The Features AutoCAD 2002 Left Out
By Ralph Grabowski, editor, upFront.eZine.
(reprinted by permission)
ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia, May 22, 2001 - When a large software
company announces an update, it accompanies the announcement with stacks of
paper, colorful PDFs, a network of Web pages, and bullet-ridden PowerPoints.
These assistants are typically entitled 'Preview Guide,' 'Features &
Benefits,' 'Whitepaper,' etc. Aimed at different segments of the CAD society,
some are meant for the media, others for potential consumers, dealers, and
financial analysts. The documents contain a lot of information displayed in a
variety of formats, but are sometimes incomplete. Here's is some stuff about
AutoCAD 2002 you won't find in the Autodesk-generated material:
- One potentially hot -- but ignored -- feature is the ability to display
hidden lines (a feature lost with Release 13). The new ObscuredColor,
ObscuredLtype, and HaloGap system variables allow uses to control the color,
linetype, and gap for hidden lines.
- i-drop was such a good idea that Autodesk is listing it a second time as a
new feature. (i-drop is a form of drag'n drop between Web sites and
AutoCAD.) It was described in the AutoCAD 2000i marketing material, but
failed to ship with the product; it was available later as a free download.
This time around, i-drop is included.
- Undocumented commands: Over 30.
- The XML file contains unencrypted ACIS data, something Autodesk never made
available in DXF. You'll find XML export hidden in the WBlock command (by
changing manually the file extension to .xml), while XML import is part of
the Insert command.
- The AutoCAD LT feature that AutoCAD (still) lacks: multiple redo. AutoCAD
2002 is limited to a single redo immediately following an undo.
Trivia
- The color of AutoCAD branding has changed from red to blue.
- Between beta and final shipment, the LayerP (previous) button on the
toolbar moved to the right of the Layer droplist.
- The icon for AutoCAD changed, too. Now when reading a book about AutoCAD
2002, you'll be able to tell which version the author employed.
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