Transparent commands are “helper” commands that make base AutoCAD input more surveyor- and civil designer–friendly. Transparent commands can be used only when another command is in progress. They are “commands within commands” that allow you to choose your input based on the available data you have to provide.
For example, you may have a plat whose information you are trying to input into AutoCAD. You may need to insert a block at a specific northing and easting. While the Line command has a built-in option for Northing Easting, the Insert command does not, and a transparent command will help you. In this case, you would start the Insert command with the Specify On Screen option checked. Before you click to place the block in the graphic, click the Northing Easting transparent command. The command line will then walk you through placing the block at your desired location.
While a transparent command is active, you can press Esc once to leave transparent mode but stay active in your current command. You can then choose another transparent command if you’d like. For example, you can start a line using the Endpoint Osnap, activate the Angle Distance transparent command, draw a line-by-angle distance, and then press Esc, which takes you out of angle-distance mode but keeps you in the line command. You can then draw a few more segments using the Point Object transparent command, press Esc, and finish your line with a Perpendicular Osnap.
You can activate the transparent commands using keyboard shortcuts or the Transparent Commands toolbar. Be sure you include the Transparent Commands toolbar (shown in Figure) in all your Civil 3D and survey-oriented workspaces.
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| The Transparent Commands toolbar |