Discovering AutoCAD 2024

Discovering AutoCAD 2024

by Mark Dix, Paul Riley, Lee Ambrosius
Released December 2023
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780138232566

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Book description

Designed for introductory AutoCAD users, Discovering AutoCAD 2024 presents a hands-on, activity-based approach to the use of AutoCAD 2024 as a drafting toolcomplete with techniques, tips, shortcuts, and insights that improve efficiency. Topics and tasks are carefully grouped to lead students logically through the AutoCAD command set, with the level of difficulty increasing steadily as skills are acquired through experience and practice. Straightforward explanations focus on what is relevant to actual drawing procedures, and illustrations show exactly what to expect on the computer screen. This edition features updates for the latest release of AutoCAD 2024, projects, and test questions for each chapter.

  • Lessons are broken down into tasks listed at the beginning of each section, introducing students to the AutoCAD commands using a structured, intuitive approach and helping students anticipate what information will be needed at each new phase of the learning process.

  • General Procedure boxes appear as new commands are introduced, providing a simple overview of basic command sequences in a step-by-step format.

  • Detailed graphics demonstrate what students should expect to see on their screens, encouraging self-paced study.

  • Each chapter concludes with drawing problems to help students apply newly learned techniques immediately to realistic drawing situations. The problems include drawing suggestions, timesaving tips, and explanations of how to use techniques in actual situations.

  • Working drawings accompany the end-of-chapter drawing problems, appearing in a large, clearly dimensioned format on each right-hand page, with drawing suggestions on the accompanying left-hand page. This includes mechanical, architectural, civil, and electrical drawings.

  • End-of-chapter review questions to test the students knowledge. Discovering AutoCAD 2024 will be a valuable resource for any student wanting to learn drafting skills.

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Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. About This eBook
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Pearson’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  6. Preface
    1. Get Active with Discovering AutoCAD® 2024
    2. Acknowledgments
    3. Features New to This Edition
    4. Download Instructor Resources from the Instructor Resource Center
  7. Contents
  8. Part One: Basic Two-Dimensional Entities
    1. Chapter 1. Lines and Essential Tools
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Getting Started and Creating a New Drawing
      4. Exploring the Application and Drawing Window
      5. Interacting with the Drawing Window
      6. Exploring Command Entry Methods
      7. Drawing, Undoing, and Erasing Lines
      8. Saving and Opening Your Drawings
      9. Getting Started
      10. Chapter Summary
      11. Chapter Test Questions
      12. Chapter Drawing Projects
    2. Chapter 2. Circles and Drawing Aids
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Changing the Grid Setting
      4. Changing the Snap Setting
      5. Changing Units
      6. Drawing Circles by Specifying a Center Point and a Radius
      7. Drawing Circles by Specifying a Center Point and a Diameter
      8. Accessing AutoCAD Online Help Features
      9. Using the ERASE Command
      10. Using Single-Point Object Snap
      11. Using the RECTANG Command
      12. Customizing Your Workspace
      13. Plotting or Printing a Drawing
      14. Chapter Summary
      15. Chapter Test Questions
      16. Chapter Drawing Projects
    3. Chapter 3. Layers, Colors, and Linetypes
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Creating New Layers
      4. Assigning Colors to Layers
      5. Assigning Linetypes
      6. Assigning Lineweights
      7. Changing the Current Layer
      8. Changing Linetype Scale
      9. Editing Corners Using FILLET
      10. Editing Corners Using CHAMFER
      11. Zooming and Panning with the Scroll Wheel
      12. Using the ZOOM Command
      13. Entering Single-Line Text
      14. Chapter Summary
      15. Chapter Test Questions
      16. Chapter Drawing Projects
    4. Chapter 4. Templates, Copies, and Arrays
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Setting Drawing Limits
      4. Creating a Drawing Template
      5. Saving a Drawing Template
      6. Using the MOVE Command
      7. Using the COPY Command
      8. Using the ARRAYRECT Command—Rectangular Arrays
      9. Creating Center Marks
      10. Changing Plot Settings
      11. Chapter Summary
      12. Chapter Test Questions
      13. Chapter Drawing Projects
    5. Chapter 5. Arcs and Polar Arrays
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Creating Polar Arrays
      4. Drawing Arcs
      5. Using the ROTATE Command
      6. Using Polar Tracking at Any Angle
      7. Creating Mirror Images of Objects
      8. Creating Page Setups
      9. Chapter Summary
      10. Chapter Test Questions
      11. Chapter Drawing Projects
    6. Chapter 6. Object Snaps and Resized Objects
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Selecting Points with Object Snap (Single-Point Override)
      4. Selecting Points with Running Object Snaps
      5. Object Snap Tracking
      6. Using the OFFSET Command (Creating Parallel Objects with OFFSET)
      7. Shortening Objects with the TRIM Command
      8. Extending Objects with the EXTEND Command
      9. Using STRETCH to Alter Objects Connected to Other Objects
      10. Measuring Objects
      11. Creating Plot Layouts
      12. Chapter Summary
      13. Chapter Test Questions
      14. Chapter Drawing Projects
  9. Part Two: Text, Dimensions, and Other Complex Entities
    1. Chapter 7. Text
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Entering Single-Line Text with Justification Options
      4. Entering Text on an Angle and Text Using Character Codes
      5. Entering Multiline Text Using MTEXT
      6. Editing Text in Place with TEXTEDIT
      7. Modifying Text with the Quick Properties Palette
      8. Using the SPELL and FIND Commands
      9. Changing Fonts and Styles
      10. Changing Properties with MATCHPROP
      11. Scaling Previously Drawn Entities
      12. Creating Tables and Fields
      13. Using Drawing Templates, Borders, and Title Blocks
      14. Chapter Summary
      15. Chapter Test Questions
      16. Chapter Drawing Projects
    2. Chapter 8. Dimensions
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Creating and Saving a Dimension Style
      4. Drawing Linear Dimensions
      5. Drawing Multiple Linear Dimensions Using QDIM
      6. Drawing Ordinate Dimensions
      7. Drawing Angular Dimensions
      8. Dimensioning Arcs and Circles
      9. Annotating with Multileaders
      10. Changing Dimension Text
      11. Using Associative Dimensions
      12. Using the HATCH Command
      13. Scaling Dimensions Between Paper Space and Model Space
      14. Chapter Summary
      15. Chapter Test Questions
      16. Chapter Drawing Projects
    3. Chapter 9. Polylines
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Drawing Polygons
      4. Drawing Donuts
      5. Using the FILL Command
      6. Drawing Straight Polyline Segments
      7. Drawing Polyline Arc Segments
      8. Editing Polylines with PEDIT
      9. Drawing Splines
      10. Creating Path Arrays
      11. Drawing Revision Clouds
      12. Drawing Points
      13. Using Constraint Parameters
      14. Using AutoConstrain and Inferred Constraints
      15. Chapter Summary
      16. Chapter Test Questions
      17. Chapter Drawing Projects
    4. Chapter 10. Blocks, Attributes, and External References
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Creating Groups
      4. Creating Blocks
      5. Inserting Blocks into the Current Drawing
      6. Creating Dynamic Blocks
      7. Adding Constraints to Dynamic Blocks
      8. Accessing Data in a Block Table
      9. Using the Windows Clipboard
      10. Inserting Blocks and External References into Other Drawings
      11. Using AutoCAD DesignCenter
      12. Defining Attributes
      13. Working with External References
      14. Extracting Data from Attributes
      15. Counting Blocks
      16. Replacing Blocks
      17. Creating Tool Palettes
      18. Exploding Blocks
      19. Chapter Summary
      20. Chapter Test Questions
      21. Chapter Drawing Projects
  10. Part Three: Isometric Drawing and Three-Dimensional Modeling
    1. Chapter 11. Isometric Drawing
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Using Isometric Snap
      4. Switching Isometric Planes
      5. Using COPY and Other Edit Commands
      6. Drawing Isometric Circles with ELLIPSE
      7. Drawing Text Aligned with Isometric Planes
      8. Drawing Ellipses in Orthographic Views
      9. Saving and Restoring Displays with VIEW
      10. Chapter Summary
      11. Chapter Test Questions
      12. Chapter Drawing Projects
    2. Chapter 12. 3D Modeling
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Creating and Viewing a 3D Wireframe Box
      4. Defining User Coordinate Systems
      5. Exploring the 3D Basics Workspace
      6. Creating Solid Boxes and Wedges
      7. Accessing Different Visual Styles
      8. Creating the Union of Two Solids
      9. Working with DUCS
      10. Creating Composite Solids with SUBTRACT
      11. Creating Chamfers and Fillets on Solid Objects
      12. Practicing 3D Gizmo Editing
      13. Rendering 3D Models
      14. Changing Viewpoints with the ViewCube
      15. Creating Layouts with Multiple Views
      16. Chapter Summary
      17. Chapter Test Questions
      18. Chapter Drawing Projects
    3. Chapter 13. More Modeling Techniques and Commands
      1. Chapter Objectives
      2. Introduction
      3. Drawing Polysolids
      4. Drawing Cones
      5. Drawing Pyramids
      6. Drawing Torus
      7. Slicing and Sectioning Solids
      8. Mesh Modeling
      9. Adjusting Viewpoints with 3DORBIT
      10. Creating 3D Solids from 2D Outlines
      11. Walking Through a 3D Landscape
      12. Creating an Animated Walk-Through
      13. Chapter Summary
      14. Chapter Test Questions
      15. Drawing Problems
      16. Chapter Drawing Projects
  11. Appendix A. Drawing Projects
  12. Appendix B. Creating Custom Ribbon Panels
    1. Creating a Customized Ribbon Panel
    2. Creating Customized Tools
  13. Appendix C. Menus, Macros, and the CUI Dialog Box
    1. The CUI Dialog Box
    2. Characters Used in Menus and Macros
  14. Index
  15. Appendix D. Additional Tools for Collaboration
    1. CAD Standard Tools
    2. Management of Named Objects
    3. Internet Features
    4. Working on Drawings with and from Others
    5. Sheet Set Management
    6. Access Drawings Anywhere
    7. Identify and Communicate Design Changes
    8. Share Drawings with Non-AutoCAD Users
  16. Glossary
  17. Code Snippets

Product information

  • Title: Discovering AutoCAD 2024
  • Author(s): Mark Dix, Paul Riley, Lee Ambrosius
  • Release date: December 2023
  • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
  • ISBN: 9780138232566