Book Image

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition

By : Jaiprakash Pandey, Yasser Shoukry
Book Image

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition

By: Jaiprakash Pandey, Yasser Shoukry

Overview of this book

AutoCAD is one of the most versatile software applications for architectural and engineering designs and the most popular computer-aided design (CAD) platform for 2D drafting and 3D modeling. This hands-on 2nd edition guide will take you through everything you need to know to make the most out of this powerful tool, from a simple tour of the user interface to using advanced tools. Starting with basic drawing shapes and functions, you'll get to grips with the fundamentals of CAD designs. You’ll then learn about effective drawing management using layers, dynamic blocks, and groups, and discover how to add annotations and plots like a professional. As you progress, the book will show you how to convert your 2D drawings into 3D models and shapes. You’ll also discover advanced features, such as isometric drawings, drawing utilities for managing and recovering complex files, quantity surveying, and multidisciplinary drawing files using xRefs. Finally, you’ll focus on rendering and visualizing your designs in AutoCAD. By the end of this book, you’ll have developed a solid understanding of CAD principles and be able to work with AutoCAD software confidently to build impressive 2D and 3D creations.
Table of Contents (21 chapters)
1
Part 1: Introduction and 2D Drafting
6
Part 2: Customization, Collaboration, and Using Reusable Content
12
Part 3: 3D Modeling

Managing Drawings with Layers and Properties

When you start adding objects to your drawings, all the different types of objects can get cumbersome to manage. Managing these objects and sorting them into different categories not only speeds up your drawing workflow but can also make it easier for you to find the required objects when they are needed. So, this chapter is all about managing drawings using layers and learning how to assign different properties to our objects to sort them properly. We will also learn how to check the properties of objects, such as their area, length, and radius, which is essential to any drawing workflow. By the end of this chapter, you will be well equipped with the tools and commands required to effectively assign and manage the properties of objects.

The following are the topics we are going to discuss in this chapter:

  • Managing object properties
  • Using Match Properties
  • Using inquiry commands
  • Drawing management using layers
...