Product Description

"Whether you're new to AutoCAD or a veteran, you will undoubtedly find this book to be an excellent resource."
-- Abhi Singh, AutoCAD Product Manager, Autodesk, Inc.

Here's the book that makes AutoCAD approachable

Even the people at Autodesk look to Ellen Finkelstein for AutoCAD training, so who better to teach you about AutoCAD 2008? This comprehensive guide brings veterans up to speed on AutoCAD updates and takes novices from the basics to programming in AutoLISP(r) and VBA. Every feature is covered in a logical order, and with the Quick Start chapter, you'll be creating drawings on your very first day. Success is in your hands.

* Start drawing right away with the easy Quick Start project
*

Master commands and procedures for 2D drawings
*

Work in 3D with hiding, shading, and rendering techniques
*

Automate drawing annotation and the display of layers in viewports
*

Organize and share data
*

Customize commands, toolbars, hatch patterns, and more

What's on the DVD?

* 30-day trial versions of AutoCAD 2008 and AutoCAD LT 2008
*

All drawings needed to complete the exercises in the book, including before-and-after versions
*

The entire text of the book in searchable PDF format
*

A selection of add-on programs that will enhance your use of AutoCAD

System Requirements: Please see the DVD-ROM appendix for details and complete system requirements

Connect to external spreadsheets and extract essential data from your drawing objects

Draw and display sophisticated 3D models

Develop flexible, easy-to-use dynamic blocks

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13951 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 1296 pages

From the Back Cover
"Whether you're new to AutoCAD or a veteran, you will undoubtedly find this book to be an excellent resource."
— Abhi Singh, AutoCAD Product Manager, Autodesk, Inc.

Here's the book that makes AutoCAD approachable

Even the people at Autodesk look to Ellen Finkelstein for AutoCAD training, so who better to teach you about AutoCAD 2008? This comprehensive guide brings veterans up to speed on AutoCAD updates and takes novices from the basics to programming in AutoLISP® and VBA. Every feature is covered in a logical order, and with the Quick Start chapter, you'll be creating drawings on your very first day. Success is in your hands.

• Start drawing right away with the easy Quick Start project

• Master commands and procedures for 2D drawings

• Work in 3D with hiding, shading, and rendering techniques

• Automate drawing annotation and the display of layers in viewports

• Organize and share data

• Customize commands, toolbars, hatch patterns, and more

What's on the DVD?

• 30-day trial versions of AutoCAD 2008 and AutoCAD LT 2008

• All drawings needed to complete the exercises in the book, including before-and-after versions

• The entire text of the book in searchable PDF format

• A selection of add-on programs that will enhance your use of AutoCAD

System Requirements: Please see the DVD-ROM appendix for details and complete system requirements

Connect to external spreadsheets and extract essential data from your drawing objects

Draw and display sophisticated 3D models

Develop flexible, easy-to-use dynamic blocks

About the Author
Ellen Finkelstein learned AutoCAD in Israel, where she always got to pore over the manual because it was in English. After returning to the United States, she started consulting and teaching AutoCAD as well as other computer programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. She has also taught courses on Web writing and usability. Her Web site, www.ellenfinkelstein.com, contains tips and techniques for AutoCAD and PowerPoint, and she publishes a monthly AutoCAD Tips Newsletter. Ellen has written extensively on AutoCAD, including articles for Autodesk’s Web site, such as three white papers on dynamic blocks, and features for AutoCAD’s Help system. She is also the editor of Inside AutoCAD, a monthly newsletter published by Eli Journals.
Ellen’s first book was AutoCAD For Dummies Quick Reference. Since then, she has written books on Word, PowerPoint, OpenOffice.org (OpenOffice.org For Dummies), Flash (such as Flash 8 For Dummies), and Web technologies (for example, Syndicating Web Sites with RSS Feeds For Dummies). You’re holding the eighth edition of this book, which previously appeared for AutoCAD releases 14, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Customer Reviews

Great Book
great reference book for the beginner or the one who usually use AutoCAD for living. This is a must have book because you could get almost every command /answer in it!

AutoCad 2009 Bible
If you want to receive a doctorate degree and you have the time, this is a great resource book to have as a reference. It is very detailed with examples learning the ropes with 2/3D AutoCad. The font could be larger for easier reading but that would significantly increase the number of pages.

The tool you need to learn a complex piece of software
My professional occupation have been in construction as a bricklayer, but now I need to re-educate me on the cause of health. Aiming to be an cad-operater I want to learn Autocad as well as possible. I enrolled in school, but found the books there a little short on the subject. So I got this book from Amazon in hope of pick up a little faster, and I sure did.
This book has all you need to know about Autocad, with the latest tools laid out in nice detail. I recomend it from my whole heart.