AutoCAD® 2005 software provides powerhouse productivity tools that help you create single drawings as productively as possible, as well as new features for the efficient creation, management, and sharing of entire sets of drawings.

AutoCAD 2005 introduces some new terminology, as follows: a drawing is a single DWG file; a drawing contains a layout. A layout is referenced as a sheet in the Sheet Set Manager, and a sheet set is an organized collection of sheets.The New Standard in CAD Productivity.

Productivity always has been and always will be a cornerstone in the profitability and viability of any industry that creates, consumes, or manages design information. With the new standard in CAD productivity from Autodesk, you have the tools you need to always go further than the competition and ensure maximum speed, power, and efficiency throughout your process.

The new standard began with the AutoCAD® 2004 software release, giving users measurable efficiency gains, like file sizes averaging 52 percent smaller and productivity increases of up to 70 percent.* AutoCAD 2005 software builds on the dramatic productivity gains of AutoCAD 2004 with new tools that free you from tedious drafting tasks and help you efficiently manage sets of drawings. For example, enhanced tool palettes simplify and even eliminate repetitive tasks, and the Sheet Set Manager enables you to create, share, and manage entire sets of related drawings from a single location-all of which translates into better-coordinated documentation, lower risk, and higher speed and accuracy.

From creating single drawings, to managing entire sets of drawings, from sharing design information over the web, to creating compelling, graphics-rich presentations that market your work-AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT® help you go further with the new standard in CAD productivity.

For more information, visit the Autodesk web site at http://www.autodesk.com/autocad

Note: AutoCAD 2005 training will be available soon at GRAFFITI ENGG. SULUTIONS (P) LTD.

Create with Speed
New and enhanced tools that accelerate the work process include Express Tools (which reduce the number of steps required to perform a task), new tool palettes for frequently used content, and an optimized DWG file format for faster file save and transmission times.
Share with Ease
New and improved data exchange features include support of multisheet DWFT (Design Web FormatT) files for securely exchanging drawings over the Internet with team members who need to view and plot, but not edit, DWG files. Digital signatures and password protection secure working files, while CAD standards management ensures that the entire team uses the same standards.

AutoCAD 2002: The foundation for collaborative design .
AutoCAD 2002 supercharges your design process, unlocking the value of your design data at every step of the way. In fact, AutoCAD 2002 offers

• Powerful design tools to enhance productivity and performance.
• New ways to help you connect and collaborate with your design team-and extend the reach of your design data.
• New tools to help you manage your corporate design standards.
• Evolved deployment and integration features and advanced license management tools to help you use your Autodesk® software assets for a greater ROI.

AutoCAD 2000i, the Internet edition of Autodesk's flagship product, is the technology foundation for design solutions serving the building design, communications, government, utilities, land development, and manufacturing industries. New capabilities within AutoCAD 2000i improve communication and collaboration throughout the customer's organization-design clients, suppliers, vendors, and other project team members. These capabilities include publishing design data on the Web, hosting online meetings, accessing design information from the worldwide design community, and dragging content from manufacturers' websites and dropping it into drawings.

• Drawing Productivity
• Speed & Performance
• Internet-Driven Design
• Assistance and Usability
• Many User Requested Features such as:

  Freeze Layer by Viewport back in the Layer dropdown Double click edit of objects Restored the old single text behavior (-TEXT) Clear grips with a single escape Trim to objects within blocks Fillet and Chamfer multiple polylines Persistent expand and collapse list in the Object Properties Manager "OPM" Added the PICKADD and Select Objects to the OPM Added Closeall Enhanced RECTANG command Change Fillet Radius without Exiting Fillet Command Reinforced Audit and Recover Quick Select is now quicker Plot Merged Lines in most plot device drivers True Color plot styles

  Plot device and paper size filtering Added a generic HPGL mode for legacy HPGL based plot devices Added Layer States to core product Multi processor support eTransmit which is Pack & Go on steroids! 100% binary compatibility such as customization and DWG. Added and enhanced iX Internet features Changed the UCS icon New File Open and navigation dialog Added the ability to Live Update the product Changed the Help system to HTML and included natural language query. Added a Z axis lock in 3D Orbit Enhanced scale entry in the Viewport Toolbar The installation is now MSI based not Installshield

Heads-up Design TM means you focus on the design, not on the keyboard. AutoCAD® 2000 provides new tools to help you make the most of your legacy design data, reducing the time you spend accessing and reworking similar designs. Other features simplify how you work, making AutoCAD more transparent and easier to use.

Multiple Document Environment	Work with multiple drawings in a single AutoCAD session and copy, move, and paint objects, plus associated data, between them.
AutoCAD DesignCenter	Use the new AutoCAD® DesignCenter TM to locate and load content, such as blocks, layers, and named objects, into your drawings.
Quick Dimensions	Use the new QDIM command to automatically create any number of dimensions with a simple selection of geometry.
New Object Snaps	Use the new Parallel and Extension object snaps to draw more precisely.
AutoTrack TM	Use polar and object snap tracking to create objects at specific polar angles or at angles relative to object snap points.
Partial Open and Partial Load	Open and edit only needed portions of drawings and xrefs.
Real-time 3D Rotation	Use the new 3DORBIT command to easily manipulate views of 3D objects.
Multiple Active Work Planes	Viewports and views can have different user coordinate system (UCS) and elevation settings, which makes working in 3D easier.
UCS Manager	Manage your UCSs using the new UCS Manager dialog box.
View	Manage views using the new View dialog box.
Reference Editing	Edit external references and block references from within your current drawing.
Toolbars	Use AutoCAD toolbars that are enhanced to conform to Microsoft®Office 98 standards.

Properties Window	Modify the properties of an object in a drawing quickly and easily.
Object Properties Toolbar	Use convenient new methods for editing common object properties such as lineweight and plot style.
IntelliMouse	Use the Microsoft IntelliMouse®, including IntelliMouse panning and zooming.
Quick Select	Use Quick Select to select objects based on object type or object properties.
Shortcut Menus	Right-click your pointing device to display new shortcut menus to access AutoCAD commands.
Solids Editing	You can manipulate your 3D solid models without creating new geometry or performing Boolean operations.
Summary Information	Store drawing information, such as title, subject, author, keywords, and ten custom fields.
Text Editing	Use the new text-control capabilities of the Multiline Text Editor to edit text more quickly.
Layer Properties Manager	Quickly set layer properties, such as color and linetype.
Object Names	The 31-character limit has been removed. Named object names can have up to 255 characters and include more special characters, including spaces.
Dimension Styles	The new Dimension Styles Manager replaces the DDIM dialog box so you can create and manage dimension styles quickly and effectively.
Quick Leader	Use the new QLEADER command to easily create and modify leaders.
Load/Unload Applications	The new Load/Unload Applications dialog box makes loading and unloading applications easier and more intuitive.
Boundary Hatches	The revised Boundary Hatch dialog box makes boundary hatch management easier.
Saving Drawings	Use the new Save Drawing As dialog box to specify the default file format in which you want to save your drawings.

Drawing Productivity Enhancements -R14

New Graphics Subsystem	Replacement of AutoCAD ADI graphics pipeline with a modern, HEIDI-based graphics system has eliminated the refresh file and its memory demands.
Paper Space Display List	Regenerations in paper space following a zoom or pan operation have been almost completely eliminated. Transparent Zoom and Pan, and Realtime Zoom and Pan are both enabled in paper space. The maximum number of active viewports in paper space has increased from 16 to 48.
Optimized Polylines	Polylines are now stored single objects, which occupy less space in your drawing. If you use polylines frequently, you can reduce your drawing's file size and memory consumption significantly, as well as speed up drawing load and regeneration time.
Boundary Hatch Storage	Hatch patterns are also now stored as single objects, which occupy less space in your drawing. If you use the hatch feature frequently, you can reduce your drawing's file size and memory consumption significantly, as well as speed up drawing load and regeneration time.
Modular Application Structure (Application Demand Loading)	The 3D features, ACIS solid modeler, Image Support Module, DRAWORDER command, Multiline Text Editor, external databases, Match Properties, Internet Utilities, and Render are now demand-loaded ARX applications which only need to be loaded when they are used.
Demand-Loaded Externally Referenced Drawings (Xrefs)	Xref drawings can now be demand loaded. When demand loading is enabled, AutoCAD loads into memory only the portions of the referenced drawing that are necessary to regenerate the current drawing. The performance benefits of demand loading are most noticeable when you either clip the xref to display a small fraction of it and a spatial index is saved in the externally referenced drawing, or when you freeze many layers of the xref and the externally referenced drawing is saved with a layer index.
AutoSnap	AutoSnap is a new option of Running Object Snaps that indicates the snap points on an object with a colored marker and a tooltip as your aperture box moves over an object. You can press TAB to cycle through all the snap points available on the object. AutoSnap settings can be changed on the AutoSnap tab in the Osnap Settings dialog box.
Object Snap Button	The Osnap button on the status bar enables you to switch object snaps on and off without losing your settings.
Object Snap Coordinate Entry Override	The new system variable OSNAPCOORD enables you to override object snap settings with coordinate entry or settings made in a script. You can set this option with the Compatibility tab in the Preferences dialog box.
Plot Preview	The new PREVIEW command enables you to view a drawing you are about to plot in Microsoft standard layout format. You can now use Real Time Zoom and Pan within the PREVIEW window. To plot the drawing using the current configuration, select Plot. To change plotter configuration settings, you must use the PLOT command.
Tracking	Tracking is a new drawing aid that enables you to visually locate points relative to other points in your drawing. Tracking combines both X and Y point filters and enables you to use them on the fly. Tracking is unlike point filters in that a tracking point cannot snap to itself. Tracking constrains point selection to an orthogonal path.
Combined Realtime Zoom and Pan	Realtime Zoom and Pan are now options of the ZOOM and PAN commands. Right-clicking your pointing device in Realtime Zoom or Pan displays a cursor menu that enables you to switch between Zoom, Pan, Zoom Previous, and Zoom extents.
Zoom Dynamic	Fast Zoom is a new option of ZOOM Dynamic. If Fast Zoom is enabled, you can use ZOOM Dynamic to change the current drawing view without regenerating the drawing. If Fast Zoom is disabled, the drawing is regenerated at the completion of the ZOOM command. ZOOM Dynamic displays the generated portion of the drawing in a view box that represents the current viewport.
Command Line Window Editing	Right-clicking your pointing device brings up a cursor menu that enables you to cut and paste previously issued commands. You can navigate through the list of commands entered at the keyboard using the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys, and then press ENTER to reissue the command on the current line. You can edit command line text as well as paste new text from the clipboard using the keyboard navigation keys With the text window active, you can use PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN to quickly view the history window one page at a time. You can also copy blocks of text from the history window or the text window to the Clipboard, and paste it on the command line.
Layer & Linetype Properties Dialog Box	The new Layer & Linetype Properties dialog box manages the creation and modification of layers and linetypes. This dialog box consolidates the number of commands and system variables once needed to control layer and linetype behavior. The new dialog box enables you to sort, rename, and delete layers and linetypes with standard Windows '95 and Windows NT 4.0 interaction, such as a right-click menu, CTRL+click and SHIFT+click selection methods, and the ability to sort layers by clicking on column headings.
Object Properties Toolbar	The new Object Properties toolbar enables you to view and change the properties of a selected object's layer, color, and linetype. This toolbar consolidates the commands once needed to view and edit and object's properties. You change an object's properties by first choosing the object with your pointing device and then selecting a new setting for the object from the appropriate control (layer, color, or linetype) on the Object Properties toolbar.
Match Properties	You can quickly copy the properties of one object to one or more objects with Match Properties command. Depending on the object selected, Match Object Properties can copy Colors Layers Linetypes Linetype scale Thickness Text properties Dimension properties Hatch properties
Make Object's Layer Current	This routine enables you to make an object's layer the current layer by selecting an object in your drawing and then clicking the Make Object's Layer Current tool on the Object Properties toolbar.
Multiline Text Editor (MTEXT Command)	The new Multiline Text Editor dialog box provides a Microsoft standard windows interface to create and edit paragraph text. The MTEXT editor also recognizes both AutoCAD standard SHX fonts as well as TrueType fonts.
Style Dialog Box	The STYLE command displays the new Style dialog box. Fonts can be specified by font name instead of by filename. The names of all registered TrueType fonts installed on your system are listed as well as the names of all SHX font files in the AutoCAD Release 14-font directory. The Font Style box lists Regular, Bold, Italic, and Bold Italic styles, depending on the attributes supported by the TrueType font. You can continue to assign Big Fonts to text styles using the Big Font check box.
Start Up and Setup Wizards	When you start AutoCAD Release 14, the AutoCAD Start Up dialog box is automatically displayed. This dialog box consolidates the setup of units of measure, drawing limits, and paper space. You can also specify a drawing template or open an existing drawing. From the Start Up dialog box, you can also use a wizard to guide you through the setup of units and paper space.
Template Drawings	AutoCAD prototype drawings have been changed to templates with a DWT file extension. Templates can be organized in separate folders and easily accessed by the Start Up dialog box. You can also add your own templates to the list in the Start Up Dialog box.
Explorer File Dialog Boxes	All Open and Save As dialog boxes in AutoCAD now use the Microsoft standard Windows Explorer dialog box, making open and save as operations the same between commands.
Toolbars Dialog Box	The Toolbars dialog box enables you to display, remove, customize or create new toolbars. The toolbars dialog can be accessed by entering tbconfig at the command line or selecting Toolbars from the View menu.
External Database (ASE)	Database configuration settings are no longer stored in the asi.ini file. These settings are now stored in the system registry. You can change these settings with the new ASI Configuration Editor. To set up External Databases, start the External Database Configuration program located on the task bar.
Solid Fill	You can add colored fills to any closed region inside your drawing by selecting SOLID as the pattern during hatching. Any of AutoCAD's 255 colors can be used for the fill.
The Draworder Command	The new Draworder command can be used to ensure the correct display of objects and hard-copy output when two or more objects overlay each other. For example, text that is obscured by a line or solid hatch can be brought to the front or sent to the back.
Creating Compound Documents with OLE	This release adds support for printing OLE metafile objects, such as line drawings and spreadsheets on nonsystem printer devices, and controlling their visibility and printing order. It also provides better control over proportional scaling of OLE objects. You can also change OLE objects into AutoCAD raster objects during a paste operation.
Internet Browser	The Internet browser feature automatically launches your system's default Internet browser and connects you to a Web site of your choice without having to leave AutoCAD. The internet location can be changed in the Preference dialog box to include your favorite Internet resource site or an Intranet site (for example, one that lists your company's drafting standards).

Enhancements on All Platforms

Purge at Any Time	The PURGE command deletes unreferenced blocks, layers, linetypes, and dimension and text styles from the drawing database. In earlier releases of AutoCAD, the PURGE command had to be the first command issued in a drawing session. You can issue the command at any time.
Nonuniformly Scaled Block	You can explode a block that has a different X and Y scaling factor.
Drawing Preview	You don't have to open or attach a drawing to see what it looks like. A preview area in the dialog box displays an image of the selected drawing.
Multiline Text Editing	Release 13 introduces paragraph-oriented text handling to AutoCAD. You have full control over the formatting of the text. A dialog box allows you to assign fonts, apply color, and copy, cut, and paste text within the text object. Stacked fractions are supported. In the drawing, the lines of text flow within a rectangular boundary of a fixed width.
Spelling Checker	Spelling errors in drawings can be embarrassing. Release 13 provides a built-in spelling checker. You can run the spelling check on existing text objects in your drawing or on multiline text objects as you create them. Suspect words are automatically highlighted, together with suggested corrections.
TrueType Font Support	AutoCAD can now use TrueType and PostScript Type 1 fonts as well as standard PostScript fonts. User preferences control whether these fonts are displayed as filled shapes or as outlines.
Standards Support	Release 13 contains many enhancements for better support of local and user-defined drafting standards. You can add geometric tolerances to the text and dimensions in your drawings by means of a new Tolerances dialog box. AutoCAD contains a complete set of ready-defined blocks for standard arrows and tick marks.
Dimensioning Styles	Dimension styles are more complete, more flexible, and easier to use.
Dimension Style Overrides	All dimensions have a named style assigned to them. You can modify the style of any dimension object (per-object override) or modify the style of a series of dimensions (running override).
Dimension Style Families	You can create a set of related dimension styles for different dimension types in the same drawing (for example, angular and linear).
Annotation	Multiple lines of annotation and per-character attributes are possible with multiline text features.
Leaders	Leader dimensions are separate objects in Release 13. Leaders consist of arrowheads, lines, and annotation.
Access to Properties	New dialog boxes give you quick and easy access to dimension properties. Graphical displays show what components such as arrowheads and center lines look like as you create them.

Usability Enhancements

Linear Dimensions	You don't need to specify whether the linear dimension you want to draw is horizontal or vertical. AutoCAD infers the direction when you specify the first point.
Dynamic Editing	You can reposition dimension components dynamically using standard AutoCAD editing commands.
Mainstream Dimension Commands	Individual dimensioning commands such as DIMLINEAR and DIMCONTINUE are available at the same level as other AutoCAD commands rather than as options of the DIM command.
Associative Hatching	Associative hatching is hatching that is tied to its defining geometry. When you change the geometry, the hatch pattern automatically adapts to the changes.
Hatch Editing	Use the new HATCHEDIT command to change hatch patterns, angles, spacing, and so on, without having to erase and redo the hatch.
Boundary Hatching	The HATCH command automatically detects interior shapes and text in the objects to be hatched. The HATCH command has a new option called Direct. You can use it to draw and hatch a polyline with a single command.
New Object Snaps	Release 13 includes three new object snaps: Extended Intersection, Apparent Intersection, and Relative Point.
EXTEND, LENGTHEN, and TRIM	Enhancements to the EXTEND and TRIM commands allow you to extend and trim objects to their implied intersection with other objects. The new LENGTHEN command extends a line a specified length, by a percentage, or dynamically.
FILLET and CHAMFER	Release 13 adds the ability to fillet parallel lines. You can fillet or chamfer intersecting lines and polylines.
Object Grouping	You can group objects together with the new GROUP command. Grouped objects are logically related and are selected together as one object. With this command, you can create named selection sets.
New Objects	Earlier releases of AutoCAD approximated an ellipse by drawing a polyline through the points you specified. You can draw a true geometrical ellipse. Release 13 has a new SPLINE command to draw true splines defined as NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline) curves. Grips work with both splines and ellipses.
Multiple Parallel Lines	Multiple parallel lines or multilines consist of up to sixteen parallel lines, offset from one another by a distance you specify. You can specify the properties of each line element and control intersections, corner joints, and end caps. You can also clean up the intersections of multilines after you draw them.
Construction Geometry	Construction geometry support consists of two new AutoCAD commands, XLINE and RAY. Xlines and rays are lines that extend to infinity in one or both directions. You can use them as a reference to create other objects by creating temporary construction lines to snap to. Xlines and rays have no effect on the extents of the drawing. Zooming and changing the view has no effect on them.
Linetype Enhancements	Linetypes have been extended to incorporate shapes and text. The linetypes that come with AutoCAD include a full set of ISO standard linetypes. You can apply a linetype scaling factor to individual objects.
Native AutoCAD Solids	Solid modeling is a quick way to build 3D models. You can make interference or other volume calculations, or add and subtract volumes to create new solids. Solids are represented as native AutoCAD objects. They behave like other AutoCAD objects and compute faster than AME (AutoCAD Modeling Extension) solids. Release 13 has a new command to convert AME models to AutoCAD solid objects.
Solid Primitives	Solid primitives are the basic building blocks that make up more complex solid models. AutoCAD Release 13 includes six primitives: box, sphere, cone, cylinder, wedge, and torus.
Boolean Operations	Boolean operations create a composite solid from two or more solids.
Swept Solids	You can also create new solids by extruding an object (adding height) or by revolving an object (sweeping about an axis).
Rendering Enhancements	Rendering enhancements in Release 13 include the following: +   Spotlights +   Colored lights +   Light attenuation +   Phong and Gouraud rendering +   Wide variety of file formats for saved images +   3D Studio file import and export

Changed Commands -- R13

APPLOAD	Supports loading of ARX applications.
AREA	Now measures area for spline curves, regions, solids and third-party objects.
ASEADMIN	Command that manipulates the new SQL2 standard's database objects. It replaces the functionality of the deleted Release 12 administrative commands: ASESETDBMS ASESETDB, ASESETTABLE, ASEERASETABLE, ASECLOSEDB, ASEERASEDB, ASEERASEDBMS, ASEERASEALL, ASEPOST, ASERELOADDA
ASEEXPORT	Changed from the Release 12 version by including a graphical user interface dialog box in addition to the command line interaction.
ASELINKS	Command that replaces the functionality of these deleted Release 12 commands; ASEDELLINK, ASEEDITLINK, ASEVIEWLINK.
ASEROWS	Command that performs table query operations and makes links to drawing objects. It replaces the functionality of these deleted Release 12 commands: ASEADDROW, ASEDELROW, ASEEDITROW, ASEQEDIT, ASEQVIEW, ASEVIEWROW, ASEMAKEDA, ASEMAKELINK, ASEQLINK, ASEQMAKEDA. Scrollable cursors are no longer automatically enabled.
ASESELECT	Includes a graphical user interface dialog box in addition to the command line interaction. No longer calls ASEEXPORT. Allows multiple logical operations.
ASESQLED	An Autocommit option that enables a COMMIT or ROLLBACK to be performed on individual transactions. Scrollable cursors are no longer automatically enabled. Operates independently of link information.
BHATCH	Creates associative hatch patterns. Uses island detection to add internal objects to the hatch boundary. Command line interface added.
BMPOUT	Replaces SAVEDIB
BPOLY	Renamed to BOUNDARY. Uses island detection to add internal objects to the boundary object. Command line interface added.
BREAK	The extrusion direction of the object you select no longer needs to be parallel to the Z axis of the current UCS.
CHAMFER	New options: Angle, Trim, and Method. The extrusion direction of the object you select no longer needs to be parallel to the Z axis of the current UCS.
CHANGE	Added functionality to allow object linetype scaling. The ltScale suboption has been added to the Properties option.
CHPROP	Added functionality to allow object linetype scaling. The ltScale option has been added.
CONFIG	On DOS systems, option 12 "Server authorization and file locking," in the Operating parameters menu of the AutoCAD configuration has been changed to option 11 "File locking." This is due to the removal of server authorization. On DOS systems, option 10 "Select R11 hidden line removal algorithm" has been removed.
COPYCLIP	Copies all supported formats to the Clipboard
COPYLINK	Creates a drawing view that can be linked to other applications.
DDCHPROP	Added functionality to allow linetype scaling. The Linetype Scale text box has been added to the Change Properties dialog box.
DDEDIT	Edits mtext objects in addition to text and attributes.
DDEMODES	Supports linetype scaling per object.
DDIM	Dimension styles are now more complete, more flexible, and easier to use. For example, graphical displays show what components such as arrowheads, center marks and lines, and dimension text placement look like as you modify them. All dimensions now have a named style assigned to them. You can create dimension style overrides on specific dimension objects or on a series of dimensions. You can create a set of related dimension style families for different dimension types in the same drawing, for example: linear, angular, ordinate, etc. Dimension text can consist of multiple lines and can include per- character attributes through the new MTEXT command. Enhanced support for international and user-defined drafting standards. For example, an expanded set of ready-defined blocks for arrowheads and support of a variety of international standards for the placement of dimension text.
DDMODIFY	Provides dialogs for several new objects and supports linetype scaling per object.
DDOSNAP	New Apparent Intersection and Clear All options.
DDRMODES	New option: Group.
DDSELECT	New Object Grouping option.
DIVIDE	Updated to support new objects such as ellipses and elliptical arcs.
DSVIEWER	Improved user interface.
ELLIPSE	Creates true ellipses in addition to polyline representations. New Arc option.
EXPLODE	Explodes nonuniformly scaled blocks.
EXTEND	New options: Project and Edge. The extrusion direction of the object you select no longer needs to be parallel to the Z axis of the current UCS.
FILLET	New option: Trim. The extrusion direction of the object you select no longer needs to be parallel to the Z axis of the current UCS.
HATCH	New direct hatch option lets you specify a hatch boundary without the need for existing objects.
LIGHT	New option: Color.
LIST	Updated to support new objects and line weight.
MEASURE	Updated to support new objects.
OFFSET	The extrusion direction of the object you select no longer needs to be parallel to the Z axis of the current UCS.
OSNAP	New apparent intersection running object snap mode.
PASTECLIP	Handles all normal Clipboard paste operations.
PLOT	You can control the way plots are rotated with the PLOTROTMODE system variable. When PLOTROTMODE is set to 1 (the default), the lower-left corner of the effective plotting area aligns with the lower-left corner of the paper. When PLOTROTMODE is set to 0, AutoCAD rotates the effective plotting area so that the corner with the rotation icon aligns with the paper at the lower-left for 0, top-left for 90, top-right for 180, and lower-right for 270. On Windows systems, the Size button in the Paper Size and Orientation area of the PLOT dialog box is disabled. Paper sizes for Windows systems are controlled by the Window's Control Panel. Freeplotting (acad -p) has been discontinued.
PREFERENCES	Two new dialog box designs; one for DOS and one for Windows.
PURGE	Purges objects at any time during a drawing session.
RCONFIG	New option: Configure Render window.
RENDER	New dialog box. New option added to Destination area: Render Window.
RMAT	Replaces FINISH with a new dialog box. New options: Preview, Materials Library, and By Layer.
RPREF	New options: Rendering Procedures and Lights. The Color Map Usage option is now Screen Palette.
SAVEDIB	Renamed to BMPOUT.
SELECT	New Group option.
STATS	New dialog box that no longer displays Cyclic overlaps corrected, Triangles chopped, Original extents, and Projected extents.
STLOUT	The command name changed from SOLSTLOUT. The messages have been removed, and the prompt for the STL file name has changed.
TRIM	New Project and Edge options. The extrusion direction of the object you select no longer needs to be parallel to the Z axis of the current UCS.
WMFIN	On Windows systems, you can import metafiles using the IMPORT command.
WMFOUT	On Windows systems, you can export metafiles using the EXPORT command.
XREF	Xrefs can be overlaid--first-level only and non-nested. Overlaid xrefs are ignored if they're nested. This enhanced functionality allows you to see how your drawing relates to the drawings of other groups without changing your drawing or creating circular referencing. The Overlay option has been added.

New Commands -- R13

3D	Creates three-dimensional polygon mesh objects.
3DSIN	Imports a 3D Studio file.
3DSOUT	Exports a 3D Studio file.
ACISIN	Imports an ACIS file.
ACISOUT	Exports AutoCAD solid objects to an ACIS file.
AMECONVERT	Converts AME solid models to AutoCAD solid objects.
ASEADMIN	Performs administrative functions for external database commands.
ASELINKS	Manipulates links between objects and external database data.
ASEROWS	Manipulates external database table data.
BOX	Creates a three-dimensional solid box.
BOUNDARY	Creates a region or polyline of a closed boundary, formerly BPOLY.
CONE	Creates a three-dimensional solid cone.
COPYHIST	Copies text from the command line history window to the Clipboard.
CUTCLIP	Copies objects to the Clipboard and erases them from the drawing.
CYLINDER	Creates a three-dimensional solid cylinder.
DDCOLOR	Sets the color for new objects.
DDLTYPE	Loads and sets linetypes.
DIMALIGNED	Creates an aligned linear dimension.
DIMANGULAR	Creates an angular dimension.
DIMBASELINE	Continues a linear, angular, or ordinate dimension from the baseline of the previous or selected dimension.
DIMCENTER	Creates the center mark or the center lines of circles and arcs.
DIMCONTINUE	Continues a linear, angular, or ordinate dimension from the second extension line of the previous or a selected dimension.
DIMDIAMETER	Creates diameter dimensions for circles or arcs.
DIMEDIT	Edits dimensions.
DIMLINEAR	Creates linear dimensions.
DIMORDINATE	Creates ordinate point dimensions.
DIMOVERRIDE	Overrides dimension system variables.
DIMRADIUS	Creates radial dimensions for circles and arcs.
DIMSTYLE	Creates and modifies dimension styles at the command line.
DIMTEDIT	Moves and rotates dimension text.
EXTRUDE	Creates solids by extruding existing AutoCAD two-dimensional objects.
GROUP	Creates a named selection set of objects.
HATCHEDIT	Modifies an existing associative hatch block.
INSERTOBJ	Inserts a linked or embedded object.
INTERFERE	Finds the interference of two or more solids and creates a composite solid from their common volume.
INTERSECT	Uses the interference of solids to create a composite solid.
LEADER	Creates a line that connects annotation to a feature.
LENGTHEN	Lengthens an object.
LOGFILEOFF	Closes the log file opened by LOGFILEON
LOGFILEON	Writes the text window contents to a file.
MAKEPREVIEW	Allows previewing of pre-Release 13 drawings by creating a separate preview file in the same directory as the current drawing file.
MATLIB	Imports and exports materials to and from materials library.
MENULOAD	Loads partial menu files.
MENUUNLOAD	Unloads partial menu files.
MLEDIT	Edits multiple, parallel lines.
MLINE	Creates multiple, parallel lines.
MLSTYLE	Defines a style for multiple, parallel lines.
MTEXT	Creates paragraph text.
MTPROP	Changes paragraph text properties.
OLELINKS	Updates, changes, and cancels existing links.
PASTESPEC	Inserts data from the Clipboard and controls the format of the pasted data.
RAY	Creates a semi-infinite line.
REGION	Creates a region object from a selection set.
REVOLVE	Creates a solid by rotating a two-dimensional object about an axis.
SAVEASR12	Saves the current drawing in AutoCAD Release 12 format.
SECTION	Uses the intersection of a plane and solids to create a region.
SLICE	Slices a set of solids with a plane.
SPELL	Checks spelling in a drawing.
SPHERE	Creates a three-dimensional solid sphere.
SPLINE	Creates a quadratic or cubic spline (NURBS) curve.
SPLINEDIT	Edits a spline object.
STLOUT	Stores a solid in an ASCII or binary file.
SUBTRACT	Creates a composite region or solid by subtracting the area of one set of regions from another and subtracting the volume of one set of solids from another.
SYSWINDOWS	Arranges windows.
TBCONFIG	Creates and customizes toolbars.
TOLERANCE	Creates geometric tolerances.
TOOLBAR	Displays, hides, and positions toolbars.
TORUS	Creates a doughnut-shaped solid.
UNION	Creates a composite region or solid.
VLCONV	Converts Visual Link rendering data to a form usable by AutoVision.
WEDGE	Creates a three-dimensional solid with a sloped face tapering along the X axis.

Topics in this section:

• AutoCAD Release 12 drawings are compatible with AutoCAD Release 11.
• The AutoCAD main menu has been eliminated. After initial configuration, AutoCAD displays the graphics screen.
• The Main menu tasks have been replaced by commands. For example, the NEW command starts a new drawing, and the OPEN command opens an existing drawing.
• Configuration is done with the CONFIG command.
• Configuration of AutoCAD without displaying the AutoCAD screen is performed with the -r command-line argument (for example, acad -r).
• The OPEN command automatically converts older AutoCAD drawings.
• The pull-down menu has been enhanced:
• The menu supports cascading-style submenus.
• AutoCAD remembers your last menu item selection.
• AutoCAD can disable menu items.
• Menu files have been simplified. The AutoLISP portions of the menu are in a separate file.
• The screen menu switches to the appropriate page when you enter a command. The MENUCTL system variable controls screen menu switching.
• AutoCAD supports a cursor menu that contains Osnap overrides and point filters; this menu can invoke the geometry calculator. The cursor menu appears at the graphics cursor location when you use the appropriate key/-pointing-device button combination. For example, if your mouse has a third button, press the third mouse button to display the cursor menu.
• The dialog-box interface has been expanded and enhanced. AutoCAD supports dialog boxes that let you easily view and change information. The information in the dialog box is grouped in logical fashion and displayed in an easy-to-read format.
• AutoCAD allows you to change the contents of the status line using the MODEMACRO system variable.
• The new BHATCH command was added. It allows you to easily hatch irregularly shaped areas enclosed by one or more entities. After picking a point in the enclosed area, AutoCAD automatically determines and shows you the boundary of the area. For example, you can hatch the area created by two overlapping circles.
• The new BPOLY command was added. It allows you to create a Polyline that outlines the area enclosed by one or more entities. A polyline can easily be created along an irregularly shaped area completely enclosed by one or more entities.
• Commands with the "DD" prefix bring up dialog boxes. For example, DDRMODES displays the Drawing Modes dialog box. Other commands such as PLOT and SAVEAS also bring up dialogs. Some commands bring up dialog boxes based on the CMDDIA and FILEDIA system variables.
• These are some of the features that use dialog boxes:
  • Dimensioning (DDIM)
  • Plotting (PLOT)
  • Hatching (BHATCH)
  • Object Snap (DDOSNAP)
  • File manipulation (OPEN, NEW, SAVEAS, FILES)
  • Layer control (DDLMODES)
  • Attribute definition (DDATTDEF)
• Dimensioning enhancements include:
  • Creation of basic dimensions.
  • Addition of prefix or suffix to dimension text.
  • Use of the DDIM command to display the status of dimensioning system variables in an organized and easy-to-read dialog box format. With this set of dialog boxes, dimensioning parameters can be made without having to remember the specific dimensioning variable names.
  • Visibility of dimension text during creation and placement.
• AutoCAD supports a cursor menu that contains Osnap overrides and point filters; this menu can invoke the geometry calculator. The cursor menu appears at the graphics cursor location when you use the appropriate key/-pointing-device button combination. For example, if your mouse has a third button, press the third mouse button to display the cursor menu.
• The dialog-box interface has been expanded and enhanced. AutoCAD supports dialog boxes that let you easily view and change information. The information in the dialog box is grouped in logical fashion and displayed in an easy-to-read format.
• AutoCAD allows you to change the contents of the status line using the MODEMACRO system variable.
• The new BHATCH command was added. It allows you to easily hatch irregularly shaped areas enclosed by one or more entities. After picking a point in the enclosed area, AutoCAD automatically determines and shows you the boundary of the area. For example, you can hatch the area created by two overlapping circles.
• The new BPOLY command was added. It allows you to create a Polyline that outlines the area enclosed by one or more entities. A polyline can easily be created along an irregularly shaped area completely enclosed by one or more entities.
• Commands with the "DD" prefix bring up dialog boxes. For example, DDRMODES displays the Drawing Modes dialog box. Other commands such as PLOT and SAVEAS also bring up dialogs. Some commands bring up dialog boxes based on the CMDDIA and FILEDIA system variables.
• These are some of the features that use dialog boxes:
  • Dimensioning (DDIM)
  • Plotting (PLOT)
  • Hatching (BHATCH)
  • Object Snap (DDOSNAP)
  • File manipulation (OPEN, NEW, SAVEAS, FILES)
  • Layer control (DDLMODES)
  • Attribute definition (DDATTDEF)
• Dimensioning enhancements include:
  • Creation of basic dimensions.
  • Addition of prefix or suffix to dimension text.
  • Use of the DDIM command to display the status of dimensioning system variables in an organized and easy-to-read dialog box format. With this set of dialog boxes, dimensioning parameters can be made without having to remember the specific dimensioning variable names.
  • Visibility of dimension text during creation and placement.
• Dimensioning of nested entities is allowed.
• AutoCAD can display selection grips that allow you to manipulate the selected entity. You can use grips to perform operations such as move, stretch, copy, scale, and rotate. You can also perform multiple copy operations with each mode.
• Grips appear on an entity as small squares. AutoCAD places the grips at "defining" locations. For example, the grips for a circle appear at the four quadrants and at the center.
• The new DDSELECT command lets you control these items:
  • Entity sort order. You can specify the order in which entities are drawn.
  • Noun/verb or verb/noun format for commands that require entity selection. With the noun/verb format, you select entities before you enter a command. With the verb/noun format, you enter a command before you select entities.
  • Selection set creation. You can use additive entity selection or individual entity selection. Additive selection lets you select multiple groups of entities; individual selection allows only one group of entities.
• Window creation for selection sets. You can use either two clicks for the window corners or press and drag the window size.
• Entity selection enhancements include the following:
  • The FILTER command that uses a dialog-box interface to let you filter selection sets based on entity properties such as color, layer, and location.
  • The WPoly and CPoly entity selection options that let you create an irregular closed polygon for selecting entities.
  • The Fence entity selection option that lets you create select entities by crossing the entity with a Polyline.
  • The All selection option that selects all entities.
• Linetype generation enhancements include the following:
  • Polylines appear and plot with linetype patterns that flow around vertices.
  • The Linetype patterns can be displayed at a single size in paper space viewports regardless of the viewport's scale factor if you set PSLTSCALE to 1.
• Drawing layers can be locked. You can add entities to a locked layer; however, you cannot remove or change entities on a locked layer.
• Speed performance has been improved for these commands:
  • HIDE
  • PAN and ZOOM
• The DVIEW command uses an improved dynamic rotation interface.
• The number of transparent commands has been increased.
• The new CAL command is a geometry calculator.
• The new ALIGN, ROTATE3D, and MIRROR3D commands let you easily move objects in 3D space.
• AutoCAD can be configured to perform timed saves of your drawing. The time between saves is set by the SAVETIME system variable.
• Plotting enhancements include the following:
  • dialog-box interface for plotting setup.
  • Previewing the plot on screen.
  • Previewing and adjusting the position of a plot on the selected paper size.
  • Saving a drawing's plot configuration parameters in a file.
  • Saving up to 29 plotter configurations in the acad.cfg file.
  • Combining printer plotters with plotters.
  • Supporting up to 256 pen colors and widths.
  • Saving drawing-specific information such as pen color and linetype assignments in plot configuration parameter (PCP) files.
• If you use the AutoCAD network license authorization, you can plot from AutoCAD without using a network license by starting AutoCAD with the -p command-line argument (for example, acad -p).
• Raster file import/export includes:
• Import of common raster-format files such as PCX, TIFF, and GIF using the RASTERIN command. You can import raster images into AutoCAD and have them appear in the drawing.
• Export raster images of AutoCAD drawings in several formats using the PLOT command with your plotter configured as a "Raster file export," an Autodesk-supplied plotter driver.
• PostScript support lets you do the following:
• Import PostScript files. The PSIN command lets you to import a PostScript file, resize the image and display a rendering of the image on a screen. Once you have a drawing that has PostScript information, you can send it to a PostScript file or printer. The output retains the PostScript information.
• Control the quality of the rendered PostScript image. The -PSQUALITY system variable lets you adjust the quality of the rendered image.
• Export PostScript files. The PSOUT command lets you export the current view of your drawing as a PostScript EPS file. PostScript images and fonts are retained.
• Use PostScript Type 1 fonts with text. AutoCAD supports Type 1 fonts in outline form and on screen when you plot. With the COMPILE command, -AutoCAD can create SHX Shape/Font files from the PostScript PFB font files.
• AutoCAD "soft-locks" external references (locks externally referenced files during loading).
• The REINIT command lets you reinitialize your I/O ports, display, digitizer, and acad.pgp the AutoCAD Program Parameters file.
• Enhanced digitizer support allows you to calibrate your tablet with independent X and Y axis scaling or projective scaling with the TABLET command. In projective scaling, the calibrated distance between two points on a tablet depends on both the physical distance between the two points and their location on the tablet (a limited form of rubber sheeting).
• AutoCAD Render is included with AutoCAD. Render lets you create rendered images of your 3D object within AutoCAD. You can render images to an AutoCAD viewport, to full screen on a single-screen display, or to a separate window on a dual-screen setup. You can also send rendered images out to printers or files.
• Region modeling is included with AutoCAD. Using closed 2D areas you can create booleaned regions similar to AME solids. Regions can be edited, can contain holes, and can be used to compute area properties and used for other analysis.
• AutoCAD SQL Extension (ASE)/Autodesk SQL Interface (ASI) is included with AutoCAD. ASE supplies ADS interfaces that lets you -establish links between AutoCAD and an SQL database. You can also build ADS applications between AutoCAD and SQL databases using the Autodesk SQL Interface (ASI).
• Advanced Modeling Extension R2.1 is supported by AutoCAD Release 12. Improvements in AME R2.1 from AME R1 include region modeling and improvements in these areas: solid primitive creation and handling, accuracy, performance, support for additional applications such as interference analysis, and external application support via API.
• PostScript support lets you do the following:
• Import PostScript files. The PSIN command lets you to import a PostScript file, resize the image and display a rendering of the image on a screen. Once you have a drawing that has PostScript information, you can send it to a PostScript file or printer. The output retains the PostScript information.
• Control the quality of the rendered PostScript image. The -PSQUALITY system variable lets you adjust the quality of the rendered image.
• Export PostScript files. The PSOUT command lets you export the current view of your drawing as a PostScript EPS file. PostScript images and fonts are retained.
• Use PostScript Type 1 fonts with text. AutoCAD supports Type 1 fonts in outline form and on screen when you plot. With the COMPILE command, -AutoCAD can create SHX Shape/Font files from the PostScript PFB font files.
• AutoCAD "soft-locks" external references (locks externally referenced files during loading).
• The REINIT command lets you reinitialize your I/O ports, display, digitizer, and acad.pgp the AutoCAD Program Parameters file.
• Enhanced digitizer support allows you to calibrate your tablet with independent X and Y axis scaling or projective scaling with the TABLET command. In projective scaling, the calibrated distance between two points on a tablet depends on both the physical distance between the two points and their location on the tablet (a limited form of rubber sheeting).
• AutoCAD Render is included with AutoCAD. Render lets you create rendered images of your 3D object within AutoCAD. You can render images to an AutoCAD viewport, to full screen on a single-screen display, or to a separate window on a dual-screen setup. You can also send rendered images out to printers or files.
• Region modeling is included with AutoCAD. Using closed 2D areas you can create booleaned regions similar to AME solids. Regions can be edited, can contain holes, and can be used to compute area properties and used for other analysis.
• AutoCAD SQL Extension (ASE)/Autodesk SQL Interface (ASI) is included with AutoCAD. ASE supplies ADS interfaces that lets you -establish links between AutoCAD and an SQL database. You can also build ADS applications between AutoCAD and SQL databases using the Autodesk SQL Interface (ASI).
• Advanced Modeling Extension R2.1 is supported by AutoCAD Release 12. Improvements in AME R2.1 from AME R1 include region modeling and improvements in these areas: solid primitive creation and handling, accuracy, performance, support for additional applications such as interference analysis, and external application support via API.
• The AutoCAD programmable dialog box facility lets you create -AutoCAD Development System (ADS) or AutoLISP applications that use AutoCAD dialog boxes. For example, you can create dialog boxes that perform functions similar to the AutoCAD dialog boxes that display and change settings or select files. The code used to create an AutoCAD dialog box is platform independent.
• The ADI (Autodesk Device Interface) Version 4.2 upgrade was provided primarily to facilitate optimal usage of display drivers when using the Render facility in AutoCAD. Other enhancements and bug fixes were also made.
• SAGET library of extended ADS functions that allow AutoLISP programs to access ADS routines.
• The PLOT command can be called from ADS and AutoLISP
  • New Commands -- R12
• The following section describes the new commands for AutoCAD Release 12. Unless noted otherwise, coordinate input to all commands is relative to the current UCS. Commands flagged with a ` prefix can be used transparently.

  ABOUT	Displays banner and acad.msg in a dialog box
  BHATCH	Boundary hatching dialog box
  BPOLY	Creates a Polyline that outlines a closed boundary created by one or more entities
  COMPILE	Performs a process formerly done via the Main menu and can compile PostScript PFB files
  CONFIG	Starts the AutoCAD configuration process
  DDATTDEF	Attribute definition dialog box
  DDATTEXT	Attribute extraction dialog box
  DDCHPROP	Change entity property dialog box
  DDIM	Dimension variable dialog boxes
  DDINSERT	Insert block dialog box
  DDGRIPS	Grips settings dialog box
  DDOSNAP	OSNAP control dialog box
  DDRENAME	Rename named objects dialog box. Allows the use of wildcard characters
  DDSELECT	Entity selection control dialog box
  DDUCS	UCS control dialog box
  DDUNITS	Units of measurement control dialog box
  NEW	Creates a new drawing
  OPEN	Opens an existing drawing file for editing. Converts and recovers the file if necessary
  PSDRAG	Controls the display of an imported PostScript image while you position it in the drawing
  PSFILL	Fills a closed Polyline region with a PostScript fill pattern
  PSIN	Imports a PostScript graphics file and optionally renders an image of the graphic in the drawing
  PSOUT	Exports a PostScript graphics file
  QSAVE	Saves current drawing prompting for a name only if the current drawing is unnamed
  REINIT	Reinitializes I/O ports, digitizer, display, and the Program Parameters file (e.g. acad.pgp)
  SAVEAS	Saves current drawing to a user-specified file and renames the current drawing
  TREESTAT	Displays the status of the drawing's oct-tree

• In addition, all of the previously listed commands that permit general object selection support the new All, WPolygon, CPolygon, and Fence, options to select all entities in the drawing.
• There are also new AutoCAD commands with the following Autodesk-supplied ADS applications:
  • AutoCAD SQL Extension
  • AutoCAD Render
  • AutoCAD Region Modeler
• The Region Modeler commands and the following commands are described in the AutoCAD Extras Manual. Commands flagged with a ` prefix can be used transparently:
• New commands described in the AutoCAD Extras Manual

  ALIGN	Moves selected objects in 3D space
  APPLOAD	dialog-box interface to load AutoLISP and ADS applications or unload ADS applications
  CAL	Geometry calculator
  DDMODIFY	dialog-box interface to view and change entity properties such as location, color, layer, linetype, and thickness
  FILTER	dialog-box interface that lets you create selection sets based on entity properties such as location, color, and layer
  GIFIN	Imports GIF-format raster files
  MIRROR3D	Mirrors objects about a plane in 3D
  PCXIN	Imports PCX-format raster files
  ROTATE3D	Rotates objects about an axis in 3D
  TIFFIN	Imports TIFF-format raster files

• The following section describes changes to existing commands between -AutoCAD Releases 11 and 12. Unless noted otherwise, coordinate input to all commands is relative to the current UCS. (Commands flagged with a ` prefix can be used transparently.)

  APERTURE	Can be used transparently
  ARRAY	The command prompt shows the defaults for rectangular/polar arrays
  ATTDISP	Can be used transparently
  BASE	Can be used transparently
  BLIPMODE	Can be used transparently
  CHANGE	The command prompt lists the Elev option that lets you change an entity's elevation
  CIRCLE	Sets the CIRCLERAD system variable. The command prompt shows the default radius
  COLOR/COLOUR	Can be used transparently
  DBLIST	Displays hatching parameters for hatch blocks if the appropriate Xdata is present. Pauses after each screen of text
  DDATTE	Improved attribute entity editing dialog box
  DDEDIT	Improved text and attribute entity editing dialog box
  DDEMODES	Enhanced dialogs for color, layer control, and text style selection
  DDLMODES	Improved layer control dialog box that includes capability to filter layer names and supports locked layers
  DDRMODES	New check boxes for solid fill, quick text, and highlighting selected entities added, and axis control removed
  DELAY	Can be used transparently
  DIST	Can be used transparently
  DONUT/DOUGHNUT	Sets and uses the DONUTID and DONUTOD system variables. The command prompt shows the default donut inside and outside diameter
  DRAGMODE	Can be used transparently (to be dropped in the next release)
  DVIEW	Improved dynamic rotation interface. X and Y rotation combined into one screen
  EXPLODE	Using entity grips, you can explode more than one item at a time. EXPLODE places the resulting entities in the Previous selection set
  FILES	Can be used transparently. Allows you to perform file-related utility functions such as renaming, deleting, and unlocking a file
  FILL	Can be used transparently
  GRID	Can be used transparently
  HATCH	Stores hatching parameters in Xdata of hatch block reference
  HIDE	Faster hidden line algorithm
  ID	Can be used transparently
  ISOPLANE	Can be used transparently
  LAYER	Can be used transparently. The Lock and Unlock options have been added to the command prompt
  LIMITS	Can be used transparently
  LINETYPE	Can be used transparently
  LIST	Displays hatching parameters for hatch blocks if the appropriate Xdata is present. Pauses after each screen of text
  LTSCALE	Can be used transparently
  ORTHO	Can be used transparently
  OSNAP	Can be used transparently
  PEDIT	Allows control of polyline linetype elaboration. The "Ltype gen" option has been added to the command line
  PLOT	Dialog-box interface and new and enhanced features including: 256-color and multiple-line-width support, plot preview, multiple-plotter configurations, ADS and AutoLISP support, and improved paper handling
  POLYGON	Sets POLYSIDES system variable. The command prompt shows the default number of polygon sides and inscribed or circumscribed selection
  REGENAUTO	Can be used transparently
  RSCRIPT	Can be used transparently
  SCRIPT	Can be used transparently and closes the script file when complete
  SNAP	Can be used transparently
  STATUS	Can be used transparently. Does not list Axis on/off status
  STYLE	Can be used transparently
  TABLET	The Calibrate option allows input of more than two sets of points
  TIME	Can be used transparently. Indicates "Next automatic save in: nnn" if automatic saves are enabled
  UNITS	Can be used transparently
  WBLOCK	All forms preserve entity handles in output
  ZOOM	Accepts point in response to initial prompt. Assumes the point is the first corner of a Window

Topics in this section:

• The new TILEMODE system variable can be used to enable paper space, where Viewports are entities that display views into "model space" rather than being simple partitions of the display graphics area. The paper space mechanism adds the following capabilities to AutoCAD:
  • Multiple views of the model can be plotted in a single plot operation, complete with additional production drafting graphics, such as sheet outlines, title blocks, annotation text, etc.
  • Viewport-specific layer visibility.
• Network support features
  • A new file-locking system prevents more than one AutoCAD session from accessing the same file when it would be possible to corrupt data or crash one or more AutoCAD sessions as a result.
  • Network server authorization allows the installation of a single copy of AutoCAD on a network server. The number of users specified at the time of purchase can execute AutoCAD on the network server. The maximum number of concurrent users can be increased through the purchase of a larger license count, for which an authorization code for the larger limit is issued. This "floating license" does not apply to versions of AutoCAD using workstation authorization codes or hardware locks.
  • A pair of new system environment variables named -ACADPLCMD and ACADPPCMD, in conjunction with the "AUTOSPOOL" default plot filename, now allows the -AutoCAD PLOT and PRPLOT commands to invoke plot-spooling programs.
• A personalization step has been added to the installation. This step allows two lines of ASCII text to be added to the executable program file. This text is displayed in the Main menu banner (or the equivalent) when AutoCAD is invoked. The labels for the strings are "Licensed to:" and "Obtained from:". You can't change these strings after installation is complete.
• Dimensioning enhancements include:
  • Dimstyle symbol table allows the saving, retrieval, modification and the retention of the variable settings for individual Dimension entities.
  • Ordinate dimensions can now be input with AutoCAD.
  • Different portions of a dimension entity can now be assigned different colors. The colors are controlled by the DIMCLRD, DIMCLRE and DIMCLRT variables.
  • Dimension text can now be moved and edited with the TEDIT subcommand.
  • Linear dimensions can now be specified with an oblique (non- perpendicular) angle between the dimension and extension lines.
  • Dimension subcommands can now be abbreviated to the minimum number of characters to uniquely identify the subcommand.
  • The allowable dimension text gap for linear dimensions to determine the position of the dimension line and arrows inside or outside the extension lines can now be configured with the DIMGAP variable. The clipping of the angular dimension arc against the dimension text box also relies on this value.
  • DIMBLK, DIMBLK1, and DIMBLK2 are now supported for all dimension types, not just linear dimensions.
  • The DIMSCALE variable can now be set to 0.0. This allows you to enter dimensions into model space and to scale dimension text and arrowheads so that they take on their specified size in paper space rather than model space. This is usually what will be wanted when plotting from paper space.
  • Radial and Diameter dimensions now place their text, arrowheads and dimension lines in a more flexible (and reasonable) manner.
  • Angular dimensions can now be acquired with 3 points as well as by selecting two line segments.
  • Tolerance text size can now be scaled relative to the basic dimension text size.
  • Null responses now terminate all dimension subcommands, except where noted in the prompt text and documentation.
• The new Drawing File Recovery mechanism scans and recovers valid data from damaged drawing databases. There is also an AUDIT facility that scans drawing databases for invalid or damaged fields. The AUDIT facility can be invoked at any time in the editor and can be configured to run automatically after certain operations.
• External reference drawings can now be dynamically attached to a drawing with the XREF command. This allows you to work with other AutoCAD drawings without adding them permanently to your drawing and without altering their contents.
• The ACAD environment variable can now include multiple directories to specify a search path for library or support files.
• The Advanced Modeling Extension (AME) provides the solid modeling capability of AutoSolid from within AutoCAD. Solid entity creation and basic editing features are provided in the standard package, while advanced features for some platforms can be purchased at additional cost.
• The following enhancements have been made to the AUI dialog box mechanism:
  • A line editor was added for use with all dialog box text string fields.
  • Text strings can now be longer then their dialog box field via horizontal scrolling.
  • Scroll bars are used for inspecting lists.
  • All dialog boxes that deal with lists now have more than 5 fields, ranging from 10 to 15 items at a time.
  • The arrow cursor is now visible when you point to the AUI menu bar and its pull-down menus.
• ";" characters now denote comments in .pat, .lin and .shp files.
• Abbreviations and aliases can now be defined for AutoCAD commands in the acad.pgp file.
• Eight new text alignment options have been added, so now any combination of Top/Middle/Baseline/Bottom and Left/Center/Right is supported.
• File search and specification dialog boxes are now optionally available for all filename prompts in the AutoCAD drawing editor.
• A new command named DDEDIT was added to allow the dialog box line editor to be used on Text and Attdef entities.
• The Help file can now be arranged to display text appropriate to a command subprompt context, as well as for an entire command.
• Symbol name and filename listings, both on the text screen and in dialog boxes, can now be sorted in all appropriate AutoCAD operations.
• A wild-card matching facility has been implemented for searching and listing symbol names in all appropriate AutoCAD operations.
• Fractional numeric input is now accepted wherever a real number is permitted, and can have any denominator (not just powers of 2). In addition, decimal feet (6.2') is valid input when Engineering and Architectural units are in effect.
• Points can now be entered via 3D spherical and cylindrical coordinates.
• Polar, spherical, and cylindrical coordinates can be either relative or absolute.
• Angle values can now be specified in radians and grads by adding the proper suffix, even if the current angular units setting is degrees.
• The new UNITMODE system variable lets you instruct AutoCAD to display fractional, feet-and-inches, and Surveyor's units in the same format as is expected for input.
• Whenever AutoCAD asks for a filename of a particular type, you can include a file type in your response as long as it's the correct type.
• Most system variables can now be changed by simply entering their names; there's no need to type SETVAR first.
• The DDEMODES (Entity creation) dialog box now lets you select a new text style.
• The TRIM and EXTEND commands now have Undo options.
• The new ZOOM Vmax command zooms to the limits of the virtual screen.
• The standard menu file supplied with AutoCAD was substantially enhanced.
• Parallel I/O ports can be specified during configuration for plotter and printer plotter devices.
• Handles are now automatically assigned and supported on entities contained within block definitions.
• The SHADE command was added as a limited shading facility on 256- color display devices and as a quick hidden line removal visualization facility for display devices that display 16 or fewer colors.
• OSNAP now fully operates on Circles, Arcs, and Polyline arc segments within uniformly scaled Block References.
• There are two new plot optimization settings which specify that overlapping vectors should be eliminated or merged in plot operations.
• Plots can now be rotated 180 and 270 degrees in addition to 0 and 90 degrees. 3D (nonplan) views can now be rotated.
• The following enhancements have been made to the IGES translator:
  • Support of paper space and Viewport entity constructs as Drawing and View entities, respectively.
  • Viewport-specific entity visibility.
  • External drawing references.
  • New AutoCAD dimension constructs: ordinate dimensions, and new styles of radial and diameter dimensions
  • IGESOUT translates Polyface mesh entities into corresponding 3D Face, 3D Line, and 3D Point entities.
  • Support of other AutoCAD drawing file changes and enhancements.
• A Polyface polygon mesh entity was added, with the corresponding PFACE command, to allow the addition of arbitrary combinations of face entities that share vertices. This allows the storage of such faces in a more compact form than the corresponding set of 3D Face entities.
• 8-bit and extended 16-bit font support has been added for international versions of AutoCAD.
• The Shape file format has been extended to allow support for Asian language translation, where the 16-bit font introduced in Release 10 was not sufficient.
• The AutoCAD Development System (ADS) was added, providing a compiled language programming interface to AutoCAD on most platforms. It was supplied with Release 10 for OS/2 only, and has been significantly enhanced for Release 11.
• The extended entity data (Xdata) facility was added, providing a means to attach data to entities, via DXF, AutoLISP and ADS, and group the data by "registered application" (regapp) names.
• The ADI (Autodesk Device Interface) Version 4.1 upgrade was provided primarily to facilitate optimal usage of display drivers when using the paper space facility in AutoCAD. Other enhancements and bug fixes were also made.

• The LINETYPE Load command updated to load several linetypes from the library file at once.
• Restrictions on use of the PURGE command have been relaxed.
• A binary form of DXF file supported.
• ZOOM Previous expanded to restore the last ten views.
• The Configurator updated to always allow I/O port configuration.
• ADE-1 and ADE-2 were merged into ADE-3. New ADE-3 features included:
• VIEWPORTS (or VPORTS) command for control of multiple viewports (for 2D as well as 3D applications). REDRAWALL and REGENALL commands operate on all active viewports.
• Optional permanent handles for all entities, controlled by the HANDLES command. Handles can be extracted and stored in an external database related to the drawing. The entities to which the handles refer can be retrieved by AutoLISP routines.
• A new CHPROP command streamlined the changing of entity properties.
• New dimensioning variables were added to permit greater control over dimension arrows and the placement of dimension lines and text. New Dimzin values were added for suppression of leading and trailing decimal zeroes.
• PEDIT updated to generate quadratic and cubic B-splines.
• Additional 3D capabilities:
  • Any entity can be drawn anywhere in space, rotated and tilted in any manner you wish, using the UCS and DDUCS commands to control the User Coordinate System. The UCSICON command controls display of an icon that helps you visualize the orientation of the current UCS.
  • Any or all of a 3D Face's edges can be made invisible.
  • Fast zoom mode updated to work in 3D views as well as in plan view.
  • The PLAN command expanded to generate a plan view of a specified UCS.
  • The DVIEW command extended to allow you to view your 3D drawings in proper perspective.
  • The LINE command extended to draw 3D lines.
  • 3DPOLY, 3DMESH, RULESURF, TABSURF, REVSURF, and EDGESURF commands for construction of 3D Polylines and polygon meshes. PEDIT extended to handle editing and surface-fitting for these new entities.

AutoLISP Enhancements

• An optional version of AutoLISP made available for use with AT®-style extended memory.
• 3D-point translation functions provided.
• (findfile) searches the library path to locate the specified file, returning the full filename.
• (load) extended to search the library path to locate and load the specified file. Also, (load) can now be used from within another function.
• A user-defined start-up function added to run automatically when acad.lsp is loaded.
• (getenv) returns the value assigned to the specified system environment variable.
• Given the permanent handle for an entity, (handent) retrieves that entity's current name.
• (vports) retrieves active viewport data.

• This was the first version of AutoCAD to require an 80x87 math coprocessor in computers based on the Intel® 8086 family of microprocessors.
• All files produced by this version of AutoCAD made compatible among all supported computers.
• Box, Auto, and Single object-selection modes added.
• Block insertion presets for scale and rotation added.
• The MULTIPLE command modifier added.
• New ACADLIMEM environment variable for expanded memory control added (on DOS systems only).
• Menu items amended to repeat automatically.
• Twenty additional text fonts added.
• Attribute value requests during Insert allowed to be suppressed.
• A "preset" property added for Attributes.
• Creation of slide libraries added.
• An Advanced User Interface added, incorporating a menu bar, pull-down menus, icon menus, and dialog boxes.
• The DDEMODES, DDLMODES, and DDRMODES commands added to permit entity properties, layer properties, drawing aids to be set using dialog boxes.
• The new DDATTE command added to permit Attribute editing to be done using a dialog box.
• Attribute values requested during INSERT allowed to be entered using a dialog box.
• Spline curves drawing permitted.
• Crossing object selection boxes drawn as dotted lines.
• A Rotate option was added to the VPOINT command.
• 3D Osnap extended to snap to the tops of extruded objects.
• Built-in commands allowed to be undefined and redefined.
• Provisions for 3D Lines and 3D Faces added to the DXB file format.
• AutoLISP Enhancements
  • A pause capability added for the (command) function
  • (ssget) filters added
  • Very large selection-sets handling added

• The ZOOM, PAN, VIEW, and REDRAW commands allowed to be used transparently.
• X/Y/Z point filtering added.
• The AREA command was enhanced to compute the area of specified circles and Polylines, and to keep running totals.
• You can now configure a default plot filename, a spooling directory for plot files, a directory for AutoCAD temporary files, and a unique network node name.
• New ACADXMEM environment variable for extended memory control added (on DOS systems only).
• Handling of the \ character in menu items revised to better cope with transparent commands.
• Associative dimensioning added.
• The DIMZIN dimensioning variable was enhanced.
• A general dimensioning suffix facility was added.
• A fractional mode added to the UNITS command.
• 3D Line and 3D Face entities added (3D Level 2).
• The FILMROLL command added for production of files to be rendered by AutoShade.
• AutoLISP Enhancements
  • An append mode supported when opening files.
  • The (rtos) function modified to use the setting of Dimzin.
  • 3D points now handled.
  • New user input functions (getkword), (getcorner), and (initget) added

• ZOOMs and PANs usually much faster than in previous versions.
• Faster menu loading, larger menu capacity, enhanced keyboard access to screen menu.
• Immediate context-sensitive Help.
• Most commands enhanced to recover from invalid input and reprompt.
• New generalized UNDO/REDO facility.
• New Crossing and Previous object selection options, and variable-size target.
• Setting of color and linetype per entity, independent of the entity's layer added.
• New CHANGE Properties command for changing common entity properties.
• Construction of polar (circular) arrays simplified.
• New SETVAR command for immediate access to system variables.
• New VIEWRES command controls display resolution of circles and arcs.
• New SELECT command just creates a selection-set that can be referenced as Previous by subsequent commands.
• PLOT and PRPLOT output can be directed to a file.
• The POINT command extended to support several point display formats.
• The COPY command extended to make multiple copies.
• New TIME command, drawing creation/update times, and user-controlled elapsed timer.
• New Snap option for GRID command (equivalent to Grid 0).
• Text enhancements:
  • New Middle and Fit justification modes.
  • Fonts with thousands of characters supported.
  • The STYLE command enhanced to set the style as current.
  • Fonts can be constructed for use in both horizontal and vertical styles.
  • New arc/polyarc descriptions for text fonts and shapes.
• A new DXFOUT option added to allow you to write a partial DXF file containing only the selected objects. DXFIN can be used to load a partial DXF file into an existing drawing.
• A user-changeable signon message facility added.
• TEXTSCR, GRAPHSCR, and RESUME can now be used during another command.
• REPEAT/ENDREP replaced by MINSERT.
• ENDSV now equivalent to END (no longer saves vector file).
• Extended memory utilized (on computers that support it).
• New LAYER Make option, like Set but creates layer if necessary.
• Angles can be entered and displayed in surveyor's units.
• You can select any angle to be the zero angle, and can choose either clockwise or counterclockwise as the direction for increasing angles.
• A << prefix can be used to enter an angle using the standard degrees notation (ignoring the Units modes).
• Fillet now works with arcs and circles.
• New Snap option for AXIS command (equivalent to Axis 0).
• Dimensioning enhancements:
  • New capability to define your own dimensioning arrows via Blocks.
  • New variables control editing of zero-inches distances, rounding of dimensioning measurements, a global scale factor for all measured distances, and dimension line extension when ticks are used instead of arrows.
  • Dual dimensioning annotates in feet and inches and metric units.
  • You can add a prefix and a suffix to the automatic dimension text.
  • New Dim1 command returns to the Command: prompt after one dimensioning command.
  • A null reply to the Dim: prompt now repeats the last dimensioning command.
• Dragging more responsive, and can be set to drag automatically. Drag requests now permitted earlier in many commands; dragging begins as soon as all required data is entered.
• The Mirror line can be at any angle.
• Text items can be handled specially by Mirror.
• The Tangent and Perpendicular object snap modes when specifying the From: point for a line or when specifying a point on the circumference of a circle. Using this feature, you can construct a line tangent to two circles, a line tangent to a circle and perpendicular to another line, a circle tangent to three other circles or lines, and so on.
• A new Circle option permits construction of a circle of a specified radius, tangent to two existing lines or circles.
• A new Attext option allows you to extract the Attributes of only the selected objects.
• Rectangular arrays can be rotated via the Snap rotation angle.
• Access to the entity database and input devices added to the AutoLISP programming language (first introduced in Version 2.18).
• New Dynamic option for ZOOM, provides graphic method for zooming and panning.
• You can now BREAK a Polyline.
• DXB format was extended to include provisions for circles, arcs, and floating-point values.

New Commands:

DIVIDE	let you place markers along the length of an existing object dividing the object into equal parts
DOUGHNUT	creates filled circles or rings
DTEXT	dynamic multiline text generation.
ELLIPSE	creates polyline ellipses
EXPLODE	splits Blocks and Polylines into their component entities.
EXTEND	extends lines, arcs, and Polylines to meet other objects exactly.
MEASURE	let you place markers along the length of an existing object at measured intervals
OFFSET	for constructing offset/parallel lines, arcs, and Polylines.
POLYGON	creates regular polygons
ROTATE	for rotating existing objects
SCALE	for shrinking, and enlarging existingobjects
STRETCH	moves part of a drawing while retaining connections with other portions of the drawing.
TRIM	cuts objects to intersect cleanly with other objects.

• Interactive object selection. You can select objects in multiple windows, and add or remove objects from the selection-set before submitting the set to any edit/inquiry command.
• Directory pathnames are now honored on all filenames, and you can maintain multiple drawing directories or multiple AutoCAD configurations.
• Plotting enhancements:
  • Revised and enhanced the PLOT routine.
  • Plots can now be rotated 90 degrees.
  • Optimized the changing of plotter pens and further optimized pen movement.
  • Multiple pens can now be used with single-pen plotters; -AutoCAD will pause and prompt you to change the pen manually.
• New LIMITS On/Off options allow you to turn the limits check off entirely.
• A prototype drawing is now used to establish the initial environment (limits, modes, etc.) for a new drawing. You can create as many prototype drawings as you wish.
• QTEXT now produces a rectangle rather than two parallel lines.
• You can now copy files from the File Utility menu (Files command).
• The DELAY command has been calibrated to delay about 1 millisecond per increment.
• New GRAPHSCR and TEXTSCR commands permit scripts and menu items to flip between the text and graphics displays on single-screen systems.
• You can use the UNITS command to select display and input of angles in grads or radians.
• BREAK now allows a zero-length break, splitting an object into two entities.
• FILLET was extended to handle Polylines (see later).
• The VIEW command has a new Window option, permitting you to define a named view without first zooming in to that view.
• 3D Level 1 for 3D visualizations with optional removal of hidden lines (ELEV, VPOINT, and HIDE commands). 3D visualizations can be edited and plotted just like 2D drawings.
• Polylines (PLINE and PEDIT commands), with curve-fitting capability.
• New Freeze and Thaw options for the LAYER command.
• Objects can be highlighted during the selection process.
• User-supplied programs and operating system utilities can be executed as external commands while running AutoCAD.

You can define variables to hold integers, reals, strings, and points, and can use these variables (along with predefined system variables) in arithmetic expressions. These expressions can be entered in response to AutoCAD data prompts.
The full AutoLISP programming language was included in Version 2.18 (January, 1986), which was otherwise one of a series of minor updates. AutoLISP extended the variables and expressions feature to let you write and store LISP programs that implement custom commands.

BLIPMODE	permits control over the drawing of marker blips
CHAMFER	added
DXBIN	CAD/camera support
PRPLOT	printer plotter output

Added dot/dash linetype capability (LINETYPE, LTSCALE, and LAYER Ltype commands).

• Layers extended to have user-chosen names, with no limit to the number of layers in a drawing.
• Multiple text fonts and Shape files can be used in a drawing.
• Text styles: obliquing, mirroring, and expansion/compression may be applied to a text font (STYLE command).
• Text may be underscored or overscored.
• Up to four tablet menu areas can be defined.
• A separate menu provided for the buttons on multibutton pointing devices.
• Menus may be segmented into submenus that can be invoked to display the options for particular commands.
• Standard colors can be specified by number or by name.
• Traces and Solids now filled even if partially off screen.
• Faster loading of shapes and fonts due to shape/font compiler.
• The area of a digitizing tablet used for screen-pointing now configurable.
• Undo feature added to LINE command.
• The meaning of the PAN command's displacement has been reversed.
• In previous versions, item rotation for a circular array worked only if the only item in the array was a Block. This restriction has been lifted.
• Enhanced script mechanism (SCRIPT and RSCRIPT commands).
• The AREA command extended to display the perimeter.
• The DIST command extended to display the angle and delta-X/Y between two points.
• The LIST and DBLIST commands display length, angle, and delta-X/Y for lines; area and circumference for circles.
• Dimensioning enhanced to provide angular dimensioning, arc/circle diameter and radius, dimension lines at any desired angle, and several other requested features.
• Angles in degrees, minutes, and seconds (UNITS command enhancement).
• Length and angle display of rubber band in status line.
• The parameters used on the HATCH command are remembered and presented as defaults on the next HATCH command. A repeat capability also added; it asks for another area to hatch using the same pattern.
• Hatching of figures bounded by arcs improved.
• Dynamic specification (dragging) for ARC, CIRCLE, SHAPE, INSERT, CHANGE, COPY, and MOVE commands.
• Snap, Grid, and Axis may be rotated, offset, or given differing X and Y spacings. The snap offset can be used to vary the alignment of hatch patterns.
• For some display devices, the screen menu and the text-prompt area can be disabled, by means of the AutoCAD configuration process, to provide a larger area for graphics.
• For some display devices, a SNAPSHOT command is provided to erase menus and prompts from the screen temporarily and center the graphics image for photographic purposes.
• New Attributes feature. Attributes associate textual information with Block Definitions, and prompt for appropriate values at insertion time. The text may be visible or invisible.
• Global or individual editing of Attributes is available.
• Extraction of attributes from the drawing for transfer to a database program allowed.

New Commands:

DXFIN and DXFOUT	replaced the Main menu tasks to load and create drawing interchange files.
ENDSV	saves vector file upon exit.
ISOPLANE	Isometric grid/snap capability (also SNAP Style Iso)
MIRROR	allows object mirroring
MSLIDE	makes slides for slide show facility.
OSNAP	allows snapping to reference points of existing objects.
QTEXT	quick text mode
SAVE	saves changes without exiting the drawing editor.
VIEW	creates named views
VSLIDE	slide-show viewing facility (command).

• LINE command enhancements (automatic polygon close, start line at end of last line or arc).
• Alternate arc and circle specifications.
• ZOOM enhancements (Previous, Extents, magnification relative to current magnification).
• New ARRAY facility, including circular arrays.
• Block enhancements (WBLOCK command writes Block to file, Blocks can be redefined).
• Specification of text size by width of area allowed (Aligned).
• New text fonts supplied.
• Vertical alignment of text for vertical dimensions.
• Control keys to toggle Snap, Grid, Ortho, and Tablet modes.
• Insert rotation angle governed by Ortho mode.
• Display snapped crosshairs if Snap mode is on.
• Enhanced shape definitions (X-Y displacements, arcs).
• Specification of REPEAT or ARRAY column/row distance using two corners of a rectangle.
• FILES command and new Main menu task for access to disk file directories.
• The grid no longer automatically rescaled.
• Command script facility.
• New mode/coordinate status line.

New Commands:

HATCH	for crosshatching and pattern filling.
SKETCH	for free-hand drawing.
AXIS	to display ruler lines.
UNITS	for feet-and-inches input and display.
BREAK	to delete part of a line, trace, circle, or arc.
FILLET	to connect two lines with a smooth arc.

Configuration facility added. Layer-to-layer move via CHANGE command added. Rubber-band and box cursors implemented. New right-justified text ability. Removed 40-item limit from menus. Adjustment of plot origin and alignment. Typing grid spacing to the snap interval permitted.

CHANGE command for Text entities. Large plotter support added. Enhanced HELP command. Header information included in DXF file. New Drawing dialog moved to Configurator, along with selection of plotter model and default menu file. Standardized color numbers

• A Dimensioning facility added as an extra-cost option.

This was the initial release of AutoCAD. It was demonstrated at the COMDEX trade show (Las Vegas, November, 1982).
Deliveries began the following month.