Datasheet

Chapter 1
Exploring the AutoCAD and
AutoCAD LT Interface
Before you can start to use AutoCAD 2008’s new capabilities, you’ll need to become familiar with the
basics. If you’re completely new to AutoCAD, you’ll want to read this first chapter carefully. It intro-
duces you to many of AutoCAD’s basic operations, such as opening and closing files, getting a close-up
look at part of a drawing, and changing a drawing. If you’re familiar with earlier versions of AutoCAD,
you should review this chapter anyway to get acquainted with features you haven’t already used.
Autodesk has recently changed its AutoCAD update strategy to release new versions every year.
Part of this strategy is to introduce new items that focus on a particular category of features. This latest
version, AutoCAD 2008, includes several new features focused on 2D drafting. AutoCAD now sports
a new tool panel called a dashboard which includes the most common tools needed to produce tech-
nical drawings of all types. The ability to setup the scale of drawings has been improved and there are
more learning resources at your fingertips.
You’ll get a chance to explore these new features in Part 4 as you work through this book; but
for now, let’s get started with some basics.
Topics in this chapter:
◆ Using the AutoCAD Window
◆ Opening an Existing File
◆ Getting a Closer Look with the Zoom Command
◆ Saving a File as You Work
◆ Making Changes and Opening Multiple Files
TIP
In this chapter, and throughout the rest of the book, when I say AutoCAD, I mean both AutoCAD
and AutoCAD LT. Some topics apply only to AutoCAD. In those situations, you’ll see an icon indi-
cating that the topic applies only to AutoCAD and doesn’t apply to AutoCAD LT. If you’re using
AutoCAD 2008 LT, these icons can help you focus on the topics that are more relevant to your work.
Taking a Guided Tour
In this section, you’ll get a chance to familiarize yourself with the AutoCAD screen and how you
communicate with AutoCAD. As you do the exercises in this chapter, you’ll also get a feel for how
to work with this book. Don’t worry about understanding or remembering everything you see in
this chapter. You’ll get plenty of opportunities to probe the finer details of the program as you work
through the later chapters. To help you remember the material, you’ll find a brief exercise at the end
of each chapter. For now, just enjoy your first excursion into AutoCAD.
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