Wiley AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007 Bible 978-0-471-78886-7 User Manual

n this chapter, I explain the essentials that you need to start draw-
ings. After a little background, I discuss the basics of the screen

that you see when you open AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, and how to use
it. If you’ve never used AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT before, do the Quick
Start chapter first, “Quick Start: Drawing a Window.”

AutoCAD and its younger brother, AutoCAD LT, are both created by
Autodesk. Together they are the most widely used technical drawing
programs anywhere. AutoCAD alone has more than 3,000,000 regis-
tered users. According to Autodesk, CAD stands for computer-aided
design, but can also stand for computer-aided drafting or drawing.

The first version of AutoCAD, running under DOS, came out in 1982.
AutoCAD was the first significant CAD program to run on a desktop
computer. At the time, most other technical drawing programs ran on
high-end workstations or even mainframes. AutoCAD LT was intro-
duced in 1993, as a less expensive alternative to AutoCAD, for people
who don’t need all of AutoCAD’s advanced features.

AutoCAD’s success has been attributed to its famous open architec-
ture — the flexibility that the end user has to customize the program
using source code files in plain text (ASCII) format — and program-
ming languages (such as AutoLISP and Visual Basic for Applications).

As a result, AutoCAD is the most flexible drafting program available,
applicable to all fields. AutoCAD’s support for languages other than
English, including those using other alphabets, is unparalleled, mak-
ing AutoCAD highly popular abroad. As a result, AutoCAD is used in
all disciplines and in more than 150 countries.

Through a high level of technical innovation and expertise, Autodesk
has created a program with unequaled features and capabilities,
including 3D surface and solid modeling and visualization, access to
external databases, intelligent dimensioning, importing and exporting
of other file formats, Internet support, and much more.

The major disciplines that use AutoCAD are:

✦ Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC)

✦ Mechanical

✦ Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

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Getting acquainted 
with AutoCAD and
AutoCAD LT

Starting AutoCAD and
AutoCAD LT

Creating a new
drawing

Using the AutoCAD and
AutoCAD LT interface

Saving your drawing

Closing a drawing and
exiting AutoCAD and
AutoCAD LT

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