Learn 10 Powerful AutoCAD Lisp Programs!

Updated on Dec 27,2023

Learn 10 Powerful AutoCAD Lisp Programs!

Table of Contents:

  1. Introduction
  2. Object Align
    • 2.1 Aligning Objects
    • 2.2 Checking Spacing
  3. Arrow Arc
    • 3.1 Providing Arc with Arrow
    • 3.2 Setting Limitations
  4. Curved Text
    • 4.1 Placing Text on Curved Objects
    • 4.2 Providing Plot Limits
  5. Increment Array
    • 5.1 Increasing Text Values
    • 5.2 Changing Sheet Layouts
  6. Mid Length
    • 6.1 Providing Total Length
    • 6.2 Over the Midline
  7. Circle Wipeout
    • 7.1 Removing Objects with Wipeout
  8. Block Count
    • 8.1 Counting Blocks in a Floor Plan
    • 8.2 Obtaining Block Data
  9. Show Hash Text
    • 9.1 Highlighting Text over Pattern
  10. Area Statement
    • 10.1 Creating Area Statements with Tables
  11. Quick Mirror
    • 11.1 Mirroring Objects Quickly

Introduction

Welcome to Cat Concept! In this article, we will explore the top 10 productive LIC (AutoLISP) programs that can help speed up your work in AutoCAD. These practical examples will demonstrate how you can enhance your efficiency and productivity in AutoCAD. So let's dive in and discover the various LIC programs that can revolutionize your workflow.

Object Align

Alignment of objects plays a crucial role in design accuracy and visual appeal. AutoCAD offers a handy feature called Object Align, which helps align objects with precision. By following a few simple steps, You can ensure that your objects are perfectly aligned, maintaining desired spacing and aesthetics. This feature is particularly useful when aligning cars in a parking floor plan, as shown in the example below.

2.1 Aligning Objects

To align an object to a specific reference point, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Object Align command by typing "O A" or selecting it from the AutoCAD menu.
  2. Select the object that you want to align.
  3. Choose the reference point where the object should be aligned.

2.2 Checking Spacing

Once the object is aligned, you can verify whether the spacing is as desired. Take the example of aligning a car with a driveway. By aligning the car object to the driveway, you can ensure that the spacing is appropriate and the turning areas are smooth. This way, you can easily check if the driveway matches the required spacing.

Arrow Arc

Autocad provides a feature called Arrow Arc that helps you point out specific areas or elements on your design by creating an arc with an arrow. This simple and effective feature allows you to indicate plot limits, drawings, or any other important aspects of your design accurately.

3.1 Providing Arc with Arrow

To provide arc with an arrow to indicate plot limits or any other element, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Double ARC command by typing "D A R C" or selecting it from the AutoCAD menu.
  2. Click the first point where you want the arc to start.
  3. Specify the midpoint of the arc.
  4. Click the Second point to complete the arc with an arrow.

Once the arc with an arrow is created, it serves as a visual indicator, making it easier to identify plot limits or other essential elements within your design.

3.2 Setting Limitations

Arrow Arc allows you to set limitations effectively. By indicating boundaries or limitations with arcs and arrows, you can provide clear guidance and ensure that your design complies with specifications. This feature is particularly helpful when working with drawings or layouts that require precise demarcation.

Curved Text

In AutoCAD, you can easily place text along curved paths to enhance the visual appeal of your design. Whether you want to label curved objects or provide important information over a specific curve, the Curved Text feature simplifies the process.

4.1 Placing Text on Curved Objects

To place text on a curved object, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Curve Text command by typing "C T" or selecting it from the AutoCAD menu.
  2. Select the text you want to place.
  3. Click the curve where you want the text to appear.

By clicking on the curve, you can position the text precisely along the curved path, achieving the desired visual effect.

4.2 Providing Plot Limits

Curved Text becomes particularly useful when you want to provide plot limits along a curve. By placing the text over the curve, you can clearly indicate the plot boundaries or other crucial information while maintaining a visually appealing layout.

Increment Array

AutoCAD provides the Increment Array feature, allowing you to increment values automatically for multiple elements in your design. This feature significantly enhances efficiency when working with repetitive tasks and layout variations.

5.1 Increasing Text Values

To increment text values, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Increment Array command by typing "Inc A R R" or selecting it from the AutoCAD menu.
  2. Select the block or element that contains the text values you want to increase.
  3. Specify the increment value you want to Apply.

Once the increment value is set, the text values within the selected block or within the specified layout will automatically increase by the specified increment.

5.2 Changing Sheet Layouts

The Increment Array feature also allows you to change sheet layouts quickly and effortlessly. By dragging the block containing the sheet layout, you can achieve the desired sheet number sequence or any other predefined layout variations with ease.

Mid Length

AutoCAD's Mid Length feature allows you to provide total length measurements by placing the length indication over the midpoint of your object. This feature simplifies the process of indicating lengths and ensures accuracy in your design.

6.1 Providing Total Length

To provide the total length over the midpoint of an object, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Mid Length command by typing "M I D L E N" or selecting it from the AutoCAD menu.
  2. Select the object for which you want to indicate the total length.

By placing the length indication over the midpoint of the object, you can Instantly provide the total length measurement.

6.2 Over the Midline

The Mid Length feature becomes particularly useful when you need to provide the total length measurement over the midline. Whether it's a plot boundary or any other linear element, this feature ensures accurate length indications with ease.

Circle Wipeout

In AutoCAD, the Circle Wipeout feature allows you to hide or mask specific areas or objects within your design. By creating a circle wipeout around the desired area or object, you can emphasize certain elements or provide a clean layout for your design.

7.1 Removing Objects with Wipeout

To remove objects with a Circle Wipeout, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Circle Wipeout command by typing "C Wipe" or selecting it from the AutoCAD menu.
  2. Create a circle around the area or object you want to remove or mask.

By creating a circle wipeout, the area or object within the circle will no longer be visible. This feature is useful when you want to hide or mask specific portions of your design for Clarity or printing purposes.

Block Count

AutoCAD's Block Count feature allows you to count the number of blocks within your design quickly. This feature provides valuable information about the overall structure and composition of your design.

8.1 Counting Blocks in a Floor Plan

To count the blocks in a floor plan, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Block Count command by typing "B L K C O U N T" or selecting it from the AutoCAD menu.
  2. Select the entire floor plan or the specific area for which you want to count the blocks.

By selecting the desired area, you can obtain the total count of blocks within the selection. This information can be used to analyze the composition of your floor plan and gain insights into the overall design structure.

8.2 Obtaining Block Data

The Block Count feature not only provides the count of blocks but also offers detailed information about each block, such as object number and detail serial number. This data can be useful for further analysis and documentation purposes.

Show Hash Text

AutoCAD's Show Hash Text feature allows you to highlight text Patterns or details over a hash pattern background. By visually emphasizing text elements within your design, you can enhance clarity and visual appeal.

9.1 Highlighting Text over Pattern

To highlight text over a hash pattern, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Show Hash Text command by typing "S H T" or selecting it from the AutoCAD menu.
  2. Select the block or element containing the text you want to highlight.
  3. Click the hash pattern background where you want the text to be clearly visible.

By clicking over the hash pattern background, the selected text will be highlighted, ensuring optimal visibility even in complex patterns or backgrounds.

Area Statement

AutoCAD's Area Statement feature allows you to create tables that display area measurements for specific elements or regions within your design. This feature simplifies the process of obtaining accurate and organized area calculations.

10.1 Creating Area Statements with Tables

To create area statements with tables, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Amount command by typing "A M T" or selecting it from the AutoCAD menu.
  2. Define the area you want to measure by clicking on the corners or vertices of the desired region.
  3. Click on the desired location where you want the area statement table to appear.

By following these steps, you can quickly obtain area statements with tables that display the area measurements for each defined region or element.

Quick Mirror

AutoCAD's Quick Mirror feature enables you to mirror objects quickly and efficiently. By specifying a midpoint for the mirror, you can mirror objects with ease, ensuring faster design modifications.

11.1 Mirroring Objects Quickly

To mirror objects quickly, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Quick Mirror command by typing "Q M" or selecting it from the AutoCAD menu.
  2. Select the object that you want to mirror.
  3. Specify the midpoint around which the mirror should be performed.

By selecting the midpoint, you can instantly mirror the object with respect to the chosen axis. This feature simplifies the process of design modifications, saving you valuable time and effort.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored the top 10 productive LIC programs that can significantly enhance your workflow in AutoCAD. From aligning objects and providing arc with arrow indicators to creating curved text and generating area statements, these LIC programs offer a wide range of functionality to improve your efficiency and productivity. By utilizing these programs effectively, you can optimize your AutoCAD experience and achieve remarkable results in your design projects.

Highlights:

  • Object Align: Ensure precise alignment and spacing of objects.
  • Arrow Arc: Indicate plot limits and other key elements with arcs and arrows.
  • Curved Text: Easily place text on curved objects for enhanced design aesthetics.
  • Increment Array: Quickly increase text values and change sheet layouts.
  • Mid Length: Provide total length measurements over the midline of objects.
  • Circle Wipeout: Hide or mask specific areas or objects within the design.
  • Block Count: Obtain the count and details of blocks within a floor plan.
  • Show Hash Text: Highlight text over hash pattern backgrounds for clarity.
  • Area Statement: Create tables displaying area measurements for elements or regions.
  • Quick Mirror: Mirror objects quickly around a specified midpoint.

FAQ

Q: Can I align objects in AutoCAD with precision? A: Yes, AutoCAD provides the Object Align feature, allowing precise alignment of objects.

Q: How can I indicate plot limits using AutoCAD? A: You can use the Arrow Arc feature to provide arcs with arrows, indicating plot limits or other important elements.

Q: Can I place text on curved objects in AutoCAD? A: Absolutely! AutoCAD offers the Curved Text feature, allowing you to place text along curved paths easily.

Q: Can I quickly change sheet layouts in AutoCAD? A: Yes, AutoCAD's Increment Array feature enables you to change sheet layouts effortlessly by incrementing text values.

Q: How can I provide total length measurements over the midline of an object in AutoCAD? A: AutoCAD's Mid Length feature allows you to place length indications over the midline for accurate measurements.

Q: Can I hide or mask specific areas or objects within my design in AutoCAD? A: Absolutely! The Circle Wipeout feature in AutoCAD allows you to create wipeouts to hide or mask specific areas or objects.

Q: Can I count the number of blocks within my AutoCAD floor plan? A: Yes, AutoCAD's Block Count feature allows you to count the blocks in a floor plan and obtain detailed block data.

Q: How can I highlight text patterns over a hash pattern background in AutoCAD? A: AutoCAD's Show Hash Text feature enables you to highlight text elements over hash pattern backgrounds for clarity.

Q: Can I easily create area statements with tables in AutoCAD? A: Yes, AutoCAD's Area Statement feature allows you to generate tables displaying area measurements for specific elements or regions within your design.

Q: Is there a quick way to mirror objects in AutoCAD? A: Absolutely! AutoCAD's Quick Mirror feature allows you to mirror objects quickly by specifying a midpoint.

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