What is AutoCAD? AutoCAD is Malaysia’s defacto standard in CAD (Computer Aided Design). It is widely used by Architects, Engineers, Designers, Drafters, Surveyors in the industry. Most government agencies require submission of CAD files in AutoCAD dwg file format.
First launched in 1982 as a desktop app that operates on a micro computer as opposed to most that ran only on mainframe or mini computers. Do you remember MS-DOS?
Find out why AutoCAD is the Best CAD Software here.
AutoCAD for Windows
What is AutoCAD in 1992 – AutoCAD Release 12 was launched and it was the first version that supported windows operating system. Reasons why AutoCAD became accepted and widely used worldwide was the ability to customize it to fit the individual or company standard for drafting. There was even a book catalog of add on third party programs you could buy to add on to AutoCAD.
Every AutoCAD purchased came in a box (weighed over 5 lbs) with manuals, disks, dongle, third party developer catalog and a Template to place on the digitizer. The template is place on the digitizer and calibrated into menu and screen sections to pick commands or symbols. The digitizer was a common equipment used back then instead of the mouse.
Eventually Autodesk the owner and developer of AutoCAD started improving its functionality and ease of use, and started acquiring the top third party apps and made it part of AutoCAD or as another paid program to complement AutoCAD. This killed off most third party developers.
What is AutoCAD today
Today, there is AutoCAD LT 2022 which is a two dimensional drafting tool that sells 2 to 1 compared to the Full version of AutoCAD which has three dimensional capabilities called AutoCAD 2022 with Industry toolset.
AutoCAD 2022 with Industry Toolsets is a collection of SEVEN different programs that were customized for specific industry and sold separately before. Today, for the price of one, you get all of them. These are:
- AutoCAD Architecture
- AutoCAD Mechanical
- AutoCAD Plant 3D
- AutoCAD Electrical
- AutoCAD Map 3D
- AutoCAD MEP
- AutoCAD Raster Design