Welcome Back & Recap (5 minutes)

• Quick review of key takeaways from Session 1.

• Overview of Session 2 objectives and timing.

Object & Block Editing (35 minutes)

• Basic Transformations:

  • Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale, Mirror, Stretch.

• Advanced Editing Techniques:

  • Align: Aligning multiple objects along specified points.

  • Array: Creating rectangular and polar arrays of objects.

  • Grip-Editing: Directly manipulating grips to modify objects without invoking command lines.

• In-Place Block Editing:

  • Redefining block geometry in place so that all block instances update automatically.

  • Saving edits and updating attributes if necessary.

Layers & Properties (10 minutes)

• Creating & Managing Layers:

  • Turning layers on/off, freezing/thawing layers for performance.

  • Layer states: setting colors, linetypes, lineweights, and transparency.

• Properties Palette:

  • Changing individual object properties (color, linetype, thickness) without changing layer defaults.

  • Using filters and selection sets to modify multiple objects at once.

Hatching & Gradients (10 minutes)

• Hatch Patterns:

  • Applying pattern fills, adjusting scale, rotation, and origin.

  • Associative vs. non-associative hatches.

• Gradient Fills:

  • Creating smooth tonal transitions.

  • Setting gradient colors and angles.

Annotation Tools (25 minutes)

• Text:

  • Single-line Text (DTEXT) vs. Multiline Text (MTEXT).

  • Font selection, height, justification, and formatting tricks.

• Dimensions:

  • Dimension Styles: Creating, modifying, and applying styles.

  • Baseline vs. Continued Dimensions: Techniques for consistent spacing.

  • Dimension Overrides: Adjusting text location, arrowheads, and tolerances.

• Leaders & Multileaders:

  • Creating leader lines with annotation text.

  • Modifying leader styles (landing, arrowhead, content).

Tables & Attributes (15 minutes)

• Creating Tables:

  • Inserting tables, defining rows/columns, merging cells.

  • Linking table cells to object data or attribute tags.

• Formatting Tables:

  • Adjusting cell styles, text alignment, and borders.

  • Using table data for simple calculations (e.g., summing areas).

• Attribute-Driven Block Tables:

  • Setting up attribute fields in title blocks or parts lists.

  • Extracting attribute data to populate tables automatically.

External References (Xrefs) (10 minutes)

• Attaching Xrefs:

  • Attaching external DWG, DWF, or PDF underlays.

  • Path types: Full path vs. relative vs. no path.

• Managing Xrefs:

  • Reloading and updating when external file changes.

  • Binding and overlay options.

• Practical Tips:

  • Keeping reference file structure organized to avoid broken links.

Layouts & Viewports (10 minutes)

• Creating Paper-Space Layouts:

  • Adding a new layout tab, renaming layouts.

  • Page setup manager: page size, plot scale, and printer/plotter selection.

• Viewports:

  • Creating & resizing viewports.

  • Locking viewports to preserve scale.

  • Setting annotative properties so text, dimensions, and hatch patterns automatically scale.

• Viewport-Specific Layer Controls:

  • Freezing or thawing layers in specific viewports for alternate display modes.

  • Using layer states to switch between visible/invisible layers per viewport.

Publishing & Exporting (5 minutes)

• Plot Styles & Page Setups:

  • Configuring CTB or STB style tables for lineweight control.

  • Saving page setups for different sheet sizes or standards.

• Batch Plotting:

  • Using the Publish dialog to plot multiple drawings/layouts at once.

• Exporting to PDF/DWG:

  • Creating high-quality PDFs for client review.

  • Exporting to a new DWG for archiving or sharing editable files.