BASIC DRAWING COMMANDS FOR AUTOCAD

Measuring Commands
GRID: Displays a grid of dots at a desired spacing on the screen.
Command: GRID (enter)
On/Off/Tick spacing()/!spect: (enter "al#e) (enter)
SNAP: $pecifies a %ro#nd off% inter"al so that points entered &ith the mo#se can 'e locked into
alignment &ith the grid spacing.
Command: $(!) (enter)
On/Off/*al#e/!spect/Rotate/$tyle: (enter "al#e) (enter)
Basic Draw Commands
CIRC!: Dra&s circles of any si+e.
Command: Circle (enter)
,)/-)/TTR/.center point/: (pick a center point)
Diameter or .Radi#s/: ()ick a point on the circle)
IN!: Dra&s straight lines 'et&een t&o points
Command: 0I(1 (enter)
2rom )oint: (pick a point #sing the mo#se)
To )oint: ()ick a point #sing the mo#se)
To )oint: ()ress ret#rn to end the command)
ARC: Dra&s an arc (any part of a circle or c#r"e) thro#gh three kno&n points.
Command: !RC (enter)
Center/ . $tart point / : (pick the first point on the arc)
Center/1nd/ . $econd point / : C
Center: (pick the arc3s center point)
!ngle/0ength of chord/ .1nd point / : (pick the arc endpoint)
Dis"#a$ Commands
IMITS: $ets the si+e of the dra&ing paper. 2or si+e %!% dra&ing paper the limits sho#ld 'e set for
45.6 7.
Command: 0I8IT$ (enter)
On/Off/0o&er left corner .5.5555/ (enter)
9pper right corner: 45.6:7 (enter)
%OOM: 1nlarges or red#ces the display of a dra&ing.
Command: ;OO8 (enter)
!ll/Center/Dynamic/1tents/0eft/)re"io#s/*ma/<indo&/.$cale(/=))/:
(pick a point to define one corner of a rectang#lar "ie&ing &indo& then pick a point to define
the second point to define the opposite diagonal corner of the "ie&ing &indo&)
(ote: To ret#rn the pict#re to its original "ie&ing si+e enter A and press the enter key
&hen prompted instead of defining a &indo&.
PAN: Allo&s yo# to mo"e yo#r "ie& point aro#nd the dra&ing &itho#t changing the magnification
factor.
Command: )!( (enter)
BASIC DRAWING COMMANDS FOR AUTOCAD
!di&ing Commands
C'ANG!: !lters properties of selected o'>ects
Command: C?!(G1 (enter)
$elect o'>ects or &indo& or 0ast (select o'>ects to 'e changed)
)roperties/.Change point/: (type ))
Change &hat property (Color/1le"/0!yer/0Type/Thickness)@ (type 0ayer)
(e& 0ayer: (enter ne& layer name and press enter)
!RAS!: 1rases entities from the dra&ing.
Command: 1R!$1 (enter)
$elect o'>ects or <indo& or 0ast: ($elect o'>ects to 'e erased and press enter &hen finished)
!(T!ND: 0engthens a line to end precisely at a )oundar$ edge*
Command: 1tend (enter)
$elect 'o#ndary edge(s)...
$elect O'>ects (pick the line &hich represents the 'o#ndary edge &hich lines &ill 'e etended
to)
(press enter &hen finished selecting c#tting edges)
.$elect o'>ect to etend//9ndo: (pick the line(s) that need to 'e etended
TRIM: Trims a line to end precisely at a cu&&ing edge.
Command: Trim (enter)
$elect c#tting edge(s)...
$elect O'>ects (pick the line &hich represents the c#tting edge of line in &hich o'>ects &ill 'e
trimmed to)
(press enter &hen finished selecting c#tting edges)
.$elect o'>ect to trim//9ndo: (pick the line(s) that need to 'e trimmed)
GRIPS
Ao# can edit selected o'>ects 'y manip#lating grips that appear at defining points on the o'>ect. Grips is not
a command. To acti"ate grips simply pick the o'>ect. $mall sB#ares &ill appear at "ario#s entityCspecific
positions. Dy selecting an end grip yo# can stretch the entity to change its si+e. Dy selecting the center grip
yo# can mo"e the entity to a ne& location. To remo"e grips press CT0CC t&ice. Ao# can perform the
follo&ing #sing grips: Copy: 8#ltiple Copy: $tretch: 8o"e: Rotate: $cale: and 8irror.
Crea&ing a$ers
A+!R: Creates named dra&ing layers and assigns color and linetype properties to those layers.
Command: 0!A1R (enter)
! 0ayer E 0inetype )roperties dialog 'o &ill 'e displayed. To add a ne& layer: pick the
(e& '#tton. ! ne& layer listing appears: #sing a defa#lt name of 0ayer4. the layer name can
'e changed 'y highlighting the layer name. Colors and 0inetypes can 'e assigned to each ne&
layer 'y picking the color 'o to assign a color and picking the linetype 'o to assign a line
type.
S&andard Au&oCAD co#ors
4 F Red - F Aello& , F Green G F Cyan
6 F Dl#e H F 8agenta I F <hite
S&andard Au&oCAD #ine&$"es
'idden, F hidden lines
Cen&er, F center lines
P-an&om, F phantom or c#ttingCplane lines
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BASIC DRAWING COMMANDS FOR AUTOCAD
Cons&ruc&ion Commands
ARRA+: 8akes m#ltiple copies of selected o'>ects in a rectang#lar or circ#lar pattern
Command: !RR!A (enter)
$elect o'>ects or <indo& or 0ast: (select o'>ect to array)
Rectang#lar or )olar array (R/)) .c#rrent/: ())
Center point of array: (pick the point aro#nd &hich to form the array)
!ngle to fill (JFCC<: CFC&) .,H5/: (enter)
COP+: Dra&s a copy of selected o'>ects.
Command: CO)A (enter)
$elect o'>ects or <indo& or 0ast: (select o'>ects to 'e copied)
Dase point or displacement: (pick a point on the o'>ect to 'e #se as a reference point)
$econd point of displacement: (pick a point &hich represents the ne& location of the copied
o'>ect)
MIRROR: 8akes mirror images of eisting o'>ects.
Command: 8IRROR (enter)
$elect o'>ects or <indo& or 0ast: (select o'>ects to 'e mirrored)
2irst point of mirror line: (pick a point on top of the mirror line)
$econd point: (pick a point on the 'ottom of the mirror line)
Delete old o'>ects@ .(/ y or n (enter)
MO.!: 8o"es designated entities to another location.
Command: 8O*1 (enter)
$elect o'>ects or <indo& or 0ast: (select o'>ects to mo"e)
Dase point or displacement: (pick a point on the o'>ect to 'e #se as a reference point)
$econd point of displacement: (pick a point &hich represents the ne& location of the o'>ect)
OFFS!T: Constr#cts an entity parallel to another entity at a specified distance. Offset can 'e #sed &ith
lines: circles: arcs: and polylines.
Command: O22$1T (enter)
Offset distance or Thro#gh .last/: (enter a distance "al#e)
$elect o'>ect to offset: (select o'>ect to offset)
$ide to offset: ()ick any point on the side of the o'>ect yo# &ish to offset)
FI!T: Changes any corner to a ro#nded corner.
Command: 2I001T
)olyline/Radi#s/!ngle/Trim/8ethod/ .$elect first line / : (pick the first line)
$elect second line: (pick the second line)
C'AMF!R: Changes any corner to an angled corner.
Command: C?!821R
)olyline/Distance/!ngle/Trim/8ethod/ . $elect first line / : (pick the first line)
$elect second line: (pick the second line)
OSNAP
Instantly locates eact points relati"e to eisting o'>ects (points).
O'>ect $nap 8odes: 1ndpoint: 8idpoint: Center: K#adrant: Intersection: Insertion: )erpendic#lar: Tangent:
(earest: (ode: and (one.
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BASIC DRAWING COMMANDS FOR AUTOCAD
P#acing #e&&ering on a drawing
T!(T: Dra&s tet characters of any si+e.
Command: T1=T (enter)
L#stify/$tyle/.$tart point/: (pick a starting point or enter a >#stification letter)
?eight (5) (enter the height of the lettering)
Rotation !ngle (5) (enter)
Tet: (enter the desired lettering) (enter)
$#mmary of Options
/S&ar& Poin&0 0eftCL#stifies tet along its 'aseline
1us&i2$ L#stifies tet according to the alignment options
S&$#e 1nters a ne& tet style
Nu## re"#$ 1nters a ne& line of tet 'elo& the pre"io#s tet.
(space or 1nter key &ill gi"e a (#ll reply)
Te3& A#ignmen& O"&ions
!lignment !''re"iation Orientation
!ligned ! !ligns tet 'et&een t&o points. Tet
height &ill ad>#st a#tomatically
2it 2 2its tet 'et&een t&o points. Tet height
&ill not change
Centered C Centers tet at the 'aseline of a specified
point
8iddle 8 Centers tet hori+ontally and "ertically at
the 'aseline of a specified point
Right R Right L#stify tet at the 'aseline of a
specified point
!lignment !''re"iation Orientation
Top 0eft T0 0eft L#stifies tet at the top of tet
Top Center TC Centers tet at the top of tet
Top Right TR Right >#stifies tet at the top to tet
8iddle 0eft 80 0eft >#stifies tet at the middle of tet
8iddle Center 8C Centers tet 'oth hori+ontally and "ertically
at the middle of the tet
8iddle Right 8R Right >#stifies tet at the middle of tet
Dottom 0eft D0 0eft >#stifies tet at the 'ottom of tet
Dottom Center DC Centers tet a the 'ottom of tet
Dottom Right DR Right >#stifies tet at the 'ottom of tet
The $)100 command &ill check the spelling of a gro#p of tet.
Cross-a&c-ing a drawing
B'ATC': !llo&s the #ser to crosshatch areas of a section "ie&.
Command: D?!TC? (enter)
The Do#ndary ?atch dialog#e Do &ill 'e displayed. $elect the ?atch Options 'o.
The ?atch Options 'o &ill 'e displayed. $elect the )atterns 'o.
The Choose ?atch )attern 'o &ill 'e displayed. $elect the desired hatch pattern.
The ?atch Options 'o &ill 'e displayed again. Ao# can select a scale and rotation angle for
the crosshatch pattern. $elect the OM 'o &hen finished.
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BASIC DRAWING COMMANDS FOR AUTOCAD
The Do#ndary ?atch dialog#e 'o &ill 'e displayed again. $elect the )ick )oints 'o. <hen
prompted select the internal point of the are to 'e crosshatched. )ress the enter key &hen
finished.
The Do#ndary ?atch dialog 'o &ill 'e displayed again. $elect the !pply 'o to add the
crosshatching to the dra&ing.
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