Introduction to Commands

2.1 Open Existing Drawings

1. Choose File, OPEN.

2. Press CTRL + O.

3. Click the OPEN icon.

4. Type OPEN at the command prompt.

Command: OPEN

5. Press ENTER

6. Double Click the desired directory to find the drawing to

open.

7. Click the drawing name to open.

8. Click The OK button.

TIP:

-Preview shows a bitmap image of the drawing selected. This image is the

view that was last saved in the drawing. It will not show a preview of

drawings saved before R13 AutoCAD.

2.2 Creating a New Drawing

NEW Command

Creates a new drawing file.

1. Choose File, New.

2. Press CTRL + N

3. Click the New icon.

4. Type NEW at the Command prompt.

Command: NEW

5. Choose One of the options for creating a new drawing.

6. Click The OK button.

7. Save the drawing as another name.

TIP:

New drawings can also be created from Template Files.

2.3 Saving Drawings

Saves the most recent changes to a drawing. The first time an unnamed

drawing is saved the “Save As” dialog box appears. AutoCAD saves its

drawings as files with extensions ending in .DWG.

1. Choose File, Save or Saveas.

2. Type SAVE or SAVEAS at the command prompt.

Command: SAVE or SAVEAS

3. Press ENTER

4. Type A new drawing name or keep the existing drawing

name.

5. Click The OK button.

TIP:

Clicking the dropdown list for File type changes the format that the

drawing can be saved in.

Quick Save

The QSAVE command is equivalent to clicking Save on the File menu.

If the drawing is named, AutoCAD saves the drawing using the file format

specified on the Open and Save tab of the Options dialog box and does

not request a file name. If the drawing is unnamed, AutoCAD displays the

Save Drawing As dialog box (see SAVEAS) and saves the drawing with

the file name and format you specify.

1. Press CTRL + S.

2. Click the Save icon.

3. Type QSAVE at the command prompt,

Command:QSAVE

TIPS:

Drawings can be saved as different versions of AutoCAD (e.g. R13, R14,

R 2000, etc.)

AutoSave settings under Tools, Options…

2.4 File Safety Precautions

Autosave

AutoCAD automatically saves information in .SV$ files; however, users

should save their drawings to .DWG files every 10 minutes. A value of

zero (0) disables autosave.

Temporary Files

These files have the extensions .ac$ (temporary drawing file).

After a system failure, if you are on a network, you should not delete

temporary files until you have verified that they are not part of an active

editing session.

Other temporary files may be left in the drawing directory or the temporary

file directory.

AutoSave and SV$ under Tools, Options...., Open and Save

TIP:AutoCAD creates .BAK files that can be renamed to .DWG files.

Security Options

Specifies security settings to be used when your drawing is saved. The

Password option adds a password to a drawing when it is saved.

2.5 Exiting AutoCAD

1. Choose File, Exit.

2. Type QUIT at the command prompt.

Command: QUIT

3. Press ENTER

4. Click Yes to save changes or No to discard changes.

Launching AutoCAD

Chapter-1 Introduction

1.1 Launching AutoCAD

1. Choose Start from the Windows program manager.

2. Choose Programs, Autodesk ,AutoCAD 2004.

3. Click the AutoCAD 2004 for Windows icon.

4. Choose the AutoCAD 2004 icon from the desktop.

1.2 Text and Graphics Screens

The graphics screen and the text screen are two different screens available in the drawing editor.

1. Press Function key F2 on the keyboard.

TIPS:

Be sure the Model Tab is highlighted at the bottom of the drawing window. “Layouts” will be covered in a later session. The Cursor must be in the drawing window in order to select objects.

Maximize the AutoCAD windows to be full screen. This will make thedrawings bigger and easier to read. Use ALT + TAB to move between Windows applications.

1.3 Cursor

Controls the size of the crosshair. The allowable range is from 1 to 100percent of the total screen. At 100% the ends of the crosshair are nevervisible. When the size is decreased to 99% or below, the crosshairshave a finite size, and the crosshairs’ ends are visible when moved to

the edge of the graphics area. The default size is 5%.

1. Choose Tools, Options…

2. Click the Display TAB.

3. Drag the slider bar in the lower left corner of the dialog to

set the cursor size.

1.4 Canceling a Command

1. Press the ESCAPE (ESC) key on the keyboard.

TIP: Pressing ESC twice clears nested commands.

1.5 Menus and Colors

Pulldown Menus

1. Click On the desired Pulldown menu.

2. Click On the command to be executed from the pulldown.

Cascading Pulldown Menus

1. Click On a command that has a cascading menu

(menus with an arrow to the right of the menu)

2. Click On the command to be executed.

Cascading

Pulldown

1.6 Toolbars

Toolbars can be docked on the screen or they can float about the screen.

To Float a Toolbar:

1. Choose the gray border surrounding each tool.

2. Drag the toolbar to any area on the screen.

To Dock a Toolbar:

1. Choose the title or gray border of the toolbar.

2. Drag the toolbar to the top, bottom, left, or right area of the

graphics display.

TIPS:

-Holding the CTRL key while dragging will prevent docking.

-Toolbars are often a faster way of accessing a command.

-Clicking on an icon with the right mouse button will show a list of all

available toolbars.

Help Tooltips

1. Move The mouse to the toolbar but do not pick the button.

Loading Toolbars

1. Choose View, Toolbar...

2. Type TOOLBAR at the command prompt

Command: TOOLBAR

3. Choose the desired toolbar to load.

1.7 Status Bar and Command Prompt

The Status Bar is the area below the command line that shows messages as well as coordinates, modes, and the current time.

To activate SNAP, GRID, ORTHO, OSNAP, MSPACE, PSPACE, and

TILE, you must double-click on the mode to change.

TIP:

• Right click on the status bar to see the options.

1.8 Typings Command - Aliases

Typing a Command

All AutoCAD commands can be typed in at the command line. Many commands also have one or two letter aliases that can also be typed asshortcuts to the commands.

1. Type the desired command at the command

prompt.

Command : LINE

2. Type the command’s alias.

Command: L

3. Press ENTER.

4. Type an option at the command prompt.

TIP:

Many AutoCAD commands require you to press ENTER to complete the command. You know you are no longer in an AutoCAD command when you see a blank command line.

Tip : Reissuing the Last Command

always act as ENTER, the SPACEBAR and RIGHT MOUSE will act as

enter most of the time (exceptions include placing TEXT).

1. Press the ENTER key on the keyboard

2. Press the Space bar on the keyboard.

3. Click the right mouse button.

1.9 Pointing Device (Mouse)

AutoCAD uses either a mouse or digitizing tablet to select objects in a

drawing.

Left Mouse Button

Used to pick or select objects

1. Click the left mouse button to select an object area in the

drawing.

2. Press ESC twice to deselect an object (or to cancel a

command).

Right Mouse Button

Used to enter a command, repeat last command, or access shortcut

menus.

1. Click the right mouse button.

TIPS:

• SHIFT + the right mouse button brings up the object snap menus.

• Various screen locations for the mouse brings up different menus.

1.10 Undo and Redo

Reverses the last action.

1. Choose Edit, Undo.

2. Click the Undo icon.

3. Press CTRL + Z.

4. Type U at the command prompt to undo the

last command.

Command: U

Redo

Reverses the effects of a single UNDO or U command.

1. Choose Edit, Redo.

2. Click the Redo icon.

3. Type REDO at the command prompt to redo the

last undo command.

Command: REDO

TIPS:

-UNDO has no effect on some commands and system variables, including those that open, close, or save a window or a drawing, display information, change the graphics display, regenerate the drawing, or export the drawing in a different format.

-REDO must immediately follow the U or UNDO command.

1.11 Function and Accelerator Keys

F1 Online Help

F2 Flipscreen

F3 Osnap ON/OFF

F4 Tablet On/Off

F5 Isoplane Toggle

F6 Coords On/Off

F7 Grid On/Off

F8 Ortho On/Off

F9 Snap On/Off

F10 Polar On/Off

F11 Object Snap Tracking ON/OFF

Press CTRL + A to turn GROUPS on/off.

Press CTRL + B to turn SNAP on/off.

Press CTRL + C to COPYCLIP

Press CTRL + D to turn COORDS on/off.

Press CTRL +E to Toggle Isoplane settings.

Press CTRL +F to turn Osnaps ON/OFF

Press CTRL + G to turn GRID on/off.

Press CRTL + K for Hyperlinks

Press CTRL + L to turn ORTHO ON/OFF

Press CTRL + N to create a NEW drawing.*

Press CTRL + O to OPEN an existing drawing.*

Press CTRL + P to PLOT a drawing.*

Press CTRL + S to qsave a drawing.*

Press CTRL + T to turn the digitizing tablet on/off.

Press CTRL + X to cut to Clipboard.*

Press CTRL + Z to UNDO

1.12 On-Line Help

1. Choose Help, AutoCAD Help.

2. Click the Help icon.

3. Type HELP at the command prompt

Command: HELP

4. Press Function Key F1