AutoCAD Basics - Section 1

2.12 Customizing the Interface

I will tell you something that you probably suspect: the Autocad interface can be adapted in different ways to customize its use. For example, we can modify the right mouse button so that the contextual menu no longer appears, we can change the size of the cursor or the colors on the screen. However, this is one of those paradoxical possibilities, since although many changes are possible, generally the default configuration works very well for the vast majority of users. So unless you want the program to have a very particular operation, what we suggest is that you leave it as it is. In any case, let's review the procedure to make changes.

The application menu contains a button called "Options", which opens a dialog box where we can modify not only the appearance of Autocad, but also many other operating parameters.

The eyebrow "Visual", has 6 sections directly related to the on-screen display of the objects we draw. The first section has a series of interface window elements that are optional. From this list, it is advisable to deactivate the vertical and horizontal scroll bars, since the “Zoom” tools that we will study in the corresponding chapter make these bars unnecessary. In turn, the "Show screen menu" option is also not recommended, since it is a menu inherited from previous versions of Autocad that we will not use in this text. Nor does it make much sense to change the font of the "Command Window", which can be modified with the "Types ..." button.

For its part, the "Colors ..." button opens a dialog box that allows us to modify the color combination of the Autocad interface.

As you can see, the dark color of the Autocad drawing area makes the contrast with the drawn lines very high, even when we draw them with colors other than white. The cursor and other elements that appear in the drawing area (such as the scan lines that will be studied later), also have a very clear contrast when we use black as the background. So, again, we suggest using the default colors of the program, although you can modify them freely, of course.

Another example of a change in the Autocad screen interface is the size of the cursor. The scroll bar in the same dialog box allows you to modify it. Its default value is 5.

For its part, the reader will remember in the examples we have presented that when the command window asked you to select an object, a small box appeared instead of the common cursor. This is precisely the selection box, whose size is also modifiable, but this time on the "Selection" tab of the "Options" dialog we are reviewing:

The problem here is that a very large selection box does not allow you to clearly discern which object is being selected when there are many objects on the screen. Conversely, a very small selection box makes it difficult to signalize objects. Conclusion? Again, leave it as is.

If all our apology about which it is not convenient to make changes to the interface and the operation of Autocad convinces you, then, at least, resort to the eyebrow “Profile” of the dialog box, which allows you to fundamentally 2 things: 1) save those changes under a certain name, so that it is a customized configuration profile that you can use. This is very useful when several users use the same machine and each one prefers certain configuration. Thus each user can record their profile and read it when using Autocad. And, 2) With this eyebrow you can return all your original parameters to Autocad, as if you had not made any changes.

2.12.1 More changes to the interface

Do you like to experiment? Are you a bold person who likes to manipulate and modify your environment to customize it drastically? Well, then you should know that Autocad gives you the possibility to modify not only the colors of the program, the size of your cursor and the selection box, as we just mentioned, but also practically all the elements of the program's interface. Do not like the button icon used to draw rectangles? Change it to an icon with the face of Bart Simpson, if he likes. Do not you like a command to present certain options? Simple, modify it so that the message, the options and the result are different. Do not you like that there is a file called "Vista"? Remove it and put there what you want.

To achieve this level of customization, we use the "Manage-Customization-User Interface" button. An interface customization box will appear, allowing you to modify the ribbon, toolbars, palettes, and so on. Obviously this can also be saved under a certain name, and then return to the default interface.

However, from my point of view, the design of the interface has been carefully planned to allow the professional to work productively with the program, independently if it is architectural drawing, engineering or simple technical drawing. I insist again: do not waste your time playing with the interface, much less if you still do not master the program.

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