Brian C. Benton is a CAD manager, civil designer, CAD service provider, technical writer, and blogger. He has more than 27 years of experience in various design fields (mechanical, structural, civil, survey, marine, environmental) and is well versed in many design software packages (CAD, GIS, and graphics). He has been Cadalyst magazine's Tip Patroller, AUGI HotNews production manager, and Infinite Skills' AutoCAD training video author.

George Omura is a licensed architect and Autodesk Authorized Author with more than 30 years' experience in architecture. He has used AutoCAD for over two decades and worked on design projects ranging from resort hotels to metropolitan transit systems and the San Francisco Library project. He is the all-time best-selling AutoCAD author and is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley.

Introduction xxvii

Part 1 The Basics 1

Chapter 1 Exploring the Interface 3

Taking a Guided Tour 3

Launching AutoCAD 4

The AutoCAD Window 5

Using the Application Menu 8

Using the Ribbon 10

Picking Points in the Drawing Area 15

Using the UCS Icon 16

Working in the Command Window 16

Working with AutoCAD 17

Opening an Existing File 17

Getting a Closer Look 18

Saving a File as You Work 22

Making Changes 23

Working with Multiple Files 24

Adding a Predrawn Symbol with the Tool Palettes 28

The Bottom Line 31

Chapter 2 Creating Your First Drawing 33

Getting to Know the Home Tab's Draw and Modify Panels 33

Starting Your First Drawing 36

Specifying Exact Distances with Coordinates 41

Specifying Polar Coordinates 42

Specifying Relative Cartesian Coordinates 44

Interpreting the Cursor Modes and Understanding Prompts 45

Understanding Cursor Modes 46

Choosing Command Options 47

Selecting Objects 52

Selecting Objects in AutoCAD 53

Providing Base Points 55

Using Noun/Verb Selection 59

Editing with Grips 64

Stretching Lines by Using Grips 64

Moving and Rotating with Grips 66

Understanding Dynamic Input 69

Displaying Data in a Text Window 74

Displaying the Properties of an Object 75

Getting Help 78

Using the InfoCenter 78

Finding Additional Sources of Help 79

The Bottom Line 79

Chapter 3 Setting Up and Using the Drafting Tools 81

Setting Up a Work Area 81

Specifying Units 82

Fine-Tuning the Measurement System 84

Setting Up the Drawing Limits 85

Looking at an Alternative to Limits 87

Understanding Scale Factors 87

Using Polar Tracking 88

Setting the Polar Tracking Angle 90

Exploring the Drawing Process 91

Locating an Object in Reference to Others 92

Modifying an Object 93

Planning and Laying Out a Drawing 96

Making a Preliminary Sketch 98

Using the Layout 100

Erasing the Layout Lines 106

Putting on the Finishing Touches 108

Aligning Objects by Using Object Snap Tracking 109

Using the AutoCAD Modes as Drafting Tools 114

Using Grid Mode as a Background Grid 115

Using Snap Modes 117

The Bottom Line 118

Chapter 4 Organizing Objects with Blocks and Groups 121

Creating and Using a Symbol 121

Understanding the Block Definition Dialog Box 124

Inserting a Symbol 126

Scaling and Rotating Blocks 129

Using an Existing Drawing as a Symbol 131

Modifying a Block 133

Unblocking and Redefining a Block 134

Saving a Block as a Drawing File 136

Replacing Existing Files with Blocks 137

Understanding the Write Block Dialog Box Options 138

Other Uses for Blocks 138

Understanding the Annotation Scale 139

Grouping Objects 142

Modifying Members of a Group 144

Ungrouping, Adding, and Subtracting from a Group 147

Working with the Object Grouping Dialog Box 148

Working with the AutoCAD LT Group Manager 150

The Bottom Line 152

Chapter 5 Keeping Track of Layers and Blocks 153

Organizing Information with Layers 153

Creating and Assigning Layers 154

Working on Layers 162

Controlling Layer Visibility 166

Finding the Layers You Want 168

Taming an Unwieldy List of Layers 169

Assigning Linetypes to Layers 176

Adding a Linetype to a Drawing 177

Controlling Lineweights 182

Keeping Track of Blocks and Layers 182

Getting a Text File List of Layers or Blocks 183

The Bottom Line 185

Part 2 Mastering Intermediate Skills 187

Chapter 6 Editing and Reusing Data toWork Efficiently y 189

Creating and Using Templates 190

Creating a Template 190

Using a Template 191

Copying an Object Multiple Times 192

Making Circular Copies 193

Making Row and Column Copies 195

Fine-Tuning Your View 197

Finishing the Kitchenette 199

Array Along a Path 200

Making Changes to an Associative Array 201

Developing Your Drawing 205

Importing Settings 206

Using Osnap Tracking to Place Objects 209

Finding an Exact Distance Along a Curve 226

Changing the Length of Objects 228

Creating a New Drawing by Using Parts from Another Drawing 229

Eliminating Unused Blocks, Layers, Linetypes, Shapes, Styles, and More 230

The Bottom Line 232

Chapter 7 Mastering Viewing Tools, Hatches, and External References 235

Assembling the Parts 235

Taking Control of the AutoCAD Display 238

Understanding Regeneration and Redrawing 239

Saving Views 240

Understanding the Frozen Layer Option 244

Using Hatch Patterns in Your Drawings 246

Placing a Hatch Pattern in a Specific Area 246

Adding Predefined Hatch Patterns 248

Positioning Hatch Patterns Accurately 250

Updating a Block from an External File 251

Changing the Hatch Area 253

Modifying a Hatch Pattern 254

Understanding the Boundary Hatch Options 255

Controlling Boundaries with the Boundaries Panel 257

Fine-Tuning the Boundary Behavior 257

Controlling Hatch Behavior with the Options Panel 258

Controlling Hatch Default Layer, Layout Scale, and ISO Line Weight 259

Using Additional Hatch Features 259

Using Gradient Shading 260

Tips for Using Hatch 262

Space Planning and Hatch Patterns 262

Using External References 266

Attaching a Drawing as an External Reference 266

Other Differences Between External References and Blocks 270

Other External Reference Options 272

Clipping Xref Views and Improving Performance 274

Editing Xrefs in Place 277

Using the External Reference Tab 280

Adding and Removing Objects from Blocks and Xrefs 280

Understanding the Reference Edit Dialog Box Options 283

The Bottom Line 284

Chapter 8 Introducing Printing, Plotting, and Layouts 285

Plotting the Plan 285

Understanding the Plotter Settings 290

Paper Size 290

Drawing Orientation 291

Plot Area 291

Plot Scale 292

Shaded Viewport Options 295

Plot Offset 296

Plot Options 297

Exit Options 298

Plotting Using Layout Views 299

Setting Plot Scale in the Layout Viewports 302

Adding an Output Device 303

Editing a Plotter Configuration 306

Storing a Page Setup 308

Using Electronic Plots 312

Exporting to PDF Through the Plot Dialog Box 312

Exporting to PDF Through the Export To DWF/PDF Ribbon Panel 314

Exporting Autodesk DWF and DWFx Files 315

The Bottom Line 316

Chapter 9 Adding Text to Drawings 317

Preparing a Drawing for Text 317

Organizing Text by Styles 319

Getting Familiar with the Text and Annotation Scale Control Panels 320

Setting the Annotation Scale and Adding Text 321

Inserting Text 321

Exploring Text and Scale 323

Understanding the Text Style Dialog Box Options 326

Styles 326

Set Current/New/Delete 326

Font 326

Size 326

Effects 327

Exploring Text Formatting in AutoCAD 327

Adjusting the Text Height and Font 328

Understanding the Text Editor Tab 330

Adding Symbols and Special Characters 331

Setting Indents and Tabs 334

What Do the Fonts Look Like? 338

Adding Simple Single-Line Text Objects 340

Justifying Single-Line Text Objects 342

Using Special Characters with Single-Line Text Objects 343

Using the Check Spelling Feature 345

How Check Spelling Works 345

Choosing a Dictionary 346

Substituting Fonts 347

Finding and Replacing Text 349

The Bottom Line 353

Chapter 10 Using Fields and Tables 355

Using Fields to Associate Text with Drawing Properties 355

Adding Tables to Your Drawing 359

Creating a Table 360

Adding Cell Text 361

Adjusting Table Text Orientation and Location 363

Editing the Table Line Work 365

Adding Formulas to Cells 368

Using Formulas Directly in Cells 369

Using Other Math Operations 370

Importing and Exporting Tables 370

Importing a Table 371

Exporting Tables 373

Creating Table Styles 373

Adding or Modifying a Table Style 373

Exploring the Table Style Options 375

The Bottom Line 376

Chapter 11 Using Dimensions 377

Understanding the Components of a Dimension 377

Creating a Dimension Style 378

Setting Up the Primary Unit Style 380

Setting the Height for Dimension Text 382

Setting the Location and Orientation of Dimension Text 383

Choosing an Arrow Style and Setting the Dimension Scale 384

Setting Up Alternate Units 388

Setting the Current Dimension Style 389

Modifying a Dimension Style 390

Drawing Linear Dimensions 390

Understanding the Dimensions Panel 391

Placing Horizontal and Vertical Dimensions 392

Continuing a Dimension 393

Drawing Dimensions from a Common Base Extension Line 394

Adjusting the Distance Between Dimensions 396

Editing Dimensions 397

Appending Data to Dimension Text 397

Using Grips to Make Minor Adjustments to Dimensions 399

Changing Style Settings of Individual Dimensions 401

Associating Dimensions with Objects 405

Adding a String of Dimensions with a Single Operation...