All About AutoCAD Blog

Where are the Toolbars in AutoCAD 2009?

17 Apr 2008 11:50:54 am GMT -4

The first thing that you migh notice about the new AutoCAD 2009 interface is the lack of toolbars and menus. In their place is a tabbed interface called the ribbon that is displayed by default at the top of AutoCAD and keeps all your tools organized in one place. This ribbon feature and much of the new interface actually is the interface that Microsoft Office 2007 using. Although these changes always get people upset at first, in the long run, they tend to be well worth learning a new way of doing things. For those who can't afford the change right now, you can click the Workspace Switching icon on the right side of the status bar and pick AuotCAD Classic to restore the menu bar and the use of toolbars. To learn more about the new ribbon feature, here are a few helpful links: [url]http://www.allaboutautocad.com/autocad_2009_ribbon.htm[/url] [url]http://www.allaboutautocad.com/autocad_2009_tutorial_ribbon.htm[/url] [url=http://www.allaboutautocad.com/autocad_2009_ribbon_intro.htm]Video AutoCAD 2009 Tutorial: Using AutoCAD 2009 Ribbon[/url]

Regional AUGI CAD Camp a must attend event!

26 Sep 2007 03:36:59 am GMT -4

I attended the AUGI CAD Camp in Indianapolis yesterday. My first thought is too many architects! Where are all the mechanical design users? I felt like I was the only one there. If you have never attended one of the se events, I strongly recommend that you do so. You will pick up so many great techniques which will enhance your use of AutoCAD. It is also a great opportunity to get face to face with some of the best users and trainers and ask those specific �How do I�� questions. Matt Murphy did a great job showing how to use Dynamic Blocks and put a lot of thoughts into my head of what I can do with them. I will share some of this in future blogs. He really knows his AutoCAD and shows you how to make your work life easier, �wicked cool� as Matt tells you to say. Heidi Hewitt explained all the fuss about Annotation Scaling. This is a hot topic with AutoCAD 2008. It can really save you time placing and sizing your Dimensions, Text, Leaders, and Hatch Patterns. She even showed how you can update these features in your existing drawings to take advantage of this new feature. It was a great day and I enjoyed meeting with a number of the people there. The sales pitch was left out and the technical information was available. That�s why we were there!

Getting started in 3D Modeling

23 Aug 2007 05:08:27 am GMT -4

When AutoCAD first went 3d, the [b]LINE[/b] command was only a 2d command. It took an X and a Y for each end point. So a new command was added, [b]3DLINE[/b], to accept the X, Y, & Z data for lines. I believe they did away with this command. Modeling in 3D is a whole lot easier now then it was back then. To begin with you no longer need to create four lines to make a rectangle. Just use the [b]RECTANGLE[/b] command and indicate two opposite corners. So let�s start by modeling a block, using the [b]RECTANGLE[/b] and [b]LINE[/b] commands. Open a new drawing and either type the command [b]REC[/b] or pull down the [b]DRAW[/b] menu and select [b]RECTANGLE[/b]. For the first corner, enter [b]0,0,0[/b]. And for the second corner [b]10,12[/b]. You don�t need the third value since the rectangle will be drawn in the plane of the current UCS. [b]ZOOM ALL [/b]to get it onto the screen. Now create a second rectangle of the same size, only 8 in the Z axis. Start the [b]RECTANGLE[/b] command. For the first corner, enter [b]0,0,8 [/b]and for the second corner, [b]10,12[/b]. The rectangles are on top of each other, so the screen looks the same. Time to change the view. If your not familiar with the different standard views in AutoCAD, just type [b]VPOINT -1,-1,1[/b] and Enter. This is the SW Isometric View and now you can see the two rectangles. To complete the block, you need to create lines connecting the corners. Set your [b]OSNAP[/b] to include Endpoints and start the [b]LINE[/b] command. Pick the left most corner of each rectangle to draw the first line. Then do the same for the other three corners. See, your modeling in 3d. I know it�s not much but it is a beginning. You already know the geometry commands. You just need to learn more about the 3d viewing commands and of course some knowledge of User Coordinate Systems is also a big help. Watch for more about those in the future....

Welcome to the All About AutoCAD Blog

22 Apr 2007 03:00:57 am GMT -4

The All About AutoCAD Blog features news, expert tips, and tutorials. AllAboutAutoCAD.com is an independent resource for all things about Autodesk AutoCAD....