Mastering AutoCAD 2021 and AutoCAD LT 2021

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