AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible - Ellen Finkelstein - E-Book

AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible E-Book

Ellen Finkelstein

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Beschreibung

10th anniversary edition of the bestselling AutoCAD Bible Even AutoCAD developers turn to this book for answers! Find out what fans of all the previous bestselling editions of this book already know: this is the top all-in-one guide to everything you need to master AutoCAD. Whether you're a novice looking to start with the basics and progress to programming, or an AutoCAD veteran exploring what's new or seeking a quick refresher, every feature is covered. Start drawing today in AutoCAD 2010 with the one book you need to succeed. * Start drawing right away with a Quick Start project * Draw, view, and edit in 2D, then add text and dimensions * Reference other drawings and link data to objects * Build, view, and present complex 3D drawings * Customize commands, create shortcuts, and use scripts and macros * Program AutoCAD using AutoLISP® and VBA What's on the DVD? * Trial versions of both AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 * Over 300 before-and-after drawings from working AutoCAD professionals * A selection of helpful add-on programs * The entire book in searchable PDF * Videos on the two big new features of AutoCAD 2010-- Parametric Constraints and Mesh Solids System Requirements: Please see the DVD appendix for details and system requirements. Control your drawings with the new parametric constraints Draw and display sophisticated 2D and 3D models Create organic, molded solids with 3D meshes Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

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AutoCAD® 2010 and AutoCAD LT® 2010 Bible

Table of Contents

Part I: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Basics

Quick Start: Drawing a Window

Summary

Chapter 1: Starting to Draw

AutoCAD's Advantages

Comparing AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT

Starting AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT

Creating a New Drawing

Using the AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Interface

The drawing area

The ribbon and Quick Access toolbar

Using the Application menu

The command line and dynamic input tooltip

The status bar

Creating a New Folder

Using the Interface

Saving a Drawing

Closing a Drawing and Exiting from AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT

Summary

Chapter 2: Opening a Drawing

Creating a New Drawing from a Template

Working with Templates

Customizing the default template

Creating your own templates

Creating a Drawing with Default Settings

Opening an Existing Drawing

Using other ways to open drawings

Switching among open drawings

Saving a Drawing under a New Name

Summary

Chapter 3: Using Commands

The AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Interface

Using the ribbon

Using menus

Using shortcut menus

Using dialog boxes

Using toolbars

Using palettes

Tool palettes

The Command Line and Dynamic Input

Using Dynamic Input

Understanding command names

Responding to commands

Command Techniques

Repeating commands

Using recent input

Canceling commands

Undoing a command

Redoing a command

Using one command within another command

Of Mice and Pucks

Getting Help

Getting help on a command

Finding help with Quickstart links

Using the main Help system

Working with Help screens

Using the InfoCenter

Summary

Chapter 4: Specifying Coordinates

Understanding the X,Y Coordinate System

Drawing units

Types of measurement notation

Typing Coordinates

Using the Dynamic Input tooltip to enter coordinates

Absolute Cartesian coordinates

Relative Cartesian coordinates

Polar coordinates

Direct distance entry

Orthogonal mode

Polar tracking

Displaying Coordinates

Picking Coordinates on the Screen

Snap settings

Object snaps

Running object snaps and Object Snap mode

Overriding Coordinate Settings

Locating Points

Object snap tracking

Using the temporary tracking feature

Point filters

From feature

Summary

Chapter 5: Setting Up a Drawing

Choosing Unit Types

Setting the drawing units

Setting the angle type

Setting the angle measure and direction

Drawing Limits

Understanding Scales

Working with scale formats

Using annotative scales

Customizing the scale list

Deciding on a scale and sheet size

Creating a Titleblock

Specifying Common Setup Options

Customizing with the MVSETUP Command and Setup Wizards

Summary

Part II: Drawing in Two Dimensions

Chapter 6: Drawing Simple Lines

Using the LINE Command

Drawing Rectangles

Drawing Polygons

Creating Construction Lines

Creating Rays

Summary

Chapter 7: Drawing Curves and Points

Drawing Circles

Understanding the circle options

Drawing circles

Drawing Arcs

Understanding arc options

Drawing arcs

Creating Ellipses and Elliptical Arcs

Understanding ellipse options

Drawing ellipses

Making Donuts

Understanding DONUT options

Drawing donuts

Placing Points

Changing the point style

Creating points

Summary

Chapter 8: Viewing Your Drawing

Regenerating and Redrawing the Display

Panning

Using the PAN command

Using the scroll bars

Using the ZOOM Command

Understanding ZOOM options

Using ZOOM Dynamic

Using the SteeringWheel

Creating Named Views

Saving a view

Displaying a view

Managing named views

Creating animated presentations from named views

Using named views to manage a drawing

Working with Tiled Viewports

Configuring tiled viewports

Using tiled viewports

Saving and restoring viewport configurations

Using Snap Rotation

Understanding User Coordinate Systems

Understanding UCS options

Saving and restoring a custom UCS

Controlling the UCS icon

Using a custom UCS

Creating Isometric Drawings

Understanding isometric planes

Drawing in Isometric mode

Summary

Chapter 9: Editing Your Drawing with Basic Tools

Editing a Drawing

Understanding object-selection basics

Erasing objects

Moving objects

Copying objects

Copying and moving objects from one drawing to another

Rotating objects

Scaling objects

Using the CHANGE command

Selecting Objects

Selecting objects after choosing a command

Cycling through objects

Selecting objects before choosing a command

Implied windowing

Customizing the selection process

Summary

Chapter 10: Editing Your Drawing with Advanced Tools

Copying and Moving Objects

Mirroring objects

Using the ARRAY command

Offsetting objects

Aligning objects

Resizing Commands

Trimming objects

Extending objects

Lengthening objects

Stretching objects

Using Construction Commands

Breaking objects

Joining objects

Creating chamfered corners

Creating rounded corners

Creating a Revision Cloud

Hiding Objects with a Wipeout

Constraining Objects with Parameters

Using geometric constraints

Auto-constraining objects

Using dimensional constraints

Working with the Parameters Manager

Double-Clicking to Edit Objects

Grips

Stretching with grips

Moving with grips

Rotating with grips

Scaling with grips

Mirroring with grips

Customizing grips

Editing with the Quick Properties Palette and the Properties Palette

Using the Quick Properties palette

Using the Properties palette

Selection Filters

Using Quick Select to select objects

Using the FILTER command

Naming and editing filters

Using filters

Groups

Creating and modifying groups in AutoCAD

Creating and modifying groups in AutoCAD LT

Using groups

Summary

Chapter 11: Organizing Drawings with Layers, Colors, Linetypes, and Lineweights

Working with Layers

Understanding layers

Creating new layers

Using layers

Using special layer tools

Modifying layers

Changing Object Color, Linetype, and Lineweight

Changing an object's color

Changing the current color

Changing an object's linetype

Changing the current linetype

Changing an object's lineweight

Changing the current lineweight

Working with Linetype Scales

Changing linetype spacing by using a different linetype

Changing linetype spacing by changing the global linetype scale

Changing linetype spacing by changing the object linetype scale

Importing Layers and Linetypes from Other Drawings

Matching Properties

Summary

Chapter 12: Obtaining Information from Your Drawing

Drawing-Level Information

Listing the status of your drawing

Listing system variables

Tracking drawing time

Object-Level Information

Listing objects

Finding coordinates

Measuring objects

Getting information from the Properties palette

Getting information from the Quick Properties panel

Dividing and Spacing Commands

Dividing objects

Measuring objects

AutoCAD's Calculator

Calculating numbers

Using coordinates

Using object snaps

Using the scientific calculator

Converting units

Working with QuickCalc variables

Using QuickCalc in the Properties palette

Summary

Chapter 13: Creating Text

Creating Single-Line Text

Justifying single-line text

Setting the height

Setting the rotation angle

Adding special characters and formatting

Editing single-line text

Understanding Text Styles

Creating a new text style

Renaming and deleting text styles

Modifying a text style

Making a style current or changing a text object's style

Importing a text style

Creating Multiline Text

Using the In-Place Text Editor

Creating text for different scales

Editing paragraph text

Importing text

Creating Tables

Inserting a table

Specifying a table style

Adding data to a table

Modifying a table

Inserting Fields

Creating fields

Editing and updating fields

Managing Text

Using Quicktext

Using AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT fonts

Freezing text layers

Using MIRRTEXT

Finding Text in Your Drawing

Checking Your Spelling

Summary

Chapter 14: Drawing Dimensions

Working with Dimensions

The elements of a dimension

Preparing to dimension

Drawing Linear Dimensions

Specifying the dimensioned object

Using dimension options

Creating jogged dimension lines

Drawing Aligned Dimensions

Specifying the dimensioned object

Using the options

Creating Baseline and Continued Dimensions

Drawing baseline dimensions

Drawing continued dimensions

Dimensioning Arcs and Circles

Marking arc and circle centers

Dimensioning arc lengths

Creating radial dimensions

Creating diameter dimensions

Dimensioning Angles

Creating Ordinate Dimensions

Drawing Leaders

Creating a multileader

Editing multileaders

Creating a multileader style

Aligning and combining leaders

Using Quick Dimension

Creating Inspection Dimensions

Creating Geometric Tolerances

Starting the tolerance frame

Inserting the tolerance frame

Editing a tolerance frame

Editing Dimensions

Editing associativity

Using the DIMEDIT command

Using the DIMTEDIT command

Flipping dimension arrows

Editing dimension text

Using the Properties palette to edit dimensions

Changing annotative scales

Spacing dimensions equally apart

Breaking dimensions

Using Quick Dimension to edit dimensions

Using grips to edit dimensions

Editing objects and dimensions together

Summary

Chapter 15: Creating Dimension Styles

Understanding Dimension Styles

Defining a New Dimension Style

Managing dimension lines

Defining symbols and arrows

Managing dimension text

Fitting dimensions into tight spaces

Defining primary units

Defining alternate units

Formatting tolerances

Changing Dimension Styles

Choosing a new current dimension style

Creating a variant of a dimension style

Modifying a dimension to use a new dimension style

Modifying dimension styles

Overriding a dimension style

Updating dimensions

Comparing dimension styles

Copying dimension styles from other drawings

Summary

Chapter 16: Drawing Complex Objects

Creating and Editing Polylines

Using the PLINE command

Editing polylines with the PEDIT command

Editing polylines with the Properties palette or Quick Properties palette

Drawing and Editing Splines

Creating splines

Editing splines

Creating Regions

Creating Boundaries

Creating Hatches

Understanding hatch patterns

Defining a hatch

Determining the hatch boundary

Dragging and dropping hatch patterns

Creating gradient fills

Editing hatches

Using the SOLID command

Creating and Editing Multilines

Creating a multiline style

Drawing multilines

Editing multilines

Creating Dlines in AutoCAD LT

Using the SKETCH Command

Digitizing Drawings with the TABLET Command

Summary

Chapter 17: Plotting and Printing Your Drawing

Preparing a Drawing for Plotting or Printing

Doing a draft plot

Plotting a drawing from model space

Creating a Layout in Paper Space

Entering paper space

Using the Layout Wizard

Laying out a drawing in paper space on your own

Annotating a layout

Saving a layout template

Working with Plot Styles

Setting the plot-style mode

Creating a plot-style table

Attaching a plot-style table to a layout

Setting the plot-style property for a layer or object

Plotting a Drawing

Specifying plot settings

Previewing your plot

Creating a plot stamp

Creating the plot

Summary

Part III: Working with Data

Chapter 18: Working with Blocks and Attributes

Combining Objects into Blocks

Understanding base points and insertion points

Creating a block

Redefining a block

Saving blocks as files

Replacing an existing file

Inserting Blocks and Files into Drawings

Using the Insert dialog box

Using the DesignCenter

Managing Blocks

Working with layers

Exploding blocks

Using the XPLODE command

Editing blocks

Creating and Using Dynamic Blocks

Understanding action-based parameters

Understanding the work flow of dynamic blocks

Defining a dynamic block with action-based parameters

Inserting and modifying dynamic blocks

Using Windows Features to Copy Data

Manipulating objects with the Windows Clipboard

Using drag-and-drop

Working with Attributes

Creating attribute definitions

Inserting blocks with attributes

Editing attributes

Extracting a database from attributes

Summary

Chapter 19: Referencing Other Drawings

Understanding External References

Attaching an external reference

Opening an xref

Using the External References palette

Editing an Xref within Your Drawing

Choosing the xref or block to edit

Editing the xref

Controlling Xref Display

Xrefs and dependent symbols

Circular references

Clipping xrefs

Speeding up the display of large xrefs

Managing Xrefs

Xref notification

DesignCenter

The xref log file

Working with DWF, DGN, and PDF Underlays

Attaching a DWF underlay

Attaching a DGN underlay

Attaching a PDF underlay

Modifying an underlay

Summary

Chapter 20: Working with External Databases

Understanding External Database Access

Preparing for Database Connectivity

Organizing the database structure

Configuring a data source

Connecting to Your Database

Connecting a database to a drawing

Opening a data table

Editing data in the Data View window

Linking Data to Drawing Objects

Creating a link template

Creating a link

Creating Labels

Creating label templates

Creating attached labels

Creating freestanding labels

Querying with the Query Editor

Using the Quick Query tab

Using the Range Query tab

Using the Query Builder tab

Using the SQL Query tab

Creating selection sets with Link Select

Working with Query Files

Storing queries

Importing and exporting queries

Summary

Part IV: Drawing in Three Dimensions

Chapter 21: Specifying 3D Coordinates

Working in a 3D Environment

Using 3D Coordinates

Absolute and relative Cartesian coordinates in 3D

Cylindrical and spherical coordinates

Using editing commands with 3D wireframes

Using point filters, object snaps, object tracking, and grips in 3D

Creating 3D polylines

Creating helixes

Using Elevation and Thickness

Creating surfaces with thickness

Using the HIDE command

Controlling the display of hidden lines and objects

Adding elevation to objects

Working with the User Coordinate System

Using the UCS icon

UCSs and viewpoints

Using UCS options to change the UCS

Changing the UCS dynamically

Summary

Chapter 22: Viewing 3D Drawings

Working with the Standard Viewpoints

Using the VPOINT command

Looking at a drawing from the standard viewpoints

Using DDVPOINT

Using the ViewCube to View Your Drawing

Creating a Named View with a Camera

Creating a camera

Editing a camera

Adding a Background to a Named View

Working with the Tripod and Compass

Displaying a Quick Plan View

Displaying Parallel and Perspective Projections

Using 3D Orbit

Starting 3D Orbit

Navigating with 3D Orbit

Refining your 3D Orbit view

Using ShowMotion to Cycle Through Views

Creating shots

Displaying shots

Walking Through a Model

Navigating in Walk mode

Specifying Walk mode settings

Flying through a model

Saving the walk as a movie file

Using a motion path to save a movie file

Navigating with the Wheel

Using DVIEW to a Create a Perspective View

Using DVIEW

Understanding the DVIEW options

Working with Visual Styles

Displaying visual styles in AutoCAD

Creating custom visual styles

Using the shading options in AutoCAD LT

Display materials, textures, and lights as you work

Laying Out 3D Drawings

Using SOLVIEW to lay out paper space viewports

Using SOLDRAW to create hidden lines and hatching

Using SOLPROF to create profiles

Flattening 3D drawings

Printing in 3D

Summary

Chapter 23: Creating 3D Surfaces

Drawing Surfaces with 3DFACE

Using the 3DFACE command

Making 3D face edges invisible

Drawing Surfaces with PFACE

Creating Plane Surfaces

Creating Polygon Meshes with 3DMESH

Drawing Standard 3D Shapes

Box

Wedge

Pyramid

Cone

Sphere

Dome

Dish

Torus

Mesh

Drawing Revolved Surfaces

Understanding the REVSURF command

Working with the REVOLVE command

Drawing an Extruded Surface

Working with the TABSURF command

Working with the EXTRUDE command

Sweeping objects along a path

Drawing Surfaces Between 2D Objects

Creating ruled surfaces

Lofting objects

Drawing Edge Surfaces

Working with Multiple Types of Objects

Converting 2D objects to surfaces

Converting meshes to smooth surfaces

Thickening a surface into a solid

Extracting edges from a surface or a region

Summary

Chapter 24: Creating Solids and Editing in 3D

Drawing Basic Smooth Solids

Drawing a box

Drawing a wedge

Drawing a cone

Drawing a sphere

Drawing a cylinder

Drawing a torus

Drawing a pyramid

Creating Extruded Solids

Managing objects used to make other objects

Using the EXTRUDE command

Drawing Swept Solids

Drawing Revolved Solids

Drawing Lofted Solids

Drawing Polyline-Like Solids

Manipulating Solids

Grip-editing solids

Selecting sub-objects

Moving, rotating, and scaling with the gizmos

Working with Mesh Shapes

Creating meshes

Editing meshes

Converting solids and meshes

Creating Complex Solids

Combining solids

Subtracting solids

Creating a solid from the intersection of two solids

Creating a new solid by using INTERFERE

Pressing or pulling a region

Using solid history

Sectioning and Slicing Solids

Using the SECTION command

Creating an interactive section object

Using the SLICE command

Using Editing Commands in 3D

Mirroring in 3D

Arraying in 3D

Rotating in 3D

Aligning in 3D

Trimming and extending in 3D

Filleting in 3D

Chamfering in 3D

Exploding and converting 3D objects

Using the SOLIDEDIT Command

Editing faces

Editing edges

Editing bodies

Listing Solid Properties

Summary

Chapter 25: Rendering in 3D

Understanding Rendering

Learning the steps

Doing a default rendering

Creating Lights

Setting the default light

Creating a point light

Creating a target point light

Creating a spotlight

Creating a Free spotlight

Creating a distant light

Simulating the sun

Managing lights

Working with Materials

Attaching a material from the Tool Palettes window

Using the Materials palette

Creating your own materials

Attaching materials

Using backgrounds

Doing the Final Render

Statistics

Saving rendered images

Summary

Part V: Organizing and Managing Drawings

Chapter 26: Keeping Control of Your Drawings

Accessing Drawing Components with the DesignCenter

Navigating with the DesignCenter

Accessing named drawing components

Controlling the DesignCenter display

Accessing Drawing Content with Tool Palettes

Creating a new tool palette

Adding content tools

Adding command tools

Copying a tool

Setting tool properties

Organizing tool palettes

Using a tool palette

Setting Standards for Drawings

Using the CAD Standards tools

Using layer notification

Translating layers

The Communication Center

Renaming named objects

Working with Sheet Sets

Understanding sheet sets

Creating a sheet set

Setting up sheet set references

Using a sheet set

Organizing Your Drawings

Archiving drawings

Finding drawings

Specifying drawing properties

Maintaining Security

Password protection

Digital signatures

Keeping Track of Referenced Files

Handling Errors and Crashes

Taking care of temporary files

Repairing corrupted drawing files

Using backup drawings

Recovering from a crash

Managing Drawings from Prior Releases

Summary

Chapter 27: Working with Other Applications

Importing and Exporting Other File Formats

Exporting drawings

Importing files

Working with Raster Images

Attaching images

Managing images

Clipping images

Controlling image display

Pasting, Linking, and Embedding Objects

Embedding objects into a drawing

Using Paste Special

Linking data

Summary

Chapter 28: Creating Electronic Output

Sending Drawings

Using eTransmit

Specifying transmittal settings

Opening Drawings from the Web

Using the Browse the Web – Open dialog box

Using i-drop to drag objects into a drawing

Creating Object Hyperlinks

Creating a hyperlink

Using a hyperlink

Editing a hyperlink

Publishing Drawings

Understanding DWF and DWFx files

Creating 2D DWF and DWFx files

Creating 3D DWF and 3D DWFx files

Using the Publish to Web Wizard

Posting DWF and DWFx files directly

Editing Web pages

Viewing DWF and DWFx drawings

Summary

Part VI: Customizing AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT

Chapter 29: Customizing Commands, Toolbars, and Tool Palettes

Working with Customizable Files

Editing customizable files

Backing up customizable files

Using the command-line form of commands

Documenting your files

Creating Shortcuts for Commands

Creating shortcuts to Windows programs

Creating keyboard shortcuts to commands

Customizing Toolbars

Customizing classic toolbars

Removing buttons from an existing toolbar

Creating a new toolbar

Removing custom commands

Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar

Creating and displaying a Quick Access toolbar

Adding a drop-down menu

Customizing Tool Palettes

Summary

Chapter 30: Creating Macros and Slide Shows

Creating Macros with Script Files

Creating the script file

Running a script file

Recording Actions

Creating an action macro

Editing an action macro

Playing back a macro

Creating Slide Shows

Creating slides

Viewing slides

Using scripts to create slide shows

Creating Slide Libraries

Summary

Chapter 31: Creating Your Own Linetypes and Hatch Patterns

Creating Linetypes

Creating simple linetypes

Creating complex linetypes

Creating Hatch Patterns

Summary

Chapter 32: Creating Shapes and Fonts

Creating Shapes

Using shape files

Creating shape files

Editing shape files

Creating Fonts

Summary

Chapter 33: Customizing the Ribbon and Menus

Working with the Customization File

Understanding the Customization file

Loading and unloading customization files

Customizing the Interface

Looking at a ribbon panel

Writing macros

Customizing the ribbon

Customizing the drop-down menu

Customizing mouse buttons and tablet buttons

Customizing image-tile menus

Customizing tablet menus

Working with the Screen menu

Creating keyboard shortcuts

Customizing the double-click behavior

Customizing the Quick Properties palette and rollover tooltips

Summary

Part VII: Programming AutoCAD

Chapter 34: Understanding AutoLISP and Visual LISP Basics

Introducing Visual LISP

Opening Visual LISP

Opening and loading an AutoLISP file with Visual LISP

Loading an AutoLISP file

Using an AutoLISP routine in AutoCAD

Looking at an AutoLISP routine

Using the Visual LISP editor

Closing a file and Visual LISP

Getting Help in Visual LISP

Working with AutoLISP Expressions

Understanding AutoLISP syntax

Working with numbers and text

Using AutoLISP on the Command Line

Creating AutoLISP Files

Summary

Chapter 35: Exploring AutoLISP Further

Creating Variables

Working with AutoCAD Commands

Accessing AutoCAD commands

Creating functions

Creating functions with arguments

Working with system variables

Working with Lists

Using lists for coordinates

Creating dotted pairs

Setting Conditions

Conditional statements

Loop statements

Managing Drawing Objects

Getting information about an object

Modifying objects

Creating selection sets

Getting Input from the User

Putting on the Finishing Touches

Summary

Chapter 36: Exploring Advanced AutoLISP Topics

Understanding Global and Local Variables

Working with Visual LISP ActiveX Functions

Reviewing AutoLISP retrieval and modification

Using ActiveX with Visual LISP

Debugging Code

Using the Error Trace window

Working with breakpoints

Using the Watch window

Summary

Chapter 37: Programming with Visual Basic for Applications

Starting to Work with VBA

Opening the VBA environment

Getting acquainted with VBA

Investigating the hierarchy model

Accessing help

Writing VBA Code

Looking at VBA syntax

Saving a VBA routine

Loading a VBA routine

Running a VBA routine

Using the Visual Basic Editor

Understanding variables

Creating VBA statements

Getting User Input

Creating Dialog Boxes

Understanding the Toolbox toolbar

Changing dialog box properties

Adding dialog box controls

Modifying Objects

Using constants

Using functions

Debugging and Trapping Errors

Moving to Advanced Programming

Summary

A Final Word

Part VIII: Appendixes

Appendix A: Installing and Configuring AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT

Preparing to install

Starting installation

Installing the VBA enabler

Installing network licenses and CAD Manager tools

Changing an installation

Authorizing AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT

Creating and modifying a workspace

Switching between workspaces

Customizing the status bar

Configuring options

Using command-line switches

Understanding configuration files

Creating multiple configurations

Using the Plotter Manager

Editing a plotter configuration

Appendix B: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Resources

Using AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Help resources

Learning from your dealer

Taking a course

Learning from other users

Reading magazines and newsletters

Appendix C: What's on the DVD-ROM

Using the Drawings folder

Using the Results folder

Using the Links folder

Using the Software folder

Applications

Using the eBook version of AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible

AutoCAD® 2010 & AutoCAD LT® 2010 Bible

AutoCAD® 2010 & AutoCAD LT® 2010 Bible

Ellen Finkelstein

AutoCAD® 2010 & AutoCAD LT® 2010 Bible

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.10475 Crosspoint BoulevardIndianapolis, IN 46256www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 978-0-470-43640-0

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201-748-6011, fax 201-748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. The fact that an organization or Website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the publisher endorses the information the organization or Website may provide or recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet Websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read.

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Trademarks: Wiley and related trade dress are registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc., in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. Autodesk, AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, DWF, DWG, and the DWG logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the U.S.A. and/or certain other countries. Certain content, including trial software, provided courtesy Autodesk, Inc., © 2009. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

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Dedication

To MMY, for teaching me that there's more to life than meets the eye and that the deeper levels of life are the most intelligent, powerful, and blissful.

About the Author

Ellen Finkelstein learned AutoCAD in Israel, where she always got to pore over the manual because it was in English. After returning to the United States, she started consulting and teaching AutoCAD as well as other computer programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. She has also taught courses on Web writing and usability. Her Web site, www.ellenfinkelsteincom, contains tips and techniques for AutoCAD, PowerPoint, and presenting, and she publishes the AutoCAD Tips Blog, and a monthly AutoCAD Tips Newsletter. Ellen has written extensively on AutoCAD, including articles for Autodesk's Web site and features for AutoCAD's Help system. Ellen's first book was AutoCAD For Dummies Quick Reference. Since then, she has written books on PowerPoint, OpenOffice.org (OpenOffice.org For Dummies), Flash (such as Flash CS4 For Dummies), and Web technologies (Syndicating Web Sites with RSS Feeds For Dummies). You're holding the tenth edition (wow!) of this book, which previously appeared for AutoCAD releases 14, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Credits

Senior Acquisitions Editor

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Foreword

Congratulations!

Whether you are a new or expert user with AutoCAD, you have truly made a worthwhile investment with the AutoCAD 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible. This book will be a valuable addition to your library that you will use on a regular basis as a reference and guide to using AutoCAD. With each release of AutoCAD and its new feature set, the AutoCAD Bible is an excellent resource for learning and getting up to speed quickly on all things AutoCAD.

Everything from the basics of AutoCAD to 3D and programming is covered in this book. The information is well organized, and a comprehensive index makes retrieving information that you need a cinch.

You'll see real-world examples and AutoCAD drawings on the DVD that will quickly help you to understand and learn new concepts through the exercises. Even more helpful is the fact that the drawings are available in both a before and after format, allowing you to use the after format as a reference.

Ellen has been writing books about AutoCAD for so long that she is practically a household name here at Autodesk and in the AutoCAD world. She is an active participant in our beta program and helps shape the direction of future releases of AutoCAD. You are truly learning from one of the finest and most experienced professionals in this field.

Although the in-depth coverage of this book may seem overwhelming, do not feel discouraged by the book's thickness. Pick out the tools that you want to learn about and then proceed from there. If you are interested in learning new features, pick a different topic each week to learn about it.

Thank you, Ellen, for creating another great edition of the AutoCAD Bible. I know our customers will benefit from reading it as I have.

Kathy O'ConnellAutoCAD Product ManagerAutodesk, Inc.

Acknowledgments

I would like to offer special thanks to Stephanie McComb, my acquisitions editor, who was very supportive throughout the writing of this book.

A huge thank-you goes to Jade Williams, whose infinite organizing power kept the book on track. Jade kept up with a seemingly infinite number of versions of text documents and images, coordinating the writing, editing, and production of the entire book.

My thanks to Lee Ambrosius, (www.hyperpicscom), the highly knowledgeable technical editor for most of the book. Lee's comments improved the book throughout. In addition, Lee and Brian Benton both took on chapters to update; their expert help made this huge project a lot easier. Finally, Darren Young did a superb job of technical editing for Lee's chapters. These three are AutoCAD authorities and you, the reader, benefit.

I also thank Marylouise Wiack for her precise editing of this very technical book, and all of the people at Wiley who helped with the production of this book and its DVD.

Thanks to Kathy O'Connell, AutoCAD Product Manager at Autodesk, Inc., for the excellent Foreword for this book. I also want to express my great appreciation to the members of Autodesk's beta and product teams who were very supportive throughout the beta period. They include Shaan (the great) Hurley, Nate Bartley, Eric Stover, Matt Stein, and many others.

Many people contributed drawings and software for this book. I'd like to thank all of them. They have helped to make this book the most comprehensive book on AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT available.

Finally, I would like to thank my husband, Evan, who helped out around the house while I was writing, writing, and writing. Without his support, I could not have completed this book.

Introduction

Welcome to the AutoCAD 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible. Whether you use AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, you'll find complete explanations of all the powerful features that you need to know about to design and draw anything. This book is designed to be your comprehensive guide to both the AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT programs.

This book covers every significant AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT feature. If you're a beginning user, you'll find everything you need to start out; if you're already using AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT regularly, the book covers advanced material as well. Although you can use this book as a tutorial if you're just starting out or learning a new set of features, it also provides a solid reference base to come back to again and again. The short tutorials on almost every topic will quickly have you creating professional-level drawings. The DVD is chock-full of drawings, a trial version of AutoCAD 2010, and add-in programs (which are for AutoCAD only). This book is all that you need to make full use of either program.

For AutoCAD 2010, the emphasis is on a wide range of new features, including parametric constraints and 3D mesh modeling.

Is This Book for You?

The AutoCAD 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible covers all of the essential features of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT and includes clear, real-life examples and tutorials that you can adapt to your needs.

Although I fully cover the basics, I have also included material on the many advanced features, such as AutoLISP, 3D modeling, rendering, and customization. (Most of the advanced features apply to AutoCAD only.) The following categories should help you decide whether this book is for you.

If you are a new AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT user

If you are new to AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, the AutoCAD 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible guides you through all that you need to know to start drawing effectively, whatever your field. Just start at the beginning.

If you are upgrading to AutoCAD 2010 or AutoCAD LT 2010

This book highlights all of the new features and helps you to make the upgrade transition as seamless as possible. Look for the New Feature icons.

If you are switching from another CAD program

You already know what CAD is all about. This book clearly explains the AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT way of drawing the models that you have already been drawing. In addition, you'll find a great deal of essential information about transferring files and data from other formats.

How This Book Is Organized

This book is divided into eight parts.

Part I: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Basics

Part I provides the background information that you need to start drawing. It starts with a “quick tour” that has you drawing right away, and then covers how to start a drawing, use commands, specify coordinates, and set up a drawing.

Part II: Drawing in Two Dimensions

Part II covers all of the commands and procedures for drawing and editing in two dimensions. In addition, I discuss how to control the drawing process with layers, zooming, and panning. Also included in this part is information about dimensioning, plotting, and printing.

Part III: Working with Data

Part III covers many ways to organize and share data, including blocks, attributes, external references, and external databases.

Part IV: Drawing in Three Dimensions

Part IV explains everything that you need to know to draw in three dimensions. It also discusses how to present 3D drawings using shading and rendering techniques.

Part V: Organizing and Managing Drawings

Part V helps you to incorporate AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT into your work world by explaining how to set standards, manage drawings, and work with other applications. It concludes with a chapter on creating electronic output.

Part VI: Customizing AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT

Part VI introduces the tools that you need to customize commands, toolbars, linetypes, hatch patterns, shapes, fonts, and the ribbon. You'll also find a chapter on creating macros with script files as well as the Action Recorder.

Part VII: Programming AutoCAD

Part VII introduces you to programming AutoCAD. It includes three chapters on AutoLISP and Visual LISP, and one chapter on Visual Basic for Applications. This part applies to AutoCAD only.

Part VIII: Appendixes

Part VIII provides additional information for AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT users. Appendix A gives instructions for installing and configuring AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. Appendix B covers additional resources for AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT users. Appendix C explains what you'll find on the DVD.

The DVD contains a complete copy of this book in nonprintable PDF format.

How to Use This Book

You can use this book in two ways: as a tutorial and learning tool, or as a reference.

As a tutorial

The overall organization of the book goes from simple to complex, and each chapter has several step-by-step exercises. This enables you to use the book as a tutorial, from beginning to end. You can always go back and redo any exercise when you need to refresh your memory on a particular feature.

For newcomers to AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, Parts I (AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Basics) and II (Drawing in Two Dimensions) are essential. After that, you can refer to chapters that interest you. Parts III (Working with Data) and V (Organizing and Managing Drawings) are also useful for beginners. Intermediate users will probably be familiar with most of the material in Part I and will be more likely to skip around, looking for the specific topics that they need. However, don't forget that many new features are introduced in Part I. Enough material appears in this book to bring intermediate users up to a fairly advanced level.

I have designed this book to be comprehensive and to include every significant feature of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. Therefore, do not be concerned if some of the material seems too advanced. It will be there when you are ready for it.

As a reference

The AutoCAD 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible is organized as a reference that you can refer to whenever you are stuck, or when you try to do something for the first time. Each chapter covers a topic completely, making it easy to find what you're looking for. Each Steps exercise (with a few exceptions) can be done on its own without doing the other exercises in the chapter. You can easily look up a topic and complete a related exercise without having to go through the entire chapter. A complete index at the back of the book can also help you to find features and topics.

Doing the Exercises

AutoCAD is a very customizable program. To a lesser extent, AutoCAD LT can also be customized in many ways. This book assumes that you are working with the default setup. However, a number of changes may have been made to your system that could result in the user interface and drawings appearing or even functioning differently from those shown in this book. If you installed AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT yourself and made some adjustments, you know what changes you have made. However, if you are using a computer that was set up by someone else, it may help to talk to that person first, to see what changes they made.

In addition, as you work through some of the exercises in this book, you will make certain changes in the program's setup. Most of these are minor changes that any user would make while drawing. For safety, Cautions and Tips accompany all changes that could have serious consequences, such as customizing the menu. For example, when customizing the menu, you will be instructed to copy the menu file under a new name, and you will then work with the new menu file, not the original one. Nevertheless, if you are working on a network or sharing your computer with someone else, it is important to consult with others who may be affected by the changes that you make.

If you do the exercises, I recommend that you do them from the beginning. Important instructions are given during earlier exercises that may affect your system later. For example, one of the first exercises is to create a new folder to hold your drawings from the exercises. This folder keeps your exercise drawings separate from other drawings that have been created in your office. However, each exercise stands on its own so that you can go back and do only the exercise that you need.

You can create your own configuration to help ensure that some changes that you make will not affect others. Instructions for doing this appear in Appendix A under the heading “Creating Multiple Configurations.”

The exercises in the AutoCAD 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible have been carefully checked by a technical editor to ensure accuracy. However, we cannot anticipate all situations, due to either varying hardware and software configurations or customization. If you have a problem with an exercise, contact me at the e-mail address listed at the end of this Introduction so that I can correct the problem in the book's next edition. I will also try to give you the information that you need to complete the exercise.

Conventions Used in This Book

Given all the ways in which you can execute a command in AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, you'll find it useful to read this section, which describes this book's typographical conventions. You will find this section helpful for doing the step-by-step exercises as well.

Using commands

AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT offer workspaces (covered fully in Appendix A) that provide very different ways of executing commands. The default workspace, 2D Drafting & Annotation, uses the ribbon and Application menu, whereas the Classic workspace uses more traditional menus and toolbars. I use this default workspace (or the 3D Modeling workspace for 3D drawing in AutoCAD) throughout the book. All workspaces offer a command line, where you can execute a command by entering its name.

When I explain how to execute a command, I give the instructions for doing so on the ribbon. In addition, I almost always provide the name of the command so that you can enter it on the command line.

The new ribbon created a quandary for me, because I know that some people, especially those upgrading from earlier releases, will not use it; instead, they will prefer to use the Classic workspace with its familiar menus and toolbars. However, I felt that explaining how to execute each command in three ways (the ribbon, the menu/toolbar, and on the command line) would be awkward, perhaps confusing, and space-consuming. What should you do if you are using this book with the Classic workspace?

In many cases, especially if you're upgrading, you'll already know where to find familiar commands. For new commands, it's easy to find their location in the Classic workspace by going to the Help system. Follow these steps:

1. Press F1 to open the Help window.

2. Click the Contents tab on the left.

3. Expand the Command Reference and then the Commands item.

4. Expand the listing of the command's first letter and click the command.

5. Look at the top of the right-hand pane, where you'll find instructions for all the available methods of executing the command.

When referring to the ribbon, I might say, “Choose Home tab⇒Draw panel⇒Line,” which means to click the Home tab if it's not already displayed, look for the Draw control panel, and click the Line button in that panel. If you're not sure which button to click, hover the mouse cursor over a button to see its tooltip, which provides more information. You can expand many control panels by clicking their title at the bottom of the ribbon; if a command is on the expanded section, I indicate that in the instruction.

A few of the ribbon panels have drop-down lists (or flyouts), which are equivalent to sub-menus. Therefore, to indicate which button to choose, I may need to tell you to choose View tab⇒Navigation panel⇒Zoom drop-down list⇒Zoom Extents. Although I haven't found a good alternative, this is not completely satisfactory for two reasons. First, it's a mouthful! Second, the flyout names do not appear, making it hard to know which is the Zoom drop-down list. However, in most cases, the button icon will make it obvious which drop-down list I'm talking about.

To indicate that you should choose a command from the Application menu, for example, I say, “Choose Application Button⇒Save,” which means that you should click the Application Button at the upper-left corner of the application window (which opens the Application menu), and then click the Save item.

Every command also has a command name that you can type on the command line, which appears at the bottom of your screen. Command names are shown in capital letters, as in CIRCLE. AutoLISP functions (which apply to AutoCAD only) are shown in small capital letters, as in command.

Figures

In order to create clear, legible figures, I have used the default off-white background in AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. However, many people use a black drawing area. In Appendix A, I explain how to change this color. As you read through the book, you should be aware that you may see on your screen a negative image of what I show in the figures — a dark background and light-colored objects. Once you get used to this difference, you'll easily recognize what you see in the figures.

In AutoCAD, the 3D environment further changes what you see on your screen. The default 3D background is gray. Again, I have sometimes changed the background color to white for the purpose of creating a clear figure.

Prompts, your input, and instructions

In the step-by-step exercises, most instructions are presented in the same font and style that you are reading now. However, when I reproduce the command line, the prompts appear in a nonproportional font. Other instructions (such as “Type the first coordinate”) are shown in italic. In any context, input that you need to type appears in bold.

The Dynamic Input feature shows prompts near your cursor, but additional options only appear if you click the down arrow on your keyboard. To make clear all of the available options, I use the command line format of prompts.

Here's a sample step-by-step section. In this exercise, you click the proper ribbon button (which is shown in the margin), type the number shown in bold, press Enter where indicated by the bent arrow (↵) symbol, and follow the instructions that appear in italic.

8. To create a second rectangle inside the first one, choose the Home tab⇒Modify panel⇒Offset. (I cover this and other editing commands in Chapters 9 and 10.) Follow these prompts:

Specify offset distance or [Through/Erase/Layer] <Through>: 4 ↵

Select object to offset or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>: Click the rectangle to select it.

Specify point on side to offset or Exit/Multiple/Undo] <Exit>: Click anywhere inside the rectangle.

Select object to offset or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>: ↵

Often I refer to specific elements in a drawing. References to these elements appear in the text as numbers in circles, such as 1, 2, 3, and so on. You'll find the corresponding number in the figure to which the text refers.

Mouse and keyboard terms

You can draw using a mouse or a puck. The mouse is familiar to all users. A puck (or sometimes a stylus) is used with a digitizing tablet. Because most users do not have a digitizing tablet, I do not directly refer to it in this book. If you have one, follow the instructions for using the mouse in the same way, but using your puck.

A mouse can have two or more buttons. Many users like using a mouse with at least three buttons because you can customize the buttons to suit your needs. However, because many mice have only two buttons, I assume only two. The left mouse button is used to choose commands and toolbar buttons, and to pick points in your drawing. For this reason, it is sometimes called the pick button. The right button usually opens a shortcut menu.

The time-sensitive right-clicking feature enables you to use the right button either to open a shortcut menu or as the equivalent of pressing Enter. Because this feature is not on by default, I do not assume that you have turned it on. I use the term right-click when you need to access a shortcut menu. If you have time-sensitive right-clicking turned on, you need to hold down the right mouse button more than 250 milliseconds (by default) to display the shortcut menu. See Chapter 3 and Appendix A for more details.

If I say one of the following

• Choose Application Button⇒Options

• Choose Home tab⇒Draw control panel⇒Line

• Select the circle in your drawing

it means that you need to use the left button of your mouse.

When I say to press Enter, it means that you need to press the key that is marked Enter, Return, or ↵ on your keyboard. Often I use the bent arrow symbol (↵) that you see on your Enter key to indicate that you should press Enter.

I also use the mouse terms listed in the following table.

Mouse Terms

Term

Description

Cursor

The shape on your screen that shows you where the mouse is pointed. It can take a number of shapes, such as crosshairs, pickbox, or arrow. It is also known as the mouse pointer.

Pickbox

A type of cursor consisting of a small box, used to select drawing objects.

Crosshairs

A type of cursor consisting of intersecting lines, sometimes with a pickbox at their center.

Pick

Point to a drawing object and click the left mouse button.

Click

Press the left mouse button once and release it.

Double-click

Press the left mouse button twice in rapid succession.

Click and drag

Click the left mouse button and hold it down while you move the mouse, dragging an object on your screen with it.

Choose

Click a ribbon item, menu item, toolbar button, or dialog box item. You can sometimes choose an item using the keyboard, as well. I also use this word when you need to choose a command option, which you can do by choosing from a shortcut menu with a mouse, as well as by typing the option's abbreviation on the keyboard.

Right-click

Press the right mouse button once and release it. If you have turned on time-sensitive right-clicking, hold the right mouse button at least 250 milliseconds (by default) before releasing it.

Shift and click

While holding down the Shift key, press the left mouse button once and release it.

Shift and right-click

While holding down the Shift key, press the right mouse button once and release it.

Shift and mouse wheel

Press the Shift key and hold down the mouse wheel, using it like a button.

Select

Highlight an object in a drawing by picking it or by using another object selection method, or highlight text in a dialog box or text document.

What the Icons Mean

AutoCAD 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible is liberally sprinkled with icons — symbols in the left margin that call your attention to noteworthy points.

This icon means that the feature that I am discussing is not available in AutoCAD LT.

The Caution icon means that you should pay special attention to the information or instructions because a possibility exists that you could cause a problem otherwise.

Cross-References refer you to a related topic elsewhere in the book. Because you may not read this book straight through from cover to cover, you can use cross-references to quickly find just the information you need.

The New Feature icon means that a feature is new to AutoCAD 2010 or AutoCAD LT 2010 or has been significantly changed.

A Note icon alerts you to some important point that requires special attention, or additional information that may be helpful.

The On the DVD-ROM icon highlights references to related material on the DVD.

A Tip shows you a way to accomplish a task more efficiently or quickly. You'll find plenty of practical advice here.

About the DVD

The DVD contains all of the drawings that you need to do the exercises in this book. These drawings are a great resource to help you learn using real-world drawings. In addition, the DVD includes the drawings that result after you finish an exercise or tutorial. In this way, you can check whether you have done an exercise correctly.

The DVD also contains many add-on programs that I hope you will find useful. I am especially pleased to include 30-day trial versions of AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 on the DVD, as well as this entire book in (nonprintable) PDF format. For more information, read Appendix C.

Other Information

This book assumes that you know the basics of Windows, although the instructions that you'll read here are usually detailed enough to get you through any task.

AutoCAD 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible covers AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010. However, most of the information also applies to the 2009 release of both programs. I have used AutoCAD in Windows Vista, but almost everything also applies to Windows XP, although some of the screens will look different. If you are using AutoCAD LT 2010, again, some of the screens will look different. Where there is a significant difference between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, I explain the difference.

Contacting the Author

I would be happy to hear any comments that you have about this book. The best way to contact me is by e-mail at [email protected]. You can also use the United States Postal Service (a.k.a. snail mail) and write to me in care of Wiley. Please note that I can't provide technical support for my readers. The publisher maintains a page on its site that includes the drawings used in the exercises (in case you lose your DVD) and any errata at www.wileycom/autocad2010bible.com. I have my own Web site at www.ellenfinkelstein.com that contains information on my books, errata (at www.ellenfinkelstein.com/autoCAD.html#errata), and AutoCAD, including many AutoCAD tips. I invite you to sign up there for my free AutoCAD Tips Newsletter, so that you can continue the learning process. Go to www.ellenfinkelsteincom/acad_submit.html.

Part I: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Basics

IN THIS PART

Quick Start: Drawing a Window Chapter 1: Starting to Draw Chapter 2: Opening a Drawing Chapter 3: Using Commands Chapter 4: Specifying Coordinates Chapter 5: Setting Up a Drawing

The six chapters in Part I provide all of the basics that you need to know to start drawing in AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT. These chapters are essential for the beginner, but even current users can find some new tips and pointers, especially related to features that are new to AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010. The Quick Start chapter is a beginner's tutorial to get you up and running immediately. You'll draw a window and have the opportunity to use many of the 2D features of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. This tutorial will provide a firm basis for the knowledge in the rest of this book.

Chapter 1 introduces you to AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT and surveys the main screen, including the ribbon, command line, and status bar. You'll learn how to launch the program, execute a command in a variety of ways, save a drawing, close a drawing, and exit the program. Chapter 2 explains how to create and open drawings. Chapter 3 covers the many ways to use commands, while Chapter 4 discusses how to specify coordinates. Chapter 5 concludes Part I with an explanation of how to set up a drawing.

If you feel that you know enough to skip to Part II, skim this part for New Feature icons to find out about the latest developments in AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.

Quick Start: Drawing a Window

Learning AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT is a bit like trying to decide which came first — the chicken or the egg. On one hand, you need to know the basics before you can start drawing. On the other hand, understanding the basics can be very difficult if you haven't had the experience of drawing something. In this Quick Start chapter, you resolve this problem by drawing, dimensioning, and printing a simple window in AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT.

This Quick Start chapter is meant for beginners. You get the feel of AutoCAD's precision drawing tools and experience how to build a drawing. The AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT interface is very customizable. Note that the instructions for the exercise in this chapter assume that no one has made major changes to the default settings.

Chapters 1-5 fill you in on basic information that you need to move on to drawings that are more complex. By experiencing the drawing process first, you will find the initial learning curve to be easier and smoother.

Don't worry if you don't immediately understand everything you're doing. It all becomes clear as you progress through this book. If you haven't read the Preface, now is a good time to go back and read the part that explains how to follow the exercises. When you type the X and Y coordinates (shown in bold), type the first number, a comma, and then the second number, with no spaces between them. The ↵ symbol means to press Enter on your keyboard.

When you start AutoCAD 2010 for the very first time, the Initial Setup dialog box appears, asking you to answer a series of questions. It is simply a method for you to create a custom workspace according to your industry and user interface preferences. You can skip this part by clicking Skip, and run it later.

1. Start AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT.

You see the new drawing. (If you are prompted for a template, skip to Step 2, third sentence.)

2. Choose Application Button⇒New. (The Application Button is the red A at the upper-left corner of your screen.) The Select Template dialog box opens. Navigate to the Drawings folder of the DVD of this book, choose abqs-a.dwt, and click Open. You see a blank drawing. (I explain more about templates and opening drawings in Chapter 2.)

You need to open this template for the rest of the exercise to work properly.

3. To save the drawing and give it a name, choose Application Button⇒Save. In the Save Drawing As dialog box, use the Save In drop-down list to navigate to any convenient folder, such as the MyDocuments folder. Type abQS.(01) in the File Name text box and click Save. (I go into more detail about saving a drawing in Chapter 1.)

In Chapter 1, I provide instructions for creating a special AutoCADBible folder for all the exercises in this book. If you want to create this folder now, do so and save the drawing in that folder.

4. To free up the drawing area, close any windows or palettes that are open by clicking their Close (X) button, so that your screen looks like Figure QS.1.

This chapter assumes that you're using the default 2D Drafting & Annotation Workspace. Click the Workspace Switching button on the right side of the status bar at the bottom of your screen, and choose 2D Drafting & Annotation if it's not already checked.

5. At the top of the screen, you see a tabbed area filled with buttons, called the Ribbon, which contains the Layers panel (section) on the Home tab, as shown in Figure QS.1. From the Layer Control drop-down list in the Layers panel, click the down arrow and choose WINDOW, as shown in Figure QS.2. (Layers help you organize the objects in your drawing; I cover them in detail in Chapter 11.) Anything you draw will now be on the WINDOW layer.

6. With your left mouse button (also called the pick button), choose Home tab⇒Draw panel⇒Rectangle. (Using the ribbon is only one way to give AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT commands. I explain other ways in Chapter 3. You can find more about drawing lines and rectangles in Chapter 6.)

Move your mouse so that the cursor is in the main drawing area. Your screen should look like Figure QS.1. If you don't see the tooltip bar — also called the Dynamic Input tooltip — near the cursor, then click the Dynamic Input button on the status bar at the bottom of your screen.

FIGURE QS.1

The AutoCAD screen, as shown while drawing a rectangle.

FIGURE QS.2

Choose the WINDOW layer from the list of layers.

7. Follow these prompts to draw a rectangle that is 44" wide and 80" high.

Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/Thickness/Width]: 0,0 ↵

Specify other corner point or [Area/Dimensions/Rotation]: 44,80 ↵

You see the full prompt shown here in the Command window at the bottom of your screen. You see an abbreviated version of the same prompt in the Dynamic Input tooltip that appears near the mouse cursor. In an architectural drawing, distances are assumed to be in inches, so you don't need to specify a unit (although you can if you want).

Notice that the text that you type appears next to the cursor in the Dynamic Input tooltip. When you press Enter, the text that you typed is echoed in the Command Line window at the bottom of the screen.

8. To create a second rectangle inside the first one, choose Home tab⇒Modify panel⇒Offset. (I cover this and other editing commands in Chapters 9 and 10.) Follow these prompts:

Specify offset distance or [Through/Erase/Layer] <Through>: 4 ↵

Select object to offset or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>: Click the rectangle's border to select it.

Specify point on side to offset or [Exit/Multiple/Undo] <Exit>: Click anywhere inside the rectangle.

Select object to offset or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>: ↵

9. You can draw from geometric points on objects such as endpoints and midpoints. (I explain how to specify coordinate points in Chapter 4.) To draw a line between the midpoints of the inner rectangle, choose Home tab⇒Draw panel⇒Line, and follow these prompts:

Specify first point: Press and hold the Shift key and right-click. From the shortcut menu that opens, choose Midpoint. Place the cursor near the midpoint of the left side of the inner rectangle. When you see a triangle and the Midpoint tooltip, click.

Specify next point or [Undo]: Press and hold the Shift key and right-click. From the shortcut menu that opens, choose Midpoint. This time, place the cursor near the midpoint of the right side of the inner rectangle. When you see the Midpoint tooltip and triangle, click.

Specify next point or [Undo]: ↵

Your drawing should now look like Figure QS.3. (Your window should be green.)

FIGURE QS.3

The beginning of a window.

10.