Datasheet

 New dimension commands: There are four brand-new commands, at least
two of which will be of use to just about every drafter. With DIMSPACE,
you select a bunch of existing angular or parallel linear dimensions and
align them or set a uniform separation. The effect is similar to Baseline
dimensions, but you have to set those up before the fact. DIMBREAK
applies an opaque mask over dimension or extension lines or leaders
that cross one another, making for much clearer dimensions. For more
on those and the other new dimension commands, refer to Chapter 11.
 Multileaders: Multileaders (or multiple leaders) are a completely new
annotation object that replaces the old-style leaders and the slightly less
old quick leaders. AutoCAD 2008’s multileaders are single objects, not
separate objects as the older types. Multileaders are formatted accord-
ing to multileader styles, and supporting commands let you add multiple
leader lines to a single note or line up a group of leaders. And, like text
and dimensions, multileaders can be annotative objects. Find out more
about multileaders in Chapter 11.
 But Wait — There’s More: AutoCAD 2008 has many more new 2D features
than I can list here. Among the others are control of layer properties by
layout viewports (Chapter 4), a SETBYLAYER command that lets you
change explicitly set object properties to their ByLayer status (Chapter 5),
column and paragraph controls in multiline text (Chapter 10), multiline
block attributes and an inverted mode for clipping xrefs (Chapter 14),
and a 64-bit version of AutoCAD 2008 (but not AutoCAD LT 2008) for XP
and Vista 64-bit versions.
As I said before, AutoCAD 2008 is really the drafter’s release. Some parts are
more successful than others — for example, I think the Dashboard needs
more work — but overall it’s a must-have release. Especially if you skipped
AutoCAD 2007 because you don’t do 3D!
18
Part I: AutoCAD 101
No Express service?
If your menu bar doesn’t include the Express
menu (it’s at the far right in Figure 1-1), you
should consider installing the Express Tools
from your AutoCAD CD (AutoCAD LT does not
include or support the Express Tools).
When you first install AutoCAD 2008, you
choose between a Typical and a Custom instal-
lation. If you choose Typical, the next screen
asks if you want to install the Express Tools. If
you choose a Custom installation, in the next
screen, make sure to check the Express Tools
item in the list of components. If you do not
install the Express Tools during initial setup,
you’ll have to rerun AutoCAD 2008’s installation
routine. If you haven’t installed AutoCAD yet, I
strongly recommend that you choose the
Typical installation option — or, at least, make
sure the Express Tools box is checked during a
Custom installation.
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