User Interface

Display AutoCAD as in Previous Releases

AutoCAD 2009 introduces a new look and many new user interfaces that change the way you access commands. To display AutoCAD 2009 as it was in previous releases, do one of the following:

• Click the Menu Browser button Click Tools Workspaces AutoCAD Classic.
• On the status bar, click Workspace Switching AutoCAD Classic.

Use Workspaces to Switch AutoCAD Interfaces

Workspaces are sets of menus, toolbars, palettes, and ribbon panels that are grouped and organized to create a task-oriented drawing environment. In addition to AutoCAD Classic, the following task-based workspaces are available in AutoCAD 2009:

2D Drafting & Annotation

Displays tools specific to 2D drafting. Displays the new interfaces, including the ribbon and menu browser.

3D Modeling

Displays tools specific to 3D modeling. Displays the new interfaces, including the ribbon, menu browser, and Tool Palettes window.

To switch between available workspaces, do one of the following:

• Click the Menu Browser button Click Tools Click Workspaces and select the desired workspace.
• On the status bar, click Workspace Switching and select the desired workspace.
• On the Workspaces toolbar, in the Workspaces drop-down list, select the desired workspace.

Migrate CUI Files from a Previous Release to AutoCAD 2009

When loaded as the main CUI file, a CUI file created in a previous release of AutoCAD does not contain the necessary content to utilize new AutoCAD 2009 user interface elements. To add new user interface elements to an existing CUI file, do one of the following:

• Use the Transfer tab in the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor to transfer user interface elements from your CUI file from a previous release of AutoCAD to a new CUI file that comes with AutoCAD 2009. The new CUI file will allow you to use new user interface elements of AutoCAD 2009 while allowing you to use existing customization.
• Use the Migrate Custom Settings dialog box to convert your CUI file from a previous release to a new version that will be compatible with AutoCAD 2009. To migrate CUI files and user profiles from the previous release, do the following:
  1. Click Start menu (Windows) Programs Autodesk AutoCAD 2009 Migrate Custom Settings Migrate From a Previous Release.
  2. In the Migrate Custom Settings dialog box, in the Migrate Settings drop-down list, select the release that you are migrating from. Click OK.