AutoCAD – Classic Tool Dialogues

by Martin Phelps

For many years, AutoCAD has a number of commands that utilise dialogue box functionality, this has become the standard format for a number of commands, for example “Layer Properties Manager”, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

This form of “Dialogue Box” also includes “Docking” and “Autohide” features and gives quick and easy access to the command and its many sub functions, using a user-friendly graphical interface accessible in location. Some of the other commands that use this type of interface are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2.

However, if preferred, certain commands can still be accessed via the “Classic” dialogue option. Figure 3 shows the “Classic Properties Manager” dialogue box, which can be accessed by typing “Classiclayer”, (all one word).

Figure 3.

Other commands that can be accessed in the same way include, “External Reference Manager”, to access type “Classicxref”, as per Figure 4.

Figure 4.

“Image Manager” type “Classicimage”, as per Figure 5 below.

Figure 5.

And from one of my previous blog’s “Classic insert” type in “Classicinsert”.

Instead of typing the complete command, all that’s needed is the first two letters of the command. By typing “CL”, all the commands that begin with these letters are displayed at the command line, the required command can then be selected from the displayed list, as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6.

As an alternative, a new “Pallet” could be created and named, for example “Classic Tools”.

A suitable icon can then be added to the palette.

Once the icon has been added, right click on the icon and from the displayed menu select “Properties”.

The “Icon” Properties as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7.

The name of the “Icon” can be changed to represent the “Command” and the “Command String” edited as per Figure 8 to run the command.

Figure 8.

Note:-  It is important to add ^C^C to make sure the previously used command is cancelled.

The above could be repeated for other commands to give quick access.