ABSOLUTE COORDINATES:

ABSOLUTE COORDINATES:Absolute Coordinates uses the Cartesian System to specify a position in the X, Y, and (if needed) Z axes to locate a point from the 0-X, 0-Y, and 0-Z (0,0,0) point. To locate a point using the Absolute Coordinate system, type the X-value, Y-value, and, if needed, the Z-value separated by commas (with no spaces).

Example:If you type 12,8 for a position, AutoCAD will locate an entity or part of an entity 12 along the X-axis and 8 along the Y-axis.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CIRCLE Command:The CIRCLE command allows you to create circles that originate from a single center point, that pass through 2 points, that pass through 3 points, or that are tangent to two elements.

To access the Circle command you can:

click on the Circle button,

OR

type c or circle at a Command: prompt,

OR

select Circle under the Draw Menu.

Center Point and Radius or Diameter

Activate the CIRCLE command.--Prompt: 3P/2P/TTR/: Press ENTER to accept the default selection of < Center point >Locate the circle's center by using an Osnap

INCLUDEPICTURE "mhtml:file://E:\\autocad%202004\\autocad%20command%20list\\circle.mht!http://www.ncsu.edu/project/graphicscourse/gc/acadtut/CENTER.GIF" \* MERGEFORMATINET (Object Snap), an Absolute Coordinate, a Relative Rectangular Coordinate, or Relative Polar Coordinate.

--Prompt: Diameter /:NOTE: Radius is AutoCAD's default selection, but diameter is also an option at this prompt. To enter a numeric value for the radius at this prompt, type in the number and press Enter. To enter a diameter value, type d for diameter, press Enter, and type in the numeric value for the diameter at the next prompt.

A circle should appear.

Tangent, Tangent, Radius

Activate the CIRCLE command (see methods above)

--Prompt: 3P/2P/TTR/:Type ttr and then press the Enter key to accept the tangent, tangent, radius option.

--Prompt: Enter Tangent spec: Use the LEFT mouse button to click on the first tangent element, approximately where the circle will touch.

--Prompt: Enter second Tangent spec: Use the mouse to click on the second tangent element, approximately where the circle will touch.

--Prompt: Radius: Type in a radius value,

OR

type d for diameter and then press the Enter key.

If you are using a diameter, AutoCAD now asks for a diameter value. Type in the number and press Enter.

---A circle should appear.

3 Points

Activate the CIRCLE command (see methods above)--Prompt: 3P/2P/TTR/: Type 3p and then press the Enter key to accept the the three point selection.

---Prompt: One at a time, a prompt asks you to select the elements the circle should touch.Use an Absolute Coordinate, Relative Rectangular Coordinate, Relative Polar Coordinate, or Osnap to locate the points through which the circle will pass.

2 Points

Activate the CIRCLE command (see methods above)

--Prompt: 3P/2P/TTR/ : Type 2p and then press the Enter key to accept the 2p selection.

--Prompt: One at a time, a prompt asks you to select the elements the circle should touch.Use an Absolute Coordinate, Relative Rectangular Coordinate, Relative Polar Coordinate, or Osnap to locate the points through which the circle will pass. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHANGE PROPERTIES Command:

The CHANGE PROPERTIES (Chprop) command allows you to modify an element's color, layer, linetype, and thickness.

To access this command you can type chprop at a Command: prompt and press Enter.

--Prompt: Select objects: Click on the object you want to change.

--Prompt: Select objects: Select additional objects or press RETURN to move to next prompt.

--Prompt: Change what property (Color/LAyer/LType/Thickness)?Type in the option. Layer is used in this example.

--Prompt: New Layer : Type the name of the new layer.

--Press RETURN twice to exit the command and get back to a Command: prompt.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DDEDIT Command:The DDEDIT command allows you to edit existing text.

To access the DDEDIT command you can:

type ddedit at a Command: prompt and press EnterOR

select Object, and then Text..., under the Modify Menu.

--Prompt: Select object: place the cursor over the text and click the LEFT mouse button.

A dialogue window appears displaying the text you selected.

You can modify the text and close the window to accept the changes

OR

click on additional text to continue making changes until you press Enter.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DTEXT Command:

DTEXT allows you to add text to a drawing and see the text as it is being placed.

To access the Dtext command you can:

select Text, and then SingleLine Text... under the Draw Menu, OR

type dtext at a Command: prompt.

--Prompt: Justify/Style/: Use an Absolute Coordinate, Relative Rectangular Coordinate, Relative Polar Coordinate, Osnap, or click to locate the start position of the text.

--Prompt: Height : Enter a new value for the text height or press Enter to move to the next prompt.

--Prompt: Rotation Angle : Enter a new value for the angle of the text or press Enter to move to the next prompt.

--Prompt: Text: Type the text.

--Prompt: Text: Type in additional text or press Enter to exit the command.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ERASE Command:Allows you to remove whole entities in a drawing.

To select the Erase command you can:

click on the Erase button,

OR

select Erase under the Modify Menu,

OR

type e for (erase) at a Command: prompt and then press Enter.

--Prompt: Select objects: Use the LEFT mouse button to click on the object/s you wish to erase and press Enter.

NOTE: If you want to erase everything in the file, type all at the Select objects: prompt and press Enter.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPLODE Command:The EXPLODE command allows you to change a grouped item into its individual elements so it can be edited.

To select the Explode command you can:

click on the Explode button on the Draw toolbar,

OR

type explode at a Command: prompt,

OR

select Explode under the Modify Menu.

--Prompt: Select items.... Click on item/s to explode and press Enter.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EXTEND Command:The EXTEND command allows you to extend an entity to touch another entity in a drawing.

To access the Extend command you can:

click the Extend button,

OR

select Extend under the Modify Menu,

OR

type extend at a Command: prompt and press Enter.

--Prompt: Select boundary edge(s)...-Select objects: Click on the item(s) that you wish to use as a boundary. The boundary is the object you want to extend an element TO (you can select more than one boundary edge so that multiple extensions can be made at one time). Press Enter or click the right mouse button to end the boundary selection process.

--Prompt: /Project/Edge/Undo: Click on the end of the line you want AutoCAD to extend (on the side that should be extented). AutoCAD is directional in this command. If you have more than one boundary edge selected, or the boundary edge could intersect the object at more than one end (as with an arc), it is possible to extend the element in the wrong direction.

--Prompt: /Project/Edge/Undo: If you have other lines to extend, you can continue selecting them or, if an element was extended incorrectly, you can type u and press Enter to undo the mistake. After all of the extensions are complete, press Enter to exit the command.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------INSERT Command:The INSERT command allows you to insert the contents of a file into another file.

To select the Insert command you can select Block... under the Insert Menu.

--In the Insert dialogue box: Click on the File... button, which brings up the Select Drawing File dialogue box.

--Locate the file you wish to insert through this dialogue box and click on Open to return to the Insert dialogue box.

--Prompt: Insertion point: Either place the cursor and click with the LEFT mouse button, use an Osnap, an Absolute Coordinate, a Relative Rectangular Coordinate, or a Relative Polar Coordinate to locate the inserted object's position.

--Prompt: X scale factor/Corner/XYZ: Type a value to scale the inserted object in the X direction or press Enter to keep the block its original size in the X direction.

--Prompt: Y scale factor(default=x): Type a value to scale the inserted object in the Y direction or press Enter to accept same scale factor used for X.

--Prompt: Rotation angle: Type a desired angle or press Enter to accept original angle of the inserted item.

*NOTE: If you slide your mouse around during several Insert command prompts, the size, shape, and angle of the inserted object may change. AutoCAD's default selection is a "mouse pick" (a click of the LEFT mouse button in the drawing area), and it is preparing to use that option, which accounts for the changes in the inserted object's look during the command prompts.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LAYER: Command

The LAYER command allows you to create multiple layers to draw on. It also allows you to control the color, line type, activity, and visibility of individual layers.

To Change to an Existing Layer:Click on the arrow on the RIGHT side of the Layer Status Window (see FIGURE below), drag the cursor onto the layer name you wish to select and click the Left mouse button once. The layer will change.

(Note: The figure above has been shortened.)

To add a new layer or change layer properties through the Layer & Linetype Properties dialogue box you can:

click on the Layer buttonOR

select Layer..., under the Format Menu.

The Layer & Linetype Properties dialogue box will appear.

To Create a New Layer:Open the Layer & Linetype Properties dialogue box, click on the New button in the Layer window. A layer named Layer 1 will appear in the list of layers.

While the Layer 1 name is highlighted, type a new name for the layer.

Click on OK to exit the dialogue box.

To Load a Linetype:

Open the Layer & Linetype Properties dialogue box.

Click on the Linetype tab (located on the TOP LEFT corner of the dialogue box) to bring the Linetype window to the front.

In the Linetype window, click on the Load... button. The Load or Reload Linetypes dialogue box will appear.

In the Load or Reload Linetypes dialogue box, scroll down to the linetype you wish to load, click on the linetype name with the LEFT mouse button, and then on OK to return to the Linetype window. Click on OK to exit the dialogue box.

To Change the Linetype of a Layer:

Open the Layer & Linetype Properties dialogue box.

Click on the linetype listed in the configurations beside that layer name in the Layer window.

The Select Linetypes dialogue box will appear listing the loaded linetypes. Locate the linetype, click on it, and then on OK to exit the dialogue box.

To Change the Color of the Layer:

Open the Layer & Linetype Properties dialogue box.

Click on the square in the list of configurations next to the layer name in the Layer window.

The Select Color dialogue box appears with a display of the colors you can choose.

Click on an appropriate color. (NOTE: The color assignment is related to the printing line thickness.)

Click on OK to return to the Layer window of the Layer & Linetype Properties dialogue box. Click on OK to exit this dialogue box.

To Delete a Layer:

Open the Layer & Linetype Properties dialogue box.

Click on the layer name in the Layer window, and then the Delete button. You will be returned to the Layer window. Click on OK to exit the dialogue box.

To Change the Name of a Layer:

Open the Layer & Linetype Properties dialogue box.

Click on the layer name with the LEFT mouse button to highlight the name.

Type in a new name.

Click on OK.

To Make a Layer Invisible:

On the Layer Status Window drop-down menu, locate the name of the layer.

Click on the lightbulb in the list beside the layer name. The lightbulb will turn gray to indicate that the layer is invisible.

NOTE: The lightbulb is a toggle between invisible and visible.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LINE: Command

The LINE command allows you to create single straight lines or a chain of straight lines.

To access the Line command you can:

click on the Line button on the Draw toolbar,

OR

click on Draw, and select Line under the Draw Menu,

OR

type l (for line) at the Command: prompt.

--Prompt: LINE from point: Type an Absolute Coordinate, a Relative Rectangular Coordinate, a Relative Polar Coordinate, an Object Snap (Osnap), or click the LEFT mouse button in the drawing area to position the first end of the line.

--Prompt: To point: Give the location for the second end of the line.

--Prompt: To point: Either give a location for the end of the next line, attached to the last endpoint you added, or press Enter to end the line and exit the Line command.

*NOTE: You can continue to add lines to the last endpoint of the previous line until you press the Enter key twice to exit the command.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MOVE Command:

Move allows you to change the position of an entity or entities.

To select the Move command you can:

select Move under the Modify Menu,

OR

click on the Move button,

OR

type move at a Command: prompt and press Enter.

--Prompt: Select objects: Click on object(s) you wish to move with left mouse button and press Enter.

--Prompt: Select objects: Select additional objects or press Enter to move to the next prompt.

--Prompt: Basepoint or displacement: Select a reference point on the object you are moving by using an Absolute Coordinate, a Relative Rectangular Coordinate, a Relative Polar Coordinate, an Object Snap (Osnap), or by clicking the LEFT mouse button on the screen.

*NOTE: The BASEPOINT can be either on an element in the drawing or a coordinate in space. AutoCAD uses the BASEPOINT as the position it moves the object/s from. It will move the object/s either the distance you specify from this basepoint or place the BASEPOINT at a new position you specify (the end of a line, coordinate point, etc).

If you have selected more than one item to move, these items with be moved the same distance, but the relative distance/s and position/s of the items to each other will remain the same.

--Prompt: Second point of displacement: Use a coordinate (absolute, relative rectangular or relative polar) or an Osnap to indicate where you want the item/s to be moved to. The object(s) will move to the new location.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OBJECT SNAPS (OSNAP):

OSNAPs allows you to select positions on components in a drawing for locating other features.

You can select Osnaps by:clicking on the tool button icon (see above)

OR

typing an Osnap alias on the prompt line when needed (SEE EXPLANATION BELOW).

When an Osnap is used, the CURSOR changes shape when it is near a position that matches the Osnap selected and "snaps" to that point. The cursor shape differs with each Osnap.

*NOTE: Although you can set an Osnap(s) to stays active all the time (select Running Object Snaps under the Tools Menu), this should only be used for repetitive snap constructions. If you forget to turn the Osnap off and start a new task, you end up snapping to the wrong features. OSNAP Commands and typed abbreviations:Osnap typeTyped Command and Use

Center

cen

Snaps to the center of a circle or arc. Click the left mouse button when the cursor is on the edge of the circle or arc you wish to use.

End-point

end

Snaps to the endpoint of a line, polyline, or arc. Place the cursor over the specific end of the entity you wish to snap to and click the left mouse button.

Insert

ins

Locates the insertion point of text or a block. Place the cursor anywhere on the block or line of text and click the left mouse button.

Inter-section

int

Allows you to select the intersection between two items. Place the locating square over the intersection and click with the left mouse button.

Midpoint

mid

Snaps to the midpoint of a line or arc. Click near the entity's midpoint.

Nearest

nea

Locates the point or entity nearest the cursor position. Place the cursor near the item you wish to select and click the left mouse button.

Node

nod

Snaps to a point entity. You must position the cursor square so that it contains the point and click with the left mouse button.

Perpen-dicular

per

This option locates a perpendicular point on an adjacent entity. It will only function as the second location in a command. Place the cursor on a line or straight pline segment near the perpendicular location and click with the left mouse button.

Quadrant

qua

Locates the 0, 90, 180, or 270 degree position (quadrants) of a circle. Place the cursor near the quadrant point and click the left mouse button when the cursor changes shape.

Tangent

tan

Places an entity at the tangent point of an arc or circle. Place the cursor on the arc or circle as near as possible to the expected tangent point and click the left mouse button.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFSET Command:

The OFFSET command allows you to copy selected entities (lines, arcs, circles, plines or others) and place the copy at a specific distance from the original or through an existing position on another element (such as the endpoint of a line, center of a circle, etc.). An OFFSET item will be parallel or concentric to its original.

To access the Offset command you can:

type offset at a Command: prompt

OR

select the Offset button on the Drawing toolbar.

--Prompt: OFFSET distance or through : Press Enter to select the default of through (for through a position on another entity) or type a value for the distance you want the offset to be from the original.

--Prompt: Select object to offset: Place the cursor on the element you wish to copy and click the LEFT mouse button. The selected object will change to a dashed line. Only one feature can be selected.

If Through was selected:

-Prompt: Through point: Use an Osnap, an Absolute Coordinate, a Relative Rectangular Coordinate, or Relative Polar Coordinate to select the point to place the offset object through.

If a distance was typed at the prompt:

--Prompt: Side to offset: With the LEFT mouse button, click on the side of the original where you want the parallel copy located. See the FIGURE below.

NOTE: The last prompt will continue until you press Enter TWICE to get back to a Command: prompt and exit the Offset command.

Offset copies of lines are always parallel to the original.Offset copies of an arc or circle are always CONCENTRIC with the original.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OOPS Command:The OOPS command allows you to restore the LAST thing you erased and is typed in at a Command: prompt.

To use the Oops command, type oops at the Command: prompt and then press Enter. The last thing you erased will reappear.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPEN Command:

This command opens a file that has already been created.

To open a file you can:

type in open at a Command: prompt,

OR

select Open under the File Menu,

OR

double click the Left Mouse button on the file.

For the first two methods of accessing this command, a dialogue box will open displaying the current directory and the files in that directory.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ORTHO Command:

The ORTHO command limits the movement of the cursor to horizontal and vertical directions.

To select the Ortho Command you can:

type ortho at a Command: prompt,

OR

click on the ORTHO button on the Status Line,

OR

press the F8 key.

--Prompt: ON/OFF :type on to turn ORTHO on and off to turn ORTHO off.

The current ORTHO status will appear between the < > symbols (more than and less than symbols).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLOT Command:

The PLOT command allows you to print the drawing.

To access the Plot command you can:

type plot at a Command: prompt and press EnterOR

click on the Printer button.

Once the Plot dialogue box appears, make these setting changes:

Under Paper size and Orientation: Click on mm.

Click on the Rotation and Origin: button,-type 0.000 by the X and 0.000 by Y (if not already set), and

-set Plot Rotation at 90 degrees.

Under Plotted MM=Drawing Units:, type the scale of the drawing (1:1 for example) and make sure the Scale to fit is NOT checked.

Under Additional Parameters:, select Extents.

Click on the Pen Assignments: button and change color 7 to .7.

Click on OK, to send the print to the printer.

**Help NOTE: If you are in inches and change to mm the scale will change and you must set it again.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POLYGON Command:The POLYGON command allows you to create regular polygons (polygons with equal sides and angles).

To select the Polygon Command you can:

select Polygon under the Draw Menu,

OR

type polygon and then press ENTER at a Command: prompt,

OR

click on the Polygon button.

--Prompt: Number of sides: Type in a value for the number of sides for the polygon.

--Prompt: Edge/ : Select the location for the polygon's center with an Absolute Coordinate, a Relative Rectangular Coordinate, a Relative Polar Coordinates, or an Osnap and press Enter.

--Prompt: Inscribed in circle/Circumscribed about circle: Type i (for across the corners) or c (for across the flats) and then press Enter.

--Prompt: Radius of circle: Type a value for the radius and press Enter.

NOTE: A polygon is a group or single entity in AutoCAD. To modify a polygon, you must Explode it first.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------QUIT Command:

Exits the AutoCAD Program.

To access the Quit command you can:

select Exit under the File MenuOR

type quit at a Command: prompt.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RELATIVE POLAR COORDINATES:RELATIVE POLAR COODINATES allow you to select a point that is a specific length and at a specific angle to the last point indicated.

To locate a point using a Relative Polar Coordinate:type @, the length of the line, a more than symbol (< )followed by the desired angle of the line. DO NOT add spaces between the @, the line length value, the < symbol, and the angle value. (SEE EXAMPLES BELOW)

Example: 1If you are in the Line command and type @11