Darren Bond is the author of Toolbox LT and product manager at GlobalCAD. His passions include creating software that is both enjoyable to use and does what it should. He has a varied design background covering software, product design and architecture.
In these financially challenging times, the focus for designers is to continue to deliver on quality but to seek out cost savings and productivity increases wherever possible.
Companies need design software that ensures them that vital competitive edge. Toolbox LT, an add-on solution for AutoCAD LT, provides a cost effective solution helping extend design and drafting capability without significant cost.
Toolbox LT provides AutoCAD LT users with the ability to load and run LISP routines and utilities, design in 3D with solids and surface modeling, generate realistic shaded renders and import and manipulate graphic images. In addition, cost-estimating tools are included and design content such as custom blocks and hatch patterns can be managed through an intuitive library interface.
Load and Run LISP Utilities
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To load AutoLisp (LISP) utilities and routines, select the Toolbox LT drop-down menu, Load Applications, Load Application.
Alternatively, type APPLOAD at the command prompt. The Load Application dialog is displayed, allowing you to browse and select LISP (.lsp) files located on any local or network drive. You can also load third party DES, ARX and DBX applications.
If you are using a LISP utility or other application quite often then you may want to have it loaded automatically each time AutoCAD LT is launched, ready for use each time you open a new drawing. Toolbox LT has a feature known as the Startup Suite to do this. From the Toolbox LT drop-down menu, select Load Applications, Startup Suite.
The resulting dialog allows you to browse for files using the Add button. Should it be necessary, you can also alter the order in which the utilities and applications are loaded. Click the Close button when you have finished adding files. All of the listed files will be automatically loaded ready for use each time AutoCAD LT is launched.
Model your Designs in 3D
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With Toolbox LT you can create a 3D model inside AutoCAD LT using various 3D solids and surface modeling commands. Viewing the 3D model is made possible with commands such as 3D Orbit, 3D Zoom and 3D Pan. Realistic shaded views are available using a range of shade modes from wireframe through to the advanced Gouraud mode.
The Surfaces menu/toolbar includes the commands Edge, 3Dmesh, Revsurf, Tabsurf, Rulesurf and Edgesurf for the accurate creation and representation of 3D surfaces.
Work with Photos and Images
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To import and manipulate photos and images in your drawing, Toolbox LT includes the menu/toolbar named Image.
The Image Adjust command lets you change several display properties of images for easier viewing or special effects such as brightness, contrast and fade. Clip Image is used to clip one or more edges of the image so that only the parts of the image that you want visible are displayed. The Transparency command alters the image's transparency, if for example you want to see drawing detail which would otherwise be obscured by the image. Image Quality is used to temporarily reduce the image quality to help improve drawing REGEN times. Finally, Image Frame is used to control whether the clipping boundaries of the image are displayed or hidden.
Summary
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Toolbox LT provides a cost effective means of enhancing the toolset available in AutoCAD LT, allowing companies to extend their design and drafting capabilities.
To view the complete list of features and commands associated with Toolbox LT, refer to pages 2-5 of the Getting Start Guide - Part 1 http://download.globalcad.com/UserGuideToolboxLT1.pdf
For information and step-by-step instructions concerning the cost-estimating and design content management tools available in Toolbox LT, refer to the Getting Start Guide - Part 2 http://download.globalcad.com/UserGuideToolboxLT2.pdf
Toolbox LT is an award winning add-on supporting AutoCAD LT 2000-2009 and can be downloaded from the GlobalCAD website http://www.globalcad.com
Author - Darren Bond, Product Manager, GlobalCAD
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