ATP239

Start Using AutoCAD® Architecture Now!

Segment 1

Date: March 9, 2009

Instructor: Beth Powell

Level: Beginner
Category: AutoCAD Architecture

Web: www.AUGI.com

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Introduction
AutoCAD Architecture (ACA) or Architectural Desktop (ADT) is based on AutoCAD. Therefore, it can
be used exactly as if you only installed AutoCAD. Yes, you can even choose during installation to
create a shortcut for AutoCAD.

The fact that you can use AutoCAD commands and may have a history with using AutoCAD is part of
the beauty of AutoCAD Architecture. You’re certainly not breaking any rules in only using linework and
the CAD Police will not haul you away. The real question is what feature(s) prompted you or your firm
to purchase this program instead of plain, vanilla AutoCAD? If you are only using it as AutoCAD, then
you really aren’t getting anything out of your investment.

I understand all too well how overwhelming AutoCAD Architecture can be. I also understand that there
are small steps that you can take to start using AutoCAD Architecture NOW!

What are the differences between AutoCAD and AutoCAD Architecture?

AutoCAD Architecture relies on objects, rather than linework. Objects are not just blocks, but are 3D
objects that understand their identity, how to get along with other objects, and have much more
intelligence in the form of properties and property sets.

An example of this is a door. In AutoCAD, you might use a block of a door symbol in plan view. You
could assign attributes to the door, but you probably would not have several different door blocks with
different attributes. If you drew multilines or a line with an offset to represent a wall and inserted the
door block, you would need to trim those lines. If you moved the door, you would need to use the trim
and extend commands with this process.

With AutoCAD Architecture, a door knows it is a door. It knows that doors are found in walls. There
are not doors in windows or roofs. There are not doors in lines. There are not doors in green eggs and
ham! The door knows its place in the food chain of architecture. It knows that it belongs in a wall. The
wall knows its place as well. It welcomes the door openly by creating an opening in itself for the door.
When you move the door, the opening moves right along with it. As a bonus, you can view this in a 3D
view or schedule it.

The Interface
Besides the basic difference between objects and linework, there are differences in the Interface
between AutoCAD and ACA/ADT.

First, there are some additional pull-down menus and toolbars.

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From the Window pulldown menu, you have Pulldowns listed. This flies out to include an optional
Design, Document, and CAD Manager pulldown menu just to name a few. The Design and Document
pulldown menus are available in addition to the Tool Palettes. The CAD Manager pull-down is useful to
access keynote editing and other features that are not found elsewhere.

There is a Navigation Toolbar that provides you with access to some of ACA/ADT’s Tools such as the
Content Browser, Project Browser, Project Navigator, Detail Component Manager and the AutoCAD
tools of Tool Palettes and Design Center.

The Standard Toolbar where you typically find New, Open, Save, Plot contains two additional tool
buttons. One is for Object Inspect and the more important one at the very end is to Regenerate Model.
(It reminds me of a factory with two gold-colored wheels in front of it.)

If you come from a long history with AutoCAD, you may remember the command REGEN that we had
to type to regenerate the drawing. This works a little differently as it is regenerating objects in your
model. If you make some changes that you don’t seem to see, use this button and see if it appears.

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 Instead of the Draw Toolbar, ACA/ADT has a
shapes toolbar. You’ll notice that there isn’t a
tool for Hatch or Mtext. Also, the construction
line tool acts differently than the AutoCAD
counterpart.

One of the biggest differences in the Drawing Status Bar

When you set a template, start with an
(top one that is closest to the drawing) is the Display
ACA/ADT out of the box template.
Configuration. By default, this is set to Medium Detail.
That’s because you’ll have display
Display Configuration is an important part of ACA/ADT.
configurations built in. If you start with
We’ll talk more about that when we get into Styles.
your typical AutoCAD template, you’ll
never see this in your Drawing Status
Bar at all.

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 In your Drawing Status Bar is a tiny, microscopic arrow in the lower left-
hand corner. This is a shortcut to many commands, but it is one-way
(Format pulldown is another way) to access the Drawing Setup. This
includes units among several other items. There is no Format>Units in
ACA/ADT as there is in AutoCAD. We’re not going to go into any detail
on the components of this in this class. This is typically set in your
template.

Tool Palettes

While there are tool palettes in AutoCAD, the tool palettes in AutoCAD Architecture are your best tool
for designing and documenting with the software.

Tool Palettes are divided into four basic groups. Of course, you can still
customize every bit as much as AutoCAD and perhaps more. There are
coordinating workspaces for each Tool Palette Group, as well. To see the
Tool Palette Groups and to change Groups, left-click on the Tool Palette
Properties button at the very bottom of any Tool Palette.

Design Tool Palette

This tool palette is where tools are stored that you use to create
your architectural design. There are some individual tabs, or
palettes, that have samples of wall styles, window styles, and door
styles.

Design: This tool palette is your generic link to creating architectural

objects.

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Document Tool Palette
This tool palette is where tools are stored that you use to document your
design. Some of the tabs, or individual palettes, are as follows.

Annotation: Contains tools such as text and leader that you could
also use from basic AutoCAD commands. Using these tools
instead ensures that the annotation will automatically go on the
annotation layer. (Discussed more under Layer Key Styles)

Dimensions: AEC Dimensions

Callouts: Tools for creating sections, elevations, and callouts for
details.

Tags: Door and Window tags.

Scheduling: Some sample schedules.

Detailing Tool Palette

This tool palette is where tools are stored that you use to you create details using the AutoCAD
Architecture Detailing feature. Detail components are arranged under the CSI MasterFormat 2004
System. We will not be discussing detailing in this course.

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Visualization Tool Palette
This tool palette contains tools to control how to visualize your design.

Let’s Design!
Now that we’ve seen our tools, let’s start to use them.

We begin with our Design Tool Palette. The Design Tool Palette within the Design Tool Palette Group
is made up of design tools based on the Standard style. That means that it’s generic. There will be no
hatch pattern, visualization, or specific materials to display.

Choose Wall from the Design Tool Palette. When you choose any tool from the palettes, the Properties
Palette will open automatically. This gives you the opportunity to set anything about the object (wall
width, base height, etc.) before you create the first wall.

If you close the Properties Palette, it will open for you the next time you choose a tool. This might seem
annoying, but if you are a new user, this might be a good reminder for you. Experienced users often
keep the Properties Palette open, but minimized and move to it as needed. Of course, you can also
use
the
optio
ns at
your
com
man
d line
if you
prefe
r.

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Drawing walls is simple. It’s really no different from drawing a line. You can continue drawing
additional walls in any direction by selecting two points or entering distances. You will remain in the
WallAdd command until you close the command by right-clicking or pressing Enter.

Notice how the walls automatically make nice clean transitions as you turn corners or cross other walls?
That is referred to as wall cleanup. That is one of the benefits of using AutoCAD Architecture rather
than just drawing two offset lines. It’s much faster isn’t it?

Congratulations, you’ve just seen how easy it is to draw walls.

That’s your first step in using AutoCAD Architecture.
Now, let’s add a door and some windows. You’ll see that it’s just as
easy.

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Select the Door tool from our friendly Design Tool Palette. You have properties you can change about
the door such as the height and width.

You are prompted to Select wall. Choose the wall for your door. Watch as the door swing changes
from inside to outside depending on which way you move your cursor.

When you scroll down through the Properties Palette, you

will see a section of the properties for Location. This will
be similar for Windows as well.

The default for this is set to Offset/Center with an

Automatic Offset of 6”. This means that when you place a
door you are forced to either place the door in the Center
(think mid-point) of the wall or 6” off the end of the wall.
If you change this from Offset/Center to Unconstrained,
you will then have the ability to place your door anywhere
along the wall.

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When placing the door with the Location Position Along Wall set to Unconstrained, you can use your
Tab key to toggle between each side of the door. Perhaps you want the door located 8’ from the end of
the wall on one side or you want it at 20’ on the other side. Simply toggle and type. Select the wall and
place the door.

Adding Windows is very similar.

Layer Keys
Did you notice that your walls are one color, your door a different color, and if you added windows they
are different colors too? If you didn’t notice (perhaps because you are so excited about your
magnificent design you just created), then select each of these objects and determine what layer they
are drawn on in your design.

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Do you remember changing to any of these layers? Do you remember having anything to do with
layers? You’re not hung over. ACA/ADT has what are called Layer Keys. These are set to use the
AIA Layer Guidelines. The Layer Keys are
smart enough to know that if you use any Wall
tools that it should go on the A-Wall Layer. If
you use a door tool, doors will end up on the A-
Door Layer.

That of course saves you time and saves a lot of

human error. You don’t have to remember to
change the layer before you create an object. A
real bonus for CAD Managers!

Because of Layer Keys and the way that the

Styles are configured, you cannot simply turn off
the layer that the door swing is on as you would
in AutoCAD. No fear, you can do this in a
number of methods whether in the style, through
a display configuration, or through the Display
tab of your Properties Palette.

Think of the styles as having layers within layers.

These are usually defined in the color, linetype, and hatch pattern by the type of material (think building
material), but can be set to whatever you prefer.

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Remember to post your questions and comments in the course forum and I’ll see you in the AUGI
forums.

Remember that this material is only a portion of the class, support is always available online in the
private course forum. I encourage you to visit the course forum and ask any questions that you may
have about this segment or simply join in the discussion. The ATP Mantra is: the only stupid question is
the one you don’t ask. Thanks again for attending this course!

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