{"id":6064,"date":"2016-01-20T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2016-01-20T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.investintech.com\/resources\/blog\/?p=6064"},"modified":"2018-12-24T15:23:00","modified_gmt":"2018-12-24T15:23:00","slug":"autocad-guide-top-answers-to-faqs-about-autocad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.investintech.com\/resources\/blog\/archives\/6064-autocad-guide-top-answers-to-faqs-about-autocad.html","title":{"rendered":"AutoCAD Q&A Guide: Top Answers to 11 FAQs About AutoCAD"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AutoCAD<\/p>\n

Although AutoCAD is a complex program that brings to mind computer experts and technical precision, it\u2019s an application that, despite its intimidating nature, can be very rewarding once you learn about it. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re interested in AutoCAD, you\u2019re probably full of questions. Well, we\u2019ve scoured the web for the most common FAQs about AutoCAD usage and best industry practices and found the answers to them. Whether you\u2019re a newbie, a hobbyist or an existing AutoCAD user, \u00a0you\u2019ll get one super AutoCAD knowledge source right at your fingertips. <\/span><\/p>\n

Check it out. \u00a0After all, if someone had a question about the program, chances are you have the same one too!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Projects Can Be Done In AutoCAD?<\/b><\/p>\n

Autodesk AutoCAD is a general purpose CAD software application. As such, it can be used for drafting and design projects that involve creation, editing, viewing or printing various types of geometric 2D and 3D entities. Basically, this includes various projects in areas of architectural, civil, mechanical or electrical engineering drawing and design.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do Civil Engineers Need To Learn AutoCAD?<\/b><\/p>\n

The general consensus among experts online is that civil engineers do need to know their way around CAD software. \u00a0According to many structural engineers, like <\/span>Norbert Pozsonyi at Quora<\/span><\/a>, AutoDesk\u2019s AutoCAD is an essential<\/span> CAD software tool to learn and know. Learning AutoCAD will at least help you to read drawings, which is of vital importance for civil engineers. <\/span><\/p>\n

Whether and how much you will really need it in practice, depends on where you are (in which part of the world) and what software is used at the company you work for.<\/span><\/p>\n

What CAD Software Does A Civil Engineer Need To Know To Land A Job?<\/b><\/p>\n

Autodesk\u2019s AutoCAD is an industry standard used by the vast majority of civil engineers and construction firms<\/a>, but there are still many others that use different CAD software. So, if you have to pick one CAD software to learn, choose AutoCAD. But, to improve your prospects of landing a job as a civil engineer, you may want to learn a few other CAD software applications. Some of the most commonly<\/span> used ones that will add extra strings to any civil engineer\u2019s bow<\/span><\/a> include <\/span>MicroStation<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Revit<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Tekla<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0A comprehensive list of CAD editors and a comparison of computer-aided design solutions is <\/span>available at Wikipedia<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is The Difference Between AutoCAD And AutoCAD 360?<\/b><\/p>\n

AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design (CAD) desktop software application for 2D and 3D design and drafting. It\u2019s used for creating blueprints and other engineering plans. AutoCAD is mostly used by drafters in architectural drafting, civil drafting, mechanical drafting, electrical drafting, electronics, aeronautical drafting, and beyond. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

AutoCAD is available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.<\/span><\/p>\n

AutoCAD 360, on the other hand, is a web and mobile drawing and drafting application that allows registered users to view, edit and share AutoCAD drawings via web and mobile devices. <\/span>AutoCAD 360 is used by general contractors, project managers and tradesman with little to no experience with<\/span> CAD and is commonly used across a wide range of industries: architecture, engineering and construction, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and more. <\/span><\/p>\n

AutoCAD 360 is available for download as a mobile app for Android and iOS devices. <\/span><\/p>\n

What Is The Difference Between AutoCAD And Solidworks?<\/b><\/p>\n

A CAD analyst <\/span>Sandeep Kumar summed it up on Quora<\/span><\/a>: Autodesk\u2019s AutoCAD was initially designed for 2D drafting and subsequently extended with some 3D features. SolidWorks, on the other hand, is a full featured 3D modelling CAD software. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Solidworks<\/p>\n

When it comes to 3D modelling, <\/span>SolidWorks<\/span><\/a> is for the advanced users and tasks, while AutoCAD is mainly for intermediate 3D modelling. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, while AutoCAD is available for both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS, Solidworks runs exclusively on Microsoft Windows OS. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Autodesk\u2019s Inventor<\/span><\/a> is actually Solidworks\u2019 counterpart, rather than the often compared AutoCAD<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are The Differences Between AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, 3DS Max And Revit?<\/b><\/p>\n

AutoCAD is, as already mentioned above, primarily a 2D drafting software with moderate 3D modelling capabilities. It uses lines to graphically represent objects. <\/span><\/p>\n

AutoCAD Architecture<\/span><\/a> is a specialized version of AutoCAD with additional tools designed specifically for architects to enhance their workflow, aiding in tasks such as architectural planning and construction documentation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Revit<\/span><\/a> is a 4D BIM modeling software with tools for planning and tracking various stages in a<\/span> building\u2019s lifecycle, from concept to construction and eventual demolition. Simply said, \u00a0Revit is used for building computer models of physical structures. It allows users to create actual objects with attached parameters and data like material, as opposed to just creating lines that graphically represent objects. It should be noted that Revit is a building modelling tool, and isn\u2019t used for generic modelling purposes. <\/span><\/p>\n

Autodesk 3ds Max<\/span><\/a> is a 3D modelling, animation and rendering software. It\u2019s mostly used for making 3D animations, games, images, movie effects and movie-pre-visualization. Its most common users are video game developers, TV studios and architectural visualization studios. While AutoCAD is primarily used for drafting, 3ds Max is mostly used for presentation. These two are<\/span> both are geometric modellers, while AutoCAD Architecture and Revit are classified as BIM modellers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the differences between them, these programs primarily handle design and its implementation into usable construction and presentation documents.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are The Limitations Of AutoCAD Supported .DXF File Format?<\/b><\/p>\n

To identify limitations or advantages of the .DXF file format, it is necessary to compare it to AutoCAD\u2019s native .DWG format. \u00a0What can these formats do and which should you use?<\/span><\/p>\n

Although both file formats are developed by Autodesk and supported by AutoCAD, there are some differences between the two vector image file types. The main one is that DWG (which stands for DraWinG) files only work with Autodesk\u2019s AutoCAD, while .DXF (meaning drawing exchange\/interchange format) was developed to allow other CAD programs to open and use information from the drawing file. <\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, some CAD programs can\u2019t import .DWG files, but they can import .DXF. That being said, if you\u2019re a CAD user who doesn\u2019t use AutoCAD, the ability to open and use the .DXF file in other CAD programs is its obvious advantage over the DWG. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Possible limitations of .DXF in comparison to DWG are:<\/span><\/p>\n