AutoCAD System Variables

AutoCAD is a big program, I would say its a big collection of programs. Still, AutoCAD is highly customizable. Everybody uses it differently. Users customize the look of screen, menu, command line and so on. In our drawings also we use different settings, like text height,width & color, dimension styles, layers etc.
How AutoCAD manages it. AutoCAD has provided us a tool called System Variables.

This is what Autodesk help says about System Variables.

AutoCAD stores the values for its operating environment and some of its commands in system variables.

In general system variables are commands that control the overall behaviour of AutoCAD and its commands.  Most of the system variables are changable(some are not, they are called read-only).

How to get a list of system variable?

Use SETVAR Command.

Command : setvar
Enter variable name or [?] : ?
Enter variable(s) to list <*> : *

Read The ADDVARS2SCR Command post to export a list of system variable in a text file with *.scr extension.

System variables are stored either in registry or in your drawing. The vaiables stored in registry will effect all your drawings and variables stored in your drawing will have effect on your drawings only.

How to know where a system variable is stored?

You can use SYSVDLG command of AutoCAD Express tools. It will open up a dialog box showing all the system variables available. Here in "Saved in :" field you can get the location where the variable is saved.

If you click on "Save All" you will get an option to save the variables either in .svf or .scr file. This will give you a backup of your system variable settings. You can change the settings and then import the settings into AutoCAD.

If you have earlier taken a backup with this method in a .scr file you can restore or import your settings with SCRIPT command. click here to read more on Scripts.

If you take your back in a .svf file, you can still change your settings by editting the file with notepad. To import your settings simply run SYSVDLG command and click on "Read", select your .svf  file press "Open" and you are done.

That's all for now friends. Hope, you liked the information.
Your comments and feedbacks are expected.

Thanking You,

PS : Don't forget to comment and share the post with your friends.

Tutorial : AutoCAD Drawing Template (Part-1)

Templates are used with almost all the softwares today be it Microsoft Excel, Word, Access or AutoCAD. Every software has its own terminology for the templates.
A template provides us a standard already prepared format to start our work. Contents of a template vary as per software and usage requirements.

AutoCAD Drawing Templates
A drawing template is actually a drawing file which has standard settings for drawing creation. Only difference between your drawings and drawing template is extension of the file name, for templates its .dwt where as drawings are saved with a .dwg extension.

How do they work
When we start our drawing using a template, its makes a stand alone copy of itself. We can have as many templates as we wish to use. For example, separate template for each project and further separate template for each sheet size and more like type of drawing, discipline etc.

Where are my templates
Well, AutoCAD provides lot of templates. These are stored on our computer in a folder named "Templates". Exact path can be found in the "Options" on the command line or Select Tools >Options> from toolbar
It will open a dialog box, click om files tab and than Template Settings>Drawing Template File Location

See the snapshot below :

You can also save your customized templates on a suitable location of your choice.

Contents of a Drawing Template
A Drawing Template commonly stores the following

• Unit type & precision
• Title block, border and logos
• Standard Layers
• Snap, Grid & Ortho settings
• Grid Limits
• Dimension styles
• Text styles
• Linetypes

Some graphics, like North Arrow can also be added to the template.

This is all for this part in next part we shall discuss "Creating A Drawing Template".

Thanking You,

- Abhay Chauhan 

PS : Don't forget to comment and share the post with your friends.

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The MTJIGSTRING Command

Hi Everyone,
Ever noticed the text on the tooltip when picking up the corner of the mtext window.
Why does AutoCAD shows this? Why it is there?

This show a sample of your current font and text settings. Seeing this, you can come to know if you need to change the settings.

By default the AutoCAD always shows "abc".

You may wish to replace it with your own name or something like "Abhay Writes." or something of your choice.

MTJIGSTRING is a system variable that stores this value.

On command line enter MTJIGSTRING and provide a string of your choice. This can be anything of your choice.
Remember it is limited to 12 characters so be careful.

Dont like to show any thing at all.
Put a "." This will show a "." which will hide under of your cursor or window band.

That's all for now. Keep visiting for more tips.

ThankingYou,

- Abhay Chauhan

PS : Don't forget to comment and share the post with your friends.

AutoCAD Icon/ Startup Switches

Hi Everyone,

Today we shall discuss about AutoCAD Icon Switches.

First of all, What are Icon/Startup Switches?

These are parameters to be added to the shortcut properties any program's Windows desktop icon.

Second, What is the use?

Executing External Commands/ Utilities From Inside AutoCAD

In an earlier post I shared the BROWSER command that opened a webpage of your choice from inside AutoCAD. This time we will see how we can execute some external command from inside AutoCAD.

What if you are working on your important drawing and you need to see the properties of a steel section?

What we do is, Minimize AutoCAD window go to the location of our steel table in explorer and double click it or fireup Microsoft Excel and open the steel table's soft copy.

What if we could open the steel table file from AutoCAD command line.

Yes, You can.

Tutorial : Automation with scripts (Part-5)

Run your scripts on multiple files at once

Hi Everyone,

So, we all now have an idea about scripts and I assume, most of you have tried your hands on it and must have created some scripts also.

For friends who have just joined the series here are the links for the previous posts of the series :

Part - 1          Part - 2          Part - 3          Part - 4

If you need a topic on which you wish to create a script for, here are few,

• Purging
• Creating standard layers in a drawing
• Save drawings to a  previous version of AutoCAD
• Setting up your AutoCAD system variables to your choice
• etc. etc.

You can find more if you observe your day to day work closely.

Well now that you have written a script to purge or to save drawings to an earlier version of AutoCAD.
What to do next? You have 100's of drawings and you need them to be purged and saved to an earlier version. What will you do?

Opening each file and running script on each of them is not a practical solution.

So, what you actually want is to process a script on multiple drawings. There are multiple methods to do this.
But the easiest is to use ScriptPro. It's a free software from Autodesk. You can download it from following links.

ScriptPro 32bit download now
ScriptPro 64bit download now

There are another way to process your scripts on multiple drawings. I will share that in my next post of this series.

Thanks for taking time off to read the blog from your busy schedules.

- Abhay Chauhan

 PS : Don't forget to comment and share the post with your friends.

Tutorial : Automation with scripts (Part-4)

Making Some Graphics & Animate With Script

Hi everyone,

In this post we are going to see how powerful a script can be and what you can accomplish with a script. Also, we will learn a new feature about script.

Tutorial : Automation with scripts (Part-3)

Commands that control AutoCAD scripts

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all having an idea of what scriptys are and must have created some scripts.

For the friends who have just joined the series here are the links for previous posts :

Part - 1         Part - 2

Today, We shall discuss command that control the AutoCAD scripts.
Actually, there are a only a few commands that relate specifically to scripts. In fact, these commands are of absolutely no use for any other purpose.

Tutorial : Automation with scripts (Part-2)

Creating the AutoCAD scripts

Hi Everyone,

Wish you all a very happy and safe Diwali.

As I promise you in my first post of this series, today I am presenting you with an example of an AutoCAD Script.

For the friends who have just joined the series here is the link for previous post :
Part - 1

Tutorial : Automation with scripts (Part-1)

Introduction to AutoCAD Scripts

Hi Everyone,

Here I am to bother you and kill (/ save) your time again.
Hope you are all enjoying the blog.

Today, We will talk about AutoCAD scripts.

Before explaining what scripts are. First, let's see why they are needed.
If you have any action that you repeat multiple time. You should think about automating it, so you don't have to go to the same steps over & over again.