Title Details

Ellen Finkelstein learned AutoCAD in Israel, where she always got to pore over the manual because it was in English. After returning to the United States, she started consulting and teaching AutoCAD as well as other computer programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. She has also taught courses on Web writing and usability. Her Web site, www.ellenfinkelstein.com, contains tips and techniques for AutoCAD, PowerPoint, and presenting, and she publishes the AutoCAD Tips Blog and the AutoCAD Tips Newsletter. Ellen has written extensively on AutoCAD, including articles for Autodesk’s Web site and features for AutoCAD’s Help system. Ellen’s first book was AutoCAD For Dummies Quick Reference. Since then, she has written books on PowerPoint, OpenOffice.org (OpenOffice.org For Dummies), Flash (such as Flash CS4 For Dummies), and Web technologies (Syndicating Web Sites with RSS Feeds For Dummies). You’re holding the eleventh edition (wow!) of this book, which previously appeared for AutoCAD releases 14, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.

About the Author vi

Part I: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Basics 1

Quick Start: Drawing a Window 3

Chapter 1: Starting to Draw 15

Chapter 2: Opening a Drawing 31

Chapter 3: Using Commands 39

Chapter 4: Specifying Coordinates 59

Chapter 5: Setting Up a Drawing 97

Part II: Drawing in Two Dimensions 113

Chapter 6: Drawing Simple Lines 115

Chapter 7: Drawing Curves and Points 123

Chapter 8: Viewing Your Drawing 139

Chapter 9: Editing Your Drawing with Basic Tools 169

Chapter 10: Editing Your Drawing with Advanced Tools 193

Chapter 11: Organizing Drawings with Layers and Object Properties 259

Chapter 12: Obtaining Information from Your Drawing 295

Chapter 13: Creating Text 315

Chapter 14: Drawing Dimensions 367

Chapter 15: Creating Dimension Styles 417

Chapter 16: Drawing Complex Objects 449

Chapter 17: Plotting and Printing Your Drawing 493

Part III: Working with Data 529

Chapter 18: Working with Blocks and Attributes 531

Chapter 19: Referencing Other Drawings 601

Chapter 20: Working with External Databases 623

Part IV: Drawing in Three Dimensions 653

Chapter 21: Specifying 3D Coordinates 655

Chapter 22: Viewing 3D Drawings 683

Chapter 23: Creating 3D Surfaces 731

Chapter 24: Creating Solids and Editing in 3D 779

Chapter 25: Rendering in 3D 851

Part V: Organizing and Managing Drawings 883

Chapter 26: Keeping Control of Your Drawings 885

Chapter 27: Working with Other Applications 943

Chapter 28: Creating Electronic Output 967

Part VI: Customizing AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 993

Chapter 29: Customizing Commands, Toolbars, and Tool Palettes 995

Chapter 30: Creating Macros and Slide Shows 1019

Chapter 31: Creating Your Own Linetypes and Hatch Patterns 1031

Chapter 32: Creating Shapes and Fonts 1043

Chapter 33: Customizing the Ribbon and Menus 1055

Part VII: Programming AutoCAD 1083

Chapter 34: Understanding AutoLISP and Visual LISP Basics 1085

Chapter 35: Exploring AutoLISP Further 1101

Chapter 36: Exploring Advanced AutoLISP Topics 1125

Chapter 37: Bonus Programming with .NET BC1

Part VIII: Appendixes 1143

Appendix A: Installing and Configuring AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 1145

Appendix B: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Resources 1175

Appendix C: What’s on the DVD 1181

Index 1189