1. Civil 114 Civil Engineering Drawing AutoCAD
Lab 1: Introduction to AutoCAD & Rectangles

2. Versions of AutoCAD What is CAD: Computer Aided Drafting/Design
1982 AutoCAD V1.0 (DOS version)
1987 AutoCAD Release 9 (new naming style)
1992 AutoCAD Release 12 (windows version)
2000 AutoCAD 2000
AutoCAD 2006, 2007…

3. Introduction Advantages:
1. Reduces repetitive work-- using “COPY”, “ARRAY”, etc.
2. High precision -- using “GRID”, “SNAP”, “ZOOM” (works like a magnifier), etc.
3. Quick and easy to update a drawing -- using “STRETCH”, “ROTATE”, etc.
4. Allows transfer of information between users.

4. How to start CAD 1. Double click the AutoCAD icon, or
2. Start – Programs - AUTOCAD 2006, or
3. Open a previously saved drawing

5. Open a new file with no template
Using English (12x9 inches) or Metric (420x297 millimeters) measurements.

6. AutoCAD drawing window
Pull-Down Menu Bar – click (left) mouse button to pull menu down (ESC to cancel).
Standard Tool Bar – frequently used functions such as Open, Save, Undo, Pan, Zoom.
Object Properties Tool Bar – it shows (and use it to set) object properties such as layer, color, and linetype.
Draw and Modify Toobars – these vertical toolbars can be dragged (by the double lines) elsewhere if you wish. They carry common drawing commands (Line, Polyline, Circle, Rectangle, etc) and modifying commands (Offset, Move, Array, Rotate, Trim, etc).
Drawing area – size usually defined by the drawing (draw 1:1).
Crosshairs (“pickbox”) point at current location in drawing
Status Bar – shows current coordinates in lower-left corner; buttons to quickly turn on/off common drawing aids such as Snap and Grid.
Command window – enter commands here to communicate with ACAD; 3 command lines are seen by default. Press F2 to see more lines / go back to drawing window.

7. To change background color
Pull-down menu: Tools – Options – Display – Colors...

8. Exercise 1 Rectangles
TASK: Use Line command to draw 3 rectangles, and join them together using Move and Object Snap.

9. How to enter commands Choose from the pull-down menu, or
Draw toolbar
Choose from the pull-down menu, or
Click appropriate button on a toolbar, or
Enter command on the command line (alias of commands: see Page 15)

10. Absolute coordinates method
Command:L or LINE (input in the command window)
from point:0,0
to point:3,0
to point:3,2
to point:0,2
to point:C (to close)

11. First rectangle drawn

12. Pan and Zoom commands
It is often necessary to work in detail on a small portion of the drawing. We can zoom in on that detailed area, i.e. make it appear larger on the screen. (Page )
Pan realtime
zoom realtime
zoom windows
zoom previous

13. Undo and Erase Undo the last segment without leaving the command:
Command: L
LINE Specify first point: 0,0
Specify next point or [Undo]: 3,0
** If you type U and press enter, the last step is undone.
Type U or select the Undo tool from the standard toolbar. This will undo the last command only.
You can also use “ERASE” command to delete something you have drawn. ( Page 24-25)

14. Saving your drawing To save a drawing:
Select File – Save As from pull-down menu;
Pick the appropriate drive and directory;
Enter File Name, and it will have the .DWG extension automatically;
Save as type: (save it as a lower version if you will use such versions to open it later)

15. “Polar Coordinates” Method
Command: Select Draw – Line from pull-down menu
from point: Pick any point on screen to start the bottom
line to to to
to point:C (to close)

16. Two rectangles drawn

17. “Relative Coordinates” method
Command: click Line button on Drawing Toolbar
from point: pick any point on screen to start the bottom
line to to to
to point:C (to close)

18. All three rectangles drawn

19. “MOVE” command
Type in M (or the full MOVE command), or use the “4-way arrow” button on Draw Toolbar.
Use a window to enclose and pick a rectangle.
When picking objects, try the two different kinds of windows:
“non-crossing window”: goes from left to right; picks all enclosed objects;
“crossing window”: goes from right to left; picks enclosed or touched objects.
Press enter (or right click) to finish picking objects.

20. “OSNAP” options
Allows snapping (“locking-on”) to geometrically specifiable point on objects you have drawn.
Right-click OSNAP button on the “status bar” at the bottom of the screen (below Command Window), click Settings…
Select desired options such as Endpoint, and click OK.

21. Using “Osnap” and “Move” commands to join the rectangles
Left-click status bar’s OSNAP button to turn it on, if needed
Command: <Osnap on>
Command: M
Select objects: Specify opposite corner: 4 found
Select objects: right-click or enter
Specify base point or displacement: pick the first endpoint (one corner of the rectangle to be moved)
Specify second point of displacement or <use first point as displacement>: pick the second endpoint (appropriate corner on the other rectangle) and move the rectangle.
Repeat the procedure to move the other rectangle

22. “RECTANGLE” Command Click the Rectangle button on the Draw Toolbar,
or select Draw – Rectangle from pull-down menu.
Pick any point on the drawing area.
Type to complete the rectangle at 3 units to the right and 2 units down.
Note the difference between an Rectangle and Lines: a rectangle is treated as a single entity. You cannot erase or modify just one side of it without affecting the others, unless you Explode it using the “red dynamite” button on the Modify Toolbar.

23. Dynamic input
Dynamic Input provides a command interface near the cursor to help you keep your focus in the drafting area.
Dynamic Input is not designed to replace the command window. You can hide the command window to add screen area for drawing.
Click DYN on the status bar to turn Dynamic Input on and off. You can turn it off temporarily by holding down the F12 key .
Dynamic Input has three components: pointer input, dimensional input, and dynamic prompts. Right-click DYN and click SETTINGS to control what is displayed by each component when Dynamic Input is on.