AutoCAD 2017 for Mac New Feature Summary

The following is an overview of the changes made to AutoCAD 2017 for Mac.

User Interface

• The tool sets have been redesigned for better organization and to provide access to more tools. Choose between full or mini size tool sets. The mini tool set contains the same tools as the full tool set, just in a smaller icon size to take up less room in the drawing area.
• Add custom tool set panels and view the changes in real time.
• A toolbar has been added above the drawing window. This toolbar contains frequently used commands such as New Drawing, Save, Open, Undo, Redo, and Print.
• File tabs have been added which provide an easy way for you to access all the open drawings in the application. Clicking the plus sign (+) on the file tabs bar opens a new drawing based on the specified template file used by the QNEW command.
• Layout tabs have been added to easily switch between the Model and the existing layouts.
• The layer tools have been added to the Properties window for easy access and the Properties window is part of the application frame.
• The Layers palette contains more layer properties.
• The Status Bar has been updated and is now in line with the Model and Layout tabs.
• The command line is anchored at the bottom of the drawing area.
• The Layers and Properties palettes can be docked and undocked as needed.

Touch Bar

Support for the Apple touch bar has been added. While you are using AutoCAD for Mac, the Touch Bar displays icons for function key shortcuts.

Note: Press fn to revert to the standard F1-F12 function keys.

You can customize the touch bar by clicking View menu > Customize Touch Bar.

PDF Import

You can import the geometry, fills, raster images, and TrueType text from a PDF file into the current drawing. The PDF data can come from either an attached PDF in the current drawing, or from any specified PDF file. The precision of the data is limited by the precision of the PDF file and of the supported object types. Some properties such as PDF scale, layers, lineweights, and colors can be preserved.

Primary command: PDFIMPORT

PDF Publish

The Publish dialog is updated with PDF pc3 support. You can now pick one of the five predefined PDF presets when plotting your drawings to PDF. These presets provide a way to quickly set different PDF output options that fit various purposes.

Associative Center Marks and Centerlines

You can create center marks that are associated with arcs and circles, and centerlines that are associated with selected line and polyline segments. For compatibility, this new feature does not replace your current methods, but are provided as an alternative.

Primary commands: CENTERMARK, CENTERLINE

Full Screen

AutoCAD for Mac now supports OSX native Full Screen mode. You can switch to and from Full Screen using Cmd+0. The split view is also supported so you can see AutoCAD side by side with another application.

Miscellaneous Enhancements

• You can now open multiple sessions and view them side by side.
• The visual quality for linetypes has been improved.
• The preview of objects as they're being created, moved, or copied, has been improved.
• The TEXTEDIT command includes a new Mode option (TEXTEDITMODE system variable) to enable you to edit multiple text objects without having to restart the command.
• The HPLAYER system variable has been expanded to allow you to specify a non-existing layer and set it as default for new hatches and fills.
• A new Command filter drop-down is available in the Customize dialog (CUI command) allowing you to show just the custom commands.

License Manager

AutoCAD 2017 for Mac introduces a new License Manager making it easier to change between license types and save your work when a network license loses connection with the License Manager.

Rendering

Rendering is no longer available in AutoCAD for Mac. The A360 online rendering service is available using the RENDERONLINE command.

For more information see Rendering in A360 Help.

Offline Help

Offline Help is no longer part of the installation. This decreases the size of the install package making it quicker to download. Offline Help is available to install separately if you prefer not to use the online Help.