Expert: Bill DeShawn - 11/17/2011

Question
What is/are the advantage/s of AutoCAD in terms of its efficiency?

Answer
The advantages that I enjoy are the following:
After learning the basics (commands, system variables, setting up sheets in paper space with model space viewports, layer management in both model and paper space, setting up blocks and images in special folders and adding those folders to the support file search path), I started learning LISP.  Knowing core commands and setup techniques just isn't enough.  An efficient AutoCAD user needs to learn LISP as a basic productivity enhancing tool to create keyboard commands and dialog box applications.  Visual LISP is a good tool included with AutoCAD to facilitate the advanced LISP user.  An intermediate LISP writer like myself is just happy as a lark with Notepad++ (notepadplusplus#.  

Another feature that will help AutoCAD users to to learn how to make partial menus.  A CUI command is available in AutoCAD to create CUI and CUIX menus #depending on the version of AutoCAD#.  AutoCAD 2005 and below uses MNS or MNU #apparently a personal choice) menus which AutoCAD uses to write the MNC menus.

Inexpensive 3rd party programs can be purchased to link drawing information with Excel spreadsheets.  XL2CAD is such a program.  It will, however, not work with AutoCAD LT.

If you are using AutoCAD LT, then, your enhancement techniques are much more limited.  LISP will not work in LT.  But you can still use CUI to modify menus that use Diesel expressions that will help your productivity.  In LT you can use script files and diesel expressions to set up your drawings, and manipulate layers, insert blocks, and assist you to draw objects.  

Full AutoCAD is the drafting program I choose to use, because I have authored so many LISP routines that it would be counter-productive for me to buy the cheaper AutoCAD that doesn't have that capability.

Some people who have AutoCAD LT have also purchased DRCAUTO Toolkit MAX which gives the users LISP executability.  That programs was sold, and nothing was done with it for a few years and my latest understanding of it is that now it is back under the programmers' scrutiny and is available again from CAD International here:
http://www.cad.com.au/drcauto/

Remember:  There is more to AutoCAD than its core commands.  AutoCAD is what you make of it.  Inventor and Revit are good 3D programs, but it is only what they make of it.  You can actually make AutoCAD work as well if not better than other programs simply by personalizing it to your requirements.
Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn