Firstly I'm going to thank my wife Carole and daughter Jess: Thank you both for your continued support over the past year while I have been working on this and other projects; it doesn't come anywhere near the thanks due for all your hard work and patience during the time I have been either working away from home or writing late into the night. The support from you both over the years has helped me achieve so much—what else can I say but thank you and I love you.

This edition of the book is quite special for me. I've gotten to edit and write the entire confection! But that doesn't mean I'm now a team of one, as this is still a collaborative enterprise. So thank you also to everyone at Sybex who helped to get this edition moving. It seems unfair to single out any one person; suffice it to say that without you, there would be no book.

A special thanks to Steve Stafford, who has managed to keep me and the book on the straight and narrow. And finally, a real big thank-you to Don Bokmiller. Again. Well, you didn't come back for more this year, but without your hard work in previous editions, I don't think I would be here, writing this ☺.

I'd also like to thank Autodesk—not just because I am now a part of their great team, but also for inspiring me to push myself. There is so much cool and amazing stuff coming out of the company that I am proud to finally be a part of such a great organization that influences so many people around the world. The world of technology is moving forward at such a terrific rate. I am amazed almost daily by the great work and products the company is producing.