AutoCAD 2011 Preview Guide Power your design projects from concept through completion with AutoCAD® 2011 software. Your ideas can take shape with greater clarity and accuracy than ever before, thanks to new surface modeling tools and point cloud support. New inferred constraints capabilities make working with parametrics easier, and updated productivity tools help you deliver final design documentation faster than ever.
Table of Contents User Interface ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Drawing Window .................................................................................................................................... 4 Quick Access Toolbar .............................................................................................................................. 4 Navigation ......................
Analysis Tools ................................................................................................................................. 37 Consistent Materials............................................................................................................................. 38 Mesh Modeling..................................................................................................................................... 40 Point Clouds ....................................................
User Interface AutoCAD 2011 offers a variety of user interface enhancements that allow you to design with greater ease and efficiency. Drawing Window The drawing window has been updated in AutoCAD 2011 to display a dark gray background in modelspace. You can easily modify the drawing window color from the Display tab of the Options dialog box. The traditional dot grid has been replaced with horizontal and vertical gridlines to more closely represent engineering graph paper.
Figure 2. Workspace menu Navigation AutoCAD 2011 includes a new Navigation bar with frequently used navigation tools, including Autodesk® SteeringWheels®, ViewCube, and ShowMotion, as well as Pan, Zoom, and Orbit. It replaces the navigation tools that were previously accessible on the Status bar. You can control the display of the Navigation bar for individual workspaces via a property in the CUI dialog box. Figure 3.
Figure 4. 3D Connexion settings The ViewCube has been enhanced to support the 2D wireframe visual style, enabling you to easily change your viewpoint. The clockwise and counter‐clockwise controls are particularly useful for rotating the viewpoint on the 2D plane. Figure 5. ViewCube navigation The SteeringWheels Settings dialog box has been updated for clarity and consistency.
Figure 6. UCS icon and 3D gizmos The Ribbon A new pull‐down menu has been added to the ribbon cycle button at the end of the list of tabs. You can minimize the ribbon to panel buttons, tabs, or panel titles. Figure 7. Ribbon cycle options When you minimize the ribbon to panel buttons, large icons appear for each panel. Hovering over the button causes the panel to expand, similar to the behavior you see when the ribbon is minimized to panel titles. Figure 8.
The View tab has been updated to include the Visual Styles panel, providing you with easy access to predefined visual styles, the Visual Styles Manager, and other visual styles controls. The Windows panel includes new User Interface and Toolbar controls that enable you to easily toggle the display of various user interface elements, including Autodesk® ViewCube® and ShowMotion® navigation widgets, the Navigation bar, and the Text window.
Figure 12. Example Fold panel Visual Styles AutoCAD 2011 provides five new predefined visual styles including: Shaded, Shaded with Edges, Shades of Gray, Sketchy, and X‐Ray. With the most common combinations of visual style properties right at your fingertips, visual styles are easier to use than ever. Figure 13. Visual styles Object Visibility AutoCAD 2011 includes new tools that enable you to control object visibility independent from layer visibility.
Alternatively, when you use the Hide Objects tool, the selected objects are hidden. Figure 15. Hidden objects You can use a combination of the Isolate Objects and Hide Objects tools to efficiently display only the objects that are relevant to your current task. For example, you might use the Isolate Objects tool to select an area of the drawing you want to edit and then use the Hide Objects tool to hide additional objects within that area.
The new Select Similar tool enables you to select an object and automatically include all other objects of the same type and with the same properties, in a new selection set. You can access it from the right‐click menu when objects are selected. Figure 18. Select Similar tool A Settings option (accessible when you enter SELECTSIMILAR at the command line) enables you to specify which properties to filter.
Figure 19. Select Similar Settings dialog box The Select Similar tool also enables you to select more than one object and create the matching selection set accordingly. For example, if the Layer filter is enabled and you select two circles, each on different layers, AutoCAD selects all the circles on both layers. If, instead, you select a circle and a line, AutoCAD selects all the circles on the same layer as the selected circle and all the lines on the same layer as the selected line.
Object Creation The new Add Selected tool enables you to quickly create a new object in your drawing based on the properties of an existing object. For example, if you use the Add Selected tool and select a polyline, AutoCAD automatically launches the PLINE command with basic object properties including color, layer, linetype, linetype scale, plotstyle, lineweight, transparency, and material preset to match the selected object. Figure 21.
Figure 23. Action macro list Document AutoCAD is synonymous with documentation for good reason. Powerful documentation tools in AutoCAD 2011 help you work even faster with automation, management, and editing tools that minimize repetitive tasks and speed your time to completion. No matter your project’s size or scope, you can meet the challenge with AutoCAD—continuously leading and innovating documentation for over 25 years.
Using inferred constraints automatically applies coincident constraints for Endpoint, Midpoint, Center, Node, and Insertion objects snaps. For example, if you draw a circle by snapping its center to the midpoint of a line, AutoCAD automatically applies a coincident constraint between the center of the circle and the midpoint of the line. If you move the circle, the line goes with it. The same powerful functionality applies to editing commands.
the fillet even when the arc or lines are modified. Similarly, creating a chamfer applies coincident constraints between the newly created line and the existing pair of lines. Figure 27. Fillets and chamfers with inferred constraints Even after you’ve applied constraints, you can temporarily relax them by pressing the CTRL key while editing constrained objects. AutoCAD 2011 improves the support of geometric constraints for ellipses and text.
Constraint bars are enhanced to provide more control and flexibility. You can select multiple objects for showing or hiding constraint bars using standard selection methods, including Window, Crossing, Fence, and Implied Window/Crossing. Quickly display all constraint bars in their original position using the new Reset option.
Dimensional Constraints The DIMCONSTRAINT command includes a new Convert option to convert associative dimensions to dimensional constraints rather than it being the default behavior. Figure 31. DIMCONSTRAINT options When entering dimensional constraint values in‐place, you can click on an existing dimensional constraint to insert the constraint name.
Figure 34. Parameter group filters A new search box filters the parameters displayed in the grid control based on the parameter name. Column tooltips display the full name of the column as well as a description. Additional enhancements to the Parameters Manager simplify the terminology for dimensional constraints and user variables created in the drawing editor versus the block editor.
Figure 35. Transparent objects You can set transparency by layer, by block, or individually for an object. The default transparency value for layers and objects is 0, and you can set it as high as 90. The Layer Properties Manager (palette and dialog), the Layer States Manager, the Layer Filter dialog, and the Layer Translator have all been updated to reflect the new transparency property.
Figure 37. Object Transparancy options The SetByLayer Settings dialog has been updated to include Transparency as one of the available properties. Figure 38. SetByLayer settings Transparency has also been added to the Quick Select, Filter, and Match Property Settings dialogs as well as the CHPROP, CHANGE, ‐LAYER, VPLAYER, and LIST commands. Figure 39.
and Page Setup dialogs both include a checkbox for transparency (PLOTTRANSPARENCY), similar to the behavior for plot styles. When this option is enabled, AutoCAD rasterizes the entire drawing for plotting, slowing down the plotting process. Figure 40. Plot transparency Prior to AutoCAD 2011, images had a setting, also called “transparency,” that controlled whether the background of a bitonal image was clear or opaque.
Figure 43. Hatch preview You can also see the result of each click as you pick points or objects in the drawing. Keep in mind that even though it looks as though a hatch was created as you clicked, it will not actually be a separate object unless you have the “Create Separate Hatches” option on. Figure 44. Create Separate Hatches option AutoCAD 2011 continues to expand object grip functionality with a new center grip for direct manipulation of hatch objects.
Figure 45. Direct manipulation hatch tools Other hatch grip behavior has not changed, except that “stretch” is now the default action for the secondary or middle grips on a nonassociative hatch. Figure 46. Stretch hatch action Hatches now support background color in addition to line color. This enables you to have the effect of layering hatches in one object. Figure 47. Hatch background color You now also have the option to set a hatch’s layer before you create it.
Figure 48. Send Hatches to Back tool The new system variable MIRRHATCH enables you to mirror hatches while retaining their orientation. (This is similar to the MIRRTEXT variable.) Set to 0, mirroring hatches maintains their original angle. When MIRRHATCH is set to 1, the hatch angle mirrors along with the rest of the objects. Figure 49. Hatch mirror behavior The Hatch Object Limit system variable (HPOBJWARNING) has been increased to 10,000 from 1,000 to reflect the capabilities of current computers.
Figure 50. Direct manipulation polyline tools You can also activate the grip by clicking on it. Then you can cycle through the available functions by pressing CTRL, or choosing one of the options from the right‐click menu. Icons next to the cursor indicate the active function. Sub‐selection for polylines has been refined in AutoCAD 2011. To sub‐select one or more segments of a polyline, hold down CTRL while left‐clicking on the polyline. Figure 51.
When drawing a fit spline, you can specify additional settings for its start and end tangencies, tolerance (how close the spline must come to the fit point), and knot parameterization (controlling the shape of the curve as it passes through the fit point). The only option for CV splines is Degree, which controls how many bends the spline can take in a given span. Figure 53. CV spline Degree C Easily switch methods, add and remove points, or edit endpoint tangencies using intuitive grip menus. Figure 54.
The selection of externally referenced files has been enhanced in AutoCAD 2011. When you select a reference object in the drawing (xrefs, images, DWFTM, DGN, PDF, data extraction tables), the corresponding reference is selected in the External References palette. Similarly, if you select file references from the External References palette, the references are highlighted (but not selected) in the drawing, assuming they are visible in the current view.
imperial) defined in the registry. When the scale list in a drawing is reset, AutoCAD purges the unused scales in the drawing and then merges in the customized list of scales from the registry into the drawing. You can customize the Default Scale List from the User Preferences Tab of the Options dialog box. You can still edit the scale list stored in the drawing by accessing the scale control on the Status bar or with the SCALELISTEDIT command. Figure 58.
Figure 59. Default Scale list When you reset the scales list in a drawing, you are prompted to select Metric scales, Imperial scales, or both. The default choice is governed by the MEASUREMENT variable in the drawing. When you create a new drawing without specifying a template, AutoCAD adds metric or imperial scales based on the MEASUREMENT variable. When you create a new drawing based on a template, the scales in the template appear in the new drawing. The scales in the registry are not imported.
Text styles with missing fonts are now identified by an icon in the Text Style Manager. Text Alignment in Linetypes AutoCAD 2011 now makes it possible to maintain linetype readability in any orientation. Figure 61. Text alignment The linetypes included with AutoCAD 2011 behave this way by default. To update your own custom linetypes, you need to change the rotation option to U, for “upright”. (Other possible values for the rotation option are R, for “relative,” and A, for “absolute.
AutoCAD 2011 includes two 3D‐related workspaces, which you can access from the Workspace menu in the Quick Access Toolbar. The 3D Basics workspace provides a simple workspace with the most basic tools for creating and visualizing 3D solid models. The 3D Modeling workspace provides access to the complete array of 3D tools in AutoCAD. Figure 63. Workspaces list 3D Object Snaps New tools and variables in AutoCAD 2011 separate 3D object snaps from 2D object snaps.
Surface Modeling In addition to 3D solid and mesh objects, AutoCAD 2011 offers two different types of surfaces: procedural and NURBS (non‐uniform rational b‐spline). Procedural surfaces are associative and have history. NURBS surfaces are not associative and do not have history. Instead, they have control vertices that allow you to sculpt shapes in a way that is closer to how you would operate in the real world.
Figure 67. Patch surface The new Network tool enables you to create a surface through a set of curves in the U and V directions. It is similar to the LOFT command but more streamlined and flexible. You can even choose a selection of curves that are not connected to one another. Figure 68.
Figure 70. Surface associativity Surface Editing Tools AutoCAD 2011 offers a set of robust new surface editing tools to fillet, extend, trim, and untrim surfaces. You can create a fillet with a specified radius between two surface edges using the new Fillet tool (SURFFILLET command), available on the Edit panel. Figure 71. Surface fillet The new Trim tool, accessible from the Edit panel, enables you to create complex edges and holes in surfaces.
Figure 73. Surface extend The new Sculpt tool (SURFSCULPT command), accessible from the Edit panel, enables you to create a new solid object based on the enclosed volume of multiple intersecting surfaces. Figure 74. Surface sculpt The new Project Geometry tools (PROJECTGEOMETRY command) enable you to project geometry onto a surface creating a new line or spline on top of the surface. Unlike the existing Imprint tool, the projected geometry is not consumed by the surface.
rebuild the control vertices (CVREBUILD) or add (CVADD) and remove (CVREMOVE) vertices. The CV Edit Bar, located on the ribbon, is a convenient tool that combines the CVADD, CVHIDE, and CVREMOVE functions. Figure 76. NURBS surface Analysis Tools AutoCAD 2011 provides a set of analysis tools to help you understand the continuity between different surfaces that make up a global shape. These tools are available in the Analysis panel of the Surface ribbon tab.
The analyses are visual representations similar to the visual styles, except that they can be applied per object. Figure 78. Example of analysis representations Consistent Materials AutoCAD 2011 provides powerful and intuitive tools for viewing, selecting, and editing materials. Access these tools from the Materials panel of the Render ribbon tab when the 3D Modeling workspace is active. Figure 79.
Figure 80. Materials Browser In addition to the Autodesk Materials library, you can create and open your own materials libraries directly in the Materials Browser. Create categories within the materials library to organize and manage specific types of materials. To find specific materials, you can search on material characteristics, such as blue or ceramic. After locating a desired material in a library, add it to the current drawing via the right‐ click menu or drag and drop.
Figure 82. Materials Editor Mesh Modeling Mesh modeling functionality has been updated in AutoCAD 2011 to provide you with more flexibility and control. You can access the Mesh modeling tools from the Mesh tab when the 3D Modeling workspace is active. The new Merge Mesh tool enables you to merge two or more adjacent faces into a single face. Figure 83.
You can use the Close Hole tool to close gaps in mesh objects by selecting the edges of the surrounding mesh edges. Figure 84. Close Hole example The Collapse Face or Edge tool enables you to force vertices of surrounding mesh faces to converge at the center of a selected edge or face. Figure 85. Collapse Face or Edge Example. The Spin Triangle Face tool modifies the shapes of faces by rotating the edge that joins two triangular mesh faces. Figure 86.
Engine Input files Output files Ambercore .LAS .ISD Lightweight Engine .XYB, .LAS, .FLS, .FWS .PCG You can attach a point cloud file (ISD or PCG) to an AutoCAD drawing in a similar manner to attaching other reference files. Figure 88. Attach Point Cloud dialog box With a point cloud file attached, you can create and edit drawing geometry by snapping to points. Adjust the point density using the Density slider bar in the flyout of the Point Cloud ribbon panel. Figure 89.
POINTCLOUDLOCK controls whether the lock property of the point cloud is set to Yes or No when a point cloud is attached. POINTCLOUDAUTOUPDATE controls whether point clouds are dynamically updated when transforming the point cloud or after zooming, panning, or orbiting. Learning Resources When you start AutoCAD 2011, a Welcome Screen is automatically displayed. From the Welcome Screen you can link to short videos to learn about key topics in AutoCAD.
Figure 92. System tab of the Options dialog box Autodesk Seek Autodesk® Seek web service makes it easy to search for building product information and design files from inside your Autodesk® design application, as well as enabling you to download directly into your AutoCAD® drawings. Figure 93.
Figure 94. Browser window with search results automatically filtered by DWG. More than 1,200 manufacturers and 35,000 products are available on Autodesk Seek. You are likely to find something you need among over the 100,000 DWGTM files on Autodesk Seek. In addition, you can share designs with peers by uploading them directly from your AutoCAD files to the Autodesk Seek User Uploads. You can easily access the Share with Autodesk Seek button from the Output panel of the tab. Figure 95.
Thumbnails, title, and metadata are automatically extracted and indexed. Shared designs can be searched and downloaded by anyone. Figure 97. My Seek keeps track of all shared files in chronological order After you log in, you can access My Seek, where you can delete or edit your design. You can also send a link to others by selecting and clicking on the Send button. Autodesk, AutoCAD, DWF, Showmotion, SteeringWheels, and ViewCube are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.
