Information and Sales Dan Bonenfant, PLS Autodesk Application Engineer Duncan-Parnell, Inc. 1208 Copeland Oaks Dr. Morrisvile, NC 27560 (704) 574-2228 dan.bone@duncan-parnell.com Products Civil Engineering Survey AutoCAD Document Management News Training Support Documents Support

AutoCAD^®

With AutoCAD^® software Autodesk has just one goal in mind: increasing your productivity. AutoCAD 2009 boosts efficiency with customizable and extensible user interface enhancements that increase overall drafting productivity by decreasing the number of steps to reach a command. Newly designed, innovative features simplify working with layers and help make new users productive as quickly as possible. Easy-to-use navigation tools make finding your way around 3D models a snap. Move to new highs of productivity with AutoCAD software.

Some of the New Features:

	The new action recorder saves time by automating repetitive tasks.
The new ribbon interface presents command options in a concise visual format.
	SteeringWheels puts panning, zooming and walkthough tools at your fingertips.
	The ViewCube allows intuitive navigation of 3D models.
	The new menu browser allows browsing by thumbnail image.

Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade from AutoCAD 2006 to AutoCAD 2009 Software

AutoCAD^® 2009 software has all your favorite tools, but now they are better than ever. You can save time because everyday tasks require fewer steps. AutoCAD 2009 has achieved the Certified for Windows Vista^® logo and runs on both Intel^® and AMD 64-bit chip architectures. This means that, as you upgrade your hardware, AutoCAD will be ready to run. Hundreds of productivity enhancements have been made since AutoCAD 2006 software was introduced. The following list incorporates some of the most popular new features in AutoCAD 2009.

1. Annotation Scaling

AutoCAD software now has automated scaling of text, dimensions, blocks, hatches, and linetypes.

• Text height and hatch size are automatically calculated based on drawing scale.
• Position and visibility of annotation are controlled based on drawing scale selected.

2. New Ribbon Interface

The new ribbon helps increase overall drafting productivity, as fewer steps are needed to reach a command.

• Command options presented in a concise visual format enable you to quickly make selections to suit the work you are doing.
• The ribbon is both customizable and expandable, so it can be optimized for each user and to meet each company’s standards.

3. Dynamic Attribute Extraction Tools

Enhancements to the Attribute Extraction wizard make it easier for you to use and maintain block data.

• Data filters—Exclude blocks without attributes, exclude general block properties, and sort by the type of block properties when specifying the data to extract.
• Table—Extract block data directly to an AutoCAD table and apply table styles.

4. Improved Annotation

Significant improvements enable you to create and edit text and dimensions faster and with more flexibility.

• In-place text editing—See exactly what your text looks like in the drawing, while you edit.
• Lists—Create text lists with bullets or sequential numbers or letters.

5. Multiple Leaders

Creating and editing multiple leaders is now easy with the new Create and Align commands. Multiple leader styles make consistent formatting and placement of leaders across projects a breeze.

• Allows definition of multiple segments, leading or trailing position of text, and leader format.
• Notes and leaders can be automatically aligned as a group.

6. Conceptual Design and Visualization

Combine your familiar AutoCAD drafting functionality with an updated conceptual design environment. AutoCAD 2009 software helps you quickly create, edit, and navigate solids and surfaces. New and improved tools for lights, materials, and rendering make creating photorealistic images a breeze. Walk and Path animation tools enable you to easily explore and present design alternatives.

• Dashboard—The easy-to-use dashboard gives you access to all the conceptual tools in a single area.
• Conceptual design—Complete solid and surface modeling entities are available, including helix, polysolid, and sweeps and lofts.
• Visualization—Tools include on-screen display modes (including visual styles, transparency, and edge effects) and photorealistic rendering with predefined materials libraries.

7. Dynamic Blocks

Powerful Dynamic Block functionality makes working with blocks faster and more efficient. You can properly orient a block reference as you insert it, and you can modify its appearance without editing the block definition or erasing and inserting a different block. The flexibility of Dynamic Blocks provides a powerful alternative to bloated block libraries containing multiple variations of similar block definitions.

• Block Editor—Create and edit block definitions without having to explode or reference-edit a block reference.
• Block authoring tools—Apply parameters and actions to turn traditional block definitions into powerful and flexible dynamic blocks.

8. Dynamic Input

The Heads-up Design™ of Dynamic Input provides a simplified command interface near the cursor to help you maintain your focus on the design.

• Pointer input—Enter command names, view the coordinate values of the crosshairs, and input coordinate values at the cursor location.
• Dimension input—View and edit distance and angle values directly on the relevant geometry.

9. Action Recorder

The new Action Recorder can help to save time and increase productivity by enabling you to automate repetitive tasks.

• Quickly record commands, add text messages and requests for input, and then play them back.
• Share and play back macro files.

10. Photorealistic Rendering

A new rendering engine enables you to quickly set up and render your model. You can then show clients your final design vision with a few easy commands.

• Visually place and adjust lights to bring out the best in your design.
• Create the look you want using more than 400 predefined materials.
• Quickly and easily create a rendered image with preset rendering styles.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, Civil 3d, and DWF are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document. © 2008 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.