During a recent conversation with a customer, we were discussing some efficiency tips and tricks for working in AutoCAD. They had noticed that users were spending a lot of time finding and selecting layers before drawing a new object in AutoCAD. Since drawing objects on the proper layer is always recommended, we looked for a solution that might speed up the process.
For example, consider a drawing that contains layers for WATER, SEWER, and DRAIN and each layer has a specific color, and linetype assigned. Drawing polylines on these layers would typically follow this type of workflow:
- Set the current layer
- Start the polyline command (or other draw command)
- Draw the object
If the drawing contains a large number of layers or layers with similar naming, filtering through the layer list becomes increasingly difficult.
One solution for this is to leverage custom Tool Palettes (Note: This functionality exists for all AutoCAD-based software). Commands added to Tool Palettes maintain the properties of the original object used to add the commands. By creating a set of objects on specific layers and adding those to Tool Palettes, users can create a “shortcut” to commands with pre-set layers and properties, cutting down on the number of steps required in creating new objects.
First, start by drawing a polyline on each of the desired layers.
The magenta polyline was drawn on the DRAIN layer, orange on SEWER, and blue on WATER. The color and linetype are ByLayer properties that are defined through Layer State settings, and an additional linetype scale has also been applied to the DRAIN and SEWER lines through individual object properties.
The next step is to add the objects to the Tool Palettes. Dragging and dropping the polylines to the Tool Palette creates a custom Polyline command that creates objects with the same base properties.
To help identify each command, Rename the items in the Tool Palette based on the layer of the object they came from.
Finally, update the command image to provide a preview of the object it creates. For this, we’ll need a screenshot or image to use.
Once an image is available, right-click to specify a new image for the command in the Tool Palette. Images will need to be specified for both Light and Dark themes, and the same image can be used for both.
An additional tip is to set a thicker lineweight for the screenshot. The thicker line will be easier to see when used as the thumbnail image for the command in the Tool Palette.
Now there are custom polyline commands that are quickly accessible with one click on the Tool Palette. Each command has a preset layer, color, linetype and linetype scale associated with the type of object it is intended for. The flyout arrow associated with each command also provides access to additional draw tools for LINE, ARC, CIRCLE, ELLIPSE, RAY, SPLINE and XLINE. The previously used command will become the default for the Tool Palette icon after it is used, and the flyout can also be deactivated through the command properties by right-clicking on the Tool Palette icon.
If you’re looking for a way to make things easier for drafters or looking for a way to more efficiently set object layers before starting commands, try creating custom Tool Palettes. A customized company standard palette can also be created and shared through an accessible network drive location added to the Options à Tool Palettes File Locations support path.
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