Novedge Pulse™ of Todd M. Shackelford

I am training a new employee and I was demonstrating a lisp routine that goes and finds a layout tab from a template file an inserts it into the current drawing. It helps make plotting standard, and gives us consistent layout tab naming. Now you can use Design Center  [more...]

I'm trying to get used to this Purple "A".Now that's some mighty fine feed, indeed! [more...]

Back when I started this Blog, the idea was and still is to help drafters evolve and prosper. I think about it often and have some quick points to follow for success. Here they are in no particular order.Know your softwareGoes without saying, but I said it.go that  [more...]

Autodesk has a new Product Support Framework. The goal is to provide high value, predictable support services and tailored support services for customers tailored to their individual needs whether they are part of a large enterprise account, small or medium business  [more...]

Reuben J. Stone has created a great article on writing and implementing scripts to complete mundane AutoCAD tasks for AUGI Tipniques.Follow this link to the article for the full story.Now that's some mighty fine feed, indeed! [more...]

The newest version of AutoCAD WS is out and apparently in your face!Besides viewing 3D from a smart phone, you can also access built in GPS functionality and plot from mobile by sending DWFs and PDFs to any email address or compatible HP eprinter.Shut the back door  [more...]

I needed a new linetype today and I had not made one in years. Express tools can make this easy. Here is the down and dirty on creating a linetype with text characters in it.My linetype simply needs to have an "E" in it every so often to reflect and existing condition.  [more...]

Sometimes in life I have wondered... "How the Hell did I get here?"I my never get my answer, but with the files I share with AutoCAD WS, I can always use the Timeline feature to browse through each version as my design progresses.You can even revert to an old version  [more...]

I recently wanted to update version numbers on a ton of AutoCAD Blocks. I copied the old blocks in their current folder structure to a new location and needed to add a version number to the end of each DWG file. This folder structure treed out like a Mighty Oak and  [more...]

Paul Munford stole this post from me last Summer. That is I was planning on posting on how to set up a folder for your AutoCAD WS drawings, and it turns out Paul posted the exact thing last June on The Kung Fu Drafter."Curse you Paul Munford!" Said Doofenshmirtz style.Go  [more...]

Clearly I am into Google products just about as much as I am into Autodesk products. So the AutoCAD WS app for Google Chrome has made me pretty darn happy. Before I talk about the WS web interface, I want to talk about fear and the internet. I know some people are  [more...]

My wife loves a makeover show. Me... not so much until I found this one. What brings out your inner beauty more than new hardware and software? If you are ready to glow with the confidence that only a complete technology makeover can provide. Check out the rules and  [more...]

Secrets out... I heart AutoCAD. I grew up with it. I have used it since the 1900's. I do worry sometimes because I also love long haired, flannel wearing grunge bands. What is going to keep AutoCAD more relevant than the Screaming Trees? Let's face it, not a lot has  [more...]

Gosh, I hope I am the first to use that pun.Autodesk just announced that AutoCAD WS is now also available for Kindle Fire through theAmazon App Store, allowing users to take designs with them anywhere. Use the KindleFire to view drawings, edit them and share them with  [more...]

If you went in person or just virtually, you can now virtually relive the event or check out the classes you missed.AU Virtual classes are available to all AU members.AU 2011 Las Vegas attendees, Autodesk Subscriptioncustomers, and Autodesk employees with an Autodesk  [more...]

I am already missing all my AU friends old and new. I am not missing the sound of slot machines. Especially the one that yells out "Wheel! Of! Fortune!" at the airport. Tom and Brian from Virginia agree.Other ways to know you are in Las Vegas.... Well you see a giant  [more...]

Well, a lot of really cool things happened to me at Autodesk University this year.I saw Lynn Allen. She turned and went the other way before I could say something stupid like "duh... I like AutoCAD too!" Thanks for that Lynn.Santa Claus was looking at using Autodesk  [more...]

On Wednesday I finally hit the Exhibit hall. As usual there was a ton of activity and lots to see. The annual beer bust was going on which tends to liven things up. I think I met everybody that works for IMAGINiT.I met Martha Hollowell, who happens to write the book  [more...]

This year at AU is a little different for me. Normally I am fretting about a class I am teaching the whole time, but this year I am fretting about blogging about the event as a member of the media.I have to say it has its perks. Number one, I have access to Dr. Pepper  [more...]

It's on! Really just the start, but I have already learned a ton and reconnected with friends that I only get to see at these events.Melanie Perry is the coolest person to just talk to about geeky things and books.Joe Eichenseer from IMAGINiT is simply the smartest  [more...]

It's a short week and I am settling all the details for my trip to Vegas. I have lots of appointments with vendors and Autodesk people, and I am looking forward to posting all about it. I hope to have some real interesting and insightful conversations and hopefully  [more...]

AUGIWorld November 2011 Issue Released!How do you take your training? Do you prefer off-site,instructor-led, immersion-style training or would you rather lunch and learn?Do you like to be sequestered with your co-workers for half-day trainingsessions in the office  [more...]

I often get asked for CAD advice and I might have an idea about what to do. Then again, I often have stupid ideas too. Oh well, if you are seeking CAD advice, and don't care who you get it from, drop me a line at lazydrafter@gmail.com. I'll do my best not to make you  [more...]

I sometimes do things, and looking back I don't know why. One thing I know I do is create copies of AutoCAD entities exactly on top of the original entities. This seems stupid, and I cannot think of a good reason why. I just know that while in full on drafting mode,  [more...]

I often get asked for CAD advice and I might have an idea about what to do. Then again, I often have stupid ideas too. Oh well, if you are seeking CAD advice, and don't care who you get it from, drop me a line at lazydrafter@gmail.com. I'll do my best not to make you  [more...]

When your firm different disciplines that all require different lisps to be loaded. Using the acaddoc.lsp to load only the lisps individual users require and nothing more can increase everyone's speed. To do this, I combined a group of lisps in to a FAS file and then  [more...]

I was looking at my Blog layout and noticed that the image at the top which includes a perverted version of the AutoCAD interface showed version 2011 at the top. That did not seem right, so I used Microsoft Paint to change the 2011 to 2012.That got me thinking about  [more...]

I often get asked for CAD advice and I might have an idea about what to do. Then again, I often have stupid ideas too. Oh well, if you are seeking CAD advice, and don't care who you get it from, drop me a line at lazydrafter@gmail.com. I'll do my best not to make you  [more...]

Dear Lazy Drafter,I don't want to sound full of myself, but this place would fall to pieces without me, but I don't get treated like it. I do my production work and help everybody that has a mouse in the place. I do everything from write LISP to download pictures off  [more...]

What is DE8.16N? Well since today is DE8.15N, I have a good feeling we will find out tomorrow via live Facecast at 10am PT. Go to www.facebook.com/AutoCAD or, watch it here on the LazyDrafter by clicking here.Now that's some mighty fine feed, indeed! [more...]

Dear Lazy Drafter,I am a CAD Manager, and I have 2 highly capable drafters that just can't seem to get along. Every chance they get they stab each other in the back, or report minor drafting standards violations on each other. In our office the drafters are supposed  [more...]

It has been going on for years, and it happened to me again. I got this error after upgrading to 2012 when I used the Burst command.ACET Autoload not found, blah, blah, blah.Well, Burst is an Express Tools command, so number one make sure Express Tools is loaded. Seeing  [more...]

Ellen Finkelstein writes a little book called the AutoCAD Bible and AutoCAD LT 2012 Bible.She also has a AutoCAD Tips Blog, writes on using Power Point effectively, gives presentation training and consulting along with speaking. When she is not doing anything else  [more...]

Just another heads up about the next AutoCAD Facecast. The team hopes to get to a point where we have at least one per week! Heidi Hewett Hosts Facecast About ParametricsWednesday, July 6 · 10:00am - 11:00am (Pacific)The Facecast Tab http://autode.sk/kX9khBAutoCAD  [more...]