Datasheet

Book IX
Chapter 1
The Basics
of Customizing
AutoCAD
Customizing the AutoCAD Startup Process
641
✦ User profiles: User profiles control the appearance of AutoCAD, drafting
settings, and where AutoCAD should look to find core and user-customized
files. For more information on user profiles, see “Changing Options and
Working with User Profiles” later in this chapter.
✦ User interface: The user interface refers to the visual aspect of
AutoCAD’s controls, such as toolbars, ribbon panels, and pull-down
menus. Many components of the user interface can be customized by
using the Customize User Interface (CUI) editor. For more information on
customizing the user interface, see Chapter 3 of this minibook.
✦ Diesel: Diesel is a macro language that can be used to customize the
status bar area of AutoCAD and to control parts of the user interface,
such as pull-down menu items. For more information on using Diesel,
see Chapter 2 of this minibook.
✦ Command aliases: Command aliases are used to allow faster access to
commands from the command line. Many common commands in
AutoCAD are associated with a command alias. An example of a com-
mand alias is L for the LINE command. For more information on com-
mand aliases, see “Creating and Managing Command Aliases” later in
this chapter.
✦ Scripts: Script files are structured files that allow you to automate standard
commands and options. Because these files are based on commands and
options that you already use, they are fairly easy to create to reduce
repetitive tasks. For more information on script files, see Chapter 4 of
this minibook.
✦ Command line switches: Command line switches allow you to control
the startup behavior of AutoCAD. For more information on command
line switches, see “Using command line switches” later in this chapter.
✦ Action macros: Action macros are the newest option AutoCAD offers for
customizing and reducing repetitive tasks. With Action Recorder, you can
record many of the commands that you’re already familiar with and then
play back the recorded sequence of commands. For more information on
action macro files and Action Recorder, see Chapter 5 of this minibook.
Customizing the AutoCAD Startup Process
AutoCAD offers a number of options to control how it starts. Some of these
options can be controlled through the desktop shortcut (or icon), whereas
others are controlled through specially named files.
Startup options
Several startup options are available to you. Some require a basic knowledge
of programming. AutoCAD LT does not support any of the programming
options that AutoCAD does, so it is limited to the startup options that do not
47 243787 bk09ch01.qxp 4/7/08 1:58 PM Page 641