Expert: Bill DeShawn - 11/19/2009

Question
I work for an international corporation Tenaris.  And we work off Citrix.  I use AutoCAD 2008 and mainly 2D.  My question is how can I change the DIMBREAK default from "auto" to "manual".  It get unbearable hitting "M" all the time.  The auto default does not break when crossing arrows.

Thanks, Michael

Answer
You can't make the core command do anything but default to Auto, unfortunately, but you can use LISP to create commands that will do you want.  Load these three routines in your acad2008doc.lsp file.

(defun c:dbr (/ p1)
  (prompt "\nSelect dimension object:  ")
  (setq p1 (grread nil 4 2))
  (command "_.dimbreak" (cadr p1) "r")
  (while (> (getvar "cmdactive") 0) (command pause))
  (princ)
)
(defun c:dba (/ p1)
  (prompt "\nSelect dimension object:  ")
  (setq p1 (grread nil 4 2))
  (command "_.dimbreak" (cadr p1) "a")
  (while (> (getvar "cmdactive") 0) (command pause))
  (princ)
)
(defun c:dbm (/ p1)
  (prompt "\nSelect dimension object:  ")
  (setq p1 (grread nil 4 2))
  (command "_.dimbreak" (cadr p1) "m")
  (while (> (getvar "cmdactive") 0) (command pause))
  (princ)
)
You'll need to reopen your AutoCAD drawing for this to take affect after you add it to ACAD2008doc.lsp.
Type dbr for "restore", dba for "auto", or dbm for Manual.  does not have a "multiple" mode.
You can also load these by saving each of them in their own lisp file.  For example c:dba can be loaded in a text file that you create and name DBA.LSP.
If this is too confusion for you, let me know by using the follow-up option

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Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn