The SSX Express Tool is similar to the Qselect command, but works at the command line instead of through a dialog box, making it handy for use in AutoLISP routines. You can load it, if needed, by typing (load “ssx”) at the command line.

AutoCAD provides two options for masking the background behind text in a drawing. The old standby is the TextMask Express Tool, available since Release 14. AutoCAD 2005 introduced the Background Mask command as a shortcut menu item in Mtext. Note that Background Mask works only on mtext while TextMask works on dtext, and mtext. It also applies to the entire mtext object. You can’t single out a word or phrase to mask.

Background Mask

While in the Mtext Editor, right-click and select Background Mask.

Caption: Right-click in the Mtext Editor and select Background Mask.

In the dialog box that appears, check the box next to Use background mask. Select a fill color. There’s an option to use the drawing background color; when checked, this makes the rectangle behind the text the same color as your drawing screen. You can also set a border offset factor.

Caption: Background Mask options.

Select OK, then click anywhere outside the Mtext Editor to see the results. You may want to change the text justification for best results.

Caption: Background mask example.

Text Mask

Start Text Mask from the Text submenu in the Express Tools menu (you may need to load the Express Tools first).

Caption: Text Mask appears in the Express Tools menu. Note the companion tool Unmask Text, which is used to remove text masks.

The first prompt shows the current settings. Type M if you want to specify the type of masking object: wipeout, solid, or 3D face. The default is wipeout, which gives you a mask that is the same color as the drawing screen. Select solid if you want a colored mask. Then select your desired color.

Here’s a quick trick to get rid of hidden drawing items such as zero-length lines, blank text strings, and block insertions with no entities. Though you can’t see them, they do contribute to the size of your DWG file. First, Zoom Extents. Select Copy from the Edit menu and window the troublesome drawing (not crossing). Then open a new drawing and paste into it.

The Autopublish command, new in AutoCAD 2008, allows you to automatically create or save to a DWF file whenever you close or save. You can also set it up so AutoCAD prompts you to save to DWF whenever you save or close a drawing. Activate Autopublish by selecting Tools/Options/Plot and Publish tab. Check the Automatic DWF Publish checkbox in the lower left corner, then select the Settings button below.

Caption: Turn Autopublish on by checking the box in the lower left of the Plot and Publish tab.

The Auto Publish Options dialog box lets you choose when and where to save the DWF. You can save models, layouts, or both, and you can specify a single-sheet or multisheet DWF. Other options include whether to save block and layer information, whether to include block templates, and whether to assign a password to the DWF file (AutoCAD will prompt you for the password).

We’ve noted previously that you can show all open AutoCAD drawings in the Windows Taskbar by changing the system variable TASKBAR to 1 (from the default 0). You can also toggle through all open drawings by pressing Ctrl+Tab. Reverse the toggle order by pressing Ctrl+Tab+Shift. AutoCAD 2009 adds a new option—the Quick View Drawings command. Type Qvdrawing at the command line to display a thumbnail image of each open drawing file. Click on the one you want to work with.

If you don’t care for any of these options for navigating multiple drawings, you can select from a number of free downloads that add tabs to your open drawings, much like those that appear on layouts. Drawing Tabs Manager from CAE-Link adds a row of tabs below the model and layout tabs. It works with AutoCAD 2006-2009.

Caption: Drawing Tabs Manager in action (screen shot from vendor’s website).