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You are here: Home / AutoCAD / 5 AutoCAD symbols that might confuse you

5 AutoCAD symbols that might confuse you

July 31, 2012 by Edwin Prakoso 9 Comments

In this Article...

  • Annotation monitor
  • Geo location marker
  • Geometric constraints
  • Selection cycling
  • Hatch gap notification
  • What symbol that confuse you?

Not everyone have time to find out new features in their new AutoCAD software. And sometimes we skip several versions until we use the latest one. It becomes common we find strange symbols and sometimes it doesn’t work as we expected.

Solving a problem

There are several questions that I found frequently asked. Here are the symbols.

Annotation monitor

This is the latest feature that shows symbols on AutoCAD drawings. It is introduced in AutoCAD 2013. Annotation monitor will give you warning when AutoCAD can’t maintain your dimension associative. It will flag the dimensions. When you click the exclamation mark, it will ask you to reassociate or delete the dimension.

annotation monitor flags

Annotation monitor is controlled by ANNOMONITOR system variable. By default, the variable value is -2.

Snipped from help file, -2 means:

Annotation monitor off. However, automatically turns on (sets ANNOMONITOR to 2), when a model documentation edit or update event occurs.

You shouldn’t see the warning if you don’t create 2D drawings from 3D model in AutoCAD. And of course, if you don’t turn on annotation monitor.

If you turned it on accidentally, you can turn it off by clicking annotation monitor at status bar, drafting tools group.

annotation monitor

Geo location marker

geo marker

I don’t remember in which version this symbol is added. The symbol is a geo marker. It will appear only if you defined the geographic location. I usually set this when I want to render using natural sun light. However, there’s nothing you should be worry about. It will not show up when you render the model.

set location

However, if you want to hide it anyway, you can set GEOMARKERVISIBILITY to 0.

By the way, the symbol would appear like below if you set visual styles to 2D wireframe.

geo marker 2D

Geometric constraints

geometric constraints

Geometric constraints might be useful, but not everybody use it yet. Or aware about it.

If you see the symbols like above, then your objects have geometric constraints. You might create constraints automatically if you turned on infer constraints.

Click the button below if you turned it on by accident.

infer constraints

Selection cycling

selection cycling

Selection cycling is a feature introduced in AutoCAD 2011. In very old version, we can cycle between object by holding [ctrl] and click the mouse button. Later, we can cycle by holding [shift] and pressing [space]. Selection cycling is a fancier way to do it.

If you move your pointer above overlapping objects, then you will see the symbol. And if you click it, you will see a list of overlapping objects. You can choose the object you want by selecting from the list.

However, like the other tools, you probably don’t like it. In AutoCAD 2013 I found that it is turned off by default. However, if you want to turn it off, you can click the button below.

selection cycling

Hatch gap notification

hatch gap

If an area has gap, during hatch creation AutoCAD will give you warning and show you the gap. The annoying thing about it is: it doesn’t disappear immediately. After you finish the hatch command, it will still appear.

However, it will disappear after you REGEN the drawing.

What symbol that confuse you?

Do you have the same experience, find a strange symbol and don’t know what it is? Does it make AutoCAD behave strange too? Share with us here!

About Edwin Prakoso

I work as a Solution Consultant in Datech Solutions, Tech Data Indonesia. I've been using AutoCAD since R14 and Revit since Revit Building 9. I occasionally write for AUGIWorld magazine and I am also active in Autodesk discussion forum. I'm a member of Autodesk Expert Elite, an appreciation for individuals who give contributions to the Autodesk community.
Connect with me on twitter or LinkedIn. If you want to have my new articles sent to your email inbox, you can subscribe to the newsletter.

Filed Under: AutoCAD

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Cornelius
Cornelius
1 year ago

I accidentally changed the symbol to abbreviation. I want to undo it but I don’t know how

0
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Therese Valencia
Therese Valencia
7 years ago

I had a annotation monitor problem…thanks for the help. While trying to solve this I managed to lose my command line. How can I get it back?

0
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Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Author
Reply to  Therese Valencia
7 years ago

Have you tried to press CTRL + 9?

0
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Darrell Turner
Darrell Turner
7 years ago

what does this “^” symbol means? In lips and in writing scripts?

0
Reply
Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Author
Reply to  Darrell Turner
7 years ago

Did you mean ^C^C in macro?
It’s a code to press the ESC key twice.

0
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Rich
Rich
7 years ago

In 3D there is a Triangle that appears at the location of circle or connection. What is it? and how to disable or hide with creating other objects.

0
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Tracy Lincoln
Tracy Lincoln
7 years ago

https://www.cad-notes.com/5-autocad-symbols-that-might-confuse-you/

Good article, very helpful for those who are not familiar with these features. One thing I noticed was that your example(s) you have Use Icons set for the Tray Settings, and some people might have this disabled and have, for instance, [AM] displayed for Annotation Monitor.

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tshulbert
tshulbert
11 years ago

We need a list for Civil 3D :)

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Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Reply to  tshulbert
11 years ago

Well, anyone who uses Civil3D care to make that list? ;) unfortunately I don't use it… Edwin Prakoso
cad-notes.com

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