LT Unlimited

Restore Dimension Association

A while back, I posted a video tip on the benefits of associative dimensioning in AutoCAD LT -- where if you modify a dimensioned object, the dimension updates.

But what if, for whatever reason, your dimension loses its association? You can either recreate the dimension, or you can use the command DIMREASSOCIATE to fix it.

This is another easier-done-than-said tip, so here's a video to show you how it works. But my microphone is broken today, so it's the silent-film type.

I recorded it in an HD resolution, so it's too wide to put on the blog.

YouTube (note: watch in HD mode for best view)

Non-YouTube: Download dimreassociate.mp4 (2015.5K)

Autodesk in the news

Two media features on Autodesk have run in the last two weeks -- one short one on sustainability and a much longer show covering a variety of topics.

First, the award-winning broadcaster Dave Graveline, host of the technology talk show “Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline,” interviewed Autodesk leaders and customers at the Autodesk Gallery at One Market. He covered plenty of topics in the 3-hour show -- you can see pictures from the recording and listen to the show here (segmented by interviewee for your listening convenience). A lot of Autodeskers and customers were able to participate, talking about education, gaming software, sustainability, and more.

Also, CNBC included at short (1-minute) segment on Autodesk's commitment to sustainability on its "People, Planet, and Profit" show.

Watch the clip

Customize Ribbon Panel Dialog Box Launcher

Ahh, vacation. It was nice while it lasted, but now Monday's here again and it's time to get back to work. Fortunately, I have a very fun tip to get things kick-started again.

On the LT 2010 ribbon, you may have noticed that some panels have a small arrow in the lower right-hand corner of their title bar.

This is the Panel Dialog Box Launcher, and its purpose is to...wait for it...launch dialog boxes. (Don't you love it when names make sense?) On this panel, it launches the Dimension Style Manager. Other panels launch the External References manager, or the Text Style manager...whatever makes sense for that panel.

However, not all panels have a dialog box attached by default. And maybe you'd rather change some of the built-in associations. With the CUI Editor, you can easily attach any command you'd like to a panel's dialog box launcher.

To do this, navigate to the panel's node in the CUI Editor. First, let's look at the Dimensions panel, which we saw above already has a command associated with the dialog box launcher.
If I wanted to change the associated command, I could just drag-and-drop a new command from the command list onto the launcher item. Instead, though, let's go to the Layers panel, which by default doesn't have a dialog box launcher.

Here's what it looks like on-screen:

And in the CUI:

Notice there's no associated command under "Advanced" on the right-hand side. Let's fix that. I'm just going to drag-and-drop the Layer Properties Manager from the command list onto the Panel Dialog Box Launcher.

Then the "Advanced" section is no longer blank...

...and after I say OK, the panel now shows the arrow to launch the Layer Properties Manager.

If you change your mind, you can delete your custom launch command by going back to the panel node in the CUI editor, right-clicking on the Dialog Box Launcher, and selecting "Remove Command".

Set By Layer

An overlooked command from AutoCAD LT 2008 is Set By Layer. In LT 2010, you'll find it on the Modify panel of the home tab.

It does just what you think it might -- changes the color, linetype, and lineweight of all selected objects to ByLayer (from whatver it was).

It's a great command, because it makes changing object properties quick and easy -- and once everything's back to ByLayer, you can change the layer color and know that all objects will update.

Even better, it works on blocks too, so that all the objects in the block reflect the layer properties.

There's also a settings option so that you can choose which object properties are modified by Set By Layer.

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This tip will have to last you for a little while -- Autodesk is going on vacation next week, so by extension the blog will be on vacation too. Feel free to come by and browse the archives other good tips, but new content won't return until July 6th. Happy 4th of July to my US readers!

E-Learning available on the AutoCAD Exchange

In our continued effort to help AutoCAD LT users get the information they need to be productive, we've added several e-Learning courses to the AutoCAD Exchange.

Under Online Learning you'll find courses targeted at both AutoCAD LT 2009 and 2010, with lessons on Dynamic Blocks, Annotation Scaling, Tables, and more.

You do have to register to access the content, but don't worry, it's free.