MycadHELPER is an AutoCAD productivity system of tools that simplify command input and execution, automate layer naming and management, improve drawing organisation and accuracy and dramatically increase output of data to production drawings.
MycadHELPER is for professionals and those wanting to become professional. It is command-line driven using a highly developed ALIAS system based on easily interpreted and remembered short command acronyms and phonyms of something like 700 commands. For want of a better name we call it MycadKEYS remembering that it is more than just command aliases being the KEYS to functionally extended commands and dramatically reduced command execution keystrokes. MycadHELPER also provides MycadLAYERS an efficient layer-naming standard and automated management and custom naming program. Ultimately this leads to a professional drafting tool for Coincident-Overlay-Drafting (COD) that improves efficiency and accuracy of production drawings.
This all the outcome of 40 years of intensive use of AutoCAD as a technically oriented Architect. An important byproduct for beginners is that using MycadHELPER aids in learning AutoCAD commands and their work-flow.
The most obvious aspect of MycadHELPER is its clean-screen and keyboard-only input of commands. If you are dependent upon Ribbon graphical menus…..FORGET IT…it is not for you! Doubtful? Read “Why I use the commandline”.
Graphic menu systems are fundamentally flawed. Can you imagine playing a piano using only a mouse to select keys? The Keys to MYCADKEYS success are a substantial reduction in required keystrokes plus the use of ten fingers instead of one mouse. (Think of the pianist playing with one finger)
A change of approach
MycadHELPER will completely change your perception and use of AutoCAD or AutoCAD-like programs that offer Autolisp customisation. No longer do you have a cluttered screen and endless obscure menu icons but offers the most efficient and easily learned method of working with Autocad. MycadHELPER offers MycadKEYS; a very extensive and efficient combination of Command Aliases driving both standard AutoCAD commands, an extensive and simply CLEVER collection of Smart Command Functions. MycadLAYERS offers an Automated Layer Creation and Managment system that outperforms AutoCAD’s standard layer controls and for advanved users facilitates Coincident Overlay Modelling (COM) to create WORKZONES; a powerful production-drawing method.
MycadKEYS and the Commandline.
AutoCAD’s major benefit that distinguishes it from other programs is its Command line. However this is often ignored in favor of more and more varieties of clumsy graphical menus. There are said to be eight different menu systems in AutoCAD yet the only complete one is the Command line. After many menu iterations Autodesk has finally acknowledged that the Command line is the fastest and most transparent way of controlling AutoCAD. The latest incarnation, the so-called “smart” command on-screen interface, has become yet another unnecessary distraction.
Advantages of MycadHELPER
MycadHELPER not just another collection of command aliases nor is it a program replacement for Autocad or a particular profession. ‘HELPER is an enhancement for all CAD programs that offer LISP user customization. MycadHELPER does not attempt to compete with or change the special functions of your CAD program but instead provides significant enhancements to the user interface of generic commands plus its own special command enhancements. And it does this for most programs offering AutoLISP.
The bottom-line is that MycadHELPER will be most appreciated by experienced drafters looking for a professional advantage but will also help newer users to learn to use Autocad and its commands more quickly and effectively. Scrap the Ribbon – learn the commands and their aliases.
Sumary of MycadHELPER
- Supports a CLEAN SCREEN – no Ribbon menus needed.
- Eliminates hunting for menu icons – commands and responses are entered directly to the command line.
- Solves the problem of inconsistent, confusing and incomplete command ALIAS names. MycadHELPER’s proficiently designed command alias method provides for every command in a systematic, understandable and easily remembered way.
- Many command aliases are single character, most are two, a few are three. Only composite commands or complex named or multifunctiob commands exceed two.
- Speeds learning of AutoCAD and encourages learning of commands and their responses and is a proactive rather than reactive approach to Autocad..
- AutoCAD’s Commandline was the first and always has been the best way to control CAD.
- At the professional end MycadHELPER offers optional COINCIDENT-OVERLAY-MODELLING to produce WORKZONES (production drawings) that reduce drawing effort, speed up and simplify editing, increase accuracy and alignment of multi-level multi-function data-models ready for plotting.
MycadHELPER is Best for:
- Beginners wishing to understand how AutoCAD really works
- Experienced CAD drafters looking for improved production
- Small drafting businesses searching for a business edge
- Architects wanting to produce more efficient and accurate drawings
- CAD managers seaking to improve understanding of CAD and production output
:Not For
- Casual users
- Ribbon-menu-only users
- CAD-is-just-a-job drafters
MycadFUNS.
MycadHELPER provides a range of drawing tools such as:
- Object Snapping. Required by most drawing commands OSNAPS are greatly enhanced; providing twenty points about double that of AutoCAD. Only a single character is needed and <enter> is NOT required.
- Object Selection. Required by most editing commands is much faster and provides twenty ways of selecting objects. De-selecting objects is also more fluid since it can be done with the right mouse button rather than pressing the shift key. Only a single character is needed. <enter> is NOT required.
- Data-picks. Extraction of data properties such as layer-name, color and line-type, text strings, block names. polyline widths and more, using a mouse pick rather than Listing an object then typing long keyboard entries.
- Status-line. Iprovements to the status line provide current layer-name and name length setting, Workzone, Dimscale, linetype-scale and full drawing path.
- Dimension and Text styles. To suit chosen professions are created automatically on start-up.
- Auto-save. An optional addition to AutoCAD’s automatic save provides an extra backup facility that creates two alternating permanent back-up files.
- Automatic graphic standards. Customizable to office preferences.
- Multiple default options and user pre-sets.
- Multiple object editing.
- Enhanced TEXT command.
- Enhanced DIM command.
MycadLAYERS and WorkZONES
Layers and WorkZONES must be the two most important aspects of professional drafting.
‘HELPER provides an automated Layer Naming Standard and system that not only makes Layer creation and Management much easier but also sets up Layers to a user optional system for job specific use that results in automated creation and management of defined production drawings. MycadHELPER calls these layer collections WorkZONES that define production drawings such as plans or cross-sections level by level and trade by trade.
MycadKEYS – the original driving force of `HELPER
MycadHELPER started as MycadKEYS. In its original format MycadKEYS was a tool to provide an efficient and easily understandable and learnable system of very short command aliases based on easily recognisable acronyms and logograms (e.g. CL Copy Last, @ @ttedit) that cover almost every common AutoCAD command (900 of them – yes 900 that’s not a typo) and a collection of Autolisp functions expanding AutoCAD command functions and options. It has since been updated and expanded into MycadHELPER to include other tools such as MycadLAYERS, (an automated layer standard) and MycadZONES (a powerful coincident-overlay-modelling tool).
‘KEYS eliminates menus, long command names and excessive <enter> keystrokes from command execution and adds many drafting assist tools such as OSNAPS and SELECT-OBJECT options. Importantly ‘KEYS now better known as MycadHELPER includes advanced Layer and Workzone commands.
‘KEYS aliases are designed to initiate `HELPER improved functions and new commands. Alternatively most of AutoCAD’s own aliases still work or you can use modified ‘KEYS to initiate generic AutoCAD commands if that is your preference.
MycadKEYS command aliases provide a complete command interface that outperforms AutoCAD standard aliases and graphical menus by providing over 900 meaningful very short and easily remembered aliases. MycadKEYS aliases not only start AutoCAD commands but bridge into MycadFUNS; AutoLISP functions that provide many exclusive advance functions including extended ranges of point OSNAPS and OBJECT-SELECTION options. Finally CAD managers will be especially interested in the ultimate power of MycadZONES that provides a layer management system that facilitates Coincident Overlay Modelling to produce finishe production-drawings.
MycadLAYERS
Underpinning MycadHELPER is MycadLAYERS. Without LAYERS, CAD is no more than a simple sketch pad. Use of LAYERS is the fundamental data management tool that provides efficient and accurate CAD modelling. MycadLAYERS provides the automated Layer Naming Standard and functions to create and manage professional production drawings.
MycadZONES
MycadZONES is an advanced optional outcome of MycadLAYERS. It provides the strategy and functions to manage the WORKZONES (Production Drawings) into which your drawing objects are organized (plans, sections, elevations, levels, trade-zones etc.) `ZONES differs from standard layer manager tools in that it provides a way to automatically manage MULTIPLE WORKZONES in the same single model single file. (Do not confuse WorkZones with WorkSpaces. Workspaces is an AutoCAD concept to save drafting environments, Workzones is about setting up production drawings).
Questions:
1. What does `HELPER cost?
2. Will `HELPER improve my CAD skills?
3.How long will it take me to learn `HELPER?
4.Is learning `HELPER worth the effort?
5.Will I become locked into `HELPER.
Short answers:
1.`HELPER will cost you nothing.
2.Yes you will become a faster smarter drafter.
3.You will be effective within one week and professional within one month.
4.`HELPER will be the most valuable step you have taken in becoming a CAD professional.
5. `HELPER is easily transported wherever you go and if necessary it can be run from your personal external HD Drive or USB stick.
Example of ‘HELPER WorkZONES
Here is a project with all of its plan information for 5 floor levels overlaid.
Here is the same project with layers filtered for editing and plotting.
WorkZones vs BIM?
AutoCAD has significant underused capabilities of Overlay modeling that can avoid the common errors of alignment and clashes inherent in traditional methods of side-by-side drawing. The advanced automated layer management that comes with MycadLAYERS and MycadZONES not only facilitates but encourages and automates Coincident Overlay Modeling to produce multi-discipline, multi-level, single integrated models saving time and enhancing data integrity. With both Building Information Modeling (BIM) and 2D drafting the data extracted is only as good as the data put in. In less complimentary colloquial terms “garbage in garbage out”. Overlay modeling provides an excellent opportunity to ensure good data in, but only if the designer and the program ensures accuracy and completeness.
MycadHELPER’s Overlay-Modelling and WorkZONES may not be a solution for complete BIM but they are powerfull aids to the accuracy and completeness of a building or other product model.