AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies
2nd Edition
Published on 9. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
768 pages
978-1-394-37656-8 (ISBN)
Description
An easy-to-read and up-to-date collection of resources explaining the most recent versions of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
In the brand-new second edition of AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies, consultant and industry expert with more than 30 years of experience using and extending AutoCAD along with being a 20-year veteran of AutoCAD education, Lee Ambrosius, walks you through the fundamentals of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. He explains the most useful features of both AutoCAD and the more budget-friendly AutoCAD LT, showing you how to choose the right tools and workflows for your projects.
From creating architectural drawings, floor plans, and building designs to constructing precise designs, layouts, and technical drawings and blueprints, this all-in collection of easy-to-read guides covers how to set up drawings, draw and modify 2D and 3D designs, annotate your drawings, and perform advanced drafting techniques.
AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies contains several mini-books you can tackle in order and in their entirety or as convenient references that help you get up to speed on specific tasks and projects you're working on in the moment. You'll also find:
Step-by-step walkthroughs of popular and useful AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT features, like working with blocks and the electronic sharing and distribution of drawings
Detailed discussions of the differences between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, and how to customize each one to suit your needs
Explanations of AutoCAD utilities for a variety of use cases
Perfect for drafters, engineers, architects, programmers, and trainers interested in AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies is an accessible and handy reference for beginning and experienced users of AutoCAD that includes all the latest features, tools, and workflows you need to help you with your projects.
In the brand-new second edition of AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies, consultant and industry expert with more than 30 years of experience using and extending AutoCAD along with being a 20-year veteran of AutoCAD education, Lee Ambrosius, walks you through the fundamentals of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. He explains the most useful features of both AutoCAD and the more budget-friendly AutoCAD LT, showing you how to choose the right tools and workflows for your projects.
From creating architectural drawings, floor plans, and building designs to constructing precise designs, layouts, and technical drawings and blueprints, this all-in collection of easy-to-read guides covers how to set up drawings, draw and modify 2D and 3D designs, annotate your drawings, and perform advanced drafting techniques.
AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies contains several mini-books you can tackle in order and in their entirety or as convenient references that help you get up to speed on specific tasks and projects you're working on in the moment. You'll also find:
Step-by-step walkthroughs of popular and useful AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT features, like working with blocks and the electronic sharing and distribution of drawings
Detailed discussions of the differences between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, and how to customize each one to suit your needs
Explanations of AutoCAD utilities for a variety of use cases
Perfect for drafters, engineers, architects, programmers, and trainers interested in AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies is an accessible and handy reference for beginning and experienced users of AutoCAD that includes all the latest features, tools, and workflows you need to help you with your projects.
More details
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 185 mm
Thickness: 45 mm
Weight
1358 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-394-37656-8 (9781394376568)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Lee Ambrosius
AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies
E-Book
12/2025
2nd Edition
Wiley
€35.99
Available for download
Lee Ambrosius
AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One For Dummies
E-Book
12/2025
2nd Edition
Wiley
€35.99
Available for download
Previous edition
David Byrnes | Lee Ambrosius
AutoCAD & AutoCAD LT All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies
Book
08/2006
1st Edition
Wiley
€46.00
Shipment within 10-20 days
Person
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.
Content
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 1
Conventions Used in This Book 1
Icons Used in This Book 2
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 3
Book 1: Autocad Basics 5
Chapter 1: One-on-One Time with AutoCAD 7
Starting AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT 8
Creating a new drawing 9
What is created should be saved 10
Accessing the right tools for the right job 11
Getting Familiar with the User Interface 11
Application menu access 12
Ribbon access 13
Toolbar access 15
Setting Up Drafting Aids and Layers 16
Getting snappy and griddy 16
Establishing the limits 17
Organizing objects with layers 19
Drawing, Viewing, and Editing Objects 21
Walking the straight and curved 21
Getting up close with objects 28
Modifying objects 29
Annotating with Text and Dimensions 32
Expressing yourself through text 32
Entering the drafting dimension 34
Fast Track to Plotting 36
Chapter 2: Drawing on and in AutoCAD 37
Understanding AutoCAD Files and Formats 38
Seeing the Light (or LT) 39
Using AutoCAD's Latest-and-Greatest Feature Set 40
Chapter 3: Navigating the AutoCAD Interface 43
Starting the Application 43
Pinning AutoCAD to the Start menu 44
Pinning AutoCAD to the taskbar 45
Using desktop shortcuts 45
Accessing files from File Explorer 46
Welcome Home: The Start Tab 47
Touring the AutoCAD Interface 47
Title bars 47
Application menu 49
Quick Access toolbar 50
Ribbon 50
Palettes 51
Drawing File tabs 54
Drawing area 55
Crosshairs 56
The floating Command Line window 57
The status bar 57
"Legacy" menus and toolbars 61
Communicating with Your Software 63
The command line 63
Dynamic input 64
Starting AutoCAD Commands 65
Grasping the AutoCAD difference 65
Repeating a command 65
Canceling a running command 65
Undoing and redoing commands 66
Reaching for AutoCAD Help 67
Tooltips 67
My Insights 68
Using online HELP and the UI Finder 69
Autodesk Assistant 70
Finding online resources 70
Analyzing AutoCAD performance 71
Chapter 4: All about Files 73
Learning about the File Types in AutoCAD 74
Starting a New Drawing 77
Starting from scratch 79
Using a wizard 79
Using a drawing template 80
Saving a Drawing 81
Using the SAVE command 82
Using QSAVE (Quick Save) 82
Using the Save As Command 84
Opening an Existing Drawing 85
Using the OPEN command 85
Accessing recent drawings 87
Using File Explorer 87
Exploring the Multiple-Drawing Environment 89
Closing a Drawing 90
File Management for AutoCAD 91
Naming drawing files 91
Storing your files 92
Backing Up Is Hard to Do 92
Chapter 5: Setting Up Drawings 95
Choosing Units of Measurement 95
AutoCAD units 98
Imperial or metric 98
System variables 99
Setting units in your drawing 99
Setting Limits for Your Drawings 101
Understanding Drawing Scale 102
Scaling on paper (or on a drawing board) 102
Scaling in AutoCAD 103
Scale factors 104
Using scale factors to establish drawing settings 105
Lost in Space: Model or Paper? 106
Taking a Layered Approach 107
Creating layers 108
Defining layer properties 109
Setting layer modes 111
Modifying layer settings 113
The Layer Control drop-down list 118
Layer tools 119
General Object Properties 121
Using AutoCAD's color systems 122
Using linetypes 122
Setting Up Standards 124
Book 2: 2d Drafting 125
Chapter 1: Drawing Objects 127
Locating and Using the Drawing Tools 127
Let's Get Primitive 130
Keeping to the straight and narrow 130
Going around in circles 132
Arcs of triumph 134
The point of the exercise 137
Creating Construction Geometry 138
Xlines for X-men 138
A little ray of sunshine 140
A Bit Sketchy 140
Drawing Parallel Lines 141
Creating Complex Curves 143
Lucy, you have some splining to do! 143
Solar ellipses 145
Constructing Complex Objects and Shapes 148
2D solids 148
Rectang(le), polygon, and donut 148
Polylines 150
Cloudy with a chance of revision 152
Ahhhh wipeout 153
Chapter 2: Precision Tools 155
Understanding Precision and Accuracy 156
Understanding Coordinate Systems 157
The world coordinate system 158
Entering coordinates 159
Direct distance entry 167
Dynamic input and coordinate entry 168
Setting Grid and Snap 173
Understanding Ortho and Polar Tracking 175
Using ortho mode 176
Using polar tracking 176
Working with Object Snaps 179
Using Point Filters 184
Working with Object Snap Tracking Mode 185
Temporarily Overriding Drafting Aids 187
Chapter 3: Modifying Objects 189
Setting Selection Options 189
Selecting Objects 191
Selecting multiple objects 192
Object selection modes 194
Selection preview 196
Object groups 196
AutoCAD's Editing Commands 199
Removing stuff 202
Unerasing objects 203
Relocating and replicating 204
Rotating and resizing 212
Breaking, mending, and blowing up real good 214
Double-barrel commands 216
Specialized commands 217
Changing properties 219
Coming to Grips with Grips 221
Chapter 4: Managing Views 223
A Zoom of One's Own 226
Wheeling through your drawing 228
Realtime zooming 229
Panning in a Flash 231
Grabbing the Wheel and Hanging On 233
Naming That View 235
Creating named views 236
Other named view options 238
Having AutoCAD Put on a Show 239
To Redraw or to Regen That Is the Question 241
Book 3: Annotating Drawings 243
Chapter 1: Text: When Pictures Just Won't Do 245
Adding Text in AutoCAD 245
Getting familiar with text terminology 246
Will that be one or two lines? 247
Justification 248
Where should text go? 250
Futzing with Fonts 252
Working with Text Styles 253
Creating Single Line Text 257
Working with Multiline Text 260
Creating Multiline Text 261
Formatting options 263
Numbered and bulleted lists 263
Controlling the flow of text 265
Fields, masks, and other multiline text delights 265
Editing Text 267
Editing single-line text 267
Editing multiline text 268
Leading the Way 269
Making way for multiple leaders 270
Legacy leaders 273
Turning the Tables 274
Setting the table with styles 274
Creating and editing tables 276
Link me up Scotty 278
Finding Text and Spell Checking 279
Chapter 2: Dimensioning 281
Understanding What a Dimension Is Made Of 282
Understanding the Types of Dimensions 283
Associative dimensions 283
Non-associative dimensions 284
Exploded dimensions 284
Creating New Dimensions as Associative 284
Using and Creating Dimension Styles 285
Working with the Dimension Style Manager 286
Creating a dimension style 286
Styling dimensions 288
Defining the scale for dimensions 292
Dimension variables 294
Setting a dimension style as current 295
Modifying a dimension style 295
Renaming a dimension style 297
Deleting a dimension style 298
Comparing dimension styles 298
Importing a dimension style 298
Creating Dimensions 298
Linear and aligned dimensions 301
Baseline and continued dimensions 302
Angular dimensions 303
Arc length dimensions 304
Radius, diameter, and jogged dimensions 305
Ordinate dimensions 306
One dimension command to rule them all 307
Quickly place dimensions 307
Trans-spatial dimensions 307
Editing Dimensions 308
Adding overrides to a dimension 308
Editing the dimension text 308
Using grips to edit dimensions 309
Associating dimensions 309
Breaking and spacing dimensions 310
Inspecting dimensions 310
Marking the Center of Objects 311
Using centerlines 311
Using center marks 312
Using "legacy" center marks 312
Editing and associating centerlines and center marks 313
Working with Geometric Tolerances 313
Chapter 3: Hatching Your Drawings 315
Adding Hatch Patterns and Fills 316
Adding hatches to a drawing 317
Hatching and DesignCenter 320
Advanced settings for additional control 320
Working with Hatch Patterns and Solid Fills 322
Predefined patterns 322
User-defined patterns 322
Custom hatch patterns 322
Using Gradient Fills 323
Editing Hatch Patterns and Fills 324
Chapter 4: Scaling Mt Annotation 325
The What, Why, and How of Annotation Scaling 326
Making Styles and Objects Annotative 327
Annotative styles and block definitions 327
Annotative objects 328
Adding and Removing Annotation Scales 330
Controlling the Annotation Scale for Output 332
Book 4: Advanced Drafting 333
Chapter 1: Playing with Blocks 335
Working with Reusable Content 335
Creating Blocks 336
Accessing the Block Definition dialog box 337
Converting repetitive geometry into blocks 339
Inserting Blocks 341
Counting Blocks 344
Replacing Blocks 345
Managing Blocks 346
Renaming a block definition 346
Redefining a block definition 346
Purging a block definition 347
Exporting a block definition 348
Enhancing Blocks with Attributes 348
Adding an attribute to a block definition 348
Using block placeholder fields 351
Inserting a block with attributes 352
Editing an attribute's value in a block 352
Managing attributes in blocks 353
Extracting attribute data from blocks 353
Chapter 2: Going Dynamic with Blocks 355
What Makes a Block Dynamic? 355
Investigating the Block Editor Environment 357
Components of the Block Editor 357
Editing a block definition 360
Going Dynamic 361
Adding parameters 363
Adding actions 364
Using parameter sets 366
Defining visibility states 366
Storing custom property values with attributes 369
Using Dynamic Blocks 370
Inserting a dynamic block 370
Modifying a dynamic block 370
Using Dynamic Blocks in Earlier Releases 371
Chapter 3: Referencing External Drawings and Files 373
Blocks versus External References 374
Working with External References 374
Path to success with xrefs 375
Attaching an xref 377
External reference notification 380
Comparing xrefs (or drawings) for changes 381
Editing an xref 381
Clipping an xref 384
Increasing the performance of xrefs 386
Binding an xref 387
Referencing Raster Images 388
Attaching a raster image 389
Clipping a raster image 390
Controlling the appearance of a raster image 391
Attaching PDFs, DGNs, and DWFs as Underlays 392
Attaching a PDF, DGN, or DWF file 393
Snapping to the geometry of an underlay 395
Clipping an underlay 395
Controlling the appearance of an underlay 396
Binding a DGN underlay 397
Importing a PDF or DGN file 397
Determining Draw Order 397
Incorporating Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) 398
Referencing and Using Other Types of Files 400
Chapter 4: Organizing Your Drawings 401
Why Bother Organizing Drawings? 401
Using the Windows Clipboard 402
Copying objects from a drawing 402
Cutting objects from a drawing 403
Pasting objects into a drawing 403
Managing Blocks with Libraries 404
x Autocad & Autocad Lt All-in-one for Dummies
Using AutoCAD DesignCenter 406
Locating resources in drawings 407
Adding resources to drawings 409
Inserting hatches and loading linetypes 410
Using the Tool Palettes Window 410
Blocks, xrefs, images, tables, and hatches 411
Command and flyouts tools 412
Modifying tools on a tool palette 412
Customizing and organizing tool palettes 412
Book 5: Publishing Drawings 415
Chapter 1: Laying It All Out There 417
Preparing for Output with Page Setups 418
Options of a page setup 419
Working with page setups 420
Organizing a Drawing with Layouts 424
Working with layouts 425
Changing the appearance of layouts 429
Looking at a Model Through Layout Viewports 431
Defining a viewport's shape 431
Controlling scale 436
Controlling the display within a viewport 437
Modifying a viewport 439
Chapter 2: Print, Plot, Publish 441
You Say Printing, I Say Plotting, They Say Publishing 441
Working with drivers 442
Configuring a printer or plotter 443
Putting style in your plots 448
Output Made Easy 452
Plotting the Model tab 453
Plotting a paper space layout 456
Scaling your drawing 457
More plotting options 458
Publishing Drawings 459
Chapter 3: Sheet Sets without Regret 463
Overview of a Sheet Set 463
Using the Sheet Set Manager 464
Creating a Sheet Set 465
Starting from scratch 466
Starting from an existing sheet set 470
Starting from a cloud example sheet set 471
Managing Drawings with a Sheet Set 471
Opening a sheet set 471
Importing existing drawings as sheets 472
Organizing with subsets 474
Setting up a sheet set and subset for adding new sheets 476
Adding a new sheet 478
Opening a sheet 479
Removing, renaming, and renumbering a sheet 479
Managing sheet set and sheet properties 480
Inserting a list of all sheets in a sheet set 483
Setting up advanced features 484
Publishing, eTransmitting, and Archiving a Sheet Set 486
Book 6: Lt Differences 487
Chapter 1: The LT Difference 489
Understanding the Boundaries and Limitations of AutoCAD LT 489
Determining Which Product Is Best for You 495
Chapter 2: Extending AutoCAD LT 497
Customizing and Programming AutoCAD LT 497
Linetype and hatch patterns 498
Blocks and DesignCenter 498
Tool palettes 498
Changing the user interface with the CUI Editor 499
Diesel 500
Command aliases 500
Desktop icons 500
It's all in the script 500
Conversing with AutoCAD LT using AutoLISP 501
Object Enabler Technology 502
Additional Utilities Available from Autodesk 502
DWG TrueView 503
Viewers 503
Companion Products from Autodesk 503
Autodesk AutoCAD Web 504
Autodesk 3ds Max 504
Third-Party Custom Solutions 505
Block utilities/libraries 505
Viewers 506
Chapter 3: Mixed Environments 507
Using AutoCAD LT and AutoCAD in the Same Office 507
Budgeting 507
Training 508
Communication 508
Environment 509
Customization and programming 509
Installation and deployment 509
Making the Trip from AutoCAD to AutoCAD LT 510
2D drafting 510
3D modeling 511
Annotation 512
Viewing 512
Visualization 512
CAD Standards feature 513
Collaboration and sharing 513
Book 7: Collaboration 515
Chapter 1: CAD Management: The Necessary Evil. 517
Getting a Handle on the Basics of CAD Management 518
Managing the Drafting Environment 519
Creating a Good Foundation 520
Creating a drawing template file 522
Using a drawing template file 524
Specifying a drawing template file for use with QNEW 524
Specifying the location of drawing template files 525
Chapter 2: Adopting CAD Standards 527
CAD Standards Overview 527
Using AutoCAD's CAD Standards Tools 529
Drawing standards (DWS) files 529
Managing standards 530
Checking batches of drawings 536
Translating layers 537
Chapter 3: Managing Drawing Files 541
It's All in the Name: File-Naming Conventions 542
Part of a Drawing Can Be a Good Thing: Working with Partial Open 542
Controlling What Happens During a Save 546
Getting a handle on drawing file formats 546
Indexing the contents of a drawing 547
Signing Your Drawings Digitally 549
Obtaining a digital certificate 549
Digitally signing a drawing file 550
Opening a digitally signed drawing file 551
Digitally signing a batch of drawings 553
Understanding Past Changes to a Drawing 555
Chapter 4: Sharing and Reviewing Electronic Files 557
Sharing Drawings with Non-AutoCAD Products 558
Taking Drawings to the Internet 559
Using an FTP site 560
Utilizing cloud-based storage providers 561
Using web-based project sites 562
Reviewing and Marking Up Drawings 563
Viewing drawings without AutoCAD 564
Working with and importing markups into Traces 566
Emulating Paper Digitally 571
Portable Document Format (PDF) 572
Design Web Format (DWF and DWFx) 572
Head-to-head comparison 573
Working with DWF and DWFx Files 574
Creating and viewing a DWF or DWFx file 574
Electronically marking up a DWF or DWFx file 576
Book 8: 3d Modeling 577
Chapter 1: Introducing the Third Dimension 579
Understanding the Different Types of 3D Models 580
Entering Coordinates Above the x,y Plane 583
Manually inputting coordinates 583
Using point filters 585
Snapping to objects 586
Tracking with object snaps and moving orthogonally 587
Specifying elevation going up 588
Chapter 2: Using the 3D Environment 589
Setting Up AutoCAD for 3D 590
Orienting yourself in the drawing window 590
Customizing crosshairs and dynamic input 592
Using workspaces to switch between 2D drafting and 3D modeling 592
Accelerating your hardware 593
Understanding What the UCS Icon Is Telling You 594
Orientating yourself with the UCS icon 594
Controlling the display of the UCS icon 595
Using the Coordinate System for 3D Drafting 596
Understanding the coordinate system 597
Adjusting the UCS 598
Chapter 3: Viewing in 3D 601
Expressing Your Point of View 601
Using preset views 601
Finding your way with the compass and tripod 602
Cameras 603
Perspective versus parallel 605
Orbiting Around a 3D Model 605
Navigating a 3D Model 608
Hugging the Corners with the SteeringWheels 609
Cube with a View 610
Gaining a Sense of Control 611
Using Visual Styles in AutoCAD 612
Chapter 4: Moving from 2D to 3D 613
Working with Regions 614
Creating regions 614
Modifying regions 615
Getting more information about regions 616
3D Polylines and Helixes 616
3D polyline 617
Helix 617
Creating 3D Objects from 2D Objects 617
Thickness 618
Extrude 618
Loft 619
Sweep 619
Revolve 620
Creating 2D Objects from 3D Objects 620
Flatshot 621
Section Plane 621
Model documentation 622
Solid Draw, Solid View, and Solid Profile 623
3D Modify Commands 623
3D Move 624
3D Rotate 624
3D Scale 624
Align 625
3D Align 625
3D Mirror 625
3D Array 625
Selecting subobjects of a 3D object 626
Chapter 5: Working with 3D Solids 627
Creating 3D Solid Primitives 627
Polysolid 628
Box 629
Wedge 629
Cylinder 630
Cone 630
Sphere 631
Torus 631
Pyramid 632
Editing 3D Solids 632
3D solid editing 633
Using grips to edit 3D solids 634
Compound 3D solids 635
Filleting and chamfering 635
Scaling 635
Slicing 635
Chapter 6: Rendering: Lights, Camera, AutoCAD! 637
Lighting a Scene 637
Default lights 638
User-defined lights 638
Sunlight 642
Adjusting exposure and using image-based lighting (IBL) 642
Getting the Right Look with Materials 643
Setting Up a Backdrop 644
Rendering the Final Scene 645
Book 9: Customizing Autocad 649
Chapter 1: The Basics of Customizing AutoCAD 651
Why Customize AutoCAD? 652
Customizing the AutoCAD Startup Process 654
Startup options 654
Using command-line switches 655
Changing Options and Working with User Profiles 659
Launching the Options dialog box 661
Overview of the AutoCAD options 661
Working with user profiles 662
Creating and Managing Command Aliases 665
Editing the PGP file 665
Opening the PGP file 666
Adding a new command alias 666
Working with the AutoCAD Alias Editor 667
Chapter 2: Customizing the Interface 669
Influencing Your Status (Bar) 670
Toggling the display of a control on the status bars 671
Powering the status bar with DIESEL 672
Training Your Panels and Dockable Windows to Stay 673
Locking panels and dockable windows 674
Locking and unlocking panels and dockable windows 674
Controlling the Appearance of AutoCAD and the Drawing Window 675
Window elements 676
Layout elements 678
Size of the crosshairs 679
Other settings 679
Organizing Your Space 680
Using the Workspace Switching status bar control 681
Using the Customize User Interface Editor 683
Maximizing the drawing space 686
Chapter 3: Customizing the Tools 687
Getting to Know the Customize User Interface Editor 688
The Customizations In pane 689
The Command List pane 689
The Dynamic pane 690
Launching the CUI Editor 693
Commands in the CUI Editor 693
Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar, Ribbon, and Shortcut Menus 697
The Quick Access toolbar 697
The Ribbon 699
The shortcut menus 702
The separator bars 706
Creating a New Shortcut Key 707
Customizing Double-Click Actions 708
Customizing the Quick Properties Panel and Rollover Tooltips 709
Accessing Suggested Macros 711
Migrating and Transferring Customizations 712
Working with Partial and Enterprise Customization Files 713
Loading an enterprise customization file 714
Loading a partial customization file 715
Chapter 4: Automating Repetitive Tasks 717
Working from a Script 717
What's in a script? 718
Writing a script file 720
Loading and running a script file 721
Running a script file at startup 721
Actions and Action Recorder 722
Recording and Managing Action Macros 723
Recording actions 723
Managing and editing action macro files 727
Managing the location of action macro files 728
Editing Actions and Recorded Values 728
Just Press Play 729
Index 731
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 1
Conventions Used in This Book 1
Icons Used in This Book 2
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 3
Book 1: Autocad Basics 5
Chapter 1: One-on-One Time with AutoCAD 7
Starting AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT 8
Creating a new drawing 9
What is created should be saved 10
Accessing the right tools for the right job 11
Getting Familiar with the User Interface 11
Application menu access 12
Ribbon access 13
Toolbar access 15
Setting Up Drafting Aids and Layers 16
Getting snappy and griddy 16
Establishing the limits 17
Organizing objects with layers 19
Drawing, Viewing, and Editing Objects 21
Walking the straight and curved 21
Getting up close with objects 28
Modifying objects 29
Annotating with Text and Dimensions 32
Expressing yourself through text 32
Entering the drafting dimension 34
Fast Track to Plotting 36
Chapter 2: Drawing on and in AutoCAD 37
Understanding AutoCAD Files and Formats 38
Seeing the Light (or LT) 39
Using AutoCAD's Latest-and-Greatest Feature Set 40
Chapter 3: Navigating the AutoCAD Interface 43
Starting the Application 43
Pinning AutoCAD to the Start menu 44
Pinning AutoCAD to the taskbar 45
Using desktop shortcuts 45
Accessing files from File Explorer 46
Welcome Home: The Start Tab 47
Touring the AutoCAD Interface 47
Title bars 47
Application menu 49
Quick Access toolbar 50
Ribbon 50
Palettes 51
Drawing File tabs 54
Drawing area 55
Crosshairs 56
The floating Command Line window 57
The status bar 57
"Legacy" menus and toolbars 61
Communicating with Your Software 63
The command line 63
Dynamic input 64
Starting AutoCAD Commands 65
Grasping the AutoCAD difference 65
Repeating a command 65
Canceling a running command 65
Undoing and redoing commands 66
Reaching for AutoCAD Help 67
Tooltips 67
My Insights 68
Using online HELP and the UI Finder 69
Autodesk Assistant 70
Finding online resources 70
Analyzing AutoCAD performance 71
Chapter 4: All about Files 73
Learning about the File Types in AutoCAD 74
Starting a New Drawing 77
Starting from scratch 79
Using a wizard 79
Using a drawing template 80
Saving a Drawing 81
Using the SAVE command 82
Using QSAVE (Quick Save) 82
Using the Save As Command 84
Opening an Existing Drawing 85
Using the OPEN command 85
Accessing recent drawings 87
Using File Explorer 87
Exploring the Multiple-Drawing Environment 89
Closing a Drawing 90
File Management for AutoCAD 91
Naming drawing files 91
Storing your files 92
Backing Up Is Hard to Do 92
Chapter 5: Setting Up Drawings 95
Choosing Units of Measurement 95
AutoCAD units 98
Imperial or metric 98
System variables 99
Setting units in your drawing 99
Setting Limits for Your Drawings 101
Understanding Drawing Scale 102
Scaling on paper (or on a drawing board) 102
Scaling in AutoCAD 103
Scale factors 104
Using scale factors to establish drawing settings 105
Lost in Space: Model or Paper? 106
Taking a Layered Approach 107
Creating layers 108
Defining layer properties 109
Setting layer modes 111
Modifying layer settings 113
The Layer Control drop-down list 118
Layer tools 119
General Object Properties 121
Using AutoCAD's color systems 122
Using linetypes 122
Setting Up Standards 124
Book 2: 2d Drafting 125
Chapter 1: Drawing Objects 127
Locating and Using the Drawing Tools 127
Let's Get Primitive 130
Keeping to the straight and narrow 130
Going around in circles 132
Arcs of triumph 134
The point of the exercise 137
Creating Construction Geometry 138
Xlines for X-men 138
A little ray of sunshine 140
A Bit Sketchy 140
Drawing Parallel Lines 141
Creating Complex Curves 143
Lucy, you have some splining to do! 143
Solar ellipses 145
Constructing Complex Objects and Shapes 148
2D solids 148
Rectang(le), polygon, and donut 148
Polylines 150
Cloudy with a chance of revision 152
Ahhhh wipeout 153
Chapter 2: Precision Tools 155
Understanding Precision and Accuracy 156
Understanding Coordinate Systems 157
The world coordinate system 158
Entering coordinates 159
Direct distance entry 167
Dynamic input and coordinate entry 168
Setting Grid and Snap 173
Understanding Ortho and Polar Tracking 175
Using ortho mode 176
Using polar tracking 176
Working with Object Snaps 179
Using Point Filters 184
Working with Object Snap Tracking Mode 185
Temporarily Overriding Drafting Aids 187
Chapter 3: Modifying Objects 189
Setting Selection Options 189
Selecting Objects 191
Selecting multiple objects 192
Object selection modes 194
Selection preview 196
Object groups 196
AutoCAD's Editing Commands 199
Removing stuff 202
Unerasing objects 203
Relocating and replicating 204
Rotating and resizing 212
Breaking, mending, and blowing up real good 214
Double-barrel commands 216
Specialized commands 217
Changing properties 219
Coming to Grips with Grips 221
Chapter 4: Managing Views 223
A Zoom of One's Own 226
Wheeling through your drawing 228
Realtime zooming 229
Panning in a Flash 231
Grabbing the Wheel and Hanging On 233
Naming That View 235
Creating named views 236
Other named view options 238
Having AutoCAD Put on a Show 239
To Redraw or to Regen That Is the Question 241
Book 3: Annotating Drawings 243
Chapter 1: Text: When Pictures Just Won't Do 245
Adding Text in AutoCAD 245
Getting familiar with text terminology 246
Will that be one or two lines? 247
Justification 248
Where should text go? 250
Futzing with Fonts 252
Working with Text Styles 253
Creating Single Line Text 257
Working with Multiline Text 260
Creating Multiline Text 261
Formatting options 263
Numbered and bulleted lists 263
Controlling the flow of text 265
Fields, masks, and other multiline text delights 265
Editing Text 267
Editing single-line text 267
Editing multiline text 268
Leading the Way 269
Making way for multiple leaders 270
Legacy leaders 273
Turning the Tables 274
Setting the table with styles 274
Creating and editing tables 276
Link me up Scotty 278
Finding Text and Spell Checking 279
Chapter 2: Dimensioning 281
Understanding What a Dimension Is Made Of 282
Understanding the Types of Dimensions 283
Associative dimensions 283
Non-associative dimensions 284
Exploded dimensions 284
Creating New Dimensions as Associative 284
Using and Creating Dimension Styles 285
Working with the Dimension Style Manager 286
Creating a dimension style 286
Styling dimensions 288
Defining the scale for dimensions 292
Dimension variables 294
Setting a dimension style as current 295
Modifying a dimension style 295
Renaming a dimension style 297
Deleting a dimension style 298
Comparing dimension styles 298
Importing a dimension style 298
Creating Dimensions 298
Linear and aligned dimensions 301
Baseline and continued dimensions 302
Angular dimensions 303
Arc length dimensions 304
Radius, diameter, and jogged dimensions 305
Ordinate dimensions 306
One dimension command to rule them all 307
Quickly place dimensions 307
Trans-spatial dimensions 307
Editing Dimensions 308
Adding overrides to a dimension 308
Editing the dimension text 308
Using grips to edit dimensions 309
Associating dimensions 309
Breaking and spacing dimensions 310
Inspecting dimensions 310
Marking the Center of Objects 311
Using centerlines 311
Using center marks 312
Using "legacy" center marks 312
Editing and associating centerlines and center marks 313
Working with Geometric Tolerances 313
Chapter 3: Hatching Your Drawings 315
Adding Hatch Patterns and Fills 316
Adding hatches to a drawing 317
Hatching and DesignCenter 320
Advanced settings for additional control 320
Working with Hatch Patterns and Solid Fills 322
Predefined patterns 322
User-defined patterns 322
Custom hatch patterns 322
Using Gradient Fills 323
Editing Hatch Patterns and Fills 324
Chapter 4: Scaling Mt Annotation 325
The What, Why, and How of Annotation Scaling 326
Making Styles and Objects Annotative 327
Annotative styles and block definitions 327
Annotative objects 328
Adding and Removing Annotation Scales 330
Controlling the Annotation Scale for Output 332
Book 4: Advanced Drafting 333
Chapter 1: Playing with Blocks 335
Working with Reusable Content 335
Creating Blocks 336
Accessing the Block Definition dialog box 337
Converting repetitive geometry into blocks 339
Inserting Blocks 341
Counting Blocks 344
Replacing Blocks 345
Managing Blocks 346
Renaming a block definition 346
Redefining a block definition 346
Purging a block definition 347
Exporting a block definition 348
Enhancing Blocks with Attributes 348
Adding an attribute to a block definition 348
Using block placeholder fields 351
Inserting a block with attributes 352
Editing an attribute's value in a block 352
Managing attributes in blocks 353
Extracting attribute data from blocks 353
Chapter 2: Going Dynamic with Blocks 355
What Makes a Block Dynamic? 355
Investigating the Block Editor Environment 357
Components of the Block Editor 357
Editing a block definition 360
Going Dynamic 361
Adding parameters 363
Adding actions 364
Using parameter sets 366
Defining visibility states 366
Storing custom property values with attributes 369
Using Dynamic Blocks 370
Inserting a dynamic block 370
Modifying a dynamic block 370
Using Dynamic Blocks in Earlier Releases 371
Chapter 3: Referencing External Drawings and Files 373
Blocks versus External References 374
Working with External References 374
Path to success with xrefs 375
Attaching an xref 377
External reference notification 380
Comparing xrefs (or drawings) for changes 381
Editing an xref 381
Clipping an xref 384
Increasing the performance of xrefs 386
Binding an xref 387
Referencing Raster Images 388
Attaching a raster image 389
Clipping a raster image 390
Controlling the appearance of a raster image 391
Attaching PDFs, DGNs, and DWFs as Underlays 392
Attaching a PDF, DGN, or DWF file 393
Snapping to the geometry of an underlay 395
Clipping an underlay 395
Controlling the appearance of an underlay 396
Binding a DGN underlay 397
Importing a PDF or DGN file 397
Determining Draw Order 397
Incorporating Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) 398
Referencing and Using Other Types of Files 400
Chapter 4: Organizing Your Drawings 401
Why Bother Organizing Drawings? 401
Using the Windows Clipboard 402
Copying objects from a drawing 402
Cutting objects from a drawing 403
Pasting objects into a drawing 403
Managing Blocks with Libraries 404
x Autocad & Autocad Lt All-in-one for Dummies
Using AutoCAD DesignCenter 406
Locating resources in drawings 407
Adding resources to drawings 409
Inserting hatches and loading linetypes 410
Using the Tool Palettes Window 410
Blocks, xrefs, images, tables, and hatches 411
Command and flyouts tools 412
Modifying tools on a tool palette 412
Customizing and organizing tool palettes 412
Book 5: Publishing Drawings 415
Chapter 1: Laying It All Out There 417
Preparing for Output with Page Setups 418
Options of a page setup 419
Working with page setups 420
Organizing a Drawing with Layouts 424
Working with layouts 425
Changing the appearance of layouts 429
Looking at a Model Through Layout Viewports 431
Defining a viewport's shape 431
Controlling scale 436
Controlling the display within a viewport 437
Modifying a viewport 439
Chapter 2: Print, Plot, Publish 441
You Say Printing, I Say Plotting, They Say Publishing 441
Working with drivers 442
Configuring a printer or plotter 443
Putting style in your plots 448
Output Made Easy 452
Plotting the Model tab 453
Plotting a paper space layout 456
Scaling your drawing 457
More plotting options 458
Publishing Drawings 459
Chapter 3: Sheet Sets without Regret 463
Overview of a Sheet Set 463
Using the Sheet Set Manager 464
Creating a Sheet Set 465
Starting from scratch 466
Starting from an existing sheet set 470
Starting from a cloud example sheet set 471
Managing Drawings with a Sheet Set 471
Opening a sheet set 471
Importing existing drawings as sheets 472
Organizing with subsets 474
Setting up a sheet set and subset for adding new sheets 476
Adding a new sheet 478
Opening a sheet 479
Removing, renaming, and renumbering a sheet 479
Managing sheet set and sheet properties 480
Inserting a list of all sheets in a sheet set 483
Setting up advanced features 484
Publishing, eTransmitting, and Archiving a Sheet Set 486
Book 6: Lt Differences 487
Chapter 1: The LT Difference 489
Understanding the Boundaries and Limitations of AutoCAD LT 489
Determining Which Product Is Best for You 495
Chapter 2: Extending AutoCAD LT 497
Customizing and Programming AutoCAD LT 497
Linetype and hatch patterns 498
Blocks and DesignCenter 498
Tool palettes 498
Changing the user interface with the CUI Editor 499
Diesel 500
Command aliases 500
Desktop icons 500
It's all in the script 500
Conversing with AutoCAD LT using AutoLISP 501
Object Enabler Technology 502
Additional Utilities Available from Autodesk 502
DWG TrueView 503
Viewers 503
Companion Products from Autodesk 503
Autodesk AutoCAD Web 504
Autodesk 3ds Max 504
Third-Party Custom Solutions 505
Block utilities/libraries 505
Viewers 506
Chapter 3: Mixed Environments 507
Using AutoCAD LT and AutoCAD in the Same Office 507
Budgeting 507
Training 508
Communication 508
Environment 509
Customization and programming 509
Installation and deployment 509
Making the Trip from AutoCAD to AutoCAD LT 510
2D drafting 510
3D modeling 511
Annotation 512
Viewing 512
Visualization 512
CAD Standards feature 513
Collaboration and sharing 513
Book 7: Collaboration 515
Chapter 1: CAD Management: The Necessary Evil. 517
Getting a Handle on the Basics of CAD Management 518
Managing the Drafting Environment 519
Creating a Good Foundation 520
Creating a drawing template file 522
Using a drawing template file 524
Specifying a drawing template file for use with QNEW 524
Specifying the location of drawing template files 525
Chapter 2: Adopting CAD Standards 527
CAD Standards Overview 527
Using AutoCAD's CAD Standards Tools 529
Drawing standards (DWS) files 529
Managing standards 530
Checking batches of drawings 536
Translating layers 537
Chapter 3: Managing Drawing Files 541
It's All in the Name: File-Naming Conventions 542
Part of a Drawing Can Be a Good Thing: Working with Partial Open 542
Controlling What Happens During a Save 546
Getting a handle on drawing file formats 546
Indexing the contents of a drawing 547
Signing Your Drawings Digitally 549
Obtaining a digital certificate 549
Digitally signing a drawing file 550
Opening a digitally signed drawing file 551
Digitally signing a batch of drawings 553
Understanding Past Changes to a Drawing 555
Chapter 4: Sharing and Reviewing Electronic Files 557
Sharing Drawings with Non-AutoCAD Products 558
Taking Drawings to the Internet 559
Using an FTP site 560
Utilizing cloud-based storage providers 561
Using web-based project sites 562
Reviewing and Marking Up Drawings 563
Viewing drawings without AutoCAD 564
Working with and importing markups into Traces 566
Emulating Paper Digitally 571
Portable Document Format (PDF) 572
Design Web Format (DWF and DWFx) 572
Head-to-head comparison 573
Working with DWF and DWFx Files 574
Creating and viewing a DWF or DWFx file 574
Electronically marking up a DWF or DWFx file 576
Book 8: 3d Modeling 577
Chapter 1: Introducing the Third Dimension 579
Understanding the Different Types of 3D Models 580
Entering Coordinates Above the x,y Plane 583
Manually inputting coordinates 583
Using point filters 585
Snapping to objects 586
Tracking with object snaps and moving orthogonally 587
Specifying elevation going up 588
Chapter 2: Using the 3D Environment 589
Setting Up AutoCAD for 3D 590
Orienting yourself in the drawing window 590
Customizing crosshairs and dynamic input 592
Using workspaces to switch between 2D drafting and 3D modeling 592
Accelerating your hardware 593
Understanding What the UCS Icon Is Telling You 594
Orientating yourself with the UCS icon 594
Controlling the display of the UCS icon 595
Using the Coordinate System for 3D Drafting 596
Understanding the coordinate system 597
Adjusting the UCS 598
Chapter 3: Viewing in 3D 601
Expressing Your Point of View 601
Using preset views 601
Finding your way with the compass and tripod 602
Cameras 603
Perspective versus parallel 605
Orbiting Around a 3D Model 605
Navigating a 3D Model 608
Hugging the Corners with the SteeringWheels 609
Cube with a View 610
Gaining a Sense of Control 611
Using Visual Styles in AutoCAD 612
Chapter 4: Moving from 2D to 3D 613
Working with Regions 614
Creating regions 614
Modifying regions 615
Getting more information about regions 616
3D Polylines and Helixes 616
3D polyline 617
Helix 617
Creating 3D Objects from 2D Objects 617
Thickness 618
Extrude 618
Loft 619
Sweep 619
Revolve 620
Creating 2D Objects from 3D Objects 620
Flatshot 621
Section Plane 621
Model documentation 622
Solid Draw, Solid View, and Solid Profile 623
3D Modify Commands 623
3D Move 624
3D Rotate 624
3D Scale 624
Align 625
3D Align 625
3D Mirror 625
3D Array 625
Selecting subobjects of a 3D object 626
Chapter 5: Working with 3D Solids 627
Creating 3D Solid Primitives 627
Polysolid 628
Box 629
Wedge 629
Cylinder 630
Cone 630
Sphere 631
Torus 631
Pyramid 632
Editing 3D Solids 632
3D solid editing 633
Using grips to edit 3D solids 634
Compound 3D solids 635
Filleting and chamfering 635
Scaling 635
Slicing 635
Chapter 6: Rendering: Lights, Camera, AutoCAD! 637
Lighting a Scene 637
Default lights 638
User-defined lights 638
Sunlight 642
Adjusting exposure and using image-based lighting (IBL) 642
Getting the Right Look with Materials 643
Setting Up a Backdrop 644
Rendering the Final Scene 645
Book 9: Customizing Autocad 649
Chapter 1: The Basics of Customizing AutoCAD 651
Why Customize AutoCAD? 652
Customizing the AutoCAD Startup Process 654
Startup options 654
Using command-line switches 655
Changing Options and Working with User Profiles 659
Launching the Options dialog box 661
Overview of the AutoCAD options 661
Working with user profiles 662
Creating and Managing Command Aliases 665
Editing the PGP file 665
Opening the PGP file 666
Adding a new command alias 666
Working with the AutoCAD Alias Editor 667
Chapter 2: Customizing the Interface 669
Influencing Your Status (Bar) 670
Toggling the display of a control on the status bars 671
Powering the status bar with DIESEL 672
Training Your Panels and Dockable Windows to Stay 673
Locking panels and dockable windows 674
Locking and unlocking panels and dockable windows 674
Controlling the Appearance of AutoCAD and the Drawing Window 675
Window elements 676
Layout elements 678
Size of the crosshairs 679
Other settings 679
Organizing Your Space 680
Using the Workspace Switching status bar control 681
Using the Customize User Interface Editor 683
Maximizing the drawing space 686
Chapter 3: Customizing the Tools 687
Getting to Know the Customize User Interface Editor 688
The Customizations In pane 689
The Command List pane 689
The Dynamic pane 690
Launching the CUI Editor 693
Commands in the CUI Editor 693
Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar, Ribbon, and Shortcut Menus 697
The Quick Access toolbar 697
The Ribbon 699
The shortcut menus 702
The separator bars 706
Creating a New Shortcut Key 707
Customizing Double-Click Actions 708
Customizing the Quick Properties Panel and Rollover Tooltips 709
Accessing Suggested Macros 711
Migrating and Transferring Customizations 712
Working with Partial and Enterprise Customization Files 713
Loading an enterprise customization file 714
Loading a partial customization file 715
Chapter 4: Automating Repetitive Tasks 717
Working from a Script 717
What's in a script? 718
Writing a script file 720
Loading and running a script file 721
Running a script file at startup 721
Actions and Action Recorder 722
Recording and Managing Action Macros 723
Recording actions 723
Managing and editing action macro files 727
Managing the location of action macro files 728
Editing Actions and Recorded Values 728
Just Press Play 729
Index 731