Diagram. Sets up a diagram such as organizational tree, Web site map, flow chart/schedule, piping, electronic schematic, logic diagram, networking, or PC board layout. You choose the type of diagram, page orientation, and useful toolbars. You can add symbols such as flowcharts, schedules, piping, switches, capacitors, lamps, switchboxes, PCs, printers, mainframes, modems, circuit chips, soldering points, and so on. Mechanical Part. Sets up a drawing of a small machine or machine component. You specify page orientation, units, precision, scale, annotation options, Edit command settings, grid options, page division (for different views of a part), database reports and fields, layers, and useful toolbars. You can add symbols such as nuts, bolts, screws, brackets, washers, and so on.
Choose a Template (Template Tab)
In the Start Up dialog box, Template tab, you can choose a template file to start a drawing. AutoSketch includes dozens of drawing template files. A template is a drawing file that has settings such as borders, title blocks, grid spacing, drawing scale, and page size already selected for you. When you select one of the templates in the list, you can preview it in the Preview area. Then, you simply choose the template that is right for your project. You can also create your own template from an existing drawing. If you create the same type of drawing each time you work with AutoSketch, you may want to redefine the default template by saving an existing drawing as a template, and then selecting that template as the new default. Then, you can use the template to create new drawings of the same type. The following illustration shows the Template tab.
Tip During an AutoSketch work session, you can access templates by clicking

File New.

Open an Existing Drawing (Open Tab)
In the Start Up dialog box, Open tab, you can open an existing drawing file. You can adjust how files are displayed in the list, browse for more files, and preview a selected file. The following illustration shows the Open tab.
Tip During an AutoSketch work session, you can access existing drawings by

clicking File Open.

Understand the User Interface
The first step in learning how to use AutoSketch is to become familiar with its user interface.

Drawing Window

Once you choose the type of drawing you want to create, AutoSketch opens a drawing window. The drawing window in AutoSketch is the space where you work. Many drawing windows can be open at one time. Clicking a drawing window makes it active so that you can work in it. You can make changes in the active window only. You can resize, minimize, maximize, and close each drawing window independently. The following illustration shows the AutoSketch user interface elements in a drawing window. These elements are listed alphabetically and described after the illustration.

The edit bar when text is selected in a drawing

Menu Bar

Displays a list of menus and their options. You can also use toolbars and shortcut keys on the keyboard (CTRL+<letter>) to perform the same tasks.

The menu bar

Sets the current layer, color, style, width, and pattern. Any change you make on the property bar affects entities that are currently selected, and those that you draw in the future.

The property bar

To change a setting on the property bar, click the small arrow to display the list of properties, and make a new selection. To apply a new setting to an entity, select the entity you want to change, and then click the property setting on the property bar.

Status Bar

Displays a message area on the left side and the coordinates dials on the right. The message area displays prompts, messages, and step-by-step instructions for most procedures.

The status bar

Two dials occupy the right side of the status bar. The Absolute Coordinates dial (on the left side) displays the absolute location of the point (its position in relation to the drawing origin). The Relative Coordinates dial (on the right side) displays the relative location of the point (its position in relation to the last point entered).

Title Bar

Displays the name of the program and the name of the current drawing file. The AutoSketch title bar extends across the top of the application window.

The title bar

Toolbars
Provide buttons that allow you to do drawing tasks. (You can also use menus to perform the same tasks.) When a toolbar button has a triangle in its lowerright corner, you can click and hold the button to access additional items, called toolsets.
The All-In-One toolbar with the Circle toolset displayed
You can move a toolbar by clicking near its left edge and dragging it to its new location. You can also place toolbars next to one another and dock them in the drawing window.

Tooltips

Entity Arc

Description A portion of a circle. You can use an arc to show a rounded wall, the direction a door swings, and so on. A curved line with every point equally distant from the center. You can use a circle to represent a hole, a round object, and so on. A polyline that is rendered onscreen and on printed output in a special way. Use curves to create free-form shapes such as curved sidewalks and car fenders. A rectangular area that displays another portion of the drawing defined by a previously saved view. A predefined collection of lines, arcs, markers, and text that display a measurement in the drawing. The text label is updated automatically when you stretch or reshape the dimension. A closed symmetrical curve that resembles a flattened circle. A hidden-line polygon that conforms to the shape of a bounded area and displays either a solid color, a hatch, or a bitmap fill. A compound entity consisting of individual symbols and entities that AutoSketch treats as a single entity. An entity that connects two points. You can use a line to represent any straight object such as a water pipe, a wall edge, an electrical connection, or a street. An entity that notes a specific point in a drawing.

Detail view

Ellipse Fill

Entity OLE Object

Description An entity that is created in one application and embedded in another. When you double-click a linked OLE object, Windows opens the source application that created it and loads the associated file. A picture or bitmap that can be imported and placed in the drawing. AutoSketch treats the raster image like most other entities, allowing you to move, scale, or duplicate the image as needed. A closed polyline that can contain a fill pattern. Use a polygon when you need to know the area of an enclosed region or when you need to fill an area with a solid color, a hatch, or a bitmap fill. A multi-segmented line that AutoSketch treats as a single entity. When a polyline is closed, it becomes a polygon. Use a polyline when you need to know the total length of a series of connected segments. A group of entities that AutoSketch treats as a single entity. Symbols can be stored in libraries for use in multiple drawings. A text entity that can be any size, can use any TrueType font, and can be rotated at any angle.

Picture

Properties
Properties are the individual qualities that define an entity. They are divided into three categories:

Examples of coordinates

Drawing Origin
The drawing origin displays the x (horizontal), y (vertical), and (if isometric) z coordinates of a drawing. AutoSketch locates most points in relation to the drawing origin. The drawing origin is shown on screen as colored arrows.
Example of the drawing origin arrows in the lower-left corner of a drawing
If you move the drawing origin, the entire drawing shifts to reflect that change. The drawing origin does not appear when you print the drawing. Normally, the drawing origin is located at the lower-left corner of a drawing. If you need to move it, you can center the drawing origin or relocate it.
A reference grid is a visual drawing aid that contains a pattern of horizontal and vertical lines or dots that represent a grid. Use gridpoint snaps to make your drawing precise.
Example of a first point snapping to a grid
There are three types of reference grids available in AutoSketch, each suited for different purposes.
The default grid is rectangular, with snap intervals and lines that parallel the x- and y-axes. This grid is the standard reference tool for most twodimensional drawings. Circular grids extend radially from the grid origin. They provide an excellent reference tool for drawings that require alignment of points along an arc or circle, such as a mechanical drawing of a gear. Isometric grids align along three major axes, instead of two. This allows you to create two-dimensional drawings of three-dimensional objects.
You can modify the settings for each of the reference grids. The following table lists the Grid tools you can use in AutoSketch. These buttons are located on the Grid toolbar.

Toolbar button

Button name

Description

Rectangular
The most commonly used, is useful for most twodimensional drawings. Aligns grid lines along an arc or circle. The radial grid lines allow you to enter such points precisely. When you set up a circular grid, you may need to reposition the grid origin so that the radial lines of the grid are aligned correctly on the page. Aligns snap and grid lines along 30- and 150-degree axes.

Circular

Isometric Top

Isometric Left

Aligns snap and grid lines along 90- and 150-degree axes. Aligns snap and grid lines along 90- and 30-degree axes. Doubles the current grid size.

Isometric Right

Double Grid Size

Halve Grid Size

Decreases the current grid size by half.

Tip You can also change settings using the Edit Grid button on the Standard

toolbar.

Grid Origin
The grid origin is similar to the drawing origin in function and appearance. However, the grid origin serves as a reference point for grid coordinates only. By default, the grid origin is located at the drawing coordinates 0,0. You can move the grid origin of rectangular, circular, or isometric reference grids.
Using snap, you can draw with real precision by identifying exact points such as an entitys midpoint, endpoint, or centerpoint. These points are called snap points because when you click near one, the point is snapped to the exact point shown. There are 15 ways to snap to a point in AutoSketch. These correspond with the 15 snaps you can choose by clicking their buttons on the All-In-One toolbar, Snap toolbar, or by typing the letter shown on the button.
When snaps are active, a red AutoPoint Indicator is displayed on the grid. As you move the pointer over a drawing, each type of snap point displays a different symbol. (You may notice these snap types when you create simple entities in the first tutorial.) The following table lists the default snap types.
Snap Type Gridpoint snap Endpoint snap Midpoint snap
Description Snaps to the reference grid. Snaps to the endpoint of an entity. Snaps to the midpoint of a line, polyline segment, etc. Snaps to intersection points. Snaps to the center of an arc, circle, polygon, or bulged poly-segment.
Intersection snap Centerpoint snap

Lock Modifier

You can align input with the last point by using a lock modifier. If a lock modifier is active, a dotted line extends from the AutoPoint Indicator to the actual point, as constrained by the lock modifier. For example, if you draw a diagonal line from top to bottom, and then activate Endpoint snap and the Y-axis lock modifier, the square AutoPoint Indicator identifies the endpoint nearest the pointer, but a dotted line extends to the potential snap point based on the current snap and lock modifier.
Example of a line drawn with endpoint snap and y-axis lock modifier turned on
There are four automatic modifications you can have AutoSketch make to the point you enter. These lock modifiers force the point you enter into horizontal, vertical, orthogonal, or normal alignment with the last point. At any time in the drawing or editing process, you can apply a lock modifier by clicking its button on the All-In-One toolbar or by typing the letter shown on the button.
Tutorial 1 Create and Trim Entities
In this tutorial, you learn how to start AutoSketch, create a drawing, and create entities. You also learn how to trim entities using several methods. More information about each of the concepts in this tutorial is available in the Help system.

In an earlier exercise in this tutorial, you learned how to create dimensions and add them to the Dimensions layer. Now, in addition to horizontal and vertical dimensions, you create an angular dimension for the birdhouse roof. To add dimensions to the back 1 On the All-In-One toolbar, click and hold the Dimension button. 2 On the toolset, drag the pointer to select Horizontal Dimension. 3 Click the lower-left corner of the entity. 4 Press and hold the CTRL key, and then move the pointer until it snaps to the lower-right corner. 5 Right-click to end the command. 6 Click the horizontal dimension you just created. Then, click the green downward-pointing arrow at the bottom of the dimension, and drag the dimension up until it is close to the bottom of the entity. Your drawing should look similar to the following illustration.
Next, create the vertical dimension. 7 On the All-In-One toolbar, click and hold the Dimension button.
8 On the toolset, drag the pointer to select Vertical Dimension. 9 Click the lower-left corner of the entity, and drag the pointer up until you snap to the upper-left corner. Click to set the vertical dimension. You need to move the dimension closer to the entity.
Note You may need to pan to the left a little to see the dimension.
10 Click the vertical dimension you just created. Then, click and hold the arrow to the left of the dimension, and drag the dimension to the right until it is close to the vertical line you just dimensioned. Right-click to end the command. Your drawing should look similar to the following illustration.
Next, create the angular dimension. 11 On the All-In-One toolbar, click and hold the Dimension button. 12 On the toolset, drag the pointer to select Angular Dimension. 13 Click anywhere on the sloped line on the right to select it. Drag the pointer straight up, and when the Absolute Coordinates dial shows 9.50", 28.00", click to place the dimension. Following is an illustration of the entity after all dimensions are added and moved.
Now, place the dimensions on the Dimensions layer. 14 While holding the SHIFT key, click all three dimensions. 15 On the property bar, locate the Layer button. Click the arrow to the right of the current layer, and then select Dimensions.
16 Click to the right of the entity. Once the dimensions are added to the Dimensions layer, they are red, the same color as the other dimensions in this drawing. 17 Save your work.

Add a Title to the Back

In this exercise, you learn to Add a title to the back entity by editing an existing title. Add the new title to the Notes layer. Add a title to the back 1 Below the entity that you just added dimensions to, click the title Front - 1 Required. Right-click, and then click Edit Text.
2 In the title, select the word Front, and type the word Back.
Now, add the new text and the text line to the Notes layer.
3 Click the text line, press the SHIFT key, and then click the text just above the line. 4 On the property bar, click the arrow to the right of the current layer, and then select Notes.
5 Save your work. You have completed the birdhouse drawing.
Print the Completed Birdhouse Drawing
In this exercise, you learn to Set up the drawing for printing. Print the drawing. In the final exercise of this tutorial, you can print the completed birdhouse drawing to see all the work that youve done. To print a drawing 1 On the File menu, click Print. 2 In the Print dialog box, change the following settings:
In the View to Print drop-down list, click Page View. In the Sizing Method drop-down list, click Scaled. (Optional) To print the grid, click the check box next to Print Grid.
3 Click OK to print the drawing. 4 If the following message is displayed, click Yes to change the orientation of the page, or click No to retain the page orientation.
Congratulations! You have finished the second tutorial, where you learned how to complete and print the birdhouse drawing.
Tutorial 3 Create an Office Layout Drawing
In this tutorial, you learn how to use the Office Layout wizard to set up a drawing. You also learn how to set units, grid, and scale for the drawing, use symbols to represent the interior components of your drawing, replace symbols, and create a circular array. More information about each of the concepts in this tutorial is available in the Help system.
Start a Drawing Using the

Office Layout Wizard

Set Units, Reference Grid, and
Create Office Partition Walls Add Doors and Windows Add Furniture Create a Round Table and

Chairs

Start a Drawing Using the Office Layout Wizard

In this exercise, you learn to Set up an office layout drawing using the Office Layout wizard. , The Office Layout wizard, like the other wizards provided by AutoSketch steps you through predefined options to create a drawing that will best suit your project. You can always change the options after youve completed the wizard. This tutorial guides you through using the wizard. To start a drawing using the Office Layout wizard 1 In the Start Up dialog box, Wizard tab, select Office Layout.
2 Click OK. On the next page of the wizard, you set the size of the building that contains your office space. You also set the thickness of the walls.

3 Do the following:

In the row of office shell buttons, click the square shape (the first shape). In the A box, enter 25' for the length. In the B box, enter 15' for the width. In the Wall Thickness box, enter 0' 6".
4 Click Next. The next page of the wizard lists database reports that you can add to your drawing.
5 Clear all of the check boxes on this page. (You dont need database reports in this tutorial.) Click Next. On the next page of the wizard, select the layers for the drawing and the fields in the database.
Note Because you did not select any database reports on the previous
wizard page, AutoSketch will ignore the Fields settings. So, you can leave the database fields as they are preset on this page.
6 In the Layers list, clear the check boxes next to Electrical, Cable, Equipment, Panel, and Personnel. Then, click Next. Now, choose the page orientation that best displays the office layout.
7 Select Landscape from the list, and then click Next. On the next page of the wizard, you can select a grid setting. Because you will set a specific grid setting in the next exercise, you can accept the preselected setting (Paneling) on this page.
8 Click Next. Now, choose a toolbar to display in the drawing window.
9 In the Toolbars box, click the check box next to Symbol Library. You will use that toolbar later. 10 Below the Toolbars box, clear the check box next to the Help icon. Then, click Finish. You have just completed the Office Layout wizard.
In the AutoSketch window, the following drawing is displayed.
11 On the File menu, click Save. 12 In the Save Drawing File dialog box, navigate to the following location. C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoSketch9\Drawings

3D parallel extrusion creates a copy of the selection set that you place in the drawing. AutoSketch connects corresponding edges with lines or polygons. You learn how to create a 3D parallel extrusion in this exercise. 3D perspective extrusion creates a scaled copy of the selection set. You place the copy anywhere in the drawing, and AutoSketch connects the corresponding edges using lines or polygons.
To apply parallel extrusion to an entity 1 On the File menu, click New. In the New dialog box, click Start a Drawing Immediately, and then click OK.
Now, you reset the interface to make sure your settings match the tutorials instructions.
2 On the View menu, click Toolbars.
3 In the Toolbars dialog box, in the lower-right corner, click Reset Interface. 4 In the warning message that is displayed, click Yes.
Your drawing window is now opened and set up for this tutorial. 5 On the Snap toolbar, click the Centerpoint Snap button to turn it on. 6 On the All-In-One toolbar, click the Circle button. 7 On the toolset, drag the pointer to select Center, Side Circle. 8 In the drawing, create two circles of roughly the same size. Your drawing should look similar to the following illustration.
9 On the Standard toolbar, click the 3D Effects button. The 3D Effects toolbar is displayed.
10 Click the circle that is closer to the bottom of the drawing.
11 On the 3D Effects toolbar, click the 3D Parallel Extrusion button. 12 In the drawing, click the bottom circle again.
This is the first of two points that define the distance and direction that the selection set will be extruded. A rubber-band extrusion appears and moves the same distance and direction as the pointer.
13 Click the edge of the second circle. The selection set is extruded. 14 Right-click to end the command. Your drawing should look similar to the following illustration.
15 On the File menu, click Close. 16 In the Save Changes to Drawing dialog box, click No.

Use Web Tools

AutoSketch Web tools include Web editing tools (such as eTransmit and hyperlinks creation) and the Communication Center.

Use eTransmit

In this exercise, you learn to Create a transmittal set of an AutoSketch drawing and related files. Email the transmittal set (an Internet connection is required). Check the receipt of the transmittal set and save it (an Internet connection is required). With eTransmit, you can create a transmittal set of an AutoSketch drawing that automatically includes all related files. You then publish the transmittal set as an email attachment. When you use eTransmit, a report file is automatically generated that includes instructions detailing what files are included in the transmittal set and what must be done with them so that they are usable by the original drawing. You can also do the following:

Add notes to the report and specify password protection for the transmittal set. Specify path options for the transmittal set and create a self-extracting executable or zip file that packages all the files.
To create a transmittal set 1 On the File menu, click Open.
2 In the Open Drawing File dialog box, in the Drawings folder, click Birdhouse_final.skf. Then, click Open. (This drawing is the completed drawing that you worked on in Tutorial 1, Create a Birdhouse Drawing.) 3 On the File menu, click eTransmit.
4 In the eTransmit dialog box, in the Notes section, add any notes you want. 5 In the Type list, select Set of Files. 6 Clear the check box next to Make Web Page Files. You dont make a Web page in this exercise. 7 Click OK. 8 If the Choose Profile dialog box is displayed, click OK.
Your default email program opens with an email that contains the files, as shown in the following illustration.
9 In your email program, enter your own email address, and send the email. 10 Check your email inbox, and save the transmitted files. 11 In AutoSketch, on the File menu, click Close. Do not save your work.

Create a Hyperlink

In this exercise, you learn to Assign a hyperlink to a Web site. Open the Web site (an Internet connection is required). You can assign hyperlinks to entities in your drawings that point to Web pages, or to other files stored on local servers or on the Internet. To assign a hyperlink to a Web site 1 On the File menu, click Open.
2 In the Open Drawing File dialog box, in the Drawings folder, click Jig.skf. Then, click Open. The drawing you opened should match the following illustration.
3 Click and drag your pointer from the top left portion of the illustration on the left to the lower-right corner of that illustration. When all of the entities in the illustration on the left are selected, release the mouse.
The drawing should match the following illustration.
4 With the entity still selected, right-click, and then click Group. Do not right-click again, because you want the entity to remain selected. The individual entities are now grouped into a single entity. Now, assign a hyperlink to this grouped entity. 5 On the Database menu, click Edit. 6 In the Edit Hyperlink dialog box, in the Hyperlink (File or URL) text box, enter www.autodesk.com, and then click OK.
The entity you grouped is now hyperlinked to the Autodesk Web site.

7 Anywhere in the grouped entity, right-click, and then click Jump to Hyperlink. If you have an Internet connection, the Web site now opens.
Use the Communication Center
In this exercise, you learn to Open the Communication Center. Set up the Communication Center. The Communication Center provides the following kinds of announcements:
General Product Information. Stay informed about Autodesk company news and product announcements; give your feedback directly to Autodesk. Product Support Information. Get breaking news from the Product Support team at Autodesk. Articles and Tips. Be notified when new articles and tips are available on Autodesk Web pages.
To set up the Communication Center 1 If AutoSketch is not already open, start it now. 2 In the AutoSketch window, click the Communication Center icon, located on the right side of the status bar.
3 In the Communication Center window, specify your country or region. 4 Specify the frequency you prefer for updates. 5 Specify the information channels you want displayed. Now that you have set up the Communication Center, you will start to receive updates, based on the frequency you set. You can always change the frequency with which you receive updates by clicking the Communication Center icon, and then clicking the Settings button.
Generate a Database Report
In this exercise, you learn to View a symbols properties. Select a database report. Run a report. Print a report.
The office plan you use for this exercise is a simple office plan, much like the office layout you created in an earlier tutorial. This drawing contains several symbols, each of which represents individual office items that can be ordered from a manufacturer. Using the database feature in AutoSketch, you can create a database report to run when the time comes to order the items. To create a database report 1 On the File menu, click Open.
2 In the Open Drawing Files dialog box, in the Drawings folder, click Office_db.skf. Then, click Open. The drawing you opened should match the following illustration.
3 In the drawing window, right-click the chair, and then click Symbol Properties to display the Symbol Properties dialog box.
The chair symbol contains a lot of information. Viewing the Symbol Libraries dialog box, you can find out this symbols properties and values, such as its basepoint, scale factor, color, width, layer, name, and manufacturer. This information can be extracted to a database report. 4 In the Symbol Properties dialog box, click Close. 5 In the drawing, press CTRL-A to select all entities. 6 On the Database menu, click Report.
In the Database Report dialog box, you can see that one report, Employee Inventory, is selected.

Cartesian coordinates, 34 CD-ROMs AutoSketch installation, 3 hardware requirements, 2 Centerpoint snap symbol, 38 centerpoints of arcs, 44 circles, 44 snapping, 38 chairs displaying properties, 107 drawing, 89 Choose Profile dialog box, 100 Circle toolset, 26, 45, 88, 95 circles defined, 32 drawing, 44, 88, 95 Circular Array dialog box, 90 circular arrays defined, 89 duplicating office chairs, 89 Circular button (Grid toolbar), 36 circular reference grid, 36 color of dimensions on Dimensions layer, 57 of entities on Geometry layer, 62 of entities on Notes layer, 59 fill color, 28, 32 setting with property bar, 29 Communication Center defined, 28 overview, 104 setting up, 104 Communication Center dialog box, 105 compound entities, 32 compressing transmittal files, 98 Content Librarian defined, 28 displaying thumbnail images, 81, 84, 86 efficiency and, 10 illustration, 28 inserting symbols, 14 content units (measurement systems), 4
coordinates absolute coordinates, 34 Absolute Coordinates dial, 29, 54 defined, 11, 34 drawing origin and, 35 grid origin and, 37 illustration, 35 isometric coordinates, 34 polar coordinates, 34 relative coordinates, 29, 34 Relative Coordinates dial, 29 xy (Cartesian) coordinates, 34 copying groups of entities, 62 office chairs, 89 Corner Polyline toolset, 79 corners beveling edges, 48 trimming lines at intersections, 47 Create Precision Drawing wizard, 20 Curve toolset, 26 curves, 32
Database Report dialog box, 107 database reports generating from layout plans, 105 in Office Layout wizard, 73 defaults email program, 100 resetting interface to, 53 deleting entities from drawings, 13, 43 excess lines by trimming, 47 detail views, 12, 32 Diagram wizard, 21, 112 dials on status bar, 29, 57 Dimension toolset, 26, 56 dimensions accuracy, 11 adding to Dimensions layer, 57, 66 adding to drawings, 15, 56, 57, 64 angular dimensions, 65 defined, 32 horizontal dimensions, 64 text in, 15 tools for, 26, 56 vertical dimensions, 65 Dimensions layer, 57, 66 direction of parallel extrusions, 96 displaying detailed Help for tools on toolbars, 30 Help, 91 symbols in Content Librarian, 81, 84, 86 distance of parallel extrusions, 96 docking toolbars, 30
doors, adding to drawings, 81 Double Grid Size button (Grid toolbar), 37 drawing area. See drawing window drawing objects. See entities Drawing Options dialog box, 77 drawing origin, 35 illustration, 35 drawing scale defined, 34 overview, 8 printing scaled drawings, 68 setting, 77 drawing tools, efficiency and, 10 drawing window, 23 drawings accuracy and, 11, 20, 37, 77 dimensions, 15, 34 drafting vs. AutoSketch, 8 drawing scale, 8, 34, 77 editing, 13 examples of, 115 multiple windows, 12 opening, 18, 22, 46 organizing information in layers, 9, 29, 57, 74 orientation, 74 repetitive tasks in, 10 saving with new names, 54 starting, 18, 40 starting from templates, 18, 21 starting with wizards, 18, 19 transmittal sets, 98 viewing, 12, 61 Duplicate toolset, 26 duplicating grouped entities, 62 office chairs, 89

Halve Grid Size button (Grid toolbar), 37 hard disks hardware requirements, 2 installing features to local hard drives, 4 hardware requirements, 2 hatches in Content Librarian, 28 fills, defined, 32 Help, displaying, 30, 91 horizontal alignment of entities, 38 horizontal dimensions, 56, 64 hyperlinks to Web sites, 101
imperial units (for content), setting, 4 Inquire toolset, 27 inserting dimensions, 15 symbols, 14, 28, 81 installing AutoSketch features, 4 AutoSketch program, 3 interface, resetting to defaults, 53 Internet Explorer, 2 Intersection snap symbol, 38 intersections joining lines at, 47 snapping to, 38 intervals for snap, 77 isometric coordinates, 34 Isometric Left button (Grid toolbar), 37 isometric reference grid, 36
manual drafting accuracy and, 11 compared to AutoSketch, 8 layers, 9 repetitive tasks in, 10 viewing entire drawings, 12 Marker toolset, 26 markers, 32 measurement systems choosing during installation, 4 drawing scale and, 8 Mechanical Part wizard, 21, 111 mechanical projects, 20 memory requirements, 2 menu bar, 29 illustration, 29 messages, sending files with, 100
metric units (for content), setting, 4 Microsoft Internet Explorer, 2 Midpoint snap symbol, 38 moving drawing origin, 35 toolbars, 30 multiple line entities, 42
orientation of drawings, 74 orthogonal alignment, 38 output, drawing scale and, 34
page orientation of drawings, 74 panning drawings defined, 12 to specific areas, 61 parallel extrusion, 94 partition walls in offices, 79 passwords for transmittal files, 98 paths for transmittal files, 98 patterns, 29 PC board layout wizards, 21 perspective extrusion, 94 Picture/Detail View toolset, 27 pictures, 33 piping wizards, 21 plotters, 2 points of origin, 55 polar coordinates, 34 Polygon toolset, 26, 45 polygons defined, 33 drawing, 45 Polyline toolset, 26, 45 polylines defined, 33 drawing, 45 precision drawings AutoSketch and accuracy, 11 creating drawings, 20 setting units of measurement, 77 snap feature and, 37 previewing templates, 21 Print dialog box, 68 printers, 2 printing drawing scale and, 34 drawings, 68 reference grid, 68 reports, 108 product announcements, 104 product support, 104 profiles for eTransmit feature, 100 properties defined, 33 displaying for entities, 107 types of, 33 property bar, 29 illustration, 29

AutoSketch 10 Getting Started

October 2008

2008 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose. Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder.

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Disclaimer

THIS PUBLICATION AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS MADE AVAILABLE BY AUTODESK, INC. "AS IS." AUTODESK, INC., DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING THESE MATERIALS. Published by: Autodesk, Inc. 111 Mclnnis Parkway San Rafael, CA 94903, USA

Contents

Chapter 1

Installation.

.2.2.3.3.4.4
Contents of the AutoSketch Package System Requirements. Install AutoSketch. Register AutoSketch. Repair AutoSketch. Uninstall AutoSketch.

Chapter 2

Make the Transition from Paper to CAD
Draw to Scale. Organize Drawing Information Draw Efficiently. Draw Accurately. View Your Drawing. Modify Your Drawing. Use Standard Symbols. Create Dimensions and Text.

Chapter 3

AutoSketch Basics
Introduction. Start AutoSketch. Use the Start Up Dialog Box to Create or Open a Drawing. Start a Drawing or Choose a Wizard (Wizard Tab). Choose a Template (Template Tab). Open an Existing Drawing (Open Tab). Understand the User Interface. Drawing Window. All-In-One Toolbar. Content Librarian. Edit Bar. Menu Bar. Property Bar. Status Bar. Title Bar. Toolbars. Tooltips. Basic Features and Functionality. Entities. Properties. Scale. Coordinates. Drawing Origin. Reference Grid. Grid Origin. Snap. Lock Modifier.

When you lay out and plot your drawing, you can set any scale you like.
Organize Drawing Information
In both manual drafting and CAD, you need a way to organize your drawing contenta method for separating, sorting, and editing specific drawing data. With manual drafting, you can separate information onto individual transparent overlays. For example, a building plan might contain separate overlays for its structural, electrical, and plumbing components. In AutoSketch, layers are equivalent to transparent overlays. As with overlays, you can display, edit, and print layers separately or in combination. You can name layers to help track content, and lock layers so they cant be altered. Assigning settings such as color, pen style, or pen width to layers helps you comply with industry standards.
Turn off layers to hide complex details as you work.
You can also use layers to organize drawing objects (called entities in AutoSketch) for printing. This mechanical drawing of a press uses layers to show different types of information in different styles and colors.
Display layers when you need to see all components.

Draw Efficiently

Draw with less effort and revise with more speed: these are the two main reasons you use CAD. AutoSketch has a complete set of drawing and editing tools to help eliminate repetitive, time-consuming drafting tasks. If you work with paper and a drawing board, your set of drawing tools is likely to include pencils, scales, parallel rules, templates, and erasers. Repetitive drawing and editing tasks must be done manually. In AutoSketch, you can choose from a variety of drawing tools that create lines, rectangles, circles, curves, and more. With AutoSketch, you can easily copy, scale, rotate, and mirror entities. You can move or copy entities between open drawings or within the same drawing. Editing is easy with tools such as stretch, align, and offset. To add hatching, simply insert a hatch pattern from the AutoSketch Content Librarian into the area to be filled.
You can save drafting time by drawing one half of an item and then mirroring it to create the other half.
In this drawing of a trolley, copying and mirroring were used to create repeated and symmetrical features. Offsetting lines and hatching were also used to draw more efficiently.

Draw Accurately

Engineering and architectural drawing require a high degree of accuracy. With CAD, you draft more accurately than with manual methods.
Snaps allows you to draw with precision.
On paper, you must draw objects carefully to ensure correct size and alignment. Objects drawn to scale must be manually verified and dimensioned. In AutoSketch, you can ensure exact dimensions by using several methods. The simplest method is to locate points by snapping to some interval of a grid. Another method is to specify exact coordinates. Coordinates specify a drawing location by indicating a point along an X and Y axis or a distance and angle from another point. You can specify coordinates that are relative to other points or to the drawings coordinate system.

Midpoint Snap

You can also snap to locations on existing entities, such as an endpoint of an arc, the midpoint of a line, or the centerpoint of a circle.

Endpoint Snap

Centerpoint Snap

View Your Drawing

The power of CAD makes it easy for you to quickly view different parts of your design at different magnifications. When you draft on paper and need to work on another section, you must physically move to that area of your drawing. In CAD, the size and resolution of your computer monitor limit your viewing area. AutoSketch viewing methods bypass this limitation. To do detailed work, you can increase display size by zooming in. You can zoom out to display more of the drawing. To move to another section of a drawing, you pan the drawing without changing magnification.
You can view several areas of your drawing simultaneously by creating additional windows. Windows can be arranged automatically or manually. They let you work easily on different parts of your drawing. Changes in one window are reflected in the others.
Windows display different portions of your drawing simultaneously. You can zoom and pan the display in each window independently
With detail views, you can arrange additional views at different zoom levels or scales. You can create split windows, and you can pan and zoom in each window to create the best working conditions.

Modify Your Drawing

Revisions are a part of any drawing project. Whether you work on paper or with CAD, you will need to modify your drawing in some way. On paper, you must manually erase and redraw to make revisions to your drawing. AutoSketch eliminates tedious manual editing by providing a wealth of editing tools. If you need to copy all or part of an entity, you dont have to redraw it. If you need to remove an entity, you can erase it with a few clicks of the mouse. And if you make an error, you can quickly undo your actions.
If you stretch an entity.
Once you draw an entity, you never need to redraw it. You can modify existing entities by mirroring, rotating, scaling, stretching, trimming, and more. At any time, you can change entity properties, such as pen style, pen width, color, and layer. These before-and-after drawings show some typical edits to a house elevation.

.the hatch adjusts automatically.

Use Standard Symbols

Symbols have long been used in manual drafting as a way to represent realworld objects in a simplified way. The ability to create and reuse standard symbols is one of CADs greatest strengths. With manual drafting, you might use a symbol template or printed stickers to draw repetitive landscape, architectural, mechanical, or electrical symbols. This method, however, limits the possible variations of a symbol. In AutoSketch, you can save time by inserting symbols from the Content Librarian anywhere in your drawing, at any rotation or scale. You can then add a symbol as many times as needed by simply clicking to place the symbol. Should a standard symbol change (be redefined), all instances of the symbol in your drawing will automatically be replaced. In AutoSketch, you can also create your own symbols from scratch or modify existing ones. Standard landscaping symbols are used in this drawing of a residential home floor plan.
The Content Librarian lets you locate libraries (collections) of symbols. You choose the symbol you want and drag it into your drawing.
Create Dimensions and Text
Creating accurate dimensions and consistent, legible text is a time-consuming task for the manual drafter. CAD provides ways to streamline this task. When you work on paper, you typically draw to scale and then add dimensions and annotations. If you resize any part of the drawing, you must erase and then redraw the dimensions. Changing text can often involve relettering the whole drawing. AutoSketch automates the process of creating and changing dimensions and text. In AutoSketch, you can customize individual dimensions, and when information changes, you can easily revise text, including its content, font, height, angle, and justification. Virtually all standard dimensioning types are provided in AutoSketch: linear, radial, ordinate, angular, baseline, and more.
Introduction Start AutoSketch Use the Start Up Dialog Box to

In this chapter, you learn how to start AutoSketch and use the Startup dialog box to create or open a drawing. You also learn about the user interface and the basic features and functionality of AutoSketch. Once you have learned these AutoSketch basics, you can do the exercises in this guides tutorials and learn to use the product. More information about each of these components and features is available in the Help system.

Create or Open a Drawing

Understand the User Interface Basic Features and Functionality

Introduction

AutoSketch is a precision drawing tool for the Microsoft WindowsXP and Windows Vista operating systems. The emphasis in AutoSketch is on speed, power, and ease of use. AutoSketch features appear when you need them, and are kept out of the way when you dont. If youre already a Windows Vista or Windows XP user, youll find the menu system and much of the user interface familiar. If youre new to Windows, youll find AutoSketch an easy place to work. In this chapter, you learn how to start AutoSketch and use the Start Up dialog box to create or open a drawing, and you get familiar with the user interface components.

Start AutoSketch

When you start AutoSketch, you can begin a new drawing, start with a template, or open existing drawings. Simply click a selection and begin. To start AutoSketch for the first time
On the Start menu (Windows), click All Programs (or Programs) Autodesk AutoSketch 10.
The AutoSketch Start Up dialog box is displayed.
Use the Start Up Dialog Box to Create or Open a Drawing
The Start Up dialog box has three tabs with options for starting a drawing:
Wizard tab. Allows you to start a drawing immediately or choose one of the listed wizards. Template tab. Allows you to base a drawing on a template, and to preview and organize the templates. Open tab. Allows you to open a recently used file, browse for a file, and preview a selected file.
Start a Drawing or Choose a Wizard (Wizard Tab)
In the Start Up dialog box, Wizard tab, you can start a drawing immediately or choose a wizard to start a drawing. A wizard contains instructions to guide you through the steps to accomplish a task. The AutoSketch Start Up wizards help you make drawing decisions to set up a drawing. If you are drawing a workbench project, for example, the wizard steps you through logical workbench decisions for that drawing.

Example of a page in the Workbench wizard
Tip During an AutoSketch work session, you can access wizards by clicking
File New. The illustration shows the Wizard tab, and is followed by an explanation of each of its choices.
Start a Drawing Immediately. Creates a new drawing based on preset settings such as page size and scale. You can always change these settings later. Select this option, and then click OK. You are ready to begin drawing. The following choices on the tab are wizards: Create Precision Drawing. Creates a new drawing based on settings that you specify. You enter summary information (including drawing title, project name, and so on), drawing size and scale, units of measurement, and grid spacing Building. Sets up a drawing of a commercial building, home, or exterior site layout. You choose the building shell, dimensions, wall thickness, roof generation, database report types and fields, layers, page orientation, and useful toolbars. You can add symbols such as telephone poles, trees, and hydrants. Office Layout. Sets up a drawing of a single office or an entire floor of offices. You choose the office shell, dimensions, wall thickness, database report types and fields, layers, page orientation, grid settings, and useful toolbars. You can add symbols such as telephones and computer equipment. Work Bench Project. Sets up a drawing of a small home, or a mechanical or woodworking project. You specify page orientation, units and precision, scale, grid options, database report types and fields, layers, and useful toolbars.
Diagram. Sets up a diagram such as organizational tree, Web site map, flow chart/schedule, piping, electronic schematic, logic diagram, networking, or PC board layout. You choose the type of diagram, page orientation, and useful toolbars. You can add symbols such as flowcharts, schedules, piping, switches, capacitors, lamps, switchboxes, PCs, printers, mainframes, modems, circuit chips, soldering points, and so on. Mechanical Part. Sets up a drawing of a small machine or machine component. You specify page orientation, units, precision, scale, annotation options, Edit command settings, grid options, page division (for different views of a part), database reports and fields, layers, and useful toolbars. You can add symbols such as nuts, bolts, screws, brackets, washers, and so on.

Circle

Polyline

Polygon

Marker

Dimension

Duplicate
Toolbar button Button name Fill Description Creates hatches (a repetitive line pattern in an enclosed area defined by a selection set). The Fill toolset has these buttons: Fill Hatch; Fill Solid Color. Inserts bitmap pictures or detail views into the drawing. The Picture/Detail View toolset has these buttons: Picture From File; Detail View. Manages, creates, places, and duplicates symbols in a drawing. The Symbol toolset has these buttons: Symbol Point; Insert Symbol; Symbol Array; Create Symbol. Displays information about a drawing and its entities. The Inquire toolset has these buttons: Inquire Entity; Inquire Symbol Count; Inquire Selection; Inquire Drawing; Inquire Coordinate; Inquire Distance; Inquire Angle; Inquire Area. Moves, scales, rubber-stamps, or rotates entities. The Transform toolset has these buttons: Rubber Stamp; Rubber Stamp Array; Translate; Scale; Rotate; Align; Mirror; Stretch; Rectangular Array; Circular Array. Edits the geometry of entities. The Trim toolset has these buttons: Trim Corner; Trim Round; Trim Bevel; Trim Edge; Trim Break; Trim Channel; Trim Divide; Trim Subdivide; Trim Join; Trim Alcove; Trim Union; Trim Intersection; Trim Difference Snaps to a point on the grid. The Snap toolset has these buttons: Snap Off; Gridpoint Snap; Endpoint Snap; Jump Snap; Midpoint Snap; Nearest Snap; Basepoint Snap; Perpendicular Snap; Intersection Snap; 2 Point Intersection; Centerpoint Snap; Tangent Snap; Quadrant Snap; Absolute Input; Relative Input; Set Last (Working) Point. Turns lock modification on and off. The Lock toolset has these buttons: Unlock; Lock X; Lock Y; Ortho Lock; Normal Lock.

Picture/Detail View

Symbol

Inquire

Transform

Content Librarian

Contains symbols, fill colors, and hatches that you can insert into a drawing. If a wizard was used to create a drawing, the Content Librarian provides symbol libraries specific to that wizard.
The Content Librarian with the _DoorOffice symbol library displayed
When active, allows you to edit geometric properties of an entity. The function of the edit bar changes depending on the task you are doing. For example, if you select text in the drawing, the controls on the edit bar allow you to edit the text, font, height of the text, and so on.

Entity. A single object, such as a line, polygon, or symbol. Properties. An item of information assigned to an entity. Properties include geometry, layer, pen, pattern, and so on. Scale. The ratio between the size of an entity in its scaled output and the size of the real-world object it represents. For example, if an entity that is 1/4 inch long in its scaled output represents a real-world object that is 1 foot long, the drawing scale is 1/4"=1'0". Coordinates. A pair of numbers that together specify the location of a point in your drawing. Drawing Origin. The point that serves as a location reference for all entities in the drawing. The x- and y-axes cross at the drawing origin. The coordinates of the drawing origin are 0,0. Reference Grid. An on-screen drawing aid consisting of a snap grid and a pattern of lines, crosses, or dots that visually represent the grid. Grid Origin. The point from which the axes of the reference grid extend outward. Snap. A means of entering points using the mouse or keyboard. You can change the snap at any time during most Draw and Edit operations by typing the appropriate keyboard shortcut. Lock Modifiers. Four modifications that you can apply to a snap. Lock modifiers align input with the last point and are applied after the snap.
For detailed information about these concepts, see the Help system.

Entities

Entities are the fundamental elements of a drawing. They can be simple (base entities), such as a single line, arc, circle, or polyline, or they can be groups of drawing elements (compound entities), such as symbols and dimensions. Entities can also be other elements in your drawing, such as pictures or elements from other drawings. Most entities can be edited. You can resize them and change their properties. The following table lists the type of entities that you can create in AutoSketch.

Entity Arc

Description A portion of a circle. You can use an arc to show a rounded wall, the direction a door swings, and so on. A curved line with every point equally distant from the center. You can use a circle to represent a hole, a round object, and so on. A polyline that is rendered onscreen and on printed output in a special way. Use curves to create free-form shapes such as curved sidewalks and car fenders. A rectangular area that displays another portion of the drawing defined by a previously saved view. A predefined collection of lines, arcs, markers, and text that display a measurement in the drawing. The text label is updated automatically when you stretch or reshape the dimension. A closed symmetrical curve that resembles a flattened circle. A hidden-line polygon that conforms to the shape of a bounded area and displays either a solid color, a hatch, or a bitmap fill. A compound entity consisting of individual symbols and entities that AutoSketch treats as a single entity. An entity that connects two points. You can use a line to represent any straight object such as a water pipe, a wall edge, an electrical connection, or a street. An entity that notes a specific point in a drawing.

Coordinates

Coordinates are numbers that specify the location of one point in relation to another. This relationship is classified as either absolute or relative. Absolute coordinates reference the origin of whatever coordinate system is currently being used (for example, the drawing origin or the grid origin). Relative coordinates reference the last point you entered. They are useful when you want to draw or place another entity a known distance from another entity or point. AutoSketch expresses location in three ways: xy (Cartesian), polar, and isometric coordinates. X- and y-coordinates express location in terms of horizontal and vertical distances from another point. Polar coordinates express location in terms of distance (radius) and angle. For example, the xy coordinates 7,5 are equivalent to the polar coordinates 8.6,35.5. Isometric coordinates add a third axis (z) to the expression. Isometric drawings are often used to create two-dimensional views of a three-dimensional object.

Examples of coordinates

Drawing Origin
The drawing origin displays the x (horizontal), y (vertical), and (if isometric) z coordinates of a drawing. AutoSketch locates most points in relation to the drawing origin. The drawing origin is shown on screen as colored arrows.
Example of the drawing origin arrows in the lower-left corner of a drawing
If you move the drawing origin, the entire drawing shifts to reflect that change. The drawing origin does not appear when you print the drawing. Normally, the drawing origin is located at the lower-left corner of a drawing. If you need to move it, you can center the drawing origin or relocate it.
A reference grid is a visual drawing aid that contains a pattern of horizontal and vertical lines or dots that represent a grid. Use gridpoint snaps to make your drawing precise.
Example of a first point snapping to a grid
There are three types of reference grids available in AutoSketch, each suited for different purposes.
The default grid is rectangular, with snap intervals and lines that parallel the x- and y-axes. This grid is the standard reference tool for most twodimensional drawings. Circular grids extend radially from the grid origin. They provide an excellent reference tool for drawings that require alignment of points along an arc or circle, such as a mechanical drawing of a gear. Isometric grids align along three major axes, instead of two. This allows you to create two-dimensional drawings of three-dimensional objects.
You can modify the settings for each of the reference grids. The following table lists the Grid tools you can use in AutoSketch. These buttons are located on the Grid toolbar.

Intersection snap Centerpoint snap

Lock Modifier

You can align input with the last point by using a lock modifier. If a lock modifier is active, a dotted line extends from the AutoPoint Indicator to the actual point, as constrained by the lock modifier. For example, if you draw a diagonal line from top to bottom, and then activate Endpoint snap and the Y-axis lock modifier, the square AutoPoint Indicator identifies the endpoint nearest the pointer, but a dotted line extends to the potential snap point based on the current snap and lock modifier.
Example of a line drawn with endpoint snap and y-axis lock modifier turned on
There are four automatic modifications you can have AutoSketch make to the point you enter. These lock modifiers force the point you enter into horizontal, vertical, orthogonal, or normal alignment with the last point. At any time in the drawing or editing process, you can apply a lock modifier by clicking its button on the All-In-One toolbar or by typing the letter shown on the button.
This appendix contains several drawings that were created with AutoSketch Study these drawings to get. ideas for your own drawings, or just to see the power of the product.
Office created using the Office Layout wizard
Jig created using the Mechanical Part wizard
Test Site created using the Diagram wizard
Tuner Diagram created using the Diagram wizard
Utopia Created using the Building wizard
Birdhouse created using the Workbench wizard
absolute coordinates Absolute Coordinates dial, 29 defined, 34 Absolute Coordinates dial defined, 29 activating buttons in toolsets, 25 drawing windows, 23 snaps, 38 active button, in toolset, 25 Add or Remove Programs window, 4 alignment with grids, 36 lock modifier and, 38 All-In-One toolbar, 25 illustration, 25 Arc toolset, 26 arcs, 32 AutoPoint Indicator, 38 Autorun feature, 3 AutoSketch features and functionality, 31 installation, 3 overview, 18 registering, 3 repairing installation, 4 starting, 18 system requirements, 2 uninstalling, 4 AutoSketch Product Registration wizard, 3

birdhouse drawing sample drawing, 45 blank drawings, creating, 20 browsers, 2 Building wizard, 20, 44 buildings creating drawings for, 20 buttons on toolbars, 25 in toolsets, 25 tooltips, 30 triangle symbol on, 30
Cartesian coordinates, 34 CD-ROMs AutoSketch installation, 3 hardware requirements, 2 Centerpoint snap symbol, 38 centerpoints snapping, 38 Circle toolset, 26 circles defined, 32 Circular button (Grid toolbar), 36 circular reference grid, 36 color fill color, 28, 32 setting with property bar, 29 compound entities, 32 Content Librarian defined, 28 efficiency and, 10 illustration, 28

base entities, 32

inserting symbols, 14 coordinates absolute coordinates, 34 Absolute Coordinates dial, 29 defined, 11, 34 drawing origin and, 35 grid origin and, 37 illustration, 35 isometric coordinates, 34 polar coordinates, 34 relative coordinates, 29, 34 Relative Coordinates dial, 29 xy (Cartesian) coordinates, 34 Create Precision Drawing wizard, 20 Curve toolset, 26 curves, 32
starting with wizards, 18, 19 viewing, 12 Duplicate toolset, 26
edit bar, 28 illustration, 28 editing dimensions and dimension text, 15 drawings, 13 edit bar, 28 efficiency and, 10 templates, 21 electronic schematic wizards, 21 ellipses, 32 Endpoint snap symbol, 38 entities base, 32 compound, 32 defined, 9 deleting, 13 edit bar, 28 overview, 32 properties, 33 snapping into place, 11 types of, 32 erasing, ease of, 13 examples of drawings, 45
deleting entities from drawings, 13 detail views, 12, 32 Diagram wizard, 21, 42 dials on status bar, 29 Dimension toolset, 26 dimensions accuracy, 11 adding to drawings, 15 defined, 32 text in, 15 tools for, 26 displaying detailed Help for tools on toolbars, 30 docking toolbars, 30 Double Grid Size button (Grid toolbar), 37 drawing area. See drawing window drawing objects. See entities drawing origin, 35 illustration, 35 drawing scale defined, 34 overview, 8 drawing tools, efficiency and, 10 drawing window, 23 drawings accuracy and, 11, 20, 37 dimensions, 15, 34 drafting vs. AutoSketch, 8 drawing scale, 8, 34 editing, 13 examples of, 45 multiple windows, 12 opening, 18, 22 organizing information in layers, 9, 29 repetitive tasks in, 10 starting, 18 starting from templates, 18, 21

fields defined, 33 files opening, 18, 22 templates, 22 fill color in Content Librarian, 28 fills, defined, 32 setting with property bar, 29 Fill toolset, 27 fills, 32 floor designs in office design, 20 flowchart wizards, 21 flyouts (on toolbars). See toolsets
geometric properties, 33 graphic properties, 33 grid origin, 37 Grid toolbar, 36 grid. See reference grid Gridpoint snap symbol, 38
gridpoint snaps precision and, 36 symbol, 38 groups defined, 32
manual drafting accuracy and, 11 compared to AutoSketch, 8 layers, 9 repetitive tasks in, 10 viewing entire drawings, 12 Marker toolset, 26 markers, 32 measurement systems drawing scale and, 8 Mechanical Part wizard, 21, 41 mechanical projects, 20 memory requirements, 2 menu bar, 28 illustration, 29 Microsoft Internet Explorer, 2 Midpoint snap symbol, 38 moving drawing origin, 35 toolbars, 30
Halve Grid Size button (Grid toolbar), 37 hard disks hardware requirements, 2 hardware requirements, 2 hatches in Content Librarian, 28 fills, defined, 32 Help, displaying, 30 horizontal alignment of entities, 38
Inquire toolset, 27 inserting dimensions, 15 symbols, 14, 28 installing AutoSketch program, 3 Internet Explorer, 2 Intersection snap symbol, 38 intersections snapping to, 38 isometric coordinates, 34 Isometric Left button (Grid toolbar), 37 isometric reference grid, 36 Isometric Right button (Grid toolbar), 37 Isometric Top button (Grid toolbar), 36
networking diagram wizards, 21
objects. See entities office layout creating drawings for, 20 sample drawing, 40 Office Layout wizard overview, 20 sample drawing, 40 OLE objects, 33 Open tab (Start Up dialog box), 22 opening AutoSketch, 18 drawings, 18, 22 drawings with wizards, 18 templates, 18, 22 toolsets, 30 wizards, 19 operating system requirements, 2 organization chart wizards, 21 orthogonal alignment, 38 output, drawing scale and, 34

jig drawing, 41

layers organizing information in, 9 setting with property bar, 29 Line toolset, 26 lines defined, 32 lock modifier, 38 defined, 31 illustration, 38 Lock toolset, 27 logic diagram wizards, 21
panning drawings defined, 12 patterns, 29 PC board layout wizards, 21 Picture/Detail View toolset, 27
pictures, 33 piping wizards, 21 polar coordinates, 34 Polygon toolset, 26 polygons defined, 33 Polyline toolset, 26 polylines defined, 33 precision drawings AutoSketch and accuracy, 11 creating drawings, 20 snap feature and, 37 previewing templates, 21 printing drawing scale and, 34 properties defined, 33 types of, 33 property bar, 29 illustration, 29
Rectangular button (Grid toolbar), 36 rectangular reference grid, 36 redefined symbols, updating, 14 reference grids defined, 36 grid origin, 37 illustration, 36 settings and alignment, 36 types of, 36 registering AutoSketch, 3 relative coordinates, 29, 34 Relative Coordinates dial, 29 removing entities from drawings, 13 repairing AutoSketch installation, 4 repetitive tasks, 10 replacing redefined symbols, 14

Snap toolset, 27 Start Up dialog box Open tab, 22 options for starting drawings, 18 Template tab, 21 Wizard tab, 19 starting AutoSketch, 18 drawings, 18 drawings from templates, 18, 21 drawings with wizards, 18, 19 status bar defined, 29 dials, 29 illlustration, 29 styles, 29 symbol libraries, 28 Symbol toolset, 27 symbols defined, 33 inserting, 14, 28 redefined, 14 system requirements for AutoSketch, 2
Template tab (Start Up dialog box), 21 templates defined, 21 opening, 22 starting drawings from, 18, 21 test site drawing, 42 text defined, 33 dimension text, 15 Text toolset, 26 title bar, 30 illustration, 30 toolbars All-In-One toolbar, 25 defined, 30 illustration showing toolset, 30 moving and docking, 30 toolsets, 30 tools, efficiency and, 10 toolsets accessing on toolbars, 30 defined, 25 triangle symbol, 30 tooltips, 30 illustration, 30 Transform toolset, 27 triangle symbol on buttons, 30 Trim toolset, 27 troubleshooting, AutoSketch installation (repair), 4 tuner diagram drawing, 43
sample drawings, 45 schedule wizards, 21 schematic wizards, 21 Select toolset, 25 site map wizards, 21 size drawing scale and, 34 snap feature defined, 11, 37 grid alignment features, 36 lock modifier and, 38 snap points, 37 snap points, 37
uninstalling AutoSketch, 4 updates changed symbols, 14 user interface All-In-One toolbar, 25 Content Librarian, 28 drawing windows, 23 edit bar, 28 elements (illustrated), 23 menu bar, 28 property bar, 29 status bar, 29 title bar, 30 tooltips, 30 utopia drawing, 44
Web browsers, 2 Web sites mapping wizards, 21 windows in AutoSketch defined, 12 drawing windows, 23 Wizard tab (Start Up dialog box), 19 wizards AutoSketch Product Registration wizard, 3 Building wizard, 20, 44 Create Precision Drawing wizard, 20 defined, 19 Diagram wizard, 21, 42, 43 Mechanical Part wizard, 21, 41 Start Up wizards, 19 Workbench wizard, 20, 45 woodworking projects, 20 Workbench wizard, 20, 45
vertical alignment of entities, 38 viewing drawings detail views, 12 multiple windows, 12 zooming and panning, 12 views detail views, 12 multiple windows, 12
xy (Cartesian) coordinates, 34
Zoom toolset, 25 zooming in or out defined, 12