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AutoCAD®/AutoCAD LT® 2011
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 ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®
AutoCAD®/AutoCAD LT® 2011
Fundamentals Part 1
Revision 1.0

Prepared and produced by:

ASCENT Center for Technical Knowledge

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Charlottesville, VA 22902

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ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge is a division of RAND Worldwide Inc.,

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© ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge, 2010

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AutoCAD® and AutoCAD LT® are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.

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 Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Preface .................................................................................................. vii

Chapter 1 Getting Started with AutoCAD ........................................1-1

1.1 Starting AutoCAD ..................................................................1-3
1.2 AutoCAD’s User Interface.....................................................1-4

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1.3 Working with Commands......................................................1-8

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1.4 AutoCAD’s Cartesian Workspace ......................................1-17
1.5 Opening an Existing Drawing File......................................1-19

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Practice 1a Opening a Drawing ........................................... 1-22

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1.6 Viewing Your Drawing.........................................................1-23
Practice 1b Viewing a Drawing ............................................ 1-28

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1.7 Saving Your Work................................................................1-29

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Practice 1c Saving a Drawing File ....................................... 1-31

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Chapter 2 Basic Drawing & Editing Commands .............................2-1
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2.1 Drawing Lines ........................................................................2-3
2.2 Erasing Objects .....................................................................2-5
2.3 Drawing Lines with Polar Tracking ......................................2-6
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2.4 Drawing Rectangles ..............................................................2-8

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2.5 Drawing Circles......................................................................2-9

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2.6 Undo and Redo Actions ......................................................2-12

Practice 2a Basic Drawing and Editing Commands ............ 2-13
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Chapter 3 Projects - Creating a Simple Drawing.............................3-1

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3.1 Create a Simple Drawing.......................................................3-3

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3.2 Create Simple Shapes ...........................................................3-4

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Chapter 4 Drawing Precision in AutoCAD .......................................4-1

4.1 Using Running Object Snaps ...............................................4-3
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Practice 4a Using Object Snaps ............................................ 4-7

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4.2 Using Object Snap Overrides ...............................................4-9

Practice 4b Object Snap Overrides ..................................... 4-12
4.3 Polar Tracking at Angles.....................................................4-13
Practice 4c Polar Tracking................................................... 4-15
4.4 Object Snap Tracking..........................................................4-17
Practice 4d Object Snap Tracking I ..................................... 4-19
Practice 4e Object Snap Tracking II .................................... 4-21

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4.5 Drawing with Snap and Grid (Optional).............................4-23

Practice 4f Placing Objects on a Drawing ........................... 4-25

Chapter 5 Making Changes in Your Drawing ..................................5-1

5.1 Selecting Objects for Editing................................................5-3
Practice 5a Selecting Objects................................................ 5-5
5.2 Moving Objects ......................................................................5-6
5.3 Copying Objects ....................................................................5-8

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5.4 Rotating Objects ..................................................................5-10
5.5 Scaling Objects....................................................................5-11

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5.6 Mirroring Objects.................................................................5-12

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Practice 5b Modifying Objects ............................................. 5-13
5.7 Editing with Grips ................................................................5-18

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Practice 5c Editing with Grips (Basic).................................. 5-22
Practice 5d Editing with Grips (Advanced) .......................... 5-23

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Chapter 6 Projects - Making Your Drawings More Precise ............6-1

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6.1 Schematic Project: Electronics Diagram.............................6-3
6.2 Architectural Project: Landscape ........................................6-4
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6.3 Mechanical Project (with Polar & Tracking) ........................6-6
6.4 Mechanical Project: Surge Protector...................................6-7
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6.5 Mechanical Project: Satellite ................................................6-8

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Chapter 7 Organizing Your Drawing with Layers............................7-1

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7.1 Creating New Drawings With Templates .............................7-3

Practice 7a Using a Template to Start a Drawing.................. 7-6
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7.2 What are Layers?...................................................................7-8

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7.3 Layer States .........................................................................7-11

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Practice 7b Working with Layers and Layer States ............. 7-13

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7.4 Changing an Object’s Layer ...............................................7-15

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Practice 7c Changing an Object’s Layer.............................. 7-17

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Chapter 8 Advanced Object Types...................................................8-1

8.1 Drawing Arcs..........................................................................8-3
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Practice 8a Drawing an Arc ................................................... 8-5

8.2 Drawing Polylines..................................................................8-7
8.3 Editing Polylines....................................................................8-9
Practice 8b Drawing and Editing Polylines .......................... 8-14
8.4 Drawing Polygons ...............................................................8-18
Practice 8c Drawing Polygons ............................................. 8-20

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8.5 Drawing Ellipses ..................................................................8-21

Practice 8d Drawing Ellipses ............................................... 8-23

Chapter 9 Getting Information from Your Drawing .........................9-1

9.1 Working with Object Properties ...........................................9-3
Practice 9a Mechanical - Working with Object Properties ... 9-10
Practice 9b Architectural - Working with Object Properties . 9-11
9.2 Measuring Objects...............................................................9-13
Practice 9c Architectural - Measuring Objects..................... 9-20

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Practice 9d Mechanical - Measuring Objects ...................... 9-21

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Chapter 10 Projects - Drawing Organization & Information.........10-1
10.1 Architectural Project ...........................................................10-3

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10.2 Mechanical Project ..............................................................10-5

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10.3 Civil Project ..........................................................................10-7

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Chapter 11 Advanced Editing Commands.....................................11-1

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11.1 Trimming and Extending Objects ......................................11-3
Practice 11a Extending and Trimming Objects.................... 11-6
Practice 11b Trimming Objects on a Drawing ..................... 11-7
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Practice 11c Break at Point ................................................. 11-8
11.2 Stretching Objects...............................................................11-9
Practice 11d Stretching Objects ........................................ 11-11
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11.3 Creating Fillets and Chamfers..........................................11-12

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Practice 11e Filleting Objects ............................................ 11-15

Practice 11f Chamfering Objects ....................................... 11-16
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11.4 Offsetting Objects..............................................................11-17

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Practice 11g Offsetting Objects ......................................... 11-19

11.5 Creating Arrays of Objects ...............................................11-20
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Practice 11h Rectangular Array......................................... 11-24

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Practice 11i Polar Array ..................................................... 11-25

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Chapter 12 Inserting Blocks............................................................12-1

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12.1 What are Blocks?.................................................................12-3

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12.2 Inserting Blocks...................................................................12-5

12.3 Working with Dynamic Blocks ...........................................12-7
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12.4 Inserting Blocks with DesignCenter ................................12-11

Practice 12a Working with Blocks...................................... 12-14

Chapter 13 Projects - Creating More Complex Objects................13-1

13.1 Mechanical Project 1 - Plate ...............................................13-3
13.2 Mechanical Project 2 - Gasket ............................................13-4

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13.3 Mechanical Project 3 - Plate ...............................................13-5

13.4 Mechanical Project 4 - Rocker Arm....................................13-6
13.5 Architectural Project 1 - Floor Plan....................................13-7
13.6 Architectural Project 2 - Floor Plan....................................13-9
13.7 Civil Project - Parking Lot .................................................13-11

Chapter 14 Setting Up a Layout......................................................14-1

14.1 Printing Concepts................................................................14-3

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14.2 Working in Layouts .............................................................14-6

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14.3 Copying Layouts..................................................................14-9

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14.4 Creating Viewports ............................................................14-11
14.5 Guidelines for Layouts......................................................14-15

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Practice 14a Working With Layouts................................... 14-16

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Chapter 15 Printing Your Drawing..................................................15-1

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15.1 Printing Layouts ..................................................................15-3
15.2 Printing from the Model Tab ...............................................15-5
Practice 15a Printing Layouts and Check Plots................... 15-9
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Chapter 16 Projects - Preparing to Print........................................16-1

16.1 Mechanical Project ..............................................................16-3
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16.2 Architectural Project ...........................................................16-4

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Chapter 17 Text ................................................................................17-1

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17.1 Working with Annotations ..................................................17-3

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17.2 Adding Text in a Drawing....................................................17-5

Practice 17a Adding Text in a Drawing................................ 17-9
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17.3 Modifying Multiline Text....................................................17-12

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Practice 17b Modifying Multiline Text ................................ 17-16

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17.4 Formatting Multiline Text ..................................................17-18

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Practice 17c Formatting Multiline Text in a Drawing.......... 17-27

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17.5 Adding Notes with Leaders to Your Drawing..................17-31

Practice 17d Adding Notes to Your Drawing ..................... 17-38
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17.6 Creating Tables..................................................................17-41

Practice 17e Creating Tables ............................................ 17-48
17.7 Modifying Tables ...............................................................17-50
Practice 17f Modifying Tables............................................ 17-56

Chapter 18 Hatching ........................................................................18-1

18.1 Hatching ...............................................................................18-3

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18.2 Editing Hatches..................................................................18-13

Practice 18a Hatching Using the Tool Palettes ................. 18-17
Practice 18b Hatching (Mechanical) .................................. 18-18
Practice 18c Hatching (Architectural) ................................ 18-20

Chapter 19 Adding Dimensions......................................................19-1

19.1 Dimensioning Concepts......................................................19-3
19.2 Adding Linear Dimensions .................................................19-4
Practice 19a Adding Linear Dimensions (Architectural) ...... 19-8

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Practice 19b Adding Linear Dimensions (Mechanical) ...... 19-10

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19.3 Adding Radial & Angular Dimensions .............................19-12
Practice 19c Adding Radial & Angular Dimensions ....................

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(Architectural) ...................................................................... 19-16
Practice 19d Adding Radial and Angular Dimensions ................

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(Mechanical)........................................................................ 19-17
19.4 Editing Dimensions ...........................................................19-18

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Practice 19e Editing Dimensions (Architectural)................ 19-23

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Practice 19f Editing Dimensions (Mechanical) .................. 19-24

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Chapter 20 Projects - Annotating Your Drawing ...........................20-1
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20.1 Mechanical Project ..............................................................20-3
20.2 Architectural Project 1 ........................................................20-4
20.3 Architectural Project 2 ........................................................20-5
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20.4 Civil Project ..........................................................................20-6

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Appendix A Skills Assessment Part 1............................................. A-1

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A.1 Skills Assessment Part 1 ..................................................... A-3

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Index............................................................................................. Index-1
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AutoCAD®/AutoCAD LT® 2011
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Fundamentals Part 2
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 Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Preface ....................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Working Effectively with AutoCAD .................................1-1

1.1 Creating a Custom Workspace.............................................1-3
Practice 1a Setting Up Workspaces .................................... 1-11

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1.2 Using the Keyboard Effectively..........................................1-12
Practice 1b Using the Keyboard Effectively......................... 1-15

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1.3 Object Creation, Selection, and Visibility..........................1-16
Practice 1c Object Creation, Selection, and Visibility .......... 1-23

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1.4 Working in Multiple Drawings ............................................1-25

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1.5 Copying and Pasting between Drawings ..........................1-29
Practice 1d Working in Multiple Drawings ........................... 1-31

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1.6 Using Grips Effectively .......................................................1-33

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Practice 1e Using Grips Effectively...................................... 1-38
1.7 Additional Layer Tools ........................................................1-39
Practice 1f Layer Tools ........................................................ 1-46
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Chapter 2 Accurate Positioning........................................................2-1

2.1 Coordinate Entry....................................................................2-3
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Practice 2a Drawing Using Coordinate Entry ........................ 2-8

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2.2 Locating Points with Tracking..............................................2-9

Practice 2b Locating Points with Tracking (Mechanical) ..... 2-11
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Practice 2c Locating Points with Tracking (Architectural).... 2-12

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2.3 Construction Lines ..............................................................2-13

Practice 2d Construction Lines ............................................ 2-15
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2.4 Placing Reference Points....................................................2-16

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Practice 2e Placing Points ................................................... 2-19

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Chapter 3 Projects - Productivity Tools...........................................3-1

3.1 Schematic Project - Purifier Unit..........................................3-3
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3.2 Mechanical Project - 2 Views................................................3-5

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3.3 Architectural/Civil Project - Formal Garden ........................3-6

3.4 Mechanical Project - Cover Plate .........................................3-7
3.5 Architectural Project - Addition............................................3-8
3.6 Mechanical Project - Block ...................................................3-9
3.7 Mechanical Project - Plate ..................................................3-10

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AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT 2011 Fundamentals Part 2

Chapter 4 Parametric Drawing..........................................................4-1

4.1 Working with Constraints .....................................................4-3
4.2 Geometric Constraints ..........................................................4-4
4.3 Dimensional Constraints ....................................................4-13
Practice 4a Working with Constraints .................................. 4-20

Chapter 5 Working with Blocks ........................................................5-1

5.1 Creating Blocks .....................................................................5-3

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5.2 Editing Blocks........................................................................5-9
Practice 5a Create and Edit Blocks ..................................... 5-12

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5.3 Removing Unused Elements ..............................................5-16

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Practice 5b Purging ............................................................. 5-18
5.4 Adding Blocks to Tool Palettes..........................................5-19

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5.5 Modifying Tool Properties in Tool Palettes.......................5-22

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Practice 5c Modifying Tool Properties ................................. 5-25

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Chapter 6 Projects - Creating and Organizing Blocks....................6-1
6.1 Mechanical Project - Control Panel......................................6-3
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6.2 Architectural Project - Furniture Layout..............................6-4
6.3 Civil Project - Utility Layout ..................................................6-5

Chapter 7 Creating Templates ..........................................................7-1

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7.1 Why Use Templates?.............................................................7-3

7.2 Controlling Units Display......................................................7-6
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7.3 Creating New Layers ...........................................................7-10

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7.4 Adding Standard Layouts to Templates............................7-17

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7.5 Saving Templates ................................................................7-24

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Practice 7a Saving a Template............................................ 7-26

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Chapter 8 Annotation Styles .............................................................8-1

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8.1 Creating Text Styles ..............................................................8-3

Practice 8a Creating and Using Text Styles .......................... 8-6
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8.2 Creating Dimension Styles ...................................................8-7

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Practice 8b Creating Dimension Styles (Architectural) ........ 8-16

Practice 8c Dimension Styles (Mechanical)......................... 8-19
8.3 Creating Multileader Styles.................................................8-21
Practice 8d Creating Multileader Styles............................... 8-25

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Chapter 9 Projects - Drawing Setup and Utilities............................9-1

9.1 Interiors Project .....................................................................9-3
9.2 Mechanical/Schematic Project .............................................9-4
9.3 Civil/Map Project....................................................................9-5
9.4 Mechanical Project - Dimension Styles ...............................9-6

Chapter 10 Advanced Layouts........................................................10-1

10.1 Quick View Layouts.............................................................10-3

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10.2 Creating and Using Named Views......................................10-5

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10.3 Creating Additional Viewports ...........................................10-8

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10.4 Layer Overrides in Viewports ...........................................10-15
Practice 10a Viewports and Named Views........................ 10-18

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10.5 Additional Annotative Scale Features .............................10-23
Practice 10b Additional Annotative Scale Features........... 10-26

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Chapter 11 External References .....................................................11-1

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11.1 Attaching External References...........................................11-3
11.2 Modifying External References ........................................11-10
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11.3 Xref Specific Information ..................................................11-20
Practice 11a Attaching External References ..................... 11-25
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Chapter 12 Projects - Drawing ........................................................12-1

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12.1 D-sized Title Block (36x24) .................................................12-3

12.2 Mechanical Project - Drill Press Base................................12-5
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12.3 Architectural Project - Office Tower ................................12-10

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12.4 P&ID Project - Oil Lubrication System.............................12-16

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12.5 Civil Project - Warehouse Site..........................................12-19

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Appendix A Optional Topics ............................................................ A-1

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A.1 Creating Industry-Specific Workspaces............................. A-3

A.2 Using QuickCalc ................................................................... A-7
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A.3 Additional Zoom Commands............................................... A-9

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A.4 Advanced Object Selection ............................................... A-10

A.5 Additional Text Tools ......................................................... A-12
A.6 Additional Dimensioning Tools......................................... A-16
A.7 Creating Boundaries and Regions.................................... A-19
A.8 Modifying Length................................................................ A-24

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AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT 2011 Fundamentals Part 2

Appendix B Skills Assessment Part 2............................................. B-1

B.1 Skills Assessment Part 2 ..................................................... B-3

Index............................................................................................. Index-1

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