Introduction to AutoCAD® 2017: A Modern Perspective

Introduction to AutoCAD® 2017: A Modern Perspective

by Paul Richard
Released August 2016
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780134507569

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Book description

This book addresses advances in technology and introduces students to 2-dimensional drawing skills and commands using the current release of AutoCAD. It continuously builds on concepts covered in previous chapters, contains exercises combined with in-text notes, and offers examples that provide the “how and why” of AutoCAD fundamentals. Projects are included at the end of each chapter and provide hands-on experience creating various types of mechanical, architectural, civil and electrical drawings. This text is appropriate for Introductory and Intermediate AutoCAD courses.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Features of Introduction to AutoCAD® 2017
  5. Supplements
  6. Preface
  7. Brief Contents
  8. Contents
  9. Part One: An Introduction to AutoCAD
    1. Chapter 1. Introduction to AutoCAD
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. What Is CAD?
      4. Fundamental CAD Concepts
        1. Drawing Actual Size
        2. The Cartesian Coordinate System
        3. Right-Hand Rule
        4. Grid Units
        5. Angle Measurement
        6. Annotation Scale
        7. Object Properties
        8. Colors
        9. Linetypes
        10. Lineweights
        11. Transparency
        12. Controlling Object Properties
        13. Model Space and Paper Space
      5. A First Look at AutoCAD
        1. The Start Tab
        2. The AutoCAD User Interface
        3. Workspaces
        4. Quick Access Toolbar
        5. Application Menu
        6. Ribbon
        7. Tooltips
        8. The Command Line Window
        9. Dynamic Input
        10. Right-Click Shortcut Menus
        11. Status Bar
        12. In-Canvas Viewport Control
        13. ViewCube
        14. Navigation Bar
        15. Dialog Boxes
        16. Palettes
        17. Keyboard Commands
        18. InfoCenter
        19. The Help System
      6. Chapter Summary
      7. Chapter Test Questions
    2. Chapter 2. Quick Start Tutorial
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Creating a New Drawing
        1. Using a Template
        2. Saving Your Work
        3. File Safety Precautions
      4. Model Space and Layout Space
        1. Viewports
      5. Communicating with AutoCAD
        1. The Command Line
        2. Dynamic Input
      6. Object Snaps, Ortho Mode, and Polar Tracking
      7. Undo/Redo
      8. Grid and Snap
      9. Draw a Circle
      10. Navigating Around the Drawing
        1. Zooming with a Wheel Mouse
      11. Object Properties
      12. Layers
        1. Freeze and Thaw a Layer
        2. Lock and Unlock a Layer
      13. Dimension Styles
      14. Dimensioning
      15. Modifying Drawing Objects
        1. Selection Sets
      16. Grip Editing
      17. Introduction to Advanced Editing Techniques
        1. Making Parallel Copies
        2. Fixing Overlapping Lines and Closing Gaps
      18. Cleaning Up Layout Space
        1. Setting the Viewport Scale
        2. Text
      19. Plotting and Page Setups
        1. Plotting
      20. Chapter Summary
      21. Chapter Test Questions
  10. Part Two: Drafting Skills: Drawing with AutoCAD
    1. Chapter 3. Controlling the Drawing Display
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Zooming In and Out of a Drawing
        1. Zoom Tools
        2. Using the Mouse Wheel
      4. Panning Around a Drawing
        1. The Pan Tool
        2. Using the Middle Mouse Button
      5. Panning and Zooming Transparently
      6. Cleaning Up the Drawing Display
        1. The REGEN Command
        2. The Clean Screen Toggle
      7. Drawing Display Resolution and Performance
        1. Controlling Arc and Circle Smoothness
        2. Turning Text Display On and Off
        3. Turning Fills On and Off
        4. Controlling Line Smoothness
        5. High-Quality Geometry
      8. Chapter Summary
      9. Chapter Test Questions
      10. Chapter Project
    2. Chapter 4. Basic Drawing Commands
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Drawing Setup
        1. Templates
        2. Units
        3. Setting the Drawing Area
      4. Drawing Lines
      5. Coordinate Entry Methods
        1. Cartesian Coordinates
        2. Absolute Versus Relative Coordinate Entry
        3. Polar Coordinates
        4. Dynamic Input
      6. Drawing Circles
        1. Center Radius
        2. Center Diameter
        3. 2 Point Circle
        4. 3 Point Circle
        5. Tangent Tangent Radius
      7. Drawing Arcs
        1. The ARC Command
        2. 3 Point Arc
        3. Arc Options
        4. Using the ARC Command
      8. Drawing Ellipses
        1. Elliptical Arcs
      9. Points
        1. Point Styles
        2. Measure and Divide
      10. Chapter Summary
      11. Chapter Test Questions
      12. Chapter Projects
    3. Chapter 5. Drawing Tools and Drafting Settings
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Grid Mode
        1. Setting the Grid Style
        2. Setting the Grid Spacing
        3. Controlling Grid Mode Behavior
      4. Snap Mode
        1. Setting the Snap Spacing
        2. Setting the Snap Type and Style
      5. Ortho Mode
      6. Polar Tracking
        1. Setting the Polar Tracking Angle and Measurement Method
      7. Object Snaps
        1. Object Snap Modes
        2. Basic Object Snaps
        3. Advanced Object Snap Modes
      8. Object Snap Tracking
        1. Temporary Tracking
        2. Object Snap Tracking
        3. Intersecting Alignment Paths
      9. Dynamic Input
        1. Pointer Input
        2. Dimension Input
        3. Dynamic Prompts
        4. Dynamic Input Settings
      10. Using Construction Lines
        1. The XLINE Command
        2. The RAY Command
      11. Chapter Summary
      12. Chapter Test Questions
      13. Chapter Projects
    4. Chapter 6. Managing Object Properties
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Common Object Properties
      4. Layers
        1. The LAYER Command
        2. Layer Name List
        3. Deleting a Layer
        4. Layer Settings
      5. Using Layers
      6. Linetype Scale
      7. Hard-Coded Versus Soft-Coded Properties
        1. Setting the Default Object Properties
        2. Color Control and Management
        3. Linetype Control and Management
        4. Lineweight Control and Management
        5. Transparency Control and Management
      8. Changing the Properties of Objects
        1. The Properties Palette
        2. The Properties Panel
        3. Quick Properties
        4. Copying Properties Between Objects
        5. Creating Objects with Properties Based on Existing Objects
      9. Using DesignCenter to Import Layers
      10. Using Content Explorer to Import Layers
      11. Layer Filters
        1. The Filter Tree
        2. Property Filters
        3. Group Filters
        4. Search Filter
      12. Layer States Manager
      13. Object Visibility
      14. Chapter Summary
      15. Chapter Test Questions
      16. Chapter Projects
  11. Part Three: Understanding Editing Techniques: Basics Through Advanced
    1. Chapter 7. Basic Editing Techniques
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. The ERASE Command
      4. Selecting Objects for Editing
        1. Selecting Objects Individually
        2. Selecting Multiple Objects
        3. Advanced Selection Techniques
        4. Selecting Similar Objects
      5. Grouping Objects
      6. Moving Objects
      7. Copying Objects
      8. Mirroring Objects
        1. Mirroring Text
      9. Rotating Objects
        1. Rotating and Copying Objects
      10. Scaling Objects
        1. Scaling and Copying Objects
      11. Stretching Objects
      12. Selecting Objects First
      13. Using Grips to Edit
        1. Multifunctional Grips
        2. Controlling Grips
        3. Selecting Grips
        4. Grip Modes
      14. Chapter Summary
      15. Chapter Test Questions
      16. Chapter Projects
    2. Chapter 8. Advanced Editing Techniques
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Offsetting Objects
        1. Offsetting an Object a Specified Distance
        2. Offsetting Through a Point
        3. Offset Options
      4. Arraying Objects
        1. Creating a Rectangular Array
        2. Creating a Path Array
        3. Creating a Polar Array
      5. Trimming and Extending Objects
        1. Trimming Objects
        2. Extending Objects
      6. Creating Fillets and Chamfers
        1. Creating Fillets
        2. Capping Two Parallel Lines Using the Fillet Tool
        3. Creating Chamfers
      7. Breaking an Object
        1. Creating a Gap in an Object
        2. Breaking an Object Exactly at a Point
        3. Breaking Circles, Xlines, and Rays
        4. Selecting the Second Points
      8. Joining Multiple Objects
      9. Lengthening an Object
        1. The LENGTHEN Command Options
        2. Invalid Objects
      10. Chapter Summary
      11. Chapter Test Questions
      12. Chapter Projects
  12. Part Four: Working with Complex Objects
    1. Chapter 9. Drawing and Editing Complex Objects
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Drawing Polylines
        1. Drawing Polyline Arcs
        2. Drawing Polylines with a Width
      4. Drawing Rectangles
      5. Drawing Polygons
      6. Drawing Donuts
      7. Drawing Revision Clouds
        1. Changing the Arc Length
        2. Switching Styles
        3. Creating Revision Clouds from Existing Objects
        4. Editing Revision Clouds
      8. Editing Polylines
        1. Closing and Opening Polylines
        2. Joining Polylines
        3. Changing the Polyline Width
        4. Editing Polyline Vertices
        5. Converting Polylines into Smooth Curves
        6. Controlling Polyline Linetype Generation
        7. Reversing a Polyline
        8. Editing Polylines Using Grips
      9. Exploding Complex Objects
      10. Chapter Summary
      11. Chapter Test Questions
      12. Chapter Projects
    2. Chapter 10. Pattern Fills and Hatching
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Hatching
        1. Selecting a Hatch Area
        2. Controlling Hatch Settings and Options
      4. Gradient Fills
        1. Two-Color Gradient
        2. One-Color Gradient
        3. Gradient Pattern
      5. Editing Hatch Patterns
        1. Using the Hatch Editor Context Tab of the Ribbon
        2. Using the Hatch Edit Dialog Box
        3. Using the Properties Palette
        4. Trimming Hatches
        5. Exploding Hatches
      6. Using DesignCenter with Hatch Patterns
      7. Chapter Summary
      8. Chapter Test Questions
      9. Chapter Projects
  13. Part Five: Annotating Drawings
    1. Chapter 11: Adding Text
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Controlling the Appearance of Text
        1. Fonts
        2. Text Height
        3. Annotation Scale
        4. Text Styles
        5. The Text Style Dialog Box
      4. Creating Multiline Text
        1. The In-Place Multiline Text Editor
        2. The Text Editor Context Tab of the Ribbon
        3. The Right-Click Menu
        4. Stacked Text
      5. Creating Single-Line Text
        1. The Right-Click Menu
        2. Single-Line Text Justification
        3. Inserting Special Symbols in Single-Line Text
      6. Text Fields
        1. Inserting Text Fields
        2. Editing Text Fields
      7. Editing Text
        1. Editing Text Content
        2. Editing Text Using the Properties Palette
        3. Text Alignment
        4. Scaling Text
        5. Changing Text Justification
        6. Finding and Replacing Text
        7. The Spell Checker
      8. Chapter Summary
      9. Chapter Test Questions
      10. Chapter Projects
    2. Chapter 12. Working with Tables
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Creating Tables from Scratch
      4. Entering Table Data
      5. Creating Tables by Inserting a Data Link
        1. The Data Link Manager
      6. Managing Table Styles
      7. Modifying Tables
        1. The Right-Click Menu
      8. Modifying Table Cells
        1. The Table Cell Context Tab of the Ribbon
        2. The Right-Click Menu
      9. Inserting Formulas
      10. Chapter Summary
      11. Chapter Test Questions
      12. Chapter Projects
    3. Chapter 13. Dimensioning Drawings
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Dimension Tools
      4. Types of Dimensions
      5. Dimension Associativity
        1. Definition Points
      6. Dimension Layer
      7. Placing Dimensions
        1. The DIM Command
      8. Creating Horizontal and Vertical Dimensions
        1. Selecting Definition Points
        2. Selecting an Object
        3. The DIMLINEAR Options
      9. Creating Aligned Dimensions
      10. Dimensioning Circles and Arcs
        1. Radius Dimension
        2. Creating a Jogged Radius Dimension
        3. Diameter Dimension
        4. Dimensioning the Length of an Arc
        5. Creating Associative Center Marks and Centerlines
      11. Angular Dimensions
        1. Selecting Objects
        2. Selecting Vertex and Angle Endpoints
        3. The Quadrant Option
      12. Creating Datum and Chain Dimensions
        1. Continued Dimension
        2. Baseline Dimension
        3. DIMASSOC System Variable
      13. Dimension Tools
        1. The Adjust Space Tool
        2. The Break Tool
        3. The Jog Line Tool
      14. Quick Dimensioning
        1. Quick Dimension
      15. Managing Dimension Styles
        1. Creating a Dimension Style
        2. Modifying an Existing Dimension Style
        3. Modifying Dimension Styles Versus Overriding Dimension Styles
        4. Comparing Dimension Styles
      16. Creating Leaders
        1. The Multileader Tool
      17. Creating Geometric Dimension and Tolerance Symbols (GD&T)
        1. GDT Font
      18. Inspection Dimensions
      19. Modifying Dimensions
        1. Grip Editing Dimensions
        2. Right-Click Shortcut Menu
        3. Modifying Dimension Text and Extension Lines
        4. Reassociating Dimensions
        5. Applying Dimension Styles
      20. Chapter Summary
      21. Chapter Test Questions
      22. Chapter Projects
  14. Part Six: Outputting Your Work
    1. Chapter 14. Managing Paper Space Layouts
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Layout Paper Size
      4. Layout Viewport Scale
      5. Controlling Layers per Layout Viewport
      6. Setting Up a Layout
        1. The Page Setup Manager
        2. Creating Layout Viewports
        3. Making a Viewport Current
        4. Setting the Viewport Scale
        5. Locking the Viewport Display
        6. Controlling Layers per Layout Viewport
        7. Modifying Layout Viewports
        8. Turning Viewport Display Off and On
        9. Maximizing a Viewport
      7. Managing Layouts
        1. Creating a New Layout
        2. Renaming a Layout
        3. Moving or Copying a Layout
        4. Deleting a Layout
      8. Paper Space Linetype Scale
      9. Chapter Summary
      10. Chapter Test Questions
      11. Chapter Projects
    2. Chapter 15. Plotting and Publishing
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Page Setups and Plotting
        1. Previewing Your Plot
        2. Plotting from Model Space
        3. Plotting a Page Layout
        4. Default Plot Settings and Page Setups
      4. Plot Styles and Lineweights
        1. Plot Style Manager
        2. Color-Dependent Plot Styles
        3. Named Plot Styles
        4. Using Plot Styles
        5. Plot Options
      5. Plotter Setup
        1. Windows System Printers
        2. AutoCAD Printers
        3. Plotter Manager
        4. Plotting to a File
      6. Plotting a Set of Drawings
        1. Batch Plotting
      7. Working with DWF Files
        1. Autodesk Design Review
        2. Autodesk DWF Writer
      8. Chapter Summary
      9. Chapter Test Questions
      10. Chapter Projects
  15. Part Seven: Advanced Drawing and Construction Methods
    1. Chapter 16. Blocks and Block Attributes
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Creating Blocks
        1. The BLOCK Command
        2. Block Object Properties
      4. Inserting Blocks
        1. The INSERT Command
        2. Nonuniformly Scaled Unit Blocks
        3. Exploding Blocks
        4. Inserting a Drawing File as a Block
        5. Using Windows Explorer to Insert a Drawing File
      5. Exporting Blocks
        1. The WBLOCK Command
      6. Block Attributes
      7. Creating Attributes
        1. Attribute Definition
      8. Updating and Editing Attributes
        1. Editing Attributes Individually
        2. Editing Attributes Globally
        3. Managing Attributes
      9. Extracting Attributes
        1. Extracting Attribute Data
        2. Updating Data Extraction Table Data Manually
        3. Updating Data Extraction Table Data Automatically
      10. Redefining Blocks
        1. Updating Blocks Created in the Current Drawing
        2. Updating Blocks Inserted from an External Drawing File
        3. Editing Blocks In-Place
        4. Redefining Blocks with Attributes
      11. Using DesignCenter to Manage Blocks
        1. The DesignCenter Window
      12. Tool Palettes and Dynamic Blocks
        1. Controlling Tool Palettes
        2. Tool Properties
        3. Adding Tools to Tool Palettes
        4. Introduction to Dynamic Blocks
      13. Chapter Summary
      14. Chapter Test Questions
      15. Chapter Projects
    2. Chapter 17. Working with External References
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. The Reference Panel
      4. External References Palette
      5. Blocks Versus Xrefs
        1. Blocks
        2. Xrefs
        3. Nested Xrefs
      6. Attaching an Xref
        1. Attachment Versus Overlay
        2. Setting the Path Type
        3. Insertion Point, Scale, and Rotation
      7. Manage Xrefs Icon
      8. Layers and Xrefs
        1. Changing Xref Layers
      9. Managing Xrefs
        1. The Right-Click Menu
      10. Editing Xrefs
        1. Edit Reference In-Place
        2. Opening Xrefs
        3. Clipping an Xref
      11. Binding Parts of an Xref
      12. Demand Loading Xrefs
      13. Working with Raster Images
        1. Attaching Raster Images
        2. Managing Images
        3. Controlling Image Settings
      14. Working with DWF Underlays
        1. Attaching DWF Underlays
        2. Managing DWF Underlays
        3. Controlling DWF Underlay Settings
        4. DWF Layer Control
      15. Working with DGN Underlays
        1. Attaching DGN Underlays
        2. Managing DGN Underlays
        3. Controlling DGN Underlay Settings
      16. Working with PDF Underlays
        1. Attaching PDF Underlays
        2. Managing PDF Underlays
        3. Controlling PDF Underlay Settings
      17. Working with Point Cloud References
        1. Attaching Point Cloud References
        2. Controlling Point Cloud References
        3. Managing Point Cloud References
      18. Working with Coordination Model References
        1. Attaching Coordination Model References
        2. Controlling Coordination Model References
      19. Transmitting Drawings with References
        1. Using eTransmit
        2. Configuring the Transmittal
      20. Chapter Summary
      21. Chapter Test Questions
      22. Chapter Projects
    3. Chapter 18. Drawing Management Tools and Utilities
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Drawing File Backup and Recovery
        1. File Safety Precautions
        2. Recovering Lost or Corrupt Drawings
        3. Cleaning Up Drawing Files
      4. Working with Different CAD File Formats
        1. Exporting to DWF/PDF Files
        2. Importing PDF Files
        3. Importing and Exporting Other File Types
        4. Working with DXF Files
        5. DWG Convert Tool
      5. Object Linking and Embedding
        1. Object Linking Versus Object Embedding
        2. Inserting OLE Objects
        3. Editing OLE Objects
      6. Action Recorder
      7. Measure Tools
      8. QuickCalc Calculator
        1. Using QuickCalc
        2. Converting Units
        3. Calculator Variables
      9. Deleting Duplicate Objects
      10. Web-Based Collaboration Tools
        1. A360
        2. The A360 Tab
      11. Chapter Summary
      12. Chapter Test Questions
  16. Appendix A. Drafting Standards Overview
  17. Appendix B. Command Reference
  18. Appendix C. Command Aliases
  19. Appendix D. System Variables
  20. Appendix E. Express Tools
  21. Glossary
  22. Index

Product information

  • Title: Introduction to AutoCAD® 2017: A Modern Perspective
  • Author(s): Paul Richard
  • Release date: August 2016
  • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
  • ISBN: 9780134507569