| AutoCAD Release 11 October 1990 |
The new TILEMODE system variable can be used to enable paper space, where Viewports are entities that display views into "model space" rather than being simple partitions of the display graphics area. The paper space mechanism adds the following capabilities to AutoCAD:
- Multiple views of the model can be plotted in a single plot operation, complete with additional production drafting graphics, such as sheet outlines, title blocks, annotation text, etc.
- Viewport-specific layer visibility.
Network support features
- A new file-locking system prevents more than one AutoCAD session from accessing the same file when it would be possible to corrupt data or crash one or more AutoCAD sessions as a result.
- Network server authorization allows the installation of a single copy of AutoCAD on a network server. The number of users specified at the time of purchase can execute AutoCAD on the network server. The maximum number of concurrent users can be increased through the purchase of a larger license count, for which an authorization code for the larger limit is issued. This "floating license" does not apply to versions of AutoCAD using workstation authorization codes or hardware locks.
- A pair of new system environment variables named -ACADPLCMD and ACADPPCMD, in conjunction with the "AUTOSPOOL" default plot filename, now allows the -AutoCAD PLOT and PRPLOT commands to invoke plot-spooling programs.
A personalization step has been added to the installation. This step allows two lines of ASCII text to be added to the executable program file. This text is displayed in the Main menu banner (or the equivalent) when AutoCAD is invoked. The labels for the strings are "Licensed to:" and "Obtained from:". You can't change these strings after installation is complete.
Dimensioning enhancements include:
- Dimstyle symbol table allows the saving, retrieval, modification and the retention of the variable settings for individual Dimension entities.
- Ordinate dimensions can now be input with AutoCAD.
- Different portions of a dimension entity can now be assigned different colors. The colors are controlled by the DIMCLRD, DIMCLRE and DIMCLRT variables.
- Dimension text can now be moved and edited with the TEDIT subcommand.
- Linear dimensions can now be specified with an oblique (non- perpendicular) angle between the dimension and extension lines.
- Dimension subcommands can now be abbreviated to the minimum number of characters to uniquely identify the subcommand.
- The allowable dimension text gap for linear dimensions to determine the position of the dimension line and arrows inside or outside the extension lines can now be configured with the DIMGAP variable. The clipping of the angular dimension arc against the dimension text box also relies on this value.
- DIMBLK, DIMBLK1, and DIMBLK2 are now supported for all dimension types, not just linear dimensions.
- The DIMSCALE variable can now be set to 0.0. This allows you to enter dimensions into model space and to scale dimension text and arrowheads so that they take on their specified size in paper space rather than model space. This is usually what will be wanted when plotting from paper space.
- Radial and Diameter dimensions now place their text, arrowheads and dimension lines in a more flexible (and reasonable) manner.
- Angular dimensions can now be acquired with 3 points as well as by selecting two line segments.
- Tolerance text size can now be scaled relative to the basic dimension text size.
- Null responses now terminate all dimension subcommands, except where noted in the prompt text and documentation.
The new Drawing File Recovery mechanism scans and recovers valid data from damaged drawing databases. There is also an AUDIT facility that scans drawing databases for invalid or damaged fields. The AUDIT facility can be invoked at any time in the editor and can be configured to run automatically after certain operations.
External reference drawings can now be dynamically attached to a drawing with the XREF command. This allows you to work with other AutoCAD drawings without adding them permanently to your drawing and without altering their contents.
The ACAD environment variable can now include multiple directories to specify a search path for library or support files.
The Advanced Modeling Extension (AME) provides the solid modeling capability of AutoSolid from within AutoCAD. Solid entity creation and basic editing features are provided in the standard package, while advanced features for some platforms can be purchased at additional cost.
The following enhancements have been made to the AUI dialog box mechanism:
- A line editor was added for use with all dialog box text string fields.
- Text strings can now be longer then their dialog box field via horizontal scrolling.
- Scroll bars are used for inspecting lists.
- All dialog boxes that deal with lists now have more than 5 fields, ranging from 10 to 15 items at a time.
- The arrow cursor is now visible when you point to the AUI menu bar and its pull-down menus.
";" characters now denote comments in .pat, .lin and .shp files.
Abbreviations and aliases can now be defined for AutoCAD commands in the acad.pgp file.
Eight new text alignment options have been added, so now any combination of Top/Middle/Baseline/Bottom and Left/Center/Right is supported.
File search and specification dialog boxes are now optionally available for all filename prompts in the AutoCAD drawing editor.
A new command named DDEDIT was added to allow the dialog box line editor to be used on Text and Attdef entities.
The Help file can now be arranged to display text appropriate to a command subprompt context, as well as for an entire command.
Symbol name and filename listings, both on the text screen and in dialog boxes, can now be sorted in all appropriate AutoCAD operations.
A wild-card matching facility has been implemented for searching and listing symbol names in all appropriate AutoCAD operations.
Fractional numeric input is now accepted wherever a real number is permitted, and can have any denominator (not just powers of 2). In addition, decimal feet (6.2') is valid input when Engineering and Architectural units are in effect.
Points can now be entered via 3D spherical and cylindrical coordinates.
Polar, spherical, and cylindrical coordinates can be either relative or absolute.
Angle values can now be specified in radians and grads by adding the proper suffix, even if the current angular units setting is degrees.
The new UNITMODE system variable lets you instruct AutoCAD to display fractional, feet-and-inches, and Surveyor's units in the same format as is expected for input.
Whenever AutoCAD asks for a filename of a particular type, you can include a file type in your response as long as it's the correct type.
Most system variables can now be changed by simply entering their names; there's no need to type SETVAR first.
The DDEMODES (Entity creation) dialog box now lets you select a new text style.
The TRIM and EXTEND commands now have Undo options.
The new ZOOM Vmax command zooms to the limits of the virtual screen.
The standard menu file supplied with AutoCAD was substantially enhanced.
Parallel I/O ports can be specified during configuration for plotter and printer plotter devices.
Handles are now automatically assigned and supported on entities contained within block definitions.
The SHADE command was added as a limited shading facility on 256- color display devices and as a quick hidden line removal visualization facility for display devices that display 16 or fewer colors.
OSNAP now fully operates on Circles, Arcs, and Polyline arc segments within uniformly scaled Block References.
There are two new plot optimization settings which specify that overlapping vectors should be eliminated or merged in plot operations.
Plots can now be rotated 180 and 270 degrees in addition to 0 and 90 degrees. 3D (nonplan) views can now be rotated.
The following enhancements have been made to the IGES translator:
- Support of paper space and Viewport entity constructs as Drawing and View entities, respectively.
- Viewport-specific entity visibility.
- External drawing references.
- New AutoCAD dimension constructs: ordinate dimensions, and new styles of radial and diameter dimensions
- IGESOUT translates Polyface mesh entities into corresponding 3D Face, 3D Line, and 3D Point entities.
- Support of other AutoCAD drawing file changes and enhancements.
A Polyface polygon mesh entity was added, with the corresponding PFACE command, to allow the addition of arbitrary combinations of face entities that share vertices. This allows the storage of such faces in a more compact form than the corresponding set of 3D Face entities.
8-bit and extended 16-bit font support has been added for international versions of AutoCAD.
The Shape file format has been extended to allow support for Asian language translation, where the 16-bit font introduced in Release 10 was not sufficient.
The AutoCAD Development System (ADS) was added, providing a compiled language programming interface to AutoCAD on most platforms. It was supplied with Release 10 for OS/2 only, and has been significantly enhanced for Release 11.
The extended entity data (Xdata) facility was added, providing a means to attach data to entities, via DXF, AutoLISP and ADS, and group the data by "registered application" (regapp) names.
The ADI (Autodesk Device Interface) Version 4.1 upgrade was provided primarily to facilitate optimal usage of display drivers when using the paper space facility in AutoCAD. Other enhancements and bug fixes were also made.
| TILEMODE System Variable |
Changing the TILEMODE setting has no effect on the entities already in your drawing. Thus, turning TILEMODE on doesn't guarantee that existing scripts or programs will run if you've used Release 11's new commands to create -Viewport entities or other objects in paper space; neither will they run if files you're importing (using DXFIN or IGESIN) make use of the new capabilities. To ensure compatibility with scripts or other macros created for Release 10, you should observe the following guidelines:
Create new drawings from a prototype that has TILEMODE on. This prevents any viewport entities, including the paper space viewport, from being created. You can use the VPORTS command to create, store, and retrieve viewport configurations.
Turning TILEMODE on in a drawing that already has Viewport or other paper space entities, allows you to use the VPORTS command to store and retrieve saved viewport configurations, but does not eliminate -paper space objects or viewports. This provides command-level compatibility, but not database-level compatibility.
Other scripts or AutoLISP programs that do not use the VPORTS command or directly manipulate the VPORTS symbol table should run without change, regardless of the TILEMODE setting. Scripts or AutoLISP programs that are designed for use in Release 11 and that use the new features might behave incorrectly if TILEMODE is on (such programs should check and set -TILEMODE as necessary).
DXFOUT will always output the paper space-specific header variables, regardless of TILEMODE's setting. Once TILEMODE has been turned off in a drawing, DXFOUT will output the viewport entities that have been created, even if -TILEMODE has been turned back on.
When TILEMODE is off, display list operations in existing ADI drivers are disabled. This should allow the majority of ADI drivers to continue to function, but some drivers perform screen operations not requested by AutoCAD and these may have problems. With TILEMODE on, all ADI drivers should operate the same way they did for Release 10.
The following sections list the commands and system variables affected by the TILEMODE system variable, and describe its effects. For a description of -TILEMODE's effects on AutoLISP and ADS functions, see the appropriate Programmer's Reference.
Commands Affected by TILEMODE
The following section lists the commands affected by the TILEMODE system variable.
`DDLMODES |
Tilemode = 0 (R11 mode): Viewport visibility changes take effect when you exit the dialog box Tilemode = 1 (R10 mode): Viewport freeze and thaw settings cannot be changed |
DXFIN |
Tilemode = 0 (R11 mode): If the incoming exchange file has TILEMODE=1, then all entities are placed in the model space of the target drawing Tilemode = 1 (R10 mode): If you import a full drawing with TILEMODE=0 into a new drawing that has TILEMODE=1, it uses the TILEMODE setting of the incoming exchange file and enables paper space use |
MSPACE |
Tilemode = 0 (R11 mode): Puts you in model space Tilemode = 1 (R10 mode): Is not allowed, and terminates an AutoLISP function or script |
MVIEW |
Tilemode = 0 (R11 mode): Activates paper space and allows the creation and control of Viewport entities Tilemode = 1 (R10 mode): Is not allowed, and terminates an AutoLISP function or script |
PSPACE |
Tilemode = 0 (R11 mode): Puts you in paper space Tilemode = 1 (R10 mode): Is not allowed, and terminates an AutoLISP function or script |
`VIEW |
Tilemode = 0 (R11 mode): Restores the space in effect when the view was saved Tilemode = 1 (R10 mode): Saved paper space views cannot be restored. The rejection is similar to restoring a named view that doesn't exist |
VPLAYER |
Tilemode = 0 (R11 mode): Allows the assignment of viewport-exclusive layer visibility Tilemode = 1 (R10 mode): Is not allowed, and terminates an AutoLISP function or script |
VPORTS |
Tilemode = 0 (R11 mode): Is not allowed, and terminates an AutoLISP function or script Tilemode = 1 (R10 mode): Works the same way as in Release 10 |
Ctrl+V |
Tilemode = 0 (R11 mode): Cycles through active viewports Tilemode = 1 (R10 mode): If there are viewports on screen, it cycles through them |
ZOOM |
Tilemode = 0 (R11 mode): You can use the XP option to set a paper space zoom ratio Tilemode = 1 (R10 mode): The XP option has no effect |
System Variables Affected by TILEMODE
EXTMAX, EXTMIN, LIMCHECK, LIMMAX, LIMMIN, UCSNAME, UCSORG, UCSXDIR, UCSYDIR
Tilemode = 0 (R11 mode): For all of these variables, these settings apply only to the current space independently of the other space. The values of these system variables are written as separate HEADER variables when output by DXFOUT
Tilemode = 1 (R10 mode): These variables have the same effect as in Release 10
| Changed Commands -- R11 |
Most commands that request filenames can now use dialog boxes. Most commands that list symbols can now be directed to sort the listings alphanumerically.
This section describes the changes made to existing commands between AutoCAD Releases 10 and 11. Unless noted otherwise, coordinate input to all commands is relative to the current UCS.
3DLINE |
Removed. 3D Line entities are automatically converted into Line entities for existing drawings |
ATTDEF |
The text acquisition portion of this command has been updated with a new prompt that allows selection of the new text alignment options. However, you can still enter Release 10 options, such as Center, Middle, Right, Fit, etc. at the Justify/Style<start point> prompt |
ATTEDIT |
Accepts wild-card pattern lists at specification prompts |
BLOCK |
Accepts wild-card pattern lists for block names to list. Also, additional information about block types is reported |
CHANGE |
You can't change the layer of an object using the CHANGE command. You can use CHANGE Properties and CHPROP to change the layer of selected entities. The CHANGE elevation and CHANGE properties elevation options have been removed. You can use the MOVE command instead |
DBLIST |
Displays the space that entities are in. Viewport entities are listed, along with their ACTIVE/INACTIVE/ON/OFF status. New dimension types are listed, the dimension style for an associative dimension (if present) is listed, and the coordinates for user positioned dimension text are reported |
`DDEMODES |
There is a new text style selector button for setting the current text style |
`DDLMODES |
Now allows the assignment of viewport visibility for layers |
DDUCS |
Sets the UCS options for the current space |
DIM |
The RADIUS and DIAMETER subcommands now issue an additional prompt in some situations. This may cause failure of some old scripts and AutoLISP programs that use these commands |
DTEXT |
A new prompt provides access to new alignment options |
DXFIN, DXFOUT |
DXF files have been extended to contain the following: |
EXTEND |
An Undo option has been added |
FILES |
There is a new option on the Files menu for unlocking files |
FILLET |
When filleting two Lines that cross, AutoCAD now retains the "picked" line segments. In previous versions, the shorter ends were trimmed no matter which points you used to select the Lines |
HATCH |
The ? option now prompts you for the pattern(s) to list, at which a wild- card pattern list is accepted. You can also enter a scale relative to paper space by using the XP option |
`help/'? |
Can now be called at subprompts for context-sensitive help |
IGESIN, IGESOUT |
Now handles additional entity types, including external references and Viewport entities |
INSERT |
A tilde (~) can be entered at the Block name prompt to display a File Dialog box, and wild-card pattern lists are accepted at the "Blocks to List" prompt |
LAYER |
Extended wild-card pattern lists are now accepted at the "Layers to List" prompt |
LIMITS |
Now sets limits for the current space, storing those values in the appropriate header variables |
LINETYPE |
Wild-card pattern lists are accepted at the "Linetypes to List" prompt |
LIST |
Same as DBLIST (see earlier section) |
MINSERT |
A tilde (~) can be entered at the Block name prompt to display a File Dialog box, and wild-card pattern lists are accepted at the "Blocks to List" prompt |
MSLIDE |
Making a slide while in paper space creates a slide showing the contents of whatever viewports are visible, active, and on. Making a slide while in model space creates a slide of the current viewport only |
OSNAP |
Running Osnap modes are now ignored during entity selection |
PLOT/PRPLOT |
Plots started from model space plot only the current viewport. Plots started from paper space displays the contents of those viewports that are visible, active, and on. 3D plots can now be rotated. There are also additional plot rotation options |
PURGE |
Now purges specified unreferenced Dimension Styles also |
RENAME |
Now allows the renaming of Dimension Styles and external references |
`SETVAR |
The ? option now accepts wild-card pattern lists for the variables to list. Additionally, setting certain variables sets the variable appropriate for the current space. In most cases, you can change a variable by typing its name without first entering `SETVAR |
SHAPE |
Wild-card pattern lists are accepted when listing loaded shapes. The listing also indicates if a shape definition is dependent on an external reference |
STYLE |
Allows wild-card pattern lists to be used when specifying text styles to list. Additional big-font capabilities have also been added |
TABLET |
Tablet calibration is effective only in the space where the calibration was performed |
TEXT |
A new prompt provides access to new alignment options |
TRIM |
An Undo option has been added |
UCS |
A wild-card pattern list is accepted at any of the ? option "UCSs to List" prompts |
`VIEW |
Saving a named view also saves the space that that view was created in, and that space is restored if the view is restored. Also, wild-card pattern lists are accepted when listing named views |
VIEWPORTS, VPORTS |
These commands are not active if TILEMODE is set to 0. If TILEMODE is nonzero, then these commands work as they did in Release 10, with the addition of accepting wild-card pattern lists when listing saved viewport configurations |
WBLOCK |
Entities written out with WBLOCK are placed into the model space of the output drawing unless the "*" option is used, in which case entities are placed in the same space they are currently in. Also, the "*"option will cause all entity handles, named views, UCS's, and viewport configurations to be retained |
`ZOOM |
The new option, Vmax, zooms to the limits of the virtual screen's 32K display space. This displays the maximum drawing area possible without a regeneration. The new option, XP, scales the magnification of a model space view relative to paper space |
| Changed System Variables -- R11 |
This section describes the changes made to existing system variables between AutoCAD Releases 10 and 11. Values for most system variables are expressed relative to the current User Coordinate System.
CECOLOR |
In Release 10, this string contained "BYLAYER," "BYBLOCK," a color number (for example, "15"), or a standard color number and name (as in "1 (red)"). The last form has been dropped, so applications no longer need to cope with its embedded blank. The standard colors now appear simply as "1" - "7" |
DIMxxx |
DIMBLK, DIMBLK1 and DIMBLK2 are now used for angular dimensions. DIMTIX and DIMTOFL control the style of Radius or Diameter dimension created. DIMSCALE can now be set to 0 to invoke paper space scaling |
ELEVATION |
Sets the 3D elevation, relative to the current UCS, for the current space (paper or model) |
EXPERT |
If set to 5, now suppresses additional prompts |
EXTMAX/EXTMIN |
Drawing extents expressed in 3D World coordinates for the current space |
FLATLAND |
Can be read, but can be set only to 0. It is forced to 0 when an existing drawing is read in |
LASTANGLE |
Point is expressed for the current space |
LASTPOINT |
Point is expressed for the current space |
LASTPT3D |
Discontinued feature. Use LASTPOINT instead |
LIMCHECK |
Status reported or set for the current space |
LIMMAX/LIMMIN |
Drawing limits expressed in 2D World coordinates for the current space |
OSMODE |
Running Osnap modes are now ignored during entity selection |
PLATFORM |
Indicates which version of AutoCAD is in use |
UCSFOLLOW |
Ignored while in paper space (always in plan view) |
UCSNAME/UCSORG/UCSXDIR/UCSYDIR |
Always reported and set for the current space |
VPOINTX/VPOINTY/VPOINTZ |
Discontinued. Use VIEWDIR (a 3D point) |