Datasheet

Chapter 1
Exploring the AutoCAD and
AutoCAD LT Interface
Before you can start to use AutoCAD 2009’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 care-
fully. It introduces 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 the features you haven’t already used.
Autodesk releases new versions of AutoCAD every year. Part of this strategy is to introduce
improvements that focus on a particular category of features. This latest version, AutoCAD 2009,
includes several new features focused on the user interface. AutoCAD now sports a new tool
panel called the Ribbon, which includes the most common tools needed to produce technical
drawings of all types. There is more information available on every tool, making this version of
AutoCAD one of the easiest to learn. All you have to do is hover your cursor over a tool or menu
option to find out what it’s for and how to use it.
You’ll get a chance to explore these new features as you work through this book. Before you
begin the exercise later in this chapter, make sure that you have downloaded the sample files for
this book. See the Introduction for details.
Let’s get started with some basics.
This chapter includes the following topics:
Using the AutoCAD Window
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Opening an Existing File
Getting a Closer Look with the Zoom Command
Saving a File As You Work
Making Changes and Opening Multiple Files
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