History of Autocad

[Cad64]

Here's an interesting little website documenting the history of the program. http://myfeedback.autodesk.com/history/area51.htm

[rkmcswain]

Here are some Autodesk images circa 1996...

[experiencedautodesk]

those 'modern' images - i'm afraid to say my use of AutoCAD goes back as far as 2.6 !!

[Vince0115]

Does this help?


Version 1.0 (Release 1) - December 1982 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982)
Version 1.2 (Release 2) - April 1983 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983)
Version 1.3 (Release 3) - August 1983 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983)
Version 1.4 (Release 4) - October 1983 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983)
Version 2.0 (Release 5) - October 1984 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984)
Version 2.1 (Release 6) - May 1985 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985)
Version 2.5 (Release 7) - June 1986 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986)
Version 2.6 (Release 8) - April 1987 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987)
Release 9 - September 1987 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987)
Release 10 - October 1988 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988)
Release 11 - October 1990 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990)
Release 12 - June 1992 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992) (last release for Apple Macintosh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Macintosh))
Release 13 - November 1994 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994) (last release for Unix (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix), MS-DOS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS-DOS) and Windows 3.11)
Release 14 - February 1997 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997)
AutoCAD 2000 (R15.0) - March 1999 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999)
AutoCAD 2000i (R15.1)- July 2000 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000)
AutoCAD 2002 (R15.6) - June 2001 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001)
AutoCAD 2004 (R16.0) - March 2003 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003)
AutoCAD 2005 (R16.1) - March 2004 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004)
AutoCAD 2006 (R16.2) - March 2005 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005)
AutoCAD 2007 (R17.0) - March 2006 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006)
AutoCAD 2008 (R17.1) - March 2007 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007)

[rkmcswain]

Does this help?

That looks familiar....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocad#Version_history

[JD Mather]

The Autodesk File
by John Walker

http://www.fourmilab.ch/autofile/afpdf.zip

[akang98]

Does this help?


yes. thank u

[Tiger]

Version 2.6 (Release 8) - April 1987 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987)

Can I get this release? :oops: :P

[Raggi_Thor]

I tried to install R12 for Windows on a new pc running XP.
I didn't manage to get the hardware lock to work.
Some Rainbow.dll didn't work.

If you get an old american version without the lock, maybe?

[nicola]

did you ever manage to get that R12 installed?

[Raggi_Thor]

No, not the hardware lock.
Maybe I could search for som Rainbow drivers, but time...

My favourite versions are:
R9 for Ultrix
R12 for Windows (right click on a tool button and change the macro!!!)
R14, finally an R13 that works :)

[LarsT]

There's no mention of Generic CAD, which I used to use. The company didn't want to buy AutoCAD, but eventually did when 2000 came out, and I had to convert all my GCD drawings.

[AlinOz]

My Favourite bit of history - The optional extra added to AutoCAD on version 1.3 - Dimensioning!!! Who would ever have thought that you could ever use CAD without Dimensioning?

By the way, for the newbie CAD Users, these Dimensions weren't associative until about R12 to 14 (from recollection)

[AlinOz]

Don't even try to put R12 for Windows on - I would be very doubtful that it would stand any chance of working- Dongle or not. It was designed purelyfor Windows 3.11 which was basically just a GUI for a DOS background. Poor old AutoCAD had troubles running on that platform and was even more prone to crashing in that version than it is today (you could expect about 6 to 8 crashes per day in that version)

[Jack_O'neill]

Don't even try to put R12 for Windows on - I would be very doubtful that it would stand any chance of working- Dongle or not. It was designed purelyfor Windows 3.11 which was basically just a GUI for a DOS background. Poor old AutoCAD had troubles running on that platform and was even more prone to crashing in that version than it is today (you could expect about 6 to 8 crashes per day in that version)

I had an old R12 windows set of disks and tried it on an xp machine, and you're right. It won't run. If you still have Windows NT somewhere, you could run it on that. It was much more stable than Win3.1, or at least it worked out that way for me. Cut it down to 3 or 4 crashes a week instead of every hour on the hour.

[RichKuni]

Since about version 10 it always seemed like the Even numbered versions were the apology for the crappy ODD numbered versions. Anyone else share my sentiments? So after I got 14 I always skipped a new release until the next one after that came out. It's worked well.

[dumfatnhappy]

There's no mention of Generic CAD, which I used to use. The company didn't want to buy AutoCAD, but eventually did when 2000 came out, and I had to convert all my GCD drawings.


wow :shock: I started with Generic cad back in the 80's digitizing company logo's in the trophy/engraving business.... with my summa sketch :D

[AlinOz]

Yeah, well... I'm not sure on the odds and evens of it, but there's certainly some versions that Autodesk shouldn't have even bothered about. I most certainly look at the typically long list of new features and cross off those that are useless to me usually leaving a couple that are worth adopting. Next is to figure out whether the learning curve is offset by the new features.

Autodesk's idea of a new release every 12 months can mean we spend more time learning than using and that doesn't make money...

[rkmcswain]

Since about version 10 it always seemed like the Even numbered versions were the apology for the crappy ODD numbered versions.

13c4a was pretty solid.
2005 wasn't bad.
2007 suffered due to the new 3D stuff all being introduced at the same time.
2009 did the same because of the Ribbon...

[AlinOz]

And we're just about on the verge of 2010... An even number, new functions and a new Database... Let's cross our fingers that the even numbers are really good:unsure:

[Lee Mac]

And we're just about on the verge of 2010... An even number, new functions and a new Database... Let's cross our fingers that the even numbers are really good:unsure:

Well being an even number, it was looking good - but with prospects that they will no longer support VBA... maybe things are turning in a different direction...

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32857

[rkmcswain]

VBA is still supported, but its no secret that it is dying, and it isn't necessarily Autodesk's fault. Microsoft is the one who killed it. I wouldn't write any new code in it.

[Lee Mac]

VBA is still supported,...

Ahh, sorry for my mis-interpretation. I just hope that LISP doesn't follow in the same direction :(

[rkmcswain]

Ahh, sorry for my mis-interpretation. I just hope that LISP doesn't follow in the same direction :(

There is really no reason for it to go away since it's controlled by Autodesk, not an outsider. What we are seeing now and I suppose will continue is virtually no development on the UI and the API though. As products like Civil 3D evolve from AutoCAD, lisp becomes a much less powerful tool and .NET/ARX becomes the direction in which to head...

[Lee Mac]

There is really no reason for it to go away since it's controlled by Autodesk, not an outsider. What we are seeing now and I suppose will continue is virtually no development on the UI and the API though. As products like Civil 3D evolve from AutoCAD, lisp becomes a much less powerful tool and .NET/ARX becomes the direction in which to head...

Looks like I better get studying :P

[MaxwellEdison]

Good news for me, now all my years of not learning VB will have paid off :thumbsup::P

[uddfl]

Good news for me, now all my years of not learning VB will have paid off :thumbsup::PSame thing here. Not trying to excuse myself, I guess I just never really had the need.

[Kobbe]

Hope u don't dislike that face that this is rather old!

I am working on my report about my work in AutoCAD and I am going to write a little bit about autocad.


Does anybody know when 3D first was avilible in AutoCAD? It was just build for 2D back in the days?

Does anyone know if Autocad is mostly used for 2D or 3D? Any source?

Thx!

[David Bethel]

This is always a good read on the hisory if AutoCAD

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?10578-History-of-Autocad&highlight=john+walker