Harold R. • Dummy line (XLINE) works great, especially if you can draw a Vertical or Horizontal XLINE with an 1-letter command or clicking a custom toolpalette button!

(defun c:H ()
(command "XLINE" "H" pause)
)

^C^C_XLINE;H;

Harold R. • Here is one more:
As long as I can remember Autocad messes up the FILEDIA variable.
Why not reset it back to value 1 if Autocad is restarted?

Use this line in your acaddoc.lsp (somewhere stored in your support paths):
; Always use dialog window for opening dwgs
(setvar "FILEDIA" 1)

Al P. • When changing the UCS if you enter "E" for "entity" at the prompt you can align the ucs with any object. Not listed in the choices but still works.

Al P. • Adding "Points" in a drawing can help throughout the design. By using the "Node" osnap it will lock into points. Point style and size can be changed to suit situations.

Edwin P. • Thank you Harold and Al,
Nice tip for the XLINE. I remember I've never used it until few years ago. I created lines to help me and when I start using XLINE, I love it!
Nice tip too for acaddoc.lsp.
Al, UCS>E is the same with UCS>OB right? Do you have some samples for point usage? Not many people use it (incl me, guilty as charged). I know it would be useful for some drawings, but can't find a good sample how to use it.
If anyone interested to write a short article for the tips, please contact me. If you're too busy, I'll write those tip and mention you as a credit.

Al P. • Yes Edwin USC;E is same as UCS;OB.Guess I'm old..I remember when they were called entities and not objects.

I used points in crowded facility drawings. I often placed them on the intersections of grid lines. Since they are a rarely used object it makes it easy to snap to them. In a crowded drawing it is hard to snap to the proper endpoint, midpoint, center, etc. because so many are available in a small space. They are also useful when working in 3D for the same reason.

Also when using the divide and measure commands the markers will be points by default. I've found many beginners that don't realize that the "node" osnap is for those points.

Jay J. • Don't recall seeing last year's list, but the QuickSelect Command is fast becoming my new favorite. Perhaps it's unknown to most users. Very powerful and helpful.

Edwin P. • Harold and Al,

I've published your tips here:

For acaddoc.lsp:
http://cad-notes.com/2012/01/set-default-system-variables-in-acaddoc-lsp/

For XLINE and points:
http://cad-notes.com/2012/01/3-construction-or-reference-objects-we-rarely-use/

I'm still looking for more!
I'll try to compile more tips in a list like before. It's more difficult now, because I want to make a theme, not only list all tips that I know!

Michael S. • Hi Edwin,
not sure if it fit right in, on large DWG files with lots of hatches, the user may would set
HPQUICKPREVIEW
off and will gain performance, while disabling the instant hatch preview.

Edwin P. • I'll try to sort the tips... Whew... so many rare tips I found.
I'll let you guys know when I publish it.
If you still have more tips... keep them coming!

Jeff C. • I am not sure how many users use the layout tab to draw in paperspace but for the ones that dont know alot about paperspace this is a very good tip. Click on the layout tab and you are in paper space. Key in "chspace" and select all entities on the screen and hit enter. This will take everything in paperspace and convert it to model space.

Mary K. • A simple command that I have found useful for annotating is "torient" this command will align bocks with attributes, text or mtext to a selcted object. I use this command often enough that I have made a quick key for it.

Arjoena S. • Maybe a tip also:
Get rid of countless cad menu-toolbars, create menu's the easy way. Client-, task-, project specific or wathever you like. Check out http://www.arjoena.net