Monday, September 29, 2008

How to be More Efficient at AutoCAD - Part 5

CAD-a-Blog has been running a series called "How to be More Efficient at AutoCAD." Part 5 is going to take a look at using Fields to increase Efficiency and decrease errors.

Part One talks about "double fisted" cadding. I call it Double Fisted because the theory takes advantage of both of the users hands to input commands and data. One hand works the keyboard while the other manipulates the mouse. This way time is saved by eliminating mouse movements across the screen to invoke commands.

Part Two discuses Template Use. Starting a file with a template provides a file that is already set up and ready to use. Users will not have to tale the time to get the file where it needs to be in order to draw. Another time saver.

Part Three looks at referencing files. Referencing files means that users can create a data source that can be used in multiple files. Change the model, or base file, and the sheet files are instantly updated. We also, briefly, discusses referencing OLE objects, sharing data between reports, letters, and drawings.

Part Four demonstrates how Sheet Sets can be used to manage your drawing sets, files, data management and batch plotting.

How to be More Efficient at AutoCAD
- Part 5 -

In part four we introduced Sheet Sets. Sheet Sets can be used to hold and maintain project data. BUT how do users get that data into their files and drawings? Fields.

Autodesk Fields are links to data sources that display that data inside text. If the data is changed, then the field will update inside the text. Fields are used most inside of Title Blocks. They can display Project Names, Drafter Names, Company names, Sheet Numbers, Titles, and so on. There are many preset field values available in Sheet Sets. Sometimes users need more, or more unique data fields than what are provided. Easy enough. If you want the data to be project related just add the property to the Custom Sheet Sets Properties and link your field to it. If you want the field to be in the DWG file, open the file properties and add the appropriate info.

Fields can also read object data and display it. Add the field, and select the object in the file. Any data that can be displayed in a field will be listed. Just pick it. When that specific data of that object changes, the field will be update. This procedure can be useful for bill of materials, or descriptions, etc. Here is an example: Users may need to display the area of an object. Insert a field, select the object and pick the area data. It's that easy. Now change that object and see the field update. No need to change the object, determine the new area, and edit the text. There are at least two chances to make a mistake. Using a field for the area, just change the object's area and you are done. Also note that the user saved two steps. If there are several sets of areas that need changed and displayed then the time saved will add up.

Fields are definitely a big part of the "Less is Less" practice of efficient CAD work.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Categories

AutoDesk (110) autocad (109) AutoCAD 2009 (40) augi (40) efficient (38) news (37) drafting (33) training (33) articles (30) CADaBlog (29) AutoCAD WS (23) Update (23) quick tip (22) video (21) mobile (19) review (19) cad (16) 3D Mouse (15) 3Dconnexion (15) Impression (15) Android (14) AutoCAD 2013 (14) cadalyst (14) me (14) AutoCAD 2010 (13) text (13) off topic (12) survey (12) Apps (11) hotfix (11) tips (11) 3D (10) AU (10) AutoCAD 2011 (10) service pack (10) workstation (10) Autodesk Labs (9) CAD Manager (9) annotation (9) blocks (9) cloud (9) fun (9) inventor (9) HP (8) Review-Product (8) autocad lt (8) videos (8) AutoCAD 2014 (7) Autodesk 360 (7) CUI (7) Windows 8 (7) iOS (7) new (7) IMSI Design (6) cad standards (6) files (6) google (6) infinite skills (6) printers (6) reference (6) ribbon (6) support (6) updates (6) workaround (6) RSS (5) TurboViewer (5) Upgrade (5) data (5) email (5) fields (5) guest post (5) keyboard (5) layers (5) paper space (5) pi (5) pi day (5) quotes (5) rant (5) selection (5) standards (5) styles (5) subscription (5) tech (5) 2D (4) AutoCAD Exchange (4) AutoCAD for Mac (4) Mac (4) Mastering AutoCAD (4) SketchBook (4) TurboCAD (4) UI (4) action recorder (4) dimension (4) driver (4) fills (4) large format printing (4) leaders (4) math (4) mobile workstation (4) salary (4) sheet sets (4) Amazon (3) Apple (3) AutoCAD 2012 (3) AutoCAD 2015 (3) AutoCAD 360 (3) AutoCAD Fundamentals (3) Civil 3D (3) DVD (3) DWF (3) Fusion (3) GIS (3) Kindle Fire (3) Lenovo (3) Microsoft (3) Review-Software (3) Wiley (3) Windows Phone 8 (3) Windows RT (3) annimation (3) announcements (3) autodesk plm (3) book (3) command alias (3) contest (3) filters (3) find (3) hardware (3) history (3) iPad (3) license (3) license software (3) lisp (3) menu browser (3) properties (3) purge (3) quick view (3) saas (3) tables (3) toolbars (3) weekend rant (3) what not to CAD (3) what not to do (3) #CADaBlogDVD2013 (2) 3D Modeling (2) 3ds Max (2) AutoCAD LT 2013 (2) AutoCAD LT for Mac (2) AutoCAD MAC (2) Autodesk. (2) BIM (2) CAD Services (2) CADSpeed (2) DWG (2) DXF (2) Designjet (2) Error (2) FAIL (2) Facecast (2) Freestyle (2) Fusion for Mac (2) George Omura (2) Mac OS (2) Mountain Lion (2) Novedge (2) Recomend (2) Review-Book (2) Revit LT (2) SpaceMouse Pro (2) Sybex (2) Tablet (2) Thinkstation (2) TurboReview (2) TurboViewer X (2) What Not To Do In AutoCAD (2) What's New (2) Windows (2) array (2) as-builts (2) beta (2) blog (2) circles (2) civil (2) civil design (2) collaboration (2) color (2) command line (2) commands (2) computer (2) copy (2) design (2) design review (2) dim style (2) download (2) eBook (2) eTransmit (2) file naming (2) free (2) geek stuff (2) grid (2) hotnews (2) interview (2) jobs (2) knowledge base (2) limits (2) look back (2) mouse (2) pallets (2) pgp (2) plotting (2) posts (2) press release (2) pricing (2) purchase (2) redlines (2) reference files (2) rental plans (2) shortcuts (2) sketchup (2) status bar (2) technology preview (2) tool pallet (2) tooltips (2) tv (2) units (2) video editing (2) viewer (2) webinar (2) 123D (1) 123D Catch (1) 123D Create (1) 123D Make (1) 2014 (1) 2015 (1) 3d Printing (1) ACAD/Medre.A (1) ADR (1) AEC (1) AUGI World (1) Account (1) Adobe (1) Apps Tab (1) AutoCAD 2016 (1) AutoCAD Error (1) AutoCAD LT 2012 (1) AutoCAD LT 2014 (1) AutoCAD LT 2015 (1) AutoCAD Mechanical (1) AutoCAD Revit Suite (1) Autodesk Account (1) Autodesk BIM 360 (1) Autodesk Instant (1) Autodesk PLM 360 (1) Autodesk ReCap (1) Award (1) CADDork (1) CADO (1) CTB (1) CadMouse (1) Camtasia (1) Communication Center (1) Corel (1) DWFx (1) Dassault Systemes (1) Death Star (1) Dell (1) Design Feed (1) Design Suites (1) DesignCAD (1) DoubleCAD (1) Duratec (1) E32 (1) ESET (1) ESRI (1) EliteBook (1) Epson (1) Evernote (1) Exchange Apps (1) FTP (1) ForceEffect (1) Free Form (1) Fusion 360 (1) GIS Day (1) GeoViewer (1) Geographic Information Systems (1) Geographic Location (1) Google Chromebook Pixel (1) Google Earth (1) Google Earth Pro (1) HP Designjet T2300 eMFP (1) HP EliteBook (1) HP EliteBook 8570w (1) HP Z1 (1) Help (1) Homestyler (1) IT (1) Infocenter (1) Inforbix (1) InfraWorks (1) InfraWorks 360 Pro (1) Infrastructure Modeler (1) Instant (1) Inventor 2013 (1) Inventor 2013 SP1 (1) Inventor LT (1) JPEG 2000 (1) Kickstarter (1) Kindle (1) Language packs (1) Lawsuit (1) Lenovo Thinkstation E32 (1) LizardTech (1) MS Exchange (1) Map 3D (1) Maya (1) MrSID (1) OS (1) OS X (1) Office Suite (1) Orange Juice Studios (1) P-Series (1) PLM (1) Photoshop (1) Pixel (1) Pixlr (1) Pixlr Express (1) Pixlr-o-matic (1) Plant (1) PogoPlug (1) Point Cloud (1) Previous (1) Project Artoo (1) Project Geppetto (1) Project Snap (1) R&D (1) Red Dot Award (1) Review-Service (1) Revit (1) Revit LT 2013 (1) Rhino (1) SDK (1) SMS (1) Secureload (1) Socialcam (1) Softimage (1) Solid Edge (1) SolidWorks (1) SpaceMouse Wireless (1) SpaceNavigator (1) Star Wars (1) SureColor (1) T-Series (1) TechSmith (1) The Future (1) Thinkstation E32 (1) Touch Screen (1) Trimble (1) TurboSite (1) TurboSite Reader (1) TurboViewer Pro (1) Unreconciled Layers (1) VBA (1) VOIP (1) Vault (1) Vault 2012 (1) Vela Systems (1) Visualization (1) WebOS (1) Welcome Screen (1) Windows Vista (1) Windows XP (1) Z1 (1) acad.doc (1) acad.lsp (1) acaddoc.lsp (1) acquisition (1) advice (1) aerial (1) all-in-one (1) angles (1) archive (1) arcs (1) author (1) autocad 2012. autocad lt 2012 (1) autocad. autocad for mac (1) autodesk logo (1) background (1) break (1) burrito (1) business (1) celebrate (1) check (1) checklist (1) chrome (1) chrome os (1) chromebook (1) climate (1) coming soon (1) communicate (1) constraints (1) construction (1) copier (1) crowd funding (1) customize (1) deadlines (1) design process (1) designer (1) desktop subscription (1) different language (1) draftsight (1) eMFP (1) ePrint (1) employee (1) employer (1) engineer (1) environment (1) event (1) feeds (1) file sharing (1) filepath (1) fix it (1) folders (1) font (1) government fail (1) groups (1) guide (1) hatching (1) imagery (1) initial setup (1) input (1) install (1) intel (1) internet (1) investment (1) isometrics (1) labels (1) layer manager (1) linetype (1) livestream (1) logo (1) macro (1) malware (1) message (1) mice (1) model space (1) modeling (1) multi leaders (1) navigation (1) newsletter (1) notifications (1) offset (1) opinion (1) options (1) overrides status bar (1) parametrics (1) patches (1) pay-as-you-go (1) perpetual license (1) podcast (1) poll (1) polyline (1) prank (1) printer failure (1) printers color (1) project draw (1) project files (1) project workflow (1) questions (1) recommend (1) release (1) remove (1) rent (1) repair (1) resume (1) reverse line direction (1) right click (1) save (1) scale (1) scanner (1) screen capture (1) sea turtles (1) send files (1) settings (1) snap (1) software (1) solutions (1) sony (1) student (1) subscription center (1) sustainability (1) system variables (1) tabs (1) tech snob (1) transparency (1) trial (1) undo (1) uninstall (1) viewports (1) virus (1) webcast (1) wiki (1) workplace (1)