AutoCAD For Dummies. Ralph Grabowski
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in older releases of the software. I mention the important differences between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. In particular, AutoCAD LT has no programming language and has extremely limited support for parametrics (see Chapter 19) and 3D (see Chapter 21).
This book is not Mechanical Drafting For Dummies, or Architectural Drafting For Dummies, or even Crash Testing For Dummies. It doesn’t cover traditional drafting principles and procedures, but it does cover the AutoCAD commands necessary to create and edit drawings. Remember, though, that knowing AutoCAD’s commands won’t make you a great designer, just as knowing how to touch-type with a word processor doesn’t necessarily make you a great author. The job title CAD operator doesn’t exist, but almost all drafters and designers use CAD.
In addition, the book does not cover the discipline-specific features found in vertical market products that run on top of AutoCAD, such as AutoCAD Electrical or AutoCAD Mechanical, although most of the information in this book applies to the general-purpose features of those programs as well.
This book covers AutoCAD 2015 through 2023. The obvious major differences between these versions and 2014 and earlier are the initial startup screen and the format of the Ribbon. The underlying principles remain the same. I draw your attention to differences where appropriate.
Late in 2010, Autodesk released the first non–Microsoft Windows version of AutoCAD in 20 years. Although AutoCAD for Mac is available, AutoCAD For Dummies covers only the Windows version. The two versions are file-compatible but differ in how they look and what they can do. If you have AutoCAD for Mac, you can get a grasp of basic concepts from this book, but you might be better off with a Mac-specific book such as AutoCAD 2022 For Beginners (For Mac Users), by CADfolks.
Foolish Assumptions
AutoCAD has a large, loyal, dedicated group of longtime users. If you’ve been using AutoCAD for a decade or more, if you plan your vacation time around Autodesk University, if you used AutoCAD to create your wedding invitations, if you tell police officers that you can walk a straight line if they will press F8 first, or if you read 1,200-page technical tomes about AutoCAD for pleasure, AutoCAD For Dummies is not for you. This book is for you if you want to get going quickly with AutoCAD and understand the importance of developing proper CAD techniques right from the beginning.
However, you do need to have an idea of how to use your computer before tackling AutoCAD and this book. And you must have a computer system running AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT (preferably the 2023 version but at least 2015 or newer). A printer or plotter and a connection to the internet are helpful, too.
You also need to know how to use your version of Windows to copy and delete files, create folders, and find files. You need to know how to use a mouse to select (highlight) or to choose (activate) commands, how to close a window, and how to minimize and maximize windows. You should be familiar with these basics of your operating system before you start using AutoCAD.
Conventions Used in This Book
Here are some conventions that you’ll run across in this book.
Using the command line
The command line is that gray rectangle near the bottom of the AutoCAD screen that says Type a command. One way of using AutoCAD is to type the names of commands in this area. In addition, this is where AutoCAD talks back to you when it needs more information. Examples of AutoCAD prompts appear in this book with a special typeface, as does any other text in the book that replicates a message, a word, or text that appears on the screen. Sequences of prompts that appear at the AutoCAD command line have a shaded background in this book, like this:
Specify lower left corner or [ON/OFF] <0.0000,0.0000>:
When there is a specific action that I want you to take at one of these prompts, look for the italic passage at the end of the line, such as when I want you to press the Enter key on the keyboard:
Specify ending width <5.0000>: Press Enter
Text that I want you to type into the program at the command line, in a dialog box, in a text box, or elsewhere appears in boldface type, like the 3 at the end of the following line.
Specify starting width <0.0000>: 3
Many figures in this book also show AutoCAD command-line sequences that demonstrate AutoCAD’s prompts and sample responses.
Using aliases
Many AutoCAD commands have aliases — shortcut versions of commands that have fewer letters than the full command names, in case you like typing commands at the AutoCAD command line. In this book, I show aliases in uppercase as part of the command names. To start a command with an alias, you have to type only that uppercase letters that I show you. For example, to draw a line, type either Line (the official command) or L (its alias) and then press Enter to execute the command. When I tell you to start a command, I spell it out in full (such as Line, Circle, or COpy), but you need to enter only the letters I show in uppercase (L, C, or CO, respectively). Note also that the uppercase letters aren’t always the initial letters nor are they always adjacent. For example, the eXit command can be entered as the full word or as just the letter X and DimANgular can be entered as DAN.
As you begin to type a command name at the keyboard, the program will try to guess the ones you might want by displaying a list of suggestions. You can click the name you want or keep typing until your choice rises to the top, at which point you simply press Enter or the space bar.
Icons Used in This Book
Throughout this book, I point out certain morsels of particularly important and useful information by placing handy icons in the margin. Naturally, different icons indicate different types of information.
Beyond the Book
I have written a lot of extra content that you won’t find in this book. Go online to find
AutoCAD