Minimo, Denzel Alverson H.
19 Jan
2021
NEC 1204 – 1A
Brief history of AutoCAD
1977 to 1979 – AutoCAD was derived from a program called Interact CAD, also referred as MicroCAD,
which was written prior to Autodesk’s formation by cofounder Michael Riddle.
December 1982 – first version of AutoCAD was released by the company Autodesk by its founders
John Walker and Dan Drake, making it the first computer-aided drafting (CAD) system developed for
computers. Also, AutoCAD was demonstrated at Comdex on the same year. It is the same year that the
DWG file format was introduced (DWG R1)
April 1987 – AutoCAD 2.6 was the last version to run without a math co-processor.
October 1990 – AutoCAD 11 is the first version to incorporate basic three-dimensional (3D) solid
modeling via the Advanced Modeling Extension (AME).
1992 – AutoCAD 12 was the first version of the software to support the Windows platform. Also, it is
the last version to release for Macintosh until 2010.
November 1993 – Autodesk developed AutoCAD’s variant AutoCAD LT and released in the same
year, which was priced at $495, in order to have an entry-level CAD package to compete in the lower
price level.
March 1999 – AutoCAD 2000 was the first version that has Multi-Document Interface. (supports DWG
2000)
24 March 2009 – AutoCAD 2010 was released, which added Parametrics, Mesh 3D modeling and PDF
underlays. (DWG 2010 file format)
25 March 2010 – AutoCAD 2011 was released, which added surface modeling, surface analysis and
object transparency. First release to Mac after Autodesk announced that it will support Apple’s Mac OS
X again in the future.
2010 to 2011 – AutoCAD mobile was released in smartphones; iOS and Android respectively. Autodesk
has plans to migrate majority of its software to the cloud.
22 March 2011 – AutoCAD 2012 added Associative Array, Model Documentation and DGN editing.
2012 to 2014 – AutoCAD 2013, 2014 and 2015 were released. AutoCAD 2013 introduced DWG 2013 file
format. AutoCAD 2014 added file tabs, reality capture, live maps, and design feed. AutoCAD 2015
introduced line-smoothing.
23 March 2015 – AutoCAD v20.1 was released. It added more comprehensive canvas, richer design
context, and new tools (e.g. smart dimensioning, coordination model, enhanced PDFs, etc.)
2016 – AutoCAD v21.0 added PDF import, associative center marks and centerlines, and DirectX 11
graphics.
2017 to present – AutoCAD v22.0 introduced DWG 2018 file format. AutoCAD v23.0 added specialized
toolsets with One AutoCAD, shared views, DWG Compare, Save to AutoCAD Web and Mobile.
AutoCAD 2021 (ver. 24.0) is the latest stable release.
AutoCAD 2018 (version 22.0) working environment
Comparison between AutoCAD v22.0, v23.0 and v23.1
AutoCAD 2018 v22.0 AutoCAD 2019 v23.0 AutoCAD 2020 v23.1
Can create and share Added Specialized toolsets Integrated to Microsoft
precise drawings with (electrical, architecture, OneDrive and Box.com
innovative productivity MEP, etc.) with One New dark theme is
tools AutoCAD designed to work with
See significant Added Shared Views sharper icons.
improvements in Added DWG Compare Quickly display
AutoCAD’s performance Can save to AutoCAD Web measurements at a glance.
including 3D navigation and Mobile Insert blocks efficiently
Can begin a selection with Block Palette
window in one part of your Added Purge feature to
drawing and then pan and easily clean drawings
zoom to another part ehile Can compare drawing
maintaining selection of off- revisions
screen objects.
