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Looking for an answer? email your question to me at george.omura@gmail.com.
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I've pulled together a few Q&As for questions that seem fairly common. Hopefully you'll find something here that will be helpful to your own work: Q: My hatch pattern are distorted though I know I'm using the right ones. A: Some of the more complex hatch patterns have to approximate the dimensions of pattern components. If the pattern is a great distance from the drawing origin, the pattern can accumulate errors to the point of appearing distorted. To fix the pattern, you can do one of two things. If you are using a newer version of AutoCAD that allows you to control the hatch origin, move the origin closer to the object being hatched. For older versions, you can either move the entire drawing closer to the origin, or you can set the SNAPBASE setting close to the object being hatched and then re-hatch the object. Q: Parts of my drawing do not plot from a Layout, even though I can see the entire drawing just fine and all the layers are set correctly. A: This is usually caused by a glitch in the drawing database. Use the Audit command (File > Drawing Utilities > Audit) to audit the drawing. If you run an audit and the problem persists, run Audit on any external references attached to the file. Q: When I plot to a PDF from a layout, AutoCAD freezes partway through the printing. I can print the same file just fine to other printers. A: The PDF printer may be hanging on an unexpected property for your layout viewport. If you have a layout viewport whose linetype is something other than continuous, the PDF printer may hang. Check the layer of your layout viewport and make sure it is on a layer that uses a continuous line type. Q: I recently upgraded to a newer version of AutoCAD and found that I dislike the smooth view transitions during zooms. How can I set it back to the "old style" zoom? A: The newest versions of AutoCAD offer a smooth view transition feature for zooms and pans. Fortunately for the "old-school" users, you can turn this feature off. Just change the VTENABLE system variable to 0 (the default is 3). Q: My older AutoCAD file contains filled areas that were once transparent, but in AutoCAD 2007 the text and line work are obscured by solid fills. A: Earlier versions of AutoCAD let you adjust the Merge Control feature of your plotter, which in turn allowed solid filled areas to appear transparent. The Merge Control feature is still available, but it has been moved to the Plotter Configuration Editor. Here are the steps to get to it: 1. Choose File > Plot.
2. In the Plot Device tab, select the name of the plotter you are using from the Name drop down list.
3. Click the Properties button. This opens the Plotter Configuration Editor.
4. Expand the Graphics option in the list box. You should see the Merge Control option.
5. Click the Merge Control option. In the lower half of the dialog box. You should see the Merge Control radio button settings.
6. Select the Line Merge radio button, then click OK.
7. Next, you see a dialog box asking for the name of a Printer Configuration File.
8. Give it a name you can remember or just take the default, but be sure to remember that name.
The next time you print, select the Printer Configuration file name when you select a printer in the Plot dialog box. Q: When I offset polylines, such as rectangles or polygons, the offset object has extra line segments or rounded corners. A: Set the Offsetgap system variable to 0. Offsetgap controls the behavior of the line segments of offset polylines. When Offsetgap is set to 0, the individual line segments of a polyline are extended to join end to end. When Offsetgap is set to 1, the line segments retain their original length and are joined with an arc. If Offsetgap is set to 2, the line segments retain their original length and are joined by a straight-line segment.Q: A file I want to open is read-only, even though I know no one else on the network is using the file. A: Every now and then, you might receive a file that you cannot edit because it is read-only. This frequently happens with files that have been archived to a CD. If you have a file that is read-only, try the following: 1. Locate the read-only file with Windows Explorer and right-click its filename. 2. Choose Properties from the shortcut menu to open the Properties dialog box. 3. Click the General tab. 4. Click the Read-Only check box to remove the check.
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