Up and Running with AutoCAD 2011 (eBook)

FRONT COVER 1
UP AND RUNNING WITH AUTOCAD® 2011 4
COPYRIGHT PAGE 5
CONTENTS 6
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 14
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 16
PREFACE 18
LEVEL 1: The Chapters 1–10 22
CHAPTER 1 AutoCAD fundamentals—Part I 24
1.1 Introduction and Basic Commands 25
1.2 The AutoCAD Environment 26
1.3 Interacting with AutoCAD 29
1.4 Practicing the Create Objects Commands 34
1.5 View Objects 40
1.6 Practicing the Edit/Modify Objects Commands 42
1.7 Selection Methods 51
1.8 Drawing Accuracy—Part 1 51
1.9 Drawing Accuracy—Part 2 52
1.10 OSNAP Drafting Settings 54
Summary 55
CHAPTER 2 AutoCAD Fundamentals—Part II 60
2.1 Grips 61
2.2 Units and Scale 61
2.3 Snap and Grid 63
2.4 Cartesian Coordinate System 64
2.5 Distance Entry Techniques 65
2.6 Inquiry Commands 69
2.7 Miscellaneous Topics 73
Summary 81
CHAPTER 3 Layers, Colors, Linetypes, and Properties 88
3.1 Introduction to Layers 89
3.2 Introduction to Linetypes 93
3.3 Introduction to Properties 95
3.4 In Class Drawing Project: Floor Plan Layout 98
Summary 104
SPOTLIGHT ON: ARCHITECTURE 110
CHAPTER 4 Text, Mtext, Editing, and Style 116
4.1 Introduction to Text and Mtext 117
4.2 Text 117
4.3 Mtext 119
4.4 Style 124
4.5 Spell Check 125
4.6 In Class Drawing Project: Adding Text and Furniture to Floor Plan Layout 127
Summary 130
CHAPTER 5 Hatch Patterns 134
5.1 Introduction to Hatch 135
5.2 Hatch Procedures 136
5.3 Working With Hatch Patterns 140
5.4 Gradient and Solid Fill 144
5.5 In class Drawing Project: Adding Hatch to Floor Plan Layout 147
Summary 148
CHAPTER 6 Dimensions 152
6.1 Introduction to Dimensions 153
6.2 Types of Dimensions 153
6.3 Editing Dimensions 166
6.4 Customizing Dimensions 168
6.5 In Class Drawing Project: Adding Dimensions to Floor Plan Layout 173
Summary 174
CHAPTER 7 Blocks, Wblocks, Dynamic Blocks, and Purge 178
7.1 Introduction to Blocks 179
7.2 Insert 182
7.3 Purge 183
7.4 Wblocks 185
7.5 Dynamic Blocks 185
Summary 190
SPOTLIGHT ON: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 192
CHAPTER 8 Polar and Rectangular Arrays 196
8.1 Polar Array 197
8.2 Rectangular Array 199
8.3 In Class Drawing Project: Mechanical Device 200
8.4 Drawing a Star 205
Summary 205
CHAPTER 9 Basic Printing and Output 208
9.1 Introduction to Printing and Plotting 209
9.2 The Essentials 209
9.3 The Plot Dialog Box 212
9.4 Page Setup Manager 216
Summary 217
CHAPTER 10 Advanced Output—Paper Space 220
10.1 Introduction to Paper Space 221
10.2 Paper Space Concepts 222
Summary 244
LEVEL 2: Chapters 11–20 248
CHAPTER 11 Advanced Linework 250
11.1 Introduction to Advanced Linework 250
11.2 Pline (Polyline) 251
11.3 Xline (Construction Line) 256
11.4 Ray 257
11.5 Spline 258
11.6 Mline (Multiline) 260
11.7 Sketch 267
Level 2 Drawing Project (1 of 10): Architectural Floor Plan 269
Summary 271
CHAPTER 12 Advanced Layers 274
12.1 Introduction to Advanced Layers 275
12.2 Script Files 275
12.3 Layer State Manager 276
12.4 Layer Filtering 280
Level 2 Drawing Project (2 of 10): Architectural Floor Plan 282
Summary 286
CHAPTER 13 Advanced Dimensions 288
13.1 Introduction to Advanced Dimensions 289
13.2 Dimension Style Manager 289
13.3 Introduction to Constraints 297
13.4 Geometric Constraints 297
13.5 Dimensional Constraints 301
13.6 Dimension Driven Design 304
Level 2 Drawing Project (3 of 10): Architectural Floor Plan 305
Summary 307
SPOTLIGHT ON: INTERIOR DESIGN 310
CHAPTER 14 Options, Shortcuts, CUI, Design Center, and Express Tools 314
14.1 Options 315
14.2 Shortcuts 330
14.3 Customize User Interface 333
14.4 Design Center 336
14.5 Express Tools 339
Level 2 Drawing Project (4 of 10): Architectural Floor Plan 345
Summary 347
CHAPTER 15 Advanced Design and File Management Tools 350
15.1 Introduction to Advanced Design and File Management Tools 351
15.2 Align 351
15.3 Audit and Recover 353
15.4 Break and Join 354
15.5 Cad Standards 356
15.6 Calculator 357
15.7 Defpoints Concept 360
15.8 Divide and Point Style 360
15.9 Donut 361
15.10 Draw Order 361
15.11 eTransmit 362
15.12 Filters 364
15.13 Hyperlinks 365
15.14 Lengthen 367
15.15 Object Snap Tracking 368
15.16 Overkill 368
15.17 Point 369
15.18 Publish 370
15.19 Raster 371
15.20 Revcloud 371
15.21 Sheet Sets 372
15.22 Selection Methods 374
15.23 Stretch 377
15.24 System Variables 378
15.25 Tables 379
15.26 Tool Palette 381
15.27 Ucs and Crosshair Rotation 383
15.28 Window Tiling 384
15.29 Wipeout 384
Level 2 drawing Project (5 of 10): Architectural Floor Plan 389
Summary 391
CHAPTER 16 Importing and Exporting Data 394
16.1 Introduction to Importing and Exporting Data 394
16.2 Importing and Exporting To and From MS Office Applications 395
16.3 Screen Shots 398
16.4 JPGs 398
16.5 PDFs 399
16.6 Other CAD Software 401
16.7 Exporting and the Save as Feature 402
16.8 Inserting and OLE 404
Level 2 Drawing Project (6 of 10): Architectural Floor Plan 406
Summary 407
CHAPTER 17 External References (XREFs) 408
17.1 Introduction to Xrefs 409
17.2 Using Xrefs 410
17.3 Layers in Xrefs 413
17.4 Editing and Reloading Xrefs 414
17.5 Multiple Xrefs 415
17.6 Ribbon and Xrefs 416
Level 2 Drawing Project (7 of 10): Architectural Floor Plan 417
Summary 419
SPOTLIGHT ON: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 422
CHAPTER 18 Attributes 426
18.1 Introduction to Attributes 426
18.2 Creating the Design 427
18.3 Creating the Attribute Definitions 428
18.4 Creating the Attribute Block 430
18.5 Attribute Properties and Editing 431
18.6 Attribute Extraction 432
18.7 Invisible Attributes 437
Level 2 Drawing Project (8 of 10): Architectural Floor Plan 438
Summary 439
CHAPTER 19 Advanced Output and Pen Settings 442
19.1 Introduction to Advanced Output and Pen Settings 443
19.2 Setting Standards 443
19.3 The CTB File 444
19.4 Additional CTB File Features 448
19.5 The LWT Option 449
Level 2 Drawing Project (9 of 10): Architectural Floor Plan 450
Summary 451
CHAPTER 20 Isometric Drawing 454
20.1 Introduction to Isometric Perspective 455
20.2 Basic Technique 455
20.3 Ellipses in Isometric Drawing 458
20.4 Text and Dimensions in Isometric Drawing 459
Level 2 Drawing Project (10 of 10): Architectural Floor Plan 460
Summary 460
Appendices 464
APPENDIX A: Additional Information on AutoCAD 466
Who Makes AutoCAD? 466
What is AutoCAD lt? 466
How is AutoCAD Purchased and How Much Does It Cost? 467
Are There Significant Differences Between AutoCAD Releases? 467
A Brief History of Autodesk and AutoCAD 468
AutoCAD Releases 469
Major Autodesk Products 470
AutoCAD Related Websites 470
APPENDIX B: Other CAD Software and Design and Analysis Tools and Concepts 474
MicroStation (www.Bentley.com) 474
ArchiCAD (www.graphisoft.com) 474
TurboCAD (www.turbocad.com) 475
CATIA (www.3ds.com) 476
NX (www.ugs.com) 476
Pro/Engineer (www.ptc.com) 476
SolidWorks (www.solidworks.com) 477
Inventor (www.autodesk.com) 477
IronCAD (www.ironcad.com) 477
Solid Edge (www.solidedge.com) 477
NASTRAN (www.NEiNastran.com) 477
ANSYS (www.ansys.com) 477
ALGOR (www.algor.com) 477
Fluent (www.Fluent.com) 477
APPENDIX C: File Extensions 478
AutoCAD Primary Extensions 478
AutoCAD Secondary Extensions 478
Miscellaneous Software Extensions 479
APPENDIX D: Custom Linetypes and Hatch Patterns 480
Linetype Definitions (Basic) 480
Linetypes (String Complex and Shape Complex) 481
Hatch Pattern Definitions (Basic) 482
APPENDIX E: Principles of CAD Management 484
PART 1: Know the Seven Golden Rules of AutoCAD 484
PART 2: Know the Capabilities and Limitations of AutoCAD 485
PART 3: Maintain an Office Cad Standard 487
PART 4: Be an Effective Teacher and Hiring Manager 488
PART 5: Stay Current and Competent 489
APPENDIX F: AutoLISP Basics and Advanced Customization Tools 492
Overview I: AutoLISP 492
Overview II: Visual LISP 492
Overview III: VBA, .NET, Active X, and ObjectARX 493
AutoLISP Fundamentals 493
APPENDIX G: PC Hardware, Printers, Plotters, and Networks 498
PC Hardware 498
Printers and Plotters 499
Networks 500
APPENDIX H: AutoCAD Certification Exams 502
APPENDIX I: AutoCAD Employment 504
APPENDIX J: AutoCAD Humor, Oddities, Quirks, and Easter Eggs 506
The AutoCAD Monkey Joke That Never Goes Away 507
Oddities and Quirks 507
Easter Eggs 508
INDEX 510
A 510
B 510
C 510
D 510
E 510
F 510
G 510
H 510
I 510
J 510
L 510
M 510
O 510
P 510
R 511
S 511
T 511
U 511
V 511
W 511
X 511
Z 511