I will use a base map XREF as an example. The layer we put our base map XREFs on is called “X-BASE”. This is great, but all the XREF layers are still hard to read and sort:

To change the XREF layer names so they sort properly, the external reference needs to be renamed.

In the External References (XREF) palette you can edit the “Reference Name” (in the “Details” section of the palette) for each XREF.

Now the XREF layer names look much better.

I don’t have time to post a full tutorial right now, but I will do something just as good. I will give you a dynamic block to download. Feel free to play with it, modify it, destroy it, and use it however you like.

Here it is: SV-NorthingEasting.dwg (100 kb)

You will notice that there is a grip to move the label text and another to show/hide the leader.

Let me know if you have any ideas for improving it.

The secret is this little command called SAVETIME. Type SAVETIME on the command line and set it to 0 (zero) to turn Automatic Save off. Set SAVETIME to any other number and that will be the number of minutes between Automatic Saves.

For example if you want to open a large drawing but don’t want Automatic Save to interrupt you every few minutes, set SAVETIME to zero. Be sure to set SAVETIME to another number after you close the large drawing to turn Automatic Save back on.

If you want to get all fancy, you can make a macro in a toolbar or Tool Palette to toggle Automatic Save on and off.

I stole the code from the Properties button and modified it to toggle Automatic Save on and off:

$M=$(if,$(and,$(>,$(getvar,savetime),0)),^C^Csavetime;0,^C^Csavetime;10)

Do you have any tips or tricks for working with Automatic Save?

Select a fraction that has been stacked, right-click, and select “Stack Properties” to change the style of the fraction:

Under Appearance, you can change the style:

I find your post extremely helpful but I do have a question. I need my northing and easting to read a custom ucs (not world). Example, I’m giving a contractor a benchmark to work from which in world ucs is: N: 12213.19 E:-33516.2 but for ease we are setting that coordinate as N:0.00 and E:0.00 by making a custom layout ucs.
When I test the block it will only read out and display the world ucs even when I’ve set it to my custom ucs. Any thoughts? I want to place this block and have it read my custom ucs coordinate system instead of the world…

Great question Erik!

I don’t think moving the UCS affects the coordinates in the field. But I dug in and found a way you can use a field within a field formula. The concept would be to take the Northing & Easting fields and use them in a formula to present modified Northings & Eastings.

Here is how I figured it out.

I started with the instructions contained in this previous blog post to create a Northing/Easting block using fields. You will notice that when you create a field there is a “field expression” at the bottom of the field dialog box. I figured out that that code defines the current field and you can copy that code and use it in a formula.

In this case, I created an “Easting” field and copied the field expression:

Then I selected the “Formula” field name and pasted the field expression into the formula box. Notice it no longer looks like a complicated formula, but is displayed as 0.00 (this looks like it represents the field’s format and precision):

Then I created a simple formula (modify according to your needs):

Click the “evaluate” button and more options will appear:

After you perfect the formula and set the format and precision, you will have a modified “Easting” coordinate. Repeat these steps to modify the “Northing” field as well.

Using fields in field formulas extends the power of fields even more! Let me know if this tutorial is helpful and how you make use of it. I’m excited to hear your ideas too!

“After years of finding the XLIST command worthless for xref’s with long names and the resultant dialog box too small to show the full layer name, I discovered –XLIST which outputs to the command line with the full layer name.”

Beautiful.

Here I will show you a couple of secret options for manipulating the UCS.

When you type UCS on the command line, you get this prompt:

Specify origin of UCS or [Face/NAmed/OBject/Previous/View/World/X/Y/Z/ZAxis] :

Right away you see a lot of options to manipulate the UCS, but there are hidden options that you can access as well. Type N (for new) at the prompt and you will see this:

Specify origin of new UCS or [ZAxis/3point/OBject/Face/View/X/Y/Z] <0,0,0>:

It looks very similar to the previous prompt, but you now have access to a couple more options called “3point” and “Face”.

3point
The three point option allows you to pick the origin and the X direction of the UCS. Type 3 to use the “3point” option. Click to place the UCS origin, click again to set the direction of the X-axis, and hit enter to end the command.

Face
Use the Face option to put the UCS on the face of a 3D solid.

After asking around, someone in our office figured out that “Implied Windowing” was turned off.

If you ever run unto this, here is how you fix it:

Type PICKAUTO into the commandline and change it to 1.

Rick has been involved with the Civil/Survey/Mapping industry and Autodesk products since the early 90s in a variety of roles ranging from a Civil designer and CAD Manager to a trainer, consultant and author.

I’ve taken a number of Civil 3D and Map 3D classes taught by Rick including one at Autodesk University 2008. He is an excellent teacher and writer.

Check out his blog at diggingintocivil3d.blogspot.com.