AutoCAD

AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided

design (CAD) and drafting software
application. Developed and marketed by
Autodesk,[1] AutoCAD was rst released in
December 1982 as a desktop app running
on microcomputers with internal graphics
controllers.[2] Before AutoCAD was
introduced, most commercial CAD
programs ran on mainframe computers or
minicomputers, with each CAD operator
(user) working at a separate graphics
terminal.[3] Since 2010, AutoCAD was
released as a mobile- and web app as well,
marketed as AutoCAD 360.
AutoCAD

Developer(s) Autodesk

Initial release December1982

Stable release 2018 / March21, 2017

Development status Active

Operating system Windows, macOS, iOS,

Android

Available in English, German, French,

Italian, Spanish, Korean,
Chinese Simplied, Chinese
Traditional, Brazilian
Portuguese, Russian,
 Czech, Polish and
Hungarian

Type Computer-aided design

License Trialware

Website www.autodesk.com
/products/autodesk-
autocad/overview

AutoCAD is used across a wide range of

industries, by architects, project managers,
engineers, graphic designers, and many
other professionals. It was supported by
750 training centers worldwide in 1994.[1]

History
AutoCAD was derived from a program
begun in 1977 and released in 1979[4]
called Interact CAD, also referred to in
early Autodesk documents as MicroCAD,
which was written prior to Autodesk's
(then Marinchip Software Partners)
formation by Autodesk cofounder Mike
Riddle.[5][6]

The rst version by Autodesk was

demonstrated at the 1982 Comdex and
released that December.[7] As Autodesk's
agship product, by March 1986 AutoCAD
had become the most ubiquitous CAD
program worldwide.[8] The 2018 release
marked the 32nd major release of
AutoCAD for Windows. The 2014 release
marked the fourth consecutive year of
AutoCAD for Mac.

Version history

The native le format of AutoCAD is .dwg.

This and, to a lesser extent, its interchange
le format DXF, have become de facto, if
proprietary, standards for CAD data
interoperability, particularly for 2D drawing
exchange. AutoCAD has included support
for .dwf, a format developed and promoted
by Autodesk, for publishing CAD data.
Autodesk's logo and, respectively,
AutoCAD icons have changed for several
versions through the years.
 DWG OS
Date of
Ofcial name Version Release Comments
tag support release

AutoCAD Version 1982,

1.0 1 DWG R1.0 le format
1.0 December

AutoCAD Version
1.2 2 1983, April DWG R1.2 le format
1.2

AutoCAD Version
1.3 3 1983, August DWG R1.3 le format
1.3

AutoCAD Version
1.4 4 1983, October DWG R1.4 le format
1.4

AutoCAD Version DWG R2.05 le

2.0 5 1984, October
2.0 format

AutoCAD Version
2.1 6 1985, May DWG R2.1 le format
2.1

AutoCAD Version
2.5 7 1986, June DWG R2.5 le format
2.5

DWG R2.6 le format.

AutoCAD Version Last version to run
2.6 8 1987, April
2.6 without a math co-
processor.

1987,
AutoCAD Release 9 9.0 9 DWG R9 le format
September

AutoCAD Release
10.0 10 1988, October DWG R10 le format
10

AutoCAD Release
11.0 11 1990, October DWG R11 le format
11

DWG R11/R12 le
AutoCAD Release format. Last release
12.0 12 1992, June
12 for Apple Macintosh
till 2010.

AutoCAD Release 13.0 13 1994, DWG R13 le format.

13 November Last release for Unix,
 MS-DOS and
Windows 3.11.

AutoCAD Release 1997,

14.0 14 DWG R14 le format
14 February

AutoCAD 2000 15.0 AC1015 15 1999, March DWG 2000 le format

AutoCAD 2000i 15.1 AC1015 16 2000, July

AutoCAD 2002 15.2 AC1015 17 2001, June

AutoCAD 2004 16.0 AC1018 18 2003, March DWG 2004 le format

AutoCAD 2005 16.1 AC1018 19 2004, March

AutoCAD 2006 16.2 AC1018 20 2005, March Dynamic Block

AutoCAD 2007 17.0 AC1021 21 2006, March DWG 2007 le format

Annotative objects
introduced. AutoCAD
2008 and higher
AutoCAD 2008 17.1 AC1021 22 2007, March (including AutoCAD
LT) can directly
import and underlay
DGN V8 les.

Revisions to the user

interface including
AutoCAD 2009 17.2 AC1021 23 2008, March
the option of a
tabbed ribbon

AutoCAD 2010 18.0 AC1024 24 Windows 2009, March DWG 2010 le format
XP 24 introduced.

Windows Parametrics

Vista introduced. Mesh 3D

solid modeling
Windows introduced. PDF
7[9][10][11] underlays. Both 32-bit
and 64-bit versions of
AutoCAD 2010 and
AutoCAD LT 2010 are
compatible with and
 supported under
Microsoft Windows 7.

Surface modeling,
surface analysis and
object transparency
introduced. October
2010, March 15, 2010[12] AutoCAD
AutoCAD 2011 18.1 AC1024 25
25 2011 for Mac was
released. Are
compatible with and
supported under
Microsoft Windows 7

Associative array,
model
documentation, DGN
2011, March
AutoCAD 2012 18.2 AC1024 26 editing. Support for
22
complex line types in
DGN les is improved
in AutoCAD 2012.

Windows
2012, March DWG 2013 le format
AutoCAD 2013 19.0 AC1027 27 XP Vista
27 (AC1027)
Windows
7
File tabs, design feed,
2013, March
AutoCAD 2014 19.1 AC1027 28 Windows reality capture,
26
8[13][14] Autodesk live maps

Windows
7 Line smoothing (anti-
aliasing), Windows
Windows
2014, March 8.1 support added,
AutoCAD 2015 20.0 AC1027 29 8
27 dropped Windows XP
Windows support (incl.
8.1[15] compatibility mode)

AutoCAD 2016 20.1 AC1027 30 Windows 2015, March More comprehensive

 7 SP1 23 canvas, richer design

Windows context, and

8.1 intelligent new tools

such as smart
Windows dimensioning,
10[16][17] coordination model,
and enhanced PDFs

PDF import,
associative center
2016, March
AutoCAD 2017 21.0 AC1027 31 marks and
21
centerlines, DirectX
11 graphics

2017, March
AutoCAD 2018 22.0 AC1032 32 DWG 2018 le format
21

Features
Compatibility with other
software

ESRI ArcMap 10 permits export as

AutoCAD drawing les. Civil 3D permits
export as AutoCAD objects and as
LandXML. Third-party le converters exist
for specic formats such as Bentley MX
GENIO Extension, PISTE Extension
(France), ISYBAU (Germany), OKSTRA and
Microdrainage (UK);[18] also, conversion of
.pdf les is feasible, however, the accuracy
of the results may be unpredictable or
distorted. For example, jagged edges may
appear. Several vendors provide on-line
conversions for free such as
Cometdocs.autoCAD commonly use in all
purposes.

Language

Auto CAD and AutoCAD LT are available

for English, German, French, Italian,
Spanish, Korean, Chinese Simplied,
Chinese Traditional, Brazilian Portuguese,
Russian, Czech, Polish and Hungarian,
Albanian (also through additional
language packs).[19] The extent of
localization varies from full translation of
the product to documentation only. The
AutoCAD command set is localized as a
part of the software localization.

Extensions

AutoCAD supports a number of APIs for

customization and automation. These
include AutoLISP, Visual LISP, VBA, .NET
and ObjectARX. ObjectARX is a C++ class
library, which was also the base for:

products extending AutoCAD

functionality to specic elds
creating products such as AutoCAD
Architecture, AutoCAD Electrical,
AutoCAD Civil 3D
third-party AutoCAD-based application

There are a large number of AutoCAD

plugins (add-on applications) available on
the application store Autodesk Exchange
Apps .[20] AutoCAD's DXF, drawing
exchange format, allows importing and
exporting drawing information.
Vertical integration

Autodesk has also developed a few

vertical programs:

AutoCAD Architecture
AutoCAD Civil
AutoCAD Electrical
AutoCAD ecscad
AutoCAD Map 3D
AutoCAD Mech
AutoCAD MEP
AutoCAD Structural Detailing
AutoCAD Utility Design
AutoCAD P&ID
 AutoCAD Plant 3D

for discipline-specic enhancements.

For example, AutoCAD Architecture

(formerly Architectural Desktop) permits
architectural designers to draw 3D objects,
such as walls, doors and windows, with
more intelligent data associated with them
rather than simple objects, such as lines
and circles. The data can be programmed
to represent specic architectural
products sold in the construction industry,
or extracted into a data le for pricing,
materials estimation, and other values
related to the objects represented.
Additional tools generate standard 2D
drawings, such as elevations and sections,
from a 3D architectural model. Similarly,
Civil Design, Civil Design 3D, and Civil
Design Professional support data-specic
objects, facilitating easy standard civil
engineering calculations and
representations.

Civil 3D was originally developed as an

AutoCAD add-on by a company in New
Hampshire called Softdesk (originally
DCA). Softdesk was acquired by Autodesk,
and Civil 3D was further evolved.

Variants
AutoCAD Architecture

AutoCAD Architecture (abbreviated as

ACA) is a version of AutoCAD with tools
and functions specially suited to
architectural work.

AutoCAD LT

AutoCAD LT is the lower cost version of

AutoCAD, with reduced capabilities, rst
released in November 1993. Autodesk
developed AutoCAD LT to have an entry-
level CAD package to compete in the lower
price level. AutoCAD LT, priced at $495,
became the rst AutoCAD product priced
below $1000. It is sold directly by
Autodesk and can also be purchased at
computer stores (unlike the full version of
AutoCAD, which must be purchased from
ofcial Autodesk dealers).

As of the 2011 release the AutoCAD LT

MSRP has risen to $1200. While there are
hundreds of small differences between the
full AutoCAD package and AutoCAD LT,
there are a few recognized major
differences[21] in the software's features:

3D Capabilities: AutoCAD LT lacks the

ability to create, visualize and render 3D
models as well as 3D printing.
 Network Licensing: AutoCAD LT cannot
be used on multiple machines over a
network.
Customization: AutoCAD LT does not
support customization with LISP, ARX,
.NET and VBA.
Management and automation
capabilities with Sheet Set Manager and
Action Recorder.
CAD standards management tools.

AutoCAD LT 2015 introduced Desktop

Subscription (rental) from $360 per year

AutoCAD 360
Formerly marketed as AutoCAD WS,
AutoCAD 360 is an account-based mobile
and web application enabling registered
users to view, edit, and share AutoCAD
les via mobile device and web[22] using a
limited AutoCAD feature set and using
cloud-stored drawing les. The program,
which is an evolution and combination of
previous products, uses a freemium
business model with a free plan and two
paid levels marketed as Pro ($4.99
monthly or $49.99 yearly) and Pro Plus
($99.99 yearly) including various
amounts of storage, tools, and online
access to drawings. 360 includes new
features such as a "Smart Pen" mode and
linking to third-party cloud-based storage
such as Dropbox. Having evolved from
Flash-based software, AutoCAD 360 uses
HTML5 browser technology available in
newer browsers including Firefox and
Google Chrome.

AutoCAD WS began with a version for the

iPhone and subsequently expanded to
include versions for the iPod Touch, iPad,
Android phones, and Android tablets.[23]
Autodesk released the iOS version in
September 2010,[24] following with the
Android version on April 20, 2011.[25] The
program is available via download at no
cost from the App Store (iOS), Google Play
(Android) and Amazon Appstore (Android).

In its initial iOS version, AutoCAD WS

supported drawing of lines, circles, and
other shapes; creation of text and
comment boxes; and management of
color, layer, and measurements in both
landscape and portrait modes. Version 1.3,
released August 17, 2011, added support
for unit typing, layer visibility, area
measurement and le management.[22]
The Android variant includes the iOS
feature set along with such unique
features as the ability to insert text or
captions by voice command as well as
manually.[25] Both Android and iOS
versions allow the user to save les on-line
or off-line in the absence of an Internet
connection.[25]

In 2011, Autodesk announced plans to

migrate the majority of its software to "the
cloud", starting with the AutoCAD WS
mobile application.[26]

According to a 2013 interview with Ilai

Rotbaein, an AutoCAD WS Product
Manager for Autodesk, the name AutoCAD
WS had no denitive meaning, and was
interpreted variously as Autodesk Web
Service, White Sheet or Work Space.[27]
Student versions

AutoCAD is licensed, for free, to students,

educators, and educational institutions,
with a 36-month renewable license
available. The student version of AutoCAD
is functionally identical to the full
commercial version, with one exception:
DWG les created or edited by a student
version have an internal bit-ag set (the
"educational ag"). When such a DWG le
is printed by any version of AutoCAD
(commercial or student) older than
AutoCAD 2014 SP1, the output includes a
plot stamp/banner on all four sides.
Objects created in the Student Version
cannot be used for commercial use.
Student Version objects "infect" a
commercial version DWG le if they are
imported in versions older than AutoCAD
2015.[28]

Ports
Windows

AutoCAD is a software package created

for Windows and usually any new
AutoCAD version supports the current
Windows version and some older ones.
AutoCAD 2016 and 2017 supports
Windows 7 up to Windows 10.[29]
Mac

Autodesk stopped supporting Apple's

Macintosh computers in 1994. Over the
next several years, no compatible versions
for the Mac were released. In 2010
Autodesk announced that it would once
again support Apple's Mac OS X software
in the future.[30] Most of the features found
in the 2012 Windows version can be found
in the 2012 Mac version. 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 macOS software will nd it similar
to other Mac applications.[24] Autodesk
has also built in various features in order
to take full advantage of Apple's Trackpad
capabilities as well as the full-screen
mode in Apple's OS X Lion.[23][24] AutoCAD
2012 for Mac supports both the editing
and saving of les in DWG formatting that
will allow the le to be compatible with
other platforms besides the OS X.[23]
AutoCAD 2014 for Mac supports Apple OS
X v10.9.0 or later (Mavericks), OS X
v10.8.0 or later (Mountain Lion) with 64-bit
Intel processor.

AutoCAD LT 2013 is now available through

the Mac App Store for $899.99. The full-
featured version of AutoCAD 2013 for
Mac, however, is not available through the
Mac App Store due to the price limit of
$999 set by Apple. AutoCAD 2014 for Mac
is available for purchase from Autodesk's
Web site for $4,195 and AutoCAD LT 2014
for Mac for $1,200, or from an Autodesk
Authorized Reseller.[30] The latest version
available for Mac is AutoCAD 2017 as of
July 2017.

Android and iOS

Autodesk AutoCAD 360 is the ofcial

AutoCAD mobile app for Android and iOS
and Windows tablets (UWP).[31][32] It can
view, markup, measure and edit (2D only
editing) any DWG le from a mobile phone
or tablet. The actual le editing operations
are performed in the cloud, in genuine
DWG le format.

See also
Autodesk software
Autodesk 3ds Max
Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Revit
AutoShade
AutoSketch
Other topics
Comparison of computer-aided design
editors
 Design Web Format

References
1. "Autodesk, Inc" . FundingUniverse.
Lendio. 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
2. "Chapter 8: Autodesk and AutoCAD"
(PDF). Cadhistory.net. Retrieved 2016-03-30.

3. "Chapter 2: A Brief Overview of the

History of CAD" (PDF). Cadhistory.net.
Retrieved 2016-03-30.
4. Riddle, Michael. "About" . Retrieved
24 January 2014. Ive been building CAD
products for over 29 years now, starting
with Interact for the Marinchip 9900
released back in 1979, one of the rst PC-
based CAD programs available. Interact
went on to become the architectural basis
for the early versions of AutoCAD. I was
one of the original 18 founders of that
company.
5. Walker, John (1 May 1982). "Information
letter #5" . Retrieved 24 January 2014.
6. Yare, Evan (17 Feb 2012). "AutoCAD's
Ancestor" . 3D CAD World. Retrieved
24 January 2014.
7. One Company's CAD Success Story ,
InfoWorld, 3 December 1984, retrieved
19 July 2014
8. "Part 2 CAD/CAM/CAE", 25 Year
retrospective , Computer Graphics World,
2011, retrieved 29 March 2012
9. "System requirements for AutoCAD 2012
| AutoCAD | Autodesk Knowledge
Network" . knowledge.autodesk.com.
Retrieved 2017-02-24.
10. "System requirements for AutoCAD
2011 | AutoCAD | Autodesk Knowledge
Network" . knowledge.autodesk.com.
Retrieved 2017-02-24.
11. "System requirements for AutoCAD
2010 | AutoCAD | Autodesk Knowledge
Network" . knowledge.autodesk.com.
Retrieved 2017-02-24.
12. [1] Archived August 16, 2011, at the
Wayback Machine.
13. "System requirements for AutoCAD
2014 | AutoCAD | Autodesk Knowledge
Network" . knowledge.autodesk.com.
Retrieved 2017-02-24.
14. "System requirements for AutoCAD
2013 | AutoCAD | Autodesk Knowledge
Network" . knowledge.autodesk.com.
Retrieved 2017-02-24.
15. "System requirements for AutoCAD
2015 | AutoCAD | Autodesk Knowledge
Network" . knowledge.autodesk.com.
Retrieved 2017-02-24.
16. "System requirements for AutoCAD
2016 | AutoCAD | Autodesk Knowledge
Network" . knowledge.autodesk.com.
Retrieved 2017-02-24.
17. "System requirements for AutoCAD
2017 | AutoCAD | Autodesk Knowledge
Network" . knowledge.autodesk.com.
Retrieved 2017-02-24.
18. "AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 Drawing
Compatibility" (PDF). AutoCAD Civil 3D
2011 User's Guide. Autodesk. April 2010.
pp.141142. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
19. "AutoCAD 2016 Language Packs |
AutoCAD | Autodesk Knowledge Network" .
knowledge.autodesk.com. Retrieved
2016-11-03.
20. "AutoCAD Exchange Apps" . Autodesk.
Retrieved 11 August 2013.
21. "Questions and Answers" (PDF).
Images.autodesk.com. Retrieved
2016-03-30.
22. Autodesk. "AutoCAD WS" . iTunes
Preview. Apple. Retrieved 30 September
2011.
23. Ozler, Levent. "AutoCAD for Mac and
AutoCAD WS application for iPad and
iPhone" . Dexigner. Dexigner. Retrieved
30 September 2011.
24. Ozler, Levent. "AutoCAD for Mac 2012:
Built for Mac OS X Lion" . Dexigner.
Dexigner. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
25. Ozler, Levent. "AutoCAD WS for
Android" . Dexigner. Dexigner. Retrieved
30 September 2011.
26. Thomson, Iain. "Autodesk Shifts Design
Apps to the Cloud" . The A Register. The A
Register. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
27. "AutoCAD WS: Moving Forward" . Augi
Autodesk Users Group International,
January 29th, 2013. Retrieved 26 April
2013.
28. "Overview of Plotting" . Retrieved
19 March 2016.
29. "System requirements for AutoCAD
2016 | AutoCAD | Autodesk Knowledge
Network" . Knowledge.autodesk.com.
2015-12-16. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
30. Clark, Don (16 August 2011). "Autodesk
Adopts Apple App Store for Mac
Software" . The Wall Street Journal.
Retrieved 30 September 2011.
31. "AutoCAD 360 - Android Apps on
Google Play" . Play.google.com. Retrieved
2016-03-19.
32. "AutoCAD 360" .

Further reading
Hurley, Shaan. "AutoCAD Release
History" . Between the lines.
 "Mike Riddle & the Story of Interact,
AutoCAD, EasyCAD, FastCAD & more" .
DigiBarn Computer Museum. Retrieved
12 November 2016.
"About" . Michael Riddle's Thoughts.
Retrieved 12 November 2016.
Plantec, Peter (7 January 2012). "The
Fascinating Story of How Autodesk
Came to Be (Part 1)" . Studio Daily.
Access Intelligence.
Grahame, James (17 May 2007). "Mike
Riddle's Prehistoric AutoCAD" . Retro
Thing.

External links
 Wikibooks has more on the topic of:
AutoCAD

Wikimedia Commons has media related

to AutoCAD.

AutoCAD Ofcial Website

AutoCAD LT
AutoCAD 360

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=AutoCAD&oldid=812850893"

Last edited 6 days ago by Anthony

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