Datasheet

2 Chapter 1: Getting Familiar with AutoCAD
Understanding the AutoCAD Window
Autodesk has redesigned AutoCAD 2010’s interface. If you’ve used a version prior
to AutoCAD 2009, it will appear as though AutoCAD has completely changed.
Don’t worry; the underlying program still behaves in much the same way as before.
Through AutoCAD’s workspace feature, you can easily change AutoCAD’s interface to
display the old, familiar toolbars that are seemingly missing from this latest version. In
this section, you’ll look at AutoCAD’s newest interface options.
The ↵ symbol in this book denotes the Enter key. Whenever you see it, press the Enter key,
also known as the Return key.
AutoCAD works like most other Windows-based graphics programs, but it also has a
few quirks. This section gives you an overview of AutoCAD’s layout. Although many ele-
ments will be familiar, a few will be new to you.
To start, you’ll see the two ways that AutoCAD displays a drawing. Then, for the rest
of this chapter, you’ll focus on the 2D drawing environment. After installing AutoCAD,
take the following steps to get to the 2D workspace:
1. Choose Start

All Programs

Autodesk

AutoCAD 2010

AutoCAD 2010. (LT users
will click AutoCAD LT 2010 in place of AutoCAD 2010 in the previous menu selec-
tion.) You can also double-click the AutoCAD 2010 icon on your Windows Desktop.
If this is a new installation, you will see the Initial Setup dialog box. This dialog box
lets you set up a workspace for the type of file you want to work with. Everything
from Architectural to Manufacturing to Structural Engineering is offered. For the
purposes of this book, you can click the Skip button in the lower-right corner of the
dialog box. You can always open this dialog box through the User Preferences tab of
the Options dialog box. After closing the Initial Setup dialog box, you’ll see a greet-
ing, called a splash screen; then, if this is a new installation, AutoCAD displays the
Workspaces message box. This message box offers an option to select 2D Drafting &
Annotation, 3D Modeling, or AutoCAD Classic.
2. Click 2D Drafting & Annotation. You’ll see the AutoCAD window with a blank
default document named Drawing1.dwg, as shown at the top of Figure 1.1. If this is a
new installation, you will also see the New Features Workshop window. If this hap-
pens, select Maybe Later, and then click OK.
AUTOCAD 2010 VS. AUTOCAD 2010 LT
AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD 2010 LT are essentially the same program, with some differences
both large and small. The LT version has limited 3D capabilities and no 3D workspace. Cus-
tomization features too are limited in the LT version. With the exception of the 3D features, you
should be able to use the features discussed in this book when using AutoCAD 2010 LT.
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