In my opinion, probably the best new feature in AutoCAD 2012 is the Viewport Label Menu. This is in the upper left of the drawing area:
Especially when it comes to 3D fittings. Lets say you created a 3D riser and you want to display the SW Isometric View and have the Visual Style of Conceptual applied to it. Just pick the [TOP] part of the menu and select SW Isometric.
Then pick the [2D Wireframe] part of the menu and select Conceptual.
Nice and easy.
This was written by a coworker – Steve Downing – for a customer who had to have an answer for the AHJ as to why the equivalent lengths for C100 piping are less than those for C140:
'The fitting equivalent length modifiers were intended to keep the friction loss (Pf) thru a given size fitting as a constant for any given flow regardless of what kind of pipe it is attached to or what the C-factor of that pipe is when calculated with the Hazen- Williams formula. It is done by altering the fitting length based on the internal diameter and C-factor of the pipe it is attached to. This is because the loss thru a fitting is not dependant on the type of pipe attached to it or that pipes C-factor, but in fact is a constant based on flow and caused because the water is forced to make a turn.
These two modifiers are found detailed in paragraph 22.4.3.1.3.1, paragraph 22.4.3.2, and paragraph 22.4.3.2.1 of NFPA 13 (2010 Edition) and apply to all fittings except copper and plastic for which different equivalent length tables are provide by the manufactures.
Let's take an example and see how this works. Let's assume a 1" Tee with 40 gallons running thru it that's attached to a 1" piece of Schedule 40 with an internal diameter of 1.049 and a C-factor of 120. Based on the equivalent length of 5 feet from table 22.4.3.1.1, the Pf for such a fitting would be 2.3456
Now, let’s make the C-factor be 100 and redo the calculation. Our 5 foot fitting now becomes 3.568 based on a modifier of .713 from table 22.4.3.2.1. This results in a Pf of 2.343. So, the C-factor portion of the modification does in fact hold the Pf's the same for all practical purposes.
Now, let’s return to a C-factor of 120, but make the pipe be Schedule 10, which has an internal diameter of 1.097. The fitting modifier from paragraph 22.4.3.1.3.1 is 1.243 which makes our 5 foot fitting into a 6.217 foot fitting. Now plugging that into the
Hazen-Williams formula results in a Pf of 2.3455. So again, the Pf remains essentially the same.
Finally, let's use both Schedule 10 and a C-Factor of 100. The new equivalent length is 4.4329 based on using both modifiers and the Pf is 2.343, which is again essentially the same.
The very small difference in the second and forth calculation is attributable to the modifier of .713 listed in NFPA 13. This number should actually be .713698 or .7137 when rounded based on the formula (Cnew / 120)^1.85 power. If .7137 was used the two resultant Pf's would be 2.3456 and 2.3456 which would bring them in line with the others.
However, even with this discrepancy, the NFPA modifiers do in fact result in essentially the same Pf thru a fitting regardless of what kind of pipe it is attached to or what C-factor it is used with even though the fitting equivalent lengths will appear to vary from that used with Schedule 40 and a C-factor of 120"
AutoCAD 2012 has a different background color than earlier releases, and believe it or not, this causes the following problem – when setting up sprinkler heads, you are unable to see what heads look like when selecting a head symbol.
The Solution:
1. Go into Options
2. Pick on the Display tab
3. Pick the Colors button
4. Set the 2D model space – Uniform background color to Black
We all have drawings that go bad. Over time, the minor errors build up and overwhelm the ability of AutoCAD to cope. How do we attempt to fix them? This is our usual plan of attack, in order:
1. Run RECOVER
2. Run Super Purge (PURG)
3. Start a new drawing and insert bad drawing into it
4. Start a new drawing and copy and paste objects from bad drawing to new drawing
Many years ago, customers asked us to give them an 'atta boy' for getting no errors when running Checkups. That evolved from just the Congratulations dialog box to the dialog plus the Congratulations spoken message.
The voice being used depends on the version of Windows you have. On Windows XP, the voice is officially known as Microsoft Bob. Windows Vista is Microsoft Mary. Windows 7 is Microsoft Anna. You can download additional voices if you want and you can change the speed and other options as well. To do this:
1. Open control panel, click on speech recognition.
2. In advanced speech option, click on text to speech tab.
3. Select the voice from the drop down of Voice select.
If you are tired of The Voice, don't despair. The next release (50.10/51.10) of HydraCAD will give an option to turn off the voice, period
Oh – and one other thing. There has been a hidden command in HydraCAD for a few years now. Type in SPEAK at the command line and enter a message. It will be spoken back to you. Amuse your friends!
Autodesk has released a 2012 Performance Hotfix for all AutoCAD 2012 based products.
This is manual file replacement hotfix that fixes performance issues that occur because of layer control tools in the Ribbon. Some customers have noticed a 300% speed increase when running Cadalyst's 3D benchmark tests.
This Hotfix can be downloaded here: 2012 Performance Hotfix. Follow the instructions found in the Readme.htm file found on the same page.
One of the longstanding requests from customers has been to be able to use other than E and T for their Elbows and Tees when they AutoCalc. They may be calcing a CPVC job, so they want to use other fittings that are assigned to CPVC specific products, for example. Or they may use FireLock fittings, and want to use them. Well, V50.08 and V51.08 made that possible!
When setting up your pipe schedule (the Sizing button in the AutoCalc dialog box), notice the columns on the right pertaining to various fittings and a new Alter Ftn Definitions button. It is here that you can now specify the fittings that should be used with each pipe type.
Over in HydraCALC, the fitting selection box (activated by right-clicking in the Fitting column) shows which fittings are currently available for a given pipe diameter. Notice the letters O through R are preset to reference CPVC fittings (below).
Now pick the Alter Ftn Definitions button. Then select the CPVC pipe type from the Pipe Type list. Int he Default row, type in the letters you want to reference for each fitting type (below).
Pick Ok on this dialog box. Then, pick Ok on the Pipe Schedule dialog box and reopen it by pick the Sizing button, as you did to start. If you select CPVC as the pipe type to use for any of the components found in the Sizing screen (Straight Feed Line Pipe, Grid Main Pipe, UG, etc), the corresponding assigned letters will display it the comlumns at right. These fitting letters will be assigned when you AutoCalc the next time.
A customer needed to draw a polyline around a floor section of a building and wanted the area of the floor section (square feet) to be attached to it. This can be done with fields, and can many cool things. In fact, this exact feature is how we are creating remote areas with the square foot/meterage area attached to it.
1. Draw the polyline and make sure it is 'closed'
2. Type in FIELD
3. Pick Field category and select 'Objects'. This will add options to the Field names: field
4. Pick 'Object' in the Field names: field
5. Pick the Select Object button (next to Object type:) and select the polyline. This will display the properties that can be derived from the polyline.
6. Select Architectural from the Format: field. This will give you square feet
7. Pick OK and select where you want the text to be displayed
The Additional Format… button will let you further refine your answer.
This feature has enormous potential. If you'd liek to see us use it in other of our commands, let us know.
Each time HydraCAD is updated, we replace our tool palettes. This is because we have been adding things to them since they were first created. This causes a problem with those who make their own palettes. There are two options here:
If you wish to use your own palettes and our palettes:
Create your palettes. Then, right-click on the title bar of the palettes. Pick the Customize tool. Then, right click on your tool palette and pick Export. This will create a permanent copy of your palette. Then, open up the HydraCAD tool palette, repreat the above steps, picking Import this time. The Import step will need to be done after each update of HydraCAD
If you wish to use your own palettes but not our palettes:
Go into AutoCAD OPTIONS and pick the files tab. Then, pick Tool Palette File Locations and set that to your own palette folder.
After updating to V51.09 you may notice that your HydraCAD V51 shortcut opens AutoCAD 2010 or 2011 (if you have them). That is because our updates do not create or alter the shortcuts, only our installations do. To change it:
1. Right click on the HydraCAD V51 shortcut and pick Properties. Pick the Shortcut tab
2. Look at the Target field. The Target must call the same AutoCAD executable as the Target in the shortcut for AutoCAD 2012, also on your desktop. Change the 'AutoCAD 2010' or 'AutoCAD 2011' to 'AutoCAD 2012 – English' (or whatever your AutoCAD 2012 shortcut calls). Do not copy the entire Target line, only change the AutoCAD part
Your V51 shortcut should now open AutoCAD 2012.
The H-Factor 