One big leap for productivity.  AutoCAD 2006

So here we are again, another new year and another new version of AutoCAD is about to be released. That’s right AutoCAD 2006 is just around the corner. I’d like to take this time to point out a few new items that you can look forward to with the implementation of this new version.

Keep yourself Focused
One of the first exciting things that you will now have access to are tools to help you stay focused on the graphics screen while doing your work. You will find that you now can display coordinates and other tool tips next to your cursor while drawing. Also you will find that you have better definition of selection areas with the addition of background selection shading.

Engineering Calculations
Many designers have the need to use a handheld calculator to do many calculations. AutoCAD now has a new and robust QuickCalc tool for your applications. In this new calculator, you will see buttons to do multiple scientific functions as well as unit conversions. There is even a section where you can define global and constant variables.

Dynamic Blocks
Another exciting tool is something that I feel will come in real handy for those companies that have large custom libraries. These companies might have hundreds of different files for the different blocks for their products. In AutoCAD 2006 you can now create Dynamic Blocks. What this means is that you can now create one block that has many different variations to it. For instance you have a screw that has different sizes. With this Dynamic block tool, you can insert one file and then from that one file you can choose which version of the block you want through a simple drop down window. Not only can you change actual geometry, but you can also change insertion points.

Annotate Designs
There is a whole host of new annotation items. These vary from a new text editing window which will take the guesswork out of what will the text look like when you are done, to new dimensioning tools such as an arc length dimension. Also there is new functionality for Hatching. You now have better control over where is the origin of the hatch. In the past one obstacle when selecting boundaries was that you needed to have the entire area displayed on the screen. This is no longer the case, you can be zoomed into a section of the drawing and select an area that extends off the visible area and hatch that.

Others
Some other items to watch for are:

• Recover Damaged Drawing utility
• Migration utility for Custom setting and files
• Enhanced Tool Palettes
• Common Editing tools such as Move, Copy, and Rotate have been updated
• DWF Publishing

There are more new items and many enhancements to the old tools we all know. For a more depth look into these items, please contact your Hagerman & Company sales person to get more information.