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AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules
®

AutoCAD 2D
Module 1
AutoCAD's User Interface

Learning Outcomes:
When you have completed this module, you will be able to:

1. Describe and configure AutoCAD's Interface including the graphic window, graphic
cursor, status bar, model and layout tabs, command line window, pull-down and toolbar
menus, use of the mouse and the text window.

AutoCAD's Graphic Window

AutoCAD's graphic window, Figure 1-1, is the window you will be working in most of time. It’s
main features are shown below.

Figure 1-1
AutoCAD Graphic Window

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Graphic Cursor
The graphic cursor indicates the position you are presently located at on the AutoCAD drawing.
Think of it as the point of your pencil. It is sometimes called the crosshairs. You use it
extensively while working on AutoCAD. It is one of your most used tools.

The size of the graphic cursor can be changed. For this course and most
AutoCAD work, it is best to have it full screen as shown in Figure 1-1.
See Module Introduction 2 if the cursor on your computer is not displaying
full size.

Status Bar
The status bar, Figure 1-2, is positioned across the bottom of the graphic window and becomes
a very important part of your day-to-day AutoCAD work. On the left side, it displays the
coordinate location or XYZ coordinates of the location of the graphic cursor. You can enable or
disable the coordinate location display with the function key F6 in AutoCAD 2000 - 2006 or by
clicking it in AutoCAD 2007 and 2008.
On the remainder of the status bar are the toggle buttons for several of AutoCAD's features.
They will all be discussed in future modules.

2006-2008

2000-2005

Figure 1-2
Status Bar
Model and Layout Tabs
The model and layout tabs, see Figure 1-3,
will be discussed in Module 39 and 40. For
now, enable the Model tab only.
Figure 1-3
Model and Layout Tabs

Command Line Window

The command line window is used to enter keyboard commands, user input, and AutoCAD
output. See Figure 1-4. It is one of the ways you communicate with AutoCAD and a very
important way for AutoCAD to communicate with you. It is important for you to watch this
window closely as you are drawing, since AutoCAD will ask you for information, instruct you as
to what data it needs or answers to your inquiries. This will be discussed in much greater detail
in Module 2.

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Figure 1-4
Command Line Window

Pickbox
The pickbox, located at the center of the graphic cursor, see Figure 1-5. It is
used by you to pick objects in the drawing. Its size can be changed larger or
smaller using the Options dialogue box. See Module Introduction 2. Figure 1-5
The Pickbox
Scroll Bars
The scroll bars work exactly the same as scroll bars in other software programs. You can use
them to scroll your drawing up, down, left or right. You will be shown a much better way to
scroll around your drawing in Module 9. One thing the scroll bars do is give you an indication
of the overall size of your drawing and the current viewing position in the overall drawing.
AutoCAD's Menus
AutoCAD has many different menus that allow you to communicate with it. The most useful
ones are the pull-down, and the toolbar menus as shown in Figure 1-6.

Figure 1-6
AutoCAD’s Pull-Down and Toolbar Menus

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Pull-Down Menu
The pull-down menu Is located
across the top of the graphic
window. When you click a
word with the left button of your
mouse, the menu will pull down
as shown in Figure 1-7.
Flyout Menu
If the pull-down menu has a
small solid triangle at the end, it
has a flyout menu associated
with it. Place your cursor over
it and the flyout menu will
display as shown in Figure 1-8.

Toolbar Menus
Figure 1-7 Figure 1-8
The toolbar menus are a series Pull-Down Menu Pull-Down Flyout Menu
of icons that are located on a
collection of menu bars. You can enable or
disable the menu display of each toolbar
menu at your discretion. If you turned them
all on at the same time, you would virtually fill
your screen. Therefore, you will have to turn Figure 1-9
them off and on as required. Toolbars can be A Toolbar Menu
left floating or docked along any or all sides of
the graphic window. See Figure 1-9. If you
hold the graphic cursor over an icon in a
toolbar, it will display a tooltip displaying the
purpose of the icon as shown in Figure 1-10.
AutoCAD allows you to create or edit the
toolbar menus. This is taught in the AutoCAD Figure 1-10
Customization Modules. A Toolbar Menu
Showing a Tooltip

Displaying Toolbar Menus

To enable (display) or disable (not display) toolbar menus, right-click
any displayed toolbar and a list of all the available toolbar menus will
display as shown in Figure 1-11. Click the names on the pull-down to
enable or disable their display. A checkmark beside the word indicates
the toolbar menu is currently enabled.
To close a toolbar menu, click the X in the top right hand corner of the
Figure 1-11
toolbar or uncheck the name in the right-click pull-down. See Figures
Toolbar Right-click
1-9 and 1-11.
Menu

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Docked and Floating Toolbar Menus

In Figure 1-6, the toolbars across the top of the graphic window are docked and the ones in the
center are floating. To dock a toolbar, drag it by clicking and holding the left mouse button on
the title strip along the top of the menu. Drag it to any one of the four sides and release the
mouse button and it will automatically dock. To undock it, do the opposite. Click and hold the
left mouse button and drag the menu into the center of the window and release.
Dialogue Boxes
AutoCAD uses many different dialogue
boxes to speed the drawing process. A
dialogue box is an effective and efficient
method for AutoCAD to allow you to
modify or enter information, settings and
sizes. They are also used to give you
data and information about the active
drawing or objects in that drawing. A
typical dialogue box is shown in Figure
1-12. When you see three dots behind a
word in a pull-down menu it means
clicking that word will open a dialogue
box.

The Mouse
AutoCAD is programed to use the three Figure 1-12
buttons on a mouse as follows: Dialogue Box
Left Button: This is the pick button. Use it to pick objects, pick menu
items or to select locations on the drawing.
Middle Button: The middle button or wheel is used to zoom and pan
around the drawing. This will be discussed in detail in
Module 9.
Right Button: The right button has two uses. If pressed and released
quickly, it repeats the last command. If pressed and held
in, it displays the cursor menu. See Figure 1-13. The
cursor menu will be different for each command. It can
be a very helpful menu once you get used to using it.
Figure 1-13
2000-2002 Users - By default, the right mouse button only displays the Cursor Menu for
cursor menu. It can be set to repeat the last command. Ask your instructor the FILLET
if you want to set it to repeat rather then displaying the cursor menu. command
AutoCAD's Text Window
AutoCAD's text window, Figure 1-14, displays all of the commands you entered and AutoCAD's
responses for the duration of the drawing. This is the only way to look back at the commands,
your input and AutoCAD's responses. To display the text window, press F2. To return to the
graphic window, press F2 again.

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Figure 1-14
AutoCAD’s Text Window

AutoCAD uses the function keys F1 to F12 located across the top of the
keyboard as shortcuts. These shortcuts are very important to the AutoCAD
user as they help speed the drawing process. The shortcut for each
function key will be introduced as you work through the modules. In this
module, the following function keys were taught:
F2 = Toggles the Text Box display
F6 = Toggles the Coordinate Location display. (AutoCAD 2000 - 2006)

The Key Principles in Module 1

1. The status bar located across the bottom of the graphic window is a very important part
of your day-to-day AutoCAD work.
2. The graphic cursor indicates the position you are presently located at on the AutoCAD
drawing. Think of it as the point of your pencil. It is sometimes called the crosshairs.
The square box located at the center of the crosshairs is called the pickbox. The pickbox
is used to pick objects in the drawing.
3. F2 = Toggles the Text Box display
4. F6 = Toggles the Coordinate Location display in 2000 - 2006.
Clicking the Coordinate Location Display toggles it in 2007-2008.

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Lab Exercise 1-1 Time Allowed: 20 Min.

Drawing Specifications
Name Template Units Text Style Font
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Note: Color, Linetype, and Lineweight are all < ByLayer < unless otherwise instructed.
Instructions:
1. Start AutoCAD.
2 IMPORTANT STEP. - Unless otherwise instructed, each time you start a lab exercise for this course,
the graphic screen should be set as shown below:

All Versions

2006-2008

2000-2005

2004-2008

2000-2002

3. Change the appearance of the AutoCAD graphic window to appear as shown on the next page.
For 2004-2008 the Standard, Layers, Properties, Styles, Modify, Modify II and Draw toolbar
menus are displayed.
For 2000-2002, the Standard Toolbar, Object Properties, Draw, Modify and Modify II toolbar
menus are displayed.
4. Open each pull-down menu and study its contents.
5. Toggle the coordinate location display off.
6. Toggle the coordinate location display on. Check to make sure it is on by moving the graphics cursor.
7. Open the text window.
8. Close the text window.
9. Exit AutoCAD by using the pull-down menu. Click File then Exit. When asked if you want to save the
drawing, answer No.

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2004-2008

2000-2002

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Lab Exercise 1-2 Time Allowed: 20 Min.

Drawing Specifications
Name Template Units Text Style Font
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Note: Color, Linetype, and Lineweight are all < ByLayer < unless otherwise instructed.
Layering Scheme
Objects on Layer Name Color Linetype Lineweight
N/A
Instructions:
1. Start AutoCAD.
2. IMPORTANT STEP - Unless otherwise instructed, each time you start a lab exercise for this course,
the graphic screen should be set as shown below:

All Versions

2006-2008

2000-2005

2004-2008

2000-2002

3. Change the appearance of the AutoCAD graphic window to appear as shown on pages 1-10 or 1-11.
For 2004-2008 the Standard, Layers, Properties, Styles, Modify, Inquiry, Object Snap and Draw
toolbar menus are displayed.
For 2000-2002, the Standard Toolbar, Object Properties, Draw, Modify, Object Snap and Inquiry
toolbar menus are displayed.
4. Exit from AutoCAD by using the pull-down menu. Click File then Exit. When asked if you want to
save the drawing, answer No.

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2004-2008

2000-2002

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