Chapter 1 Introduction to Three-Dimensional Modeling
19
Basic Overview of the Interface Basic Overview of the Interface
AutoCAD provides different working environments tailored to either 2D drawing
or 3D drawing or annotating a drawing. These environments are called workspaces
and can be quickly restored. There are four default workspaces available in AutoCAD.
The workspace for 2D development based on the traditional AutoCAD screen layout
is called
AutoCAD
Classic. The
Drafting & Annotation
workspace is designed for drawing
in 2D and annotating a drawing. It is similar to a streamlined version of the
AutoCAD
Classic
layout with the ribbon displayed in place of toolbars and pull-down menus.
The workspace for basic 3D modeling and editing is called
3D
Basics. The full range of
3D modeling features is found in the
3D Modeling
workspace.
Workspaces can be created, customized, and saved to allow a variety of graphical
user interface confi The figurations.
3D Modeling
workspace provides quick access to the
full range of tools required to construct, edit, view, and visualize 3D models. It is the
workspace used throughout this book. This section provides an overview of the
3D
Modeling
workspace and the layout of the ribbon and its panels.
NOTE OT OT TE
In order to use the default 3D “environment,” you must start a new
drawing file based on the fi
acad3D.dwt
template and set the
3D Modeling
workspace current. All discussions in the remainder of this book
assume that AutoCAD is in this default 3D environment.
Workspaces
A workspace is a drawing environment in which menus, toolbars, palettes, and
ribbon panels are displayed for a specifi task. A workspace stores not only which fic
of these tools are visible, but also their on-screen locations. You can quickly change
workspaces using the
Workspace Switching
button on the status bar, the
Workspace
fl yout on the fl
Quick Access
toolbar, or the
WSCURRENT
command. See Figure 1-5. The
default
3D Modeling
workspace is shown in Figure 1-6.
Figure 1-5.
Switching
workspaces. A—
Using the
Workspace
flyout. B—Using
the
Workspace
Switching
button.
Workspace
Switching
button
B A