2013

The search algorithms have also been improved to support more intuitive search input—especially for

wildcard (*) searches. These improvements help produce more accurate search results. Many of these

improvements were added in response to feedback from customers and tested against their examples.

In AutoCAD 2012, you were able to connect to server machines that had the Content Service installed, in

order to quickly search for files/objects across large library folders. This connection capability has been

extended in AutoCAD 2013 to include ANY computer that has the Content Service installed. Therefore,

you can connect to your colleague’s watched folders and search their content for peer-to-peer file and

object sharing—but only if they’ve explicitly granted access to the folder (Windows®-based security and

firewall security still apply).

Language Packs

New Language Packs in AutoCAD 2013 help simplify the process of downloading and using multiple

languages in AutoCAD. Now, rather than installing a full version of AutoCAD for each language, you

install one full product and then add subsequent languages via Language Packs, resulting in smaller

download and install time and space for the secondary languages.

You can download Language Packs from the Help menu in the upper right corner of the application.

A launch icon and menu item for each installed Language Pack is added to the Windows desktop and

Start menu.

Drawing File Format

AutoCAD 2013 introduces a new file format that includes changes to the thumbnail preview file format,

as well as new controls for graphics caching.

Thumbnail previews in the new AutoCAD 2013 DWG file format are now stored as PNG images,

providing higher-quality thumbnail previews in a smaller file size. Image resolution is still controlled by

the THUMBSIZE system variable. However, the maximum valid value has increased from 2 to 8. If you do

not wish to include thumbnail previews in the drawing you can still use the RASTERPREVIEW system

variable to disable them. The UPDDATETHUMBSNOW and UPDATETHUMBNAIL system variables are no

longer needed and have been removed from AutoCAD 2013.