3 A-Object Snap, Trim, Extend, Plotting, Stretch Lengthen

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015
Object Snap
Selecting Points with Object Snap
(Single-Point Override)
• A general procedure for using single-point object
snap is:
1. Enter a drawing command, such as LINE, CIRCLE, or
ARC.
2. Right-click while holding down the <Shift> or the
<Ctrl> key.
3. Select an object snap mode from the shortcut menu.
4. Point to a previously drawn object.
Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Mark Dix | Paul Riley All Rights Reserved
Selecting Points with Object Snap
(Single-Point Override)
Square and circle Endpoint and Tangent

object snap

Selecting Points with
Running Object Snap
A general procedure for
using running object snap is:
1. Pick the Object Snap button on the
status
bar so that it is on.
2. Right-click the Object Snap button
and
select Settings to open the Drafting
settings dialog box.
3. Select object snap modes from the
Drafting Settings dialog box.
4. Enter drawing commands.
5. If there is more than one object snap
choice in the area, cycle through
using the <Tab> key.

Selecting Points with
Running Object Snap
• The Object Snap modes
that are in effect depend
on the AutoCAD default
settings, or whatever
settings were last
selected. To change
settings or to see what
settings are on, we open
the Drafting Settings
dialog box. Right-click on
the status

Running Object Snap
• Once you have specified

object snap modes, you
can turn individual object
snap modes on or off by
right-clicking the Object
Snap button on the status
bar and selecting an object
snap mode from the
shortcut menu, shown.

Object Snap
options
• Occasionally, you may
encounter a situation in which
there are several possible object
snap points in a tight area.
• If AutoCAD does not recognize

the one you want, you can cycle
through all the choices by
pressing the <Tab> key
repeatedly.

Object Snap Tracking
• Object snap tracking creates temporary construction lines, called
alignment paths, from designated object snap points. Alignment
paths are constructed through object snap points, called acquired
points.
• Once you are in a draw command, such as LINE, any object snap
point that can be identified in an active object snap mode can be
acquired. An acquired point is highlighted with a yellow cross.
• Once a point is acquired, object snap tracking automatically projects

alignment path lines from this point.
• Alignment paths are dotted lines like those used by polar tracking.
They are visual and snap aids that extend to the edge of the display
horizontally and vertically from the acquired point. They will also pick
up specified polar tracking angles.

Point Acquisition
• Point Acquisition: The process by which object snap points are
acquired for use in object snap tracking. An acquired point is marked
by a small green cross.
• To acquire a point, move the cursor over it so that the object snap
marker appears, and pause for about a second without clicking.
Point 1 Point 1
Point 2 Point 2
Endpoint marker Acquired point

Point Acquisition
Acquiring Point number 1 and 2
Point 1 Point 1
Point 2 Point 2
Alignment path and tracking tip Vertical alignment path

Point Acquisition
Acquiring Point number 3 and 4
Point 3
Point 3
Point 1 Point 1
Point 4
Point 2 Point 2
Acquiring Point 3 Double tracking tip

Using the OFFSET Command
(Creating Parallel Objects with
OFFSET)
• OFFSET is one of the most useful editing commands in
AutoCAD. With the combination of object snap and the OFFSET
command, you can become completely free of incremental snap
and grid points. Any point in the drawing space can be precisely
located. Essentially OFFSET creates parallel copies of lines, circles,
arcs, or polylines.

Using the OFFSET Command
• To specify an offset distance you can type a number, show a
distance with two points, or pick a point that you want the new copy
to run through (the Through option).
Offset line Offset line and Circles

Shortening Objects with
the TRIM Command
Horizontal lines crossing circle Trimming lines at circle

Shortening Objects with the
TRIM Command
• The TRIM command works wonders in many situations where
you want to shorten objects at their intersections with other objects.
• It works with lines, circles, arcs, and polylines.
• The only limitations are that you must have at least two objects, and
they must cross or meet.

Shortening Objects with the TRIM Command
Horizontal lines crossing circle
Trimming lines at circle
Trimmed lines and circle

Extending Objects with the
EXTEND Command
• The procedure for using the EXTEND

command is the same as for the TRIM
command, but instead of selecting cutting edges, you
select boundaries to which objects are extended. TRIM
and EXTEND are conceptually related, and you can switch
from one to the other without leaving the command.
• It is sometimes efficient to draw a temporary cutting edge

or boundary on your screen and erase it after using TRIM
or EXTEND.
EXTEND Command
• From the Trim/Extend drop-down list on the ribbon, pick the Extend
tool, as shown
• As with the TRIM command, any of the usual selection methods
work, and there is an option for selecting all objects. For our
purposes, simply point to the vertical line.

EXTEND Command
• As with the TRIM command, any of the usual selection
methods work. there is an option for selecting all objects.
Drawing the vertical boundary line Extending the horizontal lines

Using STRETCH to Alter Objects
Connected to Other Objects
• The STRETCH command is a phenomenal time-saver in

special circumstances in which you want to move objects
without disrupting their connections to other objects.
• Often, STRETCH can take the place of a whole series of
moves, trims, and extends.
• It is commonly used in such applications as moving doors
or windows within walls without having to redraw the
walls.
• The term stretch must be understood to have a special
meaning in AutoCAD.
• When a typical stretch is performed, some objects are
lengthened, others are shortened, and others are simply
moved.
• There is also a Stretch mode in the grip edit system, as
we have seen previously. It functions very differently from
the STRETCH command.

P2 Second Point
Base Point
P1
Crossing Window
Crossing window Horizontal stretch

P2 Base Point
Crossing Window Second Point

P1
Crossing window Stretched object

Stretching with Grips
• Stretching with grips is a simple operation best reserved for simple
stretches.
We use one grip on the horizontal line and one on the vertical line to create the
figure. We stretch the line to end at the lower endpoint of the vertical line.
Stretching with grips Stretching the endpoint of the lower line

Stretching with Grips
• Stretch the endpoint of the upper line just as you did the
lower.
Stretching the endpoint of

the upper line

Lengthen and Break
• Two additional commands related to those introduced in
the last three sections are LENGTHEN and BREAK.
• LENGTHEN allows you to lengthen or shorten lines,
arcs, and polylines.
• You will find the Lengthen tool on the Modify panel
extension.
• With the BREAK command you can break a selected
object into separate objects.
• The Break tool can also be used to shorten lines by
picking the second point of the “gap” beyond the end of
the line.
Creating Plot Layouts
• Plotting from model space has its uses, particularly in the
early stages of a design process.
• However, when your focus shifts from modeling issues to
presentation issues, paper space layouts have much
more to offer.
• The separation of model space and paper space in
AutoCAD allows you to focus entirely on modeling and
real-world dimensions when you are drawing and then
shift your focus to paper output issues when you plot.
• The paper space world allows us to create multiple views
of the same objects without copying or redrawing them
and to plot these viewports simultaneously.

Creating Plot Layouts
• On the drafting board, all drawings are committed to
paper from the start. People doing manual drafting are
inevitably conscious of scale, paper size, and rotation
from start to finish. When draftspersons first begin using
CAD systems, they still tend to think in terms of the final
hard copy their plotter will produce even as they are
creating lines on the screen. The AutoCAD plotting
system takes full advantage of the powers of a CAD
system, allowing us to ignore scale and other drawing
paper issues entirely, if we wish, until it is time to plot.

Opening Layout
Pick the Layout1 tab on the status bar
This is a simple one-

viewport layout.

Opening Layout
• AutoCAD has automatically created a single viewport determined by
the extents of your drawing.
• Paper space viewports are sometimes called floating viewports
because they can be moved and reshaped. They are like windows
from paper space into model space.
• Viewports are also AutoCAD objects and are treated and stored as
such.
• You can move them, stretch them, copy them, and erase them.
• Editing the viewport does not affect the model space objects within
the viewport.
• When a viewport is selected, the border is highlighted, and grips are
shown at each corner.

Switching Between
Paper Space and Model Space
• Double-click outside the viewport border to enter paper space.
• When you are in paper space you will be able to select the viewport
border, but not the objects inside.
• You cannot select any objects in the viewport as long as you are in
paper space, model space objects are not accessible.
• To gain access to model space objects while in a layout view, you
must double-click inside a viewport.
• The border of the viewport takes on a bold outline and the
ViewCube and navigation bar appear inside the viewport.

Modifying a Layout
• Layouts can be modified in
numerous ways and can be
accessed from the Layout
tabs at the bottom of the
drawing area.
• The name of the Layout you
are currently in will be
highlighted in the current
page setup list.

Modifying a Layout
• Pick the Modify

button on the right of
the Page Set-up
Manager. This opens
the Page Setup -
Setup1 dialog box
shown. This is a
version of the Plot
dialog box.

Modifying a Layout
• Layout is now the
default selection
in the What to
plot list. We have
not encountered
this selection
before because it
is not present
when you enter
the Plot dialog
box from model
space.

Creating Viewports
Viewports, Rectangular tool
Pick
Pick

Zooming XP
• It is important to maintain control over the scale of
objects within viewports and have a clear knowledge of
the relationships among scales in different viewports.
• For this, we use the ZOOM Scale feature of the ZOOM

command.
• We create different zoom magnifications inside the two

viewports.

Zooming XP – Two Viewports
Zooming 4xp

Zooming XP – 3 Viewports

Maximize Viewport Button
• This button not only allows you to switch into model
space in any viewport but also maximizes that viewport to
fit the display. Once you have maximized a viewport, you
can cycle through other viewports and maximize them
one at a time. Maximize Viewport button
Viewport
maximized

Plotting the Multiple-View Drawing
• Plotting a multiple-viewport drawing is no different from plotting from
a single view. Just make sure you are in the layout before entering
the PLOT command.
With Layout 1 on your screen, pick the Plot tool from the Quick
Access toolbar.
At this point you should have no need to adjust settings within the
Plot dialog box because you have already made adjustments to the
page setup and the plotting device. Notice the settings that are now
included in the layout.
NOTE
If you have done this exercise using the DWF6 ePlot p3 driver, you will note that AutoCAD sends
your plot to a file rather than to a plotter. Any drawing can be saved to a file to be plotted later. When
you use the ePlot utility, your plot will first be saved to a file that can be sent over the Internet.


3 A-Object Snap, Trim, Extend, Plotting, Stretch Lengthen

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Discovering AutoCAD® 2015

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Square and circle Endpoint and Tangent

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

• Once you have specified

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

• If AutoCAD does not recognize

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

• Once a point is acquired, object snap tracking automatically projects

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Endpoint marker Acquired point

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Alignment path and tracking tip Vertical alignment path

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Acquiring Point 3 Double tracking tip

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Offset line Offset line and Circles

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Horizontal lines crossing circle Trimming lines at circle

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Horizontal lines crossing circle

Trimming lines at circle

Trimmed lines and circle

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

• The procedure for using the EXTEND

• It is sometimes efficient to draw a temporary cutting edge

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Drawing the vertical boundary line Extending the horizontal lines

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

• The STRETCH command is a phenomenal time-saver in

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Crossing window Horizontal stretch

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Crossing Window Second Point

Crossing window Stretched object

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Stretching with grips Stretching the endpoint of the lower line

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Stretching the endpoint of

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

This is a simple one-

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

• Pick the Modify

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

• For this, we use the ZOOM Scale feature of the ZOOM

• We create different zoom magnifications inside the two

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

Discovering AutoCAD® 2015 © 2015 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc

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