New Features Overview: AutoCAD 2013

Let’s take a quick look at some highlights of the new features in this release.
From the new Welcome Screen, you can directly create a new drawing or open recent drawings.
And you can access online resources like the updated Autodesk Exchange Apps store, where
you will find a wide and growing range of add-on applications, including free ones!
This release is tightly integrated with Autodesk 360, your Autodesk connection to the cloud.
Cloud Storage enables you to store and share your design data online in your Autodesk 360
account. The Automatic Cloud Storage setting controls whether a copy of your drawings is
automatically saved to the cloud by default. But you can change that for each drawing individually.
Autodesk 360 also enables you to sync your custom settings. If you need to work on multiple
computers, for example, you can save your settings to the cloud from one computer and
then sync to the cloud from the second computer to quickly set up your work environment the
way you like it. Autodesk 360 Rendering lets you render in
the cloud while you continue to work in your drawing.
One of the major features in this release is the added functionality for creating 2D
Model Documentation from your 3D AutoCAD or Inventor models.
If I start out in model space, the Base View tool now allows me to select the parts of
my model I want to use. I type in a name for my layout, place my base view.
And now I can create specific Section Views. I’ll start with an offset section. After
I select the parent view, I’ll draw the offset section line through my model and place
my view. I can create other section views in the same
way. I can also create Detail Views.
I’ll create a circular detail view of this corner and choose the Smooth edge style With
a Connector line. The appearance of the sections and details
themselves are controlled by styles, which you can modify.
The new Annotation Monitor keeps track of associative dimensions and highlights any
that become invalid or dissociated, making it easier to find and fix them.
There are also additional features for creating arrays. For example, for path arrays, there’s
a new Measure option that automatically adds additional objects to fill the array when
you lengthen the path. We’ve also enhanced point cloud support
with the new Point Cloud Edit ribbon that includes a Clipping Boundary tool, making
it easier to work with a smaller area of the point cloud.
You’ll also notice some enhancements to the command line. For example, options for
commands are now clickable. And, for the floating command line, you can easily change the number
of history lines to display to use a smaller area of the screen, and still quickly access
a full history fly-out by pressing F2. Explore the online Help and other resources
to learn more about the new features in this release!