Table of Contents
The Minimum System Requirements
New Features of AutoCAD for Mac
Chapter 1: Exploring the AutoCAD Interface
Chapter 2: Creating Your First Drawing
Getting to Know the Tool Sets palette
Specifying Exact Distances with Coordinates
Interpreting the Cursor Modes and Understanding Prompts
Displaying Data in the Command Line Palette
Displaying the Properties of an Object
Chapter 3: Setting Up and Using AutoCAD’s Drafting Tools
Planning and Laying Out a Drawing
Using the AutoCAD Modes as Drafting Tools
Chapter 4: Organizing Objects with Blocks and Groups
Understanding the Annotation Scale
Chapter 5: Keeping Track of Layers and Blocks
Organizing Information with Layers
Using Objects to Control Layers
Keeping Track of Blocks and Layers
Part 2: Mastering Intermediate Skills
Chapter 6: Editing and Reusing Data to Work Efficiently
Copying an Object Multiple Times
Finding an Exact Distance along a Curve
Changing the Length of Objects
Creating a New Drawing by Using Parts from Another Drawing
Chapter 7: Mastering Viewing Tools, Hatches, and External References
Taking Control of the AutoCAD Display
Using Hatch Patterns in Your Drawings
Understanding the Boundary Hatch Options
Chapter 8: Introducing Printing and Layouts
Understanding the Print Settings
WYSIWYG Printing Using Layout Views
Examining Output-Device Settings
Printer Hardware Considerations
Chapter 9: Adding Text to Drawings
Setting the Annotation Scale and Adding Text
Understanding the Text Style Dialog Box Options
Exploring Text Formatting in AutoCAD
Adding Simple Single-Line Text Objects
Using the Check Spelling Feature
Chapter 10: Using Fields and Tables
Using Fields to Associate Text with Drawing Properties
Understanding the Components of a Dimension
Dimensioning Non-orthogonal Objects
Adding a Note with a Leader Arrow
Part 3: Mastering Advanced Skills
Chapter 13: Copying Existing Drawings into AutoCAD
Methods for Converting Paper Drawings to AutoCAD Files
Chapter 14: Advanced Editing and Organizing
Using External References (Xrefs)
Chapter 15: Laying Out Your Printer Output
Understanding Model Space and Paper Space
Working with Paper Space Viewports
Understanding Line Weights, Linetypes, and Dimensions in Paper Space
Chapter 16: Making “Smart” Drawings with Parametric Tools
Why Use Parametric Drawing Tools
Connecting Objects with Geometric Constraints
Controlling Sizes with Dimensional Constraints
Editing the Constraint Options
Creating a Polyline Spline Curve
Chapter 18: Getting and Exchanging Data from Drawings
Finding the Area of Closed Boundaries
Using the DXF File Format to Exchange CAD Data with Other Programs
Using AutoCAD Drawings in Page-Layout Programs
Part 4: 3D Modeling and Imaging
Chapter 19: Creating 3D Drawings
Getting to Know the 3D Modeling Environment
Creating 3D Forms from 2D Shapes
Isolating Coordinates with Point Filters
Turning a 3D View into a 2D AutoCAD Drawing
Chapter 20: Using Advanced 3D Features
Setting Up AutoCAD for This Chapter
Mastering the User Coordinate System
Using Viewports to Aid in 3D Drawing
Chapter 21: Rendering 3D Drawings
Creating a Quick-Study Rendering
Creating Effects Using Materials and Lights
Chapter 22: Editing and Visualizing 3D Solids
Streamlining the 2D Drawing Process
Chapter 23: Exploring 3D Mesh and Surface Modeling
Visualizing Curvature: Understanding the Surface Analysis Tools
Chapter 1: Exploring the AutoCAD Interface
Chapter 2: Creating Your First Drawing
Chapter 3: Setting Up and Using AutoCAD’s Drafting Tools
Chapter 4: Organizing Objects with Blocks and Groups
Chapter 5: Keeping Track of Layers and Blocks
Chapter 6: Editing and Reusing Data to Work Efficiently
Chapter 7: Mastering Viewing Tools, Hatches, and External References
Chapter 8: Introducing Printing and Layouts
Chapter 9: Adding Text to Drawings
Chapter 10: Using Fields and Tables
Chapter 13: Copying Existing Drawings into AutoCAD
Chapter 14: Advanced Editing and Organizing
Chapter 15: Laying Out Your Printer Output
Chapter 16: Making “Smart” Drawings with Parametric Tools
Chapter 18: Getting and Exchanging Data from Drawings
Chapter 19: Creating 3D Drawings
Chapter 20: Using Advanced 3D Features
Chapter 21: Rendering 3D Drawings
Chapter 22: Editing and Visualizing 3D Solids
Chapter 23: Exploring 3D Mesh and Surface Modeling
Bonus Appendix B: Installing and Setting Up AutoCAD for Mac
Proceeding with the Installation
Setting Up the Tracking Vector Feature
Bonus Appendix C: Hardware and Software Tips
Fine-Tuning the Appearance of Output
Memory and AutoCAD Performance
Using Spatial and Layer Indexes to Conserve Memory
Bonus Appendix D: System Variables and Dimension Styles
Taking a Closer Look at the Dimension Style Dialog Boxes
Bonus Chapter 1: Exploring AutoLISP
Selecting Objects with AutoLISP
Controlling the Flow of an AutoLISP Program
Storing Your Programs as Files
Bonus Chapter 2: Customizing Toolsets, Menus, Linetypes, and Hatch Patterns
Customizing the User Interface
Creating Macros for Tools and Menus