AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies

Lee Ambrosius is a professional technical writer and consultant with decades of experience teaching others how to use and maximize the capabilities of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT software. He has authored numerous works on a wide range of AutoCAD-related topics and has presented many sessions at Autodesk University.

• Introduction 1About This Book 1Foolish Assumptions 1Conventions Used in This Book 1Icons Used in This Book 2Beyond the Book 3Where to Go from Here 3Book 1: Autocad Basics 5Chapter 1: One-on-One Time with AutoCAD 7Starting AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT 8Creating a new drawing 9What is created should be saved 10Accessing the right tools for the right job 11Getting Familiar with the User Interface 11Application menu access 12Ribbon access 13Toolbar access 15Setting Up Drafting Aids and Layers 16Getting snappy and griddy 16Establishing the limits 17Organizing objects with layers 19Drawing, Viewing, and Editing Objects 21Walking the straight and curved 21Getting up close with objects 28Modifying objects 29Annotating with Text and Dimensions 32Expressing yourself through text 32Entering the drafting dimension 34Fast Track to Plotting 36Chapter 2: Drawing on and in AutoCAD 37Understanding AutoCAD Files and Formats 38Seeing the Light (or LT) 39Using AutoCAD’s Latest-and-Greatest Feature Set 40Chapter 3: Navigating the AutoCAD Interface 43Starting the Application 43Pinning AutoCAD to the Start menu 44Pinning AutoCAD to the taskbar 45Using desktop shortcuts 45Accessing files from File Explorer 46Welcome Home: The Start Tab 47Touring the AutoCAD Interface 47Title bars 47Application menu 49Quick Access toolbar 50Ribbon 50Palettes 51Drawing File tabs 54Drawing area 55Crosshairs 56The floating Command Line window 57The status bar 57“Legacy” menus and toolbars 61Communicating with Your Software 63The command line 63Dynamic input 64Starting AutoCAD Commands 65Grasping the AutoCAD difference 65Repeating a command 65Canceling a running command 65Undoing and redoing commands 66Reaching for AutoCAD Help 67Tooltips 67My Insights 68Using online HELP and the UI Finder 69Autodesk Assistant 70Finding online resources 70Analyzing AutoCAD performance 71Chapter 4: All about Files 73Learning about the File Types in AutoCAD 74Starting a New Drawing 77Starting from scratch 79Using a wizard 79Using a drawing template 80Saving a Drawing 81Using the SAVE command 82Using QSAVE (Quick Save) 82Using the Save As Command 84Opening an Existing Drawing 85Using the OPEN command 85Accessing recent drawings 87Using File Explorer 87Exploring the Multiple-Drawing Environment 89Closing a Drawing 90File Management for AutoCAD 91Naming drawing files 91Storing your files 92Backing Up Is Hard to Do 92Chapter 5: Setting Up Drawings 95Choosing Units of Measurement 95AutoCAD units 98Imperial or metric 98System variables 99Setting units in your drawing 99Setting Limits for Your Drawings 101Understanding Drawing Scale 102Scaling on paper (or on a drawing board) 102Scaling in AutoCAD 103Scale factors 104Using scale factors to establish drawing settings 105Lost in Space: Model or Paper? 106Taking a Layered Approach 107Creating layers 108Defining layer properties 109Setting layer modes 111Modifying layer settings 113The Layer Control drop-down list 118Layer tools 119General Object Properties 121Using AutoCAD’s color systems 122Using linetypes 122Setting Up Standards 124Book 2: 2d Drafting 125Chapter 1: Drawing Objects 127Locating and Using the Drawing Tools 127Let’s Get Primitive 130Keeping to the straight and narrow 130Going around in circles 132Arcs of triumph 134The point of the exercise 137Creating Construction Geometry 138Xlines for X-men 138A little ray of sunshine 140A Bit Sketchy 140Drawing Parallel Lines 141Creating Complex Curves 143Lucy, you have some splining to do! 143Solar ellipses 145Constructing Complex Objects and Shapes 1482D solids 148Rectang(le), polygon, and donut 148Polylines 150Cloudy with a chance of revision 152Ahhhh wipeout 153Chapter 2: Precision Tools 155Understanding Precision and Accuracy 156Understanding Coordinate Systems 157The world coordinate system 158Entering coordinates 159Direct distance entry 167Dynamic input and coordinate entry 168Setting Grid and Snap 173Understanding Ortho and Polar Tracking 175Using ortho mode 176Using polar tracking 176Working with Object Snaps 179Using Point Filters 184Working with Object Snap Tracking Mode 185Temporarily Overriding Drafting Aids 187Chapter 3: Modifying Objects 189Setting Selection Options 189Selecting Objects 191Selecting multiple objects 192Object selection modes 194Selection preview 196Object groups 196AutoCAD’s Editing Commands 199Removing stuff 202Unerasing objects 203Relocating and replicating 204Rotating and resizing 212Breaking, mending, and blowing up real good 214Double-barrel commands 216Specialized commands 217Changing properties 219Coming to Grips with Grips 221Chapter 4: Managing Views 223A Zoom of One’s Own 226Wheeling through your drawing 228Realtime zooming 229Panning in a Flash 231Grabbing the Wheel and Hanging On 233Naming That View 235Creating named views 236Other named view options 238Having AutoCAD Put on a Show 239To Redraw or to Regen That Is the Question 241Book 3: Annotating Drawings 243Chapter 1: Text: When Pictures Just Won’t Do 245Adding Text in AutoCAD 245Getting familiar with text terminology 246Will that be one or two lines? 247Justification 248Where should text go? 250Futzing with Fonts 252Working with Text Styles 253Creating Single Line Text 257Working with Multiline Text 260Creating Multiline Text 261Formatting options 263Numbered and bulleted lists 263Controlling the flow of text 265Fields, masks, and other multiline text delights 265Editing Text 267Editing single-line text 267Editing multiline text 268Leading the Way 269Making way for multiple leaders 270Legacy leaders 273Turning the Tables 274Setting the table with styles 274Creating and editing tables 276Link me up Scotty 278Finding Text and Spell Checking 279Chapter 2: Dimensioning 281Understanding What a Dimension Is Made Of 282Understanding the Types of Dimensions 283Associative dimensions 283Non-associative dimensions 284Exploded dimensions 284Creating New Dimensions as Associative 284Using and Creating Dimension Styles 285Working with the Dimension Style Manager 286Creating a dimension style 286Styling dimensions 288Defining the scale for dimensions 292Dimension variables 294Setting a dimension style as current 295Modifying a dimension style 295Renaming a dimension style 297Deleting a dimension style 298Comparing dimension styles 298Importing a dimension style 298Creating Dimensions 298Linear and aligned dimensions 301Baseline and continued dimensions 302Angular dimensions 303Arc length dimensions 304Radius, diameter, and jogged dimensions 305Ordinate dimensions 306One dimension command to rule them all 307Quickly place dimensions 307Trans-spatial dimensions 307Editing Dimensions 308Adding overrides to a dimension 308Editing the dimension text 308Using grips to edit dimensions 309Associating dimensions 309Breaking and spacing dimensions 310Inspecting dimensions 310Marking the Center of Objects 311Using centerlines 311Using center marks 312Using “legacy” center marks 312Editing and associating centerlines and center marks 313Working with Geometric Tolerances 313Chapter 3: Hatching Your Drawings 315Adding Hatch Patterns and Fills 316Adding hatches to a drawing 317Hatching and DesignCenter 320Advanced settings for additional control 320Working with Hatch Patterns and Solid Fills 322Predefined patterns 322User-defined patterns 322Custom hatch patterns 322Using Gradient Fills 323Editing Hatch Patterns and Fills 324Chapter 4: Scaling Mt Annotation 325The What, Why, and How of Annotation Scaling 326Making Styles and Objects Annotative 327Annotative styles and block definitions 327Annotative objects 328Adding and Removing Annotation Scales 330Controlling the Annotation Scale for Output 332Book 4: Advanced Drafting 333Chapter 1: Playing with Blocks 335Working with Reusable Content 335Creating Blocks 336Accessing the Block Definition dialog box 337Converting repetitive geometry into blocks 339Inserting Blocks 341Counting Blocks 344Replacing Blocks 345Managing Blocks 346Renaming a block definition 346Redefining a block definition 346Purging a block definition 347Exporting a block definition 348Enhancing Blocks with Attributes 348Adding an attribute to a block definition 348Using block placeholder fields 351Inserting a block with attributes 352Editing an attribute’s value in a block 352Managing attributes in blocks 353Extracting attribute data from blocks 353Chapter 2: Going Dynamic with Blocks 355What Makes a Block Dynamic? 355Investigating the Block Editor Environment 357Components of the Block Editor 357Editing a block definition 360Going Dynamic 361Adding parameters 363Adding actions 364Using parameter sets 366Defining visibility states 366Storing custom property values with attributes 369Using Dynamic Blocks 370Inserting a dynamic block 370Modifying a dynamic block 370Using Dynamic Blocks in Earlier Releases 371Chapter 3: Referencing External Drawings and Files 373Blocks versus External References 374Working with External References 374Path to success with xrefs 375Attaching an xref 377External reference notification 380Comparing xrefs (or drawings) for changes 381Editing an xref 381Clipping an xref 384Increasing the performance of xrefs 386Binding an xref 387Referencing Raster Images 388Attaching a raster image 389Clipping a raster image 390Controlling the appearance of a raster image 391Attaching PDFs, DGNs, and DWFs as Underlays 392Attaching a PDF, DGN, or DWF file 393Snapping to the geometry of an underlay 395Clipping an underlay 395Controlling the appearance of an underlay 396Binding a DGN underlay 397Importing a PDF or DGN file 397Determining Draw Order 397Incorporating Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) 398Referencing and Using Other Types of Files 400Chapter 4: Organizing Your Drawings 401Why Bother Organizing Drawings? 401Using the Windows Clipboard 402Copying objects from a drawing 402Cutting objects from a drawing 403Pasting objects into a drawing 403Managing Blocks with Libraries 404x Autocad & Autocad Lt All-in-one for DummiesUsing AutoCAD DesignCenter 406Locating resources in drawings 407Adding resources to drawings 409Inserting hatches and loading linetypes 410Using the Tool Palettes Window 410Blocks, xrefs, images, tables, and hatches 411Command and flyouts tools 412Modifying tools on a tool palette 412Customizing and organizing tool palettes 412Book 5: Publishing Drawings 415Chapter 1: Laying It All Out There 417Preparing for Output with Page Setups 418Options of a page setup 419Working with page setups 420Organizing a Drawing with Layouts 424Working with layouts 425Changing the appearance of layouts 429Looking at a Model Through Layout Viewports 431Defining a viewport’s shape 431Controlling scale 436Controlling the display within a viewport 437Modifying a viewport 439Chapter 2: Print, Plot, Publish 441You Say Printing, I Say Plotting, They Say Publishing 441Working with drivers 442Configuring a printer or plotter 443Putting style in your plots 448Output Made Easy 452Plotting the Model tab 453Plotting a paper space layout 456Scaling your drawing 457More plotting options 458Publishing Drawings 459Chapter 3: Sheet Sets without Regret 463Overview of a Sheet Set 463Using the Sheet Set Manager 464Creating a Sheet Set 465Starting from scratch 466Starting from an existing sheet set 470Starting from a cloud example sheet set 471Managing Drawings with a Sheet Set 471Opening a sheet set 471Importing existing drawings as sheets 472Organizing with subsets 474Setting up a sheet set and subset for adding new sheets 476Adding a new sheet 478Opening a sheet 479Removing, renaming, and renumbering a sheet 479Managing sheet set and sheet properties 480Inserting a list of all sheets in a sheet set 483Setting up advanced features 484Publishing, eTransmitting, and Archiving a Sheet Set 486Book 6: Lt Differences 487Chapter 1: The LT Difference 489Understanding the Boundaries and Limitations of AutoCAD LT 489Determining Which Product Is Best for You 495Chapter 2: Extending AutoCAD LT 497Customizing and Programming AutoCAD LT 497Linetype and hatch patterns 498Blocks and DesignCenter 498Tool palettes 498Changing the user interface with the CUI Editor 499Diesel 500Command aliases 500Desktop icons 500It’s all in the script 500Conversing with AutoCAD LT using AutoLISP 501Object Enabler Technology 502Additional Utilities Available from Autodesk 502DWG TrueView 503Viewers 503Companion Products from Autodesk 503Autodesk AutoCAD Web 504Autodesk 3ds Max 504Third-Party Custom Solutions 505Block utilities/libraries 505Viewers 506Chapter 3: Mixed Environments 507Using AutoCAD LT and AutoCAD in the Same Office 507Budgeting 507Training 508Communication 508Environment 509Customization and programming 509Installation and deployment 509Making the Trip from AutoCAD to AutoCAD LT 5102D drafting 5103D modeling 511Annotation 512Viewing 512Visualization 512CAD Standards feature 513Collaboration and sharing 513Book 7: Collaboration 515Chapter 1: CAD Management: The Necessary Evil. 517Getting a Handle on the Basics of CAD Management 518Managing the Drafting Environment 519Creating a Good Foundation 520Creating a drawing template file 522Using a drawing template file 524Specifying a drawing template file for use with QNEW 524Specifying the location of drawing template files 525Chapter 2: Adopting CAD Standards 527CAD Standards Overview 527Using AutoCAD’s CAD Standards Tools 529Drawing standards (DWS) files 529Managing standards 530Checking batches of drawings 536Translating layers 537Chapter 3: Managing Drawing Files 541It’s All in the Name: File-Naming Conventions 542Part of a Drawing Can Be a Good Thing: Working with Partial Open 542Controlling What Happens During a Save 546Getting a handle on drawing file formats 546Indexing the contents of a drawing 547Signing Your Drawings Digitally 549Obtaining a digital certificate 549Digitally signing a drawing file 550Opening a digitally signed drawing file 551Digitally signing a batch of drawings 553Understanding Past Changes to a Drawing 555Chapter 4: Sharing and Reviewing Electronic Files 557Sharing Drawings with Non-AutoCAD Products 558Taking Drawings to the Internet 559Using an FTP site 560Utilizing cloud-based storage providers 561Using web-based project sites 562Reviewing and Marking Up Drawings 563Viewing drawings without AutoCAD 564Working with and importing markups into Traces 566Emulating Paper Digitally 571Portable Document Format (PDF) 572Design Web Format (DWF and DWFx) 572Head-to-head comparison 573Working with DWF and DWFx Files 574Creating and viewing a DWF or DWFx file 574Electronically marking up a DWF or DWFx file 576Book 8: 3d Modeling 577Chapter 1: Introducing the Third Dimension 579Understanding the Different Types of 3D Models 580Entering Coordinates Above the x,y Plane 583Manually inputting coordinates 583Using point filters 585Snapping to objects 586Tracking with object snaps and moving orthogonally 587Specifying elevation going up 588Chapter 2: Using the 3D Environment 589Setting Up AutoCAD for 3D 590Orienting yourself in the drawing window 590Customizing crosshairs and dynamic input 592Using workspaces to switch between 2D drafting and 3D modeling 592Accelerating your hardware 593Understanding What the UCS Icon Is Telling You 594Orientating yourself with the UCS icon 594Controlling the display of the UCS icon 595Using the Coordinate System for 3D Drafting 596Understanding the coordinate system 597Adjusting the UCS 598Chapter 3: Viewing in 3D 601Expressing Your Point of View 601Using preset views 601Finding your way with the compass and tripod 602Cameras 603Perspective versus parallel 605Orbiting Around a 3D Model 605Navigating a 3D Model 608Hugging the Corners with the SteeringWheels 609Cube with a View 610Gaining a Sense of Control 611Using Visual Styles in AutoCAD 612Chapter 4: Moving from 2D to 3D 613Working with Regions 614Creating regions 614Modifying regions 615Getting more information about regions 6163D Polylines and Helixes 6163D polyline 617Helix 617Creating 3D Objects from 2D Objects 617Thickness 618Extrude 618Loft 619Sweep 619Revolve 620Creating 2D Objects from 3D Objects 620Flatshot 621Section Plane 621Model documentation 622Solid Draw, Solid View, and Solid Profile 6233D Modify Commands 6233D Move 6243D Rotate 6243D Scale 624Align 6253D Align 6253D Mirror 6253D Array 625Selecting subobjects of a 3D object 626Chapter 5: Working with 3D Solids 627Creating 3D Solid Primitives 627Polysolid 628Box 629Wedge 629Cylinder 630Cone 630Sphere 631Torus 631Pyramid 632Editing 3D Solids 6323D solid editing 633Using grips to edit 3D solids 634Compound 3D solids 635Filleting and chamfering 635Scaling 635Slicing 635Chapter 6: Rendering: Lights, Camera, AutoCAD! 637Lighting a Scene 637Default lights 638User-defined lights 638Sunlight 642Adjusting exposure and using image-based lighting (IBL) 642Getting the Right Look with Materials 643Setting Up a Backdrop 644Rendering the Final Scene 645Book 9: Customizing Autocad 649Chapter 1: The Basics of Customizing AutoCAD 651Why Customize AutoCAD? 652Customizing the AutoCAD Startup Process 654Startup options 654Using command-line switches 655Changing Options and Working with User Profiles 659Launching the Options dialog box 661Overview of the AutoCAD options 661Working with user profiles 662Creating and Managing Command Aliases 665Editing the PGP file 665Opening the PGP file 666Adding a new command alias 666Working with the AutoCAD Alias Editor 667Chapter 2: Customizing the Interface 669Influencing Your Status (Bar) 670Toggling the display of a control on the status bars 671Powering the status bar with DIESEL 672Training Your Panels and Dockable Windows to Stay 673Locking panels and dockable windows 674Locking and unlocking panels and dockable windows 674Controlling the Appearance of AutoCAD and the Drawing Window 675Window elements 676Layout elements 678Size of the crosshairs 679Other settings 679Organizing Your Space 680Using the Workspace Switching status bar control 681Using the Customize User Interface Editor 683Maximizing the drawing space 686Chapter 3: Customizing the Tools 687Getting to Know the Customize User Interface Editor 688The Customizations In pane 689The Command List pane 689The Dynamic pane 690Launching the CUI Editor 693Commands in the CUI Editor 693Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar, Ribbon, and Shortcut Menus 697The Quick Access toolbar 697The Ribbon 699The shortcut menus 702The separator bars 706Creating a New Shortcut Key 707Customizing Double-Click Actions 708Customizing the Quick Properties Panel and Rollover Tooltips 709Accessing Suggested Macros 711Migrating and Transferring Customizations 712Working with Partial and Enterprise Customization Files 713Loading an enterprise customization file 714Loading a partial customization file 715Chapter 4: Automating Repetitive Tasks 717Working from a Script 717What’s in a script? 718Writing a script file 720Loading and running a script file 721Running a script file at startup 721Actions and Action Recorder 722Recording and Managing Action Macros 723Recording actions 723Managing and editing action macro files 727Managing the location of action macro files 728Editing Actions and Recorded Values 728Just Press Play 729Index 731