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Exploring the AutoCAD user interface

When working with any application we must need to know the User interface for getting speed up the work with all tools in the application.

1. Open AutoCAD application from desktop short cut or start menu.

2. Now click on the big “A” icon locatated near top left corner of the application interface.
AutoCAD 2013 user interface Application menu

3. Now using mouse select the each option from the list displayed.
AutoCAD 2013 Application menu new
AutoCAD 2013 user interface open menu
AutoCAD 2013 user interface save as menu
AutoCAD 2013 user interface Export menu
AutoCAD 2013 user interface Publish menu
AutoCAD 2013 user interface Print menu
AutoCAD 2013 user interface Drawing Utilities menu
AutoCAD 2013 user interface Close menu

4. Click on Home menu to view the Home menu ribbon.
AutoCAD 2013 user interface home ribbon

5. Click on drop down arrow near Draw panel to view the total draw tools.
AutoCAD user interface Draw panel before clicking
See the below image with expanded draw tools.
AutoCAD user interface Draw panel total tools

6. Now click on the drop down arrow near Circle to view circle sub options list.
AutoCAD 2013 user interface Sub tools drop down arrow

7. Now select 3-Point Circle.
AutoCAD 2013 set 3 point circle as default tool of circle

8. Now press “Esc” key from key board to exit from circle command.
9. Then see the circle icon again, it looks like 3 point circle icon setted as default. See the bellow image.
AutoCAD 2013 set 3 point circle as default tool of circle

10. Right click on home ribbon to view pop up menu and move the cursor on to “Show panels” and turn off the “Draw” option. Now observe draw panel is disappeared.
AutoCAD 2013 user interface how to show panels
11. Now again right click on menu ribbon and move the mouse cursor on to “Show Panels” and click “Draw” option to activate the Draw panel.
AutoCAD 2013 user interface display drawing panel on menu ribbon

12. Now click on near point 1 shown like below and select “Minimize to Panel Titles”.
Minimize to Panel Titles

13. Now move the cursor on to Modify block to view the total tools on modify panel.
Modify block to view the total tools on modify panel

14. Now again click on point 1 shown like below image and select “Minimize to To Tabs” option.
Minimize to To Tabs

15. Now click on Annotate menu to show the annotate menu ribbon.
Annotate menu to show the annotate menu ribbon

16. Now click on point 1 like shown below to switch the express tools.
to switch the express tools

17. Move the cursor to top edge of the command window then we can observe the cursor change it’s shape then drag the edge by pressing left button of mouse.
command window size increased

18. Press “F1” function key from key board to view help window.
view help window

19. Enter the topic name to search topic from help.
topic name to search topic from help


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Draw a line using polar co-ordinate system in AutoCAD

1. Open AutoCAD software from desktop short cut or from start menu.   2. Now type "LINE" and press ENTER KEY. Then enter 0,0 as first point of the line.   3. Then type 5<30 as second point of the line. This "<" symbol is used for the line point moves to 30 degrees from positive x-axis. 4.  Now again type 2.45<270 as next point of the line. 5. After generating the line press <Esc> key from key board to exit from line command. The lines shown like below image. BACK to Day-1 Lessions CLICK HERE to get CAD HOME Work help or project help (paid)

How to start AutoCAD software in windows operating system?

1. Click on window button located near left bottom corner then click on AutoDesk or AutoCAD folder then select "AutoCAD" to open the software. or Type "AutoCAD" in the search box located near bottom left corner of the desktop then right click on the displayed application the select "Run as administrator" option. 2. Then AutoCAD application opened look like bellow image. (it will take time depending upon the system configuration). 3. Basic user interface of the AutoCAD application. BACK to Day-1 Lessions CLICK HERE to get CAD HOME Work help or project help (paid)

How to draw a line using cartesian coordinate system on graph paper?

The Cartesian coordinate system in two dimensions (also called a rectangular coordinate system) is defined by an ordered pair of perpendicular lines (axes), a single unit of length for both axes and an orientation for each axis. The lines are commonly referred to as the x- and y-axes where the x-axis is horizontal and the y-axis is vertical. The point where the axes meet is taken as the origin for both, thus turning each axis into a number line. For a given point P, a line is drawn through P perpendicular to the x-axis to meet it at X and a second line is drawn through P perpendicular to the y-axis to meet it at Y. The coordinates of P are then X and Y interpreted as numbers x and y on the corresponding number lines. The coordinates are written as an ordered pair (x,y). BACK to Day-1 Lessions CLICK HERE to get CAD HOME Work help or project help (paid)

How to use Cartesian Coordinates in AutoCAD

Cartesian co-ordinate system is used to represent the X and Y coordinate values. We can draw elements by using a Cartesian coordinate system in AutoCAD. Generally in Cartesian coordinate system the x and y coordinate values are separated with comma (“,”). 1. See the two-dimensional cartesian coordinate grid system in the below image. 2. Generally co-ordinate system represents with its x and y co-ordinate values enclose with brackets. The first value in the enclosed brackets is for X value and the second value in the enclosed brackets if for Y value. The below image represents the line from (2,1) to (4,5). Syn: Type "LINE" and press ENTER KEY from key board. (the data we typed is inserted in command window). Then type 2,1 and press ENTER KEY. Then again type 4,5 and press ENTER KEY. Press <Esc> (escape) key to exit from line command. 3. The bellow line is drawn from (-2,-1) to (0,0). Syn: Type "LINE" and press ENTER KEY from key board. (th...

How to draw a line using polar co-ordinate system.

we can use absolute or relative polar coordinates (distance and angle) to locate points when creating objects. The polar coordinate system is a two-dimensional coordinate system in which each point P on a plane is determined by the length of its position vector r and the angle q between it and the positive direction of the x-axis . BACK to Day-1 Lessions CLICK HERE to get CAD HOME Work help or project help (paid)

Procedure to update and edit attributes in AutoCAD

1. a)Open AutoCAD application from desktop shortcut icon or start menu. b)Click on “open icon” and select “EX16-8” file then click on “Open” button. 2.Change the layer as “A-Glaze-Iden” as current. 3.Type “INSERT” command and press ENTER KEY. 4.Uncheck “Uniform scale” and type “48” as X-Scale. 5.Browse the previous saved file “Wintag” and open the file. 6.Locate the window tags like shown below. 7.Change manufacturer name from “Glassaram, Inc” to “SpectorLite” for all D type window tags by double clicking on the tags. 8.Change the color as “blue” for all the TAG attributes. 9.Save the drawing by clicking on quick save icon from quick access tool bar.

How to create new layers in AutoCAD

1. a) Open AutoCAD application from desktop shortcut menu. b) Click on Layer properties icon from home menu ribbon. 2. After clicking new layer icon, a new layer created with default name “Layer 1” now we can edit this name as “Dim” and press Enter Key from key board. Then the layer created with named as Dim. 3. Again press ENTER KEY to repeat the last command i.e. create a new layer. Then change layer name as “Object”. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.Save the drawing by clicking on save icon from quick access tool bar. BACK to Day-2 Lessions

How to use quick properties palette in AutoCAD

1. a)Open AutoCAD application from desktop shortcut menu. b)Select new document icon from quick access toolbar and open “ansi-a” template. c)Now click on model layout tab. d)Click on “LINE” command from draw panel. e)Now move the cursor to 4 units in X axis and 2 units in Y axis and pick the line stating point. f)Now move the cursor 2 units horzontally rights side and pick another point of the line. g)Like wise above steps move the cursor or cross hair to required points shown bellow image and pick the points to get the required shape. h)Finally enter “C” to close the line. i)And draw circle by using Circle command. j)Now drag the mouse over the circle after pressing left mouse button below the circle and end the dragging after closing the circle. 2. 3. 4. After changing center X value. See the image. 5. Now change center Y value. See the image. 6. After pressing key form KEY BOARD the circle deselected and quick properties window also disappears. 7. ...

Procedure to publish the drawing set in AutoCAD

1. a)Open AutoCAD application from desktop shortcut icon or start menu. b)Click on “Open icon” and select “welding_fx” file from database files then click on “Open” button to open the document. 2.Type “PUBLISH” command and press ENTER KEY. 3.Select “Welding_fix-Model” from sheet name list and click on “Remove” button. 4.Select “DWF” option from Publish to list. 5.Click on “Publish options” button. 6.Make sure “Multi-sheet file” as Type and “Include” as Layer information for general dwf options. 7.Click on Preview button to preview the drawing and click on close preview button. 8.Click on “Publish” button and give name as “CH15_EXERCISE5” and press ok button. 9.Click on “NO” button.

How to Switch model spcae to layout space in AutoCAD 2013

In AutoCAD we can add number of layouts depending upon the print scale of drawings. Basically model space is used to create the drawings and other layout spaces are used to see the real time output drawings. We need to set the layout spaces according to printing size of the document. 1.a)Open AutoCAD application from desktop shortcut menu. b)Select new document icon from quick access toolbar and open “ansi-a” template. c)Now click on model tab that is near bottom left corner of workspace. 2. a)Now click on “ANSI A Title block” tab and observe the UCS. 3.Save the drawing by clicking on “SAVE” icon from quick access toolbar and browse the location need to save then enter document name and click on save button.