Contents

• Purpose
• Sizing the screen to match the size of the background drawing
  • AutoCAD releases 2000 and later
  • AutoCAD releases 13 & 14
• Creating the slide file

Purpose

When customizing plan/elevation block libraries or predefined hatch commands it is often necessary to create a new background image for the changes. All block library menu backgrounds and predefined hatch command backgrounds use the same 8x5 grid and all their background images are created the same way. In this documentation when something is specific to a predefined hatch command or to a block library menu we will designate it with: Hatch command: or Block library: otherwise it applies to both.

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Sizing the screen to match the size of the background drawing

For these background images to work properly we need to match our screen to the outline of our 8x5 grid as closely as is possible. The way that this is accomplished depends on what version of AutoCAD you are using.

In the example for AutoCAD releases 2000 and later we outline creating a slide for a predefined hatch command, in the example for AutoCAD releases 13 and 14 we outline creating a slide file for a menu in the block library. The background files for both the block library and the predefined hatch commands are both created the same way. So regardless the type of background you are making the steps are the same for both. After all, they are both just a rectangle with "stuff" inside that we are trying to fit our screen around as tightly as possible. Select your AutoCAD version: 2000 and later or 13 & 14

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AutoCAD Releases 2000 and later

If your drawing is maximized in AutoCAD, click on the "Restore Down" button for the drawing (the second one down) at the top right corner of the AutoCAD screen.

This will allow you to resize the drawing area within AutoCAD. Turn on all the layers in the drawing so we will be able to see the cell boxes of the 8x5 grid (if they aren't already).

Once the window is resizable stretch it so that the borders around the hatches look equally sized on all sides. Perform a zoom window (zw) and snap the window to the bottom left corner and then to the top right corner of the grid. 

You may find that after doing this that the proportions are still not "just right". Resize the window again as needed and do another zoom window until the grid fits snugly inside the window as shown above.

The only thing left to do before "snapping" our slide is to get rid of the boxes and grid lines. The perfect command for this is LAYROFF (LF). Run this command and select the grid lines or one of the boxes and then press <Enter>. (Hopefully none of the information that you want to show was also on the same layer as the grid lines and is now gone. If this happens change either the grid or the objects to different layers and try it again)

Go to Creating the slide file below.

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AutoCAD Releases 13 & 14

Without resizable drawing windows, getting the right proportions to create our new slide file requires a little more creativity than it does in later versions of AutoCAD.

For this example we will be doing a new sink background slide for the PLANBLKS block library.  Turn on all the layers in the drawing so we will be able to see the cell boxes of the 8x5 grid (if they aren't already).

First perform a zoom extents so that we will know which direction needs to be shortened.

Since the width needs to be shortened we will take a toolbar and move it to the left side of the drawing area as shown. If the height needs to be shortened slide the command line window upward.

To move a toolbar, grab it by clicking on the area around the buttons as shown at left and holding the button down and dragging the toolbar to its new location.

To resize the command line area place your cursor on the border between the window and the drawing area until you see the cursor change as shown at left. When the cursor changes, press and hold the pick button while you drag the border upward. When you have dragged it up enough to create another text line release the button. Note: It might take a couple of tries, it often must be stretched a little farther than you would think to get the next line to show.

After each movement of a toolbar or stretch of the command area do another zoom extents to see how close you are. Using trial and error, in combination with a little patience, you will eventually stumble on to the perfect combination to frame the grid as shown above. If you plan on doing a lot of customizing it might be a good idea to write down the "perfect combination". All of the block library slides and all of the predefined hatch command slides use this same grid.

The only thing left to do before "snapping" our slide is to get rid of the boxes and grid lines. The perfect command for this is LAYROFF (LF). Run this command and select the grid lines or one of the boxes and then press <Enter>. (Hopefully none of the information that you want to show was also on the same layer as the grid lines and is now gone. If this happens change either the grid or the objects to different layers and try it again)

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Creating the slide file

We are now ready to make our slide file.

Type MSLIDE at the command prompt and then press <Enter>. You will be asked for a filename for the slide file with the drawing name as the default name.

If you are modifying one of the existing background drawings found in the "Support" folder press <Enter> again (the drawing's filename is the name we want for the slide file), otherwise enter the name you would like to call the slide file.

Move the newly created slide file to the "Custom" folder. Overwrite the file already there if there is one.

Hatch command:   If you just created a new background image for one of the predefined hatch commands you are finished.

Block library:   If you just created a new background image for one of the existing background drawings found in the "Support" folder and the filename of the new slide is the same as the filename of the old slide (the same as the drawing name) you are done. If the slide you just created has a filename that has not been referenced in the block library before you need to set the new slide to show in the menu. See the "Setting which slide shows in a menu" section of customizing the block library system. 

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