CAD/BIM Tips & Tricks
The Special Seven, Plus Time-Saving Tools for AutoCAD
3 March 2023
With features such as the seven industry-specific toolsets that AutoCAD®offers, increased adoption is understandable. However, you may still encounter quirky aspects of this platform and you may appreciate having tools to overcome them. For example, you may find Excel®and Word®imports frustrating, or maybe managing your title blocks drives you crazy, or you hate that conversions between DGNs and DWGs chew up more of your valuable time than they should. We’ll discuss solutions to all of these issues, though, so read on.
These industry-specific tools potentially enable users to complete their work 63% faster on average.
The Special Seven: Improved Productivity in AutoCAD
If you’ve been considering switching from another CAD platform to AutoCAD, here’s something you may find encouraging. While there are many new features and improvements in the 2023 version of AutoCAD, for example, possibly the biggest attention-grabber is the specialized toolsets. These industry-specific tools potentially enable users to complete their work 63% faster* on average.
In a study commissioned by Autodesk®, common design challenges were identified for each toolset to understand the differences in time and effort required to complete each task with AutoCAD versus with an AutoCAD specialized toolset. Below are the average time-savings for each toolset in that study, shown as a percentage of productivity gain:
Architecture toolset: 61%
Mechanical toolset: 55%
Electrical toolset: 95%
MEP toolset: 85%
Plant 3D toolset: 74%
MAP 3D toolset: 60%
Raster Design toolset: 48%
Save time and virtually eliminate repetitive or mundane tasks, while reducing frustration and stress.
None of these percentages are insignificant. Obviously, individual results will vary, but anything that saves time is a good thing, right? Do you remember the above-mentioned imports, title blocks, and conversions between DGNs and DWGs? Well, here’s how you can get help in those three specific areas — the kind of help that allows you to get more done, faster.
Time-Saving Tools for AutoCAD
Manual updates to over 500 files? It’s a nightmare. But it doesn’t have to be.
Based on feedback from AutoCAD users like yourself, Axiom offers purpose-built tools for AutoCAD that not only save you time but also virtually eliminate repetitive or mundane tasks while reducing frustration and stress.
First, let’s talk about imports. Almost every project you work on requires the import of either Excel spreadsheets or Word documents or both. And it’s a pain. Sometimes the imported spreadsheet is a mess. Maybe the cells are off, or the numbers are misplaced and you get stuck with the grueling task of trying to fix it all — while the deadline clock keeps ticking away, of course. Microsoft Office ImporterTM to the rescue!
How about having imports that are quick and easy, whether it’s an enormous Excel spreadsheet or a lengthy Word doc? With Microsoft Office Importer, you can literally achieve this in one simple step, taking care of all those schedules, bills of materials, general notes and so on. Even better is the fact that the formatting is perfect, every time. Wish your imports could automatically update when changes are made to the source data? Consider it done. Microsoft Office Importer gives you the option to automatically link and sync your data. This popular tool puts an end to frustrating, time-gobbling imports.
Next up, let’s take a look at another time-hungry monster: title blocks. One small error in your title blocks or — even more annoying — having a page inserted into your project at the last minute, and your weekend is over before it’s even started. Manual updates to over 500 files? It’s a nightmare. But it doesn’t have to be.
With Title Block ManagerTM you can easily change any block attribute text in your title blocks — quickly and automatically — on dozens or even thousands of files at a time. And that renumbering nightmare? Forget about it. Using a single Excel spreadsheet, Title Block Manager will quickly and easily renumber all your sheets for you. You could call it a miracle, but we affectionately refer to it as the Defender of Weekends.
Last in this round-up of time-saving AutoCAD tools is Translation ManagerTM. You’re already familiar with all the “grrr” moments that present themselves when you try to convert your DWGs to DGNs (or vice versa). Output files with fonts that don’t map correctly? Incorrect lines styles or line types? Line weight or color issues? Screwy sizing in the output files? Unwanted layers (or levels), or worse yet, lost layers (or levels)? Nope, not with Translation Manager.
Now you can have perfectly clean, easy conversions without you needing to spend hours recreating drawings. How much time could you save by converting files — in batch — in their hundreds or thousands? Want to see the respect in your boss’s eyes — or the client’s — when you present perfect translations that meet all required CAD standards? Translation Manager does it all for you.
To see a free demo or discuss your specific requirements with a Service Consultant, call 727-442-7774. Alternatively, visit AxiomInt.com for more information.
All that’s left to figure out is what you’re going to do with all that extra time on your hands. Sounds like it’s time to start planning an awesome weekend!
*Productivity data based on a series of studies commissioned by Autodesk to an outside consultant. The seven toolset studies compared basic AutoCAD to the specialized toolsets within AutoCAD when performing tasks commonly done by experienced AutoCAD users. As with all performance tests, results may vary based on machine, operating system, filters, and even source material. While every effort has been made to make the tests as fair and objective as possible, your results may differ.