Datasheet

14
Chapter 1 Arranging the AutoCAD User Interface
Loading Sheet Sets Automatically
Before I (Lynn) got into using sheet sets, I used to load the sheet set manually nearly every day
(because AutoCAD didn’t remember that I had it loaded when I left the drawing). I’m not a
fan of tedium, so I decided to do something about it. My favorite switch gives me the ability to
automatically load a specific sheet set so I don’t have to load it myself after AutoCAD launches.
Here’s how you do it.
Let’s say the name of the sheet set you want to load automatically is
BigClient.dst. The
startup looks like the following (and yes, in case you’re wondering, most of the switches fol-
low this syntax:
/switch “name“
“C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2007\acad.exe” /set “C:\ACAD 2007 Project\BigClient.dst”
/set is the switch
C:\ACAD 2007 Project is my directory path
Notice the directory is in quotes, and you have to use the complete path statement.
Switches are a little wishy-washy on the path statements; some require the complete path
information (such as sheet sets), but others don’t (such as script files). For those that don’t,
make sure they fall within the AutoCAD search path.
If you plan to work on the same drawing file for a while, you can set up a startup that
launches AutoCAD and goes straight to that specific drawing file. To load the drawing file
called
Engine from your ACAD 2007 project directory, you use the following syntax:
“C:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2007\acad.exe” “C:\ACAD 2007 Project\Engine”
Cycle through Tasks and Documents
If your resume identifies you as a multitasker, then we’re sure you have many programs run-
ning and multiple drawing files open in AutoCAD at any given moment, while you’re also
talking on the phone and drinking coffee. Obviously you can use the Windows taskbar at
the bottom of the screen to switch between tasks (which means making a running program
active, in geekspeak).
Most true multitaskers already know about the Alt+Tab key combination. Holding down
the Alt key while pressing the Tab key displays an icon menu in the center of the screen that
you can step through by pressing Tab repeatedly to select a specific task. But did you know
that Alt+Shift+Tab steps backward through this list of tasks? This factoid should please those
who like to keep as many apples in the air as possible.
AutoCAD also has multitasking hotkeys that allow switching between open drawings,
which are AutoCAD’s version of tasks. Holding down the Ctrl key while pressing Tab cycles
to the next open drawing (although no icon menu appears). Keep holding that Ctrl key down
and tapping Tab, and you’ll continue cycling through open drawings. If you go too far, press
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