Everything AutoCAD 2014

I don't think I can get much lazier than what I am doing now. If you want to know what new, different, better in AutoCAD 2014, rock it on over to JBT World. Nobody has done it better than Jimmy Bergmark. So check out his post on Everything AutoCAD 2014.

Limiting Layers

Layers are awesome. 

They are the key to everything visibility in AutoCAD. 

Because of that, people generally feel that for maximum control, you need maximum layers. Compound that with the fact that a drawing rarely stands alone. In fact most drawings have other drawings with maximum layers in them being referenced in. The result... (infinity)x(infinity) layers.

Well, not infinity, but in the example below, the user needs to navigate 233.

By selecting "Xref" in the left panel, then checking the "Invert filter" box, the user only has to navigate the 98 layers that are actually in the drawing being used. That helps!

The Configured Heidi Driver Cannot be Loaded

So I started getting this error one day.

Here is how i fixed it.

1. In Options, select the System tab.
2. Turn off Degradation. (because you are there)
3. Click the Manual Tune button.
4. Un-check Enable Hardware Acceleration. (required)
5. For fun turn off Dynamic Tessellation.

Autodesk Re-Branded!

Excerpt from email with super secret Autodesk person.

From: Secret Autodesk Informant
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 2:07 PM
To: Agent X
Subject: Autodesk's New Brand

Hi agent X!

What do you think of Autodesk's new branding?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Todd Shackelford
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 2:09 PM
To: Secret Autodesk Informant
Subject: RE: Autodesk's New Brand

Oh no you dinit!

Todd Shackelford

BIM Manager

tshackelford@alvine.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Secret Autodesk Informant
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 2:12 PM
To: Agent X
Subject: RE: Autodesk's New Brand

You no likey??  It’s been quite an evolution, don’t you think?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Todd Shackelford
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 2:14 PM
To: Secret Autodesk Informant
Subject: RE: Autodesk's New Brand

Unexpected, but I like it!

White back ground is clean, the logo is elegant and progressive, and the name is in your face.

I better Blog about this.

Todd Shackelford

BIM Manager

tshackelford@alvine.com

Properties, Properties, Properties

If you are old enough to remember when AutoCAD didn't have a Properties, window, pallet, dialog, or anything... when a properties anything pops up on your screen you more than likely go full on grumpy geezer.

Well, here are the most common ways a properties something injects itself into your workflow grandpa. 

First if you see this....

Try setting your Rollovertips = 0

If you see this....

That is Quick Properties. Click the button circled in red in the image to turn it off.

If you see this one...

Selection Cycling is turned on. Turn it off by clicking the circled icon in the image above.