Mastering AutoCAD 2015 and AutoCAD LT 2015

Book Preface

Autodesk has released both AutoCAD 2015 and AutoCAD LT 2015 simultaneously. Not surprisingly, they’re nearly identical in the way they look and work. You can share files between the two programs with complete confidence that you won’t lose data or corrupt files. The main differences are that AutoCAD LT doesn’t support all the 3D functions of AutoCAD 2015, nor does it support the customization tools of AutoLISP® or the .NET Framework. But AutoCAD LT still has plenty to offer in both the productivity and customization areas. Because they’re so similar, we can present material for both programs with only minor adjustments.

When a feature is discussed that is available only in AutoCAD 2015, you’ll see the AutoCAD Only icon.

For the purposes of this publication, the “ACAD only” icon means the relevant (or adjacent) content applies only to AutoCAD software and not to AutoCAD LT software.

You’ll also see warning messages when tutorials vary between AutoCAD 2015 and AutoCAD LT. If only minor differences occur, you’ll see either a warning message or directions embedded in the tutorial indicating the differences between the two programs.

We’ve also provided workaround instructions wherever possible when AutoCAD LT doesn’t offer a feature found in AutoCAD 2015.

Getting Information Fast

In each chapter, you’ll find extensive tips and discussions in the form of sidebars set off from the main text. These provide a wealth of information we have gathered over years of using AutoCAD on a variety of projects in different office environments. You may want to browse through the book and read these boxes just to get an idea of how they might be useful to you.

Another available quick reference is the online bonus chapter “System Variables and Dimension Styles.” It contains descriptions of all the dimension settings with comments on their uses. If you experience any problems, you can consult the section “When Things Go Wrong” in the online bonus chapter “Hardware and Software Tips.”