AutoCAD 2004 Bible (Paperback)

by Ellen Finkelstein (Author) "Learning AutoCAD is a bit like trying to decide which came first-the chicken or the egg..." (more)
Key Phrases: Layer Properties Manager, Aerial View, Express Tools (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
* Includes new features, such as more than eighty productivity tools, new printing enhancements, easier management of external reference drawings, and much more.
* No experience is required; the first part guides novice users through the AutoCAD interface, yet the book is so complete that even veteran AutoCAD users will want to keep it by their PCs.
* The CD-ROM includes beginning and finished exercise drawings from the book, a trial version of AutoCAD, bonus appendices, freeware and shareware programs, a links page, more.

From the Back Cover
"To get maximum value and performance from AutoCAD, you should have the AutoCAD 2004 Bible right at your fingertips."
–from the foreword by Wayne Hodgins, Strategic Futurist,
Director of Worldwide Learning Strategies, Autodesk, Inc.

If AutoCAD 2004 can do it, you can do it too...

The leading CAD software has the features you need to design and redesign the world. With AutoCAD 2004’s new interface, 80-plus Express Tools for added productivity, text and quality-output enhancements, and new ways to manage drawings, even veteran users need a refresher course. AutoCAD authority Ellen Finkelstein covers every feature, creating a comprehensive guidebook with the clear organization of a reference manual and the practical usability of a tutorial. It’s the only resource that begins with AutoCAD basics and takes you all the way to advanced programming techniques.

Inside, you’ll find complete coverage of AutoCAD 2004

• Learn to make maximum use of the new palette interface
• Discover the easiest ways to create precision drawings
• Explore AutoCAD’s many commands for creating 2D and 3D drawings and renderings
• Master editing and dimensioning techniques
• Control and manipulate your drawing data using blocks, attributes, and external databases
• Share and manage drawing information with the DesignCenter, Web publishing, Tool Palettes, Reference Manager, and cross-application tools
• Customize AutoCAD with command shortcuts, unique toolbars, scripts, linetypes, and hatch patterns
• Use AutoLISP® and VBA to program AutoCAD

Bonus CD-ROM

• Exercise drawings from start to finish
• Trial version of AutoCAD 2004
• Multiple freeware and shareware programs, including AccuRender, 3D-Cab, and GeomCurve
• Author-recommended Web links
• Searchable e-version of the book

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1315 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (June 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764539922
• ISBN-13: 978-0764539923
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #640,449 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Step by Step How to Book, September 25, 2003

By	Cynthia (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Great book for those want to learn AutoCAD. It has valuable reesource information. I use it to help teach our beginning and intermediate user here at our office. I like it because it is easy to understand for all levels of computer users.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yea - it's worth it, May 24, 2004

By	D. Harp (Greencastle, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have hundreds of books and manuals on various techie subjects and Ellen's AutoCAD 2004 Bible ranks high on my list for books worth the purchase. I have used AutoCAD for years but after moving up to Acad 2005 from Acad 2000 I thought I could use some tutoring. The book didn't disappoint. For nearly every topic there is a step by step, hands-on, example that the reader can perform. There are around 160 drawing files on the accompanying CD; one for each example in the book. You can open that file in Acad and follow the steps in the book and experiment to your heart's content.

All in all, this book won't disappont you like some I could mention.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent AutoCAD Book - Something for everyone., November 13, 2003

By	Mary Fugier (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

I have had R14, 2000 AutoCAD Bibles on my shelf for many years now. I picked the 2004 Bible to use as a textbook in an advanced AutoCAD class that I teach 6 or so times a year.

I was very pleased with how well it meshed with the way I have always taught this class (13 years last month.) Plus it is a nice "value added" item that the students can take back to work. My first class was very pleased about getting to use the 2004 Bible while in class and also about having a reference to study after the class.

It was funny because I started saying "take your Bibles and turn to page ..." it was like we were in church! I can not say enough good about Ellen's writing style, her use of graphics throughout the book and her expertise! It is all there in the Bible.