Now, let’s look at how you can use the many drag-and-drop options to open files in AutoCAD. Make sure you are taking full advantage of all of these options to improve your daily workflow.

Open a file

First, let’s look at how you can OPEN a drawing file using the following options.

Option 1 – using the AutoCAD title bar

1. Open the 2-0 Blank.dwg file.
2. Open a Windows Explorer dialog and navigate to the Exercise_Files folder:

   ..\ACAD_TipsTechniques\Exercise_Files\Chapter 02.

Note

Use the Windows shortcut key + E to open the Windows Explorer dialog quickly.

3. Select the 2-1_Drag and Drop 1.dwg file and drag it from Windows Explorer onto the AutoCAD title bar to open a file.
4. Close this file using X on the File tab to prepare for the next option.

Option 2 – using the Command Line

1. Select the 2-1_Drag and Drop 1.dwg file and drag it from Windows Explorer onto the Command Line to open a file.

Figure 2.1: AutoCAD Command Line

2. Close this file using the X on the File tab to prepare for the next option.

Option 3 – using the AutoCAD “A” icon

1. Select the 2-1_Drag and Drop 1.dwg file and drag it from Windows Explorer onto the big red “A” at the LEFT side of the AutoCAD title bar to open a file.

Figure 2.2: Using the AutoCAD “A” icon in the title bar

2. Close this file using the X on the File tab to prepare for the next option.

Option 4 – using the AutoCAD Start tab

1. Select the 2-1_Drag and Drop 1.dwg file and drag it from Windows Explorer onto the AutoCAD Start tab to open a file.

Figure 2.3: The AutoCAD Start tab

2. Close this file using the X on the File tab to prepare for the next option.

Option 5 – using the desktop AutoCAD icon

If you use multiple versions of AutoCAD or multiple Autodesk applications, this tip will help you open files using the correct application.

1. Select the 2-1_Drag and Drop 1.dwg file and drag it from Windows Explorer onto the AutoCAD icon on your desktop or in Windows Explorer to open the file and run the application.

Figure 2.4: AutoCAD application icon

Once you finish this section, you can open a drawing file using different drag-and-drop options.

Insert a file with various results

In this section, we will learn how to insert a drawing file as a BLOCK using the drag-and-drop option.

As a block

1. Continue using the 2-1_Drag and Drop 1.dwg file.
2. Using the right mouse button, select the 2-1_Drag and Drop 2.dwg file and drag it from Windows Explorer into the drawing view window.
3. A menu appears, which gives you the following options:
   • Insert Here: This will insert the file as a BLOCK
   • Open: This will open the file
   • Create Xref: This will attach the file as an XREF
   • Create Hyperlink Here: This will insert the file as a hyperlink to the file
   • Cancel: This will cancel the drag-and-drop action

Figure 2.5: Drag-and-drop right-click options

4. Select the Insert Here option and left-click anywhere in the view window to place the file as a block. Press the Enter key three times to accept the default X scale factor, Y scale factor, and rotation angle.

Insert a text file

In this exercise, let’s look at inserting a text file as a BLOCK using the drag-and-drop option.

As a block

1. Continue using the 2-1_Drag and Drop 1.dwg file.
2. Select the 2-1_General Notes.txt file and drag it from Windows Explorer into the drawing view window. All formatting from the original text file is transferred and placed as MTEXT using the current text style.

Insert a PDF file

In this exercise, let’s look at inserting a PDF file as an image using the drag-and-drop option:

1. Continue using the 2-1_Drag and Drop 1.dwg file.
2. Select the 2-1_AutoCAD Shortcuts.pdf file and drag it from Windows Explorer into the drawing window.
3. If the PDF has multiple pages, as this one does, you are prompted for what page to insert. Enter page number 5.
4. Left-click in the drawing window to identify the insertion point for the PDF image, press the Enter key to accept the scale of 1, and press Enter again to accept the rotation of 0.
5. The resulting PDF image has been attached as a PDF Underlay and will appear in the References dialog and any other reference files.

After finishing these exercises, you can utilize several drag-and-drop functions to manage different file formats, including inserting files, texts, and PDFs.

This section will teach us to use some of the most important features of creating selection sets. Becoming efficient with creating and using selection sets is crucial to improving your overall efficiency with AutoCAD.

Control the Lasso

First, let’s learn how to use the new Lasso selection method to gather up those objects and corral them into place quickly! Lasso is available, by default, when you left-click and drag the cursor around existing objects:

1. Open the 2-2_Selecting Objects.dwg file.
2. Using the In-Canvas View Controls, restore the Custom Model Views | 1-Using LASSO to apply the named view to the current viewport.

Figure 2.6: Custom Model Views | 1-Using Lasso

3. Left-click and drag the cursor around the objects to select.
4. Release the left mouse button to complete the selection. Use any command to modify the selection.

Figure 2.7: Lasso objects

Note

Remember, when selecting objects, drag right-to-left (counter-clockwise) to use an implied “green” crossing (overlap) selection, and drag left-to-right (clockwise) to use an implied “blue” window (inside) selection.

Many users find the Lasso selection method too intrusive to use regularly. You can disable it using Options | Selection | Selection Modes.

I prefer to disable it by default and assign a shortcut key to enable it when needed, as demonstrated in the following steps:

Figure 2.8: Lasso options

Assigning Lasso to a shortcut key

Before assigning a shortcut key, you must learn how to enable and disable the Lasso feature using a system variable. Using the following system variable, we can change PICKAUTO to 1 to disable the Lasso feature:

In the next exercise, you will learn how to make a shortcut key to toggle the Lasso selection setting ON and OFF.

Creating a Lasso shortcut key

There are several methods for creating a custom command in AutoCAD. For this example, we will record an ACTION MACRO and assign it to a shortcut key.

First, we must record the macros to turn the Lasso setting ON and OFF using the Options dialog.

1. Continue using the 2-2_Selecting Objects.dwg file.

Macro Lasso-OFF

1. Using the Manage ribbon and the Action Recorder panel, select the Record command.
2. Using the Command Line, key in the PICKAUTO system variable.
3. Key in the new 0 value to turn OFF the Lasso selection method.
4. Using the ribbon, select the Stop command.
5. Using the Action Macro dialog, key in the name Lasso-OFF.
6. Click OK to save the new macro.

Figure 2.9: Lasso-OFF Macro

Macro Lasso-ON

1. Using the ribbon, select the Record command.
2. Using the Command Line, key in the PICKAUTO system variable.
3. Key in the new 5 value to turn ON the Lasso selection method ON.
4. Using the ribbon, select the Stop command.
5. Using the Action Macro dialog, key in the name Lasso-ON.
6. Click OK to save the new macro.

Next, we will learn to assign the two new macros to custom shortcut keys.

Creating shortcut keys

Let’s create a new shortcut keys for our custom commands for Lasso-ON and Lasso-OFF.

1. Continue using the 2-2_Selecting Objects.dwg file.
2. Using the Command Line, key in the CUI command.
3. Using the Customize User Interface dialog, select the (current) workspace from the TOP LEFT panel.
4. Expand the Keyboard Shortcuts item in the list and expand Shortcut Keys.

Note

At the time of this printing, ACTION MACROS do not display in the CUI | Command List. To overcome this, we must create our own commands and assign the ACTION MACROS to the new commands using the Create a new command button.

5. Using the LOWER LEFT portion of the dialog, locate the Command List section, and click the Create a new command button.
6. Using the Properties section, located in the LOWER LEFT portion of the dialog, change the Name field from Command1 to Lasso-ON.
7. Change the Macro field from ^C^C to ^C^C_Lasso-ON for Lasso-ON and from ^C^C to ^C^C_Lasso-OFF for Lasso-OFF.

Figure 2.10: Custom commands-CUI

Note

The following syntax is used for macros:

^C                          This represents pressing the Esc key.

_  (underscore)  This allows commands to work across multiple languages.

;  (semi-colon)  This represents pressing the Enter key.

.  (period)          This instructs AutoCAD to use the standard definition of a command.

\  (backslash)     This represents a “pause” for user input.

      (space)            This represents pressing the Spacebar key.

Now that the new Lasso commands are available in the CUI dialog, we can assign them to keyboard shortcuts.

1. Using the Command List search field, located in the LOWER LEFT section of the dialog, drag and drop the Lasso-ON command into the Keyboard Shortcuts | Shortcut Keys list.

Figure 2.11: Drag-and-drop to Shortcut Key

2. Repeat Step 5-8 from the previous exercise to create the Lasso-OFF command.
3. Click Apply to save these changes.

   Now, we will assign specific shortcut keys to these commands.

4. Using the Keyboard Shortcuts | Shortcut Keys list, select Lasso-ON.
5. Using the Properties section, located in the LOWER RIGHT portion of the dialog, select the Key(s) value, and click the Browse button to open the Shortcut Keys dialog.

Figure 2.12: The Lasso ON/OFF shortcut key properties

Note

When defining the actual shortcut keys, select the Browse … button and key in the desired shortcut keys. If you do not get the correct keys when using the keyboard to set the shortcut keys, verify that the Caps Lock key is not activated on the keyboard.

6. Click Apply to save these changes.
7. Click OK to close the dialog.
8. Test both keyboard shortcuts for Lasso ON (Ctrl + F) and Lasso OFF (Ctrl + Shift + F).

Note

There is also a FENCE option available during any selection operation. Key in F in the Command Line at the Select Objects prompt and left-click and drag a line through the objects you want to select. Repeat using the left mouse button to add additional fence selections.

In the next section, we will learn how to add and remove objects from an existing selection set.

Adding and removing objects

When working with an existing selection set, do you always get the perfect selection? Of course not! Do you use all the shortcut methods available for removing and adding objects to a selection set? Let’s find out:

1. Continue using the 2-2_Selecting Objects.dwg file.
2. Using the In-Canvas View Controls, restore the Custom Model Views | 2-Add and Remove to apply the named view to the current viewport.
3. Drag a Window or Crossing selection around multiple objects in the drawing to select one of the elevator bays.
4. Use the Shift key to add and remove objects from the selection set if you accidentally miss or select too many objects.

Figure 2.13: Select SubObjects

Select SubObjects

In this exercise, we want to remove the BOTTOM line that is displayed at the elevator door opening:

1. Continue using the 2-2_Selecting Objects.dwg file.
2. Using the In-Canvas View Controls, restore the Custom Model Views | 3-Select SubObjects to apply the named view to the current viewport.
3. Select the exterior RECTANGLE object around the exterior of the elevators.

Figure 2.14: Selecting SubObjects

As you can see, the polyline is closed and cannot be deleted without deleting the entire polyline. I want to delete just the BOTTOM edge of the rectangle shape to allow for the door opening. Most users would use the EXPLODE command to break up the closed polyline and then use the DELETE command to remove the BOTTOM line. However, there is a quicker way! You can use the SubObject selection feature to select one object in the polyline to remove it.

4. Use the Ctrl key to select the BOTTOM edge as a SubObject of the closed polyline. Then, with just the bottom edge selected, use the Delete key to delete the selected line. Using this shortcut, you can avoid using additional commands such as EXPLODE, ERASE, and JOIN.

In the next exercise, we will learn how to control the display of selected objects in AutoCAD.

Glowing selection effect

When selecting objects in AutoCAD, the objects are displayed using the “glowing” effect by default. If you do not like the “glowing” effect of the selected objects and you prefer the old “dashed” effect of the selected objects, you can modify the selection dynamic effects, and disable the “glowing” effect using the SELECTIONEFFECT system variable.

Figure 2.15: Glowing selection effect

In the next exercise, we will learn how to use the Express Tool, Fast Select, to easily select all “touching” objects in a drawing.

Fast Select (Express Tool)

Selecting objects can be tricky sometimes when trying to avoid or select multiple objects. Use the Express Tool, Fast Select, to select all objects that “touch” a selected object. This command will select lines, polylines, circles, arcs, attribute definitions, text, mtext, ellipses, and images. To use this command, follow these steps:

1. Continue using the 2-2_Selecting Objects.dwg file.
2. Using the In-Canvas View Controls, restore the Custom Model Views | 4-Fast Select to apply the named view to the current viewport.
3. Using the Command Line, key in FS to run the Fast Select command.
4. Select the perimeter lines of lots 9-15 at P1 and all the connected lines are selected automatically regardless of their properties.
5. Use the Esc key to clear the current selection set.

Note

Use the key in 'FS to use this command “transparently” inside of another command at the SELECT OBJECTS prompt.

The behavior of the FS command is controlled using the FSMODE command:

1. Using the Command Line, key in FSMODE and key in ON to change the functionality of the Fast Select command. With FSMODE set to ON, all the objects that are touching the selected object, and all objects that are touching those objects, are selected.
2. Using the Command Line, key in FS to run the Fast Select command again.
3. Select the previously selected line at P1, and all the connected lines, and their touching objects, are selected automatically regardless of their properties.

Figure 2.16: The Fast Select results

4. Use the Esc key to clear the current selection set.

After completing this exercise, you can fully take advantage of the selection tools provided in AutoCAD. With these additional commands, you can now better control your selection sets and common manipulations.

In the next section, we will take a look at how to use the OBJECT ISOLATION to control the view of objects in a drawing.

Using object isolation

When working in drawings with thousands of objects, using layers to “filter” your view display may not be enough. You can use the OBJECT ISOLATE tools to filter just what you need and minimize your view extent and your frustration. Working with a minimum number of objects displayed not only speeds up AutoCAD but also improves the tasks you need to perform.

Isolate objects

Use the ISOLATE OBJECTS command to filter the display of selected objects and turn off all objects not in the current selection set.

1. Continue using the 2-2_Selecting Objects.dwg file.
2. Select several objects in the view window and, using the Status Bar, left-click on the Isolate Objects icon to access the Isolate Objects command.

Only the selected objects are displayed in the drawing. All other objects are temporarily “hidden” from the view. The ISOLATE OBJECTS icon also changes to a blueish appearance, indicating that some objects in the file are hidden.

With objects isolated in the drawing, you have the following command options available when you left-click on the ISOLATE OBJECTS command in the Status Bar.

• Add Additional Objects: Create a new object selection set to isolate
• Hide Objects: This will hide additional objects in the view
• End Object Isolation: Use this to restore all objects in the view

With a selection set active, you can also access the ISOLATE OBJECTS command using the right-click menu:

1. Continue using the 2-2_Selecting Objects.dwg file.
2. Left-click on the Isolate Objects command in the Status Bar to access the End Object Isolation command and restore all objects in the view.
3. Again, select several objects in the view window and right-click to access the Isolate | Isolate Objects command.
4. Right-click again to access the Isolate | Isolate Objects, Isolate | Hide Objects, or Isolate | End Object Isolation command.

In the next section, we will look at how to use Grips in AutoCAD more efficiently.

Using Grips in AutoCAD can speed up simple object editing without any command. First, let’s review the basic GRIP options for the common object types for those who don’t use Grips now.

Using Common Grip commands

Grips in AutoCAD provides access to common editing commands such as STRETCH, MOVE, ROTATE, MIRROR, and SCALE. Most users should know these simple GRIP functions, but just in case you don’t, let me demonstrate them quickly in the next exercise.

Using Common Grips

In this exercise, we will use Grips to do a simple COPY and ROTATE as an example:

1. Open the 2-3_Using GRIPS.dwg file.
2. Using the In-Canvas View Controls, restore the Custom Model Views | 1-Basic Grips named view.
3. Select the RECTANGLE object and notice the “blue” Grips that display at the ENDPOINT and MIDPOINT locations on the object.
4. Select one of the corner Grips (blue square grip) and look at the Command Line.
5. When selecting a grip, you are automatically placed in the Stretch command. Use the Spacebar to cycle to the next command, which is Move. Use the Cursor Badges to keep track of which command mode you are using.

Figure 2.17: Grips common commands

6. Press the Spacebar again to cycle to the next command, which is Rotate.
7. Press the Spacebar again to cycle to the next command, the Scale command.
8. Press the Spacebar again to cycle to the next command, the Mirror command.
9. Last, press the Spacebar again to cycle back to the first command, the Stretch command.
10. Use the Esc key to cancel the command and to clear the selection set.

    Standard practice is to cycle through the Stretch, Move, Rotate, Scale, and Mirror commands and back to Stretch again using the Spacebar. However, you can access them directly by entering their abbreviations, as shown here:

    • ST – Stretch
    • MO – Move
    • RO – Rotate
    • SC – Scale
    • MI – Mirror

Note

You can also access the GRIP commands using a right-click menu.

11. Select the RECTANGLE object and select one of the corner Grips (blue square grip).
12. By default, you are in the Stretch command. Key in RO in the Command Line to skip immediately to the Rotate command.
13. Use the Esc key to cancel the command and to clear the selection set.

This is a quick shortcut that is handy to know.

Note

The COPY command is not a grip mode but can be selected as an option within any of the other GRIP commands.

Note

Try using the Ctrl key when using the GRIP command. For example, if you press Ctrl during the ROTATE COPY command, the angle is repeated from the previous ROTATE COPY. If you release the Ctrl key, the angle is free to copy at any angle.

Let’s give that a try in the next exercise:

1. Continue using the 2-3_Using GRIPS.dwg file.
2. Select the SQUARE object and select any GRIP on the object.
3. Use the Spacebar to toggle to the Move command and key in C to make the MOVE action a Move-Copy of the SQUARE object.
4. Drag the SQUARE object to the RIGHT, and key in the value of 1 unit, and left-click to complete the Move-Copy.
5. While still in this command, hold down the Ctrl key and drag the SQUARE object to the RIGHT until it locks into the 1-unit distance.
6. Left-click to accept the new Move-Copy. Release Ctrl when you no longer want to use the snap distance for additional copies.

Note

Try using this Ctrl key option for any of the common GRIP commands.

Performing simple modifications on AutoCAD objects using these common GRIP commands can save time and improve your overall editing process.

Now, let’s look at what else these Grips provide besides the common commands we just reviewed.

Using Multi-Functional OBJECT Grips

In the following exercises, we will learn to use additional GRIP commands often overlooked by users. To access these multi-functional grips, you must hover over a grip, not select or left-click on a grip.

Lines

First, let’s look at an example of using these multi-functional grips to STRETCH a line and maintain the existing angle of the line:

1. Continue using the 2-3_Using GRIPS.DWG file.
2. Using the Status Bar, turn OFF the Dynamic Input setting for this first example.
3. Select the LINE object and review the grips (blue squares) at the ENDPOINT and MIDPOINT locations.
4. Hover over either ENDPOINT grip (blue square) to display the multi-functional pop-up menu, which gives you access to the Stretch and Lengthen commands.
5. Select the Lengthen command from the pop-up menu to extend the existing LINE without modifying the angle of the line.

Figure 2.18: Lengthen Grip

6. Left-click anywhere along the LINE object to define the length change and to complete the command.
7. Using the Status Bar, turn ON the Dynamic Input setting for the next example.
8. Again, select the LINE object and hover over either ENDPOINT grip to access the Stretch and Lengthen commands. Note the additional dynamic dimensions available to visually control the length modification.

Figure 2.19: Lengthen Grip with Dynamic Input

Polylines

Next, let’s look at how to modify a POLYLINE object and quickly insert a new vertex using a multi-functional grip rather than an individual AutoCAD command:

1. Continue using the 2-3_Using GRIPS.DWG file.
2. Select the RECTANGLE polyline object and hover over any corner grip (blue square) to access the multi-functional pop-up menu for the Stretch, Add Vertex, and Remove Vertex commands.
3. Select the Add Vertex command from the pop-up menu to add a new vertex to the “next” edge of the rectangle. The new vertex is added between the “hover” grip and the next grip in the existing object’s vertices.

Figure 2.20: Add Vertex Grip

4. Left-click in the view window to add another vertex to this POLYLINE shape. This is much easier than using the Pedit command to add a vertex, isn’t it?
5. Use the Esc key on the keyboard to cancel all commands and clear all grips.

Utilizing these “hover” grip commands can provide greater flexibility and efficiency compared to using the identical command options available in each individual AutoCAD command.

Try out the following object GRIP options for these object types.

Figure 2.21: Additional GRIP commands

Selecting multiple GRIPS

When using grips, you can also select multiple grips on an object to better control the grip editing:

1. Continue using the 2-3_Using GRIPS.DWG file.
2. Select the RECTANGLE polyline object and use the Shift key to select two corner grips.
3. When both grips are selected (red squares), select either grip to edit the rectangle. With multiple grips selected, you lock their relationship to each other, allowing you to edit the RECTANGLE object differently.

Figure 2.22: Select Multiple Grips

Customize the GRIP appearance

Last, let’s look at how you can customize the appearance of GRIPS in your AutoCAD.

Grip size

1. Continue using the 2-3_Using GRIPS.DWG file.
2. Right-click anywhere in the view window and select the Options command.
3. Using the Options dialog, select the Selection tab.
4. Using the Grip Size slider bar, adjust the size of your grips as needed. The default size is 5. You can also use the following system variable to control the grip size.

I would like to modify the color of my grips to make them stand out better against the default dark color scheme and background.

Grip colors

Modify the colors of your grips to suit your view background color and the commonly used colors in your CAD standards:

1. Continue using the file 2-3_Using GRIPS.DWG.
2. Right-click anywhere in the view window and select the Options command.
3. Using the Options dialog, select the Selection tab.
4. Select the Grip Colors button and using the Grip Colors dialog, modify the colors to your personal preference.

Figure 2.23: Grip colors

5. Click OK to save the changes and click OK again to close the Options dialog.

As with other GRIP settings, the GRIP colors can be defined using the following system variables:

Grip display settings

The remaining GRIP options include the ability to disable the use of Grips altogether:

Show Grips in blocks

Many times, displaying GRIPS for all objects in a block can be overwhelming. Using this setting, you can control whether the GRIPS displayed for block objects display only the block INSERTION location or all grips for the objects in the block.

Grip display limit

You can control how many grips are displayed in a multiple object selection set by defining the Object Selection Limit for display of grips setting, as shown in the following image. By default, AutoCAD will not display more than 100 grips in a selection set:

1. Continue using the 2-3_Using GRIPS.dwg file.
2. Using the In-Canvas View Controls, restore the Custom Model Views | 1-Grip Limits named view.

Figure 2.24: Grips limit 100

3. Right-click anywhere in the view window and select the Options command.
4. Using the Options dialog, select the Selection tab.
5. Using the Grips section of the tab, locate the Object selection limit for display of grips setting and modify the value to 200.
6. Click the OK button to close the dialog.
7. Select several objects again and review the changes to this setting.

Figure 2.25: Grips limit 200

After completing this section, you can more fully utilize and customize your personal use of GRIPS in AutoCAD. Continue to explore what you can do with GRIPS to improve your editing efficiency.

Next, let’s learn how to use the GROUP commands for more than you have imagined.

Let’s look at the GROUP command options often overlooked in AutoCAD. The first is the GROUP command, which allows you to create on-the-fly block-like objects. So, when would this command be most useful? When editing multiple objects in a drawing, you can create a selection set of objects, and instead of creating a BLOCK of those objects, use the GROUP command to group the objects together temporarily or permanently with or without a name.

So, where do you find the GROUP command?

The GROUP command

In this exercise, we will learn how to use group objects to simplify multiple object manipulation.

1. Open the 2-4_Bonus INTERFACE Commands.dwg file.
2. Select the three SQUARE objects in the TOP row.
3. Using the Home ribbon and the Groups panel, select the Group command and press Enter to complete the command.
4. Hover over the TOP row objects and note how the three SQUARE objects now highlight as a single object, not three individual objects. They are now considered a single GROUP object.

Note

If the three SQUARE objects do not highlight as a GROUP, your GROUP toggle may be turned OFF. Use Ctrl + Shift + A to toggle the GROUP setting ON and OFF.

5. Select the new GROUP object, right-click to access the right-click shortcut menu, and select the Properties command.
6. Using the Properties dialog, notice that the three polylines are now considered a single GROUP object.

Figure 2.26: GROUP Properties

7. Repeat Steps 3-4 and create new GROUPS for the MIDDLE row, BOTTOM row, and ALL nine square objects.

Figure 2.27: Create groups

8. Using the newly created groups, select one of the three squares in the BOTTOM row. All nine objects are selected using the ALL Objects group, not just the objects in the BOTTOM row.

   So, how do we work with the embedded BOTTOM row group?

9. Select the GRIP (blue square) for the BOTTOM row group (three squares) and use the Move command to move the BOTTOM row DOWN 2-units.
10. The BOTTOM row group is moved as a single object but is still a part of the ALL Objects group.

So, even with embedded GROUPS, you can easily move multiple objects as needed.

Depending on which object you select in the GROUP, the related GRIPS will display to enable you to use these GRIPS to perform the common Stretch, Move, Rotate, and Scale grip commands, as discussed earlier in this chapter.

Group Bounding Box

When you select a GROUP of objects, the boundary will display by default. You can control the boundary display by selecting the GROUPS ribbon drop-down or expanded panel and toggling the Group Bounding Box setting ON or OFF, or using the following system variable.

The UNGROUP command

Next, we want to learn how to ungroup these objects.

1. Continue using the 2-4_Bonus INTERFACE Commands.dwg file.
2. Select one of the SQUARE objects in the TOP row.
3. Using the Home ribbon and the Groups panel, select the Ungroup command.
4. Hover over one of the squares in the TOP row and notice that the group definition has been removed.

Removing the GROUP definition is not always the best solution when you want to manipulate the GROUP objects individually. I recommend using the GROUP SELECTION mode, ON or OFF, to toggle the ability to manipulate the objects as a GROUP or as individual objects.

GROUP selection mode

In this exercise, we will control the recognition of GROUP objects using the Group Selection ON and OFF toggle.

1. Continue using the 2-4_Bonus INTERFACE Commands.dwg file.
2. Using the Home ribbon and the Groups panel, select the Group Selection On/Off command to turn the Group Selection OFF. Notice in the Command Line there is no indication that this command has been selected. The only way to tell whether Group Selection is ON or OFF is to check the ribbon button or hover over an object.
3. Using the ribbon, if the Group Selection ON/OFF button is “blue” in color, the selection mode is ON. If the button is “gray” in color, the selection mode is OFF.
4. You can also hover over an object and review what objects highlight to determine whether Group Selection is ON or OFF.

Figure 2.28: GROUP Selection ON/OFF

5. Hover over a SQUARE object in the BOTTOM row and notice that only an individual object is highlighted.
6. Using the Home ribbon and the Groups panel, select the Group Selection ON/OFF command again to turn Group Selection ON.
7. Hover over the SQUARE object in the BOTTOM row again, and notice the group of three squares is highlighted.

The Group Selection ON/OFF command toggles the group recognition ON and OFF.

Note

You can use the Ctrl + Shift + A keyboard shortcut to also toggle the Group Selection ON/OFF command.

I also prefer to assign a keyboard shortcut key to the GROUP and UNGROUP commands. These shortcut keys make it much easier to work with these commands on the fly.

Group edit

Unless your selection operations are perfect and you never miss-select an object, you must learn how to edit an existing group to add and remove objects. This can be accomplished by using the GROUP EDIT command:

1. Continue using the 2-4_Bonus INTERFACE Commands.dwg file.
2. Using the Home ribbon and the Groups panel, select the Group Edit command and select the TOP row group.
3. Using the Command Line, key in R to remove objects from the group.
4. Select the TOP LEFT SQUARE object to remove it from the group and press the Enter key to complete the command.

   We can also use a right-click shortcut menu to access the GROUP EDIT command.

Figure 2.29: Using the Group menu

5. Use the Esc key on the keyboard to cancel any running commands.
6. Select the TOP RIGHT SQUARE object and right-click to access the GROUP | Add to Group command.
7. Select the TOP RIGHT SQUARE object to add it back into the group.
8. Use the Enter key to complete the command.

Using either of these two command methods will give you access to the GROUP commands. Choose the interface method that is most comfortable for you.

If you find you make numerous groups and maintain them in your drawing files, you will want to assign logical names to them so they are easier to identify using the Group Manager.

Using the Group Manager

The Group Manager allows you to assign logical names to your saved groups:

1. Continue using the 2-4_Bonus INTERFACE Commands.dwg file.
2. Using the Home ribbon and the Groups panel, select the expanded Group panel, and select the Group Manager command.

Figure 2.30: GROUP Manager

3. Using the Object Grouping dialog, turn ON the Include Unnamed setting.
4. Select the first group in the list (*A1) and use the Highlight < button to identify it in the drawing.
5. Use the Continue button to close the Highlight dialog.
6. With this group (*A1) still selected in the list, use the Group Name field and rename this group to TOP.

Note

The RENAME command in the Object Grouping dialog does not allow spaces, including variations or combinations of spaces.

7. Click the Rename button to apply the new name to the selected group.
8. Click OK to close the dialog.

To ensure your GROUPS are well organized, utilize the Group Manager and assign them logical names. Additionally, consider creating custom shortcut keys to automate the use of GROUP commands for better efficiency.

Using shortcut keys to Group and Ungroup

As you may have noticed, using groups is a convenient method to manage several objects at once. However, I personally utilize this function frequently enough that I use custom shortcut keys as a faster approach to access the GROUP and UNGROUP commands.

In this exercise, we will assign keyboard shortcuts to speed up the use of these commands.

First, let’s assign a shortcut key for the GROUP command:

1. Continue using the 2-4_Bonus INTERFACE Commands.dwg file.
2. Using the Command Line dialog, key in the CUI command, and using the Customize User Interface dialog, select the (current) workspace.
3. Expand the Keyboard Shortcuts item and expand the Shortcut Keys item.
4. Using the Command List panel, located in the LOWER LEFT, select the Search field and key in GROUP to filter the list of commands.
5. Select the GROUP command and left-click and drag it into the Keyboard Shortcuts list.

Figure 2.31: Create a GROUP shortcut key

6. Select the Group command in the Shortcut Keys list.
7. Using the Properties panel in this dialog, located in the LOWER RIGHT, select the Access | Keys | … to open the Shortcut Keys dialog.
8. Key in CTRL + G for the new shortcut key and click OK to close the dialog.
9. Click Apply to save this new shortcut key.

Figure 2.32: Assign a GROUP shortcut key

Now, let’s assign a shortcut key for the UNGROUP command:

1. Using the Command List panel, located in the LOWER LEFT, select the SEARCH field and key in UNGROUP to filter the list of commands.
2. Select the UNGROUP command and left-click and drag it into the Keyboard Shortcuts list.
3. Select the UNGROUP command in the Shortcut Keys list.
4. Using the Properties panel in this dialog, located in the LOWER RIGHT, select Access | Keys | … to open the Shortcut Keys dialog.
5. Key in CTRL + U for the new shortcut key and click OK to close the dialog.
6. Click Apply to SAVE this new shortcut key, and click OK to close the dialog.

Now, let’s try the new shortcut keys for the GROUP and UNGROUP commands:

1. Continue using the 2-4_Bonus INTERFACE Commands.dwg file.
2. Select all nine SQUARE objects, and use the Ctrl + G shortcut key to make them into a group.
3. Using the Home ribbon and the Groups panel, select the expanded Group panel, and verify the Group Selection command is ON (blue).
4. Hover over one of the SQUARE objects to verify that all nine objects are highlighted as a group.
5. Select the new GROUP of objects and use the shortcut key Ctrl + U to ungroup these objects.
6. Press Enter key to accept this change.
7. Hover over one of the SQUARE objects to verify that only one object highlights and the GROUP definition has been removed.

Using these shortcut keys will give you much quicker access to these extremely useful tools and encourage you to use them more often.

In this chapter, we examined how to use the various drag-and-drop opportunities in AutoCAD and how to be more efficient using the selection methods provided. We also learned how to use grips on various object types to perform common manipulations such as STRETCH, MOVE, ROTATION, SCALE, and MIRROR.

We finished this chapter by learning how to use the GROUP and UNGROUP commands with custom keyboard shortcuts to make these commands more accessible and user-friendly while promoting their increased usage.

In the next chapter, we will examine how to take advantage of some of the advanced annotation features, including full control of text editing in the MTEXT Editor and the appearance of our text objects, using fields for “smarter” text objects, and more controls for using annotation scale on objects.