Heidi Hewett's Blog

Good Question: AutoCAD/Excel Data Linking

Today’s good question comes from Gerald. He asked how he can write the changes he made in a linked AutoCAD table back to the Excel file.

In order to write data from the AutoCAD table back to the source Excel file, you must enable the "write" option within the data link.

1. Access the Data Link Manager (DATALINK command).
2. Right-click on the datalink that is being used by the table you modified and choose Edit.
   
3. If the Modify Excel Link dialog box is not already expanded, click on the black arrow in the lower right corner to expand it.
   
4. In the expanded dialog box, enable the option to Allow Writing to Source File and choose OK.
   
5. After you’ve edited the table cell contents, select the table, right-click and choose Write Data Links to External Source.
   

The answer I provided for this Good Question assumes you already know how to create a data link. You can learn more about data links in one of my previous posts and I tried to post even more detailed information in future posts.

Workspaces in AutoCAD 2008

One of the first things you might notice when you launch AutoCAD 2008 is the new 2D Drafting and Annotation workspace… This is in addition to the existing 3D Modeling and AutoCAD Classic workspaces that were included in AutoCAD 2007.

If you select the 2D Drafting and Annotation workspace, AutoCAD automatically turns on and off various toolbars and palettes including the Dashboard. You can customize the 2D Drafting and Annotation workspace (or any other workspace) to create an AutoCAD environment that enables you to maximize your drawing area while maintaining easy access to the tools you need most.  For example, I configured my workspace so that the Command window and most toolbars are turned off. It’s okay! Don’t panic! I use Dynamic Input to read and respond to command prompts and if I need to see information from the Command window, I use the F2 (Function 2) key. I have all of the palette windows (Properties, Sheet Set Manager, etc) anchored on the left side with Auto-hide enabled. Those palettes provide all the tools I need… and look how much drawing space I have!!!

To create your own workspace, start with an existing workspace that most closely matches the environment you want. Then simply turn additional toolbars and palettes (including Dashboard panels) on and off. If you want certain palettes to be rolled up and/or anchored, apply those options by selecting them from the right-click menu.

Ensure that you include the Workspaces toolbar in your environment because you will need it to change workspaces. After you set up your environment the way you want, open the Workspaces menu and select Save Current As.

You can select a workspace from the drop-down list to override an existing one or enter a name to create a new workspace. Although you can override the default AutoCAD workspaces, I suggest you save your custom workspaces to different names so that you can restore the default AutoCAD workspaces if necessary. The Workspace Settings option in the right-click menu enables you to control the appearance and behavior of workspaces.

In a future post, I’ll show you how to customize the Dashboard in AutoCAD 2008. By combining the powerful functionality of a customized Dashboard with custom workspaces, you can create an efficient working environment with plenty of drawing area!

AutoCAD 2008 Customer Involvement Program

With the release of the Autodesk 2008 family of products, Autodesk offers a new Customer Involvement Program (CIP). The CIP enables you to help guide the direction of Autodesk design software by automatically sending Autodesk information about how you use the software. This sounds a little scary and, if you’re like me, you probably dismissed the CIP dialog box (which displays automatically when you first run AutoCAD 2008), without even reading the information. No worries! Here is some of the information you missed:

The Customer Involvement Program (CIP) is a program that dramatically improves the way Autodesk designs software and measures performance and quality. It lets customers be involved in helping make Autodesk products better meet their needs and the needs of the larger community of users.
Included in nearly all of Autodesk’s latest product releases, CIP automatically collects information about software features usage, system configuration and software errors from those customers that choose to participate. About once a day, a small file containing CIP information is sent to Autodesk’s servers.

Autodesk software designers and developers use this information to:

• Identify typical usage patterns
• Learn how new and experienced customers discover and use new features
• Learn how customers use multiple Autodesk products in concert to accomplish tasks
• Understand how features behave in complex, real-world configurations
• Learn more about error conditions that may be caused by software defects or configuration issues

The Customer Involvement Program collects the following types of information:

• Autodesk product commands used
• Name and version of your Autodesk products
• Operating system name and version
• System configuration information like processor, memory, and graphics card
• Errors conditions
• Format of data imported or exported from your Autodesk product
• IP address (used to estimate your country of origin)

The CIP program DOES NOT send actual design information to Autodesk so it is not possible for Autodesk to replicate your actual drawings or design information using the CIP information.

So what do you think? Are you ready to help define the future of AutoCAD? You can start or stop your participation in this program at any time.

To join the Customer Involvement Program:

1. Select Customer Involvement Program from the Help menu.
   


2. In the CIP dialog box, simply select Yes and choose OK. To discontinue participation in the CIP program, access the CIP dialog box again, and select No.
   

That's it! If you participate in the Customer Involvement Program, AutoCAD automatically sends the specified information to Autodesk. You don't have to do a thing!

Multiline Attributes in AutoCAD 2008… Yeah!

One of my favorite little enhancements in AutoCAD 2008 is the ability to create block attributes with multiple lines of text. The Attribute Definition and Edit Attribute dialog boxes include a new Multiple Lines control. When you select Multiple Lines, the Default text box is disabled and you’re provided with access the Multiline Attribute editor.

The Multiline Attribute editor is a simplified version of the MTEXT editor enabling you to enter text, adjust the width for text wrapping, insert fields, underline, and overline. You can use the right-click menu to access additional MTEXT editing options such as Import Text, Background color, and Autocaps. When you define a muiltiline attribute, an additional control in the Attribute Definition dialog box as well as in the Enhanced Attribute Editor, enables you to specify a Boundary Width.

Spell Checking in AutoCAD 2008

Spell checking has been enhanced in AutoCAD 2008 to further automate the spell checking process. When you launch the spell checker, the Check Spelling dialog box is immediately displayed without first requiring you to select objects. The Check Spelling dialog box has a new drop-down list from which you can choose where AutoCAD should check for spelling errors. The default is to check the entire drawing enabling you to simply choose Start to begin checking the entire drawing for spelling errors. Alternatively, you can choose to check only the current space/layout or specific objects that you select.

When AutoCAD detects a spelling error, it automatically highlights and zooms to the word in the drawing.

A new Check Spelling Settings dialog box provides more control over the spell checker behavior. You can specify whether to check dimension text, block attributes, and external references. Furthermore, a list of exclusion options enables you to specify sets of words that should be ignored such as words with numbers or punctuation.

Viewing 3D Block Definitions in AutoCAD 2008

In AutoCAD 2007, you can use many 3D tools within the block editor to edit your 3D blocks. However, you cannot use the 3D Orbit tool to easily view your 3D blocks while editing. Fortunately the block editor has been updated in AutoCAD 2008 so that you can use 3DORBIT. What is the quickest way to access 3DORBIT? Simply hold down the SHIFT key while you press and move the middle mouse wheel!

AutoCAD 2008 Graphics Hardware

AutoCAD 2008 includes support for Microsoft® Direct3D® hardware acceleration providing more flexibility for video cards. You can specify Direct3D or OpenGL® hardware acceleration in the Manual Performance Tuning dialog box which is accessible using the 3DCONFIG command. Regardless of which option you select for hardware acceleration, new texture compression enhancements will require less video memory and improve performance when display images and textures.

You can learn more about the graphics hardware that can take advantage of the new real-time 3D shading, shadows, and smooth-line display features in AutoCAD 2008 based products at http://www.autodesk.com/autocad-graphicscard.

Good Question: AutoCAD 2008 system requirements

Today's good question comes from John. He asked what the system requirements are for AutoCAD 2008.

Here is the complete list of the AutoCAD 2008 system requirements from www.autodesk.com/autocad Features and Specifications. You can find the system requirements for other applications by selecting the Features and Specifications link for specific products www.autodesk.com/products.

System Requirements

The system requirements for 32-bit AutoCAD:

• Intel® Pentium® 4 processor, 2.2 GHz Recommended
• Microsoft® Windows Vista™, Windows® XP Home and Professional (SP2), Windows® 2000 (SP4)
• 512 MB RAM
• 750 MB free disk space for installation
• 1024x768 VGA with True Color
• Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 6.0 (SP1 or higher)

Available on CD (Worldwide) and DVD (select countries and languages)

Additional System Requirements for 64-bit AutoCAD

• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Vista 64-bit
• AMD64 or Intel EM64T processor
• 1GB RAM, 2GB for Windows Vista 64-bit
• 750 MB free disk space for installation

AutoCAD 64-bit cannot be installed on a 32-bit Windows Operating System.

The System requirements for Windows Vista or 3D modeling (32 and 64-bit AutoCAD)

• Intel® 3.0 GHz or greater
• 2 GB RAM or greater
• 2 GB free hard disk available not including installation
• 1280 x 1024 32-bit color video display adapter (True Color) 128 MB or greater, OpenGL®, or Direct3D® capable workstation class graphics card. 
• For Windows Vista, a Direct3D capable workstation class graphics card with 128 MB or greater is required.

AutoCAD 2008... Come and get it!

AutoCAD 2008 is now available! To learn more about the powerful new functionality that will help increase your day-to-day productivity or to download a free trial, visit www.autodesk.com/autocad

You can also:

• Download the AutoCAD 2008 Preview Guide
• View the AutoCAD 2008 Demo Videos and
• Visit an Authorized Reseller near you

AutoCAD 2008... Check it out!

It won't be long until you can get your hands on AutoCAD 2008! Be prepared to make the most of your AutoCAD investment by learning what's new before you get it!

To learn more about AutoCAD 2008:

• Visit www.autodesk.com/preview2008
• View the Demo Videos (These are the same ones I've been posting over the past few weeks)
• Download the AutoCAD 2008 Preview Guide

Xref Clipping in AutoCAD 2008

In AutoCAD 2008, the XCLIP command includes a new option to invert the clipping area. When you select New Boundary within the XCLIP command, you'll notice the new Invert Clip option. If you select Invert Clip and then specify the boundary, AutoCAD clips away the area within the boundary rather than the area outside of the boundary.

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DWF Underlays in AutoCAD 2008

In AutoCAD 2007, AutoCAD included new DWF underlay functionality, which enabled you to attach a DWF file, to your AutoCAD drawings. This provided a secure way for people to access, view, and snap to the data in your AutoCAD drawing without being able to edit it. In AutoCAD 2008, DWF underlay functionality has been updated to include layer controls. If you select a DWF underlay and right-click, you’ll see a new DWF Layers option, which displays the DWF Layers dialog box. This enables you to control the visibility of the layers within the DWF underlay; similar to controlling DWF layer visibility in the Autodesk DWF Viewer.

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Layer Locking and Fading in AutoCAD 2008

In AutoCAD 2008 you can automatically fade locked layers so that they are visible yet faded in comparison to the unlocked layers. This layer locking and fading functionality has been incorporated into the Layer Isolate tool.  For example, if you are editing the Lighting and Power plans in a drawing, you can use the layer isolate tool, which is available on the Layers panel of the Dashboard, to select objects on the Lighting and Power layers. The new settings option enables you to lock and fade the other layers rather than just turning them off. You can specify a fade value; the higher the value, the more faded the layers will become. A slider bar in the Layers panel of the Dashboard enables you to modify the fade value.

As the name implies, selecting the lock and fade option in the layer isolate tool not only fades the layers but it also locks them. You can use the Layer Unisolate tool, available on the Dashboard, to restore the display to its previous settings.

Even if you manually lock layers as opposed to using the Layer Isolate tool, you can take advantage of the fading capability.

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Layer Notification in AutoCAD 2008

In AutoCAD 2008, new layer tools provide more control over your drawings. The first time you save or plot a drawing in AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD automatically creates a layer list with all the existing layers in that drawing. From that point forward, any newly added layers will be regarded as unreconciled. A layer notification bubble in the lower right-hand corner displays a link, which opens up the Layer Properties Manager.

In the Layer Properties Manager, any layers that don’t match the original layer list are displayed using a temporary layer filter for Unreconciled New Layers. You can review the unreconciled layers and choose whether you want to add them as valid layer names within the drawing. To add unreconciled layers to the layer list, you can simply select them, right-click and choose reconcile layer. Those layers are then included in the layer list and will no longer trigger the layer notification.

You can control the layer notification behavior using the Layer Settings dialog box, which is accessible from the Settings button in the Layer Properties Manager. In the Layer Settings dialog box, you’ll see a section for New Layer Notification Settings. When you enable the option to have AutoCAD evaluate layers added to the drawing, you can choose whether you want to only evaluate new xref layers or if you want to evaluate all layers that are added to the drawing. You can specify if you want to be notified of new layers and when you want to be notified. For example, do you want to be notified when you open or save a drawing? Or when you attach or reload xrefs? In addition, you have the option to display an unreconciled layer alert when you plot.

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Layouts and Sheets in AutoCAD 2008

In AutoCAD 2008, you can work more efficiently using layouts and sheets.

With the model and layout tabs displayed, you can very quickly create new layouts. For example, if you hold down the control key and drag and drop an existing layout, you can make a copy of it. If you drag and drop the layout without holding down the control key, you can quickly change its location. Using the ctrl or shift keys you can select multiple layouts to copy, move or delete several layouts at one time. And, new double-click support enables you to easily rename a layout.

If you are using sheet sets, you can easily import a selected layout as a sheet. Simply choose the Import Layout as Sheet option from the right-click menu, or drag and drop the layout onto the sheet list.

AutoCAD automatically displays the name and status of each layout in the drawing; enabling you to import additional layouts as well.  Hint: If you’ve added or renamed layouts, you must save the drawing before you can import the layouts as sheets.

Another enhancement to sheet set functionality is the ability for you to publish your sheet set in reverse order. You’ll find this new option in the right-click menu of the Sheet Set Manager.

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Set All Object Properties to BYLAYER in AutoCAD 2008

Sometimes you’ll run into a drawing where the object properties are set to a specific value, like a certain color or linetype, instead of BYLAYER. When you change the layer’s property, those particular objects don’t change. Sometimes that is what you want, but often it isn’t. Until now you had to manually go through and edit each of the object properties.

There is a new tool in AutoCAD 2008 that enables you to quickly apply the BYLAYER property to multiple objects, including those within blocks definitions.  The new SETBYLAYER command is available on the modify menu. After selecting the objects you want to change, a Settings option enables you to specify which properties you want to be included in the operation. Additional prompts allow you to choose if you want to change object properties that are currently set to BYBLOCK and/or objects within blocks.

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Dimension Enhancements in AutoCAD 2008

AutoCAD 2008 offers new and enhanced dimensioning functionality, which includes automatic alignment options, dimension breaks, jogged dimensions, text placement, and tolerances. The new Dimension panel on the Dashboard provides easy access to the many dimensioning tools.

The new Dimension Break tool (DIMBREAK command) enables you to break dimension or extension lines where they intersect geometric objects or other dimensions. After specifying the dimension that you want to break, you can select intersecting objects to use as cutting edges or you can choose the Auto or Manual options. When you break a dimension by selecting objects or using the Auto option, the breaks will automatically update when the intersection point moves. If the objects are moved so that they no longer intersect, the break will disappear and if they are moved back the break will automatically return to the proper location. The Manual option enables you to specify start and end point of the break. You can use the Restore option to remove all the breaks from selected dimensions or leaders.

A new Inspection Dimension tool (DIMINSPECT command) enables you to create inspection dimensions, typically used to indicate critical operating tolerances, from existing dimension objects. You can add or remove inspection dimensions and control their appearance including the shape, label and inspection rate. After you convert a dimension to an inspection dimension, you can edit the inspection dimension properties using the Inspection Dimensions dialog box or the Properties window.

You can add a jog to linear dimensions to represent measurements whose values are not the same length as the dimension line. Jogged dimension lines are typically used when a sheet is too small to display the true length of a dimension line. Using the Dimension Jog tool (DIMJOGLINE command), you can select the dimension and indicate where you want to place the jog. You can edit the jog location using grips and you can turn off the jog or edit its height using the Properties window. Additionally, a new option for linear jog size is included on the Symbols and Arrows tab of the Dimension Style dialog box.

The new Dimension Space tool (DIMSPACE command) enables you to evenly space selected dimensions. You can specify the spacing distance between dimension lines or let AutoCAD automatically determine a minimum spacing distance.

Enhancements to diametric, radial, and jogged radial dimensions enable you to dimension an arc beyond its endpoints. The process for creating these dimensions hasn’t changed. However, when you specify the location of the dimension line, you can drag beyond the endpoints of the arc. AutoCAD will automatically create an arc extension line using the same properties, such as extension line color and extension line offset, as traditional extension lines.

A new option for angular dimensions enables you to place the dimension text outside of the angle being measured. You can access the new option, Quadrant, from the right-click menu when prompted to specify the dimension arc line location. The Quadrant option asks you to specify the quadrant (angle) that you want to dimension separate from specifying the dimension arc line location. If the dimension arc line location that you specify is outside of the quadrant that is being measured, AutoCAD will automatically create an arc extension line to the dimension text.

And finally, the Tolerances tab of the Dimension Style dialog box has been updated to include controls for aligning tolerances. You can align stacked tolerances using either the decimal separator or the operation symbol.

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Visualization in AutoCAD 2008

In AutoCAD 2008, new and improved visualization tools enable you to produce realistic renderings with minimal effort.

   

The Materials palette has been updated to provide faster, easier access to materials properties. It includes expandable panels that enable you to view and edit material settings without having to access multiple dialog boxes. You can specify the type of material and select from a wide range of pre-defined templates that include appropriate values for common materials. Additional procedural maps, such as Checker and Tiles, enable you to create a greater variety of materials. And you can adjust material lighting parameters using the advanced Lighting Overrides for increased flexibility and realism.

To further improve the realism of your AutoCAD models, you can produce lighting effects based on the photometric properties of light sources. Enter lamp data from manufacturer’s catalogs for real lighting fixtures. Or, better yet, assign an IES file containing detailed photometric data, which you download directly from the lighting manufacturer’s Website. AutoCAD automatically displays the photometric Web enabling you to visualize the lighting distribution.

For AutoCAD models that depend on the external effects of the sun and sky, you can apply the new Sun and Sky background option to named views. The Sun and Sky option enables you to easily create sky effects such as Haze and sun effects such as shadows. In these renderings you can see how the sun affected the shadows by simply changing the time of day on a specific date.

   

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DGN Support in AutoCAD 2008

AutoCAD 2008 includes new support for V8 DGN file format. When you have an AutoCAD drawing open, you can use the DGNEXPORT command as well as the plain old EXPORT command; you’ll see to new V8 DGN format in the file type list. The Export DGN Setting dialog box provides various options for handling externally referenced drawing files. If the drawing you are trying to export contains xref files, you can choose to translate all of those DWG files to DGN files; you can bind the DWG files into a single DGN file; or you can choose to ignore the externally referenced DWG files.

   

In AutoCAD 2008, you can attach a DGN file as an underlay to your AutoCAD drawing, similar to attaching a DWF file as an underlay. If the AutoCAD drawing that you are trying export currently has a DGN underlay, you can choose whether or not you want to export that DGN underlay file. You can also specify a seed file, which is like a template file. AutoCAD 2008 includes four seed files, two imperial and two metric, either for 2D or 3D. These seed files and the option to specify master or sub units help define how the exported DGN file is created.

After exporting an AutoCAD drawing to a DGN file, you can open it in Microstation, attach it to an AutoCAD drawing as a DGN underlay, or you can import it. There is a new DGNIMPORT command and you'll see the new V8 DGN file type if you use the plain IMPORT command. You can specify how you want AutoCAD to handle external file for the DGN drawing you are importing and you can also control how it converts text and units during the import process.

As I mentioned previously, you can attach a DGN file as an underlay to an AutoCAD drawing. You might remember in AutoCAD 2007 that the Xref Manager was updated to become a central location for all externally referenced files including dwg files, DWF files, and images. In AutoCAD 2008, the Xref Manager has been updated to include DGN files. When you attach a DGN file as an underlay, you can view and snap to the geometry in the DGN file without being able to edit it.

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Tables from Datalinking and Data Extraction in AutoCAD 2008

In AutoCAD 2008 you can combine the powerful functionalities of datalinking and data extraction by extracting drawing data and then linking it to corresponding data in an external file. For example, a drawing might contain block attributes with a part number that corresponds to additional information in an Excel spreadsheet; such as a description, manufacturer’s part number, and unit cost.

Using the Data Extraction wizard, you can extract the part number and quantity from the block attribute data in the drawing and then select a data link for the external file. You can then specify which column from the drawing data corresponds to which column from the spreadsheet data.

AutoCAD indicates the linked columns with an icon. You can drag and drop columns to arrange them appropriately and you can even add formula columns. For example, you might want to insert a formula column that multiplies the quantity by the unit cost. You can also add a footer to automatically sum the rows.

If you make changes to the AutoCAD drawing data, adding or removing objects; or if you make changes to data in the external file, you can simply update the table with the assurance that the object data and linked data, as well as the formulas based on that data, will update accordingly.

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Tables from Object Data in AutoCAD 2008

In AutoCAD 2008, you can extract information from objects to use in spreadsheets or AutoCAD tables. For example, in a civil drawing you might want to extract object lengths to estimate the amount of piping for the gas, water and sewer lines.

AutoCAD displays all the objects in the drawing and you can select which types of objects you want to extract from. If you want to estimate the length of pipe, for example, you might select the arc, line, and polyline objects. You can extract data from these different objects, maintaining individual values for each type of object. Or you can have the Data Extraction Wizard treat all of these object types as one. For example, if you want to find the total length of pipe, regardless of the object (arc, line, polyline) that is being used to represent it, you can use the Date Extraction Wizard to automatically sum the length of all of these types of objects. To do this, you can simply “trick” AutoCAD into treating them the same by applying the same display name to all of the objects.

After selecting the types of objects to extract from, the Data Extraction Wizard displays all the available object properties. You can select the properties that you want to extract. For example, if the gas, water, and sewer lines are differentiated by layers you would want to extract the Layer and Length properties. If, on the other hand, the gas, water and sewer lines are differentiated by linetypes, you would want to extract the Linetype and Length properties.

The Data Extraction Wizard displays the data for the properties you chose to extract and you can specify whether you want to use the name or count properties, which are displayed by default. The Data Extraction wizard separates the values for each of the extracted objects. However, you can use the Combine Record Mode option to automatically sum the values instead of separate them.

You can output the extracted data to an external file to use in other calculations or you can extract it to an AutoCAD table, enabling you to easily update the table data to reflect changes to the objects.

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Table Datalinking in AutoCAD 2008

In AutoCAD 2008, you can create AutoCAD table cells that link to an Excel spreadsheet. One easy way to do so is to copy the data from Excel and then, using Paste Special, paste the data into the drawing as a link. AutoCAD automatically creates a data link between the drawing and the Excel spreadsheet.

Using data links, you can display the tabular data from your spreadsheets (or CSV files) within an AutoCAD table object, while maintaining a link to the original Excel data. If changes are made to the data in the external file, AutoCAD notifies you of changes and enables you to quickly update the AutoCAD table to reflect the changes.

You can create new data links by selecting an Excel or Comma delimited file. Your drawing can include any number of data links all of which are listed in the Data Link Manager. If you copy and paste the data from Excel, AutoCAD provides a generic name. However, you can rename it to something more meaningful.

When creating or editing a datalink, you can specify whether you want to link the whole sheet or a specific range of cells. An expandable dialog box enables you to customize the data link settings. For example, you can specify whether or not you want data types to be converted to text, or if you want to allow the cell contents from the AutoCAD table to be written back to the source file.

The linked cells in the AutoCAD table are locked to prevent editing from within AutoCAD and the range of linked cells is indicated by green corner brackets. The linked and/or locked status of each cell is indicated by the linked and locked icons as well as by information in the tool tip. Although linked data cells are initially locked, you can unlock selected cells, enabling you to edit the contents. If the datalink option to allow writing to source file has been enabled, you can easily write the changes you make in the AutoCAD table back to the source data file.

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Tables in AutoCAD 2008

Table functionality has been dramatically enhanced in AutoCAD 2008. The new Tables panel of the dashboard provides easy access to AutoCAD table functionality. You can quickly set different table styles, create tables and access the table style dialog box.

The Table Style dialog box has been updated for increased usability and flexibility. It includes a new option to select an existing table as a starting point for defining a new table style. Additional format and display options provide greater flexibility for table cell borders and margins. And you can easily save, preview and apply named cell styles with various combinations of formatting options.

Adding content to table cells is easier than ever before. You can use the new auto-fill functionality to quickly repeat data from an existing cell or even increment cell values.

New table breaking functionality enables you to automatically wrap an AutoCAD table across multiple columns. You can adjust the table using grips and the Table break tools in the Properties window provide additional controls. For example, you can repeat the top or bottom labels for each column. Or you can specify a value for the spacing between columns. You can also specify manual column heights enabling you to adjust the height of each of table columns individually.

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Mtext in AutoCAD 2008

The new Text panel on the Dashboard provides easy access to text-related tools including the Mtext editor, which has been updated in AutoCAD 2008.

Whether you create text from scratch or copy it from a document, the Text Formatting toolbar provides more flexibility and control over your text. For example, if you copy and paste text from a document, AutoCAD maintains the formatting, including the paragraph spacing. You can adjust the tabs and indents as well as paragraph alignment and spacing using the new Paragraph dialog box.

You can even apply column settings to automatically wrap the text across multiple columns. Specify dynamic or static columns and then easily adjust the columns using grips. You can also edit columns using the text formatting ruler or by specifying values in the new Column Settings dialog box.

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Multileaders in AutoCAD 2008

New Multileader tools in AutoCAD 2008 enable you to create leaders with more control and flexibility than ever before. You can easily access the Multiple Leader tools from the new Multileader panel on the Dashboard.

Using the Multileader tool (MLEADER command) you can create a leader head first, landing first, or content first.  A right-click menu enables you to select from each of these methods and the method you specify remains persistent for subsequent Multileaders.

The new Multileader Style Manager (MLEADERSTYLE command) enables you to control the format and display options of Multileaders using Multileader Styles; similar to how you use Text Styles, Dimension Styles, and Table Styles to define other types of AutoCAD objects. You can specify the leader format including the type of leader line (straight, spline, or none) and the type of arrowhead. You can specify the leader structure including whether it is associative. And you can specify the content including the ability to assign a Block rather than Mtext.

Overrides for some of the multileader properties are available from the Options selection when creating a multileader. And you can use the Properties window to modify properties of existing multileaders. Additional tools, available from the Dashboard or right-click menu enable you to add or remove leader lines; creating a single leader object that points to multiple locations in the drawing! And, you can easily grip-edit different parts of the leader while maintaining associativity between the leader and text.

The Multileader Align tool (MLEADERALIGN command) enables you to quickly align a set of leaders along a line and you can control the spacing between them.

Using the Multileader Collect tool (MLEADERCOLLECT command), you can combine multiple block-type Multileaders into a single Multileader with multiple blocks. (Say that three times fast!)

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Layer Properties in AutoCAD 2008

AutoCAD 2008 offers many enhancements to layer functionality including a new Layers panel in the Dashboard. The Layers panel provides quick access to various layer tools including the Layer Properties Manager.

In the Layer Properties Manager, you can right-click over the column headers to turn different columns on and off. The new customize option enables you to toggle the visibility of multiple columns at the same time.

Some of my favorite enhancements to layer functionality in AutoCAD 2008 are the new viewport layer properties: Viewport color, viewport linetype, viewport lineweight, and viewport plot style. These new properties enable you to apply layer properties on a per-viewport basis. If you have a drawing with many layers- displayed in multiple viewports- you can emphasize certain layers in one viewport while de-emphasizing them in a different viewport. Rather than changing the global color, which would change the layer color in all viewports, you can change the new VP Color within a particular viewport. Using new viewport layer properties, you can display drawing information the way you want without having to create and manage multiple copies of the drawing objects.

Layers with viewport overrides are highlighted with a blue background. You can change that background color using the new settings dialog box, accessible from the lower left corner of the Layer Properties Manager. If you want to restore layers to their original, global properties, you can right-click in the Layer Properties Manager and select the option to Remove Viewport Overrides. You can remove overrides from only the selected layers or from all layers, and you can choose whether you want to remove them from only the current viewport or from all viewports.

In AutoCAD 2008, you can combine the flexibility of viewport layer properties with the efficiency of layer states. The Layer States Manager is directly accessible from the dashboard or the new LAYERSTATE command, without requiring you to first open the Layer Properties Manager. It has been updated with new functionality that enables you to import layer states directly from DWG, DWT, or DWS files. You can easily restore an existing layer state from within the layer states manager. Or, for even greater efficiency, simply choose the appropriate layer state from the new layer states drop-down list in the Layers panel of the dashboard.

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Annotation Scaling in AutoCAD 2008

Annotation is a crucial part of your design drawings and creating annotations can consume a considerable amount of your workday. The frequent need for you to view the same design data at different scales can require you to produce multiple sets of annotation objects, such as text and dimensions, using multiple layers. Like many of you, I have been using and teaching AutoCAD for years and I know that the most challenging topic every AutoCAD user MUST learn is annotation scaling. It is not easy and it never has been. Well, I have to admit… when I posted a recent article on Scaling Dimensions and Text, I had ulterior motives… to show you how much easier it is with AutoCAD 2008!! I am THRILLED to be able to say, at last, that with AutoCAD 2008, you can forget all that scaling stuff I explained a few days ago!!!

New and improved functionality in AutoCAD 2008 enables you to annotate your drawings with greater flexibility and efficiency than ever before. Using new annotation scaling tools, you can automate the process of creating and editing objects that are typically used for annotation, such as Text, Mtext, Dimensions, Leaders, Multileaders (new), Tolerances, Blocks, Attributes, and Hatches.

I’ve posted two videos to help provide an overview of annotation scaling. The first one describes some of the challenges associated with creating annotations using traditional tools and the second one demonstrates the new annotation scaling tools in AutoCAD 2008. Over the next few months I will delve deeper into this new, exciting, and long-awaited functionality!

View animation showing traditional annotation scaling

View animation showing new annotation scaling