Mastering Autodesk Architectural Desktop

First Edition
Paul F. Aubin

Discover the "whys" and "hows" of creating a complete set of professional-quality construction documents using features and functions contained in Autodesk Architectural Desktop (ADT)!

Written by a professional Autodesk Training Center (ATC) manager and successful national ADT applications engineer, Mastering Autodesk Architectural Desktop 3 focuses squarely on the rationale and practicality of the ADT process.

Unlike other books that confront novices with a never-ending stream of seemingly discrete and unrelated commands, this book propels its readers to new skills using detailed examples and exercises that showcase the "why" as well as the "how" of using Autodesk Architectural Desktop to complete residential and commercial building design projects.

The book begins by acquainting readers with the user interface and familiarizing them with the conceptual underpinnings of Autodesk Architectural Desktop software operations. Subsequent chapters enable readers to delve directly into the process of using their software to set up residential and commercial building projects, produce sections and elevations, generate schedules, design layouts, work with details, plot construction documents, and more!

As a result, readers gain a first-hand understanding of the value of Autodesk Architectural Desktop as a professional design tool as well as practical knowledge of what can be and what ought to be modified. Prior experience using AutoCAD is assumed. However, no prior experience with Autodesk Architectural Desktop is required making this book perfect for today's professional architects, interior designers, facilities planners, and students.

Benefits:

• Project-driven tutorials include explanations as to why steps are best performed in specific sequences, minimizing the learning curve and reducing confusion as a result of trial-and-error learning.
• Power User/CAD Manager tips allow readers to benefit from the experience of an author who understands the requirements of managing CAD in today's successful architectural production environments.
• "What's New in Release 3" is outlined in the first chapter for the benefit of readers with prior experience using earlier versions Autodesk Architectural Desktop.
• The accompanying CD-ROM contains files for use when following along with the text and working through exercises contained in the book.
• The Online Companion™ provides instant, online access for readers to the Autodesk Press Web site for information on job resources, professional organizations, software updates, and more.

Contents:

Section I
Introduction and Methodology
Chapter 1 Preface and Introduction
Chapter 2 General Overview and User Interface
Chapter 3 Major Architectural Desktop Concepts
Chapter 4 Template Files

Section II
The Building Model
Chapter 5 Creating the Building Model
Chapter 6 Beginning a Floor Plan
Chapter 7 Vertical Circulation
Chapter 8 Structural Members
Chapter 9 Building Skin
Chapter 10 Roofs, Slabs and Ceilings and Slabs

Section III
Construction Documents
Chapter 11 Generating Annotation
Chapter 12 Generating Sections and Elevations
Chapter 13 Working with Details
Chapter 14 Generating Schedules

Section IV
Generating output
Chapter 15 Layouts
Chapter 16 Plot Style tables
Chapter 17 Plotting Construction Documents
Chapter 18 What’s Next?

Appendix

544 pages - 7-3/8 x 9-1/4 - with CD-ROM