AutoCAD 2007

and AutoCAD LT
In This Chapter
Getting the AutoCAD advantage
Using AutoCAD and DWG files
Meeting the AutoCAD product family
Using AutoCAD LT instead of AutoCAD
Upgrading from a previous version
W
elcome to the community whose members are the users of one of the
weirdest, wackiest, and most wonderful computer programs in the
world: AutoCAD. Maybe you're one of the few remaining holdouts who contin-
ues to practice the ancient art of manual drafting with pencil and vellum. Or
maybe you're completely new to drafting and yearn for the wealth and fame
(would we lead you on?) of the drafter's life. Maybe you're an engineer or archi-
tect who needs to catch up with the young CAD hotshots in your office. Or
maybe you're a full-time drafter whose fingers haven't yet been pried away
from your beloved drafting board. Maybe you tried to use AutoCAD a long time
ago but gave up in frustration or just got rusty. Or maybe you currently use an
older version, such as AutoCAD 2000 or even (if you like antiques) Release 14.
Whatever your current situation or motivation, we hope that you enjoy the
process of becoming proficient with AutoCAD. Drawing with AutoCAD is chal-
lenging at first, but it's a challenge worth meeting. CAD rewards those who
think creatively about their work and look for ways to do it better. You can
always find out more, discover a new trick, or improve the efficiency and
quality of your drawing production.
AutoCAD first hit the bricks in the early 1980s, around the same time as the
first IBM PCs. It was offered for a bewildering variety of operating systems,
including CP/M (ask your granddad about that one!), various flavors of UNIX,