book

AutoCAD For Dummies, 18th Edition

by Bill Fane

June 2019

Beginner

544 pages

15h 3m

English

For Dummies

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About This BookFoolish AssumptionsConventions Used in This BookIcons Used in This BookBeyond the BookWhere to Go from Here
Launching AutoCADDrawing in AutoCADUnderstanding Pixels and VectorsThe Cartesian Coordinate System
Looking at AutoCAD’s Drawing ScreenGetting with the ProgramFun with F1
A Simple SetupDrawing a (Base) PlateTaking a Closer Look with Zoom and PanModifying to Make It MerrierFollowing the Plot
A Setup RoadmapA Template for SuccessMaking the Most of Model SpaceMaking Templates Your Own
Zooming and Panning with Glass and HandZoom, Zoom, ZoomA View by Any Other NameDegenerating and Regenerating
Drawing for SuccessIntroducing the Straight-Line Drawing CommandsDrawing Lines and PolylinesSquaring Off with RectanglesChoosing Sides with POLygon

Throwing CurvesGoing Full CircleArc-y-ologySolar EllipsesSplines: Sketchy, Sinuous CurvesDonuts: Circles with a DifferenceRevision Clouds on the HorizonScoring Points
Controlling PrecisionUnderstanding the AutoCAD Coordinate SystemsGrabbing an Object and Making It SnappyOther Practical Precision Procedures
Using Properties with ObjectsWorking with LayersUsing Named ObjectsUsing AutoCAD DesignCenter
Commanding and SelectingSelecting ObjectsPerfecting SelectingAutoCAD GroupiesObject Selection: Now You See It …
Assembling Your AutoCAD ToolkitThe Big Three: Move, COpy, and StretchMore ManipulationsSlicing, Dicing, and SplicingGetting a GripWhen Editing Goes BadDare to Compare
Setting Up a Layout in Paper SpaceAny Old Viewport in a LayoutPractice Makes PerfectClever Paper Space Tricks
Getting Ready to WriteCreating Simply Stylish TextTaking Your Text to New HeightsEntering TextUsing the Same Old LineSaying More in Multiline TextTurning On Annotative ObjectsGather Round the TablesTake Me to Your Leader
Adding Dimensions to a DrawingA Field Guide to DimensionsThe Latest Styles in DimensioningScaling Dimensions for OutputEditing DimensionsAnd the Correct Layer Is …
Creating a HatchUsing the Hatches TabScaling HatchesPushing the Boundaries of HatchEditing Hatch Objects
You Say “Printing,” I Say “Plotting”The Plot QuickensPlotting the Layout of the LandPlotting Lineweights and ColorsIt’s a (Page) Setup!Continuing the Plot DialogThe Plot Sickens
Rocking with BlocksCreating Block DefinitionsInserting BlocksAttributes: Fill-in-the-Blank BlocksExploding BlocksPurging Unused Block Definitions
Arraying AssociativelyGoing ExternalBlocks, Xrefs, and Drawing OrganizationMastering the RasterYou Say PDF; I Say DWFTheme and Variations: Dynamic Blocks
Maintaining Design IntentUnderstanding Geometric ConstraintsUnderstanding Dimensional ConstraintsLunchtime!
The Internet and AutoCAD: An OverviewThe Drawing Protection RacketOutgoing!AutoCAD Web and Mobile
The 3.5 Kinds of 3D Digital ModelsTools of the 3D TradeModeling from AboveChanging PlanesNavigating the 3D WatersVisualizing 3D ObjectsOn a Render Bender
Is 3D for Me?Getting Your 3D BearingsFrom Drawing to Modeling in 3DAdding the Third Dimension to 2D ObjectsModifying 3D Objects
Get the 2D Out of Here!Visualizing the Digital WorldAdding LightingCreating and Applying MaterialsDefining a BackgroundRendering a 3D Model
Get Out of Here!Open Up and Let Me In!Translation, Please!The Importance of Being DWG
Autodesk Discussion GroupsAutodesk’s Own BlogsAutodesk UniversityAutodesk Channel on YouTubeWorld Wide (CAD) WebYour Local Authorized Training CenterYour Local User GroupAutodesk User Groups InternationalBooksAutodesk Feedback Community
APERTUREDIMASSOCMENUBARMIRRTEXTOSNAPZPICKBOXREMEMBERFOLDERSROLLOVERTIPSTOOLTIPSVISRETAINAnd the Bonus Round
Sheet SetsCustom Tool PalettesRibbon CustomizationToolsetsProgramming LanguagesVertical VersionsLanguage PacksMultiple Projects or ClientsData Extraction and LinkingUntying the Ribbon

Content preview from AutoCAD For Dummies, 18th Edition

Chapter 2

The Grand Tour of AutoCAD

IN THIS CHAPTER

Touring the AutoCAD screens

Going bar-hopping: Title bars and the status bar

Unraveling the Ribbon

Practicing with palettes

Discovering the drawing area

Using online help

Over the years, AutoCAD’s interface has undergone many changes, ranging from a simple text menu down the right side (still the second-fastest way of using AutoCAD) to drop-down menus, toolbars, the Dashboard (which only survived two releases — 2007 and 2008), tool palettes, and, for now, the Ribbon menu.

Like the rest of this book, this chapter is written for someone who has used other Windows programs but has little or no experience with AutoCAD. Here and throughout the rest of the book, I show you how to do things by using AutoCAD’s implementation of Microsoft’s flavor of the year of its Fluent User Interface (or FUI; pronounced “foo-ey”). AutoCAD has always been ...