Create traces in the AutoCAD web and mobile apps, then share the drawing with collaborators to view in the AutoCAD desktop, web, and mobile apps.
Create a Trace
Desktop:
You can only create traces in the web and mobile apps.
Web and Mobile:
- Go to the Traces palette.
- Choose New trace.
This opens the trace environment.
- Use drawing and editing commands to add markups, text, and additional geometry.
- When finished, select the check mark.
Save a Trace
In the web and mobile apps, QSAVE, SAVEAS, and SAVE are disabled while a trace is open. Close the trace, then save the drawing.
Edit a Trace
Desktop:
Traces are view-only in the desktop app. While a trace is open, you can use drawing and editing commands to modify the drawing. Any geometry you create or modify affects the drawing.
Web and Mobile:
You can edit your own trace contributions in the web and mobile apps. Simply open the trace and add or modify any geometry.
You cannot edit or modify someone else’s contributions. However, you can add your own contributions to the trace.
Add Contributions to a Trace Created by Someone Else
Desktop:
You can only add contributions to a trace in the web and mobile apps.
Web and Mobile:
- Go to the Traces palette.
- Choose an existing trace.
This opens the trace environment.
- Use drawing and editing commands to add markups, text, and additional geometry.
- When finished, select the check mark.
Save a Trace
In the web and mobile apps, QSAVE, SAVEAS, and SAVE are disabled while a trace is open. Close the trace, then save the drawing.
Share a Trace
Traces are part of the drawing file itself, so when you share a drawing, any traces within that drawing are shared as well. Simply use your preferred method for sharing drawings with others. Anyone with the access to the file can view the traces in the drawing.
View a Trace
Open the Traces palette, then select the trace from the list of traces.
Delete a Trace
Desktop:
Open the Traces palette, then right-click the trace and select Delete.
Web and Mobile:
Open the Traces palette, then right-click the trace (web) or tap the options button next to the trace (mobile) select Delete.
Delete My Contributions
In the web and mobile apps, you can remove the contributions that you added to a trace.
Open the Traces palette, then right-click the trace (web) or tap the options icon next to the trace (mobile) and select Delete my contributions.
Rename a Trace
Desktop:
Open the Traces palette, then right-click the trace and select Rename.
Web and Mobile:
Open the Traces palette, then right-click the trace (web) or tap the options icon next to the trace (mobile) and select Rename.
Tips for working with traces
- In desktop, click TRACEFRONT
or TRACEBACK
to toggle the trace to the front or back, making the trace geometry or the drawing geometry display more clearly.
- In web and mobile, use Edit on
and Edit off
to toggle whether you can edit the existing drawing while viewing the trace.
- Use TRACEFADECTL to control the amount of fading on the geometry in the drawing.
- Use TRACEPAPERCTL to control the opaqueness of the tracing paper effect.
- When creating traces, it's good practice to choose a distinct color that makes the geometry in the trace easy to locate.
- When you create a trace and then exit the trace environment, the drawing maintains the last view. It's good practice to exit the trace environment with the view you want to share with others, to make trace geometry easier to identify.