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AutoCAD Notes This package is basically design for the technical people to make their work easy and

accurate. You can draw any kind of technical drawing whether related to field of civil, electrical or mechanical with great accuracy and speed. This package is the base for all the higher technical packages. It has group of commands which make your work easy and accurate only you need to understand the commands and practices them more and more which will make you more familiar with these commands remember practice makes a man perfect. Now we will read and understand these commands one by one. These notes will help you to understand the 2D part of the AutoCAD First of all get familiar with your screen open your computer and start your AutoCAD by simply click on its icon from your list of programs. You can see wide screen with lot of tool platelets will appear ( sometimes you are not able to see these toolbars than click on view and than toolbars all will appear in front of you just click which you required and it will appear on screen). The wide screen appear in front of you is like your drawing sheet you can change the colour of screen according to your requirement but it is suggested that you make it black because it will good for your eyes however if you want to change the color than follow the following procedure: Tools Options Display Colors As you click the color option another small box will appear choose the color of your choice from this procedure you can change many thing in the setting of your package like from Drafting section you can change the color and size of Auto snap marker and the size aperture. Osnap ( F3) This button is present at the bottom of your screen by selecting this you can mark your points easily like endpoint, midpoint, nearest point , intersection point of the lines you can also mark the center point and tangent point of the circle. You can operate this button by using F3 key click once to make it off and click again to make it on. Ortho (F8) This button is present at the bottom of your screen by selecting this you can able to draw the straight lines. You can operate this button by using F8 key click once to make it off (the cursor will move in all the directions) and click again to make it on (the cursor will move only at the angle of 90). You can also see many symbols on your toolbars let us study about important symbols: 1. Symbol of hand used to move your drawing area to and fro 2. Symbol of lens with +sign used to enlarge or decrease the size of your drawing area (only visibility will change) 3. Symbol of lens with arrow sign used for the previous view 4. Symbol of lens with rectangle used to enlarge the size of any particular area by making window 5. Symbol of both arrows used for Undo and Redo your work Undo means undone the work you have do just now and Redo means redone work which you have undone by mistake (only once) 6. You can also see the symbol of Brush this is used for Match Properties you can match the properties (line type, line scale, color, size of text) with other object. as you click on this symbol it will ask for Select source object: Select the object whose properties you want to copy Select destination object(s) or [Settings]: select one or more objects to copy the properties of destination object. 7. Symbol of A with hand at corner is used to change the properties of any object Color, layer, line type, line scale, line weight, thickness, radius and diameter of circle and more) you just select the object whose properties you want to change a box will appear with the properties of that you object change the property according to your requirement and than close the box change will appear on the screen. 8. There are many other symbols like copy, paste, open a new file, print, save, you can use them according your requirement.

(P.S. you can see some more options but these are not really useful so not mentioned in these notes) Now as you know if you want to start the drawing you have to select the units(centimeter, millimeters, inches, foot etc.) For your drawing so to set the units of your drawing follow the following procedure: Format than select units , A box will appear in front of you can select the required unit you want from the Type option inside the box from Precision option you can select the round off units for e.g. you want to measure the length up to two decimal places than select the precision for that or you can select the Precision for architectural units also (like 0-0, 0-1/2). Important commands which used for making drawings 1.Line This command is used to draw the line, you can choose the command from your toolbar or write L at command prompt L Specify first point : Specify a point by clicking your mouse at screen or press ENTER to continue from the last drawn line or arc Specify next point : or [Close/Undo]: @ length of line < angle of line (for e.g. @ 20<60) (P.S. - you dont need to specify the unit if you select the unit already but if you select units of foot or inches than your dimension is @2-6 <60 you have to give the symbols of foot and inches, if you keep the ortho on than the line is straight it may happen that you are not able to see the line but dont worry if your set of command is right you will defiantly get accurate figure just make ortho off) LINETYPE This option is basically used to change the type of line you can change your continuous line in to centre, dashed zigzag and many other types. For this click on the line or any other object you want to change than select the line type control from properties toolbar as you click on this option all the line type will show click on the line which you want selected line will change in to that. But if you dont find them than click on other a small box will appear with all type of lines select the line type which you want than click on load. After loading the lines repeat the above procedure. (Sometimes you are not able to see the change in line type on screen in this case just select the changed line and click the Property button on Standard toolbar a box will appear change the linetype scale according to your requirement) LINEWEIGHT This option is use to change thickness of line this change will show only in Printing not on computer Click on the line or any other object you want to change than select the line weight Control from properties toolbar as you click this option all weights will show click on the thickness you want thickness of selected line will change. COLORCONTROL This option is use to change color of any object click on the line or any other object you want to change than select the color control from properties toolbar as you click this option all colors will show click on the color

you want color of selected object will change. 2.Circle This command is used to draw the circle, you can choose the command from your toolbar or write C at command prompt C Specify center point for circle or [3P (Three Points)/2P (Two Points)/Ttr (tan tan radius)]: Specify a point by clicking your mouse at screen or enter an option Specify radius of circle or [Diameter]: enter a value, but if you do not have radius than write d, and press ENTER now it will ask for the diameter enter a value. (P.S. you can also draw circle by just clicking on the other point if you have) 3. Polygon This command is used to draw the figure of three sides or more than three sides, you can choose the command from your toolbar or write Pol at command prompt Pol Enter number of sides

: Enter a value between 3 and 1024 or press ENTER Specify center of polygon or [Edge]: Specify a point by clicking your mouse at screen or enter an option Enter an option [Inscribed in circle/Circumscribed about circle] : Enter I (Inscribed in Circle) or C (Circumscribed about Circle) Specify radius of circle: enter the value 4.Rectangle This command is used to draw the rectangle, you can choose the command from your toolbar or you can write Rec at command prompt Rec Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/Thickness/Width]: Enter an option or specify a point by clicking your mouse at screen Specify other corner point or [Dimensions]: Specify a point by clicking your mouse at screen. You can also draw a rectangle using length and width values just write d Specify length for rectangles <0.0000>: enter the length of the rectangle Specify width for rectangles <0.0000>: enter the width of the rectangle 5.Arc This command is used to draw the arc, you can choose the command directly from your toolbar or write A at command prompt A Specify start point of arc or [CEnter]: Specify a point by clicking your mouse at screen (P.S. - If you press ENTER without specifying a point, AutoCAD uses the endpoint of the last drawn line or arc) Specify second point of arc or [CEnter/ENd]: Specify a point (2) Specify end point of arc: Specify a point (3) In this case you will get the arc between the three points but if you have two points and radiuses of an arc you have to use the second procedure Tools Options Display click on the option display screen menu A box of screen menu will appear on the screen as you give the command of an arc all options of arc will appear in

on screen menu box choose the option you required suppose if you choose St, E, Rad it means that you have start and endpoint of the arc along with its radius but remember you have to choose the option immediately after giving the command without clicking any point. Enter what the command prompt asks you, and get your required arc. 6.Xline This command is used to draw the construction line, you can choose the command from your toolbar or write XL at command prompt XL Specify a point or [Hor/Ver/Ang/Bisect/Offset]: Specify a point by clicking your mouse at screen Specify through point: Specify the point or press ENTER to end the command But if you want to creates an xline at a specified angle than you have to follow the given procedure Specify a point or [Hor/Ver/Ang/Bisect/Offset]: write A Enter angle of xline (0) or [Reference]: Specify an angle Specify through point: Specify the point by clicking the mouse on your screen. 7. Erase- This command is used to draw erase the objects, you can choose the command from your toolbar or can E at command prompt E Select object: select the objects you want to erase by clicking on them or by making window after selecting press enter selected objects will erase from the drawing. (P.S. suppose if you select the object you do not want to erase but selected by mistake than before pressing enter write r and click the object you do not want to erase this will save your object from erasing) 8. Copy - This command is used to copy the objects, you can choose the command from your toolbar or write Cp at command prompt C Select object: select the objects you want to copy by clicking on them or by making window for a single copy or enter m for multiple copies Specify base point or displacement, or [Multiple]: Specify a point for a single copy or enter m for multiple copies Specify second point of displacement or : Specify a point or you can also enter the value of the second point suppose if you want to copy the object 20mm wide than you can enter the value (@distance of copy<180) (P.S. suppose if you select the object you do not want to copy but selected by mistake than before pressing enter write r and click the object you do not want to copy this will save your object from copy) 9. Move- This command is used to move the objects, you can choose the command from your toolbar or write M at command prompt

M Select object: select the objects you want to move by clicking on them or by making window Specify base point or displacement: Specify a point for move Specify second point of displacement or : Specify a point or you can also enter the value of the second point suppose if you want to move the object 20mm wide than you can enter the value (@distance of move<180) (P.S. suppose if you select the object you do not want move but selected by mistake than before pressing enter write r and click the object you do not want to move this will save your object from move) 10. Mirror-this command is used to mirror the objects you can choose the command from your toolbar or write Mi at command prompt Mi Select object: select the objects you want to mirror by clicking on them or by making window Specify first point of mirror line: click on the first point Specify second point of mirror line: click on the second point Delete source objects? [Yes/No] : Enter y or n, or press ENTER Suppose if you enter y for Yes than it places the reflected image into the drawing and deletes the original objects. But if you enter n for No than it places the reflected image into the drawing and retains the original objects (P.S. if you want to mirror the objects vertically than select the both point vertically on mirror line otherwise select the both .point horizontally for horizontal mirror object) To manage the reflection properties of text objects, use the command MIRRTEXT Enter new value for mirrtext (1) - if you do nor enter the value than a text object will also mirrored so enter 0 as a new value for mirrtext, text will not mirrored 11. Rotate- this command is used to rotate the objects you can choose the command from your toolbar or write Ro at command prompt Ro Current positive angle in UCS: ANGDIR=current ANGBASE=current Select objects: select the objects you want to mirror by clicking on them or by making window Specify base point: click on the point form where you want to rotate Specify rotation angle or [Reference]: Specify an angle, click for the point 12. Offset- this command is used to offset the objects you can choose the command from your toolbar or write O at command prompt O Specify offset distance or [Through] : Specify a distance Select object to offset or : Select one object you want to offset

Specify point on side to offset: click on the side of the object you want to offset (P.S. if you click on the left side than object will offset on left side or vice versa) 13. Array- this command is used to array the objects you can choose the command from your toolbar or write Ar at command prompt Ar The Array dialog box is displayed. You can create rectangular or polar arrays by choosing the appropriate option. Creates multiple copies of objects in a pattern. Rectangular Array- It creates an array of rows and columns of copies of the selected object. Click on the Select object box for selecting the objects you want to array box will temporarily close and you can choose the object of array Specify the number of rows enter the value Specify the number of columns - enter the value Offset Distance and Direction it provide a space for you to specify the distance and direction of the array's offset. Specify the distance between rows: enter the value Specify the distance between columns (to add columns to the left, specify a negative value like -2)- enter the value Angle of Array Specify the angle of rotation- enter the value Polar Array It creates an array by copying the selected objects around a center point. Click on the Select object box for selecting the objects you want to array box will temporarily close and you can choose the object. Center Point: Specify the center point of the polar array. Temporarily closes the Array dialog box so that you can see the center point in the AutoCAD drawing area. Method and Values Specify the method and values used to position objects in the polar array. Total Number of Items- enter the value up to which you want to array Angle to Fill-Sets the size of the array by defining the included angle between the base points of the first and last elements in the array. A positive value specifies counterclockwise rotation or vice versa. Angle between Items-Sets the included angle between the base points of the arrayed objects and the center of the array. Enter a positive value. (for both type of array If you want to see how your arrayed figure will look than just click on the preview array box will temporarily close and you can see the figure if your satisfied with your figure than click on accept otherwise click on modify box will appear again do the desire changes. 14. Scale- this command is use to scale the drawing you can choose the command from your toolbar or write Sc at command prompt. Sc Select objects: select the objects you want to mirror by clicking on them or by making window Specify base point: Specify a point Specify scale factor or [Reference]: Specify a scale (P.S. as you specify the scale it multiplies the dimensions of the selected objects by the specified scale. A scale Factor greater than 1 enlarges the objects. A scale factor between 0 and 1 shrinks the objects. )

15. Stretch- this command is use to stretch the drawing you can choose the command from your toolbar or write Stretch at command prompt. Stretch Select objects: Use the click or crossing object selection method and press ENTER when you finish Specify base point or displacement: Specify a point or press Specify second point of displacement: Specify a point up to which you want to stretch your object. (P.S. stretch moves the endpoints that lie inside the window, leaving those outside the window unchanged) 16. Trim- this command is use to trim the two corners you can choose the command from your toolbar or write Tr at command prompt. Tr Select cutting edges... Select objects: Select the objects as cutting edges after which you want to trim an object or you can select all objects. Select object to trim or [Project/Edge/Undo]: Select an object to trim

17. Extend- this command is use to extend the line you can choose the command from your toolbar or write Ex at command prompt. Ex Select boundary edges... Select objects: Select the objects as boundary edge up to which you want to extend an object Select object to extend or [Project/Edge/Undo]: Select an object you want to extend

18. Fillet- this command is use join the two corners with the help of an arc you can choose the command from your toolbar or write F at command prompt. F Current settings: Mode = current, Radius = current Select first object or [Polyline/Radius/Trim/mUltiple]: select the first object Select second object: select the second object you want to join with an arc with the first one, A rounded corner will appear but if you want to change the radius than write r before selecting the first corner Enter fillet radius : write the value for your radius, than follow the above procedure (P.S. if you make your radius 0 than you do not find any rounded corner it will only help you to join the corners) 19. Chamfer- this command is use to chamfer the two corners you can choose the command from your toolbar or write Cha at command prompt.

Cha TRIM mode) Current chamfer Dist1 = current, Dist2 = current Select first line or [Polyline/Distance/Angle/Trim/Method/mUltiple]: select the first line Select second line: select the second line you want to chamfer with the first one, A chamfered corner will appear but if you want to change the chamfer distance than write D before selecting the first corner Specify first chamfer distance : enter the value Specify second chamfer distance : it will same as the first chamfer distance but if you want to change than enter the value if you want to change the chamfer angle than write A before selecting the first corner Specify chamfer length on the first line : enter the value Specify chamfer angle from the first line : enter the value 20. Explode - this command is use to explode the single identity pf an object. You can explode hatch, dimensions and blocks any thing which is in group form choose the command from your toolbar or write Explode at command prompt. Explode Select objects: the objects you want to explode by clicking on them or by making window after selecting press enter selected objects will explode (P.S. the color, line type, and line weight of any exploded object might change. Other results differ depending on the type of compound object you're exploding) 21. Break - this command is use to break the line or circle between the two points choose the command from your toolbar or write Br at command prompt. Br Select object: specify the first break point on an object Specify second break point or [First point]: Specify the second break point; the line will disappear between the points (you can also break the line in to two parts without making it disappear choose Break at point above the Break command in this case you have to click on line only at single point and the object will break from that point) 22. Polyline - this command is use to draw the line composed of one or more connected line segments or circular arcs treated as a single object. Choose the command from your toolbar or write Pl at command prompt. PL Specify start point: Specify a point Current line-width is Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Half width/Length/Undo/Width]: Specify a point or you can also use

(@distance< angle) Suppose you want give width to your pline than write W and enter before giving the next point Specify starting width<0.0000>: enter the value Specify starting width<0.0000> enter the value give it same as the starting width, a line with width appear on the screen If you want to use the radius with the line than write A and enter Angle/CEnter/CLose/Direction/Halfwidth/Line/Radius/Second pt/Undo/Width]: Specify a point or write r to give radius again you want to start the line than write L and line will start again. 23. Hatch - this command is use to hatch the close figure. Choose the command from your toolbar or write H at command prompt. H As you enter this command a box will appear in front of you Specifies a predefined pattern from the TYPE option this will help you to select the pattern of your choice just click the pattern you want. By using ANGLE option you can select the angle of your pattern just enter the value in blank space. By using SCALE option you can select the scale of your pattern (if you find that your pattern is to dense than enter the value more than 1 but if it is to wide than your value should be less than 1) PICKPOINT click on this option box will close temporarily just click inside your figure and enter SELECOBJECTS if you dont want to pick point than click on this option and select the object by making window PREVIEW this option will help you to see the preview of you hatch pattern if you satisfy with preview than click on OK hatch will appear in your drawing. 24. Dtext - this command is use to write the text. Write DT at command prompt. DT Current text style: current text height: current Specify start point of text or [Justify/Style]: Specify a point by clicking the mouse Specify Height <0.000>: enter the value for the height of text Specify rotation angle of text <0>: enter the value for the angle of text Enter text: a cursor will appear on the screen now you can start writing 25. Mtext - this command is use to write the multi line text. Choose the command from your toolbar or write MT at command prompt. MT Current text style: current Text height: current Specify first corner: click on your screen with help of mouse Specify opposite corner or [Height/Justify/Line spacing/Rotation/Style/Width]: click for other side as you

click a box with cursor will appear you can start your writing you can also give height, angle and many other options from this box. 26. Edit text - this command is use to edit the text you can edit or change both kind of text DT and MT, write Ed at command prompt. ED Select an annotation object: just click on the text you want to change a box with text will appear change the text and click on Ok text on screen will change. Text style you can change writing style of text, you can give more than one style to your writing for this you have to click on Format than choose Text style or you can just write Style at command prompt a box will appear Style Name this option displays text style names, adds new styles, and renames and deletes existing styles New - it automatically gives the name for new style if you want to continue than click Ok otherwise write the name of your choice the choose OK to apply the current style settings to the new style name. Font Name from this option you choose the type of text you want just select it form the list. Font Style it Specify font character formatting, such as italic, bold, or regular. Height Height- it sets the text height based on the value you enter. If you enter the value 0 than later you can give height according to your requirement in drawing. Now if you want to make it current style than just click on Apply otherwise click close button You can use these styles in your drawing any time by using Style Toolbar just click on the required style from this option and it will become current. (P.S. if you want to change the style of existing text than select the text and click on the required style, style of the text will change.) 27. Make Block - this command is use to make the block of some single objects you can use these block in your drawing any time choose the command from your toolbar or write Block at command prompt. Block The Block Definition dialog box is displayed. Name- gives name to your block so that you can easily find it at the time of insertion. Base Point just click on pick points box dialog box will close temporarily, select the point at you screen. Select objects: just click on this option dialog box will close temporarily; select the objects from your drawing. Form the preview icon you can see the small preview of your block click ok. The objects which are lying separately become the single identity. 28. Insert Block - this command is use to insert the block in your drawing choose the command from your toolbar or write Insert at command prompt. Insert

The Insert Block dialog box is displayed. Name - Specify the name of a block to insert, or the name of a file to insert as a block. Insertion Point - Specify the insertion point, as you click on ok drawing will appear now click the insertion point Scale - Specify the scale, it is suggested that you keep it default later change it by using scale command. Rotation - Specify the rotation for, it is suggested that you keep it default, later change it by using rotate command. 29. Now we will study about dimension of the drawing, it is very important that every drawing should have dimensions so that you can get information about the sizes of drawing. You can choose dimension from Dimension Toolbar let us study one by one: Linear dimension- this option is used for the dimensions of straight lines, click on this sign Specify first extension line origin or : click on first point Specify second extension line origin: click on second point on line or enter an option before placing your dimension [Mtext/Text/Angle] All are same according to above. Angular dimension- this option is used for the dimensions of angles between two lines or the angle of arcs and circles, click on this sign Select arc, circle, line, or : Select an arc, circle, or line Specify second angle end point: click on the other object with which you want to measure the angle. [Mtext/Text/Angle]: All are same according to above. Radius Dimension - this option is used to give the radius of the circles and arc, click on this sign Select arc or circle: click on an arc or circle Specify dimension arc or circle location: click on screen to specify its location. [Mtext/Text/Angle]: All are same according to above. Diameter Dimension - this option is used to give the diameter of the circles and arc, click on this sign Select arc or circle: click on an arc or circle Specify dimension arc or circle location: click on screen to specify its location. [Mtext/Text/Angle]: All are same according to above. Centre mark - this option is used to mark the centre of the circles and arc, click on this sign Select arc or circle: click on an arc or circle Quick leader - this option is used to specify the notes for anything, click on this sign Specify first leader point, or [Settings] : Specify the first leader point, Specify next point: Specify the next leader point Specify the width : enter the value, after double enter a box will appear with cursor write the note and click OK (P.S. there are other more symbols on this toolbar but the above mentioned symbols are important if you want to know about them than please go to the help menu of AutoCAD) Dimension style you can change dimension style of dimensions, you can give more than one style to your dimensions for this you have to click on Format than choose dimension style or you can just write

Dimstyle at command prompt a box will appear, you can create new styles, sets the current style, modifies styles, sets overrides on the current style Current Dim style it Display the current dimension style. AutoCAD assigns this style to all dimensions. If you do not change the current style, AutoCAD assigns the default STANDARD style to dimensions. Styles - Displays all dimension styles in the drawing. The current style is highlighted. To make a style current, select it and choose Set Current. New it Display the Create New Dimension Style dialog box, in which you can define new dimension styles. It will ask for New style name write the name you want to give, start with, used for keep them default, click on continue another box will appear you dont need to touch each and every setting just change the required one: Lines and arrows from this option select the type of arrows you want just select the required one. Text- you can style of text from this box from the text placement option you can choose the position of text whether it will be above the dimension line or in the center of dimension line, from text alignment option set the alignment of text keep it always aligned with dimension line Fit- from this option you can choose the scale of dimension if you want larger than select the scale greater than 1 for smaller less than 1 Primary Unit- from this section you can choose the unit for dimension (make it same to the drawing units always) all settings are same which you do for the Unit in format menu. Alternate unit and tolerances are not in very much use. 30. Layer this command is very useful. We have do lot of work in one drawing for e.g. if make a plan for the house than we have to give dimensions, furniture position, electrical lining, plumbing and many more we cannot each every time erase this work for the printout so we do all the work in layers. For each and every work make different layer. Choose from format LAYER or you can write Layer on command prompt a box will appear with all the layer it have if you want to make the new layer than click the right button of your mouse many options will appear choose New Layer - a box with cursor will appear change the name according to you requirement. You can also change the color, line type and line weight of your layer from this box. On- bulb sign is used to make on off the layer; layer will disappear from the screen. Freeze- sun is used to freeze the layer; layer will disappear from the screen. Lock- lock sign is used to lock the layer, if the layer is lock than you cannot do any work in it. By default 0 layer is current that means all the work you done is saved in this layer but if you want to do dimensions than make dimension layer and set it current. if you want to make the new layer current click the right button of your mouse many options will appear choose set current. Now if you do not want this layer to be shown in printing make it freeze. (P.S. You can operate you layer from layers toolbar also) 31. There are some more commands which are not so important but you must know about them: a) Distance this command is used to measure the distance between the two points. Just write Di at command prompt Specify first point- click on the first point of line Specify second point- click on the second point of line

It will display all the information at command prompt. b) Revision cloud This command is used to make the cloud like structure in which you can write your remarks or can highlight the particular area select the command from toolbar or write revcloud at command prompt. Revcloud Minimum arc length: 0.5000 Maximum arc lengths: 0.5000 Specify start point or [Arc length/Object/Style]

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