Aside from this book, you have many other resources for learning about AutoCAD. These resources range from AutoCAD's New Features Workshop to Web sites, and include everything else in between.
This book's DVD contains a document containing clickable links for the Internet resources in this appendix. Look in the Links
folder.
AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are not programs that you can easily pick up as you work with them. You'll need some formal education, whether by using this book, taking a course, or using a combination of methods.
AutoCAD's own Help resources are a good place to start when you have a question. In Chapter 3, I explain how to use Help. You can also try the New Features Workshop, which includes explanations and demonstrations that are related to the new 2010 features. Click the Help (?) button's down arrow (at the right side of the AutoCAD title bar), and choose New Features Workshop.
You're supposed to learn AutoCAD from your dealer. Most dealers offer some training when you purchase AutoCAD. However, the amount of training and follow-up support varies greatly, and so does the price. If you have more than one AutoCAD dealer nearby, check not only the cost of AutoCAD but also the cost of training.
Unlike AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT is often sold online without any training. Keep in mind that AutoCAD LT is not a simple program either, and some training will definitely help you get more out of the program.
Dealers usually offer upgrade seminars and courses when you upgrade. If you're already using AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, you may be able to take a course that focuses on the new features.
If you're going to use third-party applications that work with AutoCAD or other Autodesk products, check how much experience the dealer has with these products and what kind of support the dealer offers.
Autodesk has an Autodesk Training Center program that certifies trainers. Your dealer may or may not be an Autodesk Training Center; remember to ask. Premier Training Centers offer additional training in certain disciplines, thus offering solutions that are more specialized to their customers.
You may be able to take a course in AutoCAD at a local college or Autodesk Training Center. Many universities and community colleges offer courses in AutoCAD. Such courses may fit your schedule because they're often offered in the evening, over a period of several weeks. Of course, that may not work if you need to get up and running very quickly. I haven't heard of courses on AutoCAD LT. AutoCAD LT courses are less common, but you can check out your local colleges. However, a course on AutoCAD would certainly help you to learn AutoCAD LT.
Autodesk holds a once-a-year conference, called Autodesk University, which offers classes that are taught by top AutoCAD experts. For more information, go to au.autodesk.com
.
Autodesk sells short, self-paced courses on both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. From the Autodesk home page (www.autodesk.com
), click Services & Support, and then choose Courseware from the menu. You can find other training-related links under the same menu.
If you are a Subscription member, you have access to special courses. For more information about the Subscription program, go to www.autodesk.com
and click Services & Support
If you work in an office with several AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT users, you'll find that they're usually happy to share information and tips with you. This won't generally get you started from scratch, but it's great for rounding out your knowledge.
Cadalyst (www.cadalyst.com
) covers AutoCAD as well as other CAD programs. It is published in both print, Web versions, and includes many helpful articles. In addition, Cadalyst has an extensive Web site that I discuss later as a Web resource.
AUGI has a couple of great publications, including AUGIWorld magazine. You can find out more at www.augi.com
. A free registration is required. Then click the Publications link.
If you're interested in the CAD industry in general, try Ralph Grabowski's weekly upFront.eZine, which you can subscribe to by sending the e-mail message "subscribe upfront" to [email protected].
I offer a monthly e-mail newsletter, AutoCAD Tips Newsletter. It contains tips, tutorials, and techniques. You can sign up at www.ellenfinkelstein.com
.
Autodesk has always referred customers to their dealer for technical support. As with training, you should check out the provisions of the technical support. Some dealers charge for each phone call, while others provide free support to all customers for as long as Autodesk supports the product.
However, Autodesk offers its own support. For an overview of support options, click Services & Support
The Autodesk Web site offers discussion groups. From Autodesk's home page, choose Services & Support, choose Discussion Groups, and then choose AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT under Product Discussions. You can ask questions and receive answers from other users as well as from Autodesk employees.
Autodesk User Groups (AUGs) meet regularly, offer courses and seminars, bring in speakers, and generally offer the types of resources that all AutoCAD users need. The AUGI Web site is at www.augi.com
. Go there to see if there is a group in your area.
AUGI is also offers its own technical support and training. You can find a lot of information and educational resources there, as well as AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT forums, which have their own easy entrance via the AutoCAD Community at www.augi.com/autocad/
.
The Internet is a rich source of knowledge regarding AutoCAD. Autodesk administers its own discussion groups, accessible from a news reader at news://discussion.autodesk.com
or from a Web browser at discussion.autodesk.com/
. There are discussion groups on several versions of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.
The Internet sports hundreds of CAD-related Web sites. Here are some of the most prominent:
The Autodesk Web site, at www.autodesk.com
, contains a lot of product and support resources on AutoCAD and other Autodesk products. At www.autodesk.com/autocad
, AutoCAD's home page, you can find a great deal of information about AutoCAD, including training and upgrade information. For information on AutoCAD LT, go to www.autodesk.com/autocadlt
.
The Cadalyst Web site, at www.cadalyst.com
, shown in Figure B.1, is another important resource. Here you can find news, events, links, products, downloads, and so on. The Cadalyst files offer all the AutoLISP code that the magazine has published since 1993.
The CAD Depot, at www.caddepot.com
, has a great collection of freeware and shareware, articles, news, and links. To find downloads applicable to AutoCAD LT, you can perform a search on AutoCAD LT.
TenLinks.com
, at www.tenlinks.com
, is a wide-ranging directory and news source, with a daily e-mail newsletter.
CADwire.net
, at www.cadwire.net
, offers news, articles, and directories.
CADInfo.net
, at www.cadinfo.net
, has software libraries, links, and articles on various CAD-related topics.
The Web has many, many more AutoCAD sites, but most of them are more specialized. Table B.1 lists some useful sites. If you don't have this list when you access the Internet, just type AutoCAD into any major search engine. One Web site will lead to another until you find what you need. Enjoy!
Table B.1. Useful AutoCAD Web Sites
A number of AutoCAD blogs have sprung up — and more keep coming. If you want the latest news, tips, and information, try one of these:
AutoCAD Tips Blog (my own) at www.ellenfinkelstein.com/autocad_tips_blog.html
Between the Lines by Autodesk employee Shaan Hurley at autodesk.blogs.com/between_the_lines
Beyond the UI by Lee Ambrosius (contributor to, and technical editor of, this book) at hyperpics.blogs.com/beyond_the_ui
Lynn Allen's Blog by Autodesk employee Lynn Allen at blogs.autodesk.com/lynn
AutoCAD Insider by Autodesk employee Heidi Hewitt at blogs.autodesk.com/autocadinsider
CAD Panacea by R. K. McSwain at www.cadpanacea.com
Mistress of the Dorkness by Melanie (Stone) Perry (who helped me update some of the chapters of this book) at mistressofthedorkness.blogspot.com
CADman-Do by David Cohn at cadman-do.blogspot.com
The CAD Geek by Donnie Gladfelter at www.thecadgeek.com/blog
The Lazy Drafter by Todd Shakelford at lazydrafter.blogspot.com
CAD-e-Corner by Ward Romberger at cadecorner.blogspot.com
blog nauseam by Steve Johnson at www.blog.cadnauseam.com
Daily AutoCAD by Erhan and Orhan Toker at www.dailyautocad.com
Kate's CAD Tips for LT by Autodesk employee Kate Morrical at blogs.autodesk.com/ltunlimited
The LT Side of Things by Erik Deyo at ltsideofthings.blogspot.com
It's Alive in the Labs by Scott Sheppard at blogs.autodesk.com/labs
BLAUGI by Autodesk User Group International at augi.typepad.com
Through the Interface by Autodesk employee Kean Walmsley at blogs.autodesk.com/through-the-interface
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