8 AutoCAD and Its Applications—Basics Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Use the Recent Documents section to open a recently saved fi le or a fi le that has been pinned to the Recent Documents list. Select from the display options below the list to specify how recent fi les appear. You will learn more about starting new drawings and opening existing fi les in Chapter 2. The Notifications section contains announce- ments and links to a variety of resources online. The Connect section offers access to additional AutoCAD and Autodesk tools and services online. Pick the Sign In… button to log in to or create an Autodesk account. Access the Learn page to explore AutoCAD resources online, including the AutoCAD help system. NOTE NOTE The Try page appears if AutoCAD has not been activated. The Start Tab disappears when you turn off fi le tabs, but the Create and Learn pages remain. Workspaces The Drafting & Annotation workspace is active by default when you launch AutoCAD and begin a new drawing. See Figure 1-5. The Drafting & Annotation workspace displays interface features above and below a large drawing window, also called the graphics window, and contains the commands and options most often used for 2D drawing. To activate a different workspace, pick the Workspace Switching button on the status bar and select a different workspace. See Figure 1-6. The 3D Basics and 3D Modeling workspaces provide commands and options appropriate for 3D modeling. The list also includes saved custom workspaces. workspace: A preset work environment containing specific interface items. drawing window (graphics window): The largest area in the AutoCAD window, where drawing and modeling occurs. Figure 1-5. A new drawing started from the acad.dwt template installed with AutoCAD. The default AutoCAD window appears with the Drafting & Annotation workspace active. Minimize, maximize, restore, or close drawing window Navigation bar View cube Crosshairs X axis (horizontal) Close Maximize Minimize InfoCenter AutoCAD title bar Quick Access toolbar Application Menu Ribbon File tabs Viewport controls Y axis (vertical) Minor grid lines Major grid lines (bold) Coordinate system icon Command line Origin (X=0, Y=0, Z=0) Model space and layout tabs Workspace Switching button Status bar