INTRODUCTION TO
AUTO-CAD
AutoCAD is a commercial software
application for 2D and 3D computer-aided
design (CAD) and drafting —
available since 1982 as a desktop application and since 2010 as a mobile web-
and cloud-based app marketed
as AutoCAD 360.
Developed and marketed by Autodesk, Inc.,[1] AutoCAD
was first released in December 1982, running on microcomputers with
internal graphics
controllers. Prior to the introduction of AutoCAD, most commercial
CAD programs ran on mainframe
computers or minicomputers, with each CAD
operator working at a separate graphics terminal.
By the March 1986 AutoCAD had become
the most ubiquitous CAD program worldwide. As of 2014, AutoCAD is in its
twenty-ninth generation, and collectively with all its variants, continues to
be the most widely used CAD program throughout most of the world.
History
AutoCAD was derived from a program
begun in 1977 and released in 1979 called Interact CAD, also referred to in early Autodesk
documents as Micro-CAD, which was written prior to Autodesk's formation by Autodesk cofounder Mike Riddle.
The first version by the Auto-Desk company
was demonstrated at the 1982 Comdex and released that December. The 2015 release marked
the 29th major release for the AutoCAD for Windows. The 2014 release marked the
fourth consecutive year for AutoCAD for Mac.
File formats
The native file format of AutoCAD
is .dwg. This and, to
a lesser extent, its interchange file format DXF, have become de facto, if
proprietary, standards for CAD data-interoperability. AutoCAD has
included support for .dwg, a format developed and promoted by Autodesk, for
publishing CAD data.
Versions
Official Name
|
Version
|
Release
|
Date of release
|
Comments
|
AutoCAD Version 1.0
|
1.0
|
1
|
1982, December
|
DWG R1.0 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD Version 1.2
|
1.2
|
2
|
1983, April
|
DWG R1.2 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD Version 1.3
|
1.3
|
3
|
1983, August
|
DWG R1.3 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD Version 1.4
|
1.4
|
4
|
1983, October
|
DWG R1.4 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD Version 2.0
|
2.0
|
5
|
1984, October
|
DWG R2.05 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD Version 2.1
|
2.1
|
6
|
1985, May
|
DWG R2.1 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD Version 2.5
|
2.5
|
7
|
1986, June
|
DWG R2.5 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD Version 2.6
|
2.6
|
8
|
1987, April
|
DWG R2.6 file format introduced. Last
version to run without a math co-processor.
|
AutoCAD Release 9
|
9.0
|
9
|
1987, September
|
DWG R9 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD Release 10
|
10.0
|
10
|
1988, October
|
DWG R10 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD Release 11
|
11.0
|
11
|
1990, October
|
DWG R11 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD Release 12
|
12.0
|
12
|
1992, June
|
|
AutoCAD Release 13
|
13.0
|
13
|
1994, November
|
|
AutoCAD Release 14
|
14.0
|
14
|
1997, February
|
DWG R14 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD 2000
|
15.0
|
15
|
1999, March
|
DWG 2000 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD 2000i
|
15.1
|
16
|
2000, July
|
|
AutoCAD 2002
|
15.6
|
17
|
2001, June
|
|
AutoCAD 2004
|
16.0
|
18
|
2003, March
|
DWG 2004 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD 2005
|
16.1
|
19
|
2004, March
|
|
AutoCAD 2006
|
16.2
|
20
|
2005, March
|
Dynamic Block introduced.
|
AutoCAD 2007
|
17.0
|
21
|
2006, March
|
DWG 2007 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD 2008
|
17.1
|
22
|
2007, March
|
Annotative Objects introduced.
AutoCAD 2008 and higher (including AutoCAD LT) can directly import and
underlayDGN V8
files.
|
AutoCAD 2009
|
17.2
|
23
|
2008, March
|
Revisions to the user interface
including the option of a Microsoft Office 2007-like tabbed ribbon.
|
AutoCAD 2010
|
18.0
|
24
|
2009, March 24
|
DWG 2010 file format introduced.
Parametrics introduced. Mesh 3D solid modeling introduced. Both 32-bit and
64-bit versions of AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 are compatible with and
supported under Microsoft Windows 7.
|
AutoCAD 2011
|
18.1
|
25
|
2010, March 25
|
Surface Modeling, Surface Analysis
and Object Transparency introduced. October 15, 2010[9] AutoCAD
2011 for Mac was released. Are compatible with and supported under Microsoft
Windows 7
|
AutoCAD 2012
|
18.2
|
26
|
2011, March 22
|
Associative Array, Model
Documentation. Support for complex line types in DGN files is improved in
AutoCAD 2012. DGN editing.
|
AutoCAD 2013
|
19.0
|
27
|
2012, March 27
|
DWG 2013 file format introduced.
|
AutoCAD 2014
|
19.1
|
28
|
2013, March 26
|
File Tabs, Design Feed, Reality
Capture, Autodesk Live Maps
|
AutoCAD 2015
|
20.0
|
29
|
2014, March 27
|
Line smoothing (anti-aliasing),
Windows 8.1 support added, dropped Windows XP support (incl. compatibility
mode)
|
Languages
AutoCAD 2014 and
AutoCAD-LT 2014 are available for English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese
Simplified, Chinese
Traditional and Brazilian
Portuguese. Russian, Czech, Polish, Hungarian will be
available later on. The extent of localization varies from full translation of
the product to documentation only. The AutoCAD command set is localized as a
part of the software localization.
Extensions
AutoCAD
supports a number of APIs for
customization and automation. These include Auto-LISP, Visual LISP, VBA, .NET and Object-ARX. Object-ARX is
a C++ class
library, which was also the base for:
(a) Products extending AutoCAD functionality
to specific fields;
(b) Creating products such as AutoCAD
Architecture, AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Civil 3D;
(c) third-party AutoCAD-based application.
There are a large number of AutoCAD plugins (add-on applications) available on
the application store Autodesk Exchange Apps.
Vertical integration
Autodesk has also developed a few
vertical programs (AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD Electrical,
AutoCAD-ecscad, AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD MEP, AutoCAD
Structural Detailing, AutoCAD Utility Design, AutoCAD P&ID and AutoCAD
Plant 3D) for discipline-specific enhancements. For example, AutoCAD
Architecture permits architectural designers to draw 3D
objects, such as walls, doors and windows, with more intelligent data
associated with them rather than simple objects, such as lines and circles. The
data can be programmed to represent specific architectural products sold in the
construction industry, or extracted into a data file for pricing, materials
estimation, and other values related to the objects represented. Additional
tools generate standard 2D drawings, such as elevations and sections, from a 3D
architectural model. Similarly, Civil Design, Civil Design 3D, and Civil Design
Professional support data-specific objects, facilitating easy standard civil
engineering calculations and representations. Civil 3D was originally developed
as an AutoCAD add-on by a company in New Hampshire called Soft-desk (originally
DCA). Soft-desk was acquired by Autodesk, and Civil- 3D was further evolved.
Student versions
AutoCAD is licensed, for free, to
qualifying students and teachers, with an 18-month renewable license available.
The student version of AutoCAD is functionally identical to the full commercial
version, with one exception: DWG files created or edited by a student version
have an internal bit-flag set (the "educational flag"). When such a
DWG file is printed by any version of AutoCAD (commercial or student) older
than AutoCAD 2014 SP1, the output includes a plot stamp / banner on all four
sides. Objects created in the Student Version cannot be used for commercial
use. Student Version objects "infect" a commercial version DWG file
if it is imported in older versions than AutoCAD 2015.
The Autodesk Education Community
provides registered students and faculty with free access to different Autodesk
applications.
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