The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

First released in 1982, AutoCAD is now the leading program for computer-aided design throughout the world. It is an essential tool in many industries, including mechanical and civil engineering, architecture, facilities planning and management. More employers use it, and need workers skilled in it, than any other CAD system.

The AutoCAD 2009 program takes a step-by-step approach to learning AutoCAD 2009, starting with a few basic tools to let students create and edit a simple drawing, and then gradually introducing more advanced tools. Examples and practice exercises are taken from a variety of the fields where AutoCAD is used.

This program begins by focusing on basic 2D drawing and editing tools, objects on layers, text, and basic dimensions. Once the student masters the basic skills, they will move on to explore efficiency tools, complex objects, using external reference/image files, advanced plotting, enhancing productivity with simple customization. Students will receive the required textbook and a 13-month student license for AutoCAD 2009.

Upon registering, you are given an initial six months to complete the program. Should you need more time, you may request a six-month course extension at no additional charge. GES cannot extend the software license for AutoCAD 2009.

Course Objectives

By completing this course the student will learn to:

• Create accurate dimensioned drawings.
• Setup drawings to plot.
• Build a library of symbols that can be reused.
• Develop template files with standard settings.
• Coordinate reference drawings.

I. Getting Started with AutoCAD
A. Starting AutoCAD
B. AutoCAD’s User Interface
C. Working with Commands
D. Opening an Existing Drawing File
E. Saving Your Work
F. AutoCAD’s Cartesian Workspace

II. Basic Drawing & Editing Commands
A. Drawing Lines
B. Erasing Objects
C. Drawing Lines with Polar Tracking
D. Drawing Rectangles
E. Drawing Circles
F. Viewing Your Drawing
G. Undo and Redo Actions

III. Projects - Creating a Simple Drawing

IV. Drawing Precision in AutoCAD
A. Using Running Object Snaps
B. Using Object Snap Overrides
C. Polar Tracking at Angles
D. Object Snap Tracking
E. Drawing with Snap and Grid (Optional)

V. Making Changes in Your Drawing
A. Selecting Objects for Editing
B. Moving Objects
C. Copying Objects
D. Rotating Objects
E. Scaling Objects
F. Mirroring Objects
G. Editing with Grips

VI. Projects - Making Your Drawings More Precise

VII. Organizing Your Drawing with Layers
A. Creating New Drawings With Templates
B. What are Layers?
C. Layer States
D. Changing an Object’s Layer

VIII. Advanced Object Types
A. Drawing Arcs
B. Drawing Polylines
C. Editing Polylines
D. Drawing Polygons
E. Drawing Ellipses

IX. Getting Information from Your Drawing
A. Measuring Objects
B. Working with Object Properties

X. Projects - Drawing Organization and Information

XI. Advanced Editing Commands
A. Trimming and Extending Objects
B. Stretching Objects
C. Creating Fillets and Chamfers
D. Offsetting Objects
E. Creating Arrays of Objects

XII. Inserting Blocks
A. What are Blocks?
B. Inserting Blocks
C. Working with Dynamic Blocks
D. Inserting Blocks Using DesignCenter

XIII. Projects - Creating More Complex Objects

XIV. Setting Up a Layout
A. Printing Concepts
B. Working in Layouts
C. Copying Layouts
D. Creating Viewports
E. Guidelines for Layouts

XV. Printing Your Drawing
A. Printing Layouts
B. Printing a Check Plot

XVI. Projects - Preparing to Print

XVII. Text
A. Working with Annotations
B. Adding Text in a Drawing
C. Modifying Multiline Text
D. Formatting Multiline Text

XVIII. Hatching
A. Hatching

XIX. Adding Dimensions
A. Dimensioning Concepts
B. Adding Linear Dimensions
C. Adding Radial and Angular Dimensions
D. Editing Dimensions
E. Adding Notes to Your Drawing

XX. Projects - Annotating Your Drawing

XXI. Working Effectively with AutoCAD
A. Setting Up the Application Window
B. Creating a Custom Workspace
C. Using the Keyboard Effectively
D. Working in Multiple Drawings
E. Using Grips Effectively
F. Additional Layer Tools

XXII. Accurate Positioning
A. Coordinate Entry
B. Locating Points with Tracking
C. Construction Lines
D. Placing Reference Points

XXIII. Projects - Productivity Tools

XXIV. Creating Blocks
A. Creating Blocks
B. Editing Blocks
C. Removing Unused Elements

XXV. Blocks in Tool Palettes
A. Adding Blocks to Tool Palettes
B. Modifying Tool Properties in Tool Palettes

XXVI. Projects - Creating and Organizing Blocks

XXVII. Creating Templates
A. Why Use Templates
B. Controlling Units Display
C. Creating New Layers
D. Adding Standard Layouts to Templates
E. Saving Templates

XXVIII. Annotation Styles
A. Creating Text Styles
B. Creating Dimension Styles
C. Creating Multileader Styles

XXIX. Projects - Drawing Setup and Utilities

XXX. Advanced Layouts
A. Creating and Using Named Views
B. Creating Additional Viewports
C. Layer Overrides In Viewports
D. Additional Annotative Scale Features

XXXI. DWF Printing and Publishing
A. DWF Plotting and Viewing
B. Publishing Drawing Sets

XXXII. Projects - Drawing (Optional)

AutoCAD 2009 Level 2

XXXIII. Advanced Text Objects
A. Annotation Scale Overview
B. Using Fields
C. Controlling the Draw Order

XXXIV. Working with Tables
A. Creating Tables
B. Modifying Tables
C. Working with Linked Tables
D. Creating Table Styles

XXXV. Projects - Advanced Annotation
A. Fields and Tables

XXXVI. Dynamic Blocks
A. Working with Dynamic Blocks
B. Creating Dynamic Block Definitions
C. Dynamic Block Authoring Tools

XXXVII. Attributes
A. Inserting Blocks with Attributes
B. Editing Attribute Values
C. Defining Attributes
D. Redefining Blocks with Attributes
E. Extracting Attributes

XXXVIII. Projects – Advanced Blocks & Attributes
A. Dynamic Block Practice – Desk Unit
B. Mechanical Attribute Project - Amplifier
C. Architectural Attribute Project - Door Schedule

XXXIX. External References
A. Attaching External References
B. Modifying External References
C. Xref Specific Information

XL. Other Tools for Collaboration
A. eTransmit
B. Hyperlinks

XLI. Projects - Reference & Share Information
A. Reference & Share Information

XLII. Introduction to Sheet Sets
A. Overview of Sheet Sets
B. Creating Sheet Sets
C. Creating Sheets in Sheet Sets
D. Adding Views to Sheets
E. Importing Layouts to Sheet Sets

XLIII. Publishing & Customizing Sheet Sets
A. Transmitting and Archiving Sheet Sets
B. Publishing Sheet Sets
C. Customizing Sheet Sets
D. Custom Blocks for Sheet Sets

XLIV. Projects - Sheet Sets
A. Sheet Sets

XLV. Managing Layers
A. Working in the Layer Properties Manager
B. Creating Layer Filters
C. Setting Layer States

XLVI. CAD Standards
A. CAD Standards Concepts
B. Configuring Standards
C. Checking Standards
D. Layer Translator

XLVII. System Setup
A. Options Dialog Box
B. System Variables
C. Dynamic Input Settings
D. Drawing Utilities
E. Managing Plotters
F. Plot Styles

XLVIII. Introduction to Customization
A. Why Customize?
B. What Can be Customized?
C. Creating a Custom Workspace

XLIX. Customizing the User Interface
A. Using the Customize User Interface (CUI) Dialog Box
B. Creating Custom Toolbars
C. Customizing the Ribbon
D. Customizing Menus
E. Keyboard Shortcuts

L. Macros and Custom Routines
A. Custom Commands and Macros
B. Running Scripts
C. Action Recorder
D. Editing Action Macros
E. Loading Custom Routines