The H-Factor

Reducing Entropy

Recent Posts

Welcome

Recently our previous blog service (Typepad) ended their business – so, we have a new home. It will take a bit to get images back and displaying properly, but we are working on it! Final pageview count of original Typepad blog: 387,232

Using a Non-Standard Pipe Type in HydraCALC

A customer called today asking how to enter a 1″ black plastic underground pipe for the calc. This particular situation sounded unique enough that I did not tell him to add that pipe type to our database, as I would have if he expected to see this pipe type used repeatedly. I told him to…

Using the Hydratec Software Download Area

Hydratec uses ShareFile to distribute our software installs and updates. New customers, or those without access, must request access to be able to get at these downloads. Access is only available to customers with a Hydratec subscription or those on an update plan. You can access the download area and request access by picking the…

June 2026
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  

Author: art

  • Unbeknownst to many, HydraCAD has a command (shortcut CAP) that will change many properties of attributes within a block. I have used it mostly for changing the text style used or the color (usually set be the background author) of attributes, but it does more than that. This command is also available on the HydraTools->Modify->Attributes…

  • In 2010, xref'd layers are shown faded by default. According to JTB World there is a new AutoCAD variable that controls that: XDWGFADECTL Go to tools > options > display tab > and at the bottom right corner find FADE CONTROL. Under it is xref display. Or, type it in, and set it as you…

  • I posted about this before, but not concerning a wholesale replacement of your blocks with tool palettes. If you have a large library of your own details and blocks, you can convert entire folders at a time to tool palettes by using the Design Center: 1. Press CTRL+3 to open the tool palette (if not…

  • From a customer: Q: Is the latest HydraLIST Manual dated 1999? A: Yes. The printed manual is for the most part very accurate. However, the Help file is constantly updated – usually with every HydraLIST update and even some partial updates. In addition, there was a new manual created specifically for the HydraLIST Select (50.16)…

  • Those of you who have set the option to use the third button/wheel as the cursor menu may have noticed that you get the condensed AutoCAD cursor menu, not the expanded HydraCAD cursor menu. Somewhere along the line AutoCAD 'broke' the way cursor menus are supposed to load, with the result being that AutoCAD's takes…

  • From a Customer, with a response by our guest commentator, Bill McKenna Art, I'm hoping you can help or direct this to someone else who can help.  We are using AutoCAD MEP 2008 and HydraCAD Version 50.1 Revision 2 The attached drawing is having a problem with the OVERRIDE -> TEE -> "Groove-O-Let Sid Out".…

  • It is always fun when a new technology comes out because, well, everything is new. And,there are always a lot of choice until Darwin whittles them down to the survivors. Plus you young punks think you know it all but you really missed out on all the fun 🙂 30 Old Computer Ads Take the…

  • From a customer: Art, I have a couple questions about V50. If I make a 3D detail will I be able insert it into navisworks similar to the solidpipes? Can I integrate 3D details with all of my piping? Second, my understanding of BIM is that upon completion the building management/owner would be able to…

  • In V50 we have created tool palettes to not only allow you to drag and drop details and blocks onto your drawing, but to also make it easy for you to add your own blocks. In the past it was difficult to do this because we used slide files and menus – both were not…

  • The updated Purge All Unused Layers and Blocks (PURG) in Rev 2 of V50.01 goes further, fixes more and is easier to use than our older command. The new command purges the drawing, runs an AUDIT and then purges it again. Try it.