1. 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.

2. 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 format, such where symbol references the last point or if it is the first point, it references 0,0
Relative Polar value, such 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.

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

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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. Drawing lines using the LINE tool

9. The Line tool has the following two options:
Close
Undo

10. 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

11. Example 1
Drawing a figure using the absolute coordinates

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

13. Example 2
Profile for Example 2

14. Relative Polar Coordinates
Choose the Line tool
Specify first point: 1,1
Specify next point or
Drawing a line using relative polar coordinates

15. Example 3
Drawing for Example 3

16. 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

17. Example 4
Drawing for Example 4

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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

23. Drawing a circle tangent to two objects

24. Drawing a circle tangent to three objects

25. 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

26. 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.

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

28. 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

29. Example 5
Drawing for Example 5

30. 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

31. 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.

32. 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

33. 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.