Skip to content

Blog

AutoCAD and Civil 3D tips, guides and tutorials. 231 posts.

Using Xref first step! How to attach Xref?

Attach an Xref in AutoCAD with the Insert ribbon or the XR command, using a house plan and furniture drawing example and the main attach options. February 16, 2017 · 3 min read

What is Xref in AutoCAD? How to use it Effortlessly!

What an Xref in AutoCAD is and why external references keep drawings light, support team collaboration, and let you reuse title blocks and details. February 13, 2017 · 3 min read

How to Copy Layer Settings to Another Drawing (Copy Layer Properties)

Copy layer settings to another AutoCAD drawing or viewport with Layer States. Save, export and import a .las file, shown with a grading plan example. February 10, 2017 · 3 min read

Layer States, EASY Job! What is Layer States and how to use them?

AutoCAD Layer States save your layer settings so you can restore them anytime. See how to reuse a grading plan view in an xref drawing. February 10, 2017 · 2 min read

How to Turn off Annotation scale Preview

Turn off the annotation scale preview that appears when you select annotative objects in AutoCAD by setting SELECTIONANNODISPLAY to 0. February 8, 2017 · 2 min read

Change multiple objects to ByLayer Effortlessly!

Use the AutoCAD SETBYLAYER command to reset color, linetype, lineweight, material and transparency of selected objects to ByLayer in one step. February 6, 2017 · 2 min read

Use your own TEMPLATE! (Create your own CAD standards!)

Why every drafter should start from their own AutoCAD template with proper layers and Civil 3D styles, and how it builds consistent CAD standards. February 4, 2017 · 2 min read

Civil 3D Guides

How to Assign Elevations to Feature line from Existing Surface.

Assign elevations to a Civil 3D feature line from an existing surface. Create a feature line, then apply Elevation from Surface in two steps. February 2, 2017 · 4 min read

Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in AutoCAD!

Create or edit your own AutoCAD keyboard shortcuts with the ALIASEDIT command instead of editing the acad.pgp file by hand, then reinitialize it. January 31, 2017 · 2 min read

How to Trim and Extend with Only One Command?

Trim and extend in AutoCAD with a single command. Hold the Shift key while running TRIM or EXTEND to switch to the other and work much faster. January 29, 2017 · 2 min read

How to Bring all Text to Front in AutoCAD! (With 1 Command!)

Bring all text to front in AutoCAD with one command, TEXTTOFRONT, so dimensions and text are not covered by lines and hatches. January 28, 2017 · 2 min read

Lighten up Xrefs in AutoCAD! (Quick Fade Control options!)

Make xrefs easier to see in AutoCAD by adjusting the Fade Control slider under Options and Display, so referenced objects are less faded. January 27, 2017 · 2 min read