Advance Steel custom commands-share your ideas

[acbsdesign]

Hello,

It will be nice to learn more about custom commands / combination of Autocad and Advance Steel commands improving productivity. 

To colleagues willing to share-Thank you.

Here is a tiny example:

"Hide parts with identical numbers"-used when parts are detailed using drawings styles.

^C^C_AstM5equalpartsMarkSame \;AstM4CommSelectMarkedObjects ;_AstM4SwitchReprMode off

And another one:

"Hide Similar Advance Steel Objects":

^C^C_SelectSimilar \;_AstM4SwitchReprMode off

Regards, 

Ilko Dimitrov

ACBS

[Drawtech]

---

@acbsdesign wrote:

---

@Drawtech wrote:

---

Unfortunately the multi select only works on different dimension chains.  If you want to remove more than one dimension point from the same chain you still have to do one at a time.

Still a useful workflow though - thanks  Ilko @acbsdesign for bringing to our attention!  ...like you say, really useful for removing galv hole dimensions 🙂

---

@Drawtech 

@Anonymous 

Hi Dave,

It works with dimension points with both same and different dimension chains.

DELETE DIMENSION POINTS-MULTIPLE

*^C^C_AstM4CommDetModDimRemove \;;

Screencast-Delete dimension points-multiple

Happy 4th.

---

Ah now it it working - the " \;;" was missing from the end before.

Many thanks Ilko. 

[acbsdesign]

I hope the IDEA STEALERS won’t include this in their powerpack to try to make money out if it.

Lol

[acbsdesign]

---

@Drawtech wrote:

@Sebastian_Eiche 

Sebastian,  another question you might know the answer to?

...since these shortcut menus are set up in AdvanceSteel.cuix, presumably they will not migrate to a new version?

I did try creating them in a Partial Customization File initially, but the context sensitive menus would not show up at all!

Is there a solution to this so that they will migrate?

...otherwise I will just need to create from scratch in a new version.

---

Hi Dave, did you try by dragging from old to new cuix file in the cui menu, it usually works. This is how I move old ribbon panels and toolbars.

[acbsdesign · Accepted solution]

@Drawtech 

This is not a bad workflow, better than calling the same command twice:

ALIGN CUT VIEW SYMBOLS - One command for top and bottom symbol

^C^C_AstM20CommDetAlignCutSymbols \;

Screencast

[pinnacledrafting]

@acbsdesign  

"I hope the IDEA STEALERS won’t include this in their powerpack to try to make money out if it.

Lol"

Actually I hope they do. LOL.

Graitec was the original developers (still are to a point) of AS. If you buy AS through them, then the powerpack is free.

Just sayin....

On another note,

when I have done long grider trusses where it would be better spread over 2 or more sheets, after modeling the truss i put the whole thing on a sheet with a BOM (100 for example).

1. Scale down the truss very small and put it off to the side, out of the drawing borders.

2. Back in the model, I create a detail view (2 - Detail View) of just the part of the truss I want to show on the first page and place it on the sheet with the BOM (100) just like you would do if you were creating an erection drawing with multiple details.

3. Erase unwanted items like beams/braces that are going to appear. Update detail to get rid of the grey boxes.

4. Next I would create another detail view of the next part of the truss I want to show on the second drawing (call it 100a or whatever), this sheet will not have a BOM on it because it is on the first sheet of the series and that is why the scaled down truss is there and off to the side. Note: don't erase the original scaled down truss or the BOM will be useless.

Takes some work, but its a lot better than trying to cram a 60+ foot truss/plate grider/column on a 24x36 drawing and trying to make it look decent so the shop can read it. Quick example attached, these would normally be on 24x36, but you get the point.

[acbsdesign]

---

@pinnacledrafting wrote:

@acbsdesign  

"I hope the IDEA STEALERS won’t include this in their powerpack to try to make money out if it.

Lol"

Actually I hope they do. LOL.

Graitec was the original developers (still are to a point) of AS. If you buy AS through them, then the powerpack is free.

Just sayin....

On another note,

when I have done long grider trusses where it would be better spread over 2 or more sheets, after modeling the truss i put the whole thing on a sheet with a BOM (100 for example).

1. Scale down the truss very small and put it off to the side, out of the drawing borders.

2. Back in the model, I create a detail view (2 - Detail View) of just the part of the truss I want to show on the first page and place it on the sheet with the BOM (100) just like you would do if you were creating an erection drawing with multiple details.

3. Erase unwanted items like beams/braces that are going to appear. Update detail to get rid of the grey boxes.

4. Next I would create another detail view of the next part of the truss I want to show on the second drawing (call it 100a or whatever), this sheet will not have a BOM on it because it is on the first sheet of the series and that is why the scaled down truss is there and off to the side. Note: don't erase the original scaled down truss or the BOM will be useless.

Takes some work, but its a lot better than trying to cram a 60+ foot truss/plate grider/column on a 24x36 drawing and trying to make it look decent so the shop can read it. Quick example attached, these would normally be on 24x36, but you get the point.

---

Hi,

This is what I do too, thank you for sharing.

 Until we get "Send detail or section view to new or existing drawing" functionality.

About Graitec-I had a bad experience with the office in Montreal, 

reporting bugs was considered Technical Support and I was told I have to pay more for it.

On the top of this, a lady is picking up the phone-How may I help you, ..I say-Can I talk to X, she says: Hold on a minute, ...A Minute becomes 20 minutes, same lady is picking up the phone again-How May I help you, Oh, ok, ...

Long story short-I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT DOING BUSINESS OF ANY KIND WITH GRAITEC North America.

I had the Powerpack, I purchased it for only one project to be able to do the cuts between polybeams pipe to pipe on a large size pedestrian bridge.

I did not need the powerpack after that for years.

Also-Being self-employed and having stiff competition we do anything it takes to keep the expenses down, otherwise, we will not survive.

Custom connections listed above are saving a tremendous amount of time.

Hide detailed parts (or select parts not having dwgs associated) was loudly asked here in AD forum.

I believe this should be part of the main (or basic) package.

About the rest of Graitec-I have no impression of any kind and I do not know any person who is with Graitec.

My only experience was when I did read Graitec's CEO's statement MANY YEARS ago saying drawings are stable,

"I guarantee it" he said.

LOL-I was dying laughing, drawings became more stable since 2019 and now 2020 version.

Back then-Dimensions moving, detail titles moving, detail views moving, compass marks moving.

Graitec did the software at appr. 65-75% of what is supposed to be, AD improved it a lot.

After that, the bloated Revit came on the horizon, and things became slow.

On top of this, we have product management that is not familiar with this software, and with steel detailing.

And this sucks.

Have a great weekend.

[Anonymous]

---

@acbsdesign wrote:

I hope the IDEA STEALERS won’t include this in their powerpack to try to make money out if it.

Lol

---

Hi Ilko. Sorry as i'm not sure where you are from but in the UK Graitec are i believe the biggest re-seller of Advanced Steel, and if you purchase AS through them the power pack comes for free and for us guys it is amazingly helpful.

i think calling them 'idea stealers' out for profit really isn't a fair criticism, especially as they are developing Advanced steel in ways that auto desk don't appear to be doing and have been doing so long before you mentioned they stole your idea. This is something in my opinion that we should praise as although it costs extra money for others it is completely OPTIONAL and at least someone is out there doing it. 

Guys from Graitec like Aleck and Rob are regularly on these forums helping out new and experienced users and i cant fault their Tech support as they have helped me out numerous times always the same day. I don't think your comments are very fair, although i understand your frustration i think you should look closely at who you fire your shots at as it appears your shooting at the same team this time.

Have a good weekend,

Jake 

[acbsdesign]

Hi Jake,

Fair enough. 

But I have to buy it from here, not from Graitec UK.

[pinnacledrafting · Accepted solution]

@acbsdesign 

I understand your frustration. Tech support at Graitec and AD both suck. I learned long ago to find work-arounds because of the too late (or never) responses. I just send emails now instead of making calls and hope for the best.

On the Ideas forum here, I'm seeing the majority of requests are just the same as the ones made on the Graitec forums pre-Autodesk. (example..multiple leaders of welds/labels well over a decade ago).

The Powerpack I use almost daily so for me it makes up for the short comings of AS in other areas.

Here's a lisp routine I wrote for dimensioning slopes when you need rise/base/slope dimensions.

I used this a lot on stairs and adapted it for use in AS. Both are included.

Pick the slope points in all of these after executing the command

For Rise & Base in ACAD:

(DEFUN C:DD ()
(setq layer (getvar "clayer"))
(SETQ DD1 (GETPOINT))
(SETQ DD2 (GETPOINT))
(COMMAND "-LAYER" "S" "PROJECT" "")
(COMMAND "DIMLINEAR" DD1 DD2 "H" PAUSE "")
(COMMAND "DIMLINEAR" DD1 DD2 "V" PAUSE "")
(setvar "clayer" layer)
)

For Rise-Base-Slope in ACAD
(DEFUN C:DDD ()
(setq layer (getvar "clayer"))
(SETQ DD1 (GETPOINT))
(SETQ DD2 (GETPOINT))
(COMMAND "-LAYER" "S" "PROJECT" "")
(COMMAND "DIMLINEAR" DD1 DD2 "H" PAUSE "")
(COMMAND "DIMLINEAR" DD1 DD2 "V" PAUSE "")
(COMMAND "DIMLINEAR" DD1 DD2 "R" DD1 DD2 PAUSE "")
(setvar "clayer" layer)
)

"Select View" will give you an OSNAP, do not select one of the dimensioning points when you select view.

For Rise-Base in AS:

(DEFUN C:ADD ()
(PROMPT "\nSelect View")
(SETQ DDD1 (GETPOINT))
(PROMPT "\nSpecify first extension line origin")
(SETQ DDD2 (GETPOINT))
(PROMPT "\nSpecify second extension line origin")
(SETQ DDD3 (GETPOINT))
(COMMAND "astordetadducslineardim" DDD1 DDD2 DDD3 PAUSE "" "")
(COMMAND "astordetadducslineardim" DDD1 DDD2 DDD3 PAUSE)
)

For Rise-Base-Slope in AS:

(DEFUN C:ADDD ()
(PROMPT "\nSelect View")
(SETQ DDD1 (GETPOINT))
(PROMPT "\nSpecify first extension line origin")
(SETQ DDD2 (GETPOINT))
(PROMPT "\nSpecify second extension line origin")
(SETQ DDD3 (GETPOINT))
(COMMAND "astordetaddslopelineardim" DDD1 DDD2 DDD3 DDD2 DDD3 PAUSE "" "")
(COMMAND "astordetadducslineardim" DDD1 DDD2 DDD3 PAUSE "" "")
(COMMAND "astordetadducslineardim" DDD1 DDD2 DDD3 PAUSE)

)

[Drawtech]

I am in the UK and renew my maintenance with whoever gives the best price.

This year I renewed through Graitec as they gave the best renewal price, but the Power Pack is certainly NOT free!

...unless you also buy their support package, which I don't need as the Autodesk online support is quite sufficient for reporting bugs/issues.

[mick-CNF]

I would also like to mention johnjbennett AKA "the sales guy" from Graitec who, having spoken to him, I believe knows more than ANYONE in this forum about AS and has had some very unnecessary criticism here.

Look I can do capital letters as well.

[Drawtech]

---

@acbsdesign wrote:

@Drawtech 

This is not a bad workflow, better than calling the same command twice:

ALIGN CUT VIEW SYMBOLS - One command for top and bottom symbol

^C^C_AstM20CommDetAlignCutSymbols \;

Screencast

@acbsdesign Nice one Ilko 😊

---

[acbsdesign]

---

@mick-CNF wrote:

I would also like to mention johnjbennett AKA "the sales guy" from Graitec who, having spoken to him, I believe knows more than ANYONE in this forum about AS and has had some very unnecessary criticism here.

Look I can do capital letters as well.

---

Mick, 

I do not mean to argue, this is a pretty good thread and let's keep it healthy.

I won't comment on the statement above, my knowledge, and my experience is far above the line you have drawn.

Have a great weekend.

RESPECTFULLY.

[acbsdesign]

A custom command saving headache if we forget to renumber cut views after deleting one:

Delete and automatically re-number cut views

 ^C^C_AstM4DetViewDelete \; _AstM4SelectObjectByName;ASTXDETVIEWBOX;_AstM9CommDetRenumberCuts;

Screeencast - Delete and re-number cut views

[Anonymous]

@Drawtech wrote:

I am in the UK and renew my maintenance with whoever gives the best price.

This year I renewed through Graitec as they gave the best renewal price, but the Power Pack is certainly NOT free!

...unless you also buy their support package, which I don't need as the Autodesk online support is quite sufficient for reporting bugs/issues.

---

Hi David,  my mistake as you are correct. Thanks for clarifying.

Regards

Jake

[Sebastian_Eiche · Accepted solution]

not sure if I already post it, but I like these two:

• welds off - ^C^C_AstM4SelectObjectByName;ASTXDETAILWELDSYMBOL;_HideObjects
• welds on - ^C^C_AstM4SelectObjectByName;ASTXDETAILWELDSYMBOL;_UnIsolateObjects

[acbsdesign]

---

@Sebastian_Eiche wrote:

not sure if I already post it, but I like these two:

• welds off - ^C^C_AstM4SelectObjectByName;ASTXDETAILWELDSYMBOL;_HideObjects
• welds on - ^C^C_AstM4SelectObjectByName;ASTXDETAILWELDSYMBOL;_UnIsolateObjects

---

Post 212 includes welds off and other similar combined in a ribbon,

Thank you for sharing. 

Since last 3 commands Delete multiple dimension points,  Align  Symbols and Delete and renumber cut views automatically my workflow has improved a lot.

It is unbelievable how simple things can change the overall speed of cleaning up the drawings.

Keep digging.

The best thread ever.

[Sebastian_Eiche]

post 212 is for the  modelarea, the commands I wrote are for the details. 
Maybe I had to wrote it =). 

I used this commands in MP details to hide the weldsymbols for not having so much objects by editing the drawings.

[acbsdesign]

Ok, then it is even better. 

[vuk.vukanic · Accepted solution]

First let me thank you guys for making an effort and sharing you knowledge.

I decided to summarise Custom commands in this thread so others might find it a bit easier to review.

To anyone who might find the summary usefull I strongly suggest reading every single post on this thread!

Anyway...

My .cuix is available via gdrivelink:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=13-NeVN38-89nP9lQNHJYb0_ruPFgP6ZH

The .cuix file contains all of the commands in this thread organised into 3 groups:

01-Modeling

02-Visibility

03-Drawings

Here is a screencast that shows how to quickly add the toolbars (with all the commands) if you decide to do so.

https://autode.sk/2YMxc1a

Again many thanks to all that contributed, hopefuly someone will find it usefull 🙂