User:DD-ENGL103-41/AutoCAD Sandbox

This Sandbox Is For My AutoCAD Article

History

 * Make a more defined history section.
 * The history is talked about in the lead and in other places, but there is not a defined section.

Newest Release
The latest AutoCAD release is AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD 2012 for Mac. This release marked the 26th major release for the AutoCAD for Windows, and the second consecutive year for AutoCAD for Mac. Both the Windows and the Mac version can be found on the Autodesk website along with more detailed information about purchasing, licensing, and terms of agreement.

Windows Version
While the latest release of AutoCAD did not come with a major overhaul, the 2012 version did receive minor improvements. Several small changes were made to improve the 3D capabilities, and some new features were added to enhance the productivity of the program. These changes and features include: increase canvas control, associated arrays, improved 3D model manipulation, and other less noticeable additions. After the release of AutoCAD 2011 for Mac, the Windows version lacked several features found in the Mac version. Several of the Mac version canvas controls have now been added to the 2012 release. To accomplish the goal for better 3D model manipulation, Autodesk did away with the old saved history method and introduced a new plug-in that will automatically be installed - Autodesk Inventor Fusion. This plug-in allows users to directly open and edit 3D models without having to save and export their work manually. When the user is finished editing the plugin automatically opens the updated version back in AutoCAD. Autodesk also replaced the older array feature with new associated arrays features. This now allows users to duplicate things using three different commands - polar arrays, rectangular arrays, and placing objects along a predetermined path. The new redesigned array feature will also work with both 2D and 3D objects. Autodesk has also chosen to allow users to purchase companion applications directly within the AutoCAD 2012 program. The newest release of AutoCAD also came with new system requirements and recommendations in order to run AutoCAD 2012.


 * System Requirements:
 * Operating System: Windows 7, Windows Vista (SP2 or later), or Windows XP (SP3 or later); 64-bit or 32-bit
 * CPU: Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon dual-core 1.6GHz or greater (3.0GHz or greater recommended for Windows 7 or Vista or 3D modeling; AMD64 or Intel EM64T processor for 64-bit version)
 * Video: 1024x768 VGA with true color minimum (for 3D modeling: 1280x1024 with 128MB video RAM or greater, Pixel Shader 3.0 or greater, Microsoft Direct3D-capable workstation-class graphics card)
 * Disk Space: 2GB free disk space for installation (1.4GB for AutoCAD LT)
 * Memory: 2GB RAM (1GB for AutoCAD LT)

Mac Version
Autodesk stopped supporting Apple's computers in 1994. Over the next several years, no compatible versions for macintosh computers were released. In the fall of 2010 though, Autodesk announced that they would once again support Apple's Mac OS X software in their future version of AutoCAD. Most of the same features found in the 2012 Windows version can also be found in the 2012 Mac version as well. The main difference is the user interface and layout of the program. The interface is designed so that users who are already familiar with Apple's OS X software will find it similar to other Apple applications. Autodesk has also built in various features in order to take full advantage of Apple's trackpad capabilities as well as the fullscreen mode in Apple's OS X Lion. AutoCAD 2012 for Mac supports both the editing and saving of files in DWG formatting that will allow the file to be compatible with other platforms besides the OS X. The following system requirements are recommend when using the AutoCAD 2012 for Mac program.


 * System Requirements:
 * Apple® Mac® Pro 4,1 or later; MacBook® Pro 5,1 or later (MacBook Pro 6,1 or later recommended); iMac® 8,1 or later (iMac 11,1 or later recommended);
 * Mac® mini 3,1 or later (Mac mini 4,1 or later recommended); MacBook Air® 2,1 or later; MacBook® 5,1 or later (MacBook 7,1 or later recommended)
 * Mac OS® X v10.6.4 or later; 64-bit Intel® processor
 * 3 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended)
 * 2.5 GB free disk space for download and installation (3 GB recommended)
 * All graphics cards on supported hardware
 * 1,280 x 800 display with true color (1,600 x 1,200 with true color recommended)
 * All Mac OS X supported language operating systems Apple® Mouse, Apple Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, MacBook® Pro trackpad, or Microsoft®-compliant mouse.

With Autodesk's move to support Apple's Mac OS X, they have now decided to allow Mac users to purchase the AutoCAD LT 2012 version through the Mac App Store for $899.99. The full featured version of AutoCAD 2012 for Mac, however, is not currently available through the Mac App Store due to the price limit of $999 set by Apple. AutoCAD 2012 for Mac can currently be purchased only from Autodesk's website for $3995.

AutoCAD WS
In 2010, Autodesk released their first AutoCAD mobile application AutoCAD WS. The mobile app allows registered users to “view, edit, and share” their work wherever they go. The app can be downloaded for free from the App Store for iOS users or from the Amazon Appstore for Android users. A registered license is required to use the mobile app. Both the android and iOS versions allow users to save files online and offline when no internet connection is available. Autodesk also announced future plans to store the majority of their software to the cloud (cloud computing) starting with the AutoCAD WS mobile app.

Autodesk officially released their iOS mobile app in September of 2010. This was the start of their mobile application marketing campaign. Since then the release has grown from just the iPhone to the iPod Touch, iPad, Android phones, and Android tablets. The AutoCAD WS app has several of the desktop AutoCAD features, but is limited in other areas. The app provides the ability to draw lines, circles, and other various shapes. Text and comment boxes are supported features. Colors, Layers, and measurement are also included features found in the mobile app. The latest version, version 1.3, was released on August 17, 2011 and added the following features: unit typing, layer visibility, area measurement, and file management. Both landscape and portrait modes are supported while using the app.

Autodesk announced that they would release their Android mobile app on April 20, 2011. The app is very similar to the iOS app with basically all the same features and abilities. The Android AutoCAD WS mobile app has some unique features not found in the iOS version. The Android App allows users to insert text or captions by voice commands instead of forcing them to manually input the text into the drawings. This feature is not currently supported on the iOS mobile device.

Vertical Programs
The following are examples of industry-specific CAD applications built on the AutoCAD platform: AutoCAD Electrical is designed specifically to aid in the creation of electrical controls, AutoCAD Civil 3D is designed to aid civil engineers in the creation of land, transportation, and water systems, AutoCAD Map 3D is designed to aid in the planning and mapping of model infrastructures, AutoCAD Mechanical is designed for mechanical engineers to design parts ranging in all kinds of fields but mainly automotive, AutoCAD MEP is designed to aid in the drawing of plumbing systems, AutoCAD P&ID is designed specifically for creating piping and instrumentation design, AutoCAD Plan 3D is designed to aid users in drawing process plants, AutoCAD Raster Design is designed to allow users to "clean up, edit, and enhance" scanned images,  AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite contains AutoCAD and AutoCAD Architecture to create one sign program,  AutoCAD Revit MEP Suite is designed to add the drawing of building systems,  AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite is designed to allow manufactions to take their drawings from the design stage to the fabrication stage, AutoCAD Structural Detailing is designed specifically for creating steel and concrete reinforcement drawings,  AutoCAD Utility Design is designed mainly for electrical drawings involving the creation of both above and underground distribution networks.