AutoCAD 2004 Customization Tutorial: Managing
Tool Palettes Content
By Alireza Parsai,
May 23, 2003
There are some options available to manage the appearance of
tools and/or their behavior. The following tutorial explores
some of them.
Note: This tutorial is based on
the results gained in the following tutorial:
►
Creating a New Tool
Palette
1.
Start AutoCAD 2004. Enable Tool Palettes window if necessary.
2.
Select Hatch Patterns Library tab [Figure 1].
Figure 1
3.
Right-click on one of the icons. A shortcut menu appears [Figure
2].
Figure 2
4.
Select Rename. Then rename the tool to Special Pattern
[Figure 3].
Figure 3
5.
While keep pressing Ctrl key, click some of the tools.
6.
Right-click on one of the highlighted tools. A shortcut menu
appears [Figure 4].
Figure 4
7.
Select Delete Tools. A warning message appears [Figure
5].
Figure 5
8.
Click OK to remove the tools. The removal affects the palette
only. The source hatch pattern file will not be affected.
9.
Right-click on Solid hatch pattern icon.
10.
Select Copy.
11.
Right-click an empty space on palette area. A shortcut menu
appears [Figure 6].
Figure 6
12.
Select Paste. A new icon appears at the bottom of the palette.
13.
Right-click on the new icon.
14.
Select Properties. The Tool Properties dialog box appears
[Figure 7].
Figure 7
15. In
the Name box, type Magenta Fill.
16. In
General rollout select Color [Figure 8].
Figure 8
17.
Click the down arrow beside color list.
18.
Select Magenta [Figure 9].
Figure 9
19.
Click OK.
20.
Draw a circle in drawing area.
21.
Click Magenta Fill icon.
22.
Click inside the circle. The circle will be covered with a
magenta solid hatch.
23.
Remove most of the hatch icons from the tool palette. Follow the
instructions of steps 5 to 8.
24.
Click the Properties icon on Tool Palettes window title bar.
25. In
shortcut menu select Customize. The Customize dialog box appears
[Figure 10].
Figure 10
26.
Make sure that Tool Palettes tab is selected.
27. In
Tool Palettes list select Hatch Patterns Library if not
selected.
28.
Click Rename. The Rename Tool Palette dialog box appears
[Figure 11].
Figure 11
29.
Replace the text with Favorite Hatches. Then click OK.
30.
Click Export. The Export Tool Palette dialog box appears
[Figure 12].
Figure 12 -
Click on image to enlarge
31.
Save the file as "Favorite Hatches.xtp" in My Documents.
32.
Click Delete to delete the palette. The Confirm Tool Palette
Deletion dialog box appears [Figure 13].
Figure 13
33.
Click OK.
34.
Click Import. The Import Tool Palette dialog box appears.
35.
Locate and import "Favorite Hatches.xtp".
36.
Click Close.
About the Author
Alireza Parsai is the founder of cadpanel.com. He is a
mechanical engineer with more than 12 years experience with
AutoCAD. Alireza is an Autodesk Authorized Author, the AutoCAD
consultant for Al Khawarizmi Institute, a contributing editor
for Augiworld magazine, a writer for CAD Digest, an instructor
for AUGI Training Program, and an elected speaker for Autodesk
University 2002. He has written 7 books in Farsi, 3 booklets in
English, and more than 30 articles for different magazines and
newsletters. You can reach him at
alireza.parsai@cadpanel.com or visit his website
www.cadpanel.com.
|
