Gil's CAD Clues

Starting on April 1st we are planning on posting one quick clue a day for the next 30 days.  Enjoy!

It’s that time of the year!  Time for warmer weather, flowers blooming, birds singing, and new Autodesk software to come out.  Yesterday Autodesk had a webcast featuring the new Autodesk 2012 line up. You can catch the recorded webcast at www.autodesk.com/webcast You can find the new line up and features on Autodesk web site Now the big question is what tool are you looking forward to using?

UPDATE:  The mobile application has been updated to conform  to all mobile platforms.  You can find the application here:  http://myapp.is/CAD%20Clues  We hope you enjoy the update. Mobile phone user jump for joy. We are proud to announce CAD Clues Mobile Web App is available in both iOS and Android system. Creating the CAD Clues MWA in your handheld device. 1. go to CAD Clues MWA on your phone. 2. web clip the webpage. 3. enjoy! iPhone screen shots Comment bellow and let us see what the new Mobile Web App looks like on your phone.

If you enjoyed last month's post on Sheet Set Manager and want to see it as a fully functional AU class for 2011 head over to the AU web site and vote. Thanks! Sheet Set Manager - AU class

Creating Grid Ticks There are 2 ways to create grid ticks. Creating spot elevation labels along a surface is a new feature in 2009, but will not allow to change the style so that the cut/fill points will display properly. The best way I have found is to create points along a grid and place them in points groups for display. Creating points on a grid Start by pulling up the Point Creation Tools Ribbon > Home > Create Ground Data > Points > Point Creation Tools The point toolbar will pop up. Pull out the create points dialog button on the right of the toolbar. Set the prompt for Descriptions to automatic and under Default Description add a description like grid ticks. Now it is time to create some points Under surface points select On Grid. The software will ask for the surface, select the volume surface. The grid base point will be the bottom left side of the drawing. The next few steps will be filling out the rotation and grid spacing. Once done with the points,

Ever wish you could design a dream house or  play Architect for a day?  Now you can with the new Homestyler by Autodesk. Check it out: Homestyler

  Creating Volume Report Now with the volume surface it’s time to plot a volume surface report. Start by pulling up the Toolbox.  Go to ribbon, Palettes and then Toolbox . Toolbox tab will be added to the Toolspace. Under the toolspace, go to the toolbox tab. Pull down the reports manager and then surface. Right click on the surface report and execute. The export to XML report box will pop up. Uncheck everything except the new volume surface and select ok. The software will now calculate and open Internet Explorer with the volume surface report.

How to create a volume surface Toolspace > right click on Surface > Create Surface Under the Create Surface box change the type to TIN volume surface. Once the settings are good per the design, click OK. The new volume surface is now made. Volume Surface Calculation and Surface Analyzing – Part 2 (Creating Volume Report)

One new feature added to AutoCAD 2011 is the ability to edit a polyline with the grips. Select the polyline and place your crosshairs over the mid grip of the polyline.   The options to stretch, add Vertex or convert to Arc is now an option.  Try it out! Adding Vertex Convert to Arc