Learning Objectives • Dynamic Input Line tool. • Coordinate systems. • Erase tool. • Cancel and Undo options • Object selection methods: Box & Crossing Windows • Circle tools. • Zoom and Pan tools. • UNITS tool. • Limits of a given drawing. • Plot drawings. • Options dialog box.

Input to Create Objects Over time, AutoCAD’s methods of entering input to create objects has become increasingly user friendly. Mastery of input requires the ability to use all options. Mouse default is left click to select, right click to accept. Tools aid accuracy of input. Dynamic entry – on screen picks are used to input the points desired Coordinate Entry is made via typed values at the keyboard Absolute = x,y format, where by default x is horizontal, y is vertical such as 2,3 Relative = @x,y format, such as @2,3 where the @ symbol references the last point or if it is the first point, it references 0,0 Relative Polar = @dist<angle value, such as @5<45 the angle default is degrees Direct distance entry – After the initial point is selected by dynamic pick or coordinate entry, subsequent points are entered by drag and typed value. If the start point of a line is 5,5 and there is subsequent drag horizontal with a typed in value of 10, it will result in an end point of that line segment at 5,10.

Dynamic Input Mode The Dynamic Input tab of the Drafting Settings dialog box

Enable Pointer Input Entering a command using the pointer input The Pointer Input Settings dialog box

Enable Dimension Input where possible Input fields displayed when the Enable Dimension Input where possible check box is selected The Dimension Input Settings dialog box Input fields displayed when the Enable Dimension Input where possible check box is cleared

Show command prompting and command input near the crosshairs Show additional tips with command prompting Drafting Tooltip Appearance The Tooltip Appearance dialog box

Drawing Lines in AutoCAD Ribbon: Home > Draw > Line Toolbar: Draw > Line Menu Bar: Draw > Line Tool Palettes: Draw > Line Command: LINE or L The Line tool in the Draw panel Invoking the Tool Palettes from the View tab The Line tool in the Draw toolbar

Drawing lines using the LINE tool

The Line tool has the following two options: Close Undo

Absolute Coordinates Choose the Line tool (Ensure that the Dynamic Input button is not chosen) _line Specify first point: 1,1 (X = 1 and Y = 1.) Specify next point or [Undo]: 4,1 (X = 4 and Y = 1.) Specify next point or [Undo]: 4,3 Specify next point or [Close /Undo]: 1,3 Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: C Lines created using the absolute coordinates

Example 1 Drawing a figure using the absolute coordinates

Relative Coordinate System Relative Rectangular Coordinates Choose the Line tool _line Specify first point: 1,1 (Start point) Specify next point or [Undo]: @4,0 (Second point DX = 4, DY = 0.) Specify next point or [Undo]: @0,3 (Third point DX = 0, DY = 3.) Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @-4,0 (Fourth point DX = -4, DY = 0.) Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @0,-3 (Start point DX = 0, DY = -3.) Drawing lines using the relative rectangular coordinates

Example 2 Profile for Example 2

Relative Polar Coordinates Choose the Line tool Specify first point: 1,1 Specify next point or [Undo]: @5<30 Drawing a line using relative polar coordinates

Example 3 Drawing for Example 3

Direct Distance Entry Choose the Line tool _line Specify first point: Start point. Specify next point or [Undo]: Position the cursor and then enter distance. Drawing lines using the Direct Distance Entry method

Example 4 Drawing for Example 4

Erasing Objects Ribbon: Home > Modify > Erase Toolbar: Modify > Erase Menu Bar: Modify > Erase Command: ERASE or E Tool Palettes: Modify > Erase The Erase tool in the Modify Panel The Erase tool in the Modify toolbar Selecting the object by positioning the pick box at the top of the object

Canceling and Undoing Escape key on keyboard or right click, then left on Cancel to Cancel. Or, picking a new tool, typically cancels the former command. Undo is an option embedded within some commands to undo the last step. Using the Undo Icon undoes the entire last command, or using the dropdown, it can undo multiple commands. Note: any setting done transparently or within the command(s) undone will also be undone.

Object Selection Methods The Box Window Option The Crossing Window Option Selecting objects left to right. Note: box is blue in color by default. In this example, only one smaller circle is selected and highlighted as such. Selecting objects from right to left. Note: crossing window is green by default. In this example, three circles and one line are selected.

Drawing a Circle The options of the Circle tool Ribbon: Home > Draw > Circle drop-down > Center , Radius Toolbar: Draw > Circle Menu Bar: Draw > Circle Tool Palettes: Draw > Circle Command: CIRCLE or C Tools in the Circle drop-down The options of the Circle tool Center and Radius Center and Diameter Two-Point Three-Point Tangent, Tangent, Radius Tangent, Tangent, Tangent

Drawing a circle by specifying the center and the radius A circle drawn by using the 3-point option A circle drawn by using the 2-Point option Drawing a circle by specifying the center and the diameter

Drawing a circle tangent to two objects

Drawing a circle tangent to three objects

Basic Display Commands Zooming Drawings is often done using a mouse wheel. Rolling away or to front of mouse, increases the size of the objects appearing on screen, while rolling towards oneself decreases size. In addition, the mouse wheel when depressed should enable pan, for moving the view up, down, to side, diagonally, etc. View options shown at right are covered in greater detail as we continue into the material. The Zoom tools in the Navigator Bar

Setting Units Type and Precision Application Menu: Drawing utilities > Units Command: UNITS The Drawing Units dialog box Units are based on the type of drawing. Mechanical Engineering with four places for precision is the default. Only Architectural or Engineering (in AutoCAD this is Civil Engineering) include feet and inches formatting.

Specifying the Angle Format Specifying the Format Specifying the Angle Format Specifying angles in Surveyor’s Units Measuring angles

Setting the Direction for Angle Measurement North, South, East, and West directions The Direction Control dialog box Specifying Units for the Drawing or Block to be Inserted Sample Output Specifying Units for Lighting

Example 5 Drawing for Example 5

Setting The Limits of a Drawing Menu Bar: Format > Drawing Limits Command: LIMITS Setting limits establishes the area you plan to draw within, a.ka. your “drawing environment”. Set the limits large enough to draw objects their full size. Note: Scale is not set with limits. Set the scale using the scale tool, which is located in the status bar. Example above: Setting Limits for an Architectural Drawings Remember this: LIMITS = SCALE FACTOR X PAPER SIZE

Example 6 Drawing for Example 6 Limits for Metric Drawings are set similarly to limits for Imperial Units drawings. Again, set the Limits to the overall needed size to draw objects their full size. Again, note that setting limits does not set the scale, but the scale tool does.

Introduction to Plotting Drawings Ribbon: Output > Plot > Plot Quick Access Toolbar: Plot Application Menu: Print > Plot Command: PLOT or PRINT Basic Plotting allows selection of a printer and its parameters. When learning, output using the .dwg to .pdf printer is highly encouraged to avoid waste of paper and ink or toner. ALWAYS use the Preview option button (toward bottom and left) to review a print before sending it to the printer. The Plot-Model dialog box

Modifying AutoCAD Settings using the Options dialog box Application Menu: Options Command: OPTIONS Files Display Open and Save Plot and Publish System User Preferences Drafting 3D Modeling Selection Profiles The Options dialog box Exercise care when adjusting options in this dialogue box. Some options will require more advanced knowledge of AutoCAD to be used well.