Portions Copyright 1991-1996 Arthur D. Applegate. All rights reserved. Portions of this software are based on the work of the Independent JPEG Group. RAL DESIGN RAL, Sankt Augustin, 2002 RAL CLASSIC RAL, Sankt Augustin, 2002 Representation of the RAL Colors is done with the approval of RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung e.v. (RAL German Institute for Quality Assurance and Certification, re. Assoc.), D-53757 Sankt Augustin." Typefaces from the Bitstream typeface library copyright 1992. Typefaces from Payne Loving Trust 1996. All rights reserved. GOVERNMENT USE Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in FAR 12.212 (Commercial Computer Software- Restricted Rights) and DFAR 227.7202 (Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software), as applicable. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Contents Chapter 1 Part 1 Chapter 2 Find the Information You Need...1 Install the Product...2 Use the Help System Efficiently...3 Find Information in Help...3 Use Searches...5 Use Ask Me...7 Understand How Help Topics Are Organized...7 Use the Up Arrow to Navigate Help Topics...8 Print Help Topics...9 Show and Hide the Contents Pane...9 Get Additional Help...10 Use Quick Help on the Info Palette...10 Learn the Product...11 Access Subscription Center...13 Overview of Subscription Center...13 Receive Product Updates and Announcements...14 Overview of Communication Center...15 Customize the Update and Announcement Options...17 Receive New Information Notifications...17 View the Product Readme...18 The User Interface...19 Menus, Toolbars, and Tool Palettes...21 Tool Palettes...22 Create and Use Tools from Objects and Images...22 Create and Use Command Tools...28 Change Tool Palette Settings...29 Control Tool Properties...31 Customize Tool Palettes...35 Organize Tool Palettes...38 Save and Share Tool Palettes...42 Toolbars...42 The Menu Bar...44 Shortcut Menus...45 The Object Snap Menu...48 Create Your Own Menu and Toolbar Groups...49 i
Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Part 2 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 The Command Window...51 Enter Commands on the Command Line...52 Enter System Variables on the Command Line...54 Navigate and Edit Within the Command Window...54 Switch Between Dialog Boxes and the Command Line...56 Dock, Resize, and Hide the Command Window...57 DesignCenter...61 Overview of DesignCenter...62 Understand the DesignCenter Window...62 Access Content with DesignCenter...64 Add Content with DesignCenter...67 Retrieve Content from the Web with DesignCenter Online...71 Overview of DesignCenter Online...71 Understand DesignCenter Online Content Types...74 Retrieve Content from the Web...74 Customize the Drawing Environment...79 Set Interface Options...80 Customize Startup...84 Save and Restore Profiles...87 Use Workspaces...88 Pointing Devices...93 Pointing Device Buttons...94 Digitizing Tablets...96 Start, Organize, and Save a Drawing...99 Start a Drawing...101 Start a Drawing from Scratch...102 Use a Wizard to Start a Drawing...104 Use a Template File to Start a Drawing...105 Specify Units and Unit Formats...107 Determine the Units of Measurement...107 Set Linear Unit Conventions...109 Set Angular Unit Conventions...111 Add Identifying Information to Drawings...112 Open or Save a Drawing...115 Open a Drawing...116 Open Part of a Large Drawing (Partial Load)...117 ii Contents
Work with Multiple Open Drawings...120 Save a Drawing...121 Find a Drawing File...124 Specify Search Paths, File Names, and File Locations...125 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Part 3 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Repair, Restore, or Recover Drawing Files...127 Repair a Damaged Drawing File...128 Create and Restore Backup Files...130 Recover from a System Failure...131 Maintain Standards in Drawings...135 Overview of CAD Standards...136 Define Standards...138 Check Drawings for Standards Violations...140 Translate Layer Names and Properties...147 Convert Layers to Established Drawing Standards...148 View Selected Drawing Layers...149 Purge Unreferenced Layers...150 Control the Drawing Views...151 Change a View in Two Dimensions...153 Pan a View...154 Magnify a View (Zoom)...154 Pan and Zoom with the Aerial View Window...158 Save and Restore Views...161 Specify a 3D View...165 Overview of Specifying a 3D View...166 View a Parallel Projection in 3D...166 Overview of Viewing Parallel Projections in 3D...166 Choose Preset 3D Views...166 Define a 3D View with Coordinate Values or Angles...167 Change to a View of the XY Plane...169 Change a 3D View Dynamically...170 Display a Perspective View...172 Specify 3D Views Interactively (3D Orbit)...173 Overview of 3D Orbit...173 Set 3D Graphics Display Options (3D Orbit)...174 Set Lights and Materials (3D Orbit)...174 Locate the Camera Position (3D Orbit)...175 Use 3D Orbit Commands...177 Contents iii
Adjust Clipping Planes (3D Orbit)...185 Chapter 13 Part 4 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Display Multiple Views in Model Space...189 Set Model Space Viewports...190 Select and Use the Current Viewport...192 Save and Restore Model Tab Viewport Arrangements...193 Choose a Work Process Before You Begin...195 Create Single-View Drawings (Model Space)...197 Quick Start for Model Space Drafting...198 Draw, Scale, and Annotate in Model Space...198 Create Multiple-View Drawing Layouts (Paper Space)...203 Quick Start for Layouts...204 Understand the Layout Process...204 Work with Model Space and Paper Space...205 Work on the Model Tab...205 Work on a Layout Tab...206 Access Model Space from a Layout Viewport...210 Create and Modify Layout Viewports...213 Control Views in Layout Viewports...216 Scale Views in Layout Viewports...216 Control Visibility in Layout Viewports...218 Freeze Specified Layers in a Layout Viewport...218 Screen Objects in Layout Viewports...222 Turn Layout Viewports On or Off...223 Scale Linetypes in Layout Viewports...224 Align Views in Layout Viewports...225 Rotate Views in Layout Viewports...228 Reuse Layouts and Layout Settings...229 Work with Sheets in a Sheet Set...233 Quick Start for Sheet Sets...234 Understand the Sheet Set Manager Interface...234 Create and Manage a Sheet Set...236 Create a Sheet Set...236 Organize a Sheet Set...240 Create and Modify Sheets...243 Include Information with Sheets and Sheet Sets...250 Publish, Transmit, and Archive Sheet Sets...253 iv Contents
Use Sheet Sets in a Team...257 Part 5 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Create and Modify Objects...261 Control the Properties of Objects...263 Overview of Object Properties...264 Display and Change the Properties of Objects...264 Copy Properties Between Objects...267 Work with Layers...268 Overview of Layers...268 Use Layers to Manage Complexity...269 Create and Name Layers...272 Change Layer Settings and Layer Properties...275 Filter and Sort the List of Layers...278 Save and Restore Layer Settings...283 Work with Colors...287 Set the Current Color...287 Change the Color of an Object...289 Use Color Books...291 Work with Linetypes...293 Overview of Linetypes...293 Load Linetypes...294 Set the Current Linetype...296 Change the Linetype of an Object...297 Control Linetype Scale...299 Display Linetypes on Short Segments and Polylines...300 Control Lineweights...301 Overview of Lineweights...301 Display Lineweights...303 Set the Current Lineweight...304 Change the Lineweight of an Object...305 Control the Display Properties of Certain Objects...306 Control the Display of Polylines, Hatches, Gradient Fills, Lineweights, and Text...306 Control How Overlapping Objects Are Displayed...308 Use Precision Tools...311 Use Coordinates and Coordinate Systems...312 Overview of Coordinate Entry...312 Enter 2D Coordinates...314 Enter Cartesian Coordinates...314 Enter Polar Coordinates...316 Enter 3D Coordinates...318 Contents v
Enter 3D Cartesian Coordinates...318 Enter Cylindrical Coordinates...320 Enter Spherical Coordinates...322 Control the User Coordinate System (UCS) in 2D...323 Specify Drawing Planes in 3D (UCS)...326 Use World and User Coordinate Systems in 3D...326 Control the User Coordinate System in 3D...328 Assign User Coordinate System Orientations to Viewports...331 Control the Display of the User Coordinate System Icon...333 Use Dynamic Input...335 Snap to Locations on Objects (Object Snaps)...341 Use Object Snaps...341 Set Visual Aids for Object Snaps (AutoSnap)...344 Override Object Snaps...345 Restrict Cursor Movement...347 Adjust Grid and Grid Snap...347 Use Orthogonal Locking (Ortho Mode)...349 Use Polar Tracking and PolarSnap...350 Lock an Angle for One Point (Angle)...353 Combine or Offset Points and Coordinates...354 Combine Coordinate Values (Coordinate Filters)...354 Track to Points on Objects (Object Snap Tracking)...356 Specify Distances...359 Enter Direct Distances...359 Offset from Temporary Reference Points...359 Specify Intervals on Objects...360 Overview of Specifying Intervals on Objects...360 Specify Measured Intervals on Objects...361 Divide an Object into Equal Segments...362 Extract Geometric Information from Objects...363 Obtain Distances, Angles, and Point Locations...363 Obtain Area Information...364 Use a Calculator...369 Use the QuickCalc Calculator...369 Overview of QuickCalc...369 Access QuickCalc and Understand Its Behavior...373 Enter, Evaluate, and Retrieve Expressions...375 Convert Units of Measurement...381 Create and Use Calculator Variables...382 Use the Command Line Calculator...386 Chapter 19 Draw Geometric Objects...389 Draw Linear Objects...390 Draw Lines...390 Draw Polylines...391 vi Contents
Draw Rectangles and Polygons...395 Draw Multiple-Line Objects...397 Draw Freehand Sketches...400 Draw Curved Objects...403 Draw Arcs...403 Draw Circles...407 Draw Polyline Arcs...409 Draw Donuts...413 Draw Ellipses...414 Draw Splines...416 Draw Construction and Reference Geometry...418 Draw Reference Points...418 Draw Construction Lines (and Rays)...419 Create and Combine Areas (Regions)...421 Create 3D Objects...424 Overview of 3D Objects...424 Add 3D Thickness to Objects...426 Create Wireframe Models...427 Create Surfaces...429 Create 3D Solids...438 Create Revision Clouds...447 Chapter 20 Create and Use Blocks (Symbols)...451 Overview of Blocks...452 Create and Store Blocks...452 How Blocks Are Stored and Referenced...452 Create Blocks Within a Drawing...453 Create Block Libraries...455 Create Drawing Files for Use as Blocks...456 Use Tool Palettes to Organize Blocks...458 Add Dynamic Behavior to Blocks...459 Quick Start to Creating Dynamic Blocks...459 Overview of Dynamic Blocks...460 Use the Block Editor...463 Overview of the Block Editor...463 Use Block Authoring Palettes...468 How Objects Are Displayed in the Block Editor...470 Add Dynamic Elements to Blocks...474 Overview of Dynamic Block Elements...474 Use Parameters in Dynamic Blocks...476 Use Actions with Dynamic Blocks...488 Overview of Using Actions in Dynamic Blocks...488 Use a Move Action in a Dynamic Block...489 Use a Scale Action in a Dynamic Block...492 Use a Stretch Action in a Dynamic Block...494 Use a Polar Stretch Action in a Dynamic Block...497 Contents vii
Use a Rotate Action in a Dynamic Block...499 Use a Flip Action in a Dynamic Block...502 Use an Array Action in a Dynamic Block...503 Use a Lookup Action in a Dynamic Block...506 Use Distance Multiplier and Angle Offset Action Overrides...507 Use Parameter Sets...508 Specify Grips for Dynamic Blocks...510 Create Visibility States...514 Use Lookup Tables to Assign Data to Dynamic Blocks...521 Overview of Using Lookup Tables to Assign Data to Dynamic Blocks...521 Specify Values for Lookup Tables...528 Specify Custom Properties for Dynamic Blocks...529 Overview of Specifying Custom Properties for Dynamic Blocks...529 Specify Value Sets for Dynamic Blocks...532 Allow Chained Actions for Dynamic Blocks...536 Modify Dynamic Block Definitions...538 Correct Errors in Dynamic Block Definitions...540 Save a Block in the Block Editor...541 Control the Color and Linetype Properties in Blocks...542 Nest Blocks...544 Insert Blocks...545 Work with Dynamic Blocks in Drawings...548 Attach Data to Blocks (Block Attributes)...551 Overview of Block Attributes...551 Define Block Attributes...552 Extract Data from Block Attributes...554 Extract Block Attribute Data (Advanced)...555 Modify Blocks...561 Modify a Block Definition...561 Modify Block Attributes...563 Change the Color and Linetype in a Block...568 Disassemble a Block Reference (Explode)...570 Remove Block Definitions...571 Chapter 21 Change Existing Objects...573 Select Objects...574 Select Objects Individually...574 Select Multiple Objects...575 Prevent Objects from Being Selected...578 Filter Selection Sets...579 Customize Object Selection...582 Group Objects...586 viii Contents
Overview of Groups...586 Create Groups...587 Select Objects in Groups...588 Edit Groups...588 Correct Mistakes...590 Erase Objects...592 Use Windows Cut, Copy, and Paste...594 Modify Objects...596 Choose a Method to Modify Objects...596 Move or Rotate Objects...596 Move Objects...596 Rotate Objects...599 Align Objects...602 Copy, Offset, or Mirror Objects...603 Copy Objects...603 Create an Array of Objects...605 Offset an Object...610 Mirror Objects...613 Change the Size and Shape of Objects...615 Trim or Extend Objects...615 Resize or Reshape Objects...621 Fillet, Chamfer, Break, or Join Objects...624 Create Fillets...624 Create Chamfers...629 Break and Join Objects...634 Use Grips to Edit Objects...636 Use Grip Modes...637 Make Multiple Copies with Grips...641 Control Grips in Blocks...645 Modify Complex Objects...645 Disassociate Compound Objects (Explode)...646 Modify or Join Polylines...647 Modify Splines...650 Modify Multilines...653 Modify 3D Solids...655 Overview of Modifying 3D Solids...655 Fillet and Chamfer 3D Solids...656 Section and Slice 3D Solids...657 Modify Faces of 3D Solids...659 Overview of Modifying Faces on 3D Solids...659 Extrude Faces on 3D Solids...660 Move Faces on 3D Solids...661 Rotate Faces on 3D Solids...662 Offset Faces on 3D Solids...663 Taper Faces on 3D Solids...664 Delete Faces on 3D Solids...665 Contents ix
Copy Faces on 3D Solids...665 Color Faces on 3D Solids...666 Modify Edges of 3D Solids...666 Imprint 3D Solids...668 Separate 3D Solids...669 Shell 3D Solids...669 Clean and Check 3D Solids...670 Part 6 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Hatches, Notes, Tables, and Dimensions...673 Hatches, Fills, and Wipeouts...675 Overview of Hatch Patterns and Fills...676 Define Hatch Boundaries...681 Overview of Hatch Boundaries...681 Control the Hatching in Islands...682 Define Hatch Boundaries in Large Drawings...684 Create Unbounded Hatches...685 Choose Hatch Patterns and Solid Fills...686 Create Solid-Filled Areas...686 Create Gradient-Filled Areas...689 Use Predefined Hatch Patterns...691 Create User-Defined Hatch Patterns...692 Modify Hatches and Solid-Filled Areas...693 Create a Blank Area to Cover Objects...695 Notes and Labels...697 Overview of Notes and Labels...698 Create Text...698 Overview of Creating Text and Leaders...698 Create Single-Line Text...699 Create Multiline Text...701 Overview of Multiline Text...702 Justify Multiline Text...705 Format Characters Within Multiline Text...706 Create Lists in Multiline Text...708 Indent Multiline Text and Use Tabs...714 Specify the Line Spacing Within Multiline Text...715 Create Stacked Characters Within Multiline Text...717 Create Text with Leaders...720 Overview of Text with Leaders...720 Create a Leader Line...720 Add Text to a Leader...723 Import Text from External Files...724 x Contents
Use Fields in Text...725 Insert Fields...725 Update Fields...730 Use Hyperlinks in Fields...732 Work with Text Styles...733 Overview of Text Styles...733 Assign Text Fonts...735 Overview of Assigning Text Fonts...735 Use TrueType Fonts...735 Use Unicode and Big Fonts...736 Substitute Fonts...738 Set Text Height...740 Set Text Obliquing Angle...741 Set Horizontal or Vertical Text Orientation...742 Change Text...742 Overview of Changing Text...743 Change Single-Line Text...743 Change Multiline Text...744 Change Text with a Leader...747 Change Text Scale and Justification...748 Check Spelling...749 Use an Alternate Text Editor...751 Overview of Using an Alternate Text Editor...751 Format Multiline Text in an Alternate Text Editor...752 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Tables...757 Create and Modify Tables...758 Work with Table Styles...762 Add Text and Blocks to Tables...765 Use Formulas in Table Cells...769 Dimensions and Tolerances...775 Understand Basic Concepts of Dimensioning...776 Overview of Dimensioning...776 Parts of a Dimension...777 Associative Dimensions...778 Use Dimension Styles...780 Overview of Dimension Styles...780 Compare Dimension Styles and Variables...781 Control Dimension Geometry...783 Control Dimension Lines...783 Control Extension Lines...784 Control Dimension Arrowheads...787 Customize Arrowheads...788 Control Dimension Text...789 Fit Dimension Text Within Extension Lines...789 Contents xi
Control the Location of Dimension Text...792 Control the Appearance of Dimension Text...796 Control Dimension Values...798 Control the Display of Dimension Units...798 Round Off Dimension Values...801 Suppress Zeros in Dimensions...802 Display Lateral Tolerances...803 Set the Scale for Dimensions...806 Create Dimensions...808 Create Linear Dimensions...808 Overview of Creating Linear Dimensions...808 Create Horizontal and Vertical Dimensions...809 Create Aligned Dimensions...810 Create Baseline and Continued Dimensions...812 Create Rotated Dimensions...813 Create Dimensions with Oblique Extension Lines...814 Create Radial Dimensions...815 Create Angular Dimensions...819 Create Ordinate Dimensions...821 Create Arc Length Dimensions...823 Modify Existing Dimensions...824 Apply a New Dimension Style to Existing Dimensions...824 Override a Dimension Style...825 Modify Dimension Text...827 Modify Dimension Geometry...830 Change Dimension Associativity...833 Add Geometric Tolerances...835 Overview of Geometric Tolerances...835 Material Conditions...837 Datum Reference Frames...837 Projected Tolerance Zones...838 Composite Tolerances...838 Part 7 Chapter 26 Plot and Publish Drawings...841 Prepare Drawings for Plotting and Publishing...843 Quick Start to Preparing Drawings for Plotting and Publishing...844 Specify Page Setup Settings...844 Overview of Page Setup Settings...844 Select a Printer or Plotter for a Layout...846 Select a Paper Size for a Layout...848 Set the Plot Area of a Layout...851 Adjust the Plot Offset of a Layout...852 xii Contents
Set the Plot Scale for a Layout...854 Set the Lineweight Scale for a Layout...855 Select a Plot Style Table for a Layout...856 Set Shaded Viewport and Plot Options for a Layout...858 Determine the Drawing Orientation of a Layout...860 Use the Layout Wizard to Specify Layout Settings...862 Import PCP or PC2 Settings into a Layout...862 Create and Use Named Page Setups...863 Use Named Page Setups with Sheet Sets...867 Chapter 27 Plot Drawings...869 Quick Start to Plotting...870 Overview of Plotting...870 Use a Page Setup to Specify Plot Settings...874 Select a Printer or Plotter...875 Specify the Area to Plot...876 Set Paper Size...877 Position the Drawing on the Paper...879 Specify the Printable Area...880 Set the Position of the Plot...880 Set Drawing Orientation...880 Control How Objects Are Plotted...881 Set Plot Scale...881 Set Shaded Viewport Options...883 Overview of Shaded Viewport Plotting...884 Specify Shaded Plotting Settings...884 Specify a Resolution Level for Shaded Plotting...885 Set Options for Plotted Objects...886 Use Plot Styles to Control Plotted Objects...890 Overview of Plot Styles...890 Choose a Type of Plot Style Table...890 Switch the Type of Plot Style Table...891 Assign Plot Style Tables to Layouts...893 Manage Plot Style Tables...894 Use Color-Dependent Plot Style Tables...896 Use Named Plot Style Tables...896 Use Named Plot Styles...897 Manage Named Plot Styles...899 Use Predefined Named Plot Style Tables...901 Delete Color Mapping Tables...901 Change Plot Style Settings...902 Overview of Plot Style Settings...902 Set Color, Screening, Grayscale, and Dither in Plot Style Tables...903 Assign Pen Numbers and Virtual Pens in Plot Style Tables...905 Contents xiii
Control Plotted Lineweight and Linetype...907 Assign Plotted Line End and Join Styles...909 Assign Plotted Fill Styles...910 Preview a Plot...911 Plot Files to Other Formats...913 Plot DWF Files...913 Plot to DXB File Formats...914 Plot to Raster File Formats...915 Plot Adobe PostScript Files...916 Create Plot Files...917 Chapter 28 Part 8 Chapter 29 Publish Drawings...919 Quick Start to Publishing...920 Overview of Publishing...920 Create and Modify a Drawing Set for Publishing...923 Create a Paper or Plot File Drawing Set...929 Publish an Electronic Drawing Set...931 Publish a Sheet Set...934 Republish a Drawing Set...939 View a Published Electronic Drawing Set...940 Set Publish Options...940 3D DWF Publishing...948 Configure a DWF6 Driver (Advanced)...950 Overview of Creating or Modifying a DWF6 Configuration File...950 Set the DWF File Resolution...953 Set the DWF File Compression...955 Set Font Handling for the DWF File...956 Edit Pen Patterns for the DWF File...958 Share Data Between Drawings and Applications...961 Reference Other Drawing Files (Xrefs)...963 Overview of External References...964 Attach, Update, and Bind External References...964 Attach External References...964 Nest and Overlay External References...967 Update Attached External References...969 Clip External References and Blocks...970 Resolve Name Conflicts in External References...973 Archive Drawings That Contain External References (Bind)...974 Detach External References...976 xiv Contents
Edit External References and Blocks in Place...976 Edit an Xref in a Separate Window...976 Edit Xrefs and Blocks Within Context...977 Edit Selected Objects in Xrefs and Blocks...977 Use the Working Set to Edit Xrefs and Blocks...979 Save Back Edited Xrefs and Blocks...981 Edit Xrefs and Blocks with Nesting, OLE, or Attributes...982 Set Paths to Externally Referenced Drawings...983 Resolve External Reference Errors...988 Resolve Missing External Reference Files...988 Resolve External References That Are Circular...990 Track External Reference Operations (Log File)...990 Increase Performance with Large Xrefs...992 Overview of Demand Loading...992 Unload Xrefs...992 Work with Demand Loading...993 Work with Layer and Spatial Indexes...994 Set Paths for Temporary Xref File Copies...995 Chapter 30 Link and Embed Data (OLE)...997 Overview of Object Linking and Embedding...998 Import OLE Objects...1000 Overview of Importing OLE Objects into Drawings...1000 Link OLE Objects in Drawings...1001 Embed OLE Objects in Drawings...1003 Export OLE Objects from Drawings...1004 Edit OLE Objects in Drawings...1006 Glossary...1009 Contents xv
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Find the Information You Need 1 The Help system is organized in a structured design that makes information easy to locate. This program is a powerful application with tools that help you work with a high level of efficiency and productivity. You instfall this software with the Installation wizard that starts automatically when you insert the product CD. This application is often intuitive, but when you do need to In this chapter Install the Product Use the Help System Efficiently Use Quick Help on the Info Palette Learn the Product Access Subscription Center Receive Product Updates and Announcements View the Product Readme look something up, you can save time and avoid frustration if you use the Help system to find information. The Help system is organized in a structured design that makes information easy to locate.
Install the Product You can easily install and configure this program on a stand-alone computer. Insert the product CD in the CD-ROM drive. Then, in the Media Browser, on the Install tab, click Stand-Alone Installation. Then, click Install. The Installation wizard leads you through the installation process. The Media Browser also provides instructions for network installations and access to information about technical support and licensing. If you want more information about installing a stand-alone version of AutoCAD, consult the Stand-Alone Installation Guide. To access this guide, in the Media Browser, click the Documentation tab. Then click Stand-Alone Installation Guide (.pdf). If you want more information about deploying this program on a network, consult the Network Administrator's Guide. To access this guide, in the Media Browser, click the Documentation tab. Then, click Network Administrator's Guide (.pdf). Once the product is installed, you can access either the Stand-Alone Installation Guide or the Network Administrator's Guide in the Help system. Migration Tools Migration Tools help you when upgrading to a new release of this program. You can download the Migration Tools in several languages from the Autodesk website. NOTE You can migrate some custom settings and files by using the Migrate Custom Settings dialog box. For more information about the Migrate Custom Settings dialog box, see the Stand-Alone Installation Guide. Available tools include Layer State Converter Batch Drawing Converter AutoLISP Compatibility Analyzer ScriptPro Go to the Autodesk website, http://www.autodesk.com, and perform a search on Migration Tools. 2 Chapter 1 Find the Information You Need