Introducing AutoCAD 2011 - Introduction to AutoCAD 2011: 2D and 3D Design - page 4

Opening AutoCAD 2011

AutoCAD 2011 is designed to work in a Windows operating system. In
general, to open AutoCAD 2011, double-click on the AutoCAD 2011
shortcut in the Windows desktop (Fig. 1.1). Depending on how details in
Profi les/Initial Setup… in the Options dialog (Fig. 1.16, page 13 ), the

Welcome dialog (Fig. 1.2) may appear. This dialog allows videos showing
methods of working AutoCAD 2011, to be selected from a list of icons.

Fig. 1.1 The AutoCAD

2011 shortcut on the
Windows desktop

Fig. 1.2 Page 1 of the Initial Settings dialog

When working in education or in industry, computers may be confi gured
to allow other methods of opening AutoCAD, such as a list appearing on
the computer in use when the computer is switched on, from which the
operator can select the program he/she wishes to use.

When AutoCAD 2011 is opened a window appears, which will depend

upon whether a 3D Basics , a 3D Modeling , a Classic AutoCAD or a 2D
Drafting & Annotation workspace has been set as QNEW in the Options
dialog . In this example the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace is shown

and includes the Ribbon with Tool panels ( Fig. 1.3 ). This 2D Drafting &
Annotation workspace shows the following details:

Ribbon : Which includes tabs, each of which when clicked will bring a
set of panels containing tool icons. Further tool panels can be seen by