WHAT IS AUTOCAD?

• AutoCAD is one of the first CAD (Computer Aided Design/Drafting) software applications.

• The first version of AutoCAD was released at the end of 1982, and it was designed to be used on PCs only.

• Since then, AutoCAD has enjoyed a wide user base all over the world.

• Users can draw both 2D drawings and 3D designs.

• There is another version of AutoCAD called AutoCAD LT, which is dedicated for 2D drafting only.

• In this book we will cover AutoCAD 2008.

HOW TO START AUTOCAD 2008

• There are two ways to start AutoCAD 2008:

  • While installing AutoCAD 2008, the installation program will create a shortcut on your desktop. If this is the case, simply double-click it.

    

  • From the Windows taskbar click Start / All Programs / Autodesk / AutoCAD 2008 / AutoCAD 2008.

• AutoCAD will start with a new drawing file opened, just like the following:

Figure 1-1

POINTS IN AUTOCAD

• Points are defined (and saved) in AutoCAD using the Cartesian coordinate system.

• The coordinates will look something like 3.25,5.45, which is in the format of X,Y.

• The first and most traditional way of specifying points in AutoCAD is to type the coordinates as X,Y (we pronounce it as X comma Y). See the below illustration:

  

AUTOCAD DEFAULT SETTINGS

• Sign convention is: positive is up, and right.

• Angle convention is: positive is CounterClockWise (CCW) starting from the east (i.e., 0 angle). Check the following illustration:

  

THINGS YOU HAVE TO KNOW...