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 user interface save as menu

AutoCAD 2013 user interface Publish menu

AutoCAD 2013 user interface Drawing Utilities menu

4. Click on Home menu to view the Home menu 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.

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”.

13. Now move the cursor on to 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.

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

16. Now click on point 1 like shown below 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.

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

19. Enter the 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 use Undo and Redo 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)Draw a line by using line command. 2. 3. 4.Now save the drawing by clicking on save icon from quick access tool bar. BACK to Day-2 Lessions

How to work with Grid display and snap mode 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)To turn off Gid display click on Grid icon from status bar or press “F7” key from key board. e)To turn ON snap mode click on Snap icon from status bar or press “F9” key from key board. 2.We can observe the cursor movement co-ordinates from status bar. 3.Now we can turn ON the grid display and turn off the Snap mode by clicking on the icons located near status bar or by pressing “F7” and “F9” function keys from key board. Now we can observe the cursor not locked to move the snap points. Note: The snap co-ordinates are locked only when the command is active. 4.Now TURN ON the SNAP Mode by clicking Snap mode icon from status bar. Then click on “LINE” command icon form Draw tools. NOTE: We can observe the 0.5 multiflied co-ordinate value after click on the line command. Incase the cursor locking va...

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

step by step procedure to locking and unlocking layers 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)And draw the center lines. k)Then apply it’s layers accordingly. Now select layers drop down arrow to see the total layer types. Now click on Lock icon of object layer and we can observe lock to be closed. See the image bellow. 2.Now double click circle element then AutoCAD shows the quick properties dailog box. 3.Now click on radius box in quick properti...

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. ...

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 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...

Procedure to nonuniformly scaled unit blocks in AutoCAD

1. a)Open AutoCAD application from desktop shortcut icon or start menu. b)Click on “New icon” and select “acad” template file then click on “Open” button to start new document. 2.Create a unit square by using LINE command. 3.Create a STUD named block by using “BLOCK” command with square line elements. 4.Type “INSERT” and press ENTER KEY to view “INSERT” dialog box. 5.Select “STUD” block from block list. 6.Make sure to uncheck the “Specify on-Screen” check box. 7.Type “2” as scale value in X direction. 8.Type “4” as scale value in “Y” direction and click on “OK” button. 9.Pick anywhere in the workspace to insert the scaled block. 10.Again type “INSERT” and press ENTER KEY. 11.Select “STUD” from insert block’s list. 12.Enter “2” as scale value in X direction. 13.Enter “8” as scale value in Y direction. 14.Then click on “OK” button and place the scaled block in the workspace. 15.Type “INSERT” and press ENTER KEY. 16.Select “STUD” from insert block list. 17.Enter “2” as s...

How to use object snap, ortho and polar tracking modes in AutoCAD

1. a)Open AutoCAD application from desktop shortcut menu. b)Now click on model layout tab. c)Draw a line by using line command. d)Turn ON the object snap icon from quick access tool bar. 2.Select Line tool from home ribbon. 3. Specify the first point of the line in the model space. 4. Now specify the second point of the line in model space. 5. Now turn on the polar tracking button on status bar. 6. Now the polar distance and angle shown at cross hair. 7. Pick another point of the line and press key to exit from line command. 8. Now again click on polar tracking button to turn off the polar tracking and click on ortho mode button on status bat to turn on the ortho mode. 9. Again active the line command and pick starting point of the line and move the cursor around the workspace. Now we can observe the cursor moves only either horizontal or vertical. 10. 11. 12. Now save the current document. BACK to Day-2 Lessions

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