SECTIONPLANE (Command)

Creates a section object that acts as a cutting plane through 3D objects, and point
clouds.

Find

Section plane objects create sections of 3D solids, surfaces, meshes, and point clouds.
Use live sectioning with section plane objects to analyze a model, save sections as
blocks for use in layouts, and extract 2D geometry from point clouds.

List of Options
The following options are displayed.

Face or Any Point to Locate Section Line

Specifies a face to establish the plane of the section object.

Alternatively, you can select any point on the screen that is not on a face to
create a section object independent of the solid or surface. The first point
establishes a point around which the section object rotates.

Through point. Sets a second point that defines the plane of the section object.
Draw section

Defines the section object with multiple points to create a section line with jogs.

This option creates a section object in the Section Boundary state with live
sectioning turned off.
Orthographic

Aligns the section object to an orthographic orientation relative to the UCS.

A section object that contains all 3D objects is created with the specified
orientation relative to the UCS (not the current view). This option creates a
section object in the Section Plane state with live sectioning turned on.

Align section to. Sets the position of the section object to align with one of the following
UCS orientations that you specify:
o Front
o Back
o Top
o Bottom
 o Left
o Right
Type
Specifies a plane, slice, boundary or volume as the parameter when creating the section plane.
Once you choose a style, the command reverts back to the first prompt, with the selected type
set as default.
Plane. Allows you to specify a planar segment of a 3D solid, surface, mesh, or point
cloud and place the section plane.

Slice. Allows you to select a planar segment with depth of a 3D solid, surface, mesh or
point cloud to place the section plane.

Note: The slice cannot contain any jogs and the draw selection option is disabled.
Boundary. Allows you to select the boundary of a 3D solid, surface, mesh, or point
cloud and place the section plane.

Volume. Allows you to create a bounded volume section plane.

To Create a Cross Section View
A cross section view is generated by slicing the entire length of the object to be

sectioned.

1. Click Layout tab Create View panel Section drop-down Full.

2. Click the view you want to use as the parent view. The start direction arrow appears at the
cursor.
3. Click in the drawing area to indicate the start point of the section line. The end direction
arrow appears at the cursor.
4. Click in the drawing area to indicate the end point of the section line. A preview of the
section view appears at the cursor.
5. Move the preview to the desired location and click to place the view.
Tip: The preview is constrained to move in a direction perpendicular to the section line.
To relax the constraint, tap SHIFT. To restore the constraint, tap SHIFT again.
6. Click Section View Creation tab Method panel Depth drop-down
Slice. Find
 Note: If you want to include geometry beyond the cutting plane, select Distance and specify
the depth to which you want include details.
7. Click Section View Creation tab Create panel OK.

To Create a 2D or 3D Section
Use this procedure to create a 2D or 3D section. After you draw a section line, you
extract a section from the section line and the objects you select in the building model.

Tip: Before you create a section, thaw and turn on all layers containing objects
that you want to include in the section. Objects on layers that are off or frozen
cannot be part of the selection set for the section. To enhance performance, turn
off the layers of the objects that you do not need to include in the section.
Caution: If you want to insert a 2D section in a Plan view, make sure that the display set
used for the Plan view does not section objects by display range. In that case, the
section result would not be displayed in the Plan view. To make sure that this is not the
case, click Manage tab Style & Display panel Display Manager. Select the Plan
display set for the currently used display configuration. On the Display Options tab,
verify that Section AEC Objects by Display Range defined in Display Configuration is
cleared.
1. Draw a section line in the drawing.
2. Select the section line, and click Building Section Line tab Modify panel Generate
Section.
3. Select the type of section object you want to create:
If you want to create Then
a 2D section select 2D Section/Elevation Object with Hidden Line
Removal.
a 3D section select 3D Section/Elevation Object.
4. For Style to Generate, select a style for a 2D section.

If you want to use a particular style, select it from Style to Generate. Otherwise, use
the Standard style.

3D sections do not use styles.

5. Under Selection Set, click (Select Objects), and select the objects that you want to include
in the section. Press Enter when you finish selecting objects.
 Note: If you select an object that you do not want to include in the section, hold down Shift
and select the object again to remove it from the selection set.
6. Under Display Set, select a display set for the section object.

The display set controls the representation of the section.

7. Under Placement, select New Object, and specify where to place the section:
If you want to Then
specify a location click (Pick Point), and specify the location for the new
graphically section object in the drawing.
specify the coordinates of enter X, Y, and Z coordinates for the location of the new
the insertion point for the section object.
section
8. Click OK.

A 2D or 3D section is created from the section line properties and the selected
objects in the building model. The section is linked to the building model. If you
make changes to the building model after you create the section, you can update the
section to reflect the changes.

You can edit certain characteristics of the section to control its placement and
appearance.

You can also use a 2D section style to control the display of selected objects in a 2D
section, and you can control the display of individual lines in a 2D section.

To Create a Section Object with Jogged

Segments
Create a section object with jogged sections.

A section plane can have multiple or jogged sections. For example, a section containing
a jog is one that cuts away a pie slice-shaped wedge from a cylinder.
Section object with jogged segment

1. Click Home tab Section panel Section Plane. Find

2. At the Command prompt, enter d (Draw Section).
3. Specify the start point of the section object.
4. Specify a second point to create the first jogged segment.

From this point, you cannot create segments that intersect.

5. Continue specifying segment endpoints, then press Enter.

6. Specify a point in the direction of the sectional cut.

A section object with multiple segments is created in a Section Boundary state. Live
sectioning is turned off.

About Section Objects

 Create a section plane that can be modified and moved to achieve the cross section
view that you need.

Section objects act as a cutting planes through solids, surfaces, meshes, or regions.
When live sectioning is turned on, and you move the section object through the 3D
model. the inner details of the 3D objects, across the cutting plane, are shown in real
time. The 3D objects themselves do not change by the introduction of section objects.

Set the Cross-Section with the Section Plane

Indicator
Section objects have a transparent section plane indicator that acts as a cutting plane.
This plane can be moved through a 3D model that is composed of 3D solids, surfaces,
or regions to obtain different section views.

Store Properties in Section Lines

The section plane contains a section line that stores section object properties. You can
create multiple section objects to store different properties. For example, one section
 object can display a hatch pattern at the section plane intersection. Another section
object can display a specific linetype for the boundary of the intersected area.

Analyze the Model with Live Sectioning

With live sectioning, you can dynamically analyze the interior details of 3D objects by
moving and adjusting the section plane. You can specify whether to hide, or cut away,
the portion of the model that is on the viewing side of the section plane indicator.

Save and Share Section Images

After you create a sectional view, you can generate an accurate 2D or 3D block from
the 3D model. These blocks can be analyzed or checked for clearances and
interference conditions. They can also be dimensioned, or used as wireframe or
rendered illustrations in documentation and presentation drawings.

Section Object Properties

Section object properties are changed the same way you change properties of any
other object. For each section object, you can change the name, layer, and linetype.
You can also change the color and transparency of the section plane indicator (the
cutting plane).
About Grips on Section Objects
Section object grips help you move and resize the section object.

Grips allow you to adjust the location, length, width, and height of the cutting area.

Base grip. Acts as the base point for moving, scaling, and rotating the section object. It is
always adjacent to the menu grip.
Second grip. Rotates the section object around the base grip.
Menu grip. Displays a menu of section object states, which control the display of visual
information about the cutting plane.
Direction grip. Controls the viewing direction of the 2D section. To reverse the viewing
direction of the section plane, click the Direction grip.
Arrow grip. Modifies the section object by modifying the shape and position of the section
plane. Only orthogonal movements in the direction of the arrow are permitted. (Section
Boundary and Volume states only.)
Segment end grips. Stretches the vertices of the section plane. You cannot move segment
end grips so that segments intersect. Segment end grips are displayed at the endpoints of
jogged segments. (Section Boundary and Volume states only.)

You can select only one section object grip at a time.

Commands for Creating and Modifying
Section Objects
LIVESECTION (Command)
Turns on live sectioning for a selected section object.

Find

When turned on, the cross sections of 3D objects interesected by the section object are
displayed. Live sectioning only works with objects that were created with
SECTIONPLANE.

The following prompts are displayed.

Select section object

Turns on live sectioning for the section object you select.

PCEXTRACTSECTION (Command)
Generates 2D geometry from a section through a point cloud.
 Find

Extract 2D section geometry from a point cloud that is intersected with a section plane
object.

Note: Live section must be enabled for the section object; the section boundary
determines which points are considered when generating the section geometry from the
point cloud.

The following prompt is displayed.

Select point cloud

Select a point cloud with a section object. The Extract Section Line from Point
Cloud dialog box is displayed.

SECTION (Command)
Uses the intersection of a plane with 3D solids, surfaces, or meshes to create a 2D
region object.

The SECTION command creates a region object that represents a 2D cross section of
3D objects, including 3D solids, surfaces, and meshes.

This method does not have the live sectioning capabilities that are available for section
plane objects that are created using the SECTIONPLANE command.

The following prompts are displayed.

Select objects
 Selects one or more 3D objects. Selecting several objects creates separate
regions for each object.

Specify the first point on the sectioning plane using one of the following methods:

Object
Z Axis
View
XY
YZ
ZX
3points
Object

Aligns the sectioning plane with a circle, ellipse, circular or elliptical arc, 2D
spline, or 2D polyline segment.

Z Axis

Defines the sectioning plane by specifying a point on the sectioning plane and
another point on the Z axis, or normal, of the plane.

Point on the section plane. Sets the first point on the plane.
Point on the Z-axis (normal) of the plane. Specifies a point that defines the axis
that is perpendicular to the plane.
View

Aligns the sectioning plane with the viewing plane of the current view.
XY

Aligns the sectioning plane with the XY plane of the current UCS.

YZ

Aligns the sectioning plane with the YZ plane of the current UCS.

ZX

Aligns the sectioning plane with the ZX plane of the current UCS.

3points

Uses three points to define the sectioning plane:

 SECTIONPLANE (Command)
Creates a section object that acts as a cutting plane through 3D objects, and point
clouds.

Find

Section plane objects create sections of 3D solids, surfaces, meshes, and point clouds.
Use live sectioning with section plane objects to analyze a model, save sections as
blocks for use in layouts, and extract 2D geometry from point clouds.

List of Options
The following options are displayed.

Face or Any Point to Locate Section Line

Specifies a face to establish the plane of the section object.

 Alternatively, you can select any point on the screen that is not on a face to
create a section object independent of the solid or surface. The first point
establishes a point around which the section object rotates.

Through point. Sets a second point that defines the plane of the section object.
Draw section

Defines the section object with multiple points to create a section line with jogs.

This option creates a section object in the Section Boundary state with live
sectioning turned off.

Orthographic

Aligns the section object to an orthographic orientation relative to the UCS.

 A section object that contains all 3D objects is created with the specified
orientation relative to the UCS (not the current view). This option creates a
section object in the Section Plane state with live sectioning turned on.

Align section to. Sets the position of the section object to align with one of the following
UCS orientations that you specify:
o Front
o Back
o Top
o Bottom
o Left
o Right
Type
Specifies a plane, slice, boundary or volume as the parameter when creating the section plane.
Once you choose a style, the command reverts back to the first prompt, with the selected type
set as default.
Plane. Allows you to specify a planar segment of a 3D solid, surface, mesh, or point
cloud and place the section plane.

Slice. Allows you to select a planar segment with depth of a 3D solid, surface, mesh or
point cloud to place the section plane.

Note: The slice cannot contain any jogs and the draw selection option is disabled.
Boundary. Allows you to select the boundary of a 3D solid, surface, mesh, or point
cloud and place the section plane.
 Volume. Allows you to create a bounded volume section plane.

SECTIONPLANEJOG (Command)

Adds a jogged segment to a section object.

Find

You can insert a jog, or angle, into a section object as you create it. The jog is created
on the section line. The jogged segment is created at a 90-degree angle to the section
line.
Note: The SECTIONPLANEJOG command was previously named JOGSECTION.

The following prompts are displayed.

Select section object

Specifies which section line to modify.

Point on the section line to add jog

Specifies the location of the jog.

SECTIONPLANESETTINGS (Command)

Sets display options for a selected section plane.

Find

The Section Settings dialog box is displayed.

 SECTION PLANE TO BLOCK (Command)

Saves selected section planes as 2D or 3D blocks.

Find

The Generate Section /Elevation dialog box is displayed.

About Saving Section Objects as Blocks

or Tools
Save the representation of the cross-sectional area where a section object intersects a
3D model as a block or as a tool palette tool.

Save Sections as Blocks or Drawings

You can save the section objects you create as blocks. Working from the Generate
Section/Elevation dialog box, you can choose the type of block that is created.
 For example, suppose your project requires 2D elevation drawings or 2D cross
sections. The 2D Section / Elevation option creates an accurate block representation
that is ready for dimensioning.

To publish or render a cutaway of the 3D model, select the 3D Section option. 3D

section geometry consists of mostly 3D solids and surfaces. However, profile outlines
and hatch patterns consist of 2D lines.

The display properties of 2D section/elevation blocks and 3D section blocks are

controlled in the Section Settings dialog box.

Save Section Objects as Tools

As with other objects, you can create tools from individual section objects and then
access them in a tool palette when you need them.
 If each of several section objects has its own set of properties, you can save each
section object as a tool. Later, you can quickly create new section objects that use the
same settings.

Related Concepts
About Live Sectioning
About Publishing Section Objects
About Section Objects

About Live Sectioning

Use live sectioning to move a section object through the 3D model or region
dynamically.

What Is Live Sectioning?

Live sectioning is an analytical tool for viewing cut geometry in a 3D solid, surface, or
region.

You can use live sectioning to analyze a model by moving the section object through
the object. For example, sliding the section object through an engine assembly helps
 you visualize its internal components. You can use this method to create a cross section
view that you can save or reuse.

Turn on and Use Live Sectioning

Live sectioning works with 3D objects and regions in model space. When live sectioning
is activated, you can change the viewing planes by using grips to adjust the location of
the section object or its segments.

By turning on cutaway geometry, you can display the entire object that contains the
section plane. This option (available on the shortcut menu) can only be turned on when
section plane is active.

Live sectioning is turned on or off automatically, depending on how you create the
section object. For example, when you select a face to define the section plane, live
sectioning is turned on. When you create sections using the Draw Section option of the
SECTIONPLANE command, live sectioning is turned off. Live sectioning can be
manually turned on or off after a section object is created.

A drawing can contain multiple section objects. However, live sectioning can only be
active for one section object at a time. Suppose that your model has two sections
objects: Section A and Section B. If Section A has live sectioning turned on and you
activate live sectioning forSection B, live sectioning for Section A is automatically turned
off.

Turning off a section object layer does not turn off live sectioning. However, freezing the
layer turns off live sectioning.
 About Publishing Section Objects
Control the visibility of section objects when you render, plot, or view them in the DWF
file viewer.

Render Section Objects

With live sectioning turned on, all lines on a section object are rendered as 2D lines.
The section plane indicator is rendered as a transparent material. Its degree of
transparency is controlled in the Properties palette.

If you want to render a 3D cutaway, save the cutaway section as a 3D block and render
the block reference.

Plot Section Objects

When a section object is in a Section Boundary or Section Volume state, displayed lines
cannot be plotted. The section plane indicator is plotted as if it were transparent.
However, it does not have the same visual quality that it has when it is rendered.

If you do not want to plot the section line, place the section object on a layer that is
turned off.

View Section Objects in the DWF file viewer

When live sectioning is active for a section object, the 3D model is displayed in the
Autodesk Design Review with the best possible visual quality. Geometry that is hidden
by live sectioning is also hidden in the viewer.

Display settings for live sections have the same appearance in the viewer as they have
in the drawing. For example, dashed linetypes and hatch patterns assigned to
intersected areas of a 3D model are retained in the Design Review display.
 The section object is not visible in Design Review.

Related Concepts
About Section Objects

Related Reference

To Create a Section Object on a Preset

Orthographic Plane

Create section objects that are aligned to a specified orthographic orientation of the
current UCS

You can align section objects to a specified orthographic orientation of the current UCS,
such as front, back, bottom, top, left, or right.

1. Click Home tab Section panel Section Plane. Find

2. At the Command prompt, enter o (Orthographic).
3. Select an alignment option.

The new section object intersects the center point of the 3D extents of all 3D objects in
the drawing. It is placed on the selected orthographic plane. Live sectioning is turned
on.
To Create a Section Object by Selecting
a Face
Create a section object that is aligned to a 3D face

Section object aligned to face

1. Click Home tab Section panel Section Plane. Find

2. Click to select a face on your model.

A section object is created on the plane of the selected face.

3. Click the section line to display its grips.

4. Select a grip to move the section plane through the 3D object.

A section object is created in the Section Plane state. Live sectioning is turned on.

To Create a Section Object by Specifying

Two Points
Create a straight cutting plane.
1. Click Home tab Section panel Section Plane. Find
2. Specify the first point of the section object.
3. Specify the endpoint.

The section object is created between the two points. Live sectioning is turned off.

Slicing a Model to Peer Inside

In SketchUp, section planes cut a model along a plane so that you can peer
inside the model without moving or hiding any geometry. In a 3D model, an
active section plane hides everything on one side of the plane, as shown in the
following figure.
You can use section planes for all types of applications:

Cut a building horizontally to see the floor plan. In architectural drawing, this
two-dimensional top-down cut is called a planimetric view.
Cut a building vertically to see inside the rooms of several floors at
once. This type of cut is called asectional view (not to be confused with
SketchUps section planes).

Tip: To create a planimetric view like an architect, place the section plane 48 inches
above the floors surface. This placement usually enables you to see windows and
doors in the slice without cutting through countertops or furniture. To create a sectional
view, dont cut through columns, because theyll look like walls instead of objects that
people can walk around; do cut through stairs or elevators, because this shows how
people move through the building.

Autocad 3D section plane

Once a 3d model has been created in Autocad, you may wish to view various cross-
sections of the model. We demonstrate how in our Autocad 3D training courses.

A simple example of the section plane functionality would be a through a simple box
and cylinder as shown here. Create a box either using the Box tool in Autocads 3D
interface, or draw the base with the standard 2D Rectangle tool, then use the Extrude
tool to project the height upwards in the direction of the Z-axis. For example, 200 x 100
x 20mm. Next draw a diagonal construction line, as shown here. On the midpoint of the
line create a Cylinder R30 and height 100.
Its best to have these simple shapes joined as one unit. Therefore go to the Home tab
and choose the Union tool from the Solid Editing tab, then select both items and hit the
Enter key. Next go to the Top View and choose Ortho from the Status bar (or F8) to
draw orthogonally.
Return to the Home tab and choose Section Plane. If using a version of Autocad pre-
2009 go to Draw > Modeling and choose Section Plane. Now click to the right of the
object, click above and below the object, thus creates the Section Plane. Click the Live
Section panel at the right of the tab, and move the Plane with the Arrowhead. You can
also flip this to the other side by clicking the smaller arrow. You can also select the
Plane and right-click to Generate a 2D section or a 3D object. Hit Enter three times
to complete the command. Delete the Plane to return to the full object, or click off the
Live Section tool.
The 3d interface in Autocad is user-friendly and easy to learn, and we take time to
teach a broad range of applications in our classes including modeling, materials, lighting
and animation. See many examples of our clients work on ourFacebook page. For more
information there are lots of resources on the web, but try the Autodesk site to begin
with:www.autodesk.com. Support options and user forums are also available from the
home page.

Whats new in AutoCAD 2013: Create

section and detail views

Do you remember in AutoCAD 2012, Autodesk add functionality to create 2D drawings

from 3D models in AutoCAD. In 2013, Autodesk decide to enhance this functionality
further.

In AutoCAD 2013, now you can create not only base and projected view, but you can
also create section and detail views.

If you have 3D model in model space, you can create base view by accessing the tool
from layout tab. Yes, Autodesk moved these tools to layout tab. They were in annotation
tab before.

Remember, you need to place the views in layout. You may activate base view tool in
model space, but it will place views in layout anyway.
You are here: Home / Archive / Whats new in AutoCAD 2013: Create section and detail views

Whats new in AutoCAD 2013: Create

section and detail views
May 7, 2012 by Edwin Prakoso 9 Comments

Do you remember in AutoCAD 2012, Autodesk add functionality to create 2D drawings from
3D models in AutoCAD. In 2013, Autodesk decide to enhance this functionality further.

In AutoCAD 2013, now you can create not only base and projected view, but you can also create
section and detail views.

If you have 3D model in model space, you can create base view by accessing the tool from
layout tab. Yes, Autodesk moved these tools to layout tab. They were in annotation tab before.

Remember, you need to place the views in layout. You may activate base view tool in model
space, but it will place views in layout anyway.

Base and projected view are already included in 2012. If you see in create view panel, you can
also see section and detail view tools here.

There are several options to create section, from predefined to creating your own using object
(polyline).
 You can create circular or rectangular detail view easily too. I dont know if this true, but I feel
creating views in AutoCAD 2013 is much faster than in 2012.

View styles
Related to these views, AutoCAD now has new styles: section and detail view styles. You can
select the style from dropdown menu, or click the buttons on the left to modify the styles.

Section view style

Section view style allows you to control the identifier, arrow, etc. How the section symbol and
how the section appears.

If you are already familiar with dimension style, this should be easy for you to configure.
Detail view style
Pretty similar with section view style, this style allows you to control the appearance of detail
identifier and the detail itself.
Annotation Monitor
Annotation monitor is a tool that monitor the annotation in views. Annotations like dimensions
should be associated to geometries in your views. If any changes happen, they will automatically
to adjust with the new size. However, if the association cant be maintained, this monitor will
give you a notification bubble. You can also see the warning on drawing where the association is
broken.

Conclusion
This tool is very useful for many users, especially for you who work in manufacturing industry.
However, I feel Autodesk is supposed to add this features in AutoCAD 2012. Probably they
dont have enough time to develop this before. Just like Inventor files translator, they have the
technology, but implement it just now.
 This is a guest post from Lee Ambrosius, who was my co-author for the AutoCAD 2015 and AutoCAD 2015
LT Bible. As you can tell from the photo, hes a runner even in some pretty cold Wisconsin weather! Lee is
both an Autodesk Authorized Developer and Authorized Author. Hes also the author of the
upcoming AutoCAD Platform Customization, His website is hyperpics.com

AutoCAD 2016 is the latest in a long line of AutoCAD releases that dates back over 30 years ago. The latest
release offers a number of changes that improve 2D drafting operations, rendering 3D models, and much
more.

There is a lot to cover, so Lee suggested that we split it up. In Part 1 we started with changes to the user
interface and 2D drafting. Part 2 covered annotation and external file changes. Here in Part 3, we talk about
new 3D and CAD management features.

3D Modeling and visualization enhancements

Point clouds received a number of updates that make them even more functional when used to create as-built
designs, while rendering has been simplified to make it easier to create realistic looking models. The point
cloud and 3D changes include the ability to:

1. Convert a section plane to support the slicing of an object

2. Manipulate and manage point clouds in new ways that were not previously possible
3. Render drawings using photographic and environmental lighting

1. Slice 3D objects with a section plane

The section plane object now can be used as a cutting plane for 3D objects and now point clouds. After a
section plane has been created, its type can be set to the new Slice type which allows you to cut a 3D
object or point cloud based on a front and back clipping plane.

In addition to the new Slice option for the section plane

object, additional tools have been made available on the ribbon when a section plane object is selected. The
new Generate Section Block drop-down menu allows you to not only create a block based on the objects visible
when Live Section is active but it can also be used to extract section lines.

2. Modify and manage point clouds

Many changes have been made to point clouds in AutoCAD 2016, making them much easier to modify and
manage. The following is an overview of the changes made:

Section views of a point cloud can now be created with the Section Plane object and section lines can
be extracted to create 2D objects.
Transparency can be set and adjusted on a per point cloud basis.
 Dynamic UCS can be used with a point cloud that contains segmentation data.
Additional object snaps have bene added to make it easier to snap to points within a point cloud.
Named crop states can be used to save the display of an area within a point cloud and then later
restore is display as needed.
The Point Cloud Manager allows for the display of regions and scans of a point cloud.

3. Render 3D objects

A new rendering engine has been introduced that makes it easier to render both indoor and outdoor scenes.
With fewer settings to learn and understand, you can focus more on the placement of lights and defining the
materials you need to give your 3D models a realistic appearance. The following is an overview of the changes
made:

All lights are treated as photometric lighting when rendering; generic lights are maintained only for
backwards compatibility.
Image-based lighting (IBL) can be used to apply global illumination across an entire rendered scene.
IBL can be set with the Render Environment & Settings palette (RENDERENVIRONMENT command).
An IBL mapping image can be used as the background of a viewport.
New render settings are used to control the quality of a rendered image. You can save and restore
render settings with the Render Presets Manager palette (RENDERPRESETS command).
Photographic exposure can be applied to a rendered image to brighten or dark the overall image, or
you can also adjust the lighting to be warmer or cooler in color. The exposure settings of a rendered
image can be set with the Render Environment & Settings palette (RENDERENVIRONMENT command).

Security and CAD Management

Several improvements have been made to secure the AutoCAD program from malicious programs and make
deploying the program easier. These changes include:

1. Support for digital signed executable files

2. Monitor of system variables
3. Deployment of a single service pack

1. Load Signed Executable Files

Starting with AutoCAD 2013 SP1, many changes have been made to the AutoCAD program to improve security
by making it easier to enforce which custom programs can be loaded. In previous releases, all custom
programs had to be placed in trusted locations to identify that they are safe to be loaded into the program.
AutoCAD 2016 still supports trusted locations, but now also supports the ability to load digitally signed
custom program files. Digitally signed files can be loaded without the same series of warnings that occur when
loading custom programs file a location that is not designated as trusted.

These type of custom program files can be digitally signed:

AutoLISP FAS, LSP, MNL, and VLX

Managed .NET DLL
ObjectARX ARX, CRX, and DBX

For information on how to digitally sign a custom program file, see the AutoCAD Help system.

In addition to supporting digital signatures, the Security Options dialog box in the Options dialog box can be
used to adjust the security level the AutoCAD program should operate under along with whether
the acad.lsp should beautomatically loaded.
2. Monitor changes to system variables

Unexpected changes to system variables can cause potential problems when creating and modifying objects in
a drawing. You can use the System Variable Monitor (SYSVARMON command and SYSMON system variable) to
be notified when the value of a system variable is changed. This can be helpful in catching potential problems
before they ever occur after running a custom program that doesnt end correctly.

3. Deploy service packs

Earlier releases of AutoCAD and AutoCAD-based vertical programs required a different service pack for each
installed program. Service packs developed for AutoCAD 2016 can be installed for any AutoCAD 2016-based
vertical product. This change makes it easier to deploy updates without waiting for the development of a
service pack for each AutoCAD-based vertical product.

Miscellaneous changes
In addition to the previously mentioned changes, there are some additional changes that are worth mentioning
that were introduced in this release. These changes are

Selection Effect (Preview) Color. The highlight color applied to objects after they have been
selected can be customized. To change the color used, display the Options dialog box and go to the
Selection tab. On the Selection tab, in the Selection Modes area, select a new color from the Selection
Effect Color drop-down list.
Plot Dialog Box. By default, the Plot dialog box is not expanded when initially opened. You can still
collapse the dialog box if desired.
Point cloud object snaps. New 3D object snaps were added to make working with point clouds
easier. You can now snap to the calculated Intersection, Edge, Corner, or Centerline of a point cloud.
 The Perpendicular object snap has also been enhanced to now support snapping to the calculated
edge or plane of a point cloud. The new 3D object snaps can be accessed from the
Drafting Settings dialog box (DSETTINGS command) and the 3D ObjectSnap submenu on the Object
Snaps contextual menu.
High Quality Geometry. Hardware acceleration can be used to improve the appearance of curves,
objects with lineweights, and the anti-aliasing of objects in general when the 2D Wireframe visual
style is current. To enable this setting, right-click the Hardware Acceleration icon on the status bar,
and choose Graphics Performance. In the Graphics Performance dialog box, enable Hardware
Acceleration, and check High Quality Geometry (for Capable Device).
Cursor Badge Control. Cursor badges were introduced in AutoCAD 2015 to give visual feedback
as to what operation might occur when the object is selected. With AutoCAD 2016, you can control
whether cursor badges are displayed in the drawing area using the CURSORBADGE system variable.

This is the 3rd of 3 posts on new features in AutoCAD 2016. Whats your verdict? Leave a comment and share
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