AutoCAD 2013 Wish List?

[nrz13]

Is there an official place to request features for the next version of AutoCAD?

What I would like to see are center-point grips added to polygonal elements, just as a center grip appears for circles.  An implied center-point grip would be useful too, for instance, for selecting two normal lines and having a center point calculated between the implied geometry area.

[rkmcswain · Accepted solution]

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@nrz13 wrote:

Is there an official place to request features for the next version of AutoCAD?

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Until the augi wish list is resurrected, you can use this.

[nrz13]

Thank you

[nrz13]

I would also like to see a Layer Order option in the Layers Palette.  We work with a lot of layers of hatches, and the HATCHTOBACK command is great for getting hatches behind the linework, but it doesn't always retain the correct relationship between hatches.

By default every layer could be at layer order 0 and then you could force layers to sit above or below that by specifying a layer order using negative or positive integers.

[Anonymous]

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@nrz13 wrote:

I would also like to see a Layer Order option in the Layers Palette.  We work with a lot of layers of hatches, and the HATCHTOBACK command is great for getting hatches behind the linework, but it doesn't always retain the correct relationship between hatches.

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There are several AutoLisp programs that helps you do that, a search will turn out several, like this one :

DOBYLAYER     http://www.dotsoft.com/freestuff.htm

BTW, most of the top AUGI wish list stuff can be solved by existing or easy-to-do Lisp routines...

[nrz13]

Fa3ien:

I did not consider a LISP routine for doing this -- thanks for the suggestion.  I will look into it, but I still think that managing the layer order in the Layers Palette with all the other layers attributes would make the most sense.  The layers palette is an easy-to-use graphical interface and it's quick and easy to make changes.  Editing LISP routines seems to be a more awkward solution.

[Anonymous]

I would like them to fix so that Hatches doesn't loose there association within DynBlk when you stretch the areas they are associative to..

*Note* Not 100%-positive that this is an AutoCad related problem, but it is darn annoying.

*Edit* Ohh ohh and a Burst commando! that explodes a block but all attributes filled in it converts to text instead of the Attributes becoming visible with there tags showing.

[RAFUSE]

How about getting my $500's worth in REAL ACAD features!!!???

Looks like most if not all the $ goes to Revit, etc. and other stuff many of us will never use!

RC

[nrz13]

Rafuselier:

I felt the same way at first, until I realized that as long as every third release is worthwhile, it still works out to be the same as buying an upgrade every three years.  For our firm, AutoCAD 2011 was a huge upgrade in terms of adding useful features.  So yes, while 2012 seems feature-lacking, there may be something useful for some people.  As long as 2013 or 2014 delivers another worthwhile set of features and/or performance improvements for us we'll be happy.  Think of the lack-luster in-between releases as free service packs if you'd like.

[ToanDN]

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@Anonymous wrote:

*Edit* Ohh ohh and a Burst commando! that explodes a block but all attributes filled in it converts to text instead of the Attributes becoming visible with there tags showing.

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That is what my BURST command has been doing forever.

[RAFUSE]

nrz13

I can just hear the clients of my engineering business if they received only 33% of what they paid for!!!

If the cycle was every three years, I would only have to go through the agone of updating ONCE instead of THREE times!

Looking back this "upgrade seems to have the LEAST real, worth while "features" yet.  Unless something worth while  surfaces I don't plan to upgrade to 2012 for a long time. 

Guess I'm in a sour mood after finding out Ford no longer sells replacement GEM (generic electronic modules) for my F150. Electronic failures are going to jumk all too many otherwise good vehicles. 

hum.

R

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

*Edit* Ohh ohh and a Burst commando! that explodes a block but all attributes filled in it converts to text instead of the Attributes becoming visible with there tags showing.

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There's an "explode attributes to text" in the Express Tools which does exactly that.

You lose a significant percentage of AutoCAD if you don't know the Express Tools.

(but pray that they don't butcher it in the next release...)

[nrz13]

Rafuselier:

I get what you're saying.  But like you said, you don't have to upgrade everyone to a particular release.  Just think of it as paying for a normal three-year upgrade in three one-year installments.  AutoCAD's newer approach is to make incremental improvements, which has the benefit of not overwhelming users with every new release.  I can see how this could be a pain for large companies with many computers to upgrade to each release, though.

Now, if 2013 or 2014 don't deliver I will feel very ripped-off!  And that's the real down side to the subscription plan -- you don't know what you're getting until you've already paid for it.

[Anonymous]

my 2013 wish list was simple to make, just had to cut and paste from my 2012, 2011 or 2010 wish list.

In Layer Translator add the ability to include/exclude all columns, prominently “Description”.

Have a CAD manager add on pack for full AutoCAD, including Command import/export, Toolbar import/export, Quick Toolbar import/export,  and ability to have other used auto update  Palettes and tool at start-up.

(Not every CAD manager works for an Architecture or civil firm, and we will NOT buy software of no use to us,  just to get management tools, but we will buy "AutoCAD CAD Manager set" for the Management tools.)

Add a Redefine all Blocks command.

With a Tool Palette’s “Hatch command” add the ability to choice “Pick Point” or “Select Object”.

Also in Ribbon’s Hatch panel add tool palette style hatches, so pattern and properties can be selected in one click.

IT would look just like the pattern panel, be be much more powerful.

Ribbon second screen docking plus both Top & Bottom docking on both screens.

Multiple Tool Palettes.

Create a Command for Tool Palette that would work like MATCHPROP but instead of selecting a object to match, the user presets the properties in Tool Properties.

Add layer Filters to DesignCenter and/or ability to import/export Filters.

Move version text to bottom, and give us the ability to have drawing text align right, left or center.

In popup boxes like "Customize User Interface" and have columns,scaling, and expansions to restore to last used when reopening them!

Add "send to back" style of draw oder to Layers and Layer Porperties Manager

I do have one new wish, kinda.

with Content Explorer & DesignCenter

Add “Description” when viewing layers.

[nrz13]

Donande:

Create a Command for Tool Palette that would work like MATCHPROP but instead of selecting a object to match, the user presets the properties in Tool Properties.

Are you looking for something like the SELECTSIMILAR command that was added in 2011?  I love that command and use it a lot.  You can adjust the selection settings by typing SE after entering the command.

[Anonymous]

Nrz13,

No, but I also use and like SelectSimilar.

In fact one command a created and use often uses it.

^C^C_selectSimilar; dr;back

 Or (I can not remember if DR is alias I added or not)

^C^C_selectSimilar; DRAWORDER;back

Well it that just great! In 2012 I not have to hit enter again after it does back, unlike I did in 2011.

Anyway the command I’m wishing for would be like the “matchprop” command where you select an object to get the properties and then select other object to give those properties to.

And what I’m wishing for is a command that instead of selecting a object to get the properties, you have to properties already set (using Tool Properites) to give to a object.

Let’s say your drawing a movable wall, and your drawing has no other movable walls or the they where draw by some that that not follow company standards. Not that would ever happen.

With this command you go to your tool pallet select the command the CAD manager created called “Movable Wall” then select the lines you want to have all the new wall properties.

I hope this explains it better.

P.S. 

With this command there is no hunting for a object with the properties you want, and no worrying if the properties match company standards.

[nrz13]

Donande:

I understand what you're saying now.

As for your command where you have to hit enter afterwards in 2012, can't you just add another semi-colon at the end to have it hit enter for you automatically?

[Anonymous]

As for your command where you have to hit enter afterwards in 2012, can't you just add another semi-colon at the end to have it hit enter for you automatically?

I have tried that. it most be a bug I guess I need to a support request.

[nrz13]

Donande:

It'd be annoying to do, but this workaround would probably work:

Set up your command string in a .lsp file (in LISP format, of course) and give it an alias.  Then open CUI and associate your button with just that alias.

Fortunately for me, I do everything through keyboard entry using custom entries in the .pgp file and a custom .lsp file.  With each new release I don't have to figure out toolbar or ribbon changes because I don't use them (with the exception of the Properties and Viewport Scale drop-down boxes).  It makes going from one version to the next very easy and I have lots of screen real estate (see screen shot).

[nrz13]

Fa3ien:

I looked into the DOBYLAYER.vlx script, but unfortunately it didn't work for me.  It would adjust a layer in the same way DRAWORDER does.  It didn't permanently maintain the layer order relationship, though.  Thanks anyway.