iii INTRODUCTION AutoCAD and Its Applications—Advanced provides complete instruction in mastering three-dimensional design and modeling using AutoCAD. Topics are covered in an easy-to-understand sequence and progress in a way that allows you to become comfortable with the commands as your knowledge builds from one chapter to the next. In addition, AutoCAD and Its Applications—Advanced offers: • Examples and discussions of industrial practices and standards. • Professional tips explaining how to effectively and effi ciently use AutoCAD. • Exercises to reinforce the chapter topics. These exercises should be completed where indicated in the text as they build on previously learned material. • Review questions at the end of each chapter for testing knowledge of commands and key AutoCAD concepts. • A large selection of drawing problems supplements each chapter. Problems are presented as 3D illustrations, actual plotted drawings, and engineering sketches. This text focuses on advanced AutoCAD applications. Basic AutoCAD applica- tions are covered in AutoCAD and Its Applications—Basics, which can be ordered directly from Goodheart-Willcox Publisher. AutoCAD and Its Applications texts are also available for previous releases of AutoCAD. Fonts Used in This Text Fonts Used in This Text Different typefaces are used throughout each chapter to defi ne terms and iden- tify AutoCAD commands. Important terms appear in bold-italic face, serif type. AutoCAD menus, commands, system variables, dialog box names, and toolbar button names are printed in bold-face, sans serif type. File names, folder names, and paths appear in the body of the text in Roman, sans serif type. Keyboard keys are shown inside of square brackets [ ] and appear in Roman, sans serif type. For example, [Enter] means to press the enter (return) key. Introducing AutoCAD Commands Introducing AutoCAD Commands There are several ways to select AutoCAD drawing and editing commands. Selecting commands from the ribbon is slightly different from entering them at the keyboard. When a command is introduced, the command-entry methods are illus- trated in the margin next to the text reference.