AutoCAD’s major benefit
AutoCAD’s major benefit that distinguishes it from other programs is its Command line. However this has been 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. Unfortunately their latest incarnation, their so-called “smart” command on-screen interface, has for me become yet another unnecessary distraction. The other thing that is yet to be provided is an intelligent and complete command alias (keyboard short-cuts) system. MycadKEYS now does this.
MycadHELPER was progressively developed from my experience of using AutoCAD daily as a full-time CAD drafter for the next twenty-six years.
Components of 'HELPER
- MycadKEYS Complete system of short meaningful, easy to learn aliases for every command.
- MycadFUNS Greater functionality, reduced keystokes, more OSNAPS and OBJECT SELECTION options.
- MycadLAYERS Automated layer naming standard and management system allowing Coincident Overlay Modelling (COM).
- MycadZONES COM increases accuracy, reduces drafting time, supports creation and plotting of production drawings.
HELPER TOOLS
- Provides extended functionality of commands, keyboard and mouse.
- Eliminates pressing <enter> to confirm input.
- Improves range of OSNAPS
- Improves range of OBJECT selection.
- Improves range of command option confirmation.
- Improves command functionality.
HELPER TOOLS include:
- Single-key responses to MYCADKEYS commands; eliminating the need for multi-character responses and the usual obligatory following <enter> key every time a command response is needed.
- Object Snapping required by most drawing commands is greatly enhanced; providing twenty points about double that of AutoCAD. Only a single character is needed. <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 improvements 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
- Additional command confirmation options
- Make use of the fifty plus keys on the keyboard and right mouse button not just the basic twenty-six alpha keys.
MycadHELPER uses keyboard shortcuts (Aliases) and single key-press responses together with a more effective use of the mouse and keyboard allowing almost all AutoCAD menus to be turned off clearing the screen for drafting area and accelerating input and control of commands.
Whereas AutoCAD Aliases merely start generic AutoCAD commands. MycadKEYS Aliases both start and execute commands.
MycadKEYS Aliases provide logical short command Aliases for almost ALL commands both AutoCAD and MycadKEYS. (Not quite true since AutoCAD is said to have as many as 2000 commands).
Reduces command responses, including Osnaps and Object selections, to single key-press except for text and numbers.
Uses single key Accelerators to control the drawing environment.
Benefits of ‘MycadHELPER:
- DOUBLE your drawing output? (yes double – seriously)
- Produce more INTELLIGENT more ACCURATE drawings?
- Finally solve the layer naming problem?
- Provides a complete system of short but intelligent command aliases?
- Fast intuitive Command-line interface.
- Supports generic AutoCAD program without corrupting it
- Solves ALIAS naming problem.
- Provides custom MycadLAYER layer naming system compliant with international standards.
- Layers may be generated, named and managed automatically by dialogue or Commandline.
- Automated layer naming solves LAYER naming problem.
- Automated layer names support WORKZONE creation, editing and management.
- Eliminates screen clogging menus and hunting for Command icons…CLEANSCREEN.
- Eliminates wasteful keystrokes and mouse clicks.
- Reduces all MycadKEYS command responses to single character.
Benefits of ‘HELPER’s environment:
- Eliminates pressing <enter> to confirm input.
- Improves range of OSNAPS.
- Improves range of OBJECT selection options.
- Improves range of command OPTIONS.
- Improves command FUNCTIONALITY.
Benefits of MycadKEYS:
MycadKEYS achieves a dramatic reduction in the time taken to both start and execute commands. This is done by using the Command line and very short command Aliases that both access and control improved commands requiring greatly reduced keystrokes . MycadKEYS is a multifaceted custom AutoCAD Command Interface. Written in AutoLISP by an architect for architects (me actually – Colin Wright) but it works equally well for any profession.
- DOUBLE your drawing output? (yes double – seriously)
- Produce more INTELLIGENT more ACCURATE drawings?
- Finally solve the layer naming problem?
- Provides a complete system of short but intelligent command aliases?
- Fast intuitive Commandline interface.
- Supports generic AutoCAD program without corrupting it
- Solves ALIAS naming problem.
- Provides custom MycadLAYER layer naming system compliant with international standards.
- Layers may be generated, named and managed automatically by dialogue or Commandline.
- Automated layer naming solves LAYER naming problem.
- Automated layer names support WORKZONE creation, editing and management.
- Eliminates screen clogging menus and hunting for Command icons…CLEANSCREEN.
- Eliminates wasteful keystrokes and mouse clicks.
- Reduces all MycadKEYS command responses to single character.
- Eliminates pressing <enter> to confirm input.
- Improves range of OSNAPS.
- Improves range of OBJECT selection options.
- Improves range of command OPTIONS.
- Improves command FUNCTIONALITY.
- Supports COINCIDENT OVERLAY drafting
- Permits multilevel, multi-function WorkZONES in a single integrated model.
- Automatically creates and manages WorkZONES that aid viewing and printing.
- Easy to learn and actually speeds learning of AutoCAD.
- Provides a link to BIM
Benefits of MycadFUNS
- Eliminates repeatedly pressing <enter> to confirm input.
- Reduces all MycadKEYS command responses to single character; no <enter> needed.
- Improves range of OSNAPS.
- Improves range of OBJECT SELECTION options.
- Improves range of command OPTIONS.
- Improves command FUNCTIONALITY.
Benefits of MycadLAYERS:
- Provides custom MycadLAYER layer-naming system compliant with international standards.
- Layers may be generated, named and managed automatically by dialogue or Commandline.
- Finally solves the layer naming problem.
- Permits multilevel, multi-function WORKZONES in a single integrated model.
- Easy to learn and actually speeds learning of AutoCAD.
- Provides a link to BIM
Benefits of MycadZONES:
- Supports COINCIDENT OVERLAY drafting
- Permits multilevel, multi-function WORKZONES in a single integrated model.
- Automatically creates and manages WORKZONES that aid viewing and printing.
- Easy to learn and actually speeds learning of AutoCAD.
- Provides a link to BIM
What about REVIT and BIM?
Are you worried that 2D drafting is a thing of the past?
Although some major projects may be using Revit or Archicad to produce Building Information Models (BIM) Their real benefit is for presentation and 3D modeling. Eventually simple 2D production drawings are the most common outcome. The jury seems to be still out on AutoCAD versus Revit and BIM and myths and complaints are plenty but I personally do not have the experience to comment.
AutoCAD 2D is still going strong. It has significant underused capabilities of OVERLAY drafting that can avoid the common errors of alignment and clashes inherent in traditional methods of drawing and claimed to be the main benefit of BIM.
With both 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 drafting using MYCADZONES provides an excellent opportunity to ensure good data in.
The advanced automated Layer naming and management that comes with MycadLAYERS not only facilitates but encourages OVERLAY drafting using MycadZONES to produce multi-discipline, multi-level, single integrated models saving time and enhancing data integrity.