Datasheet
• Lineweight should be set to BYLAYER. A default value of .20mm and an object-line
value of .40mm usually give a good lineweight distinction.
• A button on the Layers toolbar makes the layer of a selected object current.
• A button on the Layers toolbar restores the previous layer state.
Display Commands
I’m sure you frequently use the All, Extents, and Window options of the ZOOM com-
mand, but have you ever saved the results with a name so you can return to it quickly?
If you have to connect two small features that are widely separated, have you ever used
VPORTS to place two views in the Model Space tab and drawn from one to the other?
Read on.
VIEW
It surprises me how few people use this feature. It allows you to save a specific view on the
screen, or as defined by a window, so that you can immediately call it up later. This approach
reduces the number of regenerations necessary. It’s particularly useful in 3D drawings,
and some people use this feature for plotting a specific view. If you haven’t ever tried sav-
ing named views, try it. You’ll be surprised at how useful it can be, particularly when using
AutoCAD sheet sets.
VPORTS
This function is essential in 3D drawing and often useful in 2D drawing as well. It allows
you to divide your screen in Model Space into multiple views. In 3D, this permits you to
create geometry while seeing it in a front, top, right side, and iso view. You can then
have a different UCS in each viewport and get a different view of the same geometry.
To create a set of standard views for 3D, select the 3D option in the Viewports dialog
box. Don’t forget to use the SAVE option to save a configuration you’ve set up. Don’t con-
fuse saving viewports with saving views. You can restore saved views within any Model
Space viewport and then save the viewport configuration. Now, whenever the viewport
configuration is restored, it will contain the views exactly as they appeared when the view-
port was saved.
The Middle Scroll Wheel
Roll the middle wheel away from you to zoom in or toward you to zoom out. The incre-
ment is controlled by the variable ZOOMFACTOR—the larger the value, the bigger the
jump when using the wheel. If you hold down the scroll wheel, you can pan. If you hold
down the wheel while holding the Ctrl key, you get a joystick pan—not that useful, but
kind of fun.
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