Double riser nipples were a long asked for improvement that was included in HydraCAD Version 50 when it was first released.The dialog associated with this command does not generate too many questions, probably since the graphic helps make sense of the options available: Once thing that does generate questions is how to go up one…

One often overlooked feature of the PERPendicular object snap is the ability to line up an object (such as a head) with other objects (other heads). To wit – the two heads below in the Dispatch Office are not lined up with the head plan north of it already piped. How to line up these…

Using a drawing scale other than 1/8"=1' or 1-100, you may notice your riser circle or text is too large or too small. This is how you correct that: 1.Type in 3MO or pick the 3D Modeling Options button from the 3D Modeling toolbar. 2. Pick the Restore HydraCAD Defaults button. This usually does it.…

AutoCAD 2013 introduced a new feature – Select Similar. It does just what it sounds like: 1. Pick an object (line, head, riser nipple, whatever) and right-click 2. Pick Select Similar from the menu that appears You can now do whatever you like with this selection set. You could Move it, Copy it or change…

A customer called yesterday and asked how to get rid of the little window that pops up when you hover over an item in AutoCAD:   After some Googling, I came across the subject as a post in Ellen Finkelstein's great blog. Type rollovertips on the command line and press Enter. Type 0 and press…

This entry outlines a little-known feature of AutoLine. Let's say you have large bays with irregular spacing and you have spaced heads throughout those bays, and now need to connect them. Like this: Draw the branch lines from the nearest head, to the furthest head, without stopping at the heads in between. Do this for…

This entry combines a little-known frature of a very common command (BaySpace). Let's say you want to insert heads and branch lines, and these heads want to be on armovers: 1. Use BaySpace to set parameters and pick you bay points as usual, but this time, select One pipe from the Draw: drop down list.…

This entry combines one little-known command (Smart Array) with a little-known feature of a more common command (AutoLine). Inserting Heads using Smart Array Let's say you have a large room with a suspended ceiling like this, and you want to space heads throughout that room, but do not want to calculate how many rows and…

Autodesk has stopped shipping DVDs for new seats and upgrades. You will no longer receive anything directly from Hydratec when you buy these, unless we need to send you a DVD of our software as part of the order. Instead, you will receive a download link. From the Synergis Cad Blog Recently, Autodesk announced a…

A customer emailed today that his Command Line was docked to the right side of the screen and he could not move it. Furthermore, it took up half the screen. The Command Line can be controlled in the menu  (CUI) file. Type in CUI and locate the Command Line as seen below. Be sure to…