INTRODUCTION

Autodesk Architectural Desktop can be used successfully in all types of architectural projects and within all phases. This is due in part to the versatility of the architectural tools provided and in part simply to ADT's being built on the AutoCAD foundation. This book pays most attention to the design development and construction documentation phases. The tutorial exercises in this book will explore two building types concurrently, starting at different points in the project cycle, to give some sense of the variety of ways you can approach the design process. Please don't be limited by the techniques covered here. The aim of the tutorials is to get you thinking in the right direction. Exploration and play time are highly encouraged.

Programmatic and preliminary design information might be received by the project team in a variety of forms, such as hand-drawn sketches, SketchUp Files, AutoCAD files, or other CAD files. ADT supports the import of DWG and DXF files. You can also attach image files in popular formats as underlays and trace over them.

Getting started is sometimes the most difficult part. Regardless of the source of preliminary design data, gather all project data together in ADT early in the project cycle and consider developing a digital "cartoon set." A cartoon set will allow you to quickly assess the quantity and composition of each of the drawings and files required in the final document package. Remember, like everything else in ADT, the cartoon set will evolve and become more refined...