AutoCAD Training Guide

Welcome to the AutoCAD Training Guide—a dedicated resource to help you troubleshoot common issues and get the most out of your AutoCAD courses. This page offers solutions to frequently asked questions, step-by-step video instructions, and helpful tips to make your learning experience smoother and more efficient. If you're still having trouble after trying these steps or can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to reach out to your instructor or learn@vdci.edu for additional support.

  1. Missing Color Table File

The correct color table file can be found in your course File Downloads folder. Below are the steps to add it into AutoCAD, but if you are still having issues, feel free to just use the monochrome.mtb plot style, which can be selected from the dropdown.

  1. In AutoCAD, type “options” into the command line and hit enter.

  2. Navigate to the Plot and Publish tab and click the “Add or configure plotters button.”

  3. This will open a folder on your computer. Within that folder, navigate to the “Plot Styles” subfolder.

  4. Now either Move or Copy and Paste the “VDCI-Color-Table-File.ctb” into the Plot Style folder.

  5. Return to AutoCAD and save your work, then restart AutoCAD.

  6. When you are ready to plot your file, be sure to choose the correct color table file, “VDCI-Color-Table-File.ctb” from the dropdown as shown in the videos.

If this does not solve the issue, please message your instructor.



2. VDCI Logo Not Appearing

If the VDCI Logo is not appearing in your Title block as shown in your course, please try the following:

Learn AutoCAD

  • Nationally accredited
  • Create your own portfolio
  • Free student software
  • Learn at your convenience
  • Authorized Autodesk training center

Learn More
  1. Ensure you have inserted the VDCI-TTLB.dwg title block into the drawing

  2. In order to update the file path for the Titleblock image, you will need to be in the file where the Titleblock is inserted or attached.Select the XREF. If the contextual EXTERNAL REFERENCE tab opens on the Ribbon, choose Open Reference. Repeat as many times as necessary to get to the XREF where the Image was originally attached. In CAD 101 this will be the FLOORPLAN drawing, in later CAD courses this will be the Sheet File.

  3. Type “XR” into the command line and hit enter. This will open the External References dialogue.

  4. Under Reference Name, locate the file VDCI-TTLB|VDCI-ACAD-TTLB-LOGO and right-click and click Select New Path.

  5. Browse to locate the .jpg file on your computer, it will be wherever you unzipped your File Downloads, and click Open.

  6. The reference will be updated in the drawing. Save all XREFs to have them update in the Sheet Files.

  7. Save your .dwg, close it, and re-open it to reflect the changes. If this does not solve your issue, please let your instructor know.

3. Missing DWGs When Attaching:

If you are using Windows 11, you may encounter an issue when trying to attach a DWG file. The solution is rather simple, but it is easy to get stuck on.

  1. By Default, the File Type is set to “All Image Files” this means only image files such as JPG, .PNG, etc. will appear.

  2. To see all files, click the File Type dropdown and select “All Files.” You should now see your DWGs, or other files you may want to attach.

  3. Once you do, click the desired DWG and then Open.

  4. It will now be ready to add to AutoCAD

File Type Change

4. What is annotation and dimensioning in AutoCAD, and how do I apply them to my drawings and models?

Annotation and dimensioning in AutoCAD involve adding text, labels, and dimensions to drawings and models, and using annotation and dimensioning tools to control their placement and appearance. You can also create custom dimension styles and apply them to multiple objects.

5. What is a Classic Insert in AutoCAD?

  1. Make sure your current layer is layer zero. To do this, click on the home tab > layer panel > layer drop down, and make sure it is set to zero.

  2. Once that’s done, the easiest way to access the classic insert function is to type it in to the command prompt. This can be done by the following: ‘CLASSICINSERT’ and hit enter.

  3. This will bring up the classic insert dialog box. First thing to do here is to locate the file you are inserting into your current drawing. (Click browse, and select your file. Once selected, click open.)

  4. Then you will specify where you would like to insert this block. To insert it with your mouse point on screen, ensure the ‘Specify on-screen’ is checked.

  5. Next is the scale. In CAD 101, the scale of the drawings when plotted is ¼ in. = 1 ft. Therefore, the scale will be a factor of 48. You can enter this into each scale box or use the shortcut of entering 48 into the X scale box and clicking the ‘Uniform Scale’ checkbox at the bottom to make it automatically fill in each scale box to 48.

  6. Nothing should be changed in the ‘Rotation’ section. Double Check that the Explode checkbox in the bottom left is not checked and click ‘OK’ to continue. 

  7. Now, you should have your block ready to place with your mouse by hovering to where you want and clicking to place.

  8. Once you place it, an attributes box will pop up where you can fill it out. In this example, The door symbol is entered as ‘A.’

6. What Are the System Requirements for AutoCAD?

AutoCAD’s system requirements may be less than Revit’s, but it is still important to meet or come close to meeting them to ensure optimal performance, especially when working on complex drafting and design projects. Below you can see the requirements. Please keep in mind as new versions of AutoCAD are released, these requirements may change, and it’s essential to stay updated to maintain efficiency in your CAD workflows. For the most up-to-date system requirements and to ensure your setup is compatible with the latest features and toolsets in AutoCAD, visit Autodesk’s website. Staying informed about these requirements is crucial for professionals in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) who rely on AutoCAD for precision drafting and detailed design work. Meeting or exceeding these requirements will enhance your experience, whether you’re utilizing AutoCAD’s specialized toolsets or engaging in advanced 3D modeling tasks.

System Requirements for AutoCAD

Operating System
64-bit Microsoft® Windows® 11 and Windows 10 version 1809 or above. See Autodesk’s Product Support Lifecycle for support information.

Processor
Basic: 2.5-2.9 GHz processor with 8 logical cores (base) ARM Processors are not supported.
Recommended: 3+ GHz processor (base), 4+ GHz (turbo)

Memory
Basic: 8 GB
Recommended: 32 GB

Display Resolution
Conventional Displays: 1920 x 1080 with True Color
High Resolution & 4K Displays: Resolutions up to 3840 x 2160 (with “Recommended” display card)

Display Card
Basic: 2 GB GPU with 29 GB/s Bandwidth and DirectX 11 compliant
Recommended: 8 GB GPU with 106 GB/s Bandwidth and DirectX 12 compliant

DirectX 12 with Feature Level 12_0 is required for Shaded (Fast), Shaded with edges (Fast), and Wireframe (Fast) visual styles. Please be sure to use the latest drivers from the video card manufacturer’s website.

Note: AutoCAD uses your computer’s display card for a variety of essential graphics operations including but not limited to view manipulation, line smoothing, and text/linetype generation. It is recommended that you have a display card with dedicated VRAM to support these operations at optimal speeds.

Disk Space
10.0 GB (suggested SSD)

photo of VDCI Editorial Team

VDCI Editorial Team

The VDCI Editorial Team is a collaborative group of professionals from the Virtual Design & Construction Institute, bringing together expertise from Student Services, Academics, and Marketing. Dedicated to providing valuable insights for the AEC community, our team combines industry knowledge with a passion for education to deliver engaging and informative content.

More articles by VDCI Editorial Team

How to Learn AutoCAD

Develop advanced skills in AutoCAD for drafting, design, and 3D modeling.

Yelp Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Twitter Instagram