35,99 €
Mehr erfahren.
- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
- Sprache: Englisch
An easy-to-read and up-to-date collection of resources explaining the most recent versions of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
In the brand-new second edition of AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies, consultant and industry expert with more than 30 years of experience using and extending AutoCAD along with being a 20-year veteran of AutoCAD education, Lee Ambrosius, walks you through the fundamentals of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. He explains the most useful features of both AutoCAD and the more budget-friendly AutoCAD LT, showing you how to choose the right tools and workflows for your projects.
From creating architectural drawings, floor plans, and building designs to constructing precise designs, layouts, and technical drawings and blueprints, this all-in collection of easy-to-read guides covers how to set up drawings, draw and modify 2D and 3D designs, annotate your drawings, and perform advanced drafting techniques.
AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies contains several mini-books you can tackle in order and in their entirety or as convenient references that help you get up to speed on specific tasks and projects you're working on in the moment. You'll also find:
- Step-by-step walkthroughs of popular and useful AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT features, like working with blocks and the electronic sharing and distribution of drawings
- Detailed discussions of the differences between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, and how to customize each one to suit your needs
- Explanations of AutoCAD utilities for a variety of use cases
Perfect for drafters, engineers, architects, programmers, and trainers interested in AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies is an accessible and handy reference for beginning and experienced users of AutoCAD that includes all the latest features, tools, and workflows you need to help you with your projects.
Sie lesen das E-Book in den Legimi-Apps auf:
Seitenzahl: 1155
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
Ähnliche
AutoCAD® & AutoCAD LT® All-in-One For Dummies®
To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “AutoCAD® & AutoCAD LT® All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Table of Contents
Cover
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Conventions Used in This Book
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Book 1: AutoCAD Basics
Chapter 1: One-on-One Time with AutoCAD
Starting AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT
Getting Familiar with the User Interface
Setting Up Drafting Aids and Layers
Drawing, Viewing, and Editing Objects
Annotating with Text and Dimensions
Fast Track to Plotting
Chapter 2: Drawing on and in AutoCAD
Understanding AutoCAD Files and Formats
Seeing the Light (or LT)
Using AutoCAD’s Latest-and-Greatest Feature Set
Chapter 3: Navigating the AutoCAD Interface
Starting the Application
Welcome Home: The Start Tab
Touring the AutoCAD Interface
Communicating with Your Software
Starting AutoCAD Commands
Reaching for AutoCAD Help
Chapter 4: All about Files
Learning about the File Types in AutoCAD
Starting a New Drawing
Saving a Drawing
Opening an Existing Drawing
Exploring the Multiple-Drawing Environment
Closing a Drawing
File Management for AutoCAD
Backing Up Is Hard to Do …
Chapter 5: Setting Up Drawings
Choosing Units of Measurement
Setting Limits for Your Drawings
Understanding Drawing Scale
Lost in Space: Model or Paper?
Taking a Layered Approach
General Object Properties
Setting Up Standards
Book 2: 2D Drafting
Chapter 1: Drawing Objects
Locating and Using the Drawing Tools
Let’s Get Primitive
Creating Construction Geometry
A Bit Sketchy
Drawing Parallel Lines
Creating Complex Curves
Constructing Complex Objects and Shapes
Chapter 2: Precision Tools
Understanding Precision and Accuracy
Understanding Coordinate Systems
Setting Grid and Snap
Understanding Ortho and Polar Tracking
Working with Object Snaps
Using Point Filters
Working with Object Snap Tracking Mode
Temporarily Overriding Drafting Aids
Chapter 3: Modifying Objects
Setting Selection Options
Selecting Objects
AutoCAD’s Editing Commands
Coming to Grips with Grips
Chapter 4: Managing Views
A Zoom of One’s Own
Panning in a Flash
Grabbing the Wheel and Hanging On
Naming That View
Having AutoCAD Put on a Show
To Redraw or to Regen … That Is the Question
Book 3: Annotating Drawings
Chapter 1: Text: When Pictures Just Won’t Do
Adding Text in AutoCAD
Futzing with Fonts
Working with Text Styles
Creating Single Line Text
Working with Multiline Text
Creating Multiline Text
Editing Text
Leading the Way
Turning the Tables
Finding Text and Spell Checking
Chapter 2: Dimensioning
Understanding What a Dimension Is Made Of
Understanding the Types of Dimensions
Creating New Dimensions as Associative
Using and Creating Dimension Styles
Creating Dimensions
Editing Dimensions
Marking the Center of Objects
Working with Geometric Tolerances
Chapter 3: Hatching Your Drawings
Adding Hatch Patterns and Fills
Working with Hatch Patterns and Solid Fills
Using Gradient Fills
Editing Hatch Patterns and Fills
Chapter 4: Scaling Mt. Annotation
The What, Why, and How of Annotation Scaling
Making Styles and Objects Annotative
Adding and Removing Annotation Scales
Controlling the Annotation Scale for Output
Book 4: Advanced Drafting
Chapter 1: Playing with Blocks
Working with Reusable Content
Creating Blocks
Inserting Blocks
Counting Blocks
Replacing Blocks
Managing Blocks
Enhancing Blocks with Attributes
Chapter 2: Going Dynamic with Blocks
What Makes a Block Dynamic?
Investigating the Block Editor Environment
Going Dynamic
Using Dynamic Blocks
Using Dynamic Blocks in Earlier Releases
Chapter 3: Referencing External Drawings and Files
Blocks versus External References
Working with External References
Referencing Raster Images
Attaching PDFs, DGNs, and DWFs as Underlays
Determining Draw Order
Incorporating Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)
Referencing and Using Other Types of Files
Chapter 4: Organizing Your Drawings
Why Bother Organizing Drawings?
Using the Windows Clipboard
Managing Blocks with Libraries
Using AutoCAD DesignCenter
Using the Tool Palettes Window
Book 5: Publishing Drawings
Chapter 1: Laying It All Out There
Preparing for Output with Page Setups
Organizing a Drawing with Layouts
Looking at a Model Through Layout Viewports
Chapter 2: Print, Plot, Publish
You Say Printing, I Say Plotting, They Say Publishing
Output Made Easy
Publishing Drawings
Chapter 3: Sheet Sets without Regret
Overview of a Sheet Set
Using the Sheet Set Manager
Creating a Sheet Set
Managing Drawings with a Sheet Set
Publishing, eTransmitting, and Archiving a Sheet Set
Book 6: LT Differences
Chapter 1: The LT Difference
Understanding the Boundaries and Limitations of AutoCAD LT
Determining Which Product Is Best for You
Chapter 2: Extending AutoCAD LT
Customizing and Programming AutoCAD LT
Object Enabler Technology
Additional Utilities Available from Autodesk
Companion Products from Autodesk
Third-Party Custom Solutions
Chapter 3: Mixed Environments
Using AutoCAD LT and AutoCAD in the Same Office
Making the Trip from AutoCAD to AutoCAD LT
Book 7: Collaboration
Chapter 1: CAD Management: The Necessary Evil
Getting a Handle on the Basics of CAD Management
Managing the Drafting Environment
Creating a Good Foundation
Chapter 2: Adopting CAD Standards
CAD Standards Overview
Using AutoCAD’s CAD Standards Tools
Chapter 3: Managing Drawing Files
It’s All in the Name: File-Naming Conventions
Part of a Drawing Can Be a Good Thing: Working with Partial Open
Controlling What Happens During a Save
Signing Your Drawings Digitally
Understanding Past Changes to a Drawing
Chapter 4: Sharing and Reviewing Electronic Files
Sharing Drawings with Non-AutoCAD Products
Taking Drawings to the Internet
Reviewing and Marking Up Drawings
Emulating Paper Digitally
Working with DWF and DWFx Files
Book 8: 3D Modeling
Chapter 1: Introducing the Third Dimension
Understanding the Different Types of 3D Models
Entering Coordinates Above the x,y Plane
Chapter 2: Using the 3D Environment
Setting Up AutoCAD for 3D
Understanding What the UCS Icon Is Telling You
Using the Coordinate System for 3D Drafting
Chapter 3: Viewing in 3D
Expressing Your Point of View
Orbiting Around a 3D Model
Navigating a 3D Model
Hugging the Corners with the SteeringWheels
Cube with a View
Gaining a Sense of Control
Using Visual Styles in AutoCAD
Chapter 4: Moving from 2D to 3D
Working with Regions
3D Polylines and Helixes
Creating 3D Objects from 2D Objects
Creating 2D Objects from 3D Objects
3D Modify Commands
Chapter 5: Working with 3D Solids
Creating 3D Solid Primitives
Editing 3D Solids
Chapter 6: Rendering: Lights, Camera, AutoCAD!
Lighting a Scene
Getting the Right Look with Materials
Setting Up a Backdrop
Rendering the Final Scene
Book 9: Customizing AutoCAD
Chapter 1: The Basics of Customizing AutoCAD
Why Customize AutoCAD?
Customizing the AutoCAD Startup Process
Changing Options and Working with User Profiles
Creating and Managing Command Aliases
Chapter 2: Customizing the Interface
Influencing Your Status (Bar)
Training Your Panels and Dockable Windows to Stay
Controlling the Appearance of AutoCAD and the Drawing Window
Organizing Your Space
Chapter 3: Customizing the Tools
Getting to Know the Customize User Interface Editor
Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar, Ribbon, and Shortcut Menus
Creating a New Shortcut Key
Customizing Double-Click Actions
Customizing the Quick Properties Panel and Rollover Tooltips
Accessing Suggested Macros
Migrating and Transferring Customizations
Working with Partial and Enterprise Customization Files
Chapter 4: Automating Repetitive Tasks
Working from a Script
Actions and Action Recorder
Recording and Managing Action Macros
Editing Actions and Recorded Values
Just Press Play
Index
About the Author
Dedication
Author’s Acknowledgments
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Book 1 Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Releases and File Formats
Book 1 Chapter 3
TABLE 3-1 Drafting Aids on the Status Bar
TABLE 3-2 The Viewport Navigation, Annotation, Scaling, and User Interface Contr...
TABLE 3-3 Tray Icons in the Status Bar
Book 1 Chapter 5
TABLE 5-1 AutoCAD Unit Formats
TABLE 5-2 Common Scales and Scale Factors
Book 2 Chapter 1
TABLE 1-1 AutoCAD’s 2D Drawing and Annotation Tools
Book 2 Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 Object Snap Modes
Book 2 Chapter 3
TABLE 3-1 AutoCAD’s Selection Modes
TABLE 3-2 AutoCAD’s Editing Commands
Book 2 Chapter 4
TABLE 4-1 AutoCAD’s 2D Viewing Commands
TABLE 4-2 ZOOM Command Options
Book 3 Chapter 1
TABLE 1-1 Scale Factors for Model Space Text Height
TABLE 1-2 Single-line Text Control Codes
Book 3 Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 AutoCAD’s Dimensioning Commands
Book 4 Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 Block Parameters and Actions
Book 6 Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 URLs to Block Utilities/Libraries
TABLE 2-2 URLs to Third-Party Viewers
Book 8 Chapter 1
TABLE 1-1 AutoCAD’s 3D Object Type Conversion Commands
TABLE 1-2 3D Object Snap Modes
Book 8 Chapter 3
TABLE 3-1 3D Orbit Commands
TABLE 3-2 3D Navigation Commands
Book 8 Chapter 5
TABLE 5-1 AutoCAD’s Solid Primitives Commands
TABLE 5-2 SOLIDEDIT Command Options
Book 9 Chapter 1
TABLE 1-1 Command-Line Switches
Book 9 Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 LOCKUI Bitcodes
Book 9 Chapter 3
TABLE 3-1 Special Characters for a Macro
TABLE 3-2 Special Object Names Used for Blocks and xrefs
TABLE 3-3 Special Characters for a Menu Item Name
List of Illustrations
Book 1 Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: The front elevation of a wood cabinet unit.
FIGURE 1-2: You have to start somewhere, might as well be the Start tab.
FIGURE 1-3: Choosing your drawing template.
FIGURE 1-4: Access to the Application menu … granted.
FIGURE 1-5: The ribbon organizes commands with tabs and panels.
FIGURE 1-6: Accessing commands from a drop-down menu on a ribbon panel.
FIGURE 1-7: Commands on slideouts exposed.
FIGURE 1-8: Starting the command assigned to a panel’s dialog box launcher.
FIGURE 1-9: Accessing commands from the Quick Access toolbar.
FIGURE 1-10: Configuring snap and grid with the Drafting Settings dialog box.
FIGURE 1-11: Starting a command and providing input at the command prompt.
FIGURE 1-12: Zoom drop-down menu on the Navigation bar.
FIGURE 1-13: Managing layers and their properties.
FIGURE 1-14: Adding a touch of color one swatch at a time.
FIGURE 1-15: Newly added layers to the drawing.
FIGURE 1-16: Using snap and grid to locate coordinate points.
FIGURE 1-17: The base and outline of the doors for the cabinet.
FIGURE 1-18: Snapping to the midpoint of the line segment.
FIGURE 1-19: Setting the Handles layer current.
FIGURE 1-20: The cabinet is starting to take shape — with circles and lines.
FIGURE 1-21: Nothing but endpoint.
FIGURE 1-22: The completed cabinet.
FIGURE 1-23: Annotation applied — ready to plot.
Book 1 Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: Starting AutoCAD from the Start button.
FIGURE 3-2: Windows 11 Start menu.
FIGURE 3-3: Stepping up to the Starting line.
FIGURE 3-4: A whole mess of title bars.
FIGURE 3-5: What is on the menu today?
FIGURE 3-6: Commands are just a click away with the Quick Access toolbar and ri...
FIGURE 3-7: A pile of tabs, panels, and palettes.
FIGURE 3-8: More tabs… this time of the drawing kind.
FIGURE 3-9: The model space UCS icon.
FIGURE 3-10: The paper space UCS icon.
FIGURE 3-11: “Legacy” menus and toolbars surrounding the ribbon.
FIGURE 3-12: The LINE command and prompt in the Command Line window.
FIGURE 3-13: Help is available right at the tip of the cursor.
FIGURE 3-14: Learning from insights.
FIGURE 3-15: Accessing Online Help for AutoCAD and locating a button with UI Fi...
Book 1 Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: Select a template to start a new drawing.
FIGURE 4-2: The Startup dialog box you see if STARTUP=1.
FIGURE 4-3: Choose your wizard.
FIGURE 4-4: Name your drawing and give it a home in the Save Drawing As dialog ...
FIGURE 4-5: Select files to open in the … er, Select File dialog box.
FIGURE 4-6: Finding files through the Select File dialog box’s Tools ⇒ Find com...
FIGURE 4-7: Which drawings have you worked on recently? There’s no more guessin...
FIGURE 4-8: Keep it or toss it? AutoCAD asks whether you want to save changes b...
FIGURE 4-9: A sample file storage system for a residential designer.
Book 1 Chapter 5
FIGURE 5-1: Format the display of drawing units in the Drawing Units dialog box...
FIGURE 5-2: Turn layers off and on to generate different sheets from the same d...
FIGURE 5-3: Manage, manipulate, and modify your layers in the Layer Properties ...
FIGURE 5-4: Toggle layer modes by clicking their icons.
FIGURE 5-5: AutoCAD’s standard colors — all 255 of them.
FIGURE 5-6: Linetypes galore.
FIGURE 5-7: Many clicks later, a linetype is assigned.
FIGURE 5-8: Scroll to set a default lineweight for your layer.
FIGURE 5-9: Switch layer modes in the Layer Control drop-down list.
Book 2 Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: Primitive lines (you have to start
somewhere
).
FIGURE 1-2: How many ways can you draw a circle?
FIGURE 1-3: Eleven ways to draw an arc.
FIGURE 1-4: Arc direction by default is counter clockwise.
FIGURE 1-5: Style your points in the Point Style dialog box.
FIGURE 1-6: Laying down construction lines.
FIGURE 1-7: One multiline object makes a foundation plan.
FIGURE 1-8: A fit tolerance for your splines.
FIGURE 1-9: Elliptical arcs are on today’s menu.
FIGURE 1-10: Drawing polylines (and lines).
FIGURE 1-11: Constructing a polyline.
FIGURE 1-12: That’s not a cumulus cloud?
FIGURE 1-13: Now you see me … now you don’t.
Book 2 Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: The Cartesian coordinate system.
FIGURE 2-2: The UCS icon changes its appearance based on the current coordinate...
FIGURE 2-3: Now you’re tracking! Polar tracking helps ensure precise angular in...
FIGURE 2-4: Configuring dynamic input in the Drafting Settings dialog box.
FIGURE 2-5: Controlling the format used for the second and next point when usin...
FIGURE 2-6: Controlling the display of dimension input fields.
FIGURE 2-7: Locking input values for dimension tooltips.
FIGURE 2-8: Setting snap and grid in the Drafting Settings dialog box.
FIGURE 2-9: Configuring polar tracking in the Drafting Settings dialog box.
FIGURE 2-10: Snap to it … set running object snaps in the Drafting Settings dia...
FIGURE 2-11: The results of using both running and override object snaps.
FIGURE 2-12: Use the shortcut menu to select point filters.
FIGURE 2-13: Finding the “center” of a square by using object snap tracking.
Book 2 Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: Choose your selection modes.
FIGURE 3-2: Selecting your way through AutoCAD objects.
FIGURE 3-3: The visual effects of selection preview take the mystery out of whi...
FIGURE 3-4: A newly made object group.
FIGURE 3-5: Mirroring objects precisely.
FIGURE 3-6: Offsetting different object types.
FIGURE 3-7: Offsetting polylines and lines.
FIGURE 3-8: Defining a rectangular array on the ribbon.
FIGURE 3-9: Setting up a polar array.
FIGURE 3-10: The long and short of TRIM.
FIGURE 3-11: Cornering your intersections.
FIGURE 3-12: More modification commands.
FIGURE 3-13: Checking out the Properties palette.
FIGURE 3-14: Quickly access object properties with the Quick Properties palette...
FIGURE 3-15: A gripping way of editing.
Book 2 Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: Accessing viewing commands.
FIGURE 4-2: Hidden treasures — the Zoom drop-down menu.
FIGURE 4-3: Zooming in realtime.
FIGURE 4-4: Shortcut to a new view.
FIGURE 4-5: Zoom to an area.
FIGURE 4-6: Give us a hand with this pan.
FIGURE 4-7: Don’t let go of the wheel.
FIGURE 4-8: I missed that. Can you rewind that please?
FIGURE 4-9: Changing the appearance and behavior of SteeringWheels with the Ste...
FIGURE 4-10: The View Manager dialog box is used to create and organize named v...
FIGURE 4-11: You use the New View/Shot Properties dialog box to create named vi...
FIGURE 4-12: Bringing named views to life with ShowMotion.
FIGURE 4-13: Getting the desired shot with the New View/Shot Properties dialog ...
Book 3 Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: Justifying single-line text.
FIGURE 1-2: Nine ways to multiline.
FIGURE 1-3: A drawing view title.
FIGURE 1-4: Get stylin’.
FIGURE 1-5: Rotation and obliqueness.
FIGURE 1-6: The multiline text editor.
FIGURE 1-7: Tabs, indents, and automatic numbering set to create numbered lists...
FIGURE 1-8: Masking the background of your text.
FIGURE 1-9: Leaders of the pack.
FIGURE 1-10: Leaders never had so much style.
FIGURE 1-11: Parts of a multileader.
FIGURE 1-12: Setting the table.
FIGURE 1-13: Rows and columns for a table.
Book 3 Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: The parts of a dimension.
FIGURE 2-2: Specifying newly created dimensions as associative.
FIGURE 2-3: The Dimension Style Manager dialog box.
FIGURE 2-4: Creating a new dimension style.
FIGURE 2-5: The Lines tab of the New Dimension Style dialog box.
FIGURE 2-6: The Symbols and Arrows tab of the New Dimension Style dialog box.
FIGURE 2-7: The Text tab of the New Dimension Style dialog box.
FIGURE 2-8: The Fit tab of the New Dimension Style dialog box.
FIGURE 2-9: The Primary Units tab of the new Dimension Style dialog box.
FIGURE 2-10: The Alternate Units tab of the new Dimension Style dialog box.
FIGURE 2-11: The Tolerances tab of the New Dimension Style dialog box.
FIGURE 2-12: The Properties palette allows you to override dimension style prop...
FIGURE 2-13: Different linear dimensions that can be created with the DIMLINEAR...
FIGURE 2-14: Baseline and continued dimensions based on a linear dimension.
FIGURE 2-15: Angular dimensions.
FIGURE 2-16: Arc length dimensions.
FIGURE 2-17: Radius, diameter, and jogged dimensions along with center marks.
FIGURE 2-18: Ordinate dimensions.
FIGURE 2-19: Those are the breaks and give them some space.
FIGURE 2-20: Ensuring quality through inspection.
FIGURE 2-21: Marking the center of an object with centerlines and center marks.
FIGURE 2-22: The Geometric tolerance.
FIGURE 2-23: The Geometric Tolerance dialog box.
Book 3 Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: Hatch patterns and fills.
FIGURE 3-2: The Hatch Creation contextual ribbon tab.
FIGURE 3-3: The Hatch Pattern gallery control.
FIGURE 3-4: The Hatch - Boundary Definition Error message box.
FIGURE 3-5: Island detection settings.
FIGURE 3-6: The Hatch Creation contextual ribbon tab with the Gradient hatch ty...
Book 3 Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: Putting annotation objects on the scale.
FIGURE 4-2: Seeing double, triple, oh my.
Book 4 Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: The Block Definition dialog box.
FIGURE 1-2: Converting identical instances of objects to a block with the Conve...
FIGURE 1-3: The Blocks palette is used to insert a reference into a block defin...
FIGURE 1-4: Counting blocks can be as easy as 1, 2, 3 with the Count palette.
FIGURE 1-5: Replacing selected block references with a different block.
FIGURE 1-6: Creating an attribute definition.
FIGURE 1-7: Editing attribute values after a block is inserted.
Book 4 Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: Dynamic blocks can have different types of grips.
FIGURE 2-2: The Block Editor is used to modify a block definition.
FIGURE 2-3: The Block Authoring Palettes window contains parameters and actions...
FIGURE 2-4: Use the Edit Block Definition dialog box to open a block definition...
FIGURE 2-5: Managing and creating visibility states in one place.
FIGURE 2-6: Defining a new visibility state.
FIGURE 2-7: Defining insertion cycling for a block can make inserting it easier...
Book 4 Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: The External References palette is used to manage attached DWG, PDF...
FIGURE 3-2: Attaching an xref is similar to inserting a block.
FIGURE 3-3: Stay informed with the Manage Xrefs notification.
FIGURE 3-4: Editing an xref or block in-place.
FIGURE 3-5: Xbind allows you to bind selected named objects into the parent (or...
FIGURE 3-6: Attaching a raster image reference is similar to attaching an xref.
FIGURE 3-7: Adjusting the appearance of an image.
FIGURE 3-8: Attaching a PDF file is similar to attaching an xref.
FIGURE 3-9: The display of layers in an underlay is controlled using the Underl...
FIGURE 3-10: Attaching a file to a drawing other than a drawing, a DWF file, or...
Book 4 Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: Blocks, not books, in this library.
FIGURE 4-2: DesignCenter allows you to mine your drawings for reusable content.
FIGURE 4-3: Using the Search feature of DesignCenter.
FIGURE 4-4: The Tool Palettes window.
FIGURE 4-5: The properties of each tool on a tool palette can be tailored for a...
Book 5 Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: Page Setup Manager.
FIGURE 1-2: The Page Setup dialog box.
FIGURE 1-3: Naming the new page setup.
FIGURE 1-4: Reusing page setups through importing.
FIGURE 1-5: Importing an existing layout from a drawing.
FIGURE 1-6: Layout tab navigation controls.
FIGURE 1-7: Navigating layouts from the drawing file tab.
FIGURE 1-8: Layouts visually display the printable area and paper size.
FIGURE 1-9: The Viewports dialog box.
FIGURE 1-10: Maximizing a floating viewport can make editing within it much eas...
FIGURE 1-11: Freezing a layer in the active floating viewpoint.
Book 5 Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: Many of the plotting and publish options in AutoCAD are in the Opti...
FIGURE 2-2: The Add Plotter wizard is used to configure a non-system printer.
FIGURE 2-3: The Plotter Configuration Editor enables you to tweak custom settin...
FIGURE 2-4: You use the Add Plot Style Table wizard to create a plot style.
FIGURE 2-5: The Plot Style Table Editor enables you to tweak settings for the p...
FIGURE 2-6: The Plot dialog box is the gateway to outputting your drawing.
FIGURE 2-7: The plot notification balloon.
FIGURE 2-8: The Publish dialog box makes printing multiple layouts and drawings...
FIGURE 2-9: The background plotting message.
Book 5 Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: The Sheet Set Manager allows you to work with DST files.
FIGURE 3-2: The Create Sheet Set wizard — Sheet Set Details page.
FIGURE 3-3: The Sheet Set Properties dialog box.
FIGURE 3-4: Specify an import behavior in the Import Options dialog box.
FIGURE 3-5: The tree view displays the folder structure and available layouts i...
FIGURE 3-6: Importing layouts as sheets into a sheet set.
FIGURE 3-7: Specifying properties for a subset.
FIGURE 3-8: Using a layout in a drawing as a template for new sheets.
FIGURE 3-9: Adding a new sheet to a sheet set or subset.
FIGURE 3-10: Renaming and renumbering a sheet.
FIGURE 3-11: The Custom Properties dialog box.
FIGURE 3-12: Adding a custom property.
FIGURE 3-13: All custom properties are accessible from the Sheet Set Properties...
FIGURE 3-14: Sheet properties are changed through the Sheet Properties dialog b...
FIGURE 3-15: List of all sheets in the sheet set inserted as a table.
Book 6 Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: The AutoCAD LT user interface out of the box.
Book 6 Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: The DesignCenter palette.
FIGURE 2-2: The Tool Palettes window.
Book 6 Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: Constrained geometry.
FIGURE 3-2: Live Section enabled in AutoCAD (left), and how it looks in AutoCAD...
FIGURE 3-3: Visual styles saved with a drawing are displayed in AutoCAD LT.
Book 7 Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: The Template Options dialog box.
FIGURE 1-2: The options related to template settings.
Book 7 Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: Configuring standards for a drawing.
FIGURE 2-2: Selecting plug-ins for checking standards.
FIGURE 2-3: Fine-tuning the behavior of the CAD standards tools.
FIGURE 2-4: The book icon in the status bar denotes the use of CAD standards.
FIGURE 2-5: A violation has been detected.
FIGURE 2-6: No standards file has been associated with this drawing yet.
FIGURE 2-7: All violations have been evaluated.
FIGURE 2-8: Balloons aren’t just for parties.
FIGURE 2-9: The Standards Audit Report reveals all the problems with your stand...
FIGURE 2-10: Translating from one layer to another.
FIGURE 2-11: Create a new layer for mapping.
FIGURE 2-12: Taking full control of the translation.
Book 7 Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: Using Open versus Partial Open.
FIGURE 3-2: Selecting what you want to partially open.
FIGURE 3-3: AutoCAD’s friendly reminder that you forgot to do something.
FIGURE 3-4: The signs of a partially opened drawing file.
FIGURE 3-5: Drawing file options.
FIGURE 3-6: No digital ID found on the computer.
FIGURE 3-7: No ink is required when using digital signatures.
FIGURE 3-8: Success! You created a digitally signed drawing.
FIGURE 3-9: The markings of a digitally signed drawing file, shown on the left.
FIGURE 3-10: Enabling the digital signature identifier for drawing files in Win...
FIGURE 3-11: Digital signature information.
FIGURE 3-12: When digital signatures go bad.
FIGURE 3-13: Attaching digital signatures to multiple drawing files.
FIGURE 3-14: The Activity Insights palette is your window into the past.
Book 7 Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: Establishing an FTP location.
FIGURE 4-2: Accessing Autodesk Docs from the Autodesk Project tab on the Start ...
FIGURE 4-3: Sharing drawings with Shared Views and adding comments and markups ...
FIGURE 4-4: Adding annotations to a Trace in the AutoCAD web app.
FIGURE 4-5: Viewing a Trace over the drawing from the Traces palette.
FIGURE 4-6: Working with imported markups and using Markup Assist in AutoCAD.
FIGURE 4-7: Unlocking the properties of the DWF6 ePlot device.
Book 8 Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: Wireframe model of a cube with a hole in the center.
FIGURE 1-2: Solid model of a cube with a hole in the center.
FIGURE 1-3: Surface model of a cube with a hole in the center.
FIGURE 1-4: Line created in 3D by using cylindrical coordinate input.
FIGURE 1-5: Line created in 3D by using spherical coordinate input.
FIGURE 1-6: Object snap tracking in the Z direction.
Book 8 Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: Customizing the appearance of the drawing window for 3D.
FIGURE 2-2: The ribbon gives you quick access to a variety of 3D-related tools.
FIGURE 2-3: UCS icon displayed in model space with 2D wireframe visual style.
FIGURE 2-4: UCS icon displayed in model space with one of the 3D visual styles.
FIGURE 2-5: UCS icon displayed on a paper space layout.
FIGURE 2-6: You can change the appearance of the UCS icon here.
FIGURE 2-7: Managing custom UCSs with the UCS dialog box.
FIGURE 2-8: Dynamic UCS makes creating objects directly on solids easy.
Book 8 Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: Control the viewing angle.
FIGURE 3-2: Using the tripod and compass for navigation.
FIGURE 3-3: Editing a camera in the scene.
FIGURE 3-4: A primitive 3D model of a cabin in parallel (left) and perspective ...
FIGURE 3-5: The Free Orbit command is active.
FIGURE 3-6: The Navigation Modes menu.
FIGURE 3-7: The ViewCube identifies the current viewpoint, offers 26 preset vie...
FIGURE 3-8: Accessing view tools from the Viewport control.
Book 8 Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: Closed objects converted to regions.
FIGURE 4-2: Helixes can be used to create springs and spirals.
FIGURE 4-3: The results of extruding open and closed objects.
FIGURE 4-4: The results of lofting objects, using only cross sections.
FIGURE 4-5: The results of sweeping objects along a path.
FIGURE 4-6: The results of revolving objects along an axis.
FIGURE 4-7: The results of creating three different views from one model with F...
FIGURE 4-8: The results of creating a 2D and 3D object from a Section Plane.
FIGURE 4-9: The results of using SOLPROF on a 3D object.
FIGURE 4-10: The gizmo for the 3DMOVE command.
Book 8 Chapter 5
FIGURE 5-1: The outline of a 2D foundation plan converted to 3D walls and colum...
FIGURE 5-2: A desk and table created from boxes.
FIGURE 5-3: Two wedges used to represent the slopes of a roof.
FIGURE 5-4: Different shapes and sizes of cylinders along with a cylinder with ...
FIGURE 5-5: Some shapes and sizes of cones.
FIGURE 5-6: A sphere.
FIGURE 5-7: A torus.
FIGURE 5-8: Different shapes and sizes of pyramids.
FIGURE 5-9: Grips displayed on the selected cone.
FIGURE 5-10: A 3D solid (left) before and after it was filleted (middle) and ch...
FIGURE 5-11: A 3D solid sliced in half.
Book 8 Chapter 6
FIGURE 6-1: The Lights panel expanded on the ribbon.
FIGURE 6-2: Point light emitting light and casting shadows on object...
FIGURE 6-3: Spotlight emitting light and casting shadows on objects ...
FIGURE 6-4: Weblight emitting light and casting shadows on objects i...
FIGURE 6-5: Distant light emitting light and casting shadows on obje...
FIGURE 6-6: The Lights in Model palette.
FIGURE 6-7: The Sun Properties palette and Geographic Location dialo...
FIGURE 6-8: The Materials Browser palette.
FIGURE 6-9: Defining a background with a gradient pattern or using t...
FIGURE 6-10: The Render dialog box.
FIGURE 6-11: The Render Presets Manager palette.
Book 9 Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: Use the Properties dialog box to alter the behavior of the shortcut...
FIGURE 1-2: Naming the shortcut.
FIGURE 1-3: Setting the target and command-line switches for the shortcut.
FIGURE 1-4: AutoCAD’s Options dialog box.
FIGURE 1-5: AutoCAD LT’s Options dialog box.
FIGURE 1-6: Identifying the current user profile.
FIGURE 1-7: User profiles are added with the Add Profile dialog box.
FIGURE 1-8: Profiles can be exported from AutoCAD and imported back in with the...
FIGURE 1-9: Clear!!!! Use the Re-initialization dialog box to reload the PGP fi...
FIGURE 1-10: The Alias Editor dialog box assigns a new identity to a command.
Book 9 Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: Ordering up controls from the Customization menu.
FIGURE 2-2: Status bar’s Customization menu. What’s on today’s menu?
FIGURE 2-3: Customize the notification system.
FIGURE 2-4: Fueling AutoCAD’s status bar with DIESEL.
FIGURE 2-5: Oops, the + function is not evaluating correctly.
FIGURE 2-6: Image shows the cursor with a circle and line through it indicating...
FIGURE 2-7: The Display tab of the Options dialog box.
FIGURE 2-8: The Drawing Window Colors dialog box.
FIGURE 2-9: The Command Line Window Font dialog box.
FIGURE 2-10: Workspace Switching control on the status bar.
FIGURE 2-11: Save Workspace dialog box.
FIGURE 2-12: Workspace Settings dialog box.
Book 9 Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: The Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor.
FIGURE 3-2: The Customizations In pane.
FIGURE 3-3: The Command List pane.
FIGURE 3-4: The Properties pane.
FIGURE 3-5: The Button Image pane.
FIGURE 3-6: Browsing for a custom image.
FIGURE 3-7: Adding a command to a Quick Access toolbar.
FIGURE 3-8: Anatomy of a ribbon panel.
FIGURE 3-9: The Aliases dialog box.
FIGURE 3-10: The Shortcut Keys dialog box.
FIGURE 3-11: Specifying object types and their properties with the Quick Proper...
FIGURE 3-12: Plethora of object types to choose from.
FIGURE 3-13: Getting advice on macros from the Macro Advisor.
FIGURE 3-14: The Transfer tab of the CUI Editor.
Book 9 Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: Action Recorder — AutoCAD’s version of a DVR.
FIGURE 4-2: Saving an action macro for playback later.
Guide
Cover
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Begin Reading
Index
About the Author
Dedication
Author’s Acknowledgments
Pages
i
ii
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
AutoCAD® & AutoCAD LT® All-in-One For Dummies®, 2nd Edition
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2026 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies.
Media and software compilation copyright © 2026 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies.
Autodesk screen shots reprinted courtesy of Autodesk, Inc. © 2026. All rights reserved.
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 the prior written permission of the Publisher or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 750-4470, or on the web at www.copyright.com. 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.
The manufacturer’s authorized representative according to the EU General Product Safety Regulation is Wiley-VCH GmbH, Boschstr. 12, 69469 Weinheim, Germany, e-mail: [email protected].
Trademarks: Wiley, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, Dummies.com, Making Everything Easier, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and may not be used without written permission. Autodesk, AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, DWG, DWF, and the DWG logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
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.
For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax 317-572-4002. For technical support, please visit https://hub.wiley.com/community/support/dummies.
Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand. Some material included with standard print versions of this book may not be included in e-books or in print-on-demand. If this book refers to media that is not included in the version you purchased, you may download this material at http://booksupport.wiley.com. For more information about Wiley products, visit www.wiley.com.
Library of Congress Control Number is available from the publisher.
ISBN 978-1-394-37656-8 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-394-37658-2 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-394-37657-5 (ebk)
Introduction
Few people read introductions to reference books, so I’ll make this brief. I just explain what’s in the reference, what it assumes about your existing skills, the conventions and flow of this book, and where to go for more information.
About This Book
AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies, 2nd Edition gives you an understanding of all the main workflows that you need to understand to be productive with AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. This book is laid out to focus on individual topics and allows you the freedom of moving around between its books. If you’re not familiar (or only somewhat familiar) with AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, I recommend that you read through Books 1 and 2 before moving on to the other books. Also, make sure that you read Book 1, Chapter 1, which walks you through creating a basic drawing.
Foolish Assumptions
I expect that you know how to use the Windows operating system and understand the basics of navigating folders and starting applications. As long as you have AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT 2023 or later, preferably, installed on the computer in front of you and have a connection to the Internet, you’re ready to get started.
Conventions Used in This Book
Text you type in the Command Line window, at the command prompt, or in a text box appears in a bold typeface. Examples of AutoCAD prompts and system variables appear in a special typeface. When you see something like “from the Application menu, choose Open⇨Drawing,” the arrow (⇨) indicates that you click the Open submenu on the Application menu and then click the Drawing item, which starts the OPEN command.
Icons Used in This Book
This book uses the following icons to denote paragraphs that may be of special interest:
This icon helps those who are using AutoCAD LT know what features are missing from AutoCAD LT that are in AutoCAD, might only be in AutoCAD LT, or in some cases where AutoCAD LT is slightly different from AutoCAD. At times, you may not know the differences between the two programs, and these paragraphs can help you determine whether you should be using AutoCAD instead of AutoCAD LT.
This icon highlights what’s new in AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT or both.
This icon gives the gray matter an extra nudge here and there for things that I talked about earlier in the book. AutoCAD is a large and at times complex program, and it takes a bit of time to put all the pieces together, so I give you some friendly reminders along the way.
These paragraphs give insight into the inner workings of AutoCAD or something that you won’t typically need to know to use the program, but may find interesting. If you like, you can think of the Technical Stuff paragraphs as bonus material and not as required reading, so feel free to skip them.
This icon indicates information that may save you some time or help you to not fall too far from the path to success. For the most part, Tip paragraphs are designed to help guide you through some of the overwhelming parts of AutoCAD and give you what might not always be the most obvious way to get to the desired result faster.
This icon helps you stay away from the deep end of AutoCAD and out of trouble. Failure to adhere to the message may result in an undesired side effect to your design.
In addition to these standard Dummies icons, you will see AutoCAD interface icons in the margins when I describe steps or processes. These icons can be used from the taskbar to simplify these processes. If you prefer using icons over menu commands, these are geared toward you.
Beyond the Book
This book includes some extra content that you bought with your book but didn’t get inside the book. This extra, premium stuff is available online:
The four bonus chapters found at
www.dummies.com/go/autocad&autocadltaiofd
cover additional topics that just can’t fit between the covers of this book, including working with object selection filters, using Express Tools, creating your own shapes, linetypes, and hatch patterns, extending AutoCAD through some of the different programming languages, and much more! You can download these chapters free of charge.
The Cheat Sheet for this book is at www.dummies.com.
In the Search field, type AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet to find the Cheat Sheet for this book.
Updates to this book, if there are any, are also at
www.dummies.com
. Search for the book’s title to find the associated updates.
Where to Go from Here
This reference combines nine books, including a book about AutoCAD basics, one about 2D drafting, one about annotating drawings, one about advanced drafting, a book about publishing your drawings, a book that covers differences in AutoCAD LT, a book about collaboration, one about 3D modeling, and a book about customizing AutoCAD. In addition, there are four bonus chapters online.
If you have a specific question about what’s covered or where some topic is covered, refer to the table of contents at the front of this reference. Also remember that the book provides an index to help you find just the pages that have the information you need.
Book 1
AutoCAD Basics
Contents at a Glance
Chapter 1: One-on-One Time with AutoCAD
Starting AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT
Getting Familiar with the User Interface
Setting Up Drafting Aids and Layers
Drawing, Viewing, and Editing Objects
Annotating with Text and Dimensions
Fast Track to Plotting
Chapter 2: Drawing on and in AutoCAD
Understanding AutoCAD Files and Formats
Seeing the Light (or LT)
Using AutoCAD’s Latest-and-Greatest Feature Set
Chapter 3: Navigating the AutoCAD Interface
Starting the Application
Welcome Home: The Start Tab
Touring the AutoCAD Interface
Communicating with Your Software
Starting AutoCAD Commands
Reaching for AutoCAD Help
Chapter 4: All about Files
Learning about the File Types in AutoCAD
Starting a New Drawing
Saving a Drawing
Opening an Existing Drawing
Exploring the Multiple-Drawing Environment
Closing a Drawing
File Management for AutoCAD
Backing Up Is Hard to Do …
Chapter 5: Setting Up Drawings
Choosing Units of Measurement
Setting Limits for Your Drawings
Understanding Drawing Scale
Lost in Space: Model or Paper?
Taking a Layered Approach
General Object Properties
Setting Up Standards
Chapter 1
One-on-One Time with AutoCAD
IN THIS CHAPTER
Setting up a drawing
Drawing, viewing, and editing objects
Understanding the basics of plotting
Welcome to AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies, a one-stop shop for AutoCAD users of every skill level. You’ve read this far, so I assume you know a thing or two about the world’s most popular computer-aided drafting program — enough, at least, to know that computer-aided drafting usually goes by the much friendlier acronym of CAD.
AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies is aimed at AutoCAD users in every discipline — architecture, mechanical design, mapping and GIS, product design, survey and civil engineering, diagramming … whatever your field, you will find useful information here. I cover the entire CAD workflow, not forgetting that 90 percent of the time, what you need to produce at the far end of the workflow is a clear and well-laid-out digital or paper drawing.
Reading about AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT is great, but without a good foundation you’ll find it harder to understand other features. So roll up your sleeves and stretch those fingers, because it’s time to get your hands dirty — okay, get your mouse moving and keys pressing.
This chapter helps you with the basics of using AutoCAD by explaining how to set up a basic drawing; how to draw, view, and edit objects; and how to add text and dimensions, which are useful to communicate the design to others. In the end, you will see how to print your first drawing, which will be suitable for hanging on your refrigerator. Figure 1-1 shows the cabinet that you’ll draw in this chapter.
FIGURE 1-1: The front elevation of a wood cabinet unit.
Books 1 and 2 will fill in many of the gaps that might leave you craving more about the basics of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. This is not uncommon, because after you start AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, you’ll see a lot of different things. Don’t worry — I cover most of what you see on the screen. As you move through the lessons, I point you to the chapters in the book that will help you continue to expand your knowledge in that area of drafting with AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT.
Starting AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT
Congratulations on venturing into the world of CAD, but before partying like a CADstar you need to start AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT. Chances are pretty good that you’re running Microsoft’s Windows operating system, and how you start AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT varies slightly based on the configuration of your computer.
To start AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, do one of the following:
Windows Desktop:
On your desktop, locate the AutoCAD 2026 or AutoCAD LT 2026 shortcut and then double-click the icon.
Windows Start Menu:
Click the Start button ⇒ All ⇒ AutoCAD 2026 - English (or AutoCAD LT 2026 - English) ⇒ AutoCAD 2026 - English (or AutoCAD LT 2026 - English).
AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT starts and, like most applications, waits for you to do something. For more on starting AutoCAD, see Chapter 3 of this book. If you have a different release installed, double-click that release’s icon from the Desktop or click the appropriate icon from the Start menu.
Note: While AutoCAD 2026 and AutoCAD LT 2026 are the latest releases as of this book, the steps in this chapter and book also work if you are using AutoCAD 2023 through 2025 or AutoCAD LT 2023 through 2025, unless otherwise noted.
The first thing you encounter is the Start tab (or page), which allows you to open recent or existing drawings, create new drawings, and access learning content and product usage-related insights. The learning content available to you ranges from exercises to learn how to use AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, videos to see the program in action, and the What’s New guide, which explains the changes to the release and previous releases you have installed. In addition to the content on the Start tab, you can get an overview of some of the latest product features in Chapter 2 of this book.
Creating a new drawing
AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT don’t normally create a blank drawing upon startup. If a drawing is created for you, it’s a good idea to discard that drawing and create one using a drawing template of your choosing. To create a new drawing, follow these steps:
On the Start tab, click the New drop-down menu.
The New drop-down menu is located along the left side of the Start page (see Figure 1-2). The menu opens.
FIGURE 1-2: You have to start somewhere, might as well be the Start tab.
From the menu, click Browse Templates.
The Select Template dialog box is displayed (see Figure 1-3).
FIGURE 1-3: Choosing your drawing template.
Select the acad.dwt drawing template (or acadlt.dwt if you’re using AutoCAD LT) and click Open.
A new drawing is created for you based on the drawing template selected.
What is created should be saved
When you create a new drawing, it’s always a good idea to save it right away, and then to save frequently as you draw or modify it. To save a drawing, follow these steps:
On the Quick Access toolbar, click Save.
The Quick Access toolbar is in the upper-left corner of the AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT application window. The Save Drawing As dialog box is displayed.
Browse to the Documents folder by clicking Documents from the Places list along the left side of the dialog box.
The Documents folder opens.
In the File Name text box, type
Cabinet
and click Save.
For more on creating, opening, and saving drawing files, see Chapter 4 of this book.
Accessing the right tools for the right job
AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT have been around for many years, so they offer a large variety of different commands and different user interface elements. The drawing you’ll be working with in this chapter is 2D only, and most of the commands that you will use can be found on the ribbon along with a few other user interface elements in AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT. The display of the ribbon and other 2D-related drafting tools is controlled through the Drafting & Annotation workspace. To set the Drafting & Annotation workspace as current, follow these steps:
On the status bar, click the Workspace Switching icon.
The status bar is located along the bottom of the AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT application window, but more specifically the lower-right of the window.
Choose Drafting & Annotation from the menu.
The workspace’s Quick Access toolbar and ribbon are displayed along the top left of the AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT application window, along with the Command Line window and status bar at the bottom.
To find out more about the different features of the user interface, see Chapter 3 of this book. You can also find out more about workspaces in Chapter 2 of Book 9.
