AutoCAD 2005 For Dummies [Paperback]

Mark Middlebrook (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764571389 | ISBN-13: 978-0764571381 | Publication Date: May 14, 2004 | Edition: 1

• Shows how to use the leading technical drawing software-AutoCAD-and its less-expensive sister product, AutoCAD LT, in the friendly, easy-to-understand For Dummies style
• Shows first-time AutoCAD users how to create precise and efficient 2-D technical drawings and get started with 3-D technical drawings
• Topics covered include creating a basic layout; drawing and editing; writing text in drawings; plotting, creating, and editing external reference files; CAD standards; and drawing on the Internet
• Explores new features in the latest version of AutoCAD, including text improvements, streamlined Plot and Page Setup dialogue boxes, increased emphasis on tool palettes, better tools for transmitting sets of electronic files, and much more
• Includes a new chapter on sheet sets and a new collection of features for creating, managing, and publishing all of the drawings that make up a project

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Use sheet sets, collaborate nicely, and go LT for 2005

Find out how to use DWF, live up to new standards, and share files online

AutoCAD can be complicated, but this book isn’t! Here’s where you’ll discover how to set up a drawing, toe the lines, add dimension and text, share your stuff, and more, in AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT. Now you’ll be able to create a presentable, usable, printable, and sharable drawing without getting old before your time.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

Discover how to:

• Manage projects with sheet sets
• Import data into drawings using text tables
• Collaborate with other users
• Standardize drawing components with tool palettes
• Use the streamlined Plot and Page Setup features

About the Author

Mark Middlebrook used to be an engineer but gave it up when he discovered that he couldn’t handle a real job. He is now principal of Daedalus Consulting, an independent CAD and computer consulting company in Oakland, California. (In case you wondered, Daedalus was the guy in ancient Greek legend who built the labyrinth on Crete. Mark named his company after Daedalus before he realized that few of his clients would be able to pronounce it and even fewer spell it.) Mark is also a contributing editor for CADALYST magazine and Webmaster of markcad.com. When he’s not busy being a cad, Mark sells and writes about wine for Paul Marcus Wines in Oakland. He also teaches literature and philosophy classes at St. Mary’s College of California — hence “Daedalus.” AutoCAD 2005 For Dummies is his sixth book on AutoCAD.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (May 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764571389
• ISBN-13: 978-0764571381
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #993,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Dummy to Smarty, August 11, 2004

By 

Lillian Crist - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AutoCAD 2005 For Dummies (Paperback)

This book is guaranteed to make you an AutoCAD smarty! I teach AutoCAD courses and I'm recommending this book to students for its step-by-step approach; clear organization prioritizing the information between essential and advanced tips or warnings, etc.; helpful and abundant graphics and screen shots; advice that could only come from professional experience, letting us know what is the best way to use this software, instead of just hurling every possible method at us without any guidance; coverage of drafting, design, and project management issues related to the software; coverage of the fun stuff like 3D, etc. And best of all, the book has a great sense of humor! Written in a warm, conversational tone, with humorous as well as frank commentary, this book will make you realize that you are being guided by a real person who is giving you the inside story on how we really use AutoCAD day to day in the workplace.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, August 2, 2004

By 

M. Johnson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AutoCAD 2005 For Dummies (Paperback)

When I make a decision about whether to buy a book, I look through it to see if there is enough useful information to be worth my time and money. Here are some of my impressions of this book.

AutoCAD is one of the most complex and powerful programs I have ever seen. Middlebrook is clearly very knowledgeable, but remembers what it's like to be a beginner and is able to write from the point of view of someone who is poking the buttons in this program for the first time. There are often several ways to do things with AutoCAD and it was great to see tips about the easiest way for a novice to do them. For instance, this is the only place I have seen a concise list of steps for producing a plot.

Another thing I enjoyed about the book is the perspective. In the first part of the book there is some historical perspective of CAD in general which is helpful if your trying to decide what cad program to invest your time and money in or whether it's time to upgrade to the latest version of AutoCAD. In later parts of the book that gets into the nuts and bolts, you not only see how to do particular things with the program, you come away with a sense of why the program works the way it does.

He also writes from a non-AutoDesk point of view. I got the feeling that I was getting good information rather than the company line as well as some tips that I wouldn't expect to find in the program manuals or the online help.

It's very readable, which is a rare thing considering the technical subject. There is a sense of humor and it is a pleasure to read. I wouldn't want to try and learn or use this program without the manuals, but I wouldn't want to try it without this book either and a decision about buying this book was pretty easy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended AutoCAD reading, March 31, 2005

By 

J. I. Rosenberg "Inaki" (Winter Park, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AutoCAD 2005 For Dummies (Paperback)

I bought this book after 2 years of not using AutoCAD from a very basic training I had. I found this book to be extremely helpful, and the writing style is really good as to not make the book a total bore, which happens with most others.
I seriously recommend this book.