Screen Layout

The AutoCAD interface consists of standard Windows user-interface components, similar to those used in other Windows applications. You can customize the size and placement of most components.

Floating Toolbars

A floating toolbar is a collection of commands organized by category, for example, Draw, Modify, or Dimensioning. You can customize and resize the toolbars or drag and drop tools from one toolbar to another. There is an icon editor. You can dock the toolbars at the edges of the drawing area.

Flyouts

Flyouts allow you to choose several different commands from the same place on the toolbar. The flyout contains either variations of a drawing command, such as the different ways to draw a circle, or it contains a group of related commands.

Layer and Linetype Display

The Object Properties toolbar contains a new display for easier control of layer and linetype settings.

Tooltips

Tooltips label the different commands on the toolbars. You see the ToolTip whenever you hold the pointer for a second or two over an icon in one of the toolbars. AutoCAD also provides more detailed descriptions on the status bar.

Command Window

The command window and the drawing area are separate, floating, and scrollable windows. You can use the scroll bars to pan around your drawing. The command line and the AutoCAD text window have been combined (the F2 key toggles between the two sizes). You can dock the command window above or below the drawing area. Cutting and pasting from the text window to the command window is easy.

New Menu System

The menu has been simplified; most commands are now available on toolbars. However, you can load a "full" menu that resembles those in previous releases. If you use customized menus, you no longer have to substitute your menu for the AutoCAD menu.  Instead, you can add new items anywhere on the AutoCAD menu. This system prevents possible menu conflicts between different third-party programs.

OLE

AutoCAD for Windows acts as an OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) client as well as a server. This two-way linking makes it easy to embed objects from other Windows applications in your AutoCAD drawings.

Command Reference

The complete AutoCAD Command Reference in on-line format puts detailed information on every AutoCAD command at your fingertips. Electronic copies of all the AutoCAD documentation are included on the CD version.

Learning AutoCAD

The Learning AutoCAD for Windows is an on-line tutorial that contains ten lessons, designed to help new users master the fundamental AutoCAD commands. Each lesson focuses on a particular aspect of AutoCAD. An animated Demo button in each exercise shows how the drawing in that exercise is created. Learning AutoCAD for DOS and UNIX is a printed document.

Quick Tour

The Quick Tour introduces new users to the basic concepts of AutoCAD. The topics covered include:
+   AutoCAD Basics
+   2D Drawing
+   3D Drawing and Viewing
+   Printing and Plotting
+   Rendering

New ADS and AutoLISP Functionality

For information on new ADS functionality, see the AutoCAD Developer's Guide. For information on new AutoLISP functionality, see the AutoCAD Customization Guide.