Synopses & Reviews
The bestselling guide to AutoCAD, fully updated for the 2013 versionAutoCAD, the number one architectural drawing software, can be challenging to learn. This comprehensive guide has sold more than 160,000 copies in previous editions and is the go-to resource for architects, engineers, drafters, interior designers, and space planners who need to learn and use AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. From the basics of creating drawings and using commands to 2D and 3D drawing techniques, using layers, rendering, and customizing the program, this book covers it all. A Quick Start guide allows even newcomers to create an actual drawing on their very first day.
Expert AutoCAD author Ellen Finkelstein presents more than 150 tutorials illustrated with real-world drawings from AutoCAD pros. The companion website includes before-and-after drawings, bonus chapters, video tutorials, and more!
- The comprehensive, soup-to-nuts reference that even some Autodesk employees keep on their desks
- Covers AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT in complete detail, from using the interface and commands to customizing and programming AutoCAD with AutoLISP and VBA
- Begins with a Quick Start guide to help novices create a real drawing on their first day with the program
- Covers creating drawings, using commands, and specifying coordinates; working with complex 2D and 3D drawing techniques; using layers; and creating dimensions, 3D coordinates, solids, and rendering
- Discusses customizing commands and toolbars and programming AutoCAD with AutoLISP and VBA
- Includes a companion website with bonus content, video tutorials, and before-and-after drawings
AutoCAD 2013 and AutoCAD LT 2013 Bible is the comprehensive, one-stop AutoCAD resource for newcomers and veterans alike.
Synopsis
This popular and always dependable AutoCAD reference-tutorial, the AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Bible, will be revised by Ellen Finkelstein a long-time AutoCAD instructor and advocate. Because of its comprehensive coverage, it is very popular among both novice and experienced users. No features are left out. Even some of the employees at Autodesk keep this book at their workstations. "Even we need to look things up," writes an AutoCAD beta manager. "This book is the best one on AutoCAD that I have seen and I will recommend it to others.” Coverage of AutoCAD LT—a less expensive, “light” version of AutoCAD—is also incorporated throughout the book. Finkelstein starts the book with a Quick Start tutorial, so that even beginners will be doing exciting work with AutoCAD on their very first day. The chapters begin with the basics of creating drawings, using commands, and specifying coordinates. Finkelstein builds on this these chapters to cover more complex 2D and 3D drawing techniques, including using layers, creating dimensions, 3D coordinates, solids, and rendering. Finally, the book discusses advanced topics such as customization of commands and toolbars, and programming AutoCAD using AutoLISP and VBA. A DVD contains before and after drawings for each tutorial (all of these real-world drawings have been collected from AutoCAD professionals), bonus appendices, freeware and shareware programs, and a 30-day trial version of AutoCAD.
Synopsis
Discover how to create and shape your worldFrom complex 2D and 3D drawing techniques to customizing the user interface, this in-depth guide gets you up and running with AutoCAD 2013 or AutoCAD LT 2013. You'll be able to quickly create your first drawing with the Quick Start tutorial and then dive into the advanced features and functionality to find out what you can achieve with this amazing program. In no time, you'll be building models, annotating them with dimensions, plotting or even rendering them, and much more!
- Set up and customize AutoCAD to make it easier to work
- Navigate around the user interface to seamlessly interact with the software
- Utilize the connection with Autodesk® 360 to synchronize files and store them in the cloud
- Build 3D models with surfaces and solids
- Start programming AutoCAD using AutoLISP and .NET
Path arrays are now easier to create
Easily create a series of 2D views of your 3D models
Add intelligence and flexibility with dynamic blocks
What's on the companion website?
- Before-and-after drawings for each tutorial
- Fifteen bonus chapters, 7 addenda, and over 400 pages of additional content
- Video tutorials
- Links to many additional resources
Synopsis
Discover how to create and shape your worldFrom complex 2D and 3D drawing techniques to customizing the user interface, this in-depth guide gets you up and running with AutoCAD 2013 or AutoCAD LT 2013. You'll be able to quickly create your first drawing with the Quick Start tutorial and then dive into the advanced features and functionality to find out what you can achieve with this amazing program. In no time, you'll be building models, annotating them with dimensions, plotting or even rendering them, and much more!
- Set up and customize AutoCAD to make it easier to work
- Navigate around the user interface to seamlessly interact with the software
- Utilize the connection with Autodesk® 360 to synchronize files and store them in the cloud
- Build 3D models with surfaces and solids
- Start programming AutoCAD using AutoLISP and .NET
Path arrays are now easier to create
Easily create a series of 2D views of your 3D models
Add intelligence and flexibility with dynamic blocks
What's on the companion website?
- Before-and-after drawings for each tutorial
- Fifteen bonus chapters, 7 addenda, and over 400 pages of additional content
- Video tutorials
- Links to many additional resources
About the Author
Ellen Finkelstein has been teaching and writing about AutoCAD since 1989. Besides writing computer books, she has written content for Autodesk and taught at Autodesk University. Visit her website, www.ellenfinkelstein.com, for free AutoCAD tips and tutorials.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xxxi
Introduction xxxiii
Part I: Introducing AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Basics 1
Quick Start: Drawing a Window 1
Chapter 1: Starting to Draw 13
Chapter 2: Opening a Drawing 29
Chapter 3: Using Commands 35
Chapter 4: Specifying Coordinates 53
Chapter 5: Setting Up a Drawing 91
Part II: Drawing in Two Dimensions 107
Chapter 6: Drawing Simple Lines 109
Chapter 7: Drawing Curves and Points 119
Chapter 8: Viewing Your Drawing 135
Chapter 9 Editing Your Drawing with Basic Tools 165
Chapter 10: Editing Your Drawing with Advanced Tools 191
Chapter 11: Organizing Drawings with Layers and Object Properties 245
Chapter 12: Obtaining Information from Your Drawing 283
Chapter 13: Creating Text 303
Chapter 14: Drawing Dimensions 361
Chapter 15: Creating Dimension Styles 415
Chapter 16: Drawing Complex Objects 449
Chapter 17: Plotting and Printing Your Drawing 485
Part III: Working with Data 525
Chapter 18: Working with Blocks 527
Chapter 19: Adding Attributes to Blocks 577
Chapter 20: Referencing Other Drawings 593
Part IV: Drawing in Three Dimensions 617
Chapter 21: Specifying 3D Coordinates 619
Chapter 22: Viewing 3D Drawings 649
Chapter 23: Creating 3D Surfaces 693
Chapter 24: Creating Solids and Editing in 3D 729
Part V: Appendixes 803
Appendix A: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Resources 805
Appendix B: What’s on the Companion Website 811
Index 815
Bonus Chapters on the Companion Website
Bonus Chapter 1: Working with External Databases BC1
Bonus Chapter 2: Rendering in 3D BC33
Bonus Chapter 3: Keeping Control of Your Drawings BC69
Bonus Chapter 4: Working with Other Applications BC125
Bonus Chapter 5: Creating Electronic Output BC153
Bonus Chapter 6: Customizing Commands, Toolbars, and Tool Palettes BC181
Bonus Chapter 7: Creating Macros and Slide Shows BC205
Bonus Chapter 8: Creating Your Own Linetypes and Hatch Patterns BC219
Bonus Chapter 9: Creating Shapes and Fonts BC231
Bonus Chapter 10: Customizing the Ribbon and Menus BC243
Bonus Chapter 11: Understanding AutoLISP and Visual LISP Basics BC273
Bonus Chapter 12 Exploring AutoLISP Further BC289
Bonus Chapter 13 Exploring Advanced AutoLISP Topics BC317
Bonus Chapter 14: Programming with .NET BC337
Bonus Chapter 15: Installing and Configuring AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT BC373