AutoCAD 101
Course Objective
 
Course Objective: 

After reviewing this manual, you will be able to: 

• Open and close files, navigate the user interface and use the Zoom commands to adjust the display of 
objects on the screen.  
• Create and manage layers and obtain information from objects in the drawing. 
• Describe units, function keys and coordinate systems 
• Create basic objects, using different data input techniques, object snaps, object snap tracking, polar 
tracking, and PolarSnap.  
• Select, modify, and adjust the properties of objects using object grips along with the Erase, Move, Copy, 
Rotate, Mirror and Array commands.  
• Modify objects by changing their size, shape and orientation using Trim, Extend, Scale, Offset, Join, 
Stretch, Explode and other commands.  
• Create layouts and manipulate viewports in the layouts.  
• Create and edit annotation objects using multiline and single line text.  
• Create, edit, and manage dimensions and dimension styles.  
• Enhance the drawing's visual appearance with hatch patterns and gradient fills.  
• Create blocks and reuse them in your drawings using the Insert command, DesignCenter, and tool 
palettes. 
• Create multiple segmented polylines and add tables to your drawings.  
• Create and use page setups, and plot your designs from layouts and model space.  
• Use drawing templates to simplify the process of creating new drawings that contain all the required 
dimension styles, text styles, and layers that you would otherwise create manually, each time you created 
a new drawing.  

Topics include: 

• Understanding the AutoCAD workspace and user interface 
• Setting up layers, styles and templates 
• Organizing drawing objects on layers  
• Using basic drawing, editing and viewing tools  
• Inserting reusable symbols (blocks)  
• Adding text, hatching, and dimensions  
• Preparing a layout to be plotted

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Course Objective  i 

 
AutoCAD 101
Course Outline
 
1. Getting Started with AutoCAD
1.1. Starting AutoCAD ......................................................................................................... 2 
1.2. Basics of the User Interface ......................................................................................... 3 
1.2.1. About the Ribbon ................................................................................................. 8 
1.2.2. About the Application Status Bar ......................................................................... 12 
1.3. Opening Drawing Files 
1.3.1. Command: Open ................................................................................................... 13 
1.3.2. Command: New .................................................................................................... 14 
1.4. Saving Your Work 
1.4.1. Command: Save .................................................................................................... 15 
1.4.2. Command: SaveAs ................................................................................................ 16 
1.5. Basics of a Drawing Layout .......................................................................................... 17 
1.6. Basics of File Referencing ............................................................................................ 22 
2. Organizing Your Drawing with Layers
2.1. Basics of Layers and Properties ................................................................................... 28 
2.1.1. Layer Commands .................................................................................................. 37 
2.1.2. Properties of Objects ............................................................................................ 41 
3. Basic Drawing & Editing
3.1. Overview of Basic Drawing Commands ....................................................................... 45 
3.1.1. Lines ...................................................................................................................... 53 
3.1.2. Circles ................................................................................................................... 55 
3.1.3. Ellipses .................................................................................................................. 58 
3.1.4. Arcs ....................................................................................................................... 61 
3.1.5. Polylines ................................................................................................................ 68 
3.1.6. Polygons & Rectangles .......................................................................................... 72 
3.1.7. Hatching & Fills ..................................................................................................... 74 
3.2. Basic Selection of Objects for Editing............................................................... 81 
3.3. Overview of Basic Editing Commands .............................................................. 82 
3.3.1. Erase ..................................................................................................................... 91 
3.3.2. Move ..................................................................................................................... 92 
3.3.3. Copy ...................................................................................................................... 93 
3.3.4. Offset .................................................................................................................... 95 
3.3.5. Scale ...................................................................................................................... 97 
3.3.6. Rotate ................................................................................................................... 98 
3.3.7. Trim ....................................................................................................................... 99 
3.3.8. Extend ................................................................................................................... 103 
3.3.9. Mirror ................................................................................................................... 106 

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AutoCAD 101
Course Outline
 
3. Overview of Basic Editing Commands (con’t)
3.3.10. Stretch .................................................................................................................. 108 
3.3.11. Fillet ...................................................................................................................... 110 
3.3.12. Chamfer ................................................................................................................ 114 
3.3.13. Explode ................................................................................................................. 117 
3.3.14. Align ...................................................................................................................... 119 
3.3.15. Array ..................................................................................................................... 121 
3.3.16. Divide .................................................................................................................... 122 
3.3.17. Measure ................................................................................................................ 124 
3.3.18. Pedit ...................................................................................................................... 126 
3.4. Basics of Editing with Grips .......................................................................................... 127 
3.5. Basics of Polar Tracking  & PolarSnaps ........................................................................ 129 
3.6. Basics of Osnaps .......................................................................................................... 131 
3.7. Undo and Redo ............................................................................................................ 132 
4. Getting Information from Your Drawing
4.1. Measuring Objects .......................................................................................................  
4.1.1. Distance ................................................................................................................ 136 
4.1.2. Area ...................................................................................................................... 137 
5. Blocks
5.1. Basics of Working with Blocks ..................................................................................... 140 
5.1.1. Creating Blocks ..................................................................................................... 144 
5.1.2. Inserting Blocks  .................................................................................................... 146 
5.2. Working with Dynamic Blocks  .................................................................................... 148 
5.3. Working with DesignCenter ......................................................................................... 152 
5.4. Basics of Tool Palettes ................................................................................................. 154 
6. Printing Your Drawing
6.1. Basic Principles of Printing ........................................................................................... 156 
6.1.1. Set Up Your Drawing for Printing (Pagesetup) ..................................................... 160 
6.1.2. Using the PRINT/PLOT Command ......................................................................... 163 
7. Text
7.1. Basic Notes and Labels................................................................................................. 173 
7.1.1. Text ....................................................................................................................... 178 
7.1.2. Mtext .................................................................................................................... 181 
7.1.3. Leaders ................................................................................................................. 184 
7.1.4. Fields ..................................................................................................................... 186 
7.2. Basics of Tables  ........................................................................................................... 190 
7.2.1. Creating & Modifying Tables ................................................................................ 195 

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AutoCAD 101
Course Outline
 
8. Dimensions
8.1. Basic Dimensioning ...................................................................................................... 199 
8.1.1. Dimension Commands .......................................................................................... 202 
9. Working Effectively with AutoCAD
9.1. Creating a Custom Workspace  
9.2. Using the Keyboard Effectively  
9.3. Object Creation, Selection and Visibility  
9.4. Working in Multiple Drawings  
9.5. Copying and Pasting Between Drawings  
10. Helpful Hints
10.1. Common AutoCAD Terminology .................................................................................. 206 
10.2. Basic Commands .......................................................................................................... 208 
10.3. Basic Object Snaps ....................................................................................................... 210 
10.4. Basic Zoom Commands ................................................................................................ 211 
10.5. Shortcut Key Reference ............................................................................................... 213 

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AutoCAD 101 1

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101  1 
 
AutoCAD 101 1.1
Starting AutoCAD
 
Note: For Users of this manual, we will be using AutoCAD 2014 – English (v G.55.0.0).

To start AutoCAD from the Windows Desktop:

Double-Click on the ‘AutoCAD 2014 – English’ Windows Icon:

To start AutoCAD from the Start Menu:

Click on the ‘AutoCAD 2014 – English’ menu item.

Start | All Programs | Autodesk | AutoCAD 2014 – English: 

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AutoCAD 101 1.2
Basics of the User Interface
 
Let’s review the basic ways you can control AutoCAD.
AutoCAD includes a standard tabbed ribbon across the top of the drawing area. You can access nearly
every command presented in this guide from the Home tab. In addition, the Quick Access toolbar shown
below includes familiar commands such as New, Open, Save, Print, Undo, and so on.

The Command Window

At the heart of AutoCAD is the Command window, which is normally docked at the bottom of the
application window. The Command window displays prompts, options, and messages.

You can enter commands directly in the Command window instead of using the ribbon, toolbars, and
menus. Many long-time AutoCAD users prefer this method. Some commands must be completed in the
Command window, regardless of how they are started.
Notice that as you start to type a command, it is completed automatically. When several possibilities are
available such as in the example below, you can make your choice by clicking it or using the arrow keys
and pressing Enter or the Spacebar. Many people find that pressing the Spacebar is more convenient to
use than pressing Enter.

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AutoCAD 101 1.2
Basics of the User Interface
 
The Mouse

Most people use a mouse as their pointing device, but other devices have equivalent controls.

Tip:
When you look for an option, try right-clicking. Depending on where you locate your cursor, different
context menus will display relevant commands and options.

New Drawings
You can easily conform to industry or company standards by specifying settings for text, dimensions,
linetypes, and several other features. For example, this backyard deck design displays two different
dimension styles.

All these settings can be saved in a drawing template file. Click New to choose from several drawing
template files:

• For imperial drawings that assume your units are inches, use acad.dwt or acadlt.dwt.
• For metric units that assume your units are millimeters, use acadiso.dwt or acadltiso.dwt.
Also, the Tutorial template files are simple examples for the architectural or mechanical design disciplines
with both imperial (i) and metric (m) versions. You might want to experiment with them.

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AutoCAD 101 1.2
Basics of the User Interface
 
New Drawings (con’t)

Most companies use drawing template files that conform to company standards. They will often use
different drawing template files depending on the project or the client.

Create Your Own Drawing Template File

You can save any drawing (.dwg) file as a drawing template (.dwt) file. You can also open any existing
drawing template file, modify it, and then save it again, possibly with a different filename.

If you work independently, you can develop your drawing template files to suit your working preferences,
and over time you can add the settings for other features as you become familiar with them.
To modify an existing drawing template file, click Open, specify the DWT file type in the Select File dialog
box, and choose the template file.

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AutoCAD 101 1.2
Basics of the User Interface
 
Create Your Own Drawing Template File (con’t)

Specifying the DWT file type displays the drawing template files in the default Template folder.

Important:
If your District has already established a set of drawing template files, check with your CAD manager
before modifying any of them.

Units
When you first start a drawing, you need to decide what the length of one unit represents—an inch, a
foot, a centimeter, a kilometer, or some other unit of length. For example, the objects below could
represent two buildings that are each 125 feet long, or they could represent a section from a mechanical
part that is measured in millimeters.

Note:
You do not ever specify the basic units of measurement used in an AutoCAD drawing, but you can control
how lengths, angles, and coordinates are displayed in the user interface.

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AutoCAD 101 1.2
Basics of the User Interface
 
Unit Display Settings
After you decide what unit of length that you want to use, the UNITS command lets you control several
unit display settings including the following:
• Format (or Type). For example a decimal length of 6.5 can be set to display as a fractional length of
6-1/2 instead.
• Precision. For example, a decimal length of 6.5 can be set to display as 6.50, 6.500, or 6.5000.
Changing the unit format and precision does not affect the internal precision of your drawing. It affects
only how values round off when lengths, angles, and coordinates are displayed in the user interface.

Tip:
If you plan to work in feet and inches, use the UNITS command to set the unit type to Architectural, and
then when you create objects, specify their lengths in inches. If you plan to use metric units, leave the unit
type set to Decimal. As mentioned previously, these settings are typically stored in drawing template files.

Model Scale
Always create your models at full size (1:1 scale). The term model refers to the geometry of your design.
A drawing includes the model geometry along with the views, notes, dimensions, callouts, tables, and the
title block displayed in the layout.
You can specify the scaling that is necessary to print a drawing on a standard-sized sheet later, when you
create the layout. Additional information about scaling and layouts is described in "Layouts."

Helpful Tips:
• To open Help with information about the command in progress, press the F1 key during the
command.
• To repeat the previous command, press Enter or the Spacebar.
• To see various options, select an object and right-click, or right-click a user interface element.
• To cancel a command in progress or if you ever feel stuck, press the Esc key. For example, if you
click in the drawing area before entering a command, you will see something like the following:

Press ‘Esc’ to cancel this pre-selection operation.

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AutoCAD 101 1.2.1
About the Ribbon
 
The ribbon organizes tools in logical groupings.

The ribbon provides a compact palette of all of the tools necessary to create or modify your drawing. It
can be in placed in the following positions:
• Docked horizontally at the top of the drawing area (default)
• Docked vertically along the right or left edge of the drawing area
• Undocked, or floating, within the drawing area or on a second monitor
The orientation of the tabs changes when the ribbon is vertically docked or floating.
The ribbon is displayed only when a new or existing document is open in the drawing area.

Ribbon Tabs and Panels

The ribbon is composed of a series of tabs, which are organized into panels that contain many of the
tools and controls available in toolbars.

Some ribbon panels provide access to a dialog box related to that panel. To display the related dialog
box, click the dialog box launcher is denoted by an arrow icon, , in the lower-right corner of the panel.

To change which ribbon tabs and panels are displayed, right-click the ribbon and, on the shortcut menu,
click or clear the names of tabs or panels.

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AutoCAD 101 1.2.1
About the Ribbon
 
Floating Panels

If you pull a panel off of a ribbon tab and into the drawing area or onto another monitor, that panel floats
where you placed it. The floating panel remains open until you return it to the ribbon, even if you switch
ribbon tabs.

Slideout Panels
An arrow in the middle of a panel title, , indicates that you can slide out the panel to display additional
tools and controls. Click on the title bar of an open panel to display the slideout panel. By default, a
slideout panel automatically closes when you click another panel. To keep a panel expanded, click the
push pin, , in the bottom-left corner of the slideout panel.

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AutoCAD 101 1.2.1
About the Ribbon
 
Contextual Ribbon Tabs
When you select a particular type of object or execute some commands, a special contextual ribbon tab is
displayed instead of a toolbar or dialog box. The contextual tab is closed when you end the command.

Check Boxes
Check boxes allow you to toggle an option on or off. A third, indeterminate state occurs if the setting
differs for multiple objects.

Radio Buttons
Depending on the available space in the vertical or horizontal ribbon, radio buttons can collapse into a
single button. A single radio button works as a toggle, allowing you to cycle through each item in the list,
or as a split button, where the top half of the radio button is a toggle button and clicking on the arrow icon
in the lower half displays a drop-down of all items in the list.

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AutoCAD 101 1.2.1
About the Ribbon
 
Sliders

When an option can be executed with varying intensity, the slider allows you to control the setting from
lower to higher, or reverse.

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AutoCAD 101 1.2.2
About the Status Bar
 
The application status bar displays the cursor location, drawing tools, and tools that affect your drawing
environment.

The application status bar gives quick access to some of the most commonly used drawing tools. You
can toggle settings such as snap, grid, polar tracking, object snap, and orthogonal mode or access
additional settings from the shortcut menu. The coordinates shown in the left-hand side indicate the
current location of the cursor.

You can preview and switch between open drawings and layouts. Additional tools can be used for scaling
annotations.
With the Workspace button, you can switch workspaces and display the name of the current workspace.
The lock button locks the current positions of the toolbars and windows. To expand the drawing display
area, click the Clean Screen button.
 

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AutoCAD 101 1.3.1
Commands: OPEN
 
Open an existing drawing file.

Access Methods
Button:

Menu: Application menu Open Drawing

Menu: File Open
Toolbar: Standard
Command entry: OPEN

Summary

The Select File dialog box (a standard file selection dialog box) is displayed.
You can open and load a portion of a drawing, including geometry on a specific view or layer. In the
Select File dialog box, click the arrow next to Open and choose Partial Open or Partial Open Read-Only
to display the Partial Open dialog box.

Note:
If the drawing you open contains macros, the AutoCAD Macro Virus Protection dialog box is displayed.
 

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AutoCAD 101 1.3.2
Commands: NEW
 
Create a new drawing.

Access Methods
Button:

Menu: File New

Command entry: NEW

Summary

The behavior of the NEW command is determined by the STARTUP system variable.
• 1: NEW displays the Create New Drawing dialog box.
• 0: NEW displays the Select Template dialog box (a standard file selection dialog box).
 

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AutoCAD 101 1.4.1
Commands: SAVE
 
Save the drawing under the current file name.

Access Methods
Button:

Menu: Application menu Save

Command entry: QSAVE

Summary

Save drawing files for later use just as you do with other applications. You can also set up automatic
saving and backup files and save only selected objects.

When you work on a drawing, you should save it frequently. Saving protects you from losing work in the
event of a power failure or other unexpected event. If you want to create a new version of a drawing
without affecting the original drawing, you can save it under another name.
The file extension for drawing files is .dwg, and unless you change the default file format in which
drawings are saved, drawings are saved in the latest drawing file format. This format is optimized for file
compression and for use on a network.

Note:
The character limit for a DWG file name (including its path) is 256 characters.

Note:
If you share drawing files with companies using earlier releases of the product, you can avoid file name
issues for Asian languages and languages that use accented characters. In those circumstances, do not
use high ASCII values, or values of 80 hexadecimal and above, when creating a file name.

Tip:

To Save a Drawing Automatically

From the options dialog box, you can enable, disable, or change the frequency of, Automatic Save.

1. Right-click the drawing area and choose Options.

2. On the Open and Save tab, under the File Safety Precautions, select the ‘Automatic Save’ check
box.
3. Enter a number in ‘Minutes Between Saves’.

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AutoCAD 101 1.4.2
Commands: SAVEAS
 
Save the drawing under the current file name or a specified name.

Access Methods
Button:

Menu: Application menu SaveAs

Command entry: SAVE

Summary

The Save Drawing As standard file selection dialog box is displayed.

In the Save Drawing As dialog box, click Tools Options displays the Saveas Options dialog box, which
™
controls various DWG and DXF settings. Saving a drawing to any DXF format affects performance.

If you choose to save a file as a drawing template, the Template Options dialog box is displayed, where
you can provide a description for the template and set the units of measurement.

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AutoCAD 101 1.5
Basics of a Drawing Layout
 
Display one or more scaled views of your design on a standard-size drawing sheet called a layout.

After you finish creating a model at full size, you can create scaled views of the model for printing, and
you can add notes, labels, and dimensions. You can also specify different linetypes and line widths.

Model Space and Paper Space

As you know, you create the geometry of your model in model space.

Originally, this was the only space available in AutoCAD. As a result, all notes, labels, dimensions, and
the drawing border and title block were also created in model space.
After paper space was introduced, you could click a layout tab to access a space designed specifically for
layouts and scaling. In the following illustration, paper space is active. There are currently only two
objects in paper space: a drawing border and title block, and a single layout viewport, which displays a
view of model space.

Working with layout viewports is described in more detail later in this topic.

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AutoCAD 101 1.5
Basics of a Drawing Layout
 
Four Methods for Scaling
There are four different methods in AutoCAD that are used to scale views, notes, labels, and dimensions.
Each method has its advantages depending on how the drawing will be used. Here is a brief summary of
each of the methods:
• The Original Method. You create geometry, annotate, and print from model space. Dimensions,
notes, and labels must all be scaled in reverse. You set the dimension scale to the inverse of the
plot scale. With this method, scaling requires a little math. For example, a common scale used in
architecture is 1/4" = 1'-0" which is 1:48 scale. If a note is to be printed ¼" high, then it must be
created 48 times as large, or 12" high in model space. The same scale factor also applies to
dimensions, and an ARCH D drawing border at that scale is 144 feet long. When the drawing is
printed as a D-size sheet, everything scales down to the correct size.
Note: Many existing drawings may have been created with this method. Once everything is set up,
the method works well for 2D drawings with single views and inserted details.

• The Annotative Method. You create geometry in model space, create annotative dimensions, notes,
and labels (using a special annotative style) in model space from the layout, and you print from the
layout. Annotative objects display only in layout viewports that share the same scale. The dimension
scale is automatically set to 0 and all annotative objects scale automatically.
• The Trans-Spatial Method. You create geometry in model space, create annotations in paper space
on a layout with dimension scale set to 1, and you print from the layout. This is arguably the easiest,
most direct method, and it is the method of choice for this guide.
Talk to other AutoCAD users in your discipline about these methods and get their opinions. There are
advantages to each method.

Specifying the Paper Size of a Layout

The first thing that you should do when you access a layout tab is right-click the tab and rename it to
something more specific than Layout 1. For a D-size layout, ARCH D or ANSI D might be good choices.

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AutoCAD 101 1.5
Basics of a Drawing Layout
 
Specifying the Paper Size of a Layout (con’t)
Next, open the Page Setup Manager to change the paper size displayed in the layout tab.

Note:
You might be wondering why there are two entries in the list for every sheet size. This is because some
printers and plotters do not recognize the drawing orientation setting.

Layout Viewports
A layout viewport is an object that is created in paper space to display a scaled view of model space. You
can think of it as a closed-circuit TV monitor that displays part of model space. In the illustration, model
space is active and accessible from within the current layout viewport.

In a layout, when model space is active, you can pan and zoom, and do everything else just as if you
were on the Model tab.

Important:
You can switch between paper space and model space by double-clicking inside and outside the layout
viewport.

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AutoCAD 101 1.5
Basics of a Drawing Layout
 
Layout Viewports (con’t)
Here is an example of how you would use paper space. In the illustrations below, you created a backyard
deck design in model space, and now you want to lay out and print your design from a layout tab.

Note:
You can use the MVIEW (make view) command to create additional layout viewports in paper space. With
several layout viewports, you can display several views of model space if necessary.

Here are the steps that you might follow if you use the trans-spatial method of annotating your drawing:

1. You click the layout tab. If you started the drawing with your own custom drawing template (.dwt) file,
several tasks might already have been completed: the layout might already be set to D-size, and the
title block might already have been inserted in the layout.

2. By default, paper space is active, so you double-click within the layout viewport to make model
space active. Notice that the edge of the layout viewport becomes thicker as a result of switching to
model space.

3. You zoom out and center the model space view by panning. However the displayed view is not at
the scale that you want.

4. You double-click outside the layout viewport to make paper space active again.

5. You open the Properties palette and click to select the edge of the layout viewport.

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AutoCAD 101 1.5
Basics of a Drawing Layout
 
Layout Viewports (con’t)

6. In the Properties palette, you specify a standard scale of 1/4" = 1'-0" from the drop-down list. This
action scales your view of model space precisely to the D-size drawing. You also set the Display
Locked property from No to Yes. This prevents any unintentional changes to the displayed view.

Note: By default, the dashes and spaces in a non-continuous linetype appear at the same length
regardless of the scale of the layout viewport.

7. You then might want to move the layout viewport a little, and you adjust its edges using grips.

8. You create notes, labels, and dimensions directly in paper space. They automatically appear at the
correct size.

9. You turn off the layer on which you created the layout viewport object. This hides the edges of the
layout viewport as shown below.

10. You print the drawing.

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AutoCAD 101 1.6
Basics of File Referencing
 

Attaching and Detaching Referenced Drawings (Xrefs)

You can insert any drawing file as an external reference or xref in the current drawing.

You can attach an entire drawing file to the current drawing as a referenced drawing (xref). With xrefs,
changes made in the referenced drawing are reflected in the current drawing. Attached xrefs are linked
to, but not actually inserted in, another drawing. Any changes to a referenced drawing are displayed in
the current drawing when it is opened or reloaded. Therefore, with xrefs you can build drawings without
significantly increasing the drawing file size.
By using referenced drawings, you can
• Coordinate your work with the work of others by referencing other drawings in your drawing to keep
up with the changes being made by other designers. You can also assemble a master drawing from
component drawings that may undergo changes as a project develops.
• Ensure that the most recent version of the referenced drawing is displayed. When you open your
drawing, each referenced drawing is automatically reloaded, so it reflects the latest state of the
referenced drawing file.
• Keep the names of layers, dimensioning styles, text styles, and other named elements in your
drawing separate from those in referenced drawings.
• Merge (bind) attached referenced drawings permanently with your current drawing when the project
is complete and ready to be archived.
Notes:
Like a block reference, an xref appears in the current drawing as a single object. However, you cannot
explode an xref without binding it first.
A drawing file can be attached as an xref to multiple drawings at the same time. Conversely, multiple
drawings can be attached as referenced drawings to a single drawing.

Tools for Attaching Xrefs

You can use several methods to attach an xref:

• Click View tab Palettes panel External References Palette.
• Click Tools menu Palettes Reference Manager.
• At the Command prompt, enter EXTERNALREFERENCES.
• At the Command prompt, enter XATTACH.
™
You can also use DesignCenter to attach xrefs to a drawing. Use DesignCenter for simple attachments,
previewing drawing references and their descriptions, and quick placement by dragging.
You can attach an xref by dragging it from DesignCenter or by clicking Attach as Xref on the shortcut
menu.
The saved path used to locate the xref can be a relative (partially specified) path, the full path, or no path.

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AutoCAD 101 1.6
Basics of File Referencing
 
If an xref contains any variable block attributes, they are ignored.

Receive Notification of Attached Xrefs

An xref icon is displayed in the lower-right corner of the application window (the status bar tray) when
xrefs are attached to the drawing.

When one or more xrefs are not found, an exclamation point is added to the Xref icon. If you click the Xref
icon, the External References palette is displayed.

Detaching Referenced Drawings

To completely remove DWG references (xrefs) from your drawing, you need to detach them rather than
erase them.
Erasing xrefs does not remove, for example, layer definitions associated with those xrefs. Using the
Detach option removes the xrefs and all associated information.

Highlight External References in a Drawing

To find an external reference in a complex drawing, select an item in the External References palette to
highlight all visible instances in the drawing. Conversely, select an external reference in the drawing to
highlight its name in the External References palette.
To find an external reference in a complex drawing, select an item in the Reference Manager palette to
highlight all visible instances in the drawing. Conversely, select an external reference in the drawing to
highlight its name in the Reference Manager palette.

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AutoCAD 101 1.6
Basics of File Referencing
 

Control the Properties of Referenced Layers

You can control the visibility, color, linetype, and other properties of an xref's layers and make these
changes temporary or permanent. If the VISRETAIN system variable is set to 0, these changes apply only
to the current drawing session. They are discarded when you end the drawing session, or when you
reload or detach the xref.
You can also control the fade display of the DWG xref. The XDWGFADECTL system variable defines the
fade percentage for all DWG xrefs.

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AutoCAD 101 1.6
Basics of File Referencing
 
Xref Clipping Boundaries
Drawings can include xrefs that are clipped. If you want to see the clipping boundary, you can turn on the
XCLIPFRAME system variable.

Reference Manager

With the Reference Manager, you can view DWF, DWFx, PDF, and DGN underlays that are attached to a
DWG file and edit the paths of the attachments.

With the Reference Manager you can check any file dependencies that a drawing file may have. You can
also load and unload underlays and perform various other operations. The properties reported by the
Reference Manager include
• File type
• Status
• File name
• Reference name
• Saved path
• Found path
• Host drawing
• Host version
You can view the list of references by drawing or by reference type.

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AutoCAD 101 1.6
Basics of File Referencing
 
Summary
The External References palette organizes, displays, and manages referenced files, such as DWG files
(xrefs), DWF, DWFx, PDF, or DGN underlays, raster images, and point clouds (not available in AutoCAD
LT).
Only DWG, DWF, DWFx, PDF, and raster image files can be opened directly from the External
References palette.
Shortcut menus provide additional options for working with the files.

File References
Displays a list of references in the current drawing, including information such as status, size, and date of
creation.
Click the buttons to switch from list to tree view:

Details

Displays information or a preview image of a selected reference.

Click the buttons to switch from the detail display to a thumbnail preview:

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Basics of File Referencing  26 

 
AutoCAD 101 2

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101  27 

 
AutoCAD 101 2.1
Basics of Layers and Properties
 
Organize your drawing by assigning objects to layers, and by assigning properties such as color and
linetype to objects.

As drawings become larger, they quickly become visually complex and the graphical information needs to
be organized. In the following drawing, the walls, exterior stone facing, doors, fixtures, cabinetry, HVAC,
electrical, and text were created using different colors to help differentiate between them.

Layers
When a drawing becomes visually complex, you can hide the objects that you currently do not need to
see. In the drawing below, the doors and electrical wiring were temporarily hidden by turning off their
layers.

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AutoCAD 101 2.1
Basics of Layers and Properties
 
You gain this level of control by organizing the objects in your drawing on layers that are associated with
a specific function or a purpose. It might be helpful to think of layers as clear plastic sheets:

Use layers to associate objects by their function, to display and hide related objects, and to enforce
linetype, color, and other property standards.

Important:
Resist the temptation to create everything on one layer. Layers are the most important organizing feature
available in any AutoCAD drawing.

Layer Controls
To see how the drawing was organized, use the LAYER command to open the Layer Properties
Manager. You can either enter LAYER or LA in the Command window, or you can click the Layer
Properties tool on the ribbon.

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AutoCAD 101 2.1
Basics of Layers and Properties
 
Layer Controls (con’t)

Here is what the Layer Properties Manager displays in this drawing.

As indicated, the layer 10 WALLS is the current layer. All new objects are automatically placed on that
layer. In the list of layers, the green check next to layer 10 WALLS confirms that it is the current layer.
Notice the layer names. Each layer name starts with a two-digit number. This convention makes it easy to
control the order of the layers because their order does not depend on the alphabet.
In the column labeled ‘On’, notice that the light bulb icons for two layers are dark. These layers were
turned off to hide the doors and electrical wiring in the floor plan above.

Important:
For all Kiewit drawings, the National CAD Standard (NCS) layer naming convention will be used.

Helpful Tips:
• Layer 0 is the default layer that exists in all drawings and has some special properties.
Experienced AutoCAD users will tell you: Do not use this layer.
• Any drawing that contains at least one dimension object automatically includes a reserved layer
named Defpoints. Do not use this layer either.
• Create a layer for any behind-the-scenes construction geometry, reference geometry, and notes that
you usually do not need to see or print.
• Create a layer for layout viewports. Additional information about layout viewports is available in
"Layouts."
• Create a layer for all hatches and fills. This lets you to turn them all on or off in one action.

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AutoCAD 101 2.1
Basics of Layers and Properties
 
Helpful Tips:
The following are the most commonly used layer settings in the Layer Properties Manager. Click the icon
to change its setting.
• Turn off layers. You turn off layers to reduce the visual complexity of your drawing while you work.

• Freeze layers. You freeze layers that you do not need to access for a while. Freezing layers
improves performance in very large drawings.

• Lock layers. You lock layers when you want to prevent accidental changes to the objects on those
layers. Also, the objects on locked layers appear faded. Faded layers are useful when you want to
use them as a reference, but still want to reduce the visual noise in a drawing.

• Set default properties. You set the default properties for each layer, including color, linetype,
lineweight, and transparency. New objects that you create will use these properties unless you
override them. Overriding layer properties is explained later in this topic.

Controls in the Layer Properties Manager

To create a new layer, click the button shown and enter the name of the new layer. To make a different
layer the current one, click the layer and then click the green arrow.

Quick Access to Layer Settings

The Layer Properties Manager takes up a lot of space, and you do not always need all of the options. For
quick access to the most common layer controls, use the controls on the ribbon. When no objects are
selected, the Layers panel on the Home tab displays the name of the current layer.

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AutoCAD 101 2.1
Basics of Layers and Properties
 
Quick Access to Layer Settings (con’t)
Occasionally, check to make sure that the objects you create will be on the correct layer. It is easy to
forget to do this, but it is also easy to set. Click the drop-down arrow to display a list of layers, and then
click a layer on the list to make it the current layer. You can also click on any icon in the list to change its
setting.

Maintain Your Standards

It is critically important either to establish or to conform to a company-wide layer standard. With a layer
standard, drawing organization will be more logical, consistent, compatible, and maintainable over time.
Layer standards are essential for team projects.
If you create a standard set of layers and save them in a drawing template (.dwt) file, those layers will be
available when you start a new drawing, and you can start working immediately. Additional information
about drawing template files is presented in "Basics."

Properties
The Properties palette is another essential tool. You can open it with the PROPERTIES command (enter
PR in the Command window), you can press Ctrl + 1, or you can click the tiny arrow in the Properties
panel on the Home tab—whichever you prefer.

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Basics of Layers and Properties  32 

 
AutoCAD 101 2.1
Basics of Layers and Properties
 
Properties (con’t)
The Properties palette displays a list of all the important property settings. You can click any of the
available fields to change the current settings. For example, if no objects are selected, you can change
the color that will be used for all new objects. You can also turn off the UCS (user coordinate system) icon
if you don’t want to display it.

Verify and Change Object Properties

You can use the Properties palette to verify and change property settings for selected objects. If you click
on an object in your drawing to select it, here is what you might see in the Properties palette.

Notice that the current properties for the selected object are displayed in the palette and can be changed
by clicking any setting. A property that is set to "ByLayer" inherits its setting from the layer. In the example
above, it means that objects that are created on the 20 ELECTRICAL layer will be purple.
If you select several objects, only their common properties are listed in the Properties palette. If you
change one of these properties, all the selected objects will change in one operation. Selecting objects is
covered in more detail in "Modifying."

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AutoCAD 101 2.1
Basics of Layers and Properties
 
Quick Access to Property Settings
The Properties palette also takes up a lot of space. For quick access to the most common properties, use
the Properties panel on the Home tab.

TIP:
A fast way to copy the properties of a selected object to other objects is to use the MATCHPROP
command. Enter MA in the Command window or click the Match Properties tool.

As with other applications, you first select the source object, and then the objects to be modified.

Linetypes

Dashed and other non-continuous linetypes are assigned from the Properties panel.

Note the following steps:

1. You first need to load a linetype before you can assign it. In the Linetype drop-down list, click ‘Other’.
This displays the Linetype Manager dialog box.

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AutoCAD 101 2.1
Basics of Layers and Properties
 
Linetypes (con’t)

2. Choose one or more linetypes that you want to use. Notice that the non-continuous (dashed)
linetypes come in several preset sizes.

3. You can change these preset sizes by clicking Show Details and specifying a different "global scale
factor" for all linetypes—the larger the value, the longer the dashes and spaces.

1
2
3

4. Select any object and specify a linetype from the Properties panel or the Properties palette.
Alternatively, you can specify a default linetype for any layer in the Layer Properties Manager.

Lineweights

The Lineweight property provides a way to display different thicknesses for selected objects. The
thickness of the lines remain constant regardless of the scale of the view. Lineweights can also be
assigned from the Properties panel.

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AutoCAD 101 2.1
Basics of Layers and Properties
 
Lineweights (con’t)
You can leave the lineweight set to ByLayer, or you can specify a value that overrides the layer's
lineweight. Unlike the other properties, lineweights are not displayed by default. To see them, you need to
turn on their display.

Tip:
Leave lineweights turned off while you work because thick lines tend to obscure nearby objects when you
use object snaps.

Summary
Layers organize your drawing by function, enabling you to temporarily suppress the display of unneeded
graphical data. You can also assign default properties such as color and linetype to each layer. When you
see "ByLayer" as a setting in the Properties palette, you know that the layer—not the object—controls that
property setting.
Concurrently, the Properties palette lets you set specific properties for objects. Sometimes these are
called "property overrides." For example, you can use the Properties palette to set your current color from
ByLayer to Red. As a result, all objects that you create from now on will be red regardless of their layer.

Note:
Users should set properties only ‘ByLayer’
 

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Basics of Layers and Properties  36 

 
AutoCAD 101 2.1.1
Commands: LAYER
 
Manage layers and layer properties.

Access Methods

Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Layers panel Layer Properties Manager

Menu: Format Layer
Toolbar: Layer
Command entry: 'LAYER for transparent use

Summary

The Layer Properties Manager is displayed.

If you enter -LAYER at the Command prompt, options are displayed.

Use layers to control the visibility of objects and to assign properties such as color and linetype. Objects
on a layer normally assume the properties of that layer. However, you can override any layer property of
an object. For example, if an object’s color property is set to BYLAYER, the object displays the color of
that layer. If the object’s color is set to Red, the object displays as red, regardless of the color assigned to
that layer.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

?—List Layers
Displays a list of the currently defined layers, showing their names, states, color numbers, linetypes,
lineweights, and whether they are externally dependent layers.

Make

Creates a layer and makes it current. New objects are drawn on the current layer.
If no layer exists for the name you enter, a new layer with that name is created. The new layer is on and
assumes the following properties by default: color number 7, the CONTINUOUS linetype, and a
lineweight of DEFAULT.
If the layer exists but is turned off, it is turned on.

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AutoCAD 101 2.1.1
Commands: LAYER
 
Set

Specifies a new current layer but does not create the layer if it does not already exist. If the layer exists
but is turned off, it is turned on and made current. A frozen layer cannot be made current.

New

Creates layers. You can create two or more layers by entering names separated by commas.

Rename

Renames an existing layer.

On

Makes selected layers visible and available for plotting.

Off

Makes selected layers invisible and excludes them from plotting.

Color

Changes the color associated with a layer. Enter a color name or a number from 1 through 255.

True Color
Specifies a true color to be used for the selected object. Enter three integer values from 0 to 255
separated by commas to specify a true color.

Color Book
Specifies a color from a loaded color book, guide, or set to use for the selected object. Enter the
name of a color book that has been installed, such as "DIC COLOR GUIDE(R)$DIC 43".

The color is assigned to the layer or layers, and the layers are turned on. To assign a color but
turn off the layer, precede the color with a minus sign (-).

Ltype

Changes the linetype associated with a layer.

Lweight

Changes the lineweight associated with a layer.

If you enter a valid lineweight, the current lineweight is set to the new value. If you enter a lineweight that
is not valid, the current lineweight is set to the nearest fixed lineweight value. If you would like to plot an
object with a custom width not found in the list of fixed lineweight values, you can use the Plot Style Table
Editor to customize plotted lineweights.

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AutoCAD 101 2.1.1
Commands: LAYER
 
Transparency

Changes the transparency level associated with a layer. Enter a value from 0 to 90.
After specifying a transparency value, the following prompt is displayed:

Enter name list of layer(s) for transparency specified value% <0>:

Enter the names of the layers to which to apply this transparency level, or press Enter to apply it
to the current layer only

Material

Attaches a material to a layer. The material must be available in the drawing before it can be assigned to
a layer.

Plot
Controls whether visible layers are plotted. If a layer is set to plot but is currently frozen or turned off, the
layer is not plotted.

Pstyle

Sets the plot style assigned to a layer.

Note:
The Pstyle option is available only when you are using named plot styles. (The PSTYLEPOLICY system
variable is set to 0.)
If you select a plot style other than NORMAL, the following prompt is displayed:

Enter name list of layer(s) for plot style current <current>:

Enter the names of the layers to use this plot style, or press Enter to apply the style to the current
layer only

Freeze

Freezes layers, making them invisible and excluding them from regeneration and plotting.

Thaw

Thaws frozen layers, making them visible and available for regeneration and plotting.

Lock

Locks layers, preventing editing of objects on those layers.

Unlock

Unlocks selected locked layers, permitting editing of objects on those layers.

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AutoCAD 101 2.1.1
Commands: LAYER
 
State

Saves and restores the state and property settings of the layers in a drawing.

?—List Named Layer States

Lists the named layer state (LAS) files in the support path for the drawing.

Save
Saves the state and properties settings of the layers in a drawing under a specified layer state
name. When saving a layer state, you specify which layer settings are affected when the layer
state is later restored.

Restore
Restores the state and property settings of all layers to previously saved settings. Restores only
those layer state and property settings that were selected when the layer state was saved.

Edit
Changes the saved layer settings for a specified layer state. When the layer state is restored, the
specified settings are used.

Name
Changes the name of a saved layer state.

Delete
Removes a saved layer state.

Import
Loads a previously exported layer state (LAS) file, or layers states from a file (DWG, DWS, DWT)
into the current drawing. Additional layers may be created as a result of importing a layer state
file.

Export
Saves a selected named layer state to a layer state (LAS) file.

Description

Sets the description property value of the existing layer.

A warning prompt is displayed when you enter a description to a layer with an existing description.

Reconcile

Sets the unreconciled property of an unreconciled layer.

? - Name List of Layers

Displays a list of all unreconciled layers.

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Commands: LAYER  40 

 
AutoCAD 101 2.1.2
Commands: PROPERTIES
 
Control properties of existing objects.

Access Methods

Button:

Ribbon: View tab Palettes panel Properties

Menu: Modify Properties

Toolbar: Standard

Command entry: PROPERTIES or PR

Shortcut menu: Select the objects whose properties you want to view or modify, right-click in the drawing
area, and click Properties.

Summary

The Properties palette is displayed and lists the properties of the selected objects.

When more than one object is selected, only those properties common to all selected objects are
displayed.

When no objects are selected, only the current settings of general properties are displayed.

There are several general properties common to all objects. All other object properties are specific to the
type of object.

Properties Palatte

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AutoCAD 101 2.1.2
Commands: PROPERTIES
 
Properties Palatte (con’t)

When more than one object is selected, only those properties common to all selected objects are
displayed. When no objects are selected, only the current settings of general properties are displayed.

You can specify a new value to modify any property that can be changed. Click the value and use one of
the following methods:
• Enter a new value.
• Click the down arrow a the right and select a value from the list.
• Click the Pick Point button to use the pointing device to change a coordinate value.
• Click the QuickCalc calculator button to calculate a new value.
• Click the left or right arrow to increase or decrease the value.
• Click the [R] button and change the property value in a dialog box.

List of Options

The following options are displayed.

Object Type

Displays the type of object that is selected.

Toggle Value of PICKADD Sysvar

Turns the PICKADD system variable on (1) and off (0). When PICKADD is on, each object selected,
either individually or by windowing, is added to the current selection set. When PICKADD is off, selected
objects replace the current selection set.
Select Objects

Selects desired objects using any selection method. The properties common to the selected objects are
displayed in the Properties palette. You can then modify the properties of the selected objects in the
Properties palette, or you can make other changes to the selected objects by entering an editing
command.
Quick Select

Displays the Quick Select dialog box . Use Quick Select to create selection sets based on filtering criteria.
Shortcut Menu

The following shortcut menu options are available when you right-click the title bar.
Move

Displays a four-headed arrow cursor that you can use to move the palette. The palette does not
dock.
Size

Displays a four-headed arrow cursor that you can use to drag an edge or a corner to make the
palette smaller or larger.
Close

Closes the Properties palette.

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AutoCAD 101 2.1.2
Commands: PROPERTIES
 
Shortcut Menu (con’t)

Allow Docking

Toggles the ability to dock or anchor palette windows. If this option is selected, a window can be
docked when you drag it over a docking area at the side of a drawing. A docked window adheres
to the side of the application window and causes the drawing area to be resized. Selecting this
option also makes Anchor Right and Anchor Left available.
Anchor Right/ Anchor Left

Attaches the Properties palette to an anchor tab base at the right or left side of the drawing area.
The palette rolls open and closed as the cursor moves across it. When an anchored palette is
open, its content overlaps the drawing area. An anchored palette cannot be set to stay open.
Auto-hide

Causes a floating palette to roll open and closed as the cursor moves across it. When this option
is cleared, the palette stays open.
Transparency

Displays the Transparency dialog box.

Use the Quick Properties Palette

Generally, you can double-click an object to open the Quick Properties palette, and make changes to its
properties.

Notes:
• Several types of objects open an editor or start an object-specific command when you double-click
them instead of the Quick Properties palette. These types of objects include blocks, polylines,
splines, and text.
• The Customize User Interface dialog box ( CUI) controls what palette or command is used when you
double-click each type of object.

Use the Properties Panel on the Ribbon

On the Home tab of the ribbon, use the Layers and Properties panels to verify or change the settings for
the most commonly accessed properties: layer, color, lineweight, and linetype.

If no objects are selected, the drop-down lists highlighted above display the current settings for the
drawing. If you select an object, the drop-down lists display the property settings for that object.

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Commands: PROPERTIES  43 

 
AutoCAD 101 3
 

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101  44 

 
AutoCAD 101 3.1
Overview of Basic Drawing Commands
 
Let’s see how you can draw basic geometric objects such as lines, circles, and solid-filled areas.
You can create a lot of different types of geometric objects in AutoCAD, but you only need to know a few
of them for most 2D drawings. Here are the basic ones on the ‘Home’ tab of the ribbon:

Important: To simplify the display while you create geometric objects, press F12 to turn off dynamic input.

Lines
The line is the most basic and common object. A line can be one segment or a series of successive
segments. Each line segment is a separate object. To draw a line, click the Line tool.

Alternatively, you can type LINE or just L in the Command window, and then press Enter or the
Spacebar.
Notice the prompt in the Command window for a point location.

You could start the line by clicking anywhere in the drawing area, but type in the coordinates 0,0 instead.
It is a good idea to locate one corner of your model at the origin. For any additional points, you can
specify other coordinate locations in the drawing area. More efficient methods for specifying points will be
described in "Precision."

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Overview of Basic Drawing Commands  45 

 
AutoCAD 101 3.1
Overview of Basic Drawing Commands
 
Lines (con’t)

After you specify the next point, the LINE command automatically repeats itself, and it keeps prompting
you for additional points. Press ‘Enter’ or the Spacebar to end the sequence.

The User Coordinate System

In the previous illustration, the UCS (user coordinate system) icon indicates the direction of the positive X
and Y axis for any coordinates that you enter, and it defines the horizontal and vertical directions in a
drawing. The UCS is used extensively in 3D modeling.

Grid Display
Some people like working with grid lines as a reference, while others prefer working in a blank area. To
turn off the grid display, press the F7 key. You can force your cursor to snap to grid increments by
pressing the F9 key.

Lines as Construction Aids

Lines can also serve as reference and construction geometry that you can use to create other objects or
to serve as guides. Some examples include:

• Property line setbacks

• The mirror line of a symmetrical mechanical part
• Clearance lines to avoid interferences
• Traversal path lines

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AutoCAD 101 3.1
Overview of Basic Drawing Commands
 
Circles
The default option of the CIRCLE command is to specify a center point and a radius.

Here are the other options; the icons indicate what they specify.

Alternatively, you can also enter CIRCLE or just C in the Command window and click to choose an
option. If you do, you can specify a center point, or you can click one of the highlighted command options
as shown.

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Overview of Basic Drawing Commands  47 

 
AutoCAD 101 3.1
Overview of Basic Drawing Commands
 
Ellipses
When you draw an ellipse, its shape is determined by two axes that define its length and width: the major
(longer) axis and the minor (shorter) axis.

The illustrations below show two different ellipses created by specifying axis and distance. The third point
specifies only a distance and does not necessarily designate the axis endpoint.

If you are drawing on isometric planes to simulate 3D, you can use ellipses to represent isometric circles
viewed from an oblique angle.

Polylines and Rectangles

A polyline is a connected sequence of line or arc segments that is created as a single object.

Use the PLINE command to create an open or closed polylines for creating any of the following:
• Any geometry that needs to have wide segments
• Any continuous path for which you need to know the total length
• Contour lines for topographic maps and isobaric data
• Wiring diagrams and traces on printed circuit boards
• Process and piping diagrams

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AutoCAD 101 3.1
Overview of Basic Drawing Commands
 
Polylines and Rectangles (con’t)
Polylines can have a constant width or they can have different starting and ending widths. With the Width
option, you can specify the width of the polylines as you create them. Here are some examples.

A fast way to create closed rectangular polylines is to use the RECTANG command (enter REC in the
Command window).

Then, you simply click two diagonal points for the rectangle as shown in the illustration on the left. If you
use this method, turn on grid snap (F9) for precision. The illustration on the right shows a different
method. After you specify a corner point (1) of the rectangle, specify the Dimensions option. Then, enter
the length and width, and click (2) to locate the rectangle.

Hatches and Fills

In AutoCAD, a hatch is a single, compound object that covers a specified area with a pattern of lines,
dots, shapes, a solid fill color, or a gradient fill.

When you start the HATCH command, the ribbon temporarily displays the Hatch Creation tab. On this
tab, you can choose from more than 70 industry-standard imperial and ISO hatch patterns, and you can
choose from a large number of specialized options.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1
Overview of Basic Drawing Commands
 
Hatches and Fills (con’t)
The simplest procedure is to choose a hatch pattern and scale from the ribbon, and click within any area
that is completely enclosed by objects. You need to specify the scale factor for the hatch to control its size
and spacing.

Note:
If an area is not completely enclosed, red circles display to indicate places to check for gaps.
Enter REGEN to dismiss the red circles.

After you create a hatch, you can move the bounding objects later to adjust the hatch area, or you can
delete one or more of the bounding objects to create partially bounded hatches as shown below:

Tip:
If you set a hatch pattern to be a solid or gradient fill, also consider setting a transparency level on the
Hatch Creation tab for interesting overlap effects.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1
Overview of Basic Drawing Commands
 
Hatches and Fills (con’t)

Here are some examples of how you can use solid-fill hatches:

Tip:
If you need to align the pattern in a hatch, which might be the case with the decking planks above, use
the Set Origin option to specify an alignment point.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1
Overview of Basic Drawing Commands
 
Orthogonal Locking (Ortho Mode)
You can restrict cursor movement to horizontal and vertical directions for convenience and precision
when creating and modifying objects.

As you create or move objects, you can use Ortho mode to restrict the cursor to the horizontal or vertical
directions relative to the user coordinate system (UCS).
In 3D views, Ortho mode additionally restricts the cursor to the up and down directions. In that case, the
tooltip displays a +Z or -Z for the angle.
You can turn Ortho on and off at any time during drawing and editing. Ortho is ignored when you enter
coordinates or specify an object snap.
• On the status bar, click the Ortho button or press the F8 key.
For drawing or editing objects at angles other than 90 degrees, use polar tracking.

Notes:
• Use direct distance entry with Ortho mode turned on to create horizontal and vertical lines of
specified lengths, or to move or copy objects horizontally or vertically for specified distances.
• Ortho mode and polar tracking cannot be turned on at the same time. Turning on Ortho turns off
polar tracking.
• To turn Ortho off temporarily, hold down the Shift key while you work. Direct distance entry is not
available with this override. 

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.1
Commands: LINE
 
Create straight line segments.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Line

Menu: Draw Line
Toolbar: Draw
Command entry: LINE or L

Summary
With LINE, you can create a series of contiguous line segments. Each segment is a line object that can
be edited separately.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Specify first point / next point

Specify points to draw line segments.

Continue
Continues a line from the endpoint of the most recently drawn line.

If the most recently drawn object is an arc, its endpoint defines the starting point of the line, and the line is
drawn tangent to the arc.

Close

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.1
Commands: LINE
 
Ends the last line segment at the beginning of the first line segment, which forms a closed loop of line
segments. You can use Close after you have drawn a series of two or more segments.

Undo
Erases the most recent segment of a line sequence.

Entering u more than once backtracks through line segments in the order you created them.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.2
Commands: Circle
 
Let’s create a circle.

Access Methods:
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Circle drop-down Center, Radius

Menu: Draw Circle Center, Radius
Toolbar: Draw
Command entry: CIRCLE or C

Command Prompts:

Center Point
Draws a circle based on a center point and a diameter or a radius.

Radius
Defines the radius of the circle. Enter a value, or specify a point.
For example:

Diameter

Defines the diameter of the circle. Enter a value, or specify a second point.
For example:

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.2
Commands: Circle
 
3P (Three Points)

Draws a circle based on three points on the circumference.

For example:

Tan, Tan, Tan

Creates a circle tangent to three objects.

For example:

2P (Two Points)
Draws a circle based on two endpoints of the diameter.
For example:

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.2
Commands: Circle
 
TTR (Tangent, Tangent, Radius)
Draws a circle with a specified radius tangent to two objects.
Sometimes more than one circle matches the specified criteria. The program draws the circle of the
specified radius whose tangent points are closest to the selected points.
For example:

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.3
Commands: ELLIPSE
 
Create an ellipse or an elliptical arc.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Ellipse drop-down Center

Menu: Draw Ellipse Center
Toolbar: Draw
Command entry: ELLIPSE or EL

Summary
The first two points of the ellipse determine the location and length of the first axis. The third point
determines the distance between the center of the ellipse and the end point of the second axis.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Axis Endpoint

Defines the first axis by its two endpoints. The angle of the first axis determines the angle of the ellipse.
The first axis can define either the major or the minor axis of the ellipse.

Distance to Other Axis

Defines the second axis using the distance from the midpoint of the first axis to the endpoint of
the second axis (3).

Rotation
Creates the ellipse by appearing to rotate a circle about the first axis.
Move the crosshairs around the center of the ellipse and click. If you enter a value, the higher the
value, the greater the eccentricity of the ellipse. Entering 0 defines a circular ellipse.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.3
Commands: ELLIPSE
 
Arc
Creates an elliptical arc.
The angle of the first axis determines the angle of the elliptical arc. The first axis can define either the
major or the minor axis depending on its size.
The first two points of the elliptical arc determine the location and length of the first axis. The third point
determines the distance between the center of the elliptical arc and the endpoint of the second axis. The
fourth and fifth points are the start and end angles.

Axis Endpoint
Defines the start point of the first axis.

Rotation
Defines the major to minor axis ratio of the ellipse by rotating a circle about the first axis. The
higher the value from 0 through 89.4 degrees, the greater the ratio of minor to major axis. Values
between 89.4 degrees and 90.6 degrees are invalid because the ellipse would otherwise appear
as a straight line. Multiples of these angle values result in a mirrored effect every 90 degrees.

Start Angle
Defines the first endpoint of the elliptical arc. The Start Angle option toggles from Parameter
mode to Angle mode. The mode controls how the ellipse is calculated.

Parameter
Requires the same input as Start Angle, but creates the elliptical arc using the following
parametric vector equation:
p(u) = c + a ACR_Commands ACR_Sysvars body.xml chunkingACR.ksh chunkingACR.xsl
current.xml files header.xml tmp.xml utf.xml cos(u) + b ACR_Commands ACR_Sysvars body.xml
chunkingACR.ksh chunkingACR.xsl current.xml files header.xml tmp.xml utf.xml sin(u)
where c is the center of the ellipse and a and b are its major and minor axes, respectively.
• End Parameter: Defines the end angle of the elliptical arc by using a parametric vector
equation. The Start Parameter option toggles from Angle mode to Parameter mode. The
mode controls how the ellipse is calculated.
• Angle: Defines the end angle of the elliptical arc. The Angle option toggles from
Parameter mode to Angle mode. The mode controls how the ellipse is calculated.
• Included Angle: Defines an included angle beginning at the start angle.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.3
Commands: ELLIPSE
 
Center
Creates an ellipse using a center point, the endpoint of the first axis, and the length of the second axis.
You can specify the distances by clicking a location at the desired distance or by entering a value for the
length.

Distance to Other Axis

Defines the second axis as the distance from the center of the ellipse, or midpoint of the first axis, to the
point you specify.

Rotation
Creates the ellipse by appearing to rotate a circle about the first axis.
Move the crosshairs around the center of the ellipse and click. If you enter a value, the higher the value,
the greater the eccentricity of the ellipse. Entering 0 defines a circle.

Isocircle

Creates an isometric circle in the current isometric drawing plane.

Note:
The Isocircle option is available only when you set the Style option of SNAP to Isometric.

Radius
Creates a circle using a radius you specify.

Diameter
Creates a circle using a diameter you specify.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.4
Basics of Arcs
 
Create arcs by specifying various combinations of center, endpoint, start point, radius, angle, chord
length, and direction values.

Draw Arcs by Specifying Three Points

You can create an arc by specifying three points. In the following example, the start point of the arc snaps
to the endpoint of a line. The second point of the arc snaps to the middle circle in the illustration.

Draw Arcs by Specifying Start, Center, End

You can create an arc using a start point, center, and a third point that determines the endpoint.
The distance between the start point and the center determines the radius. The endpoint is determined by
a line from the center that passes through the third point. The resulting arc is always created
counterclockwise from the start point.
Using different options, you can specify either the start point first or the center point first.

Draw Arcs by Specifying Start, Center, Angle

You can create an arc using a start point, center, and an included angle.
The distance between the start point and the center determines the radius. The other end of the arc is
determined by specifying an included angle that uses the center of the arc as the vertex. The resulting arc
is always created counterclockwise from the start point.
Using different options, you can specify either the start point first or the center point first.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.4
Basics of Arcs
 
The included angle determines the endpoint of the arc. Use the Start, End, Angle method when you know
both endpoints but cannot snap to a center point.

Draw Arcs by Specifying Start, Center, Length

You can create an arc using a start point, center, and the length of a chord.
The distance between the start point and the center determines the radius. The other end of the arc is
determined by specifying the length of a chord between the start point and the endpoint of the arc. The
resulting arc is always created counterclockwise from the start point.
Using different options, you can specify either the start point first or the center point first.

The length of the chord of the arc determines the included angle.

Draw Arcs by Specifying Start, End, Angle

You can create an arc using a start point, endpoint, and an included angle.
The included angle between the endpoints of the arc determines the center and the radius of the arc.

Draw Arcs by Specifying Start, End, Direction

You can create an arc using a start point, endpoint, and a tangent direction at the start point.
The tangent direction can be specified either by locating a point on the desired tangent line, or by entering
an angle. You can determine which endpoint controls the tangent by changing the order in which you
specify the two endpoints.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.4
Basics of Arcs
 
Draw Arcs by Specifying Start, End, Radius

You can create an arc using a start point, endpoint, and a radius.
The direction of the bulge of the arc is determined by the order in which you specify its endpoints. You
can specify the radius either by entering it or by specifying a point at the desired radius distance.

Draw Contiguous Tangent Arcs and Lines

Immediately after you create an arc, you can start a line that is tangent to the arc at an endpoint. You
need to specify only the line length.

Immediately after you create a line or an arc, you can start an arc that is tangent at an endpoint by
starting the ARC command and pressing Enter at the Specify Start Point prompt. You need to specify
only the endpoint of the new arc.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.4
Commands: ARC
 
Creates an arc.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Arc drop-down 3-Point

Menu: Draw Arc
Toolbar: Draw
Command entry: ARC

Summary
To create an arc, you can specify combinations of center, endpoint, start point, radius, angle, chord
length, and direction values.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Start point

Draws an arc using three specified points on the arc's circumference. The first point is the start point (1).

Note:
If you press ENTER without specifying a point, the endpoint of the last drawn line or arc is used and you
are immediately prompted to specify the endpoint of the new arc. This creates an arc tangent to the last
drawn line, arc, or polyline.

Second point
Specify the second point (2) is a point on the circumference of the arc.

End point
Specify the final point (3) on the arc.

You can specify a three-point arc either clockwise or counterclockwise.

Center
Starts by specifying the center of the circle of which the arc is a part.

Start point
Specify the start point of the arc.

End point
Using the center point (2), draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to an endpoint
that falls on an imaginary ray drawn from the center point through the third point (3).

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.4
Commands: ARC
 
End point (con’t)

The arc does not necessarily pass through this third point, as shown in the illustration.

Angle
Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) using a center point (2) with a specified
included angle. If the angle is negative, a clockwise arc is drawn.

Chord length
Draws either a minor or a major arc based on the distance of a straight line between the start
point and endpoint.
If the chord length is positive, the minor arc is drawn counterclockwise from the start point. If the
chord length is negative, the major arc is drawn counterclockwise.

End

Starts by specifying the endpoint of the arc.

Center point
Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to an endpoint that falls on an imaginary
ray drawn from the center point (3) through the second point specified (2).

Angle
Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to an endpoint (2), with a specified
included angle. If the angle is negative, a clockwise arc is drawn.

Included angle
Enter an angle in degrees or specify an angle by moving the pointing device counterclockwise.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.4
Commands: ARC
 
End (con’t)

Direction
Begins the arc tangent to a specified direction. It creates any arc, major or minor, clockwise or
counterclockwise, beginning with the start point (1), and ending at an endpoint (2). The direction
is determined from the start point.

Radius
Draws the minor arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to the endpoint (2). If the radius is
negative, the major arc is drawn.

Center

Specifies the center of the circle of which the arc is a part.

Start point
Specify start point of arc.

End point
Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (2) to an endpoint that falls on an imaginary
ray drawn from the center point (1) through a specified point (3).

Angle
Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (2) using a center point (1) with a specified
included angle. If the angle is negative, a clockwise arc is drawn.

Chord length
Draws either a minor or a major arc based on the distance of a straight line between the start
point and endpoint.
If the chord length is positive, the minor arc is drawn counterclockwise from the start point. If the
chord length is negative, the major arc is drawn counterclockwise.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.4
Commands: ARC
 
Tangent to last line, arc, or polyline
Draws an arc tangent to the last line, arc, or polyline drawn when you press ENTER at the first prompt.

End point of arc

Specify a point (1).

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.5
Commands: PLINE
 
Create a 2D polyline, a single object that is composed of line and arc segments.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Polyline

Menu: Draw Polyline
Toolbar: Draw
Command entry: PLINE or PL

Summary
A 2D polyline is a connected sequence of segments created as a single planar object. You can create
straight line segments, arc segments, or a combination of the two.

Note A temporary plus-shaped marker displays at the first point. This marker can be useful when you
create long and complicated polylines. It is removed when you complete the polyline.
The PLINEGEN system variable controls the linetype pattern display around and the smoothness of the
vertices of a 2D polyline. Setting PLINEGEN to 1 generates new polylines in a continuous pattern around
the vertices of the completed polyline. Setting PLINEGEN to 0 starts and ends the polyline with a dash at
each vertex. PLINEGEN does not apply to polylines with tapered segments.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Start point

Sets the starting point for the polyline.

• If you specify a second point, you draw line segments.
• If you enter a (for Arc), you draw arc segments.

Arc

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.5
Commands: PLINE
 
The following prompts are displayed when you draw arc segments.

Endpoint of arc
Completes an arc segment. The arc segment is tangent to the previous segment of the polyline.

Angle
Specifies the included angle of the arc segment from the start point.

Entering a positive number creates counterclockwise arc segments. Entering a negative number creates
clockwise arc segments.

Center
Specifies an arc segment based on its center point.

Note:
For the Center option of the PLINE command, enter ce; for the Center object snap, enter cen or center.
• Center point of arc. Specifies the center point of the polyline arc.
• Endpoint of arc. Specifies the endpoint and draws the arc segment.
• Angle. Specifies the included angle of the arc segment from the start point.
• Length. Specifies the chord length (the distance from endpoint to endpoint of the arc segment. If
the previous segment is an arc, the new arc segment is drawn tangent to the previous arc
segment.

Close
Draws an arc segment from the last point specified to the starting point, creating a closed polyline. At
least two points must be specified to use this option.

Direction
Specifies the tangent for the arc segment.

• Tangent direction from the start point of the arc. Specifies a point that establishes a tangency
of the curve to the start point. The arc curves away from the vector between the start point and
the tangent point.
• Endpoint of the arc. Specifies the endpoint of the arc segment.

Halfwidth

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.5
Commands: PLINE
 
Specifies the width from the center of a wide polyline segment to one of its edges.

The starting half-width becomes the default ending half-width. The ending half-width becomes the uniform
half-width for all subsequent segments until you change the half-width again. The starting and ending
points of wide line segments are at the center of the line. Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide
polyline segments are beveled. No beveling is performed for nontangent arc segments or very acute
angles or when a dot-dash linetype is used.
• Starting half-width. Specifies the width and the start point of the segment.
• Ending half-width. Specifies the width at the endpoint.

Line
Switches from drawing arc segments to drawing straight segments.

Radius
Specifies the radius of the arc segment.

• Radius of arc. Specify a distance.

• Endpoint of arc. Specifies the endpoint and draws the arc segment.

Second pt
Specifies the second point and endpoint of a three-point arc.

Undo
Removes the most recent arc segment added to the polyline.

Width
Specifies the width of the next arc segment.

The starting width becomes the default ending width. The ending width becomes the uniform width for all
subsequent segments until you change the width again. The starting and ending points of wide line
segments are at the center of the line.
Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide polyline segments are beveled. No beveling is performed for
nontangent arc segments, very acute angles, or when a dot-dash linetype is used.
• Starting width.
• Ending width.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.5
Commands: PLINE
 
Line

The following prompts are displayed when you are drawing straight polyline segments.

Next point
Specifies the endpoint of a straight polyline segment.

Arc
Switches from drawing straight segments to drawing arc segments.

Close
Draws a line segment from the last point specified to the starting point, creating a closed polyline. At least
two points must be specified to use this option.

Halfwidth
Specifies the width from the center of a wide polyline line segment to one of its edges.
The starting half-width becomes the default ending half-width. The ending half-width becomes the uniform
half-width for all subsequent segments until you change the half-width again. The starting and ending
points of wide line segments are at the center of the line.

Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide polyline segments are beveled. No beveling is performed for
nontangent arc segments or very acute angles or when a dot-dash linetype is used.
• Starting half-width. Specifies the width and the start point of the segment.
• Ending half-width. Specifies the width at the endpoint.

Length
Draws a line segment of a specified length at the same angle as the previous segment. If the previous
segment is an arc, the new line segment is drawn tangent to that arc segment.

Undo
Removes the most recent line segment added to the polyline.

Width
Specifies the starting and ending width of the next line segment.
The starting width becomes the default ending width. The ending width becomes the uniform width for all
subsequent segments until you change the width again. The starting and ending points of wide line
segments are at the center of the line.
Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide polyline segments are beveled. No beveling is performed for
nontangent arc segments or very acute angles or when a dot-dash linetype is used.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.6
Commands: POLYGON
 
Create an equilateral closed polyline.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Polygon

Menu: Draw Polygon
Toolbar: Draw
Command entry: POLYGON or POL

Summary
Polygons can be used to draw equilateral triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons, and other multi-sided
figures. You can specify the different parameters of the polygon including the number of sides. The
difference between the inscribed and circumscribed options is shown.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Number of sides

Specifies the number of sides in the polygon (3-1024).

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.6
Commands: POLYGON
 
Center of polygon
Specifies the location of the center of the polygon and whether the new object is inscribed or
circumscribed.

Inscribed in circle
Specifies the radius of a circle on which all vertices of the polygon lie.

Specifying the radius with your pointing device determines the rotation and size of the polygon. Specifying
the radius with a value draws the bottom edge of the polygon at the current snap rotation angle.

Circumscribed about circle

Specifies the distance from the center of the polygon to the midpoints of the edges of the polygon.

Specifying the radius with your pointing device determines the rotation and size of the polygon. Specifying
the radius with a value draws the bottom edge of the polygon at the current snap rotation angle.

Edge

Defines a polygon by specifying the endpoints of the first edge.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.7
Commands: Hatch
 
Hatching fills an enclosed area or selected objects with a hatch pattern, solid fill, or gradient fill.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Hatch

Menu: Draw Hatch
Toolbar: Draw
Command entry: HATCH or H

Summary
When the ribbon is active, the Hatch Creation contextual tab is displayed. When the ribbon is off, the
Hatch and Gradient dialog box is displayed.
If you enter -HATCH at the Command prompt, options are displayed.

Note:
To prevent memory and performance problems, the maximum number of hatch lines created in a single
hatch operation is limited. However, you can change the maximum number of hatch lines with the
HPMAXLINES system variable.

Choose from several methods to specify the boundaries of a hatch.

• Specify a point in an area that is enclosed by objects.
• Select objects that enclose an area.
• Specify boundary points using the -HATCH Draw option.
• Drag a hatch pattern into an enclosed area from a tool palette or DesignCenter.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.7
Commands: Hatch
 
Hatch Creation from the Ribbon Menu

Defines the boundaries, pattern or fill properties, and other parameters for hatch and fills.

Boundaries Panel

Pick Points
Determines a hatch boundary by selecting a point within an enclosed area formed by one or more
objects.
While specifying internal points, you can right-click in the drawing area at any time to display a
shortcut menu that contains several options.

Select
Specifies a hatch boundary based on selected objects.
When you use this option, interior objects are not detected automatically. You must select the
objects within the selected boundary to hatch or fill those objects according to the current island
detection style.

In order to create an unhatched space around text, include the text in the selection set.

While selecting objects, you can right-click at any time in the drawing area to display a shortcut
menu. You can undo the last selection or all selections, change the selection method, change the
island detection style, or preview the hatch or fill.

Remove
Removes from the boundary definition any of the objects that were previously added .

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.7
Commands: Hatch
 
Boundaries Panel (con’t)

Recreate
Creates a polyline or region around the selected hatch or fill, and optionally associates the hatch
object with it.

Display Boundary Objects

Selects the objects that form the boundaries of the selected associative hatch object. Use the
displayed grips to modify the hatch boundaries.
Note This option is available only when editing a hatch.
When you select a non-associative hatch, the hatch boundary grips are displayed automatically.
When you select an associative hatch, a single hatch grip point is displayed unless you select the
Display Boundary Objects option. You can only edit an associative hatch by grip-editing the
associated boundary objects.

Retain Boundary Objects

Specifies how to handle hatch boundary objects. Options include:

• Don't Retain Boundaries. (Available only during hatch creation) Does not create a
separate hatch boundary object.
• Retain Boundaries - Polyline. (Available only during hatch creation) Creates a polyline
that encloses the hatch object.
• Retain Boundaries - Region. (Available only during hatch creation) Creates a region
object that encloses the hatch object.
• Select New Boundary Set. Specifies a limited set of objects, called a boundary set, for
evaluation by the pick point when creating the hatch.

Specify Boundary Set

Defines the set of objects analyzed when defining a boundary.

Use Current Viewport

Defines the boundary set from all objects within the extents of the current viewport.

Specify Boundary Set

Defines the boundary set from the objects that you selected with Select New Boundary Set.

Pattern Panel

Displays preview images for all predefined and custom patterns.

You can find the custom patterns at the bottom of the pattern gallery on the Pattern tab.

Properties Panel

Hatch Type
Specifies whether to use a solid, a gradient, pattern, or user-defined fill.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.7
Commands: Hatch
 
Properties Panel (con’t)

Hatch Color or Gradient Color 1

Overrides the current color for solid fills and hatch patterns, or specifies the first of two gradient
colors (HPCOLOR or GFCLR1).

Background Color or Gradient Color 2

Specifies the color for hatch pattern backgrounds, or the second gradient color. When Hatch
Type is set to Solid, Gradient Color 2 is not available. (HPBACKGROUNDCOLOR or GFCLR2).

Hatch Transparency
Sets the transparency level for new hatches or fills, overriding the current object transparency.
Select Use Current to use the current object transparency setting (HPTRANSPARENCY).

Hatch Angle
Specifies an angle for the hatch or fill relative to the X axis of the current UCS. Valid values are
from 0 to 359 (HPANG).

Hatch Pattern Scale

(Available only when Type is set to Pattern) Expands or contracts a predefined or custom hatch
pattern (HPSCALE).

Hatch Spacing
(Available only when Hatch Type is set to User Defined) Specifies the spacing of lines in a user-
defined pattern (HPSPACE).

Gradient Tint and Shade On/Off

(Available only when Hatch Type is set to Gradient) Specifies whether a two-color gradient is on
or off. Clear the option to use two colors (GFCLRSTATE).

Gradient Tint and Shade

(Available only when Hatch Type is set to Gradient) When Hatch Type is set to Gradient, this
option specifies the tint (the selected color mixed with white) or the shade (the selected color
mixed with black) used for a one-color gradient fill (GFCLRLUM).

Layer Name
Assigns new hatch objects to the specified layer, overriding the current layer. Select Use Current
to use the current layer (HPLAYER).

Relative to Paper Space

(Available only in a layout) Scales the hatch pattern relative to paper space units. Using this
option, you can easily display hatch patterns at a scale that is appropriate for your layout.

Double
(Available only when Hatch Type is set to User Defined) Draws a second set of lines at 90
degrees to the original lines, creating a crosshatch (HPDOUBLE).

ISO Pen Width

(Available only for predefined ISO patterns) Scales an ISO pattern based on the selected pen
width.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.7
Commands: Hatch
 
Origin Panel

Controls the starting location of hatch pattern generation. Some hatches, such as brick patterns, are
meant to be aligned with a point on the hatch boundary. By default, all hatch origins correspond to the
current UCS origin.

Set Origin
Specifies the new hatch origin point directly.

Bottom Left
Sets the hatch origin at the bottom-left corner of the rectangular extents of the hatch boundary.

Bottom Right
Sets the hatch origin at the bottom-right corner of the rectangular extents of the hatch boundary.

Top Left
Sets the hatch origin at the top-left corner of the rectangular extents of the hatch boundary.

Top Right
Sets the hatch origin at the top-right corner of the rectangular extents of the hatch boundary.

Center
Sets the hatch origin at the center of the rectangular extents of the hatch boundary.

Use Current Origin

Sets the hatch origin to the default location stored in the HPORIGIN system variable.

Store as Default Origin

Stores the value of the new hatch origin in the HPORIGIN system variable.

Options Panel

Controls several commonly used hatch or fill options.

Associative
Specifies that the hatch or fill is associative. A hatch or fill that is associative is updated when you
modify its boundary objects (HPASSOC).

Annotative
Specifies that the hatch is annotative. This property automates the process of scaling annotations
so that they plot or display at the correct size on the paper (HPANNOTATIVE).

Match Properties
• Use Current Origin. Sets the properties of a hatch with a selected hatch object, except
the hatch origin.
• Use Source Hatch Origin. Sets the properties of a hatch with a selected hatch object,
including the hatch origin.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.7
Commands: Hatch
 
Options Panel (con’t)

Gap Tolerance
Sets the maximum size of gaps that can be ignored when objects are used as a hatch boundary.
The default value, 0, specifies that the objects must enclose the area with no gaps.
Move the slider or enter a value, in drawing units, from 0 to 5000 to set the maximum size of gaps
that can be ignored when the objects serve as a hatch boundary. Any gaps equal to or smaller
than the value you specify are ignored, and the boundary is treated as closed (HPGAPTOL).

Create Separate Hatches

Controls whether a single hatch object or multiple hatch objects are created when several
separate closed boundaries are specified.

Island Detection
• Normal Island Detection. Hatches or fills inward from the outer boundary. If an internal
island is encountered, hatching or filling is turned off until another island within the
island is encountered (HPISLANDDETECTION) .
• Outer Island Detection. Hatches or fills inward from the outer boundary. This option
hatches or fills only the specified area and leaves the internal islands unaffected
(HPISLANDDETECTION).
• Ignore Island Detection. Ignores all internal objects and hatches or fills through them
(HPISLANDDETECTION).

Draw Order
Assigns a draw order to a hatch or fill (HPDRAWORDER). Options include
• Do Not Change
• Send to Back
• Bring to Front
• Send Behind Boundary
• Bring in Front of Boundary

Close Panel

Close Hatch Creation

Exits HATCH and closes the contextual tab.

Tip:
You can also press Enter or Esc to exit HATCH.

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AutoCAD 101 3.1.7
Commands: Hatch
 
A Note About Hatch Islands

Enclosed areas or text objects inside hatch boundaries are treated as islands.
The three island detection styles are compared below:
Using Normal island detection, if you specify the internal pick point shown, islands remain unhatched and
islands within islands are hatched.

Using the same pick point, the results of the options are compared below.

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Commands: Hatch  80 

 
AutoCAD 101 3.2
Basic Selection of Objects for Editing
 
To select objects in a drawing:

1. Do one of the following:

• Select individual objects by clicking them.
• Drag from left to right to select all objects entirely enclosed in the selection rectangle (window
selection).
• Drag from right to left to select all objects crossed by the selection rectangle (crossing selection).
• Enter SELECT and a ? at the prompt to see a list of selection options.

2. Press Enter to end object selection.

Note:

To deselect objects, SHIFT-click individual objects, SHIFT-drag across multiple selected objects, or press
ESC to deselect all selected objects.
 

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AutoCAD 101 3.3
Overview of Basic Editing
 
Perform editing operations such as erase, move, and trim on the objects in a drawing.

Much of the speed and efficiency of AutoCAD is a result of the features available for modifying objects.
The most common of these tools are located on the Modify panel of the Home tab. Take a minute to look
through them.

Select Multiple Objects

Sometimes you need to select a large number of objects. Instead of clicking each object individually, you
can select the objects in an area by clicking an empty location (1), moving your cursor right or left, and
then clicking again (2).

• With a crossing selection, any objects within or touching the area are selected.
• With a window selection, any objects completely within the area are selected.

Tip:
You can easily remove objects that you selected from being processed by a command. For example, if
you select 42 objects, and two of them should not have been selected, hold down Shift and then select
the two that you do not want to include.

After you finish selecting the objects to be modified during a command, you can end the selection process
in one of three ways:
• Press the Enter key
• Press the Spacebar
• Right-click
Try using each of the three ways to find the one that you prefer.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3
Overview of Basic Editing
 
Erase
To erase an object, use the ERASE command. You can enter E in the Command window, or click the tool
in the upper-right corner of the Modify panel. When you see the cursor change to a square pickbox, click
each object that you want to erase and then press Enter or the Spacebar when you are done selecting
the objects.
Note:
Before you enter any command, you can select several objects and then press the Delete key to erase
them. Experienced AutoCAD users often use this method as well.

Move and Copy

Here is how you would use the COPY command to lay out a row of decorative tiles. Starting with a
polyline that represents its shape, you need to make copies that are 1/8" apart.

You click the Copy tool or enter CP in the Command window to start the command. From here, you can
choose between two primary methods, depending on what is more convenient. You will use these two
methods frequently.

The Distance Method

In this case, you know that any point on the second tile will be a total of 9-7/8" + 1/8" = 10" from the
equivalent point on the original tile. So, you select the tile, press Enter or the Spacebar to end your
selection, and click anywhere in the drawing area (1). This point does not have to be located on the tile.

Next, you move your cursor to the right, relying on the polar tracking angle to keep the direction
horizontal, and then enter 10 for the distance. Press Enter or the Spacebar a second time to end the
command.
When you specified a distance and a direction from a point (1), you defined a vector. This vector was
applied to the tile that you selected.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3
Overview of Basic Editing
 
Move and Copy (con’t)

The Two Points Method

Another method, one that you will often use when you do not want to add numbers, reaches your goal in
two steps. You start the COPY command and select the tile the same as before, but this time you click
the two endpoints as shown. This also defines a vector.

To add the 1/8" space between the tiles, start the MOVE command (or enter M in the Command window).
The MOVE command is similar to the COPY command. Select the copied tile, and press Enter or the
Spacebar. As before, click anywhere in the drawing area and move your cursor to the right. Enter 1/8 or
.125 for the distance.
In the following example, you want to copy the blue flash tank as indicated in the illustration on the left.
The distance and direction can be determined by the two dots on the existing gray tanks.

In the illustration on the right, you can see that the two endpoints (1 and 2) on the gray tanks were used
with the COPY command to create the copy of the blue flash tank.

Create Multiple Copies

You can use the two-point method as a repeating sequence. For example, if you copied the following
circle and now you want to make more copies at the same horizontal distance. You start the COPY
command and select the second circle.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3
Overview of Basic Editing
 
Move and Copy (con’t)
Then, using the Center object snap, click the center of the original circle (1), followed by the center of the
second circle (2), and so on.

For larger numbers of copies, try experimenting with the Array option of the COPY command. For
example, here is a linear arrangement of deep foundation piles. From a base point, you specify number of
copies and the center-to-center distance.

Offset

Most models include a lot of parallel lines and curves. Creating them is easy and efficient with the
OFFSET command (enter O in the Command window).

After you start the command, select the object, specify the offset distance, and click to indicate on which
side of the original that you want the result. Here is an example of offsetting a polyline.

Tip:
A fast way to create concentric circles is to offset them.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3
Overview of Basic Editing
 
Trim and Extend
A popular technique is to use the OFFSET command in combination with the TRIM and EXTEND
commands. In the Command window, you can enter TR for TRIM or EX for EXTEND. Trimming and
extending are some of the most commonly used operations in AutoCAD.

In the following illustration, you want to extend the lines that represent the steps for this deck. You start
the Extend command, select the boundary and then press Enter or the Spacebar.

Pressing Enter or the Spacebar tells AutoCAD that you have finished selecting the boundaries, and that
you are now ready to select the objects to be extended.

Tip:
A faster method is simply to press Enter or the Spacebar instead of selecting boundary objects. This
forces AutoCAD to consider all objects as possible boundaries.
Next, you select the objects to be extended (near the ends to be extended), and then you press Enter or
the Spacebar to end the command.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3
Overview of Basic Editing
 
Trim and Extend (con’t)
Here is the result—the lines were extended to the boundary:

The TRIM command follows the same steps. When you select the objects to trim, you select the portions
that you want to trim away.

Mirror
The following illustration comes from a tile project. The walls in this residential bathroom are flattened out
to be able to lay out the tile pattern and estimate the number of tiles needed.

You can save a lot of work by taking advantage of the symmetry between the left and right walls. All you
need to do is create the tiles on one wall and then mirror the wall across the center of the room.
In the example below, you start the MIRROR command (or enter MI in the Command window), use
window selection (1 and 2) to select the geometry on the right wall, and then specify a mirror line (3 and
4) corresponding to the centerline of the bathroom.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3
Overview of Basic Editing
 
Mirror (con’t)

Finally, decline the option to "Erase source objects" by pressing Enter or the Spacebar.

Tip:
Always look for symmetry to save yourself extra work, even if the symmetry is not 100% identical.

Stretch
You can stretch most geometric objects. This lets you lengthen and shorten parts of your model. For
example, take a look at this gasket . . . or maybe it is the design for a public park.

Use the STRETCH command (or enter S in the Command window) and select the objects with a crossing
selection as shown below. The crossing selection is mandatory—only the geometry that is crossed by the
crossing selection is stretched. Then click anywhere in the drawing area, move the cursor to the right, and
enter 50 as the distance. This distance might represent millimeters or feet.

You could follow the same steps to shorten it by 25. You would just move your cursor in the opposite
direction.
Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Overview of Basic Editing  88 
 
AutoCAD 101 3.3
Overview of Basic Editing
 
Fillet
The FILLET command (enter F in the Command window) creates a rounded corner by creating an arc
that is tangent to two selected objects. Notice that the fillet is created relative to where you select the
objects.

You can create a fillet between most types of geometric objects, including lines, arcs, and polyline
segments.

Tip:
If you specify 0 (zero) as the radius of the fillet (imagine a circle shrinking to a radius of 0), the result
trims or extends the selected objects to a sharp corner.

Explode
The EXPLODE command (enter X in the Command window) disassociates a compound object into its
component parts. You can explode objects such as polylines, hatches, and blocks (symbols).
After you explode a compound object, you can modify each resulting individual object.

Edit Polylines
You can choose from several useful options when you want to modify a polyline. The PEDIT command
(enter PE in the Command window) is located on the drop-down list of the Modify panel.

With this command, you can

• Join two polylines into a single polyline if they share a common endpoint
• Convert lines and arcs into a polyline—simply enter PEDIT and select the line or arc
• Change the width of a polyline
Tip In some cases, the easiest method to modify a polyline is to explode it, make the modifications, and
then turn the objects back into a polyline using the Join option of the PEDIT command.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3
Overview of Basic Editing
 
Grips
Grips are displayed when you select an object without starting a command. Grips are often handy for light
editing. For example, the line below accidentally snapped to the wrong endpoint. You can select the
misaligned line, click on a grip (which will turn red) and then click to specify the correct location.

By default, when you click a grip, AutoCAD is automatically in **STRETCH** mode as indicated in the
Command window. If you want to explore other ways of editing objects with grips, press Enter or the
Spacebar to cycle through several other editing modes. Some people perform most editing operations
using grips.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.1
Commands: ERASE
 
Remove objects from a drawing.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Erase

Menu: Modify Erase
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: ERASE or E

Shortcut menu: Select the objects to erase, right-click in the drawing area, and click Erase.

Summary
You can erase selected objects from the drawing. This method does not move objects to the Clipboard,
where they can then be pasted to another location.
If you are working with 3D objects, you can also erase subobjects such as faces, meshes, and vertices.
(Not applicable to AutoCAD LT.)
Instead of selecting objects to erase, you can enter an option, such as L to erase the last object drawn, p
to erase the previous selection set, or ALL to erase all objects. You can also enter ? to get a list of all
options.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.2
Commands: MOVE
 
Move objects a specified distance in a specified direction.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Move

Menu: Modify Move
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: MOVE or M

Shortcut menu: Select the objects to move. Right-click in the drawing area and click Move.

Summary

Use coordinates, grid snaps, object snaps, and other tools to move objects with precision.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Select objects
Specifies which objects to move

Base point
Specifies the start point for the move.

Second point
In combination with the first point, specifies a vector that indicates how far, and in what direction, the
selected objects are moved.
If you press Enter to accept the Use first point as displacement value, the first point is interpreted as a
relative X,Y,Z displacement. For example, if you specify 2,3 for the base point and press Enter at the next
prompt, the objects move 2 units in the X direction and 3 units in the Y direction from their current
position.

Displacement
Specifies a relative distance and direction.
The two points you specify define a vector that indicates how far from the original the copied objects are
to be placed and in what direction.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.3
Commands: COPY
 
Copy objects a specified distance in a specified direction.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Copy

Menu: Modify Copy
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: COPY or CP or CO

Shortcut menu: Select the objects to copy, and right-click in the drawing area. Click Copy Selection.

Summary

With the COPYMODE system variable, you can control whether multiple copies are created automatically.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.3
Commands: COPY
 
List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed:

Select objects: Use an object selection method and press Enter when you finish
Specify base point or [Displacement/mOde/Multiple] <Displacement>: Specify a base point or enter
an option
Specify second point or [Array] <use first point as displacement>: Specify a second point or enter an
option

Displacement

Specifies a relative distance and direction using coordinates.

The two points you specify define a vector that indicates how far from the original the copied objects are
to be placed and in what direction.
If you press Enter at the Specify Second Point prompt, the first point is interpreted as a relative X,Y,Z
displacement. For example, if you specify 2,3 for the base point and press Enter at the next prompt, the
objects are copied 2 units in the X direction and 3 units in the Y direction from their current location.

Mode

Controls whether the command repeats automatically (COPYMODE system variable).

Single
Creates a single copy of selected objects and ends the command.

Multiple
Overrides the Single mode setting. The COPY command is set to repeat automatically for the
duration of the command.

Array

Arranges a specified number of copies in a linear array.

Number of Items to Array

Specifies the number of items in the array, including the original selection set.

Second Point
Determines a distance and direction for the array relative to the base point. By default, the first
copy in the array is positioned at the specified displacement. The remaining copies are positioned
in a linear array beyond that point using the same incremental displacement.

Fit
Positions the final copy in the array at the specified displacement. The other copies are fit in a
linear array between the original selection set and the final copy.

Fit
Redefines the array to use the specified displacement as the location of the last copy rather than the first
copy, fitting the other copies between the original selection set and the final copy.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.4
Commands: OFFSET
 
Create concentric circles, parallel lines, and parallel curves.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Offset

Menu: Modify Offset
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: OFFSET or O

Summary
You can offset an object at a specified distance or through a point. After you offset objects, you can trim
and extend them as an efficient method to create drawings containing many parallel lines and curves.

The OFFSET command repeats for convenience. To exit the command, press Enter.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Offset Distance

Creates an object at a specified distance from an existing object.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.4
Commands: OFFSET
 
Offset Distance (con’t)

Exit
Exits the OFFSET command.

Multiple
Enters the Multiple offset mode, which repeats the offset operation using the current offset
distance.

Undo
Reverses the previous offset.

Through

Creates an object passing through a specified point.

Note:
For best results when you offset a polyline with corners, specify the through point near the midpoint of a
line segment, not near a corner.

• Exit
• Multiple
• Undo

Erase

Erases the source object after it is offset.

Layer

Determines whether offset objects are created on the current layer or on the layer of the source object.
 

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.5
Commands: SCALE
 
Enlarge or reduce selected objects, keeping the proportions of the object the same after scaling.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Scale

Menu: Modify Scale
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: SCALE or SC
Shortcut menu: Select the objects to scale. Right-click in the drawing area and click Scale.

Summary
To scale an object, specify a base point and a scale factor. The base point acts as the center of the
scaling operation and remains stationary. A scale factor greater than 1 enlarges the object. A scale factor
between 0 and 1 shrinks the object.

List of Prompts
The following prompts are displayed.

Select objects
Specifies which objects you want to resize.

Base point
Specify a base point for the scale operation.
The base point you specify identifies the point that remains in the same location as the selected objects
change size (and thus move away from the stationary base point).
Note:
When you use the SCALE command with annotative objects, the position or location of the object is
scaled relative to the base point of the scale operation, but the size of the object is not changed.

Scale Factor
Multiplies the dimensions of the selected objects by the specified scale. A scale factor greater than 1
enlarges the objects. A scale factor between 0 and 1 shrinks the objects. You can also drag the cursor to
make the object larger or smaller.

Copy
Creates a copy of the selected objects for scaling.

Reference
Scales the selected objects based on a reference length and a specified new length.

   
Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Commands: SCALE  97 
 
AutoCAD 101 3.3.6
Commands: ROTATE
 
Rotate objects around a base point.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Rotate

Menu: Modify Rotate
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: ROTATE or RO

Shortcut menu: Select the objects to rotate. Right-click in the drawing area and click Rotate.

Summary

You can rotate selected objects around a base point to an absolute angle.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Select objects
Use an object selection method and press Enter when you finish.

Specify base point

Specify a point.

Specify rotation angle

Enter an angle, specify a point, enter c , or enter r.

• Rotation Angle. Determines how far an object rotates around the base point. The axis of rotation
passes through the specified base point and is parallel to the Z axis of the current UCS.

• Copy. Creates a copy of the selected objects for rotation.

• Reference. Rotates objects from a specified angle to a new, absolute angle. When you rotate a
viewport object, the borders of the viewport remain parallel to the edges of the drawing area.

   
Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Commands: ROTATE  98 
 
AutoCAD 101 3.3.7
Commands: TRIM
 
Trim objects to meet the edges of other objects.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Trim

Menu: Modify Trim
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: TRIM or TR

Summary
To trim objects, select the boundaries. Then press Enter and select the objects that you want to trim. To
use all objects as boundaries, press Enter at the first Select Objects prompt.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Select cutting edges

Specifies one or more objects to be used as a boundary for the trim. TRIM projects the cutting edges and
the objects to be trimmed onto the XY plane of the current user coordinate system (UCS).

Note:
To select cutting edges that include blocks, you can use only the single selection, Crossing, Fence, and
Select All options.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.7
Commands: TRIM
 
Select objects
Specifies objects individually.

Select all
Specifies that all objects in the drawing can be used as a trim boundary.

Object to Trim
Specifies the object to trim. If more than one trim result is possible, the location of the first selection point
determines the result.

Shift-Select to Extend
Extends the selected objects rather than trimming them. This option provides an easy method to switch
between trimming and extending.

Fence

Selects all objects that cross the selection fence. The selection fence is a series of temporary line
segments that you specify with two or more fence points. The selection fence does not form a closed
loop.

Crossing

Selects objects within and crossing a rectangular area defined by two points.

Note:
Some crossing selections of objects to be trimmed are ambiguous. TRIM resolves the selection by
following along the rectangular crossing window in a clockwise direction from the first point to the first
object encountered.

Project
Specifies the projection method used when trimming objects.

None
Specifies no projection. The command trims only objects that intersect with the cutting edge in 3D space.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.7
Commands: TRIM
 
UCS
Specifies projection onto the XY plane of the current UCS. The command trims objects that do not
intersect with the cutting edge in 3D space.

View
Specifies projection along the current view direction. The command trims objects that intersect the
boundary in the current view.

Edge
Determines whether an object is trimmed at another object's extrapolated edge or only to an object that
intersects it in 3D space.

Extend
Extends the cutting edge along its natural path to intersect an object in 3D space.

No Extend
Specifies that the object is trimmed only at a cutting edge that intersects it in 3D space.

Note:
When trimming hatches, do not set Edge to Extend. If you do, gaps in the trim boundaries will not be
bridged when trimming hatches, even when the gap tolerance is set to a correct value.

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Commands: TRIM  101 

 
AutoCAD 101 3.3.7
Commands: TRIM
 
Erase
Deletes selected objects. This option provides a convenient method to erase unneeded objects without
leaving the TRIM command.

Undo

Reverses the most recent change made by TRIM.

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Commands: TRIM  102 

 
AutoCAD 101 3.3.8
Commands: EXTEND
 
Extend objects to meet the edges of other objects.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Extend

Menu: Modify Extend
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: EXTEND or EX

Summary
To extend objects, first select the boundaries. Then press Enter and select the objects that you want to
extend. To use all objects as boundaries, press Enter at the first Select Objects prompt.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Current settings: Projection = current, Edge = current
Select boundary edges...
Select objects or <select all>: Select one or more objects and press Enter, or press Enter to select all
displayed objects
Select object to extend or shift-select to trim or [Fence/Crossing/Project/Edge/Undo]: Select objects
to extend, or hold down SHIFT and select an object to trim, or enter an option

Boundary Object Selection

Uses the selected objects to define the boundary edges to which you want to extend an object.

Object to Extend

Specifies the objects to extend. Press Enter to end the command.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.8
Commands: EXTEND
 
Shift-Select to Trim
Trims the selected objects to the nearest boundary rather than extending them. This is an easy method to
switch between trimming and extending.

Fence

Selects all objects that cross the selection fence. The selection fence is a series of temporary line
segments that you specify with two or more fence points. The selection fence does not form a closed
loop.

Crossing

Selects objects within and crossing a rectangular area defined by two points.
Note:
Some crossing selections of objects to be extended are ambiguous. EXTEND resolves the selection by
following along the rectangular crossing window in a clockwise direction from the first point to the first
object encountered.

Project
Specifies the projection method used when extending objects.

None
Specifies no projection. Only objects that intersect with the boundary edge in 3D space are
extended.

UCS
Specifies projection onto the XY plane of the current user coordinate system (UCS). Objects that
do not intersect with the boundary objects in 3D space are extended.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.8
Commands: EXTEND
 
View
Specifies projection along the current view direction.

Edge
Extends the object to another object's implied edge, or only to an object that actually intersects it in 3D
space.

Extend
Extends the boundary object along its natural path to intersect another object or its implied edge
in 3D space.

No Extend
Specifies that the object is to extend only to a boundary object that actually intersects it in 3D
space.

Undo

Reverses the most recent changes made by EXTEND.

 

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.9
Commands: MIRROR
 
Create a mirrored copy of selected objects.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Mirror

Menu: Modify Mirror
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: MIRROR or MI

Summary
You can create objects that represent half of a drawing, select them, and mirror them across a specified
line to create the other half.

Note:
By default, when you mirror a text object, the direction of the text is not changed. Set the MIRRTEXT
system variable to 1 if you do want the text to be reversed.

List of Prompts
The following prompts are displayed.

Select objects
Use an object selection method to select the objects to be mirrored. Press Enter to finish.

Specify first point, second point of mirror line

The two specified points become the endpoints of a line about which the selected objects are
mirrored. For mirroring in 3D, this line defines a mirroring plane perpendicular to the XY plane of
the user coordinate system (UCS) containing the mirror line.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.9
Commands: MIRROR
 
List of Prompts (con’t)

Erase source objects

Determines whether the original objects are erased or retained after mirroring them.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.10
Commands: STRETCH
 
Stretch objects crossed by a selection window or polygon.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Stretch

Menu: Modify Stretch
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: STRETCH or S

Summary
Objects that are partially enclosed by a crossing window are stretched. Objects that are completely
enclosed within the crossing window, or that are selected individually, are moved rather than stretched.
Some types of objects such as circles, ellipses, and blocks, cannot be stretched.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Select objects
Specifies the portion of the object that you want to stretch. Use the cpolygon option or the crossing object
selection method. Press Enter when the selection is complete.

STRETCH moves only the vertices and endpoints that lie inside the crossing selection, leaving those
outside unchanged. STRETCH does not modify 3D solids, polyline width, tangent, or curve-fitting
information.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.10
Commands: STRETCH
 
Base Point
Specifies the base point from which the offset for the stretch is calculated. This base point can be outside
the area being stretched.

Second point
Specifies a second point that defines the distance and direction of the stretch. The distance and direction
of this point from the base point defines how far the and in what direction the selected portions of the
object will be stretched.

Use first point as displacement

Specifies that the stretch distance and direction will be based on the distance and direction of the base
point you specified from the 0,0,0 coordinates in the drawing.

Displacement

Specifies the relative distance and direction of the stretch.

• To set a displacement based on the relative distance from the current location, enter distances in
X,Y, Z format. For example, enter 5,4,0 to stretch the selection to a point that is 5 units along the
X axis and 4 units along the Y axis from the original point.
• To set the displacement based on the distance and direction from the 0,0,0 coordinates in the
drawing, click a location in the drawing area. For example, click a point at 1,2,0 to stretch the
selection to a point that is 1 unit along the X axis and 2 units along the Y axis from its current
location.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.11
Commands: FILLET
 
Round (or fillet) the edges of objects.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Fillet.

Menu: Modify Fillet
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: FILLET or F

Summary
In the example, an arc is created that is tangent to both of the selected lines. The lines are trimmed to the
ends of the arc. To create a sharp corner instead, enter a radius of zero.

You can fillet arcs, circles, ellipses, elliptical arcs, lines, polylines, rays, splines, and xlines.
You can also fillet 3D solids and surfaces. If you select a mesh object for filleting, you can choose to
convert the mesh to a solid or surface and continue the operation.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

First Object

Selects the first of two objects required to define a 2D fillet.

If you are working with a 3D model, you can also select the edge of a 3D solid.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.11
Commands: FILLET
 
Second object or shift-select to apply corner
Use an object selection method or hold down Shift and select an object to create a sharp corner
If you select lines, arcs, or polylines, their lengths adjust to accommodate the fillet arc. You can
hold down Shift while selecting the objects to override the current fillet radius with a value of 0.
If the selected objects are straight line segments of a 2D polyline, they can be adjacent or
separated by one other segment. If they are separated by another polyline segment, FILLET
deletes the segment that separates them and replaces it with the fillet.

More than one fillet can exist between arcs and circles. Select the objects close to where you
want the endpoints of the fillet.

FILLET does not trim circles; the fillet arc meets the circle smoothly.

If you select a 3D solid, you can select multiple edges, but you must select the edges individually.

Undo

Reverses the previous action in the command.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.11
Commands: FILLET
 
Polyline

Inserts fillet arcs at each vertex of a 2D polyline where two line segments meet.

Select 2D polyline
If one arc segment separates two line segments that converge as they approach the arc
segment, FILLET removes the arc segment and replaces it with a fillet arc.

Radius

Defines the radius of the fillet arc.

The value you enter becomes the current radius for subsequent FILLET commands. Changing this value
does not affect existing fillet arcs.

Trim

Controls whether FILLET trims the selected edges to the fillet arc endpoints.

Multiple

Rounds the edges of more than one set of objects.

Edge

Selects a single edge. You can continue to select single edges until you press Enter.

If you select three or more edges that converge at a vertex to form the corner of a box, FILLET computes
a vertex blend that is part of a sphere if the three incident fillets have the same radii.

Chain
Changes from selection of single edges to selection of sequential tangent edges, called a chain
selection.
• Edge Chain. Selects a tangential sequence of edges when you select a single edge.
For example, if you select an edge on the top of a 3D solid box, FILLET also selects the
other tangential edges on the top.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.11
Commands: FILLET
 
Edge (con’t)

• Edge. Switches to a single-edge selection mode.

Loop
Specifies a loop of edges on the face of a solid. For any edge, there are two possible loops. After
selecting a loop edge, you are prompted to Accept the current selection, or choose the Next loop.

Radius
Defines the radius of the fillet arc.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.12
Commands: CHAMFER
 
Bevel the edges of objects.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Chamfer

Menu: Modify Chamfer
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: CHAMFER or CHA

Summary

The distances and angles that you specify are applied in the order that you select the objects.

You can chamfer lines, polylines, rays, and xlines.

If your product supports 3D modeling, you can also chamfer 3D solids and surfaces. If you select a mesh
to chamfer, you can choose to convert it to a solid or surface before completing the operation.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

First Line

Specifies the first of two edges required to define a 2D chamfer.

If you select lines or polylines, their lengths adjust to accommodate the chamfer line. You can hold down
Shift while selecting the objects to override the current chamfer distances with a value of 0.
If the selected objects are line segments of a 2D polyline, they must be adjacent or separated by no more
than one segment. If they're separated by another polyline segment, CHAMFER deletes the segment that
separates them and replaces it with the chamfer.
You can also select the edge of a 3D solid to chamfer and then indicate which one of two adjacent
surfaces is the base surface.

Enter Surface Selection Option

Entering o or pressing Enter sets the selected surface as the base surface. Entering n selects either of
the two surfaces adjacent to the selected edge.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.12
Commands: CHAMFER
 
After you select the base surface and the chamfer distances, select the edges of the base surface to
chamfer. You can select edges individually or all the edges at once.

Edge
Selects an individual edge to chamfer.

Loop
Switches to Edge Loop mode.

Edge Loop
Selects all edges on the base surface.

Undo
Reverses the previous action in the command.

Polyline

Chamfers an entire 2D polyline.

The intersecting polyline segments are chamfered at each vertex of the polyline. Chamfers become new
segments of the polyline.
If the polyline includes segments that are too short to accommodate the chamfer distance, those
segments are not chamfered.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.12
Commands: CHAMFER
 
Distance
Sets the distance of the chamfer from the endpoint of the selected edge.
If you set both distances to zero, CHAMFER extends or trims the two lines so they end at the same point.

Angle
Sets the chamfer distances using a chamfer distance for the first line and an angle for the second line.

Trim

Controls whether CHAMFER trims the selected edges to the chamfer line endpoints.

Note:
Trim sets the TRIMMODE system variable to 1; No Trim sets TRIMMODE to 0.

If the TRIMMODE system variable is set to 1, CHAMFER trims the intersecting lines to the endpoints of
the chamfer line. If the selected lines do not intersect, CHAMFER extends or trims them so that they do. If
TRIMMODE is set to 0, the chamfer is created without trimming the selected lines.

Method

Controls whether CHAMFER uses two distances or a distance and an angle to create the chamfer.

Multiple

Chamfers the edges of more than one set of objects.

Expression
Controls the chamfer distance with a mathematical expression. See Control Geometry with the
Parameters Manager for a list of operators and functions allowed.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.13
Commands: EXPLODE
 
Break a compound object into its component objects.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Explode

Menu: Modify Explode
Toolbar: Modify
Command entry: EXPLODE or X

Summary
Explodes a compound object when you want to modify its components separately. Objects that can be
exploded include blocks, polylines, and regions, among others.

The color, linetype, and lineweight of any exploded object might change. Other results differ depending
on the type of compound object you're exploding. See the following list of objects that can be exploded
and the results for each.
To explode objects and change their properties at the same time, use XPLODE.
Here are the results of EXPLODE for each of the following types of objects:

2D Polyline
Discards any associated width or tangent information. For wide polylines, the resulting lines and arcs are
placed along the center of the polyline.

3D Polyline
Explodes into line segments. Any linetype assigned to the 3D polyline is applied to each resulting line
segment.

3D Solid
Explodes planar faces into regions.
Nonplanar faces explode into surfaces.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.13
Commands: EXPLODE
 
Annotative Objects

Explodes the current scale representation into its constituent parts which are no longer annotative. Other
scale representations are removed.
Arc

If within a nonuniformly scaled block, explodes into elliptical arcs.

Array

Explodes an associative array into copies of the original objects.

Block

Removes one grouping level at a time. If a block contains a polyline or a nested block, exploding the
block exposes the polyline or nested block object, which must then be exploded to expose its individual
objects.
Blocks with equal X, Y, and Z scales explode into their component objects. Blocks with unequal X, Y, and
Z scales (nonuniformly scaled blocks) might explode into unexpected objects.
When nonuniformly scaled blocks contain objects that cannot be exploded, they are collected into an
anonymous block (named with a “*E” prefix) and referenced with the nonuniform scaling. If all the objects
in such a block cannot be exploded, the selected block reference will not be exploded. Body, 3D Solid,
and Region entities in a nonuniformly scaled block cannot be exploded.
Exploding a block that contains attributes deletes the attribute values and redisplays the attribute
definitions.
Blocks inserted with external references (xrefs) and their dependent blocks cannot be exploded.
Body

Explodes into a single-surface body (nonplanar surfaces), regions, or curves.

Circle

If within a nonuniformly scaled block, explodes into ellipses.

Leaders

Explodes into lines, splines, solids (arrow heads), block inserts (arrow heads, annotation blocks), multiline
text, or tolerance objects, depending on the leader.
Mesh Objects

Explodes each face into a separate 3D face object. Color and materials assignments are retained.
Multiline Text

Explodes into text objects.

Multiline

Explodes into lines and arcs.

Polyface Mesh

Explodes one-vertex meshes into a point object. Two-vertex meshes explode into a line. Three-vertex
meshes explode into 3D faces.
Region

Explodes into lines, arcs, or splines.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.14
Commands: ALIGN
 
Align objects with other objects in 2D and 3D.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Align .

Menu: Modify 3D Operations Align
Command entry: ALIGN or AL

Summary
Either one, two, or three pairs of source points and definition points can be specified to move, rotate, or
tilt the selected objects, aligning them with points on another object.

Specify either one, two, or three pairs of source points and definition points to align the selected objects.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Select objects
Select the objects to align and press Enter.
The next series of prompts asks for source and destination points. The number of point pairs
that you specify determines the results.

First source point, First destination point

When you select only one source point and destination point pair, the selected objects move in
2D or 3D from the source point (1) to the destination point (2).

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.14
Commands: ALIGN
 
First and Second source and destination points
When you select two point pairs, you can move, rotate, and scale the selected objects to align
with other objects.

The first set of source and destination points defines the base point for the alignment (1, 2).
The second set of points defines the angle of rotation (3, 4).
After you enter the second set of points, you are prompted to scale the object. The distance
between the first and second destination points (2, 4) is used as the reference length to which
the object is scaled. Scaling is available only when you are aligning objects using two point
pairs.

Note:
If you use two source and destination points to perform a 3D alignment on non-perpendicular working
planes, you will get unpredictable results.

First, Second, and Third source and destination points

When you select three point pairs, you can move and rotate the selected objects in 3D to align
with other objects.

The selected objects move from the source point (1) to the destination point (2).
The selected object is rotated (1 and 3) so that it aligns with the destination object (2 and 4).
The selected object is then rotated again (3 and 5) so that it aligns with the destination object
(4 and 6).

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.15
Commands: ARRAY
 
Create copies of objects arranged in a pattern.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Array .

Toolbar: Modify
Menu: Modify Array .
Command entry: ARRAY or AR

Summary

You can create copies of objects in a regularly spaced rectangular, polar, or path array.

The DELOBJ system variable controls whether the source objects of the array are deleted or retained
after the array is created.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Select objects
Specifies the object to be arrayed.

Rectangular
Distributes copies of the selected object into any combination of rows, columns, and levels (same as the
ARRAYRECT command).

Path
Evenly distributes copies of the selected object along a path or a portion of a path (same as the
ARRAYPATH command).

Polar
Evenly distributes copies of the object in a circular pattern around a center point or axis of rotation (same
as the ARRAYPOLAR command).

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.16
Commands: DIVIDE
 
Create evenly spaced point objects or blocks along the length or perimeter of an object.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Divide

Menu: Draw Point Divide
Command entry: DIVIDE or DIV

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Select Object to Divide

Specifies a single geometric object such as a line, polyline, arc, circle, ellipse, or spline.

Number of Segments

Places point objects at equal intervals along the selected objects. The number of point objects created is
one less than the number of segments that you specify.

Use DDPTYPE to set the style and size of all point objects in a drawing.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.16
Commands: DIVIDE
 
Block
Places specified blocks at equal intervals along the selected object. The blocks will be inserted on the
plane in which the selected object was originally created. If the block has variable attributes, these
attributes are not included.

Yes
Aligns the blocks according to the curvature of the selected object. The X axes of the
inserted blocks will be tangent to, or collinear with, the selected object at the dividing
locations

No
Aligns the blocks according to the current orientation of the user coordinate system. The X
axes of the inserted blocks will be parallel to the X axis of the UCS at the dividing
locations.

The illustration shows an arc divided into five equal parts using a block consisting of a vertically
oriented ellipse.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.17
Commands: MEASURE
 
Create point objects or blocks at measured intervals along the length or perimeter of an object.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Measure

Menu: Draw Point Measure
Command entry: MEASURE or ME

Summary
The resulting points or blocks are always located on the selected object and their orientation is
determined by the XY plane of the UCS.
Use DDPTYPE to set the style and size of all point objects in a drawing.

The points or blocks are placed in the Previous selection.

You can use the Node object snap to draw an object by snapping to the point objects.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Object to measure
Select the reference object along which you want to add the point objects or blocks.

Length of segment
Places point objects at the specified interval along the selected object, starting at the endpoint closest to
the point you used to select the object.
Measurement of closed polylines starts at their initial vertex (the first one drawn).
Measurement of circles starts at the angle from the center set as the current snap rotation angle. If the
snap rotation angle is 0, then the measurement of the circle starts to the right of center, on its
circumference.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.17
Commands: MEASURE
 
Length of segment (con’t)
The illustration shows how MEASURE marks 0.5-unit distances along a polyline, with the PDMODE
system variable set to 35.

Block
Places blocks at a specified interval along the selected object.

Align block with object

• Yes. The block is rotated about its insertion point so that its horizontal lines are aligned with, and
drawn tangent to, the object being measured.
• No. The block is always inserted with a 0 rotation angle.
After you specify the segment length, the block is inserted at the specified interval. If the block has
variable attributes, these attributes are not included.

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AutoCAD 101 3.3.18
Commands: PEDIT
 

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Modify panel Edit Polyline

Menu: Modify Object Polyline
Toolbar: Modify II
Command entry: PEDIT or PE

Shortcut menu: Select a polyline to edit. Right-click in the drawing area and click Polyline Edit.

Summary

Common uses for PEDIT include joining 2D polylines, converting lines and arcs into 2D polylines, and
converting polylines into curves that approximate B-splines (spline-fit polylines).
Different prompts are displayed, depending on the type of object you select to edit.
If you select a line, arc, or spline, you are prompted to convert that object to a polyline. Several system
variables affect this conversion. The PLINECONVERTMODE system variable determines whether the
polylines are created with linear or arc segments. When the PEDITACCEPTsystem variable is set to 1,
this prompt is suppressed, and the selected object is automatically converted to a polyline. The DELOBJ
system variable determines whether the original geometry is retained or removed.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Select polyline
Specifies a single polyline to work on.
• Object selected is not a polyline. Do you want to turn it into one? Displayed if the
object you select is not a polyline. Enter y to convert the object to a polyline or n to clear the
selection.
• Specify a precision. Displayed if you select a spline and are converting it to a polyline. The
precision value determines how accurately the resulting polyline is fit to the source spline.
Enter an integer between 0 and 99.

Note:
A high precision value might cause slower performance.

Multiple
Specifies that you want to select more than one object.
• Convert lines, arcs, and splines to polylines? Displayed if any of the objects you select is
a line, arc, or spline. Enter y to convert the objects to a polyline or n to clear the selection.
• Specify a precision for spline conversion. Displayed if any of the objects you select is a
spline and you are converting them to polylines. The precision value determines how
accurately the resulting polyline is fit to the source spline. Enter an integer between 0 and
99. The entered precision value affects all splines in the selection set.

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AutoCAD 101 3.4
Basics of Editing with Grips
 
You can reshape, move, or manipulate objects in other ways using different types of grips and grip
modes.

Objects with Multi-Functional Grips

The following objects have multi-functional grips that offer object-specific and, in some cases, grip-
specific options:

• 2D objects: Lines, polylines, arcs, elliptical arcs, splines, and hatch objects.

• Annotation objects: Dimension objects and multileaders.

• 3D solids: 3D faces, edges, and vertices.

Tip:

• Grips are not displayed on objects that are on locked layers.

• When you select multiple objects that share coincident grips, you can edit these objects using grip
modes; however, any object- or grip-specific options are not available.

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AutoCAD 101 3.4
Basics of Editing with Grips
 
Notes About Stretching with Grips

• When you select more than one grip on an object to stretch it, the shape of the object is kept intact
between the selected grips. To select more than one grip, press and hold the Shift key, and then
select the appropriate grips.
• Grips on text, block references, midpoints of lines, centers of circles, and point objects move the
object rather than stretching it.
• When a 2D object lies on a plane other than the current UCS, the object is stretched on the plane on
which it was created, not on the plane of the current UCS.
• If you select a quadrant grip to stretch a circle or ellipse and then specify a distance at the
Command prompt for the new radius—rather than moving the grip—this distance is measured from
the center of the circle, not the selected grip.

Limit the Display of Grips to Improve Performance

You can limit the maximum number of objects that display grips. For example, when a drawing contains
hatch objects or polylines with many grips, selecting these objects can take a long time. The
GRIPOBJLIMIT system variable suppresses the display of grips when the initial selection set includes
more than the specified number of objects. If you add objects to the current selection set, the limit does
not apply.

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AutoCAD 101 3.5
Basics of Polar Tracking & PolarSnap
 
Polar tracking restricts cursor movement to specified angles.

PolarSnap restricts cursor movement to specified increments along a polar angle.

When you create or modify objects, you can use polar tracking to display temporary alignment paths
defined by the polar angles you specify. In 3D views, polar tracking additionally provides an alignment
path in the up and down directions. In that case, the tooltip displays a +Z or -Z for the angle.

Polar angles are relative to the orientation of the current user coordinate system (UCS) and the setting for
the base angle convention in a drawing, which is set in the Drawing Units dialog box.

Use PolarSnap™ to snap to specified distances along the polar alignment path. For example, in the
following illustration you draw a two-unit line from point 1 to point 2, and then draw a two-unit line to point
3 at a 45-degree angle to the line. If you turn on the 45-degree polar angle increment, an alignment path
and tooltip are displayed when your cursor crosses the 0 or 45-degree angle. The alignment path and
tooltip disappear when you move the cursor away from the angle.

As you move your cursor, alignment paths and tooltips are displayed when you move the cursor near
specified polar angles. The default angle measurement is 90 degrees. Use the alignment path and tooltip
to draw your object. You can use polar tracking with Intersection and Apparent Intersection object snaps
to find where a polar alignment path intersects another object.
Note:
• Ortho mode and polar tracking cannot be turned on at the same time. Similarly, PolarSnap
and grid snap cannot be turned on at the same time.

Specify Polar Angles (Polar Tracking)

• Press F10, or click the polar button on the status bar.

Tip:
To turn polar tracking on or off temporarily, hold down the F10 key while you work. The direct distance
entry method is not available while you are using the temporary override key for polar tracking.
You can use polar tracking to track along polar angle increments of 90, 60, 45, 30, 22.5, 18, 15, 10, and 5
degrees, or you can specify different angles. The following illustration shows the alignment paths
displayed as you move your cursor 90 degrees with the polar angle increment set to 30 degrees.

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AutoCAD 101 3.5
Basics of Polar Tracking & PolarSnap
 
The orientation of 0 depends on the angle you set in the Drawing Units dialog box. The direction of snap
(clockwise or counterclockwise) depends on the units direction you specify when setting units of
measurement.

Specify Polar Distances (PolarSnap)

PolarSnap restricts cursor movement to incremental distances along a polar tracking angle. For example,
if you specify a distance of 4 units, the cursor snaps from the first point specified to distances of 0, 4, 8,
12, 16, and so on. As you move your cursor, a tooltip indicates the nearest PolarSnap increment. To
restrict point entry to polar distances, both polar tracking and Snap mode (set to PolarSnap) must be on.

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AutoCAD 101 3.6
Basics of Osnaps
 
Object snaps are essential to specifying precise locations on objects. For example, you can use object
snaps to create a line to the center of a circle or to the midpoint of another line.

You can specify an object snap whenever you are prompted for a point. By default, a marker and a tooltip
are displayed when you move the cursor over an object snap location on an object. This feature, called
™
AutoSnap , provides visual confirmation that indicates which object snap is in effect. For example, the
marker for a midpoint object snap is a triangle.

For a complete list of object snaps, see OSNAP.

Specify an Object Snap

To specify an object snap at a prompt for a point, you can

• Press Shift and right-click to display the Object Snap shortcut menu
• Right-click and choose an object snap from the Snap Overrides sub-menu
• Click an object snap button on the Object Snap toolbar
• Enter the name of an object snap
• On the status bar, right-click the object snap button
•
Note:
• When you specify an object snap at a prompt for a point, the object snap stays in effect only for the
next point that you specify.
• If you want object snaps to ignore hatch objects, set the OSOPTIONS system variable to 1.
• Object snaps work only when you are prompted for a point. If you try to use an object snap at the
Command prompt, an error message displays.

Tip:

Use Running Object Snaps

If you need to use one or more object snaps repeatedly, you can turn on running object snaps. For
example, you might set Center as a running object snap if you need to connect the centers of a series of
circles with a line.
You can specify one or more running object snaps on the Object Snaps tab in the Drafting Settings dialog
box, which is accessible from the right-click menus. If several running object snaps are turned on, more
than one object snap may be eligible at a given location. You can press Tab to cycle through the
possibilities before you specify the point.
Click the object snap button on the status bar or press F3 to turn running object snaps on and off.

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AutoCAD 101 3.7
Commands: UNDO and REDO
 
Reverse the effect of commands.

Access Methods
Button:

Toolbar: Standard
Command entry: CTRL+Z or UNDO

Summary
UNDO displays the command or system variable name at the Command prompt to indicate that you have
stepped past the point where the command was used.

Note:
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.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Number of operations to undo

Reverses the specified number of preceding operations. The effect is the same as entering u multiple
times.

Auto
Groups the commands in a macro, such as a menu macro, into a single action, making them reversible by
a single U command.
UNDO Auto is not available if the Control option has turned off or limited the UNDO feature.

Control

Limits or turns off UNDO.

Note:
The Auto, Begin, and Mark options are not available when None or One is in effect. If you attempt to use
UNDO while it is turned off, you are prompted to re-enter a Control option.

All
Turns on the full UNDO command.

None
Turns off the U and UNDO commands and discards any UNDO command information saved
earlier in the editing session.

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AutoCAD 101 3.7
Commands: UNDO and REDO
 
Control (con’t)

One
Limits UNDO to a single operation.

Combine
Controls whether multiple, consecutive zoom and pan commands are combined as a single
operation for undo and redo operations.
Note:
Pan and zoom commands that are started from the menu are not combined, and always remain
separate actions.

Layer
Controls whether the layer dialog operations are combined as a single undo operation.

Begin, End
Groups a sequence of actions into a set. After you enter the Begin option, all subsequent actions become
part of this set until you use the End option. Entering undo begin while a group is already active ends the
current set and begins a new one. UNDO and U treat grouped actions as a single action.
If you enter undo begin without undo end, using the Number option undoes the specified number of
commands but does not back up past the begin point. If you want to go back to before the begin point,
you must use the End option, even if the set is empty. The same applies to the U command. A mark
placed by the Mark option disappears inside an UNDO group.

Mark, Back

Mark places a mark in the undo information. Back undoes all the work done back to this mark. If you undo
one operation at a time, you are informed when you reach the mark.
You can place as many marks as necessary. Back moves back one mark at a time, removing the mark.
When you use the Number option to undo multiple actions, UNDO stops if it encounters a mark.

This will undo everything. OK?

(Displayed if no mark is found during a Back operation)
Enter yes to undo all commands entered in the current session. Enter no to ignore the Back option.

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AutoCAD 101 3.7
Commands: UNDO and REDO
 
Redo

Reverses the effects of previous UNDO or U command.

Access Methods
Button:

Menu: Edit Redo

Toolbar: Standard
Shortcut menu: With no command active and no objects selected, right-click in the drawing area and
click Redo.
Command entry: Ctrl+Y or REDO

Summary

REDO reverses the effects of a single UNDO or U command. REDO must immediately follow the U or
UNDO command.

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AutoCAD 101 4

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AutoCAD 101 4.1.1
Commands: DISTANCE
 
Measures the distance and angle between two points.

Access Method
Command entry: DIST or 'DIST for transparent use

Summary
In general, the DIST command reports 3D distances in model space and 2D distances on a layout in
paper space.
In model space, changes in X, Y, and Z component distances and angles are measured in 3D relative to
the current UCS. The distance is displayed in the current units format.

DIST assumes the current elevation for the first or second point if you omit the Z coordinate value.
In paper space, distances are normally reported in 2D paper space units. However, when using object
snaps on model space objects that are displayed in a single viewport, distances are reported as 2D
model space distances projected onto a plane parallel to your screen.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Specify First and Second Point

Specifies two points between which you want to get the distance and angle.

Multiple Points
Specifies several points, recording a running total of the distance. Additional options are displayed that
include arcs as well as line segments of a specified length.

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AutoCAD 101 4.1.2
Commands: AREA
 
Calculates the area and perimeter of objects or of defined areas.

Command entry: AREA

Summary
You can obtain measurements by selecting an object, or by specifying points to define what you want to
measure. The area and perimeter of the specified object are displayed at the Command prompt and in
the tooltip.
The MEASUREGEOM command provides additional measurement options. You can also use
BOUNDARY to create a closed polyline or region and then use LIST or the Properties palette to find the
area.

List of Prompts
The following prompts are displayed.

Specify first corner point

Calculates the area and perimeter defined by specified points. Start by specifying the first point. All points
must lie in a plane parallel to the XY plane of the current user coordinate system (UCS).

Specify next point

A rubberband line from the first specified point to the cursor is displayed. Continue to specify points to
define a polygon and then press Enter to complete the definition of the perimeter. The area to be
calculated is highlighted in green.

If you do not close the polygon, the area is calculated as if a line were drawn from the last point entered
to the first. When the perimeter is calculated, that line length is added.

Object
Calculates the area and perimeter of a selected object.

Select objects
Select objects such as circles, ellipses, splines, polylines, polygons, regions, and 3D solids.
If you select an open polyline, the area is calculated as if a line were drawn from the last point entered to
the first. When the perimeter is calculated that line length is ignored.

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AutoCAD 101 4.1.2
Commands: AREA
 
Select objects (con’t)
The centerline of a wide polyline is used to make area and perimeter (or length) calculations.

Add area
Turns on Add mode and displays the total cumulative measurements of subsequent areas that you
specify. You can pick points and select objects to obtain the calculation. For example, you can select two
objects to obtain a total area.

If you pick points and do not close the polygon, the area is calculated as if a line were drawn from the last
point entered to the first.

Subtract area

Subtracts areas and perimeters from a total area. You can pick points or select objects to obtain the
calculation. In the following example, the second selected object is subtracted from the first.

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AutoCAD 101 5

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AutoCAD 101 5.1
Basic Blocks
 
Insert symbols and details into your drawings from commercial online sources or from your own designs.

In AutoCAD, you can insert symbols and details, called blocks. A block is a collection of objects that are
combined into a single named object. The following are some sample blocks at various scales.

Some of these blocks are realistic representations of objects, some are symbols, and one of them is an
architectural title block for a D-size drawing. In the following example, a drawing file is inserted as a block
into the current drawing, providing a detail view.

Typically, each of these blocks is an individual drawing file, perhaps saved in a folder with similar drawing
files. When you need to insert one into your current drawing file, you use the INSERT command
(or enter I in the command window).

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AutoCAD 101 5.1
Basic Blocks
 
The first time you insert the drawing as a block, you need to click Browse to locate the drawing file.

Once inserted, the block definition is stored in your current drawing. From then on, you can choose it from
the Name drop-down list.

Tip:
The default settings in the Insert dialog box are usually acceptable. After you choose the block name,
click OK, and then specify its location in your drawing. You can rotate it later, if necessary.

Notice that when you insert a block, it is attached to your cursor at the point indicated. After inserting it,
you can select the block and a grip appears. This location is called the insertion point.

By default, the insertion point is the origin point (0,0) of the original drawing.

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AutoCAD 101 5.1
Basic Blocks
 
Create a Block Definition
Instead of creating a drawing file to be inserted as a block, you might want to create a block definition
directly in your current drawing. Use this method if you do not plan to insert the block into any other
drawing. In that case, use the BLOCK command to create the block definition.

For example, this is how you could create a border for a restaurant menu.

1. Create the objects for the block.

2. Start the Block command.

3. Enter a name for the block.

4. Select the objects that your created for the block (1 and 2).

5. Specify the block insertion point (3).

You can enter the information for steps 3, 4, and 5 into the Block Definition dialog box in any order.

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AutoCAD 101 5.1
Basic Blocks
 
Create a Block Definition (con’t)
After creating the block definition, you can insert, copy, and rotate the block as needed.

Remember that you can explode a block back to its component objects if you need to make changes. In
the illustration below, the corner block was exploded and adjusted to make the corner look better.

Helpful Tips:
There are several different schemes for saving and retrieving block definitions:
• You can create an individual drawing file for each block that you intend to use. You save these
drawing files in folders, each of which would contain a family of related drawing files.
• You can include the block definitions for title blocks and common symbols in your drawing template
files. Additional information about drawing template files is available in the topic, Basics.
• You can create several drawing files, which are sometimes called block library drawings. Each of
these drawings contains a family of related block definitions. When you insert a block library drawing
into your current drawing, all the blocks that are defined in that drawing become available.
• In some cases, you might want a block to assume current property settings. For example, if the
current layer color is red, you might want a block inserted on that layer to also be red. To make the
color property of a block vary, you must define the block using objects that have their color property
set to ByBlock.
• Most blocks used at Kiewit can be found on various Palettes, as provided by your CAD Manager.

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AutoCAD 101 5.1.1
Commands: BLOCK
 
Create a block definition from selected objects.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Insert tab Block Definition panel Create Block

Menu: Draw Block Make
Toolbar: Draw
Command entry: BLOCK or B

Summary

The Block Definition dialog box is displayed.

If you enter -BLOCK at the Command prompt, options are displayed.
You create a block definition by selecting objects, specifying an insertion point, and giving it a name.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Enter block name or [?]: Enter a name or ?

Block Name
Names the block. The name can have up to 255 characters and can include letters, numbers, blank
spaces, and any special character not used by the operating system and the program for other purposes
if the system variable EXTNAMES is set to 1.
If you enter the name of an existing block, you are prompted as follows:

Redefine Block Reference

By redefining a block, you automatically update all references to that block. Attributes attached to existing
block references remain unchanged in the drawing. However, new insertions of the block do not prompt
for attributes unless the attribute definitions are included in the new block definition.
Use the ATTREDEF command to update the attributes of an existing block insert. (Not available in
AutoCAD LT.)

Specify Insertion Base Point

The point specified as the base point is used for subsequent insertions of the block. Typically, a base
point is the center of the block or its lower-left corner. The base point is also the point about which you
can rotate the block during insertion. A block with 0 rotation is oriented according to the UCS in effect
when it was created. Entering a 3D point inserts the block at a specific elevation. Omitting the Z
coordinate uses the current elevation.

• Annotative:
Enter a to create an annotative block. (If you enter yes, the block becomes annotative)

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AutoCAD 101 5.1.1
Commands: BLOCK
 
Match Orientation to Layout in Paper Space Viewports
If you enter yes, the block’s orientation in paper space viewports will match the orientation of the layout.

Select Objects
If you specify the insertion base point, you are prompted to select the objects.
The program defines a block using the objects selected, the insertion base point, and the name provided,
and then erases the selected objects from the drawing. You can restore the deleted objects by entering
the OOPS command immediately after BLOCK.

The insertion base point becomes the origin of the block's coordinate system, which is parallel to the UCS
in effect at the time that you define the block. When you insert the block into a drawing, its coordinate
system is aligned parallel to the current UCS. Thus, you can insert a block at any orientation in space by
setting the UCS first.

?—List Previously Defined Blocks

Lists the block names in the text window.

Enter Blocks to List

In the list, external references (xrefs) are indicated with the notation Xref: resolved.
In addition, externally dependent blocks (blocks in an xref) are indicated with the notation xdep:
XREFNAME, where xrefname is the name of an externally referenced drawing. The following terms are
used in the list:
• User Blocks: Number of user-defined blocks in the list.
• External References: Number of xrefs in the list.
• Dependent Blocks: Number of externally dependent blocks in the list.
• Unnamed Blocks: Number of unnamed (anonymous) blocks in the drawing.

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AutoCAD 101 5.1.2
Commands: INSERT
 
Insert a block or drawing into the current drawing.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Insert tab Block panel Insert

Menu: Insert Block
Toolbar: Insert
Command entry: INSERT or I

Summary

The Insert dialog box is displayed.

If you enter -INSERT at the Command prompt, options are displayed.
A good practice is to insert a block from a block library. A block library can be a drawing file that stores
related block definitions or it can be a folder that contains related drawing files, each of which can be
inserted as a block. With either method, blocks are standardized and accessible to multiple users.
You can insert your own blocks or use the blocks provided in the DesignCenter or tool palettes.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Block Name

Specifies the name of the block to insert.

Enter a tilde (~) to display the Select Drawing File dialog box (a standard file selection dialog box).
You can control block insertion behavior using the following methods:
• Inserting exploded blocks: Preceding the name of the block with an asterisk (*) explodes the
block and inserts the individual parts of it. The block definition is not added to the drawing.
• Updating a block path: If you enter a block name without a path name, INSERT searches the
current drawing data for an existing block definition by that name. You can replace an existing
block definition with an external file by entering block name=file name.
• Updating a Block Definition: If you make changes to a block file that is inserted in your drawing
and you want to change the existing block definition without creating a new block insertion, enter
the following at the Insertion Point prompt (following the Block Name prompt):
block name=
If you enter = after the block name, the following prompt is displayed:

Block "current" already exists. Redefine it?

Specify Yes or No.
If you choose to redefine the block, the existing block definition is replaced with the new block definition.
The drawing is regenerated, and the new definition is applied to all existing insertions of the block
definition. Press Esc when prompted for the insertion point if you do not want to insert a new block into
the drawing.

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AutoCAD 101 5.1.2
Commands: INSERT
 
?—List Block Names

Lists the blocks currently defined in the drawing.

Insertion Point
Specifies a location for the block or drawing.

Scale Factor
All X and Y dimensions of the block or drawing are multiplied by the X and Y scale factors. The block or
drawing is rotated by the specified angle, using the insertion point as the center of rotation.

Corner
Defines the X and Y scale factors at the same time, using the insertion point and another point as the
corners of a box. The X and Y dimensions of the box become the X and Y scale factors. The insertion
point is the first corner.

XYZ
Sets X, Y, and Z scale factors.
• X Scale Factor: Defines X, Y, and Z scale factors for the block or drawing.
• Corner: Defines the X and Y scales at the same time, using the insertion point and another point
as the corners of a box, and then defines the Z scale.

Basepoint
Temporarily drops the block in the drawing where it is currently positioned and allows you to specify a
new base point for the block reference as it is dragged into position. This does not affect the actual base
point defined for the block reference.

Scale
Sets the scale factor for the X, Y, and Z axes. The scale for the Z axis is the absolute value of the
specified scale factor.

X
Sets the X scale factor.

Y
Sets the Y scale factor.

Z
Sets the Z scale factor.

Rotate
Sets the angle of insertion for the block.

Geographic
Sets the geographic location of the attached file as reference.

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AutoCAD 101 5.2
Working with Dynamic Blocks
 
Dynamic blocks contain rules, or parameters, for how to change the appearance of the block reference
when it is inserted in the drawing.

With dynamic blocks you can insert one block that can change shape, size, or configuration instead of
inserting one of many static block definitions. For example, instead of creating multiple interior door
blocks of different sizes, you can create one resizable door block.

You author dynamic blocks with either constraint parameters or action parameters.
Note:
Using both constraint parameters and action parameters in the same block definition is not
recommended.

Add Constraints

In a block definition, constraint parameters

• Associate objects with one another
• Restrict geometry or dimensions
The following example shows a block reference with a constraint (in gray) and a constraint parameter
(blue with grip).

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AutoCAD 101 5.2
Working with Dynamic Blocks
 
Add Constraints (con’t)

Once the block is inserted into the drawing, the constraint parameters can be edited as properties by
using the Properties palette.

Add Actions and Parameters

In a block definition, actions and parameters provide rules for the behavior of a block once it is inserted
into the drawing.

Depending on the specified block geometry or parameter, you can associate an action to that parameter.
The parameter is represented as a grip in the drawing. When you edit the grip, the associated action
determines what will change in the block reference.

Like constraint parameters, action parameters can be changed using the Properties palette.
Notes About Grips on Dynamic Blocks
Custom grips can be used to manipulate the geometry of a dynamic block reference.

When you add a parameter to a dynamic block definition, custom grips associated with key points of the
parameter are automatically added to the block.

You can specify the number of grips on all parameters except the alignment parameter (which always
displays one grip). When you select a parameter in the Block Editor, the Number of Grips property on the

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AutoCAD 101 5.2
Working with Dynamic Blocks
 
Notes About Grips on Dynamic Blocks (con’t)

Properties palette allows you to select the number of grips you want to display. (Parameters that are not
associated with an action do not display grips.)
Even if you specify that a parameter has 0 grips, you can still edit the dynamic block reference in the
Properties palette (if the block is defined that way).
If a dynamic block definition contains visibility states or a lookup table, you can define the block so that
only the lookup grip is displayed. Clicking this grip on the block reference displays a drop-down list. When
you select an item from the list, the display of the block reference may change.

Grips are automatically added at key points on the parameter. You can reposition a grip anywhere in the
block space relative to its associated key point on the parameter. When you reposition a grip, it is still tied
to the key point with which it is associated. (Key points that are not associated with an action do not
display grips.)
The type of parameter you add to the dynamic block definition determines the type of grips that are added
to the block.

Specify Tooltips on Grips

All dynamic block parameters except basepoint and alignment has one or more description fields.

Parameter Description
Point Position description

Linear Distance description

Polar Distance description, angle description

XY Horizontal distance description, vertical distance description

Rotation Angle description

Flip Flip description

Visibility Visibility description

Lookup Lookup description

Alignment Set to “Aligns block to object”

Basepoint No special tooltip is required

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AutoCAD 101 5.2
Working with Dynamic Blocks
 
Specify Insertion Cycling for Grips in Dynamic Blocks
Grips in dynamic blocks have a property called Cycling that allows you to set a grip as a potential
insertion point for the block. When you insert the dynamic block reference in a drawing, you can use the
Ctrl key to cycle through the available grips to select which grip will be the insertion point.

Creating Dynamic Blocks

This table gives an overview of the steps required add behaviors that make blocks dynamic.

Know how the block should change or move, and what parts will depend
on the others.
Plan the block Example: The block will be resizable, and after it is resized, additional
content. geometry is displayed.

Draw the block geometry in the drawing area or the Block Editor.
Draw the NoteIf you will use visibility states to change how geometry is displayed,
geometry. you may not want to include all the geometry at this point.

Add either individual parameters or parameter sets to define geometry

that will be affected by an action or manipulation. Keep in mind the
Add parameters. objects that will be dependent on one another.

If you are working with action parameters, if necessary, add actions to

Add actions. define what will happen to the geometry when it is manipulated.

Add properties that determine how the block is displayed in the drawing
Define custom area. Custom properties affect grips, labels, and preset values for block
properties. geometry.

On the ribbon, in the Block Editor contextual tab, Open/Save panel, click
Test the block. Test Block to test the block before you save it.

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AutoCAD 101 5.3
Working with DesignCenter
 
With DesignCenter, you can:
• Browse for drawing content such as drawings or symbol libraries on your computer, on a networked
drive, and on a web page
• View definition tables for blocks and layers in any drawing file and then insert, attach, or copy and
paste the definitions into the current drawing
• Update (redefine) a block definition
• Create shortcuts to drawings, folders, and Internet locations that you access frequently
• Add content such as xrefs, blocks, and hatches to a drawing
• Open drawing files in a new window
• Drag drawings, blocks, and hatches to a tool palette for convenient access
• Copy and paste content, such as layer definitions, layouts, and text styles between open drawings

The DesignCenter Window

1. Click View tab Palettes panel DesignCenter.

2. On the DesignCenter toolbar, click Tree View Toggle.

Use the tree view on the left to browse sources of content and to display content in the content area on
the right. From the content area, you can add items to a drawing or to a tool palette. A preview or
description is displayed for selected drawings, blocks, hatch patterns, or xrefs.
The DesignCenter toolbar controls navigation and display of information in the tree view and the content
area. The same navigation and display options are available on the shortcut menu. Right-click in the
content area to display the menu.
As with other dockable windows and palettes, you can resize, dock, and anchor DesignCenter. Many of
these options can be set selecting an option on the shortcut menu.

Accessing DesignCenter Content

The tree view in the left portion of the DesignCenter window and the four DesignCenter tabs help you find
and load content into the content area.

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AutoCAD 101 5.3
Working with DesignCenter
 
Folders Tab
The Folders tab displays a hierarchy of navigational icons, including
• Networks and computers
• Web addresses (URLs)
• Computer drives
• Folders
• Drawings and related support files
• Xrefs, layouts, hatch styles, and named objects, including blocks, layers, linetypes, text styles,
dimension styles, table styles, multileader styles, and plot styles within a drawing
Click an item in the tree view to display its contents in the content area. Click the plus (+) or minus (-) sign
to display and hide additional levels in the hierarchy. You can also double-click an item to display deeper
levels. Right-clicking in the tree view displays a shortcut menu with several related options.

DesignCenter Tabs and Autodesk Seek

The Open Drawings, History, and DC Online tabs, and Autodesk Seek provide alternate methods of
accessing content.
• Open Drawings. Displays a list of the drawings that are currently open. Click a drawing file and then
click one of the definition tables from the list to load the content into the content area.
• History. Displays a list of files opened previously with DesignCenter. Double-click a drawing file
from the list to navigate to the drawing file in the tree view of the Folders tab and to load the content
into the content area.
• DC Online. Provides content from the DesignCenter Online web page including blocks, symbol
libraries, manufacturer's content, and online catalogs.
• Autodesk Seek. Provides content from the Autodesk Seek web page including blocks, symbol
libraries, manufacturer's content, and online catalogs. Autodesk Seek is not available in all regions
and products.

Note:
The DesignCenter Online (DC Online tab) is turned off by default. You can enable it from the CAD
Manager Control utility. However, it is not available in English-language versions of the product.

Bookmark Frequently Used Content

DesignCenter provides a solution to finding content that you need to access quickly on a regular basis.
Both the tree view and the content area include options that activate a folder called Favorites. The
Favorites folder can contain shortcuts to content on local or network drives as well as in Internet
locations.
When you select a drawing, folder, or another type of content and choose Add to Favorites, a shortcut to
that item is added to the Favorites folder. The original file or folder doesn't actually move; in fact, all the
shortcuts you create are stored in the Favorites folder. The shortcuts saved in the Favorites folder can be
®
moved, copied, or deleted using Windows Explorer.

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AutoCAD 101 5.4
Basics of Tool Palettes
 
Use tool palettes to organize blocks, hatches, and custom tools in a tabbed window. Various options and
settings are accessible from shortcut menus that display when you right-click different areas of the Tool
Palettes window.

Button:

Access Methods

Ribbon: View tab Palettes panel Tool Palettes

Menu: Tools Palettes Tool Palettes
Toolbar: Standard

Note:
Tool palettes can be used only in the version of the product in which they were created. However, custom
tool palettes that were created in an earlier release can be migrated forward with the Migrate Custom
Settings dialog box, or they can be imported individually with the Customize dialog box.

List of Options

The following options are displayed.

Add Text
Inserts a text entry box at the cursor location, where you can add a label that helps organize palette
contents.

Add Separator
Adds a tool palette separator line at the location of the cursor.

All Palettes
Displays all tool palette tabs in the palette window.

Allow Docking
Toggles the ability to dock or anchor palette windows. A docked window adheres to the side of the
application window and causes the drawing area to be resized. Selecting this option also makes Anchor
Right and Anchor Left available. Clear this option to undock a docked tool palette.

Anchor Left/ Anchor Right

Attaches the palette to an anchor tab base at the left or right side of the drawing area. An anchored
palette rolls open and closed as the cursor moves across it. When an anchored palette is open, its
content overlaps the drawing area. An anchored palette cannot be set to stay open.

Auto-hide
A setting that causes a floating window to roll open and closed as the cursor moves across it. When this
option is cleared, the full tool palette stays open continuously.

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AutoCAD 101 6
 
 

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AutoCAD 101 6.1
Basic Principles of Printing
 
Save and restore the printer settings for each layout. Output a drawing layout to a printer, a plotter, or a
file.

Originally, people printed text from printers and plotted drawings from plotters. Now, you can do both with
either. So this guide will also use the terms print and plot interchangeably as everyone else does.
The command to output a drawing is PLOT and you can access it from the Quick Access toolbar.

To display all of the options in the Plot dialog box, click the More Options button.

As you can see, there are a lot of settings and options available.

For convenience, you can save and restore collections of these settings by name. These are called page
setups. With page setups you can store the settings that you need for different printers, printing in gray
scales, creating a PDF file from your drawing, and so on.

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AutoCAD 101 6.1
Basic Principles of Printing
 
Create a Page Setup
Use the Page Setup Manager to create and manage your page setups. To open the Page Setup
Manager, right-click on the Model tab or a layout tab and choose Page Setup Manager. The command is
PAGESETUP.
Each layout tab in your drawing can have an associated page setup. This is convenient when you use
more than one output device or format, or if you have several layouts with different sheet sizes in the
same drawing.

Tip:
You can save page setups in your drawing template (.dwt) files, or you can import them from other
drawing files.

To create a new page setup, click New and enter the name of the new page setup. The Page Setup
dialog box that displays next looks like the Plot dialog box. Choose all the options and settings that you
want to save.
When you are ready to plot, you simply specify the name of the page setup in the Plot dialog box, and all
your plot settings will be restored. In the following illustration, the Plot dialog box is set to use the
Hitchhiker page setup, which will output a DWF file rather than print to a plotter.

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AutoCAD 101 6.1
Basic Principles of Printing
 
Output Options
The following example shows you how to create a page setup for creating PDF files.
From the Printer/plotter drop-down list, choose DWG To PDF.pc3:

Next, choose the size and scale options that you want to use:

• Paper Size. The orientation (portrait or landscape) is built into the choices in the drop-down list.
• Plot Area. You can clip the area to be plotted with these options, but usually you plot everything.
• Plot Offset. This setting changes based on your printer, plotter, or other output. Try centering the plot
or adjusting the origin, but remember that printers and plotters have a built-in margin around the
edges.
• Plot Scale. Choose your plot scale from the drop-down list. The ¼” = 1’-0” scale specified in the
previous illustration is meant for printing to scale from the Model tab. On a layout tab, you normally
print at a 1:1 scale.

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AutoCAD 101 6.1
Basic Principles of Printing
 
The plot style table provides information about processing the colors in your drawing. Colors that display
nicely on your monitor might not be suitable for a PDF file or for printing. For example, you might want to
create a drawing in color, but create monochrome output. Here is how you specify a monochrome output:

Tip:
• Always double-check your settings with the Preview option.

After you specify your plot settings, save them to one or more page setups. When you want to print a
drawing, all that you need to do is start the PLOT command, choose a page setup, perform a plot preview
just in case, and click OK.

Tip:
• If you want to share a static image of your drawing, you can output a PDF file from a drawing file.

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AutoCAD 101 6.1.1
Commands: PAGESETUP
 
Control the page layout, plotting device, paper size, and other settings for each new layout.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Output tab Plot panel Page Setup

Menu: Application menu Print Page Setup

Menu: File Page Setup Manager

Shortcut menu: Right-click the Model or a layout tab and click Page Setup Manager.

Summary

The Page Setup Manager is displayed.

A page setup is a collection of plot device and other settings that determine the appearance and format of
your final output. These settings are stored in the drawing file and can be modified and applied to other
layouts. You can create named page setups, modify existing ones, or import page setups from other
drawings.

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AutoCAD 101 6.1.1
Commands: PAGESETUP
 

List of Options
The following options are displayed.

Current Layout or Current Sheet Set

Lists the current layout to which the page setup will be applied.

Layout icon
Displayed when the Page Setup Manager is opened from a layout.

Sheet set icon

Displayed when the Page Setup Manager is opened from the Sheet Set Manager.

Page Setups
Displays the current page setup, sets a different page setup as current, creates a new page setup,
modifies an existing page setup, and imports page setups from other drawings.

Current Page Setup

Displays the page setup that is applied to the current layout. You cannot apply a page setup to an
entire sheet set after it has been created.

Page Setup List

Lists the page setups that are available to apply to the current layout or when you publish a sheet
set.
The list includes the named page setups and layouts that are available in the drawing. Layouts that
have a named page setup applied to them are enclosed in asterisks, with the named page setup in
parentheses; for example, *Layout 1 (System Scale-to-fit)*.
If the Page Setup Manager is opened from the Sheet Set Manager, only named page setups in the
page setup overrides file (a drawing template [.dwt] file) that have Plot Area set to Layout or Extents
are listed. Any of these page setups can be applied temporarily for a PUBLISH operation.
The shortcut menu also provides options for removing and renaming page setups.

Set Current
Sets the selected page setup as the current page setup for the current layout. You cannot set the
current layout as the current page setup. Set Current is not available for sheet sets.

New
Displays the New Page Setup dialog box, in which you can enter a name for the new page setup and
specify the page setup to use as a starting point.

Modify
Displays the Page Setup dialog box, in which you can edit the settings for the selected page setup.

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AutoCAD 101 6.1.1
Commands: PAGESETUP
 
Selected Page Setup Details

Displays information about the selected page setup.

Device Name
Displays the name of the output device specified in the currently selected page setup.

Plotter
Displays the type of output device specified in the currently selected page setup.

Plot Size
Displays the paper size and orientation specified in the currently selected page setup.

Where
Displays the physical location of the output device specified in the currently selected page setup.

Description
Displays descriptive text about the output device specified in the currently selected page setup.

Display When Creating a New Layout

Specifies that the Page Setup dialog box is displayed when a new layout tab is selected or a new layout
is created.
You can reset this function by turning on the Show Page Setup Dialog for New Layouts option on the
Display tab of the Options dialog box.

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AutoCAD 101 6.1.2
Commands: PLOT
 
Plot a drawing to a plotter, printer, or file.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Output tab Plot panel Plot

Menu: Application menu Print Plot

Menu: File Plot

Toolbar: Standard
Command entry: PLOT or P

Shortcut menu: Right-click the Model tab or a layout tab and click Plot

Summary

The Plot dialog box is displayed. Click OK to begin plotting with the current settings.

Summary
You can display more options by clicking the More Options button:

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AutoCAD 101 6.1.2
Commands: PLOT
 
List of Options

The following options are displayed.

Page Setup
Displays a list of any named and saved page setups in the drawing. You can base the current page setup
on a named page setup saved in the drawing, or you can create a new named page setup based on the
current settings in the Plot dialog box by clicking Add.

Name
Displays the name of the current page setup.

Add
Displays the Add Page Setup dialog box, in which you can save the current settings in the Plot
dialog box to a named page setup. You can modify this page setup through the Page Setup
Manager.

Printer/Plotter

Specifies a configured plotting device to use when plotting layouts.

If the selected plotter doesn't support the layout's selected paper size, a warning is displayed and you can
select the plotter's default paper size or a custom paper size.

Name
Lists the available PC3 files or system printers from which you can select to plot the current
layout. An icon in front of the device name identifies it as a PC3 file or a system printer.
• PC3 file icon. Indicates a PC3 file.

• System printer icon. Indicates a system printer.

Properties
Displays the Plotter Configuration Editor (PC3 editor), in which you can view or modify the current
plotter configuration, ports, device, and media settings.
If you make changes to the PC3 file using the Plotter Configuration Editor, the Changes to a
Printer Configuration File dialog box is displayed.

Plotter
Displays the plot device specified in the currently selected page setup.

Where
Displays the physical location of the output device specified in the currently selected page setup.

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AutoCAD 101 6.1.2
Commands: PLOT
 
Printer/Plotter (con’t)

Description
Displays descriptive text about the output device specified in the currently selected page setup.
You can edit this text in the Plotter Configuration Editor.

Plot to File
Plots output to a file rather than to a plotter or printer. The default location for plot files is specified
in the Options dialog box, Plot and Publish tab, under Default Location for Plot-to-File Operations.
If the Plot to File option is turned on, when you click OK in the Plot dialog box, the Plot to File
dialog box (a standard file navigation dialog box) is displayed.

Partial Preview
Shows an accurate representation of the effective plot area relative to the paper size and
printable area. The tooltip displays the paper size and printable area.

Paper Size
Displays standard paper sizes that are available for the selected plotting device. If no plotter is selected,
the full standard paper size list is displayed and available for selection.
If the selected plotter doesn't support the layout's selected paper size, a warning is displayed, and you
can select the plotter's default paper size or a custom paper size.
A default paper size is set for the plotting device when you create a PC3 file with the Add-a-Plotter
wizard. The paper size that you select in the Page Setup dialog box is saved with the layout and
overrides the PC3 file settings.
The actual printable area of the page, which is determined by the selected plotting device and paper size,
is indicated in the layout by a dashed line.
If you are plotting a raster image, such as a BMP or TIFF file, the size of the plot is specified in pixels, not
in inches or millimeters.

Number of Copies

Specifies the number of copies to plot. This option is not available when you plot to file.

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AutoCAD 101 6.1.2
Commands: PLOT
 
Plot Area

Specifies the portion of the drawing to be plotted. Under What to Plot, you can select an area of the
drawing to be plotted.

Layout/Limits
When plotting a layout, plots everything within the printable area of the specified paper size, with
the origin calculated from 0,0 in the layout.
When plotting from the Model tab, plots the entire drawing area that is defined by the grid limits. If
the current viewport does not display a plan view, this option has the same effect as the Extents
option.

Extents
Plots the portion of the current space of the drawing that contains objects. All geometry in the
current space is plotted. The drawing may be regenerated to recalculate the extents before
plotting.

Display
Plots the view in the current viewport in the selected Model tab or the current paper space view in
the layout.

View
Plots a view that was previously saved with the VIEW command. You can select a named view
from the list. If there are no saved views in the drawing, this option is unavailable.
When the View option is selected, a View list is displayed that lists the named views that are
saved in the current drawing. You can select a view from this list to plot.

Window
Plots any portion of the drawing that you specify. When you select Window, the Window button
becomes available. Click the Window button to use the pointing device to specify the two corners
of the area to be plotted, or enter coordinate values.

Plot Offset
Specifies an offset of the plot area relative to the lower-left corner of the printable area or to the edge of
the paper, depending on the setting made in the Specify Plot Offset Relative To option (Options dialog
box, Plot and Publish tab). The Plot Offset area of the Plot dialog box displays the specified plot offset
option in parentheses.
The printable area of a drawing sheet is defined by the selected output device and is represented by a
dashed line in a layout. When you change to another output device, the printable area may change.
You can offset the geometry on the paper by entering a positive or negative value in the X and Y offset
boxes. The plotter unit values are in inches or millimeters on the paper.

Center the Plot

Automatically calculates the X and Y offset values to center the plot on the paper. This option is
not available when Plot Area is set to Layout.

X
Specifies the plot origin in the X direction relative to the setting of the Plot Offset Definition option.

Y
Specifies the plot origin in the Y direction relative to the setting of the Plot Offset Definition option.

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AutoCAD 101 6.1.2
Commands: PLOT
 
Plot Scale
Controls the relative size of drawing units to plotted units. The default scale setting is 1:1 when plotting a
layout. The default setting is Fit to Paper when plotting from the Model tab.

Fit to Paper
Scales the plot to fit within the selected paper size and displays the custom scale factor in the
Scale, Inch =, and Units boxes.

Scale
Defines the exact scale for the plot. Custom defines a user-defined scale. You can create a
custom scale by entering the number of inches (or millimeters) equal to the number of drawing
units.

Note:
You can modify the list of scales with SCALELISTEDIT.

Inch(es) =/mm =/Pixel(s) =

Specifies the number of inches, millimeters, or pixels equal to the specified number of units.

Inch/mm/pixel
Specifies inches or mm for display of units in the Plot dialog box. The default is based on the
paper size and changes each time a new paper size is selected. Pixel is available only when a
raster output is selected.

Units
Specifies the number of units equal to the specified number of inches, millimeters, or pixels.

Scale Lineweights
Scales lineweights in proportion to the plot scale. Lineweights normally specify the linewidth of
plotted objects and are plotted with the linewidth size regardless of the plot scale.

Preview
Displays the drawing as it will appear when plotted by starting the PREVIEW command. To exit the
preview and return to the Plot dialog box, press ESC, press ENTER, or right-click and then click Exit on
the shortcut menu.

Apply to Layout

Saves the current Plot dialog box settings to the current layout.

More Options

Controls display of additional options in the Plot dialog box.

• Plot Style Table (Pen Assignments)

• Shaded Viewport Options
• Plot Options
• Drawing Orientation

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AutoCAD 101 6.1.2
Commands: PLOT
 
Plot Style Table (Pen Assignments)

Sets the plot style table, edits the plot style table, or creates a new plot style table.

Name (Unlabeled)
Displays the plot style table that is assigned to the current Model tab or layout tab and provides a
list of the currently available plot style tables.
If you select New, the Add Plot Style Table wizard is displayed, which you can use to create a
new plot style table. The wizard that is displayed is determined by whether the current drawing is
in color-dependent or named mode.

Edit
Displays the Plot Style Table Editor, in which you can view or modify plot styles for the currently
assigned plot style table.

Shaded Viewport Options

Specifies how shaded and rendered viewports are plotted and determines their resolution level and dots
per inch (dpi). Rendered viewport options are not available in AutoCAD LT.

Note:
When hardware acceleration is disabled or is enabled, but does not support Shadows, it is possible to
plot a drawing that contains shaded viewports with unsupported hardware effects by the graphics card
through software emulation. To enable the software emulation of hardware effects that are not supported
by your graphics card, enter 3DCONFIG and click Manual Tune. In the Manual Performance Tuning
dialog box, click Emulate unsupported hardware effects in software when plotting. The unsupported
effects will not appear in the viewport in real-time, but will appear in the hardcopy or electronic file that is
created during the plot process. (Not applicable to AutoCAD LT)

Shade Plot
Specifies how views are plotted. To specify this setting for a viewport on a layout tab, select the
viewport and then, on the Tools menu, click Properties.
From the Model tab, you can select from the following options:
• As Displayed. Plots objects the way they are displayed on the screen.
• Legacy Wireframe. Objects in wireframe regardless of the way they are displayed on
the screen, using the legacy SHADEMODE command.
• Legacy Hidden. Objects with hidden lines removed regardless of the way the objects
are displayed on the screen, using the legacy SHADEMODE command.
• Wireframe. Plots objects in wireframe regardless of the way they are displayed on the
screen.
• Hidden. Plots objects with hidden lines removed regardless of the way the objects are
displayed on the screen.
• Conceptual. Plots objects with the Conceptual visual style applied regardless of the
way the objects are displayed on the screen. (Not available in AutoCAD LT)
• Realistic. Plots objects with the Realistic visual style applied regardless of the way the
objects are displayed on the screen. (Not available in AutoCAD LT)

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AutoCAD 101 6.1.2
Commands: PLOT
 
Shaded Viewport Options (con’t)

• Shades of Gray. Plots objects with Shades of Gray visual style applied regardless of
the way the objects are displayed on the screen.
• Sketchy. Plots objects with Sketchy visual style applied regardless of the way the
objects are displayed on the screen.
• X-ray. Plots objects with x-ray visual style applied regardless of the way the objects are
displayed on the screen
• Shaded with Edges. Plots objects with Shaded with Edges visual style applied
regardless of the way the objects are displayed on the screen
• Shaded. Plots objects with Shaded visual style applied regardless of the way the
objects are displayed on the screen
• Rendered. Plots objects as rendered regardless of the way they are displayed on the
screen. (Not available in AutoCAD LT)
• Draft. Plots objects with the Draft render preset applied to produce very low quality
rendering but in the fastest rendering speed. (Not available in AutoCAD LT)
• Low. Plots objects with the Low render preset applied to produce better quality
rendering than Draft. (Not available in AutoCAD LT)
• Medium. Plots objects with the Medium render preset applied which offers a good
balance between quality and render speed. (Not available in AutoCAD LT)
• High. Plots objects with the High render preset applied. (Not available in AutoCAD LT)
• Presentation. Plots objects with the Presentation render preset applied for photo-
realistic rendered images and takes the longest to process. (Not available in AutoCAD
LT)

Quality
Specifies the resolution at which shaded and rendered viewports are plotted.
You can select from the following options:
• Draft. Sets rendered and shaded model space views to be plotted as wireframe.
• Preview. Sets rendered and shaded model space views to be plotted at one quarter of
the current device resolution, to a maximum of 150 dpi.
• Normal. Sets rendered and shaded model space views to be plotted at one half of the
current device resolution, to a maximum of 300 dpi.
• Presentation. Sets rendered and shaded model space views to be plotted at the
current device resolution, to a maximum of 600 dpi.
• Maximum. Sets rendered and shaded model space views to be plotted at the current
device resolution with no maximum.
• Custom. Sets rendered and shaded model space views to be plotted at the resolution
setting that you specify in the DPI box, up to the current device resolution.

DPI
Specifies the dots per inch for shaded and rendered views, up to the maximum resolution of the
current plotting device. This option is available if you select Custom in the Quality box.

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AutoCAD 101 6.1.2
Commands: PLOT
 
Plot Options

Specifies options for lineweights, transparency, plot styles, shaded plots, and the order in which objects
are plotted.

Plot in Background
Specifies that the plot is processed in the background. ( BACKGROUNDPLOT system variable)

Plot Object Lineweights

Specifies whether lineweights assigned to objects and layers are plotted.

Plot Transparency
Specifies whether object transparency is plotted. This option should only be used when plotting
drawings with transparent objects.
Important:
For perfomance reasons, plotting transparency is disabled by default. To plot transparent objects, select
the Plot Transparency option. This setting can be overridden by the PLOTTRANSPARENCYOVERRIDE
system variable. By default, the system variable honors the setting in the Page Setup and the Plot dialog
boxes.

Plot with Plot Styles

Specifies whether plot styles applied to objects and layers are plotted.

Plot Paperspace Last

Plots model space geometry first. Paper space geometry is usually plotted before model space
geometry.

Hide Paperspace Objects

Specifies whether the HIDE operation applies to objects in the paper space viewport. This option
is available only from a layout tab. The effect of this setting is reflected in the plot preview, but not
in the layout.

Plot Stamp On
Turns on plot stamping. Places a plot stamp on a specified corner of each drawing and/or logs it
to a file.
Plot stamp settings are specified in the Plot Stamp dialog box, in which you can specify the
information that you want applied to the plot stamp, such as drawing name, date and time, plot
scale, and so on. To open the Plot Stamp dialog box, select the Plot Stamp On option, and then
click the Plot Stamp Settings button that is displayed to the right of the option.
You can also open the Plot Stamp dialog box by clicking the Plot Stamp Settings button on the
Plot and Publish tab of the Options dialog box.

Plot Stamp Settings button

Displays the Plot Stamp dialog box when the Plot Stamp On option is selected in the Plot dialog
box.

Save Changes to Layout

Saves changes that you make in the Plot dialog box to the layout.

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 AutoCAD 101 6.1.2
Commands: PLOT
 
Drawing Orientation
Specifies the orientation of the drawing on the paper for plotters that support landscape or portrait
orientation. The paper icon represents the media orientation of the selected paper. The letter icon
represents the orientation of the drawing on the page.

Portrait
Orients and plots the drawing so that the short edge of the paper represents the top of the page.

Landscape
Orients and plots the drawing so that the long edge of the paper represents the top of the page.

Plot Upside-Down
Orients and plots the drawing upside down.

Icon
Indicates the media orientation of the selected paper and represents the orientation of the
drawing on the page as a letter on the paper.

Note:
Drawing orientation is also affected by the PLOTROTMODE system variable.

Less Options

Hides the following options in the Plot dialog box:

• Plot Style Table (Pen Assignments)

• Shaded Viewport Options
• Plot Options
• Drawing Orientation
 

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AutoCAD 101 7

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AutoCAD 101 7.1
Basic Notes and Labels
 
Create notes, labels, bubbles, and callouts. Save and restore style settings by name.

The easiest way to make sure that your notes and labels are scaled correctly is to create them in paper
space, as described in "Layouts."

Create a Note
You create general notes using the MTEXT command (or enter MT in the Command window), which
stands for multiline text. The multiline text tool is available on the Annotation panel.

After you start the MTEXT command, Click the Multiline Text tool (Text) in the Annotation panel, or enter
MT on your keyboard. You are then prompted to create a text box with two diagonal clicks.

The exact size of the text box is not critically important. You can easily change the width of the note later
with the In-Place Text Editor. If the text in your note runs out of space, the lines of text automatically
adjust, depending on how you drag the controls as shown below.

All the usual controls are available in the editor, including tabs, indents, and columns. Also notice that
when you start the MTEXT command, the ribbon temporarily changes, displaying many options that
include text style, columns, spell checking, and so on.
• To exit the text editor after you finish entering the text, click anywhere outside the text editor.
• To edit a note, simply double-click on it to open text editor.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1
Basic Notes and Labels
 
Tip:
You can use the Properties palette to control the text style used for one or more selected multiline text
objects. For example, after selecting five notes that use different styles, click the Style column and
choose a style from the list.

Create a Text Style

As with several other annotation features, multiline text provides a lot of settings. Once you save these
settings as a text style using the STYLE command, you can access the text styles by clicking the drop-
down arrow on the Annotation panel. The current text style is displayed at the top of the drop-down list.
To create a new text style, click the Text Style control as shown.

When you create a new text style, you first specify a text style name, and then choose a text font and font
style.

2 3 4
1

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AutoCAD 101 7.1
Basic Notes and Labels
 

Note:
Save any new or changed text styles in your drawing template (.dwt) files. This saves you time by making
them available in all new drawings.

Labels
In AutoCAD, text with leader lines such as general labels, reference labels, bubbles, and callouts are all
called multileaders.

Create a Multileader
To create a multileader, use the MLEADER command (or enter MLD in the Command window). Click the
Multileader tool in the Annotation panel. Follow the prompts and options in the Command window.
After you create a multileader, you can easily modify it using its grips.

Grip menus appear when you hover over arrowhead and leader grips. From these menus, you can add
leader segments or additional leaders to the multileader.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1
Basic Notes and Labels
 

Tip:
You can edit the text in a multileader by double-clicking it.

Create a Multileader Style

You can create your own multileader styles from the drop-down list in the expanded Annotation panel, or
by entering MLEADERSTYLE in the Command window.

For example, to create a "detail callout" style, start the MLEADERSTYLE command. In the Multileader
Styles Manager, click New and choose a descriptive name for the new multileader style. Click the Content
tab and choose Block, and then Detail Callout as shown.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1
Basic Notes and Labels
 

Note:
As with text styles, once you create one or more multileader styles, save them in your drawing template
(.dwt) files.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1.1
Commands: TEXT
 
Create a single-line text object.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Annotation panel Single Line Text

Menu: Draw Text Single Line Text
Toolbar: Text

Summary
You can use single-line text to create one or more lines of text, where each text line is an independent
object that you can move, format, or otherwise modify. Right-click in the text box to select options on the
shortcut menu.
While you are in the TEXT command, you can click elsewhere in a drawing to start a new set of rows of
single-line text, and you can press Tab or Shift+Tab to move between the sets of single-line text. You can
edit a set of text lines by pressing Alt and clicking a text object. Once you leave the TEXT command,
these actions are no longer available.
If TEXT was the last command entered, pressing Enter at the Specify Start Point of Text prompt skips the
prompts for paper height and rotation angle. The text that you enter in the text box is placed directly
beneath the previous line of text. The point that you specified at the prompt is also stored as the insertion
point of the text.
If the TEXTED system variable is set to 1, text created using TEXT displays the Edit Text dialog box. If
TEXTED is set to 2, the In-Place Text Editor is displayed.
You can enter special characters and format text by entering Unicode strings and control codes.
Note:
Text that would otherwise be difficult to read (if it is very small, very large, or is rotated) is displayed at a
legible size and is oriented horizontally so that you can easily read and edit it.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Start Point

Specifies a start point for the text object. Enter text in the In-Place Text Editor for single-line text.
The Specify Height prompt is displayed only if the current text style is not annotative and does not have a
fixed height.
The Specify Paper Text Height prompt is displayed only if the current text style is annotative.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1.1
Commands: TEXT
 
Justify

Controls justification of the text.

You can also enter any of these options at the Specify Start Point of Text prompt.

Align
Specifies both text height and text orientation by designating the endpoints of the baseline.
The size of the characters adjusts in proportion to their height. The longer the text string, the
shorter the characters.

Fit
Specifies that text fits within an area and at an orientation defined with two points and a height.
Available for horizontally oriented text only.

The height is the distance in drawing units that the uppercase letters extend from the baseline.
Designated text height is the distance between the start point and a point you specify. The longer
the text string, the narrower the characters. The height of the characters remains constant.

Center
Aligns text from the horizontal center of the baseline, which you specify with a point.
The rotation angle specifies the orientation of the text baseline with respect to the center point.
You can designate the angle by specifying a point. The text baseline runs from the start point
toward the specified point. If you specify a point to the left of the center point, the text is drawn
upside down.

Middle
Aligns text at the horizontal center of the baseline and the vertical center of the height you
specify. Middle-aligned text does not rest on the baseline.
The Middle option differs from the MC option in that it uses the midpoint of all text, including
descenders. The MC option uses the midpoint of the height of uppercase letters.

Right
Right-justifies the text at the baseline, which you specify with a point.

TL (Top Left)
Left-justifies text at a point specified for the top of the text. Available for horizontally oriented text
only.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1.1
Commands: TEXT
 
TC (Top Center)
Centers text at a point specified for the top of the text. Available for horizontally oriented text only.

TR (Top Right)
Right-justifies text at a point specified for the top of the text. Available for horizontally oriented text
only.

ML (Middle Left)
Left-justifies text at a point specified for the middle of the text. Available for horizontally oriented
text only.

MC (Middle Center)
Centers the text both horizontally and vertically at the middle of the text. Available for horizontally
oriented text only.
The MC option differs from the Middle option in that it uses the midpoint of the height of
uppercase letters. The Middle option uses the midpoint of all text, including descenders.

MR (Middle Right)
Right-justifies text at a point specified for the middle of the text. Available for horizontally oriented
text only.

BL (Bottom Left)
Left-justifies text at a point specified for the baseline. Available for horizontally oriented text only.

BC (Bottom Center)
Centers text at a point specified for the baseline. Available for horizontally oriented text only.

BR (Bottom Right)
Right-justifies text at a point specified for the baseline. Available for horizontally oriented text only.

Style
Specifies the text style, which determines the appearance of the text characters. Text you create uses the
current text style.
Entering ? lists the current text styles, associated font files, height, and other parameters.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1.2
Commands: MTEXT
 
Create a multiline text object.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Annotation panel Multiline Text

Menu: Draw Text Multiline Text
Toolbar: Draw
Command entry: MTEXT or MT

Summary

You can create several paragraphs of text as a single multiline text (mtext) object. With the built-in editor,
you can format the text appearance, columns, and boundaries.
After you specify the point for the opposite corner when the ribbon is active, the Text Editor ribbon
contextual tab displays. If the ribbon is not active, the in-place text editor is displayed.
If you specify one of the other options, or if you enter -MTEXT at the Command prompt, MTEXT bypasses
the In-Place Text editor and displays additional Command prompts.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

First, opposite corner

As you click with the pointing device to specify one corner followed by the diagonal corner, a rectangle is
displayed to show the location and size of the multiline text object. Arrows within the rectangle indicate
the direction of the paragraph's text flow.

Height

Specifies the text height to use for multiline text characters.

• Specify height.
This prompt is displayed only if the current text style is not annotative.
• Specify paper text height.
This prompt is displayed only if the current text style is annotative.
The default height, if nonzero, is the height of the current style; otherwise, it is the height stored in the
TEXTSIZE system variable. Character height is calculated in drawing units. Changing the height updates
the value stored in TEXTSIZE.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1.2
Commands: MTEXT
 
Justify
Determines both text justification and text flow, for new or selected text, in relation to the text boundary.
The current justification is applied to new text. The text is justified within the specified rectangle based on
the justification setting and one of nine justification points on the rectangle. The justification point is based
on the first point used to specify the rectangle. Text is center-, left-, or right-justified with respect to the left
and right text boundaries. Spaces entered at the end of a line are included as part of the text and affect
the justification of the line. Text flow controls whether text is aligned from the middle, the top, or the
bottom of the paragraph with respect to the top and bottom text boundaries.
The following illustrations show each justification option and the standard abbreviation:

TL TC TR

ML MC MR

BL BC BR

Line spacing
Specifies line spacing for the multiline text object. Line spacing is the vertical distance between the
bottom (or baseline) of one line of text and the bottom of the next line of text.
Note:
Exact spacing is recommended when you use MTEXT to create a table. Use a smaller text height than
the specified line spacing to ensure that text does not overlap.

At least
Adjusts lines of text automatically based on the height of the largest character in the line. When
At Least is selected, lines of text with taller characters have added space between lines.

Distance
Sets the line spacing to an absolute value measured in drawing units. Valid values must be
between 0.0833 (0.25x) and 1.3333 (4x).

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AutoCAD 101 7.1.2
Commands: MTEXT
 
Line spacing (con’t)

Exactly
Forces the line spacing to be the same for all lines of text in the multiline text object. Spacing is
based on the text height of the object or text style.

Spacing factor
Sets the line spacing to a multiple of single-line spacing.
Single spacing is 1.66 times the height of the text characters. You can enter a spacing factor as a
number followed by x to indicate a multiple of single spacing. For example, specify single spacing
by entering 1x, or specify double spacing by entering 2x.

Rotation
Specifies the rotation angle of the text boundary.
• Specify rotation angle.
If you use the pointing device to specify a point, the rotation angle is determined by the angle between the
X axis and the line defined by the most recently entered point (default 0,0,0) and the specified point.
The previous prompt is redisplayed until you specify the opposite corner of the text boundary.

Style
Specifies the text style to use for multiline text.

Style name
Specifies a text style name. Text styles can be defined and saved using the STYLE command.

?—List styles
Lists text style names and characteristics.
The previous prompt is redisplayed until you specify the opposite corner of the text boundary.

Width
Specifies the width of the text boundary.
If you use the pointing device to specify a point, the width is calculated as the distance between the start
point and the specified point. Words within each line of the multiline text object wrap to fit the width of the
text boundary. If you specify a width of 0, word wrap is turned off and the width of the multiline text object
is as wide as the longest line of text. You can end a line of text at a specific point by typing the text and
pressing Enter. To end the command, press Enter at the MTEXT prompt.

Columns
Specifies the column options for a multiline text object.

Static
Specifies the total column width, the number of columns, the gutter width (the space between the
columns), and the height of columns.

Dynamic
Specifies column width, gutter width and column height. Dynamic columns are text driven.
Adjusting columns affect text flow and text flow causes columns to be added or removed.

No columns
Sets no column mode to current multiline object.
The default column setting is stored in the MTEXTCOLUMN system variable.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1.3
Commands: MLEADER
 
Create a multileader object.

Access Methods

Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Annotation panel Multileader

Menu: Dimension Multileader
Toolbar: Multileader
Command entry: MLEADER or MLD

Summary

A multileader object typically consists of an arrowhead, a horizontal landing, a leader line or curve, and
either a multiline text object or a block.
Multileaders can be created arrowhead first, leader landing first, or content first. If a multileader style has
been used, the multileader can be created from that specified style.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Leader arrowhead location/first

Specifies a location for the arrowhead of the multileader object.

Leader landing location/first

Specifies a location for the landing line of the multileader object.

Content first

Specifies a location for the text or block associated with the multileader object.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1.3
Commands: MLEADER
 
Point selection
Sets placement for the text box for the text label associated with the multileader object.
When you finish entering text, press Esc or click outside the text box.

Options

Specifies options for placing the multileader object.

Leader type
Specifies how the leader line is handled.
• Straight. Creates a straight multileader line.
• Spline. Creates a spline multileader line.
• None. Creates a multileader with no leader line.

Leader landing
Specifies whether to add a horizontal landing line. If you enter Yes, you are prompted to
set the landing line length.

Content type
Specifies the type of content that will be used for the multileader.
• Block. Specifies a block within your drawing to associate with the new multileader.
• Mtext. Specifies that multiline text is included with the multileader.
• None. Specifies that no content is displayed at the end of the leader line.

Maxpoints
Specifies a maximum number of points, or segments, for the new leader line.

First angle
Constrains the angle of the first point in the new leader line.

Second angle
Constrains the second angle in the new leader line.

Exit options
Exits the Options branch of the MLEADER command.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1.4
Commands: FIELD
 
Create a multiline text object with a field that can be updated automatically as the field value changes.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Insert tab Data panel Field

Menu: Insert Field
Command entry: FIELD
Shortcut menu: Right-click while editing text in an in-place text editor, and click Insert Field.

Summary

The Field dialog box is displayed.

Fields can be inserted in any kind of text except tolerances. The FIELDEVAL system variable and the
UPDATEFIELD command determine how fields are updated.
A field in text contains instructions to display data that you expect to change during the life cycle of a
drawing.

When a field is updated, the latest data is displayed. For example, the value of the FileName field is the
name of the file. If the file name changes, the new file name is displayed when the field is updated.

Fields can be inserted in any kind of text (except tolerances), including text in table cells, attributes, and
attribute definitions. When any text command is active, Insert Field is available on the shortcut menu.
Some sheet set fields can be inserted as placeholders. For example, you can insert
SheetNumberAndTitle as a placeholder. Later, when the layout is added to a sheet set, the placeholder
field displays the correct sheet number and title.
Block placeholder fields can be used in block attribute definitions while you're working in the Block Editor.
A field for which no value is available displays hyphens (----). For example, the Author field, which is set in
the Drawing Properties dialog, may be blank.
An invalid field displays pound signs (####). For example, the CurrentSheetName field, which is valid
only in paper space, displays pound signs if it is placed in model space.

Field Dialog Box: 

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AutoCAD 101 7.1.4
Commands: FIELD
 
List of Options

The following options are displayed.

Field Category

Sets the types of fields to be listed under Field Names (for example, Date & Time, Document, and
Objects).

Field Names
Lists the fields that are available in a category. Select a field name to display the options
available for that field.

Field Value
Displays the current value of the field, or displays an empty string (----) if the field value is invalid.
The label for this item changes with the field name. For example, when Filename is selected in
the Field Names list, the label is Filename and the value is the name of the current drawing file.
The label is Property for object fields. Exception: when a date field is selected, the selected date
format is displayed; for example, M/d/yyyy.

Format List
Lists options for display of the value of the field. For example, date fields can display the name of
the day or not, and text strings can be uppercase, lowercase, first capital, or title case. The value
displayed in the Fields dialog box reflects the format that you select.

Field Expression
Displays the expression that underlies the field. The field expression cannot be edited, but you
can learn how fields are constructed by reading this area.

Options for Sheet Set and Sheet View Fields

Sheet Set

Specifies the name of the sheet set.

Sheet Navigation Tree

Displays a tree view of sheets or sheet views from the Sheet Set Manager, from which you can
select an item for the field.

Property
Displays the properties available as fields for the item selected in the tree.

Associate Hyperlink
Adds a hyperlink to the field when it is created. You can use Ctrl + click to jump to the sheet or
view. This option is not available for the ViewportScale field.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1.4
Commands: FIELD
 
Options for Sheet Set and Sheet View Fields (con’t)
Sheet set fields (fields that were selected from the sheet set category) behave differently than
other types of fields. By default, other types of fields update automatically when you save the
drawing or when you use REGEN. In contrast, sheet set fields store the last values that were
used, and they display these stored values if the information referenced by the sheet set field is
not accessible. To update the value in a sheet set field, use UPDATEFIELD command.
Notes:

• If the information referenced by sheet set field is not accessible, the value for the field will be
displayed as “####.”
• If you recreate the field, because the sheet is already in a sheet set, you should use a sheet set
property field, not a placeholder field.

Options for BlockPlaceholder Fields

BlockPlaceholder fields are only available for insertion in the Attribute Definition dialog box when the
Block Editor is open.

Block Name

Displays the name of the current block definition.

Temporary Value
Displays the value for the placeholder field in the selected format.

Block Reference Properties

Displays a list of block reference properties for the current block definition.

Options for SheetSetPlaceholder Fields

Placeholder Type

Displays a list of available placeholder fields.

Temporary Value
Displays the value for the placeholder field in the selected format.
For example, with SheetSet Placeholder selected in the Field Names list, SheetTitle selected in
the Placeholder Type list, and Uppercase selected in the Format list, Temporary Value displays
SHEETTITLE. When the drawing is placed in a sheet set, this field displays the title of the sheet.

Options for Fields in the Objects Field Category

Named Object Type/Object Type

When NamedObject is selected in Field Names, lists the types of named objects in the drawing.
When Object is selected, displays the type of object selected. Use the Select Object button to
temporarily close the dialog box and select an object in the drawing.

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AutoCAD 101 7.1.4
Commands: FIELD
 
Options for Fields in the Objects Field Category (con’t)

Property/Name
When NamedObject is selected in Field Names, lists the names of all the objects in the drawing
of the selected type. When Object is selected in Field Names, lists the properties of the selected
object that are available as fields. When a block with attributes is selected, the attribute names
are displayed in the list of properties.

Formula
When Formula is selected in Field Names, provides a place for creating a formula to insert in text
or in a table cell.

Average/Sum/Count

When Formula is selected in Field Names, closes the Field dialog box temporarily while you
specify table cells. The result is appended to the formula.

Cell
When Formula is selected in Field Names, closes the Field dialog box temporarily while you
specify a table cell. The cell address is appended to the formula.

Precision
Specifies precision for fields based on the selected format. Select Current Precision to use the
current setting of the LUPREC system variable.

Additional Format
Displays the Additional Format dialog box.

Evaluate
Updates the value in Preview when you have manually changed the text in Formula.

Display Value for Block Reference

Specifies that the object property fields in a block reference evaluate the properties of nested
objects relative to the block reference's size and orientation within the drawing, not within the
block definition.

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AutoCAD 101 7.2
Basics of Tables
 
A table is an object that contains data in rows and columns. A table object can be created from an empty
table or table style. A table can also be linked to data in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

After the table has been created, you can click any gridline on the table to select it and then modify it by
using the Properties palette or grips.

When you change the height or width of the table, only the row or column adjacent to the grip you have
selected will change. The table will maintain its height or width. To change the size of the table
proportionally to the size of the row or column you are editing, press Ctrl while using a column grip.

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AutoCAD 101 7.2
Basics of Tables
 
Break Tables into Multiple Parts

A table with a large amount of data can be broken into primary and secondary table fragments. Use the
table breaking grips found at the bottom of your table to make a table span multiple columns in your
drawing or to manipulate the different table parts you have already created.

Modify a Table Cell

You can click inside a cell to select it. Grips are displayed in the middle of the cell borders. Click inside
another cell to move selection to that cell. Drag the grips on a cell to make the cell and its column or row
larger or smaller.

Note:
When a cell is selected, double-click to edit the cell text. You can also start entering text when a cell is
highlighted to replace its current content.

To select more than one cell, click and drag over several cells. You can also hold down Shift and click
inside another cell to select those two cells and all the cells between them. When you click inside a table
cell when the ribbon is active, the Table ribbon contextual tab is displayed. If the ribbon is not active, the
Table toolbar is displayed. From here, you can
• Insert and delete rows and columns
• Merge and unmerge cells
• Match cell styles
• Alter the appearance of cell borders
• Edit data formatting and alignment
• Lock and unlock cells from editing
• Insert blocks, fields, and formulas
• Create and edit cell styles
• Link the table to external data
With a cell selected, you can also right-click and use the options on the shortcut menu to insert or delete
columns and rows, combine adjacent cells, or make other changes. When cells are selected, you can use
Ctrl+Y to repeat the last action.

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AutoCAD 101 7.2
Basics of Tables
 
Note:
Using Ctrl+Y to repeat the last action only repeats actions executed through the shortcut menu, the Table
ribbon contextual tab, or the Table toolbar.

Add a Table to a Tool Palette

When you add a table to a tool palette, the table properties (for example, table style and number of rows
and columns) and the cell property overrides (for example, alignment and border lineweight) are stored in
the tool definition. The text, block content, and character formatting are also stored in the tool definition.

Customize Display of Column Letters and Row Numbers

By default, the In-Place Text Editor displays column letters and row numbers when a table cell is selected
for editing. Use the TABLEINDICATOR system variable to turn this display on and off.
To set a new background color, select a table, right-click, and click Table Indicator Color on the shortcut
menu. The text color, size, and style and the line color are controlled by the settings for column heads in
the current table style.

Linking a Table to External Data

A table can be linked to data in a Microsoft Excel (XLS, XLSX, or CSV) file. You can link to an entire
spreadsheet, individual row, column, cell, or cell range in Excel.

By linking to an Excel spreadsheet, you can include information from an entire worksheet, or part of a
worksheet, referred to as a named range. Using the Link External Data dialog box, you can:
• Specify a data link by selecting an XLS file to which the extracted data from the drawing will be
linked
• Match the extracted drawing data and the spreadsheet data
• Select the columns in the XLS file to merge with the extracted drawing data
Note:
Microsoft Excel must be installed to use Microsoft Excel data links. To link to the XLSX filetype, Microsoft
Excel 2007 must be installed.

You can bring data from Microsoft Excel into a table in the following three ways:
• As formulas with supported data formats attached.
• As calculated data from formulas calculated in Excel (supported data formats not attached).
• As calculated data from formulas calculated in Excel (with data formats attached).
A table that contains data links displays indicators around linked cells. If you hover your cursor over the
data link, information about the data link is displayed.

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AutoCAD 101 7.2
Basics of Tables
 

Linking a Table to External Data (con’t)

If a linked spreadsheet has been changed, such as adding a row or column, the table in your drawing can
be updated accordingly using the DATALINKUPDATE command. Likewise, if a change is made to a table
in your drawing, then you can update the linked spreadsheet using the same command.

By default, a data link is locked from editing to prevent undesired changes to the linked spreadsheet. You
can lock cells from data changes, format changes, or both. To unlock a data link, click Locking on the
Table ribbon contextual tab.

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AutoCAD 101 7.2
Basics of Tables
 
Notes on Linking a Table to Excel Spreadsheet

On the Refine Data page, you access the Link External Data dialog box; you can set up a link to an entire
Excel spreadsheet, or to a range of rows and columns, to the extracted data.
If a linked spreadsheet has been changed, such as a row or column has been added, the table in your
drawing can be updated accordingly using the DATALINKUPDATE command. Likewise, if a change is
made to the table in the drawing, the linked spreadsheet can be updated using the same command.

Note:
To delete a data link, use the DATALINK command. You cannot delete a data link from the External
References Palette.

Understand Data Linking and Matching

Data linking is the process of selecting a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with the purpose of merging all or
some of its contents with extracted drawing data. See Link a Table to External Data for more information
about data linking.
Data matching creates a relationship between two sets of data; the data in a column from the extracted
drawing data and the data in a column from an Excel spreadsheet.
For example, you have a simple bill of materials (BOM). Three columns of data are extracted from a
drawing. These columns contain data for: Part #, Revision, and Quantity. You want to include two
additional columns of data in the BOM from a spreadsheet. These columns contain data for Cost and
Supplier.
In this example, the spreadsheet contains a column of part numbers labeled Catalog Number that
matches the Part Number column in the extracted data. In the Link External Data dialog box , you select
Part # as the column for the drawing data and Catalog Number as the column for the external data.
Because there is at least one cell of matching data in the drawing data column and the external data
column, the data extraction feature “knows” how both sources are tied together.
You can test if the data matching is valid by clicking the Check Match button from the Link External Data
dialog box. If the match is unsuccessful, a warning message indicates what the problem is. In some
situations, the drawing data might not link correctly to the data in the spreadsheet.

Validate Matched Data

The data matching validation process fails when it cannot find a valid match between the drawing data
and external data (spreadsheet). The following error messages will display:
No match was found between any values in the drawing data and external data.
If the problem is not resolved, the external data will not be merged. Compare the spreadsheet column
data to the drawing data column for any matching values. For example, the numerical data in the
drawing data may be set to a different precision level than in the external data.
The data column in the external data does not contain unique values.
The data in the external data column contains one or more cells that contain identical data. This
condition makes it so that one match cannot be configured between the drawing data and the external
data.

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AutoCAD 101 7.2.1
Commands: Table
 
Create an empty table object.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Annotation panel Insert Table

Menu: Draw Table
Toolbar: Draw
Command entry: TABLE

Summary
A table is a compound object that contains data in rows and columns. It can be created from an empty
table or a table style. A table can also be linked to data in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

The Insert Table dialog box is displayed.

If you select a table cell when the ribbon is active, the Table ribbon contextual tab displays.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Number of Columns

Specifies the number of columns.

Number of Rows

Specifies the number of rows.

Insertion Point
Specifies the location of the upper-left corner of the table. If the table style sets the direction of
the table to read from the bottom up, the insertion point is the lower-left corner of the table.

Width
Specifies a width for the table columns.

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AutoCAD 101 7.2.1
Commands: Table
 
Number of Rows (con’t)

Height
Specifies a height for the table rows.

Style
Specifies a table style for the table. The specified table style must contain a starting table.
For more information, see Work with Table Styles.

Auto
Specifies a size and a location for the table. When this option is selected, you can set the number
of columns or the column width, but not both. The number of rows and the row height depend on
the size of the window you specify.

First Corner
Specifies the location of the upper-left corner of the table. If the table style sets the direction of
the table to read from the bottom up, the insertion point is the lower-left corner of the table.

Height
Specifies a height for the table rows.

Auto

Specifies a size and a location for the table.

Number of Rows
Specifies the number of rows.

From Style
Specifies a table style for creating the table. You can use the pointing device or enter coordinate values at
the Command prompt. The specified table style must contain a starting table.
For more information about starting tables, see Work with Table Styles.

Insertion Point
Specifies the location of the upper-left corner of the table. If the table style sets the direction of
the table to read from the bottom up, the insertion point is the lower-left corner of the table.

Style
Specifies a table style for the table.
Entering [?] displays a list of table styles available in your drawing.

Rows
Specifies the number of rows you want to add to the table stored in the specified table style. The
rows are added to the rows already in the specified table.

Columns
Specifies the number of columns you want to add to the table stored in the specified table style.
The columns are added to the columns already in the specified table.

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AutoCAD 101 7.2.1
Commands: Table
 
Options

Specifies special formatting options that can be inserted in the table.

Label Text
Retains rows with a cell type of Label found in the table style’s starting table.
The cell type is set in the Properties palette. The Header and Title cell styles use the Label cell
type by default.

Data Text
Retains rows with a cell type of Data found in the table style’s starting table.
The cell type is set in the Properties palette. The Data cell style uses the Data cell type property
by default.

Formulas
Retains formulas found in the specified table style’s starting table.

Fields
Retains fields found in the specified table style’s starting table.

Data Links
Retains data links found in the specified table style’s starting table.
For more information, see Link a Table to External Data.

Blocks
Retains blocks found in the specified table style’s starting table.

Cell Style Overrides

Retains cell style overrides found in the specified table style’s starting table.
For more information, see Work with Table Styles.

Data Link

Specifies a data link from which a table is created.

Entering [?] displays a list of data links available in your drawing.

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AutoCAD 101 8

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101  198 

 
AutoCAD 101 8.1
Basic Dimensioning
 
Create several types of dimensions and save dimension settings by name.

The easiest way to make sure that your dimensions are scaled correctly is to create them in paper space,
as described in "Layouts."
Here is an example of several types of dimensions using an architectural dimension style with imperial
units.

Linear Dimensions
You can create horizontal and vertical dimensions with the DIMLINEAR command (all dimension
commands start with a DIM prefix). Notice that the button is a drop-down list that includes the most
popular dimension commands.

The following illustration demonstrates one method for using the DIMLINEAR command. Once you start
the command, press Enter or the Spacebar, select the line (1), and then click the location of the
dimension line (2).

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AutoCAD 101 8.1
Basic Dimensioning
 
For the 8'-0" dimension below, you can use the other method. You start the DIMLINEAR command, click
two endpoints (1 and 2) and then the location of the dimension line (3).

Use the DIMLINEAR command to create horizontal and vertical dimensions, and the DIMALIGNED
command to create dimensions that are parallel to an object.

TipBecause it is easy to accidentally snap to the wrong feature or to part of a dimension object, be sure to
zoom in closely enough to avoid confusion.

Modify Dimensions

For quick adjustments to dimensions, nothing is faster than using grips.

In this example, you select the dimension to display its grips. Next, you could click the grip on the
dimension text and drag it to its new location, or you could click one of the grips at the end of the
dimension line and drag the dimension line.

If the changes are more complicated than this, it might be faster simply to delete and then recreate the
dimension.

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Basic Dimensioning  200 

 
AutoCAD 101 8.1
Basic Dimensioning
 
Dimension Styles
Dimension styles help establish and enforce drafting standards. There are more than 80 dimension
variables that can be set with the DIMSTYLE command to control virtually every nuance of the
appearance and behavior of dimensions. All these settings are stored in each dimension style.
The default dimension style is named Standard (or ISO-25 when using a default metric drawing template
file). It is assigned to all dimensions until you set another style as the current dimension style.
The current dimension style name, in this case Arch, is also displayed in the drop-down list of the
Annotation panel.

Recommendations

• When you save a dimension style, choose a descriptive name that is different from the default name.
• If applicable, check with your CAD manager regarding dimension style standards and drawing
template files.

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Basic Dimensioning  201 

 
AutoCAD 101 8.1.1
Commands: Dimensions
 
Access Dimensioning mode commands.

Access Methods
Button:

Ribbon: Home tab Annotate Dimensions

Menu: Draw Hatch
Toolbar: Dimensions
Command entry: DIM or DIM1

Summary
The Dim prompt indicates that you're in Dimensioning mode, in which you can use a special set of
dimensioning commands. (DIM and DIM1 are provided only for compatibility with previous releases.)
Use DIM to remain in Dimensioning mode after you have used a dimensioning command. Use DIM1 to
execute a dimensioning command and immediately return to the Command prompt. To exit Dimensioning
mode, enter e or exit, or press Esc.

List of Prompts

The following prompt is displayed.

Dim:

Enter a Dimensioning mode command. The following commands are available at the DIM prompt.

Dimensioning mode commands

Command Description

Exits Dimensioning mode and returns to the Command prompt. You can also press
EXIT Esc to exit Dimensioning mode.

REDRAW Redraws the current viewport.

STYLE Changes the current text style.

Erases the most recently created dimension objects and cancels any new dimension
system variable setting. When you exit Dimensioning mode, UNDO reverses the
UNDO or U effects of the entire dimensioning session.

   
Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Commands: Dimensioning  202 
 
AutoCAD 101 8.1.1
Commands: Dimensions
 
The following table shows which commands are equivalent to the rest of the Dimensioning mode
commands. For information about these Dimensioning mode commands, see the equivalent command.

Dimensioning mode command : Equivalent command :

ALIGNED DIMALIGNED

ANGULAR DIMANGULAR

BASELINE DIMBASELINE

CENTER DIMCENTER

CONTINUE DIMCONTINUE

DIAMETER DIMDIAMETER

HOMETEXT DIMEDIT Home

HORIZONTAL DIMLINEAR Horizontal

LEADER LEADER

JOG DIMJOGGED

NEWTEXT DIMEDIT New

OBLIQUE DIMEDIT Oblique

ORDINATE DIMORDINATE

OVERRIDE DIMOVERRIDE

RADIUS DIMRADIUS

RESTORE -DIMSTYLE Restore

ROTATED DIMLINEAR Rotated

SAVE -DIMSTYLE Save

STATUS -DIMSTYLE Status

TEDIT DIMTEDIT

TROTATE DIMEDIT Rotate

UPDATE -DIMSTYLE Apply

VARIABLES -DIMSTYLE Variables

VERTICAL DIMLINEAR Vertical

   
Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Commands: Dimensioning  203 
 
AutoCAD 101 9

   
Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101  204 
 
AutoCAD 101 10

   
Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101  205 
 
AutoCAD 101 10.1
Basic AutoCAD Terminology
 

Here are some basic terms that you will want to review before using AutoCAD. Some terms have links to
give you more information (but it is not necessary to memorize them all now).

Absolute A way of inputting points based on AutoCAD's origin.

coordinates
This is the default template that automatically loads whenever you start a drawing session.
Acad.dwt
It can be customized to suit your needs.
Acad.dwg This is the actual drawing session.
Associated Dimensions that are associated with specific points will update as that point is moved.
Dimensioning
AutoCAD can be set to automatically backup your drawing and save it. This is a safeguard
Backup file
in case your file gets corrupted. It is saved with a .BAK extension
A pre-drawn image you can insert in your drawing to save time and make your file size
Block
smaller.
Crosshairs This is your cursor when it is in the drawing space.
Cursor Your cursor will change depending on what function it is performing in the program.
An AutoCAD drawing file is actually one large database containing all the information
Database needed to reproduce the objects when the file is opened. Info for layers and linetypes, etc
are stored in this manner.
AutoCAD uses a large number of dialog boxes to get information from you. You must know
Dialog box
how input the information that it asks for.
Drawing template This is a file that contains preset values for frequently used settings. AKA a prototype
file drawing. The file extension is DWT.
Extents The outer boundaries of the objects you have drawn.
This is pattern of dots displayed on the screen to guide you. It can be toggled on and off by
Grid
pressing the F7 key.
Grips Small 'handles' on objects that allow for quick editing.
All objects are drawn on a layer. You can group objects (such as electrical) on a single
Layer
layer and organize your drawing.
Layout Tabs A space used for plotting your drawings (formerly called Paper Space).
A setting to impose an 'artificial' boundary on your drawing that sets the area of the grid,
Limits (Grid)
and when turned on, limits you to drawing in the grid area.
All objects are drawn with a particular linetype. Examples would be solid, center, dashed,
Linetype
etc.
Model space The drawing space where you 'model' the objects.
Modify A generic term used for changing your objects
Object Any item that is in the AutoCAD database. Also known as an entity.
Origin The (0,0) point of your current coordinate system.

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AutoCAD 101 10.1
Basic AutoCAD Terminology
 
This is a drawing mode that allows you to draw only perpendicular lines. It is toggled on
Ortho mode
and off by pressing the F8 key.
Orthographic A standard drawing method that shows 2 or more views of the same part.
Projection
Osnap This is a method of 'snapping' to certain, precise points on an object.

(Object Snap )
Pan To move around drawing by dragging the drawing area around your screen.
Panel A grouping of commands on the ribbon
Path The specific folder where AutoCAD looks for, or saves files.
Pick To select an object by 'left-clicking' on it.
Plot Also known as print. To make a hard copy of your drawing.
Polar coordinates A way of inputting points based on distance and angle.
Property Any specific characteristic of an object such as layer, scale, linetype, start point, etc.
The Ribbon runs across the top of the drawing space and contains panel - each panel has
Ribbon a group of associated tool. Switch to different panels by clicking on the tabs at the top of
the ribbon.
Relative A way of inputting points based on a starting point.
coordinates
Section View A drawing that represents a cross section of a part or assembly.
Selection set The current group of objects selected for modifying.
This is a drawing mode that allows you to snap your cursor to precise points laid out in a
Snap
grid pattern. Toggle with the F9 key.
Styles Formatting that defines the look of text, dimensions, etc.
The basic drawing unit set for you drawing. For example, you can use inches or
Units millimeters depending on your needs. You can also set the precision you want displayed,
such nearest 1/4", 1/2" 1/64", etc.
User coordinate Modifications made to the World Coordinate System (WCS) results in a User Coordinate
system (UCS) System (UCS)
View A particular area of your drawing.
A separate 'window' on your drawing. You may have more than one viewport visible to see
Viewport
different areas of your drawing at the same time.
World Coordinate This is the common X-Y coordinate system that is the default. If it is modified, it becomes a
System (WCS) User coordinate System (UCS)
Zoom To view either a smaller section of your drawing (zoom in) or a larger section (zoom out)
 

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Basic AutoCAD Terminology  207 

 
AutoCAD 101 10.2
Basic Commands

Drawing Elements
Shortcut Ribbon
Command  Menu Location   Action  
KeyIn Icon  

Line L Home > LIne   Draw a straight line from one point to the next. 

 

Home> Circle >  Draw a circle based on a center point and 
Circle C Center, Radius   radius.  
 

Home > Draw >   Draw a rectangle. Enter one corner and then 
Rectangle REC   Rectangle  the second. 

Modifying Elements
Erase E   Modify > Erase   Erase an object.  

Home > Modify > 
Move M Move 
Move an object or objects 
 

Home > Modify > 
Copy CP  

Copy 
Copy object(s) once or multiple times 

Home > Modify >  Stretch an object after you have selected a 
Stretch S  

Stretch  portion of it 
Home > Modify >  Createsa mirror image of an object or selection 
Mirror MI  

Mirror  set 
Home > Modify >  
Trim TR  

Trim  
Trim objects to a selected cutting edge.  

Home > Modify > 
Extend EX  

Extend  
Extend objects to a selected boundary edge.  

Home > Modify > 
Offset O  

Offset  
Offset an object (parallel) by a set distance.  

Home > Modify > 
Rotate RO   Rotate 
Rotate objects to a certain angle 

Home > Modify > 
Fillet F   Fillet 
Create a round corner between two lines 

Home > Modify > 
Chamfer CHA   Chamfer 
Create an angled corner between two lines 

Home > Modify >  Create a repeating pattern of the selected 
Array AR   Array  objects 
Home > Modify > 
Scale SC   Scale 
Proportionately resize (or scale) objects 

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AutoCAD 101 10.2
Basic Commands

Common Commands
Starts the Layer and Linetype property dialog 
Layer LA   Home > Layers 
box 
Home > Annotate > 
Text Text Single Line Text 
Creates a single line of text 
 
Home > Annotate > 
Leader LDR Leader 
Creates a single line leader note 
 
Home > Annotate > 
MLeader MLD Creates a multi-line leader note 
  MultiLeader 
Quick Access Toolbar 
Print (or Plot) CTRL+P  

> Print  
Enable the Print/Plot Configuration Dialog Box  

Home > Annotate > 
Dimension Dim Many   Dimension > (pick  Dimensions previously drawn objects 
one) 
Quick Access Toolbar 
U CTRL+Z  

> Undo  
Undo the last command. 

OS CLICK  Tools > Object  
Osnap Snap Settings  
Bring up the Object Snap dialog box. 
(or F3)  
PR No  Display the properties of the object in the 
Properties Home > Properties  
Properties Palette 
(or CTRL+1) Icon 
Home > Clipboard >  Copy the properties from one object to 
Match Properties MA   Match Properties   another  
 

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Basic Commands  209 

 
 
AutoCAD 101 10.3
Basic Object Snaps
 
Ribbon Shortcut
Snap Feature Result
Icon KeyIn

Endpoint End Snaps to an end point of an Object or Line Segment

Midpoint Mid Snaps to the mid point of an Object or Line Segment

Center C Snaps to the center point of a circle or polygon

Node Node Snaps to a point object

Quadrant Quad Quadrant

Snaps to the intersection of Objects or Line

Intersection Int
Segments
Snaps to the point of two Objects or Line Segments
Extension Ext
as if they were extended to a meet
Snaps to the insertion point of Blocks or Text
Insertion Point Ins
Elements

Perpendicular Per Snaps to a point perpendicular to that element.

Tangent Tan Snaps to a point tangent to a circular element.

Nearest > Nea Snaps to point nearest to that element.

Snaps to an apparent intersection point of elements

Apparent Intersection App
that are not in the same plane.

Parallel Par Snaps to a point parallel to that element.

Midpoint between 2 points M2P M2P Snaps to the mid point between two other points.
 

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Basic Object Snaps  210 

 
AutoCAD 101 10.4
Basic Zoom Commands
Command  Shortcut KeyIn Ribbon Icon  DESCRIPTION 

Zoom This option displays all graphics that are contained in the drawing 
Z + E  (referred to as the drawing extents) with the largest image 
Extents   

possible. 

This option (also a 'hidden' default) prompts the user to pick two 
Zoom
Z+W corners of a box on the existing view in order to enlarge that area 
Window  

to fill the display. 
This option restores the displayed view prior to the current one. 
For the purpose of this option, up to 10 views are saved so that 
Zoom
Z+P the last ten views can be recalled. This option includes every time 
Previous  

you use the scroll bar, which is one reason to avoid the scroll bars 

for panning a lot in your drawing. 
Zoom Realtime provides interactive zooming capability. Pressing 
<ENTER> (after entering zoom) on the command line 
automatically places you in Realtime mode. Hold the left mouse 
button down at the midpoint of the drawing and move the cursor 
vertically to the top (positive direction) of the window to zoom in 
up to 100% (2x magnification). Hold the left mouse button down 
at the midpoint of the drawing and move the cursor vertically to 
Zoom the bottom (negative direction) of the window to zoom out 
Z+R to100% (.5x magnification). You cannot zoom out beyond the
Realtime  

extents of the current view. 

When you release the pick button, zooming stops. You can release 
the pick button, move the cursor to another location in the 
drawing, and then press the pick button again and continue 
zooming from that location. To exit Realtime Zoom mode, press 
<ENTER> or (ESC). 
This option causes AutoCAD to display the whole drawing as far as 
Zoom All   Z+A its drawing limits or drawing extents (whichever is the greater of 
 

the two). 
This is a very useful ZOOM option once it is understood. It permits 
very quick movement around the drawing. Once selected, this 
option redraws the graphics area of the screen and displays two 
rectangles. The larger box shows the extents of the current 
drawing. The smaller box shows the current view with an "X" in 
the middle. This moves with the mouse. This view box should be 
positioned so that its lower left corner is at the lower left corner of 
Zoom
Z+D the view required. By pressing the left button on the mouse, the 
Dynamic   

"X" is replaced by an "> " pointing to the right side of the view box. 
This allows you to change the magnification. As the mouse is 
moved, the view box shrinks and expands so that the size of the 
required view can be set. The left mouse button toggles between 
PAN "X" and ZOOM "> " mode so that fine adjustments can be 
achieved. When the view required has been selected, press 
<ENTER> or right click to cause AutoCAD to display it. 
   

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Basic Zoom Commands  211 

 
AutoCAD 101 10.4
Basic Zoom Commands
Shortcut
Command  Ribbon Icon  DESCRIPTION 
KeyIn
This option requires two things: a point that is to be the center of the 
new display and a value to be its new height in drawing units. The 
existing height is the default for the new height to allow for panning 
Zoom across the drawing. If the new height value is followed by "X" (e.g.. 
Z+C 2x), then it is taken as a magnification factor relative to the current 
Center  
height. If followed by "XP", then it is taken as a scale factor relative 
to paper space and can be used for scaling the contents of paper 
space viewports. 
This option asks you to select an object or objects, then press 
Zoom
Z+O <ENTER> and the screen will zoom to those objects only. This is great 
Object   for when you want to work on object. 
Clicking this icon will zoom in to the drawing by about 50%. This 
Zoom In - option is only available as an icon and cannot be invoked by the 
  command line. 
Similar to 'Zoom In' - this icon will zoom out of your drawing and 
Zoom Out - allow you to see about 50% more of your drawing space. 
 
If you have a scrolling wheel on your mouse, you can use it to zoom 
in and out of your drawing. Scroll towards you to zoom out and away 
Mouse from you to zoom in. You have the option to change the amount of 
- No Icon  zoom per wheel click with the Zoomfactor system variable. Keep in
Scroll
mind that you will zoom in and out using your mouse location as a
'center point'. 
Pan allows you to quickly move around the drawing area at the same 
magnification you currently have set. Type in PAN (or P) <ENTER> 
Pan P and a hand will appear on the screen. Left click and hold to move 
  around your drawing.  You can also Click & Hold your mouse wheel to 
activate the pan feature. 
 

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Basic Zoom Commands  212 

 
AutoCAD 101 10.5
Shortcut Key Reference
 
The CUIx file defines the default shortcut keys. You can use the default shortcut keys as examples when
creating your own shortcut keys.

The following table lists the default actions for shortcut keys.

Shortcut Key Description

F1 Displays Help

F2 Toggles Text Window

F3 Toggles OSNAP

F4 Toggles TABMODE

F5 Toggles ISOPLANE

F6 Toggles UCSDETECT (AutoCAD only)

F7 Toggles GRIDMODE

F8 Toggles ORTHOMODE

F9 Toggles SNAPMODE

F10 Toggles Polar Tracking

F11 Toggles Object Snap Tracking

F12 Toggles Dynamic Input

ALT+F11 Displays the Visual Basic Editor (AutoCAD only)

ALT+F8 Displays the Macros dialog box (AutoCAD only)

CTRL+0 Toggles Clean Screen

CTRL+1 Toggles Properties palette

CTRL+2 Toggles DesignCenter

CTRL+3 Toggles the Tool Palettes window

CTRL+4 Toggles Sheet Set Manager (AutoCAD only)

CTRL+6 Toggles dbConnect Manager (AutoCAD only)

CTRL+7 Toggles Markup Set Manager

CTRL+8 Toggles the QuickCalc palette

CTRL+9 Toggles the Command Line window

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Shortcut Key Reference  213 

 
AutoCAD 101 10.5
Shortcut Key Reference
 

Shortcut Key Description

CTRL+A Selects all the objects in drawing

CTRL+SHIFT+A Toggles Groups

CTRL+B Toggles Snap

CTRL+C Copies objects to the Windows Clipboard

CTRL+SHIFT+C Copies objects to the Windows Clipboard with Base Point

CTRL+D Toggles Dynamic UCS (AutoCAD only)

CTRL+E Cycles through isometric planes

CTRL+F Toggles running object snaps

CTRL+G Toggles Grid

CTRL+H Toggles PICKSTYLE

CTRL+SHIFT+H Toggles the display of palettes with HIDEPALETTES and SHOWPALETTES

CTRL+I Toggles the Coordinates display (AutoCAD only)

CTRL+J Repeats last command

CTRL+K Inserts a hyperlink

CTRL+L Toggles Ortho mode

CTRL+M Repeats last command

CTRL+N Creates a new drawing

CTRL+O Opens an existing drawing

CTRL+P Plots the current drawing

CTRL+SHIFT+P Toggles the Quick Properties interface

CTRL+Q Quits the application

CTRL+R Cycles through the viewports

CTRL+S Saves current drawing

CTRL+SHIFT+S Displays up the Save As dialog box

CTRL+T Toggles Tablet mode

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Shortcut Key Reference  214 

 
AutoCAD 101 10.5
Shortcut Key Reference
 

Shortcut Key Description

CTRL+V Pastes data from the Windows Clipboard

CTRL+SHIFT+V Pastes data from the Windows Clipboard as a Block

CTRL+X Cuts objects from the current drawing to the Windows Clipboard

CTRL+Y Cancels the preceding Undo action

CTRL+Z Reverses the last action

CTRL+[ Cancels current command

CTRL+\ Cancels current command

CTRL+PAGE UP Moves to the next layout tab to the left of the current tab

CTRL+PAGE DOWN Moves to the next layout tab to the right of the current tab

Note:
In the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor, you can view, print, or copy a list of shortcut keys,
temporary override keys, or both. The shortcut keys and temporary override keys in the list are those keys
used by the CUIx files that are loaded in the program.

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101 – Shortcut Key Reference  215 

 
AutoCAD 101
Bibliography
 

Portions of this Basic AutoCAD Training Manual were compiled from:

• AutoCAD 2014 Help files; © Copyright 2013 Autodesk, Inc.

• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD; © Copyright 2012 Autodesk, Inc.; by Dieter Schlapfer

Questions or comments may be directed to:

o Kiewit Engineering & Design – EDSS Group

9401 Renner Boulevard

Lenexa, KS 66219

• Kurt Johnston, Civil Designer ([email protected])

o 913-689-4460

To receive future AutoCAD 101 manual updates, please send an email to

[email protected] with “AutoCAD Manual Update” in the subject line.

Kiewit Engineering & Design | AutoCAD 101