The H-Factor

Reducing Entropy

Recent Posts

Unblocking a Group of Files

After downloading a file, it is often Blocked. You must right-click on it, pick Properties and then check the Unblock item: But doing a dozen or more files gets old, real fast. I just learned a way to Unblock a batch of files at once. It involves using PowerShell, a Microsoft tool that is a…

Adding Hanger Types to HydraLIST

If you want to use a new type of hanger, or are a fab shop that gets a job from a contractor that uses a hanger type that you do not have, it is easy to add that new hanger type to your own machine. A hanger is an assembly, and an assembly is just…

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

October 2026
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Author: art

  • Many users prefer to use their own colors, linetypes, lineweights etc. when drafting. HydraCAD is set up to do just that. The only thing you cannot do is to change our layer names. But, you can add your own layers if you want. The best overall approach is to set up your own template, beginning…

  • Today’s customer question: “How do you draw an Up/Down sprinkler (Upright on a Tee, with a Pendent Drop) in HydraCAD?” This is actually easier than it seems. You just have to define the two heads, as usual, and insert them at the same X,Y location (i.e. on top of each other).  Back in the ‘old…

  • From a customer: “I am trying to create a Trimble point layout for my beam clamps only.  Is there anyway to isolate the #01 Hangers from the #05 Hangers?” While there isn’t a direct way, there is an indirect one. There is a way to grab a selection set based on an attribute value. This…

  • From a customer today (paraphrased): “I’m having issues with HydraLIST keeping my rod cut lengths to the ½” length I assign it even with noting it as “CL”. It wants to always round up to nearest inch. This is primarily the 06 hanger I’m using. Is there a setting that forces this rounding?” The answer…

  • Our live HydraCARDs Knowledge Base contains a database that is updated automatically as soon as we update or create them! Accessing Most of our update and installs now include a shortcut to the web address for HydraCARDs. Further, HydraCAD, HydraCALC and Hydratec for Revit all link to this new database. However, no actual software is…

  • Most users do not realize that HydraCALC has long had the ability for users to look at the tech data sheets for pipe, fittings and curves. These are accessed through the Alter Pipe and Fittings command in the Utilities drop down menu.   To view the tech data sheets: Pick the Utilities drop down menu…

  • To be able to use HydraCAD with a background drawing, you need to do these simple steps: Step 1 – Start a new drawing using one of the HydraCAD templates. Answer the scale question if asked. This is non-negotiable! Step 2 – Insert the background drawing into the new HydraCAD drawing, exploded. Meaning, checking the…

  • If the background drawing has existing piping, you may be able to use that piping for HydraCAD. The ‘may’ all hinges on how the original author drew the piping. Is it from center of head to center of head (or fitting)? Is it from edge of head to edge or head (or fitting). Is it…

  • Say you have a background drawing that has sprinkler heads already laid out, but they aren’t HydraCAD sprinkler heads. What to do? Zeroth – Do what you should always do with a background drawing. That is, start a New drawing using one of the HydraCAD templates, and then insert your drawing into it, exploded. First –…

  • There are two overhauled commands in AutoCAD 2020 that are used pretty often; and that have changed considerably. One is the PURGE command, which I covered in an earlier post. The other is INSERT, which I will cover here. Insert has changed considerably, in that it is considerably more complicated. Typing it in yields an…