AutoCAD 2011 is controlled by a large number of set variables (over 770 in number), the settings of many of which are determined when making entries in dialogs. Some are automatically set with clicks on tool icons. Others have to be set at the command line. Some are read-only variables which depend upon the configuration of AutoCAD 2011 when it originally loaded into a computer (default values). Only a limited number of the variables are shown here.
A list of those set variables follows which are of interest in that they often require setting by entering figures or letters at the command line. To set a variable, enter its name at the command line and respond to the prompts which arise.
Introduction
To see all set variables, enter set (or setvar) at the command line:
And an AutoCAD Text Window opens showing a list of the first of the set variables. To continue with the list press the Return key when prompted and at each press of the Return key, another window opens.
To see the settings needed for a set variable enter the name of the variable at the command line, followed by pressing the F1 key which brings up a Help screen, click the search tab, followed by entering set variables in the Ask field. From the list then displayed the various settings of all set variables can be read.
Some of the set variables
ANGDIR - Sets angle direction. 0 counterclockwise; 1 clockwise
APERTURE - Sets size of pick box in pixels
AUTODWFPUBLISH - Sets Autopublish on or off
BLIPMODE - Set to 1 marker blips show; set to 0 no blips
COMMANDLINE - Opens the command line palette
COMMANDLINEHIDE - Closes the command line palette
COPYMODE - Sets whether Copy repeats
Note
DIM variables - There are over 70 variables for setting dimensioning, but most are in any case set in the Dimension Styles dialog or as dimensioning proceeds. However one series of the Dim variables may be of interest
DMBLOCK - Sets a name for the block drawn for an operator’s own arrowheads. These are drawn in unit sizes and saved as required
DIMBLK1 - Operator’s arrowhead for first end of line
DIMBLK2 - Operator’s arrowhead for other end of line
DRAGMODE - Set to 0 no dragging; set to 1 dragging on; set to 2 automatic dragging
DRAG1 - Sets regeneration drag sampling. Initial value is 10
DRAG2 - Sets fast dragging regeneration rate. Initial value is 25
FILEDIA - Set to 0 disables Open and Save As dialogs; set to 1 enables these dialogs
FILLMODE - Set to 0 hatched areas are filled with hatching; set to 0 hatched areas are not filled; and set to 0 and plines are not filled
GRIPS - Set to 1 and grips show; set to 0 and grips do not show
LIGHTINGUNITS - Set to 1 (international) or 2 (USA) for photometric lighting to function
MBUTTONPAN - Set to 0 no right-click menu with the Intellimouse; set to 1 Intellimouse right-click menu on
MIRRTEXT - Set to 0 text direction is retained; set to 1 text is mirrored NAVVCUBE – Sets the ViewCube on/off
NAVVCUBELOCATION - Controls the position of the ViewCube between top right (0) and bottom left (3)
NAVVCUBEOPACITY - Controls the opacity of the ViewCube from 0 (hidden) to 100 (dark)
NAVVCUBESIZE - Controls the size of the ViewCube between 0 (small) and 2 (large)
PELLIPSE – Set to 0 creates true ellipses; set to 1 polyline ellipses
PERSPECTIVE - Set to 0 places the drawing area into parallel projection; set to 1 places the drawing area into perspective projection
PICKBOX - Sets selection pick box height in pixels
PICKDRAG - Set to 0 selection windows picked by two corners; set to 1 selection windows are dragged from corner to corner
RASTERPREVIEW - Set to 0 raster preview images not created with drawing; set to 1 preview image created
SHORTCUTMENU - For controlling how right-click menus show:
0 all disabled; 1 default menus only; 2 edit mode menus; 4 command mode menus; 8 command mode menus when options are currently available. Adding the figures enables more than one option
SURFTAB1 - Sets mesh density in the M direction for surfaces generated by the Surfaces tools
SURFTAB2 - Sets mesh density in the N direction for surfaces generated by the Surfaces tools
TEXTFILL - Set to 0 True Type text shows as outlines only; set to 1 True Type text is filled
TIILEMODE - Set to 0 Paperspace enabled; set to 1 tiled viewports in Modelspace
TOOLTIPS - Set to 0 no tool tips; set to 1 tool tips enabled
TPSTATE - Set to 0 and the Tool Palettes window is inactive; set to 1 and the Tool Palettes window is active
TRIMMODE - Set to 0 edges not trimmed when Chamfer and Fillet are used; set to 1 edges are trimmed
UCSFOLLOW - Set to 0 new UCS settings do not take effect; set to 1 UCS settings follow requested settings
UCSICON - Set OFF UCS icon does not show; set to ON it shows
