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AutoCAD/R14..can I use the middle button pan with it?

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Expert: - 10/25/2004


Question
I just started working for a company who has ACAD R14 but will be upgrading in the new year to come to 2002.  I have been using 2002 previously and would like to have the ability to use the middle mouse button to pan/zoom.  I have seen some of your other answers regarding this and have tries setting the system variable MBUTTONPAN but I can't find that variable listed on the version of R14.  Am I up a creek or is there something I can do to make this work?

I am using an Intellimouse w/ Windows 2000.

Answer
Don't worry.  When you upgrade to AutoCAD 2002, you will have MBUTTONPAN.  It's not there in R14.  In R14, 'RTPAN wasn't convenient because zoom previous would not work right after panning with RTPAN or zooming with RTZOOM.  Your much better off with zoom and pan for now until you upgrade.  By the way - in ACAD 2002, if you ever need to pan an exact amount, -pan will pan the old way.  If you have a 5 button mouse, you might be able to program one of the buttons for an 'rtpan.  You click on "Enable program-specific button settings", Add AutoCAD application, and KEYSTROKE on one of the button windows. Use F12 for the KeyStroke.   In AutoCAD, Customize an accelerator key using CUSTOMIZE, keyboard, zoom toolbar, pan realtime.  For the shorcut key, press F12.
Use the newly configured button to start panning in AutoCAD.
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Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn

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Bill DeShawn

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I can address all 2-D questions and some 3-D questions. I do programming in AutoLISP if it doesn`t involve solid modeling. I can also address menu customization issues and can help you find answers to questions I can`t answer by taking your question directly to Autodesk via their newsgroups.

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I used to do electronic and mechanical design for a flat panel monitor manufacturer, and now I do architectural drafting for an architect. I did and do AutoLISP and menu customization and take pride in making my lisp routines to do the work exactly the way the client likes them done.

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I had a routine published in CADENCE magazine (no longer in publication and taken over by CADALYST). Some of my routines are published on my website at http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn

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