AutoCAD Insider

AutoCAD User Experience Team is Looking for Feedback

The AutoCAD User Experience Team is seeking participants for a usability study which will be conducted between June 22 and June 30, 2011.

Topic:
Documenting 3D Models in AutoCAD (creating views of 3D models).
 
Who Should Participate?
They are looking for AutoCAD Mechanical, Inventor and/or AutoCAD users with experience and need for creating views of 3D mechanical parts and models (3D models from various sources).
 
How the Study will be Conducted?
An individual 60-minute session will be conducted remotely using GoToMeeting (all info will be provided in the invitation).
 
How To Sign Up?
Please submit qualification data and indicate your availability here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ModelDocumentation 
 
Compensation
You will be receiving $30 Amazon Gift Certificate as a Thank You for your participation.

Please note: this research requires a Non-Disclosure Agreement.
 

Subtle Snap Enhancement in AutoCAD 2012

If you’re like me, SNAPMODE is one of those tools that you love to hate. Most times I don’t need it because I use Osnaps and direct distance entry to draw accurately. But sometimes being constrained to grid increments can come in handy. A subtle change to Snap behavior in AutoCAD 2012 lets you work more easily with Snaps turned on. Now, it only snaps to grid points when prompting to specify a point. So, for example, when you’re moving the cursor around the drawing area trying to select an object before a command is launched, grid snaps are ignored (no more having the cursor tease you as it jumps back and forth over the object)! But when you’re in a command that requires you to specify a point, such as drawing a line, grid snaps are honored.

PICKDRAG System Variable in AutoCAD 2012

The PICKDRAG system variable has been updated in AutoCAD 2012 to include a new option. Traditionally (before AutoCAD 2012), you had to choose between two methods for specifying a selection window. When PICKDRAG is set to 0, you create a selection window by picking (and releasing) to specify the first point and then picking (and releasing) to specify the second point. If PICKDRAG is set to 1, you pick the first point and continue holding down the mouse button as you drag. Releasing the mouse button specifies the second point of the selection window. A new option in AutoCAD 2012, PICKDRAG = 2, combines both of these behaviors so you don’t have to choose!

PICKAUTO System Variable in AutoCAD 2012

The PICKAUTO system variable has been updated in AutoCAD 2012 to provide more flexibility when selecting objects. If you’re not familiar with the details of PICKAUTO, let me explain.

The PICKAUTO system variable controls automatic window selection. When it’s set to 0, automatic window selection is disabled requiring you to actually pick on objects to select them. The only way to create a window or crossing selection is to specify one of those options at the command line (W or C).  When PICKAUTO is set to 1, AutoCAD still selects the object when you click directly on it but if you click in a blank part of the drawing, it implies a window or crossing selection (depending which way you drag the cursor). That’s good… but AutoCAD 2012 is even better with an additional PICKAUTO option.

When PICKAUTO is set to 2, AutoCAD still selects the object if you click and release on the object. And, it still implies a window or crossing selection if you click and drag on a blank part of the drawing. But it also allows you to click on an object and, while keeping the mouse button pressed, drag to imply a window or crossing selection.

Selection Options in AutoCAD 2012

AutoCAD 2012 offers more flexibility when selecting objects prior to launching a command. Now when you pick in a blank area of the drawing, in addition to dragging left or right to specify a crossing or window selection, you can enter F, WP, or CP to specify a fence, window polygon, or crossing polygon selection.