Shaft Fits Disappeared

In AutoCAD Mechanical, there is a dimensional feature that can add ISO fit tolerances such as H7 or f6 and such. A user lost his list if fits and wanted to get them back. The problem was that his Mechanical VAL tables were lost (how, I do not know). To fix them, we copied a set from a working computer to "C:\Users\Public\Documents\AutoCAD Mechanical 2012\ACADM\GEN". We copied the VAL folder and all of its subfolders to get them restored.

Commands and dialog boxes incorrect behavior

A user here began having strange behavior issues in his AutoCAD sessions. His explode and purge programs would not open as command line entries (even when he typed in "_PURGE", etc..). His LISP routines would pop up dialog boxes even when the variables were to set to keep them closed. Through a lot of diligence on his part, he found that the variable QAFLAGS might be the culprit. He looked at his setting and it was set to 17. All other users here were set to 16. He set it to 16 and tada, his AutoCAD is back to normal. A great find on his part. I hope this might help others.

AutoCAD file refuses to open - stuck at 93%

I have had a terrible time with a group of dwg files that would not open. No matter what I did, they would not open (always stopping at 93% open). We create 2D dwg files from NX6 drafting files and have really not had any issues until yesterday. I tried opening the files in AutoCAD 2010, AutoCAD 2009, tried inserting like blocks, tried Recover, tried drag and drop. Nothing helped. Funny thing, I can open them quickly and smoothly in Dassault's DraftSight software (free by the way). Then I had an epiphany; I opened them in DraftSight and then removed the customer part file (a complex casting drawing made mostly of splines). Saved the file and what do you know, AutoCAD opened it up with no issue. Hmmm, I guess Autodesk could take a few pointers here and figure out how to open up dwg files better. I am back in business

AutoCAD 2009 Crashing

I had a lot of issues with AutoCAD 2009 crashing suddenly. Usually when logging back on when the screen-saver would lock the screen. I worked through the issue with Autodesk and come to find that it was a graphics driver issue. I have a Nvidia FX3700 and was using using the latest "approved" driver from Autodesk. Using the "Tune Log" within the "3dconfig" command in AutoCAD, I got a clue to what AutoCAD was doing with its graphics driver. To see the approved driver list go here:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/hc?siteID=123112&id=6711853&linkID=9240618
I actually had to install the third oldest driver on the list to get a stable AutoCAD. The second oldest caused Windows blue screens and required me to boot into safe mode to restore it. I would suggest downloading all of the approved drivers before trying, so that they are available on the computer in case the worse happens.

Dimension Fits Missing

When we recently upgraded to AutoCAD Mechanical 2009 and a few users could not choose their fits when dimension (ie H7, f6, etc...). It took a while to figure out, but another user found the answer. There was file corruption with the fit data (VAL tables). We copied the files from a known working set (ex. ACADM 2009\Acadm\gen\Val) to the non-working AutoCAD computer (AutoCAD should be shut down while copying the files). The fits are back!

Lost My Ribbons

I am not too sure of this AutoCAD yet. It seems Autodesk has taken so many privileges with poorly chosen default settings, quirky UI behavior, unwarranted crashing, and odd screen refreshing and behavior. Anyway, I digress, I lost my ribbon bar when I had shut down and reopened AutoCAD. Why? Who knows. Anyway, I tried a few things but finally found my answer. It may not work for everyone, but typing in RIBBON at the commandline brought it back. Back to work.

Newly Inserted Items are Faded

What gives? A user created a block and it came in with faded colors. He then copied a block and it had faded colors. Hmmm.. When I listed the layers and the objects all seemed fine but it still looked faded. It was not in an edit mode of any sort. I researched and found what I thought was an unrelated variable LAYLOCKFADECTL which controlled the visualization of objects on locked layers (not the case here). When we set this variable to 0, we got our blocks back to vibrant colors again. Oh well, fading is gone, bewilderment still here.

When the ISOCP font is too big

We are completing an upgrade from Mechanical 2006 to Mechanical 2009 (I know, we are a little behind the times) but when we opened drawings, the ISOCP font looked like ROMANS and grew outside the leader notes and Block references. We have the Style STANDARD defined as ISOCP.shx but it would not appear correctly. I found a fix. In the OPTIONS, under the FILES tab, expand the TEXT EDITOR, DICTIONARY, AND FONT FILE NAMES, and then set the ALTERNATE FONT FILE to ".". Shut down AutoCAD and then restart. Your ISOCP should appear correct.

When is a font not a font..

Hey, my drawing looks weird. I have text that uses ISOCP.SHX but now it looks "too wide". I check the style, but it is set correctly. What the... I check for the font file.. okay. What I finally do is reboot (an old IT favorite). Well what do you know, the style is back (get it..back in style) Okay, till next time. Also see 2010.08.02 for update

Notes are not up to scale.

So your mechanical leader and notes are behaving badly and not scaling to the viewport scale. Bad notes, bad... You either need the notes whisperer or set a couple of variables to neuter these issues. AMSYMSCALE sets symbols (ie Notes) back on track and AMRESCALE gets your existing notes to behave. Whew.. good notes, good.

Isn't that special.

Or should I say "that isn't special". The special characters in the dimensioning mode show incorrectly. The diameter symbol for instance looks like some weird text. Well this is a Window Font issue. Look for the AMGDT*.ttf fonts in the Windows\Font folder. If they are not there, copy them from a working computer or do a repair install of AutoCAD Mechanical and you should get them back. Congratulations, you are special again.

It's all in the details...

But my details are not detailed enough. A user was using the Detail command and the detail showed up with items missing. Nothing we tried worked. I asked a user who had the problem previously and he reminded me of the fix. It was service pack 2 to the rescue. We checked which version the user was running (AMVER at the command line), and when we saw he was still at SP1a, we upgraded to SP2 and tada, the details of his life shown through. WE are back.

I'm no longer a status symbol

Does your status line look "just smashing" or "just smashed".

A nice tip from Autodesk for a "smashed looking" status line.

1) Execute AMPOWERSNAP command
2) Select "Current Settings" tab and uncheck "Show Snap in status line"

Supersize Me

Are your inserts from Design Center bigger than large fries? Well, this is one that comes up from time to time. We insert standard features in from Design Center but they came in "ginormous" (for you Elf fans) and scaled to inches (we use ISO and metric). "It must be the standards settings" I thought. I looked and they were set to ISO and Metric. Hmmm... Oh a thought, I checked under the OPTIONS and it was under USER PREFERENCES and under Insertion Scale, it was set to Inch. I set it to Millimeters and then the items inserted correctly. We are now back to regular size fries. I feel so much better.

My instant MTEXT messenger

A users MTEXT began speaking to him today. A user here had his MTEXT command issue an error on startup (after the text window was selected). It shown a dialog saying "Cannot find shell program". A ever trustworthy "hmmmmm... I have never seen that before" from myself and I was off to the races. A quick Google and I was on it. The variable inside AutoCAD "MTEXTED" was incorrect. You see, we have a designer from our German branch of the company and he uses a digitizer (another discussion), but anyway, his setup said "INTERN" instead of "INTERNAL". I typed in MTEXTED and set it to INTERNAL. Back in business again. Isn't the internet cool for these problems? Till next time.

Can I take your order?

Well, not if my command line disappeared. A quick tip... CTRL + 9 puts you back in command. (I found this out the hard way if you are wondering).

My blocks locked me outside and I forgot my key!

A feature that AutoCAD now has is the ability to lock blocks from editing. A seemingly nice feature but what if you really really need to edit the block. Well, they hid the key under the mat. Where is the mat you ask. Why of course, it is in the same place you open the door. The BLOCK command. To unlock your "door", select the block command and select the block you are interested in, now look at the dialog and notice the CheckBox to "Allow Exploding", what are you waiting for, check it. Now the door is open. AutoCAD will make sure you want to unlock the door by having you confirm the operation. Come on in and make yourself at home.

Shooting star.. uhmmm symbol I mean

Geometric tolerances with their own mind... stop it! When he would add a geometric tolerance symbol and then would try to place it (while ortho was on), it would shoot to a distant location away from his desired spot. The solution. I noticed his UCS icon was not set to world (a small square around the origin). When we set it back to world. Tada! We were back in business. I wish they were all so easy.