AutoCAD variables
Variables can be saved in the drawing file or in the system, they can affect a single file or all of them.
Here's a collection of the ones I keep watching.
Notice: some variables that keep multiple values use a system by which the single values are added, often based on a binary code, e.g. OSMODE (the variable that keeps the current Osnaps setting) if set to 2^0=1 (endpoint) + 2^2=4 (center) + 2^5=32 (intersection) = 37 will snap to endpoints, centers and intersections.
I personally keep a menu with some variable switches ready for quick access, eg: turn on and off image frames.
| Variable | Sys/dwg | Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| INSUNITS | drawing | 0 to 21 | memorizes the current drawing units (meters, millimeters...) |
| MEASUREMENT | drawing | 0 or 1 | memorizes the current drawing metric (imperial or ISO) |
| FIELDEVAL | drawing | 0 to 31 | when the field has to be updated (opening the file, regenareting, plotting…) |
| UCSFOLLOW | drawing | 0 or 1 | changing UCS rotates the view keeping the axes parallel to the screen (1) just rotates the axes (0) |
| VISRETAIN | drawing | 0 or 1 | resets or remembers modification to Xref's layer states |
| VISRETAINMODE | system | Bitcode | Use this system variable in conjunction with the VISRETAIN system variable to control which xref layer properties you want to automatically sync on reload |
| OFFSETGAPTYPE | system | 0 or 1 | the offset is parallel (0) or constant-distant, with rounded corners (1) |
| PELLIPSE | drawing | 0 or 1 | Creates a true ellipse object (0) or a polyline approximation (1) |
| BACTIONMODE | system | 0 or 1 | in the block editor connects all the actions' icons together or let you move them around, the old way |
| HPLINETYPE | system | 0 or 1 | controls if you can assign any linetype to an hatch or forces it to be continuous |