AutoCAD Commands

Introduction to Drafting & CAD Technology

• AutoCAD was initially released in December 1982 and is a general drafting and design application used in industry. It's abbreviated as CAD and supports .dwg, .dxf, .dwt, .dws file formats.

• AutoCAD Architecture (ACA) was first released in February 1997. It has tools and functions specifically designed for architectural work. Architectural objects within ACA have relationships, and interact intelligently with one another. ACA supports .dwg,.dxf,.dwt,.dws file formats.

AutoCAD Architecture (ACA) vs AutoCAD

• ACA (AutoCAD Architecture): 27 years old
  • Specialized architectural tools
  • Dynamic Block Library (Bigger)
  • Automatic Elevations, Section Schedules
  • Specialized Autocadd Commands
  • AutoCAD 2025 + extensions/Add-on price: $4,185 / $1,395 / $175
• CAD (AutoCAD): 41 years old
  • General set of tools
  • Limited Dynamic Block Library
  • Basic Drawing output
  • Standard AutoCAD Commands

Application Menu (Big Red "A")

• Top left corner of the AutoCAD window
• Central hub for file operations and AutoCAD settings
• Shows frequently used files, search bar, common commands/file names
• Options for saving files (DWG, DWT for templates), Import/Export (PDF/DGN), Publishing/printing (plot settings/3D prints).
• Drawing utilities to compare, purge, and recover drawings
• Options (bottom of menu) allows configuration from save formats to user preferences.

The Info Bar (Top-Right)

• Global Search: Searches help documents, Autodesk resources, and local references.
• User Sign-In: Access to Autodesk account.
• App Store: Access to third-party tools/plugins.
• Connect with Autodesk: Links to blogs, hardware certifications, and social platforms.
• Help & Support (? Icon): Quick access to online/offline Help, feedback, performance analyzer, and privacy settings.

Quick Access Toolbar (Top-Left)

• Default Tools: New, Open, Save, Plot, Undo/Redo.
• Share: Quickly share drawing to AutoCAD Web
• Customization: Add frequently used commands (e.g., Layer dropdown) with small eject icon to remove or add more commands.
• Pro Workflows: Layer dropdown on Quick Access is helpful if you switch Ribbon tabs often and need layer control.

Ribbon and Ribbon Panels

• Primary method for accessing commands (Draw, Modify, Annotate).
• Organized into tabs (Home, Insert, Annotate, View)
• Each tab has panels (Draw, Modify, Layers)
• Flyouts (downward arrows): Expand additional commands; pin to remain open
• Sticky Panels: Drag panels into drawing area (helpful with multi-tab workflows)
• Ribbon Appearance: the small white arrow on the Ribbon's right-side toggles display states
• Docking & Layout: Keep the Ribbon at the top for standard workflows

Workspaces

• Workspace saves interface element arrangements (Ribbon panels, palettes, toolbars, etc.)
• Default Workspaces: Drafting & Annotation (2D), 3D Basics, 3D Modeling
• Creating/Modifying a Workspace:
  • Arrange Ribbon panels/palettes/Quick Access Toolbar
  • Icon on status bar → Save Current As
  • Name and overwrite or create a new workspace (e.g., "My_2D_Workspace")

Palettes vs. Dialog Boxes

• Palettes (e.g., Layer Properties Manager, Tool Palettes, Properties, Sheet Set Manager):

  • Flexible, dockable, auto-hide, resizable
  • Settings & Info: Remain open while you work

• Dialog Boxes (e.g., Block Definition, Page Setup, Plot, Insert):

  • Transient: Appear for immediate input, then close
  • Usually, cannot be shrunk beyond a certain size
  • Practical Usage: Layer Properties is for daily drafting, pin it!; Block Definition is a one-time definition window.

Command Line

• Legacy interface: typed commands
• Location: bottom of the screen
• Key Features: Dock/undock, Expand/collapse arrow on right, AutoComplete suggestions.
• Best Practice: Keep it visible, even when using Dynamic Input, for system messages/error feedback.

Dynamic Input & Status Bar

• Displays command prompts, angles, lengths near cursor
• Toggle on/off from Status Bar or right-click
• Reduces eye travel from drawing area
• Drafting Settings (Snap, Grid, Ortho, Polar, Osnap), Customization (the "three lines" icon), Coordinates, lineweight
• Expert Tip: Action hub for drafting aids; keep your most-used toggles on.

New Tab Tools in AutoCAD 2024

• File Tab Menu (Top Bar): 3-line icon, New, Open, Save All, Close All, switch drawings
• Layout Tab Menu (Bottom-Left): 3-line icon, New Layout, New Layout from Template, and managing setups

Mouse Controls & Command Execution

• Left Click: Select objects, confirm points or commands.
• Right Click: Shortcut menus, Repeat Last Command, other context options
• Middle Mouse (Wheel): Scroll to zoom in/out, click+drag to pan around the drawing.
• Double-click wheel: Zoom Extents
• Command Execution Techniques: Typed Commands (aliases), Ribbon & Toolbars (icons), Context Menus(right-click), Palettes (drag/drop), Shortcuts (SHIFT, CTRL, ALT).

Basic Navigation

• Scroll: Zoom in/out
• Click + Drag: Pan/Hand
• Option Command (Customizable command)

Function Keys Overview

• F1: Help
• F2: Toggles expanded command line window.
• F3: Object Snap ON/OFF
• F4: 3D Object Snap ON/OFF
• F5: Cycle isometric planes (IsoPlane)
• F6: Dynamic UCS or coordinate display
• F7: Grid ON/OFF
• F8: Ortho ON/OFF (horizontal/vertical only)
• F9: Snap ON/OFF (snap to grid)
• F10: Polar Tracking ON/OFF
• F11: Object Snap Tracking ON/OFF
• F12: Dynamic Input ON/OFF
• Modifier Keys (SHIFT + Right-click, CTRL, ALT) for shortcuts.

Basic Drawing & Editing Commands

• LINE (L): Creates straight line segments between points, use Ortho or Polar
• CIRCLE (C): Draws with center & radius or other methods (2-point, 3-point).
• ARC (A): Creates arcs from three points or start-end-radius
• RECTANGLE: Rectangular polylines, specify length/width, or use dynamic input.
• POLYLINE (PL): Sequence of lines/arcs in one object.
• POLYGON (POL): Regular polygons (e.g., hexagon).
• Use Ctrl+S before executing hatch command

Basic Drawing & Editing Commands (Cont.)

• MOVE (M): Repositions objects to a new location.
• COPY (CO): Duplicates objects.
• ROTATE (RO): Revolves objects.
• SCALE (SC): Enlarges or reduces objects.
• MIRROR (MI): Reflects objects.
• OFFSET (O): Creates parallel or concentric copies.
• TRIM (TR): Cuts objects to meet or intersect with boundary edges.
• EXTEND (EX): Lengthens objects.
• FILLET (F): Rounds corners.
• CHAMFER (CHA): Bevels corners.

Basic Drawing & Editing Commands (Cont.)

• ARRAY (AR): Creates multiple copies in a rectangular, polar, or path pattern.
• EXPLODE (X): Breaks compound objects into individual elements
• LAYER (LA): Manages color/linetype, layer states.
• PROPERTIES (PR): Edits layer, color, lineweight
• MATCHPROP (MA): Matches object properties from source to destination.
• PURGE (PU): Removes unused layers, blocks.

Additional 2D Drafting Tools & Techniques

• Hatch Command & Patterns (H): Fills closed boundaries with patterns, solids, gradients. Common for sections and use Ctrl+S before executing Hatch command
• Splines (SPLINE): Create smooth organic curves (Spline Fit or Control Vertices (CV)).
• Construction Lines (XL) & Rays (RAY): infinite geometry for projections or angles. Ray extends infinitely in one direction only.
• Points & Multiple Points (PO): Place single or multiple points.
• Divide (DIV): & Measure (ΜΕ): Divide or measure objects
• Region (REG): Converts closed shapes. Join (J): Merges segments into polylines.
• Wipeout (WI): Masks geometry with a polygon shape.
• Donut (DO): Creates filled rings; sets inner/outer diameters.
• Revision Cloud (REVCLOUD): Highlights changes (rectangular, polygonal, freehand).

Draw Order & Text Handling

• Draw Order: Bring to Front, Send to Back, Above Object, Send to Back, Reorder geometry for visual clarity.
• Basic Dimensions: Linear (DLI), Aligned (DAL), Angular (DAN), Arc Length (DAR), Radius (DRA), Diameter (DDI), Ordinate (DOR), Jogged (DIMJOGGED), Smart Dimension (DIM).

Advanced Dimension Tools

• Quick Dimension (QDIM), Dimension Continue (DCO), Dimension Break (DIMBREAK), Adjust Space (DIMSPACE), Jog Line (DIMJOGLINE), Reassociate (DIMREASSOCIATE), Tolerances (TOL), Dimension Style Manager (D).

Direct Distance, Coordinates, Dynamic Input

• Direct Distance Entry (DDE): Move cursor and type distance
• Coordinate-Based Drawing: Absolute (X, Y from origin) / Relative (@X,Y from last point) / Polar coordinates (angles).
• Dynamic Input: Prompts near cursor for dimension/angle, tab to switch between distance and angle, mix methods for maximum flexibility.

Creating & Managing Layouts

• Context: Manage multiple layout tabs with custom viewports, scales, and title blocks.
• Deleting Layout Tabs: Right-click layout tab -> Delete
• Duplicating Layouts: Right-click layout -> Move or Copy -> Create a Copy, Rename it
• Why Duplicate? Quickly create multi-sheet sets with the same page setup and title block.

Plotting from the Model Tab

1. Right-click Model tab -> Plot
2. Choose printer/plotter (AutoCAD PDF)
3. Specify sheet size, plot area, scale
4. Preview -> OK

Batch Plotting (Publish)

• Definition: Print or publish multiple layouts.
• Access: Output tab on Ribbon -> Batch Plot/Publish.
• Dialog Overview: Sheet List, Plotter/Output, Rename sheets, add plot stamp, publish in background.
• DSD Files (Store all batch plot configs): Sheet order, naming, etc; Save & Reuse weekly.
• Workflow Example: Save drawing, open Batch Plot, Show Details, Pick device, Rename sheets, Optional plots stamp, Save to DSD -> Publish output.

More Advanced Commands

• OVERKILL (Removals overlapping or duplicate objects)
• Quick Select(QSE), Select Similar(QSE)
• Laywalk(Visual Inspection of object content)
• VPORTS(Manages multiple viewports).
• CHSPACE(Move objects between model and paper).
• Tool Palettes (Design) (TP): commonly used blocks, hatches, commands.
• BATTMAN(Manage attribute definitions)
• NCOPY(Copies nested objects)
• BURST, Tx2Mtxt, From(Coordinate option).
• m2p(Midpoint of Two Points)

More Advanced Commands (continued)

• XCLIP: Trims or "clips" external reference or block portions.
• OOPS: Restores recently erased objects.
• EATTEXT: Extracts data (coordinates, schedules).
• SAVEALL: Saves current drawings.
• CLOSEALL: Closes open drawings.
• LIST: Displays properties of selected objects.
• PRE (Preview): Preview command.
• SPELL: spell-checks the text in AutoCAD drawings.
• VPSYNC(synchronize): One viewports visibility settings with the another to sync layers.
• BREAK: Splits a line/arc or polyline
• SETBY: Converts objects from customized colors to ByLayer colors.

Final Tips & Best Practices

• Centralize Layouts: Consistent title block, page setup, and scale.
  • Model Tab vs Layout Tab: Model: Quick, informal prints; Layout: Formal, scaled, title blocks.
• DSD File Management: Save .dsd for batch plotting, Regularly used.
• Regular Maintenance: Purge, Audit, Recover to maintain file cleanliness; maintain consistent dimension styles and layer systems.
• USE EXTENSIONS: Use .lsp files for extended functions(e.g. PLDiet, BFixAll, MakeExplodeB, StyleMerge)

Test your knowledge of AutoCAD commands. This quiz covers a range of topics including mirroring, trimming, copying, and data extraction. Learn about object manipulation and data management functionalities in AutoCAD.