Procedure

To draw lines

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Line.

2. Specify the start point.

You can use the pointing device or enter coordinate values at the Command prompt.

3. Complete the first line segment by specifying the endpoint.

To undo the previous line segment during the LINE command, enter u or click Undo on
the toolbar.

4. Specify the endpoints of any additional line segments.

5. Press Enter to end or c to close a series of line segments.

To start a new line at the endpoint of the last line drawn, start the LINE command again
and press Enter at the Specify Start Point prompt.

Quick Reference
Commands
LINE

Creates straight line segments.

RAY

Creates a line that starts at a point and continues to infinity.

XLINE

Creates a line of infinite length.

Procedure
To draw a polyline with straight segments

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Polyline.

2. Specify the first point of the polyline.
3. Specify the endpoint of the first polyline segment.
4. Continue specifying segment endpoints as needed.
5. Press Enter to end, or enter c to close the polyline.

To start a new polyline at the endpoint of the last polyline drawn, start the PLINE
command again and press Enter at the Specify Start Point prompt.
To draw a line and arc combination polyline

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Polyline.

2. Specify the start point of the polyline segment.
3. Specify the endpoint of the polyline segment.
o Switch to Arc mode by entering a (Arc) at the Command prompt.
o Return to Line mode by entering L (Line).
4. Specify additional polyline segments as needed.
5. Press Enter to end, or enter c to close the polyline.

To create a wide polyline

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Polyline.

2. Specify the start point of the line segment.
3. Enter w (Width).
4. Enter the starting width of the line segment.
5. Specify the ending width of the line segment using one of the following methods:
o To create a line segment of equal width, press Enter.
o To create a tapering line segment, enter a different width.
6. Specify the endpoint of the polyline segment.
7. Continue specifying segment endpoints as needed.
8. Press Enter to end, or enter c to close the polyline.

To create a boundary polyline

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Boundary.

2. In the Boundary Creation dialog box, in the Object Type list, select Polyline.
3. Under Boundary Set, do one of the following:
o To create a boundary set from all objects visible in the current viewport, select
Current Viewport. Avoid this option for large, complex drawings.
o To specify which objects to include in the boundary set, click New. Select the
objects that you want to use to create the boundary. Using this option
automatically selects the Existing Set option.
4. Click Pick Points.
5. Specify points within each area that you want to form a boundary polyline.

This area must be totally enclosed; that is, there can be no gaps between enclosing
objects. You can select more than one area. Click Island Detection if you want internal
closed areas to be included in the boundary set.

6. Press Enter to create the boundary polyline and end the command.
 The command creates a polyline in the shape of the boundary. Because this polyline
overlaps the objects used to create it, it may not be visible. However, you can move,
copy, or modify it just as you can any other polyline.

Quick Reference
Commands
3DPOLY

Creates a 3D polyline.

BOUNDARY

Creates a region or a polyline from an enclosed area.

EXPLODE

Breaks a compound object into its component objects.

FILL

Controls the filling of objects such as hatches, 2D solids, and wide polylines.

PEDIT

Edits polylines and 3D polygon meshes.

PLINE

Creates a 2D polyline.

POLYGON

Creates an equilateral closed polyline.

RECTANG

Creates a rectangular polyline.

Procedure
To draw a circumscribed polygon

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Polygon.

2. At the Command prompt, enter the number of sides.
3. Specify the center of the polygon (1).
4. Enter c to specify a polygon circumscribed about a circle.
 5. Enter the radius length (2).

To draw a polygon by specifying one edge

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Polygon.

2. At the Command prompt, enter the number of sides.
3. Enter e (Edge).
4. Specify the start point for one polygon segment.
5. Specify the endpoint of the polygon segment.

To draw an inscribed polygon

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Polygon.

2. At the Command prompt, enter the number of sides.
3. Specify the center of the polygon.
4. Enter i to specify a polygon inscribed within a circle of specified points.
5. Enter the radius length.

To draw a rectangle

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Rectangle.

2. Specify the first corner of the rectangle.
3. Specify the other corner of the rectangle.

Quick Reference
Commands
BOUNDARY

Creates a region or a polyline from an enclosed area.

EXPLODE

Breaks a compound object into its component objects.

POLYGON

Creates an equilateral closed polyline.

RECTANG

Creates a rectangular polyline.

Procedure
To draw a multiline

1. Click Draw menu Multiline.

2. At the Command prompt, enter st to select a style.
3. To list available styles, enter the style name or enter ?.
4. To justify the multiline, enter j and select top, zero, or bottom justification.
5. To change the scale of the multiline, enter s and enter a new scale.

Now draw the multiline.

6. Specify the starting point.

7. Specify a second point.
8. Specify additional points, or press Enter. If you specify three or more points, you can
enter c to close the multiline.

To create a multiline style

1. Click Format menu Multiline Style.

2. In the Multiline Style dialog box, click New.
3. In the Create New Multiline Style dialog box, enter a name for the multiline style and
select a multiline style from which to start. Click Continue.

4. In the New Multiline Style dialog box, select the parameters for the multiline style. You
can also enter a description.

Descriptions are optional and can be up to 255 characters, including spaces.

 5. Click OK.
6. In the Multiline Style dialog box, click Save to save the multiline style to a file (the
default is acad.mln). You can save multiline styles to the same file.

If you create more than one multiline style, save the current style before creating a new
one or you lose the changes to the first style.

Quick Reference
Commands
OFFSET

Creates concentric circles, parallel lines, and parallel curves.

MLINE

Creates multiple parallel lines.

MLSTYLE

Creates, modifies, and manages multiline styles.

Procedure
To draw freehand sketches

1. At the Command prompt, enter sketch and press Enter.

 2. Press Enter again to accept the last saved type, increment, and tolerance values.
3. Click in the drawing area to begin sketching.
4. As you move the pointing device, freehand line segments of the specified length are
drawn. SKETCH does not accept coordinate input. During the command, freehand lines
are displayed in a different color.
5. Click the endpoint to suspend sketching, allowing you to move around the screen without
drawing. Click a new start point to resume drawing from the new cursor position.
6. Press Enter to complete the sketch.

Quick Reference
Commands
SKETCH

Creates a series of freehand line segments.

Procedure
To draw an arc by specifying three points

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Arc drop-down 3-Point.

2. Specify the start point.
3. Specify a point on the arc.
4. Specify the endpoint.

To draw an arc using a start point, a center point, and an endpoint

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Arc drop-down Start, Center, End.
2. Specify a start point.
3. Specify the center point.
4. Specify the endpoint.

To continue an arc with a tangential line

1. Complete the arc.

2. Click Home tab Draw panel Line.

3. Press Enter at the first prompt.
4. Enter the length of the line and press Enter.

To continue an arc with a tangential arc

1. Complete the arc.

2. Click Home tab Draw panel Arc drop-down Continue.

3. Specify the second endpoint of the tangent arc.
Quick Reference
Commands
ARC

Creates an arc.

LINE

Creates straight line segments.

OFFSET

Creates concentric circles, parallel lines, and parallel curves.

VIEWRES

Sets the resolution for objects in the current viewport.

Procedure
To draw a circle by specifying a center point and radius or diameter

1. Do one of the following:

o Click Home tab Draw panel Circle drop-down Center, Radius.

o Click Home tab Draw panel Circle drop-down Center, Diameter.

2. Specify the center point.
3. Specify the radius or diameter.

To create a circle tangent to two objects

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Circle drop-down Tan, Tan, Radius.

The command starts Tangent object snap mode.

2. Select the first object to draw the circle tangent to.

3. Select the second object to draw the circle tangent to.
4. Specify the radius of the circle.

Quick Reference
Commands
CIRCLE

Creates a circle.
OFFSET

Creates concentric circles, parallel lines, and parallel curves.

Procedure
To draw a polyline with straight segments

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Polyline.

2. Specify the first point of the polyline.
3. Specify the endpoint of the first polyline segment.
4. Continue specifying segment endpoints as needed.
5. Press Enter to end, or enter c to close the polyline.

To start a new polyline at the endpoint of the last polyline drawn, start the PLINE
command again and press Enter at the Specify Start Point prompt.

To draw a line and arc combination polyline

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Polyline.

2. Specify the start point of the polyline segment.
3. Specify the endpoint of the polyline segment.
o Switch to Arc mode by entering a (Arc) at the Command prompt.
o Return to Line mode by entering L (Line).
4. Specify additional polyline segments as needed.
5. Press Enter to end, or enter c to close the polyline.

To create a wide polyline

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Polyline.

2. Specify the start point of the line segment.
3. Enter w (Width).
4. Enter the starting width of the line segment.
5. Specify the ending width of the line segment using one of the following methods:
o To create a line segment of equal width, press Enter.
o To create a tapering line segment, enter a different width.
6. Specify the endpoint of the polyline segment.
7. Continue specifying segment endpoints as needed.
8. Press Enter to end, or enter c to close the polyline.

To create a boundary polyline

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Boundary.

 2. In the Boundary Creation dialog box, in the Object Type list, select Polyline.
3. Under Boundary Set, do one of the following:
o To create a boundary set from all objects visible in the current viewport, select
Current Viewport in the list. Avoid this option for large, complex drawings.
o To specify which objects to include in the boundary set, click New. Select the
objects that you want to use to create the boundary. Choosing this option
automatically selects the Existing Set option.
4. Click Pick Points.
5. Specify points within each area that you want to form a boundary polyline.

This area must be totally enclosed; that is, there can be no gaps between enclosing
objects. You can select more than one area.

6. Press Enter to create the boundary polyline and end the command.

The command creates a polyline in the shape of the boundary. Because this polyline
overlaps the objects used to create it, it may not be visible. However, you can move,
copy, or modify it just as you can any other polyline.

Quick Reference
Commands
3DPOLY

Creates a 3D polyline.

BOUNDARY

Creates a region or a polyline from an enclosed area.

OFFSET

Creates concentric circles, parallel lines, and parallel curves.

PEDIT

Edits polylines and 3D polygon meshes.

PLINE

Creates a 2D polyline.

VIEWRES

Sets the resolution for objects in the current viewport.

Procedure
 To create a donut

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Donut.

2. Specify the inside diameter (1).
3. Specify the outside diameter (2).
4. Specify the center of the donut (3).
5. Specify the center point for another donut, or press Enter to complete the command.

Quick Reference
Commands
DONUT

Creates a filled circle or a wide ring.

FILL

Controls the filling of objects such as hatches, 2D solids, and wide polylines.

Procedure
To draw an isometric circle

1. Click Tools menu Drafting Settings.

2. In the Drafting Settings dialog box, Snap and Grid tab, under Snap Type and Style, click
Isometric Snap. Click OK.

3. Click Home tab Draw panel Ellipse drop-down Axis, End.

4. Enter i (Isocircle).
5. Specify the center of the circle.
6. Specify the radius or diameter of the circle.

To draw a true ellipse using endpoints and distance

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Ellipse drop-down Axis, End.

2. Specify the first endpoint of the first axis (1).
3. Specify the second endpoint of the first axis (2).
4. Drag the pointing device away from the midpoint, and click to specify a distance (3) for
half the length of the second axis.
 To draw an elliptical arc using start and end angles

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Ellipse drop-down Elliptical Arc.

2. Specify endpoints for the first axis (1 and 2).
3. Specify a distance to define half the length of the second axis (3).
4. Specify the start angle (4).
5. Specify the end angle (5).

The elliptical arc is drawn counterclockwise between the start point and endpoint.

Quick Reference
Commands
ELLIPSE

Creates an ellipse or an elliptical arc.

Procedure
To draw a spline with control vertices

1. Click Surface tab Curves panel Spline CV.

2. Click in the drawing area to create the spline.
3. When you are done, press Enter.

To draw a spline with fit points

1. Click Surface tab Curves panel Spline Knot.

2. Click in the drawing area to create the spline.
3. When you are done, press Enter.
 To draw a spline in 2D workspace

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Spline.

2. Click in the drawing area to create the spline.
3. When you are done, press Enter.

To convert a spline-fit polyline to a spline

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Spline.

2. Enter o (Object).
3. Select a spline-fit polyline and press Enter.

The selected object changes from a polyline to a spline.

Quick Reference
Commands
PEDIT

Edits polylines and 3D polygon meshes.

PLINE

Creates a 2D polyline.

SPLINE

Creates a smooth curve that passes through fit points or near control vertices.

SPLINEDIT

Edits a spline or spline-fit polyline.

Procedure
To create a helix

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Helix.

2. Specify the center point for the base of the helix.
3. Specify the base radius.
4. Specify the top radius or press Enter to specify the same value as the base radius.
5. Specify the height of the helix.

Quick Reference
Commands
HELIX

Creates a 2D spiral or 3D spring.

Procedure
To repair a damaged drawing file

1. Click the Application button, and click Drawing Utilities Recover Recover.
2. In the Select File dialog box, select a file. Click Open.

After the audit, all objects with errors are placed in the Previous selection set for easy
access. The output from the audit is written to an audit log (ADT) file if the AUDITCTL
system variable is set to 1 (On).

To repair a damaged drawing file due to a system failure

1. If the program encounters a problem and cannot continue, it displays an error message
and, for some errors, an error code. Record the error code number, save the changes if
possible, and exit to the operating system.
2. Restart the program.
3. In the Drawing Recovery window, under Backup Files, double-click the drawing node to
expand it. On the list, double-click one of the drawing or backup files to open it.

If the program detects that the drawing has been damaged, a message is displayed asking
if you want to proceed.

4. Enter y to proceed.

As the program attempts to repair the drawing, a diagnostic report is displayed. The
output from the audit is written to an audit log (ADT) file if the AUDITCTL system
variable is set to 1 (On).

5. Depending on whether the repair is successful, do one of the following:

o If the repair is successful, the drawing opens. Save the drawing file.
o If the program cannot repair the file, a message is displayed. In that case, choose
one of the other drawing or backup files listed in the Drawing Recovery window
beginning with step 3.

To repair an open drawing

1. Click the Application button, and click Drawing Audit.

2. At the

Fix Any Errors Detected?

 prompt, enter y or n.

AUDIT places all objects with errors in the Previous selection set for easy access. The
output from the audit is written to an audit log (ADT) file if the AUDITCTL system
variable is set to 1 (On).

NoteIf the drawing contains errors that AUDIT cannot fix, try using RECOVER.
RECOVER repairs any specified DWG file that is not the current drawing file.

To restore a drawing from a backup file

1. In Windows Explorer, locate the backup file identified by the .bak file extension.
2. Right-click the backup file. Click Rename.
3. Type a new name using the .dwg file extension.
4. Open the file as you would open any other drawing file.

Quick Reference
Commands
AUDIT

Evaluates the integrity of a drawing and corrects some errors.

DRAWINGRECOVERY

Displays a list of drawing files that can be recovered after a program or system failure.

OPTIONS

Customizes the program settings.

RECOVER

Repairs and then opens a damaged drawing file.

RECOVERALL

Repairs and then opens a damaged drawing file.

Procedure
To pan by dragging

1. Click View tab Navigate panel Pan.

2. When the hand cursor is displayed, click and hold your pointing device as you move.

NoteIf you are using a wheel mouse, hold down the wheel button and move the mouse.
 3. To exit, press Enter or Esc, or right-click.

To pan by specifying points

1. Click View menu Pan Point.

2. Specify a base point. This is the point you want to change.
3. Specify a second (pan to) point. This is the new location for the point you selected first.

To zoom by dragging

1. Click View tab Navigate panel Zoom drop-down Realtime.

2. When the magnifying glass cursor is displayed, click and hold your pointing device and
drag vertically to zoom in and out.
3. To exit, press Enter or Esc, or right-click.

To zoom in to an area by specifying its boundaries

1. Click View tab Navigate panel Zoom drop-down Window.

2. Specify one corner of the rectangular area you want to view.
3. Specify the opposite corner.

You automatically choose the Window option when you specify a point immediately
after starting the ZOOM command.

To display the drawing extents by zooming

 Click View tab Navigate panel Zoom drop-down Extents.

All objects in the drawing are displayed to be as large as possible and still fit in the current
viewport or the drawing area.

To display the area of the grid limits by zooming

 Click View tab Navigate panel Zoom drop-down All.

The limits of the drawing grid fill the current viewport or the drawing area. If there are any
objects outside the grid limits, they are also included.

To restore the previous view

  Click View tab Navigate panel Zoom drop-down Previous.

Zoom Previous restores only the view magnification and position, not the previous content of an
edited drawing.

Quick Reference
Commands
DSVIEWER

Opens the Aerial View window.

PAN

Moves the view planar to the screen.

UNDO

Reverses the effect of commands.

VIEWRES

Sets the resolution for objects in the current viewport.

VTOPTIONS

Displays a change in view as a smooth transition.

ZOOM

Increases or decreases the magnification of the view in the current viewport.

Procedure
To zoom to a new area using the Aerial View window

1. Click View menu Aerial View.

2. In the Aerial View window, click inside the view box until you see the arrow.
3. Drag to the right to zoom out. Drag to the left to zoom in.
4. Right-click to end the zoom operation.

To pan using the Aerial View window

1. Click View menu Aerial View.

2. In the Aerial View window, click inside the view box until you see an X.
3. Drag to change the view.
4. Right-click to end the pan operation.
 To display the entire drawing in the Aerial View window

1. Click View menu Aerial View.

2. In the Aerial View window, click View menu Global.

To increase or decrease magnification of the Aerial View image

1. Click View menu Aerial View.

2. On the Aerial View toolbar, click Zoom Out or Zoom In.

NoteWhen the entire drawing is displayed in the Aerial View window, the Zoom Out menu
option and button are unavailable. When the current view nearly fills the Aerial View window,
the Zoom In menu option and button are unavailable.
To turn dynamic updating on and off

 Click View menu Aerial View.

 In the Aerial View window, click Options menu Dynamic Update.

A check mark indicates that the Aerial View window shows changes as they occur.

To turn viewport updating on and off

 Click View menu Aerial View.

 In the Aerial View window, click Options menu Auto Viewport.

A check mark indicates that Aerial View displays the current viewport as you switch
viewports.

Procedure
To restore the previous view

 Click View tab Navigate panel Zoom drop-down Previous.

Zoom Previous restores only the view magnification and position, not the previous content of an
edited drawing.

To display the previous view during PAN Realtime and ZOOM Realtime

 Click View tab Navigate panel Zoom drop-down Previous

To save and name a view

1. Do one of the following:

 o If you have more than one viewport in model space, click inside the viewport that
contains the view you want to save.
o If you are working in a layout, select the viewport.

2. Click View tab Views panel Named Views.

3. In the View Manager, click New.
4. In the New View dialog box, View Name box, enter a name for the view.

If the drawing is part of a sheet set, the view categories for the sheet set are listed. You
can add a category or select one from the list.

5. In the Boundary section, select one of the following options to define the area of the
view:
o Current Display. Includes all of the drawing that is currently visible.
o Define Window. Saves part of the current display. The dialog box closes while
you use the pointing device in the drawing to specify opposite corners of the
view. To redefine the window, click the Define View Window button.
6. Click OK twice to save the new view.

To restore a saved view

1. Do one of the following:

o If you have more than one viewport in model space, click inside the viewport that
contains the view you want to restore.
o If you are working in a layout, select the viewport.

2. Click View tab Views panel Named Views.

3. In the View Manager, Views list, select the view that you want to restore.
4. Click Set Current. Click OK.

To rename a view

1. Click View tab Views panel Named Views.

2. In the View Manager, click the view name you want to change. If the view isn’t already
displayed, expand the appropriate View list, and then click a view name.
3. In the General section of the Properties panel, select the view name. Enter a new name.
4. Click OK.

To change the properties of a view

1. Click View tab Views panel Named Views.

2. In the View Manager, click the view name you want to change. If the view isn’t already
displayed, expand the appropriate View list, and then click a view name.
3. In the Properties panel, click the property that you want to change.
 4. Specify the new property value by entering a new value or by selecting from a list of
values. Click OK.

To delete a named view

1. Click View tab Views panel Named Views.

2. In the View Manager, click a view, and then click Delete.
3. Click OK.

To view a list of saved viewport arrangements

 Click View tab Viewports panel Named.

The list of saved viewports is displayed in the Viewports dialog box, Named Viewports tab.

Quick Reference
Commands
VIEW

Saves and restores named views, camera views, layout views, and preset views.

VPORTS

Creates multiple viewports in model space or paper space.

ZOOM

Increases or decreases the magnification of the view in the current viewport.