AutoCAD Articles

AutoCAD tutorial series: for beginners guide

This is a AutoCAD tutorial series for beginners. We are discussing the concept, so it will not be a step-by-step tutorial. However, this might be useful especially if you learn by yourself.

1. Introduction to AutoCAD: the Interface
2. The Basic of Using AutoCAD Drawing Tools
3. Using AutoCAD Navigation Tools
4. Using Template and Setting Your Unit
5. AutoCAD Precise Input: Specifying Point Coordinate
6. AutoCAD Precise Input: Drafting Tools
7. Exercise: Coordinate Input and Drafting Tools
8. Modifying AutoCAD Drawing Objects
9. Controlling UCS for Angled Drawing and Local Coordinates

AutoCAD What’s New: New key features in AutoCAD

If you want to catchup with new key features in AutoCAD, find them here. Very useful if you are already familiar with AutoCAD, and want to update your knowledge. 

1. What’s new in AutoCAD: the Interface
2. What’s new in AutoCAD: drawing and drafting tools
3. What’s new in AutoCAD: Annotations
4. What’s new in AutoCAD: Block and References
5. What’s new in AutoCAD 2013: Interface
6. What’s new in AutoCAD 2013: Object modification
7. What’s new in AutoCAD 2013: Working with files
8. What’s new in AutoCAD 2013: Autodesk 360 integration
9. What’s new in AutoCAD 2013: Create section and detail views
10. What’s new in AutoCAD 2013: New features roundup

Other AutoCAD Tutorials

More AutoCAD tutorials. Here you will learn how to use some key features in AutoCAD. 

1. Dynamic Block Tutorial #1: Creating Wall
2. Dynamic Block Tutorial #2: Creating Column
3. Dynamic Block Tutorial #3: Door
4. Dynamic Block Tutorial #4: Adding More Actions
5. Creating Your Own AutoCAD Palette
6. Preparing Your AutoCAD Template
7. Maintaining Your CAD Standard
8. Summary: The Magic of Defining Your Own Workflow
9. Creating Schedule from Your AutoCAD Drawing
10. Introduction to Annotation Scale
11. Controlling Annotation Scale Further
12. Dynamic Block Tutorial #5: Controlling Visibility
13. Understanding Geometric Constraint
14. Understanding Dimensional Constraint
15. Using Parametric Features in Dynamic Block
16. Introduction to AutoCAD: the Interface
17. The Basic of Using AutoCAD Drawing Tools
18. Using AutoCAD Navigation Tools
19. Using Template and Setting Your Unit
20. AutoCAD Precise Input: Specifying Point Coordinate
21. AutoCAD Precise Input: Drafting Tools
22. Exercise: Coordinate Input and Drafting Tools
23. Modifying AutoCAD Drawing Objects
24. Controlling UCS for Angled Drawing and Local Coordinates
25. Using named plot style table: less style to manage
26. How to: export custom rendering materials
27. Do you know how to use snap parallel?
28. Book review: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 2012 Bible
29. linking Excel external data to AutoCAD data extraction
30. AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Sheet Set video
31. Exploring AutoCAD CUI: introduction (1)
32. Exploring AutoCAD CUI: Creating a command in tab (part 2)
33. Exploring AutoCAD CUI: working with ribbon (part 3)
34. Exploring AutoCAD CUI: Working with toolbar and menu
35. How to Automate AutoCAD with command Macros
36. Exploring AutoCAD CUI: 5 more things you can do with CUI
37. AutoCAD customization: 5 articles to learn about CUI
38. How to: add custom pattern to AutoCAD
39. Autodesk learning materials, get them for free!
40. Autodesk Official Training Guides: recommended books
41. Training video: having personal instructor anytime, anywhere
42. 3 ways to move AutoCAD objects to other layer
43. 4 ways to modify block definition

AutoCAD troubleshoot: From using AutoCAD to Installation

Have problem with AutoCAD? I logged some issues that I found here. See if these troubleshooting can help you. 

1. When AutoCAD is not Accurate
2. File Dialog Box is Missing
3. Why I can’t Use Formula in xls Created by Data Extraction?
4. Defpoints Layer
5. What Caused Fatal Error Messages in AutoCAD?
6. When It’s Freeze, It’s Not Always AutoCAD Fault!
7. AutoCAD Performs Incorrect Calculation
8. Troubleshoot: Block Attributes Won’t stretched
9. AutoCAD Plotting Problem
10. AutoCAD Installation Troubleshoot
11. AutoCAD Accuracy Issue: How Do You Deal With It?
12. AutoCAD dimensions are Missing in Other Viewport
13. I can’t select objects then press del in AutoCAD!
14. How to install express tools after AutoCAD is installed
15. Some viewports turn off when reach certain numbers of view
16. Up and Ready: Boldly install, configure, & deploy Autodesk
17. Working with shared contents: eliminating slow network
18. Is your computer free from AutoCAD/Medre.A Malware?
19. How to: disable graphic card hardware acceleration
20. Why reinstalling won’t fix your AutoCAD problem
21. Troubleshoot: AutoCAD hangs on start
22. Unable to Install AutoCAD because it’s already installed
23. How to add AutoCAD DWG to PDF plotter
24. How to install AutoCAD 2014 without Autodesk 360
25. My dimensions show incorrect value in viewport layout!

AutoCAD Tips: Some productivity tips from CAD Notes

Learn to use AutoCAD is easy. But become productive in using AutoCAD is another thing. See some tips here to increase your productivity.

1. Creating Your Own AutoCAD Line Type
2. Quickly create palettes from block libraries
3. 6 SHIFT Key Combination You Might Not Know
4. AutoCAD Startup Dialog Box
5. AutoCAD Match Properties Settings
6. AutoCAD Layer Walk
7. 4 Reasons to Love AutoCAD Dynamic Input
8. Pack Your Files With eTransmit
9. Optimize Your Palette Placement
10. 10 Features to Boost Your AutoCAD Productivity
11. Create a Report Table with Data Extraction
12. Enable Object Snap to Hatch
13. AutoCAD Solid History
14. Creating Angular Dimension Larger than 180 deg
15. Use BURST for block with attributes instead of Explode!
16. How to: Cycle AutoCAD commands
17. 10+ Ways to Use AutoCAD Object Selection
18. How to: Set a previous file version as default
19. Why I can’t Use Formula in xls Created by Data Extraction?
20. A Simple Guide: 12 steps to Mastering AutoCAD
21. Using DWF and PDF as Underlay
22. How to: Get Hi Res Image from AutoCAD?
23. Creating Sketch From Your AutoCAD Drawing
24. Set All Your Objects Properties Back to ByLayer
25. Layer 0, ByLayer and ByBlock
26. How to: Modify Objects With Non-Uniform Scale
27. Creating New Command in AutoCAD
28. Adding Command to Your Right Click
29. Block vs XREF
30. Where Can I See AutoCAD Command Alias List?
31. 5 Steps Preparing Your AutoCAD Plot
32. Ribbon Shortcut Key on Autodesk Products
33. How to: See Your Complete AutoCAD System Variable List
34. Using Info Center to Notify RSS Update
35. Isometric Drawing in AutoCAD
36. AutoCAD Isometric Text and Dimension
37. Isometric Dimension Arrow
38. Cool way to Open Your Drawing: Drag n Drop!
39. Creating Different Drawing Representation
40. SubObject Selection Filter
41. AutoCAD 2010 Sticky Ribbon Panels
42. DWG TrueView: Open and Save to Any Version of DWG
43. 10 AutoCAD Layer Tools (You Might) Forgotten
44. How to: Reference Objects to File/URL in AutoCAD
45. AutoCAD Quick Select
46. 10 AutoCAD Ribbon Tips You Should Know
47. How to: Label Coordinate in AutoCAD
48. Maximize Your Screen and Speed Up with Ribbon Shortcut
49. Using AutoCAD Filter
50. AutoCAD Contextual Ribbon Tab
51. Using Lookup Table in Dynamic Block
52. Reporting Multiple Coordinates in A Block using Attribute
53. Dynamic Block Action vs Dynamic Block Parameters
54. Selecting Object Like in Windows Explorer
55. Shaan Hurley’s Best of AutoCAD 2007 to AutoCAD 2010
56. Autodesk Project Butterfly
57. Troubleshoot: Block Attributes Won’t stretched
58. Can I Render Wireframe Image from AutoCAD?
59. 25 Readers Most Favorite AutoCAD Tips
60. Community Command for AutoCAD
61. AutoCAD Tips Updates
62. How to: Set Local Help File as Default in 2011 Version
63. How to: Draw an Arc with a Specific Arc Length?
64. Using XREF: Attachment vs Overlay
65. Controlling Linetype Scale is as Easy as 1,2,3!
66. Enforcing Dimension Styles Across Your Drawings
67. The Best, the Rest, the Rare: 100 AutoCAD Tips
68. Saved Views: Quickly switch between view configuration
69. Backup and Restore AutoCAD System Variables
70. How do You Secure Your Design Files?
71. Using Multiple Hyperlinks with Block Attributes
72. How to: Keep Attributes at Dynamic Block Center
73. How to: Select All Horizontal or Vertical Lines in a Drawing
74. 4 Viewport Tips: Configurations, Irregular, Clip, and Scale
75. Need Batch Plot Your AutoCAD Drawings to Several Plotters
76. How to: Hide some parts of blocks
77. Quick and Dirty Tip: Resolving AutoCAD XREF Path
78. Preventing AutoCAD Ribbon Panels to Collapse
79. Using AutoCAD Action Recorder to View Specific Area
80. Simplify AutoCAD Layer Manager List with Layer Filter
81. How to Convert AutoCAD Drawing Units
82. Hide Unnecessary AutoCAD Dimension Input Fields
83. Using AutoLISP Program to label point coordinate
84. Labeling Coordinate with Easting and Northing in AutoCAD
85. Showing Common AutoCAD Information in Title Block
86. How Can We Protect AutoCAD Tool Palettes?
87. Masking with AutoCAD Hatch
88. Annotative Block Can’t be Dragged Because of Alignment
89. AutoCAD Forgotten Tool: Pan by Points
90. Disabling F1 Key
91. Find mid point between two points in AutoCAD
92. How to: remove hatch contextual tab ribbon
93. Control blipmode in AutoCAD 2012
94. AutoCAD tip: remove alternate unit bracket in dimension
95. How to: add action recorder macro to tool palettes
96. How to use the AutoCAD status line to provide real time
97. Insert block without being asked to input value
98. Do you know that you can plot using TrueView?
99. Enable block attribute dialog during insertion
100. Autodesk Seek: get real world BIM models for free!
101. Disable shift+mid button as transparent orbit
102. AutoCAD tip: Turning off multifunctional grips
103. How to: embed image to AutoCAD drawing
104. AutoCAD tip: Text Alignment Technique
105. AutoCAD tip: exaggerating drawing scale
106. AutoCAD 2012: Legacy Snap to Grid
107. AutoCAD tip: Working with different measurement unit
108. Brians Tip: Why should we use template?
109. How to: Publish AutoCAD layouts to multiple pdf file
110. AutoCAD tips: quickly switching between drawings
111. How to load AutoLISP program
112. Plugins to switch between AutoCAD drawings quickly
113. How to find and replace text in AutoCAD
114. AutoCAD tip: renumber text automatically
115. When Rotating objects, use NEWS
116. Using AutoCAD UNDO: It’s more than just one step back
117. Working with shared contents: eliminating slow network
118. AutoCAD Block Can’t be Inserted Using Non-uniform Scale
119. Command line only express tools: Have you used them?
120. Eleven Killer Tool palette Macros for working with AutoCAD
121. The killer tool palette macros, download it here!
122. Set default system variables in acaddoc.lsp
123. 3 Construction or Reference Objects We Rarely Use
124. How to: trim and copy objects within a boundary
125. AutoCAD tip: rotate multiple texts at once to readable
126. What will went wrong if I use imperial template
127. Learn how to write command scripts for AutoCAD
128. How to Automate AutoCAD with command Macros
129. Load AutoCAD with defined profile and template
130. Another AutoCAD accuracy issue problem
131. Using multiple layer states in multiple layouts
132. AutoCAD 2013: how to choose which customization to sync
133. How to show AutoCAD hidden messages back?
134. How to add AutoCAD layer information in PDF file?
135. Keep AutoCAD block layer after exploding
136. How to: Explode block to other layer
137. Having problem viewing layer manager palette?
138. So you want to apply different rendering materials
139. How to: render sunlight in Autodesk cloud rendering
140. How to: convert dynamic block to regular block
141. Why reinstalling won’t fix your AutoCAD problem
142. Do you need to see detailed DWG properties in Windows
143. CadTempo: Automatic time tracking tools for CAD users
144. Adding AIA standard layers with LISP
145. Search command in AutoCAD application menu
146. How to: add more fonts for AutoCAD
147. How to: Change referenced file layer properties in master file
148. 5 benefits of using AutoCAD saved views
149. Disable ghost/dimmed annotation during annotation scaling
150. How to: fix my AutoCAD drawing to correct drawing unit
151. How to Speed up AutoCAD: optimize your computer (part 1)
152. How to speed Up AutoCAD: configuring AutoCAD (part 2)
153. How to: create DWF/PDF automatically
154. How to: Transfer AutoCAD settings to different computer
155. AutoCAD how to: search objects within drawings
156. How to pass Autodesk Professional certification
157. AutoCAD Tip: Your template doesn’t have to be complicated
158. Why my AutoCAD objects are shown as boxes?
159. How to save AutoCAD DWT template to lower version
160. Convert AutoCAD units using -DWGUNITS
161. Can you Purge, Audit, and Overkill with one click?
162. How to: Edit block attributes in Microsoft Excel
163. Do I have options to control OFFSET result?
164. How to edit palette properties using text editor
165. Open AutoCAD drawings as read only using right click
166. How to: change plotter when publishing with AutoCAD