Thursday, October 29, 2009
AutoCAD is a CAD (Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting) software application for 2D and 3D design and drafting, developed and sold by Autodesk, Inc. Initially released in late 1982, AutoCAD was one of the first CAD programs to run on personal computers, and notably the IBM PC. Most CAD software at the time ran on graphics terminals connected tomainframe computers or mini-computers. In earlier releases, AutoCAD used primitive entities — such as lines, polylines, circles, arcs, and text — as the foundation for more complex objects. Since the mid-1990s, AutoCAD has supported custom objects through its C++ API. Modern AutoCAD includes a full set of basicsolid modeling and 3D tools. With the release of AutoCAD 2007 came improved 3D modeling functionality, which meant better navigation when working in 3D. Moreover, it became easier to edit 3D models. The mental ray engine was included in rendering, it was now possible to do quality renderings. AutoCAD 2010 introduced parametric functionality and mesh modeling. AutoCAD supports a number of application programming interfaces (APIs) for customization and automation. These include AutoLISP, Visual LISP, VBA, .NET and ObjectARX. ObjectARX is a C++ class library, which was also the base for products extending AutoCAD functionality to specific fields, to create products such as AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Civil 3D, or third-party AutoCAD-based applications. AutoCAD currently runs exclusively on Microsoft Windows desktop operating systems. Versions for Unix and Mac OS were released in the 1980s and 1990s, but these were later dropped. AutoCAD can run on an emulator or compatibility layer like VMware Workstation orWine, albeit subject to various performance issues that can often arise when working with 3D objects or large drawings. AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are available for English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Russian, Czech, Polish, Hungarian, Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian and Vietnamese. The extent of localization varies from full translation of the product to documentation only. Last month, i have been introduced by my friend to learn autocad. At first, i agreed instantly and got interested to it. My friend who was a licensed ECE volunteered himself to be my tutor and right away we settled the schedule. I really like to learn different skills in computer because i like computers. And since i stayed at home always, maybe i could use such skills to make me became profitable. On the first meeting, I got amazed and shocked. I couldn't absorbed the lecture easily because it's been years since i listen to a lecture and study. But luckily, as the lecture goes on, I got to follow it. As if I was in a mental shock on that moment but since I was really interested to learn, I tried to catch up gradually. When my friend left me, I started to practice my self and got familiarized to the environment of autocad program.... As the next meeting comes, we started making some drawings. It was really interesting. I got fascinated how my friend made his sample drawings. From there, I started to practice myself doing some sample drawings..... Up to now, i was still on the practice mode and hopefully i could use this skill on the near future.... My friends and I also talked about this skill in putting up a business sometime next year... The business was closely related to autocad and networking and I was very positive about this craft.... 
