AutoCAD: Features and Interface Elements

AutoCAD Software Features and Working Environment

• AutoCAD is an efficient and user-friendly commercial software for drafting and computer-aided design (CAD).
• AutoCAD software is internationally recognized for its capabilities, making it suitable for digitally drawing building plans or recreating 3D images.
• The software was developed in 1982 by AutoDesk.
• It assists in the preparation of blueprints and other engineering plans in architecture, construction, and manufacturing.
• Professionals who use AutoCAD are often referred to as drafters.

AutoCAD Interface Elements

Application Menu

• Located in the far left corner at the top of the screen, it's represented by a big red "A" button with a downward facing black arrow.
• Single-clicking the button opens a drop-down menu with some of the same options as the Quick Access Toolbar, plus more.
• Double-clicking is not advised unless you intend to close the AutoCAD application.

Quick Access Toolbar (QAT)

• Located next to the Application menu at the top of the screen in the title bar.
• By default, it contains icons for commands like New, Open, Save, Save As, Undo, Plot, and Redo.
• Like most user interface elements, it can be customized to meet user preferences.

Ribbon

• Contains various AutoCAD commands arranged in panels and tabs.
• Tabs have command panels and options related to the task at hand.
• If you select a HATCH object, a contextual tab appears with a Hatch editing command that appears automatically.

In-Editor Elements

• These are elements found inside the drawing panel, and the user can control their visibility.
• Viewport controls in the upper left corner allow users to alter the view and visual styles.
• The View Cube, Navigation bar, and the UCS icon are other in-editor elements.

Status Bar

• Located at the bottom of the screen, the Status Bar contains only icons
• Several icons are not enabled by default, but users can choose to turn them on.

File Tabs

• File tabs allow you to access all open documents.
• Each open document has its own tab, and left-clicking makes it the currently open document.
• Right-clicking gives access to more options, including Save As and Close.

Layout Tabs

• Layout tabs provide access to different Model Spaces of each Layout in a given document.
• Left-clicking on a tab makes it the current open layout, while right-clicking gives access to options like Print, Move, or Rename.

Drop-Down Menus

• A drop-down menu is a toplevel name that is clickable.
• Left-clicking reveals a list of commands or submenus below it.
• Once a command is selected, the menu vanishes.

Command Line

• A palette where you input command names.
• When docked, it has a fixed number of visible lines, but when floating, it can expand to show more data.

Drawing Command Tools

• Look at the presentation for image instructions

Labeling using Text

• Text/Dtext creates one or more lines of text, ending each line when you press ENTER.
• Each text line is a separate object that can be relocated, reformatted, or otherwise modified.

Text Commands

• Type TEXT at the command prompt or select single line text icon from toolbar
• Pick a start point.
• Type “J” if you want to change justification, then type "S" if you want to change text style
• Type a text height value, rotation angle, and the text string
• Press enter to exit and accept text

DTEXT (Dynamic Text)

• Creates a single-line text object, showing the text dynamically on the screen as it is entered.
• Choose Draw, Text, Single Line Text or Type DTEXT at the command prompt
• Then Follow the same steps as the text commands above

Text Justification

• Align, Center, Fit, Middle, Right and Style are options for text justification you can choose depending on the requirements