AutoCAD 2011 and
AutoCAD LT 2011
®

®

No Experience Required



AutoCAD 2011 and
AutoCAD LT 2011
®

®

No Experience Required

D onnie Glad felter


Senior Acquisitions Editor: Willem Knibbe
Development Editor: Jim Compton
Technical Editor: Melanie Perry
Production Editor: Christine O’Connor
Copy Editor: Kathy Grider-Carlyle
Editorial Manager: Pete Gaughan
Production Manager: Tim Tate
Vice President and Executive Group Publisher: Richard Swadley

Vice President and Publisher: Neil Edde
Book Designer: Franz Baumhackl
Compositor: James D. Kramer, Happenstance Type-O-Rama
Proofreader: Nancy Bell
Indexer: Nancy Guenther
Project Coordinator, Cover: Lynsey Stanford
Cover Designer: Ryan Sneed
Cover Image: © istockphoto.com/Palto
Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published simultaneously in Canada
ISBN: 978-0-470-60216-4
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gladfelter, Donnie, 1982AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011 : no experience required / Donnie Gladfelter. — 1st ed.
p. cm.

ISBN-13: 978-0-470-60216-4 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 0-470-60216-3 (pbk.)
ISBN: 978-0-470-90142-7 (ebk)
ISBN: 978-0-470-90144-1 (ebk)
ISBN: 978-0-470-90143-4 (ebk)
1. Computer graphics. 2. AutoCAD. I. Title.
T385.G573 2010
620’.00420285536—dc22
2010013507
TRADEMARKS: Wiley, the Wiley logo, and the Sybex logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons,
Inc. and/or its affiliates, in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. AutoCAD
and AutoCAD LT are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1


Dear Reader,
Thank you for choosing AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011: No Experience
Required. This book is part of a family of premium-quality Sybex books, all of
which are written by outstanding authors who combine practical experience
with a gift for teaching.
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producing consistently exceptional books. With each of our titles, we’re working
hard to set a new standard for the industry. From the paper we print on, to the
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I hope you see all that reflected in these pages. I’d be very interested to hear your
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Best regards,







Neil Edde
Vice President and Publisher
Sybex, an Imprint of Wiley


To Helen, who became my lovely wife on June 19, 2010.


A c k n ow l e d g m e n t s
In more ways than I can explain, it feels like yesterday when I was getting my
start in the CAD industry as an entry-level CAD technician. That was more than
a decade ago, and since then I’ve had the profound privilege of giving back to
the CAD community through my blog (www.TheCADGeek.com) and through the
hundreds of professionals I’ve trained. While there’s certainly no way for me to
thank each one individually; without each boss, teacher, project manager, and
even each user I’ve supported, there’s absolutely no way this book would have
been possible.
Big or small, each of them has made a valuable contribution to building my
career into what it has become today. Ironically, a structure’s ultimate strength is
determined by what isn’t seen—the foundation. For me, that was built by some of

the most passionate educators I’ve ever known: Walter Spain and Johnnie Collie
of Hermitage High School and Hermitage Technical Center in Henrico County,
Virginia. Their passion is what both inspired and empowered me to learn everything I could about the tools of my trade—namely AutoCAD.
In addition to those first teachers, I must thank everyone who helped me build
on that foundation. Those individuals include Stan Hunt, who was my first boss;
David Anderson, who helped open the door to me becoming a trainer; Jonathan
Jackson, who taught me civil design; along with Mark Farnsworth and Eric
Chappell, who helped me become a CAD manager.
There is likewise a long list of individuals who have contributed to the making of this book. This is my first book, and I had little idea of what all went into
getting a book published. Senior Acquisitions Editor Willem Knibbe not only
rallied support for this book within Wiley, but he also made sure my many questions related to the publication process were answered. Thank you to Guillermo
Cortabarria, Shaan Hurley, and Kate Morrical from Autodesk for demonstrating
many of the new capabilities of AutoCAD 2011 and providing me access to software while it was still in development; and thanks to Lynn Allen for her insights
and support as a fellow author.
From the first chapter to the last, I can’t thank the incredible team of editors
enough—especially my technical editor Melanie Perry, developmental editor
Jim Compton, copy editor Kathy Grider-Carlyle, and production editor Christine
O’Connor. Melanie is a leader within the CAD community herself, and I very
much appreciate her lending both her technical and industry experience as she
checked the text and figures for accuracy. With stellar precision, Jim made sure
every comment was answered; every image was accounted for; and every detail


was addressed. Christine tracked the production of each figure, and helped make
every chapter ready for publication.
Aside from my editors, there was a small army of professionals at Wiley whose
dedication to their craft is apparent as you read through this book. I am consistently impressed at the professional product they produce.
Finally, I want to thank the most important member of the production team,
my wife (as of June 19, 2010) Helen. She did something much greater than editing chapters or tracking schedules; she was my cheerleader when writer’s block
got the best of me, the one who made me laugh daily and provided a shoulder

to lean on even after some of the most demanding days in her job teaching at a
local school dedicated to children with autism.


About

the

Author

Donnie Gladfelter is a highly visible and respected thought leader in the CAD
community. He is well-known for his CAD Geek blog (www.thecadgeek.com), has
written many articles for the popular AUGIWorld Magazine, and is a top-rated
speaker at Autodesk University and other industry events. He has worked with
the development team at Autodesk to help shape future versions of AutoCAD, and
the company has featured him in numerous video interviews, including their
popular “Ask the Expert” series. Donnie also helps empower CAD professionals by
providing training and services to companies around the world as a member of
the Autodesk User Group International (AUGI) Board of Directors.
A proven communicator, Donnie has reached thousands of people worldwide
through many publications and various public speaking engagements. As a
top-rated Autodesk University speaker since 2007, Donnie presented three sessions and assisted another at Autodesk University 2009. During the conference,
he was also featured in many on-camera interviews, including an appearance
on the popular Into Tomorrow radio show with Dave Graveline. Other speaking
engagements have ranged in sizes up to 60,000 people.
With a professional reputation founded on both integrity and loyalty, he is a
highly trusted and respected member of the CAD community who has worked
with product managers and developers to help shape future releases of the software. These ideals have been achieved by subscribing to a simple, but effective
personal mantra to “empower CAD professionals.” With an unwavering commitment to his craft, Donnie continues to embody this mantra by empowering the
next generation of architecture and engineering professionals as a trainer and

consultant to firms nationwide. In that role, he hosts classroom-style training
sessions and helps reinforce that training with subsequent mentoring sessions.
Prior to becoming a consultant and trainer, he was the Design Systems
Specialist (Assistant CAD Manager) for a multidisciplinary civil engineering firm
headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. An ENR 500 firm, they employed more
than 350 people in nine offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic. During his near
six-year tenure there, Donnie was jointly responsible for providing the technical
support and training for each of their CAD professionals. In that role, he was
also responsible for the development of a collaborative BIM workflow used for a
wide range of projects within the firm.
Donnie and his beautiful wife live in Richmond, Virginia.


Contents

at a

Gl ance

Introduction

xxi

Chap ter 1

Getting to Know AutoCAD

1

Chap ter 2


Learning Basic Commands to Get Started

37

Chap ter 3

Setting Up a Drawing

73

Chap ter 4

Developing Drawing Strategies: Part 1

99

Chap ter 5

Developing Drawing Strategies: Part 2

167

Chap ter 6

Using Layers to Organize Your Drawing

241

Chap ter 7


Combining Objects into Blocks

307

Chap ter 8

Controlling Text in a Drawing

367

Chap ter 9

Using Dynamic Blocks and Tables

439

C h a p t e r 10

Generating Elevations

505

C h a p t e r 11

Working with Hatches, Gradients, and Tool Palettes

555

C h a p t e r 12


Dimensioning a Drawing

593

C h a p t e r 13

Managing External References

657

C h a p t e r 14

Using Layouts to Set Up a Print

699

C h a p t e r 15

Printing an AutoCAD Drawing

781

C h a p t e r 16

Creating 3D Geometry

831

C h a p t e r 17


Rendering and Materials

911

Glossary

945

Index

963


Contents
Introduction

C hapter 1

xxi

Get ting to K now Auto C A D

1

Starting AutoCAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Welcome Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Exploring the New Features Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
The Customer Involvement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Exploring the AutoCAD User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Introducing the AutoCAD Application Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Working in the Command Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Using the Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Displaying the Ribbon Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Using the Ribbon Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Customizing the Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
The Initial Setup Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Using the Application Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Opening a Drawing with the Application Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Switching between Open Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Using the Drop-Down Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Using the Toolbars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Workspaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Using the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Using the Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

C hapter 2

Learning B asic C ommand s to Get  St ar te d

37

Using the Line Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Relative Coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Direct Distance Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drawing the Shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Relative Cartesian Coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Erasing Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

38
44
48
49
50
50
51


xii

Contents

Controlling How the Selection Tools Are Displayed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Relative Polar Coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Direct Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Offset Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Fillet Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Completing the Shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Offsetting Lines to Mark an Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Extending Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trimming Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If You Would Like More Practice… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C hapter 3


Set ting Up a D rawing

73

Setting Up the Drawing Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Up the Drawing Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Up Drawing Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drawing with Grid and Snap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Closer Look at Dynamic Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Saving Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Summary of AutoCAD’s Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Linear Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Angular Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C hapter 4

52
53
54
55
58
62
62
64
66
70
71

71

74
79
79
83
87
90
92
95
95
96
96
96

Developing D rawing Strate gies : Par t 1

99

Laying Out the Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating a Polyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Editing a Polyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating the Exterior Wall Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating the Interior Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cutting Openings in the Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drawing Swinging Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Copying Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

100

101
105
107
109
121
130
130
140


Contents

xiii

Mirroring Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Scaling the Bathroom Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drawing a Sliding Glass Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drawing the Bi-Fold Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If You Would Like More Practice… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
An Alternative Sliding Glass Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
An Addition to the Cabin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Draw Three Views of a Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C hapter 5

Developing D rawing Strategies : Par t 2

142

145
147
156
162
162
163
164
166
166

167

Drawing the Thresholds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Drawing the Front Threshold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Drawing the Back Threshold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Drawing the Decks and Stairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Drawing the Front Deck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Laying Out the Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Drawing the Counter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Drawing the Stove and Refrigerator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Completing the Stove with Parametrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Drawing the Kitchen Sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Constructing the Bathroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Setting Running Object Snaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Drawing a Shower Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Drawing the Bathroom Sink and Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Positioning the Toilet and Shelves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Drawing the Hot Tub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
If You Would Like More Practice… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Drawing the Cabin Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234

Drawing Something Else . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Drawing Some Furniture for the Cabin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Drawing a Gasket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Drawing a Parking Lot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238


xiv

Contents

C hapter 6

Using L aye rs to O rganize You r D rawing

241

Using Layers as an Organizing Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Up Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Assigning Linetypes to Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Assigning Objects to Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Quick Properties Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selecting the Doors and Swings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turning Off and Freezing Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drawing the Headers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drawing the Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting a Linetype Scale Factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drawing the Ridgeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Layer Walk Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Setting Properties of Layers and Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selecting Colors for Layers and Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Assigning a Color or a Linetype to an Object Instead of a Layer . . . . . . . . . . . .
Making a Color or a Linetype Current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Action Recorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating Layer States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If You Would Like More Practice… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Experimenting with Linetypes and Linetype Scales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Up Layers for Your Own Trade or Profession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C hapter 7

C ombining Objects into B loc k s

242
243
256
261
266
268
276
280
283
289
291
292
295
295

295
296
297
300
304
304
305
305
305

307

Making a Block for a Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inserting the Door Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Dynamic Blocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Finding Blocks in a Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Grips to Detect a Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the List Command to Detect a Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Properties Palette to Examine a Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating a Window Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inserting the Window Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rotating a Block during Insertion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Snap Tracking to Set the Insertion Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

308
314
319
321
321
323

325
326
331
333
335


Contents

xv

Changing a Block’s Scale Factor Using Object Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Finishing the Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Revising a Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sharing Information between Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dragging and Dropping between Two Open Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using AutoCAD’s DesignCenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other Ways to Share Information between Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If You Would Like More Practice… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C hapter 8

C ontrolling Tex t in a D rawing

337
338
343
346

346
350
356
363
365
365

367

Setting Up Text Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Determining Text and Drawing Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Defining a Text Style for View Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Placing Titles of Views in the Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Using Annotative Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Defining an Annotative Text Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Placing Room Labels in the Floor Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Using Text in a Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Creating a Title Block and Border . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
Using Multiline Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 417
Using the Spell-Check Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427
Exploring Other Aspects of Multiline Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 431
If You Would Like More Practice… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 436
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437

C hapter 9

Using Dy namic B loc k s and Tables

439


Using Attributes for a Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defining Blocks with Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inserting Blocks with Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Editing Attribute Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Up Multiple Attributes in a Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defining a Block with Multiple Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inserting the Room Information Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Editing Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

440
445
446
449
450
454
459
464


xvi

Contents

Controlling the Visibility of Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exploring Other Uses for Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating a Dynamic Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Up Parameters and Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fine-Tuning the Dynamic Block with the Properties Palette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inserting a Dynamic Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Creating a Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defining a Table Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Designing a Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating Tables from Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If You Would Like More Practice… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C hapter 10

Ge ne rating Elevations

50 5

Drawing the South Elevation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating the South Elevation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Up Lines for the Heights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Construction Lines to Project Elevation Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trimming Lines in the Elevation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Assigning Elevation Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drawing the Decks in Elevation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Generating the Other Elevations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Making the Opposite Elevation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Revising the New South Elevation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Making the Front and Back Elevations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Considering Drawing Scale Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drawing Interior Elevations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If You Would Like More Practice… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


C hapter 11

Work ing with Hatc hes, G radie nts, and Tool Palet tes

467
471
472
473
477
480
485
485
489
497
504
504
504

506
506
509
510
515
520
521
533
534
536
541

551
552
552
553
553

555

Hatching the South Elevation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Looking at Hatch Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hatching the Rest of the South Elevation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adding Special Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

557
560
562
568


Contents

xvii

Using Hatches in the Floor Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hatching the Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Finishing the Hatches for the Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Modifying the Shape of Hatch Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating and Managing Tool Palettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating a New Tool Palette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Up a Palette for Hatches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Creating a Palette for Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If You Would Like More Practice… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating the Hatch Patterns for the Other Elevations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating Your Hatch Palette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C hapter 12

Dime nsioning a  D rawing

593

Introducing Dimension Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Making a New Dimension Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Placing Dimensions on the Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Placing Horizontal Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Other Types of Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Radial Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Aligned and Angular Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Leader Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Modifying Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Modifying Dimension Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Dimension Overrides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dimensioning Short Distances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If You Would Like More Practice… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dimensioning the Garage Addition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dimensioning to a Centerline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Further Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C hapter 13

M anaging E x te rnal Refe re nces

573
573
576
580
581
582
584
586
588
588
591
592
592

594
596
614
614
622
623
628
634
639
640

645
647
650
651
651
654
655
655

657

Drawing a Site Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 658
Using Surveyor’s Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 658
Drawing the Driveway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 663


xviii

Contents

Setting Up an External Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the External References Palette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Moving and Rotating an Xref . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Modifying an Xref Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Modifying an Xref by Making It the Current Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Modifying an Xref from within the Host Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adding an Image to a Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Putting Xrefs to Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exploring Additional Xref Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting the Xref Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Binding Xrefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exploring Further on Your Own . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If You Would Like More Practice… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compare Reference Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C hapter 14

Using L ayouts to Set Up a P rint

670
670
678
679
679
682
686
690
691
692
694
696
697
697
698
698

699


Getting Ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preparing the Title Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating the Title Block Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Up a Sheet Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting the Layout Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Finishing the Sheet Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating Your First Plan Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Sheet Set Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating a New Sheet Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adding Existing Drawings to a Sheet Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating Drawings with Sheet Set Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Up Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Referencing the Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating the Paper Space Viewport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting the Viewport Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Copying the Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjusting a Viewport’s Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting the Linetype Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Managing the Floor Plan Sheet File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Managing the Elevations Sheet File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

701
702
702
714
716
721
725
727
728

733
737
741
741
744
746
749
759
760
761
768


Contents

xix

Setting Up the Site Plan Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Locking and Turning Viewports Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If You Would Like More Practice… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C hapter 15

P rinting an Auto C A D D rawing

781

Using the Plot Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Printer/Plotter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paper Size and Number of Copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Plot Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Plot Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Plot Offset and Plot Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Expanded Plot Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Applying Plot-Style Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introducing Plot-Style Table Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Printing a Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Determining Lineweights for a Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Other Properties of Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Up the Other Parameters for the Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Previewing a Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Viewing Plots in Design Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Printing a Drawing Using Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Updating Model File Layer Properties in Sheet Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Plotting a Single Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Printing a Drawing with Multiple Viewports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Publishing Multiple Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Publishing with Sheet Set Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Summing Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C hapter 16

C reating 3D Ge ometr y

771
776

779
780
780

783
785
785
786
791
792
794
796
796
806
806
812
812
814
816
818
818
820
822
824
826
829
830
830

831


Modeling in 3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Up a 3D Workspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Making the Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating the Door and Window Block-Outs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

833
833
839
842


xx

Contents

Moving and Rotating in 3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cutting the Openings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating the Floor, Foundation, and Thresholds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating the Foundation and Supports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Building the Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Navigating with the ViewCube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Building the Decks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Putting a Roof on the Cabin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Getting Further Directions in 3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Other Solid Modeling Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Mesh-Modeling Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Surface-Modeling Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


C hapter 17

Re nde ring and M ate rials

847
850
852
854
855
869
874
889
901
903
906
907
909
909

911

Creating Cameras to Reproduce Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Loft Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating the Cameras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating a Lighting Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating a Light Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Enabling Shadows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The First Render . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Controlling the Background of the Rendering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adding Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjusting the Material Mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rendering to a File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are You Experienced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now you can… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

912
912
916
921
921
925
926
930
932
937
940
944
944

Glossary

945

Index

963


Introduction

This book was born of the need for a simple, yet engaging tutorial that would
help beginners step into the world of AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT without feeling
intimidated. That tutorial has evolved over the years into a full introduction to
the ways in which architects and civil and structural engineers use AutoCAD
to increase their efficiency and ability to produce state-of-the-art computerized
production drawings and designs.
Because AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are so similar, it makes sense to cover the
basics of both programs in one book. For most of the book, the word AutoCAD
stands for both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.
When you come to a section of a chapter that applies to AutoCAD only,
the icon shown here is displayed in the margin to alert you. When appropriate, extra information for AutoCAD LT users is provided to give you a workaround or otherwise keep you in step with the tutorial.
Because AutoCAD LT doesn’t have 3D commands or features, the last two
chapters, which are an introduction to drawing in 3D, apply only to AutoCAD.
But LT users can be assured that LT is very much the same program as AutoCAD,
with only minor differences. You’ll be prompted when those differences, most of
which are 3D features, come along.
This book is directed toward AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT novices—users who
know how to use a computer and perform basic file-managing tasks, such as creating new folders and saving and moving files, but who know nothing or little about
AutoCAD or LT (as I’ll call AutoCAD LT throughout the book). If you’re new to the
construction and design professions, this book will be an excellent companion as
you learn AutoCAD. If you’re already practicing in those fields, you’ll immediately
be able to apply the skills you’ll pick up from this book to real-world projects. The
exercises have been successfully used to train architects, engineers, and contractors, as well as college and high school students, in the basics of AutoCAD.
For those of you in other trades and professions, the project that runs through
the book—drawing a small cabin—has been kept simple so that it doesn’t require
special training in architecture or construction. Also, most chapters have additional information and exercises specifically designed for non-AEC (Architecture,
Engineering, and Construction) users. Anyone wanting to learn AutoCAD will find
this book helpful.



xxii

Introduction

What Will You Learn from This Book?
Learning AutoCAD, like learning any complex computer program, requires a
significant commitment of time and attention and, to some extent, a tolerance
for repetition. You must understand new concepts to operate the program and
to appreciate its potential as a drafting and design tool. However, to become proficient at AutoCAD, you must also use the commands enough times to gain an
intuitive sense of how they work and how parts of a drawing are constructed.
At the end of most chapters, you’ll find one or more additional exercises and
a checklist of the tools you have learned (or should have learned). The steps in
the tutorial have a degree of repetition built into them that allows you to work
through new commands several times and build up confidence before you move
on to the next chapter.
Progressing through the book, the chapters fall into five general areas of study:


Chapters 1 through 3 familiarize you with the organization of the
AutoCAD user interface, cover a few of the basic commands, and equip
you with the tools necessary to set up a new drawing, including the use
of a standard such as the National CAD Standard (NCS) to organize
your files.



Chapters 4 and 5 introduce the basic drawing commands and develop
drawing strategies that will help you use commands efficiently.




Chapters 6 through 11 work with AutoCAD’s major features such as
blocks, hatches, and annotation. You’ll also learn about using layers
to organize the various components of a drawing by applying the
National CAD Standard.



Chapters 12 through 15 examine intermediate and advanced AutoCAD
features, including managing and creating document sets using Sheet
Set Manager.



Chapters 16 and 17 cover the 3D modeling tools by exploring 3D solids and 3D surfaces. You’ll also learn how to apply materials to 3D
objects allowing you to produce eye-catching 3D visualizations. In the
process of exploring these elements, you’ll follow the steps involved
in laying out the floor plan of a small cabin. You’ll then learn how to
generate elevations from the floor plan, and eventually you’ll learn
how to set up a title block and layouts to print your drawing. Along
the way, you’ll also learn how to do the following:


Introduction



Use the basic drawing and modify commands in a strategic
manner




Set up layers using an established standard



Assign colors to your drawing



Define and insert blocks



Generate elevation views



Place hatch patterns and fills on building components



Use text in your drawing

Chapters in the latter part of the book touch on more advanced features of
AutoCAD, including:


Creating dynamic drawings using geometric and dimensional parametric constraints




Dimensioning the floor plan



Drawing a site plan and managing drawings of varying units



Efficiently organizing drawing sets using external references



Setting up and managing drawings for printing with layouts



Making a print of your drawing



Working in 3D (for AutoCAD users)

All these features are taught using the cabin as a continuing project. As a result,
you’ll build a set of drawings that document your progress throughout the project.
You can use these drawings later as reference material if you need to refresh your
memory with material covering a specific skill.
At the end of the book is a glossary of terms that are used in the book and are
related to AutoCAD and building design. This is followed by an index.


Files on the Website
If you’re already somewhat familiar with AutoCAD and you’re reading only some
of the chapters, or if you want to check your work on the cabin against the book
at different stages, you can pull accompanying files from this book’s page on
Wiley’s website at www.sybex.com/go/autocad2011ner. Click the Resources &
Downloads button on that page.

xxiii