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AutoCAD and Civil 3D tips, guides and tutorials. 228 posts.

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

AutoCAD Selection Method problem? (Select Command First then Objects)

AutoCAD or Civil 3D ignores Delete, double-click or right-click on selected objects? The PICKFIRST system variable is the likely cause and fix. January 24, 2017 · 2 min read

Enter name of drawing? Uninstall AutoCAD? (Easy Solution!)

AutoCAD asks Enter name of drawing to open? Do not reinstall. The FILEDIA system variable is the cause and the fix takes seconds. January 22, 2017 · 1 min read

How to Reduce Size and Increase Performance of AutoCAD Drawings

Reduce AutoCAD drawing size and fix slow performance with PURGE, -PURGE for Regapps and other cleanup methods for bloated files. January 21, 2017 · 4 min read