To prevent a block from being exploded when inserting the block use the command MINSERT. When prompted, set the number of row or columns to any numbers except 1. Then go to the property of the block and change that row or column back to 1. This will prevent the block from showing as an array. This command is also good if you want to create an array with a block.
NB: You cannot use MINSERT with annotative blocks.

Add to: BlinkList, del.icio.us, Digg, Furl, ma.gnolia, reddit, Simpy, Spurl

If you need to reload quickly all xrefs (external references) in a drawing without going to the External Reference dialog box,
right-click on the xref icon in the status bar tray located in the lower right-hand corner of your screen

and select “Reload DWG Xrefs“.

Add to: , , , , , , ,

You can open multiple drawings and attach multiple xrefs at once in AutoCAD, providing that you have enough memory and your machine is powerful enough to handle all the files.

Here is how to do that: In the Open File dialogue box, simply hold down the SHIFT button on your keyboard and select the first and the last files from the list of drawings that you need to open. Hit Open. If you need to open multiple files, but they are not in sequence, use the CTRL button instead of SHIFT.

The above procedure works also with your Windows Explorer, just hit ENTER instead of OPEN.

Add to: , , , , , , ,

Have you noticed that when you create a new layout in a new drawing, all your cad layers are displayed in white (color) in paper space, even though you assigned them a specific color? That is because you probably have the “display plot styles” box checked. It is unchecked by default in AutoCAD. To fix that follow this simple steps:

Select the layout tab that you want to modify

Right click on the layout tab

Select Page Setup Manager…

Make sure the layout is highlighted under Page setups on the left side

Select Modify…

Uncheck the “Display plot styles” box below the Plot style table (pen assignments) in the upper right hand corner of the window.

Click OK.

Select “close” for the Page Setup Manager window.

Save your drawing to keep the change.

Add to: , , , , , , ,

Have you ever wanted to mirror an object in AutCAD with the text not showing backward? 

To accomplish that:

Type:  MIRRTEXT in the command line

At the command prompt change the value number to “0″.  See the result image below.

Add to: , , , , , , ,