Getting Started In AutoCAD Electrical

Can someone help me get started in Auto CAD electrical. I am new to Auto CAD and trying to learn the basics.

I have looked through some online training videos from various sources on Auto CAD electrical and I am still unclear on how to setup a new project for multiple drawings and make page numbers and line references work and make everything link together.

I need to modify the logo in the acad electrical.dwt and use our company logo but I have not figured out how to do this.

I need help setting up my project and my title block so I can begin drawings.

Any help would be appreciated.

AutoCAD Electrical isn't the work of a few minutes to learn. I spent a week intensive training a couple of years ago and only scrathed the surface - and have forgotten most of what I learned through lack of use.

However, changing the template is quite simple. Start AutoCAD then OPEN. Change the "files of type" combo box from dwg to dwt and AutoCAD will automatically take you to the folder that all your templates are stored in.

I can get to the template as far as locating and opening it but I can't seem to change the logo. If I try to delete the autodesk logo it deletes the whole title block.

that is because it is a block. You will need to BEDIT that block.

My advice would be to contact your local authorized AutoDESK reseller (probably the same company you purchased the program from) and ask if they will be running any training courses for AutoCAD Electrical. I attended a three day course and it was well worth the cost. It is very important that you understand the power of ACADE rests in the database it builds in the background off your drawing. Everything is connected in one way or another. If you use ordinary AutoCAD commands to do some tasks, rather than the built in ACADE commands, you LOSE that connectivity and have crippled the database. The database is very important when it comes to creating reports so you don't want to go messing it up. Ex. - In some cases you do NOT want to use the Move command but the "Scoot" command instead.

Other advantages to attending a training class are...

-They tend to be small. In my class there were just four of us.

-You get to ask questions of someone who is intimately familiar with the program.

-You receive and get to keep training material like manuals and CDs.

-You network with other users who could become future sources of assistance when you run into a problem or are looking for another job.

-You are not being constantly interrupted by coworkers.

-You get a mini-vacation from your boss. LoL

If you can't find a training course for ACADE or your company just won't foot the bill then the alternative is to buy a good book. You can find one of the best by following the link below. ASCENT makes many of the training guides for AutoDESK products and happens to be the company whose book was used during my three day course.

http://www.ascented.com/courseware-solutions/autodesk/courseware/overview.aspx

BTW...you said you were "new to AutoCAD." How new? Most courses that deal with AutoCAD vertical products like Electrical usually require a working knowledge of plain AutoCAD. As a matter of fact I'm training one of our electricians on AutoCAD LT after which we will then send him for a three day training class on ACADE. The electrical engineer thought this was the smartest way to go. When you attend the course you should be familiar with the layout of AutoCAD in general and such things as the Ribbon, toolbars, tool palettes, the Design Center, the Layer Properties Manager and the Properties palette, etc. just to name a few.

Mark I plan to follow your advice but Unfortunatly I have to get a set of prints done for a panel that will install June 2nd and there are no training classes before than which is why I am trying to figure this out. In the past my drawings have been done in Promise.e or Eplan but my current employer only uses autodesk products thus AutoCAD electrical.

Oh, so this is a "baptism by fire" sort of thing right? You lucky guy you. Then you'll be inserting footprints and components and editing them as well. You always order that book today and have it sent 2-day express mail.

You poor soul. I find it hard to believe that you would be required to develop a set of plans in that amount of time with no knowledge of autocad. Tell me is it electrical or low voltage that you do. Some companies foolishly think that low voltage and electrical are the same thing when they are not then find out the hard way all the money they spent on MEP or autocad electrical was nothing more than a waste.

More advanced topics, and a one-stop shop for ACADE training:

http://ecadconsultant.com/