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.

Open a drawing Read Only

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

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.

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"

Viewport Conflict

1) Scenario: You have two viewports ontop of eachother and you can't get into one or the other. Use Ctrl+R as a toggle into any viewport within current Layout tab.

Here's a list of a few must know setvars

1) Missing dialog boxes use: FILEDIA - Set to (1)

2) Getting a prompt About to Regen - Proceed?: REGENAUTO - Set to ON

3) AutoCAD point display: PDMODE - This varies based on how you wish them to be displayed. Use DDPTYPE to change the display using a dialog box. We "use AutoCAD POINT for Marker" for our AECC_POINT objects. This allows us to control their display without changing the master dwg where the points are located.

4) Attribute display: ATTDISP Enter attribute visibility setting [Normal/ON/OFF]: - Set to Normal if they're not displaying, this is default. Set to ON to view invisible attributes. (Use ON to see LDT Profile tag in the lower left corner of your grid). I haven't found a reason for OFF.

5) Middle button to Pan or Osnap: MBUTTONPAN - Set to (0) for Osnaps or (1) for Pan.

6) Change your pick box size: PICKBOX - Set to desired size. Typically around (5).

7) Change your Cursor X,Y vector length: CURSORSIZE - Set to (100) for standard length. Set to a lower # for shorter vectors.