IN THIS CHAPTER

All things Autodesk

World Wide (CAD) Web

Your local user group

Autodesk User Groups International

As much as I want to make a claim to the contrary, you probably need more information than this book and a copy of the software and the software’s Help system to reach the highest peaks of AutoCAD mastery. This chapter lists ten likely aids to help you find out more about your favorite software program.

Autodesk Discussion Groups

Although independent, newsreader-based discussion groups are still out there, the majority of the AutoCAD action nowadays happens in Autodesk’s moderated discussion groups. They’re user-to-user groups, but Autodesk employees frequently jump in to answer questions in their areas of expertise. To see what’s there, point your browser to https://forums.autodesk.com/ to find product-based discussion groups for AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.

Autodesk’s Own Blogs

Several Autodesk employees run their own blogs via the company servers, and they’re chockablock with tips, techniques, and (occasionally) highly entertaining digressions. For a list of all Autodesk blogs, go to www.autodesk.com/blogs.

An AutoCAD-based blog I highly recommend is Shaan Hurley’s Between the Lines, at http://autodesk.blogs.com. When you go to any of these links, tell them I sent you.

Autodesk University

Autodesk University (AU) is an annual event, sponsored by Autodesk. For the past few years, the event has settled in Las Vegas, Nevada. If your boss balks at sending you, quote a few figures: At AU about 850 instructors present about 840 classes and labs to about 10,000 attendees on virtually every conceivable topic related to virtually every Autodesk product. Another 9,000 attend regional sessions in other parts of the world, and 53,000 take virtual classes online.

Add over 300 exhibitors showing their wares in about 200 booths — plus, the AU support staff and techie types — and you end up sitting down for lunch with about 13,000 of your best friends. The meals and the evening social sessions are great times for networking with your peers, and you can often learn as much as you do in the classes. Check out http://au.autodesk.com to find out how to schmooze like a pro and return home a guru!

Autodesk Channel on YouTube

If you search the web for solutions to particular AutoCAD issues, you’ve probably already discovered the YouTube Autodesk channel. You can find dozens and dozens of video clips that cover not only AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT but also other Autodesk products such as Inventor and Revit. You can subscribe and receive email notifications of new videos every few weeks. Check it out at www.youtube.com/autodesk.

World Wide (CAD) Web

I’m reluctant to list specific sites because they tend to come and go, but Cadalyst magazine (www.cadalyst.com) has been in existence for over 35 years. In particular, click the CAD Software Tutorials link to see the series of tutorials Circles and Lines, by Lynn Allen, and The Learning Curve, by yours truly. Ralph Grabowski, the technical editor of this edition, has an active blog at www.worldcadaccess.com and a weekly emailed newsletter at www.upfrontezine.com.

Your favorite search engine can also be a good friend. Apart from Autodesk’s own web presence, thousands upon thousands of other sites are scattered around the world. Search by entering AutoCAD tutorials for online exercises, or try AutoCAD blogs for independent views and opinions as well as tips and tricks for using AutoCAD. You can also try specific Google searches. For example, entering AutoCAD line command yields about 7,300,000 hits!

Click the triangle next to the shopping cart icon in the upper-right corner of the screen for direct links to a number of web resources.

Your Local Authorized Training Center

Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATCs) are located around the world in both private institutions and public colleges and institutes. At an ATC, you attend scheduled, instructor-led classes where you learn to use AutoCAD from the ground up. Courses are designed for rank beginners or experienced users who want to learn the latest customization techniques. To find the location of your nearest ATC, browse to www.autodesk.com/atc.

Your Local User Group

AutoCAD has inspired an incredibly loyal following in the 37+ years since its initial release. One primary reason is the especially enthusiastic individuals who arrange to meet one evening per month to talk about what they’ve discovered they can do with AutoCAD. These folks are still out there, and although some now have grayer hair and more wrinkles, they still love to get together and talk about AutoCAD. And most are especially welcoming to newcomers!

To find a nearby group, type AutoCAD user group and the name of your city in your browser’s Search box.

Autodesk User Groups International

Autodesk User Group International (AUGI) is the umbrella organization of the global user group community. You don’t even have to belong to a group to participate. Individuals can join too, and basic membership is free. Browse to www.augi.com to find out more.

AUGI is probably best known for the annual wish list it presents to Autodesk; the list is compiled from requests from members for changes or new features in AutoCAD. It’s sometimes the case that top wish-list items find their way into new releases of AutoCAD, so it’s another place where you can help to shape future releases. AUGI also supports a series of online and live training sessions, and your membership usually earns you a discounted rate to attend Autodesk University.

Books

Although I’d like to fill you in on all the wonders of AutoCAD, I can do only so much in a book of this size. I simply don’t have the space to cover such topics as data linking and customization.

For more information, visit www.wiley.com and search for AutoCAD to see a list of over 100 titles. Ralph Grabowski, the technical editor of this edition, also has more than 100 specialized e-books at www.worldcadaccess.com/ebooksonline.

Autodesk Feedback Community

If you’re interested in helping shape future releases of AutoCAD, sign in to the Autodesk Feedback Community portal (https://beta.autodesk.com) using your Autodesk account, and then apply by clicking the Create Account link. If you’re accepted, you will, in return for small (or sometimes considerable) time commitments, contribute your ideas to the AutoCAD Futures group or apply to beta-test the next release of AutoCAD.