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 a monthly 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 tenth edition (wow!) of this book, which previously appeared for AutoCAD releases 14, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Foreword xxxvii

Acknowledgments xxxviii

Introduction xxxix

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 29

Chapter 3: Using Commands 37

Chapter 4: Specifying Coordinates 61

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, Colors, Linetypes, and Lineweights 255

Chapter 12: Obtaining Information from Your Drawing 289

Chapter 13: Creating Text 309

Chapter 14: Drawing Dimensions 361

Chapter 15: Creating Dimension Styles 411

Chapter 16: Drawing Complex Objects 443

Chapter 17: Plotting and Printing Your Drawing 487

Part III: Working with Data 523

Chapter 18: Working with Blocks and Attributes 525

Chapter 19: Referencing Other Drawings 591

Chapter 20: Working with External Databases 613

Part IV: Drawing in Three Dimensions 643

Chapter 21: Specifying 3D Coordinates 645

Chapter 22: Viewing 3D Drawings 671

Chapter 23: Creating 3D Surfaces 717

Chapter 24: Creating Solids and Editing in 3D 757

Chapter 25: Rendering in 3D 831

Part V: Organizing and Managing Drawings 863

Chapter 26: Keeping Control of Your Drawings 865

Chapter 27: Working with Other Applications 923

Chapter 28: Creating Electronic Output 947

Part VI: Customizing AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 971

Chapter 29: Customizing Commands, Toolbars, and Tool Palettes 973

Chapter 30: Creating Macros and Slide Shows 995

Chapter 31: Creating Your Own Linetypes and Hatch Patterns 1007

Chapter 32: Creating Shapes and Fonts 1019

Chapter 33: Customizing the Ribbon and Menus 1031

Part VII: Programming AutoCAD 1059

Chapter 34: Understanding AutoLISP and Visual LISP Basics 1061

Chapter 35: Exploring AutoLISP Further 1075

Chapter 36: Exploring Advanced AutoLISP Topics 1099

Chapter 37: Programming with Visual Basic for Applications 1115

Part VIII: Appendixes 1143

Appendix A: Installing and Configuring AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 1145

Appendix B: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Resources 1177

Appendix C: What’s on the DVD-ROM 1183

Index 1191