- •Contents
- •Contents at a Glance
- •Acknowledgments
- •Preface
- •Is This Book for You?
- •How This Book Is Organized
- •How to Use This Book
- •Doing the Exercises
- •Conventions Used in This Book
- •What the Icons Mean
- •About the CD-ROM
- •Other Information
- •Contacting the Author
- •Foreword
- •Credits
- •About the Author
- •Summary
- •AutoCAD’s Advantages
- •Comparing AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
- •Starting AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
- •Creating a New Drawing
- •Using the AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Interface
- •Creating a New Folder
- •Using the Interface
- •Saving a Drawing
- •Closing a Drawing and Exiting from AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
- •Summary
- •Creating a New Drawing from a Template
- •Working with Templates
- •Opening a Drawing with Default Settings
- •Opening an Existing Drawing
- •Using an Existing Drawing as a Prototype
- •Saving a Drawing Under a New Name
- •Summary
- •The Command Line and Dynamic Input
- •Command Techniques
- •Of Mice and Pucks
- •Getting Help
- •Summary
- •Typing Coordinates
- •Displaying Coordinates
- •Picking Coordinates on the Screen
- •Overriding Coordinate Settings
- •Locating Points
- •Summary
- •Choosing Unit Types
- •Drawing Limits
- •Understanding Scales
- •Creating a Title Block
- •Specifying Common Setup Options
- •Customizing with the MVSETUP Command
- •Using the Setup Wizards
- •Summary
- •Using the LINE Command
- •Drawing Rectangles
- •Drawing Polygons
- •Creating Construction Lines
- •Creating Rays
- •Summary
- •Drawing Circles
- •Drawing Arcs
- •Creating Ellipses and Elliptical Arcs
- •Making Donuts
- •Placing Points
- •Summary
- •Panning
- •Using the ZOOM Command
- •Using Aerial View
- •Saving Named Views
- •Working with Tiled Viewports
- •Using Snap Rotation
- •Understanding User Coordinate Systems
- •Creating Isometric Drawings
- •Summary
- •Editing a Drawing
- •Selecting Objects
- •Summary
- •Copying and Moving Objects
- •Resizing Commands
- •Using Construction Commands
- •Creating a Revision Cloud
- •Hiding Objects with a Wipeout
- •Double-Clicking to Edit Objects
- •Grips
- •Editing with the Properties Palette
- •Selection Filters
- •Groups
- •Summary
- •Working with Layers
- •Changing Object Color, Linetype, and Lineweight
- •Working with Linetype Scales
- •Importing Layers and Linetypes from Other Drawings
- •Matching Properties
- •Summary
- •Drawing-Level Information
- •Object-Level Information
- •Measurement Commands
- •AutoCAD’s Calculator
- •Summary
- •Creating Single-Line Text
- •Understanding Text Styles
- •Creating Multiline Text
- •Creating Tables
- •Inserting Fields
- •Managing Text
- •Finding Text in Your Drawing
- •Checking Your Spelling
- •Customizing the spelling dictionary
- •Summary
- •Working with Dimensions
- •Drawing Linear Dimensions
- •Drawing Aligned Dimensions
- •Creating Baseline and Continued Dimensions
- •Dimensioning Arcs and Circles
- •Dimensioning Angles
- •Creating Ordinate Dimensions
- •Drawing Leaders
- •Using Quick Dimension
- •Editing Dimensions
- •Summary
- •Understanding Dimension Styles
- •Defining a New Dimension Style
- •Changing Dimension Styles
- •Creating Geometric Tolerances
- •Summary
- •Creating and Editing Polylines
- •Drawing and Editing Splines
- •Creating Regions
- •Creating Boundaries
- •Creating Hatches
- •Creating and Editing Multilines
- •Creating Dlines
- •Using the SKETCH Command
- •Digitizing Drawings with the TABLET Command
- •Summary
- •Preparing a Drawing for Plotting or Printing
- •Creating a Layout in Paper Space
- •Working with Plot Styles
- •Plotting a Drawing
- •Summary
- •Combining Objects into Blocks
- •Inserting Blocks and Files into Drawings
- •Managing Blocks
- •Creating and Using Dynamic Blocks
- •Using Windows Features
- •Working with Attributes
- •Summary
- •Understanding External References
- •Editing an Xref within Your Drawing
- •Controlling Xref Display
- •Managing Xrefs
- •Summary
- •Preparing for Database Connectivity
- •Connecting to Your Database
- •Linking Data to Drawing Objects
- •Creating Labels
- •Querying with the Query Editor
- •Working with Query Files
- •Summary
- •Working with 3D Coordinates
- •Using Elevation and Thickness
- •Working with the User Coordinate System
- •Summary
- •Working with the Standard Viewpoints
- •Using DDVPOINT
- •Working with the Tripod and Compass
- •Displaying a Quick Plan View
- •Shading Your Drawing
- •Using 3D Orbit
- •Using Tiled Viewports
- •Defining a Perspective View
- •Laying Out 3D Drawings
- •Summary
- •Drawing Surfaces with 3DFACE
- •Drawing Surfaces with PFACE
- •Creating Polygon Meshes with 3DMESH
- •Drawing Standard 3D Shapes
- •Drawing a Revolved Surface
- •Drawing an Extruded Surface
- •Drawing Ruled Surfaces
- •Drawing Edge Surfaces
- •Summary
- •Drawing Standard Shapes
- •Creating Extruded Solids
- •Drawing Revolved Solids
- •Creating Complex Solids
- •Sectioning and Slicing Solids
- •Using Editing Commands in 3D
- •Editing Solids
- •Listing Solid Properties
- •Summary
- •Understanding Rendering
- •Creating Lights
- •Creating Scenes
- •Working with Materials
- •Using Backgrounds
- •Doing the Final Render
- •Summary
- •Accessing Drawing Components with the DesignCenter
- •Accessing Drawing Content with Tool Palettes
- •Setting Standards for Drawings
- •Organizing Your Drawings
- •Working with Sheet Sets
- •Maintaining Security
- •Keeping Track of Referenced Files
- •Handling Errors and Crashes
- •Managing Drawings from Prior Releases
- •Summary
- •Importing and Exporting Other File Formats
- •Working with Raster Images
- •Pasting, Linking, and Embedding Objects
- •Summary
- •Sending Drawings
- •Opening Drawings from the Web
- •Creating Object Hyperlinks
- •Publishing Drawings
- •Summary
- •Working with Customizable Files
- •Creating Keyboard Shortcuts for Commands
- •Customizing Toolbars
- •Customizing Tool Palettes
- •Summary
- •Creating Macros with Script Files
- •Creating Slide Shows
- •Creating Slide Libraries
- •Summary
- •Creating Linetypes
- •Creating Hatch Patterns
- •Summary
- •Creating Shapes
- •Creating Fonts
- •Summary
- •Working with the Customization File
- •Customizing a Menu
- •Summary
- •Introducing Visual LISP
- •Getting Help in Visual LISP
- •Working with AutoLISP Expressions
- •Using AutoLISP on the Command Line
- •Creating AutoLISP Files
- •Summary
- •Creating Variables
- •Working with AutoCAD Commands
- •Working with Lists
- •Setting Conditions
- •Managing Drawing Objects
- •Getting Input from the User
- •Putting on the Finishing Touches
- •Summary
- •Understanding Local and Global Variables
- •Working with Visual LISP ActiveX Functions
- •Debugging Code
- •Summary
- •Starting to Work with VBA
- •Writing VBA Code
- •Getting User Input
- •Creating Dialog Boxes
- •Modifying Objects
- •Debugging and Trapping Errors
- •Moving to Advanced Programming
- •Summary
- •A Final Word
- •Installing AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
- •Configuring and Using Workspaces
- •Configuring AutoCAD
- •Starting AutoCAD Your Way
- •Configuring a Plotter
- •Discovering AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
- •Accessing Technical Support
- •Autodesk User Groups
- •Internet Resources
- •System Requirements
- •Using the CD-ROM with Microsoft Windows
- •What’s on the CD-ROM
- •Troubleshooting
- •Index
AutoCAD
and AutoCAD LT
Resources
Aside from this book, you have many other resources for learning about AutoCAD. These resources range from AutoCAD’s New
Features Workshop to Web sites, and include everything else in between.
Discovering AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are not programs that you can easily pick up as you work with them. You’ll need some formal education, whether by using this book, taking a course, or a combination of methods.
Using AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Help resources
AutoCAD’s own Help resources are a good place to start when you have a question. In Chapter 3, I explain how to use Help. You can also try the New Features Workshop, which includes explanations and demonstrations that are related to the new 2006 features. Choose Help New Features Workshop.
Learning from your dealer
You’re supposed to learn AutoCAD from your dealer. Most dealers include some training when you purchase AutoCAD. However, the amount of training and follow-up support varies greatly, and so does the price. If you have more than one AutoCAD dealer nearby, check not only the cost of AutoCAD, but also the cost of training.
Unlike AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT is often sold online without any training. Keep in mind that AutoCAD LT is not a simple program either, and some training will definitely help you get more out of the program.
Dealers usually offer upgrade seminars and courses when you upgrade. If you’re already using AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, you may be able to take a course that focuses on the new features.
A BP P E N D I X
In This Appendix
Learning AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT
Accessing technical support
Joining Autodesk user groups
Finding
Internet resources
1154 Part VIII Appendixes
If you’re going to use third-party applications that work with AutoCAD or other Autodesk products, such as Architectural Desktop or Mechanical Desktop, check how much experience the dealer has with these products, and what kind of support the dealer offers.
Autodesk has an Autodesk Training Center program that certifies trainers. Your dealer may or may not be an Autodesk Training Center; remember to ask. Premier Training Centers offer additional training in certain disciplines, thus offering solutions that are more specialized to their customers.
Taking a course
You may be able to take a course in AutoCAD at a local college or Autodesk Training Center. Many universities and community colleges offer courses in AutoCAD. Such courses may fit your schedule because they’re often offered in the evening, over a period of several weeks. Of course, that may not work if you need to get up and running very quickly. I haven’t heard of courses on AutoCAD LT, but you can check out your local colleges. However, a course on AutoCAD would certainly help you to learn AutoCAD LT.
Autodesk holds a once-a-year conference, called Autodesk University, which offers classes that are taught by top AutoCAD gurus. For more information, go to http://au.autodesk.com/.
Autodesk sells short, self-paced courses on both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. From the Autodesk home page (www.autodesk.com), click Store, and then click Courseware.
If you are a Subscription member, you have access to special courses. For more information about the Subscription program, go to www.autodesk.com and click the Subscription link.
Learning from other users
If you work in an office with several AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT users, you’ll find that they’re usually happy to share information and tips with you. This won’t generally get you started from scratch, but it’s great for rounding out your knowledge.
Reading the magazine
Cadalyst (phone: 888-527-7008) covers AutoCAD as well as other CAD programs. It is published in both print and Web versions. Cadalyst offers many helpful articles (as well as advertisements, of course). In addition, Cadalyst has an extensive Web site (www.cadalyst.com), but I discuss that more later. Autodesk User Group International (AUGI) has a couple of great publications, including AUGIWorld. You can find out more at www.augi.com/publications/default.asp.
If you’re interested in the CAD industry in general, try Ralph Grabowski’s weekly upFront.eZine, which you can subscribe to by sending the e-mail message “subscribe upfront” to ralphg@ xyzpress.com.
Accessing Technical Support
Autodesk has always referred customers to their dealer for technical support. As with training, you should check out the provisions of the technical support. Some dealers charge for each phone call, while others provide free support to all customers for as long as Autodesk supports the product.
Appendix B AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Resources 1155
However, Autodesk offers its own support. For an overview of support options, click Support from the Autodesk home page (www.autodesk.com), select AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT in the Select a Product drop-down list, and then choose one of the Support options. The Autodesk Web site offers a large number of technical documents that answer many common questions. From Autodesk’s home page, choose Support, select AutoCAD from the Technical Support drop-down list, and then choose Knowledge Base.
The Autodesk Web site offers discussion groups. From Autodesk’s home page, choose Support, select AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT from the Technical Support drop-down list, and then choose Discussion Groups. You can ask questions and receive answers from other users as well as from the Autodesk personnel.
Autodesk User Groups
Autodesk User Groups (AUGs) meet regularly, offer courses and seminars, bring in speakers, and generally offer the types of resources that all AutoCAD users need.
AUGI (Autodesk User Group International) has its own Web site at www.augi.com. AUGI is also now offering its own technical support (AUGI guilds). You can find a lot of information and educational resources there, as well as AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT forums.
A number of the local user groups have their own Web sites. The Silicon Valley AutoCAD Power Users, the world’s largest AUG, has a Web site at www.cadville.com; click the SVAPU link on the left menu (see Figure B-1).
Figure B-1: The Silicon Valley AutoCAD Power Users is the largest AUG. Its Web site provides many resources for all AutoCAD users.
1156 Part VIII Appendixes
The Vancouver AutoCAD Users Society (VAUS) was the first AUG. Its Web site, shown in Figure B-2, is www.vaus.org.
Figure B-2: The Vancouver AutoCAD Users Society is the oldest AUG.
Internet Resources
The Internet is a rich source of knowledge regarding AutoCAD. It features two independent newsgroups, one at comp.cad.autocad and the other at alt.cad.autocad. You can ask questions and receive answers from other users. You can even answer a few questions yourself. Autodesk also administers its own discussion groups at news://discussion.autodesk.com (also accessible from the Autodesk Web site). There are discussion groups on several versions of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.
The Internet sports hundreds of CAD-related Web sites. Here are some of the most prominent:
The Autodesk Web site, at www.autodesk.com, contains a lot of product and support resources on AutoCAD and other Autodesk products. At www.autodesk.com/autocad, AutoCAD’s home page, you can find a great deal of information about AutoCAD, including training and upgrade information. For information on AutoCAD LT, go to www.autodesk. com/autocadlt.
The Cadalyst Web site, at www.cadalyst.com, shown in Figure B-3, is another important resource. Here you can find news, events, links, products, downloads, and so on. The Cadalyst files offer all of the AutoLISP code that the magazine has published since 1993.
The CAD Depot, at www.caddepot.com, has a great collection of freeware and shareware, articles, news, and links. To find downloads applicable to AutoCAD LT, you can perform a search on AutoCAD LT.
TenLinks.com, at www.tenlinks.com, is a wide-ranging directory and news source, with a daily e-mail newsletter.
Appendix B AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Resources 1157
Figure B-3: The Cadalyst Web site.
CADwire.net, at www.cadwire.net, offers news, articles, and directories.
CADInfo.net, at www.cadinfo.net, has software libraries, links, and articles on various CAD-related topics.
The Web has many, many more AutoCAD sites, but most of them are more specialized. Table B-1 lists some useful sites. If you don’t have this list when you access the Internet, just type AutoCAD into any major search engine. One Web site will lead to another until you find what you need. Enjoy!
Table B-1: Useful AutoCAD Web Sites
Name |
URL |
Description |
|
|
|
AUGI |
www.augi.com |
AutoCAD User Group International. This site includes a |
|
|
lot of information on AutoCAD, connections to local |
|
|
groups, and a newsletter. |
Better Than |
http://home. |
Leonid Nemirovsky’s AutoLISP routines are useful and |
Nothing AutoLISP |
pacifier.com/~nemi |
are free to download. I put several of them on the |
|
|
CD-ROM of this book. Leonid wrote two (It.lsp and |
|
|
Idt.lsp) at my request, for which I’m grateful. |
CAD Forum |
www.cadforum.cz/ |
This site offers loads of tips on both AutoCAD and |
|
cadforum_en/ |
AutoCAD LT. |
Continued
1158 Part VIII Appendixes
Table B-1 (continued)
Name |
URL |
Description |
|
|
|
Dotsoft |
www.dotsoft.com |
Terry Dotson’s site offers AutoCAD-related |
|
|
software for sale, along with a lot of freebies |
|
|
and tips. |
EllenFinkelstein.com |
www.ellenfinkelstein. |
My site contains information about the latest |
|
com/autoCAD.html |
AutoCAD features, tips, and tutorials, and |
|
|
links to buy my books. You can sign up for |
|
|
the monthly AutoCAD Tips Newsletter. |
HyperPics |
www.hyperpics.com |
Lee Ambrosius’s site offers AutoCAD and |
|
|
AutoCAD LT tips and tricks, with a lot of |
|
|
information on customization. |
ManuSoft |
www.manusoft.com |
This site offers a good collection of software |
|
|
for AutoCAD — some for free, others to buy. |
Moss Designs |
www.mossdesigns.com |
This site offers free downloads, tips, and |
|
|
tutorials. |
Reini Urban’s |
http://xarch.tu-graz. |
This site offers a list of AutoCAD and AutoLISP |
AutoCAD page |
ac.at/autocad |
tips and tools, FAQs, documents, and so on. |
University of New |
www.fbe.unsw.edu.au/ |
UNSW has placed some of its AutoCAD |
South Wales |
Learning/AutoCAD/ |
courses on its Web site, and they are available |
|
|
for Release 2000; even better, they are free. |
upfront.eZine |
www.upfrontezine.com/ |
Besides the current issue of Ralph Grabowski’s |
|
|
ezine, you can purchase his eBooks. |
|
|
|
Recently, a number of AutoCAD blogs have sprung up. If you want the latest news, tips, and information every day, try one of these:
Between the lines by Autodesk employee Shaan Hurley at autodesk.blogs.com/between_the_lines
RobiNZ CAD Blog by Robin Capper at rcd.typepad.com/rcd
Hyperpics Blog by Lee Ambrosius at hyperpics.blogs.com/beyond_the_ui
Lynn Allen Blogs by Autodesk employee Lynn Allen at lynn.blogs.com/lynn_allens_blog
In the Dynamic Interface by Mark Douglas at mdouglas.blogs.com/in_the_dynamic_interface
|
|
|