• Manufacturing
• AEC
• GIS
• CAD Management
• Cadalyst Magazine
  • Purchase Latest Issue
  • Cadalyst Access Program
  • Magazine Archives (2004-2009)
• E-Newsletters
  • Tips & Tools Archives
  • CAD Manager's Newsletter Archives
  • AEC Newsletter Archives
  • MCAD Newsletter Archives
  • GIS Tech News Archives
  • HP Workstation Innovation News
  • Dell Tech Insider
  • Harry's Code Class Archives
  • Subscribe E-newsletters
• CAD Software & Hardware Reviews
• Columns
  • "CAD Manager" Column, by Robert Green
  • "Circles & Lines" AutoCAD Tutorial, by Lynn Allen
  • "Editor's Window" Editorials, by Nancy Spurling Johnson
  • "Learning Curve" AutoCAD Tutorial, by Bill Fane
  • "User Profile" Column
  • "Viewpoint" Guest Column
• CAD Software Tutorials
  • All CAD Tutorials
  • "Circles & Lines" AutoCAD Tutorial, by Lynn Allen
  • "Learning Curve" AutoCAD Tutorial, by Bill Fane
• CAD Tips & Tools
  • Cadalyst CAD Tips - Tips and Downloadable AutoCAD Code
  • Video Tips Gallery
  • Tips & Tools Weekly Newsletter Archives
  • CAD Software Tutorials
  • Cadalyst Benchmark Test
• CAD Video Gallery
  • All Cadalyst Videos
  • All-in-One Video Tips by Curt Moreno (Sponsored by HP)
  • AutoCAD Video Tips by Lynn Allen
• CADspeed: Hardware Blog
• Cadalyst Benchmark Test
• CAD Events Calendar
• CAD Cartoons
• Reader Polls
• Subscriber Services
• Job Search
• Cadalyst Store
• Advertising

Review: AutoCAD 2006 and AutoCAD LT 2006 Bible

Learn all the basics with this nonindustry specific book

If you have ever looked at purchasing an AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT book, you are well aware of how flooded the market is with for this topic. With so many available, the trick is finding the AutoCAD book to fit your specific needs.

If you're looking for a nonindustry specific AutoCAD text, look no further than the AutoCAD 2006 and AutoCAD LT 2006 Bible by Ellen Finkelstein. This massive 1,200+ page book touches on almost every aspect of AutoCAD 2006 and AutoCAD LT 2006 and provides this information in a format that is accessible to all user levels.

AutoCAD 2006 and AutoCAD LT 2006 Bible is organized in eight sections. The first two parts, "AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Basics" and "Drawing in Two Dimensions" are quick tutorials covering drawing and AutoCAD basics. Part III through Part V "Working with Data," "Drawing in Three Dimensions" and "Organizing and Managing Drawings" cover more advanced topics such as 2D and 3D drawing concepts, rendering and drawing management.

Part VI, "Customizing AutoCAD," and Part VII, "Programming AutoCAD," discuss more advanced topics such as customizing commands and toolbars, creating linetypes and hatch patterns and programming AutoCAD using AutoLISP and VBA. You will also find discussion on Autodesk's new CUI (customer user interface) tool.

The eighth and final section, "Appendixes," covers installation topics for AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT resources and information about AutoCAD's bonus CD-ROM. The book's CD-ROM includes a trial version of AutoCAD 2006, a searchable PDF version of the book, additional trial software, sample drawings and a few AutoLISP routines that might come in handy.

The AutoCAD 2006 and AutoCAD LT 2006 Bible is an excellent book and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a nonindustry specific text or general reference manual. Because the book does such a good job covering AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 2006 and it's reasonably priced, it would be a great tool for training centers and schools. If you're on a limited budget, then this is the one book you should consider. It is available from Amazon.com.

Highly Recommended