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AutoCAD Express Tools FAQ

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) provides answers to questions that are commonly

asked about using the AutoCAD Express Tools. If you are having problems, you mayfind a solution here. This FAQ is updated with common questions asked in the Autodesk 

newsgroups.

Is technical support available for AutoCAD Express Tools?  

 No. The Express Tools are not supported. In general, these utilities are provided as a

courtesy to you by Autodesk and Autodesk does not assume any responsibility for their 

successful operation.

Is there a discussion group for the AutoCAD Express Tools? 

Yes. You can visit the Express Tools newsgroup atnews://discussion.autodesk.com/autodesk.expresstools. The Express Tools team monitors

this newsgroup on a regular basis to answer questions and look for suggestions.

I tried using an AutoCAD Express Tool, but I get an Unknown Command error.

How can I make sure the tools are loaded? 

To enable the tools, use the EXPRESSTOOLS command.

You can install the AutoCAD Express Tools as part of the AutoCAD installation, or you

can add them later using Add or Remove Programs on the Control Panel.

I have the AutoCAD Express Tools installed, but I cannot see the Express menu.

How can I display this menu? 

Use the EXPRESSMENU command.

I can see the Express menu, but I do not see any AutoCAD Express Tools toolbars.

How can I display the toolbars? 

Right-click next to any docked toolbar. On the shortcut menu, click EXPRESS, and click 

an Express toolbar. Repeat these steps until all of the Express toolbars you want aredisplayed. With the Express toolbars displayed, select a workspace and save it. The

Express Tools toolbars will then always be included with that workspace.

Where is the Layers Express Tools toolbar and menu? 

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 The Layer tools are now part of AutoCAD. To access the tools in AutoCAD, use the

Layers or Layers II toolbar or the Format > Layer Tools menu, or enter the command onthe command line. For help with Layers tools, use the AutoCAD help system.

The following Layer Express Tools commands have been integrated into AutoCAD:

• COPYTOLAYER and -COPYTOLAYER. Copies selected objects to another 

layer, leaving the original objects intact.

• LAYCUR. Moves selected objects to the current layer.

• LAYDEL and -LAYDEL. Deletes all objects from the specified layer and purges

the layer from the drawing

• LAYFRZ. Freezes the layer of selected objects.

• LAYISO. Isolates the layer of a selected object.

• LAYLCK. Locks the layer of a selected object.

• LAYMCH and -LAYMCH. Changes the layer(s) of selected objects to match the

layer of a selected destination object.

• LAYMCUR. Makes a layer current based on selection of an object on that layer.• LAYMRG and -LAYMRG. Moves all objects from the first selected layer to the

second selected layer and deletes the first layer.

• LAYOFF. Turns off the layer of the selected object(s).

• LAYON. Turns on all layers.

• LAYTHW. Thaws all layers.

• LAYULK. Unlocks the layer of a selected object.

• LAYUNISO. Turns on layers that were turned off with the last LAYISO

command.

• LAYWALK. Dynamically displays objects on selected layers.

What happened to the CHSPACE Express Tool? 

The CHSPACE tool has been integrated into AutoCAD. CHSPACE allows you to move

objects from paper space to model space, or vice versa, while maintaining the appearance

of the original objects.

What is a Wipeout, and how does it work? 

A Wipeout object is basically the same as an Image object, except that a Wipeout object

takes on the color of your drawing area background and is only 1 pixel by 1 pixel in size.

The WIPEOUT command clips the Wipeout object to the polyline or the selected points

that created it. Because the Wipeout object is the same color as the background, itappears to hide anything that is "behind" it. To control what is "behind" the Wipeout, use

the DRAWORDER command.

Like Image objects, Wipeout objects have frames that can be turned on and off. Youcannot select a Wipeout object on screen, unless the Wipeout frames are turned on. Use

the Frames option in the WIPEOUT command to control the Wipeout frame visibility in

your drawing. This setting is global and controls the visibility of all Wipeouts in your 

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 drawing. The Image frame's visibility has no effect on the Wipeout frame's visibility. To

switch the frames for both Images and Wipeouts, use the TFRAMES command.

I have used TEXTMASK to mask some text, but I have changed my mind. How can

I get rid of the mask? 

Use the TEXTUNMASK command.

When I use WIPEOUT or TEXTMASK with the Wipeout option, it displays on the

screen, but it does not plot correctly. How can I fix this? 

A Wipeout object is like an Image object and has the same requirements when it comes to plotting. If you are having trouble plotting a Wipeout, make sure that your plotter is

capable of printing raster images, and that you are using a raster-capable driver or the

system printer driver.

I have used TEXTMASK or WIPEOUT in paper space to hide objects in modelspace, but the plot does not show this. What can I do? 

Before plotting, make sure that the Plot Paper Space Last option is cleared on the Plot

Settings tab of the Plot dialog box.

I have masked my text with TEXTMASK, but when I move the text, the mask stays

behind. How can I fix this? 

TEXTMASK uses a group to keep the mask object and the text together. This group is

made selectable so that the objects in the group behave as one when they are moved or 

copied. The following situations can affect a group's selectability

• The system variable PICKSTYLE determines the selectability of groups. If this

variable is set to 0 or 2, you cannot select a group by selecting an object within

the group. To allow the group to be selected, set PICKSTYLE to 1 or 3

• If you used the WBLOCK command to write out the masked text, the file will no

longer have the group that held the mask and the text together. The WBLOCK 

and BLOCK commands work this way in relation to groups, and cannot be

changed. Avoid using WBLOCK or BLOCK with masked text objects.

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