N.Poleshchuk. "AutoCAD 2008 - In Origin" (2007, in Russian)

"AutoCAD 2008 - In Origin" (2007, in Russian)

BHV-Petersburg published in October 2007:

23. N.Poleshchuk. "AutoCAD 2008 - In Origin". BHV-Petersburg, 2007, 1184 pp. ISBN 5-9775-0073-9.

The book is written for experienced readers. Efficient AutoCAD 2008 system tools are being thoroughly examined for process of designing products and buildings with 3D models. The book includes little-known and undocumented information on commands and system variables. There are described methods of drawing creation using annotation scaling, connection between model and its representation in paper layouts. Means of entities building and objects DXF codes are covered. Many pages are filled with information on views, visual styles, photometric lights, animations and videos. Plotting and publishing issues finish the book.

The book is accompanied by preface from Autodesk.

Book contents:

Autodesk's Preface
From the Author

Part 1. General

Chapter 1. About AutoCAD in General
Main Differences between AutoCAD 2008 and AutoCAD 2007
System Designation
Environment Configuration
System Purchase
Solving Technical Problems
Installation of the System
Installation Problems
License
Express Tools
Programmer's Notes
Shortcut Properties

Chapter 2. Interface Elements
Start windows
Main window
Menu Bar and Drop-down Menus
  File Menu
  Edit Menu
  View Menu
  Insert Menu
  Format Menu
  Tools Menu
  Draw Menu
  Dimension Menu
  Modify Menu
  Express Menu
  Window Menu
  Help Menu
  dbConnect Menu
  Programmer's Notes
Toolbars
  Toolbar Adding and Deleting
  Restoring Hidden Toolbar
  Locking Toolbar Position
Modeless Windows
Dashboard
Workspaces
  Setting Workspace Parameters in the Dialog Box
Command Line Window
  Command Line Shortcut Menu
Status Bar
Screen Menu
Graphics Window
  Document Graphics Area
  UCS Icon
  Cursor
  Shortcut Menu
  Layouts Line and Document Status Bar
    Layout Shortcut Menu
Text Window
  Programmer's Notes
Pointing Device

Chapter 3. Commands
Command Input and Autocompletion
Commands List
Command Options
  Shortcut Menu
Cancelling Command
Undoing Command
Command Repeating
Command Execution Modes
Modifiers
  Transparent Commands
  Minus Sign
  Plus Sign
  Commands in Localized Versions
  Command Redefinition
  Modifiers Sequence
Aliases and External Commands
  Acad.pgp File
  External Commands in the Standard PGP File
  Aliases in the Standard PGP File
  Tools for Editing Acad.pgp File
  Reinitializing PGP File
Handling Input in Command Line
Scripts
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 4. Files and Formats
Beginning AutoCAD Session
  Startup Window
  New Drawing Creation
Saving
  DWG Files Protection
  Backup Copy
Opening and Partial Opening
Closing and Exiting
Drawing Recovery Manager
DWG and DXF Formats Export and Import
  WBLOCK Command
  INSERT Command
Other Formats Export and Import
  DWF
  DGN
  WMF
  SAT
  STL
  EPS
  DXX
  BMP
  3DS
  DXB
  XML
  HTML
  JPEG, PNG
  PLT (HPGL)
  TIFF
External DWG References
OLE Objects Insertion
Hyperlinks
Utilities
Drawing Properties
Drawing Zoom Handling
  Panning
  Real-time Zooming
  ZOOM Command
    Window Option
    Object Option
    Center Option
    Extents Option
    All Option
    Previous Option
    Scale Option
    Dynamic Option
    Undocumented Vmax Option
  Zoom Toolbar
  Zoom Submenu in View Menu
  Clearing Screen
  Zooming in 3D Space

Chapter 5. Points and Coordinates
Visual Coordinates
Absolute Coordinates
Relative Coordinates
  Coordinates Line Shortcut Menu
Object Snap
  Endpoint Function
  Midpoint Function
  Mid Between 2 Points Function
  Intersection Function
  Apparent Intersection Function
  Nearest Function
  From Function
  Temporary Tracking Point Function
  Extension Function
  Center Function
  Quadrant Function
  Tangent Function
  Perpendicular Function
  Parallel Function
  Insert Function
  Node Function
  None Function
  Osnap Settings Item
  Snap and Hatch
  Programmer's Notes
Calculator
  Number Expressions
  Points and Vectors
  Object Snap Functions
  Variables
  Angle Formats
  Functions
Coordinates in 3D Space
Coordinate Filters
Coordinate Systems
  UCS Command
  UCS Toolbar
  UCS II Toolbar
  Programmer's Notes
Using Points In Number Input

Chapter 6. Modes
Measurement Units
Drawing Modes
  GRID Mode
  SNAP Mode
  ORTHO Mode
  POLAR Mode
  OSNAP Mode
  OTRACK Mode
DYN Mode
DUCS Mode
  LWT Mode
  MODEL/PAPER Mode
  Modes Bar Customization
Multidocument and Singledocument Modes
  Taskbar View Control
Work Log File
Active Help Modes

Chapter 7. System Variables
Main System Variables List
Additional Notes to System variables
  *ENTEXTS, ENTEXTS
  *ERRNO, ERRNO
  *MACROTRACE, MACROTRACE
  *QAFLAGS
  *RE-INIT, RE-INIT
*WHIPTHREAD, WHIPTHREAD
  ANNOAUTOSCALE
  AUTOSNAP
  BINDTYPE
  CALCINPUT
  CDATE
  CECOLOR
  CELTYPE
  CELWEIGHT
  CMDACTIVE
  CMDECHO
  CMLSCALE
  COORDS
  CPLOTSTYLE
  CVPORT
  DATE
  DBMOD
  DCTMAIN
  DEFLPLSTYLE
  DEFPLSTYLE
  DELOBJ
  DEMANDLOAD
  DISPSILH
  DRAGMODE
  DRAWORDERCTL
  DTEXTED
  DWGCHECK
  DXEVAL
  DYNDIGRIP
  DYNMODE
  EXPERT
  EXTNAMES
  FACETRATIO
  FIELDEVAL
  FILEDIA
  FONTALT
  FONTMAP
  GFNAME
  GRIDDISPLAY
  GRIPOBJLIMIT
  HIDETEXT
  HPORIGINMODE
  HYPERLINKBASE
  INDEXCTL
  INPUTHISTORYMODE
  INSUNITS
  INTERSECTIONCOLOR, INTERSECTIONDISPLAY
  ISAVEPERCENT
  LAYERFILTERALERT
  LAYERNOTIFY
  LAYLOCKFADECTL
  LAYOUTREGENCTL
  LOCKUI
  LOFTNORMALS
  LOFTPARAM
  LUNITS
  MEASUREINIT, MEASUREMENT
  MENUCTL
  MENUECHO
  MTEXTED
  OBSCUREDCOLOR, OBSCUREDLTYPE
  OFFSETDIST
  OFFSETGAPTYPE
  OSMODE
  OSOPTIONS
  PALETTEOPAQUE
  PDMODE, PDSIZE
  PERIMETER
  PERSPECTIVECLIP
  PICKADD
  PICKAUTO
  PICKSTYLE
  PLINETYPE
  PLOTROTMODE
  POLARADDANG
  POLARANG
  POLARDIST
  POLARMODE
  PREVIEWFILTER
  PROJECTNAME
  PROXYNOTICE
  PROXYWEBSEARCH
  PSLTSCALE
  PSQUALITY
  PSTYLEPOLICY
  RECOVERYMODE
  RENDERUSERLIGHTS
  SCREENMODE
  SDI
  SETBYLAYERMODE
  SHORTCUTMENU
  SHOWHIST
  SNAPANG, SNAPBASE
  SORTENTS
  SPLINESEGS
  STARTUP
  SYSCODEPAGE
  TEXTEVAL
  TIMEZONE
  TRACKPATH
  TREEDEPTH
  TREEMAX
  UCSICON
  UNDOCTL
  UPDATETHUMBNAIL
  VIEWMODE
  VISRETAIN
  VSEDGEJITTER
  VSMAX
  VTENABLE
  WMFBKGND, WMFFOREGND
  WORLDVIEW
  XLOADCTL, XLOADPATH
  XREFNOTIFY
Dimension System Variables List
Additional Notes to Dimension System variables
  DIMALTTZ
  DIMALTU
  DIMALTZ
  DIMAPOST
  DIMASSOC
  DIMATFIT
  DIMAUNIT
  DIMAZIN
  DIMBLK
  DIMCEN
  DIMDSEP
  DIMGAP
  DIMJUST
  DIMLFAC
  DIMLUNIT
  DIMLWD
  DIMPOST
  DIMSCALE
  DOMSOXD
  DIMSTYLE
  DIMTAD
  DIMTIH
  DIMTM
  DIMTMOVE
  DOMTOFL
  DIMTOH
  DIMTVP
  DIMTZIN
  DIMZIN
System Variables Editor
Programmer's Notes

Part 2. Entities in Plane

Chapter 8. Entity Types, Ways of Creating and Modifying
Main Entities
Commands for Main Entities Creation
Commands for Main Entities Modification
Objects Geometry Listing
Entity Extended Data
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 9. Common DXF Codes of Objects
Entities
Symbol Tables

Chapter 10. Grips. Methods of Object Selection
Grips and Selection Sets
  Grip Position
Main Selection Methods
  Setting Selection Tool
Preliminary Selection and Selection by Demand
Other Selection Methods
  SELECT Command
  QSELECT Command
  Express Selection Tools
  Scanning Coinciding Objects
  Programmer's Notes
Groups
  Programmer's Notes
Grip Settings
Grip Tools

Chapter 11. Linear Entities
Line
  Creating
    Line Extending Previous Entity
  Modifying
  Programmer's Notes
Ray
  Creating
  Modifying
  Programmer's Notes
Construction Line
  Creating
  Modifying
  Programmer's Notes
Trace
  Creating
  Modifying
  Programmer's Notes
Solid
  Creating
  Modifying
  Programmer's Notes

Chapter 12. Points (Nodes)
Creating
  Points Display Mode Handling
  POINT Command
  DIVIDE Command
  MEASURE Command
Listing Information
Modifying
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 13. Circular Entities
Circle
  Creating
  Some Cases of Osnap Use
  Modifying
  Programmer's Notes
Arc
  Creating
  Modifying
  Programmer's Notes

Chapter 14. 2D Polylines
Creating
  PLINE Command
  RECTANG Command
  POLYGON Command
  DONUT Command
  BOUNDARY Command
  SKETCH Command
  REVCLOUD Command
  BREAKLINE Command
Modifying
  PEDIT Command
    Vertex Editing
  MPEDIT Command
  EXPLODE Command
  CHAMFER and FILLET Commands
Joining into Polyline
Lightweight and Heavyweight Polylines
  PLINETYPE System Variable
  Type Conversion
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 15. Ellipses
Creating
Modifying
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 16. Splines
Creating
Modifying
Editing Fit Points
Other Editing Options
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 17. Text Entities and Styles
Single-line Text
  Text Creating
  Text Styles
  Text Modifying
    MIRRTEXT System Variable
Bringing Text to Foreground
  Quick Text
  3D Text Thickness
  Programmer's Notes
Multiline Text
  Mtext Creating
  Mtext Modifying
    MIRRTEXT System Variable
    Mtext Exploding
  Bringing Mtext to Foreground
  Mtext Editor Specifying
  Loading Editor Problems
  Programmer's Notes
Text Objects in Express Tools
  ARCALIGNEDTEXT Entity
  RTEXT Entity
Additinal Tools of Text Handling

Chapter 18. Dimensions, Multileaders and Their Styles
Dimensions
  Creating Dimensions, Leaders and Tolerances
    Linear Dimension
    Aligned Dimension
    Arclength Dimension
    Ordinate Dimension
    Radius Dimension
    Diameter Dimension
    Angular Dimension
    Quick Dimension
    Baseline Dimension
    Continue Dimension
    Inspection Dimension
    Multileader
    Leader
      QLEADER Command
      Other Commands
      Express Tools
    Tolerance
    Center Mark
  Putting User's Text Above or Under Dimension Line
  Modifying Dimension Entities
    Breaking and Jogging Dimension Line
    Dimension Lines Spacing Management
  Editing Multileaders
    Aligning
    Grouping
  Shortcut Editing Menu
  Bringing Dimensions to Foreground
  Dimensions Associativity
  Listing Information
  Programmer's Notes
Dimension Styles
  Styles Export and Import
  Programmer's Notes
Multileader Styles
  Programmer's Notes

Chapter 19. Multilines and Their Styles
Creating
Modifying
Multilne Styles
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 20. Hatches and Fills
Creating Hatch
Hatch Inside Open Boundary
Hatch Elevation
Creating Fill
Switching Hatch and Fill Off
Draw Order Handling
Toolpalettes Using
Modifying Hatch and Fill
Superhatch
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 21. Tables and Their Styles
Creating Table
Editing Table
Programmer's Notes
Table Styles
Importing Excel Table with Clipboard and Conversion to AutoCAD Entity
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 22. Fields
Field Creation
Formula
Updating Fields
Editing Entities with Fields
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 23. General Modification Commands
ERASE Command and Delete Button
  Undoing Command
  OVERKILL Command
COPY Command
  Programmer's Notes
  Other Copy Commands
MIRROR Command
OFFSET Command
  OFFSETGAPTYPE System Variable
  Offsetting Ellipse
EXOFFSET Command
ARRAY Command
  Rectangular Array
  Polar Array
MOVE Command
ROTATE Command
SCALE Command
ALIGN Command
STRETCH Command
  MSTRETCH Command
LENGTHEN Command
TRIM Command
  Trimming Hatch or Fill
  Trimming by Block or DWG Reference
  EXTRIM Command
EXTEND Command
  Extending to Block or DWG Reference
BREAK Command
JOIN Command
CHAMFER Command
FILLET Command
EXPLODE Command
Editing with Grips
Editing with Shortcut Menu
Use of Clipboard
Editing with PROPERTIES Window
Copying with Mouse

Part 3. Properties

Chapter 24. Colors
Setting Current Color
Changing Object Color
Color Palette
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 25. Linetypes
Loading Linetype
Setting Current Linetype
Changing Object Linetype
Removing Unused Linetype
Linetype Scale
Changing Global Linetype Scale
Setting Current Linetype Scale in Model Space
Changing Own Object Linetype Scale
Handling Linetype Scale in Paper Space
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 26. Layers
Layer Properties Manager
Filters and Groups
Creating New Layer
Setting Current Layer
Changing Object Layer
Turning Layer Off
Freezing Layer
Locking Layer
Setting Layer Color
Setting Layer Linetype
Setting Layer Lineweight
Setting Layer Plotstyle
Turning Layer Plotting Off
Renaming Layer
Removing Unused Layer
Editing Layer Description
Saving and Restoring Layers State
Layer tools Submenu
LAYERP Command
New Layer Notification
ByLayer Value
SETBYLAYER Command
Layers Panel in Dashboard
Layers in Paper Space
Working in Command Line Mode
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 27. Lineweights
Handling Lineweights Displaying
Setting Current Lineweight
Changing Object Lineweight
DEFAULT Value
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 28. Other Properties
Annotation Scale
  New Interface Elements
  Using Annotation Scale in Model Space
  Using Annotation Scale in Paper Space
Annotative Objects Display Management
SAVEFIDELITY Sysytem Variable
Linetype Scale Management in Model Layout
Materials
  Loading Material into Drawing
  Attaching Material to Entity
  Material Control Buttons
  Editing Material
    Material editor Tab
    Maps Tab
    Advanced Lighting Override Tab
    Material Scaling & Tiling Tab
    Material Offset & Preview Tab
  Setting Material to Layer
  Material Control Panel in Dashboard
  Displaying Materials
  Creating Materials
  Programmer's Notes
Hyperlinks
  Creating
Modifying Hyperlink
  Express Tools Commands
Controlling the Display of Hyperlink Icon and Tooltip
Jumping with Hyperlink
Working with Hyperlinks in Command Line Mode
  Inserting Hyperlink
    Hyperlink to an Object
    Hyperlink to an Area
  Removing Hyperlink
Other Hyperlink Handling Commands
Programmer's Notes
  Hypername
  Access to Hyperlink Data

Chapter 29. Properties Management
Properties Window
CHPROP Command
CHANGE Command
Copying Properties

DesignCenter
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 30. Standards

Part 4. Complex Objects

Chapter 31. Blocks
Block Definition
Inserting Block
INSERT Entity
Editing Block Reference
ByBlock Value
Layer 0 Role
Editing Block Definition
Blocks Array
Inserting Blocks with DIVIDE, MEASURE and BREAKLINE Commands
Inserting Nonannotative Block into a Table Cell
Editing Definition of the Block Included into Array
Inserting File
Dynamic Blocks
  Parameters and Actions
  Action Chains
  Visibility Property
  Lookup Tables
Using DesignCenter and Toolpalettes
Insert Object Snap Function
WBLOCK Command
Clipboard and Blocks
Anonymous Blocks
Clipping Block Reference
Express Tools
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 32. Attributes
Attribute Definition
Including Attribute Definitions into Block Definition
Inserting Block with Attributes by INSERT Command
Inserting Block with Attributes by Other Commands
Annotativity
Editing Attributes
Editing Attribute Definition
Changing Attribute Visibility
Clipping Blocks with Attributes
Attributes Extraction
Exploding Blocks with Attributes
Express Tools
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 33. DWG References
Inserting Xref
Editing DWG Reference
ByBlock Value and Layer 0
Xref Manager
CLASSICXREF Command
Converting Xref to Block Reference
Path Control
Control of DWG Reference Load
Exploding DWG References
Editing DWG and Block References Editing from Within a Current Drawing
Clipping DWG References
Additional Express Tools
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 34. Raster Images and Underlays
Inserting Raster Image
External References Manager
CLASSICIMAGE Command
Path Control
Handling the Display Order
Clipping Image and Switching Off the Frame
Tuning the Display of Raster Image
Using Image as a View Background
Grips nad Shortcut Menu
SOLID Hatch
SAVEIMG Command
Unusual Ways of Raster Image Handling
Calling Image Editor
Printing Drawings with Raster Images
Wipeout
Programmer's Notes
DWF Underlay
Programmer's Notes
DGN Underlay

Chapter 35. OLE Objects and Data Links
Inserting Microsoft Word Document
OLE and Windows Clipboard
Editing Links
Programmer's Notes
Markups
Links with Excel Spreadsheet Data

Part 5. Working in the 3D Space

Chapter 36. User Coordinate Systems
Using Z Coordinate
Construction Plane
Orthographic Coordinate Systems
Naming UCS
Dynamic Selection of UCS
UCS Express Tools
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 37. 3D Model Elements
Viewpoint
  VPOINT Command
  DDVPOINT Command
  PLAN Command
    EXPLAN Command
  DVIEW Command
  Orbit Commands
Clipping Planes
Views
  Saving and Restoring Views
  Standard Views
  Programmer's Notes
Perspective Projection and Cameras
  Programmer's Notes
Navigation
Model Space Viewports
  Viewport Configurations
  Working with Viewport Configurations
  Programmer's Notes
DSVIEWER Command
General Editing Commands in Space
  3DMOVE
  3DROTATE
  MIRROR3D
  3DARRAY
  3DALIGN
  ROTATE3D

Chapter 38. Elevation and Thickness
Elevation
Thickness
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 39. Polylines, Helices, Faces, Meshes and Regions
3D Polylines
  Creating
  Modifying
  Listing Information
  Programmer's Notes
Helices
  Listing Information
  Programmer's Notes
Faces
  Creating
  Modifying
  Programmer's Notes
Polygon Meshes
  Creating
    3DMESH Command
    Standard Form Meshes
    REVSURF Command
    TABSURF Command
    RULESURF Command
    EDGESURF Command
    Listing Information
  Modifying
  Programmer's Notes
Polyface Meshes
  PFACE Command
  Programmer's Notes
Regions
  Creating
    REGION Command
    BOUNDARY Command
  Modifying
  Programmer's Notes

Chapter 40. 3D Solids and Surfaces
Creating Simple 3D Solids
Creating Pyramid
POLYSOLID Command
Dynamic Building Solids
Converting to 3D Solid
Creating Compound 3D Solids
PRESSPULL Command
INTERFERE Command
Solid History
Work with Subobjects
Chamfers and Fillets
  Filleting 3D Faces
  Chamfering 3D Faces
Creating 3D Solids from Regions
Slices and Sections
Live Sections
Modifying 3D Solids
  Creating Shell
Listing Information
  Programmer's Notes
Surfaces
  Setting Thickness to Surface
  Listing Information
  Programmer's Notes

Chapter 41. Visual Styles
Main Visual Styles
Visual Styles Manager
Material Display
VSCURRENT Command
-SHADEMODE Command
HIDE Command

Chapter 42. Rendering and Animation
Rendering Operations
Default Lighting
Lights
  Point Light
  Spotlight
  Distant Light
  Web Light
  Free Lights
  Photometric Lights
  Lights Control
  Listing Information
  Programmer's Notes
Sun and Geographical Location
  Programmer's Notes
Textures
Fog
Advances Rendering Parameters
Animation and Video

Chapter 6. Layouts and Sheet Sets

Chapter 43. Layouts
Paper Space Features
  Layout Page Setup
  Programmer's Notes
Layout Operations
  LAYOUT Command
  Shortcut Menu
  Layout Submenu of the Insert Menu
  DesignCenter
  Programmer's Notes
Viewports in Paper Space
  Creating Rectangular Viewports
  Steps for Finishing Viewports
  Creating Non-rectangular Viewports
  Clipping Viewport
  Turning Viewport On and Off
  MODEL Mode in the Paper Space
  Locking Viewport
  Viewport Scale
  Annotation Scale
  Expanding Viewport
  Viewport Shortcut Menu
  Listing Viewport Information
Handling Viewports
  Freezing Object Layer in the Viewport
  Overriding Viewport Layer Properties
  Freezing Viewport Frames
  Dimensioning
Maximum Number of Viewports
Programmer's Notes
WBLOCK Command and Copying to Clipboard
INSERT Command and Pasting from Clipboard

Chapter 44. Special Tools of Paper Space Layout Handling
SOLVIEW Command
  Main View
  Orthographic View
  Auxiliary View
  Sectional View
SOLDRAW Command
SOLPROFILE Command
CHSPACE Command
Projecting Commands
  FLATTEN Command
  FLATSHOT Command
MVSETUP Command
  Programmer's Notes
Additional Express Tools

Chapter 45. Sheet Sets
Sheet Set Manager
Sheet Set Creation
Handling Sheet Sets

Part 7. Plot and Publish

Chapter 46. Plotting
Plotting Tab
Adding a Plotter
Calibrating Plotter
Plot Settings
Plotstamp
Background Batch Plotting
Programmer's Notes

Chapter 47. Plotstyles
Plotstyle Types
  Color-dependent Styles
  Named Styles
Settings Concerning Plotstyles
Converting Plotstyles
  Transferring to Named Styles

Chapter 48. Publishing and File Transmitting
Sheet Set Publishing
Autodesk DWF Viewer
Drawing Publishing
3DDWF Command
Using DWF Underlay
Etransmit

Conclusion

Literature

Index

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