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AutoCAD 2002 is out. Here are some things that you might want to know about it:
- The changes from AutoCAD 2000/2000i are not huge. The highlights from a production drafter's point of view are fully associative (geometry-driven) dimensions, a useful SCALETEXT command, and some enhanced tools for working with block attributes and layers.
- The good news is that AutoCAD 2002 uses the same DWG file format as AutoCAD 2000/2000i and is supposed to work with most AutoCAD 2000/2000i applications (i.e., ARX and Visual LISP applications don't need to be changed or recompiled).
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The bad news is that you cannot install AutoCAD 2002 "alongside" AutoCAD 2000/2000i - the AutoCAD 2002 setup program insists on upgrading any existing AutoCAD 2000/2000i installation that it finds. Autodesk claims that this limitation was necessary in order to ensure compatibility with AutoCAD 2000/2000i applications, but it's still bad news for anyone who wants to run both versions side-by-side - you'll have to do so on separate computers. This limitation does not apply to AutoCAD Release 14; you can install AutoCAD 2002 without affecting your Release 14 installation.
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The AutoCAD 2002 family will include building mechanical and building electrical applications, but alas, no building structural.
- Autodesk says that AutoCAD 2002 will be available 15-June-2001 and AutoCAD 2002-based applications (including AutoCAD LT 2002 and Autodesk Architectural Desktop 3.3) approximately 30 days later.
- Bud Smith and I have updated our AutoCAD For Dummies book. I just received author's copies of the new book, AutoCAD 2002 For Dummies. It should be available in September 2001. This book covers both AutoCAD 2002 and AutoCAD LT 2002.
- Note to AutoCAD Release 14 users: Effective 15-Jan-2002, you will no longer be able to upgrade Release 14, so start thinking about your upgrade plans now.
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