I've been using AutoCAD or one of it's variations since 1991. I started with release 10. In those days we didn't have fancy buttons to push, we had to type the commands or select from a pull-down menu. Over the years I learned to rely on the command line, because every release of AutoCAD changed the location of commands in the pull-downs, whereas the commands rarely changed. Because of my reliance on the command line I have had a much harder time learning programs like Photoshop, because they are icon driven. I'm also not used to holding Alt, shift or CTRL while mousing to get a desired command. I'm overcoming it slowly, but its not how my brain got wired during those early computer years.

I find that if learn how to use a command, by typing it, that is how I always access it. The same goes for pull-downs or icons, now pallettes, and /shudder/ the dashboard. Its great that there are so many ways to access a command, but Autodesk has gone overboard lately. Luckily they rarely take away, so I still do things the way I learned them the first time.

While I do enjoy staying current with the latest software, it is challenging. For a long time I wished somebody would come out with a photoshop for autoCAD users. Now i've resigned myself to the fact that if I'm going to learn it, I'm just going to have to force myself.

Steve G.