There are times when exporting and importing workspaces seems not to work. The following steps explain another way to save your customized workspace so you can restore it after updating your HydraCAD. Open HydraCAD, set up your workspace as you like From the AutoCAD workspace tool select Tools->Workspaces->Save current as Give the workspace a name…

This topic builds on my previous topic: Creating Drawing Views from 3D Fittings Models using VIEWBASE and is a new command to AutoCAD 2013 as part of the Model Documentation tools Autodesk is bring over from Inventor. Once you have the parent view inserted (as in that example), you can now create section views quickly…

The VIEWBASE command allows you to quickly spawn multiple views of your 3D risers (or any AutoCAD Solids). This technology was borrowed from Autodesk Inventor and is available in AutoCAD 2012 and newer as part of the Model Documentation enhancements. Open the PUMPROOM.DWG from HydraTools->Tools->Training Drawings. We will use this detail to create our views.…

This is a really simple, really cool, tool. And it has been around since AutoCAD 2007. It will create a model space 2D block of the 3D objects found in your drawing. You can insert that block into your drawing, replace one that is already there, or create a new drawing file of that block.…

It's easier than you think. And we need it to upgrade your seats or put them on subscription. Open AutoCAD and type in _PKSER to see the serial number (the underscore is mandatory). It's as easy as that!    

Need to 'hide' pipe diameters or lengths for a pre-approval plot? How about hanger lengths? HydraTools->Modify-AttributesHide Attributes (HAT) can be used to turn off all kinds of things associated with HydraCAD – just look at the option on the dialog box: After choosing your option, you will be able to select which items to apply…

Many of us have trouble getting our AutoCAD/Navis/Revit registered, especially with a network. Now, Autodesk has announced 'New Ways for Customers to Get Licensing Assistance' Autodesk customers can access licensing assistance in the following ways: Customers can find out more about their licensing options at any time using their Installation and Licensing Support page. Customers…

This is a subject that I need to revisit every now and then, and it gives me a headache every time. What happens when you open AutoCAD? A. CUI files loaded: 1. Enterprise 2. Main 3. Partials to Main 4. Partials to Enterprise B. acad*.* files loaded: 1. Files listed in acad.rx 2. acad2012.lsp 3.…

From a customer: On occasion I use the program at my home computer (this has helped in doing the tutorials).  Most of the time I need to use only my Autocad 2012 without HydraCAD,  but the system looks for the lock. Is there a solution to this? The way to do this is to create…

I found this while googling for a solution to a customer problem – whenever he selected an object, all objects touching that object were also selected. I did not know AutoCAD had such an option, but they call is 'fast selection'. Click here for most of what you see below Ways to use AutoCAD Object…