Anyone else use the _track command?

It's something that's just been kept present in all the new versions of
Autocad, I don't know the original version it appeared, at least R12.
It only works once you start a command, and it allows you to move about
the workspace as if you were drawing lines (including using object
snaps.) I find this is much easier to work with than standard Object
Snap Tracking, which interferes too often when you don't need it and
turning it on and off all the time is a hassle.

I finally stopped turning Ortho on and off all the time by using Polar
at 90 degree increments, and only very rarely do I need to turn it off.
No more constant reaching for the function keys!
(Well, there is regular snaps, but I think I will give clicking it off
a go, along with polar.)

So, if you know about it, do you use it?

If you don't, give it a try and let me know your opinions.

 

Tracking first appeared in release 14 and quickly went into hiding
(undocumented) in 2000. I have it right at the top of my osnap menu
(shift+right-click). Couldn't do without it. I also use O-track all the
time. Never used temporary tracking points. Useless.

Pete

 

In a previous post Pete wrote...

Tracking was in Generic Cadd -- you know that DOS based CAD program that
Autodesk bought and killed because it was way better than their top of the
line product.

Anyway, I've been using tracking since the days of GCadd. Couldn't do
without it.

--
Bob Morrison, PE, SE
R L Morrison Engineering Co
Structural & Civil Engineering
Poulsbo WA
bob at rlmorrisonengr dot com

 

What am I missing? I've never been able to figure out how to use the thing!
Is there a less-than-mind-boggling tutorial somewhere?

 

me too.. always hated the damn thing,,,, i think my fingers might move to
fast for it or maybe it actually adds an un-needed step... i dunno

 

I fooled with it this morning, and what it *seems* to do I do with point
filters and those nifty built-in CAL functions...I'll need a testimonial
from some one.

 

As far as I am aware, it locates the intersection of two apparent
orthogonal lines, one from each of two selected points, without having
to draw the lines themselves.

However, it might well be quicker to draw the darned things in the first
place anyway...

Brian.

 

not only othogonal lines, but also lines to the directions of the polar
angle settings (DSettings -> Polar Tracking)


Juergen

 

Cannot find that in R14...

Brian.

 

How'd you get it in that menu??? I would love that! I never saw a way
to customize that snaps menu, but R16 has some major new customization
"improvements" I haven't truly learned.

 

Point filters do that pretty quickly...

 

That's one thing I HAVEN'T been able to grasp.
(Haven't given it my best effort either, honestly)

 

We live in the year 2006 ;-))