The CAD Interface
[COM, TL, CF,
CA]
Re. AutoCAD 2000 LT
AutoCad 2000 LT is a slightly scaled down version of the Industry Standard AutoCad (full release). The major difference between the two products is that the full release of AutoCad also supports drawing in 3D.
The CAD User Interface
Virtually all modern CAD applications use a Graphic User Interface (GUI) to communicate with software users. A graphic user interface makes use of pictures, icons, pull-down or pop-up menus that allow the user to select from a predefined list of command choices. The combination of icons and menus gives users a complete picture of the items that can be used and the functions that can be performed. A graphic user interface normally makes use of a mouse. The mouse allows the user to point at and choose the items or commands that he or she would like to use. A user interface that combines icons, menus, and a mouse is easy to learn and natural to use.
In addition, many CAD applications also make use of a Command-Line Interface. A command-line user interface requires a user to type in a specific command that then must be interpreted and acted on by the application. In AutoCAD 2000 LT, virtually all the commands accessible from the GUI can also be accessed by typing specific commands on the command-line. Some specialty commands available in AutoCAD are accessible only from the command-line. In addition, AutoCAD also makes use of special function keys.