Mastering AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT 2014 (eBook)

George Omura is a licensed architect and Autodesk Authorized Author who has more than 30 years of experience in architecture and has been using AutoCAD for more than 20 years. He has worked on design projects ranging from resort hotels to metropolitan transit systems to the San Francisco Library project. He is the all-time bestselling AutoCAD author and was cited as favorite CAD author by members of the Autodesk User Group International (AUGI) in AUGIWorld magazine's "Best of Everything CAD" issue. Brian C. Benton is a senior engineering technician, CAD consultant, author, trainer, and popular blogger (cadablog.com) with 20 years of experience in several design fields. He's the Cadalyst magazine "Tip Patroller" columnist, former AUGI HotNews production manager, and an inaugural member of the Autodesk Expert Elite program.

Introduction xxix

Part 1 * The Basics 1

Chapter 1 * Exploring the Interface 3

Chapter 2 * Creating Your First Drawing 29

Chapter 3 * Setting Up and Using the Drafting Tools 79

Chapter 4 * Organizing Objects with Blocks and Groups
119

Chapter 5 * Keeping Track of Layers and Blocks 151

Part 2 * Mastering Intermediate Skills 185

Chapter 6 * Editing and Reusing Data to Work Efficiently
187

Chapter 7 * Mastering Viewing Tools, Hatches, and External
References 231

Chapter 8 * Introducing Printing, Plotting, and
Layouts 281

Chapter 9 * Understanding Plot Styles 311

Chapter 10 * Adding Text to Drawings 337

Chapter 11 * Using Fields and Tables 375

Chapter 12 * Using Dimensions 397

Part 3 * Mastering Advanced Skills 445

Chapter 13 * Using Attributes 447

Chapter 14 * Copying Existing Drawings from Other
Sources 473

Chapter 15 * Advanced Editing and Organizing 499

Chapter 16 * Laying Out Your Printer Output 543

Chapter 17 * Making "Smart" Drawings with
Parametric Tools 571

Chapter 18 * Using Dynamic Blocks 591

Chapter 19 * Drawing Curves 625

Chapter 20 * Getting and Exchanging Data from Drawings
657

Part 4 * 3D Modeling and Imaging 689

Chapter 21 * Creating 3D Drawings 691

Chapter 22 * Using Advanced 3D Features 733

Chapter 23 * Rendering 3D Drawings 789

Chapter 24 * Editing and Visualizing 3D Solids 863

Chapter 25 * Exploring 3D Mesh and Surface Modeling
911

Part 5 * Customization and Integration 961

Chapter 26 * Customizing Toolbars, Menus, Linetypes, and
Hatch Patterns 963

Chapter 27 * Managing and Sharing Your Drawings 1005

Chapter 28 * Keeping a Project Organized with Sheet Sets
1061

Appendices 1105

Appendix A * The Bottom Line 1107

Appendix B * Installing and Setting Up AutoCAD 1135

Appendix C * The Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2014
Certification 1167

Index 1173