Ribbon
With the ribbon interface, overall drafting productivity is increased as the number of steps to reach a command is decreased. The ribbon interface presents command options in a concise visual format, allowing you to quickly select commands based on the work you’re doing . Moving between applications is now quick and intuitive. The ribbon is both customisable and expandable so that it can be optimised for each user and meet each company’s standards.
ViewCube and SteeringWheels
The ViewCube is an interactive tool used to rotate and orient any solid or surface model in AutoCAD. Selecting a face, edge or corner of the cube brings the model quickly to that predefined orientation. Clicking and holding the ViewCube allows the model to be freely rotated in any direction. Since the cube is in a fixed location on the screen, it provides at-a-glance orientation. The ViewCube will be introduced in all Autodesk products as a common tool for working with 3D models.
In addition to allowing quick access to the orbit command, the new SteeringWheels tool allows quick access to the pan centre and zoom commands. The SteeringWheels is highly customisable so you can add walk through commands to help create and record a walk through of your model.
Menu Browser
Reviewing and working with several files is no longer a tedious and time-consuming process. The new menu browser interface allows you to browse files and examine thumbnail images and provides detailed information about file size and file creator. Plus you can organise recently used files by name, date or title.
Action Recorder
The new action recorder saves time and increases productivity by automating repetitive tasks without requiring the skill or assistance of a professional CAD manager. Users can quickly record a task, add text messages and requests for input, then quickly select and play back recorded files.
Layer Dialog
The new layer dialog makes creating and editing layer properties faster and less prone to error. Changes are instantly reflected in the drawing as they are made in the dialog. The manipulation of the dialog box has been simplified and columns in the dialog can be individually resized so the contents of that column or its title are not truncated. Individual columns can be fixed in place so that the rest of the columns can be scrolled through and referenced to a fixed column such as the layer name.
Quick Properties
The easily customisable quick properties menu increases productivity by reducing the steps to access properties information, ensuring that information presented is optimised for that particular user and project.
Quick View
The quick view feature uses thumbnails instead of file names, making opening the correct drawing file and layout faster and decreasing the time spent opening incorrect drawing files.
Efficient Everyday Drafting
Just because you perform certain tasks day in and day out doesn't mean they have to be tedious. AutoCAD LT streamlines day-to-day tasks by improving the functionality of the tools used to perform them.
- Create and edit Dynamic Blocks to save time and help standardise drawings by eliminating the need to redraw standard components again and again and reduce your cumbersome block libraries in the process.
- Use AutoCAD Layer Express Tools for layer management to dramatically increase your day-to-day drafting productivity.
- Create tables painlessly with a one-step process rather than manually drawing each line and save time by performing calculations directly in your tables. When values are updated automatically, errors go down.
- Manipulate text efficiently by viewing, sizing, and positioning text as you type. Adjust text appearance as needed using familiar tools common in other text-editing applications and easily create multiline paragraphs and bulleted or numbered lists of notes with professional-quality formatting.
- Simplify hatching by creating multiple hatches without repetitious use of the Hatch command, easily place a hatch at your preferred origin point and quickly calculate both individual and cumulative hatch areas.
- Customise tool palettes so you save time by placing frequently used content in one place so you can quickly drag them into your
- Seamlessly interface with your design data and keep your attention focused on your work as you enter command information and get immediate feedback at the graphics cursor.
- Dimension with greater ease giving your dimensions exactly the linetype you prefer without exploding and editing them. Avoid time-consuming workarounds to dimension an arc, save time by automating the creation of a jogged dimension line and flip an individual dimension arrow from inside to outside the dimension line and back.
Simplified Data Exchange
Save time and money by electronically sharing intelligent design data, allowing teams to review, print, mark-up, and round-trip changes quickly, easily, and with fewer errors.
- Publish intelligent design data with DWF technology and save time by simplifying collaboration with your design team. At 1/10th the size of other file formats, DWF is the fastest, easiest way to communicate design information while helping to ensure secure and efficient sharing at any stage of the project lifecycle.
- View and Mark-up designs and easily coordinate projects throughout design review by replacing the paper process with review and round-tripping functionality in free* Autodesk Design Review software. Mark-up drawings with comments ,sketches, dimensions, text and stamps before sending them on their way. Workflow is streamlined, fidelity is increased and jobs are finished-faster.
- Use DWF as an underlay to share design information with other companies on a project. It's the perfect starting point for adding more information to the design.
- Read/write to past versions of AutoCAD, increasing collaboration and the exchange of data with users of older versions of AutoCAD software.
- Export files in PDF format so customers who have standardised on Adobe PDF can view and print design files.
Painless Plotting
Simplified plotting helps you spend more time on design.
- Access the most frequently used plot controls all in one dialog box and view a full preview showing how your plot will look once the drawing is plotted with an enhanced plot user interface.
- Reduce time waiting for plot jobs and spend more time drafting with background plotting, which enables you to continue working in the drawing editor while AutoCAD LT software plots in the background.
- Stay on top of plot jobs by being notified when a plot job is completed.
The redesigned interface and the new tools in AutoCAD 2009 will increase your productivity. These new tools will be incorporated into all Autodesk software products, creating a familiar set of tools so transition from product to product and the overall learning curve will be significantly reduced.
With the ribbon interface, overall drafting productivity is increased as the number of steps to reach a command is decreased. The ribbon interface presents command options in a concise visual format, allowing you to quickly select commands based on the work you’re doing. Moving between applications is now quick and intuitive. The ribbon is both customisable and expandable so that it can be optimised for each user and meet each company’s standards.
The view cube is an interactive tool used to rotate and orient any solid or surface model in AutoCAD. Selecting a face, edge or corner of the cube brings the model quickly to that predefined orientation. Clicking and holding the view cube allows the model to be freely rotated in any direction. Since the cube is in a fixed location on the screen, it provides at-a-glance orientation. The view cube will be introduced in all Autodesk products as a common tool for working with 3D models.
In addition to allowing quick access to the orbit command, the new steering wheel tool allows quick access to the pan, centre and zoom commands. The steering wheel is highly customisable so you can add walk through commands to help create and record a walk through of your model.
Reviewing and working with several files is no longer a tedious and time-consuming process. The new menu browser interface allows you to browse files and examine thumbnail images and provides detailed information about file size and file creator. Plus, you can organise recently used files by name, date or title.
The new action recorder saves time and increases productivity by automating repetitive tasks without requiring the skill or assistance of a professional CAD manager. Users can quickly record a task, add text messages and requests for input, then quickly select and play back recorded files.