AUTOCAD 2007 3D TO 2D

I haven't done these things in a while, and this computer doesn't have AutoCAD on it, so I can't try things out. However, I think it works like this:

For display colors (screen, cursor crosshairs, etc.) find the Preferences|Display menu, and go from there. I prefer black background, but some printers will then plot this in black, which doesn't work very well and wastes ink.

For the drawing that opens up on starting, see Help for "prototype drawing" or "drawing template". I think you can set lots of things in the default drawing, such as 2D/3D, grid and snap spacings, UCS icon on/off, etc.

To change the background of acad, you are looking for the "Tools" tab then go to "option" from there you can set most of your preferences.

I find the drawings open back up the way I saved them last. Before closing the drawing, next time, try typing in (without the quotations) "plan" and the enter key. watch the command line and type "w" and the enter key to make sure you you are back onto the world coordinate system. then save. It should open back up where you left off.

The others have told how to get to what you want - now, how to save it. Under the Workspaces tool bar there is a pull down menu in a window. Get the settings where you want them, then enter the pull down menu and you will see "Save current as..." Enter a name you choose here and save it. Next time you open a drawing, if the settings are wrong, go to the Workspaces window and choose the setting you saved. Absolute must to know this if you use 2 different settings as I do, with ACAD Electrical and basic ACAD, as I must draw both ways.

I have been working on the latest autocad, and cannot remember 2007 settings. But in autocad 2011, upper left hand corner is an icon, when choosen, a pull down lets me choose between the 2D and 3D versions. you can also type in the "wssettings" in the command line, a dialog box will open and one can choose from a list of options. At the last autodesk university I went to, the instructer asked which format was ussually chosen. Most operators said "classic autocad". Not the answer they wanted to hear. Autodesk wants us to use the 3D and have a layout defined for each 2D drawing. Presently i am working at a plant that all drawings are 2D. Company does not want me spending time in another format. An engineering firm with many operators and a cad manager could direct all to use 3D and training/learning could lead the company forward.

As far as the black white background colors go. This is an option a user can define for there own likes and dislikes. go to tools pull down menu, choose options. Here a new dialog box will open. on the left side will be a button "color". Once this is choosen, you will have model space, sheet/layout, and others you can choose. To right you can choose whatever colors you have determined works best for you. Personally I like sheet/layout (paper space) as white; model space as black. I have seen others use dark blue or dark green. User preference.

good luck !