AutoCAD 2008 AutoCAD LT 2008

AutoCAD 2008 AutoCAD LT 2008 Essentials Volume 1 Autodesk Official Training Courseware 00128-050008-1711A April 2007

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Contents Volume 1 Introduction.................................................... xiii Chapter 1: Taking the AutoCAD Tour............................... 1 Lesson: Navigating the Working Environment............................. 2 Overview............................................................ 2 Setting the Workspace............................................... 3 Keyboard Input...................................................... 6 User Interface Layout................................................ 9 About Shortcut Menus.............................................. 13 More AutoCAD-Specific Interface Tools.............................. 14 Lesson: Working with Files............................................... 17 Overview........................................................... 17 Working with Files.................................................. 17 Lesson: Displaying Objects............................................... 21 Overview........................................................... 21 Display Tools....................................................... 22 Pan Realtime....................................................... 22 Zoom Realtime..................................................... 24 Zoom Commands.................................................. 27 Wheel Mouse Features.............................................. 28 Regen.............................................................. 29 Exercise: Zoom and Pan in the Drawing............................. 30 Exercise: Hands-On Tour............................................ 32 Chapter Summary........................................................ 34 Chapter 2: Creating Basic Drawings............................... 35 Lesson: Inputting Data................................................... 37 Overview........................................................... 37 About the Command Line.......................................... 38 About Coordinate Systems.......................................... 39 About Dynamic Input............................................... 42 Using the Dynamic Input Interface.................................. 45 Using Direct Distance Entry......................................... 48 Exercise: Inputting Data............................................ 51 Contents v

Lesson: Creating Basic Objects........................................... 54 Overview........................................................... 54 Line Command..................................................... 55 Circle Command................................................... 56 Arc Command...................................................... 57 Erase Command.................................................... 59 Undoing and Redoing Steps in the Drawing......................... 59 Rectangle Command............................................... 62 Polygon Command................................................. 64 Exercise: Create Basic Objects...................................... 65 Lesson: Using Object Snaps.............................................. 71 Overview........................................................... 71 About Object Snaps................................................ 72 Object Snaps....................................................... 73 Using Object Snaps................................................. 79 Exercise: Use Object Snaps......................................... 83 Lesson: Using Polar Tracking and PolarSnap.............................. 86 Overview........................................................... 86 Using Polar Tracking and PolarSnap................................. 87 Exercise: Use Polar Tracking and PolarSnap......................... 93 Lesson: Using Object Snap Tracking...................................... 97 Overview........................................................... 97 About Object Snap Tracking........................................ 98 Using Object Snap Tracking......................................... 99 Exercise: Use Object Snap Tracking................................ 102 Lesson: Working with Units............................................ 105 Overview.......................................................... 105 About Units....................................................... 106 Setting Units...................................................... 107 Exercise: Use Architectural Units................................... 110 Exercise: Use Surveyor s Units..................................... 112 Challenge Exercise: Architectural.................................. 114 Challenge Exercise: Mechanical.................................... 116 Chapter Summary...................................................... 117 Chapter 3: Manipulating Objects................................ 119 Lesson: Selecting Objects in the Drawing............................... 120 Overview.......................................................... 120 Object Selection with Windows.................................... 121 Object Selection with Grips........................................ 123 Manual Object Selection........................................... 126 Exercise: Select Objects........................................... 129 Lesson: Changing an Object s Position................................. 133 Overview.......................................................... 133 Moving Objects................................................... 134 Exercise: Move Objects............................................ 137 Lesson: Creating New Objects from Existing Objects.................... 145 Overview.......................................................... 145 Copying Objects................................................... 146 Exercise: Copy Objects............................................ 149 vi Contents

Lesson: Changing the Angle of an Object s Position..................... 151 Overview......................................................... 151 Rotating Objects.................................................. 152 Exercise: Rotate Objects.......................................... 155 Lesson: Creating a Mirror Image of Existing Objects..................... 158 Overview......................................................... 158 Mirroring Objects................................................. 159 Exercise: Mirror Objects in the Drawing........................... 162 Lesson: Creating Object Patterns....................................... 163 Overview......................................................... 163 Creating an Array of Objects...................................... 164 Exercise: Array Objects in the Drawing............................ 170 Lesson: Changing an Object s Size...................................... 176 Overview......................................................... 176 Scaling Objects................................................... 177 Exercise: Scale Objects Using the Copy Option.................... 180 Challenge Exercise: Grips......................................... 182 Challenge Exercise: Architectural................................. 186 Challenge Exercise: Mechanical................................... 189 Chapter Summary...................................................... 191 Chapter 4: Drawing Organization and Inquiry Commands......... 193 Lesson: Using Layers................................................... 194 Overview......................................................... 194 About Organizing Objects with Layers............................. 195 About the Default Layer.......................................... 197 Layer Tools....................................................... 198 Exercise: Work with Layers........................................ 202 Lesson: Changing Object Properties.................................... 206 Overview......................................................... 206 About Object Properties.......................................... 207 ByLayer Property................................................. 208 Changing Object Properties....................................... 210 Exercise: Change Object Properties............................... 214 Lesson: Matching Object Properties.................................... 216 Overview......................................................... 216 Matching an Object s Properties.................................. 217 Exercise: Match Object Properties................................. 220 Lesson: Using the Properties Palette.................................... 224 Overview......................................................... 224 Using the Properties Palette....................................... 225 Exercise: Manipulate Object Properties........................... 227 Lesson: Using Linetypes............................................... 231 Overview......................................................... 231 About Linetypes.................................................. 232 Adding Linetypes to Your Drawing................................ 233 Exercise: Use Linetypes........................................... 237 Contents vii

Lesson: Using Inquiry Commands...................................... 240 Overview.......................................................... 240 Acquiring Distance and Coordinates............................... 241 Acquiring, Adding, and Subtracting Area........................... 243 Obtaining Object Information...................................... 247 Exercise: Obtain Geometric Information........................... 249 Challenge Exercise: Architectural.................................. 251 Challenge Exercise: Mechanical.................................... 253 Chapter Summary...................................................... 254 Chapter 5: Altering Objects..................................... 255 Lesson: Trimming and Extending Objects to Defined Boundaries........ 256 Overview.......................................................... 256 Using the Trim and Extend Commands............................. 257 Exercise: Trim and Extend Objects................................. 262 Lesson: Creating Parallel and Offset Geometry.......................... 265 Overview.......................................................... 265 Offsetting Geometry............................................... 266 Exercise: Create Parallel and Offset Geometry...................... 271 Lesson: Joining Objects................................................ 275 Overview.......................................................... 275 Joining Objects.................................................... 276 Exercise: Join Objects............................................. 279 Lesson: Breaking an Object into Two Objects........................... 281 Overview.......................................................... 281 Breaking Objects.................................................. 282 Exercise: Break Objects............................................ 286 Lesson: Applying a Radius Corner to Two Objects....................... 288 Overview.......................................................... 288 Creating Fillets.................................................... 289 Exercise: Create a Filleted Corner.................................. 292 Lesson: Creating an Angled Corner Between Two Objects............... 294 Overview.......................................................... 294 Creating Chamfers................................................. 295 Exercise: Create a Chamfered Corner............................... 298 Lesson: Changing Part of an Object s Shape............................ 301 Overview.......................................................... 301 Stretching Objects................................................. 302 Exercise: Stretch Objects.......................................... 305 Challenge Exercise: Architectural Units............................ 309 Challenge Exercise: Mechanical.................................... 313 Chapter Summary...................................................... 316 viii Contents

Chapter 6: Working with Layouts................................ 317 Lesson: Using Layouts................................................. 318 Overview......................................................... 318 About Layouts.................................................... 319 Creating a New Layout............................................ 320 Exercise: Create Layouts.......................................... 322 Lesson: Using Viewports............................................... 325 Overview......................................................... 325 Creating Rectangular Viewports................................... 326 Setting Viewport Scale Factor..................................... 328 Manipulating Viewports.......................................... 331 Exercise: Create and Manipulate Viewports....................... 334 Challenge Exercise: Architectural................................. 337 Challenge Exercise: Mechanical................................... 339 Chapter Summary...................................................... 340 Volume 2 Chapter 7: Annotating the Drawing................................ 1 Lesson: Annotation Scaling............................................... 2 Overview............................................................ 2 About Annotation Scaling........................................... 3 Annotation Scale in Model Space.................................... 8 Working with Annotation Scale Representations...................... 9 Working with Annotation Scale in Viewports........................ 13 Exercise: Use Annotation Scaling................................... 15 Lesson: Creating Multiline Text........................................... 18 Overview........................................................... 18 Creating Multiline Text.............................................. 19 Exercise: Create Multiline Text...................................... 23 Lesson: Creating Single Line Text......................................... 26 Overview........................................................... 26 Creating Single Line Text............................................ 27 Exercise: Create Single Line Text.................................... 30 Lesson: Using Text Styles................................................ 33 Overview........................................................... 33 Text Styles.......................................................... 34 Creating and Using Text Styles...................................... 36 Exercise: Use Text Styles............................................ 39 Lesson: Editing Text..................................................... 41 Overview........................................................... 41 Editing Text........................................................ 42 Exercise: Edit Text.................................................. 44 Challenge Exercise: Architectural................................... 46 Challenge Exercise: Mechanical..................................... 49 Chapter Summary........................................................ 51 Contents ix

Chapter 8: Hatching Objects..................................... 53 Lesson: Hatching Objects................................................ 54 Overview........................................................... 54 Introduction to Hatch Patterns and Fills............................. 55 Associative Hatch Patterns.......................................... 56 Creating Hatch Patterns............................................ 57 Exercise: Create Hatches........................................... 64 Exercise: Create Fills and Gradients................................. 67 Lesson: Editing Hatch Objects............................................ 71 Overview........................................................... 71 Maintaining Associative Properties when Editing Hatches........... 72 Editing Hatches.................................................... 73 Exercise: Edit Hatch Patterns and Fills............................... 75 Challenge Exercise: Architectural................................... 78 Challenge Exercise: Mechanical..................................... 80 Chapter Summary....................................................... 82 Chapter 9: Dimensioning......................................... 83 Lesson: Creating Dimensions............................................ 84 Overview........................................................... 84 Creating Dimensions on Linear Objects............................. 85 Creating Dimensions on Curved Objects............................ 88 Enhancing Dimensions............................................. 92 Exercise: Create Dimensions........................................ 97 Lesson: Using Dimension Styles........................................ 102 Overview.......................................................... 102 About Dimension Styles........................................... 103 Creating and Modifying Dimension Styles.......................... 104 Exercise: Modify a Dimension Style................................ 111 Lesson: Editing Dimensions............................................ 114 Overview.......................................................... 114 Editing Dimensions................................................ 115 Exercise: Edit Dimensions......................................... 117 Lesson: Using Multileaders............................................. 120 Overview.......................................................... 120 About Multileaders................................................ 121 About Multileader Styles........................................... 123 Using Multileaders................................................. 125 Exercise: Use Multileaders......................................... 128 Challenge Exercise: Architectural.................................. 133 Challenge Exercise: Mechanical.................................... 135 Chapter Summary...................................................... 137 x Contents

Chapter 10: Working with Reusable Content..................... 139 Lesson: Using Blocks................................................... 140 Overview......................................................... 140 About Blocks..................................................... 141 About Dynamic Blocks............................................ 143 How Blocks Behave............................................... 145 Inserting Blocks................................................... 146 Creating Blocks................................................... 149 Exercise: Create and Insert Blocks................................. 153 Exercise: Use Dynamic Blocks..................................... 156 Lesson: Working with DesignCenter.................................... 158 Overview......................................................... 158 Using DesignCenter.............................................. 159 Exercise: Use DesignCenter....................................... 161 Lesson: Using Tool Palettes............................................ 163 Overview......................................................... 163 Using Tool Palette Tools.......................................... 164 Exercise: Add Content from Tool Palettes......................... 166 Challenge Exercise: Architectural................................. 168 Challenge Exercise: Mechanical................................... 170 Chapter Summary...................................................... 171 Chapter 11: Creating Additional Drawing Objects................. 173 Lesson: Working with Polylines......................................... 174 Overview......................................................... 174 Creating Polylines................................................ 175 Editing Polylines.................................................. 177 Exercise: Create and Modify Polylines............................. 180 Lesson: Creating Splines............................................... 183 Overview......................................................... 183 Creating Splines.................................................. 184 Exercise: Create a Spline.......................................... 186 Lesson: Creating Ellipses............................................... 187 Overview......................................................... 187 Creating Ellipses.................................................. 188 Exercise: Create Ellipses.......................................... 191 Lesson: Using Tables................................................... 193 Overview......................................................... 193 Creating Table Styles............................................. 194 Creating Tables and Entering Table Data.......................... 197 Exercise: Create a Dimension Table............................... 202 Challenge Exercise: Architectural................................. 206 Challenge Exercise: Mechanical................................... 210 Chapter Summary...................................................... 212 Contents xi

Chapter 12: Plotting Your Drawings............................. 213 Lesson: Using Page Setups............................................. 214 Overview.......................................................... 214 Applying Page Setups to Layouts.................................. 215 Creating Page Setups.............................................. 216 Exercise: Create and Activate Page Setups......................... 219 Lesson: Plotting Drawings............................................. 221 Overview.......................................................... 221 About Plotting Environments...................................... 222 Plotting from Model Space......................................... 223 Plotting from Layouts.............................................. 225 Plot Command.................................................... 227 Preview Command................................................ 229 Exercise: Plot a Drawing........................................... 231 Chapter Summary...................................................... 233 Chapter 13: Creating Drawing Templates........................ 235 Lesson: Using Drawing Templates...................................... 236 Overview.......................................................... 236 About Drawing Templates......................................... 237 Creating Drawing Templates....................................... 237 Exercise: Create a Drawing Template.............................. 241 Chapter Summary...................................................... 244 Appendix A: Additional Support and Resources.................. 245 Courseware from Autodesk............................................. 246 Autodesk Services & Support...................................... 248 Autodesk Subscription............................................. 248 Autodesk Consulting.............................................. 248 Autodesk Partners................................................. 249 Autodesk Authorized Training Centers............................. 249 Autodesk Certification............................................. 250 Useful Links....................................................... 250 xii Contents

Introduction Welcome to the AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT 2008: Essentials Autodesk Official Training Courseware (AOTC), training courseware for use in Authorized Training Center (ATC ) locations, corporate training settings, and other classroom settings. Although this courseware is designed for instructor-led courses, you can also use it for self-paced learning. The courseware encourages self-learning through the use of the AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT Help system. This introduction covers the following topics: Course objectives Prerequisites Using this courseware Default installation CD contents Completing the exercises Settings for the exercises Installing the exercise data files from the CD Imperial and metric datasets Notes, tips, and warnings Feedback This courseware is complementary to the software documentation. For detailed explanations of features and functionality, refer to the Help in the software. Course Objectives After completing this course, you will be able to: Navigate the interface, open and close files, and use the Zoom commands to adjust the display of objects on the screen. Describe units, function keys, and coordinate systems and create basic objects, using different data input techniques, object snaps, object snap tracking, polar tracking, and PolarSnap. Select, modify, and adjust the properties of objects using object grips and the Move, Copy, Rotate, Mirror, and Array commands. Create and manage layers and linetypes and obtain geometric information from objects in the drawing. Modify objects by changing their size, shape, orientation, or geometric composition using Trim, Extend, Offset, Join, and other commands. Create layouts, and create and manipulate viewports on the layouts. xiii

Create and edit annotation objects using multiline and single line text. Enhance the drawing s visual appearance with hatch patterns and gradient fills. Create, edit, and manage dimensions and dimension styles. Create blocks and reuse them in your drawings using the Insert command, DesignCenter, and tool palettes. Utilize the DesignCenter and tool palettes to insert and create other content in your drawings. Create multiple segmented polyline objects, create the smooth curve objects of splines and ellipses, and add tables to your drawings. Create and use page setups, and plot your designs from layouts and model space. Use drawing templates to simplify the process of creating new drawings that contain all the required dimension styles, text styles, and layers that you would otherwise create manually, each time you created a new drawing. Prerequisites This courseware is designed for the new user who needs to know the essential commands necessary for professional 2D drawing, design, and drafting using AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT. No previous computer-aided design (CAD) experience is required. It is recommended that you have a working knowledge of Microsoft Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows XP. Drafting and design experience is a plus. Using This Courseware The lessons are independent of each other. However, it is recommended that you complete these lessons in the order that they are presented unless you are familiar with the concepts and functionality described in those lessons. Each chapter contains: Lessons Usually two or more lessons in each chapter. Exercises Practical, real-world examples for you to practice using the functionality you have just learned. Each exercise contains step-by-step procedures and graphics to help you complete the exercise successfully. Default Installation The information in this courseware is presented in such a way that it is assumed you have installed AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT using the default installation parameters. You should be using the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace as your active workspace throughout the course. You will learn how to do this in Chapter 1. CD Contents The CD attached to the back cover of this book contains all the data and drawings you need to complete the exercises in this course. xiv Introduction

Completing the Exercises You can complete the exercise in two ways: using the book or the onscreen version. Using the book Follow the step-by-step exercises in the book. Onscreen Click the AOTC AutoCAD 2008 Essentials icon on your desktop, installed from the CD, and follow the step-by-step exercises onscreen. The onscreen exercises are the same as those in the book. The onscreen version has the advantage that you can concentrate on the screen without having to glance down at your book. After launching the onscreen exercises, you might need to alter the size of your application window to align both windows. Introduction xv

Settings for the Exercises Each exercise is written with the assumption that the following Object Snap settings are active. You might need to confirm these settings for each exercise. Each exercise is written with the assumption that the following Status Bar options are turned ON. If necessary, adjust these options when you open the dataset for each exercise. Installing the Exercise Data Files from the CD To install the data files for the exercises: 1. Insert the courseware CD. 2. When the setup wizard begins, follow the instructions on screen to install the data. 3. If the wizard does not start automatically, browse to the root directory of the CD and doubleclick Setup.exe. Unless you specify a different folder, the exercise files are installed in the following folder: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Autodesk Learning\AutoCAD 2008\Essentials\ xvi Introduction

After you install the data from the CD, this folder contains all the files necessary to complete each exercise in this course. The datasets and exercises can be used with AutoCAD LT. The location of the files will be the same whether you are using AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT. The name of the shortcut for the online version of the exercises is named AutoCAD 2008 Essentials AOTC, but can also be used with AutoCAD LT 2008. Imperial and Metric Datasets For some of the exercises that specify units of measurement, alternative exercise tables are provided. You will see a note stating that an imperial and metric version are available. An example of the file naming convention is as follows: Open i_stair_settings.dwg (imperial) or m_stair_settings.dwg (metric). In the exercise steps, you will see either the imperial or metric value as shown in the following example: For Length, enter 13'2". For Length, enter 4038 mm. For exercises with no specific units of measurement, files are provided as shown in the following example: Open c_stair_settings.dwg (common). In the exercise steps, the unitless value is specified as shown in the following example: For Length, enter 400. Notes, Tips, and Warnings Throughout this courseware, notes, tips, and warnings are called out for special attention. Notes contain guidelines, constraints, and other explanatory information. Tips provide information to enhance your productivity. Warnings provide information about actions that might result in the loss of data, system failures, or other serious consequences. Feedback We always welcome feedback on Autodesk Official Training Courseware. After completing this course, if you have suggestions for improvements or if you want to report an error in the book or on the CD, please send your comments to AOTC.feedback@autodesk.com. Introduction xvii

xviii Introduction