Lazy System Variable: XREFNOTIFY

One of the most powerful features of AutoCAD is the ability for multiple people to work concurrently a project. A typical way this is done is by using XREFs. One person can be working on details, while another is working on the base map, while another is working on the preliminary design, and so on. Read more »

Lazy System Variable: OSNAPZ

I learned about the system variable OSNAPZ from Lynn Allen’s Circles and Lines blog.

When snapping to 3D points AutoCAD will grab the x, y, and z. However there are times when you don’t want it to grab the z value. To do this, type OSNAPZ on the command line and set it to 1. Read more »

Lazy System Variables: LTSCALE, PSLTSCALE, & MSLTSCALE

There are three linetype settings to consider when setting up your drawings: LTSCALE, PSLTSCALE, & MSLTSCALE. Read more »

Lazy System Variable: EDGEMODE

Have you ever tried to extend an object to an edge only to find out that it is not a boundary edge? Or maybe you, like I have wished it was possible to trim along an invisible edge. The system variable EDGEMODE does just that. Read more »

Automatic Scaling of Blocks, Images or XREFs

When Autodesk released AutoCAD 2007 I noticed that when I inserted a block or XREF it would sometimes scale up or down in a way I didn’t expect. After a little digging in the help file I found these system variables: INSUNITS, INSUNITSDEFSOURCE, & INSUNITSDEFTARGET. Read more »

Annotation Settings in AutoCAD 2008

Recently I made some recommendations for setting system variables relating to annotative objects in our standard drawing template (for AutoCAD 2008). Here they are with an explanation as to why. Read more »

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