Monday, June 27, 2005
Align objects in Corel Draw using shortcut keys!
When I’m doing graphic design with Corel Draw I frequently need to align my objects on my workspace. I know that it’s possible to do this using the top menus, but in the real world speed is what differentiates you from the others.
So for those who use Corel Draw as tool in their everyday work I think that it’s worth the time to read this posting.
First create a new file and draw a square and ellipse like is shown below. In order to create an exact object (height equals to width) you must use the CTRL key.
Now, what if you need to center the ellipse with the square. How do you do this?
Well as written above you can gain access to a bunch of features that let you align your object using the pull down menus at the top of your application; however it is faster if you make use of your keyboard using the right shortcut keys.
Select the square while pressing the SHIFT key and select the ellipse.
You must also know that the alignment is based on second (last) object in your selection, so for the example above the square is aligned with the ellipse.
Shortcut keys:
C -> Align centers certicaly
E -> Align centers horizontally
T -> Align top
B -> Align bottom
L -> Align left
R -> Align right
Now that you know the shortcut keys, you must practice them to make them part of your routine.
Remember that others could know the same as you, what makes you unique is the speed and dynamics that you put in your work.
When I’m doing graphic design with Corel Draw I frequently need to align my objects on my workspace. I know that it’s possible to do this using the top menus, but in the real world speed is what differentiates you from the others.
So for those who use Corel Draw as tool in their everyday work I think that it’s worth the time to read this posting.
First create a new file and draw a square and ellipse like is shown below. In order to create an exact object (height equals to width) you must use the CTRL key.
Now, what if you need to center the ellipse with the square. How do you do this?
Well as written above you can gain access to a bunch of features that let you align your object using the pull down menus at the top of your application; however it is faster if you make use of your keyboard using the right shortcut keys.
Select the square while pressing the SHIFT key and select the ellipse.
You must also know that the alignment is based on second (last) object in your selection, so for the example above the square is aligned with the ellipse.
Shortcut keys:
C -> Align centers certicaly
E -> Align centers horizontally
T -> Align top
B -> Align bottom
L -> Align left
R -> Align right
Now that you know the shortcut keys, you must practice them to make them part of your routine.
Remember that others could know the same as you, what makes you unique is the speed and dynamics that you put in your work.
Restoring Defaults in Corel Draw
Monday, June 20, 2005
I am going to start a new job next week, which will involve using Corel Draw as a main tool. I resolved to start re-familiarize myself with this software.
When I opened Corel Draw (11) on my computer, some of my menus disappeared and other settings have either changed or are lost.
I did find a solution, which I am posting for all today.
Solution:
When I opened Corel Draw (11) on my computer, some of my menus disappeared and other settings have either changed or are lost.
I did find a solution, which I am posting for all today.
Solution:
- Hold down the F8 key.
- Launch CorelDraw in the usual way. After a few seconds the dialogue box below will appear.
- Click the "Yes" button.
Corel will then start with all the menus, tools, etc. looking the way they did when you first installed the program.
How to enter special characters
Saturday, June 18, 2005
While working in the drafting field for the past few years, I have always used special characters (symbols) in AutoCAD. The latest versions of the AutoCAD let you access these symbols in different ways, but I since I started my career using AutoCAD 12 (in MS DOS operation system), I still like to use the old way.
Below is a list of control sequences for some of the symbols that I use frequently:
Hope you find this useful.
Until next time,
Fernando Salgado
Below is a list of control sequences for some of the symbols that I use frequently:
TIP: the special character %%o or %%u act as toggles. For example, if you enter "this%%utoggles%%u the underscore", the word toggles will be underscored (toggles).
Hope you find this useful.
Until next time,
Fernando Salgado
Photoshop shortcuts
Monday, June 13, 2005
After organizing some of my files, I found an old Word document with Photoshop shortcuts. I know that until now, all my postings had been about about AutoCAD, however this blog is not just about CAD, so, here are are the shortcuts available for you to download.
http://www.fsalgado.com/photoshop_keyboard_shortcuts.zip
http://www.fsalgado.com/photoshop_keyboard_shortcuts.zip
How to find the viewport scale
Friday, June 10, 2005
Today, I was asked about how to find the viewport scale in AutoCAD. I thought this would be a good posting on my blog. Normally, in order to determine or change the scale of a viewport in paperspace, I use the keystroke CTRL + 1, but if you have the express tools installed (available in AutoCAD 2004 to 2006), you can just type the command "vpscale" in the command prompt.
Open and edit any DWG file using any version of AutoCAD
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
For anyone who doesn't have the latest version of AutoCAD who need to open drawings created by a newer version, there is now a free plug-in that let you do this easily: DWGgateway
The software lets AutoCAD users work easily with DWG files created by any version of AutoCAD software. Here is the link to the free download page:
http://www.dwggateway.com/index.html
The software lets AutoCAD users work easily with DWG files created by any version of AutoCAD software. Here is the link to the free download page:
http://www.dwggateway.com/index.html
Conversion of units
Monday, June 06, 2005
Working in the drafting field in a country like Canada means that you must be prepared to receive projects created using the imperial system (feet and inches) or the official metric system.
Because of this dilemma, I was able to find an application to help me quickly solve my problem, of which I am posting about today.
The application that I use almost everyday to convert units between the two systems is a small program (568 KB) called Convert. The name basically says everything and you can download it for free from the author’s web site: http://www.joshmadison.com/software/
Because of this dilemma, I was able to find an application to help me quickly solve my problem, of which I am posting about today.
The application that I use almost everyday to convert units between the two systems is a small program (568 KB) called Convert. The name basically says everything and you can download it for free from the author’s web site: http://www.joshmadison.com/software/
Autocad 2006 Animated Zoom
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Every time that Autodesk releases a new version of their famous AutoCAD, they introduce some feature that eventually becomes more annoying than useful.
In the 2006 version of AutoCAD, it’s the Animated Zoom.
Autodesk resolved to add a feature which performs the zoom and view panning/rotate in a slow, animated manner so that user doesn’t lose the view context.
It doesn’t work for me! I believe that there are many of you out there that feel the same way I do, those that use AutoCAD every day, would probably do better without this innovation. Here is a way to deactivate this “great feature”:
- Use the _vtoptions command to change the speed parameters of the “soft” zoom or to turn it off completely.
The overkill command
Saturday, June 04, 2005
From time to time at my workplace I receive architectural drawings that have been generated by other applications different from AutoCAD, that have possibly been inserted with blocks more than once in the same insertion point and exploded. The end result is a drawing with a big number of duplicate objects causing a file bigger than it really should be.
I know many people in different parts of the world that don’t care about this issue but if you are proud of your work, and if is part of your job to implement company standards it‘s a good idea to try to control this situation.
After researching for an Autolisp routine that could resolve my problem I found an AutoCAD command that comes with the AutoCAD Express tools that does exactly what I want: The Overkill.
The overkill tool basically allows you to delete duplicates and combining line and arc segments that overlap.
The requirements are that you should have any version of the AutoCAD Express tools installed (from AutoCAD 2000 to 2006)
How to use: In the command line type “overkill” or in the pulldown menus on the top you click: express->modify->delete duplicate.
I know many people in different parts of the world that don’t care about this issue but if you are proud of your work, and if is part of your job to implement company standards it‘s a good idea to try to control this situation.
After researching for an Autolisp routine that could resolve my problem I found an AutoCAD command that comes with the AutoCAD Express tools that does exactly what I want: The Overkill.
The overkill tool basically allows you to delete duplicates and combining line and arc segments that overlap.
The requirements are that you should have any version of the AutoCAD Express tools installed (from AutoCAD 2000 to 2006)
How to use: In the command line type “overkill” or in the pulldown menus on the top you click: express->modify->delete duplicate.
Steps:
After selecting the entities or group of entities that you want, press enter. A dialogue box will pop up where you have some options that will let you:
- Control how overkill compares objects
- Control the precision with which overkill makes numeric comparisons
- Setting up how AutoCAD deals with lines and polylines
- Controlling how AutoCAD handles objects that partially overlap and obscure one another.
If you want to know more about the overkill command, or need help during this task, click on the Help button highlighted below. Given that this time Autodesk has included good documentation to back up one of their tools, it would be good for us, the users, to appreciate such a gesture.
I hope users of AutoCAD involved in drafting find this posting useful. Let me know in the comments what you think. I will be writing more soon.
Welcome to my blog!
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Welcome to my blog!
Although I've had a web site for a while, and I've tried to dabble in blogging, I now have decided to dedicate myself to this new venture. This blog will be dedicated to news, views and interesting information in the Tech world, including AutoCAD, the main tool in making a living.
I hope you enjoy.
Fernando
Although I've had a web site for a while, and I've tried to dabble in blogging, I now have decided to dedicate myself to this new venture. This blog will be dedicated to news, views and interesting information in the Tech world, including AutoCAD, the main tool in making a living.
I hope you enjoy.
Fernando
