Datasheet

29
Board the Command Alias Express
Command aliases are abbreviated command names. L is the alias for LINE, A is for ARC,
and so on. Surprisingly, command aliases aren’t part of the CUI editor; they’re still con-
trolled by the ancient
ACAD.PGP file. Ever since Autodesk went with the Microsoft standard
for AutoCAD, the support folder that contains the program parameters file is buried deep
in the file system. Way deep — look how far you have to go to manually reach this hidden
folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data
\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2007\R17.0\enu\Support\acad.pgp
Theoretically, you could edit this text file
by hand, but why bother? Instead, use the
ALIASEDIT Express Tool to edit the file
without leaving the comfort of AutoCAD.
For example, many people prefer to use
the alias C for the COPY command rather
than CIRCLE. To make this change, use
ALIASEDIT. Scroll down the command
list, and select the alias C. Click Edit, and
change the association to COPY. Click OK
in all the dialogs and confirmation dialogs
that appear, and AutoCAD will reinitialize
so the change is live.
INSTALL THE EXPRESS TOOLS
If you haven’t installed all the Express Tools, then drop everything and install them immediately (do a
custom install, and select Express Tools). The Express Tools are extremely useful. Some have already
found their way into core AutoCAD — they have come of age and are now considered to be grown-up
AutoCAD features.
Other Express Tools haven’t been so lucky; they still suffer from lack of worldwide acceptance. Some
Express Tools are waiting to be localized — translated into every language in which AutoCAD is
offered. Because the Express Tools don’t run on AutoCAD LT, only tools that make their way into the
core product are available to LT users.
Inputting with the Keyboard and Mouse
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