AutoCAD LT 2000i Upgrade (5-user)

AutoCAD DesignCenter is one feature that provides a more intuitive and efficient interface. With AutoCAD DesignCenter, you still can view and copy data from any drawing easily, but now you can list drawing content--blocks, layer definitions, layouts, and cross-references--from sources as varied as local machines, network drives, and even Internet/intranet sites. Then, simply drag any of these components from one drawing file into another open file. Additional automation is provided for blocks: if both block and destination drawings have units assigned, the block automatically scales to match the drawing units. This makes it easy to extract and reuse previously completed work. Also, you will find improved file navigation and drawing previews that increase ease of use.

In the area of drawing productivity improvements, your design experience is improved in AutoCAD LT 2000i with plotting enhancements, streamlined drawing tools like Quick Select, multiple polyline editing, combined Trim and Extend commands, and more. Polar Tracking is the new name for an improved PolarSnap feature. It provides faster object creation and placement, more efficient point entry, and better control over your drafting environment. The new Array dialog takes the guesswork out of the old AutoCAD LT Array command by providing an easy-to-use interface that lets you preview and modify array options before you commit the array. The Multiple Design Environment (MDE) increases performance, productivity, and ease of use. With MDE, you can open multiple drawing files in one AutoCAD LT session and multitask between them, so that you reuse your own drawing data and that of others easily. The Properties window revolutionizes the way in which you view and edit an object's properties. It combines the functionality that's found in such commands as ddmodify and ddchprop, and adds many other object-specific editing commands. Layer States helps you save a snapshot of current layer properties by name in the Layer Manager. Then, restore, export, and import them for easier drawing, editing, and plotting. Plotting in AutoCAD LT 2000i is streamlined, and offers greater ease of use, power, and flexibility, whether you're generating paper plots or DWF files for electronic plotting. The traditional ADI plotter drivers have been replaced with new Heidi Device Interface (HDI) plotter drivers.

As for compatibility and design sharing, here are highlights for this release. AutoCAD LT 2000i can import files from all previous versions of AutoCAD LT and AutoCAD, and can export drawings in the AutoCAD LT 98 drawing format. AutoCAD LT 2000i can read--with the ObjectDBX technology in the free AEC Object Enabler utility--the enhanced intelligent objects in DWG files that have been created in AutoCAD Land Development Desktop and AutoCAD Architectural Desktop software. AutoCAD LT 2000i also can read DWG files that have been created with AutoCAD Map, AutoCAD Mechanical, and Mechanical Desktop software. Enhance design collaboration and team productivity by moving discussions and meetings online with Meet Now. And the Edit Hyperlink dialog box, Web toolbar, and ePlot (electronic plotting) are all tools that help turn the Internet into a medium for sharing designs.

Active Assistance is one of the improved help and learning tools. It automatically displays brief, pertinent, and nonintrusive help for current commands and dialogs while you're executing a command. Natural LanguageQuery Engine from AnswerWorks lets you enter your question in simpleEnglish--no need to know the exact command name--and then displays appropriate answers.