AutoCAD LT and AutoCAD for Macintosh

Autodesk AutoCAD is primarily made for the Windows operating system, but it has a Macintosh (Mac) version as well. The Mac version has a different user interface and is somewhat limited in features compared to AutoCAD for Windows.

So, if you are a Mac user, you will find the user interface a little different but still, it's the same software and functionally, the commands will work the same. The major differences between the Mac version and the Windows version of AutoCAD are the following:

• Mac has a classical AutoCAD-type user interface whereas the Windows interface is modern and ribbon-based.
• Some tools will work on the command bar instead of the palette in the Mac version.
• Many Windows AutoCAD tools are either reworked or completely missing in the Mac version.

So, in a nutshell, it is recommended to use the Windows version of AutoCAD and this book has also been written for the Windows version of AutoCAD, so Mac users may find it difficult to follow along due to the previously listed differences. However, it is still workable and, with a little bit of trial and error, you will be able to use this book with the Mac version of AutoCAD, too.

Another type of AutoCAD that is currently available is AutoCAD LT and it is a sort of lighter version of AutoCAD. The LT version, though cheaper, does not support most of the 3D tools and LISP.net customizations. Despite these missing features, AutoCAD LT still supports AutoCAD files and you can seamlessly transfer files between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.

This book is fully compatible with AutoCAD LT for Windows and you can use this book if you are an AutoCAD LT user. You will, however, find the AutoCAD-only tools missing.

Now that we have looked at the differences between AutoCAD for Windows and Mac and AutoCAD LT, let's explore the user interface of the program.