Datasheet

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CHAPTER 1 Exploring thE AutoCAD AnD AutoCAD lt intErfACE
the status bar (you’ll learn more about this tool in the next chapter). The default workspace in
Figure 1.1 is called the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace, which is one of two workspaces
that come built into AutoCAD.
Figure 1.2 shows AutoCAD’s 3D Modeling workspace, which has a different set of screen ele-
ments. Figure 1.2 also shows a standard AutoCAD drawing file with a few setting changes to
give it a 3D appearance. Beneath these external changes, the underlying program is the same.
Note
You’ll learn more about workspaces later in this chapter and in Chapter 26.
The Quick Access toolbar at the top of the drawing area (as shown in Figure 1.3) includes
the basic file handling functions that you find in nearly all Windows programs. The Ribbon
provides nearly all the commands you’ll need using icon tools. In the upper-left corner, the red
AutoCAD icon features the Menu Browser, which is like a navigation panel offering many of the
same commands as the Ribbon panel.
The drawing area occupies most of the screen. Everything you draw appears in this area. As
you move your mouse around, crosshairs appear to move within the drawing area. This is the
drawing cursor that lets you point to locations in the drawing area.
Figure 1.2
The 3D Modeling
workspace offers
an alternative
arrangement of
the elements in the
AutoCAD window.
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