AUTOCAD

TIPS AND TRICKS

Collection of best AutoCAD, tips and tricks

First Edition
Introduction
I have been using AutoCAD for the last 15 years and
since the very beginning, I have had a habit of collecting
tips that look like great time savers or invoke the “aha”
moment.

I have compiled all these tips here in this eBook properly

divided into meaningful sections.

If you have your own AutoCAD tips, shortcuts or

workflows then share them with us and we will make it
part of this eBook for the greater good of the CAD
community.

This eBook is regularly updated, so check the SourceCAD

website to download the latest available version.

Jaiprakash Pandey
Author of AutoCAD content on SourceCAD
Table
of Contents
01 Basic Tips
Page 4-11

02 Beyond the Basics

Page 12-18

03 Advance tips
Page 19-26

04 Tips for power users

Page 27-35
O1

BASIC TIPS
Tip 1: Shift key override

When working in ortho mode your cursor will move in either

vertical or horizontal direction.

To move it in any direction you can use polar tracking.

But if you want to work in ortho mode and only want to

temporarily activate polar tracking then press and hold SHIFT
key.

Now as long as your shift key is pressed the ortho mode will
work like polar tracking and the opposite of this is also true.

You can also use shift key to remove objects from selection set.

So, if you have several objects selected and you want to remove
any specific object from the set then press and hold shift key
and then click on the object you want to remove from the
selection.

Tip 2 : Deactivating lasso

selection

When you press and hold your mouse left click and then move it
in the drawing area you get what we call a lasso selection which
is a freehand kind of selection like the image down below.

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If you don't like this selection method then you can deactivate it
completely.

To deactivate it type OP and press enter then go to "Selection"

tab and deactivate the option "Allow press and drag for Lasso"
as shown in the following image.

This will deactivate lasso selection and now you will have a
regular window selection instead.

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Tip 3 : Selecting one vs several
objects

When selecting multiple objects in AutoCAD you don't need to

press and hold the shift key like other windows tools.

But if for some reason selecting one object is deselecting the

other object from your drawing then you can fix it using
PICKADD system variable.

Type PICKADD on the command line and then press enter.

Type 2 in the next prompt and press enter and now your
selection will return to normal.

If you want to select only one object at a time then change the
PICKADD system variable value to 0.

Tip 4 : Repeat command

without pressing enter

If you want to use a command multiple times and don’t want to

press enter key again and again then you can use MULTIPLE
command to keep command running in an infinite loop.

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 Type MULTIPLE on the command line, press Enter key and
then enter the name of the command which you want to
repeat, for example type C for circle and press enter, now
make a circle.

Once your circle is completed AutoCAD will not exit circle

command and it will be ready for making another circle. To
exit this loop press ESC key.

Tip 5 : Select between two

points

To select a point exactly at the midpoint of two object you

don’t need to make a reference line rather you can do it
directly using the object snap option.

As an example, in the following image lest assume we want

to start another line that is exactly at the mid-point of a line
connecting points A and B.

For that I will start with the line command and then press and
hold the shift key and then right click.

From the context menu that shows up select “Mid between two
points” as shown in the following image.

Page 08
Now click on point A and then point B and now the line will start
exactly at the mid-point of line connecting A and B.

Tip 6: Select similar option

This is a great time saving tip that will help you select multiple
objects sharing the same properties.

As an example, let’s say we have a drawing with several blocks,

dimensions and other objects and we want to select all the door
blocks from the drawing.

Page 09
For that select any door block and then right click and select the
option “Select similar” from the contextual menu as shown in the
following image.

This will select all the door blocks from your drawing.

You can repeat the same process for selecting objects like
dimensions and other drawing entities.

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Tip 7: Toggle selection set

When you have an active lasso selection where you select

objects by clicking and holding the left click and then dragging
the mouse you can toggle between different selection modes.

So, click and hold the left click then move the mouse to make a
lasso freehand selection then press spacebar key and the
selection set will change to window, crossing and fence type as
shown in the following animated GIF.

Click to check the animated GIF

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O2

BEYOND THE
BASICS
These are the tips that are little advance for a complete
beginner but if you a little bit about AutoCAD then you should
start using these tips as well.

Tip 8: Filleting parallel lines

In AutoCAD you can add fillet between parallel lines and it will
automatically add a semicircular cap like the animated gif shown
below.

You can use any radius value for making fillets between parallel
lines.

Click to check the animated GIF

Tip 9: Using ZERO radius fillet

If you want to merge two intersecting lines at one sharp point

then use a fillet of 0 radius.

You can also use chamfer of 0 length to add sharp corner at the
point of intersection of the lines as shown in the following
image.

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Tip 10: Command search
feature

If you know what a command can do but don't know its exact
name, alias or location then you can use this next tip to find it all
about that illusive command.

Click the application button (the AutoCAD logo) on the top left
corner of the screen and then type the thing that command can
do in the search field.

As an example, lets assume I don't know the location of trim

command.

So, I will type trim in the search filed and I will get the trim and
similar commands in the results as shown in the following
image.

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Tip 11: Bring all annotations
to front

This command can save you lot of time by allowing you to bring
all annotations on top of other overlapping drawing objects with
a single command.

To bring all annotations like text, dimensions and leader lines to

the front of every other drawing object type TEXTTOFRONT on
command line press enter then select All from options.

Tip 12: Linear array using

copy command

With the Array feature of the copy command, you can easily
make a linear array in AutoCAD without using the rectangular
array tool.

To explain this feature I will use the geometry shown in the

image below.

Here we want to make an array of a vertical rectangle so that it

finally looks like the image on the right side with six rectangles in
a row with the gap of 2 units among each of them.

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Type CO on the command line and press enter to start the copy
command then select rectangle and press enter again.

Now specify any point on the rectangle as the base point, for this
case I am clicking at lower left corner of the rectangle.

Now look at the command line, it prompts you to select the

second point or select the Array option.

Select Array option from the command line, now it will prompt
you to specify the number of items in the array.

Type 6 on the command line and press enter. Command line will
now prompt you to select the second point for the array or
select the Fit option.

Click at the second point in the drawing area to specify the gap
between two corresponding array elements.

You can also enter the distance between the two elements on
the command line, for our current example, I will enter a
distance of 2 units and press enter.

You will see that an array will be created with six rectangles all
spaced at the distance specified by you.

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If you select the Fit option from the previous prompt then specifying a
distance will fit all objects within that space.

For example, if you select Fit and then type 10 on the command line
and press enter then all six rectangles will be fitted in between a
length of 10 units.

Tip 13: Copy and paste as

block

You can copy an object from one drawing and paste it in another as a
block.

To copy an object select it from the drawing area and then press CTRL
+ C on your keyboard to copy it to the clipboard.

Then go to the target drawing (or same drawing if you want) and press
CTRL + Shift + V and this will paste your copied object as a block with
random name.

You can rename the block using the RENAME command.

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Tip 14: Align text along one
column

If you have several lines of text that are not aligned properly
then you can use TEXTALIGN command to align them with
respect to a selected text along a single column.

To align the text type TEXTALIGN command and press enter

key. Now select all the lines of text you want to align, and press
enter key again.

Now select the text you want to use as refence to align all the
remaining lines of text.

Then move your mouse along the vertical direction to align it as

shown in the following animated image.

Click to check the animated GIF

Page 18
O3

ADVANCE TIPS
 These are the advance tips for a seasoned AutoCAD user.

Tip 15: Toggle object between

model space and paper space

If you want to move an object to and from model space to

paper space then this command is for you.

This command can only be activated in layout view and it

automatically adjusts scale of the object to the scale of target
space (model space or paper space).

Open layout view and double click inside your viewport to

activate model view.

Now type CHSPACE on the command line and press enter,

select object(s) that you want to move to paper space and
press enter again.

Your selected objects are now in paper space.

Click to check the animated GIF

Similarly to move the object in paper space to model space

double click outside viewport to activate paper space then
activate command CHSPACE and select object on paper space
then press enter.

Your objects will move to model space and the scale of the
object will also be maintained.

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Tip 16: Searching named AutoCAD
objects
Using Design Center of AutoCAD you can search for a named
object like layer, block or dimension style directly without
having to look for the drawing that contains these named
objects.

let’s take an example where we need to find a block named

bent_pipe but we don’t know the drawing which has this block.

For that type CTRL+2 on keyboard and press enter alternatively

you can also use its command alias ADC.

When design center palette opens up, click on search icon on

top of the design center palette as shown in the image below.

In the search window on the top left side, you will see “Look for”
drop-down menu.

Select component of drawing which you want to search.

In this case, we want to search for bent_pipe block so select

blocks from the drop down menu.

Now browse to the folder or local/network drive where you

believe drawing containing block under consideration is placed.

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 Try to be as specific as possible in selecting the drive or folder
to speed up the search.

The time taken by this search to return the results will directly
depend upon the number of drawing in the folder.

More drawing will force it to crawl more resulting in delays.

Click on search subfolders radio button also if you believe that

drawing could be in any of the subfolders of the designated
drive or folder.

Type name of the object in Search field.

In this case, we will enter bent_pipe as the name of the block

and click on Search Now button.

Your result will appear on the lower panel of search window

with the path of drawing as shown in the image below.

You can also use popular wildcard characters in the search field
of the design center.

You can directly use this block by double-clicking on it or by

selecting Insert Block from right-click contextual menu.

Page 22
 Tip 17: Custom dimension arrow
style

Apart from regular arrow styles of dimension style manager

you can create your own arrow style as well.

If you want to add a custom dimension arrow style like the one
shown below then here are the steps.

Make a custom arrow style using simple draw commands and

convert it into simple AutoCAD block.

AutoCAD uses the blocks as arrow symbol, so I will name this

block "Custom arrow".

Don't create a dynamic block from arrow style as it won't work.

Now type D on the command line and select dimension style

which you want to change then click on modify button.

Select symbols and arrows tab from next window and click on
arrow drop down menu from arrowheads panel and select "User
Arrow" from the menu as shown in the image below.

Page 23
Now a small window called Select custom arrow block will pop
up with a list containing all drawing blocks.

Select "Custom Arrow" from the list and click on OK and close all
open windows by clicking OK or close.

Now start any dimension command and pick two points for
making that dimension.

You will notice that the dimensions will now be made with
custom arrow style.

To modify this custom arrow style simply modify the block and
the arrow style will be modified everywhere in your drawing.

Page 24
Tip 18: Use temporary object snap
tracking point

If you want to draw something or move an object with respect

to another point, then you can use temporary object snap
tracking to track its distance along two separate axes.

As an example in this following drawing, we want to move the

red door at point B with respect to point A where the distance
of point B along X axis is 5 units and along Y axis is & units.

To do that start with MOVE command and then select the red
door and press enter key.

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Now select the lower left corner of the door block and move
to point A but don’t click yet just start tracking it to the right
side then type TT and press enter key.

Now type 5 press enter then track up then type 7 and press
enter key again as shown in the following animated GIF.

.Click to check the animated GIF

Now the object has moved to the point where it should be.

Page 26
O4

TIPS FOR
POWER USERS
These tips are for power users who are using AutoCAD for
decades, if you are not using these tips you should consider
using them.

Tip 19: Searching named

objects from the command
line
You can search named objects like blocks, layers or dimension
styles directly from your command line and you can activate
them too from the command line.

For turning on search feature type INPUTSEARCHOPTIONS on

the command line and press enter.

Now make sure “search content at command line” radio button

is turned on.

Also turn on radio buttons of named objects from content type

panel, for best results I recommend turning on all radio buttons
from content type panel as shown in the following image.

Page 28
 Once you are done click OK to close the window.

Now type the name of any named object on the command line
and it will appear among the results, click on the name of the
object to activate or make it current.

Tip 20: Clean up drawing area

If you want maximum working area from AutoCAD you can

turn off the ribbon and other clutter from your AutoCAD
window by pressing CTRL + 0 on the keyboard.

You can also hide command line by pressing CTRL+9 to get

maximum space.

To bring back ribbons press CTRL + 0 again and for command

line press CTRL + 9 again.

Tip 21: Calculation directly on

the command line
You can enter expressions on the command line to make
calculations directly to find dimensions of geometry and you
don’t need to open calculator separately for making tedious
calculations every time.

As an example, I will make a circle with radius equal to

2/3*radius of another arc from geometry.

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Start circle command then type ‘CAL on the command line and
press enter (make sure you add an apostrophe before CAL).
Your command line will now show following prompt.

Enter an expression 2/3*rad and press enter then click on arc

or circle from geometry to pick the value of rad for expression
mentioned above.

Your circle will be created with the radius equal to 2/3

multiplied by the radius of arc or circle you selected from
drawing.

Suppose radius of selected circle or arc is 6 units then the final

circle will have a radius of 4 units which is equal to 2/3 X 6.

You can also enter simple expressions like 3*pi or 4/3*5 which
does not contain any variable.

Tip 22: Migrate customizations

using profile

You can use profiles to migrate your AutoCAD user interface

customizations and settings.

Type OP and press enter then click the export button on

profiles tab as shown in the following image.

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Now specify the location and give this profile a name.

It will be saved as an ARG file.

To import the same settings on another AutoCAD installation,

copy paste this file on the PC containing your new AutoCAD
software.

Type OP press enter then go to profiles tab and then select

"Import" button as shown in the image above.

Locate the ARG file you saved in previous step and open it and
the profile will load.

Set this profile as current using the "Set current" button on the
profile tab of options window and you have your same settings
migrated to new AutoCAD.

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Tip 23: Add folder shortcut in
Open window

When you use a location quite often you can pin it in the open
window to access it quickly without having to go through entire
folder list.

You can crate this shortcut not only for local folders but also for
folders stored on network drive and even on cloud account like
Google Drive.

As an example, let’s assume I reference a folder called

“Jaiprakash pandey” quite often from my Google Drive.

So, I will open the “Open window” using CTRL + O keyboard

shortcut and then I will browse to the “Jaipraksh Pandey” folder.

Then click the “Tools” dropdown and then select “Add Current
Folder to Places” option as shown in the following image.

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The folder will be added to the open window as shown in the
following image.

Exit the Open window and then click save changes when the
prompt to save changes in the “Places folder” pops up.

Tip 24: Batch convert AutoCAD

file version

If you have several AutoCAD DWG files and you want to convert
their version to an older one like 2013 then you can do it in a
batch using ETRANSMIT command.

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For that open a blank drawing and save it anywhere you like
and then type ETRANSMIT and press enter key.

Now select the file button and add all the files you want to
convert to an older version and then click the “Transmittal
Setups…” button as shown in the following image.

Now click “Modify” in the next window and then select the
version you want your drawings to convert to from the “file
format” dropdown as shown in the following image.

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In the “Transmittal package type” option which is just above
the “File format” option select “Folder” and this will ensure all
your files are exported in a simple folder.

Click OK to accept the changes and your files are now

converted into older version and they are all placed in a folder
that you specify in “Transmittal file folder” option of “Modify
Transmittal Setup’ window.

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An eBook by

Jaiprakash
Pandey
Jaiprakash Pandey is the
published author of “Practical
AutoCAD book” by Packt
publication he is also an
Autodesk AutoCAD certified
professional and Autodesk
expert elite community
member.

He is the creator of SourceCAD

and the lead author of topics
like AutoCAD, Fusion 360, and
Solidworks on SourceCAD.

Contents of this eBook are taken from an article on SourceCAD with the same title. All
the contents of this eBook are protected by copyright. If you have questions, suggestions
or complaints about this eBook then reach out to us on [email protected]