Designed for introductory AutoCAD users, Discovering AutoCAD 2020 presents a hands-on, activity-based approach to the use of AutoCAD 2020 as a drafting tool-complete with techniques, tips, shortcuts, and insights that improve efficiency. Topics and tasks are carefully grouped to lead students logically through the AutoCAD command set, with the level of difficulty increasing steadily as skills are acquired through experience and practice. Straightforward explanations focus on what is relevant to actual drawing procedures, and illustrations show exactly what to expect on the computer screen. This edition features updates for the latest release of AutoCAD 2020, projects, and test questions for each chapter.

• Lessons are broken down into tasks listed at the beginning of each section, introducing students to the AutoCAD commands using a structured, intuitive approach and helping students anticipate what information will be needed at each new phase of the learning process.
• General Procedure boxes appear as new commands are introduced, providing a simple overview of basic command sequences in a step-by-step format.
• Detailed graphics appear throughout the text, demonstrating what students should expect to see on their screens and encouraging self-paced study.
• Drawing problems appear at the end of each chapter, helping students apply newly learned techniques immediately to realistic drawing situations. This includes drawing suggestions, timesaving tips, and explanations of how to use techniques in actual situations.
• Working drawings accompany the end-of-chapter drawing problems, appearing in a large, clearly dimensioned format on each right-hand page, with drawing suggestions on the accompanying left-hand page. This includes mechanical, architectural, civil, and electrical drawings.
• End-of-chapter review questions to test the student's knowledge.

Discovering AutoCAD 2020 will be a valuable resource for any student wanting to learn drafting skills.

Designed for introductory AutoCAD users, Discovering AutoCAD 2020 presents a hands-on, activity-based approach to the use of AutoCAD 2020 as a drafting tool-complete with techniques, tips, shortcuts, and insights that improve efficiency. Topics and tasks are carefully grouped to lead students logically through the AutoCAD command set, with the level of difficulty increasing steadily as skills are acquired through experience and practice. Straightforward explanations focus on what is relevant to actual drawing procedures, and illustrations show exactly what to expect on the computer screen. This edition features updates for the latest release of AutoCAD 2020, projects, and test questions for each chapter.

• Lessons are broken down into tasks listed at the beginning of each section, introducing students to the AutoCAD commands using a structured, intuitive approach and helping students anticipate what information will be needed at each new phase of the learning process.
• General Procedure boxes appear as new commands are introduced, providing a simple overview of basic command sequences in a step-by-step format.
• Detailed graphics appear throughout the text, demonstrating what students should expect to see on their screens and encouraging self-paced study.
• Drawing problems appear at the end of each chapter, helping students apply newly learned techniques immediately to realistic drawing situations. This includes drawing suggestions, timesaving tips, and explanations of how to use techniques in actual situations.
• Working drawings accompany the end-of-chapter drawing problems, appearing in a large, clearly dimensioned format on each right-hand page, with drawing suggestions on the accompanying left-hand page. This includes mechanical, architectural, civil, and electrical drawings.
• End-of-chapter review questions to test the student's knowledge.

Discovering AutoCAD 2020 will be a valuable resource for any student wanting to learn drafting skills.

PART ONE: BASIC TWO-DIMENSIONAL ENTITIES Chapter 1 Lines and Essential Tools 1 Introduction 1 Creating a New Drawing 2 Exploring the Drawing Window 5 Interacting with the Drawing Window 7 Exploring Command Entry Methods 13 Drawing, Undoing, and Erasing Lines 19 Saving and Opening Your Drawings 30 Getting Started 32 Chapter Summary 36 Chapter Test Questions 36 Chapter Drawing Projects 38 Chapter 2 Circles and Drawing Aids 51 Introduction 51 Changing the Grid Setting 52 Changing the Snap Setting 53 Changing Units 55 Drawing Circles by Specifying a Center Point and a Radius 58 Drawing Circles by Specifying a Center Point and a Diameter 60 Accessing AutoCAD Online Help Features 63 Using the ERASE Command 65 Using Single-Point Object Snap 72 Using the RECTANG Command 74 Customizing Your Workspace 76 Plotting or Printing a Drawing 78 Chapter Summary 82 Chapter Test Questions 82 Chapter Drawing Projects 84 Chapter 3 Layers, Colors, and Linetypes 97 Introduction 97 Creating New Layers 98 Assigning Colors to Layers 100 Assigning Linetypes 102 Assigning Lineweights 103 Changing the Current Layer 105 Changing Linetype Scale 107 Editing Corners Using FILLET 108 Editing Corners Using CHAMFER 110 Zooming and Panning with the Scroll Wheel 111 Using the ZOOM Command 113 Entering Single-Line Text 115 Chapter Summary 117 Chapter Test Questions 117 Chapter Drawing Projects 120 Chapter 4 Templates, Copies, and Arrays 133 Introduction 133 Setting Limits 134 Creating a Template 137 Saving a Template Drawing 138 Using the MOVE Command 140 Using the COPY Command 144 Using the ARRAY Command-Rectangular Arrays 147 Creating Center Marks 153 Changing Plot Settings 154 Chapter Summary 158 Chapter Test Questions 158 Chapter Drawing Projects 162 Chapter 5 Arcs and Polar Arrays 177 Introduction 177 Creating Polar Arrays 177 Drawing Arcs 181 Using the ROTATE Command 185 Using Polar Tracking at Any Angle 188 Creating Mirror Images of Objects on the Screen 189 Creating Page Setups 192 Chapter Summary 197 Chapter Test Questions 197 Chapter Drawing Projects 200 Chapter 6 Object Snap 213 Introduction 213 Selecting Points with Object Snap (Single-Point Override) 214 Selecting Points with Running Object Snap 215 Object Snap Tracking 219 Using the OFFSET Command (Creating Parallel Objects with OFFSET) 223 Shortening Objects with the TRIM Command 224 Extending Objects with the EXTEND Command 226 Using STRETCH to Alter Objects Connected to Other Objects 228 Creating Plot Layouts 232 Chapter Summary 242 Chapter Test Questions 242 Chapter Drawing Projects 244 PART TWO: TEXT, DIMENSIONS, AND OTHER COMPLEX ENTITIES Chapter 7 Text 259 Introduction 259 Entering Single-Line Text with Justification Options 259 Entering Text on an Angle and Text Using Character Codes 264 Entering Multiline Text Using MTEXT 265 Editing Text in Place with TEXTEDIT 268 Modifying Text with the Quick Properties Palette 270 Using the SPELL Command 273 Changing Fonts and Styles 274 Changing Properties with MATCHPROP 278 Scaling Previo…