Autodesk AutoCAD AutoCAD LT - 2012 Customization Guide

AutoCAD LT 2012

Customization Guide

February 2011

reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose.

Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder.

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THIS PUBLICATION AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS MADE AVAILABLE BY AUTODESK, INC. "AS IS." AUTODESK, INC. DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING THESE MATERIALS.

Published by: Autodesk, Inc. 111 McInnis Parkway San Rafael, CA 94903, USA

Chapter 1 Basic Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Overview of Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Organize Program and Support Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Overview of File Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Multiple Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Multiple Drawing Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Locate Customized Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Locate Plot Style Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Locate Plotter Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Locate the PMP File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Locate Support Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Locate Drawing Template Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Customize a Publish to Web Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Create Command Aliases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Chapter 2 Custom Linetypes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Overview of Linetype Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Simple Custom Linetypes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Text in Custom Linetypes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Chapter 3 Custom Hatch Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Overview of Hatch Pattern Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Hatch Patterns with Dashed Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

iii

Hatch Patterns with Multiple Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Chapter 4 User Interface Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Understand User Interface Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Overview of the Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Use the Customization Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Overview of the Customize User Interface (CUI)

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Work with the Customizations In Pane . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Work with the Command List Pane . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Work with the Dynamic Display Pane . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

How Customization Has Changed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Customization Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Work with the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor . . . . . . . . . . 58

Create a Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Create User Interface Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Create a Quick Access Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Customize the Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Create a Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Create a Pull-Down Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Create a Shortcut Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Customize Shortcut Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Create a Double Click Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Create a Mouse Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Create and Modify Workspaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Create a Workspace from the User Interface . . . . . . . . . 70

Create a Workspace with the CUI Editor . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Create and Manage Customization Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Basics of Customization Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Create and Load a Partial CUIx File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Create an Enterprise CUIx File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Find and Replace Commands and Text in a CUIx File . . . . . . . 85

Customize Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Overview of Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Create, Edit, and Reuse Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Create Macros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Overview of Macros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Use Special Control Characters in Macros . . . . . . . . . . 104

Pause for User Input in Macros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Provide International Support in Macros . . . . . . . . . . 108

Repeat Commands in Macros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Use Single Object Selection Mode in Macros . . . . . . . . 110

Use Macros to Swap User Interface Elements . . . . . . . . 110

Use Conditional Expressions in Macros . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Control the Display of Command Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Assign Search Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

iv | Contents

Create Tooltips and Extended Help for Commands . . . . . . . . 122

Create Status Line Help Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Create and Manage Images for Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Assign Images to a Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Create Custom Images for Commands . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Manage, Import, and Export Custom Images . . . . . . . . 134

Customize User Interface Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

Quick Access Toolbars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Ribbon Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Ribbon Tabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

Ribbon Contextual Tab States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

Toolbars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

Create and Edit Toolbars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

Add Flyouts to a Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202

Add, Remove or Switch Toolbar Controls . . . . . . . . . . 207

Pull-down and Shortcut Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

Overview of Pull-Down and Shortcut Menus . . . . . . . . 212

Create a Pull-Down Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

Create a Shortcut Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217

Create Submenus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227

Reference Pull-Down or Shortcut Menus . . . . . . . . . . 229

Swap and Insert Pull-Down Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

Quick Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233

Rollover Tooltips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241

Keyboard Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247

Shortcut Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247

Temporary Override Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255

Double Click Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262

Overview of Double Click Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262

Double Click Action Object Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266

Examples of Double Click Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268

Mouse Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269

Overview of Mouse Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270

Accept Coordinate Entry in Button Menus . . . . . . . . . 271

Legacy Interface Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272

Create Tablet Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272

Customize Tablet Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274

Create Image Tile Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275

Customize Workspaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280

Overview of Workspace Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280

Control User Interface Elements Outside the CUI Editor . . . . . 293

Control User Interface Elements in the CUI Editor . . . . . . . . 296

Control the Appearance of Palettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311

Transfer and Migrate Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315

Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor FAQs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318

Contents | v

Chapter 5 DIESEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323

Customize the Status Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323

Overview of the MODEMACRO System Variable . . . . . . . . . 323

Set MODEMACRO Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324

DIESEL Expressions in Macros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

Catalog of DIESEL Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328

+ (addition) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329

- (subtraction) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329

* (multiplication) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329

/ (division) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330

= (equal to) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330

< (less than) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331

> (greater than) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331

!= (not equal to) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331

<= (less than or equal to) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332

>= (greater than or equal to) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332

and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333

angtos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333

edtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334

eq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335

eval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336

fix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336

getenv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336

getvar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337

if . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337

index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338

nth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338

or . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339

rtos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339

strlen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339

substr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340

upper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340

xor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341

DIESEL Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341

Chapter 6 Slides and Command Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343

Create Slides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343

Overview of Slides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343

View Slides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345

Create and View Slide Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346

Create Command Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348

Overview of Command Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348

Run Scripts at Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350

Run Slide Shows from Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352

vi | Contents

Chapter 7 Migrate and Transfer Custom Settings and Files . . . . . . . . 355

Migrate Custom Settings and Files from Previous Releases . . . . . . . 355

Migration Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356

Determine How to Migrate Custom Settings . . . . . . . . . . . 357

Migrate Custom Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358

View the Migration Log File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364

Reset Settings to Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365

Export and Import Custom Settings from the Same Release . . . . . . 367

Export Custom Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368

Import Custom Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369

Migration and Customization FAQs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371

What is a drawing template file? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371

How do I modify drawing templates at a later time? . . . . . . . 371

What are the benefits of customizing AutoCAD LT? . . . . . . . 371

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373

Contents | vii

viii

Basic Customization

Your dealer can offer you independently developed applications that can further tailor AutoCAD LT to your needs.

Overview of Customization

AutoCAD LT can be customized in simple ways. For example, you can change the directory structure or create a custom title block to use on a layout. If you want to change the interface further, you can edit the CUIx file and use DIESEL statements to create custom commands.

The list that follows is arranged from least to most complex:

■ Organize files. You can organize program, support, and drawing files. For

example, you can make a separate folder for each project that includes only the support files that project needs.

■ Customize Tool Palettes. You can create a tool by dragging objects from

your drawing onto a tool palette. You can create a tool palette by right-clicking on the Tool Palettes title bar and selecting New Palette. For information about customizing tool palettes, see “Customize Tool Palettes” in the User's Guide.

■ Create custom drawing templates (DWTs). You can create custom drawing

templates to use when creating a new drawing. Drawing templates are used to store the layers, blocks, and styles that you might use across all your drawings.

■ Create custom publishing templates. Use templates to define common

parameters when you publish a drawing using the Publish to Web wizard.

■ Define command aliases. You can define simple abbreviations, or aliases,

for frequently used commands from within AutoCAD LT by adding the

command to the PGP file acadlt.pgp. For example, you might want to start the BLOCK command by entering b.

■ Create custom linetypes and hatch patterns. You can create linetypes and

hatch patterns that conform to your company standards and working methods.

■ Customize the user interface. The CUIx file controls many aspects of the

user interface, including the behavior of your pointing device buttons and the functionality and appearance of pull-down, tablet, and image tile menus, toolbars, and accelerator keys. You can edit or create a CUIx file to add commands or combine commands and assign them to a menu, toolbar, or other location.

■ Customize the status line. You can use the DIESEL string expression

language and the MODEMACRO system variable to provide additional information at the status line, such as the date and time or system variable settings.

■ Automate repetitive tasks by writing scripts. A script is an ASCII text file

containing commands that are processed like a batch file when you run the script. For example, if a set of drawings needs to be plotted a certain way, you can write a script that opens each drawing, hides and displays various layers, and issues PLOT commands. You can use scripts with slides to create automated presentations like those used at trade shows. A slide is a “snapshot” of the drawing area that cannot be edited. Slides can also be used in image tile menus and dialog boxes.

Organize Program and Support Files

You can change the default directory structure for the program and support files to suit your needs.

Overview of File Organization

Multiple Configurations

Multiple Drawing Folders

Keeping your drawing and other associated files in separate directories makes it easier to perform basic file maintenance.

Keeping your drawing files and other associated files in separate directories makes it easier to perform basic file maintenance. The scenario described in this topic is based on the sample directory structure described in Overview of

File Organization on page 3, but you can expand or alter it to meet your

needs.

You can set up the /AcltJobs directory to contain your drawing subdirectories. The drawing subdirectories can contain other subdirectories that hold related support files for that particular drawing type or job. The /AcltJobs/Job1/Support directory can contain blocks and other files specific to the drawing files in /AcltJobs/Job1. Specifying support (with no path prefix) in the Support path adds the support directory within the current directory to the Support path.

Notice that if you use the Options dialog box to specify a directory, AutoCAD LT creates a hard-coded path to that directory. To use the relative naming convention previously described, you must specify the Support path with the /s switch on the command line. See “Customize Startup” in the User's Guide.

To make sure that the required drawing directory is the current directory when you start AutoCAD LT, and that all files and subdirectories in that directory are easily accessible, you can create a program icon or a Start menu item that specifies the correct working directory for each job. This functionality works only if you set the AutoCAD LT system variable REMEMBERFOLDERS to 0.

Multiple Drawing Folders | 7

You can use a batch program to create new job directories automatically. The following batch program verifies that a specified directory exists, sets that directory to be current, and then runs AutoCAD LT.

@echo off

if exist \AcltJobs\Jobs\%1 goto RUNACLT

echo.

echo *** Creating \AcltJobs\Jobs\%1

echo *** Press Ctrl+C to cancel.

echo.

pause

mkdir \AcltJobs\Jobs\%1

:RUNACAD

cd \AcltJobs\Jobs\%1

start “C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD LT 2012\acadlt.exe”

Using an ASCII text editor (such as Notepad), save the batch program to a file named acadlt.bat. Be sure to change the drive and directory names to match those on your system.

Place this file in a directory that is on your system search path (for example, C:\winnt). You can run this batch program using the Run command on the Start menu or by double-clicking the file in Explorer. If you saved the file as acadlt.bat, use the following syntax:

acadlt jobname

where jobname is the name of the job directory to make current.

Quick Reference

Locate Customized Files

Beginning with AutoCAD 2004, the location of some of your customized files has changed. The reasons for the file location changes include the following:

■ Limited user rights on a workstation. You can run AutoCAD LT as a limited

user. This means that you no longer need power user or Administrator permissions to run AutoCAD LT once it is installed.

■ Local profiles. Local profiles are used to log on a computer and they store

settings and files that are not available when roaming. Some files, such as materials and drawing templates are stored under your local profile because of their size, they do not follow you from computer to computer.

8 | Chapter 1 Basic Customization

■ Roaming profiles. Roaming profiles allow you to log on to any computer

within a network and retain your user settings. Some files, such as your personal settings and documents, follow you from computer to computer. If roaming profiles are allowed on your network, your “roamable” files are located in the \Application Data\Autodesk\<Product Version> folder, and your “nonroamable” files are located in the \Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\<Product Version> folder.

NOTE In some operating systems, the folders that are located under your profile are hidden by default. To display these files, you may need to change your display settings. On the Start menu, click Control Panel ➤ Folder Options. In the Folder Options dialog box, on the View tab, click Show Hidden Files and Folders.

Locate Plot Style Files

Beginning with the AutoCAD 2004, the default location of your plot style files has changed. For information about the default location of these files, see

Locate Customized Files on page 8.

To locate your plot style files

1 Do one of the following:

■ (Windows XP) Click Start menu ➤ Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

■ (Windows Vista) Click Start menu ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

2 Click application menu ➤ Options.

3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of

Printer Support File Path.

4 Click the plus sign (+) to the left of the Plot Style Table Search Path file.

5 Under Plot Style Table Search Path, click the path name to view the

location of your plot style files.

NOTE You can also locate your plot style files by entering stylesmanager on the AutoCAD LT command line.

Locate Customized Files | 9

Locate Plotter Files

Beginning with AutoCAD 2004, the default location of your plotter files has changed. For information about the default location of these files, see Locate

Customized Files on page 8.

To locate your plotter files

1 Do one of the following:

■ (Windows XP) Click Start menu ➤ Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

■ (Windows Vista) Click Start menu ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

2 Click application menu ➤ Options.

3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of

Printer Support File Path.

4 Click the plus sign (+) to the left of Printer Configuration Search Path.

5 Under Printer Configuration Search Path, click the path name to view

the location of your plotter files.

NOTE You can also locate your plotter files by entering plottermanager on the AutoCAD LT command line.

Locate the PMP File

Beginning with AutoCAD 2004, the default location of your PMP file has changed. For information about the default location of this file, see Locate

Customized Files on page 8.

To locate your PMP file

1 Do one of the following:

■ (Windows XP) Click Start menu ➤ Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

■ (Windows Vista) Click Start menu ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

10 | Chapter 1 Basic Customization

2 Click application menu ➤ Options.

3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of

Printer Support File Path.

4 Under Printer Description File Search Path, click the path name to view

the location of your PMP file.

Locate Support Files

Beginning with AutoCAD 2004, the default location for some of your support files has changed. For information about the default location of these files, see Locate Customized Files on page 8.

Support files include the following:

■ Customization file (acadlt.cuix)

■ Custom icon files

■ Help and miscellaneous files

■ Font mapping file (acadlt.fmp)

■ Alternate font file (simplex.shx)

■ Support path files (acadlt.dcl, acadlt.lin, acadlt.pat, acadlt.pgp, acadlt.psf,

acadlt.unt, acadltiso.lin, acadltiso.pat, gdt.shx, inches.pss, and mm.pss)

To find the default location of the customization files

1 Do one of the following:

■ (Windows XP) Click Start menu ➤ Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

■ (Windows Vista) Click Start menu ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

2 Click application menu ➤ Options.

3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of

Customization Files.

4 Click the plus sign (+) to the left of Main Customization File.

Locate Customized Files | 11

5 Under Main Customization File, click the path name to view the location

of your main customization file.

6 Click the plus sign (+) to the left of Enterprise Customization File.

7 Under Enterprise Customization File, click the path name to view the

location of your enterprise customization files.

NOTE By default, the path to an enterprise customization file is empty until you define the file. For more information about defining a customization file, see “Customize the User Interface” in the Customization Guide.

To find the default location of the custom icon files

1 Do one of the following:

■ (Windows XP) Click Start menu ➤ Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

■ (Windows Vista) Click Start menu ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

2 Click application menu ➤ Options.

3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of

Customization Files.

4 Under Custom Icon Location, click the path name to view the location

for the custom button image files used with your customization files.

To find the default location of the Help and miscellaneous files

1 Do one of the following:

■ (Windows XP) Click Start menu ➤ Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

■ (Windows Vista) Click Start menu ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

2 Click application menu ➤ Options.

3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of

Help and Miscellaneous File Names to expand the list.

4 Click the plus sign (+) to the left of the file you want to locate, and then

click the path name to view the location of the files.

12 | Chapter 1 Basic Customization

To find the default location of the font mapping file

1 Do one of the following:

■ (Windows XP) Click Start menu ➤ Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

■ (Windows Vista) Click Start menu ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

2 Click application menu ➤ Options.

3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of

Text Editor, Dictionary, and Font File Names.

4 Click the plus sign (+) to the left of Font Mapping File.

5 Under Font Mapping File, click the path name to view the location of

your font mapping file.

To find the default location of the alternate font file

1 Do one of the following:

■ (Windows XP) Click Start menu ➤ Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

■ (Windows Vista) Click Start menu ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

2 Click application menu ➤ Options.

3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of

Text Editor, Dictionary, and Font File Names.

4 Click the plus sign (+) to the left of Alternate Font File.

5 Under Alternate Font File, click the path name to view the location of

your alternate font file.

To find the default location of the support path files

1 Do one of the following:

■ (Windows XP) Click Start menu ➤ Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

■ (Windows Vista) Click Start menu ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

Locate Customized Files | 13

2 Click application menu ➤ Options.

3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of

Support File Search Path.

4 Under Support File Search Path, click a path name to view the location

of your support files.

Locate Drawing Template Files

Beginning with AutoCAD 2004, the default location of your drawing template files has changed. For information about the default location of these files, see Locate Customized Files on page 8.

To locate your drawing template files

1 Do one of the following:

■ (Windows XP) Click Start menu ➤ Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

■ (Windows Vista) Click Start menu ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤

<AutoCAD LT> ➤ <AutoCAD LT>.

2 Click application menu ➤ Options.

3 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of

Template Settings.

4 Under Template Settings, click the plus sign (+) to the left of Drawing

Template File Location.

5 Under Drawing Template File Location, click the path name to view the

location of your drawing template files.

Customize a Publish to Web Template

You can create customized templates to use in the Publish to Web wizard by modifying one of the Publish to Web template (PWT) files provided. Use any HTML editor or text editor.

To create a custom template, add or modify any of the following elements:

■ Images

14 | Chapter 1 Basic Customization

■ Text

■ Hyperlinks

■ Color

■ Title

■ Video, animation, and so on

There are four default Publish to Web templates that you can customize:

■ Array of Thumbnails. Creates a web page containing an array of thumbnail

images.

■ Array Plus Summary. Creates a web page containing an array of thumbnail

images and summary information about each image.

■ List of Drawings. Creates a web page containing a list of drawings and an

image frame.

■ List Plus Summary. Creates a web page containing a list of drawings, an

image frame, and summary information about a selected image.

NOTE You must be familiar with HTML syntax to customize the Publish to Web templates.

You can make changes or additions to the look and feel of a template, but you cannot change the arrangement of images within it. For example, in the Array of Thumbnails template, the images are presented across the page in rows. You cannot alter the presentation of the images, but you can wrap text and graphics around the table of images.

WARNING To ensure that you do not overwrite the default Publish to Web template files, back up those files before you make any changes to them.

To create quick access to the Publish to Web templates

1 Click Tools menu ➤ Options.

2 In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) next to

Template Settings. Then click the plus sign next to Drawing Template File Location.

3 Move the cursor to the path name that is displayed and click inside it,

and press F2, and press CTRL+C to copy it.

Customize a Publish to Web Template | 15

4 Click OK or Cancel to close the Options dialog box.

5 Click File menu ➤ Open.

6 In the Select File dialog box, right-click an empty area in the vertical

panel on the left side, and click Add on the shortcut menu.

7 Enter a name in the Item name box (for example, Templates).

8 Press CTRL+V to paste the path into the Item Path box, and click OK.

You can now access the Template folders by clicking the button in the left panel of the Select File dialog box.

To customize a Publish to Web template

1 Browse to the Publish to Web template folder, click File menu ➤ Open.

See To create quick access to the Publish to Web templates on page 15.

2 Double-click the PTWTemplates folder to open it. The following folders

are displayed. Each contains a Publish to Web template and preview images (BMP) that you see when you run the Publish to Web wizard.

■ Template1. Contains the Array of Thumbnails template and a preview

image

■ Template2. Contains the Array Plus Summary template, a preview image,

and HTML frames

■ Template3. Contains the List of Drawings template, a preview image,

and HTML frames

■ Template4. Contains the List Plus Summary template, a preview image,

and HTML frames

3 Right-click the folder you want to use, and click Copy.

4 Press ALT+2, right-click the PTWTemplates folder, and click Paste.

5 Reopen the PTWTemplates folder, and right-click the new folder and

rename it.

6 Right-click the new folder and click Open to display its contents.

7 Rename the Publish to Web template (PWT) file with an .htm or .html file

extension.

8 Open the template file in an HTML editor or a text editor.

16 | Chapter 1 Basic Customization

The template file contains comments that help you determine which areas of the code you can modify to create your new web page.

9 Review the comments and make changes to the parts of the template

you want to customize.

10 Save the template with a .pwt file extension. Make sure you save the file

to the template folder you created in step 3.

NOTE Each template folder can contain only one PWT file. If you create a new PWT file, make sure you delete any other PWT files that exist in the same folder.

When you run the Publish to Web wizard, the new template is displayed in the list of templates.

Quick Reference

Commands

PUBLISHTOWEB

Creates HTML pages that include images of selected drawings.

Create Command Aliases

A command alias is an abbreviation that you enter at the command prompt instead of entering the entire command name.

For example, you can enter c instead of circle to start the CIRCLE command. An alias is not the same as a keyboard shortcut, which is a combination of keystrokes, such as CTRL+S for SAVE.

The acadlt.pgp file defines command aliases. You can change existing aliases or add new ones by editing acadlt.pgp in an ASCII text editor (such as Notepad). In addition to command aliases in acad.pgp, you will also find comment lines which are preceded by a semicolon (;). Comment lines allow you to add textual information to acad.pgp, such as when or who revised the file last.

NOTE Before you edit acadlt.pgp, create a backup so that you can restore it later, if necessary.

Create Command Aliases | 17

To define a command alias, add a line to the acadlt.pgp file using the following syntax:

abbreviation,*command

where abbreviation is the command alias that you enter at the command prompt and command is the command being abbreviated. You must enter an asterisk (*) before the command name to identify the line as a command alias definition.

If you can enter a command transparently, you can also enter its alias transparently. When you enter the command alias, the full command name is displayed at the command prompt and the command is executed.

You can create command aliases that include the special hyphen (-) prefix, such as those listed here, that accesses the version of a command that displays command prompts instead of a dialog box.

BH, *-BHATCH

BD, *-BOUNDARY

NOTE You cannot use command aliases in command scripts. Using command aliases in menu files is not recommended.

If you edit acadlt.pgp while AutoCAD LT is running, enter reinit in order to use the revised file. Restarting AutoCAD LT automatically reloads the file.

To open the program parameters file (acadlt.pgp)

■ Click Tools ➤ Customize ➤ Edit Program Parameters (acadlt.pgp)

Quick Reference

Commands

REINIT

Reinitializes the digitizer, digitizer input/output port, and program parameters file.

System Variables

RE-INIT

Reinitializes the digitizer, digitizer port, and acad.pgp file.

18 | Chapter 1 Basic Customization

Custom Linetypes

AutoCAD LT® provides a library of standard linetypes in the acadlt.lin and acadltiso.lin files. You can use the linetypes as they are, modify them, or create your own custom linetypes.

Overview of Linetype Definitions

Linetypes are defined in one or more linetype definition files that have a .lin file extension.

The linetype name and definition determine the particular dash-dot sequence, the relative lengths of dashes and blank spaces, and the characteristics of any included text or shapes. You can use any of the standard linetypes that AutoCAD LT provides, or you can create your own linetypes.

examples of linetypes

A LIN file can contain definitions of many simple and complex linetypes. You can add new linetypes to an existing LIN file, or you can create your own LIN file. To create or modify linetype definitions, edit the LIN file using a text editor or word processor or use LINETYPE at the command prompt.

When you create a linetype, you must load the linetype before you can use it.

The LIN files included in AutoCAD LT are acadlt.lin and acadltiso.lin. You can display or print these text files to better understand how to construct linetypes.

Quick Reference

Commands

LINETYPE

Loads, sets, and modifies linetypes.

System Variables

MEASUREINIT

Controls whether a drawing you start from scratch uses imperial or metric default settings.

Simple Custom Linetypes

Each linetype is defined on two lines in a linetype definition file. The first line contains the linetype name and an optional description. The second line is the code that defines the actual linetype pattern.

The second line must begin with the letter A (alignment), followed by a list of pattern descriptors that define pen-up lengths (spaces), pen-down lengths (dashes), and dots. You can include comments in an LIN file by beginning the line with a semicolon (;).

Linetype Definition Format

The format of the linetype definition is

*linetype_name,description

A,descriptor1,descriptor2, ...

For example, a linetype called DASHDOT is defined as

*DASHDOT,Dash dot __ . __ . __ . __ . __ . __ . __ . __

A,.5,-.25,0,-.25

This indicates a repeating pattern starting with a dash 0.5 drawing units long, a space 0.25 drawing units long, a dot, and another space 0.25 drawing units long. This pattern continues for the length of the line, ending with a dash 0.5 drawing units long. The linetype would be displayed as shown below.

__ . __ . __ . __ . __ . __ . __ . __

LIN files must be saved in ASCII format and use an .lin file extension. Additional information about each field in a linetype definition follows.

20 | Chapter 2 Custom Linetypes

Linetype Name

The linetype name field begins with an asterisk (*) and should provide a unique, descriptive name for the linetype.

Description

The description of the linetype should help you visualize the linetype when you edit the LIN file. The description is also displayed in the Linetype Manager and in the Load or Reload Linetypes dialog box.

The description is optional and can include

■ A simple representation of the linetype pattern using ASCII text

■ An expanded description of the linetype

■ A comment such as "Use this linetype for hidden lines"

If you omit the description, do not insert a comma after the linetype name. A description cannot exceed 47 characters.

Alignment Field (A)

The alignment field specifies the action for pattern alignment at the ends of individual lines, circles, and arcs. Currently, AutoCAD LT supports only A-type alignment, which guarantees that the endpoints of lines and arcs start and stop with a dash.

For example, suppose you create a linetype called CENTRAL that displays the repeating dash-dot sequence commonly used as a centerline. AutoCAD LT adjusts the dash-dot sequence on an individual line so that dashes and line endpoints coincide. The pattern fits the line so that at least half of the first dash begins and ends the line. If necessary, the first and last dashes are lengthened. If a line is too short to hold even one dash-dot sequence, AutoCAD LT draws a continuous line between the endpoints. For arcs also, the pattern is adjusted so that dashes are drawn at the endpoints. Circles do not have endpoints, but AutoCAD LT adjusts the dash-dot sequence to provide a reasonable display.

You must specify A-type alignment by entering a in the alignment field.

Simple Custom Linetypes | 21

Pattern Descriptors

Each pattern descriptor field specifies the length of segments making up the linetype, separated by commas (no spaces are allowed):

■ A positive decimal number denotes a pen-down (dash) segment of that

length.

■ A negative decimal number denotes a pen-up (space) segment of that

length.

■ A dash length of 0 draws a dot.

You can enter up to 12 dash-length specifications per linetype, provided they fit on one 80-character line in the LIN file. You need to include only one complete repetition of the linetype pattern defined by pattern descriptors. When the linetype is drawn, AutoCAD LT uses the first pattern descriptor for the starting and ending dashes. Between the starting and ending dashes, the pattern dash specifications are drawn sequentially, beginning with the second dash specification and restarting the pattern with the first dash specification when required.

A-type alignment requires that the first dash length be 0 or greater (a pen-down segment). The second dash length should be less than 0 if you need a pen-up segment and more than 0 if you are creating a continuous linetype. You must have at least two dash specifications for A-type alignment.

To create a simple linetype from the Command prompt

1 At the command prompt, enter -linetype.

2 Enter c (Create).

3 Enter a name for the linetype and press Enter.

The linetype name can include up to 255 characters. Linetype names can contain letters, digits, and the special characters dollar sign ($), hyphen (-), and underscore (_). Linetype names cannot include blank spaces.

4 In the Create or Append Linetype File dialog box, select an LIN linetype

library file from the File Name box and click Save.

If you select an existing file, the new linetype name is added to the linetype names in the file.

5 Enter text that describes the new linetype (optional).

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