You can include block and attribute information in a DWF file. Select Publish from the File menu, then DWF file from the Publish To options. Select Publish Options, and find the DWF Data Options section. Select Include from the Block Information pull-down menu, and select Create from the Block Template File menu.

Caption: Select Include Blocks in the Block Information box and Create from Block Template in the Block Template File box directly below it.

The Publish Block Template dialog box will appear. Select Scan for Blocks, then select the blocks and block properties you want to publish in the DWF.

Caption: Once you select scan for blocks, you’ll see a list of blocks and attributes you can publish.

When you’re done, save the template. Select OK in the Publishing Options dialog box. This returns you to the Publish dialog box, where you can select Publish and enter a name for your DWF file.

Tables made their debut in AutoCAD 2005. If you need to send drawings that contain tables to earlier releases, you will want to convert the AutoCAD table objects to OLE table objects if you want them to display properly. Right-click on the table object and select Export from the shortcut menu that appears.

Caption: Select the entire table, then right-click and select Export from the shortcut menu.

Save the table as a CSV file. From the Insert menu in your drawing, select OLE Object. Select the CSV file you just exported. It probably won’t look like the original table, but at least your recipients will be able to see it.

AutoCAD provides a handy way to compare the settings of two different dimension styles. From the Dimension menu, select Style. Select Compare and in the dialog box that appears, select the two dimension styles you want to compare in the Compare and With pull-down lists.

The dialog box will display the differences between the two styles, not all settings. To copy and/or print the list, select the Copy to Clipboard button in the upper right corner of the list. Then paste it into a Word or text document.

To view all the settings for a single variable, type -dimstyle at the command line, then type v for Variables. Enter the name of the dimension (or ? to view a list of all dimension styles). AutoCAD’s text window will open to list all the system variable settings for your dimension style. You can copy and paste the list into a Word or text document for ease of viewing and printing.

To create your own arrowheads for use with dimensions, first draw a square that measures one unit by one unit. In this square draw your arrowhead pointing to the right. Don’t forget to include the horizontal line, if needed.

Caption: Draw your custom arrow in a 1-unit by 1-unit box.

From the AutoCAD Draw menu, select Block, then Make. Or enter Bmake at the command prompt. Or select Make Block from the Draw toolbar. As you may have guessed by now, you are going to turn your arrowhead drawing into a block. In the dialog box that appears, assign a name to your block. Click on the Select Object button and select your arrow. Don’t include the square—that’s just a guide to ensure your arrow is the right size. Select the Pick Point button, then use the Endpoint osnap to select the point of the arrow. Select OK to close the command.

Caption: Make your arrow into a block. Select the endpoint of the arrow as the base point.

The next step is to create a dimension style that uses your arrowhead (or add your arrowhead to an existing style). Select Style from the Dimension menu or enter Dimstyle at the command prompt. In the Dimension Style Manager, name your dimension style and select Continue. In the Arrowheads section, click on the first pull-down list, scroll to the bottom, and select User Arrow. In the Select Custom Arrow Block dialog box that appears, select your arrowhead block, then OK. Continue assigning dimension style settings as needed.

Caption: Create or modify a Dimension Style, and in the Symbols and Arrows tab, select User Arrow, then specify your block in the Arrowheads box.

Set the new Dimension Style current, and your next dimension will feature your new arrowhead. AutoCAD will scale the arrowhead according to the dimension arrow size setting. Because you drew your block as a 1 unit by 1 unit square, it will scale correctly. If you specify a ¼-inch arrowhead, for example, AutoCAD will insert the custom one at 0.25 scale, or ¼ inch.