Cadtales

Customizing The Autocad Program Parameters File (acad.pgp)

by Jim Rogers, CADreps

Each time you open a new or existing drawing, AutoCAD searches the support path and reads the first AutoCAD Program Parameters file that it finds. See the Manual Edit section below for paths to file locations. The file, AKA the ACAD.PGP file, is a text-based file that stores external commands and command Alias definitions (command abbreviations). For example, most AutoCAD users know that you can type ‘L” or “l” instead of the full “line” command, but did you know that there are about 250 of these wonderful shortcuts? Aliases are usually the first one, two or three letters from the associated command (for easy memory), the first letters from two-word commands (PL for Poly Line), or a number and letter combination (2P, 3P) for alphanumeric commands and/or command options.

For the purposes of this lesson we’ll skip over the “external commands” provisions in the ACAD.PGP file, except to say that while in AutoCAD, you can start and run other Windows compatible programs (NotePad, Word, Excel) in a separate Window by simply starting them from the AutoCAD command line. Type NOTEPAD at the command line to see how it works. See other examples in the ACAD.PGP file.

Power users of AutoCAD, all the way back to the earliest versions, have adapted a technique of typing Alias commands with the left hand and moving the mouse with the right hand (or, the reverse for lefties) in order to improve productivity by: 1) keeping their eyes on the screen, 2) reducing wasted motion, 3) conserving energy, and 4) greater speed and accuracy. The introduction of Tool Bars, Palettes, the Dashboard and other icon based command tools, and Windows right-click menus have greatly changed the dynamics of entering commands and selecting command options, but many longtime users of AutoCAD still prefer the Aliases.

I tell my students, “There is no right or wrong way to use AutoCAD, only slower and faster, and it’s up to you to decide what is best for you and your employer.” So, our task here is to show you one more of the multitude of ways to make AutoCAD hum and sing so that your work will garner praise and admiration from your clients, and the person that signs your check.

Getting Started with Aliases

Click here Alias.pdf to download a PDF copy of the Alias listing for AutoCAD 2008. Note that most of the basic, single letter commands are in bold. Start with the bolded commands and practice. Use the Space bar for the Enter key (use the thumb of the left hand). For example, here is the command sequence to practice the Line command. Start the command with “L” (upper or lower case), pick two points on the screen, press the Space bar to finish the command, press the Space bar to repeat the last command – and continue until you are fast and comfortable. Then, interject various command options and repeat again, and again. Move on to more complex commands and repeat.

Customizing the ACAD.PGP file

Now that you are comfortable with and see the benefits of using Alias, you’ll no doubt want to create some of your own. It’s easy, fast and productive. Based on the drafting work that I do my favorites are “CC” for Copy, “TT” for Textmask, “WW” for Wipeout and “TU” for Textunmask. What are yours?

The AutoCAD Express>Tools menu is the easiest way to edit the Command Alias File. On the Express pull-down menu, select Tools>Command Alias Editor.

The command structure inside the AutoCAD Alias Editor dialog box is self-explanatory. Just use the Add and Remove buttons and follow the prompts. It is recommended that you leave all the standard AutoCAD Alias commands in place and just add your special versions. Each Alias should be unique. However, if a command Alias appears more than once in this file, items in the User Defined Command Alias section take precedence over duplicates that appear earlier in the file. (This editor will automatically put your custom Aliases in the proper section).

When you exit the Command Alias Editor it will automatically try to re-initialize the ACAD.PGP file. If your new Alias command is still not working then see the instructions at the end of this lesson to REINIT the file manually.

Manual Edit:

The AutoCAD Program Parameters file (ACAD.PGP) is a simple text file and can be edited with NotePad or other simple text editor. Do not use MS Word or any word processor that introduces word-wrap or other line and paragraph formatting control characters.

Before editing the ACAD.PGP file make a backup copy under a “save” name (ACADsave.PGP) in case you change your mind or need to quickly recover the original file.

There are two locations for the active user’s ACAD.PGP file for AutoCAD 2006 running in Windows XP.

C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2006\R16.2\enu\Support.

The above file path is the main support path and the location of the file that will be edited if you use the Express>Tools>Command Alias Editor.

C:\Program Files\ AutoCAD 2006\UserDataCache\Support.

The second search path above is an alternate location and will be used if the first path is not available. All of these path-strings are for default single-user installations and can vary widely if the installation is customized in any way or includes server/client multi-user directory structures.

To add a new command first check the alphabetical listing to be sure you are not overriding another useful command. Then move down to the User Defined Command Alias section and insert a blank line with the Enter key. See the formatting instructions at the beginning of the file and enter the new command using the same format as the commands in the listings above. (You can use the Spacebar and/or the Tab key to make the space between the Alias and the command. The number of spaces is for appearance only and is not critical).

Example: To create a new command Alias “CC” for the Copy command,

1. Place the cursor at the end of an existing Alias and press ENTER. This will INSERT a new line.
2. Type the new command “CC, *COPY” (without the quotes)
   1. Use the TAB key to form the space between the alias “CC,” and the command “*COPY”
   2. Press ENTER.
3. Delete any extra lines that are created.
4. Note: Every command line in the alias file must end with an ENTER (space bar or carriage return).
5. Save the file and exit.
6. Re-initialize the file – see below.

Print your own copy of the Alias list by highlighting all or part of the list, copying it to the clipboard and pasting it into an Excel spreadsheet for formatting and printing.

Re-initializing the ACAD.PGP File

After saving your edits to ACAD.PGP, the file must be re-initialized in order to be effective. (The ACAD.PGP file is normally read only when starting a new, or opening an existing drawing).

To re-initialize the ACAD.PGP file:

Try the new command! Enjoy!