AutoCAD WS is a web application that requires you to upload your drawings to cloud-based servers for viewing and editing. There are now several ways for you to upload your drawings to AutoCAD WS and we want to find out which methods you prefer.
We also want to hear from you about any other ways to upload drawings you would like to see added into AutoCAD WS for the future.
Have a look at the question below and let us know how you are working with AutoCAD WS.
For more details about the Online tab in AutoCAD 2012, read our tutorial here.
AutoCAD 2012 has arrived with AutoCAD WS fully integrated into Autodesk’s flagship product.
Click here to download AutoCAD 2012 (trial version) including the new Online tab which connects AutoCAD to your AutoCAD WS web and mobile account.
Now you can upload drawings to your mobile phone or tablet, download files that were edited online, and share drawings with clients and colleagues directly from AutoCAD:
See for yourself what the new tab looks like in AutoCAD 2012 with our new video:
For a comprehensive tutorial about the Online tab in AutoCAD 2012 click here.
If you are using a version AutoCAD 2010, or AutoCAD 2011, you can still get the appropriate downloadable plugin from here: www.autocadws.com/downloads.
Some of these may be familiar to you, but it never hurts to revisit ways to improve your CAD experience.
1. Shortcuts Are Your Friend
Even without the familiar Command Line from AutoCAD, you can still rely on the typed shortcuts you already know. As you type each letter there will be no indication until the shortcut is complete and the cursor changes to prompt your next click to begin the action you selected.
For a comprehensive list of AutoCAD WS shortcuts, look here. These are a few that we use regularly.
F8 – Ortho Mode. You can easily toggle Ortho mode on and off with one key to make sure your lines are always at a right angle. Alternative shortcut: ortho
ma – Match Properties. Like Format Painter or any other similar function, Match Properties captures the defining properties of one object and allows you to copy them to another selected object. Alternative shortcut: matchprop
t – Insert Text. Define the size and placement of your text box and start typing. Alternative shortcuts: dt, dtext, text, mt
2. Contextual Toolbar
Whenever you click on an object or block a toolbar will appear with a number of context sensitive options ranging from Move and Rotate to Mirror, Offset and Explode. Contextual toolbar is great for newcomers to AutoCAD…
3. Pan and Zoom by Mouse
You can scroll the mouse wheel to zoom in and out of your drawing. Click and hold the mouse wheel to switch the cursor to the hand symbol and pan by moving the mouse. You can achieve the same effect by holding down the Space bar to switch the cursor and then hold down the left-click and move the mouse to pan.
4. Sharing Multiple Drawings
Sometimes you want to share multiple drawings from the same project or send multiple files to a colleague. Instead of sharing each individual file, you can create a folder for all the files you want to share and then simply share the entire folder.
When you share a folder it’s like using an FTP destination. You can add more drawings to the folder and they will be automatically shared according to the sharing permissions you decided.
5. Right-Click for Convenience
Your trusty right-click can help you reach a number of useful commands such as repeat or undo the last action and zoom and pan.
How would you improve productivity in AutoCAD WS?
Apart from the Command Line and a version of the app for Android (we know!), what else would you add to improve the usefulness of AutoCAD WS?
AutoCAD WS is evolving from day to day. As you read this post, our engineers and designers are creating new features and bringing life to new products. We base large parts of our product updates on users’ requests and feedback that we receive from around the world. This blog is also a great platform for us to listen to you about design decisions both large and small.
Today, we want your opinion about how and where to display units when drawing new objects (polyline, circle) or editing an existing object (move, rotate). AutoCAD WS is built for quick editing and sketching, but being able to set units accurately is also important.
Since our last update – Version 1.2 – we now display the units next to a line as you draw it. To help you create accurate drawings we round the units as you draw and, if the line is close to orthogonal, we snap it to an angle of 90 degrees. But we know that your finger can hide the number when using short gestures and it’s not yet possible to type an input.
We want you to let us know the easiest way for you to make accurate modifications such as drawing a 15-inch line or moving a block by 0.5 meters.
Take a look at the following four options and vote in the poll below.
1. Keep it the way it is. The simple display of the units when creating a new object or editing works for me.
2. Display the units at the top of the screen. After specifying the first point, display the units as I drag my finger. This way I won’t have to peek behind my finger.
3. Allow me to edit the units after the line is set. When you lift up your finger you’ll be able to edit the units (for example, changing it from 12 to 12.45). That way you’ll be able to draw quickly and adjust the object’s settings afterwards.
4. Type in the line length and set the angle. Just as you can in AutoCAD, I want to input a precise amount when adding new objects or editing my drawings. Don’t forget that since there’s no mouse on a touch screen, you’ll either have to tap or to type an angle in order to set the direction.
Those are the four choices, now we want to hear what you have to say:
AutoCAD WS is a web application that requires you to upload your drawings to cloud-based servers for viewing and editing. There are now several ways for you to upload your drawings to AutoCAD WS and we want to find out which methods you prefer.
2. Contextual Toolbar
