COMPUTER APPLICATION AND

AUTOCAD
FIRST STAGE
KOYA UNIVERSITY
PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT

INTRODUCTION TO
AUTOCAD
Azhi A. Faraj

Exploring AutoCAD
AutoCAD is a software application for 2D and 3D
computer-aided design and drafting.
Available since 1982 as a desktop application and
since 2010 as a mobile web- and cloud-based
app. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, Inc.
AutoCAD provides countless methods and tools
for producing, viewing, and editing twodimensional drawings and three-dimensional
models.

WHAT IS CAD?
Computeraided design is a creative design
process that is based on a computer system.
It can be either hardware or software based;
however, it is usually a software based program
that is used for design purposes.
This design process uses computer technology to
assist certain types of professionals in the design
and drawing of technical drawings. Computer aided
design is also referred to asCADor Computer aided
drafting.

AutoCad
The software permits designers, drafters,
engineers, and others to create, revise, model, and
document industrial parts and assemblies for
prototyping, mold-making, and manufacturing.
Around the world, organizations also use AutoCAD
for the design of maps, buildings, bridges, factories,
and just about every other product imaginable,
ranging from car parts and stereo equipment to
snow skis and cellular phones.

Starting AutoCAD
Start AutoCAD by double-clicking the
AutoCAD icon found on the Windows
desktop.
If the New Features Workshop dialog
box appears, select dont show me this
again and pick the OK button
If the Startup dialog box appears, click
the Cancel button. The AutoCAD window
appears

Exploring AutoCAD

Previewing Drawing Files

1.

2.
3.
4.

On the Quick Access toolbar, click on

the Open button. (The Open button is
the small square with a picture of an
open file folder.)
Navigate inside the Select File dialog
box and find the AutoCAD folder
Find and double-click the AutoCAD
folder named Sample.
Find and double-click the folder named
Mechanical Sample.

Previewing Drawing Files

5.

6.

7.

Double-click the file named MechanicalMultileaders.dwg, or single-click it and pick the

Open button
Pick the Model tab. This displays model view of
the drawing. This is the view for most drafting
and design work in AutoCAD.
Pick the Layout tab, labeled DWG-MB-SS03-PD19-001 SHT-1. This displays the drawing as it
would appear on a printed or plotted sheet.

Viewing Details
AutoCAD offers powerful tools for viewing details on
a drawing. For example, the zoom function allows
you to take a closer look at very small sections of
the drawing
1. On the bar at the bottom of the AutoCAD window, pick the
Zoom
button. The Zoom button displays a picture of a
magnifying glass.
2. Select the start and ending points that you want to
zoom in
In the lower left area of the window, you will see AutoCADs
Command line, which allows you to key in commands and
information. AutoCAD also displays important information in this
area. Notice that it is now asking you to specify the first corner of
the window.

Exiting AutoCAD
1. Click on the Command line, type the CLOSE
command using upper- or lowercase letters,
and press ENTER. When you press ENTER,
AutoCAD asks whether you want to save your
changes.
2. Pick the No button or Yes button according to
your need.

User Interface
AutoCADs user interface includes many parts
that are important to the efficient operation of
the software. For example the proper
positioning and grouping of buttons improves
the speed with which you create, edit, and
dimension drawings.
AutoCAD user interface includes
Panels, toolbars, palettes, dialog boxes, and
keystrokes to enter commands and interact
with AutoCAD

User Interface
The Ribbon

On the top of the AutoCAD window, just below the title

bar, is a wide area called the Ribbon.
The ribbon contains tabs
The tabs contain panels
The panels contain buttons.
a panel is a grouping of buttons for similar commands.
In the Home tab of the Ribbon, the Draw, Modify,
Layers, Annotation, Block, Properties, Utilities and
Clipboard panels are displayed.

User Interface

The menu browser

AutoCAD

2009 user interface includes a

Menu Browser located in the upper left
corner.
The Menu Browser provides easy access
to a variety of content including
commands and documents.
It displays a vertical list of menus. You
can select a menu item to launch the
associated command.

The menu browser

The menu browser

A

search tool at the top of the Menu

Browser enables you to search the CUI
(Customize User Interface) file for key
terms.
For example, as you begin typing L-I-N-E
in the search field, AutoCAD dynamically
filters the search options to display all
CUI entrees that include the word LINE
(Line type, Command Line, Line,
Multiline, etc).
You can click on a listed item to launch

The menu browser

Searching for the word LINE will return the
following

The menu browser

In

addition to command access, the

Menu Browser enables you to view and
access recent or open documents.

Drawing Area

The large area in the

center of the screen.

This is where you draw.

The size can be changed

at any time.

Model
Switches your

drawing between
paper space and
model space.

CrossHairs/ Cursor
The movement is

controlled by the
movement of the
pointing device
(mouse).
Use to locate points,

make selections and

draw objects.

Command Line
The three lines at the

bottom of the screen.

This is where you

enter commands and

AutoCAD will prompt
you to input
information.
The number of lines

visible can be
changed.

Status Bar
Displays your content settings
The settings can be turned on/off by

clicking on the word (SNAP, GRID,

ORTHO, etc) or by pressing the function
keys associated with each.

AutoCAD Coordinates System

The most direct way to enter points
precisely is to type numbers with the
keyboard. AutoCAD uses these keyboard
coordinate entry formats:
Absolute Cartesian (X,Y) coordinates
in the formX,Y(for example, 7,4)

Relative X,Y coordinates

in the form @X,Y
Defines a new point that is X units horizontally and Y
units vertically away from the current point.
For example:
@3,2
Defines a new point that is 3 units horizontally and 2
units vertically away from the current point.

Relative polar
coordinates
Is in the form @distance<angle
for example @6<45:
Defines a new point that is the specified distance
units away from the current point at the specified
angle from the origin.
In other words 6 units away from the current point at
the angle of 45

Function Keys
F1

HELP

F2

FLIPSCREEN

F3

OSNAP

F4

TABLET

F5

ISOPLANE

F6

COORDINATE

DISPLAY

F7

GRID

F8

ORTHO

F9

SNAP

F10

POLAR

F11

OTRACK

Special Function Keys

ESC- Cancels the

current command,
menu, or dialog box.
ENTER- Ends a

command; or will
repeat the previous
command if the
command line is
blank
SPACE BAR- Same

as the end key

Coordinate Display (F6)

In the ABSOLUTE mode: Displays the location of

the crosshairs/ cursor in reference to the origin.

The first number represents the horizontal (x
axis) and the second number represents the
vertical (y axis).
In RELATIVE POLAR mode: displays the distance

and angle of the cursor from the last point

entered.

SNAP (F9)
Increment Snap controls the movement of the

cursor. If it is off the cursor will move smoothly. If

it is ON, the cursor will jump in an incremental
movement. The increment spacing can be
changed, at any time using TOOLS/DRAFTING
SETTINGS. The default spacing is .250

GRID (F7)
The grid is merely a visual drawing aid. The

default spacing is 1 unit. You may change the

grid spacing at any time using: TOOLS/DRAFTING
SETTINGS.

ORTHO (F8)
When ORTHO is ON, the cursor movement is

restricted to horizontal or vertical. When ORTHO

is OFF, the cursor is free to move.

POLAR (F10)
POLAR TRACKING creates alignment paths at

specified angles.

OSNAP (F3)

RUNNING OBJECT SNAP- specific object snaps can

be set to stay active until you turn them off.

OTRACK (F11)
OBJECT SNAP TRACKING creates alignment

paths at precise positions using object snap

locations.
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