This is George Ali Blackburn's Typepad Profile.
Join Typepad and start following George Ali Blackburn's activity
George Ali Blackburn
Recent Activity
You can also use AutoCAD's 'Design Center' tool to copy items (layers, blocks, layouts, etc) from your old template to the new one (you must have that drawing open).
For example, to copy a layout over, while in the NEW template;
1. Type ADCENTER at the command prompt,
2. Click the 'Open Drawings' tab,
3. Click on your old drawing from the list,
4. Go to 'Layouts' then right-click the Layout you want to copy and select 'Add Layout'
Commented Jan 30, 2019 on Creating Your Own Templates at The H-Factor
Creating Your Own Templates
A customer contacted me today about having trouble using our commands. The cause was that he was using a template that someone else in his company had made, and it wasn't compatible with our program. You can easily make your templates to work with our program. Here are the simple steps: Type in...
As pointed out by Tim D, in the end note regarding entering the pressure limit, it isn't made clear where to enter this information. You'll find the 'Outlet Pressure Limit' box in upper middle section of the Edit/Create Pump Curve window.
So when you're entering your pump information, you can set the max pressure value at the same time.
Commented Jan 17, 2018 on Using Pressure Reducing Valves at The H-Factor
Using Pressure Reducing Valves
My coworker Bill wrote this up, based on frequent requests for help with Pressure Reducing Valves: There are two types of PRV valves, so there are two ways to handle the calculation: Type 1 - Fixed PRV Three calculations are required for a factory set or field adjustable PRV: Static at PRV, Sys...
Art, is it possible to post this block somewhere with the obstruction already setup?
Commented Feb 2, 2016 on Designating Exclusion Zone Around Sprinkler Heads for Clash Detection at The H-Factor
Designating Exclusion Zone Around Sprinkler Heads for Clash Detection
So, you want to have an area carved out around sprinkler heads so that other trades don't impinge on your space (yeah, good luck with that!) but aren't sure how. Well, It's pretty easy - what you need to do is to edit some of our sprinkler heads and basically draw a 'cylinder' around them. Hydra...
In more recent releases of the HydraCAD updates, you can skip steps 5 & 6 above as the update will automatically create a backup folder where you will find the HCADWIN.CUIX and your newly saved workspace (Step 12).
You'll be able to find it in the;
for AutoCAD 2013 & 2014
"C:\HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\50.3\Backup"
or
for AutoCAD 2015
"C:\HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\Version53\Backup"
Commented Aug 15, 2014 on An Alternate Method for Saving/Restoring Workspaces at The H-Factor
An Alternate Method for Saving/Restoring Workspaces
There are times when exporting and importing workspaces seems not to work. The following steps explain another way to save your customized workspace so you can restore it after updating your HydraCAD. Open HydraCAD, set up your workspace as you like From the AutoCAD workspace tool select Tools-...
Similar to the the 'Do Things by Block' or 'Do Things by Layer' commands...
I keep forgetting to use this command because of CBL or EBB et al.
Commented Jul 23, 2013 on Using the Select Similar Function at The H-Factor
Using the Select Similar Function
AutoCAD 2013 introduced a new feature - Select Similar. It does just what it sounds like: 1. Pick an object (line, head, riser nipple, whatever) and right-click 2. Pick Select Similar from the menu that appears You can now do whatever you like with this selection set. You could Move it, Copy i...
I've been using this for years and it's awesome.
There's a highlight tool which is great and when an oval/rectangle tool is added, it will be perfect.
Commented Apr 24, 2012 on Using the Windows 7/8 Snipping Tool at The H-Factor
Using the Windows 7/8 Snipping Tool
My IT director wife showed me this one. I am often doing screen captures to illustrate blog entries, instructions manuals or support emails. I have been doing a Print Screen or Alt+Print Screen to send the entire screen or active window (respectively) to the Clipboard so I can get what I need. H...
As an alternative, you can use the HydraCAD command 'Delete All on a Layer' to get the same end result.
Go to 'HydraTools|Layer Control|Delete All on a Layer' then follow the prompts. Or, type in DL at the command prompt.
Commented Dec 9, 2009 on LAYDEL - A nasty AutoCAD command that should never be used at The H-Factor
LAYDEL - A nasty AutoCAD command that should never be used
Don't use Format->Layer Tools->Layer Delete on any of Hydratec's stuff. I fact, I don't recommend using it in architect stuff, either. Here's why - besides deleting everything on the selected layer and the layer name itself, it also redefines all blocks that have a foot in that layer and remove ...
Update: This also works for Outlook 2007, use the same menu.
Commented Sep 30, 2008 on Coloring Email Addresses at The H-Factor
Coloring Email Addresses
My co-worker George showed me this one: In Outlook 2003 you can assign colors to email addresses so you can quickly tell whether the email came from a friend or foe (or your boss!) In Outlook 2003 pick the Tools pull down then pick Organize. Pick Using Colors on the left. That's about it - just ...
Thanks Art, I had a found a registry hack to get by this, but it was only per file extension, so at least this covers everything.
One thing regarding step 6. If "Index files with unknown extensions" is disabled, uncheck the box below it which says "Inherit above settings from Service".
Commented Oct 25, 2007 on Getting Explorer to Search All Files for Text at The H-Factor
Getting Explorer to Search All Files for Text
Many (most?) of you may have run into the problem where you use Windows Explorer to search a file for text the YOU KNOW IS IN THERE BUT $%^@# WINDOWS CAN'T FIND IT - grrrrrrr Here is how you get it to do that, straight from Microsoft (method 2): 1. Click Start, and then click Search (or point to...
I wasn't aware of this and will definitely try it.
One other thing I've found is that to REMOVE an object from your selection set (after making your selection window), press the SHIFT key and select the object(s) you'd like to remove.
Commented Jun 21, 2007 on Selecting Objects Using an Irregularly Shaped Window at The H-Factor
Selecting Objects Using an Irregularly Shaped Window
This one comes via Robert Matteson of Dynamic Fire Protection Systems, Inc - Texas: When selecting objects using a window or crossing window, I am sometimes hindered from selecting all items that I want quickly due to the rectangular constraint of the window or crossing window. I found out to...
I've always used CTRL+T to open another tab in the existing browser window, but I can try to get used to using the middle button.
Commented Jan 29, 2007 on Firefox and Multiple Windows at The H-Factor
Firefox and Multiple Windows
Quick Firefox Tip of The Day - If you are on a website and want to open another browser window when you click on a link rather than having your current window switch to that content, click on the link using the middle mouse button. That will open the linked page in a new tab
Subscribe to George Ali Blackburn’s Recent Activity