(YouTube tutorial by SketchUpVideos)

There are varied approaches to using SketchUp with AutoCAD files. This video is the 1st of 3 videos that present one method SketchUpVideos suggest.

In this video they import a AutoCAD plan, group and lock it, delete extra layers and create a unique layer for the floor plan and create scenes to toggle the floor plan visibility on and off.

(Video tutorial by Google)

Shows how to use the push/ pull tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

In a perfect world we are used to double-clicking on Text, Lines, Attributed Blocks, etc. and seeing a properties / edit box. When you double-click most objects in AutoCAD, the Properties palette is displayed. I recently found a computer on campus that had this feature disabled.

Double-Click Edit (DBLCLKEDIT) determines if AutoCAD displays specialized editors that are more powerful, convenient, or frequently used. Objects that display specialized editors when double-clicked include:

• Attribute: Displays the Edit Attribute Definition dialog box.
• Attribute within a block: Displays the Enhanced Attribute Editor.
• Block: Displays the Edit Block Definition dialog box.
• Hatch: Displays the Hatch Edit dialog box.
• Leader text: Displays the In-place Text Editor.
• Multiline: Displays the Multiline Edit Tools dialog box.
• Multiline text: Displays the In-place Text Editor.
• Text: Displays the Edit Text dialog box.
• Xref: Displays the Reference Edit dialog box.

Here is how you can enable this on your computer:

1. open any AutoCAD drawing
2. type DBLCLKEDIT and press ENTER
3. type ON and press ENTER
4. type PICKFIRST and press ENTER
5. type 1 and press ENTER

note: These variable are saved in AutoCAD not the drawing file, so it will affect all other drawings opened on your computer.

Have you ever wanted to trim a line to an apparent intersection? This allows you to quickly modify your drawing without adding extra construction lines. AutoCAD 2005 had this feature enabled by default (which is where I first used it), but 2006 seems to have disabled it. I wanted it back.

The system variable is called EDGEMODE and controls how AutoCAD determines cutting and boundary edges.

The following steps will turn this feature On:
(Extends or trims the selected object to an imaginary extension of the cutting or boundary edge)

1. open any AutoCAD drawing
2. type EDGEMODE and press enter
3. type 1 and press enter
4. This variable is saved in AutoCAD not the drawing file, so it will affect all other drawings opened on your computer.

The following steps will turn this feature Off:
(Uses the selected edge without an extensions)

1. open any AutoCAD drawing
2. type EDGEMODE and press enter
3. type 0 and press enter
4. This variable is saved in AutoCAD not the drawing file, so it will affect all other drawings opened on your computer.

Applies to: AutoCAD R12, 13, 14, 2000, 2000i, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006

I've received many requests to export the layers in an AutoCAD drawing to a text file (to set up office standards etc.)

The following steps will list all the layers (and layer properties) in the command prompt:

1. open the AutoCAD drawing
2. type -la and press enter
3. type ? and press enter
4. press enter
5. you can copy / paste the list of all your layers into Microsoft Word etc.