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"AutoCAD 2000 in a Nutshell" Saves AutoCAD Users Time and Frustration

February 24, 2000

AutoCAD is the most widely used PC-based design program in the world, with approximately 4 million design professionals worldwide-from architects to mechanical designers to electrical engineers-already using the program. The latest version, AutoCAD 2000, has over 400 new features, including significant changes to the user interface. "AutoCAD 2000 is a huge leap for AutoCAD-effectively changing how our customers connect with their designs," said Ajay Kela, vice president of the AutoCAD group.

O'Reilly's newest release in the esteemed In a Nutshell series, AutoCAD 2000 in a Nutshell (by Dorothy Kent, $24.95), provides a complete and comprehensive reference for AutoCAD 2000 users. AutoCAD 2000 in a Nutshell contains alphabetically arranged descriptions of every command and variable, including toolbar and command line launch options and important command dialog boxes with detailed descriptions of the various options available to the user. For advanced users who want to customize the software, there is information on system variables used for scripts, macros, and Autolisp.

"There are many wonderful enhancements to AutoCAD 2000, one being the new AutoCAD DesignCenter," says author Dorothy Kent. "Another interesting enhancement is the Object Properties Manager or the Properties window. It's certainly a time saver and beats going to each individual edit command to accomplish the same result. I also like the ability to have multiple paper space layouts for each drawing. Each layout lets you create viewports, of any shape, through which you can view your drawing. You can control the scale factor, layer visibility, plotting parameters and the viewing angle of objects. Therefore, depending on who's to receive the plotted output, you can save all the layouts and plotting parameters for future use."

This important reference will save valuable time and increase productivity with hundreds of tips culled from the author's years of experience as an AutoCAD user and instructor.

About the In a Nutshell Series:

The In a Nutshell series from O'Reilly & Associates provides concise, high-end reference books at low-end prices, for sophisticated computer users who need the facts, but not the frills. To the point, authoritative, no-nonsense solutions have always been a trademark of O'Reilly books. The In a Nutshell books raise that philosophy to an art form. In a Nutshell books have earned a solid reputation in the field as the well-thumbed reference that sits beside the knowledgeable user, programmer, or administrator's keyboard. These lean, focused references offer practical examples for those who live in a deadline-driven world.

In a Nutshell authors cover critical topics in a concise, easy-look up format. O'Reilly & Associates president and founder, Tim O'Reilly, explains: "These books aren't tutorials. They take a topic and drill down, expand, and delight the reader by providing useful information the reader didn't even expect to find. This "leap of usefulness" is crucial to an In a Nutshell book."

About the author:

Dorothy Kent is a bestselling author and veteran trainer on AutoCAD. She has taught hundreds of industry professionals and their support staff how to be productive with AutoCAD. She has been a guest speaker at the Autodesk University, is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Cadalyst magazine, and has worked with Autodesk's Customer Education and Training Department developing training materials for their Learning Resource Series publications.

Online Resources

AutoCAD 2000 in a Nutshell
A Command Reference Guide

by Dorothy Kent
1st Edition February 2000 (US)
656 pages, 1-56592-690-0, $29.95 (US)
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938

About O’Reilly

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