AutoCAD 2004. One Step at a Time (Part 1)

1.9 Extra Steps “ The Active Assistant

Similar in purpose (if not appearance) to Microsoft's Office Assistants, the Active Assistant provides instructions, hints, and help whenever you need it. The initial screen, shown in Figure 1.9a, even explains how to use the Assistant itself!

Figure 1.9a:

This powerful tool works like a good reference book and a good teacher packed into one window. If you ever find yourself lost or unsure of how to proceed, simply look to the Assistant for detailed instructions.

To display the Assistant, select Active Assistant from the Help pull-down menu. This activates it, and it remains active until you turn it off. Note that picking on the X at the right end of the title bar will remove it temporarily from the screen. To get it back, double click on its icon in the system tray ( next to the clock on the Windows taskbar). To turn off the Active Assistant so that it no longer pops up with information, right-click on its icon and select Exit from the popup menu.

While AutoCAD displays the Assistant, you can enter any question you have into the text box at the top. Pick the Ask button when you're ready, and AutoCAD will display a help window with possible answers. AutoCAD will also use the Assistant to display helpful information about procedures you're attempting. (What a handy tool for beginning users!)

Let's take a look at how to control this useful monster!

Begin by right-clicking in the Active Assistant window. AutoCAD presents the cursor menu shown in Figure 1.9b. You'll recognize the first three options presented as options normally found on a web browser or the Windows Explorer. They serve the same navigational purpose here. The Print option allows you to print the information currently displayed in the Active Assistant window. Select the Settings option to see how AutoCAD allows you to control the behavior of the Active Assistant. AutoCAD will present the Active Assistant Settings dialog box (Figure 1.9c).

Figure 1.9b:

Figure 1.9c:

This dialog box presents a check box above a series of radio buttons found in a separate Activation: frame. These buttons control when the Active Assistant will appear and provide its guidance. Let's take a look.

• The Show on start check box controls whether or not AutoCAD will present the Active Assistant when you first open the software. In effect, this allows you to turn it on or leave it off until you need it. Since you're new to AutoCAD, you might place a check in this box for now. If you leave it off, however, you can always activate it as we did at the beginning of this section.

• A bullet next to All commands means that the Active Assistant will provide assistance for all commands given.

• New and enhanced commands restricts the Active Assistant to providing help only for those commands that are new to or have been enhanced for this release. This is a helpful setting for those already familiar with AutoCAD, but not with this release.

• The Dialogs only option means that assistance will appear only for dialog boxes.

• On demand means that the Active Assistant will appear only when you call on it by double-clicking on its icon in the system tray.