Also, in previous versions, command options were often buried in secondary dialog boxes or flyouts. In past releases, draw tools were on the Draw toolbar and Draw pull-down menu editing tools were on one of several Modify toolbars or within the Edit menu and view control tools were spread out across several other toolbars and pull-down menus. For example, commands for creating, modifying, and adjusting the display of objects now appear in the Home panel.
The new ribbon interface is certainly the first thing people notice, and one’s first reaction might be, “where did my commands go?” The ribbon interface replaces AutoCAD’s familiar pull-down menus and toolbars with a series of tabbed panels organized by tasks, rather than by function as in the past. But first impressions can sometimes be deceiving and so I’m happy to report that there is more in AutoCAD 2009’s new functionality than meets the eye. Topping that list is a new user interface based on a ribbon bar similar to the one found - and disliked by many - in Microsoft Office 2007, and the list itself appeared shorter than in the past. This time around, however, the list of new functions initially seemed pale in comparison. And last year, annotation scaling led the list of new features, solving a problem that plagued users for 25 years. In AutoCAD 2007, the company added new tools for 3D modeling and conceptual design.
In 2006, the main focus was on 2D drafting, with the biggest addition being dynamic blocks. AutoCAD LT 2009 offers the same new user interface as AutoCAD 2009, providing many 2D drafting functions at a fraction of the cost of AutoCAD.įor each of the past five annual releases, Autodesk has managed to surprise its customers with a wealth of new features that have made each successive release of AutoCAD more powerful and easier to use.