Mastering AutoCAD

Chapter 2

Creating Your First Drawing

•Getting to Know the Draw and Modify panels

•Specifying Distances with Coordinates
•Interpreting the Cursor Modes and Understanding Prompts
•Selecting Objects and Editing with Grips
•Using Dynamic Input
•Getting Help
•Displaying the Properties of an Object
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 2

The most commonly used tools are available from the Draw and Modify panels on
the Ribbon at the top of the AutoCAD window.
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 2

When you start to draw in

AutoCAD, you will want to
know how to specify
directions.

By default, you indicate a

horizontal direction from left
to right as zero degrees.
From bottom to top is ninety
degrees as shown in this
figure.
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 2

When you need

to specify
locations, you
use the Cartesian
coordinate
systems, with X
as the horizontal
axis and Y as the
vertical.
In a new file, the
origin is located
in the lower left
corner of the
drawing.
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 2

Try drawing this rectangle using the Line tool. Instead of picking
points with your mouse, enter distances through the keyboard. The
format for entering distance and direction are indicated adjacent to
the arrows. For example, to draw a line 3 units long from left to right,
enter @3<0.
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 2

As you draw in AutoCAD, you’ll

notice that the cursor changes
depending on your activity.
When AutoCAD is waiting for a
command, you see the standard
cursor.
When AutoCAD expects a point
location, you’ll see the point
selection cursor.
If you need to select an object,
such as a line or circle, you’ll see
the object selection cursor.
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 2

The AutoCAD tools and commands will often prompt you to choose an option. You’ll
see the prompts in the command window at the bottom of the AutoCAD window. For
example, to draw an arc, you see the following series of prompts:

Specify start point of arc or [Center]: Type C and select the center location.
Specify start point of arc: Type @ 3<0 to indicate the start point for the arc.
Specify end point of arc or [Angle/chord Length]: to Indicate the end angle for the arc.
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 2

When you invoke a tool or

command, you are often
prompted to select objects. You
can do so by clicking on objects
individually or placing a
selection window around a
group of objects.
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 2

You’ve seen how to

indicate exact
distances and
directions. You can
also use the cursor to
select locations. A
feature called osnaps
can let you select
exact locations on an
object, such as an
endpoint, intersection
or midpoint of a line.
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 2

Objects can also be edited by

moving their grip points. If you
click on an object while no
command or tool is active, you
will expose the object’s grips
which look like small squares.
The grips can then be
repositioned.
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 2

A feature called Dynamic

input display lets you see
the dimensions of the
object being edited. You
can modify the shape of
the object by changing the
dimensions that are
displayed.
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 1

Objects can also be edited

through the properties
palette. You can select an
object, right click and select
Properties from the right
click menu, and the
properties for the selected
object are displayed.
You can make changes to
many of the properties
shown in the palette.
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 2

AutoCAD also
offers an
excellent help
system when
you need a
reminder. You
can click the
help icon in the
InfoCenter to
open the
AutoCAD 2011
Help web page.
 Mastering AutoCAD
Chapter 2

You can also connect to internet resources

through the Communication Center.