AutoCAD 2000 Tutorial:
Using Partial Open and Partial Load to Work with Large Drawing Files

PART 2

In this lesson you master the skills required to open portions of large drawing files. You specify which geometry you want to load by specifying layers which contain the geometry and views that display it. Only geometry on those layers and in those views will be loaded.

It's important to note that even when you do a partial load, all layers, dimensions, blocks and similar drawing components are loaded. This means you will be able to insert a block, even if an instance of that block is not in the view or on the layers you have loaded.

If you work with large drawing files frequently, prepare them for partial opening by saving views that show the geometry you most frequently need to edit. This will make it easier for you to load only the geometry you need when you edit the drawing. You save drawing views using the VIEW command.

Prior to proceeding with this lesson, save the 2007a.zip drawing file to a working directory on your local hard disk.

1. From the File menu Choose Open.

2. Use the file selection tools to select the 2007a.zip drawing file.

3. Choose Partial Open. (Figure 1)

4. From the list of views, choose close-up.

5. From the list of layers, choose pipe.

6. Choose Open to Open this drawing. (Figure 2)

7. From the Modify Solids Editing menu, choose Union. (Figure 3)

8. Select a point below and to the left and above and to the right of the objects to select all the objects on the screen.

9. Press ENTER to turn all the objects into a single solid object.

10. From the Modify toolbar, choose Chamfer. (Figure 4)

11. Select the front edge of the large cylinder.

12. Press ENTER to accept the selected surface. (Figure 5)

13. Type 20 to specify the first chamfer distance.

14. Type 20 to specify the second chamfer distance.

15. Select the front edge of the large cylinder again.

16. Press ENTER to chamfer the edge. (Figure 6)

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