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AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules
®

AutoCAD 2D
Module 38
DesignCenter ®

Learning Outcomes:
When you have completed this module, you will be able to:

1. Describe how the DesignCenter can be used to increase drawing productivity.


2. Describe and apply the commands ADCENTER.

DesignCenter
DesignCenter organizes access to drawings, blocks, hatches and other drawing content. From
DesignCenter, you can insert, copy or drag and drop objects from an open drawing, filed
drawings, a network or even the internet to your current drawing. Drag and drop is the process
of dragging an object such as a block from one drawing and dropping it into another
Another important feature of DesignCenter is being able to copy and paste or drag and drop
layer definitions, dimensioning styles, linetypes, layouts, text styles and xrefs between
drawings. A nice feature of DesignCenter is that the drawings you are copying from do not
have to be open at the time you are copying from them. However, the drawings you are
pasting into must be open when you are pasting. You can also redefine block definitions, xrefs
and hatches. DesignCenter can also be used to open drawing files.

AutoCAD Command: ADCENTER


The ADCENTER command is used to open the DesignCenter dialogue box.
Shortcut: ADC or CTRL-2

2004-2008

2000-2002

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2004-2008


For AutoCAD 2004-2008 users only. If you are using AutoCAD 2000-2002,
skip to page 38-8)
Step 1 Start a new drawing
using the template Module
Template Layout English.
Step 2 Save and name the
drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong
38-1.

Figure Step 3

Step 3 Using the OPEN command,


open the drawing
AutoCAD 2D Lab 30-1 that you
created in Module 30. You will now
have two drawings open at the same
time. To confirm that they are both
open, click the Windows pull-down as
shown in Figure Step 3.

Step 4 Set the drawing AutoCAD


Figure Step 5 2D Workalong 38-1 as the current
drawing.

Step 5 Enter the PURGE command and


purge all of the blocks in the current drawing.
There should be only 3 blocks to purge as
shown in Figure Step 5.

Step 6 Enter the ADCENTER command. It


will open the DesignCenter window as shown
in Figure Step 6. The folder structure will
display differently on your computer then it
does in the figure.

...continued on page 38-3 Figure Step 6

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2004-2008 - Continued


Step 7 Enable the Open Drawings tab as
shown in Figure Step 7. It will display the two
drawings currently open in your AutoCAD
session.
Step 8 Click the + sign beside the drawing
AutoCAD 2D Lab 30-1.dwg to expand it as
shown in Figure Step 8. It will now display
the - sign beside it which means It is
expanded and will list the items in the
drawing.

Figure Step 7

Step 9 Click the item Blocks. It will high-


light as shown in Figure Step 9. Along the
right side of the window it will display the
icons of the blocks that are currently defined
Figure Step 8
in the block definition table.

Figure Step 10A


Figure Step 9
Step 10 Enable the Preview icon. It is located along the top right
side of the window. See Figure Step 10A and 10B.
Figure Step 10B
Authors Comments:
There are two methods of copying blocks from one drawing to another using DesignCenter.
The first method is to use the Insert dialogue box and the other is to use the Drag and Drop
method. To use the drag and drop method, click the block icon and while holding down the
left mouse button, drag it from DesignCenter into the drawing. When you have it in the
desired location, release the button.

...continued on page 38-4

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2004-2008 - Continued


Step 11 Highlight the Chair icon and it will
display a preview of the Chair block in the lower
right corner of the window. See Figure Step 11. If
your window appears differently then the figure,
adjust the size or the frames inside the window.

Figure Step 11

Figure Step 12A

Step 12 Ensure that the drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong 38-1 is the current drawing.
Right click the Chair icon. On the right-click menu, as shown in Figure Step 12A, click
Insert Block. When the Insert dialogue box opens, set it as shown in the figure and click
the OK button. See Figure Step 12B.

Figure Step 12B

...continued on page 38-5

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2004-2008 - Continued


Step 13 Using the graphic cursor,
select any location on the drawing
and press the pick button. See
Figure Step 13.

Step 14 In this step, use the drag


and drop method of copying a block
from one drawing to another using
DesignCenter. Click the Desk icon
in DesignCenter and while holding
down the left mouse button, drag the
icon from DesignCenter into the
current drawing and release the
button. See Figure Step 14.
Figure Step 13

Step 15 Using the methods you


just learned, copy the eight
additional blocks into your
drawing. Copy four with each
method. Your drawing should
appear similar to Figure Step 15.

Figure Step 14

Figure Step 15

...continued on page 38-6

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2004-2008 - Continued


Authors Comments:
Another way to work with DesignCenter is to
work using drawings that are not open at the
time.
Step 16 Enable the Folders tab and then
find the folder: C:\CAD Courses\AutoCAD
2D\Lab Exercise as shown in Figure Step 16.

Figure Step 16

Step 17 In the folder, locate the drawing


AutoCAD 2D Lab 30-2.dwg. Expand the
drawing and expand Blocks as shown in
Figure Step 17.

Figure Step 17

Step 18 Using the Insert block method, insert all the blocks from the drawing AutoCAD 2D
Lab 30-2.dwg into the current drawing. Insert them at a scale of 100. See Figure Step 18.

Figure Step 18

...continued on page 38-7

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2004-2008 - Continued


Step 19 Your drawing should appear similar to Figure Step 19.

Figure Step 19
Step 20 Delete all of the blocks in
the drawing but do not purge them.
They are still in the block definition
table. Your drawing should appear
blank.

Step 21 Enable the Open


Drawings tab and expand the
drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong
38-1. Right-click the View icon and
in the right-click menu, select List
as shown in Figure Step 21.

Figure Step 21

Step 22 Ensure that the drawing AutoCAD 2D


Workalong 38-1 is still the current drawing. In the
Open Drawings tab, expand the drawing
AutoCAD 2D Lab 30-1 and the item Layers as
shown in Figure Step 22.

...continued on page 38-8 Figure Step 22

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2004-2008 - Continued


Step 23 Select all of the layers as shown in
Figure Step 23. They will highlight as shown in
the figure.

Step 24 Using the drag and drop method, drag


the layers in the current drawing. See Figure
Step 24. You have just copied the layers from
one drawing to another.

Figure Step 23

Step 25 Save and close the


drawings.

Figure Step 24

A good way to use the DesignCenter window is to dock it along the left side of the
graphic window as shown below.

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2000-2002


For AutoCAD 2000-2002 users only. If you are using AutoCAD 2004-2008,
skip to 38-15)

Step 1 Start a new drawing using


the template Module Template
Layout English.
Step 2 Save and name the
drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong
38-1.

Figure Step 3

Step 3 Using the OPEN command,


open the drawing
AutoCAD 2D Lab 30-1 that you
created in Module 30. You will now
have two drawings open at the same
time. To check this, click the
Windows pull-down as shown in
Figure Step 3.

Figure Step 5

Step 4 Set the drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong 38-1 as the current drawing.

Step 5 Enter the PURGE command and purge all of the blocks in the current drawing.
There should be only 3 blocks to purge as shown in Figure Step 5.

Step 6 Enter the ADCENTER command.


It will open the DesignCenter window as
shown in Figure Step 6. The folder
structure will display differently on your
computer then it does in the figure.

...continued on page 38-10 Figure Step 6

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2000-2002 - Continued


Step 7 Enable the Open Drawings tab
as shown in Figure Step 7A. It will
display the two drawings currently open
in your AutoCAD session as shown in
Figure Step 7B.
Figure Step 7A

Step 8 Click the + sign beside the drawing


AutoCAD 2D Lab 30-1.dwg to expand it as
shown in Figure Step 8. It will now display
the - sign beside it which means It is
expanded and will list the items in the
drawing.

Figure Step 7B
Step 9 Click the item Blocks. It will high-
light as shown in Figure Step 9. Along the
right side of the window it will display the
icons of the blocks that are currently
defined in the block definition table.

Figure Step 8

Step 10 Enable the Preview icon. It is


located along the top right side of the
window. See Figure Step 10.

Figure Step 10
Figure Step 9
Authors Comments:
There are two methods of coping blocks from one drawing to another using DesignCenter.
The first is to use the Insert dialogue box and the other is to use the Drag and Drop method.
To use the drag and drop method, click the block icon and while holding down the left
mouse button, drag it from DesignCenter into the drawing. When you have it in the desired
location, release the button.

...continued on page 38-11

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2000-2002 - Continued


Step 11 Highlight the Chair icon and it will
display a preview of the Chair block in the
lower right corner of the window. See Figure
Step 11. If your widow appears differently then
the figure, adjust the size or the frames inside
the window.

Figure Step 11

Figure Step 12A

Step 12 Ensure that the drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong 38-1 is the current drawing.
Right click the Chair icon. On the right-click menu, as shown in Figure Step 12A, click
Insert Block. When the Insert dialogue box opens, set it as shown in the figure and click
the OK button. See Figure Step 12B.

Figure Step 12B

...continued on page 38-12

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2000-2002 - Continued


Step 13 Using the graphic
cursor, select any location on the
drawing and press the pick
button. See Figure Step 13.
Step 14 In this step, use the
drag and drop method of copying
a block from one drawing to
another using DesignCenter.
Click the Desk icon in
DesignCenter and while holding
down the left mouse button, drag
the icon from DesignCenter into
the current drawing and release
the button. See Figure Step 14. Figure Step 13

Step 15 Using the


methods you just
learned, copy the eight
additional blocks into
your drawing. Copy four
with each method. Your
drawing should appear
similar to Figure Step
15.
Figure Step 14

Figure Step 15

...continued on page 38-13

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2000-2002 - Continued


Authors Comments:
Another way to work with DesignCenter is to work using
drawings that are not open at the time.

Figure Step 16A


Step 16 Click the Desktop icon as shown in
Figure Step 16A. Find the folder: C:\CAD
Courses\AutoCAD 2D\Lab Exercise. as
shown in Figure Step 16B.

Figure Step 16B

Step 17 In the folder, locate the drawing


AutoCAD 2D Lab 30-2.dwg. Expand the
drawing and expand Blocks as shown in
Figure Step 16.
Step 18 Using the Insert block method,
insert all the blocks from the drawing
AutoCAD 2D Lab 30-2.dwg into the current
drawing. Insert them at a scale of 100. See
Figure Step 18.

Figure Step 17

Figure Step 18
...continued on page 38-14

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2000-2002 - Continued


Step 19 Your drawing should appear similar to Figure Step 19.

Figure Step 19

Step 20 Delete all the block in the


drawing but do not purge them.
They are still in the block definition
table. Your drawing should appear
blank.

Step 21 Enable the Open


Drawings tab and expand the
drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong
38-1. Right-click the View icon and
in the right-click menu, select List
as shown in Figure Step 21. Figure Step 21

Step 22 Ensure that the drawing


AutoCAD 2D Workalong 38-1 is still the
current drawing. In the Open Drawings tab,
expand the drawing AutoCAD 2D Lab 30-1
and the item Layers as shown in Figure
Step 22.

Figure Step 22
...continued on page 38-15

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38


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Using DesignCenter in 2000-2002 - Continued


Step 23 Select all of the layers as shown in
Figure Step 23. They will highlight as shown
in the figure.
Step 24 Using the drag and drop method,
drag the layers in the current drawing. See
Figure Step 24. You have just copied the
layers from one drawing to another.

Figure Step 23

Step 25 Save and close the


drawings.

Figure Step 24

Opening both the DesignCenter


and Properties window is often
required while working on a
drawing. If you dock both of them
on the left side of the graphic
window it allows you a larger area
of the graphic window for your
drawing. See figure right.

The Key Principles in Module 38


1. The most powerful use of DesignCenter is being able to copy blocks, layers,
dimensioning styles, linetypes, layouts, text styles and xrefs from one drawing to
another. Using it will improve your overall drawing speed and production.

DesignCenter The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 38

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