AutoCAD 2004

Introduction

01-AutoCAD and Architecture
02-The GUI and Windows
03-Customizing the Interface
04-Drawing Lines
05-Starting a New Drawing
06-Saving a Drawing

Practice Drawing

07-Drawing Straight Lines
08-Modify Commands
09-Zoom Commands
10-Pan and Zoom Features
11-Selecting Objects/Entities
12-Grips
13-Develop Drawing Style

Creating an Architectural Drawing - Method A

14-Sketch File
15-Format Units and Point of Origin
16-Drawing Exact Length Lines
17-Save and Offset Lines
18-Copy Lines and Object Snap
19-Using Object Snaps
20-Save and Trim Command
21-Trim and Undo
22-Fillet Command
23-UCS Icon and Distance Command
24-Circle and Move Command
25-Line and Trim Command
26-Drawing Comments and Close File

Printing a Drawing - Part I

Basic Printing Features
Review Printing and the Scale Factor

Creating an Architectural Drawing - Method B

Common Steps and Regen Command
Modifying Lines
Extend Command
Mirror Command
Rotate Command

Introduction to Layers

Drawing a Kitchen Table
Introduction to Layers
Creating Entities and Layers
Layer Properties
Modifying Entities and Layers
Polar Tracking and Mirror Command
Express Tools: Layers
List Command and Layer Standards

Drawing with Layers and Linetypes

Creating a Sketch and Drawing a Kitchen
Creating Layers
Drawing Techniques
Continue Drawing and Modifying
Drawing the Window
Drawing the Door
Drawing the Cabinets
Drawing the Refrigerator
Drawing the Sink
Drawing the Stove

Linetypes

Formatting the Linetype
Modifying Lines
Autosave Feature and Closing the Drawing

Hatch Patterns

Adding a Hatch Pattern to the Floor
Adding a Hatch Pattern to the Walls
Modifying a Hatch Pattern
Using Snapbase when Hatching

The Architectural Scale Factor

What is the Scale Factor?
Calculating the Scale Factor - Three Methods
Calculating the Scale Factor - Two Methods
The Scale Factor Chart

Text

Preparing a Sketch and Formatting Text
Drawing Text Using the Scale Factor
Modify Text Location
Object Snap Tracking
Text Properties
Dtext and Mtext

Dimensions

Anatomy of a Dimension
Formatting a Dimension Style
Entering Values for Dimension Style
Entering Values Continued
Drawing Dimension Lines
Editing Dimension Lines
Continuous Dimensions
Creating a New Dimension Style
Dimensioning Tips

Creating Blocks and Wblocks

What are Blocks and Wblocks?
Creating a Block
Inserting a Block
Redefine a Block
Creating a Wblock
Inserting a Wblock
Purging Block Definitions
Using DesignCenter to Insert Blocks/Wblocks

Polylines

Creating Polylines
Creating a Border Using Polylines
Adding Text
Stretch Command

Model Space and Paper Space

Purpose of Model Space and Paper Space
Composing the Final Drawing - Model Space
Composing the Final Drawing - Paper Space
Psltscale System Variable

Printing a Drawing - Part II

Printing the Final Drawing Using Plot Styles
Printing Options
Model Space and Paper Space Printing

Conclusion

Final Words on AutoCAD

Saving a Drawing

CAD Tutorials: AutoCAD 2004 for Architects - Main Page

Save a Drawing:

You save drawing files for later use just as you do with other Windows applications. AutoCAD also provides automatic saving, backup files, and other options for saving.

When you are working on a drawing, you should save it frequently. Saving protects you from losing work in the event of a power failure or other unexpected event. If you want to create a new version of a drawing without affecting the original drawing, you can save it under another name.

The file extension for AutoCAD drawing files is .dwg, and unless you change the default file format in which drawings are saved, drawings are saved in the AutoCAD LT 2004 drawing-file format. This format is optimized for file compression and for use on a network.

Save Your Drawing Automatically

If you turn on the automatic saving option, AutoCAD saves your drawing at specified time intervals. By default, files saved automatically are temporarily assigned the name filename_a_b_nnnn.sv$. The file name is the current drawing name, a is the number of open instances of the same drawing file in the same AutoCAD session, b is the number of open instances of the same drawing in different sessions of AutoCAD, and nnnn is a random number generated by AutoCAD.

Files that are automatically saved are deleted when AutoCAD closes a drawing in the normal way. Saved files remain in the event of a crash or power failure. To recover a previous version of your drawing from the automatically saved file, rename the file using a .dwg extension.

Use Backup Files

If you turn on automatic backups, AutoCAD saves the previous version of your drawing files to a file with the same name and a .bak file extension. To recover the previous version of your drawing from a backup file, rename the file using a .dwg extension.

Save Part of a Drawing File

If you want to create a new drawing file from part of an existing drawing, you can use BLOCK or WBLOCK. With either command, you can select objects or specify a block definition in your current drawing and save them in a new drawing file. You can also save a description along with the new drawing.

Save to a Different Type of Drawing File

You can save a drawing to an earlier version of the DWG or DXF format or save a drawing as a template file. Choose the format from Files of Type in the Save Drawing As dialog box.

Reduce the Time Required to Save a Drawing File

You can reduce the time required to save a drawing file if you specify incremental saves rather than full saves. An incremental save updates only those portions of the saved drawing file that you changed.

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