AutoCAD 2017 for Engineers & Designers, 23ed: Basic and Intermediate

Chapter 1: Introduction to AutoCAD

• AutoCAD Screen Components 1-2

• Start Tab 1-2
• Drawing Area 1-2
• Command Window 1-2
• Navigation Bar 1-5
• ViewCube 1-6
• In-canvas Viewport Controls 1-6
• Status Bar 1-6
• Invoking Tools in AutoCAD 1-10
• Keyboard 1-10
• Ribbon 1-11
• Application Menu 1-12
• Tool Palettes 1-13
• Menu Bar 1-13
• Toolbar 1-13
• Shortcut Menu 1-13
• File Tabs 1-14
• AutoCAD Dialog Boxes 1-17
• Starting a New Drawing 1-18
• Open a Drawing 1-19
• Start from Scratch 1-20
• Use a Template 1-20
• Use a Wizard 1-20
• Saving Your Work 1-25
• Save Drawing As Dialog Box 1-26
• Automatic Timed Save 1-28
• Creating Backup Files 1-28
• Changing Automatic Timed Saved and Backup Files into AutoCAD Format 1-28
• Using the Drawing Recovery Manager to Recover Files 1-29
• Closing a Drawing 1-29
• Opening an Existing Drawing 1-30
• Opening an Existing Drawing Using the Select File Dialog Box 1-30
• Opening an Existing Drawing Using the Startup Dialog Box 1-33
• Opening an Existing Drawing Using the Drag and Drop Method 1-33
• Quitting AutoCAD 1-34
• Creating and Managing Workspaces 1-34
• Creating a New Workspace 1-34
• Modifying the Workspace Settings 1-34
• AutoCAD Help 1-35
• Autodesk Cloud 1-37
• Autodesk Exchange Apps 1-39
• Design Feed 1-41
• BIM 360 1-45
• Additional Help Resources 1-45
• Self-Evaluation Test 1-45
• Review Questions 1-46

Chapter 2: Getting Started with AutoCAD

• Dynamic Input Mode 2-2

• Enable Pointer Input 2-2
• Enable Dimension Input where possible 2-3
• Show command prompting and command input near the crosshairs 2-4
• Show additional tips with command prompting 2-5
• Drafting Tooltip Appearance 2-5
• Drawing Lines in AutoCAD 2-6
• The Close Option 2-7
• The Undo Option 2-8
• Invoking Tools Using Dynamic INPUT/Command Prompt 2-8
• Coordinate Systems 2-8
• Absolute Coordinate System 2-9
• Relative Coordinate System 2-12
• Relative Polar Coordinates 2-15
• Direct Distance Entry 2-18
• Erasing Objects 2-20
• Canceling and Undoing Operation 2-21
• Object Selection Methods 2-21
• Window Selection Method 2-21
• Crossing Selection Method 2-22
• Lasso Selection Method 2-23
• Drawing a Circle 2-24
• Basic Display Commands 2-28
• Zooming Drawings 2-28
• Setting Units Type and Precision 2-29
• Specifying the Format 2-30
• Specifying the Angle Format 2-30
• Setting the Direction for Angle Measurement 2-31
• Specifying Units for the Drawing or the Block to be Inserted 2-32
• Sample Output
• Specifying Units for Lighting 2-32
• Setting the Limits of a Drawing 2-34
• Setting Limits 2-35
• Limits for Architectural Drawings 2-35
• Limits for Metric Drawings 2-37
• Introduction to Plotting Drawings 2-38
• Modifying AutoCAD Settings by Using the Options Dialog Box 2-40
• Self-Evaluation Test 2-44
• Review Questions

Chapter 3: Getting Started with Advanced Sketching

• Drawing Arcs 3-2

• Drawing Rectangles 3-10
• Drawing Ellipses 3-14
• Drawing Regular Polygons 3-18
• Drawing Polylines 3-20
• Drawing Donuts 3-25
• Placing Points 3-26
• Changing the Point Style and Size 3-26
• Placing Multiple Points 3-27
• Placing Points at Equal Distance 3-28
• Placing Points at Specified Intervals 3-28
• Drawing an Infinite Line 3-28
• Drawing Construction Lines 3-28
• Drawing Ray 3-31
• Writing a Single Line Text 3-31
• Self-Evaluation Test 3-32
• Review Questions

Chapter 4: Working with Drawing Aids

• Introduction 4-2

• Understanding the Concept and Use of Layers 4-2
• Working with Layers 4-3
• Creating New Layers 4-4
• Making a Layer Current 4-4
• Controlling the Display of Layers 4-5
• Arranging Layers in Increasing Order 4-9
• Arranging Layers in Increasing Order with Respect to First Digit 4-10
• Merging Layers 4-11
• Deleting Layers 4-12
• Managing the Display of Columns 4-12
• Selective Display of Layers 4-13
• Layer States 4-15
• Reconciling New Layers 4-16
• Isolating and Unisolating Layers 4-16
• Controlling the Layer Settings
• Object Properties 4-22
• Changing the Color 4-22
• Changing the Linetype 4-22
• Changing the Lineweight 4-23
• Changing the Plot Style 4-24
• Changing Object Properties using the Properties Palette 4-24
• Changing Object Properties using the Quick Properties Palette 4-25
• Global and Current Linetype Scaling 4-26
• LTSCALE Factor for Plotting 4-26
• Changing the Linetype Scale Using the Properties Palette 4-27
• Working with the DesignCenter 4-27
• Drafting Settings Dialog Box 4-28
• Setting Grid 4-29
• Setting Snap 4-30
• Snap Type 4-30
• Drawing Straight Lines Using the Ortho Mode 4-31
• Working with Object Snaps 4-32
• Running Object Snap Mode 4-44
• Overriding the Running Snap 4-45
• Cycling through Snaps 4-45
• Setting the Priority for Coordinate Entry 4-46
• Using AutoTracking 4-47
• Object Snap Tracking 4-47
• Polar Tracking 4-48
• AutoTrack Settings 4-48
• Function and Control Keys 4-49
• Self-Evaluation Test 4-49
• Review Questions

Chapter 5: Editing Sketched Objects-I

• Creating a Selection Set 5-2

• Editing Sketches 5-7
• Moving Sketched Objects 5-7
• Copying Sketched Objects 5-8
• Creating Multiple Copies 5-9
• Creating an Array of Selected Objects 5-9
• Creating a Single Copy 5-10
• Pasting Contents from the Clipboard 5-11
• Pasting Contents Using the Original Coordinates 5-11
• Offsetting Sketched Objects 5-11
• Through Option 5-12
• Erase Option 5-12
• Layer Option 5-13
• Rotating Sketched Objects 5-13
• Scaling the Sketched Objects 5-15
• Filleting the Sketches 5-17
• Chamfering the Sketches
• Blending the Curves
• Trimming the Sketched Objects
• Extending the Sketched Objects
• Stretching the Sketched Objects
• Lengthening the Sketched Objects
• Arraying the Sketched Objects
• Rectangular Array
• Polar Array
• Path Array
• Mirroring the Sketched Objects
• Text Mirroring
• Breaking the Sketched Objects
• Placing Points at Specified Intervals
• Dividing the Sketched Objects
• Joining the Sketched Objects
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 6: Editing Sketched Objects-II

• Introduction to Grips
• Types of Grips
• Adjusting Grip Settings
• Editing Objects by Using Grips
• Stretching the Objects by Using Grips (Stretch Mode)
• Moving the Objects by Using Grips (Move Mode)
• Rotating the Objects by Using Grips (Rotate Mode)
• Scaling the Objects by Using Grips (Scale Mode)
• Mirroring the Objects by Using Grips (Mirror Mode)
• Editing a Polyline by Using Grips
• Loading Hyperlinks
• Editing Gripped Objects
• Changing the Properties Using the Properties Palette
• Matching the Properties of Sketched Objects
• Quick Selection of Sketched Objects
• Cycling Through Selection
• Managing Contents Using the Design Center
• Folders Tab
• Open Drawings Tab
• History Tab
• Autodesk Seek design content Link
• Making Inquiries About Objects and Drawings
• Measuring Area of Objects
• Measuring the Distance between Two Points
• Identifying the Location of a Point
• Listing Information about Objects
• Listing Information about all Objects in a Drawing
• Checking Time-Related Information
• Obtaining Drawing Status Information
• Displaying Drawing Properties
• Basic Display Options
• Redrawing the Screen
• Regenerating Drawings
• Zooming Drawings
• Panning Drawings
• Creating Views
• Understanding the Concept of Sheet Sets
• Creating a Sheet Set
• Adding a Subset to a Sheet Set
• Adding Sheets to a Sheet Set or a Subset
• Archiving a Sheet Set
• Resaving all Sheets in a Sheet Set
• Placing Views on a Sheet of a Sheet Set
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 7: Creating Texts and Tables

• Annotative Objects
• Annotation Scale
• Assigning Annotative Property and Annotation Scales
• Customizing Annotation Scale
• Multiple Annotation Scales
• Assigning Multiple Annotation Scales Manually
• Assigning Multiple Annotation Scales Automatically
• Controlling the Display of Annotative Objects
• Creating Text
• Writing Single Line Text
• Entering Special Characters
• Creating Multiline Text
• Editing Text
• Editing Text Using the DDEDIT Command
• Editing Text Using the Properties Palette
• Modifying the Scale of the Text
• Aligning Text
• Inserting Table in the Drawing
• Creating a New Table Style
• Setting a Table Style As Current
• Modifying a Table Style
• Modifying Tables
• Creating Text Styles
• Creating Annotative Text
• Checking Spelling
• Text Quality and Text Fill
• Finding and Replacing Text
• Creating Title Sheet Table in a Sheet Set
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 8: Basic Dimensioning, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing

• Need for Dimensioning
• Dimensioning in AutoCAD
• Fundamental Dimensioning Terms
• Dimension Line
• Dimension Text
• Arrowheads
• Extension Lines
• Leader
• Center Mark and Centerlines
• Alternate Units
• Tolerances
• Limits
• Associative Dimensions
• Definition Points
• Annotative Dimensions
• Selecting Dimensioning Tools
• Dimensioning a Number of Objects Together
• Creating Linear Dimensions
• Creating Aligned Dimensions
• Creating Arc Length Dimensions
• Creating Rotated Dimensions
• Creating Baseline Dimensions
• Creating Continued Dimensions
• Creating Angular Dimensions
• Creating Diameter Dimensions
• Creating Jogged Dimensions
• Creating Radius Dimensions
• Creating Jogged Linear Dimensions
• Generating Center Marks and Centerlines
• Creating Associative Center marks
• Creating Associative Centerlines
• Creating Ordinate Dimensions
• Maintaining Equal Spacing between Dimensions
• Creating Dimension Breaks
• Creating Inspection Dimensions
• Working with True Associative Dimensions
• Removing the Dimension Associativity
• Converting a Dimension into a True Associative Dimension
• Drawing Leaders
• Multi leaders
• Drawing Multi leaders
• Adding Leaders to Existing Multileader
• Removing Leaders from Existing Multileader
• Aligning Multi leaders
• Collecting Multiple Leaders
• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing
• Geometric Characteristics and Symbols
• Adding Geometric Tolerance
• Complex Feature Control Frames
• Combining Geometric Characteristics
• Composite Position Tolerancing
• Using Feature Control Frames with Leaders
• Projected Tolerance Zone
• Creating Annotative Dimensions, Tolerances, Leaders and Multi leaders
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 9: Editing Dimensions

• Editing Dimensions Using Editing Tools
• Editing Dimensions by Stretching
• Editing Dimensions by Trimming and Extending
• Flipping Dimension Arrow
• Modifying the Dimensions
• Editing the Dimension Text
• Updating Dimensions
• Editing Dimensions with Grips
• Editing Dimensions Using the Properties Palette
• Model Space and Paper Space Dimensioning
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 10: Dimension Styles, Multileader Styles and System Variables

• Using Styles and Variables to Control Dimensions
• Creating and Restoring Dimension Styles
• New Dimension Style Dialog box
• Controlling the Dimension Text Format
• Fitting Dimension Text and Arrowheads
• Formatting Primary Dimension Units
• Formatting Alternate Dimension Units
• Formatting the Tolerances
• Dimension Style Families
• Using Dimension Style Overrides
• Comparing and Listing Dimension Styles
• Using Externally Referenced Dimension Styles
• Creating and Restoring Multileader Styles
• Modify Multileader Style Dialog Box
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 11: Adding Constraints to Sketches

• Introduction
• Adding Geometric Constraints
• Applying the Horizontal Constraint
• Applying the Vertical Constraint
• Applying the Coincident Constraint
• Applying the Fix Constraint
• Applying the Perpendicular Constraint
• Applying the Parallel Constraint
• Applying the Collinear Constraint
• Applying the Concentric Constraint
• Applying the Tangent Constraint
• Applying the Symmetric Constraint
• Applying the Equal Constraint
• Applying the Smooth Constraint
• Controlling the Display of Constraints
• Applying Constraints Automatically
• Applying Dimensional Constraints
• Converting a Dimensional Constraint into an Annotational Constraint
• Concept of a Fully-Defined Sketch
• Under-defined
• Fully-defined
• Over-defined
• Controlling the Display of the Dimensional Constraint
• Working with Equations
• Adding Equations while Applying Dimensional Constraints
• Adding Equations Using the Parameters Manager
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 12: Hatching Drawings

• Hatching
• Hatch Patterns
• Hatch Boundary
• Hatching Drawings Using the Hatch Tool
• Panels in the Hatch Creation Tab
• Creating Annotative Hatch
• Hatching the Drawing Using the Tool Palettes
• Drag and Drop Method
• Select and Place Method
• Modifying the Properties of the Predefined Patterns available
• in the Tool Palettes
• Hatching Around Text, Dimensions, and Attributes
• Editing Hatch Patterns
• Using the Hatch Editor Tab
• Using the Edit Hatch Tool
• Using the Properties Tool
• Editing the Hatch Boundary
• Using Grips
• Trimming the Hatch Patterns
• Using AutoCAD Editing Tools
• Hatching Blocks and Xref Drawings
• Creating a Boundary Using Closed Loops
• Other Features of Hatching
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 13: Model Space Viewports, Paper Space Viewports and Layouts

• Model Space and Paper Space/Layouts
• Model Space Viewports (Tiled Viewports)
• Creating Tiled Viewports
• Making a Viewport Current
• Joining Two Adjacent Viewports
• Splitting and Resizing Viewports in Model Space
• Paper Space Viewports (Floating Viewports)
• Creating Floating Viewports
• Creating Rectangular Viewports
• Creating Polygonal Viewports
• Converting an Existing Closed Object into a Viewport
• Temporary Model Space
• Editing Viewports
• Controlling the Display of Objects in Viewports
• Locking the Display of Objects in Viewports
• Controlling the Display of Hidden Lines in Viewports
• Clipping Existing Viewports
• Maximizing Viewports
• Controlling the Properties of Viewport Layers
• Controlling the Layers in Viewports Using Layer Properties Manager
• Paper Space Line type Scaling (PSLTSCALE System variable)
• Inserting Layouts
• Importing Layouts to Sheet Sets
• Inserting a Layout Using the Wizard
• Defining Page Settings
• Working with the MVSETUP Command
• Converting the Distance Between Model Space and Paper Space
• Controlling the Display of Annotative Objects in Viewports
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 14: Plotting Drawings

• Plotting Drawings in AutoCAD
• Plotting Drawings Using the Plot Dialog Box
• Adding Plotters
• Editing the Plotter Configuration
• Importing PCP/PC2 Configuration Files
• Setting Plot Parameters
• Working with Page Setups
• Using Plot Styles
• Adding a Plot Style
• Plot Style Table Editor
• Applying Plot Styles
• Setting the Current Plot Style
• Plotting Sheets in a Sheet Set
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 15: Template Drawings

• Creating Template Drawings
• Standard Template Drawings
• Loading a Template Drawing
• Customizing Drawings with Layers and Dimensioning Specifications
• Customizing a Drawing with Layout
• Customizing Drawings with Viewports
• Customizing Drawings According to Plot Size and Drawing Scale
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 16: Working with Blocks

• The Concept of Blocks
• Converting Entities into a Block
• Inserting Blocks
• Creating and Inserting Annotative Blocks
• Block Editor
• Dynamic Blocks
• Adding Parameter and Action Simultaneously Using Parameter Sets
• Inserting Blocks Using the Design Center
• Using Tool Palettes to Insert Blocks
• Inserting Blocks in the Drawing
• Modifying Properties of the Blocks in the Tool Palettes
• Adding Blocks in Tool Palettes
• Drag and Drop Method
• Shortcut Menu
• Modifying Existing Blocks in the Tool Palettes
• Layers, Colors, Line types and Line weights for Blocks
• Nesting of Blocks
• Inserting Multiple Blocks
• Creating Drawing Files Using the Write Block Dialog box
• Defining the Insertion Base Point
• Editing Blocks
• Editing Blocks in Place
• Exploding Blocks Using the XPLODE Command
• Renaming Blocks
• Deleting Unused Blocks
• Applying Constraints to Blocks
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 17: Defining Block Attributes

• Understanding Attributes
• Defining Attributes
• Editing Attribute Definition
• Using the Properties Palette
• Inserting Blocks with Attributes
• Managing Attributes
• Extracting Attributes
• Controlling the Attribute Visibility
• Editing Block Attributes
• Editing Attributes Using the Enhanced Attribute Editor
• Editing Attributes Using the Edit Attributes Dialog Box
• Global Editing of Attributes
• Redefining a Block with Attributes
• In-place Editing of Blocks with Attributes
• Inserting Text Files in the Drawing
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 18: Understanding External References

• External References
• Dependent Symbols
• Managing External References in a Drawing
• The Overlay Option
• Attaching Files to a Drawing
• Working with Underlays
• Editing an Underlay
• Opening an Xreffed Object in a Separate Window
• Using the Design Center to Attach a Drawing as an Xref
• Adding Xref Dependent Named Objects
• Clipping External References
• Displaying Clipping Frame
• Demand Loading
• Editing References In-Place
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 19: Working with Advanced Drawing Options

• Understanding the Use of Multilines
• Defining the Multiline Style
• Drawing Multilines
• Editing Multilines by Using Grips
• Editing Multilines by Using Dialog Box
• Cross Intersection (CC/OC/MC)
• Tee Intersection (CT/OT/MT)
• Corner Joint (CJ)
• Adding and Deleting Vertices (AV/DV)
• Cutting and Welding Multilines (CS/CA/WA)
• Creating Revision Clouds
• Rectangular Revision Cloud
• Polygonal Revision Cloud
• Freehand Revision Cloud
• Creating Wipeouts
• Creating NURBS
• Editing Splines
• Editing Splines using 3D Edit Bar
• Self-Evaluation Test
• Review Questions

Chapter 20: Grouping and Advanced Editing of Sketched Objects

• Grouping Sketched Objects Using the Object Grouping Dialog Box
• Grouping Sketched Objects Using the Group Button
• Selecting Groups
• Changing Properties of an Object 2
• Exploding Compound Objects
• Editing Polylines
• Editing Single Polyline
• Editing Multiple Polylines
• Undoing Previous Commands
• Reversing the Undo Operation
• Renaming Named Objects
• Removing Unused Named Objects
• View items you can purge
• View items you cannot purge
• Setting Selection Modes Using the Options Dialog Box
• Noun/ve