Comments on: Lazy AutoCAD Drafting Tips

By: Murray Clack

Murray Clack — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:30:56 +0000

1. When using the ROTATE command (Or using grips to rotate), you can quickly rotate objects 90, 180, or 270 degrees by entering N, W, or S (ie. North, West, or South) instead of inputting the numbers.2. To select a previous selection set complete with grips active, enter the command PSELECT and enter P for Previous (entering L will get the last object created with grips active)3. If you don’t want to use an Aligned Dimension, start the DIMLINEAR command, pick your two origin points, enter R for rotated, and enter/pick the desired angle for your dimension line4. If you are curious about what the RGB values of basic AutoCAD colors are, enter the command COLOR, and then simply hover your cursor over the desired and you will see the RGB value beside the AutoCAD color number

By: meloncholia

meloncholia — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:01:39 +0000

Quickest way to 3d-orbit: just hold shift while "panning" with the third mouse button.

By: CadKicks.com

CadKicks.com — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:19:08 +0000

Lazy AutoCAD Drafting Tips …

You’ve been kicked (a good thing) – Trackback from CadKicks.com…

By: CAD1

CAD1 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:56:26 +0000

How about holding ‘shift’ when moving objects? It overrides the f8 ‘ortho’ toggle.
or how about holding ‘shift’ when selecting objects? It overrides the ‘add/remove’ toggle.

or when asked for ‘second point’ (eg when moving): type in a number with the mouse moving along the correct axis and the selection is moved that far towards the mouse. No need for 0,1500,0 or whatever.

i have more im sure

By: KLYPH

KLYPH — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:32:29 +0000

Har!s, Thanks for your tip #7. For years I’ve wondered why certain characters were underlined. Now I know. And I will use your tip. Again, thanks -KLYPH

By: KLYPH

KLYPH — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:35:09 +0000

Here is more about “Recent Command”. The following is in our Office AutoCAD Manual:

A common setting for the right-click is for the RECENT INPUT (recent commands) to be available. BUT, I prefer for the right-click to immediately repeat the last command.
So, I set it so that if I hold down the right-click for more than 250 milliseconds, I get the SHORT CUT MENU, which has RECENT INPUT.

Another way for when I want the recent commands, I merely have to right-click on the command line. The Recent Commands will one of the options. (This is a shorter list than the RECENT INPUT).
From HyperPics: Tips and Tricks: “Right-click on the Command Line for a Shortcut Menu”:

Still another way, use the UP & DOWN Arrows to find the command to repeat, then press ENTER.
From Ellen Finkelstein, AutoCAD Tips: “Repeat previous commands”

You may have noticed that we give credit to the sources of our tips. Many are from your Lazy Drafter. Thanks.
Read Ya Daily -KLYPH

By: har!s

har!s — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:32:30 +0000

1. Type in a couple of charecters from the required command and use TAB button to locate the full command.

2. Create command sequences for simple but frequently used activities and keep it inside the acaddoc.lsp file or create a macro for that purpose.

3. Use ‘Add’ or ‘Remove’ option to add or remove objects while working with selection sets.

4. To use a specific object snap, type in first three charecters (like END, PER, CEN etc.)

5. Use grips to quickly access modification tools.

6. Double click the wheel button for quick zoom extents.

7. Use ALT underlined charecter, then again type underlined charecter to access commands from menus in case you don’t remember the command name (eg. ALT FP) for plot.

8. Finally my personal suggestion. Forget toolbars completely. Remove all of them from the drawing area. By doing so, not only you save a lot of drawing space, but also become much faster in drafting (Ofcouse it takes a few days or weeks).

There are so many ‘unforgettable’ tips and tricks to make our drafting easier. But unfortunately I don’t ‘remember’ them all ;-)