Check Your AutoCAD Graphics

Every year AutoCAD configurations get more complex. As new features are introduced – such as the new Advance Material Effect and Smooth line display in AutoCAD 2011 – we become more and more dependent on the support of our hardware partners. Prior to AutoCAD 2007 we only had a dependency on the Operating System, but since then we have also become more dependent on Graphics Cards and Drivers. Each new level of dependency brings new potential for interoperability issues. To cut down on the complexity of these dependencies and improve user experience we have created a hardware certification program within the AutoCAD team that is located at this site Graphics Hardware List. To check whether you are running certified drivers for AutoCAD, follow the procedure below.

• Type 3DCONFIG at the command line and hit Enter.
• Click the Check for Updates button.

Purge Zero Length Geometry and Empty Text Objects

A new option has been added to the PURGE command in AutoCAD 2011, this is Purge Zero Length Geometry and Empty Text Objects. This new option deletes geometry of zero length (lines, arcs, polylines and so on) in non-block objects. Also, deletes mtext and text that contains only spaces (no text) in non-block objects. This can be useful when trying to tidy your drawing and remove empty text boxes etc, which you were perhaps not aware of.

Note: The PURGE command will not remove zero-length geometry or empty text and mtext objects from blocks or locked layers.

Improved Measuring Tools

The visual measuring tools in AutoCAD 2011 will make quick work of finding valuable information from your drawing. The Utilities panel of the Home tab contains these updated Measure commands (also found using the MEASUREGEOM command).

Distance

Used to measure the distance between two points, AutoCAD 2011 now visually displays the distance, delta x, delta y and the angle (in the xy plane). The Multiple option allows you to continue to pick points as AutoCAD displays a cumulative distance. If you need to include an Arc in the distance you can easily switch to Arc mode.

Micro Concepts Teams up with Agni Link

Agni Link is a companion application to CAD/PLM software that establishes a direct, on-line connection between CAD product data and its counterpart in the ERP environment. Every time a CAD document is updated, Agni Link analyses both CAD and ERP data, resolves discrepancies, and finally presents you with a form to edit the data. Once edited data is confirmed by the user, Agni Link will simultaneously update product data in both CAD and ERP environments, thus ensuring perfect synchronisation of data, while virtually eliminating redundant data entry.