AutoCAD 2014 For Dummies

Find your way around AutoCAD 2014 with this full–color, For Dummies guide! Put away that pencil and paper and start putting the power of AutoCAD 2014 to work in your CAD projects and designs. From setting up your drawing environment to using text, dimensions, hatching, and more, this guide walks you through AutoCAD basics and provides you with a solid understanding of the latest CAD tools and techniques. You&rsquo,ll also benefit from the full–color illustrations that mirror exactly what you&rsquo,ll see on your AutoCAD 2014 screen and highlight the importance of AutoCAD&rsquo,s Model view, which shows different line weights for printing in different colors. Covers the latest AutoCAD features and techniques, including creating a basic layout, navigating the AutoCAD 2014 interface, drawing and editing, working with dimensions, plotting, adding text, using blocks, and more Shows you how to make the best use of color in your AutoCAD designs, take advantage of the AutoCAD DesignCenter, and showcase your work to potential clients and customers Includes practical advice and guidance on real–world methods and tips used by architects, engineers, and other CAD professionals to create compelling 3D models and detailed technical drawings  ,You&rsquo,ll quickly get up to speed on all AutoCAD has to offer with AutoCAD 2014 For Dummies in your toolbox.

Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started with AutoCAD 2014 7 Chapter 1: Introducing AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 9 Chapter 2: The Grand Tour of AutoCAD 2014 19 Chapter 3: A Lap around the CAD Track 39 Chapter 4: Setup for Success 65 Chapter 5: A Zoom with a View 87 Part II: Let There Be Lines 97 Chapter 6: Along the Straight and Narrow 99 Chapter 7: Dangerous Curves Ahead 111 Chapter 8: Preciseliness Is Next to CADliness 125 Chapter 9: Manage Your Properties 143 Chapter 10: Grabbing Onto Object Selection 165 Chapter 11: Edit for Credit 177 Chapter 12: Planning for Paper 209 Part III: If Drawings Could Talk 223 Chapter 13: Text with Character 225 Chapter 14: Entering New Dimensions 259 Chapter 15: Down the Hatch! 285 Chapter 16: The Plot Thickens 299 Part IV: Advancing with AutoCAD 327 Chapter 17: The ABCs of Blocks 329 Chapter 18: Everything from Arrays to Xrefs 347 Chapter 19: Call the Parametrics! 383 Chapter 20: Drawing on the Internet 409 Part V: On a 3D Spree 427 Chapter 21: It&rsquo,s a 3D World After All 429 Chapter 22: From Drawings to Models 449 Chapter 23: It&rsquo,s Showtime! 471 Part VI: The Part of Tens 493 Chapter 24: Ten AutoCAD Resources 495 Chapter 25: Ten System Variables to Make Your AutoCAD Life Easier 499 Chapter 26: Ten AutoCAD Secrets 505 Index 509