AutoCAD virgin in desperate need of help losing his cherry......

[samolea]

Hi all,
The reason I'm here, recently made redundant so started my own company, I used to have a drawing office but now its me or me!
No money, so I could only afford AutoCAD 2000, I need to take drawings created by other people and import them to my own and then annotate them before submission to the client.
All well and good except... I don't have the first clue how too!!!!
I also need to produce my own border etc...
I'm sure that this is bread and butter to the majority of members...
My question, what is the most intensive (and cheap) method of learning the basic fundamental skills that will allow me to do the things that I have described above?
I've tried Control C and then V in my own document but nothing came out, I've since used WBLOCK (found on here, thanks) and I now have a drawing in my own file, how do I get a border to fit it, how do I edit the details in the borders from the template folder. Good luck if you pick me to help.....

[ReMark]

Nothing like jumping into the deep end of the pool with an anvil for a float.

AutoCAD LT 2000?

Are you familiar with paper space layouts by any chance?

Are you working in metric or imperial units?

Do you have a name/logo for your company?

What types of drawings are you producing?

When you installed LT 2000 did you also install the service packs too?

[samolea]

Hi Mark,

Anvil, that's about right...

Paper space layout... somewhat, I think I make amendments in model and they are reflected in paper space? I guess that means no then!

Metric, buildings in plan form only, very little detail, I just have to take an outline and show where I plan to install data outlets and containment routes.

Yes, I do have a logo but can't seem to be able to edit the damn border detail...

As mentioned, drawings are very simple line drawings, showing basic door openings, rooms and descriptions, I simply have to put a little detail on them, triangle for data and a number next to it showing the quantity of computer outlets and then an indication of the containment routes and sizes, all very easy... If only I could cut and paste the (expletive) drawing from the original that I have been issued with!

I did install the service packs but (I think) they assume a degree of prior knowledge. I cant even find descriptions of the meanings for OSNAP, POLAR, ORTHO etc.

Abject meppetry on my behalf I'm afraid....... (I can't even spell Muppetry!!!)

[paisis123]

"nothing beats spending mindless hours experiementing on autocad"

Did you try to make your own block?

Do you know the difference of paper space and model space?

Can you attempt to send us an example on what you are trying to accomplish?

[ReMark]

You can get some immediate assistance by looking in your AutoCAD Help file. Next stop would be the User's Guide or a good aftermarket book such as "Inside AutoCAD 2000" by Bill Burchard and David Pitzer. It was published by New Riders.

Re: paper space. This is where your title block and border would go along with any general notes. If you aren't completely conversant with this method you may find it difficult to wrap your mind around. Paper space was supposed to represent just that...your paper. One creates "viewports" in paper space to see the objects which were drawn back in model space. Model space objects would normally be drawn full size and not scaled like one would do if drawing manually on the board.

Of course there is the option of doing everything in model space. You'll have to scale up your title block/border, your dimensions and text, then plot the drawing to a specific scale to get it all to fit on whatever paper size you had in mind for the finished product.

Is your head still spinning?

Can you attach a copy of your title block and border? Someone here can take a look at it.

[frazer]

Hi Mark

This is something i do a lot, do you have some blocks made of your data outlets?
I am assuming you have like an Architects/Consultants drawing which has their frame around it?
Not sure Wblock is the perfect option for you, can you up the original drawing file?
If you inserted the drawing as a block you wouldnt be able to edit the frame unless you are able to explode it, i havent needed to do this before so not entirely sure i am accurate here
OSNAP = Object Snap it creates points where you can snap say your triangle to a wall line at a point or intersect you can select end points and mid points of lines and various other options
ORTHO = locks your drawing lines to horizontal or vertical plane
Not sure you would need to worry about Polar just yet but ORTHO and OSNAP you should look into as you will use this regularly for what you seem to be doing

[ReMark]

OSnap does not create points. OSNAP is an object snap mode. Very handy for picking points, like the mid or endpoint of a line, to create accurate drawings. Other Osnap settings include center, perpendicular, parallel, nearest, intersection, quadrant, etc.

[frazer]

Corrected, allows picking of points

[samolea]

jeeze,

Methinks I'd best buy a book....

[paisis123]

jeeze,

Methinks I'd best buy a book....

exicellent idea! remember to look up tutorials on youtube for basic skills as well!