Custom CAD Solutions

Search site:

powered by PicoSearch

Clients Make a Payment Contact Info Click to Email

AEC CAD Newsletter - 2003.06.04 issue
News, tips & tricks for AutoCAD users in the AEC fields.
Brought to you by Custom CAD Solutions

This issue sponsored by EngineerSupply.com

FREE Linetypes?!?!!!

Those above are just a few samples. Want them all? Click here

Tips & Tricks

Excel Conversions

Recently, we have seen a lot of interest from clients interested in using Excel to format their data in a particular way. This issue, I decided to include some methods for converting from decimal feet to feet and inches. This is a common request from architects and various contractors. This tip will allow you to calculate the values right in Excel without any concern of transcription or calculation errors.

Note: This solution utilizes an Excel add-in that comes with Excel, but may not necessarily be installed. If MROUND is not found in the 'Paste Function' box, do the following: On the menubar click on 'Tools', then 'Add-Ins', and select 'Analysis Toolpak'.

In this example spreadsheet, column 'A' contains our source values, specified in decimal feet as we might enter them or output them from COGO. The other columns show the results after applying various formulas and formatting.

For fractional inches:
Cell 'B2' above contains the following formula:

=TEXT(MROUND(A2*12,0.0625),"# #/##")&""""

This example converts to inches, rounds to the nearest 1/16", formats the text as a mixed fraction, and adds the inch symbol.

Note: The rounding value is currently it is set to 1/16", or 0.0625 in decimal form. This may be changed to suit your preferences.

For feet and fractional inches:

I have included two options here, depending upon your formatting preferences. In addition to the above, these examples also split out the feet and add symbols and formatting for clarity. (Rounding value may also be adjusted as shown above.)

Option #1:

Cell 'D2' above contains the following formula:

=INT(A2)&"' - "&TEXT(MROUND((A2-INT(A2))*12,0.0625),"# #/##")&""""

Option #2:

Cell 'E2' above contains the following formula (Should be entered as one line - watch for word wrap.):

=INT(A2)&"' "&INT((A2-INT(A2))*12)&IF(MOD(A2*12,1)<>0,"-"&
TEXT(MROUND((A2-INT(A2))*12,0.0625)-INT((A2-INT(A2))*12),"#/##"),"")&""""

Cut & paste any of the above formulas into your worksheet, or click here to download the sample worksheet 'FootInchConversions.xls'.

New Service

Photorealistic Renderings

Contact Custom CAD Solutions for renderings of your proposed development, house, addition, or product. Visit http://www.customcadsolutions.com/visualization for more information.

This Issue's Sponsor

EngineerSupply.com

The trusted favorite when supplying the engineering community with the supplies it needs to get the job done. Shop Online for your AEC Office Equipment, Large Document Storage Solutions, Specialty Calculators, Surveying Equipment and more.

Visit http://www.engineersupply.com

New Version

Boundary Check

Call it what you want... Map Check... Deed Check... We call it Boundary Check. And we just updated it. Enter bearings and distances from a map or legal description, right at the AutoCAD command prompt, to determine closing line and ratio of closure.

(Note: For the next 30 days, we are offering the new version free to current users of Boundary Check. After that period, there will be a minimal upgrade fee.)

For more info or to download a free demo, click here!

Q & A

Q. My list of project paths in the AutoCAD Land Development Desktop pulldown has grown very long. Can I remove some from the chooser without affecting the projects?

A. Yes, you can. There is a way, but I don't believe it was documented.

You are referring to the LDD Project Manager dialog.  It has pulldowns showing all past paths and projects that you have accessed.  This can be a real timesaver, but over time the list can grow quite long.

Fortunately, there is a solution.  This list of project paths is stored in a file that you can edit.  This file is located in the path:   \LDD root\Data\Pref , where "LDD root" is the path where you installed LDD.

Browse to this folder and look for a file corresponding to your login name with the extension '.PJR'.  Open this PJR file with a text editor, find and delete any lines specifying paths no longer needed, then save and close the file.  The next time you use the project pulldown, the list will be much cleaner.

Note:  The PJR file is local to your machine, so this solution will not affect any other users.  It also will not adversely affect your project paths or data in any way.

About Custom CAD Solutions

Custom CAD Solutions is a developer of software to extend AutoCAD's capabilities and make your job easier. We also create custom programs to fit your company's needs, and perform custom drafting and visualizations to your specifications.

Contact info@customcadsolutions.com to discuss your project.

View a partial client list

Subscription Info

Click here to unsubscribe.

This newsletter is published by Custom CAD Solutions. We provide this email newsletter free of charge. We welcome your ideas, questions, suggestions and submissions. Email any comments or information to newsletter@customcadsolutions.com

Reproduction or distribution in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.