Datasheet

Part I: AutoCAD 101

interface got the lion’s share of development time; significant new features

were limited to some 3D navigation tools.

The interface gets some minor changes this time. There are a few new or

renamed tabs, and AutoCAD 2009’s Menu Browser is completely remodeled

into the new Application Menu, which is even more Office 2007-like than it was

in AutoCAD 2009. I introduce you to the updated interface in Chapter 2, but

here are several truly new features to mention first:

✓ Parametric drafting: The 3D folks don’t get all the goodies. If anything,

parametric drafting is an even greater benefit to 2D drafters than organic

modeling is to the 3D types. Put as simply as possible, parameters are

dimensional or geometric constraints; changing the value of a parametric

dimension, or adding or removing geometric constraints, causes the

object geometry itself to change. AutoCAD’s parametric features work

in 2D only (so far). AutoCAD LT users can edit parameters but can’t

create any.

I introduce you to parametric drafting in Chapter 19.

✓ New or improved commands: The new REVERSE command lets you

reverse the direction of lines and polylines. You can convert splines to

polylines for additional editing options. A new MEASUREGEOM tool set

on the Ribbon gathers several inquiry commands into a single home.

I introduce you to these features in Chapters 8 through 11.

✓ Annotation enhancements: The HATCH command now indicates graphi-

cally where gaps in the boundary prevent a hatch object from being

created. Dimension text can be placed below the dimension line or posi-

tioned so it can be read from right to left or left to right.

I discuss text, dimensions, and hatching in Chapters 13, 14, and 15,

respectively.

✓ Reference files: You can now attach PDFs as well as DWFs and

MicroStation DGN files as drawing underlays.

For more about using external reference files, see Chapter 18.

✓ Viewport enhancements: You can now rotate the view of objects within

a viewport to better fit your drawing sheet. (I love this one!) I cover lay-

outs and viewports in Chapter 5.

✓ Organic modeling: Yes, AutoCAD now offers preservative-free 3D!

Okay, what organic modeling really means is freeform shape creation.

AutoCAD (but not AutoCAD LT) offers a new set of mesh-based primitive

objects than you can pull and push to create any shape you like.

I don’t cover 3D modeling in AutoCAD 2010 For Dummies, so if you want

to find out more, have a look in the online help or visit www.autodesk.

com/autocad-tutorials.

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