Autodesk AutoCAD AutoCAD - 2010 Official Training Guide
Autodesk Official Training Guide
Essentials
®
AutoCAD
2010
Learning A utoCAD® 2010, Volume 1
Using hands-on exercises, learn the features, commands, and techniques for creating,
editing, and printing drawings with AutoCAD® 2010 and AutoCAD LT® 2010 software.
Autodesk Certification Preparation
001B1-050000-CM10A
April 2009
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Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................... ix
Chapter 1: Taking the AutoCAD Tour ................................................................. 1
Lesson: Navigating the Working Environment .................................................... 2
Setting the Workspace .............................................................................. 3
Keyboard Input .......................................................................................... 7
User Interface Layout ................................................................................ 8
About Shortcut Menus ............................................................................ 14
More AutoCAD-Specific Interface Tools .................................................. 15
Lesson: Working with Files ................................................................................ 22
Working with Files .................................................................................. 22
Lesson: Displaying Objects ................................................................................ 26
Display Tools ............................................................................................ 27
Pan .......................................................................................................... 27
Zoom Realtime ........................................................................................ 30
Zoom Command Options ........................................................................ 32
Wheel Mouse Features ........................................................................... 34
Regen ....................................................................................................... 35
Exercise: Zoom and Pan in the Drawing .................................................. 36
Exercise: Hands-On Tour ......................................................................... 38
Chapter Summary ............................................................................................. 41
Chapter 2: Creating Basic Drawings ................................................................. 43
Lesson: Inputting Data ...................................................................................... 45
About the Command Line ....................................................................... 46
About the Coordinate System ................................................................. 47
About Dynamic Input .............................................................................. 50
Using the Dynamic Input Interface ......................................................... 53
Using Direct Distance Entry .................................................................... 58
Exercise: Input Data ................................................................................ 62
iii
Lesson: Creating Basic Objects ...................................................................... 65
Line Command .................................................................................... 66
Circle Command .................................................................................. 69
Arc Command ..................................................................................... 73
Erase Command .................................................................................. 76
Undo and Redo Commands ................................................................ 79
Rectangle Command ........................................................................... 84
Polygon Command .............................................................................. 87
Exercise: Create Basic Objects ............................................................ 91
Lesson: Using Object Snaps .......................................................................... 98
About Object Snap .............................................................................. 99
Object Snaps ..................................................................................... 100
Using Object Snap ............................................................................. 108
Exercise: Use Object Snaps ............................................................... 114
Lesson: Using Polar Tracking and PolarSnap ............................................... 117
Using Polar Tracking and PolarSnap .................................................. 118
Exercise: Use Polar Tracking and PolarSnap ...................................... 125
Lesson: Using Object Snap Tracking ............................................................ 128
About Object Snap Tracking .............................................................. 129
Using Object Snap Tracking ............................................................... 130
Exercise: Use Object Snap Tracking ................................................... 136
Lesson: Working with Units ........................................................................ 139
About Units ....................................................................................... 140
Setting Units ...................................................................................... 141
Exercise: Use Architectural Units ...................................................... 145
Exercise: Use Surveyor's Units .......................................................... 148
Challenge Exercise: Architectural ................................................................ 150
Challenge Exercise: Mechanical .................................................................. 154
Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 156
Chapter 3: Manipulating Objects ............................................................... 157
Lesson: Selecting Objects in the Drawing ................................................... 158
Using a Window to Select Objects .................................................... 159
Object Selection with Grips .............................................................. 161
Select Objects Options ...................................................................... 164
Exercise: Select Objects .................................................................... 173
Lesson: Changing an Object's Position ........................................................ 176
Moving Objects ................................................................................. 177
Exercise: Move Objects ..................................................................... 182
Lesson: Creating New Objects from Existing Objects .................................. 188
Copying Objects ................................................................................ 189
Exercise: Copy Objects ...................................................................... 194
Lesson: Changing the Angle of an Object's Position ................................... 196
Rotating Objects ................................................................................ 197
Exercise: Rotate Objects .................................................................... 202
iv ■ Contents
Lesson: Creating a Mirror Image of Existing Objects ................................... 205
Mirroring Objects .............................................................................. 206
Exercise: Mirror Objects in the Drawing ........................................... 212
Lesson: Creating Object Patterns ................................................................ 214
Creating an Array of Objects ............................................................. 215
Exercise: Array Objects in the Drawing ............................................. 223
Lesson: Changing an Object's Size .............................................................. 228
Scaling Objects .................................................................................. 229
Exercise: Scale Objects Using the Copy Option ................................. 234
Challenge Exercise: Grips ............................................................................ 236
Challenge Exercise: Architectural ................................................................ 243
Challenge Exercise: Mechanical .................................................................. 248
Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 251
Chapter 4: Drawing Organization and Inquiry Commands ......................... 253
Lesson: Using Layers ................................................................................... 255
Organizing Objects with Layers ......................................................... 256
Default Layer ..................................................................................... 258
Layer Tools ........................................................................................ 259
Exercise: Work with Layers ............................................................... 268
Lesson: Changing Object Properties ........................................................... 273
About Object Properties ................................................................... 274
ByLayer Property ............................................................................... 277
Changing Object Properties .............................................................. 279
Exercise: Change Object Properties .................................................. 288
Lesson: Quick Properties ............................................................................. 291
About Quick Properties ..................................................................... 292
Using Quick Properties ...................................................................... 294
Exercise: Use Quick Properties ......................................................... 295
Lesson: Matching Object Properties ........................................................... 297
Matching an Object's Properties ....................................................... 298
Exercise: Match Object Properties .................................................... 302
Lesson: Using the Properties Palette .......................................................... 306
Using the Properties Palette ............................................................. 307
Exercise: Manipulate Object Properties ............................................ 310
Lesson: Using Linetypes .............................................................................. 313
About Linetypes ................................................................................ 314
Adding Linetypes to Your Drawing .................................................... 316
Exercise: Use Linetypes ..................................................................... 324
Lesson: Using Inquiry Commands ............................................................... 332
About Measuring .............................................................................. 333
Using Measure Tools ......................................................................... 334
Obtaining Object Information ........................................................... 344
Exercise: Obtain Geometric Information ........................................... 347
Exercise: Measure Objects ................................................................ 350
Contents ■ v
Challenge Exercise: Architectural ................................................................ 354
Challenge Exercise: Mechanical .................................................................. 356
Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 358
Chapter 5: Altering Objects ........................................................................ 359
Lesson: Trimming and Extending Objects to Defined Boundaries ............... 360
Using the Trim and Extend Commands ............................................. 361
Exercise: Trim and Extend Objects .................................................... 370
Lesson: Creating Parallel and Offset Geometry ........................................... 373
Offsetting Objects ............................................................................. 374
Exercise: Create Parallel and Offset Geometry ................................. 381
Lesson: Joining Objects ............................................................................... 385
Joining Objects .................................................................................. 386
Exercise: Join Objects ........................................................................ 391
Lesson: Breaking an Object into Two Objects ............................................. 393
Breaking Objects ............................................................................... 394
Exercise: Break Objects ..................................................................... 401
Lesson: Applying a Radius Corner to Two Objects ...................................... 404
Creating Fillets .................................................................................. 405
Exercise: Create a Filleted Corner ..................................................... 410
Lesson: Creating an Angled Corner Between Two Objects .......................... 413
Creating Chamfers ............................................................................. 414
Exercise: Create a Chamfered Corner ............................................... 419
Lesson: Changing Part of an Object's Shape ............................................... 422
Stretching Objects ............................................................................. 423
Exercise: Stretch Objects ................................................................... 429
Challenge Exercise: Architectural ................................................................ 433
Challenge Exercise: Mechanical .................................................................. 439
Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 445
vi ■ Contents
Acknowledgements
The Autodesk Learning team wishes to thank everyone who participated in the development of this
project, with special acknowledgement to the authoring contributions and subject matter expertise of
Ron Myers and CrWare, LP.
CrWare, LP began publishing courseware for Autodesk® Inventor® in 2001. Since that time, the
company has grown to include full-time curriculum developers, subject matter experts, technical
writers, and graphics specialists, each with a unique set of industry experiences and talents that
enables CrWare to create content that is both accurate and relevant to meeting the learning needs of
its readers and customers.
The company's Founder and General Partner, Ron Myers, has been using Autodesk® products since
1989. During that time, Ron Myers worked in all disciplines of drafting and design, until 1996 when
he began a career as an Applications Engineer, Instructor, and Author. Ron Myers has been creating
courseware and other training material for Autodesk since 1996 and has written and created training
material for AutoCAD®, Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD® Mechanical, Mechanical Desktop®, and
Autodesk® Impression.
Acknowledgements ■ vii
viii ■ Acknowledgements
Introduction
Welcome to the Learning AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 Autodesk Official Training Guide, a
training guide for use in Authorized Training Center (ATC®) locations, corporate training settings, and
other classroom settings.
Although this guide is designed for instructor-led courses, you can also use it for self-paced learning.
The guide encourages self-learning through the use of the AutoCAD® or AutoCAD LT® Help system.
This introduction covers the following topics:
■ Course objectives
■ Prerequisites
■ Using this guide
■ Default installation
■ CD contents
■ Completing the exercises
■ Settings for the exercises
■ Installing the exercise data files from the CD
■ Imperial and metric datasets
■ Notes, tips, and warnings
■ Feedback
This guide is complementary to the software documentation. For detailed explanations of features and
functionality, refer to the Help in the software.
Course Objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:
■ Navigate the interface, open and close files, and use the Zoom commands to adjust the display of
objects on the screen.
■ Describe units, function keys, and coordinate systems and create basic objects, using different data
input techniques, object snaps, object snap tracking, polar tracking, and PolarSnap.
■ Select, modify, and adjust the properties of objects using object grips and the Move, Copy, Rotate,
Mirror, and Array commands.
■ Create and manage layers and linetypes and obtain geometric information from objects in the
drawing.
■ Modify objects by changing their size, shape, orientation, or geometric composition using Trim,
Extend, Offset, Join, and other commands.
■ Create layouts, and create and manipulate viewports on the layouts.
■ Create and edit annotation objects using multiline and single line text.
■ Create, edit, and manage dimensions and dimension styles.
ix
■ Enhance the drawing's visual appearance with hatch patterns and gradient fills.
■ Create blocks and reuse them in your drawings using the Insert command, DesignCenter, and
tool palettes. Utilize the DesignCenter and tool palettes to insert and create other content in your
drawings.
■ Create multiple segmented polyline objects, create the smooth curve objects of splines and
ellipses, and add tables to your drawings.
■ Create and use page setups, and plot your designs from layouts and model space.
■ Use drawing templates to simplify the process of creating new drawings that contain all the
required dimension styles, text styles, and layers that you would otherwise create manually, each
time you create a new drawing.
Prerequisites
This guide is designed for the new user who needs to know the essential commands necessary for
professional 2D drawing, design, and drafting using AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT. No previous computeraided design (CAD) experience is required.
It is recommended that you have a working knowledge of:
■ Microsoft® Windows® XP, or Microsoft® Vista®.
■ Drafting and design experience is a plus.
Using This Guide
The lessons are independent of each other. However, it is recommended that you complete
these lessons in the order that they are presented unless you are familiar with the concepts and
functionality described in those lessons.
Each chapter contains:
■ Lessons: Usually two or more lessons in each chapter.
■ Exercises: Practical, real-world examples for you to practice using the functionality you have just
learned. Each exercise contains step-by-step procedures and graphics to help you complete the
exercise successfully.
Default Installation
The information in this guide is presented in such a way that it is assumed you have installed AutoCAD
or AutoCAD LT using the default installation parameters. You should be using the 2D Drafting &
Annotation workspace as your active workspace throughout the course. You will learn how to do this
in Chapter 1.
CD Contents
The CD attached to the back cover of this book contains all the data and drawings you need to
complete the exercises in this guide.
x ■ Introduction
Completing the Exercises
You can complete the exercise in two ways: using the book or the onscreen version.
■ Using the book: Follow the step-by-step exercises in the book.
■ Onscreen: Click the Learning AutoCAD 2010 icon on your desktop, installed from the CD, and
follow the step-by-step exercises on screen. The onscreen exercises are the same as those in the
book. The onscreen version has the advantage that you can concentrate on the screen without
having to glance down at your book.
After launching the on-screen exercises, you might need to alter the size of your application window to
align both windows.
Introduction ■ xi
Settings for the Exercises
Each exercise is written with the assumption that the following Object Snap settings are active. You
might need to confirm these settings for each exercise.
Each exercise is written with the assumption that the following Status Bar options are turned ON. If
necessary adjust these options when you open the dataset for each exercise.
Installing the Exercise Data Files from the CD
To install the data files for the exercises:
1.
Insert the CD.
2.
Double-click the self-extracting archive setup.exe.
Unless you specify a different folder, the exercise files are installed in the following folder:
C:\Autodesk Learning\AutoCAD 2010\Learning AutoCAD 2010\
After you install the data from the CD, this folder contains all the files necessary to complete each
exercise in this guide.
xii ■ Introduction
The datasets and exercises can be used with AutoCAD LT. The location of the files
will be the same whether you are using AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT. The name of the
shortcut for the online version of the exercises is named Learning AutoCAD 2010, but
can also be used with AutoCAD LT 2010.
Imperial and Metric Datasets
For some of the exercises that specify units of measurement, alternative exercise tables are provided.
You will see a note stating that an imperial and metric version are available. An example of the file
naming convention is as follows:
■ Open i_stair_settings.dwg (imperial) or m_stair_settings.dwg (metric).
In the exercise steps, you will see either the imperial or metric value as shown in the following
example:
■ For Length, enter 13'2".
■ For Length, enter 4038 mm.
For exercises with no specific units of measurement, files are provided as shown in the following
example:
■ Open c_stair_settings.dwg (common).
In the exercise steps, the unitless value is specified as shown in the following example:
■ For Length, enter 400.
Notes, Tips, and Warnings
Throughout this guide, notes, tips, and warnings are called out for special attention.
Notes contain guidelines, constraints, and other explanatory information.
Tips provide information to enhance your productivity.
Warnings provide information about actions that might result in the loss of data, system failures,
or other serious consequences.
Feedback
We always welcome feedback on Autodesk Official Training Guides. After completing this course, if you
have suggestions for improvements or if you want to report an error in the book or on the CD, please
send your comments to learningtools@autodesk.com.
Introduction ■ xiii
xiv ■ Introduction
Chapter
1
Taking the AutoCAD Tour
Before you begin to use the software, you need to become familiar with the interface and some of the
core functionality and features.
Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
■ Identify and state the purpose of the main interface elements.
■ Open, create, and save drawings.
■ Use the Zoom and Pan commands to view different areas of the drawing.
Standard Object Snap and Status Bar Settings
Before completing the exercises in this chapter, refer to the "Settings for the
Exercises" section in the Introduction in Volume 1.
1
Lesson: Navigating the Working Environment
This lesson describes theworking environment and the types of interface elements that you must
become familiar with if you are to become proficient in the software.
Before you begin creating drawings, you should familiarize yourself with the interface.
After completing this lesson, you will be able to start the application, activate the appropriate
workspace, and identify key parts of the interface.
The following image identifies key interface elements:
Application Menu
Quick Access
Toolbar
Info Center
Title Bar
Ribbon
Drawing Area
Crosshairs
Command Window
Status bar
2 ■ Chapter 1: Taking the AutoCAD Tour
Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
■ Describe and set the workspace.
■ Identify and use keyboard functions.
■ Identify key parts of the interface.
■ Use the shortcut menu to access commands and options.
■ Explain the purpose of AutoCAD-specific interface tools.
Setting the Workspace
Introduction
You launch AutoCAD® in the same way you launch other Windows applications,using one of the
following two methods:
■ Double-click the AutoCAD 2010 icon on the Windows desktop.
■ Click Start > All Programs (or Programs) > Autodesk > AutoCAD 2010 > AutoCAD 2010.
Depending on the options chosen during installation or the status of AutoCAD when it was last closed,
you may need to adjust the active workspace.
If using AutoCAD LT®, select the icon and start menu options associated with AutoCAD
Warning!
LT.
Workspaces Defined
When you launch the application, the interface elements displayed are only those associated with the
active workspace. A workspace is a task-oriented drawing environment oriented in such a way as to
provide you with only the tools and interface elements necessary to accomplish the tasks relevant to
that environment.
By default, AutoCAD has four workspace configurations:
■ 2D Drafting & Annotation
■ 3D Modeling
■ AutoCAD Classic
■ Initial Setup Workspace
AutoCAD LT has two workspaces, one workspace named 2D Drafting & Annotation, the
Warning!
other named AutoCAD LT Classic.
Lesson: Navigating the Working Environment ■ 3
AutoCAD is shown here with the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace active.
AutoCAD is shown here with the 3D Modeling workspace active.
4 ■ Chapter 1: Taking the AutoCAD Tour
AutoCAD is shown here with the AutoCAD Classic workspace active.
After you start the program you can switch to the desired workspace. The application will open with
the last workspace used. The Workspace Switching dropdown list is accessed in the lower right corner
of the AutoCAD window on the Status Bar.
Procedure: Setting the 2D Drafting & Annotation Workspace
The following steps give an overview of activating the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace.
1.
Start AutoCAD.
2.
Use the default
drawing or on the
Quick Access toolbar,
click New.
Lesson: Navigating the Working Environment ■ 5
3.
Select acad.dwt
(imperial) or
acadiso.dwt (metric)
as the template file.
4.
Click the Workspaces
settings icon, located
at the bottom
right corner of the
AutoCAD window.
Select 2D Drafting &
Annotation.
Procedure: Setting the AutoCAD LT Workspace
The following steps give an overview of activating the AutoCAD LT 2D Drafting & Annotation
workspace.
1.
Launch AutoCAD LT.
2.
On the Workspaces toolbar, select 2D Drafting and Annotation from the list.
3.
Start a new drawing and select acadlt.dwt (imperial) or acadltiso.dwt (metric) as the template file.
The instructions and exercise steps covered in this course are based on the 2D
Drafting & Annotation workspace. Please activate this workspace if you have not
already done so.
6 ■ Chapter 1: Taking the AutoCAD Tour
Keyboard Input
Using the keyboard is familiar to everyone who works with computers. For much of the work that you
do in AutoCAD you use the keyboard, but you use a few keystrokes more often than others.
Special Keys
You use the following keys most often. These keys have special meaning to the software.
■ Use the ESC key to cancel all current actions and return to the Command: prompt.
■ Press the ENTER key following all keyboard input. You also complete many commands by pressing
ENTER.
■ Pressing the SPACEBAR is equivalent to pressing the ENTER key and is often easier to use.
■ Pressing the SPACEBAR or ENTER at the Command: prompt repeats the last command used.
■ Pressing the UP and DOWN arrow keys will cycle through previous commands used.
■ The TAB key is especially useful to navigate in a dialog box. You should use the TAB key to move
from field to field. Be careful not to press ENTER.
Function Keys
The use of each of the function keys can be duplicated in other ways with the exception of F2. You may
find that the on-screen equivalents to the function keys are easier and allow you to keep your eyes on
the screen.
Option
Description
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
Displays Help
Toggles Text Window
Toggles OSNAP
Toggles TABMODE
Toggles ISOPLANE
Toggles UCSDETECT (Not available in AutoCAD LT)
Toggles GRIDMODE
Toggles ORTHOMODE
Toggles SNAPMODE
Lesson: Navigating the Working Environment ■ 7
Option
Description
F10
F11
F12
User Interface Layout
There are interface elements common to other Windows applications such as ribbon panels, toolbars,
and menus. If you have used other Windows applications, these user interface elements should
appear familiar. However, there are interface elements such as the command line and the status bar,
which are unique to AutoCAD.
Heads-up Design Defined
Heads-up design is a methodology intended to increase your efficiency while using the software.
Whenever you turn your visual focus away from your design to locate a tool, it slows you down.
Instead, you should use the most efficient access methods such as Dynamic Input, right-click shortcut
menus and the ribbon control panels whenever possible.
Ribbon Defined
The ribbon is a special tool palette associated with each workspace containing only the tools and
controls relevant to that workspace. For example, the ribbon for the 2D Drafting & Annotation
workspace contains tools relevant to 2D drawing, dimensioning, and annotating, but does not contain
tools for 3D geometry creation.
The ribbon supports the heads-up design process because it is space efficient and eliminates the
clutter of tool palettes and toolbars. Using the ribbon alone provides you with more space on your
screen in the drawing area and enables you to maintain access to the tools and controls you need.
Toggles Polar Tracking
Toggles Object Snap Tracking
Toggles Dynamic Input
8 ■ Chapter 1: Taking the AutoCAD Tour
Ribbon Controls
The ribbon is turned on by default when you start the software in either the 2D Drafting & Annotation
or the 3D Modeling workspace. The ribbon is organized into a series of tabs. Each tab includes a
different set of panels with related commands and controls that may be found on the Classic AutoCAD
toolbars and dialog boxes.
You can turn the tabs and associated panels on the ribbon on or off by right-clicking on the ribbon area
and selecting Tabs or Panels to select the desired options. You can also turn Panel Titles on or off by
right-clicking the Panel tabs. Additionally you can save your Ribbon configuration.
Each tab on the ribbon has its own set of panels that contain groups of related tools, such as those
used for 2D drawing, adding text, or adding dimensions. Some panels can be expanded to display more
tools. Likewise some tools can be expanded for more options, such as the Circle tool as indicated by an
arrow in the corner of the icon.
Tabs
Panels
More tools
Identifies the purpose and name of the control panel.
Contains groups of related tools associated with the selected tools.
Click and hold the down arrow to display more tools and options in the selected
panel.
Lesson: Navigating the Working Environment ■ 9
Add or Remove Tabs
To turn specific tabs on or off, right-click in the ribbon and select Tabs. Choose to display or remove
tabs from the ribbon. Tabs currently displayed are indicated with a check mark.
10 ■ Chapter 1: Taking the AutoCAD Tour
Application Menu
You can use the Application Menu to accessseveral key commands such as New, Open, Save, Print, and
Close. Most of these commands lead to submenus that give you more detailed options.
Panels
AutoCAD uses ribbon panels as one means to access commands and settings. Similar tools commands
are grouped together in panels and can be accessed by clicking the button or icon that indicates the
tool's purpose. Each panel consists of a collection of tools that performs related or similar tasks.
When using the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace, a standard set of panels is displayed on each
of the standard set of tabs located on the horizontal ribbon at the top of the AutoCAD drawing area.
Notice that when you select a different tab, a different set of panels is displayed.
By default, each panel is docked at the top of the drawing area on the ribbon. You can move the panels
away from the docked position to a floating position or drag them back into the ribbon.
Lesson: Navigating the Working Environment ■ 11
Panel Visibility
To turn specific panels on or off, right-click in the ribbon and select Panels. Select to display or remove
panels from the ribbon tab. Panels currently displayed are indicated with a check mark, as shown in
the illustration on the right.
Panels will appear in the last position (docked or floating) they were in before the panel was removed
from the display.
When you click icons on the ribbon panel, the command is not executed unless the
cursor is over the icon when you release the mouse button. If you click the wrong icon,
simply drag the cursor away from the button before releasing.
Panel Tools Visibility
Some panels will cascade to reveal
additional tools when you select
the black arrow in the lower righthand corner of the panel. You can
keep these panels open to display
all of the tools by selecting the
thumbtack located in the lower
left-hand corner of the cascading
panel.
12 ■ Chapter 1: Taking the AutoCAD Tour
Status Bar
The status bar is located at the bottom of the application window.
The left end of the status bar displays the coordinates that show the numerical position of the
crosshairs in the drawing. Click this area to turn the coordinate display off or on. In the on position,
there are two possibilities. The readout displays the X,Y,Z values, or the distance and polar angle of the
crosshairs as it is moved in the drawing window.
Coordinates Display
To the right of the Coordinates Display, there are buttons that activate features to facilitate drawing
construction. Collectively, these features are termed drafting settings.
Drafting Settings
In the middle-right of the status bar are buttons to display the drawing model or the drawing layout
views.
Model Space and Layout Settings
To the right of the Model Space and Layout buttons are the realtime Pan command and the Zoom
command.
Pan and Zoom
Towards the right side of the status bar are the Annotation options for the display of annotative
objects such as text and dimensions. When you create annotations with the annotative property
selected, the Annotation Scale displayed in the status bar represents the scale in which the new
objects are created.
Annotation Settings
Lesson: Navigating the Working Environment ■ 13
About Shortcut Menus
The shortcut menu is context-sensitive. When you right-click in the graphics window, you can use the
options presented on the shortcut menu to perform a variety of tasks. Context-sensitive means that
the menu will change depending on what you are currently doing in the software. For example, if you
are at the Command prompt your shortcut menu will have different options available than if you are
in the Pline command.
Definition of Shortcut Menu
Shortcut menu options are organized into different areas. The options that are made available to you
are based on the current context of your work and will change when you activate the shortcut menu.
The following image shows the shortcut menu as it appears when you are creating a polyline.
The top area of the menu offers
Enter, Cancel, and Recent Input
options.
The middle area of the menu offers
options specific to the current
command. Notice how the options
on the menu match the options
on the command line. To use an
option for a command, select the
option on the shortcut menu. This
has the same effect as typing the
capital letter(s) of the option on
the command line.
The lower area of the menu offers
Pan and Zoom functions and access
to the QuickCalc command.
Key Points
■ The shortcut menu is context-sensitive, so its options differ depending on the current context of
the software, for example, whether you are drawing or editing.
■ You can use the shortcut menu as an alternative to entering command options on the command
line. This speeds up the design process and is the preferred method for working with sub-options
of the active command.
14 ■ Chapter 1: Taking the AutoCAD Tour
More AutoCAD-Specific Interface Tools
While the software complies with Windows standards for user interface elements, there are some
element types that are specific to the application.
The following image shows the command window. Somewhat unique to a graphical windows
application, the command window provides another method for the user to interact with the
application.
Layouts (Drawing Sheets)
Model space (the Model tab) is the area where you create your designs. Layouts (drawing sheets) are
for annotation, borders, title blocks, and plotting.
When you design, you should always draw at full scale. The model space environment offers an
unlimited amount of space to create your designs. Use layouts to create drawing sheets that represent
an area equal to the actual size of the paper.
You can switch between Model space and the Layout by selecting the button located in the Status Bar
at the bottom of the AutoCAD window.
Lesson: Navigating the Working Environment ■ 15
Layer List
The Layer list displays the drawing's layers. Using this list, you can switch the current layer, assign
selected objects to a layer, turn layers on and off, freeze layers, and lock layers.
Tool Palettes
Tool palettes simplify the task of adding predefined design content to your drawing.
16 ■ Chapter 1: Taking the AutoCAD Tour
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