1. What is AutoCAD 2009?

AutoCAD® 3D CAD development software lets you design, visualize, and document your ideas clearly and efficiently. Autodesk redesigned the user interface of AutoCAD® 2009 software to accelerate tasks, allow commands to be easily found, and help rapidly train new users.

2. What are the main benefits of AutoCAD 2009?

The redesigned interface and the new tools in AutoCAD 2009 will increase your productivity. These new tools will be incorporated into all Autodesk® software products, creating a familiar set of tools so transition from product to product and the overall learning curve will be significantly reduced.

With the ribbon interface, overall drafting productivity is increased as the number of steps to reach a command is decreased. The ribbon interface presents command options in a concise visual format, allowing you to quickly select commands based on the work you’re doing. Moving between applications is now quick and intuitive. The ribbon is both customizable and expandable so that it can be optimized for each user and meet each company’s standards.

The ViewCube™ is an interactive tool used to rotate and orient any solid or surface model in AutoCAD®. Selecting a face, edge, or corner of the cube brings the model quickly to that predefined orientation. Clicking and holding the view cube allows the model to be freely roated in any direction. Since the cube is in a fixed location on the screen, it provides at-a-glance orientation. The ViewCube will be introduced in all Autodesk products as a common tool for working with 3D models.

In addition to allowing quick access to the orbit command, the new SteeringWheel™ tool allows quick access to the pan, center, and zoom commands. The tool is highly customizable so you can add walk-through commands to help create and record a walk-through of your model.

Reviewing and working with several files is no longer a tedious and time-consuming process. The new menu browser interface allows you to browse files and examine thumbnail images and provides detailed information about file size and file creator. Plus, you can organize recently used files by name, date, or title.

The new action recorder saves time and increases productivity by automating repetitive tasks without requiring the skill or assistance of a professional CAD manager. Users can quickly record a task, add text messages and requests for input, then quickly select and play back recorded files.

Read About AutoCAD Product Features

3. Has the AutoCAD 2009 DWG drawing file format changed from the AutoCAD 2005/2006/2007/2008 products?

The AutoCAD 2009 DWG™ file format is the same DWG file format as in AutoCAD 2008. This AutoCAD 2009 DWG format is also the same DWG file format that is used in the latest releases of Autodesk ‘s industry-specific products such as AutoCAD® Architecture, AutoCAD® Map 3D, AutoCAD® Civil 3D® , AutoCAD® Electrical, and AutoCAD® Mechanical software applications. Nonetheless, you can still easily share files between design teams using any previous version of AutoCAD. As in the past, this new AutoCAD version opens DWG™ files from all earlier DWG versions of the software created by any Autodesk product.

4. Does AutoCAD 2009 support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system?

Yes. AutoCAD 2009 supports Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise. In addition, AutoCAD 2009 takes advantage of some new Vista capabilities, specifically Windows Vista thumbnail previews for DWG and DWF files in Windows Explorer, display of AutoCAD properties in the detail tab of Windows Explorer, and ability to use the Windows Vista search tools using text strings found in drawing properties, text, MTEXT, and so forth, in the DWG file.

5. Is AutoCAD 2009 Logo Certified for Microsoft Windows Vista?

AutoCAD 2009 has achieved the “Certified for Windows Vista” logo. This is the highest level of logo certification that Microsoft offers and indicates that AutoCAD 2009 has a higher standard of quality and supports the best of what Windows Vista has to offer.

6. Does AutoCAD 2009 support multiple CPU systems?

Yes, AutoCAD 2009 supports multiple CPU systems. The performance of AutoCAD graphics and rendering systems will benefit from multiple CPU systems.

7. Is there a native AutoCAD 2009 64-bit version available?

Yes, there is a native AutoCAD 2009 64-bit version available. Local language availability varies; please check with your local Autodesk reseller for details.

8. Is AutoCAD 2009 available on a DVD?

Yes, AutoCAD 2009 is available on a DVD. The DVD contains both AutoCAD 2009 64-bit and 32-bit and installs the appropriate product based on whether a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system is installed. AutoCAD 2009 32-bit is also available on CD in all supported languages.

9. Do AutoCAD 2004/2005/2006/2007/2008 third-party applications work with AutoCAD 2009 32-bit?

Third-party add-on applications based on Visual LISP® or AutoLISP®, VBA, ActiveX®, and ObjectARX® programming languages and developer tools for AutoCAD 2007 are compatible with AutoCAD 2009 32-bit. AutoCAD 2009 is binary compatible with 2007/2008 and has the same DWG file format.

Third-party applications for AutoCAD 2004/2005/2006 based on Visual LISP or AutoLISP are also compatible with AutoCAD 2009. Third-party VBA based applications for AutoCAD 2004/2005/2006 are compatible with AutoCAD 2009 32-bit in some cases, but there are instances in which those applications will need to be modified. For more details on AutoCAD 2004/2005/2006 VBA-based application compatibility, visit the AutoCAD Developer Center. Third-party applications for AutoCAD 2004/2005/2006 based on ActiveX and ObjectARX will need to be upgraded to be compatible with AutoCAD 2009. Check with your application developer/supplier regarding availability of applications built for AutoCAD 2009.

You can find additional details on migrating applications to AutoCAD 2009 in the Application Migration Guide that is included in the AutoCAD 2009 ObjectARX SDK. You can find the ObjectARX SDK, and much more information on developing applications and customizing AutoCAD at the AutoCAD Developer Center.

10. Do AutoCAD 2004/2005/2006/third-party applications work with AutoCAD 2009 64-bit?

Third-party add-on applications based on Visual LISP or AutoLISP for AutoCAD 2004/2005/2006/ will work on AutoCAD 2009 64-bit. Autodesk has developed an out-of-process interim solution for customers who want to use VBA on 64-bit AutoCAD. Long-term customers will be required to port the VBA applications to VSTA when using 64-bit AutoCAD. Third-party add-on applications based on VBA for AutoCAD 2007 will run out of process on AutoCAD 2009 64-bit. VBA-based applications for AutoCAD 2004/2006/2005 may run out of process in some instances but may need to be modified in other instances. For more details on AutoCAD 2004/2005/2006 VBA compatibility, please visit the AutoCAD Developer Center.

Third-party applications for AutoCAD 2007 based on ActiveX and ObjectARX will need to be upgraded to work on AutoCAD 2009 64-bit. More information on migrating to AutoCAD 2009 64-bit can be located in the ObjectARX 64-bit Migration Guide included in the AutoCAD 2009 64-bit SDK or visit the AutoCAD Developer Center. Applications for AutoCAD 2004/2005/2006 based on ActiveX and ObjectARX will need to be upgraded to 2007 in addition to being made ready for 64-bit. Check with your application developer/supplier regarding availability of applications built for AutoCAD 2009 64-bit.

11. Can I run AutoCAD 2009 side-by-side with other AutoCAD platform-based applications?

Yes, AutoCAD 2009 can be installed side-by-side with any other AutoCAD or Autodesk vertical solution—including AutoCAD 2009-based products. These products include AutoCAD® Architecture, AutoCAD® Map 3D, AutoCAD® Civil 3D®, AutoCAD® Electrical, AutoCAD® Mechanical, Autodesk® Inventor™ product families, AutoCAD® Revit® Suite products, Revit® Structure, AutoCAD® MEP, Autodesk® 3ds Max®, Autodesk® VIZ, and AutoCAD LT® software applications.

AutoCAD 2009 Questions and Answers

See the full listing of the most commonly asked questions about AutoCAD software.

AutoCAD 2009 FAQ (pdf - 96Kb)