AutoCAD Insider

AutoCAD 2010 and Windows 7

Last October, Autodesk announced support for AutoCAD 2010 on the Windows 7 operating system. Have you made the leap yet? I’ve been resistant to the change, not because I haven’t heard great things about Windows 7, but because I’ve been traveling/presenting so much and I don’t dare change operating systems (or anything else) right before a presentation. That would be crazy, right?

While I’ve been circling the globe, my husband (and personal IT expert) enthusiastically updated my extra computer with Windows 7. That was just over a week ago and I had only one day to transfer my data and get comfortable with my new system before hitting the road again. The file navigation and screen settings (resolution and projection) took a little getting used to. But, overall, it’s been an incredibly easy transition. And, not only did I change operating systems, I went 64-bit!

• Operating System (64-bit Windows 7)
• Hardware (Dell Precision M4400 Mobile Workstation)
• Software (64-bit AutoCAD 2010)

Everything is working wonderfully and I can’t imagine going back to my 32-bit Win XP system.

Learn more about Autodesk’s support of Windows 7 from the press release or knowledge base. Maybe it's time for you to take the leap!

AutoCAD is Supported on Windows 7

Great news! Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of AutoCAD® 2010 software and AutoCAD® LT® 2010 software are compatible with -- and supported on -- all available Microsoft operating systems, including Microsoft Windows® 7, Windows Vista™, and Windows XP—you do not need a service pack or product update.

There are some known minor limitations of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT on Windows 7.  For a complete description of limitations, please refer to the AutoCAD Knowledgebase.

AutoCAD 2010 Contextual Tab States 101

In a previous post, I described contextual ribbon tabs and I listed the default editing modes for which context-sensitive ribbon tabs are displayed including blocks, text, meshes, in-place references, section planes, and tables. The context-sensitive behavior is controlled by contextual tab states, which you can view and modify in the Customize User Interface (CUI) dialog box.

1. Use the CUI command to access the Customize User Interface dialog box
2. Expand the Ribbon node
3. Expand the Contextual Tab States node

A long list of contextual tab states is displayed. Most of them relate to object selection (Arc selected, Attribute selected, Block selected). Others relate to editing modes (Block Editor Mode, Reference Editing Mode). The contextual tab states that are already defined can be expanded to show which tabs will display in those modes.

 
For example, the Block Editor Contextual Tab and the Block Editor – Close Contextual Merged Tab automatically displays when you enter the Block Editor.

The DGN Underlay Contextual Tab automatically displays when you select a DGN underlay.

While the contextual tab states indicate which tabs to display under what conditions, they do not define the tabs themselves. The tabs are defined, just as they’ve always been, under the Ribbon>Tabs node in the CUI editor.

AutoCAD 2010: A closer look at contextual ribbon tabs

The ribbon in AutoCAD 2010 enables you to interact with the user interface more efficiently than ever before. It provides many context-sensitive tabs that display the tools you need when you need them. For example, if you select an external reference, AutoCAD automatically displays the External References ribbon tab. If you select an attached image, AutoCAD automatically displays the Image ribbon tab. The same holds true if you select a PDF attachment (new in AutoCAD 2010), a DGN attachment or a DWF attachment. 

  

 

 

 

 
 
In each case the AutoCAD ribbon displays the tools you need most for that selection. The ribbon is also context-sensitive when you’re editing blocks, text, meshes, in-place references, section planes, and tables.

On a completely unrelated note, have you responded to the AutoCAD 3D survey? We'd appreciate your input!

The Dashboard, the Ribbon, and AutoCAD 2010

The Dashboard was introduced in AutoCAD 2007 to provide easy access to 3D design tools. Most users liked the concept but wanted to be able to customize it with their own tools. So, in AutoCAD 2008, customizable Dashboard Panels were included in the CUI (Customize User Interface) editor. Then, in AutoCAD 2009, we introduced the Ribbon as a more powerful and flexible replacement for the Dashboard. The DASHBOARD command was even redirected to launch the Ribbon! The Ribbon could do everything the Dashboard could do, and more! The one thing it couldn’t do was enable you to import your customized dashboard panels. 

I’m happy to report that in AutoCAD 2010 you can import your customized dashboard panels. Here’s the process!

1. In AutoCAD 2010, open the CUI editor (CUI command).

2. Select the Transfer tab.

3. On the right side of the Transfer tab (Customizations in New File), choose Open Customization File.
   

4. Change the Files of type to CUI. The default file type is CUIx…  So, if you forget this step you’ll find yourself searching everywhere and wondering why you can’t find your CUI file!
   

5. Select the CUI file that contains your customized dashboard. As soon as you open a CUI file in the CUI editor, AutoCAD 2010 automatically copies it to a new CUIx format file.

6. In the CUI editor, expand the Dashboard Panels node on the right side of the Transfer tab.

7. Select the panels you want to import. You can use the Ctrl and Shift keys to select multiple panels.

8. Right-click and choose Copy to Ribbon Panels.
   

9. In the confirmation dialog box, select Yes.
   
   AutoCAD 2010 creates an equivalent copy of the selected dashboard panels under the Ribbon node of the SAME file.

10. Select the ribbon panels under the Ribbon node on the right side of the Transfer tab and drag them to the Ribbon node on the left side of the Transfer tab.
     

AutoCAD 2010... a closer look at the New Features Workshop

If you’re like me, when you install a new version of AutoCAD you want to jump right in and try it out! I quickly dismiss all the windows that pop up (Initial Setup, New Features Workshop) so that I can start using the new tools.

 
Suddenly I find myself staring at a blank AutoCAD drawing with no idea what to do. Oh, if I had only taken the time to view the New Features Workshop (NFW), I would know what’s new and where to start! Well, lucky for me (and you), the NFW is available anytime… even if you hastily dismissed it initially!
Instead of staring helplessly at the blank AutoCAD drawing, select New Features Workshop from the Help menu in the upper right corner of the display.

The NFW is an interactive Flash-based tool that introduces you to what’s new in AutoCAD. And, it isn’t only what’s new in AutoCAD 2010. If you’re upgrading from AutoCAD 2007, AutoCAD 2008, or AutoCAD 2009, you can use the NFW to get a quick overview of what’s new to YOU!

For example, if you just upgraded from AutoCAD 2008, select the AutoCAD 2009 option in the NFW to view a list of functionality that was added in AutoCAD 2009, such as the Action Recorder. You can read a brief description and view a demonstration video. Although the demo videos were created in that particular release and it may vary slightly from the AutoCAD 2010 interface, the general idea is the same and will help guide you in the right direction.

And, of course, you’ll want to check out the new AutoCAD 2010 functionality. Did I mention this is my FAVORITE release EVER? Use the NFW to learn about free-form modeling, parametrics, PDF support, and more! 

Only a few more weeks until you can get your hands on this awesome release of AutoCAD!

AutoCAD 2010 Launch Webcast

March is upon us and that means a new release of AutoCAD is just around the corner! If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to watch the AutoCAD 2010 Launch Webcast, now’s the time! Join Amar Hanspal, Senior Vice President of Platform Solutions, Eric Stover, AutoCAD Product Line Manager, and myself as we introduce you to the newest and most powerful release of AutoCAD!

AutoCAD 2010…. A closer look at the Ribbon

The AutoCAD ribbon, introduced in AutoCAD 2009, was a dramatic change from the traditional user interface. It was a new concept to many people, especially those that weren’t yet using Office 2007. Well, a year later, the shock seems to be wearing off and many AutoCAD users are embracing the ribbon! In fact, a recent survey of AutoCAD 2010 beta participants indicates that the ribbon is one their FAVORITE tools. Granted, the ribbon in AutoCAD 2010 offers some significant improvements over the original AutoCAD 2009 version. In AutoCAD 2010, the ribbon provides greater flexibility, easier access to tools, and consistency across Autodesk applications.

You can drag a ribbon panel off the ribbon to display it as a sticky panel. Sticky panels display until you choose the option to Return Panels to Ribbon. They remain visible even if you select a different tab!

 

The vertical ribbon, which can be displayed by undocking the ribbon from its horizontal position, has been updated to show the tab names along the side. The panel titles are displayed by default and those with additional tools include slide-out panels. When resizing the vertical ribbon, buttons automatically flow to the next or previous row and other elements, such as slider bars, automatically shorten or lengthen.

In addition to these enhancements, the AutoCAD 2010 ribbon provides more customization options. Using the CUI (Customize User Interface) editor, you can import a customized dashboard and define contextual ribbon tab states.

AutoCAD 2010… a closer look at the Application Menu

AutoCAD 2010 includes a new Application Menu, which is accessible from the big “A” in the upper left corner of the AutoCAD display. At first glance, you might think the Application Menu is just a minor variation of the Menu Browser, which was introduced in AutoCAD 2009. There are many similarities, but there are plenty of differences as well. Let’s take a look at them side-by-side.

The most noticeable difference is the menu list on the left side. In AutoCAD 2009, all of the former drop-down menus (File, Edit, Draw, etc) are listed vertically. None of those menus are listed in the AutoCAD 2010 Application Menu. Instead, the AutoCAD 2010 Application Menu includes tools that are common across software applications.

For example, compare the application menus from Microsoft Office Word 2007 (left) and AutoCAD 2010 (right). A notable difference between these two menus is the Recent/Open documents toggle at the top of the AutoCAD 2010 Application Menu.

Using the Recent/Open Documents toggle you can display a list of recently accessed documents (left) or open documents (right). 

The toggle buttons replace the Recent Documents and Open Documents options that were displayed at the bottom of Menu Browser in AutoCAD 2009.

AutoCAD 2010 Demonstrations!

Check out the latest and greatest AutoCAD functionality in these demo videos!