Where is a CAD dictionary?

[Freddytoo]

I would like to know where I can find a AutoCAD dictionary. I try typing word or whatever into CAD help, (f1) and more times than not it comes back "not found" or something to that effect. Is there an online dictionary for CAD keywords? I am a 56 year old CAD student trying to get out of the physical part of the construction world, and I would appreciate the advice. Thx, Freddy

[Strix]

There is a FAQ section to this forum... and there's this forum itself - for all those (numerous) times when the AutoCAD help files are next to useless

[Freddytoo]

Thanks for the info, but I guess I am more interested in being able to find the meaning of words or commands or ????? that I have to answer while I am doing homework at 2 am (I am a night owl) or doing a dwg out of the text book or teacher's assignment, and the book says to "implement this or that" but doesn't tell you how, or where it is. It gets frustrating when there isn't anybody around to ask, and I get stuck until next class where teacher says "Oh, just push this button".

If there is such a thing as the dictionary (I swear, Auto CAD help is just about useless) I could get the answers immediately, no fuss, no throwing things at the wall. Anyway, thanks for the reply.

[Tiger]

I think we can all sign on that AutoCAD Help is pretty useless unless you know exactly what you are looking for.

 

First, your textbook doesn't sound all that great if it doesn't explain these things. If you have the funds I would suggest getting another one (there are plenty of suggestions on these forums that you can search for) or try and google it.

 

Also, if it's 2 AM in the US, it's 9-10 AM here so just right for me (and the rest of the EU-s here) to have first cup of coffe at work and answer questions .

[ReMark]

No offense intended but you might try picking up the book "AutoCAD for Dummies" which I recommend to new users struggling with the complexities of AutoCAD and the infamous "Ribbon".

[Strix]

If there is such a thing as the dictionary (I swear, Auto CAD help is just about useless) I could get the answers immediately, no fuss, no throwing things at the wall. Anyway, thanks for the reply.

Actually, one of the wonderful things about AutoCAD is the number of different ways there are of achieving the same thing. It's not as cut and dried as you might expect, and as a student of AutoCAD it's good to learn now that it's impossible to learn EVERYTHING about AutoCAD - it's an ongoing process - that's why we're all here

 

Right now, you'll find that plucking the command word out of the air for the action you can 'name' is going to be difficult - until you know the majority of the actual commands (I'm already suspicious of your tutor telling you to 'just push this button' - that's not going to teach you about AutoCAD, it's just going to get THIS assignment done )

 

If you fancied wasting some time you could read your way through AutoCAD's own glossary, but I've tried it, and sometimes it sends you round in circles without actually explaining, so you're probably just better off asking your new friends here any questions you have. We were all new to this once

 

PS - it's now 11am in the UK

[Tiger]

Oh yeah, and welcome to the forums

[ReMark]

All the help you'll ever need and then some. I wrote this back in 2009 and it has not been revised since then except for the name of one AutoCAD help website.

 

Where do I go for help with an AutoCAD problem.doc

[Freddytoo]

Thank you all for being there. I feel much better now that I know there is a place to go for answers. Your all very kind. About the book for dummies, I have the one for CAD 2012, but it doesn't have 3D. Other than that it is a good source. I

Knowing this forum is here is great, will be back tomorrow night (or is it tonight?)lol. thx all,

[ReMark]

There are some tutorials at the AutoDesk website, here at CADTutor and at another AutoCAD help site called MyCADsite that would assist you getting started with 3D in AutoCAD. Check them out.

[Dadgad]

Welcome to the team. 7:00pm here in Indonesia, so you see there really are people pretty much on call whenever you might have a question. We are the forum that never sleeps.

I highly recommend Ellen Finkelsteins AUTOCAD BIBLE, which is published each year for the new release. A serious reference spanning from the totally rudimentary entry level stuff all the way to very advanced subject matter. There is plenty of info on 3D modeling there too. You can also view a certain number of pages of her book by starting at her website.

It includes a free 30 day trial of whichever year release it covers, and sample files to support numerous exercises and images throughout the test, which is nice.

I am 61 years old and started this 4 years ago, can't get enough of it.

[rkent]

Thanks for the info, but I guess I am more interested in being able to find the meaning of words or commands or ????? that I have to answer while I am doing homework at 2 am (I am a night owl) or doing a dwg out of the text book or teacher's assignment, and the book says to "implement this or that" but doesn't tell you how, or where it is. It gets frustrating when there isn't anybody around to ask, and I get stuck until next class where teacher says "Oh, just push this button".

If there is such a thing as the dictionary (I swear, Auto CAD help is just about useless) I could get the answers immediately, no fuss, no throwing things at the wall. Anyway, thanks for the reply.

 

It sounds like you already know the command name, etc that you are looking for so Help should work really well for that. Also in help there is a "dictionary" in there for commands and system variables. I don't have 2011 but after starting help it is easy enough to navigate to, then you have an alphabetical listing of commands and of system variables, click on one of those and a definition will show.

 

There is a lot of stuff to be found using your favorite search engine. Also look in Youtube.com as there are a lot of videos using the program there as well.