Editorials ~ Variables ~ Editorials

Variables

This is just as valid today!

"I don't change variables!"

name withheld

Knowledge of variables is still a very important tool in the advanced CAD-Operator's arsenal. Although working in AutoCAD^® for Windows might have you think otherwise, remember that all those dialogue boxes (a.k.a. "windows") are just another way of accessing the variables that make AutoCAD^® so powerful and flexible.

For example: release 13 AutoCAD^® saw the introduction of the dimension variable "DIMTVP" ("DIM Text Vertical Placement" is how I remember it) which resulted in a lot of dimension text entities being smack dab on the dimension line. When this was brought up at a CAD-Department meeting, the head of the department stated "I don't change variables!" Well, yes, you do. Everyone does -- whenever they change a setting in a dialogue box! Although Windows is not conducive to learning AutoCAD^® variables, everyone should make a point of learning as many of them as possible.

And they change with every release, so you have to stay up to date....

An Addendum is below the image-bar....

Addendum

My first experience with AutoCAD^® was release 9 in a night class in Kingston, Ontario. By the time I had full time work in Computer Drafting it was up to release 10.

In my spare time at work (A.K.A. "overhead") I used to read the AutoCAD^® manual(s). Not only was a full set included with this very overpriced software but is was hard cover book(s). Also, a thick black line was in the margin of every page when the new release changed somthing or, for example, a new variable was added. So it was very easy to keep up to date. Ahh, the good old days!

This ended with release 12, or was it 13? In any case ~ now you have to pay extra for a set of paperback manual(s).

Eric Bailey