Tutorials

This section of the site is here to reiterate some of the things we've learned at our meetings. The information is arranged by topic.

AutoCAD Customization

Our series on customization covers ways to configure AutoCAD and to use several features of it to increase productivity.

It's possible to automate AutoCAD commands so that one customized command issues several regular commands, saving the user many seconds, or even minutes, compared to manually using regular commands.

Three ways of using automation are using scripts, creating menus or toolbars, and using AutoLISP.

Scripting

Scripting is the easiest way to issue a string of commands to the AutoCAD command line. Users can call an external script file to run commands, but scripts don't allow them to input anything during the commands.

Menus & Toolbars

Menus and toolbars provide interfaces inside of AutoCAD for the user in the form of menu items and toolbar buttons. Unlike scripts, menus and toolbars can pause for user input, making them much more powerful. AutoLISP can also be used in menus.

Basic AutoLISP

AutoLISP was the first language built into AutoCAD for programming and is tailored to easily create customization without the learning curve of other languages. In this basics tutorial, AutoLISP is introduced as a way to automate commands like scripts and menus, but ventures a little farther than you can go with those.

Selection Shortcuts

This page has a quick list of some of the ways you can select objects via commands, which are very useful when automating commands, not to mention when using AutoCAD the old fashioned way.

An example is the Previous selection option which selects all objects that were selected in the previous command.

Dynamic Blocks Tutorial

Have fun learning all about how to make your blocks dynamic with the dynamic blocks tutorial mascot Smilie! It's a DWG file tutorial with pictures so you can practice while you're learning.

Past Presentations

Here are some files that form the basis for some past presentations. Click to download them.

August 2006 Plotting - This zip file contains a DWG file & images that explain PC3, CTB & STB files, plotting thickness, and named plot setups.

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