MODULE 5

I. Title : Drawing features and properties

II. Topics :
• Color and line type
• Basic hatches
• Creating and assigning layers
• Layer properties manager

III. Time Frame : 7 Hours

IV. Introduction :
AutoCAD is a popular computer-aided design (CAD) software used in
various industries, including architecture, engineering, and construction. It
allows users to create detailed 2D and 3D designs, and customize them with
different colors, line types, and layers. In this context, this article will cover
three important topics: color, creating custom line types, and working with
layers. The color command in AutoCAD allows users to specify the color of
objects in their designs using various methods, including the AutoCAD Color
Index, true colors, and color books. Creating custom line types can be done
manually by creating a .lin file and loading it into the Line type Manager, or by
using the Express Tools feature in AutoCAD. Finally, layers are an essential
part of AutoCAD that help organize designs and manage object visibility. The
layer dialog box in AutoCAD allows users to create, modify, and manage
layers, while also controlling their color and line type properties. Additionally,
this article will cover layer shortcuts, changing the layer of an object, making a
layer current, layer previous, and layer states.

V. Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of the topic the students are expected to:
1. Describe the differences between floating toolbars and dropdown ribbon tools
2. Draw and create the polyline and spline using the command line space
3. Sketch line, circles and rectangle using the shortcut key command.

VI. Learning Activities:

*COLOR (Command)
1. You can enter a color from the AutoCAD Color Index (a color name or number), a true
color, or a color from a color book.
2. You can enter the color number (1 through 255) or the color name (the names for the first
seven colors). For example, you can specify the color red by entering the ACI number 1 or
the ACI name red.
3. You can also enter bylayer or byblock. If you enter byblock, all new objects are drawn in
the default color (white or black, depending on your background color) until they are
grouped into a block. When you insert the block in a drawing, the objects in the block
inherit the current setting of COLOR.
 4. Note: If you used a mixture of color methods to draw the objects that make up a block,
inserting that block or changing its color produces complex results.
5. If you enter bylayer, new objects assume the color assigned to the layer on which you
create them. See the LAYER command for information about assigning a color to a layer.
6. If you enter -COLOR at the Command prompt, the following prompts are displayed.
7. True Color
8. Specifies a true color to be used for the selected object. Enter three integer values from 0
to 255 separated by commas to specify a true color
9. Color Book
10. Specifies a color from a loaded color book to be used for the selected object. Enter the
name of a color book that has been installed.
11. If you enter a color book name, you are prompted to enter the color name in the color
book.

*How to create a custom line type in AutoCAD

Issue:
How to create a custom line type in AutoCAD.

Solution:
There are two options to create customized linetype in AutoCAD:
Create a own line type .lin file manually, then load it into AutoCAD in the Linetype Manager (see
video Create Line type AutoCAD | Tips).

Create line type using Express Tools (refer to Tutorial: Create a custom simple linetype).

Note: Express Tools are not supported in AutoCAD LT and are not included with the application.
Express Tools are provided with the full version of AutoCAD and AutoCAD vertical products.

Layers, Linetypes, Colors

Introduction to Layers and Layer Dialog Box 12.1

1. Choose Format, Layer. or

2. Type LAYER at the command prompt.

Command: LAYER (or LA) or

3. Pick the layers icon from the Layer Control box
on the object properties toolbar.
 ? Lists layers, with states, colors and linetypes.
Make Creates a new layer and makes it current.
Set Sets current layer.
New Creates new layers .
ON Turns on specified layers.
OFF Turns off specified layers.
Color Assigns color to specified layers.
Ltype Assigns linetype to specified layers.
Freeze Completely ignores layers during regeneration.
Thaw Unfreezes specified layers Ltype.
Lock Makes a layer read only preventing entities from being
edited but available visual reference and osnap functions.
Unlock Places a layer in read write mode and available for edits.
Plot Turns a Layer On for Plotting
No Plot Turns a Layer Off for Plotting
LWeight Controls the line weight for each layer

TIP:
Layers can be set using the command line prompts for layers. To use this, type –LAYER or
-LA at the command prompt
Type Command: -LAYER or LA
Type One of the following layer options
?/Make/Set/New/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/Freeze/Thaw:

Layer Shortcuts 12.2

Changing the Layer of an Object

1. Click Once on the object to change.

2. Select the desired layer from the Layer Control Box
dropdown.
 AutoCAD will move the object to the new
layer.

Select layer
Select object first

Making a Layer Current

1. Click once on the Make Object’s Layer Current icon.

2. Select object whose layer will become current:
Match Properties
1. Choose Modify, Match Properties. or
2. Click the Match Properties Icon from the Standard toolbar or
3. Type Command: MATCHPROP or MA
4. Select the object whose properties you want to copy (1).
5. Select the objects to which you want to apply the properties (2).

Layer Previous 12.3

1. Open an AutoCAD drawing with layers.

2. Turn layers on/off.

3. Zoom or perform any AutoCAD Command.

4. Type LAYERP at the command prompt.

Command: LAYERP or
5. Click
the Layer Previous icon.
 Layer States 12.4

Choose the layer icon.

Select various layers to be ON, OFF, FROZEN, LOCKED, etc.
Choose the Save State button.
Choose Restore State to restore the layer settings.

Color Command 12.5

1. Choose Format, Color. or

2. Type DDCOLOR at the command prompt.

Command: DDCOLOR or COL or

3. Choose Color on the Object Properties toolbar and then

select a color from the list or select Other to display
the Select Color dialog box.
TIP:
These settings ignore the current layer settings for color.
By Layer
If you enter bylayer, new objects assume the color of the layer upon which they are drawn.
By Block
If you enter byblock, AutoCAD draws new objects in the default color (white or black,
depending on your configuration) until they are grouped into a block. When the block is
inserted in the drawing, the objects in the block inherit the current setting of the COLOR
command.
Linetypes 12.6
Loading and Changing Linetypes

1. Choose Format, Linetype... or

2. Type DDLTYPE at the command prompt.

Command:DDLTYPE or LT

3. Choose Load... to see a list of available linetypes.

4. Choose the desired linetype to assign.

 5. Click OK.
Lineweights 12.7

Loading and Changing Lineweights

1. Choose Format, Lineweight... or

2. Type LINEWEIGHT at the command prompt.

Command: LINEWEIGHT or LWEIGHT or

3. Pick a lineweight to make current from the Object
Properties menu.

TIPS:
Lineweights can also be assigned to layers.
The Display Lineweights feature can be turned on/off on the status bar to show or not show
lineweights in the drawing, thus making regenerations faster.

Lineweights are displayed using a pixel width in proportion to the realworld unit value at which
they plot. If you are using a high-resolution monitor, you can adjust the lineweight display scale to
better display different lineweight widths.

Object Properties 12.8

 1. Choose Modify, Properties.
or
2. Click
the Properties icon.
3. Type or
DDCHPROP or DDMODIFY at the command prompt.
Command: DDCHPROP (CH) or DDMODIFY (MO)
4. Pick Objects whose properties you want to change Pick a
window for DDCHPROP, single object for DDMODIFY.
Select objects:(select)
ENTER to accept objects.
5. Press Select objects: (press enter)
One of the following properties to change.
6. Choose

The Hatch command in AutoCAD is used to fill patterns inside an enclosed area. The patterns
are hatched, gradient, and solid fill.

The gradient patterns are defined as a smooth transition between two colors.
There are several hatch patterns available in AutoCAD. We can choose the desired pattern from
the list of the patterns according to the requirements.
The number of hatch lines represented in any pattern can be adjusted with the help of the Hatch

Pattern Scale.
The Hatch Pattern Scale signifies the spacing between the lines in a particular pattern.
Let's understand with few examples.
 Example 1:
Consider the below image:

The steps to fill hatch pattern are listed below:

1. Select the Hatch icon from the ribbon

panel, as shown in the below image:
Or
Type H on the command line or command
prompt and press Enter.

2. Pick internal points of any object or Select objects.

Here, we have picked an internal point inside a circle. We can pick any
point inside a circle.

3. A hatch pattern will be created inside the circle, as shown below:

4. To modify the lines, we have increased the Hatch Pattern Scale.
The figure will now appear as:

We can also select the desired patterns from the list of patterns, as shown below:

The greater the hatch pattern Scale, the higher will be the distance between the lines in the hatch
pattern.
When we click on the arrow near the Hatch Icon, a drop-down list appears, as shown in the below
image:
Boundary
The Boundary command creates a separate region or polyline from the enclosed area.
Gradient
Let's understand the gradient with an example:
Example 1:
Consider the below image:

The steps are listed below:

1. Select the Gradient Icon from the drop-down list of the hatch.
2. Pick internal points of any object or select objects. Here, we have picked an internal point
outside the circle.
3. A gradient will be created inside the rectangle, as shown below:

4. Let's consider another gradient pattern. It will look like the below
image:

We can also select the desired patterns from the list of patterns, as shown below:
VII. Self-Evaluation:

1. What is the purpose of the Hatch command in AutoCAD?

Answer: The Hatch command in AutoCAD is used to fill patterns inside an enclosed area.
The patterns can be hatched, gradient, or solid fill.

2. How can you adjust the number of hatch lines in a pattern in AutoCAD?
Answer: The number of hatch lines represented in any pattern can be adjusted with the help
of the Hatch Pattern Scale. The Hatch Pattern Scale signifies the spacing between the lines
in a particular pattern.

3. What are the different types of fill patterns available in AutoCAD?

Answer: The different types of fill patterns available in AutoCAD are hatched, gradient, and
solid fill.

4. How can you select a desired hatch pattern in AutoCAD?

Answer: We can choose the desired pattern from the list of patterns according to the
requirements. When we click on the arrow near the Hatch Icon, a drop-down list appears,
and we can select the desired pattern from the list.

5. What is the purpose of the Gradient command in AutoCAD?

Answer: The Gradient command in AutoCAD is used to create a smooth transition between
two colors inside an enclosed area. It can be used to create a gradient fill pattern.
6. What is the use of creating a custom linetype in AutoCAD?
A. To make the drawing look more visually appealing
B. To add additional functionality to the software
C. To create a unique style for a specific project
D. To increase the processing speed of the software
Answer: C. To create a unique style for a specific project.

7. Which of the following commands is used to create a new layer in AutoCAD?

A. Set
B. Make
C. New
D. ON
Answer: C. New

8. Which of the following is not a layer state in AutoCAD?

A. Frozen
B. Locked
C. Ignored
D. On
Answer: C. Ignored

9. Which of the following is not a command for modifying layers in AutoCAD?

A. LWeight
B. Color
C. Set
D. Linetype
Answer: C. Set
11. Which of the following is not a command for changing lineweights in AutoCAD?
A. LINEWEIGHT
B. LWEIGHT
C. LW
D. LINETHICKNESS
Answer: D. LINETHICKNESS

VIII. Review of Concept:

AutoCAD is a powerful drafting and design software, and mastering its features can be a
challenging task. One of the essential features in AutoCAD is managing layers, linetypes,
and colors. Understanding how to use these features can help you produce professional-
quality drawings efficiently. In this review, we will cover the fundamentals of layers, linetypes,
and colors in AutoCAD.
Layers are used to organize the elements in a drawing. In AutoCAD, you can create,
modify, and manage layers using the Layer dialog box. You can also use the Layer Control
box to access the most commonly used layer commands quickly.
Linetypes are used to define the pattern of lines in a drawing. AutoCAD comes with
several predefined linetypes, but you can also create your own. You can use the Linetype
Manager to load, modify, and create linetypes.
Colors are used to differentiate elements in a drawing. In AutoCAD, you can assign
colors to layers, objects, and linetypes. You can use the Color dialog box to choose from a
list of predefined colors or create your own custom colors. Understanding how to use colors
effectively can help you produce more readable and visually appealing drawings.
In conclusion, mastering layers, linetypes, and colors is essential to producing high-
quality drawings in AutoCAD. By understanding how to use these features effectively, you
can create drawings that are well-organized, easy to read, and visually appealing. With
practice and dedication, you can become proficient in using layers, linetypes, and colors in
AutoCAD.

IX. References:

https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/visualgraphiccomm/chapter/chapter-1/
AutoCAD 2019 and AutoCAD LT 2019. Sybex June 26, 2018. USAOmura, G. et al (2019)
Mastering .
https://www.thesourcecad.com/autocad-tutorials/
AutoCAD 2010 for beginners
http://www.amazon.com/Technical-Drawing-Edition-Frederick-
Giesecke/dp/0130081833
http://www.eastlymeschools.org/page.cfm?p=1486
http://cad-notes.com/2009/11/how-to-label-coordinate-in-autocad/
 MODULE 6

I. Title : Dimensioning and annotations

II. Topics :
• Creating basic dimensions
• Modifying dimensions
• Creating multiline text
• Creating and formatting table

III. Time Frame : 9 Hours

IV. Introduction : Dimensioning and annotations are critical components of technical

drawings and engineering designs. Accurate and precise dimensions help ensure
that the intended product or structure is constructed to the correct specifications. In
this context, creating and modifying dimensions, as well as creating and formatting
tables, are essential skills for any technical or engineering professional. Additionally,
the ability to create and edit multiline text is also an important aspect of annotation,
as it allows for clear and concise labeling of various features and components within
a drawing. In this introduction, we will explore each of these topics in more detail and
highlight the key skills and techniques necessary to master them.

V. Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of the topic the students are expected to:

1. Evaluate the impact of modifying dimensions on the overall design of a product or

structure, taking into consideration factors such as functionality, aesthetics, and
cost-effectiveness.
2. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of using multiline text in different
types of documents, such as technical manuals, marketing materials, and
academic papers.
3. Develop a creative approach to creating basic dimensions for a complex 3D
model, utilizing strategies such as symmetry, proportional scaling, and geometric
patterns.
4. Synthesize information from multiple sources to design and format a
comprehensive table that effectively communicates complex data, such as
financial reports, scientific findings, or performance metrics.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of different formatting techniques for tables, such as
color coding, font choice, and alignment, in order to determine the most
appropriate method for presenting specific types of data to a particular audience.

VI. Learning Activities:

BASIC DIMENSIONS IN AUTOCAD:

Dim Type Keystroke Icon Description

Linear DIMLINEAR / DIMLIN Dimensions for straight lines either horizontal or
vertical to the UCS.
Aligned DIMALIGNED / Dimensions for straight lines that are angled to the
DIMALI UCS and provides the line's length.
Dim Type Keystroke Icon Description
Angular DIMANGLUAR / Dimensions between 2 points and gives the resulting
DIMANG angle measurement.
Arc DIMARC Dimensions the length of an arc or arc segment of a
Length polyline.
Radius DIMRADIUS / Dimensions the radius of an arc, circle or arc
DIMRAD segment of a polyline.
Diameter DIMDIAMETER / Dimensions the diameter of an arc, circle or arc
DIMDIA segment of a polyline.
Center DIMCENTER Places a center mark at the center point of an arc or
Mark circle
Rotated DIMROTATED - A modifier to a dimension to make it parallel to a
selected line.
Spacing DIMSPACE Aligns the selected dimensions to an even spacing.

Continue DIMCONTINUE / Continues dimensioning from a base dimension

DIMCONT
Baseline DIMBASELINE / Continues dimension from a base dimension to give
DIMBASE an overall dim.
Types of Dimensions in AutoCAD

You have most likely already used some of the common dimension types like 'linear' or 'radius'.
This section will describe how each one works in more detail.

Linear Dimensions:
Linear dimensions are used to create a dimension that measures a line that is either horizontal or
perpendicular to the UCS. This is the most commonly used dimension and is very easy to use.
Below are some typical linear dimensions:

Command: DIMLINEAR
Specify first extension line origin or <select
object>:SELECT FIRST POINT
Specify second extension line origin:SELECT
SECOND POINT
Specify dimension line location or

[Mtext/Text/Angle/Horizontal/Vertical/Rotated]: SELECT LOCATION OF DIM LINE

Dimension text = 5.00
Note that there are some options at the command line:

OPTION DESCRIPTION
MText / You don't need to use these, it doesn't really affect your dimensions
Text
Angle This will place your text at the angle you specify
Horizontal This will create a horizontal dim, but you select this when you place your
dimension line. Rarely needed.
 OPTION DESCRIPTION
Vertical This will create a vertical dim, but you select this when you place your dimension
line. Rarely needed.
Rotated This will create a 'rotated' dimension. This is explained below.
You'll also notice on the first prompt, you can <select object>, but press <enter> at this point and
then you can just select the line instead of the two endpoints. This is a lot quicker and more
accurate as you don't have to worry about picking the wrong Endpoint Osnap.

Aligned Dimensions:
The Aligned dimension works just like the linear dimension. The big difference is that it works with
lines or distances that are not square to the UCS. You can also use this on any 2 points that are
also compatible with the linear dimension. It will create a dimension parallel to the angled line.

Command: DIMALIGNED
Specify first extension line origin or <select
object>:SELECT FIRST POINT
Specify second extension line origin:SELECT SECOND
POINT
Specify dimension line location or
[Mtext/Text/Angle]: SELECT LOCATION OF DIM LINE
Dimension text = 2.00
There are no options for horizontal or vertical placement. Also Rotate is missing to avoid
confusion and errors. You can also select Angle for your text to match the angle of line (just
select 2 points on the line you are dimensioning). You can also set your text to be aligned with the
dimension line in your Dimension Style Manager.

Angular Dimensions:
Not every dimension gives the reader a length. Sometimes other measurements are need.
Angular dimensions will display the angle between two objects. The measurement of the angle is
defined by your dimstyle, but degrees is standard. The command works similar to the linear
dimensions (see a pattern?).

Command: _dimangular
Select arc, circle, line, or <specify
vertex>: <select first line>
Select second line: <select second line>
Specify dimension arc
The example above shows 3 common
uses of this tool. To get the angle on the arc,
just select anywhere on it. Getting the
outside measurement (225° in this example) is done by using the prompt <select vertex>.
Command: DIMANGULAR
Select arc, circle, line, or <specify vertex>:
Specify angle vertex: <select point A>
Specify first angle endpoint: <select point B>
Specify second angle endpoint: <select point C>
Specify dimension arc line location or
[Mtext/Text/Angle/Quadrant]:<place dim>
Dimension text = 225

Arc Length:
This is a fairly new command in AutoCAD and will not be available on some older versions. This
command works simply, just start the command and select an arc or arc segment of a polyline. In
the example below, I have shown the Angular (180°) dimension with the Arc length so that you
can see the difference. Notice the symbol in front of the 3.14.

Command: _dimarc Select

arc or polyline arc segment: <select the arc>
Specify arc length dimension location, or
[Mtext/Text/Angle/Partial/Leader]: 1.2
Dimension text = 3.14

Once again, you are offered some options when dimensioning. Mtext/Text/Angle are the same
options for text that you saw earlier. Partial will allow you to dimension only part of the arc. This is
useful for midpoints or nodes, when the arc is segmented. Leader will draw a leader from the dim
text to the arc that it refers to.

Radius Dimension:
Another common and simple
command. DIMRAD will dimension any arc or
circle and give you the radius and place a
center mark at the center of the selected object.
A center mark is a cross the indicates the
center point of an arc or circle.

Command: _dimradius
Select arc or circle: <select object>
Dimension text = 0.40
Specify dimension line location or
[Mtext/Text/Angle]: <place the dim>
Once again, you have some options for the text at the
command prompt.

Diameter Dimension:
The diameter and radius dimensions work the same, but give a different measurement. As a rule,
It will use the diameter dim on things like a hole to be drilled or for the dimensions of an overall
part and radius for filleted corners, etc.
As you see, the diameter and radius dimensions add a center mark (this can be turned off, or
changed to a larger line (in DDIM). I will usually dimension the circles first so that I can select the
center mark and have a small gap (it looks cleaner).

Command: _dimdiameter
Select arc or circle: <select the object>
Dimension text = 1.00
Specify dimension line location or
[Mtext/Text/Angle]: <place the dim>
In the example image above, you can see that even a
very simple drawing can have enough dimensions to
clutter things up. Make sure that you have enough
dimensions and don't duplicate or miss any. Make sure that they can be read from one or two
angles when printed (usually from the bottom right corner).

Center Mark:
By now you should be getting the hang of how this works.
The DIMCENTER command adds a center mark to a circle
or arc. How it is displayed is set in the DDIM dialog box
under the "Symbols and Arrows" tab. If you select "None"
you will not be able to place a center mark using this
command. The icon for center marks is in the sub menu on
the dimension panel.

Sometimes you might use both in the drawing. Below. on the left, I used the center mark that was
made with the diameter dimension, then I dimensioned from it. On the right, I used a Line center
mark and extended one of the lines to the other side to indicate the holes are aligned. Then I
double-clicked on the diameter text and added a suffix to indicate that both holes are the same
size.

But when you do this, any of the center marks made by the diameter or radius dimensions will
change to the new style that you selected. It's best to start with one style and leave it. The size of
your center mark is defined by the DIMCEN system variable.
Rotated Dimensions:
A rotated dimension is not a dimension that was
rotated using the rotate command. Instead it allows
you to create a linear dimension to two points that are
not in a straight line. Look at the image below and see
the difference between an aligned dimension and a
rotated one.

First, look the dimension on the far right. See how it

gives a true overall size of 10 units? On the right, the
aligned dimension is not the overall size due to the
94° angle in the bottom left corner. Also in the top
right, notice the rotated dimension with 2.00 units. I
need to rotate it as the 2 points that I selected were
not on the same axis. It's a little confusing at first, but
try it a few times.

Command: dimlin
DIMLINEAR
Specify first extension line origin or <select object>: <first endpoint>
Specify second extension line origin: <first endpoint>
Specify dimension line location or
[Mtext/Text/Angle/Horizontal/Vertical/Rotated]: R <enter>
Specify angle of dimension line <0>: <select first point on axis>
Specify second point: <select second point on axis>
Specify dimension line location or
[Mtext/Text/Angle/Horizontal/Vertical/Rotated]: <place dim>
Dimension text = 2.00
When it comes to selecting points on the axis, pick the common parallel line (in this example, I
click 2 points on the 10-unit dimension. You can also create a rotated dim by using
the DIMROTATED command. In this case, you select the angle first.

Even Spacing of Dimensions:

Sometimes you might have a bunch of dimensions in one area and want to space them evenly.
The easy way to do this is to place them quickly, then use the Adjust Space
command, DIMSPACE. Look at the image below with the random spacing. Then mouse over it to
see how this command gives them even spacing.
Draw a similar shape and try this. Place your dims, but allow for enough room to fit them all (just
don't worry about the spacing). Then start the DIMSPACE command.

Command: DIMSPACE
Select base dimension: <I selected the 2.00 dim in this example>
Select dimensions to space:
Specify opposite corner: 3 found <select the others>
Select dimensions to space: <enter>
Enter value or [Auto] <Auto>: <enter>
Fast and easy. You have the option at the end to enter a distance between each dim, but Auto
should work in most cases. Just be careful to select the "Base" dimension you want first - try
selecting other dimensions as your 'base' to see what results you get.

Continue Dimensions:
Another shortcut is to use is "Continued Dimensions". This is used when you have a series of
linear dimensions that will all be on one side of an object. With this command, you can select a
'base' dimension and then have AutoCAD help by continuing the command so that you can just
click and endpoint and continue to the next, click an endpoint, etc. Have a look at the drawing
below:

When you have a series of dimensions all in one plane like this, just create the first one with
DIMLIN and then use the DIMCONT command to create the rest of them.

Command: _dimcontinue
Specify second extension line origin or [Select/Undo] <Select>: <SELECT A>
Dimension text = 2.0000
Specify second extension line origin or [Select/Undo] <Select>: <SELECT A>
Dimension text = 1.0000
Specify second extension line origin or [Select/Undo] <Select>: <ENTER>
Tip: When using this command or the Baseline dimensions, select your points for the base dim in
the direction that the others will follow. In the example above, since I selected the base dim on
the left, I had to first pick the left point and then the right point. This sets the direction for the
others to follow.
After doing this, the next time you start the DIMCONT command, it will return to this point and
continue on. Try this out in your own drawing with a simple shape like the one above.

Baseline Dimensions
This command is very similar in function to the continue command, but instead provides an
overall dimension based upon the first point you select in your first (base) linear dimension.

Command: _dimbaseline
Specify second extension line origin or [Select/Undo] <Select>: <SELECT A>
Dimension text = 3.0000
Specify second extension line origin or [Select/Undo] <Select>: <SELECT B>
Dimension text = 4.0000
Specify second extension line origin or [Select/Undo] <Select>: <ENTER>

*MODIFYING DIMENSIONS

How to change dimensions in AutoCAD?

1. Do one of the accompanying: Click “Home tab” then Annotation Panel (expanded)
then Dimension Style and Find Dimension Style tool.
Or click the “Annotate tab” then “Dimension Panel” & then Click “Dimension Style”
2. In the Dimension Style Manager, Styles list, select the style you need to change.
3. Then Click Modify.
4. In Modify “Dimension Style exchange box “, Fit tab, under Scale for Dimension Features.
Then pick the Use Overall Scale Of choice. Enter the value for the general scale.
5. Click OK.
6. Click “Close” to leave the “Dimension Style Manager “
7. If you want to change the Written dimension, then just “double-click” on the dimension.
8. You can edit or change dimensions as you want to change in AutoCAD.
For more info about How to change dimensions in AutoCAD check the below video.
How to edit dimensions in AutoCAD?
1. Click on the ‘Annotation drop-down’ arrow in
the ‘Home’ tab.
2. Click on the ‘Dimension style’ (second icon)
from all options. One ‘Dimension style manager’
dialogue box will open.
3. Now click on the ‘Modify’ and another dialogue
box will open.

To edit dimensions in AutoCAD

5. From this dialogue box, you can edit arrows & symbols, text, lines, units, etc. of
the dimension.

What is Dimension in AutoCAD?

The purpose of using the “Dimension command” is to measure anything that you
want according to the unit.
By using the dimension command, we can get linear dimension (Line length), Align
dimension (slop line length), Angular dimension (Angle between connected two lines), length of
the arc, Radius of the circle, Diameter of the circle, Dimension from the (0,0) ordinate, Jogged
dimension, etc.
We can select the Dimension command from the ‘Annotation’ panel in the ‘Home tab‘.
Or we can use shortcut keys to measure all “8 types” of dimensions.

Types of Dimensions in AutoCAD:

Types of Dimensions:
1. Linear dimension
Linear dimension is creating “linear dimensions” for all types of lines.
2. Align dimension
The Align dimension is created to align the dimension of lines.
Align dimension means we can measure the proper dimension of the sloped lines.
3. Angular dimension
Angular dimension measures the angle between “two lines” and whether both
are joint or not.
It also measures the angle of the arc or angle between two points of the circle.
4. Arc length
Arc length measures the length of the arc or length of the segment of any polyline.
5. Radius
The Radius measures the radius of the circle and arc.
 Radius means the length of the line from the center of the circle to the outer boundary of
the circle.
6. Diameter
The diameter measures the diameter of any circle or arc.

‘Diameter means the length of the straight line which passes through the center of
the circle and touches the outer boundary of the circle.’

7. Ordinate

The ordinate dimension measures horizontal and vertical length from

the (0,0) origin ordinates in the x–direction and y-direction.

This type of dimension is mostly used in the “center-line plan” or “line plan” for
showing beam and column positions.

8. Jogged
Jogged dimension measures the Radius of the arc or circle.
But the difference between the Radius dimension and the Jogged dimension is in
the Jogged dimension, you can set the dimension text location as per requirement yourself.

And the dimension line will show in a “Jogged shape “

Also, read out other articles about AutoCAD quarries. Thank you for reading.

*CREATING AND MODIFYING MULTILINE TEXT IN AUTOCAD

At the point when you are drawing on AutoCAD, you need to specify a few significant pieces of
information on your drawing for better comprehension.
The text COMMAND is one of the orders which assists us with composing text and information on
our drawing and furthermore permits us for making some organizing in it so we can explain our
drawing without any problem.

AutoCAD Texted | How do I write text in AutoCAD?

Annotation panel-AutoCAD
Text command is very useful for adding text or writing something into the drawing in a short
time.
We can invoke a text command from the ‘Annotation’ panel in the ‘Home’ tab.
Or we can type ‘TEXT’ in the command bar and press the Enter key.

Two types of Text command

1. Multiline Text (AutoCAD Texted)

Uses:
Multiline text creates multiline text.
It means by using multiline text we can write long writing in a paragraph, point-wise, and in a
column.
We can also change the format, text, text height, etc.

Steps:
• Select ‘Multiline text’ from the Text drop-down menu.
• Or we can type ‘MT’ in the command bar and press the Enter key.
• It will ask for ‘specify the first corner and then ‘specify opposite corner’.
• Specify the first corner and the opposite corner and make one box, in which we want to
create text.
• The text will be displayed between two vertical lines as shown below.

Multiline text-AutoCAD

At the time of making a box, some options will appear in the command bar.
We can do all settings from these options before writing text as per requirement.
One box will open. Write the text over there.
Click anywhere in the workspace for coming out from the text command.

2. Single-line text
We can select these types by clicking on the Text command drop-down menu or typing ‘MT’ for
the Multiline text and ‘DT’ for the Single-line text in the command bar and pressing the Enter
key.
Please refer to the tutorial link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMoH-LgoKsc
How to use Annotative text? (AutoCAD Texted)

Step:1 To use Annotative text

Go to the layout sheet in AutoCAD and double-click on the drawing.

We can see the scale of the layout at the bottom of the workspace in the status bar.

Step:2 To use Annotative text

Go to the model layout and change the Annotative text style from the ‘Annotation panel’ drop-
down menu as shown.
Step:3 To use Annotative text
Change the ‘Annotation scale’ from the status bar to as same as the layout sheet.
Step:4 To use Annotative text
Select ‘Multiline text, select the first corner, and give the height of the text.
We can give height by selecting the ‘Height’ option from the command bar or typing ‘H’ and
pressing the Enter key and give height.
Repeat again these steps to give the text to another drawing of the layout sheet.
We can also change the text height from the Text editor tab.
We can also add a rectangular block behind the text by selecting the ‘Mask’ option.
Formatting panel
We can match text formatting by selecting ‘Match’.
Select text formatting which is perfect and then select the ‘Match’ option and then select the text
which we want to edit.
We can change text style to Bold, Italic, Strikethrough, Underline, Overline, Superscript,
Subscript, etc as same as Microsoft word.
We can also change font style and font color from the Formatting panel.
Paragraph panel

From the ’Justification’ option, we can adjust the paragraph at the top left, top center, etc as per
requirement.
We can also add Bullets and numbering with the paragraph from the paragraph panel.
We can also change the space between the lines from this panel.
There are options that are available to adjust the paragraph on the left side, Center, Right side,
etc as per requirement.

Insert panel

We can also insert columns as per requirement from the column option, we can also adjust the
space between two columns from there.
Also, We can insert symbols from this panel.

Edit Method-1 AutoCAD Texted

We can edit text by double-clicking on the text.
The ‘Text Editor’ tab will be open at the top of the workspace as shown.
We can edit all things from this panel.

Text Editor tab-AutoCAD

Style Panel

We can change the text style from Standard to Annotative. Standard text style is the default style.
An annotative style is useful when we want to add the same size of text in different scale layouts.
For example, we have one layout sheet and one drawing that is big (plan) and it is created on a
1:50 scale.
And second drawing is small (component door) and it is created on a 1:20 scale.
Then use ‘Annotative’ to add the same size of the text.
Edit Method-2 (AutoCAD Texted)
We can edit our text or paragraph from the Ruler by double-clicking on the text as shown.

Multiline text ruler-AutoCAD

First-line indent
We can make paragraphs or adjust our paragraph starting space with this symbol.
Hanging indent

We can adjust the starting space of one line or all lines by using a hanging indent.
Tab

A tab is used to move all text on the left or right side. We cannot write text out of the tab line.
Width Resizer
We can increase/decrease our box width by using width resize. The width of our text is
determined by the width of the box.
Corner & Height resizer

We can resize all box sizes or box heights by corner and height resize.
Edit Method-3 (AutoCAD Texted)
We can also move and resize the corners of the box without double-clicking on the text.
By clicking on the text, we can see three blue dot points as shown.
Blue dots Multiline text-AutoCAD
By selecting and dragging a square blue dot point, we can move that text.
By selecting and dragging a triangular blue dot point, we can increase/decrease the box size at
the upper or right side.
2. Single-line text (AutoCAD Texted)

Uses:

Single-line text creates text only in a single line.

That means we cannot write text in a paragraph like a multiline text.
If we want to write text in any rotation angle and the writing is short, then we can use Single line
text.
Also, Single line text has no edited options like Multiline text.
Steps:
Select ‘Single line text’ from the ‘Text’ drop-down menu in the Annotation panel in the Home
tab.
Or we can type ‘DT’ in the command bar and press the Enter key.
It will ask for ‘specify the start point of text’.
Specify the first point where you want to add text.
Then it will ask for ‘specify height’.
Specify text height as per requirement.
After that, it will ask for a ‘rotation angle of the text’.
Give rotation angle or give as per any line or randomly.
We can write the text there.
Click on anywhere in the workspace for coming out.

Edit (AutoCAD Texted)

We can edit our single-line text by right-clicking on the text. And select the ‘properties’ option.
Single line text-AutoCAD
One dialogue box will be open there.
We can edit all the things available over there like color, scale, transparency, text style, text
height, justification, rotation, etc.
This editing method is also applicable to Multiline text.

Annotate Tab (AutoCAD Texted)

If we don’t want to edit text every time, then click on the ‘Annotate’ tab.
And click on the arrow as shown.

Annotate tab-AutoCAD
One dialogue box will be open there as shown below.
We can modify all the things available there as per the requirement for the whole drawing.

Text modifies-AutoCAD

Text System variable (AutoCAD Texted)

The Text variable is some settings of the text in AutoCAD.

When we double-click to edit the text, which kind of setting we need is decided by this setting.
Here are some variable numbers which are used for system settings.
0 – It is the default setting. When we use 0 for the system variable, ‘Text Editor Panel’ will show
at the top of the workspace as shown below.
0 variable number in AutoCAD Texted

1. When we use 1 for the variable system, AutoCAD will show ‘Text Editor Panel’ on the upper
side of the text as shown below.

1 variable number in AutoCAD texted

2. It is the same as the 0 number.

‘Text Editor Panel’ will show at the top of the workspace and AutoCAD will zoom selected text.
Multiline text Type ‘MTEXTTOOLBAR’ in the command bar.
And give any variable number from 0,1, or 2.
Single line text – Type ‘DTEXTED’ in the command bar.
And give any variable number from 0,1, or 2.

NOTE: We cannot see the ‘Text Editor Panel’ in the Single-line text. We can only add text as per
requirement by double-clicking on that.

*CREATING AND FORMATTING TABLES IN AUTOCAD

Tables are an AutoCAD object that is can be created and customized by the user. Tables can be
used for parts lists, revision history and any time you need to organize text and data. If you have
used a spreadsheet before, you are already familiar with tables.
COMMAND KEYBOARD ICON LOCATION DESCRIPTION
Table TABLE Annotation > Tables... Creates and inserts a new table.

Before starting this tutorial, open a drawing that has three text styles or start a new drawing and
define them as shown in Tutorial 2-6. We'll need one style each for Title, Header and Data
(name your text styles for easier reference later).
Start the command TABLE and you will see this dialog box:

The labels look pretty straightforward - you can define the number of rows, columns, row height,
column width and press OK. Or......you could press on the button shown in red above to open up
the Table Style dialog box.

This allows you to create your own table style - sorry, just had to state the obvious. Press the
"New..." button and give your new style a name and press "Continue".
Here, you can define the parameters (color, text height, borders, etc.) in your new custom table
style. We're not going to delve very deep into this as it is something you can explore on your own.
the concepts are quite easy to follow along.
First look at the menu shown above in red (1) and allows you select a section of the table: Data,
Header or Title - and begin formatting that area.
The second section to look at is the tabs for General, Text and Border.
To fully format a table, you would potentially change all three tabs for all three sections. Make the
following changes:
DATA
General > Middle Left Aligns all data text to the left of the cell.
Alignment
Text > Text Style Use your lightest Make sure the text is easy to read, there could be a
text lot of it.
Borders > 0.30mm We'll give this a more visible border.
Lineweight
HEADER
General > Fill Color Yellow Provides a background color to the header text.
Text > Text Style Use your lightest Use your medium weight text.
text
Borders > 0.40mm We'll give this a thicker border than the one for the
Lineweight data.
TITLE
General > Fill Color Yellow Provides a background color to the title text.
Text > Text Style Use your heaviest This text style should stand out from the rest.
weight text
Borders > 0.40mm We'll give this a thicker border than the one
Lineweight for the data.
This is just a demonstration of how to style your table, and when you have a style that you like,
you can save it as part of your template file. Having a consistent look throughout your drawings
helps the people viewing your drawing and gives the drawing a more professional appearance.
When you are done formatting, press OK to close the dialog box and you will see your new style
added to the list on the left in the Table Style dialog box (which you can now close).
If you want to see how your table looks, you can press OK in the Insert Table dialog box - just be
sure that "Start from an empty table" is selected.

So now that you have defined your table style, you can insert one into the drawing and enter data
using the Mtext editor and tabbing through the cells. Anyone who has used a simple spreadsheet
will be able to use this. One major drawback is that there is no formula function in the table.

You can always go back and edit your table style at any time.
Once the table is in the drawing, you can double-click in any cell to edit it or right click (below) it
for more options:
 What once used to be a very tedious task in AutoCAD has become easy with this new tool.
You also have the ability to copy styles from one table to another to add consistency to your
drawing. Practice creating a table or two.
In case you missed it, you can also extract your data from attributes to create a table that
is dynamically linked to your drawing's blocks. This tutorial is in Lesson 2-4.

Visit the link in formatting tables:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gEBokWZ_vw&t=7s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qW_1vP9TB0

VII. Self-Evaluation:

VIII. Review of Concept:

IX. References:

https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/visualgraphiccomm/chapter/chapter-1/
AutoCAD 2019 and AutoCAD LT 2019. Sybex June 26, 2018. USAOmura, G. et al (2019)
Mastering .
https://www.thesourcecad.com/autocad-tutorials/
AutoCAD 2010 for beginners
http://www.amazon.com/Technical-Drawing-Edition-Frederick-
Giesecke/dp/0130081833
http://www.eastlymeschools.org/page.cfm?p=1486
http://cad-notes.com/2009/11/how-to-label-coordinate-in-autocad/
https://www.makerspaces.com/basic
https://autocadprojects.com/how-to-change-dimensions-in-autocad/