A lot of times people encounter the situation where they have so many layers in a drawing and some are duplicated with slightly different layer names; for example: M-WALL-N, M-WALL-NEW or M-HVAC-EQPM, M-EQPM-HVAC. Sometimes the layer is occupied by an inserted block that is not used on the plan. Other times, the layer is not occupied by an object. If you try to purge the drawing the layer still will be there.
In AutoCAD, you can merge unused layers into another used layer by using the LAYMRG command. It is helpful in cleaning up your layers and organizing them, especially when you need to convert your drawing standard to a different given standard. That might happen if you are working with someone else or another firm who has a different layer naming convention.
To merge layers:
1. Type LAYMRG in the command prompt.
2. Select the layer you need to merge.
3. Hit enter or the spacebar on your keyboard.
4. Select the target layer you want to merge to.
5. Select or type “yes” when asked.
6. Press enter or the space bar on your keyboard.
The old layer should now be deleted and purged out of the drawings. You can merge more than one (1) layer at a time to a target layer. Simply select the layers to be merged one after the other before you hit enter or the space bar.
NB: To use this command, your merging layer should not be set as current.

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.

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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“.

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The following table lists the 12 default function keys in CAD. You can override  them temporarily as you need or change their settings.

F1 Displays Help

F2 Toggles Text Window

F3 Toggles OSNAP

F4 Toggles TABMODE

F5 Toggles ISOPLANE

F6 Toggles UCSDETECT

F7 Toggles GRIDMODE

F8 Toggles ORTHOMODE

F9 Toggles SNAPMODE

F10 Toggles Polar Tracking

F11 Toggles Object Snap Tracking

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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.

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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.

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