1.

Title of the Module

Chapter6: Properties Tool

2. Introduction
Through a combination of Online lecture, Video tutorials, hands-on exercises, and
drawing problems, this course introduces the student to computer-aided
design/drafting with AutoCAD. The AutoCAD topics covered in this course include The
Properties Palette, Verify and Change Object Properties, Quick Access to Property
Settings, Match the Properties of Objects, Linetypes, Lineweights and working with
group pallets.

3. Learning Outcome
LO1. The Properties Palette
LO2. Verify and Change Object Properties
LO3. Quick Access to Property Settings
LO4. Match the Properties of Objects
LO5. Linetypes
LO5. Lineweights
LO6. Group Pallet

4. Learning Content

Properties palette.
You can assign properties such as color and linetype to individual objects, or as default
properties assigned to layers.

In the following drawing, the walls, exterior stone facing, doors, fixtures, cabinetry, HVAC,
electrical, and text were created using different colors to help differentiate between them.
The Properties Palette
The Properties palette is an essential tool. You can open it with the PROPERTIES command
(enter PR in the Command window), you can press Ctrl + 1, or you can click the tiny arrow in
the Properties panel on the Home tab—whichever you prefer.
The Properties palette displays a list of all the important property settings. You can click any of
the available fields to change the current settings. In the following example, if no objects are
selected, the current color will be changed from ByLayer to Red. All subsequently created
objects will then be assigned the color property Red.

Verify and Change Object Properties

You can also use the Properties palette to verify and change property settings for selected
objects. If you click an object in your drawing to select it, here is what you might see in the
Properties palette.

Notice that the current properties for the selected object are displayed in the Properties palette.
You can change any of these properties by clicking it and changing the setting. A property that is
set to "ByLayer" inherits its setting from its layer. In the previous example, the objects that were
created on the 20 ELECTRICAL layer are purple because that is the default color of the objects
on that layer.

If you select several objects, only their common properties are listed in the Properties palette. If
you change one of these properties, all the selected objects will change in one operation.
Selecting objects is covered in more detail in the Modifying topic.

Note: To clear the current selection, press Esc.

Quick Access to Property Settings
The Properties palette takes up a lot of space. For quick access to the most common properties,
use the Properties panel on the ribbon. As you can see in this example, the listed properties will
all be determined by the current layer.

The Properties panel works the same way as the Properties palette. When you select an object,
the current property settings are replaced by the properties assigned to the selected object, and
you can use this panel to easily change the properties of one of more selected objects.

Match the Properties of Objects

For a fast way to copy the properties of a selected object to other objects, use the Match
Properties tool, or enter MATCHPROP or MA in the Command window.

After you click the Match Propetries tool, select the source object, and then select all of the
objects that you want to modify.

Linetypes
Dashed and other non-continuous linetypes are assigned from the Properties panel. You first
need to load a linetype before you can assign it.

In the Linetype drop-down list, click Other.

This action displays the Linetype Manager dialog box.

Perform the following steps:

1. Click Load. Choose one or more linetypes that you want to use. Notice that dashed (non-
continuous) linetypes come in several preset sizes.
2. Click Show/Hide details to display additional settings.
3. Specify a different "global scale factor" for all linetypes—the larger the value, the longer
the dashes and spaces. Click OK.
Once you've loaded the linetypes that you plan to use, you can select any object and specify a
linetype from the Properties panel or the Properties palette. Alternatively, you can specify a
default linetype for any layer in the Layer Properties Manager.

Lineweights
The Lineweight property provides a way to display different thicknesses for selected objects. The
thickness of the lines remain constant regardless of the scale of the view. In a layout, lineweights
are always displayed and printed in real-world units.

Lineweights can also be assigned from the Properties panel.

You can leave the lineweight set to ByLayer, or you can specify a value that overrides the layer's
lineweight. In some cases, the lineweight previews look the same because they are displayed in
approximated pixel widths on a monitor. However, they will print at the correct thickness.

Tip: It's usually best to leave lineweights turned off while you work. Heavy lineweights can obscure
nearby objects when you use object snaps. You might want to turn them for checking purposes just
before you print.

To control the display of lineweights, click the Lineweight Settings button at the bottom of the
lineweight list. In the Lineweight Settings dialog box, you can choose whether you want to
display or hide lineweights.
Regardless of the display setting, lineweights will always be printed at the correct scale.

Working With Groups Pallet

For easy access to the controls for groups on the ribbon, locate the Home tab, Groups panel.

The commands in the panel include Group and Ungroup, plus . . .

• Group Edit. Use this command to add to or remove objects from a group.
• Group Selection On/Off. Use this toggle to control whether the entire group is selected or
just an object within the group is selected when you select a grouped object. Use this
toggle when you need to modify the objects within a group, click it again to restore group
selection.

Note: When you create a group, you can use the Name option to assign a name to the group. Naming
groups is handy when a large drawing contains many groups and you want to make sure that you specify
the correct group. You can specify a group at the Select Objects prompt by entering g or group followed
by the group name.
Create and Work with a Group
1. Open one of your drawings or create some simple objects as previously illustrated.
2. Select several objects that you want to group.
3. Click Home tab Groups panel Group.

• Find

The objects now belong to a group.

• Start the Copy command, select one of the objects in the group, and specify the location for the
copied objects.

With group selection turned on, the copy of the group is also a separate group.

• Click Home tab Groups panel Group Selection On/Off

• Find

• Move a single object in the copied group.

• Click the Group Selection On/Off button again to restore group selection, and erase the entire copied
group. Remember, you only need to select one object within the group.

• Click Home tab Groups panel Ungroup.

8. Find
9. Select an object in the original group that you created.

So, the next time you spend time selecting an intricate set of objects, consider whether taking the
extra step of using the Group feature will save you time selecting and reselecting the same
objects.

References:

Cheryl R. Shrock, Steve Heather 2018 - Beginning AutoCAD® 2019 Exercise Workbook
George Omura and Brian C BentonMastering, "AutoCAD® 2018 and AutoCAD LT® 2018",
© 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
George Omura, Brian C. Benton 2017 - Mastering AutoCAD 2018 and AutoCAD LT 2018
Zico Pratama Putra, Ali Akbar 2019 - AutoCAD 2019 From Zero to Hero
AutoCAD and its Applications-Basic/Shumaker & Madsen 27th Edition for Release 2020
Tutorial Guide to AutoCAD 2018
An Introduction to AutoCAD for Beginners
https://thesourcecad.com/autocad-tutorials/
http://www.cadinternational.com/
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/
https://www.educba.com/introduction-to-autocad/?source=leftnav
https://myCADsite.com/
https://www.javatpoint.com/arc-in-autocad/
http://www.cadtraininginstitute.com/essential-modify-panel-commands-in-autocad/