Datasheet

15
Chapter 1: Introducing AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
AutoCAD Version AutoCAD LT Version Release
Year
DWG File
Format
AutoCAD 2008 AutoCAD LT 2008 2007 Acad 2007
AutoCAD 2007 AutoCAD LT 2007 2006 Acad 2007
AutoCAD 2006 AutoCAD LT 2006 2005 Acad 2004
AutoCAD 2005 AutoCAD LT 2005 2004 Acad 2004
AutoCAD 2004 AutoCAD LT 2004 2003 Acad 2004
AutoCAD 2002 AutoCAD LT 2002 2001 Acad 2000
AutoCAD 2000i AutoCAD LT 2000i 2000 Acad 2000
AutoCAD 2000 AutoCAD LT 2000 1999 Acad 2000
AutoCAD Release 14 AutoCAD LT 98 and 97 1997 Acad R14
AutoCAD Release 13 AutoCAD LT 95 1994 Acad R13
AutoCAD Release 12 AutoCAD LT Release 2 1992 Acad R12
The new file format in AutoCAD 2010 was necessary to handle new features —
especially parametric drafting. The new format is also more efficient at saving
files and can handle much larger objects. Best of all from the user’s perspec-
tive, it’s noticeably faster to work with than AutoCAD 2009.
Working with AutoCAD is easier when your coworkers and colleagues in
other companies all use the same release of AutoCAD and AutoCAD-related
tools. That way, your DWG files, add-on tools, and even the details of your
CAD knowledge can be mixed and matched among your workgroup and part-
ners. In the real world, you may work with people, probably from other com-
panies, who use AutoCAD releases as old as AutoCAD 2006 — or even older.
Many programs claim to be DWG compatible — that is, capable of converting
data to and from AutoCAD’s DWG format. But achieving this compatibility is a
difficult thing to do well. Even a small error in file conversion can have results
ranging in severity from annoying to appalling. Every time you open a drawing
file, AutoCAD checks its parentage and warns you if the drawing was created
by a non-Autodesk program. If you exchange DWG files with people who use
other CAD programs, you may have to spend time finding and fixing transla-
tion problems.
Seeing the LT
AutoCAD LT is one of the best deals around, a shining example of the old 80/20
rule: roughly 80 percent of the capabilities of AutoCAD for roughly 20 percent
of the money. (Actually, with recent price creep, it’s now more like a 70/30
rule!) Like AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT runs on mainstream Windows computers
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