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CADD PowerToys is a continually growing and evolving collection of professionally developed, high-quality add-ins, extensions, and standalone tools, that complement and enhance the basic functionality of AutoCAD and AutoCAD based software. CADD PowerToys also includes several development tools and utilities for AutoCAD .NET programmers. CADD PowerToys are compatible with all AutoCAD 2010-based products, including AutoCAD Architecture; AutoCAD Mechanical; AutoCAD Civil 3D; AutoCAD Map 3D; AutoCAD Electrical; AutoCAD MEP and more. As new components are introduced into the CADD PowerToys collection, subscribers receive them free of charge, for the duration of the subscription period. A one-year subscription to CADD PowerToys is bundled with every new AcadXTabs 2010 license and license upgrade at no additional charge (Enterprise licensees receive a non-expiring subscription). CADD PowerToys is currently available exclusively with AcadXTabs 2010.
CADD PowerToys currently include all of the following tools and
extensions. |
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AutoCAD Database Explorer |
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Available for AutoCAD 2010 or later, the AutoCAD Database Explorer (or ADE) is an infinitely more-powerful alternative to the defunct DBVIEW tool from Autodesk. With this tool, you can peer into the guts of any AutoCAD drawing file, in ways never before possible. One of the most powerful features offered by ADE is its innovative Find References function, which locates all objects in a drawing that reference a selected object, in seconds. The Find References function allows you to very quickly analyze a drawing to diagnose common problems like for example, determining why a given object in a drawing cannot be purged. ADE will tell you that and much more about your drawing files, and without the need to endlessly search cryptic ASCII DXF files, or resort to similarly-crude measures. ADE allows you to view data in AutoCAD drawings in a wide variety of ways:
Another powerful feature of ADE is its universal approach to hyperlinked object references. While viewing the data of any object that includes references to one or more other objects, you can instantly jump or navigate to a referenced object's data, by simply clicking on a hyperlinked id reference or right-clicking a reference in the property grid, and choosing an item from a popup context menu. For example, while viewing the managed properties of an entity, you can instantly jump to the data of the layer referenced by the entity, by simply right-clicking on the entity's LayerId property (an ObjectId reference) and choosing "Go to Referenced Object" from the popup context menu. In DXF data view, all references to objects are clickable hyperlinks (displayed in blue text in the screenshots below), that take you to the referenced object's data by simply clicking on them. ADE also offers a powerful search function that allows you to perform complicated queries against the entire contents of an AutoCAD drawing, to locate objects containing data matching your search criteria. Similar to how you can analytically select objects using AutoCAD's QSelect feature, ADE offers similar search functionality for all objects in a drawing, including non-graphical objects that you can't see or select. The AutoCAD Database Explorer is free for all AcadXTabs 2010 new licensees, and licensees of previous versions who purchase an AcadXTabs 2010 combined seat/version upgrade (simple version upgrades are not eligible). The following two screen shots show ADE viewing data in an AutoCAD drawing. The first shows data being viewed in ADE's Properties view, and the second shows data in DXF view. Further details on the AutoCAD Database Explorer will be available soon.
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The ToolScapeTM AutoCAD PowerToy complements AutoCAD 2009 with powerful new intelligent user interface and document state management functions. ToolScape makes AutoCAD's various user interfaces (namely the ribbon, dashboard, and tool palettes) more intelligent, by enabling active ribbon/dashboard tabs and active tool palettes to automatically synchronize with documents and paper and model spaces of each document. As a result, each open document can have its own distinct active ribbon/dashboard tab, and active tool palette. As you switch between open documents, ToolScape manages these interface elements for you, automatically restoring each activated document's active ribbon/dashboard tab and tool palette. You can configure ToolScape to manage ribbon/dashboard tabs only; tool palettes only, or both. You can enable management of interface elements in all open documents, or select what open documents it is enabled in (a preference you can save with the document). You can temporarily toggle ToolScape on or off by simply holding down the shift key while switching documents or via an AutoCAD status bar toggle button. You can optionally configure ToolScape to track the ribbon/dashboard tab and tool palette used in paper space and model space, and restore them as you toggle between spaces. With paper/model space interface management enabled, each open document has two active ribbon tabs and two active tool palettes associated with it - one of each for paper space, and one of each for model space. ToolScape's content- and document-contextual interface management functions support all forms of document and space navigation, and work regardless of how you navigate open documents and spaces, including via Quick View Drawings/Layouts, the Window menu, the keyboard, scripting, and so on. Document-specific Managed Drawing Editor Settings (added May 2009) ToolScape can manage document-specific values for a broad range of AutoCAD drawing editor settings, like object snap and tracking; orthomode; polar snap and many more. This function allows you to for example, have running object snap set to ENDPoint + MIDPoint in one open document, and CENter + QUAdrant in another document, and disabled entirely in other documents. You can have drafting settings like orthomode, dynamic UCS, and dynamic input enabled in some documents and disabled in others. As you switch between open documents, ToolScape automatically manages document-specific settings for you, automatically saving and restoring them as needed. Document specific settings are fully configurable, allowing you to select which settings have document-specific values, and which do not. Additionally, ToolScape allows you to save document-specific settings in a document, and will restore them when the document is opened. Custom Contextual Tool Palettes and Ribbon Tabs (added May 2009) If you've used AutoCAD 2009's new ribbon, you may have found its contextual tabs a nice alternative to the specialized toolbars that automatically appear during certain tasks, like editing multi-line text or tables. As you already know, AutoCAD's highly-customizable interface offers the means to define your own custom ribbon tabs and tool palettes. Well, wouldn't it be cool if you could also define when they automatically appear and activate? ToolScape includes sophisticated tools that allows you to associate your custom tool palettes and ribbon tabs with specific contexts and actions, like for example, the selection of a certain type of object, named object, or the invocation of a specific command or set of commands. So for example, you can define a contextual ribbon tab or tool palette that will automatically activate when you select only block insertions, or a specific block or set of blocks. [08.01.09]: We are fairly confident that Autodesk will attempt to duplicate this feature in the next release of AutoCAD (for the ribbon at least). Consequently, we are planning additional enhancements that will make ToolScape's contextual interface management far more powerful and flexible than any Autodesk replica. The following videos illustrate ToolScape in action: (For best results, videos should be viewed at full (100%) size)
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CUI Navigator brings advanced Windows Explorer-style history- and path-based navigation to AutoCAD's CUI (Customize User Interface). CUI Navigator integrates directly into the CUI, providing a familiar, Windows Explorer-style navigation UI that can be used to navigate any of the CUI's Workspace TreeViews. Forward and back buttons allow quick navigation of recently-selected items. Navigation Bar dropdown menus provide quick access to the siblings of any item in the path to the currently selected item. Navigation history dropdown menu provides instant access to any previously selected item. A search box provides quick access to the CUI's Find mechanism as well as incremental search of the currently-selected item's children.
Screenshot: Navigation History Dropdown CUI Navigator also provides support for favorites/shortcuts to frequently accessed items. Shortcuts and recently selected items are saved and restored on each use of the CUI. CUI Navigator also provides additional commands that can be used to activate the CUI and automatically navigate to the item selected when it was last closed. CUI Navigator can be configured to display assigned macro images in its Navigation history and Navigation Bar dropdown menus, as shown in the screen shot below.
Screenshot: Navigation Bar Dropdown CUI Navigator is scheduled to be released with the next update of AcadXTabs and CADD PowerToys, more information and details on CUI Navigator will be announced soon. |
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AutoCAD 2009's new floating layer palette, while a conceptually good idea, is known to slow down some tasks you routinely perform in AutoCAD when the layer palette is kept visible. Many have found it necessary to keep this tool closed most of the time and activate it only when needed. A tip to those who prefer to collapse or 'auto-hide' this tool rather than close it: Auto-hiding this tool does not mitigate most of the performance issues. Only closing it will solve that problem. For those cases where you actually need to work with layers, the floating layer palette is a viable alternative to AutoCAD's traditional, modal layer dialog. That's mainly because with the new floating layer palette, changes you make to layer properties are reflected in your drawing views immediately as they're made, rather than when the layer dialog is closed. The QLayer PowerToy makes viewing filtered lists of layers in the Layer Properties Manager incredibly easy, through its innovative use of dynamic layer filters. Current Selection Layers Filter The Current Selection Layers Filter vastly simplifies displaying a filtered list of layers in the Layer Properties Manager. This specialized, dynamic layer filter displays only those layers used by the currently-selected objects. When the current selection changes, the layers displayed by this filter also change. The Current Selection Layers Filter works with both flavors of AutoCAD's layer properties manager (floating palette and the traditional modal layer dialog), but it is AutoCAD 2009's new floating layer palette that is where QLayer's dynamic layer filters are particularly helpful. While the floating layer palette is visible, you can repeatedly select drawing objects. As you do, the Current Selection Layers Filter dynamically updates the floating layer palette's list of displayed layers, to show only layers used by the currently selected objects. With the Current Selection Layers Filter, displaying a filtered list of layers is as easy as selecting one or more drawing objects on each desired layer. Nested Object Layers Filter The Nested Object Layers Filter is a descendent of the Current Selection Layers Filter, that displays layers used by all objects nested in the definitions of all currently selected block references. To see only the layers used by objects in a block's definition, simply select an insertion of the block and activate the Nested Object Layers Filter. Doing that causes this filter to display the layers used by all objects in the selected block's definition, and optionally, layers used by all objects in definitions of other blocks that are referenced from the selected block's definition. You can configure the Nested Object Layers Filter to display only directly used layers, or directly and indirectly- used layers. Indirectly-used layers are layers used by objects nested within the definition of any block that is directly or indirectly referenced from (e.g., inserted into) a selected block reference's definition. Recently Used Layer Filter QLayer's Recently Used Layer Filter is a dynamic layer filter that displays recently used layers (up to 10). Recently used layers include layers that were recently current as well as layers of recently edited objects. Stop Hunting For Layers When working with drawings containing numerous layers, finding the ones you need to work with can be tedious. While AutoCAD's traditional layer filters and groups can expedite that to some extent, QLayer's specialized, dynamic layer filters make it incredibly simple, by allowing you to show a filtered list of layers by simply selecting one or more drawing objects residing on each desired layer. QLayer includes several commands that support its dynamic layer filters: The QLAYER command displays the standard, non-floating layer dialog with the layers of the currently selected objects displayed by the Current Selection Layers Filter. This command is designed to be used in place of the standard CLASSICLAYER command (or the LAYER command with LAYERDLGMODE set to 0) when you wish to use the non-floating or 'modal' layer dialog to view the layers of the current selection. If you use either of the aforementioned built-in commands to activate the non-floating layer dialog, QLayer's dynamic layer filters cannot access the currently selected objects, hence the reason for this dedicated surrogate command. The QLAYER command is in all other respects, identical to the CLASSICLAYER command and the LAYER command (when the LAYERDLGMODE system variable is set to 0). The QLGROUP command instantly creates a new layer group that contains the layers used by the current selection, which simplifies creation of new layer groups. While the Current Selection, Nested Objects, and Recently-Used Layer filters are extremely useful within the Layer Properties Manager, if you prefer to apply the current layer filter to the layer dropdown control on the Layer toolbar or the Ribbon, QLayer's dynamic layer filters are never applied to that control in any case, and all layers are displayed in the control. This is mainly because unlike conventional layer filters, QLayer's dynamic layer filters constantly change as you work, and in the case of the Current Selection and Nested Objects layer filters, may show no layers at all (namely when there's no current selection). For these reasons, these layer filters are unlikely to show the layers you need to see on the layer dropdown control. The QLayer PowerToy is a 100% native-code solution. As such, it imposes no performance penalty. The following short video clip shows the Current Selection Layers Filter in action (for best results, this video should be played at full 1:1 size):
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You may have heard or seen the wise cracks, like 'CUI = Completely Unusable Interface'. Well, the CUI can be a major pain in the you-know-what when it comes to simple and routine customization tasks, many of which the CUI's designers seemed to have completely overlooked. For example, how many times have you added a simple customization to AutoCAD, like a button or menu item with a short macro, using the CUI? If you're like me, you rarely get the macro part right on the first try, and usually have to 'debug' or 'tweak' new macros. It takes an average of 3 test/revision cycles before the new macro I'm writing works. Normally, testing and revising menu macros requires you to open and close the dreaded CUI Editor once for each macro test/edit cycle. Argggg! QMacro ("Quick Macro"), is a very simple tool that makes composing, testing and debugging menu macros a breeze. QMacro lets you write, test and debug menu macros without the need to open the CUI editor. QMacro lives on a dockable toolbar-sized palette that uses minimal display space, given what it does. Simply type your menu macro into the QMacro editor window and press the run button or the ENTER key, and the macro executes in exactly the same way it does when assigned to a button or a menu item. QMacro fully supports AutoCAD's menu macro syntax, including DIESEL and LISP expressions; input pause (\); menu control characters (^C, ^P); repetitive execution (*); menu commands (like '$P0=*'), and so on. Once you've composed, tested, and perfected your menu macro with QMacro, you simply copy it to the clipboard, paste it into the CUI editor, and you're done. QMacro also allows you to copy an existing menu macro from any ribbon button or menu browser item, by simply right-clicking on the button or item, and choosing "Copy Macro" from the pull down menu. The item's macro is then pasted directly into the QMacro editor, ready for editing. QMacro also provides a handy context menu you can use by right-clicking on the run button. This context menu provides access to QMacro settings and sub-menus that lets you insert commonly used menu escape sequences (like ^C, ^P, pauses (\), and so on) directly into the macro editor. QMacro is also indispensable to those who are learning the AutoCAD menu macro language. That's because QMacro makes interactive experimentation with menu macros incredibly simple, in the same way AutoCAD's command line allows you to interactively use, test or experiment with LISP expressions. QMacro is also extremely useful for "ad-hoc", macro consumption. For example, you may need a simple macro that automates a few unique steps related to the task at hand, but have little need to use it afterward. For those cases, QMacro offers a quick, convenient way to compose and immediately use menu macros, on-the-fly, and without having to assign them to an interface element with the CUI. QMacro uses very little display
space and can float or dock to the top or bottom of the AutoCAD window
(I prefer it just above the command line as shown below). QMacro can be
hidden when not needed and displayed by simply issuing the QMACRO
command.
The QMacro Tool Our current plans for QMacro are to enhance it to include limited recording of typed command line input while using AutoCAD, and saving macros directly to command entries in any loaded CUI file (thereby eliminating the need to open the CUI to edit an existing macro).
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The Hyperlink PowerToy displays high-quality preview images of hyperlinked documents. Supported document types currently include HTML documents and all types of image files that can be displayed natively by Internet Explorer (we plan to add support for additional document types in future updates). Previews are generated on-demand for both local and remote documents located anywhere on the internet. When the Hyperlink PowerToy is active, select an entity with a hyperlink and a preview of the hyperlinked document is generated and displayed in the preview palette. In addition to displaying previews of hyperlinked documents, the Hyperlink PowerToy also makes assigning and editing entity hyperlinks incredibly simple, through its innovative use of Windows drag-and-drop and the clipboard. To assign a hyperlink to one or more entities, simply select them in AutoCAD and then drag the document you wish to hyperlink to the selected entities (or a shortcut or hyperlink to the document) from a Windows folder; Explorer view; or an Internet Explorer document, and drop it on the Hyperlink PowerToy. You can also use the Windows clipboard to assign hyperlinks to selected entities, using the standard Window's "Copy Shortcut" command to copy a shortcut to a document or any internet location to the Windows clipboard, and then simply right-click on the Hyperlink PowerToy and choose "Paste shortcut" from the context menu. The Hyperlink PowerToy's drag & drop and clipboard-based hyperlink editing function supports all of the following data sources: Drag & Drop Sources:
Clipboard Sources:
Hyperlink descriptions can also be assigned automatically, using the title of the target HTML document or the value of any file property that can be displayed in a column in a windows folder detail view.
The Hyperlink PowerToy's Hyperlink Preview Palette The Hyperlink PowerToy provides a number of additional hyperlink-related functions, that are available from its right-click context menu. Many of these functions can be applied to the currently selected objects in AutoCAD:
You can adjust the document page rendering size using a slider located at the bottom of the preview palette. The document page rendering size allows rendering of document previews formatted to varying page sizes and levels of detail. The document preview is rendered at the specified page size and then scaled to the size of the preview palette. The Hyperlink PowerToy includes a dialog-based tool that automates the generation and assignment of entity hyperlinks, based on the value of one or more entity properties. The properties that can be used to generate hyperlink URLs include layer name, block name, block insertion attribute values, dynamic block properties, field values, and many more. This tool can generate and assign hyperlinks to hundreds or thousands of entities in a matter of seconds. |
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If you participate in Autodesk's Customer Involvement Program, you may know that it collects and transmits to Autodesk, information related to your AutoCAD use, like for example, the commands you use; how frequently you use them; and how you access them; what third-party applications you use and how frequently you use them, and so on. Unfortunately, Autodesk did not see a need to make that valuable information available to you, in spite of its usefulness in customizing your AutoCAD interface. The Ribbon Usage Monitor (or 'RUM'), an AutoCAD PowerToy included with AcadXTabs 2010, was created to make the same type of valuable usage data like that collected by Autodesk's CIP, directly available to you, the one who needs it most. The Ribbon Usage Monitor is an extremely helpful tool for those who are customizing their ribbon or dashboard. The RUM tracks your usage of the ribbon/dashboard and makes that data readily available to you, primarily for use in customization tasks such as decisions related to interface layout. This tool can show you for example, the
efficiency of each ribbon/dashboard tab. Efficiency in this context, is a
very simple, abstract metric conveying the frequency of tab activations relative
to the frequency of tab tool usage. This type of usage data supports the design
of more efficient ribbon/dashboard interfaces, namely those requiring less tab
switching and panel expansion.
Ribbon Usage Monitor Dialog The Ribbon Usage Monitor tracks both tab and tool usage, and displays that data in a tabular summary that includes calculated efficiency factors for each ribbon/dashboard tab. The collected data is saved with each use of AutoCAD automatically. Data is cumulative across AutoCAD sessions, back to the point when the tool was last reset or enabled. You can enable or disable the tool at any time (or you may choose to not install it at all). When enabled, the tool does not affect system performance in any way. The Ribbon Usage Monitor is also ToolScape-aware, and consequently, discounts ToolScape-managed ribbon/dashboard tab switching that is triggered by navigating documents or spaces. The Ribbon Usage Monitor does not use information collected by Autodesk's CIP. It performs its own data collection and does not require Autodesk's CIP tool to be installed or enabled. The Ribbon Usage Monitor does not transmit any information at all, it merely saves collected data to disk. Future plans for RUM include broadening its tracking and analysis to include ribbon panel expansion (for example, how frequently an expandable ribbon panel must be expanded to access its content), and tool palette usage monitoring. |
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AcadXTabs 2010 + CADD PowerToy Collection Pricing & Ordering |
