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AutoCAD

AUGIWorld May 2018 Issue is Available Now

How to implement new Autodesk releases is one of the main articles in the new AUGIWorld May 2018 issue.

Download it now:

AUGIWorld May 2018 Issue

Good luck on all your projects!

Kevin

Technology is Liberating the Role of the Designer

Designers are finding more time to be creative as computers are doing all the repetitive work for them.

Check out this great article in the newsletter Redshift from Autodesk:

Autodesk newsletter Redshift Article

-Kevin

AutoCAD Defpoints

AutoCAD Defpoints Tutorial

What are Defpoints in AutoCAD, and why is there a Defpoints layer in my AutoCAD drawing file?

Defpoints, or Definition Points are point objects that are created when you select two origin points as you place a dimension in your drawing. See the AutoCAD 2018 screen capture below:

Defpoints screen capture

The two yellow points you see are the first and second points you picked to locate the dimension in your drawing. These points are used by AutoCAD when you are placing “Associative” dimensions in your drawing. Associative dimensions are a setting in AutoCAD that when turned on, will let you stretch, or scale an object, and the dimension text will be updated to the new size. An example is if I stretch a wall length from 10′-0″ to 15′-0″, the dimension text will now read 15′-0″ showing the new true length. So your dimensions are “associated” to the objects they are placed on. It is a “best practice” to always leave your associative dimensions setting turned on. It is also a “best practice” to create a separate layer for all your dimensions, I have always used a short name version and called my dimension layer “Dims”.

You may have noticed when you start a drawing from scratch that there is only 1 layer created, layer “0”. The Defpoints layer is not created until you place your first dimension in the drawing. AutoCAD creates the Defpoints layer automatically when the first dimension is placed. The dimension objects, dimension line, extension lines, ticks/arrows, and dimension text will all go on the current layer. But the defpoints points themselves will go on the newly created layer called Defpoints. The “Defpoints” layer has special properties, it is a “no plot” layer, so you can see the defpoints on your CAD drawing screen, but they will never plot. The color of the defpoints layer is determined by the current layer that you placed the dimension on. Once the defpoints layer is created by placing your first dimension, it cannot be deleted from your drawing file.

You can set the Defpoints layer current and draw, but none of the objects on the defpoints will plot/print.

TIP: Back in the day, we used to set the Defpoints layer current when we wanted to place design notes on the drawing that we didn’t want to show up on the prints. You can still use the defpoints layer for this in all the versions of AutoCAD from AutoCAD 2018 on back. In the later versions of AutoCAD you can now create any layer and set it to “No Plot” to place anything in a drawing that you don’t want printed.

I hope this post on AutoCAD Defpoints was helpful. The two points “defpoints” at the origins of all AutoCAD dimensions, and the Defpoints layer have always been kind of a mystery. I hope this AutoCAD tutorial was helpful. Please send me a note if you have any questions.

Click here to email Kevin a note.

-Kevin

CAD in the Cloud- Market Trends

If you are considering using the Cloud for your CAD projects, this article from Business Advantage and Jon Peddie Research will be a must read!

Click on the link below to take you to the article:

CAD in the Cloud – Market Trends 2017

Good luck in all your CAD projects!

Kevin
ArchBlocks.com

AutoCAD Electrical Symbol Blocks

Hello CAD Designers!

Be sure to check out one of our top selling CAD symbol libraries, the ArchBlocks.com Electrical Library.

Click on the link below;

-See Electrical Library-

Please send me an email if you have any questions.

Good luck on all your projects!

Kevin
Founder, ArchBlocks.com

AUGI World July 2017 Issue Available

The newest issue of AUGI World is now available online.

AugiWorld logo

Click on the link below:
https://www.augi.com/augiworld/issue/july-2017

Happy Holidays 2016
Holiday card with polar bear sitting down holding a present. Happy Holidays sign on candy cane with snow on top. Text says: "Thank you for a wonderful 2016! ArchBlocks.com is looking forward to a great 2017!"

Thank you to all our great customers in 2016!

Mid Century Modern CAD symbols.

Check out the Mid Century Modern CAD symbols on the ArchBlocks website

Mid Century Modern CAD symbols blocks.

Mid Century Modern CAD symbols on ArchBlocks.com
AutoCAD Holidays 2015

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays, and a Great New Year 2016!

AUGI World Online Edition Released – April 2015 Issue

The new AUGI World online edition is now available. Reviews on Autodesk 2016 versions of AutoCAD, Revit, AutoCAD Architecture, Inventor, and Civil 3D.

Just click on the link below;

https://www.augi.com/augiworld/april-2015

 

Have a great day!

Kevin

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