Ellen Finkelstein - AutoCAD 2012and AutoCAD LT 2012 Bible

AutoCAD 2012
& AutoCAD LT 2012
Bible

Ellen Finkelstein

AutoCAD 2012 & AutoCAD LT 2012 Bible

Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
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Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Copyright 2011 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana. All rights reserved

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 978-1-118-02221-4

Printed in the United States of America

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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, PowerPoint, and presenting, and she publishes the AutoCAD Tips Blog and the AutoCAD Tips Newsletter. Ellen has written extensively on AutoCAD, including articles for Autodesk's Web site and features for AutoCAD's Help system. Ellen's first book was AutoCAD For Dummies Quick Reference. Since then, she has written books on PowerPoint, OpenOffice.org (OpenOffice.org For Dummies), Flash (including Flash CS5 For Dummies), and Web technologies (Syndicating Web Sites with RSS Feeds For Dummies). You're holding the twelfth edition (wow!) of this book, which previously appeared for AutoCAD releases 14, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.

To MMY, for teaching me that there's more to life than meets the eye and that the deeper levels of life are the most intelligent, powerful, and blissful.

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Foreword

Welcome!

Whether you are an experienced AutoCAD user or a newer member of the community, you have just made a great investment with the AutoCAD 2012 & AutoCAD LT 2012 Bible. This book will be a valuable reference and guide that we expect you to use on a regular basis to help you become more proficient and more productive with AutoCAD.

The AutoCAD Bible is an excellent, comprehensive guide for getting up to speed quickly on the power of AutoCAD 2012. Everything from the basics of AutoCAD drafting and documentation tools to 3D modeling and design to customization and programming is covered in this book. You will have access to real-world examples and AutoCAD drawings that will help you understand and apply new concepts through hands-on exercises. With the step-by-step examples, you will be able to follow along easily and continue learning at your own pace, at any time.

Ellen has been writing books about AutoCAD and participating in the AutoCAD community for many years, and has established herself as a passionate AutoCAD contributor. She is an active member of the AutoCAD beta community and is helping to shape the future of AutoCAD. You can be assured that you are getting guidance from one of the most experienced professionals in this field.

Now that you have access to the wealth of information in this AutoCAD Bible, you can jump right in. Pick out a topic or tool you want to learn about, and discover new ways to take advantage of the power of AutoCAD 2012. Expand your knowledge and find new ways to work with AutoCAD for design and documentation.

Thank you, Ellen, for delivering another terrific edition of the AutoCAD Bible. I know our AutoCAD community will appreciate your guidance and benefit greatly from your expertise.

Diane Li