Windows Explorer Running Slow

One reason windows explorer may be running slow is Digital Signatures are enabled. It is important to shut this off if you are using any WAN accelerator such as Riverbed appliances.

I run this registry edit when my users login to ensure it's off.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\Autodesk Digital Signatures]
"IconOverlayEnabled"=dword:00000000

If you copy the above 3 lines into a text file with the extension .reg you can manually run it by double clicking the file. It will prompt you if you want to add the information to the registry.

Disclaimer: Working with the registry should be done with caution. Make a backup prior to making changes.

I've only tested this on AutoCAD 2008 Land Desktop and Civil 3D installations. I've never had to mess with it again.

Turn off node osnap snapping to mtext objects

Command: osnapnodelegacy
Enter new value for OSNAPNODELEGACY <0>: 1
Set to 1 to ignore Text corners.
This setting makes working with Topography Shots easier.

Comparing Drawing Differences Using Autodesk Design Review 2009

When working on commercial development projects one thing is for certain, site layouts change. I had the daunting task of creating an exhibit that shows the difference between the 1st site layout vs. the final layout. I started out by using xref overlays and changing colors to see any discrepancies. After panning around looking for an hour I knew there had to be a better way.

That better way is Autodesk Design Review 2009. It's Free. You don't have to register. There's a link on the top of the form to skip it.

Here are the steps to compare two drawings (dwg):
- Open the 1st drawing.

- Plot to a dwf file using "DWF6ePlot.pc3" driver.
(If you don't have it in your plotter list then search for it under the directory C:\Documents and Settings\"Your Login User Name"\. You will need to copy the .pc3 file into your plotter directory. AutoCAD Menu: File > Plotter Manager... will open it in windows explorer.)

- Use a logical name like "OriginalSiteLayout.dwf"

- Repeat for the 2nd drawing.
- Use a logical name like "FinalSiteLayout.dwf"

Here's the kicker! You must use the same plot area with the same pen file. Using window helps.
Tip: Use the thinnest pens you have. You'll get better results.

- Open the 1st dwf file in Design Review.
- Menu: Tools > Compare...
- Press Browse... and select the 2nd dwf file.
- Press Options (Bottom Left Corner) for Color options. Note colors or change them if desired.
- Press OK then OK once more.
Note that you have now made a change to the 1st dwf file opened. Make a backup prior if you wish or SaveAs at this point.

I used this comparison file to quickly identify the areas that changed. I still used the Xref overlay for plotting purposes but at least this gave me an idea of exactly where to look.

I inserted the comparison dwf file in my drawing but it didn't show the compared geometry (2nd dwg file). If you know how to do that feel free to comment. I will update this post if I find a solution. I suppose you can underlay both the 1st and 2nd dwf file but you wouldn't see the color comparison.

Hope this saves you some time!

Why can't Autodesk make AutoCAD a stable product?

I don’t have the answer to this question. I just have an opinion.

I received a comment to my Fix broken hatch patterns post.
Why can't Autodesk make a stable product? – vanilla ice

Short answer, I’m not sure the AutoCAD team can ever perfect it. It’s constantly evolving. They build the platform. Verticals build upon it. Somewhere along the lines there are going to be issues. Check out their product line. Quite daunting.

Here are my 2 cents. I've been using AutoCAD since r12 so I know what a stable product looks, acts, and feels like. Major bugs get introduced when overhauls to the architecture of the software are made and of course new features. R13 anyone? R14 got it right. Note the 2 year trend. Everyone adopted the philosophy "Never upgrade to an odd release."

To Autodesk’s defense, they can’t possibly test new features in every possible scenario. Anyone who has written a simple LISP routine can attest. Autodesk’s “1 release every year” has a lot to do with the plethora of bug issues. Releasing a new version every year is one way to justify the cost of subscription. If they don't add new features then it’s tough to justify. Many people have surveyed this subject. I agree with the majority that Autodesk shouldn't release every year. I prefer a solid product release. Take Civil 3D for a prime example. 2004 was the first public release and it took them till Service Pack 3 for 2007 to get it stable. Ok, 2004 & 2005 was just to get it into the people’s hands to help guide it and give input. 2006 and 2007 were prime time! 2 years plus service packs. Thank you, Autodesk for getting it stable and running. Good riddance to Land Desktop!

I’m going to agree that Autodesk needs to focus on ironing out new features before a major release. 2006 CUI was horrific. It took service packs and a major release to fix that one. Some would argue it’s still not fixed.

What can you do to make Autodesk products better?
- AUGI forums. It’s also where you can get free support.
- Sending those error reports when you crash. I said when not if.
- Autodesk forums
- Communicate with your Autodesk reseller
- Cadalyst.com

Thanks for reading my 2 cents. Feel free to comment.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Appended Dec. 13, 2008
I'm going to add one thing to Autodesk's defense. Service pack 1 typically resolves most of the issues presented by new features. Mostly... Reading Bug Watch by Cadalyst opens your eyes to bugs you may never run into.

My intention with this post is to let people, who are the culprits, know that software at this magnitude is inevitably going to have bugs. I agree, old bugs are not easily forgivable as new ones.

AutoCAD-IntelliCAD's response drives home the point I made above. Autodesk products should be as solid as possible prior to a release especially for the cost. I have high expectations from Autodesk to deliver such a product. AutoCAD is a tool that has paid my bills for years and possibly even yours.

In closing I would say to give software companies a little longer of a leash than you would want or should. They're human beings with souls, hopefully all of them have one. Mistakes happen. The massive level of contributions from people like you and me help make products better with each release. Without our voice they don't know what we want or need.

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.

Windows 7:  http://superuser.com/questions/16952/how-to-enable-underscore-shortcut-mnemonics-for-menu-items

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!

Fix broken hatch patterns

This is a classic issue and they're many people who don't know about or seem to forget "SNAPBASE".

Issue: Your hatch is broken into segments. Below is an example of the Gravel pattern. The further your hatch objects are from 0,0 the worse it gets.

Solution:
1) Type "SNAPBASE"
2) Pick a point near your proposed hatch area.
3) If your hatch pattern exists all you have to do is type "HE" for "HatchEdit" and press OK. Double clicking a hatch object also opens the Edit Hatch dialog.
OR
3) Create a new hatch object.

IMPORTANT STEP!!! Reset snapbase back to defaults.
4) Type "SNAPBASE"
5) Type "0,0" (Return to Default)


Updated for AutoCAD 2008 on 12/16/08:
The above workaround doesn't always work.
So here's round 2:
- Create a hatch boundary polyline.
- Wblock, copy clip into a new blank drawing around 0,0,0.
- Hatch as usual.
- Wblock, copy clip into your original drawing around 0,0,0. Remember to include the hatch boundary in your selection. You'll need it to move your hatching into position.
- Finally move it into place.

If you have a faster work around please reply. I will copy your tip into the main post so people can get the answer and return to work.

Quick select is not permitted in perspective view

I grew some grey hairs on this one. Consider this post as my forwarding of information from this AUGI forum post. Mike.Perry posted this fix on July 22, 2004. Scroll down to his last response for the fix.

This also fixed my problem where I couldn't select objects to edit. Also if I regen my drawing they would disappear. I was ready to block my line work into a fresh new drawing file.

I believe you may view this post as a guest. http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=6039

If you're not a member of AUGI you should be. There's a wealth of info here. Here's the link: http://www.augi.com/join/application.asp

Snippet:
Command: dview

Select objects or <>: Press Enter

Enter option[CAmera/TArget/Distance/POints/PAn/Zoom/TWist/CLip/Hide/Off/Undo]: PO

Specify target point <17741.51,>: 0,0,0

Specify camera point <17741.51,>: 0,0,1

Enter option[CAmera/TArget/Distance/POints/PAn/Zoom/TWist/CLip/Hide/Off/Undo]: Press Enter to Exit

Plot Stamp switch from Rtext with Diesel Code to Text with Fields

All of my Title Blocks contained a Plot Stamp using the Rtext object with diesel code. I switched and now use a Text object with Fields.

I was sifting through the vast Field object options and found a field that will only update after I plot. If you want this option it is in the PLOT category and called PLOTDATE in the field names list.

This behavior isn't like the Rtext where it updates after every Regen. I got a tip from my buddy's at CAD Masters on how to use my diesel code inside fields. This is in the OTHER category and called DIESEL EXPRESSION in the field names list. Eueka! Same flavor different smell.

As a CAD Manager you must upgrade your systems and processes as new releases offer better solutions. This move for me was my 1st step towards using fields in general. This post is a bit late, but hey, better late then never.

Wait a minute. Need some code? Here you go.Date: $(edtime,0,mon dd"," yyyy)
Time: $(edtime,0,h:mmam/pm)
Dwg Name: I used the DOCUMENT > FILENAME field.

See my response below to get diesel and autolisp syntax for File Name and Location.

Recover drawing data when all seems lost

This is a continuance to my previous post regarding "AutoCAD Automatic Save Feature".

Recovering Drawing Data 101... (AutoCAD 2005 Viewpoint)
1) If you press YES to save changes after a fatal error (assuming it gave you the chance) then a file is created with a "{file name}_recover.dwg" in the same directory as your closed file. Open a new AutoCAD session and run a recover (File>Drawing Utilities>Recover) on the new file. If it's successful REMEMBER to Save As on top of the old file and delete the "_recover.dwg" file. Don't work in the recovered drawing file.

If you can't recover your drawing then move onto # 2.

2) Rename your .bak file to "temp.dwg" and see if that is corrupted too. If that's gone then move onto # 3.

3) Go to your local AutoSave directory. Look for the "{file name}.sv$" file Refer to my previous post "AutoCAD Automatic Save Feature" to recover from that.

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS you can open a New Blank drawing and Insert the corrupted file as a block. If this works you'll only get items in Model Space. Paper Space is kyboshed.

Why are my paper space objects white?

Do you have a situation where all your objects in paper space (layout tab) are white? Your objects are on layers with different colors and they're all bylayer. The problem lies within your current page setup.

• Set your layout tab current. Right Click on the tab itself and press Page Setup Manager...

• Press Modify

• Uncheck "Display plot styles"

Civil 3D Synopsis

I took my first Civil 3D (C3D) training class a few months ago. Let me tell you that it is going to be difficult to change someone’s mindset from LDT to C3D’s new procedures if they're stuck in their ways. Do you know anyone who screams, “Bring back R14 & Softdesk 8!” It’s a paradigm shift. Everything is object based. This allows for real-time updates. C3D 2007 service pack 3 is the only version worth working with. I haven't worked with 2008 but will be soon. The big issue I still see is Vault. It’s the replacement for Data Shortcuts. Vault is the current method of sharing database information from one drawing to another. No more common database. All “database” work is stored in the drawing which it was created in. For example if someone drops 200 points and creates a surface EG in a drawing called EG-Surface.dwg then you would check the 200 points, EG surface, and the dwg file into a vault so that any other drawings needing to use them will reference through vault. There are IT related issues with Vault that I’m not too savvy with. It deals with SQL Servers, # of users, etc. Not to mention file backup systems.

Points are going to send some surveyors over the edge. However if they’re taught how to protect their points then they shouldn’t fuss too much about that. The thing I don’t like about points is that if I’m in a “Plan” drawing where I’m doing grading design and I check out the 200 points into my current drawing so that I may reference them then they’re actually inserted into my drawing. If I delete any of them and they weren’t protected then they are gone from vault. Picture this. I’ve xrefed my topo into my drawing that shows points then I check the points out so now I have duplicate points displayed. There is a point on top of the xref point. It’s just plain weird. Can you tell I’m the one who’s trying to cope with grasping these concepts? Locking your points is my main point.

Styles were a big topic because everything displayed is based on a style. It will take someone at each company a great deal of time to setup per their company standards. Styles are stored in a .dwt (drawing template) file and can be accessed through the prospector. One method to tackle styles is to teach most of your CAD staff how to created and manipulate styles so they will be self sufficient. If you are 100% standardized in development of plans and layout then someone could create most of them for staff to use without any hassle. It will be a virtual impossibility to create a style for every single use. Designers are going to want to create styles to view design. I’m sure each one will have their own flare to debug designs.

Figuring out the bits and pieces is something that is going to have to be done when companies start attempting to use C3D as their source for design and production.

There was more we covered that I don't have the energy to post. What I can say is that training is immanent.

I'm not going to blog too much about Civil 3D until we roll out pilot projects or convert completely.

A great resource for all Civil 3D needs is http://www.civil3d.com. I have posted some Civil 3D bloggers site on the right pane under Other Bloggers.

Thanks for reading!

Open explorer in the current open drawing directory

This simple routine has saved me so much time. I work with explorer primarily to navigate through projects. However, I don't use it to open drawings. I work in LDT and we should all know its limitations by now when it comes to associating projects properly.

(defun c:expl () ;;Change "expl" to any command you wish for a macro
(startapp "explorer" (getvar "dwgprefix"))
(princ)
)

Copy the 4 lines above to a ASCII file with an extension of ".lsp". Loading is simple with the "appload" command. Add it to your start up suite and you're good to go!