AutoCAD Ten-Year Skills Evolution

I have used and taught AutoCAD since 1986, during which time I have seen and implemented many features that are new in every release. Take a look at the image below, which shows what the AutoCAD interface looked like when I started.

As an Application Specialist and AutoCAD trainer at Symetri, I can say I am confident to develop and help at any level of understanding in AutoCAD. At Symetri, we have AutoCAD Essentials, AutoCAD Beyond the Basics, AutoCAD Advanced and AutoCAD 3D, as well as private bespoke courses.

I review the latest features and advancements introduced in new releases annually, occasionally producing concise videos or blog posts to highlight the top new features. Take a look at What's New in AutoCAD 2025. Certain features exhibit subtlety, while others unveil their practicality over subsequent releases. Consequently, an individual release may not significantly impact the productivity of a proficient AutoCAD user amidst their demanding workflow.

Gathering feedback from recent learners has revealed that certain features tend to be overlooked. During a recent Essentials training course, learners displayed a spectrum of abilities, spanning from complete novices to existing users seeking a refresher due to their lack of familiarity with AutoCAD's updates.

A few of the common observation comments from the refresh users include:

• “When did that feature come in?”
• “We don’t do that in the office, but it makes sense what you’re saying”.
• “That workflow is different”.
• “I just do what I’ve always done to get the drawing out on time”
• “Why did they stop using the classic menus and start using the ribbon?”

The discontinuation of the classic menu structure in 2015 marks a significant milestone in the evolution of AutoCAD, from my perspective. Do you remember this interface pictured below?

We have taken a comprehensive look at all the new features introduced since then, and collectively, they represent a significant evolution. For that reason, we have developed a one-day training course specifically tailored for users seeking a refresher, focusing on features and methodologies introduced since the removal of the classic menu structure.

1. Interface and Ribbon Enhancements and Why The Changes
   • New Ribbon galleries
   • New Tabs pages
   • Revision clouds
   • Floating drawing windows
   • Blocks pallet
   • Layer filters
   • Hardware changes – Monitor and GPU capacity
     
     
2. Repetitive Tasks and How we Set Them Up
   • Dynamic blocks
   • Block libraries
   • Block count
   • Block purge
   • Review new snaps features
     
     
3. Collaboration and Communication with Ongoing Design Changes
   • Revision cloud enhancements
   • Markup and traces
   • Web application.
   • PDF Enhancements
   • Coordination models
     
     
4. Good Design Standards Tracking Change
   • DWG Compare moving to Activity Insights
   • Hatch and boundary workflows
   • Annotative or Paper Space in text and dimensions.

There will be two sessions before lunch and two after, with the final session slightly shortened to accommodate a team brainstorming session among fellow AutoCAD users. This will allow us to explore how we can utilise the features introduced over the past decade.

Upon completion of the course, learners will possess a thorough understanding of how the new features can be integrated into their CAD workflows. It is important to note that this is a day focused on collective learning rather than a demonstration of new features.

If you have ever wondered, “Why did they discontinue the classic menus?”, then this course is for you.

Author

Geoff Alder

Geoff Alder has been training Autodesk applications for 25 years. He came into training from practical experience in the building industry. He has designed and carried out technical training all over the world. Geoff is a particularly dedicated trainer on 3D applications and has won awards from Autodesk for training on 3ds max.