Autodesk has announced the AutoCAD 2009 family of software including AutoCAD 2009, one of the leading applications for conceptual design, drafting and detailing. The latest release’s significant enhancements to the user interface help customers of all levels work more productively toward competitive design ideas and compelling presentations.
According to Autodesk, AutoCAD 2009 includes the first task-based user interface in a computer-aided design (CAD) application, allowing new and veteran AutoCAD customers to enjoy greater efficiency. The new version also delivers automation tools that do not require programming knowledge, as well as new 3D navigational tools. In addition, AutoCAD 2009 subscription customers will receive Autodesk Impression illustration software for the creation of presentation-ready graphics.
Amar Hanspal, senior vice president, Platform Solutions and Emerging Businesses, comments: “The AutoCAD 2009 portfolio is designed to improve the productivity of veteran users and allow new users to become productive more quickly. Autodesk has a long history of helping our customers make a difference in people’s lives, with better design in the buildings where we live, work and play, the roads we travel and the products we use. The innovations in AutoCAD 2009 extend to a product portfolio unmatched for breadth, depth and best-in-class solutions that help our customers improve and bring to life their design ideas.”
New features
Updates to the AutoCAD 2009 software portfolio support individual users’ needs and preferences, making routine CAD tasks faster and less-common commands easier to find. A new ribbon interface in AutoCAD 2009 software affords the ability to view operations that are relevant to the current workspace in a single, compact place. Highly customisable and extensible, the new interface allows a smooth transition from previous versions of AutoCAD software, and a 'classic workspace' option offers a traditional toolbar and menu interface. Other helpful tools include enhanced tooltips, which provide more information about commands, links to help documentation, and Show Me animations to improve learning inside the application. The Menu Browser, Quick Properties and Quick View display relevant information quickly and visually.
In addition to user interface enhancements, new productivity features include the Action Recorder, which further streamlines drafting tasks by allowing the user to automate them without any software programming. A mode-less layer manager lets users view changes to layer settings without exiting the Layer Manager. AutoCAD 2009 users also will find extensive 3D navigation improvements with new ViewCube and SteeringWheels tools. AutoCAD 2009 software is certified for the 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Windows Vista operating systems, helping assure that the product meets Microsoft Windows Vista standards for compatibility, reliability and security.
Autodesk Impression software also is included with AutoCAD 2009 subscription purchases, enabling customers to quickly and easily create presentation-ready graphics with a hand-drawn look directly from AutoCAD DWF and DWG files. With the addition of Impression functionality to the AutoCAD feature set, AutoCAD subscription customers can create compelling artistic images for sharing with clients and members of their extended design teams.
The AutoCAD 2009 family
The AutoCAD software portfolio includes discipline-specific applications built on AutoCAD technology. For more information about any of these, go to www.autodesk.com/autocad.
AutoCAD Mechanical 2009 is designed to accelerate the mechanical design process with standards-based symbol libraries, engineering calculators and a mechanical-specific workflow created to significantly improve productivity for AutoCAD users in manufacturing.
AutoCAD Electrical 2009 is purpose-built to design electrical controls systems quickly and accurately with automated tasks, comprehensive symbol libraries, and an electrical-specific workflow designed to dramatically increase the productivity of controls engineers.
AutoCAD P&ID 2009 lets users create, modify and manage piping and instrumentation diagrams; user interface enhancements help automate even more common tasks and streamline access to information so that projects start easier, run better and finish sooner.
AutoCAD MEP 2009, the AutoCAD software for mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) businesses, features intuitive system drawing and design tools and built-in design calculators for more efficient and accurate designs.
AutoCAD Raster Design 2009 used with AutoCAD 2009 software applications provides raster-to-vector conversion, raster editing and raster data preparation capabilities that extend the value of scanned drawings, maps, satellite imagery and more.
AutoCAD Architecture 2009 features intuitive architectural drawing and design tools within a familiar AutoCAD workflow, offering users the flexibility to learn new tools at their own pace and increase their productivity
AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 software offers better surveying, design, analysis and construction documentation for civil engineering, within a familiar workflow for experienced AutoCAD users.
AutoCAD Map 3D 2009 bridges CAD and geospatial information systems (GIS) information by providing direct access to data and enables the use of AutoCAD 2009 software tools for maintaining a broad range of design and geospatial information.
AutoCAD LT 2009, the 2D drafting package, also benefits form some of the innovative features in AutoCAD 2009. AutoCAD LT 2009 features that make drafting tasks more productive include user interface enhancements, improved dynamic blocks, streamlined annotation features and better data exchange and publishing capabilities.
Users of any of the AutoCAD 2009 family of products will also benefit from the availability of free Autodesk Design Review 2009 software, which allows team members to participate in the digital review process with tools to view, mark up and revise designs electronically.
For more information about AutoCAD 2009, go to www.autodesk.com/autocad.
