BASIC COMMANDS AUTO-CAD

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY ROURKELA
CAD GRAPHICS CE1010
SETTINGS/FORMAT :
DIMENSION STYLE : FORMAT-DIMENSION STYLE – MODIFY-
(LINE (COLOUR)/SYMBOL AND ARROW(ARROW SIZE /DESIGN)/TEXT (HEIGHT)

/PRIMARY UNIT (DECIMAL/PRECISION) SETCURRENT-CLOSE

DYNMODE (DYNAMIC INPUT) 0/3 (By default, the value of this system
variable is set to 0-3 which keeps it off you change this system variable to 3 to
make dynamic input active. Dynamic input allows you to add information

dynamically on the cursor tooltip.)command/mouse

OS/DS(OBJECT SNAP SETTING/ DRAFTING SETTING )

SETTINGS/FORMAT :
F3- OBJECT SNAP SETTING ON/OFF (should be on for dimension / locate start end
middle points)

F8- ORTHOMODE (ON/OFF) (Toggles Ortho mode on/off. When ortho

mode is on you can make lines either horizontally or vertically only. )

F7- GRID (ON/OFF) (This status bar tool will toggle the visibility of the
background grid which is often visible in your drawing area. )

F9- SNAP MODE (ON/OFF) (should be off- Toggle Snap mode, when
the snap mode is active AutoCAD cursor will jump to specific points in the drawing area

which is defined in snap mode.)

SETTINGS/FORMAT :

F10 - Toggles Polar tracking on/off. With polar tracking active you can
make lines inclined to any angle which is defined in the polar tracking
increment angle

F11- OBJECT SNAP TRACKING (should be on)

STYLE : TEXT STYLE CHANGE
TEXT (SINGLE LINE TEXT) – SELECT THE START POINT
TEXT HEIGHT (5-7mm)/ ANGLE OF ROTATION (0 for stratight line)- START
WRITING (click any other place press esc)
PR(select the single line text write pr in command line)- TO EDIT TEXT
(add colour change height etc)
SETTINGS/FORMAT :
MTEXT (PARAGRAPH WRITING) (select start point of rectangle area )-
EDIT TEXT HEIGHT/JUSTIFY/LINESPACING/ROTATION (select the
second point of rectangle) start writing-
MTEDIT/DOUBLE CLICK ON THE TEXT- (text editor ribbon ) (can
change text height /colour / justification text height etc)
FORMAT COLOUR – (select colour of the line / line thickness / add
line type ) HOME RIBBON- PROPERTIES-LINE COLOUR /LINE TYPE/
LINE WEIGHT/ MATCH PROPERTIES.
PAN- TO MOVE THE DRAWING
ZOOM (ALL/EXTENT) to bring all content of worksheetinto one screen
DRAW COMMANDS
ABSOLUTE CO ORDINATES METHOD
POLAR CO ORDINATE METHOD
RELATIVE CO ORDINATE METHOD
LINE- to draw line and segments of line
XLINE- to draw reference line (horizontal/vertical/ angular)
MLINE- to draw two parallel lines
PLINE – to draw line and Arc combine
SPLINE- to draw curve lines
RAY- to draw angular reference line
ARC (11 methods)- to draw different type of arc
ELLIPSE- to draw ellipse (axis , end / centre)
CIRCLE(centre,radious/ centre dia/2point/3point/tan tan radious/ tan tan
tan) – to draw different circle
POLYGON- polygon (centre/ edge)
RECTANG- to draw rectangle
FILLET – to make the corner rounded
CHAMFER- to make the corner chamfered
HATCH- to fill drawing with pattern
LINE:
Method 1 using Absolute Coordinates
Line 1 connecting (100,0) and (300,0)
Step 1: In command line type: line
Step 2: Input: 100,0
Step 3: Input: 300,0
Step 4 : Esc (to exit the command)

Method 2 using relative Coordinates

Line 2 connecting (100,0) and (300,100)
Step 1: In command line type: line
Step 2: Input: 100,0
Step 3: Input: @200,100
Step 4: Esc (to exit the command)

Method 3 using polar Coordinates

Line 3 from (100,0) making 60 deg with horizontal and of length 400
Step 1: In command line type: line
Step 2: Input: 100,0
Step 4: Input: @400<60
Step 4: Esc (to exit the command)
DRAW COMMANDS
ABSOLUTE CO ORDINATES METHOD
POLAR CO ORDINATE METHOD
RELATIVE CO ORDINATE METHOD

PLINE:
DRAW A LINE & ARC (combine) USING POLYLINE
Step 1: PLINE
Step 2 :420,110
Step 3 :460,110
Step 4: Arc/A
Step 5: select 500,150
Step 6: Esc (to exit the command)
DRAW AN ARC USING POLYLINE
Step 1: PLINE
20,70
A/ARC
S/second point
50,60
70,80
130,90
Step 8 : Esc (to exit the command)
DRAW AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE
Step 1 :PLINE
(500,0)
(800,0)
@300<120
(500,0)
Step 6 : Esc (to exit the command)
ARC:
Step 1: ARC
Step 2 : 3POINTS
Step 3 : 140,110
Step 4: 160,140
Step 5: 210,150
Step 6: Esc (to exit the command)

Step 1: ARC
centre start end
290,140
260,120
320,120
Step 6 : Esc (to exit the command)

Step 1: ARC
Centre Start Angle
380,140
350,110
120
Step 6 : Esc (to exit the command)
CIRCLE:
Step 1: CIRCLE
Step 2 : Centre Radius
Step 3 : 180,60
Step 4: 20
Step 6: Esc (to exit the command)

Step 1: CIRCLE
Centre
Diameter
280,60
40
Step 6 : Esc (to exit the command)

Step 1: CIRCLE
3POINT/3P
select three
points
Step 5 : Esc (to exit the command)
To draw the circumscribed circle, use circle passes through three points.
Select any three points of the polygon by clicking three points
POLYGON:
Step 1: POLYGON
Step 2 : sides-8
Step 3 : 380,100
Step 4: C/circumscribe
Step 5: 20 (RADIOUS)
Step 6: Esc (to exit the command)

Step 1: POLYGON
sides=5
Edge/E
150,90
175,80
Step 6 : Esc (to exit the command)

DRAW CIRCLE INSCRIBING A POLYGON

To draw the inscribed circle, use circle which is tangent to three sides.
Select any three sides of the polygon by clicking three edges.
ELLIPSE:
Step 1: ELLIPSE
Step 3 : AXIS, END
Step 3 : 200,180
Step 4: 290,180
Step 5: 20
Step 6: Esc (to exit the command)

Step 1 : Ellipse
Center
360,180
Endpoint: @30,0
Distance to other axis: 20
Step 6 : Esc (to exit the command)
RECTANG:
Step 1: RECTANG
Step 2 : Fillet/F
Step 3 : Radius=5
Step 4 : 30,120
Step 5 : 90,150
Step 6: Esc (to exit the command)

Step 1: RECTANG
Step 2 : 30,120
Step 3 : 90,150
Step 4 : Esc (to exit the command)

HATCH:
STEP-1: HATCH
STEP 2: SELECT / CLICK A CLOSE BOUNDARY DRAWING
SELECT PATTERN
CHANGE COLOUR
CHANGE SCALE OF THE PATTERN
Esc (to exit the command)
MODIFY COMMANDS (AFTER SELECTING THE OBJECT/DRAWING
PRESS ENTER BUTTON)

MOVE- To move a drawing inside the sheet

ROTATE- to rotate the drawing
COPY- to copy the drawing
TRIM – to trim/cut a part of the drawing
EXTEND- to extend lines
ERASE- to delete /erase the drawing
MIRROR – to create a mirror image (with/without) deleting the source object
ARRAY (rectangular/path/polar)- create number of set
OFFSET- to Draw parallel boundary/line around the drawing
SCALE- to increase or decrease the size of the drawing
DIVIDE (PTYPE)- to divide the drawing in segments (ptype to view the pointer)
FILLET – to make the corner rounded
CHAMFER- to make the corner chamfered
JOIN- to convert/ join segments of line
EXPLODE: to divide the segments to select part of the object like polyline,
rectangle, array, polygon etc
L: It can be used for making simple lines in the drawing.
C: It is the command used for making a circle in AutoCAD.
PL: This command can be used to make a Polyline in your drawing.
REC: This command will make a rectangle in AutoCAD.
POL: This command can be used to make a polygon with a minimum of 3 sides and a maximum of 1024
sides.
ARC: As the name suggests, this command can be used to make an arc in AutoCAD.
ELLIPSE: As the name suggests, this command can be used to make an ellipse with the major and minor axis.
REG: This command can be used to make a region geometry in AutoCAD.
CO: This command is used to copy the object(s) in AutoCAD.
ARRAY: Using this command you can make a Rectangular, polar, or Path array.
TR: This command is used for trimming geometry.
OP: Using this command you can open the options window which contains most of the settings of AutoCAD.
SC: This command is used to change the scale of an object.
B: This command is used for creating a block, the properties of the block can be defined using the block
definition window. I: This command can be used to insert an existing block or a drawing as a block in
AutoCAD.
ST: Using this command, you can open a text style window that controls properties of the default AutoCAD
text style.
X: This command can be used to explode objects like Polyline to simple lines, an array or a block to simple
geometry, etc.
F: This command can be used to add rounded corners to the sharp edges of the geometry, these round
corners are also called fillets.
CHA: This command can be used to add slant edges to the sharp corners, these slant edges are also called
chamfers.
LA: This command can be used to open layer properties manage palette which is a tool for creating and
managing layers in a drawing..
Ctrl + N: You can use this shortcut to open a new drawing tab in AutoCAD.
Ctrl + S: You can use this keyboard shortcut to save a drawing file.
Ctrl + Shift + S: You can use this keyboard shortcut to save the drawing as a new file, in short, this is the
hotkey for the “save as” command.
Ctrl + 0: Clears screen to show only the drawing area and hides palettes and tabs. Press it again to reset
the default AutoCAD interface.
Ctrl + 1: Select an object and press Ctrl + 1 to open the properties palette which lists the properties of the
object. You can use this palette to modify most of the properties of the object too. You can also use PR
command to open the property palette.
Ctrl + 2: You can use it to open the design center palette which contains many AutoCAD blocks that can be
used directly in your drawing.
Ctrl + 9: You can use this keyboard shortcut to toggle the visibility of the command line. If for some reason
your command line is hidden from the drawing area, then use this keyboard shortcut to bring it back.
Ctrl + C: Select objects from the drawing area and press Ctrl + C to copy to objects to the clipboard.
Ctrl + V: To paste the copied objects of the clipboard in the drawing keeping their original properties, you
can use this keyboard shortcut.
Ctrl + Shift + V: To paste the copied objects as a block you can use this keyboard shortcut, the block thus
created will have a random set of characters as names. You can use this keyboard shortcut to make blocks
quickly without going through the creative block window.
Ctrl + Z: This keyboard shortcut can be used to undo the last action in your drawing. You can press this
shortcut key multiple times to undo many actions.
Ctrl + Y: This keyboard shortcut can be used to redo the last undo action which you have performed.
Ctrl + Tab: You can use this keyboard shortcut to cycle through all open drawing tabs in AutoCAD..