New Features, Great and Small
AutoCAD® 2017 is out and, like most releases of any program, there are several small updates and at least one big new tool or improvement. AutoCAD 2017 gives users several behind-the-scenes updates that perhaps only managers will notice, some interface tweaks (as usual), a pile of “small things,” new dynamic centerline tools, a more streamlined set of A360 tools, a new program to handle files for 3D printing, performance enhancements (using a computer’s GPU to process linework), and the best new tool in AutoCAD, the ability to import PDF geometry!
Behind the Scenes and Management Changes
There are plenty of behind-the-scenes improvements that most users won’t even notice, but CAD managers and IT departments will be interested. If your company has more than one type of AutoCAD license, then the new License Manager will help. Install AutoCAD, then on the first start up you tell it what type of license you have. The Infocenter now has a button that installs licensing information. If you are using a network license and lose connection to that server, a pop-up window appears where you can save all of your work and shut down or manually save and shut down while a timer counts down.
The Migrate Custom Settings tool offers a new interface. It does a better job of detecting a user’s custom settings and displaying them ini a more intuitive format.
Figure 1: The Migrate Custom Settings dialog has a new interface
After AutoCAD 2017’s initial install the new AutoCAD Desktop App appears. A shortcut is also installed on the Windows taskbar. It does not require a user to be signed in, but it will offer more information and be more useful. This new app replaces the Autodesk Application Manager tool from previous releases. It is a “companion” program that alerts users when security, hotfix, and service pack updates are available. It is also a portal for learning content. It is subscription aware and also provides subscription-only updates and content. Any relevant updates can be displayed in a “card” showing what is available.
User Interface Enhancements
The user interface seems to be tweaked each release and 2017 follows that trend. This next item addresses AUGI Wish List item #3 by providing the ability in increase the default size of some dialog boxes and the ability to resize others. Their sizes will be maintained the next time AutoCAD 2017 is opened. Users can resize these dialog boxes: Select File, Insert, Page Setup Manager, Object Grouping, Layer States Manager, Edit Attributes, Enhance Attribute Editor, Move or Copy (Layout tabs), Drawing Properties, Security options, Load/Unload Applications, Open VBA Project, and Drawing Units.
ToolTips now has a control that will delay the display of rollover tips when hovering over a command with the cursor. To adjust these settings, go to the Display tab on the Options dialog box.
Figure 2: Here you can control how long it takes for Tool Tips to display
The Small Things
There are several “small” improvements or additions that were made in AutoCAD 2017.
Security Options has been updated to allow AutoCAD to trust any file or folder that is saved in the Program Files folder. The Trusted Path controls show this now.
The Load/Unload Applications button is now found on the Applications panel of the Manage tab on the ribbon.
AutoCAD Units has a new length option, US Survey Feet.
If the Pickfirst setting is turned off (set to 0) AutoCAD will now provide an alert when objects are selected and the delete key is pressed. The alert notifies you that the current settings won’t allow this type of action. This dialog box warning can be turned off.
There is a new setting in the HPLAYER controls that allows a non-existent layer to be assigned to a hatch or fill as the default layer.
Line smoothing is now supported during editing tools where a preview is created. This will make it easier to see what will happen when a change is made.
AutoCAD 2017 now supports displaying lineweights to Dot linetypes. Linetypes that are dash and dot combinations now display dots as round objects, not squares as in previous versions. Users can also snap to the gaps in dashed or dot linetypes. Turn this behavior on/off using LTGAPSELECTION.
New Annotation Tools and Settings
There are a few new annotations tools and settings in AutoCAD 2017. The TEXTEDIT command now includes a new mode option. Users control this new mode using the TEXYEDITMODE system variable. It allows users to edit more than one text option without having to restart the command. Start the Textedit command and select the Multiple (type in M or select Multiple on the command line). When Multiple mode is in use keep selecting text objects for editing. There is also an UNDO option that allows users to undo previous editing operations.
There are two new tools that create centerlines. They are Center Mark and Centerline and both are associative. These tools can be found in the Centerline panel on the Annotate ribbon tab. The Center Mark tool makes an associative object at the center of an arc, circle, or polygonal arc. If those objects are moved, the center mark updates accordingly. The Centerline tool creates an associated object of a specific linetype between specified objects. These new marks can be unassociated using the CENTERDISASSOCIATE command. They can be re-associated using the CENTERREASSOCIATE command.
There are several system variables that control the appearance of these objects: CENTEREXE (controls the extension length), CENTERMARKEXE (controls the center mark extension length), CENTERLTYPE (controls the linetype used), CENTERLAYER (sets the layer used), CENTERSCALE (sets the linetype scale used), and CENTERCROSSGAP (sets the length of the central cross in the middle of an arc or circle). Both new center line objects can be edited with grips or through the properties palette. The CENTERRESET command resets centerlines and center marks to the default settings.
Figure 3: AutoCAD's new Centerline marks can be edited in the Properties panel just like other dimension objects
Connecting to the Cloud and Sharing Files
The A360 ribbon tab has been updated. Older commands have been removed as have tools that are used less often. The AutoCAD Online ribbon panel and the AutoCAD 360 web tool have been removed. Design Feed is no longer displayed by default and the tool has been removed from the panel, but is still accessible using the DESIGNFEEDOPEN command.
Now to share files in AutoCAD 2017 use the Share Design View tools. Access this new tool from the Publish flyout on the Application menu or from the A360 ribbon tab using ONLINEDESIGNSHARE. Users can publish views of drawings to the cloud with “stakeholders.” This allows users to protect their DWG files. Stakeholders viewing the drawings don’t need to log into A360 or have AutoCAD-based products installed. Users publishing the views/drawings must be logged into A360 to do so. These drawings can be viewed through a browser. From the viewer, users can navigate the drawing, make measurements, look at object properties, turn layers off and on, and more. A link to the view/drawing can be shared with others by email, messaging, or posted online.
When users purchase an AutoCAD subscription they will also have access to AutoCAD 360 Pro. The Pro version of AutoCAD 360 has markup tools, the ability to make changes in real time, add text, connect to external cloud storage services, access advanced layer management, and the ability for users to work offline and sync changes once connected again.
3D Printing Tools
AutoCAD 2017 has two 3D printing options. One creates a .STL file that can be sent to a printing service. The other opens the file in a new program called Print Studio that comes with AutoCAD 2017. Use 3DPRINTSERVICE to create the .STL file (formerly 3DPRINT) or use the command 3DPRINT to open the files in Print Studio. Print Studio provides tools to help prepare models for specific printers or materials.
Figure 4: The Print Studio print bed is where you add files to print in a 3D printer and prepare them for printing
Performance Enhancing Features
AutoCAD 2017 will now work with 2D graphics more efficiently because it can take advantage of the computer’s graphics processing unit (GPU). Linetypes that only include dashes and dots are now generated by the GPU. It is not solely reliant on the CPU. Graphics are now cached in the GPU memory, which will make panning and zooming more responsive. AutoCAD 2017 also takes advantage of a new 3D graphics subsystem. This allows users to view and orbit 3D models with visual styles without experiencing degradation.
Importing PDF Files – The Reason You Want AutoCAD 2017
Perhaps the biggest new tool in AutoCAD 2017 is the ability to import linework, TrueType text, and raster images from PDF files. There are two ways of importing PDF linework into your AutoCAD files. One way is to use the Import command. This will open the Import File dialog box where PDF files have been added as an option. Once a PDF file has been selected users can choose which page to import from a multi-page PDF document, specify scale, rotation, and insertion point (similar to inserting a block), control what type of data is imported (geometry, solid fills, text, raster), control how layers are assigned, and set different post-processing options for the imported geometry. Extracted raster images are attached as .PNG files; the “apply lineweight properties” applies lineweights from the PDF file. When turned off, all imported geometry is given AutoCAD’s default lineweight. There is also an “Infer linetypes from collinear dashes” option that inspects collinear dashes and dots and replaces them with a single polyline in the AutoCAD file. If turned off, each dash in the PDF file will be its own AutoCAD object in the DWG file.
The new command PDFIMPORT gives users the options to import geometry from a PDF file or from a PDF underlay that is already referenced in the DWG file. Importing from a PDF underlay will also give users the option to import the entire file or allow a rectangular or polygonal boundary around a specific area of the PDF. Selecting a PDF underlay in the current DWG file will activate the PDF Underlay contextual ribbon where the PDF Import button can be found.
Figure 5: Users get to control how PDF geometry is converted in the Import PDF settings
What Do You Think?
Do these new features, updates, tweaks impress you? Depress you? Is the new PDF import tool exciting or a boring, never-use tool? Are there too few new items for your tastes?
