Experiment – 2

Object-
To understand and use the different types of commands in “AutoCAD” Software.

AutoCAD Commands-
AutoCAD helps to draw our concept of design mostly in 2D format. In AutoCAD to draw any
object commands are used. Commands are the shortcut keys on your system that will allow the
software to draw your design.

Some Useful Commands of AutoCAD:

Some useful AutoCAD Commands, their aliases and their brief description is given in below
table-

COMMAND ALIAS DESCRIPTION

Starts creating a series of contiguous straight-line

LINE L segments. Each segment is a line object that can be
edited separately.
Starts creating Circle by various methods using
different combinations of circle's geometric
CIRCLE C parameters, e.g. center, radius, diameter, 3 points
on circumference, end point of circles diameter and
circle's tangents.
Starts creating Circular Arc by various methods
ARC A using different combinations of its geometric
Drawing Commands

parameters.
Starts creating Ellipse/Elliptical Arc using different
ELLIPLSE EL
combinations of ellipse's geometric parameters.
Starts creating equilateral polygon (as a polyline)
POLYGON POL using different combinations of polygon's
geometric parameters
Starts creating rectangular polyline using different
RECTANGLE REC
combinations of rectangle's geometric parameters
SPLINE SPL Creates splines (smooth curves) with fit points /
control vertices.
Starts drawing construction line (Horizontal /
XLINE
Vertical / Angled / offsetted) having no end points.
(Construction XL
'Angle Bisectors' can also be drawn through it.
Lines)
 Creates a linear dimension which is aligned with the
DIMALIGNED DAL
length specified.
Creates an angular dimension which measures the
DIMANGULAR DAN
angle between selected objects or 3 points.
Creates a dimension to measures the diameter of a
DIMDIAMETER DDI
circle or an arc with a diameter symbol (φ).
Annotation Commands

Creates a dimension to measures the radius of a

DIMRADIUS DRA
circle or an arc with a symbol of radius (R).
Creates a multileader object, that consists of an
MLEADER MLD
arrowhead, a leader line and a multiline text / block
Creates multiline text with detail formatting
MTEXT T options. [Style settings are found with Text Style
(ST)]
Creates geometric tolerances contained in a feature
control frame. Geometric tolerances show
TOLERANCE TOL acceptable deviations of form, profile, orientation,
location, and runout. Feature control frames can be
created with leader lines.
Moves, rotates, or tilts an object so that it aligns
ALIGN AL with another object, using 1, 2 or 3 pairs of source
points and destination points.
Starts Generating Rectangular/Polar/Path Array
ARRAY AR
(group of similar objects)
Extends the line segment to the next/selected
EXTEND EX
boundary line (edges of other objects).
Rounds or fillets the corners of objects by creating
FILLET F
arc that is tangent to both of the selected objects.
Modifying Commands

MOVE M Moves objects a specified distance in a specified

direction.
MIRROR MI Creates mirror image of selected drawing objects.
OFFSET O Creates objects at specified offset distance.
ROTATE RO Rotates selected objects around a base point.
Stretches crossed by a selection window or
polygon. (Objects that are partially enclosed by a
crossing window are stretched. Objects that are
STRETCH S
completely enclosed within the crossing window, or
that are selected individually, are moved rather than
stretched.)
Enlarges or reduces selected objects, keeping the
SCALE SC
proportions of the object the same after scaling.
TRIM TR Trims objects to meet the edges (cutting edges) of
other objects.
 Rotates the view in 3D space. Dynamic orbit can be
3DORBIT 3DO obtained by pressing 'Shift' and Pan [pressing &
dragging middle mouse button (mouse roller)].
Viewing and Navigation Commands

Moves the view planer to screen. ['Dynamic Pan'

PAN P can be done by pressing and dragging the middle
mouse button (mouse roller).
Opens view manager for switching among Top /
VIEW V
Bottom / Left / Right / Front / Back views.
VIEWPORTS VPORTS Creates new viewport layout.
Sets the current UCS (User Coordinate System) of
drawing, which changes the direction of axes, and
UCS UCS this further affects direction of 'Ortho Mode',
drawing plane, etc.

Zooms (in/out) the drawing in different manner.

ZOOM Z (Dynamic Zoom can be done by rolling the mouse
roller up/down).
BLOCK B Opens Block Window for defining Block.
Miscellaneous
Commands

BEDIT BE Edits Block definition in Block Editor.

Opens Layer Property Manager, for creating &

LAYER LA
managing layers and their properties.
Displays and allows the changes the properties of
PROPERTIES PR selected object or common properties of selected
objects.
Opens Dimension Style Window for all settings
DIMSTYLE D (e.g. texts, lines, symbols, units, tolerances,
notations, etc.) related to dimensioning.
Opens Drafting Settings Dialog Box for settings
related to Grid, Snaps, Tracking, Object Snap, 3D
DSETTINGS DS
Object Snap, Dynamic Input, Quick Properties,
Selection Cycling, etc.
Settings

Sets an invisible drawing boundary in the drawing

area and turns on / off the limits checking. It doesn't
LIMITS LIMITS
prevent drawing outside the limits, but only checks
and informs.
Opens ‘Object Snap’ settings within Drafting
Settings Dialog
Box. This dialog box is having settings related to
OSNAP OS
Grid, Snaps, Tracking, 3D Object Snap, Dynamic
Input, Quick Properties, Selection Cycling, etc.,
also.
UNITS UN Opens Drawing Units Dialog Box.
 HELIX HELIX Start creating helical shape.
Objects can be extruded orthogonally from the
plane of the source object, in a specified direction,
EXTRUDE EXT
or along a selected path.
3d Modelling and Editing Commands

You can also specify a taper angle.

Creates a swept solid / surface, by specifying an
SWEEP SWEEP object as sweep profile and an object as its sweep
path.
Creates a revolved solid / surface, by specifying an
REVOLVE REV
object as profile and an axis of revolution.
Two or more objects of similar type are selected to
UNION UNI
be combined in a single object.
A 3D solid object is created by subtracting one set
SUBTRACT SUB
of existing 3D from another, overlapping set.
A 3D solid is created from a common volume of two
INTERSECT IN
or more existing 3D objects.
LAYOUT LO Creates/copies/deletes the layouts.
PLOT/PRINT PLOT Prints a drawing to a plotter, printer or file.
Printing Commands

Switches to model space while working in Layout

MSPACE MS
Tab of Drawing.
Switches to paper space while working in Layout
PSPACE PS
Tab of Drawing.

VIEWPORTS VPORTS Creates new viewport layout.