Why are my Grips Missing?

1st check the variable GRIPS is set to 1.

If you still don't see them after selecting objects then you may have exceeded the GRIPOBJLIMIT. This variable controls how many objects will display grips within a selection. If your selection exceeds the amount then no grips will appear. Default is 100 objects. Increase the amount and try again. You may experience lag if this is substantially increased especially if you have Enable grips within blocks checked.

Do you really want to do this?

Issue: I'm getting a message asking me, "Do you really want to do this?"

I stumbled upon this many moons ago. This is one fix I know of. Doesn't always do the trick so give it a try and hope for the best.

The issue I found was my Associative Hatch was using an Xreference Object as my boundary.

I used the Pick Points function in the Boundary Hatch command to create my hatching. I started to see this message shortly thereafter and sometimes after I've closed and reopened my drawing.

My Attributes are Missing

Issue: My attribute text in my title block is not shown. My Layer is Thawed and On. What gives?

Your attributes may be turned off. To return to default use this command.

Command: ATTDISP
Enter attribute visibility setting [Normal/ON/OFF] : N

Normal is default. Invisible attributes are not shown whilst others are.
Many Land Desktop users change this to ON so the profile attributes appear. What they forget is that they should use Normal to change it back, not OFF.

My Underscores are Missing from my Menus

Issue: Your Menu Bar or Osnap Menu doesn't have underscores under key letters.

Windows XP:

- Open the Control Panel

- Open Display

- Click Appearance Tab

- Press the Effects... Button

- Uncheck "Hide underlined...."

- Press OK Button

The underscores should appear instantly.

This post goes hand in hand with my previous post called http://autocad-for-civils.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-speed-up-working-with-osnaps.html

How to speed up working with OSnaps

What if I told you that when I work with Osnaps I never see the Osnap Menu? Ahh... Ooo... I don't mean use Toolbars. That would require screen real estate that I'm not willing to give up.


This menu can be accessed a few ways. (See Image -->)

- Middle Button down
- If your middle button is "Pan" then Shift+Right Click
(This function is controlled by the variable MBUTTONPAN)


Focus on the Underscore under Each Osnap.


Work flow...
- Draw a Line
- Bring up the Osnap Menu
(If you remember your Key Letter then just key it in. No menu clicking necessary.)
- Press E for Endpoint
Continue as usual.

If you don't see the underscores in this menu then see my next blog post to change a windows setting.

I hope this speeds you up. Happy Cading...

Open a drawing Read Only

Ever wanted to open a drawing Read-Only without changing the file properties?

Screen Capture for Documentation of Standards

Every day I seem to find myself creating tutorials or writing training material. I add screen shots in every document I write. Users will become accustom to it quickly. Let's be honest, it's tough enough to get people to read the simplest of emails.

My Old Method of Screen Capturing:
I used to use PrintScreen button and paste into MS Paint to make edits. Capturing Menus required capturing the entire desktop. If you used Alt+PrtScn to capture just the active program window the menu would disappear. I was sick and tired of cropping Menus so I did what every Good CAD Manager does and searched for a better cost effective solution.

I found SnagIT here: http://www.techsmith.com/
The price of $39.95 is unbelievable. (08/28/07)

It does Menus in a snap. Not only does SnagIT capture virtually anything on your screen in hundreds of methods it also comes with an Excellent Editor. I seem to learn more and more each day I use it. Techsmith created a video series called "SnagIT 24 in 24" to help any user achieve their goal.

My ROI was accomplished on my 1st project. I had to update my CAD Standards. So I scrapped every screen shot and completed it using SnagIT.

They give you a 30 day trial period. If you do screen captures at all as apart of your job this tool is a must have. No I'm not getting kick backs from Techsmith. I just know a good product when I see it.

Error: Unable to write data to locked layer: ???

Do you get this error when opening a drawing file in Land Desktop?
Background Info:

A block named "ADCADD_ZZ" gets inserted by LDT into the 1st layout tab. This block includes information about the name of the project (database) that the drawing is attached to and the drawing setup information.

Solution:

- Change the "ADCADD_ZZ" block layer to Zero (0) and/or unlock it's layer.

- Since you can't select the object with a mouse you have to use something like Quick Select to grab it to change its layer.

How to repeat this error:
- Create a new file using Land Enabled Map.
- Lock the current layer then save & close.
- Open the same drawing using LDT and you'll get a message box with the Unable to... error.

AutoCAD Licensing Issue with LDT & Civil 3D

This post is more venting than knowledge passing. Sorry about that. Maybe you'll come across this prior to asking for new license files from your Autodesk Reseller. This is my story as I write this...

I contacted my Reseller for new license files for 2008 Land Desktop, Civil Design, Survey, Raster Design, & Civil 3D (C3D). I quickly learned Autodesk changed the packages from 2007 to 2008. They now give you the LDT package free and bundled with Civil 3D.

Here's my situation. I have 24 Civil 3D and 18 LDT licenses. Why, long story. Here I'm sitting with 2 icons on my desktop, C3D & LDT. The first 24 users who need LDT open AutoCAD using the C3D icon then access LDT through a Workspace. The next 18 have to use the LDT icon (normal procedure) or they will receive a lovely License Error. This is obviously a problem. I suppose I understand where Autodesk is coming from. If they give me 42 LDT licenses and 24 C3D licenses then I will actually be able to use 66 LDT instances. I'm forced to change my user's habits before we begin the great transformation to C3D.

Here's my solution. May not be the best, but it is one without confusing 42+ people.
- Configure both LDT & C3D installs with all customization the same regarding LDT.
- Choose 24 of my top power users and install only Civil 3D on their work stations. Maybe they'll start exploring and learn something new to boost performance.
- The rest of them get LDT installed.

This is an administrative nightmare but one I will have to deal with till we upgrade all LDT licenses to C3D. If you have to deal with dispersed license servers like myself this is even a bigger deal. How many of which where, Hmmm..., What if...

Good Luck to all who are making the switch to Civil 3D. The good thing is that we're not alone!