Applying the Top 10 New Features and Functions in

AutoCAD 2012
David Cohn 4D Technologies

AC5654

Each new release of AutoCAD comes with added features and functions that can
improve your productivity. But what is the best way to use those new tools? In this class,
we will look at the most significant new features in AutoCAD 2012, including associative
arrays, in-canvas viewport control, UCS enhancements, drawing views, multi-functional
grips, and AutoComplete command entry. You will learn not only how they work, but also
the best ways to apply them to typical workflows. We will also look at how these new
features impact Autodesk product certification exam topics and objectives. This class is
more than just a demonstration of what is new. You will see practical examples of how to
integrate these new tools to get your work done faster.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this class, you will be able to:

Prepare for the AutoCAD certification exams

Create associative arrays

Use the new drawing view tools

Use multi-functional grips

About the Speaker

David has more than 25 years of hands-on experience with AutoCAD and 12 years with
Revit as a user, developer, author, and consultant. He is the technical publishing manager
with 4D Technologies/CADLearning, a contributing editor to Desktop Engineering magazine,
the former publisher and editor-in-chief of CADCAMNet and Engineering Automation Report,
the former senior editor of CADalyst magazine, and the author of more than a dozen books
about AutoCAD. A licensed architect, David was also one of the earliest AutoCAD third-party
software developers, creating numerous AutoCAD add-on programs. As an industry consultant,
David has worked with many companies, including Autodesk. He has taught college-level
AutoCAD courses and is always a popular presenter at both Autodesk University and AUGI
CAD Camps.
david.cohn@cadlearning.com
www.cadlearning.com

Insert Class Title as per Title Page

User Interface
The first set of features and functions we will look at relate to the user interface or UI.
It once took lots of clicks and picks to navigate through pull-down menus and dialog boxes.
AutoCAD has improved quite a bit since then, particularly with the addition of the Ribbon. But
theres always room for improvement.
AutoCAD 2012 provides some really nice UI improvements. In particular:
AutoComplete Command Entry
In-Canvas Viewport Controls
UCS Enhancements
Easy Access to Toolbars

AutoComplete Command Entry

Many long-time AutoCAD users find that its often faster to start
commands or adjust system variables by typing. But in the past,
that has meant that you needed to remember the system
variable or command name. Well, not anymore. In AutoCAD
2012, when you type, either in the command window, or in the
dynamic input field, AutoCAD automatically completes the entry
with an AutoCAD command, command alias, or system variable.
As you type more letters, the list gets filtered to show just those commands and system
variables that match what youve typed. You can then start the command at any time by clicking
on it, or highlighting it and pressing the ENTER key.
In addition, when the AutoComplete pop-up is
displayed, you can right-click on it to display a
shortcut menu and then use the tools in the shortcut
to control the AutoComplete behavior:

Auto-Append controls whether commands

and system variables are automatically
completed as you type.
Suggestion List controls whether a list of valid commands and system variables are
displayed as you type.
Display Icons controls whether the corresponding icon for a command is displayed in
the list.
Display System Variables controls whether system variables are also included in the
list.
Display Time controls the delay time in seconds before the popup displays.

Insert Class Title as per Title Page

Also note that in the Command window, the command line now appears with a white
background while the command history is distinguished from the active command line with a
grey background color, making it much easier to see the active command and command
prompts.

In-Canvas Viewport Controls

The Macintosh version of AutoCAD 2011 introduced a new feature called In-Canvas Viewport
Controls. That feature has now been added to AutoCAD 2012 as well.
In the upper-left corner of the viewport are three In-Canvas Viewport controls that enable you to
change viewport settings, views, and visual styles directly within the viewport. You no longer
need to use tools in the ribbon to make these changes.

The Viewport Control provides access to pre-configured and customized viewports as well as
other viewport settings and can be used to easily split the viewport into multiple tiled viewports
or restore a previously saved viewport configuration or a single viewport.
The View Control tool provides access to pre-configured and customized model views, view
settings, and the view manager. For example, if you click on this tool, you can switch to a Front
view or a NE Isometric view.
And the Visual Style Control provides access to pre-configured and customized visual styles
as well as the visual style manager. For example, if you click on this tool, you can switch to a
Realistic visual style, or Shaded with Edges.
The In-Canvas Viewport controls can be enabled/disabled from the 3D Modeling tab of the
Options dialog, but I suggest that you leave these tools enabled, so that they remain readily
available. Its extremely useful to be able to quickly access these tools within the viewport.

Insert Class Title as per Title Page

Turn on Toolbars
Another tool that users have long relied on is toolbars. But when
Autodesk introduced the ribbon, the toolbars all but disappeared. And its
been very difficult to get the toolbars to display again without either
switching to the AutoCAD Classic workspace, which turns off the ribbon,
or going into the CUI.
But in AutoCAD 2012, you can enable toolbars using the new Toolbars
tool in the View ribbon. Once enabled, toolbars work exactly as in
previous versions of AutoCAD. So now, using toolbars is as easy as using the ribbon.

UCS Enhancements
The UCS icon is a very useful tool that helps you to see and understand the direction of the
Cartesian coordinate system axes. But the tools for working with the UCS have never been very
intuitive. But now, in AutoCAD 2012, you can right-click on the UCS icon to display a shortcut
menu, and select it and use grips, just like you would any other element in AutoCAD.

When you right-click on the UCS icon, you see a shortcut menu. You can use the tools in this
menu to restore the UCS to the World UCS, choose one of the other UCS commands, or control
the UCS settings.
When you select the UCS, you see grips that you can use to manipulate the UCS. And if you
hover the cursor over one of these grips, AutoCAD displays a special menu with tools for
controlling the UCS.

Multi-Functional Grips
The grips and menus that appear when you manipulate the UCS are an example of MultiFunctional grips. Multi-Functional grips are not completely new in AutoCAD 2012. They were
used in the past for adjusting polylines and hatch patterns. But in AutoCAD 2012, there are
Multi-Functional Grips for controlling many more AutoCAD objects, such as lines, arcs, elliptical

Insert Class Title as per Title Page

arcs, dimensions, mleaders, 3D faces, edges, and vertices. These new multi-functional grips
make it easier than ever to quickly edit your drawings.

As you become more familiar with multi-functional grips, I think youll wonder how you ever
worked in AutoCAD without them.

Associative Arrays
Perhaps the biggest new feature in AutoCAD 2012 are the new Associative Arrays. Instead of
using a dialog box, you now create arrays on-screen, with immediate visual feedback so you
can see the array as you create it. And AutoCAD 2012 provides three types of arrays:

Rectangular Arrays create copies of objects in a rectangular pattern of rows and

columns.
Polar Arrays create copies of objects in a circular pattern around a center point or axis
of rotation.
Path Arrays create copies of objects along a path formed by a line, polyline, 3D
polyline, spline, helix, arc, circle, or ellipse.

All three can also be used to create 2D and 3D arrays.

In addition, by default, the arrays are associative. When you select an array, you can quickly
make changesusing Multi-Functional grips or a context sensitive ribbonso you can update
the entire array even after it has been created.

Insert Class Title as per Title Page

The new path arrays are particularly powerful. Once objects have been arrayed along a path, if
you modify the path, the objects continue to follow the path.

Model Documentation
One of the problems of working in 3D has been creating two-dimensional documentation. If your
3D model changes, youve got a lot of work ahead of you to update those 2D drawings. The
new Model Documentation tools in AutoCAD 2012 solve this problem, and are incredibly easy to
use.
The model documentation tools let you automatically generate standard two-dimensional
drawing views from your three-dimensional models. And when your models change, you can
instantly update those views. You can also adjust the scale and the visual display of those views
easily at any time. And AutoCAD 2012 also lets you import 3D models from other CAD
applications. Once imported, you can use these same model documentation tools with those
models as well.

Insert Class Title as per Title Page

After creating or importing a 3D model, to use the new model documentation tools:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Switch to a paper space layout.

On the Annotate ribbon, expand the Drawing Views panel and choose Base View.
Place the base view (the parent view)
Place additional projected views (child views).

Once views have been placed, if you move the views, AutoCAD makes sure that related views
remain aligned. If you change the scale of the parent view, all child views update. You can also
control the scale and visual style of each view individually.
After placing views, you can add dimensions and other annotations
using standard AutoCAD tools. If the 3D model changes, AutoCAD
notifies you and offers to update all of the drawing views. When you
update those views, you may need to update annotations, but
AutoCAD provides tools to help you automate that process as well.

Inventor Fusion
Inventor Fusion is a simple to use direct modeler that comes free with AutoCAD 2012.
With Inventor Fusion, you can directly manipulate 3D models using tools that are very
easy to use.
When you select a 3D model in AutoCAD, you can then click on the Edit in Fusion button to
immediately open the model in Inventor Fusion. You can then use tools in Fusion to make
changes to the model.

Insert Class Title as per Title Page

After making changes, you dont need to save those changes. You can simply click the Return
to AutoCAD button to close Fusion. The modified model is returned to AutoCAD and you
immediately see your changes.
Inventor Fusion may become a preferred method of modeling in 3D. And it comes FREE with
AutoCAD 2012.

Sharing Drawings
AutoCAD 2012 also comes with new tools to make it easier for you to share your drawings with
other team members.

DWG Convert
The DWG Convert tool lets you quickly batch convert drawings, and if youre working with
someone who is using an earlier version of AutoCAD, you can save the drawings to that earlier
version.
The DWG Convert tool is located in the Application Menu under Save As. When you start DWG
Convert, you see a dialog box. You can create a list of drawings to be converted, choose a
conversion setup, and then convert all of those drawings. You can create and save your own
custom conversion settings and specify the target AutoCAD version. Converted drawings can
be saved to a new folder or saved to a ZIP file or self-extracting archive.

DWG Convert makes it easy to share your drawings with other team members, particularly if
theyre using an older version of AutoCAD.

AutoCAD WS
AutoCAD 2012 also includes a solution that lets you share drawings with other team members,
even if those people dont use AutoCAD.
8

Insert Class Title as per Title Page

AutoCAD WS lets you share drawings over the web, using any web browser. Team members
can even connect with those drawings using mobile devices.

Once the drawing is open in AutoCAD WS, youll find tools for adding lines, arcs, and circles; for
moving, rotating, and copying objects; for adding text, dimensions, leaders, clouds, and arrows;
for inserting blocks and attaching images; and so on. AutoCAD WS has most of the common
features and functions found in AutoCAD. It also has a Timeline feature that keeps track of
changes and lets you see previous versions of shared drawings.
AutoCAD WS is free and available for Apple and Android mobile devices, via a web browser,
and as a stand-alone application for Apple computers running OS X.

Other Improvements
In addition to these top 10 new features, AutoCAD 2012 has lots of other improvements:
OVERKILL quickly cleans up overlapping geometry by removing duplicated or
unneeded objects.
COPY now includes an Array option for quickly copying objects in a linear pattern.
FILLET and CHAMFER now show a preview of the resulting 2D fillet or chamfer before
you complete the command.
BLEND creates a tangent or smooth spline between the endpoints of two open curves.
JOIN has been significantly improved, making it much easier to join similar objects to
form a single, unbroken object.
Understanding several of the new features and functions in AutoCAD 2012 will likely help you to
pass the AutoCAD 2012 certification exams.
9

Insert Class Title as per Title Page

Certification
The certification exams enable experienced AutoCAD users to receive special recognition for
their knowledge of AutoCAD at two levels of expertise.

Certified Associate

Cost: $75 (or free at AU)

Format: 30 multiple choice questions, based on general AutoCAD knowledge
Passing Score: 72% (22 correct)
Time Allowed: 60 minutes

Certified Professional

Cost: $125 (or free at AU)

Format: 20 multiple choice questions, must perform a task in AutoCAD to find answer
Passing Score: 76% (16 correct)
Time Allowed: 90 minutes

You can go to the Autodesk Certification Exam website to see whats on the Certified Associate
and Certified Professional exams. Based on the information available online, the new multifunctional grips and array tools are most likely covered on the AutoCAD 2012 Certified
10

Insert Class Title as per Title Page

Associate exam and you will likely be expected to be able to use those tools in order to answer
questions on the AutoCAD 2012 Certified Professional Exam as well.
There are several additional things you can do to help you prepare for the certification exams.

Visit the Autodesk certification website: http://www.autodesk.com/certification

Take Matt Murphys AU Virtual class Mastering the Skills: The Ultimate Autodesk
Certification Preparation Guide Revealed!
Take the 4D Technologies certification preparation course.

As a thank you for taking this AU Virtual course, the 4D Technologies certification course is
being made available to you for FREE from now until December 12, 2011.

Visit: http://www.account.member.cadlearning.com/signup.php?price_group=-11
Enter the coupon code: AUCERT2011

11