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Autocad 2013

This release of AutoCAD, codenamed "Jaws" was released March 27, 2012.

This is the 27th version of AutoCAD.

Previous AutoCAD version AutoCAD 2012 and newer version AutoCAD 2014. 

New and/or enhanced functions

New and/or enhanced functions

File format

New file format "AutoCAD 2013 Drawing" is used.

AutoCAD 2013 introduces a new file format that includes changes to the thumbnail preview file format, as well as new controls for graphics caching.
Thumbnail previews in the new AutoCAD 2013 DWG file format are now stored as PNG images, providing higher-quality thumbnail previews in a smaller file size. Image resolution is still controlled by the THUMBSIZE system variable. However, the maximum valid value has increased from 2 to 8. If you do not wish to include thumbnail previews in the drawing you can still use the RASTERPREVIEW system variable (or the new THUMBSAVE) to disable them. Note that only 3D drawings make use of a larger thumbnail. The UPDDATETHUMBSNOW and UPDATETHUMBNAIL system variables are no longer needed and have been removed from AutoCAD 2013.

When you save a drawing containing 3D Solids in the new AutoCAD 2013 file format, a graphics cache file is automatically stored in a folder named “GraphicsCache” under your user app data folder. Two new system variables, CACHEMAXTOTALSIZE and CACHEMAXFILES, enable you manage the cache files.

Command Line Enhancements

The command line has been enhanced. Color and transparency can be changed. It works better as undocked and can be made smaller. It features a semi-transparent prompt history that can display up to 50 lines.

Hatch Editor

Editing multiple hatch objects can now be done using the contextual
Hatch Editor ribbon tab.

Array Enhancements

Several enhancements, ease of use and new grips.

In?Canvas Property Preview

When selecting objects and making changes of properties like color and transparency a preview is seen directly in the drawing.

Layout and Model Viewports

The viewports panel on the ribbon is renamed to be specific to Model Viewports or Layout Viewports. Model Viewports are accessible from the View ribbon tab and are relevant when creating viewports in model space. Standard model space viewport configurations are easily accessible from a drop-down menu. Layout Viewports are accessible from the Layout ribbon tab and are relevant when creating viewports
on a layout.

Point Cloud Support

Attach and manage point cloud files in same way as with xrefs, images, and other externally referenced files.

The Attach Point Cloud dialog box has been updated to provide a preview image and detailed information about the selected point cloud.

There is a new contextual Point Cloud ribbon tab appears with all the necessary Point Cloud tools when a Point Cloud is selected.

A new bounding box appears when you select a point cloud (making it easier to visualize its position in 3D space).

If intensity data is included, you can use the analysis tools to view point intensity with different color schemes.

Point Clouds can be clipped. Additional options enable you to specify whether the bounding box is displayed and provide easy access to the External References manager.

The Properties palette is updated to include new point cloud properties such as intensity and clipping.

Point cloud indexing is significantly enhanced in AutoCAD 2013 to provide a smoother and more efficient workflow when working with raw scan files. You can index scan files from major industrial scanner companies, including Leica and Topcon in addition to Faro.

The new Create Point Cloud File dialog box provides an intuitive and flexible interface to select and index raw point scan files. You can select multiple files to batch index and even merge them into a single point cloud file. When creating PCG files, you can specify various Index settings, including RGB, Intensity, normals, and custom attributes.

When you save from AutoCAD 2013 to an older version DWGTM file, a message alerts you that the attached PCG file will be re-indexed and degraded to be compatible with the previous version of the drawing file format. The new file is renamed to a corresponding incremental file name.

PressPull

PressPull is more flexible and context sensitive. Use PressPull on multiple objects at one time. PressPull can select 2D and 3D curves (not just inside a bounded area).

You can use the new Multiple option or the Shift key to press or pull multiple objects in a single operation.

When selecting a face with the Presspull tool, the default behavior extrudes the face straight out. If you press the Ctrl key when you select a planar face, you can offset it as it extrudes to follow the taper angles of adjacent sides.

Strike-through Text

Strike-through style is available for Mtext, Mleaders, Dimensions and Tables.

Font Lists

The number of display rows for the Font drop-down list has been increased in the Text Style dialog, the Text Editor ribbon tab, and the ArcAlignedText dialog.

Bring Leaders to the Front

Leaders are now included with the TextToFront tool.

The Mleader text box has been updated to include a margin between the text and the frame and to provide a minimum width for the mtext in order to prevent text overflow.

Wipeout Frame

Control displaying but not plotting the wipeout frame with the new WIPEOUTFRAME system variable.

Reverse Polyline Widths

The new PLINEREVERSEWIDTHS system variable allow more control when using the REVERSE tool to ensure the results you want.

Offset Preview

When using the Offset command, a preview of the offset result is automatically displayed before ending the command.

Snap Behavior

A new Legacy option in the Snap tool offers increased flexibility when snapping to grid points. If Snap Legacy mode is set to yes, the cursor snaps based on the snap spacing, regardless of whether you’re in a command, specifying points, or selecting objects.
When Legacy is set to no, the cursor snaps based on the snap spacing only when specifying points within a command. The snap spacing is ignored when no command is active and when selecting objects within a command.

External References

External Reference functionality has been updated. Now you can edit the Saved Path directly in the External References palette and the Found path is displayed as read-only. The right-click menu includes some additional updates. In the dialog boxes, the default type is set to Relative Path unless the relative path is not available—for example, if the drawing has not yet been saved or the host drawing and external file are located in different disk partitions.

Export Layout

The Export Layout to Model tool has been updated so when you export a layout with drawing views containing circular objects, those objects are represented in the exported drawing as circles and arcs instead of polylines.

Double-click Actions

In the Customize User Interface dialog box, the double-click action for dimension objects has been updated to launch TEXTEDIT rather than the alias TEDIT.

Inventor Import

Inventor Fusion makes it possible to import and edit Inventor models.

Surface Curve Extraction

Extract Isolines tool is new on the Surface ribbon tab.

Extract isoline curves from an existing surface or face of a solid.

The direction of the isolines can be changed, select a chain or draw a spline on the curved surface.

Autodesk Exchange Apps

Apps on Autodesk Exchange can now be accessed from any web browser.

http://apps.exchange.autodesk.com is the URL.

Cloud Connectivity

Online Documents: Autodesk 360, Online Options, Open On Mobile, Upload Multiple

Customization Sync: Sync my Settings, Choose Settings

Share & Collaborate: Share Document, Collaborate Now

In AutoCAD 2013 you can easily connect to your Autodesk 360 account for file sharing, customized file syncing, and more. Sign in directly from the InfoCenter toolbar using your Autodesk single sign-on name and password. If you do not yet have an account, you can create one.

After signing in, your user name and additional tools are displayed in the drop-down menu, including the option to sync your settings with the cloud, specify online options, access Autodesk 360, sign out, and manage account details.

The first time you access Autodesk 360, you have the opportunity to specify default cloud settings to control when your design data and custom settings are synced with the cloud. You can choose to automatically store encrypted copies of your local design data in your Autodesk 360 account each time you save, or save only specified documents. In either case, you can override the default behavior for individual drawings. When you upload drawings directly from AutoCAD to Autodesk 360, external references and other dependent files are automatically included with the upload.
You can also choose to automatically sync your program appearance, profiles, workspaces, options, and support files so that you can restore them on any computer. If you wish to modify the default cloud settings after closing the dialog box, you can access them via Online Options in the drop-down menu and the Online ribbon tab.
Additional tools for working with Autodesk 360 functionality are available in the Online ribbon tab.

The new Autodesk 360 tool opens your Autodesk 360 documents list and folders in a browser. If you are not already logged in, you’re prompted to do so.
Your Autodesk 360 documents are also available from many Select File dialog boxes throughout AutoCAD. For example, when you open, save, or attach a file, you can access Autodesk 360 directly from the Places list on the left side of the dialog box.

The Online Options tool provides easy access to the Online tab in the Options dialog box where you can monitor your online storage capacity and control interaction with cloud documents and customization synchronization. An option in the lower left corner of the dialog box enables you to specify the cloud folder in which you want your drawings to be saved.

The Open on Mobile tool sends a push notification to any mobile device that has AutoCAD® WS software installed and where you are signed in with the same Autodesk ID. The push notification will enable you to open up the current drawing on your mobile without having to browse to the file or open AutoCAD WS first.

The Upload Multiple tool enables you to browse and select multiple drawings to upload to your Autodesk 360 documents.

Customization synchronization enables you to take advantage of your custom AutoCAD preferences and support files even when you work across multiple machines.

The Sync my Settings tool enables you to start and stop syncing of your custom settings. If you stop syncing your custom settings, your online settings are preserved but no longer updated.

If you choose to sync your settings, AutoCAD compares your local settings with your cloud settings and prompts you to choose whether you want to use your local settings, in which case it will upload them to the cloud, or your online settings, in which case it will download them from the cloud.

Bubble notifications indicate when settings are being uploaded to or downloaded from the cloud.

Use the Choose Settings tool to specify which settings to include in customization sync. These can include: options; customization files; printer support files; custom hatch patterns; custom fonts, shapes, and linetypes; tool palettes; and drawing templates.

The Options setting includes almost all the controls in the Options dialog box.
· The Customization setting includes .cuix, mnu, workspace files, and more.
· The Printer support files setting includes copies of printer support files such as .pc3, ctb, and .stb files.
· The Custom hatch pattern setting includes your custom hatch pattern files.
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· The Tool Palettes setting includes tool palette files and groups (.atc, .aws).
· The Custom fonts, shapes, and linetypes setting requires the AutoCAD application to be restarted.
When you make changes to your customization settings with synchronization enabled, a bubble notification in the upper right corner notifies you that the changes are being uploaded.

When you sign out of Autodesk 360, a dialog box enables you to choose if you want to keep your custom settings or restore the previous settings.

Use the Share Document tool to easily share the current drawing with other users. If the current drawing is saved locally only, a copy of the drawing is uploaded to the cloud and shared. If an online copy of the drawing already exists, then it is shared. You can control the access level of shared documents.

The Collaborate Now tool will launch AutoCAD WS in the user’s default browser and initiate a collaboration session with another WS user.

The CAD Manager Control Utility is updated to include controls for Autodesk 360. You can install the CAD Manager Control Utility from the Install Tools & Utilities option of the AutoCAD Installer. The new Online tab in the CAD Manager Control Utility enables CAD managers to control their users’ access to Autodesk 360 documents and customization synchronization.

Render Online

New Online Rendering tools enable you to render your 3D AutoCAD models in the cloud using the Autodesk rendering service. Materials are assigned, lights and the environment are set up, and you are ready to create a high-res rendering of four different views of the model. The views are sent to the cloud for rendering while you continue to work on your computer; you’re notified when the renderings are ready.
Browse your online render gallery.
You can access the Online Rendering tools from the Render ribbon tab.

Content Explorer

The AutoCAD® Content Explorer functionality, which is accessible from the Plug-ins ribbon tab, has been updated in AutoCAD 2013. New capabilities include basic indexing support (file name, date created, etc.) for many more file types. Any file that can be opened, imported, and attached using AutoCAD is now included in the index and will be returned as search results. For example, you can search for raster images and PDF files by name and then attach them to the open drawing. The filter dialog enables you to choose which file types to include in your search.

The search algorithms have also been improved to support more intuitive search input—especially for wildcard (*) searches. These improvements help produce more accurate search results. Many of these improvements were added in response to feedback from customers and tested against their examples.
In AutoCAD 2012, you were able to connect to server machines that had the Content Service installed, in order to quickly search for files/objects across large library folders. This connection capability has been extended in AutoCAD 2013 to include ANY computer that has the Content Service installed. Therefore, you can connect to your colleague’s watched folders and search their content for peer-to-peer file and object sharing—but only if they’ve explicitly granted access to the folder (Windows®-based security and firewall security still apply).

Language Packs

New Language Packs in AutoCAD 2013 help simplify the process of downloading and using multiple languages in AutoCAD. Now, rather than installing a full version of AutoCAD for each language, you install one full product and then add subsequent languages via Language Packs, resulting in smaller download and install time and space for the secondary languages.
You can download Language Packs from the Help menu in the upper right corner of the application.
A launch icon and menu item for each installed Language Pack is added to the Windows desktop and Start menu.
Language switching is performed with the undocumented parameter or command line switch "/language" for acad.exe.

Languages available for AutoCAD 2013: English, Brazilian Portuguese, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish and Traditional Chinese.

Model Documentation

Detail Views and Section Views has been added.

It is now possible to select what objects to include in the model documentation.

Dimensions added to the drawing views (with the model documentation tools) are associative.

The Base View tool includes a new Select option that enables you to specify which 3D objects are represented in the base view. The Select option is also available when editing the base view after it’s been created. When using the Select option, AutoCAD temporarily switches to model space, enabling you to add or remove objects for the base view selection set.

You can also start in Model Space and select the objects for which you want to create a view. Then, using the Base View tool, choose From Model Space. You can specify the name of an existing layout or enter a new layout name. AutoCAD automatically creates the new layout if necessary and makes it active.

When you create drawing views using the model documentation tools in AutoCAD, relevant layers with an MD_ prefix are automatically added to the drawing. If you rename the layers or change layer properties, those changes are automatically applied to existing as well as subsequent drawing views created in the same drawing.

Create a section view from an existing drawing view by picking points to define the section line. A context-sensitive ribbon tab provides easy access to Section View Creation tools, including depth and hatch controls.

A section identifier is automatically applied and incremented as you create subsequent section views, or you can override it with your own identifier. You can also choose to display a view label identifying the section and scale.

You can control whether individual model components participate in the section using the Edit Components tool on the Layout ribbon tab. If the selected components are set to None, the components display without being sectioned. The participation of components is passed to child views projected from the section view.

You can also specify if the section view should include the full depth or just a slice.

The appearance of the section view label is determined by the Section View Style tool, which is accessible from the Model Documentation ribbon tab. You can select from predefined Section View Styles or define your own using the Section View Style Manager.

In the Section View Style Manager, you can create new section view styles as well as modify or delete existing ones.

When creating or modifying a section view style you have access to a variety of controls to specify the appearance of the section identifier and arrows, cutting plane, view label, and hatch.

You can easily modify a section view after it’s been created. Multifunctional grips on the section line enable you to move the section line, add and remove vertices, flip the direction, and reposition the identifiers.
Grips on the section view and section view label enable you to modify the view position or scale as well as change the label location, width, and height. If the section view includes hatches, you can edit properties of the hatch pattern using a multifunctional grip. It still remains associated with the section view.

Additional editing tools are available in the Section View Editor, which is accessible from the right-click menu and the ribbon tab (Edit View/VIEWEDIT button) when a section view is selected.

Create detail views from existing drawing views. A context-sensitive ribbon tab provides easy access to Detail View Creation tools, which enable you to specify a circular or rectangular boundary, control whether the boundary is displayed, and choose smooth or jagged edges.
A detail identifier is automatically applied and incremented as you create subsequent detail views, or you can override it with your own identifier. A view label identifying the detail view and scale is automatically inserted.

The appearance of the detail view label is determined by the Detail View Style tool, which is accessible from the Model Documentation ribbon tab. You can select from predefined detail view styles or define your own using the Detail View Style Manager.

In the Detail View Style Manager, you can create new detail view styles as well as modify or delete existing ones.
When creating or modifying a detail view style you can specify a variety of options to control the detail boundary, view label, and detail view.

You can easily modify a detail view after it’s been created. Grips on the detail symbol enable you to modify the position of the boundary and the identifier.
Grips on the detail view and detail view label enable you to modify the view position or scale as well as change the label location, width, and height.

Additional editing tools are available in the Detail View Editor, which you can access via the right-click menu and ribbon tab when a detail view is selected.

View Symbol Sketch
Use the Symbol Sketch tool to constrain section lines and detail boundaries to key points in the drawing views, helping maintain accuracy even as the model or layout changes.

Associative Annotations
Regardless of which types of drawing views you create—base, projected, section or detail—you can add associated annotations using traditional dimensioning and multileader tools. The annotations are associated to the drawing view based on the vertices selected or inferred by the selected edge. As a result, if you transform (move, rotate, scale) or update the drawing view, the annotations react accordingly. For example, if you move the drawing view, associative annotations move with it even if they were not included in the move selection set. If you update the drawing view, associative annotations remain associated to the vertices as the geometry changes in size. You can make other edits to the drawing views, such as changing the view style, object visibility, and adding or removing objects to the view selection set, while still maintaining associativity with annotations.
Since the annotations are associated to the drawing view and the drawing view is associated to the model, it’s possible for edits to the drawing view or model to invalidate, or disassociate, annotations. For example, if you delete a drawing view that has associative annotations or you delete part of a model that has been annotated in the drawing view, the associated annotations are meaningless. The new Annotation Monitor in AutoCAD 2013 helps you identify and address those disassociated annotations.
An Annotation Monitor button is included on the AutoCAD status bar. When turned on, it provides feedback regarding the state of associative annotations. If all annotations in the current drawing are associated, the annotation icon in the system tray remains normal.
As soon as at least one annotation becomes disassociated, the annotation monitor icon in the system tray changes and alert badges are displayed on each of the disassociated annotations in the drawing. You can click on individual annotations to reassociate or delete them one at a time or select the link in the Annotation Monitor alert bubble to quickly delete all of the disassociated annotations.

Automatic View Update
The Auto Update tool controls whether drawing views are updated automatically when the source model changes.

Migration

Template updated

The template has been updated.

Social Media Links

New tools in the InfoCenter make it easy for you to stay connected with the AutoCAD community. Access the Stay Connected menu, where you can download product updates, log onto the Autodesk® Subscription Center, view the AutoCAD Facebook page, and follow AutoCAD Twitter posts.

Deployment/setup

The deployment builder is more streamlined and easy to use than the 2012 products. The deployment includes a script template for use with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007.

If you install multiple AutoCAD verticals as well as different languages you will find that they install into the same location and sharing what can be shared, saving hard disk space for you. To start AutoCAD Architecture this command line is used:
"C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013\acad.exe" /ld "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013\AecBase.dbx" /p "" /product "ACA" /language "en-US"
Note the new undocumented command line switches /product and /language. With AutoCAD 2013, Architecture, MEP, Mechanical, AutoCAD Structural Detailing all install to the same folder. The /product switch governs which program loads, since the same acad.exe is used for all of them. The text for the switch is ACAD, ACA, MEP, ACADM or ASD. Other products like AutoCAD Map 3D installs into their own folder.

Installed products can be found in the registry at this location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R19.0\InstalledProducts

API and more for Programmers

There is a break in binary compatibility for .NET applications in AutoCAD 2013. It's needed to include a project reference to AcCoreMgd.dll (in addition to AcMgd.dll and AcDbMgd.dll). There have also been namespace changes.

.NET Framework 4 needs to be targeted in Visual Studio.

Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.ObjectId supports dynamic operations. This means that you can declare an ObjectId using the dynamic keyword in C#, and you can then choose to access any of the properties or methods exposed by the object possessing that ID directly from the ObjectId itself. The ObjectId then takes care of the open & close operations implicitly, so there’s no need to mess around with transactions, etc. ref

Language switching with new command line switch

 Install the language package and then the command line switch /language "en-US" can be modified to for example /language "zh-CN" for Simplified Chinese.

AutoCAD Core Console is big news. Now it's possible to run AutoCAD without GUI overhead. The command-line only UI, AcCoreConsole.exe is only 24 KB.  The console can load DBX modules – which are coded against ObjectDBX/RealDWG, CRX modules and .NET DLLs that have been coded against the new AcCoreMgd.dll (rather than AcMgd.dll). Even AutoLISP (Visual LISP) and SCR (script files) can be loaded but without GUI features. ref
SmartPurger has been updated to support the Core Console.

When AcCoreConsole.exe is run this will show on the command line:

AutoCAD Core Engine Console - Copyright Autodesk, Inc 2009-2011.

Usage:
AcCoreConsole.exe [/i <input dwg>] /s <script> [/l <language>] [/isolate <userid
>]

Example:
AcCoreConsole.exe /i 8th_floor.dwg /s test.scr /l en-US

Command:

And then commands can be entered on the command line.

The AcCoreConsole.exe command line switches explained:

1) /i : Used to specify the drawing file path on which to run the script file

2) /s : Used to specify the path to the script file.

3) /l : If language packs are installed, you have the choice to invoke the language version of accoreconsole. The commands in the script file can then be in one of the languages that you have installed in your system.

4) /isolate : Used to prevent the changes to the system variables from affecting regular AutoCAD.

Model Documentation API got read-only access via classes isSectionSymbol, SectionViewstyle, ViewBorder, ViewRepBlockReference, DetailViewStyle and DetailSymbol. ref

Non-COM Properties C++-only improvements related to Properties Window and more.

Autoloader updates

  • Support for F1 context-sensitive help integration
  • The ability to add tool-palette support paths
  • Demand-loading on command invocation for AutoLISP applications
  • The option to specify a command to be called when an application is loaded

DCL and Unicode

DCL files by default are saved in ANSI format where the characters depend on the code page being used. In previous versions the character set selection when dispaying the DCL dialogs was based on the OS settings, whereas in the new version it is based on the language version of AutoCAD. To make your DCL file use the UTF-8 format, simply open it in Notepad, then in the Save As dialog setEncoding to UTF-8. Note that Visual Lisp editor doesn't show UTF-8 files properly, so you'll have to edit those in a unicode compatible editor such as Notepad.

AutoCAD 2013 ActiveX API News

A full list of the changes made to the AutoCAD 2013 ActiveX API are:

Changed Enums:
AcSaveAsType
ac2013_dwg = 60 (New)
ac2013_dxf = 61 (New)
ac2013_Template = 62 (New)
acNative = 60 (Changed)

New Enums:
AcPointCloudIntensityStyle
acIntensityGrayscale = 0
acIntensityRainbow = 1
acIntensityRed = 2
acIntensityGreen = 3
acIntensityBlue = 4
acIntensityEditableFlag = 5
AcPointCloudColorType
acTrueColor = 0
acByColor = 1

Changed Classes:
IAcad3DSolid
CheckInterference - Method (Added solid interfere parameter)
IAcadDynamicBlockReferenceProperty (Changed)
show - Property (Renamed, previously Show)
IAcadEntity
EntityTransparency - Property (New)
IAcadHatch
BackgroundColor - Property (New)
IAcadLoftedSurface
EndSmoothContinuity - Property (New)
EndSmoothMagnitude - Property (New)
Periodic - Property
StartSmoothContinuity - Property (New)
StartSmoothMagnitude - Property (New)
IAcadPointCloud
Height - Property (New)
IntensityColorScheme - Property (New)
Length - Property (New)
Name - Property (New)
Path - Property (New)
ShowClipped - Property (New)
ShowIntensity - Property (New)
Width - Property (New)
IAcadPreferencesFiles
ActiveInvProject - Property (New)
IAcadRasterImage
transparency - Property (Renamed, previously Transparency)
IAcadSpline
Closed2 - Property (New)
Degree2 - Property (New)
KnotParameterization - Property (New)
SplineFrame - Property (New)
SplineMethod - Property (New)
IAcadSurface
EdgeExtensionDistances - Property (New)
MaintainAssociativity - Property (New)
ShowAssociativity - Property (New)
SurfTrimAssociativity - Property (New)
WireframeType - Property (New)

Removed Classes:
Classes were merged with the class in which they were derived in most cases (ie. IAcadEntity2 -> IAcadEntity)
IAcad3DFace2
IAcad3DPolyline2
IAcad3DSolid2
IAcadArc2
IAcadAttribute2
IAcadBlockReference2
IAcadCircle2
IAcadDim3PointAngular2
IAcadDimAligned2
IAcadDimAngular2
IAcadDimArcLength2
IAcadDimDiametric2
IAcadDimOrdinate2
IAcadDimRadial2
IAcadDimRadialLarge2
IAcadDimRotated2
IAcadEllipse2
IAcadEntity2
IAcadExternalReference2
IAcadExtrudedSurface2
IAcadExtrudedSurface3
IAcadHatch2
IAcadHelix2
IAcadLine2
IAcadLeader2
IAcadLoftedSurface2
IAcadLoftedSurface3
IAcadLWPolyline2
IAcadMLeader2
IAcadMText2
IAcadNurbSurface2
IAcadOle2
IAcadPlaneSurface2
IAcadPlaneSurface3
IAcadPoint2
IAcadPolyfaceMesh2
IAcadPolygonMesh2
IAcadPolyline2
IAcadPViewport2
IAcadRay2
IAcadRasterImage2
IAcadRegion2
IAcadRevolvedSurface2
IAcadRevolvedSurface3
IAcadShape2
IAcadSolid2
IAcadSpline2
IAcadSurface2
IAcadSurface3
IAcadSweptSurface2
IAcadSweptSurface3
IAcadSubDMesh2
IAcadTable2
IAcadText2
IAcadTolerance2
IAcadTrace2
IAcadXline2
IAcadWipeout2

Visual LISP

There were a few additions to the Visual LISP extension in AutoCAD 2013 which expose some new functionality from the ActiveX API and a few new functions that allow you to obtain the Machine and User product keys of AutoCAD. Along with some new functions, there are some new variables introduced as a result of new constants being added to the ActiveX API.

To use the the changes made to the Visual LISP extension, be sure to call the VL-LOAD-COM function first.

New Functions:
VLA-GET-ACTIVEINVPROJECT / VLA-PUT-ACTIVEINVPROJECT - Specifies the active Inventor project being used by the Model Documentation feature. (Internal Use Only)
VLA-GET-INTENSITYCOLORSCHEME / VLA-PUT-INTENSITYCOLORSCHEME - Specifies the color scheme to use for displaying intensity values.
VLA-GET-SHOWCLIPPED / VLA-PUT-SHOWCLIPPED - Enables or disables the clipping boundary.
VLA-GET-SHOWINTENSITY / VLA-PUT-SHOWINTENSITY - Specifies if the point cloud is displayed using a shaded color scheme.
VLA-PUT-LENGTH - Sets the Length property for a point cloud.
VLAX-MACHINE-PRODUCT-KEY - Returns the AutoCAD product key from the Machine hive in the Windows Registry. (ie. "Software\\Autodesk\\AutoCAD\\R19.0\\ACAD-B001:409")
VLAX-USER-PRODUCT-KEY - Returns the AutoCAD product keyfrom the User hive in the Windows Registry. (ie. "Software\\Autodesk\\AutoCAD\\R19.0\\ACAD-B001:409")

Changed Variables:
ACNATIVE = 60

New Variables:
AC2013_DWG = 60
AC2013_DXF = 61
AC2013_TEMPLATE = 62
ACINTENSITYBLUE = 4
ACINTENSITYEDITABLEFLAG = 5
ACINTENSITYGRAYSCALE = 0
ACINTENSITYGREEN = 3
ACINTENSITYRAINBOW = 1
ACINTENSITYRED = 2
ACTRUECOLOR = 0

VBA for AutoCAD

VBA (Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications) is still available in AutoCAD 2013 but it is not included with the installation media. Find the VBA for AutoCAD downloads here at http://www.autodesk.com/vba-download. As VBA probably will not be around for future versions consider converting your existing VBA code to C# or VB.NET and if you like help with it please feel free to contact us.

UPDATE: As of January 31, 2014, Autodesk is no longer authorized to distribute VBA 6 or earlier versions of VBA for use with Autodesk AutoCAD and other Autodesk products. This change affects the availability to download and install VBA for Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 or earlier.

AutoCAD 2013 System requirements

Note that Windows Vista is not supported by Autodesk for AutoCAD 2013. Autodesk to cease support of Windows Vista even though Microsoft changed their mind Autodesk didn’t follow. With SP2 also Windows 8 is supported.

There is nothing that restricts you from running AutoCAD 2013 on Windows Vista but you're on your own. Other than that if you already run AutoCAD 2011 or AutoCAD 2012 your system will probably work the same.

As always with system requirements these are minimal requirements for AutoCAD to run. For professional usage you surely want to have much better hardware.

FlexNet version 11.10.0.3 for Autodesk Network License Manager.

32-bit version

Operating System:

  • Service Pack 3 (SP3) or later of the following:
    • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
    • Microsoft Windows XP Home
  • The following operating systems:
    • Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise
    • Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
    • Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
    • Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

Hardware:

  • CPU
  • Memory: 2 GB (4 GB recommended)
  • Disk: Installation requires 6 GB space
  • Display: 1,024 x 768 with true color (1,600 x 1,050 with true color recommended)

Misc.

  • Browser: Internet Explorer 7.0 or later web browser
  • File Formats: (New file format in AutoCAD 2013):
    • Save-as Support
      AutoCAD R14, AutoCAD 2000, AutoCAD 2004, AutoCAD 2007, AutoCAD 2010, AutoCAD 2013.
    • DXF Support
      AutoCAD R12, AutoCAD 2000, AutoCAD 2004, AutoCAD 2007, AutoCAD 2010, AutoCAD 2013
  • API
    • LISP are compatible
    • Scripts are compatible
    • ObjectARX application will need to be recompiled

64-bit version

Operating System:

  • Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later of the following:
    • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • The following operating systems:
    • Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise
    • Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
    • Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
    • Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

Hardware:

  • CPU
    • AMD Athlon 64 with SSE2 technology
    • AMD Opteron with SSE2 technology
    • Intel Xeon with Intel EM64T support and SSE2
    • Intel Pentium 4 with Intel EM64T support and SSE2 technology
  • Memory: 2 GB (4 GB recommended)
  • Disk: Installation requires 6 GB space
  • Display: 1,024 x 768 with true color (1,600 x 1,050 with true color recommended)

For both 32 & 64-bit Misc.

  • Browser: Internet Explorer 7.0 or later web browser
  • File Formats: (New file format in AutoCAD 2013):
    • Save-as Support AutoCAD R14, AutoCAD 2000, AutoCAD 2004, AutoCAD 2007, AutoCAD 2010, AutoCAD 2013.
    • DXF Support AutoCAD R12, AutoCAD 2000, AutoCAD 2004, AutoCAD 2007, AutoCAD 2010, AutoCAD 2013
  • API
    • LISP are compatible
    • Scripts are compatible
    • ObjectARX application will need to be recompiled

For both 32 & 64-bit using 3D modeling workflows:

  • Memory 4 GB RAM or more
  • 6 GB free hard disk available not including installation requirements
  • 1,280 x 1,024 True color video display adapter 128 MB or greater, Pixel Shader 3.0 or greater support by your graphics card, Direct3D capable workstation class graphics card.

 

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