Updated AutoCAD Commands and System Variables Reference

Provides a quick guide to which commands are changed in this release.

2019 Updated Commands and System Variables

This lists the updated commands and system variables since AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 2013.

Updated commands Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
ADCENTER Manages and inserts content such as blocks, xrefs, and hatch patterns. Removed the Autodesk Seek button. X X
EXPORT Saves the objects in a drawing to a different file format. Removed the option to export data in FBX file format. X X
IMPORT Imports files of different formats into the current drawing. Removed the option to import data in FBX file format. X X
OPTIONS Customizes the program settings. Removed the Online tab that contained A360 options. X X
Updated system variables Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
SECURELOAD Controls whether executable files are restricted to being loaded from trusted folders only. Created a new system variable, SECUREREMOTEACCESS, that controls remote file access exclusively. X
SORTENTS Controls object sorting in support of draw order for several operations. Removed bitcode 16, sorts for REGEN commands. For performance reasons, and a REGEN now always sorts objects. X X

2018.1 Updated Commands and System Variables

Updated commands Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
MVIEW Creates and controls layout viewports. Two new options for defining and creating layout viewports have been added: New and Named. X X

2018 Updated Commands and System Variables

Updated commands Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
OPTIONS Customizes the program settings. Added an option in the Display tab, Drawing Window Colors dialog box for customizing the orange rubber-band line. X X
SEEK Obsolete. Opens a web browser and displays the BIMobject home page. As of January 2017, Autodesk Seek operations have been transferred to BIMobject AB. X X
EXTERNALREFERENCES Opens the External References palette. The External References palette now allows you to update the paths for attached external references. X X
Updated system variables Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
LAYOUTREGENCTL Specifies how the display list is updated in the Model tab and layout tabs. This system variable has now been added to AutoCAD LT. X X
LTGAPSELECTION Controls whether you can select or snap to the gaps on objects defined with non-continuous linetype. This behavior is now turned on by default. X X
SAVETIME Sets the automatic save interval, which is measured in minutes. To optimize speed, automatic saves are incremental, temporarily overriding the value of ISAVEPERCENT with a value of 90. X X

2017.1 Updated Commands and System Variables

Updated commands Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
TXT2MTXT Converts or combines single-line or multiline text objects into one or more multiline text objects. TXT2MTXT now accepts multiline text objects. Additional options such as spacing, ordering, and text wrap are provided. X X
VISUALSTYLES Creates and modifies visual styles and applies a visual style to a viewport. 3D display performance has been enhanced for the Wireframe, Realistic, and Shaded visual styles, and for custom visual styles that conform to the settings as specified. X
Updated system variables Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
N/A

2017 Updated Commands and System Variables

Updated commands Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
3DORBIT Provides interactive viewing in 3D with the mouse. Right-click to display viewing options. Improved performance and reliability for 3D rendered visual styles, especially for models with a large number of small blocks containing edges and facets. X
3DPRINT Sends a 3D model to Autodesk Print Studio. 3DPRINT used to send 3D model to a 3D printing service. X
DIM Creates multiple types of dimensions within a single command session. The Center Mark option has been removed from the command. Instead, use CENTERMARK to create associative center marks to circles or arcs. X X
IMPORT Imports files of different formats into the current drawing. PDF has been added as a valid file type to import. X X
TEXTEDIT Edits a selected multiline or single-line text object, or the text in a dimension object. Command prompt has been modified and a new Mode option has been added to control whether the command repeats automatically. X X
TIME Displays the date and time statistics of a drawing. Times are now displayed to the nearest second. X X
UNITS Controls the precision and display formats for coordinates, distances, and angles. Added support for US Survey feet when inserting a drawing as a block or attaching it as an xref. X X
Updated system variables Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
CDATE Stores the current date and time in coded decimal format. Stored date and time no longer includes milliseconds. X X
DATE Stores the current date and time in Modified Julian Date format. Stored date and time no longer includes milliseconds. X X
DESIGNFEEDSTATE Obsolete. Indicates whether the Design Feed palette is open or closed. Default value has been changed to 0. X X
HPLAYER Specifies a default layer for new hatches and fills. A currently nonexistent layer can be specified as the default layer for new hatches and fills. X X
INSUNITS Specifies a drawing-units value for automatic scaling of blocks, images, or xrefs when inserted or attached to a drawing. Added support for US Survey feet. X X
LIGHTINGUNITS Specifies the lighting units for the drawing. 0 is no longer a valid value. X  
TRUSTEDPATHS Specifies which folders have permission to load and execute files that contain code. Now implicitly trusts C:\Program Files\ and C:\Program Files (x86)\, including all their subfolders. X  
TDCREATE Stores the local time and date the drawing was created. Stored date and time no longer includes milliseconds. X X
TDINDWG Stores the total editing time, which is the total elapsed time between saves of the current drawing. Stored date and time no longer includes milliseconds. X X
TDUCREATE Stores the universal time and date that the drawing was created. Stored date and time no longer includes milliseconds. X X
TDUPDATE Stores the local time and date of the last update/save. Stored date and time no longer includes milliseconds. X X
TDUSRTIMER Stores the user-elapsed timer. Stored date and time no longer includes milliseconds. X X
TDUUPDATE Stores the universal time and date of the last update or save. Stored date and time no longer includes milliseconds. X X

2016 Updated Commands and System Variables

Updated commands Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
3DORBIT Rotates the view in 3D space, but constrained to horizontal and vertical orbit only. The Realistic visual style maintains the new Exposure setting of the active viewport when orbiting the model. X  
ANIPATH Saves an animation of a camera moving or panning in a 3D model. The Realistic visual style maintains the new Exposure setting of the active viewport when creating an animation. X  
BACKGROUND Defines the type, color, effects and position of the background for a named view. Support for image-based lighting (IBL) was added. X  
DIM Creates multiple types of dimensions within a single command session. In earlier releases, DIM was used to access the Dimensioning mode commands. X X
DISTANTLIGHT Creates a distant light. Generic lighting (LIGHTINGUNITS = 0) is no longer supported.

Light calculations performed by the new renderer might affect the intensity factor you specify when creating a new light.

X  
FREESPOT Creates a free spotlight which is a spotlight without a specified target. Generic lighting (LIGHTINGUNITS = 0) is no longer supported.

Light calculations performed by the new renderer might affect the intensity factor you specify when creating a new light.

X  
FREEWEB Creates a free web light which is a web light without a specified target. Generic lighting (LIGHTINGUNITS = 0) is no longer supported.

Light calculations performed by the new renderer might affect the intensity factor you specify when creating a new light.

X  
OPTIONS, Online tab Obsolete. Sets options for working online with Autodesk A360, and provides access to the design documents that you have stored in your cloud account. Automatic saving to your A360 Drive has been removed. Instead, save or copy the drawing files that you want to upload to your A360 account directly to your local A360 Drive folder. X X
PAGESETUP Controls the page layout, plotting device, paper size, and other settings for each new layout. Render presets created in earlier releases are no longer supported; only render presets created in AutoCAD 2016 are supported. X X
PLOT Plots a drawing to a plotter, printer, or file. Render presets created in earlier releases are no longer supported; only render presets created in AutoCAD 2016 are supported. X X
POINTLIGHT Creates a point light that radiates light in all directions from its location. Generic lighting (LIGHTINGUNITS = 0) is no longer supported.

Light calculations performed by the new renderer might affect the intensity factor you specify when creating a new light.

X  
RENDER

(-RENDER)

Creates a photorealistic or realistically shaded image of a 3D solid or surface model. The render engine was replaced with a new physical based renderer. X  
RENDERENVIRONMENT Displays the Render Environment & Exposure palette. Controls image-based lighting and photographic exposure for a rendered image. Now displays the Render Environment & Exposure palette instead of the Render Environment dialog box. X  
RENDEREXPOSURE Displays the Render Environment & Exposure palette. Controls image-based lighting and photographic exposure for a rendered image. Now displays the Render Environment & Exposure palette instead of the Adjust Rendered Exposure dialog box. X  
RENDERPRESETS

(-RENDERPRESETS)

Displays the Render Presets Manager palette and manages the render presets of a drawing. Now displays the Render Presets Manager palette instead of the Render Presets Manager dialog box.

-RENDERPRESETS doesn't allow you to manage the render presets created in earlier releases; only render presets created in AutoCAD 2016.

X  
RENDERWIN Displays the Render window without starting a rendering operation. Design of the dialog box was revised, and the information shown is related to the new renderer. X  
REVCLOUD Creates a revision cloud. New options for modifying an existing revision cloud and creating rectangular and polygonal revision cloud have been added. Rectangular is the new default revision cloud creation method. X X
RPREF Displays the Render Presets Manager palette and manages the render presets of a drawing. Now displays the Render Presets Manager palette instead of the Advanced Render Presets palette. X  
SECTIONPLANE Creates a section object that acts as a cutting plane through 3D objects and point clouds. A new type of section object, slice, has been added for point cloud objects. X  
SECURITYOPTIONS Controls the security restrictions for running executable files in AutoCAD. Revises and adds security controls. Removes the Digital Signature tab, moving the controls to the new DIGITALSIGN command. X  
SPOTLIGHT Creates a spotlight that emits a directional cone of light. Generic lighting (LIGHTINGUNITS = 0) is no longer supported.

Light calculations performed by the new renderer might affect the intensity factor you specify when creating a new light.

X  
TARGETPOINT Creates a target point light. Generic lighting (LIGHTINGUNITS = 0) is no longer supported.

Light calculations performed by the new renderer might affect the intensity factor you specify when creating a new light.

X  
UCS Sets the origin and orientation of the current user coordinate system (UCS). Support included for point clouds. When hovering over a point cloud, the origin of the UCS is moved to the nearest point of the point cloud object. In a segmented point cloud, the XY axis of the UCS aligns to the XY plane of a planar segment. X X
VIEW Saves and restores named model space views, layout views, and preset views. Support for image-based lighting (IBL) was added. X X
-VPORTS Creates multiple viewports in model space or in a layout (paper space). Render presets created in earlier releases are no longer supported; only render presets created in AutoCAD 2016 are supported. X X
WEBLIGHT Creates a precise 3D representation of the light intensity distribution of a light source. Light calculations performed by the new renderer might affect the intensity factor you specify when creating a new light. X  
Updated system variables Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
3DOSMODE Sets running 3D object snaps. New 3D object snaps are added for working with point clouds: PINT, PEDGE, PPEDGE, PCOR, PCL. X  
RENDERPREFSSTATE Indicates whether the Render Presets Manager palette is open or closed. Now indicates the display of the Render Presets Manager palette instead of the Advanced Render Presets palette. X  
SMOOTHMESHMAXFACE Sets the maximum number of faces permitted for mesh objects. The minimum value has been changed from 1 to 108. X  

2015 Updated Commands and System Variables

Updated commands Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
3DPAN When a drawing is in a Perspective view, starts the interactive 3D view and enables you to drag the view horizontally and vertically. No longer supports isolation of selected objects when panning. X  
ARCHIVE Packages the current sheet set files for storage. Removes the capability for creating EXE files due to security concerns. Files can only be packaged into ZIP files. The ability to add a password has also been removed. X X
ATTACH Inserts references to external files such as other drawings, raster images, and underlays. Removes support for legacy PCG and ISD files. X X
CLIP Crops selected objects such as blocks, external references, images, viewports, and underlays to a specified boundary. No longer supports clipping of point clouds. For point clouds, use POINTCLOUDCROP. X X
DWGCONVERT Converts drawing format version for selected drawing files. Removes the capability for creating EXE files due to security concerns. Files can only be packaged into ZIP files. The ability to add a password has also been removed. X X
ETRANSMIT Packages a set of files for Internet transmission. Removes the capability for creating EXE files due to security concerns. Files can only be packaged into .ZIP files. The ability to add a password has also been removed. X X
GEOGRAPHICLOCATION Assigns geographic location information to a drawing file. Prompts and the dynamic display behavior when specifying the location of the geographic marker and the north direction have changed. X X
GEOREORIENTMARKER Changes the north direction and position of the geographic marker in model space, without changing its latitude and longitude. Prompts and the dynamic display behavior when specifying the location of the geographic marker and the north direction have changed. X X
GRAPHICSCONFIG Provides access to display performance-related options. Now displays the Graphics Performance dialog box. X X
IMAGEADJUST Controls the brightness, contrast, and fade values of images. Enhanced to apply to map images. X X
MTEXT Creates a multiline text object. Adds subscripting and superscripting features, and Caps Lock detection. Enhances options for creating numbered and bulleted lists and automatic text stacking. X X
OPTIONS Customizes the program settings. In the System tab, Balloon Notifications, removes the option to display live update notifications. Live updates are now managed by the Autodesk Application Manager. X X
OVERKILL Removes duplicate or overlapping lines, arcs, and polylines. Also, combines partially overlapping or contiguous ones. Can now be used in the Block Editor. X X
POINTCLOUDATTACH Inserts an indexed rcs (single scan) or rcp (multiple scan project) file from Autodesk ReCap in the current drawing. Removes support for legacy PCG and ISD files. X
PURGE Removes unused items, such as block definitions and layers, from the drawing. Adds support for removing orphaned data such as DGN linestyles. X X
SECURITYOPTIONS Specifies password or digital signature options for a drawing file. No change in this release, but the ability to add a password to a drawing will be removed in the next release of AutoCAD because it does not meet contemporary security standards. You will continue to be able to open password-protected files. X
WELCOMESCREEN Displays the Welcome window when you start the program. Now displays a New Tab.
Note: Obsolete in AutoCAD 2016 and later products.
X X
Updated system variables Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
3DOSMODE Determines which 3D object snaps are enabled. Adds control of 3D object snaps for point clouds. X  
DIMCONTINUEMODE Determines whether the dimension style and layer of a continued or baseline dimension is inherited from the dimension that is being continued. Layer of continued dimension is inherited. X X
FRAME Controls the display of frames for all images, map images, underlays, clipped xrefs, and wipeout objects. Enhanced to apply to map images. X X
IMAGEFRAME Controls whether image frames are displayed and plotted. Enhanced to apply to map images. X X
OSOPTIONS Controls whether objects snaps are suppressed on hatch objects, geometry with negative Z values, or dimension extension lines. End points of dimension extension lines are ignored by default. X X
PICKAUTO Controls automatic windowing for object selection. Adds Lasso (window and crossing) selection, enabled by default. X X
POINTCLOUDAUTOUPDATE Controls whether a legacy point cloud is regenerated automatically after manipulation, panning, zooming, or orbiting. Applies only to legacy (pre-AutoCAD 2015) point cloud objects. X X
POINTCLOUDBOUNDARY Controls whether the point cloud bounding box is displayed. Added an option to display the bounding box only when the point cloud is selected. X X
POINTCLOUDCACHESIZE Specifies amount of memory (in megabytes) that the internal processing engine will use for point clouds. Value can now be changed to an integer expressing a number of megabytes. X X
POINTCLOUDCLIPFRAME Determines whether point cloud clipping boundaries for legacy (PCG, ISD and RCP) point clouds are visible or plotted in the current drawing. Now affects only legacy point clouds. X X
POINTCLOUDDENSITY Controls the percentage of points displayed for all legacy point clouds in the drawing view. Applies only to legacy (pre-AutoCAD 2015) point cloud objects. X X
POINTCLOUDPOINTMAX Sets the maximum number of points that can be displayed for all point clouds attached to the drawing. Default (and maximum) value now 10 million points. Does not affect legacy (pre-AutoCAD 2015) point clouds. X X
POINTCLOUDRTDENSITY Improves performance by degrading the number of points displayed while zooming, panning, or orbiting. Applies only to legacy (pre-AutoCAD 2015) point cloud objects. X X
PREVIEWFILTER Excludes specified object types from selection previewing. Default value changed from 7 to 3. X X
SELECTIONPREVIEWLIMIT Limits the number of objects that can display preview highlighting during a window or crossing selection. Default value changed from 2000 to 20000. X X
SPACESWITCH Controls whether model space can be accessed by double-clicking in a layout viewport. Exposes a previously undocumented system variable that can be useful when annotating in paper space. X  
STARTUP Controls what displays when the application is started, or when a new drawing is opened. Updated to support the New Tab design. X X
STATUSBAR Controls the display of the status bar. The application and drawing status bars are merged. X X

2014 Updated Commands and System Variables

Updated commands Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
ARC Creates an arc. Adds the ability to create arcs in a clockwise direction by holding down the Ctrl key as you drag. X X
CHAMFER Bevels the edges of objects. Now chamfers the first and last segments of an open polyline to create a closed object. X X
CONVERTPSTYLES Converts the current drawing to either named or color-dependent plot styles. Now retains spaces in the names of converted plot styles. X X
DIMBASELINE Creates a linear, angular, or ordinate dimension from the baseline of the previous or selected dimension. By default, the baseline dimension now inherits the style of the dimension that is being continued. This setting is affected by DIMCONTINUEMODE. X X
DIMCONTINUE Creates a dimension that starts from an extension line of a previously created dimension. By default, the continued dimension now inherits the style of the dimension that is being continued. This setting is affected by DIMCONTINUEMODE. X X
EXTERNALREFERENCES Opens the External References palette, which manages external references in the drawing. Adds the ability to convert xrefs between overlays and attachments.

Adds the ability to change a path to be absolute.

X X
FILLET Rounds and fillets the edges of objects. Now fillets the first and last segments of an open polyline to create a closed object. X X
GEOGRAPHICLOCATION Assigns geographic location information to a drawing file. Inserts a GIS coordinate system to the drawing file.

Adds the ability to select a geographic location from an online maps service.

X X
HATCH Fills an enclosed area or selected objects with a hatch pattern, solid fill, or gradient fill. Adds Undo to command prompts. X X
LAYER Manages layers and layer properties. Now uses natural language sorting for the layer list, so that numerals are sorted in order of their values.

Adds the ability to merge selected layers by using the shortcut menu in the Layer Manager.

X X
MTEXT Creates a multiline text object. Annotation scale in the Select Annotation Scale dialog box is set only with a drop-down list (no direct entry). X X
NEWSHEETSET Creates a new sheet set data file that manages drawing layouts, file paths, and project data. The Creation Date (CreateDate) field in a new sheet now reflects the drawing creation date, not the template creation date. X X
POINTCLOUDATTACH Inserts an indexed point cloud file into the current drawing. Inserts additional point cloud formats: RCP and RCS (Created by Autodesk ReCap) X  
PROPERTIES Displays the properties of the selected object or set of objects. Xref-dependent linetypes are no longer displayed in the Preferences window. X X
TEXT Creates a single-line text object. Adds Left to the Justification prompt options. Retains the last used justification during the session. X X
-XREF From the Command prompt, manages external references. Adds Pathtype prompt. X X
Updated system variables Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
ATTDIA Controls whether the INSERT command uses a dialog box for attribute value entry. Default value changed from 0 (off) to 1 (on). X X
CLIPROMPTUPDATE Controls whether the command line displays the messages and prompts generated while an AutoLISP or script file is being executed. Default value changed from 0 (off) to 1 (on). X X
LATITUDE Specifies the latitude of the geographic marker. Now linked to the Latitude setting in the Geographic Location dialog box. X X
LONGITUDE Specifies the longitude of the geographic marker. Now linked to the Latitude setting in the Geographic Location dialog box. X X
NORTHDIRECTION Specifies the angle between the Y axis of WCS and the grid north. Now also available in AutoCAD LT. X X
ONLINESYNCTIME Obsolete. Controls the time interval for synchronizing current customization settings with your Autodesk account. Default value changed from 5 to 300 minutes. X X
SNAPGRIDLEGACY Controls whether the cursor snaps to the snap grid only when an operation is in progress. Now also available in AutoCAD LT. X X

2013 Updated Commands and System Variables

Updated commands Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
ACISOUT Exports solid objects to an ACIS file. Saves SAT files as Version 7.0. X
ADCENTER Manages content. Updated to support Section View and Detail View styles. X X
ARRAY Creates multiple copies of objects in a pattern. Displays contextual tab during array creation. X X
ARRAYEDIT Edits multiple copies of objects in a pattern. Path array automatically calculates the item count based on the item spacing and length of path curve. X X
ATTACH Allows the user to insert various file types as attachments or underlays into a DWG file. Now attaches point clouds files (PCG and ISG). X X
-ATTACH Allows the user to insert various file types as attachments or underlays into a DWG file from the command prompt. Now attaches point clouds files (PCG and ISG). X X
CLIP Allows the user to clip viewports, xrefs, DWF, DWFx and DGN underlays, PDF underlays and point clouds. Now creates clipping boundaries for point clouds. X X
-HATCHEDIT Modifies an existing hatch object from command line. Now allows multiple-hatch selection. X X
LIST Displays property data for selected objects. If the command window is not docked, displays object information in the extended command history. If the command window is docked, information is displayed in the text screen. X X
MLEADER Creates a line that connects annotation to a feature. Now supports strikethrough formatting. X X
MOVE Displaces objects a specified distance in a specified direction. Now supports section view and detail view types. X X
MTEDIT Edits multiline text. Text style drop-down list display changed to show more options. X X
MTEXT Creates multiline text. Text style drop-down list display changed to show more options. X X
POINTCLOUDINDEX Obsolete. Creates a point cloud (PCG or ISD) file from a scan file. Supports additional types of scan files. Removed in AutoCAD 2015. X  
PRESSPULL Dynamically modifies objects by extrusion and offset. Provides additional visual display support for the presspull operation. X  
PURGE Removes unused named items, such as block definitions and layers, from the drawing. Now purges Detail View styles. X X
RENAME Changes the names of objects Now supports purging of Detail View styles. X X
-RENAME Changes the names of objects from command line. Now supports purging of Detail View styles. X X
ROTATE Moves objects about a base point. Now supports rotation of section views and detail views. X X
STYLE Creates named styles. Text style drop-down list display changed to show more options. X X
TABLE Creates an empty table object in a drawing.   X X
TEXT Displays text on screen as it is entered.   X X
TEXTTOFRONT Brings text and dimensions in front of all other objects in the drawing. Now supports leaders. X X
UNDO Reverses the effect of commands.   X X
VIEWBASE Creates a base drawing view from model space or Autodesk Inventor models. Supports the creation of drawing view objects from model space or Inventor models within a layout (paper space). X  
VIEWEDIT Edits an existing drawing view. Supports the editing of drawing view objects regardless of type: base, projected, section and detail views. X  
VIEWPROJ Creates a projected view from an existing drawing view. Now supports section and detail drawing view object types. X  
VIEWSTD Configures the drafting standard used by new drawing views.   X  
VIEWUPDATE Updates selected drawing views that have become out of date because the source model has changed.   X  
Updated system variables Description How changed AutoCAD AutoCAD LT
BINDTYPE Controls how xref names are handled when binding xrefs or editing xrefs in place.   X X
FRAMESELECTION Controls whether the hidden frame of an image, underlay, clipped xref, clipped point cloud, or wipeout can be selected. Wipeout frames are now supported. X X
POINTCLOUDDENSITY Controls the percentage of points displayed at once for all point clouds in the drawing . The system variable value is a percentage of the maximum number of points that can exist in a drawing which is defined by POINTCLOUDPOINTMAX, regardless of the number of point clouds attached to a single drawing. Available for viewing drawings w/point clouds in LT. X X
POINTCLOUDRTDENSITY Controls the percentage of points displayed during real time zoom, pan, and orbit functions. Improves performance by degrading the number of points displayed during zooming, panning, or orbiting in real time. Set this system variable to a value less than the value of POINTCLOUDDENSITY in order to improve performance. X  
SUBOBJSELECTIONMODE Filters the 3D subobject types that are selected with CTRL+click. Adds a value (5) that specifies that only components in a drawing view are available for selection. X  
THUMBSIZE Controls the maximum size of thumbnail preview which can be stored. Now accommodates higher resolutions for thumbnail sizes. X  
XDWGFADECTL Controls the dimming for all DWG xrefs.   X X
XFADECTL Controls the fading intensity percentage for references being edited in-place. Controls the degree of fading when editing a reference in place or when in a view sketching state (editing view-specific geometry). X X
XREFNOTIFY Controls the notification for updated or missing xrefs. Now communicates with the Inventor Server to check for updates to Inventor models placed in Model Documentation views. X X