What are some tips for working efficiently in AutoCAD, especially for beginners?

[kian019]

Hello everyone, I'm a beginner in AutoCAD and I'm struggling to work efficiently with the software. I'm finding it challenging to navigate through all the tools, commands, and features available in the software. I feel like I'm not using the software to its full potential and that my productivity is suffering.

I'm wondering if there are any experienced AutoCAD users out
there who can provide me with some tips on how to work more IP address efficiently. What are some best practices for using the software that have worked for you? router’s IP address Are there any specific commands or tools that you find particularly useful and that have helped you improve your productivity?

I'm also interested in learning about any keyboard 192.168.0.1 shortcuts that you use frequently to speed up your workflow. I would greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions that you could provide to help me become more proficient in    AutoCAD. Thank you in advance for your help!"  I even tried by following this tutorial : https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/table-cell-references-1921681254-and-calculations-default-whole-numbers/td-p/11937095

[tristan.jonas8XAAW]

Good debugging practices are essential, highly recommend this for how to set that up. This was you can step through the code as it's being conducted so you can see where things are going wrong:

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/2dSzzDKOSVadCXyVcHiKSe.html

Also highly highly recommend some type of LLM like ChatGPT to explain how code works, just paste in any code you don't necessarily understand and it will break it down for you in plain language and answer any specific questions you may have.

[_gile]

@kian019 

This forum is dedicated to AutoCAD programming with .NET API. It looks like you should have posted in the AutoCAD forum.

[paullimapa]

Tools/Commands:

You’ve just got to learn how the commands work. But typically I don’t rely on the grid or snaps. I use mostly modify commands instead of drawing new objects. Like Offset or Copy are used quite often. Running Object snap settings are helpful but never set it on Nearest. 
Shortcuts:

Use AliasEdit to modify the pgp. The first alias I immediately change is use C to Copy instead of Circle. You can really edit this to your hearts content

Online Videos:

These are a great soy to go through especially when most of them are free. But look for those that are specific to your industry 

[gkreuter4GRKA]

Get to know your aliases, and learn to modify them. For instance, copy is "CO" - change it to "CC" so you don't have to look at your keyboard. For a linear dimension I use "DD". For a leader I use "DDD". Looking at the keyboard and trying to find buttons on the ribbon slow me down.

[payingtoomuch]

Don't modify any of the aliaes. Because everytime you update you'll find yourself having to do it all over again.

Kind of kidding. Kind of not. Also, anytime you go to someone elses keyboard you'll be hosed. Kind of kidding kind of not.

So, be open to everyone's opinion on how to do things but don't be a slave to anyone elses's way of doing things. Some "know" more than others but nobody can know it all about this stuff because it's a whole lot deeper than any of us really realize.

2nd point. Forget the response tristan jonas made to your question. Ok well, maybe make a note of it for about 10 years experience down the road. I'm 20 down the road and have no idea what he's talking about.... kind of kidding kind of not.

3rd point. Yes. Absolutely yes learn the keyboard shortcuts (aliases) and use them. Unless of course you are faster using the buttons on the ribbon haha. FWIW, I pretty much have been using keyboard shortcuts (mostly exclusively) since R14 but I have watched some of the youngsters use the buttons on the ribbon and sometimes I'm left scratching my head as to whether are not all things averaged they might be quicker than me as far as selecting commands go. Certainly not mentally quicker however. All kidding aside is the fact that autocad cannot not (at least for the most part don't anyway) change keyboard shortcuts... although they do sometimes, but they can definitely move buttons around on the ribbon and bury them in places you'll never find them.

OK. I've had some fun.

Will be more serious next post.

One thing is for certain. If you stay with this you'll never be bored!

[payingtoomuch]

btw looks to me like he's in the right forum.... guessing someone moved it into the autocad forum?

[nrz13]

Yes, definitely modify your PGP file.  I keep as many of the defaults in place as possible so if someone comes into our system (all users use same PGP file on the network), they're not totally lost.  You can keep the existing and add as many custom ones as you want (more than one keyboard shortcut for the same command).

After that, start creating simple lisp routines that load in your acaddoc file (or another lisp file) at program or document startup (as needed) that can run through multiple sequences of often-repeated tasks.  You can use the keyboard prompts from the command line to help you navigate what to put into the lisp (when you have a lisp you need help with, that's when you should post it in the customization forum).  And, speaking of the command line, I find dynamic input to be more efficient than the command line, especially for keyboard entry – your eye and cursor never has to leave where you're working that way.  Use F2 to pull up the command line window only when needed.

[nrz13]

If you have multiple monitors, I would keep your Properties palette open on the second monitor.  Have other palettes (Layers, Xref, etc.) open on the 2nd monitor so you can see what you're doing as you make changes.

[TheCADnoob]

I gain most of my efficiency through Customization (customizing the UI, Macros, Lisps, etc), but I think by far the biggest thing is to no never stop learning. 

Watch your peers work and ask questions. 

If your company does training events, go to them. Even if you know it all... just go to confirm you still know it all. 

If your company uses a reseller, it will often host educational events. If you do not have a reseller find one in your area and follow their calendar of events https://www.autodesk.com/partners/locate-a-reseller

AutoCAD launches yearly at the end of the first quarter; follow AutoCAD social media and be on the lookout for their classes. (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube) There is a pretty good series called build your AutoCAD IQ on youtube.

Check out the Autodesk AutoCAD community tips and tricks. https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autodesk-community-tips-autocad/tkb-p/autocad-tips-tricks

Participate in the forms and look over the questions that you couldn't solve your self and see what the answers are. 

Check out keyboard shortcuts https://www.autodesk.com/shortcuts/autocad

[gmoffatQKN3Z]

Agreeing with others about changing your command aliases. You can always copy the pgp file the changes are saved to when moving to another job or upgrading to a new version of AutoCAD.

I would also add that assuming you use your mouse right handed (I've only seen one lefty use their mouse left handed. He liked to say "show me" and laugh at people because he flipped the primary/secondary buttons as well), try to put as many commands within reach of the fingers on your left hand. I have some aliases that kind of make sense and some that don't make any sense, so don't worry too much if "zx" starts "purge" or something like that. As long as you find something that works for you, that's all that matters.

Repetition is the biggest thing. Keep using it and find what works for you. 

If you have a mouse with side buttons, see if you can remap what the buttons do. I have a Logitech mouse with buttons that do "forward/back" in a browser, and I have them changed to toggle ortho and osnap. Saves me from slapping F3 or F8 when I want to toggle them. Since the function keys aren't used as often as letters or numbers, I had to stop and look at the keyboard to make sure I was actually hitting the right one. Now I know "forward" toggles ortho and "back" toggles osnap.

Customize the rollover tooltips in the CUI. If you need information on an object, it can be quicker to hover over it instead of clicking on it and going into properties, or doing the LIST command. That's been a nice little time saver for me.

See what LISPs are out there. http://www.lee-mac.com/ has some good ones, I use his "copy or swap text" LISP a lot. The copy text part of that LISP even pulls text from blocks and xrefs. It's very handy. The forums here have a lot of LISPs and LISP help.

If your company doesn't already have blocks for things that are used all the time, make them. Look into dynamic blocks as well. I added them last year and everyone loves them. You can show different views in one block, and change from a plan to end to side view from a dropdown. And they get a lot more involved.

[AVCPlugins]

First of all, you should define the subject area. This greatly affects the methods and techniques of design and the most effective tools.
For example, I design interiors, furniture and exhibition stands. And if you are interested in how to quickly model such products, then you can pay attention to the articles on my website: 

https://sites.google.com/site/avcplugins/likbez 

https://sites.google.com/site/avcplugins/manual

However, this experience is completely useless for designing electrical circuits or digging pits ...

[Valentin_CAD]

@kian019 ,

Welcome to the AutoCAD forum.

Here are a few learning resource links:

Authorized Training Center ATC®

• Support and learning        

• Educational Support          

• Training         

• Autodesk University         

• Autodesk workshops, seminars, and events        

• Certification          

[jstanczykGDWT4]

Turn on Dynamic Input and watch for what AutoCAD is expecting from you in terms of responses to whatever command you have invoked.  Knowing what the program is expecting goes a long way towards gaining efficiency.

Also, get lost in the rabbit holes that the Help files can provide.  Type in a command of your choice and read the many Help sections related to that feature.  More often than not you will find that many of the basic commands have several different ways of accomplishing the task.  The Help files can maybe show you options that you weren't aware of.

It just takes time, be patient and open to the journey...