Last updated: August 2007

Ralph Grabowski

Ralph Grabowski is editor at upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. Ralph is the author of over 100 books and several hundred magazine articles about computer-aided design.

Since starting in the CAD field in 1985, Mr Grabowski held the following editing and writing positions:

• CADalyst (first magazine for AutoCAD users) - Technical Editor, Senior Editor, Monthly Columist.
• Cadence (now part of CADalyst magazine) - Software Reviewer, Monthly Columist.
• MicroStation Manager (first magazine for MicroStation users) - Prelaunch Editor.
• AutoCAD World (tabloid magazine for AutoCAD users) - Monthly Columist.
• Technical Design Solutions (first independent print magazine for Visio and IntelliCAD users) - Launch Editor, Monthly Columnist.
• AutoCAD User (only print magazine for Canadian AutoCAD users) - Monthly Columist, Editor.
• Design-Drawing.Com (online Webzine for Actrix, iGrafx, SmartSketch, and Visio users) - Editor.
• Visions.eZine (bi-weekly e-newsletter for Visio users) - Founder, Editor.

Currently, he holds the following positions:

• upFront.eZine (weekly e-newsletter for all CAD users) - Founder, Editor.
• iCOMMUNIQUE eZine (monhtly e-newsletter for AutoCAD customers of IMAGINiT Technologies; formerly CRC eZine and IMAGINiT eZine) - Editor of all three editions: architecture, mechanical, and civil.
• Autodesk Press Web site - Monthly Columnist.

In addition, Mr Grabowski has written for InfoWorld, Computer Graphics World, PC/Computing, AutoCAD Magazin (Germany), MultiCAD Magazine (Australia), CADD (England), CADdesk (England), MicroStation User (England), The Computer Paper (Canada), National Computer Tectonics,  CADD Town Gazzette, and The CADD Times.

Mr Grabowski maintains three Weblogs:

• WorldCAD Access -- nearly daily news, tips, and commentary on the CAD industry, with nearly one million page-views in under four years.
• Gizmos Grabowski -- reviews and commentary on the computer industry.
• The Digital Camera Fan -- reviews, commentary, and photo galleries.

His Web site is at www.upfrontezine.com

Mr Grabowski has written 70+ paper books for Springer Verlag, Que, High Mountain Press (OnWord Press), WordWare Publishing, ITP Delmar Publishers (Autodesk Press, and Thomson Learning), and software companies. Subjects include AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, MicroStation, Generic CADD, TurboCAD, ArchiCAD, Visio, HTML, VRML, CAD management, and more.

See books by Ralph Grabowski.

In addition, he is principal author for eBooks.onLine, the ebook imprint of upFront.eZine Publishing, where he has written 30+ e-books on AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, IntelliCAD, VIsio, General CADD Pro, and Generic CADD.

See upfrontezine.com/ebooks

Conferences and Consulting

Mr Grabowski has presented seminars at A/E/C Systems, A/E/C Systems Fall, A/E/C Systems Canada, AEC Expo, Autodesk University, MicroStation University, Multi-CADD, MicroStation Forum, and IntelliCAD Technical Conference.

See conference reports and travelogues.

Mr Grabowski consults on CAD issues for corporations, and as an expert consultant in legal cases, including HP vs Intergraph, and John Doe vs Microsoft.

Degrees and Awards

Mr Grabowski received his B.A.Sc. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia in 1981. Prior to his technical writing career, he worked as a Professional Engineer with the consulting firm of Willis Conliffe Tait/DeLCan, and provided computer support to Transport Canada's Accident Investigation Team. He taught transportation and hydraulics at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

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In 2005, Strategic Research awarded Mr Grabowski Best CAD/AEC/PLM Editor of 2004:

"Ralph Grabowski gets our vote for being swift-of-foot and incredibly productive from his origins many years ago with a simple-format, text-based weekly email newsletter. In the years before, Ralph has collected a huge and influential following, and in 2004 built on that by launching a vibrant and highly visible BLOG --“WorldCAD Access."

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In 2002 the CAD Society presented its annual Community Award to Mr Grabowski to recognize his contribution to the CAD and engineering software industry. The award was presented during the Congress on the Future of Engineering Software.

"Ralph Grabowski, editor of the upFront.eZine newsletter and author of 50 books pertaining to the industry, received the 2002 CAD Society Community Award.

"Grabowski has been an outspoken voice for the CAD community during his 16+ year career as an editor, author, and commentator. For many years, upFront.eZine has been a forum where Grabowski gives voice to issues that other industry magazines would never touch. The CAD community has come to anticipate Grabowski's irascible weekly commentary and on-the-spot perspective. And those he occasionally  skewers find that he's more than willing to give them a chance to air their perspective.

"As an engineer himself, he has constantly focused on not just the interesting, but also the useful, the insightful, and the controversial. In the process he has guided software developers, and helped many engineers, architects, and designers to discover better tools and methods to get their work done."

Print Books by Ralph Grabowski

Note: Many of these books are available for on-line purchase from Amazon.Com -- click the title name.

• Books written for all CAD users.
• Books written for AutoCAD users (Release 11 through 2008)
• Books written for AutoCAD LT users (Release 1 through 2006)
• Books written for MicroStation and AutoCAD users
• Books written for Visio users (2002 and earlier)
• Book written for HTML and VRML users
• Book written for Generic CADD (version 6.x only) and General CADD Pro users.

Some of these books may be out of print; others may be curently in production. Some books have been translated into nine languages, including German, Dutch, Greek, Bulgarian, Chinese, and Philipino. Those books not listed here are manuals written for software and hardware vendors on a proprietary basis. The topics include:

• 74. Inside A+CAD 2008.
• 73. TurboCAD for AutoCAD Users, 2nd Ed.
• 72. ArchiCAD for AutoCAD Users
• 71. IntelliCAD for AutoCAD Users
• 70. VDraft for AutoCAD Users
• 69. TurboCAD for AutoCAD Users
• Documentation for IntelliCAD, FelixCAD, etc.

In addition to these 70+ print books, Ralph Grabowski is the author of 30+ ebooks. See www.upfrontezine.com/ebooks for the list.

68. CAD Manager's Guidebook
(for all CAD systems; includes CAD standards, essays, and a recent history of CAD; published by OnWord Press)

67. The Successful CAD Manager's Handbook
(for all CAD systems; largely out-of-date since it was written in the early 90s; published by Delmar Publishers)

66. Fundamentals of Modern Drafting Workbook
(a workbook for learning CAD based on manual drafting procedures; published by Delmar Learning)

 

65. The Illustrated AutoCAD 2008 Quick Reference
(AutoCAD 2008; inlcudes all commands, incuding undocumented commands; quick start tutorials, and hundreds of tips)

64. Using AutoCAD 2008: Basics
(updated for AutoCAD 2008; comprehensive tutorials on 2D AutoCAD; includes CD-ROM. 16th edition; includes introduction to 3D modeling.)

63. The Illustrated AutoCAD 2007 Quick Reference
(AutoCAD 2007; inlcudes all commands, incuding undocumented commands; quick start tutorials, and hundreds of tips)

62. Using AutoCAD 2007: Basics
(updated for AutoCAD 2007; comprehensive tutorials on 2D AutoCAD; includes CD-ROM. 15th edition; includes introduction to 3D modeling.)

61. The Illustrated AutoCAD 2006 Quick Reference
(AutoCAD 2006 inlcudes all commands, incuding undocumented commands; quick start tutorials, and hundreds of tips)

60. Using AutoCAD 2007: Basics
(updated for AutoCAD 2005; comprehensive tutorials on 2D AutoCAD; includes CD-ROM. 13th edition.)

59. Using AutoCAD 2005: Advanced
(updated for AutoCAD 2007; comprehensive tutorials on 3D and customizing; includes CD-ROM. 2nd edition.)

For AutoCAD 2005 users:

58. The Illustrated AutoCAD 2005 Quick Reference
(AutoCAD 2005; inlcudes all commands, incuding undocumented commands; quick start tutorials, and hundreds of tips)

57. Using AutoCAD 2005: Basics
(updated for AutoCAD 2005; comprehensive tutorials on 2D AutoCAD; includes CD-ROM. 13th edition.)

56. Using AutoCAD 2005: Advanced
(updated for AutoCAD 2005; comprehensive tutorials on 3D and customizing; includes CD-ROM. 2nd edition.)

55. The Illustrated AutoCAD 2004 Quick Reference
(AutoCAD 2004; inlcudes all commands, incuding undocumented commands; quick start tutorials, and hundreds of tips)

54. Using AutoCAD 2004: Basics
(completely rewritten from earlier editions; covers AutoCAD 2004; comprehensive tutorials on 2D aspects of AutoCAD; includes CD-ROM. 12th edition.)

53. Using AutoCAD 2004: Advanced
(completely rewritten from earlier editions; covers AutoCAD 2004; comprehensive tutorials on 3D and customizing aspects of AutoCAD; includes CD-ROM. 1st edition.)

52. Lincoln Technical College - AutoCAD Workbook Modules

51. Lincoln Technical College - AutoCAD Workbook Instructor's Guide

For AutoCAD 2002 users:

50. The Illustrated AutoCAD 2002 Quick Reference
(AutoCAD 2002; inlcudes all commands, incuding undocumented commands; quick start tutorials, and hundreds of tips)

49. Using AutoCAD 2002
(covers AutoCAD 2002; comprehensive tutorials on all aspects of AutoCAD; includes CD-ROM. original author James Edward Fuller; 11th edition.)

 For AutoCAD 2000 users:

48. The Illustrated AutoCAD 2000 Quick Reference
(AutoCAD 2000; inlcudes all commands, incuding undocumented commands)

47. Using AutoCAD 2000
(covers AutoCAD 2000; comprehensive tutorials on all aspects of AutoCAD; includes CD-ROM. original author James Edward Fuller; 10th edition.)

46. e-Resource for Using AutoCAD 2000; co-author Steve Brown (on CD).

For AutoCAD R14 users:

45. The Illustrated AutoCAD Quick Reference - R14
(Release 14 for Windows 95 and NT; inlcudes all Internet commands and the Bonus CAD Tools; published by Autodesk Press)

44. Using AutoCAD - R14
(covers AutoCAD Release 14; comprehensive tutorials on all aspects of AutoCAD; includes diskette. original author James Edward Fuller; 9th edition; published by Autodesk Press.)

43. AutoCAD Visual Series: Basic 2D, 2nd Ed.
(Unpublished; covers AutoCAD Release 14; original author: Steven Foster; from Autodesk Press)

42. AutoCAD Visual Series: Advanced 2D, 2nd Ed.
(Unpublished; covers AutoCAD Release 14; original author: Steven Foster; from Autodesk Press)

For AutoCAD R13 and earlier:

41. The Illustrated AutoCAD R13 DOS Quick Reference
(covers AutoCAD Release 13 for DOS; 3rd edition; published by Delmar Publishers.)

40. The Illustrated AutoCAD R13 Windows Quick Reference
(covers AutoCAD Release 13 for Windows; 4th edition; published by Delmar Publishers.)

39. Using AutoCAD - R13 DOS
(covers AutoCAD Release 13 for DOS; comprehensive tutorials on all aspects of AutoCAD; includes diskette. Original author James Edward Fuller; 7th edition; published by Delmar Publishers.)

38. Using AutoCAD R13 Windows
(Release 13 for Windows, 8th Edition, original author Edward Fuller; published by Delmar Publishers)

37. The AutoCAD Programming and Customizing Quick Reference - Release 13
(Covers both DOS and Windows editions of AutoCAD R13; published by Autodesk Press)

36.  Harnessing AutoCAD 12
(Release 12 for Windows, orignal authors Stellman, et al; published by Delmar Publishers)

35. Learn AutoCAD Release 12 in a Day
(covers AutoCAD Release 12 for DOS; fast 2D and 3D tutorials; includes diskette; 2nd edition; published by WordWare Publishing.)

34. The Illustrated AutoCAD R12 Quick Reference
(covers AutoCAD Release 12 for DOS; 2nd edition; published by Delmar Publishers.)

33. Using AutoCAD R11, 3rd Edition
(for Release 11; published by Que; Ralph's first book published)

32. Learn AutoCAD in a Day
(covers AutoCAD Release 11 for DOS; eight one-hour 2D and 3D tutorials; includes diskette; published by WordWare Publishing.)

31. The AutoCAD Technical Reference
(for Release AutoCAD 11; published by Delmar Publishers; Ralph's first book written)

30. The AutoCAD for Windows Book
(for AutoCAD Release 11; unpublished by Delmar Publishers)

29. The AutoCAD for Windows Book
(covers Release 11 and 12 features specific to Windows; published by Delmar Publishers.)

28. The Illustrated AutoCAD Quick Reference - R11
(for Release 11; published by Delmar Publishers)

"I just got your new book, The AutoCAD Programming and Customizing Quick Ref, which I ordered from Amazon.Com. Very impressed! It is nice to have a concise handbook type reference. I expect it is just a matter of time before it becomes dog-earred. Keep up the good work."
    -- Unsolicited ensorsement.

"Highly Recommended" rating given to The AutoCAD Technical Reference by CADalyst magazine.

"I am an advent fan of your books on the subject of AutoCAD. As a consultant to several firms in the Bay area, I use your book The Successful CAD Managers Handbook as a reference and highly recommend it to my clients and fellow consulting friends."
    -- Unsolicited endorsement.

"I noticed that my AutoCAD Quick Reference was written by you. Your inside cover summaries are excellent."
    -- Unsolicited endorsement.

"The sections on 2D drafting and editing are comprehensive, with good step-by-step examples. Editing at different levels of expertise is covered in several chapters, and these are uniformly excellent."
    -- Using AutoCAD reviewed in CADalyst magazine.

27. AutoCAD LT 2006: The Ultimate Guide
(Comprehensive module-style tutorials; includes end of chapter review questions and CD-ROM; published by Wordware Publishing.)

For AutoCAD LT 2002 users:

26. Learn AutoCAD LT 2002
(Comprehensive module-style tutorials; includes end of chapter review questions and CD-ROM; published by Wordware Publishing.)

For AutoCAD LT 2000 and 2000i users:

25. Learn AutoCAD LT 2000i
(Comprehensive module-style tutorials; includes end of chapter review questions and CD-ROM; published by Wordware Publishing.)

24. Learn AutoCAD LT 2000
(Comprehensive module-style tutorials; includes CD-ROM; published by Wordware Publishing.)

23. Learn AutoCAD LT 2000 for the Advanced User
(Covers CAD management topics and customizing LT; includes CD-ROM; published by Wordware Publishing.)

For AutoCAD LT 98 users:
(Note: there was no AutoCAD LT 99 software.)

22. Learn AutoCAD LT 98
(Comprehensive module-style tutorials; includes diskette.)

For AutoCAD LT 97 users:

21. Learn AutoCAD LT 97
(Comprehensive module-style tutorials; includes diskette.)

For AutoCAD LT 95 and earlier:
(Note: there was no AutoCAD LT 96 software.)

20. Learn AutoCAD LT 95 for Windows
(covers AutoCAD LT for Windows 95, aka LT Release 3; includes diskette; published by WordWare Publishing.)

19. Learn AutoCAD LT Release 2 for Windows in a Day
(covers AutoCAD LT Release 2 for Windows; eight one-hour 2D and customization tutorials; includes diskette; 2nd edition; published by WordWare Publishing.)

18. Learn AutoCAD LT for Windows in a Day
(covers AutoCAD LT Release 1 for Windows; includes diskette; published by WordWare Publishing.)

17. The Illustrated AutoCAD LT R1 & R2 Quick Reference
(covers AutoCAD LT Releases 1 and 2; includes customization quick reference; published by Autodesk Press.)

"I am a mining engineering student at the University of British Columbia. I would like to say that your book Learn AutoCAD in a Day for Release 12 was the most concise tutorial that I have ever come across. Thank you, and all the best."
    -- Unsolicited endorsement.

16. AutoCAD for MicroStation Users, 3rd Ed.
(Covers AutoCAD Release 14 and MicroStation SE; with Frank Conforti; published by Autodesk Press)

15. MicroStation for AutoCAD Users, 2nd Ed.
(for Mstn v5.x/95 and AutoCAD R12-R13; with Frank Conforti; published by High Mountain Press aka Onward Press)

14. MicroStation for AutoCAD Users
(for AutoCAD Release 12; unpublished; published by High Mountain Press aka Onward Press)

13. MicroStation for AutoCAD Users
(for Mstn v4.x and AutoCAD R11; with Frank Conforti; published by High Mountain Press aka Onward Press)

"Highly Recommended" rating given to MicroStation for AutoCAD Users by CADalyst magazine.

 

12. Learn Visio 2002 for the Advanced User
(Customization of Visio, includine shapesheets and database links; includes CD-ROM; published by WordWare Publishinng.)

11. Learn Visio 2002
(For both editions of Visio 2002; comprehensive module-style tutorials; includes diskette; published by WordWare Publishing.)

10. Learn to Diagram with Visio 2002
(For both editions of Visio 2002; descibes step-by-step instructions for a variety of diagramming projects; includes end of chapter questions and exercises; published by WordWare Publishing.)

For Visio 2000 users:

9. Learn Visio 2000 for the Advanced User
(Customization of Visio, includine shapesheets and database links; includes CD-ROM; published by WordWare Publishinng.)

8. Learn Visio 2000
(For all editions of Visio 2000; comprehensive module-style tutorials; includes diskette; published by WordWare Publishing.)

7. Learn to Diagram with Visio 2000
(For all editions of Visio 2000; descibes step-by-step instructions for a variety of diagramming projects; includes end of chapter questions and exercises; published by WordWare Publishing. Original title: "Learn Visio 2000 in 3 Days".)

For Visio 5.x and earlier:

6. Learn Visio 5.0 for the Advanced User
(Customization of Visio, includine shapesheets and database links; includes CD-ROM; published by WordWare Publishinng.)

5. Learn Visio 5.0
(Covers Visio v5.0 Standard, Technical, and Professional; comprehensive module-style tutorials; includes diskette; published by WordWare Publishing.)

4. Visio 4.0 for Everyone
(covers Visio v4.0 and Visio Techinical v4.1; comprehensive module-style tutorials; includes diskette; published by WordWare Publishing.)

 

3. The Web Publisher's Illustrated Quick Reference
(covers HTML v3.2 and VRML v2.0; published by Springer-Verlag)

2. Learn General CADD Pro
(covers General CADD Pro; published by upFront.eZine Publishing.)

1. Learn Generic CADD 6/6.1 in a Day
(covers Generic CADD v6.0 and v6.1; fast 2D and customization tutorials; includes diskette; published by WordWare Publishing.)

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 Entire contents copyright ©2007 by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. All rights reserved worldwide. Article reprint fee $500. All trademarks belong to their respective holders. "upFront.eZine," "Talking About CAD," and "On your desktop every Tuesday morning" are trademarks of upFront.eZinePublishing, Ltd. Letters to the editor may be reproduced in an edited form for clarity and brevity. Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily shared by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd.