2016 Lynn Allen’s Tips and Tricks
User Interface User Interface User Interface The plethora of productivity tools in AutoCAD 2016 is certain to provide a better design experience for everyone! The updated modernized User Interface (UI) in Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2016 software is easier to work with and reduces eye strain. Start Tab The Start tab (formerly the New tab) is filled with information and speedy ways for you to start new drawings or edit existing ones.
User Interface Set STARTMODE to 0 if you don’t want the Start tab to display. Right-click on a file tab to access the Close All Other Drawings option (or use the CLOSEALLOTHER command). User Interface You can easily switch AutoCAD back to the more traditional light theme by setting the Color scheme control on the Display tab of Options or by setting COLORTHEME to 1.
User Interface User Interface Workspaces Galleries Layouts Model Space Viewports Workspaces are no longer displayed by default in the Quick Access toolbar. You can still find them on the Status bar (who needs them in two places anyway?). The new block galleries make it easy to view and insert blocks from your current drawing directly from the ribbon. You’ll appreciate the layout preview thumbnails and the handy + symbol to quickly add a new layout.
Improved Graphics Improved Graphics Improved Graphics Are you tired of the jagged diagonal lines in AutoCAD? AutoCAD 2016 to the rescue! The LINESMOOTHING variable smooths out lines (including those with lineweights) and curves at any zoom level. Simply select the new “High quality geometry” option in the Graphics Performance dialog (easily found on the Status bar).
Object Selection Object Selection Object Selection We spend so much of our AutoCAD time selecting and editing objects—check out these handy additions: Selecting Objects When selecting objects, the geometry appears thicker and darker (or lighter, depending on your background color). Don’t like the new highlight? Set SELECTIONEFFECT to 0. Property preview performance is vastly improved with large selection sets. Customize the highlighting color on the Selection tab of Options (Selection effect color).
Productivity Improvements Productivity Improvements Productivity Improvements Badges AutoCAD 2016 has added handy, relevant badges that provide you with contextual feedback right next to the crosshairs during selection, inquiring, and editing.
Productivity Improvements You set up the variables and their preferred settings (although you’ll find some popular defaults already prepopulated). Turn on notifications to display at the command line, on the Status bar icon, or even enable a balloon notification should a variable on your monitored system variable list be changed. Productivity Improvements (including SHX) are fully supported. That means that more text can be highlighted, copied, and searched.
3D Modeling Reality Computing 3D Modeling The Section Plane tool, which creates a cutting plane through 3D objects, now works on point clouds. Reality Computing Choose between a simple cutting plane, a slice (new), or a bounded or volumetric area for your section object type. More and more people are incorporating scans into their designs.
Reality Computing Reality Computing Use the new Extract Section Lines tool to generate section lines from a point cloud (when live sectioning is on). The contextual ribbon will switch to a Point Cloud tab when a point cloud is selected. Display Now you can increase the point size to visually fill in gaps. Use the Level of Detail slider to set the density for all point clouds. Use Options➙3D Modeling tab to control the maximum points displayed on the screen for your point clouds.
Reality Computing Reality Computing Dynamic UCS Point Cloud Object Snaps The handy to use Dynamic UCS tool now works on point clouds! Just make sure Dynamic UCS is turned on and all the point cloud object snaps are turned off. Pass your cursor over a point cloud face and begin drawing! Control the point cloud object snaps from the 3D Object Snap tab of Drafting Settings.
Reality Computing Annotation Annotation Point Cloud Cropping Use the Cropping panel (rectangular, polygonal, or circular) to clip your point clouds. You can continue to crop your point cloud by changing the view. Now you can save and restore named cropping states. Cropping states maintain the boundary as well as the visibility of scans and regions. Annotation is an important part of our designs—check out these timesavers! Use command POINTCLOUDCROPSTATE to list and delete crop states.
Annotation Annotation Smart Caps Lock Transparent background AutoCAD will automatically correct your text (and turn Caps Lock off) if you accidentally had Caps Lock on while you’re holding down the Shift Key. The transparent background in Mtext makes it easy to see objects underneath. Modify them independently by using the arrows on each edge. Text Alignment The TEXTALIGN command quickly aligns text to existing text (or by selecting points). You can easily control the spacing and alignment direction.
Annotation Annotation Hover over a circle or arc and preview a diameter or radial dimension—arcs come with the additional option to create an angular dimension. Smart Dimensioning Let AutoCAD 2016 take the tedium out of dimensioning! The updated DIM command is smart enough to detect objects and provide various visual dimension options. Check out the horizontal, vertical and aligned dimension previews when you select a linear object—then simply place the desired dimension.
Rendering Rendering Rendering Use the new width sizing control to wrap dimension text! (One of the many AUGI Wish List items granted!). The new rendering engine in AutoCAD 2016 is simpler to use and yields better results. You’ll find the updated Render panel (Visualize ribbon tab) includes a Render to Size drop-down list. Render Presets Use the Render Presets list to control the render quality (in levels) or how much time it will take to render. The new Render Presets Manager is much easier to use.
Rendering Rendering Render Environments Render Window Check out the new image-based lighting (IBL) environments! In the Render Environment and Exposure palette you can automatically apply lighting effects and 360-degree background images. Save a snapshot, zoom while rendering, and print the image in the new Render window. Expand the window to view the render history. You can also use a custom background image (but they remain static).
Coordination Model Coordination Model Coordination Model Navisworks Now you can attach coordination models to a drawing! The Attach command and the Xref Manager now have options for Autodesk® Navisworks® files (NWD or NWC). The new Attach Coordination Model dialog contains typical controls such as path type, insertion point, etc. Selecting the coordination model displays the contextual ribbon tab with options to control the display through fading.
Added Extras Added Extras Added Extras Autodesk Exchange Apps Security! Single Service Pack Get direct access to downloadable applications and content that can increase your productivity. Simply click on the big X on Infocenter. AutoCAD 2016 offers extra security controls to help protect your drawings. Set Trusted Locations folders to prevent unauthorized execution of files such as scripts, AutoLISP® files, or VBA applications.
A360 A360 A360 Settings Sync Be sure to set up your cloud settings to control when your design data and custom settings are synced. Choose to automatically store your design data each time you save, or only when you specify. It’s all about the cloud, baby! Connect to your secure A360 account for file sharing, customization syncing, project management, and more. A360 Tab Use the A360 tab for all things related to your A360 account.
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Lynn Allen, Cadalyst columnist and worldwide Autodesk Technical Evangelist, speaks to more than 30,000 users each year. For the past 23 years she has written a column in Cadalyst magazine called “Circles and Lines” and is the voice behind Cadalyst’s “Tips and Tricks Tuesdays.” Lynn started using AutoCAD software with Release 1.4, over 25 years ago, and got her start by teaching at the corporate and collegiate level for 12 years.
