AutoCAD LT 2011 Customization Guide February 2010
© 2010 Autodesk, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose. Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder. Trademarks The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and other countries: 3DEC (design/logo), 3December, 3December.
Contents Chapter 1 Basic Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Overview of Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Organize Program and Support Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Overview of File Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Multiple Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Multiple Drawing Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Locate Customized Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hatch Patterns with Multiple Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Chapter 4 User Interface Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Understand User Interface Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Overview of the Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Use the Customization Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Overview of the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Create Tooltips and Extended Help for Commands . . . . Create Status Line Help Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assign, Create, and Manage Images for Commands . . . Assign Images to a Command . . . . . . . . . . . . Create and Edit Custom Images for Commands . . Manage, Import, and Export Custom Images . . . . Customize User Interface Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quick Access Toolbars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 5 DIESEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325 Customize the Status Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325 Overview of the MODEMACRO System Variable . . . . . . . . . 325 Set MODEMACRO Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326 DIESEL Expressions in Macros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328 Catalog of DIESEL Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331 + (addition) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Basic Customization 1 Your dealer can offer you independently developed applications that can further tailor AutoCAD LT to your needs. Overview of Customization AutoCAD LT can be customized in simple ways. For example, you can change the directory structure or move a button from one toolbar to another. If you want to change the interface further, you can edit the CUIx file and use DIESEL code to create customizations with your own commands.
■ Create custom linetypes and hatch patterns. You can create linetypes and hatch patterns that conform to your company standards and working methods. ■ Customize the user interface. The CUIx file controls many aspects of the user interface, including the behavior of your pointing device buttons and the functionality and appearance of pull-down, tablet, and image tile menus, toolbars, and accelerator keys.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. CUSTOMIZE Customizes tool palettes and tool palette groups. System Variables TOOLTIPS Controls the display of tooltips on the ribbon, toolbars, and other user interface elements. Organize Program and Support Files You can change the default directory structure for the program and support files to suit your needs.
customizable files in the user's roaming profile are available on the machine the user is logged onto. Library Search Path The library search path specifies where the program searches for files when you do not specify a full path name, as follows: ■ Current directory. (This is typically determined by the “Start In” setting in your shortcut icon.) ■ Directory that contains the current drawing file. ■ Directories listed in the search path specified on the Files tab in OPTIONS.
Command Search Procedure When you enter a command, AutoCAD LT goes through a series of steps to evaluate the validity of the command name. A command can be a built-in command or system variable or an alias defined in the acadlt.pgp file. Commands can also be defined by a device driver command. You can enter a command on the command prompt or choose a command from the appropriate menu. Commands can also be entered from a script file.
Quick Reference Commands OPTIONS Customizes the program settings. System Variables LOCALROOTPREFIX Stores the full path to the root folder where local customizable files were installed. ROAMABLEROOTPREFIX Stores the full path to the root folder where roamable customizable files were installed. Multiple Configurations If you use more than one pointing device or use different plotters, you can set up more than one configuration file to make it easy to switch between devices.
See also: ■ “Customize Startup” in the User's Guide Quick Reference Commands OPTIONS Customizes the program settings. Multiple Drawing Folders Keeping your drawing and other associated files in separate directories makes it easier to perform basic file maintenance. Keeping your drawing files and other associated files in separate directories makes it easier to perform basic file maintenance.
batch program verifies that a specified directory exists, sets that directory to be current, and then runs AutoCAD LT. @echo off C: if exist \AcltJobs\Jobs\%1 goto RUNACLT echo. echo *** Creating \AcltJobs\Jobs\%1 echo *** Press Ctrl+C to cancel. echo. pause mkdir \AcltJobs\Jobs\%1 :RUNACAD cd \AcltJobs\Jobs\%1 start C:\ AutoCAD LT\acadlt.exe Using an ASCII text editor (such as Notepad), save the batch program to a file named acadlt.bat.
If roaming profiles are allowed on your network, your “roamable” files are located in the \Application Data\Autodesk\ folder, and your “nonroamable” files are located in the \Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\ folder. NOTE In some operating systems, the folders that are located under your profile are hidden by default. To display these files, you may need to change your display settings. On the Start menu, click Control Panel ➤ Folder Options.
Locate Plotter Files Beginning with AutoCAD LT 2004, the default location of your plotter files has changed. For information about the default location of these files, see Locate Customized Files on page 8. To locate your plotter files 1 Do one of the following: ■ (Windows XP) Click Start menu ➤ Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤ ➤ . ■ (Windows Vista) Click Start menu ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤ ➤ . 2 Click application menu ➤ Options.
2 Click application menu ➤ Options. 3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of Printer Support File Path. 4 Under Printer Description File Search Path, click the path name to view the location of your PMP file. Locate Support Files Beginning with AutoCAD LT 2004, the default location for some of your support files has changed. For information about the default location of these files, see Locate Customized Files on page 8.
5 Under Main Customization File, click the path name to view the location of your main customization file. 6 Click the plus sign (+) to the left of Enterprise Customization File. 7 Under Enterprise Customization File, click the path name to view the location of your enterprise customization files. NOTE By default, the path to an enterprise customization file is empty until you define the file.
To find the default location of the font mapping file 1 Do one of the following: ■ (Windows XP) Click Start menu ➤ Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤ ➤ . ■ (Windows Vista) Click Start menu ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤ ➤ . 2 Click application menu ➤ Options. 3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of Text Editor, Dictionary, and Font File Names. 4 Click the plus sign (+) to the left of Font Mapping File.
2 Click application menu ➤ Options. 3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of Support File Search Path. 4 Under Support File Search Path, click a path name to view the location of your support files. Locate Drawing Template Files Beginning with AutoCAD LT 2004, the default location of your drawing template files has changed. For information about the default location of these files, see Locate Customized Files on page 8.
■ Text ■ Hyperlinks ■ Color ■ Title ■ Video, animation, and so on There are four default Publish to Web templates that you can customize: ■ Array of Thumbnails. Creates a web page containing an array of thumbnail images. ■ Array Plus Summary. Creates a web page containing an array of thumbnail images and summary information about each image. ■ List of Drawings. Creates a web page containing a list of drawings and an image frame. ■ List Plus Summary.
4 Click OK or Cancel to close the Options dialog box. 5 Click File menu ➤ Open. 6 In the Select File dialog box, right-click an empty area in the vertical panel on the left side, and click Add on the shortcut menu. 7 Enter a name in the Item name box (for example, Templates). 8 Press CTRL+V to paste the path into the Item Path box, and click OK. You can now access the Template folders by clicking the button in the left panel of the Select File dialog box.
The template file contains comments that help you determine which areas of the code you can modify to create your new web page. 9 Review the comments and make changes to the parts of the template you want to customize. 10 Save the template with a .pwt file extension. Make sure you save the file to the template folder you created in step 3. NOTE Each template folder can contain only one PWT file. If you create a new PWT file, make sure you delete any other PWT files that exist in the same folder.
To define a command alias, add a line to the acadlt.pgp file using the following syntax: abbreviation,*command where abbreviation is the command alias that you enter at the command prompt and command is the command being abbreviated. You must enter an asterisk (*) before the command name to identify the line as a command alias definition. If you can enter a command transparently, you can also enter its alias transparently.
Custom Linetypes 2 AutoCAD LT® provides a library of standard linetypes in the acadlt.lin and acadltiso.lin files. You can use the linetypes as they are, modify them, or create your own custom linetypes. Overview of Linetype Definitions Linetypes are defined in one or more linetype definition files that have a .lin file extension.
Quick Reference Commands LINETYPE Loads, sets, and modifies linetypes. System Variables MEASUREINIT Controls whether a drawing you start from scratch uses imperial or metric default settings. Simple Custom Linetypes Each linetype is defined on two lines in a linetype definition file. The first line contains the linetype name and an optional description. The second line is the code that defines the actual linetype pattern.
Linetype Name The linetype name field begins with an asterisk (*) and should provide a unique, descriptive name for the linetype. Description The description of the linetype should help you visualize the linetype when you edit the LIN file. The description is also displayed in the Linetype Manager and in the Load or Reload Linetypes dialog box.
Pattern Descriptors Each pattern descriptor field specifies the length of segments making up the linetype, separated by commas (no spaces are allowed): ■ A positive decimal number denotes a pen-down (dash) segment of that length. ■ A negative decimal number denotes a pen-up (space) segment of that length. ■ A dash length of 0 draws a dot. You can enter up to 12 dash-length specifications per linetype, provided they fit on one 80-character line in the LIN file.
6 At the Enter Pattern prompt, specify the pattern of the line. Follow these guidelines: ■ All linetypes must begin with a dash. ■ Enter zeros for dots. ■ Enter negative real numbers for spaces. The value defines the length of the space in drawing units. ■ Enter positive real numbers for dashes. The value defines the length of the dash in drawing units. ■ Separate each dot, dash, or space value from the next with a comma. ■ Use a space between a dot and a dash. 7 Press ENTER to end the command.
Quick Reference Commands LINETYPE Loads, sets, and modifies linetypes. System Variables MEASUREINIT Controls whether a drawing you start from scratch uses imperial or metric default settings. Text in Custom Linetypes Characters from text fonts can be included in linetypes. Characters from text fonts can be included in linetypes. Linetypes with embedded characters can denote utilities, boundaries, contours, and so on. As with simple linetypes, lines are dynamically drawn as you specify the vertices.
characters come from the text font assigned to the STANDARD text style at a scale of 0.1, an upright rotation of 0 degrees, an X offset of -0.1, and a Y offset of -0.05. This pattern continues for the length of the line, ending with a dash 0.5 drawing units long. The linetype would be displayed as shown below. Notice that the total upstroke length is 0.2 + 0.2 = 0.4 and that the text origin is offset -.01 units in the X direction from the end of the first upstroke.
NOTE Drawings containing legacy linetypes that do not use the U (upright) rotation flag can be updated to the latest linetype definition by reloading the linetype from the LIN files. Custom linetypes can be updated by changing the R (rotation) flag to the U (upright) flag prior to reloading a linetype definition. For information on loading a linetype, see Load Linetypes. xoffset X=value. The shift of the text on the X axis of the linetype, which is along the line.
Custom Hatch Patterns 3 AutoCAD LT® provides a library of standard hatch patterns in the acadlt.pat and acadltiso.pat files. You can use the hatch patterns as they are, modify them, or create your own custom hatch patterns. Overview of Hatch Pattern Definitions In addition to using the predefined hatch patterns that are supplied, you can design and create your own custom hatch patterns.
and is defined as follows: *ANSI31, ANSI Iron, Brick, Stone masonry 45, 0,0, 0,.125 The pattern name on the first line, *ANSI31, is followed by a description: ANSI Iron, Brick, Stone masonry. This simple pattern definition specifies a line drawn at an angle of 45 degrees, that the first line of the family of hatch lines is to pass through the drawing origin (0,0), and that the spacing between hatch lines of the family is to be 0.125 drawing units.
of hatch lines is generated parallel to an initial line with an absolute origin to guarantee proper alignment. If you create a very dense hatch, AutoCAD LT may reject the hatch and display a message indicating that the hatch scale is too small or its dash length too short. You can change the maximum number of hatch lines by setting the MaxHatch system registry variable using SETENV and entering a number between 100 and 10000000 (ten million).
HATCH HATCHEDIT Modifies an existing hatch or fill. SOLID Creates solid-filled triangles and quadrilaterals. System Variables FILLMODE Specifies whether hatches and fills, 2D solids, and wide polylines are filled in. HPANG Sets the angle for new hatch patterns. HPBOUND Controls the object type created by HATCH and BOUNDARY. HPDOUBLE Specifies hatch pattern doubling for user-defined patterns. HPNAME Sets the default hatch pattern name. HPSCALE Sets the hatch pattern scale factor.
the segments in circular fashion. A dash length of 0 draws a dot. You can specify up to six dash lengths per pattern line. The hatch pattern ANSI33, shown in the Boundary Hatch and Fill dialog box, looks like this: and is defined as follows: *ANSI33, ANSI Bronze, Brass, Copper 45, .176776695,0, 0,.25, .125,-.0625 For example, to modify a pattern for 45-degree lines to draw dashed lines with a dash length of 0.5 units and a space between dashes of 0.
Now change the pattern to *SKEWED 0, 0,0, .5,.5, .5,-.5 It is the same, except that you have set delta-x to 0.5. This offsets each successive family member by 0.5 in the direction of the line (in this case, parallel to the X axis). Because the lines are infinite, the dash pattern slides down the specified amount. The hatched area would look like this: To create a hatch pattern with dashed lines 1 Open the acadlt.pat or acadltiso.pat file in a text editor that saves in ASCII format (for example, Notepad).
Quick Reference Commands ADCENTER Manages and inserts content such as blocks, xrefs, and hatch patterns. FILL Controls the filling of objects such as hatches, 2D solids, and wide polylines. HATCH HATCHEDIT Modifies an existing hatch or fill. SOLID Creates solid-filled triangles and quadrilaterals. System Variables FILLMODE Specifies whether hatches and fills, 2D solids, and wide polylines are filled in. HPANG Sets the angle for new hatch patterns.
Hatch Patterns with Multiple Lines Complex hatch patterns can have an origin that passes through offsets from the origin and can have multiple members in the line family. Not all hatch patterns use origin points of 0,0. Complex hatch patterns can have an origin that passes through offsets from the origin and can have multiple members in the line family.
.5,.5 for the first instance of the pattern, so its origin is at this point. The third line of the pattern could be the following: 90, .5,0, 0,1, .5,-.5 or 270, .5,1, 0,1, -.5,.5 The dashed pattern starts at the origin points and continues in the vector direction given by the angle specification. Therefore, two dashed-line families that are opposed 180 degrees are not alike. Two solid-line families are alike. The following pattern creates six-pointed stars.
■ A delta-y of any value ■ A value for a dash length ■ A value for a dot length ■ An optional second value for a different dash length ■ An optional second value for a different dot length 5 Create a second line including all the parameters in the previous step. 6 (Optional) Create additional lines to complete the multiple-line hatch pattern. Quick Reference Commands ADCENTER Manages and inserts content such as blocks, xrefs, and hatch patterns.
HPDOUBLE Specifies hatch pattern doubling for user-defined patterns. HPNAME Sets the default hatch pattern name. HPSCALE Sets the hatch pattern scale factor. HPSPACE Sets the hatch pattern line spacing for user-defined patterns.
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User Interface Customization 4 When you work in the program, you use a variety of ribbon panels, menus, toolbars, shortcut keys, and other user interface elements to help you accomplish your tasks efficiently. You can also streamline your environment by customizing these elements. Understand User Interface Customization Using the customization tools of AutoCAD LT, you can tailor your drawing environment to suit your needs.
■ Create or change macros ■ Define DIESEL strings ■ Create or change aliases ■ Add descriptive text for command tooltips ■ Control the properties displayed when using rollover tooltips Customizable User Interface Elements The editor allows you to create and manage commands that are used in the CUIx file in a centralized location. Along with commands, you are able to customize many of the different user interface elements.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. CUIEXPORT Exports customized settings from the main CUIx file to an enterprise or partial CUIx file. CUIIMPORT Imports customized settings from an enterprise or partial CUIx file to the main CUIx file. CUILOAD Loads a CUIx file. CUIUNLOAD Unloads a CUIx file. QUICKCUI Displays the Customize User Interface Editor in a collapsed state.
Overview of the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor The Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor is used to customize the user interface of AutoCAD LT. Before you start customizing your own menus, toolbars, and other user interface elements, you should familiarize yourself with the customization environment. To open the Customize User Interface Editor, click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
Customize the user interface to make the drawing environment specific to certain types of tasks. For example, if you want a toolbar that contains the commands you use most often, you can create a new Favorites toolbar in the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor and then load the new toolbar in AutoCAD LT. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. CUIEXPORT Exports customized settings from the main CUIx file to an enterprise or partial CUIx file.
CUIIMPORT Imports customized settings from an enterprise or partial CUIx file to the main CUIx file. CUILOAD Loads a CUIx file. CUIUNLOAD Unloads a CUIx file. QUICKCUI Displays the Customize User Interface Editor in a collapsed state. System Variables DBLCLKEDIT Controls the double click editing behavior in the drawing area. TOOLTIPS Controls the display of tooltips on the ribbon, toolbars, and other user interface elements.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. Work with the Command List Pane The Command List pane is used to create and locate commands that are contained in the loaded customization files. Use the Create a New Command button to create a new custom command in the CUIx file that is listed in the Customization File drop-down list at the top of the Customizations In pane.
■ Custom Commands. Displays the user defined commands that have been added to the loaded customization files. These commands are not part of a customization file that ships with AutoCAD LT. ■ Controls Elements. Displays the special controls that can be added to a toolbar or ribbon panel, such as drop-down lists, sliders, and other controls. Available commands and controls are displayed in the bottom of the Command List pane.
Based on the item selected, one or more of the following panes will be displayed: ■ Button Image ■ Information ■ Panel Preview ■ Properties ■ Quick Properties ■ Shortcuts ■ Toolbar Preview ■ Workspace Contents Use the Customization Environment | 47
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. How Customization Has Changed Although the basic customization techniques remain the same as in previous versions of the product, the environment that you use to customize the product was changed starting with AutoCAD 2006. All of the previous customization options are still available.
means that you can view a CUIx file from a future version in the previous release while preserving the customization data from the future version. However, you cannot modify the future version's CUIx file in the previous release. For more information about migrating customization data, see Transfer and Migrate Customization on page 316. The following table lists the menu files that previously shipped with the product and shows how those files are mapped to AutoCAD LT 2011.
Menu files mapped to CUIx files Menu file Description In AutoCAD LT 2011 Description of change need them during a drawing session. MNR Menu resource file. Contains the bitmaps that are used by the user interface elements. MNR No change. Menu Text File Structure Versus CUI and CUIx Structure In releases prior to AutoCAD 2006, you added, edited, and deleted menu information directly in a text file. In AutoCAD 2006 and later, you use the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor.
For a more detailed comparison, following are examples of the Window menu properties, Close command properties, Close All command properties, and the Window shortcut menu that is displayed with the Insert Separator option.
Window menu tree node, shortcut menu displayed with Insert Separator option Menu Group Versus Customization Group There is no difference between a menu group (the term used in previous releases) and a customization group. A CUIx file loaded into AutoCAD LT must have a unique customization group name to prevent conflicts between customization files in the program. The main CUIx file, acadlt.cuix by default, has a customization group named ACADLT.
Dynamic Help Dynamic Help is a feature that is in the online Help system and references some of the customization elements that are found in the CUIx file when it is loaded into AutoCAD LT. What Dynamic Help does, is it looks up the Element ID of a command that has been identified in the online Help system, and where that command is currently being referenced on a ribbon panel or menu when the CUIx file is loaded.
■ Create an Enterprise CUIx File on page 82 Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. CUIEXPORT Exports customized settings from the main CUIx file to an enterprise or partial CUIx file. CUIIMPORT Imports customized settings from an enterprise or partial CUIx file to the main CUIx file. CUILOAD Loads a CUIx file. CUIUNLOAD Unloads a CUIx file. QUICKCUI Displays the Customize User Interface Editor in a collapsed state.
CUIx files in the program. In releases prior to AutoCAD 2006, called a menugroup. Element ID A unique identifier of an interface element. In previous releases, called a tag. Dashboard panel An organizational structure used to lay out commands and controls for display on the dashboard, which was available in AutoCAD LT 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2008. The dashboard was replaced by the ribbon in AutoCAD LT 2009 and later.
Macro A series of commands that are run in a defined sequence to accomplish a drawing task. Main customization file A writable CUIx file that defines most of the user interface elements (including the standard menus, toolbars, keyboard accelerators, and so on). The acadlt.cuix file (the default main CUIx file) is automatically loaded when you start AutoCAD LT.
CUIIMPORT Imports customized settings from an enterprise or partial CUIx file to the main CUIx file. CUILOAD Loads a CUIx file. CUIUNLOAD Unloads a CUIx file. CUSTOMIZE Customizes tool palettes and tool palette groups. QUICKCUI Displays the Customize User Interface Editor in a collapsed state. RIBBON Opens the ribbon window. RIBBONCLOSE Closes the ribbon window. TOOLPALETTES Opens the Tool Palettes window. TOOLPALETTESCLOSE Closes the Tool Palettes window.
Work with the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor With the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor, you can create and manage standard and custom commands and user interface elements. By customizing the user interface, you can arrange and access the commands that you frequently use. You can also extend AutoCAD LT by creating your own custom commands.
Control how the command and its ----- Define the label for the command. name is displayed on page 113 Assign search tags on page 119 Optional: Assign search tags to the command ----- for use with the Search field on the application menu. Assign a tooltip on page 124 Optional: Assign tooltip text to the command, ----- which is used when it is added to a ribbon panel or toolbar.
Create User Interface Elements User interface elements are used to organize and display commands in AutoCAD LT. To decide what user interface elements to create, determine how often you want to access a command. Then determine if you want to add the custom command to a shortcut key, the Quick Access toolbar, a ribbon panel or another type of user interface element.
Customize the Ribbon Ribbon customization is broken out into three main components: panels, tabs, and contextual tab states. Each component of the ribbon is used to organize and display the commands that you want to use frequently. Create a Ribbon Panel Ribbon panels organize commands and controls on the ribbon. You use rows, sub-panels, and drop-downs on a ribbon panel to organize the commands and controls you want to display on the ribbon.
Add a sub-panel on page 159 ----- Optional: Add sub-panels to organize commands and controls within a row. Create a new command on page ----- Create new commands as needed. 58 (workflow diagram) Add commands and controls on page 161 ----- Add commands and controls to the rows, sub-panels, and drop-downs on the ribbon panel.
You create ribbon tabs to organize multiple ribbon panels into a single group of related tools. Once ribbon panels are added to the ribbon tab, the ribbon tab must be assigned to a workspace before it is displayed on the ribbon. For more information about ribbon tab customization, see Ribbon Tabs on page 180. Create a ribbon tab on page 182 ----- Create a new ribbon tab to hold the ribbon panels you want to display on the ribbon.
You assign ribbon tabs to a contextual tab state to display commands and controls on the ribbon when working in a specific context. For more information about the customization of ribbon contextual tab states, see Ribbon Contextual Tab States on page 186. Create new ribbon panels as needed to display Create a ribbon panel on page 61 ----- the commands and controls you want to display (workflow diagram) on the ribbon.
Add a flyout on page 203 ----- Optional: Add flyouts to organize multiple commands into a single drop-down list. Create a new command on page ----- Create new commands as needed. 58 (workflow diagram) Add commands and controls on page 195 ----- Add commands and controls to the toolbar and flyouts. Assign a toolbar to a workspace on ----- Assign the toolbar to a workspace to display it. page 306 Set a workspace current on page 289 ----- Set the modified workspace current to see the toolbar.
order for them to be displayed on the menu bar. For more information about pull-down menu customization, see Create a Pull-Down Menu on page 213. Create a pull-down menu on page ----- Create a new pull-down menu to organize the 214 commands you want to display. Add a submenu on page 228 ----- Optional: Add submenus to organize multiple commands into a single drop-down menu. Create a new command on page ----- Create new commands as needed.
Set a workspace current on page 289 ----- Set the modified workspace current to see the pull-down menu displayed on the menu bar. Create a Shortcut Menu Shortcut menus provide contextual access to commands based on right-clicking. Contextual states vary depending on if a command is active, an object is selected, or if no command or object is selected. You create custom shortcut menus that replace the default shortcut menus in AutoCAD LT or to insert additional commands into a specific shortcut menu.
Add commands on page 225 ----- Add commands to the shortcut menu and submenus. Change the caption for a command on page 226 ----- Change the caption that is used for the command when displayed on the shortcut menu. Customize Shortcut Key Shortcut keys start a command by with a combination of the Ctrl or Alt key and some additional keys. You assign commands to a shortcut key combination to make it easy to start the command. You use a key combination instead of clicking a menu item or a button.
about double click action customization, see Double Click Actions on page 262. Create a new command on page ----- Create new commands as needed. 58 (workflow diagram) Create a double click action on page 263 ----- Create a new double click action to start the command when an object is double clicked. Create a Mouse Button Mouse buttons start a command based on a mouse click and a key combination. You assign commands to mouse button and key combinations.
You create and manage workspaces from the user interface of AutoCAD LT or with the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor. Creating and managing workspaces from the user interface is limited; the CUI Editor gives you full control over all user interface elements in a workspace. For more information about workspace customization, see Customize Workspaces on page 280. Create a Workspace from the User Interface You can perform some basic customization of a workspace from the user interface.
Save the workspace on page 285 ----- Save the changes made to the user interface elements to a workspace. Create a Workspace with the CUI Editor The CUI Editor provides an editing environment to customization a workspace. From the CUI Editor, you can control the display of the Quick Access toolbar, ribbon tabs, toolbars, menus, and palettes. You can also control the display of certain features in the application and drawing windows.
Control the display settings for a toolbar when Change the display properties of a ----- the workspace is set current. You can control toolbar on page 307 settings such as default position and docking, among others. Display a menu on page 308 ----- Display a menu on the menu bar when the workspace is set current. Display a palette on page 311 ----- Display a palette when the workspace is set current.
Create and Manage Customization Files Customization (CUIx) files are used to store commands, user interface elements, and references to partial CUIx files. CUIx files can be designated as main, partial, or enterprise. Basics of Customization Files Customization files are loaded into AutoCAD LT to define elements that make up the user interface and are edited using the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor. AutoCAD LT comes with several different CUIx files that can be tailored to your work environment.
All new commands created are added directly to the working CUIx file. If the CUIx file that you want to work with is not loaded, select Open from the Customization Files drop-down list. Then browse to and select the CUIx file you want to work with. To create a CUIx file from scratch 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Transfer tab, in the right pane, click the Create a New Customization File button.
(Windows XP) :\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Autodesk\\\\support\.cuix (Windows Vista) :\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\\\\support\.cuix NOTE The folders under your profile may be hidden by default. To display these files, you may need to change your display settings.
4 Enter a new customization group name and press Enter. NOTE You can click, wait, and click again on the customization group name to edit its name in-place. NOTE The customization group name cannot contain spaces. 5 Click Apply. To restore a customization backup file 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, right-click the customization group name. 3 Click Restore .
To reset a standard customization file 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, right-click over the customization group name. 3 Click Reset . NOTE Only CUIx files found in the UserDataCache folder under the install location of AutoCAD LT can be reset. 4 Click Apply. To designate a CUIx file as the main CUIx file 1 Click Application menu ➤ Options.
4 Select the item below Main Customization File and click Browse. 5 In the Select a File dialog box, browse to and select the customization file to load. Click Open. The file you selected is now designated as the main customization file for the program. 6 In the Options dialog box, click OK. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. OPTIONS Customizes the program settings.
Commands and user interface elements can be added to a partial CUIx file that is loaded under the main CUIx file, but not the enterprise CUIx file unless it is loaded as the main CUIx file. Before adding commands to a partial CUIx file, the partial CUIx file must be set as the working CUIx. For more information on adding a command to a partial CUIx file, see To add commands to a partial CUIx file on page 81. When a partial CUIx file is loaded, any workspaces defined in the file cannot be set current.
NOTE If the partial CUIx file you are attempting to load has the same customization group name as the main CUIx file, you need to change the customization group name before loading it. Open the partial CUIx file in the CUI Editor, select the customization group name, and right-click to rename it. 4 To verify that the file has been loaded into the main CUIx file, in the Customizations In pane, select the Main Customization File (.cuix) from the drop-down list.
3 In the tree view of the main CUIx file, click the plus sign (+) next to the Partial Customization Files node to expand it. Any partial CUIx files loaded in the main CUIx file are displayed. 4 Right-click the partial CUIx file that you want to unload. Click Unload .cuix. The partial CUIx file is unloaded and removed from the list. 5 Click Apply. To add commands to a partial CUIx file 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
4 Adjust the properties of the new command in the Properties pane as necessary. 5 Click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. CUILOAD Loads a CUIx file. CUIUNLOAD Unloads a CUIx file. Create an Enterprise CUIx File An enterprise CUIx file typically stores customization information that is shared by many users, but is controlled by a CAD manager.
file so you make edits to all of the different user interface elements. Make sure to note which customization file is currently designated as the main customization file, as you will need to restore it later. ■ Modify the contents of the enterprise CUIx file. Once the customization file is designated as the main customization file, you can change the customization group name and modify the CUIx file contents as needed.
3 Click the plus sign next to Enterprise Customization File to open it. 4 Select the item below Enterprise Customization Files and click Browse. 5 In the Select a File dialog box, browse to the location of the enterprise customization file. Click Open. The enterprise CUIx file if shared, must be saved in a location that all users can access. 6 In the Options dialog box, click OK. To modify an enterprise CUIx file 1 Click Application menu ➤ Options.
6 Select the item below Enterprise Customization Files and click Browse. In the Select a File dialog box, browse to the location of the main customization file. Click Open. 7 In the Options dialog box, click OK to save the changes. 8 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 9 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, create new commands and user interface elements as necessary. 10 Once done adding new commands and user interface elements, click OK.
OPTIONS Customizes the program settings. Find and Replace Commands and Text in a CUIx File You can search one or more CUIx files for commands or search strings (including commands or user interface element names, command display names, descriptions, macros, and tags). You can also replace commands or search strings one at a time or all at once. You can limit or expand your search depending on the search results you want to achieve. ■ Limit the search to commands located in the Command List pane.
3 In the Find and Replace dialog box, Find tab, do the following: ■ In the Find What box, enter the search string. ■ In the Ignore Case option, clear the check box if you want the search to find every instance of the search string regardless of its case. ■ In the Restrict Search To option, select the check box if you want to restrict the search to just one CUIx file. Then, under this option, select a CUIx file from the drop-down list. ■ Click Find Next to locate all instances of the search string.
3 In the Find and Replace dialog box, Find tab, do the following: ■ In the Find What box, enter the search string. ■ In the Ignore Case option, clear the check box if you want the search to find every instance of the search string regardless of its case. ■ Click Find Next to locate all instances of the search string. A message is displayed that details the location of the search string and the number of results generated from the search. 4 Click Find Next to continue your search. 5 Click Close.
3 In the Find and Replace dialog box, Find tab, do the following: ■ In the Find What box, enter the command name. ■ In the Ignore Case option, clear the check box if you want the search to find every instance of the search string regardless of its case. ■ Click Find Selected Command to locate all instances of the command.
2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Customizations In pane, right-click anywhere in the tree view. Click Replace. 3 In the Find and Replace dialog box, Replace tab, do the following: ■ In the Find What box, enter the search string. ■ In the Replace With box, specify the text string you want to use to replace the found string. ■ In the Ignore Case option, clear the check box if you want the search to find every instance of the search string, regardless of its case.
4 Click Close. 5 In the Customize User Interface Editor, click Apply. To replace a command string 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Command List pane, right-click the command name you want to replace. Click Replace. 3 In the Find and Replace dialog box, Replace tab, in the Find What box, the command name you selected in the previous step is displayed.
4 Click Close. 5 In the Customize User Interface Editor, click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. Customize Commands Commands in the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor are used to define custom macros which are used to start standard and custom commands which can be executed from the command prompt in AutoCAD LT. Overview of Commands You can easily create, edit, and reuse commands.
The following table shows the properties of the Scale command as they appear in the Properties pane. Properties for the Scale command in the Command List pane Properties Description pane item Example Name String displayed as a menu name or as a tooltip when you click a toolbar button. The string must include alphanumeric characters with no punctuation other than a hyphen (-) or an underscore (_).
Properties for the Scale command in the Command List pane Properties Description pane item Example Small Image RCDATA_16_SCALE ID string of the small-image resource (16 × 16 bitmap). The string must include alphanumeric characters with no punctuation other than a hyphen (-) or an underscore (_). It can also be a user-defined bitmap. Click the [ ] button to open the Select Image File dialog box. Large Image ID string of the large-image resource (32 × 32 bitmap).
To create a command 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Command List pane, click Create a New Command. A new command (named Command1) is displayed in both the Command List pane and the Properties pane. 3 In the Properties pane, do the following: ■ In the Name box, enter a name for the command. The name is displayed as a tooltip or menu name when the command is added to a user interface element.
To remove a command 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Command List pane, select Custom from the Command Filter drop-down list. The list is filtered to only show the commands that you have created in the loaded customization files. 3 Select the command to be removed, and right-click over the command. 4 Click Remove.
To edit a command 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, do one of the following: ■ In the Command List pane, select the command you want to edit. ■ In the Customizations In pane, tree view, locate and then select the command you want to edit. 3 In the Properties pane, do any of the following to edit the command: ■ In the Name box, enter a name for the command.
■ In the Extended Help File box, enter the name of the file and ID to use for the extended help for the command. ■ In the Command Display Name box, enter the name of the command that you want to display for the command. ■ In the Macro box, enter a macro for the command. ■ In the Tags box, enter the tags you want to use when search for commands with the Search field of the application menu. ■ In the Element ID box, enter an element ID for the command. (For new commands only.
To copy and paste a command 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Command List pane, locate the command you want to copy. 3 Right-click over the command. Click Copy. 4 Right-click over a user interface element like a toolbar or menu. Click Paste.
NOTE The key combination Ctrl+C can be used to copy a command and Ctrl+V can be used to paste a command. To duplicate a command 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Command List pane, locate the command you want to duplicate. 3 Right-click over the command. Click Duplicate. A copy of the selected command is created in-place directly above the selected command in the Command List pane.
NOTE The key combination Ctrl+D can be used to duplicate a command in-place. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. Create Macros A macro defines the action that results when an interface element is selected. A macro accomplishes a drawing task that would otherwise take a series of actions by a user.
For example, the macro ^C^C_circle \1, draws a circle with a radius of 1 unit. The components that define this macro are explained in the table below. Components in CIRCLE macro Component Component type Result ^C^C Special control character Cancels any running commands _ Special control character Automatically translates the command that follows into other languages CIRCLE Command Starts the CIRCLE command \ Special control character Creates a pause for the user to specify the center point 1
Terminate Macros Some macros require special terminators. Some commands (TEXT, for example) require you to press ENTER rather than SPACEBAR to terminate the command. Some commands require more than one space (or ENTER) to complete, but some text editors cannot create a line with trailing blanks. Two special conventions resolve these problems. ■ A semicolon (;) in a macro automatically issues ENTER at the command prompt. ■ If a line ends with a control character, a backslash (\), a plus sign (+), or a sem
To assign or modify a command macro 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Command List pane, locate the command you want to assign (or modify) a command macro. 3 In the Properties pane, select the Macro field and click the [ ] button that is displayed. The Long String Editor dialog box is displayed. 4 In the Long String Editor, edit the macro as desired and click OK. You are returned to the Customize User Interface Editor.
Macros use the special characters listed in the following table. Special characters used in macros Character Description ; Issues ENTER ^M Issues ENTER ^I Issues TAB [blank space] Enters a space; a blank space between command sequences in a command is equivalent to pressing the SPACEBAR \ Pauses for user input (cannot be used with accelerators) _ Translates AutoCAD LT commands and options that follow =* Displays the current top-level pull-down, shortcut, or image menu *^C^C Repeats a comman
Special characters used in macros Character Description ^R Turns command versioning on or off. Command versioning is required for some commands to ensure command macros written in an older release work properly in the latest release. ^T Turns tablet on or off (equivalent to Ctrl+T) ^V Changes the current viewport ^Z Null character that suppresses the automatic addition of SPACEBAR at the end of a command Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product.
NOTE LAYER normally prompts for another operation and exits only if you press SPACEBAR or ENTER. In the macro, the semicolon (;) is the equivalent of pressing ENTER. A macro typically resumes after one user input, such as a single point location. Therefore, you cannot construct a macro that accepts a variable number of inputs (as in object selection) and then continues. However, an exception is made for SELECT: a backslash (\) suspends the SELECT command until object selection has been completed.
NOTE When command input comes from a command, the settings of the PICKADD and PICKAUTO system variables are assumed to be 1 and 0, respectively. This preserves compatibility with previous releases of AutoCAD LT and makes customization easier because you are not required to check the settings of these variables. Quick Reference Commands CHANGE Changes the properties of existing objects. LAYER Manages layers and layer properties. SELECT Places selected objects in the Previous selection set.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. Repeat Commands in Macros You can use a leading asterisk (*) to repeat a command in a macro until you choose another command. Once you have selected a command, you might want to use it several times before moving on to another command. In a macro, you can repeat a command until you choose another command. You cannot use this feature to choose options.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. Use Single Object Selection Mode in Macros Single Object Selection mode cancels the normal repetition of the Select Objects prompt in editing commands. After you select one object and respond to any other prompts, the command ends. Consider the macro in the following example: *^C^Cerase single This macro terminates the current command and starts ERASE in Single Object Selection mode.
NOTE Swapping can lead to some strange behavior for tablet menus, because they typically have a different number of macros. Use the following syntax in a macro to swap elements: $section=customizationgroup.menuname The following describes each section of the macro syntax for swapping elements: Macro syntax for swapping elements $ Loads an interface element section Specifies the element type.
The format is: $M=expression Introducing the macro with $M= tells AutoCAD LT to evaluate a string as a DIESEL expression, and that expression is the DIESEL expression. The following example defines a conditional expression in a macro: FILLMODE $M=$(-,1,$(getvar,fillmode)) The macro switches the FILLMODE system variable on and off by subtracting the current value of FILLMODE from 1 and returning the resulting value to the FILLMODE system variable.
System Variables FILLMODE Specifies whether hatches and fills, 2D solids, and wide polylines are filled in. Control the Display of Command Items The way a menu or ribbon button item is displayed indicates its availability in the program. A menu or ribbon button item can be displayed as: ■ Grayed out (disabled) ■ Marked with a check marker or border ■ Both grayed out and marked Ribbon button items do not display a check mark when marked; only a border is displayed.
Following is the resulting Copy Link command grayed out in the Edit menu. DIESEL string expressions are used to conditionally disable or enable a menu or ribbon button item each time they are displayed. For example, the DIESEL string expression in the Macros cell of the Properties pane disables the MOVE command while any other command is active.
Ribbon button items only support the use of DIESEL string expressions. A menu or ribbon button item is marked in one of two ways: ■ A check mark. Displayed when a menu item does not have an image associated with it. ■ A border. Displayed when a menu or ribbon button item has an image associated with it; a border is displayed around the image.
Simultaneously Disable and Mark Command Items You can mark and disable commands at the same time using either of the following formats: ~!. labeltext !.~ labeltext The tilde (~) is the special character code to disable a command and an exclamation point and period (!.) is the special character code to mark a command. The tilde (~), exclamation point, and period (!.) are placed at the beginning of the Copy Link command label in the Name cell of the Properties pane.
4 In the Properties pane, in the Name field, add a tilde (~) or add the desired DIESEL expression to the beginning of the command. NOTE The command must be selected from the Customizations In pane, otherwise you are just modifying the name of the command and not the label that is displayed to the user. 5 Click Apply. The changes to the command will be visible after the changes have been applied and the CUI Editor is closed.
4 In the Properties pane, in the Name field, add an exclamation point and a period (!.) or add the desired DIESEL expression to the beginning of the command. 5 Click Apply. The changes to the command will be visible after the changes have been applied and the CUI Editor is closed. To simultaneously gray out (disable) and mark a command's menu or ribbon button label 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the menu that contains the command you want to disable and mark. 3 Select the command you want to gray out and mark. 4 In the Properties pane, in the Name field, add a tilde, an exclamation point, and a period (~!. or !.~) or add the desired DIESEL expression to the beginning of the command. 5 Click Apply.
3 In the Properties pane, select the Tags field and click the [ ] button. 4 In the Tag Editor dialog box, in the Tags box, enter a tag. As you enter a tag, a popup menu might display showing a list of previously used tags. Click a tag on the menu to use that tag. You can add more than one tag to a command; separate each tag with a comma. 5 To add another tag for a command, press the Left Arrow key and enter the tag. Repeat as needed. 6 Click OK.
7 In the Customize User Interface Editor, click Apply. To remove a tag from a command 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Command List pane, select the command from which you want to remove a tag. The Properties pane is displayed on the right side. 3 In the Properties pane, select the Tags field and click the [ ] button. 4 In the Tag Editor dialog box, in the Tags box, click the tag you want to remove. Press Delete.
The tag is removed. 5 Click OK. 6 In the Customize User Interface Editor, click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. OPTIONS Customizes the program settings. Create Tooltips and Extended Help for Commands Tooltips are descriptive messages that are displayed near the cursor when it hovers over a toolbar or panel button, or menu item. The Description property associated to a command provides a simple description for what the command does.
Control the Display of Tooltips You control the display of tooltips and when the extended help assigned to a command is displayed from the Options dialog box. See Set Interface Options in the User’s Guide to learn more about tooltips. Example of an XAML File The XAML structure is a format that was developed by Microsoft. The following is an example of what an XAML file might look like for two custom commands that exist in your CUIx file. PAGE 132of the extended help topics in the file. In the previous example there are two different extended help topics, and they are uniquely defined by the keys MYEH_CMD_0001 and MYEH_CMD_0002. NOTE Extended tooltips defined to work with AutoCAD LT 2009 need to be updated to work with AutoCAD LT 2011. For information on converting an extended tooltip created for AutoCAD LT 2009 to work with AutoCAD LT 2011, see To convert an AutoCAD LT 2009 extended tooltip to work with AutoCAD LT 2011 on page 127.
4 Click Apply. The next time the cursor hovers over the command on a toolbar, or ribbon panel, the text is displayed in the tooltip. To add extended help to a command 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Command List pane, click the command to which you want to add extended help. 3 In the Properties pane, select the Extended Help File field and click [ ] button.
6 Click Apply. When the command is added to a toolbar or ribbon panel, the extended help is displayed if extended help is enabled for tooltips and the cursor hovers over the command for the designated time interval. To create an XAML file 1 In a text editor (for example, Microsoft® Windows® Notepad), create a new file and enter the elements needed to define the extended help content. As an example, enter the text below in the text editor: PAGE 1352 Save the file as ASCII text (TXT file), with a file extension of .xaml. To convert an AutoCAD LT 2009 extended tooltip to work with AutoCAD LT 2011 1 Open the XAML file in a text editor (for example, Microsoft® Windows® Notepad). The following is an example of an extended tooltip created to use with AutoCAD LT 2009. You change the text shown in italic.
System Variables TOOLTIPS Controls the display of tooltips on the ribbon, toolbars, and other user interface elements. Create Status Line Help Messages Status line help messages are simple, descriptive messages that are displayed on the status line (at the bottom of the application window) when the cursor hovers over a menu item. You can change or add descriptions for menu items by updating the Description property for a related command.
4 Click Apply. The next time you use the command, the descriptive text you added is displayed in the status line when the cursor hovers over the command on a menu. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. OPTIONS Customizes the program settings. Assign, Create, and Manage Images for Commands Images can be assigned to commands, and can be of two different types: standard and custom.
When a command is added to a ribbon or toolbar, the assigned image is displayed on the ribbon or toolbar button, or if added to a pull-down menu, the image is displayed next to the menu item. AutoCAD LT comes with a library of standard images that are used for the standard commands; these can be assigned to your own custom commands. You can create your own custom commands using the Button Editor dialog box found in the Customize User Interface Editor or an external image editor.
Assign a standard image ■ In the Button Image pane, under Apply To, select one of the three image assignment options; Small Image, Large Image, or Both. ■ Select an image from the image list and the image name is assigned to the Small, Large, or both the Small and Large image properties of the selected command. NOTE As you select an image from the image list, the image’s name is displayed below the Export button in the Button Image pane.
4 Click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. Create and Edit Custom Images for Commands Custom images can be created and edited which can be assigned to a command. You can create custom images to assign to a command using the Button Editor dialog box built into the CUI Editor or an external image editor. You can either start with an existing button image or create your own from scratch.
To create or edit a button image 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Command List pane or the Customizations In pane, click a command to display the Button Image pane (in the upper-right corner). 3 In the Button Image pane, select an image from the image list that is closest in appearance to the image you want to create or select an existing image to edit. Click Edit.
NOTE Click Import to import a BMP file stored on a local or network drive to edit it in the Button Editor dialog box and store it in the working CUIx file. 5 Click Save. The Save Image dialog box is displayed. 6 In the Save Image dialog box, Image Name text box, enter a name and click OK. The image is saved to the working CUIx file. 7 Click Close. You are returned to the Customize User Interface Editor. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product.
To import a custom image to the image list and the working customization file 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Command List pane, select any command to display the Button Image pane. 3 In the Button Image pane, right-click the image list and click Import Image. 4 In the Open dialog box, browse to and select the BMP file that you want to import and click Open.
4 In the Export Image File dialog box, browse to the folder to which you want to export the image and enter a name for the image in the File Name text box. 5 Click Save. NOTE You can only export images in the BMP (*.bmp, *.rle, or *.dib) format. To import an image into a loaded customization file using the Image Manager 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
4 In the Import Images dialog box, browse to and select the images you want to import. Click Open. If the CUI Editor - Image Already Exists dialog box is displayed, click Import Image as Copy to create a copy of the image being imported or Overwrite Existing Image to replace the image with the one being imported. 5 Click OK. To export an image from a loaded customization file with the Image Manager 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
4 In the Custom Images list, select the image you want to export and click Export. 5 In the Browse For Folder dialog box, browse to the folder to which you want to export the selected images. Click OK. 6 Click OK. To delete an image from a loaded customization file 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click Launches the Image Manager Dialog.
4 In the Custom Images list, select the image you want to remove and click Delete. 5 In the CUI Editor - Confirm Deletion of Image dialog box, click Delete Image. If the selected image is assigned to a command, the CUI Editor - Confirm Deletion of Referenced Image dialog box is displayed. The deletion of the image cannot be undone. 6 Click OK. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product.
See also: To copy and paste a user interface element 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Customizations In pane, expand the main node for the user interface element that you want to copy. 3 Right-click the user interface element, and click Copy. 4 Right-click the node that you want to paste the selected user interface element to, and click Paste.
NOTE The key combination Ctrl+C can be used to copy a user interface element and Ctrl+V can be used to paste a user interface element in the Customizations In pane. 5 Click Apply. To duplicate a user interface element 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Customizations In pane, expand the main node for the user interface element that you want to duplicate.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. Quick Access Toolbars The Quick Access toolbar is located along the top of the application window (above or below the ribbon) and provides direct access to a defined set of commands. The Quick Access toolbar is always located in the same place in the program, but different commands may be displayed on it based on the current workspace.
To create a Quick Access toolbar 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, right-click Quick Access Toolbars. Click New Quick Access Toolbar. A new Quick Access toolbar (named Quick Access Toolbar1) is placed at the bottom of the Quick Access Toolbars tree. 3 Do one of the following: ■ Enter a new name over the default name Quick Access Toolbar1. ■ Right-click Quick Access Toolbar1.
4 Click Apply. To add a command or control to a Quick Access toolbar from the CUI Editor 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Quick Access Toolbars node to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to the Quick Access toolbar that you want to modify.
A splitter bar is displayed to indicate the location where the command or control will be added when you release the pointing device button. 5 Once the splitter bar is in the location you want to insert the command or control, release the pointing device button. 6 Click Apply. To remove a command or control from a Quick Access toolbar with the CUI Editor 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
5 Click Apply. To add and remove commands from the Quick Access toolbar outside the CUI Editor ■ To add a command to the Quick Access toolbar Do one of the following: ■ ■ Right-click a command on the ribbon, and click Add to Quick Access Toolbar. ■ On the Quick Access toolbar, click the Customize button located on the right side and select one of the listed commands or select More Commands. Selecting More Commands displays the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor in a compact state.
To add a drop-down to a Quick Access toolbar 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Quick Access Toolbars node to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to the Quick Access toolbar that you want to modify. 4 Right-click the Quick Access toolbar which you want to add a drop-down to. Click New Drop-down.
A visual indicator bar is displayed to indicate the location where the command or control will be added when the pointing device button is released. 8 Once the splitter bar is in the location where you want to insert the command or control, release the pointing device button. 9 Adjust the properties of the drop-down as desired to control the appearance of the drop-down and the commands under the drop-down.
Ribbon tabs can be displayed on the ribbon with a workspace or based on a contextual tab state when they are needed. Ribbon Panels By customizing ribbon panels, you can organize commands that you use frequently similar to toolbars. With ribbon panels, you can quickly access commands, and reduce the number of user interface elements that are displayed. Overview of Ribbon Panels Ribbon panels are organized by rows, sub-panels, and slideout elements.
Properties for the Home 2D - Draw Ribbon Panel Properties Description Pane Item Example Element ID ID_PanelDraw Tag that uniquely identifies a panel. Create a Ribbon Panel Ribbon panels can be created from scratch or from an existing toolbar or dashboard panel. Create ribbon panels from scratch under the Ribbon Panels node on the Customizations In pane of the Customize tab. This gives you control over which commands are displayed on the ribbon panel.
3 Right-click Panels. Click New Panel. A new panel (named Panel1) is placed at the bottom of the Ribbon Panels tree. 4 Right-click Panel1. Click Rename. Enter a new panel name. 5 Select the new panel, and update its properties in the Properties pane: ■ In the Display Text box, enter the text you want to display for the title of the panel when it is displayed on the ribbon. ■ In the KeyTip box, enter the characters to access the ribbon panel from the keyboard.
3 Right-click the toolbar that you want to copy to a ribbon panel. Click Copy to Ribbon Panels. 4 In the CUI Editor - Confirm Copy to Ribbon Panels Node dialog box, click Yes. The copied toolbar is copied to the Panels node under the Ribbons node. 5 Click Apply. To copy a dashboard panel to a ribbon panel 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Transfer tab, in the Customizations In pane on the right, click Open Customization File.
9 Click Apply. To remove a ribbon panel 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Ribbon to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to Panels to expand it. 4 Right-click the panel that you want to remove. Click Delete. WARNING There is no way to undo the removal of a user interface element, so be careful when removing user interface elements.
To assign a command to the Panel Dialog Box Launcher 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Ribbon to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to Panels to expand it. 4 Click the plus sign (+) next to the ribbon panel where you want to assign a command to its Panel Dialog Box Launcher node.
6 Click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. RIBBON Opens the ribbon window. RIBBONCLOSE Closes the ribbon window. Add and Organize Commands and Controls on a Ribbon Panel Commands and controls are added to and organized with rows and sub-panels on a ribbon panel. You can add and rearrange the commands and controls on a row that you use often, and you can remove those from a row that you use infrequently.
command. For more information about drop-downs on ribbon panels, see Add Drop-downs to a Ribbon Panel on page 167. In addition to using rows and sub-panels to organize commands, you can also use menu separators. Menu separators are used to add space or lines between commands and controls. The following table describes the properties for the Line command of Row 1 on the Home 2D - Draw ribbon panel as they appear in the Properties pane.
Properties for the Line Command on Row 1 of the Home 2D - Draw Ribbon Panel Properties Description Pane Item Example Extended Help File Text that displays the file name and ID for the extended tooltip that is displayed when the cursor hovers over a toolbar or panel button. Command Display Name Text that contains the name of the command that is related to the command. LINE Macro The command macro. It follows the standard macro syntax.
Properties for the Line Command on Row 1 of the Home 2D - Draw Ribbon Panel Properties Description Pane Item Example the program scales it to that size. The string must include alphanumeric characters with no punctuation other than a hyphen (-) or an underscore (_). It can also be a user-defined bitmap. Click the [ ] button to open the Select Image File dialog box.
■ To reposition a command on a ribbon panel on page 163 (Procedure) ■ To remove a command from a ribbon panel on page 162 (Procedure) ■ To change the display and behavior of commands, controls and drop-downs on a ribbon panel on page 164 (Procedure) To add a row to a ribbon panel 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Ribbon to expand it.
5 Create a new row for the sub-panel or fold-panel if needed, or click the plus sign (+) next to the row where you want to add a sub-panel or fold panel. 6 Right-click the row where you want to add a sub-panel or fold-panel. Click New Sub-Panel or New Fold Panel. 7 Click Apply. To remove a row or sub-panel from a ribbon panel 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
6 Click Apply. To reposition a row or sub-panel on a ribbon panel 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Ribbon to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to Panels to expand it. 4 Click the plus sign (+) next to the ribbon panel where you want to reposition a row or sub-panel.
6 Drag a command from the Command List pane to a row, sub-panel, or drop-down on the panel. Use the visual indicator bar to specify the position of the command. 7 In the Properties pane, change the properties of the command you added on page 164. 8 Click Apply. To remove a command from a ribbon panel 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Ribbon to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to Panels to expand it. 4 Click the plus sign (+) next to the ribbon panel where you want to remove a command. 5 Click the plus sign (+) next to the rows, sub-panels, or drop-downs to get to the location you want to remove a command. 6 Right-click the command that you want to remove. Click Remove. 7 Click Apply.
7 Click Apply. To change the display and behavior of commands, controls and drop-downs on a ribbon panel ■ Do one of the following: To show the label and set the orientation of a command or drop-down on a ribbon panel 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Ribbon to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to Panels to expand it.
8 Click Apply. To set the size of a command or drop-down on a ribbon panel 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Ribbon to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to Panels to expand it. 4 Click the plus sign (+) next to the ribbon panel which has the command or drop-down for which you want to set the size.
8 Click Apply. To set the button and style of a drop-down on a ribbon panel 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Ribbon to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to Panels to expand it. 4 Click the plus sign (+) next to the ribbon panel where you want to change the style of a drop-down.
7 Click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. RIBBON Opens the ribbon window. RIBBONCLOSE Closes the ribbon window. Add Drop-downs to a Ribbon Panel Drop-downs can be used to group multiple related commands into a single button. Ribbon panel drop-downs, like toolbar flyouts, that can hold a number of commands in a single place on a ribbon panel. Drop-downs are used to help reduce the amount of space that related commands can take up.
The following table describes the properties for the Arc drop-down of Row 1 on under Sub-Panel 1 of the Home 2D - Draw ribbon panel as they appear in the Properties pane. Properties for the Arc Drop-down on Row 1 of the Home 2D - Draw Ribbon Panel Properties Pane Item Description Example Name Logical name for the drop-down; does not appear in the user interface. Arc NOTE The “\n” character sequence represents a line break in a command label, which is used to allow a command label to be displayed on mo
Properties for the Arc Drop-down on Row 1 of the Home 2D - Draw Ribbon Panel Properties Pane Item Description Example Tooltip Title Text string that controls the title of the tooltip for the command. Element ID Tag that uniquely identifies a panel section. ID_RBN_SPLITBTN_ARC Small Image ID string of the small-image resource (16 × 16 bitmap). The string must include alphanumeric characters with no punctuation other than a hyphen () or an underscore (_).
A new drop-down (named New Drop-down) is created in the last position of the row. 6 Right-click the new drop-down. Click Rename. Enter a new name. 7 In the Command List pane, drag the commands that you want to add to the new drop-down in the Customizations In pane. 8 Adjust the properties of the drop-down as desired to control the appearance of the drop-down and the commands under the drop-down.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. RIBBON Opens the ribbon window. RIBBONCLOSE Closes the ribbon window. Add and Remove Ribbon Panel Controls You can add, remove, and relocate ribbon panel controls, such as drop-down lists, sliders, text boxes, and other types of panel-specific controls that start commands or change a setting. For example, the Home 2D/3D - Layers panel contains controls for working with the layers of a drawing.
Controls available for ribbon panels Control element Control Type Description Ribbon Command Button - Block Visibility Hide Button Makes objects visible in the current visibility state or all visibility states in the block definition opened for edit in the Block Editor. Ribbon Command Button - Block Visibility Mode Button Controls how objects that are made invisible for the current visibility state are displayed in the Block Editor.
Controls available for ribbon panels Control element Control Type Description Ribbon Combo Box - What to Export Drop-down list Controls which part of the drawing should be exported to a DWF, DWFx or PDF file. Ribbon Combo Box - Page Setup Drop-down list Allows you to export the drawing to a DWF, DWfx, or PDF file using the page setup settings in the Page Setup Manager or to override these settings.
Controls available for ribbon panels Control element Control Type Description Spell Check Settings Button Displays the Check Spelling Settings dialog box when the multiline text editor is active. Ribbon Spinner - Tracking Spinner Displays and changes the current tracking spacing for the selected text in the multiline text editor. Ribbon Spinner Width Factor Spinner Displays and changes the current width factor for the selected text in the multiline text editor.
Controls available for ribbon panels Control element Control Type Description 3D Navigation Combo Control Multiple Displays and sets the current view to a standard orthographic or isometric view, or a saved name view based on the current space. Lens length Slider Adjusts the lens length of a perspective view. Ribbon Combo Box - Object Color Drop-down list Displays and sets the current object color.
Controls available for ribbon panels Control element Control Type Description Ribbon Control - Empty Row Aligner Spacer Allows you to align empty rows with other rows that contain commands and controls. Ribbon Text Box - Find Text Text box Searches a drawing for matching text based on a text string. Ribbon Menu Button - Status Bar Options Drop-down menu button Displays a list of the status bar items that are currently turned on or off.
Controls available for ribbon panels Control element Control Type Description Ribbon - Show Underlay Toggle Button Toggle Determines if the selected underlay is visible or not. Ribbon Combo Box - Viewport Configurations Drop-down list Sets how the active tiled viewport should be divided. Xref fading Slider Displays and sets the level of fading that is applied to the objects of an xref.
The Command List pane displays the list of ribbon control elements only. 7 Drag a control from the Command List pane to add it to the panel. Use the visual indicator bar to specify the position of the control. 8 Click Apply. To reposition a control on a ribbon panel 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Ribbon to expand it.
5 Click the plus sign (+) next to the row where you want to reposition a control. If you need to, continue expanding sub-panels, rows, and drop-downs to get to the control. 6 Drag the control to a new location. Use the visual indicator bar to specify the position of the command. 7 Click Apply. To remove a control from a ribbon panel 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
7 Click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. RIBBON Opens the ribbon window. RIBBONCLOSE Closes the ribbon window. Ribbon Tabs Ribbon tabs control the display and order in which ribbon panels are displayed on the ribbon. You add ribbon tabs to a workspace to control which ribbon tabs are displayed on the ribbon.
From the Workspace Contents pane, you can control the default display of ribbon tabs and panels; this allows you to keep the associations of ribbon tabs and panels with a workspace, but turn it off. You can also control the tool palette group associated with a ribbon tab, and the collapse behavior, resize order, and orientation of a ribbon panel from the Workspace Contents pane. The following table describes the properties for the Home - 2D ribbon tab as they appear in the Properties pane.
Display Ribbon Tabs from a Partial CUIx File When you load ribbon tabs from a partial CUIx file, you can use the Workspace Behavior property to control how ribbon tabs that might share the same alias in the main and partial CUIx files are handled. The Add Tab Only option displays each ribbon tab that is loaded with a workspace as its own tab. While Merge Tab Only displays the ribbon tabs from a partial CUIx file with those that have a matching alias in the main CUIx file.
■ In the Workspace Behavior box, specify if the ribbon tab is merged or added to the ribbon when the CUIx file is loaded as a partial file. ■ In the KeyTip box, enter a text string that can be used to access the ribbon tab from the keyboard. ■ In the Aliases box, enter an alias for the ribbon tab. 6 Click Apply. To remove a ribbon tab 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
To add a ribbon panel to a ribbon tab 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Ribbon to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to Tabs to expand it. 4 Click the plus sign (+) next to the ribbon tab where you want to add a ribbon panel. 5 Click the plus sign (+) next to Panels to expand it. 6 Drag a ribbon panel from the Panels node to a ribbon tab.
WARNING There is no way to undo the removal of a user interface element, so be careful when removing user interface elements. If you remove the wrong user interface element, the best thing to do is click Cancel to not save changes, but this will also undo any other changes that you might have made. 6 Click Apply. To set the initial position of a ribbon panel on a ribbon tab 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
6 Once the splitter bar is in the place where you want to insert the ribbon panel, release the pointing device button. 7 Click Apply. To set the resize style of a ribbon panel on a ribbon tab 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Ribbon to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to Tabs to expand it.
You use the same ribbon tabs that you create to control the display of ribbon panels on the ribbon through a workspace, as those used for ribbon contextual tab states. Instead of using a workspace to control the display of a ribbon tab, you assign a ribbon tab to one of the predefined contextual states listed under the Contextual Tab States node in the Customizations In pane. Predefined contextual tab states range from selecting an object such as a table or opening a block in the Block Editor.
5 Right-click the ribbon tab under the contextual tab state and click Remove. 6 Click Apply. To set the contextual display type a ribbon tab 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Ribbon to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to Contextual Tab States to expand it.
7 Click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. RIBBON Opens the ribbon window. RIBBONCLOSE Closes the ribbon window. System Variables RIBBONCONTEXTSELECT Controls how ribbon contextual tabs are displayed when you single- or double-click an object. RIBBONCONTEXTSELLIM Limits the number of objects that can be changed at one time with the ribbon property controls or a contextual tab.
Toolbars Toolbar customization can be as easy as placing or resizing a toolbar in the application window to gain drawing efficiency or space. You can also create and modify toolbars and flyout toolbars, add commands and controls, and reposition and remove commands and controls from a toolbar. Create and Edit Toolbars Some of the simplest toolbar customizations can make your daily drawing tasks more efficient.
Properties for the Standard toolbar Properties pane item Description Example tions are Do Not Add to Workspaces or Add to Workspaces. Orientation Specifies whether the toolbar is floating or docked (top, bottom, left, or right) the first time the CUIx file is loaded. Top Default X Location Specifies the location from the left edge of the screen when the toolbar appears when it is floating, or the location when it is docked. If docked, a value of 0 indicates the left most location in a docked area.
that is displayed in the tooltip when the cursor hovers over top of the button by changing the Name property that is displayed in the Properties pane. Customize Toolbars with the Toolbar Preview Pane You can customize a toolbar using the tree view under the Customizations In pane or the Toolbar Preview pane. The Toolbar Preview pane allows you to add and remove commands or controls visually in real-time instead of just using the tree view.
A new toolbar (named Toolbar1) is placed at the bottom of the Toolbars tree. 3 Do one of the following: ■ Enter a new name over the default name Toolbar1. ■ Right-click Toolbar1. Click Rename. Enter a new toolbar name. ■ Click Toolbar1, wait, and click again over the toolbar’s name again to edit its name in-place. 4 Select the new toolbar in the tree view, and update the Properties pane: ■ In the Description box, enter a description for the toolbar.
5 In the Command List pane, drag the command you want to add to a location just below the name of the toolbar in the Customizations In pane. 6 Click Apply. To create a toolbar from a pull-down menu 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Menus tree node to expand it.
4 Update the workspace as desired to update the display and position for the new toolbar. To add a command to a toolbar in the Customizations In pane 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Toolbars tree node to expand it. 3 In the Command List pane, drag the command to the toolbar you want to add it to in the Customizations In pane.
3 Select the toolbar you want to add a command to. 4 In the Command List pane, drag the command you want to add to the selected toolbar and drop it on the toolbar’s preview in the Toolbar Preview pane. You can control where the command is placed by releasing the mouse button when the black vertical splitter bar is displayed. 5 Click Apply. To add a command to a toolbar outside the CUI Editor 1 Display the toolbar you want to add a command to by right-clicking over a toolbar button.
You can control the location of the command you are adding by using the visual or horizontal indicator bar. 4 Click Apply. To reposition a command or control on a toolbar in the Customizations In pane 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Toolbars tree node to expand it.
While dragging the command or control, use the visual indicator bar to specify the new position of the command or control. When the left arrow appears, the command or control is moved to the front of the toolbar. 5 Click Apply. To reposition a command or control on a toolbar in the Toolbar Preview pane 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
The Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor is displayed. 3 Drag the command on the toolbar that you want to reposition. While dragging the command, use the visual indicator bar to specify the new position of the command. 4 Click Apply. To remove a command or control from a toolbar in the Customizations In pane 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
To remove a command or control from a toolbar in the Toolbar Preview pane 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Toolbars tree node to expand it. 3 Select the toolbar that contains the command or control you want to reposition. 4 In the Toolbar Preview pane, drag the command or control that you want to remove and drop it outside of the preview.
5 In the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor, click Apply. To change properties of a toolbar 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Toolbars tree node to expand it. NOTE Making changes to a toolbar’s properties here only affect the initial appearance of the toolbar after the CUIx file has been loaded.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. QUICKCUI Displays the Customize User Interface Editor in a collapsed state. RIBBON Opens the ribbon window. RIBBONCLOSE Closes the ribbon window. System Variables TOOLTIPS Controls the display of tooltips on the ribbon, toolbars, and other user interface elements. Add Flyouts to a Toolbar You can use flyouts to group related commands together on a toolbar.
Properties for the Zoom flyout on the Standard toolbar Properties pane item Description Example Description Text used to describe the element, does not appear in the user interface. Source Toolbar A read-only value used to specify which toolbar is being referenced to create the flyout. TB_ZOOM Use Own Button Controls whether the last used toolbar button is set as the current button or not. The possible values are Yes or No. No Small Image ID string of the small-image resource (16 × 16 bitmap).
A new flyout toolbar (named Toolbar1) is placed below the toolbar you selected. 4 Right-click Toolbar1. Click Rename. Enter a new toolbar name. NOTE You can click, wait, and click again over a toolbar name to edit its name in-place in the Customizations In pane. NOTE Just renaming the toolbar won’t change the name of the flyout. You must select and rename the flyout independently if you want them to both have the same name.
6 Click Apply. To create a flyout toolbar from another toolbar 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Toolbars tree node to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to the toolbar to which you want to add a flyout toolbar. 4 Locate the toolbar you want to use as a flyout. Drag the toolbar to a location in the expanded toolbar.
5 Click Apply. To create a flyout toolbar from a pull-down menu 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Toolbars tree node to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to the toolbar to which you want to add a flyout toolbar. 4 Click the plus sign (+) next to the Menus tree node to expand it.
6 Reposition the new flyout on the toolbar. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. Add, Remove or Switch Toolbar Controls Toolbar controls are drop-down lists of items that can affect the objects in a drawing or the way the program behaves from a toolbar. For example, the Layers toolbar contains controls for defining layer settings. In the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor, you can add, remove, and relocate controls within toolbars.
Control elements for toolbars Control element Description Multileader Style Control Displays and sets the current multileader style. Named View Control Displays and sets the current named view. OPT Color Control Displays and sets the current color. Plot Style Control Displays and sets the current plot style. Redo Skinny Button Control Allows you to reverse the previous undo or undoes. Reference Block Name Control Displays the name of the xref being edited.
2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Toolbars tree node to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to the toolbar to which you want to add a control. 4 In the Command List pane, Categories list, click Toolbar Control Elements. The Command List pane displays the list of toolbar control elements only.
2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Toolbars tree node to expand it. 3 Select the toolbar to which you want to add a control. 4 In the Command List pane, Categories list, click Control Elements. The Command List pane displays the list of toolbar control elements only.
To switch a control in a toolbar 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Toolbars tree node to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to the toolbar to which you want to add a control. 4 Click the control element under the toolbar. 5 In the Properties pane, Control box, click the down arrow to display a list of toolbar controls.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. Pull-down and Shortcut Menus Pull-down menus are displayed as a list under a menu bar. Shortcut menus (also called context menus) are displayed at or near the crosshairs or cursor when you right-click in the drawing window, text window, command window, in toolbar areas, or the ribbon. Overview of Pull-Down and Shortcut Menus A pull-down menu can contain up to 999 commands.
NOTE When you create a pull-down or shortcut menu, you must also add at least one command to the menu. Otherwise, the menu will not be displayed on the menu bar. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. System Variables MENUBAR Create a Pull-Down Menu You can create a pull-down menu, add submenus and commands to it on the Customize tab of the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor.
To create a pull-down menu 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, right-click Menus. Click New Menu. A new menu (named Menu1) is placed at the bottom of the Menus tree. 3 Do one of the following: ■ Enter a new name over the default name Menu1. ■ Right-click Menu1. Click Rename. Enter a new menu name.
5 In the Command List pane, drag the command to a location just below the menu in the Customizations In pane. NOTE You can change the name of a command after it has been added to a menu. This allows you to define how the user can access the menu item using keyboard navigation with the Alt key. To do this, select the menu item under the Menus node and then change the Name property in the Properties pane. 6 Click Apply.
NOTE You can change the name of a command after it has been added to a menu. This allows you to define how the user can access the menu item using keyboard navigation with the Alt key. To do this, select the menu item under the Menus node and then change the Name property in the Properties pane. 4 Click Apply. For information about creating a command, see Create, Edit, and Reuse Commands on page 94.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. System Variables MENUBAR Create a Shortcut Menu Shortcut menus are displayed at or near the location of your cursor when you right-click on the pointing device. The shortcut menu and the options it provides depend on the location of the cursor and other conditions, such as whether an object is selected or a command is in progress.
Program aliases for shortcut menus Alias Description CMDEFAULT Defines the Default mode shortcut menu. (Right-click the drawing area while no command is active and no objects are selected.) CMEDIT Defines the Edit mode shortcut menu. (Right-click the drawing area while one or more objects are selected, no grips are selected, and no command is active.) CMCOMMAND Defines the Command mode menu. (Right-click the drawing area while a command is active.
Object names specific to insert objects Object Name Description ATTDYNBLOCKREF Dynamic block reference with attributes BLOCKREF Block reference without attributes DYNBLOCKREF Dynamic block reference without attributes XREF External reference (xref) For example, to support an object-specific shortcut menu for one or more selected block references, you would create or modify a shortcut menu and change its properties to those in the following table.
In many cases, you can enter a hyphen before a command to suppress the display of a dialog box and display prompts for the command instead. To create a context-sensitive menu for a command that displays prompts instead of a dialog box (such as -INSERT), you need to name the menu COMMAND_-INSERT. To create a shortcut menu Do one of the following: ■ To create a standard shortcut menu a Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
number, based on the number of shortcut menus already loaded in the program. g In the Command List pane, drag the command that you want to add to the location just below the shortcut menu in the Customizations In pane. h Continue adding commands until the new shortcut menu is complete. i Click Apply. ■ To create a command shortcut menu In order for the commands on the shortcut menu to appear when a command is active, make sure to use the alias COMMAND_commandname.
b In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, right-click Shortcut Menus. Click New Shortcut Menu. The new shortcut menu (named ShortcutMenu1) is placed at the bottom of the Menus tree. c Do one of the following: ■ Enter a new name over the default name ShortcutMenu1. ■ Right-click ShortcutMenu1. Click Rename. Enter a new shortcut menu name. ■ Click ShortcutMenu1, wait, and click again over the shortcut menu’s name to edit its name in-place.
h Continue adding commands until the new shortcut menu is complete. i Click Apply. ■ To create an object shortcut menu In order for the commands on the shortcut menu to appear when an object or objects of the same type are selected, make sure to use the alias OBJECT_objecttype or OBJECTS_objecttype. For example, if you want the commands on the shortcut menu to appear when a LINE object is selected in the drawing, use the alias OBJECT_LINE.
The new shortcut menu (named ShortcutMenu1) is placed at the bottom of the Menus tree. c Do one of the following: ■ Enter a new name over the default name ShortcutMenu1. ■ Right-click ShortcutMenu1. Click Rename. Enter a new shortcut menu name. ■ Click ShortcutMenu1, wait, and click again over the shortcut menu’s name to edit its name in-place. d In the Properties pane, Description box, optionally enter a description for the shortcut menu. e In the Aliases box, click the [ ] button.
h Continue adding commands until the new shortcut menu is complete. i Click Apply. To add a command to a shortcut menu 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the menu to which you want to add a command. 3 In the Command List pane, drag the command you want to add to a location just below the menu in the Customizations In pane.
NOTE You can change the name of a command after it has been added to a menu. This allows you to define how the user can access the menu item using keyboard navigation with the Alt key. To do this, select the menu item under the Shortcut Menus node and then change the Name property in the Properties pane. 4 Click Apply. For information about creating a command, see Create, Edit, and Reuse Commands on page 94.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. System Variables SHORTCUTMENU Controls whether Default, Edit, and Command mode shortcut menus are available in the drawing area. Create Submenus You can create submenus to organize and group similar commands together. Submenus are created in much the same way that you create a menu.
Special characters for submenus Character Description Example \t Pushes all label text entered after these characters to the right side of the menu. Help\tF1 displays Help on the left side of the pull-down menu and F1 on the right side. To create a submenu 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Menus. Select the menu you want to add a submenu to.
6 In the Command List pane, drag the command you want to add to a location just below the name of the submenu in the Customizations In pane. 7 Continue adding commands until the new submenu is complete. 8 Click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. Reference Pull-Down or Shortcut Menus Using a method similar to that used to activate submenus, you can activate or deactivate another pull-down or shortcut menu.
Absolute Referencing of Pull-Down and Shortcut Menu Items In addition to referencing a menu item, you can activate or deactivate a menu item with the $Pn=xxx syntax. This is the format: $Pn.i=xxx The $ loads a menu section; Pn specifies the active menu section (0 through 16 are valid values); i specifies the menu item number; and xxx (if present), specifies a string of grayed out or marked characters. Using the $Pn=xxx syntax, the following example adds a check mark to item 1 in the POP7 section. $P7.1=!.
referencing. Using this method, you can insert the new menu in front of a known menu and then remove the known menu. For menu-swapping purposes, the pull-down menu areas are named P1 through P16. You can change the title that appears in the menu bar by replacing that line of the menu with a $Pn= command. You can use the special command $Pn=* from within any command to force the menu currently assigned to area POPn to pull down for greater flexibility in movement of the pointing device.
Main label or alias You can also insert a menu with the Pn= syntax. The following macro inserts a menu after the P5 menu. If you use this method to insert a menu, remember that you cannot rely on its being inserted at the P6 menu location as you might expect. There are two reasons that this may not be the case. ■ If the current menu bar has only three menus, inserting a menu after menu P5 results in the new menu's location being P4.
■ You can swap customization elements of the same type only; that is, one shortcut menu for another, one toolbar for another, and so on. Trying to swap between types may result in unpredictable behavior. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. CUILOAD Loads a CUIx file. CUIUNLOAD Unloads a CUIx file. -TOOLBAR Displays, hides, and customizes toolbars. WORKSPACE Creates, modifies, and saves workspaces and makes a workspace current.
that are set to display properties on the Quick Properties palette. Once an object type is added to the Objects pane, you can then decide which properties to display when on object of that type is selected in the drawing window. You can change the general properties for a selected object type or for all object types.
3 In the Objects pane, click Edit Object Type List. 4 In the Edit Object Type List dialog box, select the object types you want to display properties for on the Quick Properties palette.
in the drawing window. Clear the check mark next to an object type to remove support for the object type from the Quick Properties palette. 5 Click OK. 6 In the Customize User Interface Editor, click Apply. To control the display of a property for an object on the Quick Properties palette 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, select Quick Properties.
Clear the check mark next to a property to remove the property for the selected object type from the Quick Properties palette. 5 Click Apply. To control the display of custom properties and attributes for block references on the Quick Properties palette 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, select Quick Properties.
checked, the attributes for a block are displayed on the Quick Properties palette 5 Click Apply. To override the general properties for all object types 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, select Quick Properties. 3 In the Properties pane, select the check boxes next to the general properties you want the Quick Properties palette to display for all object types.
5 Click Apply. To restore the default settings for Quick Properties 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, right-click Quick Properties. 3 Click Restore Default. 4 Click Restore the Default Quick Properties Settings. 5 Click Apply.
To synchronize Quick Properties with rollover tooltips 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, right-click Quick Properties. 3 Click Synchronize with Rollover Tooltips. 4 Click Apply Rollover Tooltips Settings to Quick Properties palette. 5 Click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product.
DSETTINGS Sets grid and snap, polar and object snap tracking, object snap modes, Dynamic Input, and Quick Properties. System Variables QPLOCATION Sets the location mode of Quick Properties palette. QPMODE Sets the on or off state of Quick Properties palette. Rollover Tooltips Rollover tooltips display the current values of selected properties. The properties and values that are displayed in a rollover tooltip can be customized by object type.
Overrides. However, after applying a general property to all object types you can deselect any general property for a specific object type by selecting the object type and deselecting the property. NOTE When an object is not in the Object Type list on the Objects pane, the general properties that are checked for all object types are displayed on the rollover tooltips. Display Rollover Tooltips Rollover tooltips are displayed for objects when the ROLLOVERTIPS system variable is set to 1.
4 In the Edit Object Type List dialog box, select the object types you want to display properties for on a rollover tooltip. If an object type is checked, the properties for the object type are displayed on a rollover tooltip when the cursor hovers over an object of the same type. Clear the check mark next to an object type to remove support for the object type from rollover tooltips. 5 Click OK. 6 In the Customize User Interface Editor, click Apply.
3 In the Objects pane, select an object from the Object Type list. 4 In the Properties pane, select the properties you want to display on a rollover tooltip. If a property is checked, the property is displayed on a rollover tooltip when the cursor hovers over an object of the selected object type in the drawing window. Clear the check mark next to a property to remove the property for the selected object type. 5 Click Apply.
3 In the Properties pane, select the check boxes next to the general properties you want rollover tooltips to display for all object types. 4 Click Reset Overrides. 5 Click Apply. To restore the default settings for rollover tooltips 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, right-click Rollover Tooltips. 3 Click Restore Default. 4 Click Restore the Default Rollover Tooltips Settings. 5 Click Apply. To synchronize rollover tooltips with Quick Properties 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, right-click Rollover Tooltips.
4 Click Apply Quick Properties Settings to Rollover Tooltips. 5 Click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. OPTIONS Customizes the program settings. System Variables ROLLOVERTIPS Controls the display of rollover tooltips in the application.
Keyboard Shortcuts Shortcut keys can be used to start commands and to be temporary override keys to execute a command or change a setting when a key is pressed. Shortcut Keys You can assign shortcut keys (sometimes called accelerator keys) to commands you use frequently. Overview of Shortcut Keys Shortcut keys are key combinations that start commands.
Properties for the Save Shortcut Key Properties Description pane item Example Macro The command macro. It follows the standard macro syntax. ^C^C_qsave Key(s) Specifies the keystroke combination that is used CTRL+S to execute the macro. Click the [ ] button to open the Shortcut Keys dialog box. Tags Keywords associated to a command. Tags provide an additional field to search in the application menu. Element ID Tag that uniquely identifies a command.
■ To modify a shortcut key, select a shortcut key. In the Properties pane, the properties for the shortcut key are displayed. 5 In the Key(s) box, click the [ ] button to open the Shortcut Keys dialog box. 6 Hold down the modifier key Ctrl with a combination of Shift and Alt if desired and press a letter, number, function, or virtual key such as F1 or Insert.
■ Ctrl+Shift+letter, Ctrl+Shift+number, Ctrl+Shift+function, Ctrl+Shift+virtual key ■ Ctrl+Shift+Alt+letter, Ctrl+Shift+Alt+number, Ctrl+Shift+Alt+function, Ctrl+Shift+Alt+virtual key NOTE The virtual keys that are supported are Escape, Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, and Down Arrow. The virtual key Escape can only be used by itself or with the modifier combination Ctrl+Shift+Alt.
3 In the Shortcuts pane, filter the type and status of keyboard shortcuts to print. ■ In the Type drop-down list, select the type of keyboard shortcuts to display in the list. Choices include All Keys, Accelerator Keys, or Temporary Override Keys. ■ In the Status list, select the status of keyboard shortcuts displayed in the list. Choices include All, Active, Inactive, and Unassigned. 4 In the Shortcuts pane, click Print.
The following table lists the default actions for shortcut keys.
Shortcut Key Assignments Shortcut Key Description CTRL+K Inserts a hyperlink CTRL+L Toggles Ortho mode CTRL+M Repeats last command CTRL+N Creates a new drawing CTRL+O Opens an existing drawing CTRL+P Plots the current drawing CTRL+SHIFT+P Toggles the Quick Properties interface CTRL+Q Quits AutoCAD LT CTRL+R Cycles through the viewports on the current layout CTRL+S Saves current drawing CTRL+SHIFT+S Displays up the Save As dialog box CTRL+T Toggles Tablet mode CTRL+V Pastes data fr
Shortcut Key Assignments Shortcut Key Description CTRL+PAGE UP Moves to the next layout tab to the left of the current tab CTRL+PAGE DOWN Moves to the next layout tab to the right of the current tab F1 Displays Help F2 Toggles Text Window F3 Toggles OSNAP F4 Toggles TABMODE F5 Toggles ISOPLANE F7 Toggles GRIDMODE F8 Toggles ORTHOMODE F9 Toggles SNAPMODE F10 Toggles Polar Tracking F11 Toggles Object Snap Tracking F12 Toggles Dynamic Input NOTE In the Customize User Interface (CUI)
Overview of Temporary Override Keys Temporary override keys are used to temporarily turn on or off drafting settings. For example, holding down the Shift key toggles the current setting of Ortho mode. The following table shows the Object Snap Override: Endpoint temporary override key properties as they appear in the Properties pane. The creation of a temporary override key does not start with a command from the Commands List pane like a shortcut key does.
To create a temporary override key 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, click the plus sign (+) next to Keyboard Shortcuts to expand it. 3 In the Customizations In pane, right-click Temporary Override Keys. Click New Temporary Override. A new temporary override (named TemporaryOverride1) is placed at the bottom of the Temporary Override Keys tree.
■ In the Macro 1 (Key Down) box, enter a macro to be executed when the temporary override key is pressed. When no value is assigned, the default macro is ^c^c. ■ In the Macro 2 (Key Up) box, enter a macro to be executed when the temporary override key is released. When no value is defined, key up restores the application to its previous state (before the temporary override was executed). NOTE For information about creating a macro, see Create Macros on page 101. 6 Click Apply.
■ In the Key(s) box, click the [ ] button to open the Shortcut Keys dialog box. In the Shortcut Keys dialog box, click in the Press New Shortcut Key box to ensure the box has focus, and press a key. Under the Press New Shortcut Key box, Currently Assigned To displays any current assignments for the key. If a key you select is not already assigned, click OK. ■ In the Macro 1 (Key Down) box, enter a macro to be executed when the temporary override key is pressed.
3 In the Shortcuts pane, filter the type and status of keyboard shortcuts to print. ■ In the Type drop-down list, select the type of keyboard shortcuts to display in the list. Choices include All Keys, Accelerator Keys, or Temporary Override Keys. ■ In the Status list, select the status of keyboard shortcuts displayed in the list. Choices include All, Active, Inactive, and Unassigned. 4 In the Shortcuts pane, click Print.
Examples of Temporary Override Keys The CUIx file that ships with AutoCAD LT defines the default temporary override keys. You can use the default temporary override keys as examples when creating your own temporary override keys. The following table lists the default actions for temporary override keys on an English U.S. keyboard. For more information about default temporary override keys on other keyboards, see Override Object Snap Settings in the User’s Guide.
Temporary Override Key Assignments Temporary Override Key Description SHIFT+E Object Snap Override: Endpoint SHIFT+L Disable All Snapping and Tracking SHIFT+M Object Snap Override: Midpoint SHIFT+P Object Snap Override: Endpoint SHIFT+Q Toggles Object Snap Tracking SHIFT+S Enables Object Snap Enforcement SHIFT+V Object Snap Override: Midpoint SHIFT+X Toggles Polar Tracking NOTE In the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor, you can view, print, or copy a list of shortcut keys, temporary overr
table shows the definition of the Attribute Block double click action in the CUI Editor. Properties for the Attribute Block double click action Properties Description pane item Example Name String used to identify the double click action in the CUI Editor. Attribute Block Description Text used to describe the element in the CUI Editor. Object Name Determines the type of object the double click action is associated to.
■ Right-click DoubleClick1. Click Rename. Enter a new double click action name. ■ Click DoubleClick1, wait, and click again over the double click action’s name again to edit its name in-place. 4 In the Properties pane, do the following: ■ In the Description box, enter a description for the double click action. ■ In the Object Name box, enter a DXF name or one of the special object names used for an insert, surface, or underlay object.
2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, click the plus sign (+) next to Double Click Actions to expand it. 3 Click a double click action. In the Properties pane, the properties for the double click action you selected are displayed. 4 In the Object Name box, enter a DXF name or one of the special object names used for an insert, surface, or underlay object.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. OPTIONS Customizes the program settings. System Variables DBLCLKEDIT Controls the double click editing behavior in the drawing area. PICKFIRST Controls whether you select objects before (noun-verb selection) or after you issue a command. Double Click Action Object Names The Object Name property of a double click action must be a valid drawing ™ interchange format (DXF ) name, or a special name for insert objects.
DXF Names for Commonly Used Objects DXF Name Description CIRCLE Circle DGNUNDERLAY DGN file underlay DIMENSION Dimensions (all dimension objects) DWFUNDERLAY DWF file underlay ELLIPSE Ellipse and elliptical arc EXTRUDEDSURFACE 3D extruded surface HATCH Hatch fill IMAGE Raster image INSERT The Object Names for the different types of block reference objects are as follows: ATTBLOCKREF Block reference with attributes ATTDYNBLOCKREF Dynamic block reference with attributes BLOCKREF Block refe
DXF Names for Commonly Used Objects DXF Name Description MLINE Multiline MLEADER Multileader MTEXT Multiline text PDFUNDERLAY PDF file underlay POINT Point POLYLINE 2D or 3D polyline RAY Ray REGION 2D region REVOLVEDSURFACE 3D revolved surface SHAPE Shape insert SOLID 2D solid SPLINE B-spline curve SWEPTSURFACE 3D swept surface TABLE Table TEXT Single-line text TOLERANCE Geometric tolerance VIEWPORT Floating viewport WIPEOUT Wipeout XLINE Construction line 268 | Chapt
NOTE If more than one object is selected or if an object type is not associated with a double click action, the default command used is PROPERTIES. Examples of Double Click Actions The CUIx file that ships with AutoCAD LT defines the default double click actions. You can use the default double click actions as examples when creating your own double click actions. The following table shows some of the object names that are set up in the acadlt.cuix file.
NOTE Double click actions cannot be created for OLE and VIEWPORT objects. Mouse Buttons You can change the standard behavior of pointing devices in the program. Overview of Mouse Buttons Mouse buttons define how a Windows system pointing device functions. You can customize the behavior of a mouse or other pointing device in the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor. If a pointing device has more than two buttons, you can change the behavior of the second and third buttons.
3 In the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Mouse Buttons to expand the list. 4 Right-click a mouse button section. Click New Button. A new mouse button (named Buttonn) is placed at the bottom of the selected list. 5 In the Command List pane, drag the command you want to add to the mouse button in the Customizations In pane. 6 Click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product.
input when the button is clicked. This occurs only for the first backslash in the command; if the item contains no backslashes, the crosshairs coordinate is not used. Consider the following commands: line line \ The first button starts the LINE command and displays the Specify First Point prompt in the normal fashion. The second button also starts the LINE command, but the program uses the current crosshairs location at the Specify First Point prompt and displays the Specify Next Point prompt.
to the left-most selection box in the top row. The program can recognize up to 32,766 commands in each tablet section, which should be more than enough for any tablet menu. You can add your own macros to the Macros cell in the Properties pane. The command labels in this area correspond to the 225 boxes at the top of your tablet template (rows A through I and columns 1 through 25). You can add a macro using standard command syntax.
To clear a tablet menu assignment 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Legacy to expand it. 3 Click the plus sign (+) next to Tablet Menus to expand it. 4 Click the plus sign (+) next to a tablet menu to expand it. 5 Right-click the row or column that you want to clear. Click Clear Assignment. 6 Click Apply.
NOTE It is important to test your button assignments as they are assigned to ensure the proper button is being mapped. You may need to refer to your owners manual that came with your puck for how the buttons are laid out. To customize tablet buttons, you follow the same procedures as for customizing mouse buttons. For more information about customizing tablet buttons, see Mouse Buttons on page 270. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product.
You define an image tile menu in the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor. The following table shows the properties for an image tile menu. Properties for the Tiled Viewport Layout image tile menu Properties Description pane item Example Name String that is used only in the CUI Editor and is not displayed in the user interface. Tiled Viewport Layout Description Text that describes the element and does not appear in the user interface. Aliases Specifies the aliases for the image tile menu.
Properties of the Four: Equal tile slide on the Tiled Viewport Layout image tile menu Properties Description pane item Example Slide library A file that is made up of multiple slides and created using the file slidelib.exe. acadlt Slide label Name of a slide contained in the slide library file or a slide image that is stored separately. vport-4 You can use any slide generated by AutoCAD LT as an image. Keep the following suggestions in mind as you prepare slides for an image tile menu.
To view an image tile slide 1 At the Command prompt, enter vslide. 2 In the Select Slide File dialog box, browse to and select the slide file you want to view. 3 Click Open. The slide file should be displayed in the drawing window. Perform a Regen on the drawing to clear the slide file from the display. To create an image tile slide library 1 Place all your slides in a single folder location that you want to add to a slide library. 2 Click Start menu ➤ (All) Programs ➤ Accessories ➤ Command Prompt.
2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Legacy to expand the list. 3 In the Legacy list, right-click Image Tile Menu. Click New Image Tile Menu. A new image tile menu (named ImageTileMenu1) is placed at the bottom of the Image Tile Menus tree. 4 Do one of the following: ■ Enter a new name over the default name ImageTileMenu1. ■ Right-click ImageTileMenu1. Click Rename. Then, enter a new image tile name.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. MSLIDE Creates a slide file of the current model viewport or the current layout. VSLIDE Displays an image slide file in the current viewport. Customize Workspaces You can customize workspaces to create a drawing environment that displays only those commands on the Quick Access toolbar, toolbars, menus, ribbon tabs, and palettes that you select.
windows, and user interface elements (Quick Access toolbar, toolbars, menus, ribbon tabs, and palettes). You customize a workspace by selecting a workspace from the Workspaces node in the Customizations In pane. The Workspace Contents and Properties panes are displayed. To modify a workspace, you click the Customize Workspace button in the Workspace Contents pane.
Change the Properties of a Workspace In the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor, you can define workspace properties, such as the workspace name, description, whether the Model or layout tab is displayed or not, and so on. The following table shows the AutoCAD LT Classic workspace properties as they appear in the Properties pane.
CUIx files must be transferred to the main CUIx file if you want to set that workspace current. Set the Default Workspace Workspaces in a CUIx file can be marked as default. This identifies which workspace in the CUIx file should be restored when the CUIx file is loaded into the program the first time, or after the CUIx file has been loaded with the CUILOAD command.
3 Do one of the following to rename the workspace: ■ Enter a new name over the default name Workspace1. ■ Right-click Workspace1. Click Rename. Then, enter a new workspace name. ■ Click Workspace1, wait, and click again over the workspace’s name again to edit its name in-place. 4 In the Workspace Contents pane, click Customize Workspace. 5 In the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the tree nodes to expand them.
8 Click Apply. To save or create a workspace from the user interface Do one of the following: ■ To save a workspace from the Workspaces toolbar 1 Right-click over one of the visible toolbars that is currently displayed in the user interface and click Workspaces. A check mark is displayed to the left of any toolbar that is currently displayed. 2 On the Workspaces toolbar, click the drop-down list and select Save Current As.
4 Click Save to create or modify the workspace. ■ To save a workspace from the status bar 1 On the status bar, click Workspace Switching. Then click Save Current As. 2 In the Save Workspace dialog box, Name box, enter a name to create a new workspace or select an existing workspace from the drop-down list to overwrite it. 3 Click Save to create or modify the workspace. NOTE You can also save a workspace from the Quick Access toolbar.
3 In the Properties pane, do any of the following: ■ In the Name box, enter a name for the workspace. ■ In the Description box, enter a description. ■ In the Start On box, select an option (Model, Layout, Do Not Change). ■ In the Menu Bar box, select an option (Off, On). ■ In the Status Bar box, select an option (Application Only, All Off, All On, Drawing Status Bar Only). ■ In the Model/Layout Tab box, select an option (On, Off, Do Not Change).
A duplicate of the workspace (named Copy of ) is placed at the bottom of the Workspaces tree node). 4 Do one of the following to rename the duplicate workspace: ■ Enter a new name over the default name Copy Of . ■ Right-click Copy Of . Click Rename. Enter a new name for the workspace. ■ Click Copy Of , wait, and click again over the workspace’s name again to edit its name in-place. 5 Modify the workspace as necessary. 6 Click Apply.
■ To set a workspace current from the status bar ■ On the status bar, click Workspace Switching. Then click the workspace you want to set current NOTE You can also set a workspace from the Quick Access toolbar. ■ To set a workspace current from the Tools menu on the menu bar ■ On the menu bar, click Tools menu ➤ Workspaces ➤ select the workspace you want to set current. To set a workspace current from the CUI Editor 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
4 Click Apply. To restore the “classic” workspace ■ From the status bar, click Workspace Switching. Click AutoCAD LT Classic. To set a workspace as default 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to Workspaces to expand it. 3 Right-click the workspace you want to set as default. Click Set Default. 4 Click Apply.
2 In the AutoCAD LT Properties dialog box, Shortcut tab, in the Target box, edit the parameters for the switch using the following syntax: “drive:\pathname\acadlt.exe” [/switch “name”] For Example, enter “d:\AutoCAD LT 2011\acadlt.exe” /w “MyWorkspace” 3 Click OK. To import a workspace to a main CUIx file 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. The Transfer tab is displayed, with the main CUIx file displayed in the Customizations In pane (left side).
3 In the Open dialog box, locate and select the customization file that contains the workspace you want to add to the main CUIx file. 4 In the Customizations In pane (right side), drag the workspace from the CUIx file to the Workspaces node of the main CUIx file in the Customizations In pane (left side). 5 Click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product.
CUILOAD Loads a CUIx file. CUIUNLOAD Unloads a CUIx file. WORKSPACE Creates, modifies, and saves workspaces and makes a workspace current. WSSAVE Saves a workspace. System Variables WSCURRENT Returns the current workspace name at the Command prompt and sets a workspace to current. Control User Interface Elements Outside the CUI Editor Workspaces can be created and modified from the user interface with some limitations.
The Customize button displays a menu where you add or remove the commands currently assigned to the Quick Access toolbar. You can also add buttons on the ribbon to the Quick Access toolbar. With the CUI Editor, you can create new Quick Access toolbars, which you can assign to a workspace. To create a new Quick Access toolbar, see Quick Access Toolbars on page 142.
■ To control the display of ribbon tabs and panels on the ribbon from the user interface on page 295 (Procedure) ■ To display palettes from the user interface on page 295 (Procedure) To display the Quick Access toolbar above or below the ribbon from the user interface 1 Right-click on the Quick Access toolbar. 2 Do one of the following: ■ Click Show Quick Access Toolbar Below the Ribbon to display the Quick Access toolbar below the ribbon.
■ On the menu bar, click Tools menu ➤ Palettes, and click the desired palette. ■ At the Command prompt, enter the command to display the desired palette and press Enter. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. System Variables MENUBAR Control User Interface Elements in the CUI Editor The Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor provides a wide range of options to create and modify all the content that can be displayed with a workspaces.
elements for the application and drawing windows. A workspace can control the following: ■ Which layout tab is set current when a drawing is opened ■ Display of the menu bar ■ Display of the application and drawing status bars ■ If layout tabs are displayed along the bottom of the drawing window.
Control the Display of Menus on the Menu Bar Menus and the order in which they are displayed on the menu bar can only be controlled through the Workspace Contents pane. By default the menu bar is not displayed when the ribbon is. Set the system variable MENUBAR to 1 to display the menu bar above the ribbon. You can also set the Menu Bar property for a workspace to On to display the menu bar each time a workspace is set current.
■ To reposition menus on the menu bar on page 310 (Procedure) ■ To display a palette using the CUI Editor on page 311 (Procedure) To display a Quick Access toolbar 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Workspaces node to expand it. 3 Select the workspace that you want to modify. 4 In the Workspace Contents pane, click Customize Workspace.
NOTE Make sure to set the workspace current to ensure the changes are displayed. 8 Click Apply. To display the Quick Access toolbar above or below the ribbon from the CUI Editor 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Workspaces node to expand it. 3 Select the workspace that you want to modify.
To display ribbon tabs from the CUI Editor 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Workspaces node to expand it. 3 Select the workspace that you want to modify. 4 In the Workspace Contents pane, click Customize Workspace.
NOTE Make sure to set the workspace current to ensure the changes are displayed. 8 Click Apply. To reposition a ribbon tab on the ribbon 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Workspaces node to expand it. 3 Select the workspace that has the ribbon tab you want to reposition.
6 Once the splitter bar is in the place where you want to insert the ribbon tab, release the pointing device button. NOTE Make sure to set the workspace as current to ensure the changes are displayed. 7 Click Apply. To reposition a ribbon panel on a ribbon tab 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Workspaces node to expand it.
NOTE Make sure to set the workspace as current to ensure the changes are displayed. 8 Click Apply. To control the display of ribbon tabs on the ribbon 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Workspaces node to expand it. 3 Select the workspace that has the ribbon tab you want to change.
4 In the Workspace Contents pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Ribbon Tabs tree node to expand it. 5 Click the plus sign (+) next to the ribbon tab for which you want to change the properties of the ribbon panels. 6 Select the ribbon panel that you want to change. 7 In the Properties pane, do any of the following: ■ In the Show box, select an option (Yes or No). ■ In the Orientation box, select an option (Docked or Floating). 8 Click Apply.
NOTE The Tool Palettes window must be displayed before you can assign a tool palette group to a ribbon tab. 8 Click Apply. To display toolbars using the CUI Editor 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Workspaces tree node to expand it. 3 Select the workspace that you want to modify. 4 In the Workspace Contents pane, click Customize Workspace.
In the Workspace Contents pane, the selected elements are added to the workspace. 7 In the Workspace Contents pane, click Done. NOTE Make sure to set the workspace current to ensure the changes are displayed. 8 Click Apply. To change the properties of a toolbar 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the workspace that contains the toolbar you want to modify.
4 Select the toolbar that you want to modify. 5 In the Properties pane, do any of the following: ■ In the Orientation box, select an option (Floating, Top, Bottom, Left, or Right). ■ In the Default X Location box, enter a number. A value of 0 starts the location of the toolbar at the left edge of the screen, as the number increases the further from the left the toolbar is placed. (Available only if Orientation is set to Floating.) ■ In the Default Y Location box, enter a number.
2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Workspaces node to expand it. 3 Select the workspace that you want to modify. 4 In the Workspace Contents pane, click Customize Workspace. 5 In the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Menus tree node, or Partial Customization Files tree node to expand it. 6 Click the check box next to each menu that you want to add to the workspace.
NOTE Make sure to set the workspace current to ensure the changes are displayed. 8 Click Apply. To reposition menus on the menu bar 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Workspaces node to expand it. 3 Select the workspace that you want to modify. 4 In the Workspace Contents pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Menus node to expand it.
NOTE Make sure to set the workspace current to ensure the changes are displayed. 7 Click Apply. To display a palette using the CUI Editor 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Customize tab, in the Customizations In pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Workspaces node to expand it. 3 Select the workspace that you want to modify. 4 In the Workspace Contents pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Palettes node to expand it.
5 Select the palette you want to display. 6 In the Properties pane, under Appearance, Show box, click the drop-down list and select Show. 7 Click Apply. Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. Control the Appearance of Palettes You can use workspaces to control the display and appearance of palettes. Many windows, known as palettes, can be set to be docked, anchored, or floated in t6he application window.
The following table shows the properties as they appear in the Properties pane for a palette in the CUI Editor and as an example, the default values of the Tool Palettes window in the AutoCAD LT Classic workspace. Properties for the Tool Palettes window under the AutoCAD LT Classic workspace Properties pane item Description Example Show Visibility state of the palette. The available options are No, Yes, or Do Not Change.
Properties for the Tool Palettes window under the AutoCAD LT Classic workspace Properties pane item Description Example Height Determines how tall the palette is when it is floating. 598 Width Determines how wide the palette is when it is floating. 172 See also: ■ To change the properties of a palette on page 314 (Procedure) To change the properties of a palette 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ User Interface.
■ In the Orientation box, select an option (Floating, Top, Bottom, Left, or Right). ■ In the Allow Docking box, select an option (No, Yes, or Do Not Change). NOTE To specify that a window should be anchored, set Orientation to Left, Right, Top, or Bottom, and set Auto Hide to On. ■ In the Auto Hide box, select an option (On, Off, or Do Not Change). ■ In the Use Transparency box, select an option (No, Yes, or Do Not Change). ■ In the Transparency Amount box, enter a number (if applicable).
Transfer and Migrate Customization You can transfer and migrate data from a customization or menu file from an earlier release using the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor and the Migrate Custom Settings dialog box. Transfer Customization The Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor can be used to transfer data in a CUI, MNU, or MNS file to a CUIx file without modifying the original customization or menu file. The new customization file that is created has the same name as the original file, but with a .
Migrate Customization As you make changes to the customization in a CUIx file, the changes are automatically tracked. The tracked changes are used when migrating customization from release to release with the Migrate Custom Settings dialog box. In the Migrate Custom Settings dialog box, you can migrate any changes made to the standard CUIx files that come with the program with the new shipping versions of the files with the same name.
To transfer customizations 1 Click Manage tab ➤ Customization panel ➤ Import Customizations. 2 In the Customize User Interface Editor, Transfer tab, in the left pane, click the Open Customization File button. 3 In the Open dialog box, locate the customization file (MNU, MNS, CUI, or CUIx) from which you want to import customizations, and select it. Click Open. 4 In the right pane, click the Open Customization File button.
Quick Reference Commands CUI Manages the customized user interface elements in the product. CUIEXPORT Exports customized settings from the main CUIx file to an enterprise or partial CUIx file. CUIIMPORT Imports customized settings from an enterprise or partial CUIx file to the main CUIx file. Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor FAQs FAQs will help you to find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about using the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor.
for example, expand the menu under the Menus node in the Customizations In pane that you want to add the command to and then drag the command under the menu. See To create a pull-down menu on page 214 for more information. Menus Why doesn’t my menu display on the menu bar? Workspaces are used to control the display of menus on the menu bar. See To display menus on the menu bar on page 308 for more information.
Why does my toolbar flyout not work? A flyout might not work for a few different reasons. There might not be any commands currently assigned to the toolbar that it is referencing or a control is part of the toolbar that is being referenced for the toolbar flyout. Launch the CUI Editor and verify that there are commands on the toolbar that is being referenced and if there are, make sure there are no controls on the toolbar such as the Layer list control.
Enterprise CUIx Files How do I edit an enterprise CUIx file if it is read-only in the CUI Editor? An enterprise CUIx file can only be edited when it is loaded as the main CUIx file or as a partial CUIx file to the main CUIx file. It is recommended that you load it as the main CUIx file when you need to make edits.
System Variables WSCURRENT Returns the current workspace name at the Command prompt and sets a workspace to current.
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DIESEL 5 You can use DIESEL (Direct Interpretively Evaluated String Expression Language) to alter the AutoCAD LT® status line through the MODEMACRO system variable. You can also use DIESEL in menu items as a macro language instead of AutoLISP®. DIESEL expressions accept strings and generate string results. Customize the Status Line You can use the MODEMACRO system variable to display information on the status line.
SETVAR or by entering modemacro at the command prompt. If you modify the MODEMACRO setting, you can experiment with various status line formats; however, the maximum number of characters you can enter in this manner is 255. If you set MODEMACRO to the null string by entering a period (.), AutoCAD LT displays the standard status line. Quick Reference Commands SETVAR Lists or changes the values of system variables.
to the function's definition. DIESEL macro expressions have only one data type: strings. Macros that operate on numbers express the numbers as strings and convert back and forth as required. For descriptions of the DIESEL functions, see Catalog of DIESEL Functions on page 331. Now define a more interesting status line (for example, one that shows the current text style name): Command: modemacro New value for MODEMACRO, or .
two adjacent quotation marks. In the following example, the current layer is set to LAYOUT, and MODEMACRO is set to the string. Command: modemacro New value for MODEMACRO, or . for none <"">: "$(getvar,clayer)= """$(getvar,clayer)"""" The status line displays the following: $(getvar,clayer)="LAYOUT" Quick Reference Commands SETVAR Lists or changes the values of system variables.
This menu item uses the DIESEL expression: ^C^C^P$M=$(if,$(=,$(getvar,cvport),1),mspace,pspace) The next example is based on these assumptions: ■ The CUI excerpt is included in the current customization file. ■ The symbols to insert are one unit high by one unit wide. ■ The DIMSCALE variable is set to the drawing's scale factor (that is, a drawing to be plotted at a scale of 1" = 10' would have a scale factor of 120, or a 1/4" = 1' scale drawing would have a scale factor of 48).
You cannot use trailing spaces in a menu label to increase the menu width, because trailing spaces are ignored while the menu is being loaded. Any spaces you use to increase the width of a menu label must be within a DIESEL expression. The next example uses the same DIESEL expression as the label and a portion of the menu item. It provides a practical way to enter the current day and date into a drawing. $(edtime,$(getvar,date),DDD", "D MON YYYY)^C^Ctext + \\\ $M=$(edtime,$(getvar,date),DDD", "D MON YYYY);
Catalog of DIESEL Functions Status retrieval, computation, and display are performed by DIESEL functions. All functions have a limit of 10 parameters, including the function name itself. If this limit is exceeded, you get a DIESEL error message. + (addition) Returns the sum of the numbers val1, val2, …, val9. $(+, val1 [, val2, …, val9]) If the current thickness is set to 5, the following DIESEL string returns 15.
Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. / (division) Returns the result of dividing the number val1 by val2, …, val9. $(/, val1 [, val2, …, val9]) Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. = (equal to) If the numbers val1 and val2 are equal, the string returns 1; otherwise, it returns 0. $(=, val1, val2) Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits.
< (less than) If the number val1 is less than val2, the string returns 1; otherwise, it returns 0. $(< , val1, val2) The following expression gets the current value of HPANG; if the value is less than the value stored in the system variable USERR1, it returns 1. If the value 10.0 is stored in USERR1 and the current setting of HPANG is 15.5, the following string returns 0. $(<, $(getvar,hpang),$(getvar,userr1)) Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits.
Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. <= (less than or equal to) If the number val1 is less than or equal to val2 , the string returns 1; otherwise, it returns 0. $(<=, val1, val2) Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. >= (greater than or equal to) If the number val1 is greater than or equal to val2, the string returns 1; otherwise, it returns 0.
and Returns the bitwise logical AND of the integers val1 through val9. $(and, val1 [, val2,…, val9]) Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. angtos Returns the angular value in the format and precision specified. $(angtos, value [, mode, precision]) Edits the given value as an angle in the format specified by the mode and precision as defined for the analogous AutoLISPfunction. (The values for mode are shown in the following table.
Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. edtime Returns a formatted date and time based on a given picture. $(edtime, time, picture) Edits the AutoCAD LT Julian date given by time (obtained, for example, from $(getvar,date) according to the given picture). The picture consists of format phrases replaced by specific representations of the date and time. Characters not interpretable as format phrases are copied literally into the result of $(edtime).
Enter the entire AM/PM phrase as shown in the preceding table; if AM is used alone, the A will be read literally and the M will return the current month. If any AM/PM phrases appear in the picture, the H and HH phrases edit the time according to the 12-hour civil clock (12:00-12:59 1:00-11:59) instead of the 24-hour clock (00:00-23:59). The following example uses the date and time from the preceding table. Notice that the comma must be enclosed in quotation marks because it is read as an argument separator.
eval Passes the string str to the DIESEL evaluator and returns the result of evaluating it. $(eval, str) Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. fix Truncates the real number value to an integer by discarding any fractional part. $(fix, value) Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. getenv Returns the value of the environment variable varname.
Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. getvar Returns the value of the system variable with the given varname. $(getvar, varname) Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. if Conditionally evaluates expressions. $(if, expr, dotrue [, dofalse]) If expr is nonzero, it evaluates and returns dotrue. Otherwise, it evaluates and returns dofalse. Note that the branch not chosen by expr is not evaluated.
index Returns the specified member of a comma-delimited string. $(index, which, string) Assumes that the string argument contains one or more values delimited by the macro argument separator character, the comma. The which argument selects one of these values to be extracted, with the first item numbered 0. This function is most frequently used to extract X, Y, or Z coordinate values from point coordinates returned by $(getvar).
or Returns the bitwise logical OR of the integers val1 through val9. $(or, val1 [, val2,…, val9]) Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. rtos Returns the real value in the format and precision specified. $(rtos, value [, mode, precision]) Edits the given value as a real number in the format specified by the mode and precision as defined by the analogous AutoLISP function.
Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. substr Returns the substring of string, starting at character start and extending for length characters. $(substr, string, start [, length]) Characters in the string are numbered from 1. If length is omitted, it returns the entire remaining length of the string. Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits.
xor Returns the bitwise logical XOR of the integers val1 through val9. $(xor, val1 [, val2,…, val9]) Quick Reference System Variables MENUECHO Sets menu echo and prompt control bits. DIESEL Error Messages Generally, if you make a mistake in a DIESEL expression, what went wrong will be obvious. Depending on the nature of the error, DIESEL embeds an error indication in the output stream.
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6 Slides and Command Scripts Slides are snapshots of drawing files that can be used for giving presentations, for creating image tile menus, and for viewing another drawing while you work. A script reads and executes commands from a text file. You can run a script when you start AutoCAD LT®, or you can run a script from within AutoCAD LT using the SCRIPT command. A script provides an easy way to create continuously running displays for product demonstrations and trade shows.
You create a slide by saving the current view in slide format. A slide created in model space shows only the current viewport. A slide created in paper space shows all visible viewports and their contents. Slides show only what was visible. They do not show objects on layers that were turned off or frozen or objects in viewports that were turned off. When you view a slide file, it temporarily replaces objects on the screen.
Quick Reference Commands MSLIDE Creates a slide file of the current model viewport or the current layout. REDRAW Refreshes the display in the current viewport. VSLIDE Displays an image slide file in the current viewport. System Variables FILEDIA Suppresses display of file navigation dialog boxes. Utilities SLIDELIB Compiles slide files listed in an ASCII file into a slide library file. View Slides You can view slides individually using VSLIDE.
Quick Reference Commands REDRAW Refreshes the display in the current viewport. VSLIDE Displays an image slide file in the current viewport. Create and View Slide Libraries A slide library is a file containing one or more slides. Slide library files are used for creating custom image tile menus and for combining several slide files for convenient file management. You can create slide libraries from slide files using the SLIDELIB utility.
As an example: CD “c:\slides” 5 At the prompt, enter the following syntax to create the slide library: slidelib libraryname < list.txt For example, if you named your text file areas.txt, you could create a library called house.slb by entering slidelib house < areas.txt. The SLIDELIB utility appends the file extension .slb to the slide library file. To view a slide in a slide library 1 At the command prompt, enter filedia. 2 Enter 0 and press ENTER. 3 At the command prompt, enter vslide.
Create Command Scripts A script is a text file that contains a series of commands. Common uses for scripts are to customize startup and to run slide shows. Overview of Command Scripts A script is a text file with one command on each line. You can invoke a script at startup, or you can run a script during a work session by using the SCRIPT command. A script also provides an easy way to create continuously running displays for product demonstrations and trade shows.
'DELAY Provides a timed pause within a script (in milliseconds) 'GRAPHSCR Switches from the text window to the drawing area RESUME Continues an interrupted script RSCRIPT Repeats a script file 'TEXTSCR Switches to the text window When command input comes from a script, it is assumed that the settings of the PICKADD and PICKAUTO system variables are 1 and 0, respectively; therefore, you do not have to check the settings of these variables.
Quick Reference Commands DELAY Provides a timed pause within a script. GRAPHSCR Switches from the text window to the drawing area. RESUME Continues an interrupted script. RSCRIPT Repeats a script file. SCRIPT Executes a sequence of commands from a script file. TEXTSCR Opens the text window. VSLIDE Displays an image slide file in the current viewport. Run Scripts at Startup A script that runs at startup can open a drawing and change its settings.
® NOTE VBA and AutoLISP scripts that run at startup should check for whether the AutoCAD LT process is visible or invisible. If the process is invisible, the script should not execute, because the process may be performing background plotting or publishing operations. To check for whether the AutoCAD LT process is visible or invisible, you can use the Visible property of the Application object in the AutoCAD LT Object Model.
3 Click OK. AutoCAD LT opens the drawing and executes the commands in the script file. When the script has been completed, the command prompt is displayed. Run Slide Shows from Scripts Scripts are useful for creating slide shows. Scripts are useful for creating slide shows. Ordinarily, the speed with which you can display slides is limited by the number of times AutoCAD LT must access the disk to read the slide file.
To create a script that preloads slides In this example of a script that displays three slides (files slide1.sld, slide2.sld, and slide3.sld), the time it takes to access the disk drive and load the next slide into memory overlaps with the viewing time for the current slide. 1 On the first line of the script, enter vslide slide1. The first line begins the slide show and loads slide1. 2 On the second line, enter vslide *slide2. The asterisk (*) preceding the slide name on the second line preloads slide2.
The script may contain comments, as follows: ; Begin slide show, VSLIDE SLIDE1 ; Preload SLIDE2 VSLIDE *SLIDE2 ; Let audience view DELAY 2000 ; Display SLIDE2 VSLIDE ; Preload SLIDE3 VSLIDE *SLIDE3 ; Let audience view DELAY 2000 ; Display SLIDE3 VSLIDE ; Let audience view DELAY 3000 ; Cycle RSCRIPT load SLIDE1 SLIDE1 SLIDE2 SLIDE3 Quick Reference Commands DELAY Provides a timed pause within a script. GRAPHSCR Switches from the text window to the drawing area. RESUME Continues an interrupted script.
VSLIDE Displays an image slide file in the current viewport.
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Index A absolute menu referencing 229 accelerator keys 248, 253, 256, 261 actions (user) double click actions 262 addition DIESEL function 331 aliases creating for commands 17 pull-down menus 213, 231 shortcut menus 217 alignment linetype patterns 21 alternate font mapping files 11 and DIESEL function 335 angtos DIESEL function 335 AutoCAD customization 1 AutoLISP (LSP) applications macros and 101 B backup files customization files 73 batch files 7 borders (menu items) 114 buttons crosshair coordinates 271
repeating 109 reusing 94 ribbon panels and 149 scripts 350 shortcut menus and 67, 212 status line messages 128 submenus and 227 swapping menu contents 110 tablet buttons and 274 tagging 119 tooltips 122 transparent commands 106 comments script commenting 350 conditional expressions in macros 112 configuration files (plotters) multiple 6 configuration files (pointing devices) multiple 6 contextual ribbon tabs 64, 187 control characters in macros 104 controls ribbon controls 171 ribbon panels 149 toolbar cont
partial CUIx files 78 structure 50 XML-based format 48 customization groups 52, 54 Customizations In pane (CUI editor) 44 Customize User Interface editor about 39, 42, 58 changes in customization and 48 Command List pane 45 Customizations In pane 44 customizing workspaces 70, 280, 296 Dynamic Display pane 47 FAQs 319 tree nodes 56 customizing about customization 39 AutoCAD functions and features 1 commands 58, 92 Customize User Interface editor 39, 58 double click actions 68, 262 FAQs for 319 glossary of te
not equal to 333 nth 340 or 341 rtos 341 strlen 341 substr 342 subtraction 331 upper 342 xor 343 digitizing tablets buttons 270, 274 directory paths program and support files 4 displaying contextual ribbon tabs 64 hidden files 9 list of shortcut keys 248 menus 298 palettes 294, 298 Quick Access toolbar 293, 297 ribbon panels 294, 297 ribbon tabs 294, 297 slide shows 354 slides 347 toolbars 294, 297 tooltips 241 workspace toolbars 190 division DIESEL function 332 docked windows 56 dots in linetype definition
getvar DIESEL function 339 graphics for commands 129, 132, 134 graying out menu item labels 113 greater than DIESEL function 333 greater than or equal to DIESEL function 334 H hatch patterns about 27 creating 27 examples 27, 31, 34 multiple lines 34 hatches creating 27 customizing 27 Help Dynamic Help 53 locating Help files 11 tooltip command Help hidden files 9 hiding toolbar buttons 190 Customize User Interface editor 39, 58, 296 customizing 39 legacy interface elements 272 terminology 54 workspaces 70
M macros about 101 conditional expressions in 112 defined 56 DIESEL expressions in 112, 328 international language support 109 length 103 pausing for user input 103, 106 repeating commands 109 scripts 350 selecting objects with 110 shortcut keys and 248 special character codes for commands 104 suppressing echoes and prompts 103 swapping interface elements with 110 syntax 101 tablet menus and 272 terminating 103 main customization files 56, 73 menu files 49 menu groups (customization groups) 52, 54 menu item
nodes interface customization 56 not equal to DIESEL function 333 nth DIESEL function 340 number pad keys 248, 253, 256, 261 O object properties customizing 233 objects double click actions 266 properties 233 shortcut menus 218 or DIESEL function 341 P palettes defined 56 displaying 294 workspaces and 298, 312 paper space slides created in 346 partial customization files about 73 creating 78 defined 56 toolbars and 232 partial menu files 231 PAT files 11 patterns linetypes 22 pausing macros 103, 106 PGP f
replacing commands in CUIx files 86 ribbon command images 129, 132, 134 contextual tab states 64, 187 controls 171 customizing 61, 149 defined 56 drop-downs on panels 167 reorganizing command and controls 155 ribbon panels 56, 61 ribbon tabs 63–64, 180 workspaces and 297 ribbon panels adding items to 155 controls for 171 creating 61 customizing 149, 294 defined 56 drop-downs on 167 rearranging 297 ribbon tabs contextual tab states 64, 187 creating 63, 180 customizing 294 rearranging 297 roaming profiles 9 r
switches running scripts and 353 switching toolbar controls 207 symbols commands and 227 image tile menus 275 macros and 101, 104, 227 syntax macros 101 system variables toggling values with macros rearranging elements on 44 workspace arrangements 297 tooltips command Help in 122 customizing 241 transferring customization files 316 translating macros 109 transparent commands 106 tree nodes 56 112 T tablets customizing buttons 270, 274 customizing menus 272 menu swapping 110, 231 tags element IDs 55 menu
defined 56 importing 282 properties 282 ribbon tabs 180 toolbars in 190 368 | Index X XAML files 123 xor DIESEL function 343
