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

Using inquiry commands

Inquiry commands allow you to measure different geometrical properties in AutoCAD. The inquiry commands available in AutoCAD include Quick, Distance, Radius, Angle, Area, and Volume. The inquiry tools are in the Utilities panel of the Home tab, as shown in the following figure:

Figure 5.31: Inquiry tools on the expanded Measure flyout of the Utilities panel

Click the arrow underneath Measure and a flyout with the inquiry tools will show up. Let’s see how we can use these inquiry tools to measure geometrical properties.

The Quick inquiry tool

The first tool in this list, Quick, was added in the 2020 version of AutoCAD, and you can use it to measure dimensions quickly in a drawing. To use this tool, select it from the Measure flyout and move it in your drawing. As you move inside a room or closed area, it will show the length and width of the drawing area, as shown in the following figure:

Figure 5.32...