AutoCAD 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack 1: A closer look at the Measure tools

The new MEASUREGEOM command, available in the AutoCAD 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack 1, is a single command with five measurement options: Distance, Radius, Angle, Area, and Volume. You can access these options from the command line or from the buttons, which are available on the Subscription: Measure ribbon tab and toolbar.

The Distance option behaves similar to the old DIST command but with a more friendly display and the added ability to specify multiple points. If you specify two points, AutoCAD displays the distance, delta x, delta y, and angle in the xy plane, visually in the drawing editor.

If you select the Multiple option, you can continue picking points and, with each pick, AutoCAD displays the cumulative distance.

Using the Radius option, you can select a circle or arc to display its radius and diameter.

The Angle option behaves similar to the DIMANGULAR command, enabling you to select an arc, circle, or line or to specify a vertex. However, instead of creating a dimension, it simply displays the angle.

The Area option behaves similar to the old AREA command. You can specify points or select objects to display the included area and you can use the Add or Subtract options to determine cumulative areas.

So what’s the difference? The new Area option dynamically highlights the areas, using different colors for adding and subtracting, as you select objects or pick points. You can see what you’ve selected!

You can use the Volume option to specify boundary points with visual feedback similar to the Area option then specify a height to determine the volume. Additionally, you can determine the volume of selected solids or regions similar to the MASSPROP command.

AutoCAD vs AutoCAD LT video

If you're trying to choose which application (AutoCAD vs. AutoCAD LT) is best for you, check out the new video posted on www.autodesk.com/autocad. This 5 minute video provides a quick overview of the differences between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.

AutoCAD 2009 Update 1

Autodesk has just released a service update for AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009. The update addresses a variety of issues, many of which were identified and fixed based on feedback from you, our customers, using the AutoCAD Error Reporting Utility. Sending your error reports is easy and it really does help Autodesk improve the software. The more information you can provide in the step-by-step description, the easier it is for our development team identify the problem. Even if you don’t have time to provide a description, still click the Send Report button. It can make a difference!

Below is a list of issues that were addressed in this service update and you can learn even more from the official Readme. To begin taking advantage of these improvements, download the AutoCAD 2009 Update 1.

The following defects have been fixed:

.NET API

• When a .NET function with a LispFunction attribute has the return type as object, an exception is thrown in AutoCAD.

Annotation Scaling

• A drawing that contains a large number of anonymous blocks and copies of annotative entities created in AutoCAD 2007, or an earlier release, opens slowly in AutoCAD 2009.
• A scale is infinitely enumerated when you insert a drawing that contains the same scale as a block or an external reference (xref).

Attributes

• When you attempt to display a tooltip of a multiline text (mtext) attribute that contains 281 characters or more, AutoCAD crashes.
• When you move a block using an insertion grip, mtext attributes move incorrectly.
• When the default value of an mtext attribute in a block contains a field, you cannot edit the attribute text to replace the field with other data.

Blocks

• When you insert or redefine a block that contains attributes on a locked layer, AutoCAD crashes.
• When you change the scale of a block through the Properties Palette, an attribute displays incorrectly.

Export a Layout to Model Space
When you export a layout to model space the following occurs:

• The linetype scale changes.
• Dimension arrowheads do not display.
• Text does not rotate correctly.
• Drawing properties are lost.

External Reference ESW

• The External References palette does not display when auto-hidden and used with the XREF or IMAGE commands are used.

Hatch

• When you recreate a hatch boundary, it consists of separate line segments rather than a closed polyline.

Hide/Shade

• When you plot, objects in an xref are not correctly hidden.

Menu Browser

• You cannot access the menu browser in a non-English version of AutoCAD using the shortcut Alt+Key.

Multileader (mleader)

• When created on a rotated UCS, a multileader does not respect POLAR or ORTHO settings.

Multiline Text (mtext)

• When you drag and drop a drawing while the In-Place Text Editor is active, AutoCAD crashes.
• When some of the values in the In-Place Text Editor are changed, AutoCAD crashes.
• Some mtext objects with double byte characters display as a single line.

Open/Save

• When you attempt to save a file with a long file name, AutoCAD may crash.
• When you drag and drop a file from Windows Explorer into the AutoCAD title bar while in Single Document Interface (SDI) mode, AutoCAD may crash.
• When you attempt to open multiple files from Windows Explorer, only the first selected file opens.

Partial Open

• When the OPENPARTIAL system variable is set to 1, if you use the PURGE command, drawings may become corrupted.

Plot

• When you plot upside-down, an OLE object does not plot correctly.

Property Palette

• In the Properties palette, the Dimension Style control may display an incorrect dimension style name.

Publish

• In the Publish dialog box, the Publish To setting always defaults to DWF format even if you select a different setting.
• Quick Properties
• When you change the theme of your operating system while running AutoCAD and then click the Quick Properties window, AutoCAD crashes.

RECOVER

• When you open some valid drawings, you are prompted to use the RECOVER command.

Render

• When you use the RENDER command with certain drawings that contain textured object, AutoCAD crashes.

Ribbon

• When acad.CUI is loaded as a partial CUI, some buttons in the multiline text (mtext) ribbon contextual tab fail.
• On a ribbon panel, you may not be able to move items between rows.
• A ribbon panel continues to display after it is removed from a ribbon tab.
• A button image used on a ribbon panel that is loaded from a resource DLL file lacks a transparent background.
• If you transfer a ribbon panel and a tab, buttons display small.
• Enterprise, main, and partial CUI files display multiple ribbon tabs in workspaces.
• You cannot control a ribbon tab when you use more than one non-AutoCAD CUI file.
• A ribbon tab and/or menu macro may not function properly when referenced from multiple CUI files.
• If you load a CUI file that references a missing BMP file, a fatal error displays.

Visual LISP

• The AutoLISP Redraw function fails to hide or highlight objects.

ZOOM

• When you zoom while inserting some blocks, AutoCAD crashes.

AutoCAD 2009 Ribbon... The Inside Scoop!

If you've seen or heard about the new AutoCAD 2009 Ribbon interface and wondered about the thinking behind its design, wonder no longer! Steve Johnson from Cadalyst Magazine conducted an indepth interview with AutoCAD Senior Product Designer, Matt Stein. In this interview, Matt "The Ribbon Man" Stein, provides a glimpse into the AutoCAD design process as he describes the origins of the AutoCAD Ribbon. He compares the AutoCAD 2009 Ribbon functionality with the former AutoCAD Dashboard and the Microsoft Office Ribbon.

AutoCAD 2009… A closer look at layer management

AutoCAD 2009 includes many enhancements to help you work more efficiently with layers.

The Layer Properties Manger has been converted to a palette enabling you to keep it displayed while using other commands. Like other palettes, you can dock or anchor the Layer Properties Manager as well as enable auto-hide and transparency. The changes you make within the Layer Properties Manager are instantly applied to the drawing without the need for you to press an Apply button.

You can freeze columns so that key information, such as the layer name, remains visible while you scroll to the opposite side of the palette. Right-click menu options have been updated for clarity and to provide additional functionality. To gain real estate in the Layer Properties Manager, you can collapse the Filters pane.

The Layer Settings dialog box, which is accessible from the upper right corner of the Layer Properties Manager, includes new controls for Layer Isolation.

Many of the controls in the Layer Properties Manager are also available, at your fingertips, in the Layer panel of the new Ribbon.

A new option on the User Preferences tab of the Options dialog box provides you more control over layer property changes. You can now combine layer property changes for Undo and Redo operations similar to how you can combine them for zoom and pan operations.

View Demo

AutoCAD 2009 System Requirements

AutoCAD 2009 is available for both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems (except in some languages). You can download either version from the Autodesk Website (32-bit or 64-bit) and use it for a 30-day trial period. AutoCAD 2009 is also available on a DVD that contains both the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions. The DVD automatically installs the appropriate version based on the OS (32-bit or 64-bit). The 32-bit version is also available on a CD in all supported languages.

Before installing AutoCAD 2009, you'll want to ensure your computer meets the system requirements. The requirements vary depending on the AutoCAD version (32-bit or 64-bit) and the operating system (Vista or XP).

32-bit AutoCAD 2009

Running under Windows XP:

• Microsoft Windows XP SP2 operating system
• Intel® Pentium® 4 processor or AMD Athlon®, 2.2 GHz or greater
  or
  Intel or AMD Dual Core processor, 1.6 GHz or greater
• 1 GB RAM
• 750 MB free hard disk space for installation
• 1024x768 VGA with true color
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 (SP1 or higher)

If you are using AutoCAD for 3D modeling, you should bump up your system as follows:

• Intel Pentium 4 processor or AMD Athlon, 3.0 GHz or greater
  or
  Intel or AMD Dual Core processor, 2.0 GHz or greater
• 2 GB RAM or greater
• 2 GB of additional free hard disk space
• 1,280 x 1,024 32-bit color video display adapter (true color) 128 MB or greater, OpenGL or Direct3D capable workstation class graphics card.

Running under Windows Vista:

• Microsoft Windows Vista operating system
• Intel Pentium 4 processor or AMD Athlon, 3.0 GHz or greater
  or
  Intel or AMD Dual Core processor, 2.0 GHz or greater
• 2 GB RAM or greater
• 750 MB of free hard disk space for installation
• 2 GB of additional free hard disk space
• 1,280 x 1,024 32-bit color video display adapter (true color) 128 MB or greater, Direct3D capable workstation class graphics card.

64-bit AutoCAD 2009
(The 64-bit AutoCAD cannot be installed on a 32-bit operating system)

• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition operating system
  or
  Windows Vista 64-bit operating system
• AMD 64 processor
  or
  Intel EM64T processor
• 2 GB RAM
• 750 MB free hard disk space for installation

For more information visit www.autodesk.com/autocad.

AutoCAD 2009... A closer look at the Ribbon!

The AutoCAD Ribbon (as well as the Menu Browser and Quick Access Toolbar) present a user interface similar to Microsoft Office 2007. The ribbon provides easy access to tools through a collection of tabs and panels. Each tab contains multiple panels and each panel contains multiple tools. Some panels can be expanded to access additional tools.

For some tools, the ribbon automatically updates to display context sensitive information. For example, when you create or edit an mtext object, the ribbon automatically displays the multiline text ribbon. When you close the mtext editor, the ribbon returns to its previous state.

By default, the ribbon is docked at the top of the AutoCAD window. However, a right-click menu enables you to control the display and behavior of the ribbon. You can reduce the amount of space the ribbon consumes by disabling the option to Show Panel Titles or by minimizing to tabs or to panel titles.

The ribbon replaces the previous dashboard functionality (if you enter the DASHBOARD command, AutoCAD automatically launches the RIBBON command). You may not notice the similarity between the ribbon and dashboard at first glance. But, if you undock the ribbon, you’ll see that it looks and behaves very much like the dashboard. When the ribbon is undocked, you can right-click on the title-bar to access familiar dashboard-type options such as anchoring and auto-hide.

Whether the ribbon is docked or undocked, you can control the display of specific tabs and panels by turning them on and off in the right-click menu.

You can drag and drop ribbon tabs, or panels within the tabs, to reorganize them. And, you can even drag panels off the ribbon to create separate, floating panels.

To further customize the ribbon, you can use the Customize User Interface dialog box, where you’ll find the new Ribbon Tabs and Ribbon Panels nodes.

You can create new panels and tabs, add tools to panels, and add panels to tabs, using the familiar process of dragging and dropping.

View Demo

AutoCAD 2009... A closer look at tooltips!

In many places throughout AutoCAD 2009, you’ll find preview images and other information displayed as tooltips. When using the traditional model and layout tabs, you can hover the cursor over a tab to preview the layout before selecting it.

Tooltips are also displayed when you hover the cursor over items in the Sheet Set Manager or the External References Manager.

Right-click menu options in both of these palettes enable you to control the content displayed in the tooltips. You can specify a tooltip style that lists only the name, a small medium or large preview image, details about the file, or a preview image and details.

Tooltips for command tools have been updated to provide you with more information as you need it. The improved tooltips not only display the name of the tools, but they provide additional information and even graphics. Pressing the F1 key in a tooltip automatically takes you to that particular topic within the Help system.

View Demo

AutoCAD 2009... A closer look at Quick View Drawings

The new Quick View Drawings functionality is a faster and more visual alternative to using the Ctrl-Tab key combination or the Window menu for switching between open drawings. You can access Quick View Drawings via a new button on the status bar.

When you enable Quick View Drawings, AutoCAD displays a row of preview images that represent the open drawings. If you pass the cursor over a drawing preview image, AutoCAD displays a second row of images representing the layouts for that particular drawing.

You can view and make active any layout within any open drawing directly from the Quick View Drawings preview. To see a larger view of the layout images, simply pass the cursor over a layout preview image. AutoCAD automatically enlarges the layout images and reduces the drawing images. Moving the cursor back over a drawing image returns the drawing images to the larger size and the layout images to the smaller size.

You can increase the size of the preview images by pressing the Ctrl key while rolling the mouse wheel up or down. If the preview images extend beyond the edge of the screen, use can use the arrow keys or the mouse to scroll.

Icons within the drawing previews enable you to save or close any open drawing; not just the current one! Additional tools are available in the Quick View Drawings control panel, which is automatically displayed below the preview images. You can pin the Quick View Drawings functionality so that it remains open while you work in the drawing editor. Additional tools in the control panel enable you to create new drawings or open existing ones.

The right-click menu provides options for closing and saving the drawings. I particularly like the option to close all the open drawings except for the one on which you right-clicked.

View Demo

AutoCAD 2009… A closer look at Quick View Layouts

The Quick View Layouts functionality in AutoCAD 2009 provides a faster and more visual alternative to using the traditional Model and Layout tabs. In fact, the previous layout flyout on the status bar has been replaced by a new Quick View Layouts button.

AutoCAD 2008 AutoCAD 2009

When you enable Quick View Layouts, AutoCAD displays a horizontal row of layout images. You can identify and select layouts, not only by name, but by appearance. Increase or decrease the size of the layout preview images by pressing the Ctrl key while rolling the mouse wheel up or down. If the layout images extend beyond the edge of the screen, you can use the arrow keys or the mouse to scroll.

Icons within the layout preview image provide easy access to plotting and publishing. Additional tools are available in the control panel, which is automatically displayed below the Quick View images. You can pin Quick View Layouts so that it remains visible while you work in the drawing editor.

Create new layouts using an option in the control panel as well as in the right-click menu. The right-click menu provides access to other familiar layout tools as well as a completely new option, which enables you to export the layout to modelspace in a new drawing.

View Demo

AutoCAD 2009… A closer look at Quick Properties

The new Quick Properties functionality in AutoCAD 2009 enables you to view and modify object properties for selected objects. Now, if you’re like me, you’re thinking “How is this any different (or better) than the Properties window that we’ve had since AutoCAD 2000”? Well, it *is* similar, but you can customize Quick Properties so it only displays only the properties that you really care about. The simplified list makes it easier for you to locate the property you want to edit.

Also, the Quick Properties window is displayed right at the cursor when you select an object as opposed to the Properties window, which you might keep on all the time for easy access. With Quick Properties you save screen space *and* barely have to move your mouse to access it!

You can enable/disable Quick Properties functionality using the status bar toggle.

A right-click menu provides options for controlling and customizing the behavior of Quick Properties.

The Settings option displays the new Quick Properties tab in the Drafting Settings dialog box. On the Quick Properties tab, you can specify when and where the Quick Properties window is displayed. And, you can specify the default number of rows to be visible when Auto-collapse is enabled.

When you select an object with Auto-Collapse enabled, only the specified number of rows is displayed until you pass your cursor over the Quick Properties window. Then, the window automatically expands to list all the quick properties.

You can specify which properties are displayed for each type of object using the Customize User Interface (CUI) dialog box, which is easily accessible from the right-click menu or from the Customize button in the upper right-corner of the Quick Properties window. In the CUI dialog box, you can view and edit the list of objects with defined quick properties and add or remove object types to or from the list. For each object type, you can specify which properties will be displayed.

View Demo

AutoCAD 2009… A closer look at the Status Bar

The AutoCAD status bar has been updated with new tools and icons! The left side of the status bar includes button toggles for familiar functionality such as Grid, Osnap and Dynamic Input. A right-click menu enables you to easily switch the status bar display between icons and the traditional text labels.

The right-click menus for some status bar toggles include additional controls, which are relevant for that particular toggle. You save clicks by applying these controls from the right-click menu rather than having to access the Drafting Settings dialog box. You can turn on the polar or grid snap from the right-click menu of the SNAP toggle. You can set the polar tracking angle from the right-click menu of the POLAR toggle. And, you can apply object snaps from the right-click menu of the OSNAP and OTRACK toggles… (My favorite!)

The last button on the left side of the status bar is the new Quick Properties toggle. The Model and Layout buttons have moved to the right side of the status bar where several new tools have also been added. I’ll describe all of these new tools in future posts!

The Layout flyout is replaced by the Quick View Layouts button, which is followed by the Quick View Drawings button. The status bar provides easy access to navigation and viewing tools including Pan and Zoom as well as the new Steering Wheel and Show Motion functionality. The Annotation Scale, which was introduced in AutoCAD 2008, is replaced by a Viewport/Annotation toggle that links the Annotation Scale to the Viewport Scale. This ensures they stay in sync. A new Workspace Switching button replaces the Workspaces toolbar, providing the same functionality in considerably less space! From this single button, you can easily restore any of the predefined workspaces as well as any custom workspaces that you create.

View Demo

AutoCAD 2009… A closer look at the Quick Access Toolbar

The new Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) is displayed at the top of the AutoCAD window, next to the Menu Browser. By default it includes six frequently used tools: New, Open, Save, Plot, Undo, and Redo. You can easily add your own tools to the QAT by right-clicking on the toolbar and choosing Customize Quick Access Toolbar.

Select the Customize option displays the Customize User Interface (CUI) dialog box in a collapsed form so that only the Command List is shown. You can drag and drop tools from the Command List to the QAT.

The QAT is stored on a per-workspace basis. You can reorganize or remove tools by expanding the QAT node under each workspace.

In addition to the option to Customize the Quick Access Toolbar, the right-click menu enables you to turn on the menu bar, which is off by default.

The QAT is the only toolbar that is turned on in the default workspace. You can turn on additional toolbars from the right-click menu.

View Demo

AutoCAD 2009... A closer look at the Menu Browser

The new AutoCAD 2009 user interface includes a Menu Browser located in the upper left corner. The Menu Browser provides easy access to a variety of content including commands and documents.

It displays a vertical list of menus items, emulating the menus that were traditionally displayed horizontally across the top of the AutoCAD window. You can select a menu item to launch the associated command.

A search tool at the top of the Menu Browser enables you to search the CUI (Customize User Interface) file for key terms. For example, as you begin typing L-I-N-E in the search field, AutoCAD dynamically filters the search options to display all CUI entrees that include the word LINE (Linetype, Command Line, Line, Multiline, etc). You can click on a listed item to launch the associated command.

In addition to command access, the Menu Browser enables you to view and access recent or open documents. You can display the document names with icons or with small, medium, or large preview images making them easy to identify.

Hovering the cursor over the document name automatically displays a preview image and other document information. You can view the recent documents as an ordered list or you can group them by date or file type.

In addition to recent documents, the Menu Browser offers easy access to recent actions. You can view a list of the recent actions and then select one to repeat it.

Right-click menus within the Menu Browser offer additional controls including the ability to pin a recent document or action so that it remains on the list. You can also clear the Recent Documents or Recent Actions lists from the right-click menu.

View Demo