1. Learning Objectives • Input methods for drawing
• Understanding drawing command options
• Arcs and its various options.
• Rectangles
• Ellipses, and elliptical arcs.
• Polygons such as hexagons and pentagons.
• Polylines and donuts.
• Point style and point size.
• Infinite lines/Construction lines/Xline & Xray.
• Construction lines.
Simple text – Single line text

2. Mouse, Menu, Toolbar, or Command Line input Methods?
Just about everything is essentially circles and lines. You can input them using their control points, which vary based on which command you use. The drawing database is essentially a list of the points used.
Lines have two endpoints, plus a midpoint.
Circles have a center and radius.
The software will let you choose to enter your first object point for object creation by Dynamic Pick, or by Absolute Coordinate entry, typically.

3. Methods for Drawing
New AutoCAD users sometimes scratch their head over all the input methods. They ask “Is one way better than another?”
Experienced AutoCAD users know that speed is a combination of reducing keystrokes and familiarity helps them to do that. Experienced AutoCAD users may tend to keep their hands on the keyboard typing in the commands they know with Command Aliases. Examples of command aliases are C for circle or L for line.
Users new to AutoCAD will be very happy that they can quickly find draw commands organized in the Draw Content Panel of the Ribbon, and that icons show the tool, while by default the tool tip displays the tool name written out. Further, new users who hesitate with their mouse pick over a tool, are offered helpful tips or even videos explaining their options.
If you’re new to AutoCAD, your main objective will be to get comfortable with available commands. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR CONTACT TIME USING THE SOFTWARE. PERIOD. Scheduling adequate practice time is essential for building skill and mastering the use of CAD software.

4. Understanding drawing command options
Many AutoCAD learners will ask, “Why are there six ways to draw a circle?” or “Do I need to know all these options?” The simple answer is “YES”. However, as an example, you may or may not use all six options creating circles for every drawing you do, and you might never need to draw an arc once you master the options for circles and the options for trimming circles. Still, the longer you use AutoCAD, the more likely you are to master all of the options… eventually.

5. DRAWING ARCS Ribbon: Home > Draw Arc drop-down
Toolbar: Draw > Arc
Menu Bar: Draw > Arc
Command: ARC or A
The tools in the Arc drop-down

6. The 3-Point Option
The Start, Center, End Option
The Start, Center, Angle Option
The Start, Center, Length Option
The Start, End, Angle Option
The Start, End, Direction Option
The Start, End, Radius Option
The Center, Start, End Option
The Center, Start, Angle Option
The Center, Start, Length Option
Continue Option
IMPORTANT:
Except for 3 point option, the arc generates in a counter-clockwise direction.
The selected order for Center, Start, End can be switched around by using options.

7. DRAWING RECTANGLES Ribbon: Home > Draw > Rectangle
Toolbar: Draw > Rectangle
Tool Palettes: Draw > Rectangle
Command: RECTANG
Invoking the Rectangle tool from the Draw panel

8. Draw Rectangles by Specifying Two Opposite Corners is done by pick or enter point 1, then pick or enter point 2.
Draw Rectangles by Specifying their Dimensions allows precise size to be entered after picking a first corner point. A third pick is needed to establish the direction of repose.
Chamfer and Fillet adjust the corners to be beveled or rounded, respectively. Options allow chamfer or fillet size to be entered.

9. More Rectangle Options:
Draw Rectangles by Specifying the Area and One Side
Width stays set until changed. Beware!
Draw Rectangle Rotated at an Angle by use of Rotate option with the angle value.
Note: Thickness and Elevation are generally not 2D options. These are for 3D work typically.

10. DRAWING ELLIPSES Ribbon: Home > Draw >Ellipse drop-down
Toolbar: Draw > Ellipse
Tool Palettes: Draw > Ellipse
Command: ELLIPSE
Tools in the Ellipse drop-down in the Draw panel

11. Drawing an Ellipse Using the Axis and Endpoint Option

12. Drawing Ellipse Using the Center Option
Drawing an ellipse using the
Center option

13. Drawing Elliptical Arcs
Ribbon: Home > Draw > Ellipse drop-down > Elliptical Arc
Toolbar: Draw > Ellipse Arc
Tool Palettes: Draw > Ellipse Arc
Command: ELLIPSE > Arc
Drawing elliptical arcs

14. DRAWING REGULAR POLYGONS
Ribbon: Home > Draw > Polygon
Toolbar: Draw > Polygon
Tool Palettes: Draw > Polygon
Command: POLYGON
Use the drop down button next to the Rectangle tool icon, to pop down and open the tool for Regular Polygons

15. Drawing a Polygon by Specifying the Center of Polygon
Drawing an inscribed polygon using
the Center of Polygon option
Drawing a circumscribed polygon using the Center of Polygon option

16. Drawing a Polygon by Specifying an Edge
Drawing a polygon (hexagon)
using the Edge option

17. DRAWING POLYLINES Ribbon: Home > Draw > Polyline
Toolbar: Draw > Polyline
Tool Palettes: Draw > Polyline
Command: PLINE or PL
Choosing the Polyline tool from the Draw panel to create objects with multiple joined segments.
A simple polyline can be selected and easily modified. The segments remain joined unless exploded.
A polyline can be line, or arc segments or both. Above is an example of arcs with various widths. Width variations can be entered as each segment is created.

18. Next Point of Line Radius
Width Second pt
Halfwidth Width
Length
Undo
Close
Arc
Direction
Halfwidth
Line
The various options of the polyline command, shown here, make it easy to vary the appearance as you create the polyline.
Polylines that are open are common, but closed polylines are also common. Uses of closed polylines are to create closed boundaries for hatching patterns to fill, or for 3D work, to have a closed shape.

19. DRAWING DONUTS Example 1 Ribbon: Home > Draw > Donut
Command: DONUT or DOUGHNUT
Example 1
Unfilled donut
Filled donut
Solid-filled donut

20. PLACING POINTS Changing the Point Style and Size
Ribbon: Home > Utilities > Point Style
Command: DDPTYPE
Opens the Point Style Dialogue box as shown below.
PDMODE can be typed at Command Line, then values can be typed per the table at lower right.
Size of points can be per screen zoom or set in absolute units
The Point Style dialog box
point style: PDMODE values

21. Placing Points at Equal Distance
Ribbon: Home > Draw > Multiple Points
Menu Bar: Draw > Point > Multiple Points
Toolbar: Draw > Point
Tool Palettes: Draw > Point
Command: POINT
Placing Points at Equal Distance
Ribbon: Home > Draw > Divide
Command: DIV or DIVIDE
Placing Points at Specified Intervals
Ribbon: Home > Draw > Measure
Command: Measure
Options in the Points drop-down

22. DRAWING INFINITE LINES
Construction Lines
Ribbon: Home > Draw > Construction Line
Toolbar: Draw > Construction Line
Tool Palettes: Draw > Construction Line
Command: XLINE
This results in a line that goes through the entire drawing environment. These are often used as guidelines and often with light color or light lineweight or both.
Options for XLINES:
Point Angular
Horizontal Bisect
Vertical Offset
Drawing RAY
Ribbon: Home > Draw > Ray
Command: RAY
This results in a line beginning at one point and continuing to theoretical infinity

23. Using Construction Lines
The Construction lines or guide lines align objects drawn. They often appear in lighter color or greater transparency, or to not print. Examples of use are to line up parts of an assembly, or to line up the views in Orthographic drawings as shown below where the horizontal, vertical and diagonal lighter xlines were trimmed.

24. WRITING A SINGLE LINE TEXT
Ribbon: Home > Annotation > Text drop-down > Single Line
Command: TEXT
Results in defaulting the values below:
Choose the Single Line tool from the Draw panel
Current text style: "Standard" Text height: Annotative: No
Specify start point of text or [Justify/Style]: Specify the starting point of the text.
Specify height<current>: Enter the text height.
Specify rotation angle of text <0>: generally press enter to accept the value of 0 and draw horizontal lines of text. 90 will result in the text rotating counterclockwise to be right reading.
It is preferable almost always to use Annotative Text, however.
Prior to using Annotative Text, beginning AutoCAD users often set the variable Annoautoscale to 4 to ensure visability and autoscaling. It is -4 by default.