New AutoCAD 2007 for Dummies Books

I just got my copy of the AutoCAD 2007 for Dummies book that covers AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007, so which indicates that the book is coming to a store near you (or website if you like shopping online).  The AutoCAD 2007 for Dummies book is about 400 pages of easy reading on AutoCAD, which itself is not by the far stretch of the imagination a lightweight topic.  I was the technical editor once again on this project and enjoyed reading it from cover to cover.  There are not many technical books that I read from cover to cover, but this is one of them and I do think it is worth picking up a copy of the book.

Well of course you could always wait for the AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies to come out in the next few months.  The All-in-One book covers both AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007, and is about 800 pages of pure AutoCAD bliss in the Dummies format.  The latest edition of the AutoCAD Bible by Ellen Finkelstein is also coming out soon as well.  All of these books are published by Wiley Publishing, Inc.

Update (8/16/06): Both the AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies and the AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007 Bible are both now available for purchase.

Sincerely,
  Lee

Comments

[Mike Walsh]

When is that "how to" book of samples of tested nifty Dot Net code snippets that works with AutoCad coming out that I have been patiently waiting for about 3 years now? Now that both AutoCad 2006 & 2007 has most of its database exposed as managed code it seems that the time should be getting nearer. AutoCad 2007 has what seems a net object that allows for saved views with layer memory. You'd think someone would be brave enough to at least try it. The saved view could be linked with database records within a relational database for facility management etc. it seems.

[Lee]

Timing is everything in this world, as far as when one will appear it really is any ones guess and whether the CAD community is ready for it. Customizing and Programming for AutoCAD is a nitch market these days, more so than let’s say about 10 years ago. There are more users of AutoCAD than know how to use the program than know how to customize it these days, and that is due to the number of add-ons and verticals at higher than there were in the past.

The other side to this type of project is, since it is such a small group of individuals that one is writing for, the dollars and justification are often not there. I know I have plans for one, but wasn't willing to take the effort until the API had matured more and with AutoCAD 2007 that has happened. .NET has been in AutoCAD since 2005, but in a limited fashion. It comes down to market demand for such a project because it is no small undertaking, many users still are trying to learn VBA and AutoLISP because they are at times much easier to learn than .NET or C++ for that matter.