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In this tutorial we will draw a straight line segment by using the Line symbol from the Draw tool
bar and the line command.
Method 1:
Method 2:
1. Type Line or L in the command line.
2. Hit Enter.
3. Select a starting point for the line.
4. Select an end point for the line.
5. Hit Enter.
Method 3:
1. Select the line symbol from the draw menu or type Line or L in the command line.
2. Select a starting point for the line.
3. Move the cursor in the line direction.
4. Enter the length of the line, for example: type 3’ or 3”.
5. Hit Enter.
6. Hit Enter again to get out of the command.
If you need any further help, contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion forum
site http://www.2learncad.com/forum.
Method 1:
Method 2:
1. Type Trim or TR in the command line.
2. Hit Enter.
3. Select the intersected object you want to trim from.
4. Hit Enter.
5. Select the line you want to trim.
If you need any further help, contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion forum
site http://www.2learncad.com/forum.
Method 1:
Method 2:
1. Type Circle or C in the command line.
2. Hit Enter.
3. Click on the screen where you want to specify the center point for the circle.
4. Drag the mouse across to specify a node of the circle.
5. Click.
Method 3:
1. Select the circle symbol from the draw menu or type Circle or C in the command
line.
2. Click on the screen where you want to specify the center point for the circle.
3. Specify the radius or diameter of the circle by typing R or D.
4. Hit Enter.
5. Input the numeric value.
6. Hit Enter.
If you need any further help, contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion forum
site http://www.2learncad.com/forum.
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How to extend a circle:
Method 1:
Method 2:
1. Select the line you want to extend. (The grip will be automatically highlighted in blue).
2. Pick a grip from the line.
3. Drag the line from the end grip or side that you want to extend. (This is also a stretch
method).
If you need any further help, contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion forum
site http://www.2learncad.com/forum.
© 2009 ‐ 2LearnCAD.com ‐ All rights reserved
Drawing a rectangular Polyline:
Method 1:
Method 2:
1. Type RECTANG or REC in the command line.
2. Specify on the screen the first corner for the rectangle you want to draw.
3. Type D to specify the dimension for the rectangle.
4. Input the length.
5. Input the width
6. Click anywhere inside the rectangle area to get out of the command.
If you need any further help, contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion forum
site http://www.2learncad.com/forum.
© 2009 ‐ 2LearnCAD.com ‐ All rights reserved
Creating an Array of objects
The array command in AutoCAD is used to make multiple copies of objects. Although you can
use the copy command to duplicate objects, the array command is more flexible and precise. One
advantage of using the array command is that it allows you to copy objects in a defined angle and
exact number of copies. Therefore, you can create array in various pattern. For example, you can
show multiple objects in a row, column, or irregular pattern such as a spiral. Let’s look at a few
examples below:
Rectangular array
1. Type Array in the command line or select from the modify toolbar.
2. Select the object you would like to array.
3. Input the number of rows. (negative number for downward array)
4. Input the number of columns. (negative number will point array to the left)
5. Pick or input the distance for the Row offset.
6. Pick or input the distance for the Column offset.
7. Enter the Angle for the array. (Use the default 0 degree).
8. Select the Preview button to see the sample array before you hit the Ok button. You can
accept the array or modify it. (Optional step).
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Polar array
1. Type Array in the command line or select from the modify toolbar.
2. Select the object you would like to array.
3. Enter or select the center point of rotation for the object.
4. Select a method of array. (3 methods to choose from see terms definitions below).
5. Enter the number of items to array. (Methods 1 and 2).
6. Enter the array angle. (Methods 1 and 3).
7. Enter the angle between the objects. (Methods 2 and 3).
8. Make sure to check “Rotate items as copied” if you would like to copy the objects as
selected.
9. For Object base point use the default selected. (Optional step).
10. Select the Preview button to see the sample array before you hit the Ok button. You can
accept the array or modify it. (Optional step).
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Terms definitions:
Rows and columns: where you enter the number of rows and columns of objects. There is a
maximum number of rows and columns that can be entered. If you want to override that number
you can always do that by typing (setenv “MaxArray “####”) in the command prompt. Where
### is the new maximum number you would like.
Method of array: There are three (3) ways you can array objects.
(1) Total number of items & Angle to fill. This method will automatically calculate the
angle between the items based on the number of items and angle to fill.
(2) Total number of items & Angle between items. This will automatically calculate the
angle to fill the array based on the number of items.
(3) Angle to fill & Angle between items. This will automatically calculate the number of
items for you based on your input angle to fill and angle between the items.
If you need any further help, please contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion
forum site http://www.2learncad.com/forum.
Let’s assume, you have received a rectangle as an XREFed background plan that is rotated at some
unknown angle (See fig 1) and you need to work on the overlay plan, for instance input text notes, draw
ductwork, etc... The problem is: it’s hard to do all that at an angle and align them to the background
plan. Therefore, you need the plan to show at a 0⁰angle without changing the coordinate (x,y,z) of the
original background. Keep in mind that the background should not be rotated as other trades are using
it as is.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
The original background stays the same. All your texts and work follow the unknown rotation of the
background.
If you need any further help, contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion forum
site http://www.2learncad.com/forum.
Each layer you create has its own associated properties that are unique to that layer. A list of
things you can do using layers:
• Control objects by locking and unlocking layers so they are not accidentally modified.
• Allow layers to be plotted or not.
• Create as many layers as you want.
• Group layers by colors, line types, names, etc... Also, you can create a group filter inside
the layer manager that can be saved within the drawings so other sharing users can use it
later.
• Isolate layers and objects with the same properties in the drawing space. For example,
you want to show only walls and hide all doors.
• Change the visibility of drawing layouts.
• Turn on or off, freeze or thaw layers in model space or in the viewport layouts in paper
space.
• Globally change object properties.
1. Type LAYER in the command line or select from the layer toolbar.
2. By default AutoCAD will name the layer “layer1”.
3. Double click and rename it.
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Filters are good if you have multiple layers and you want to see certain layers with common
properties. For example, you can filter all layers that have the color blue or names including the
word “HVAC”.
1. Click on the very first button on the top left side above the tree navigation and renamed
it.
2. Double click below the color column and select the blue color.
Group Filter
1. Click on the second button on the top left side above the tree navigation.
2. Drag the layers you want to group from the right side to the group filter on the left.
We only covered a few procedures, but there are many more advantages for using layers.
If you need any further help, contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion forum
site http://www.2learncad.com/forum.
Here are several ways you can pan and zoom a drawing:
Pan a drawing
You can shift the location of your view by using PAN or by using the window scroll bars. With
the Realtime option, you pan dynamically by moving your pointing device. Using the PAN
command does not change the location of your drawing; it only changes the view.
If you need any further help, contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion forum
site http://www.2learncad.com/forum.
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In AutoCAD, go to Format. Select Text Style. When the Text style dialogue box appears:
You can edit the style at any time by repeating the steps above.
Select the text style symbol from the format menu or type Style in the command line.
If you need any further help, contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion forum
site http://www.2learncad.com/forum.
1. From the Draw Menu, choose Hatch or type Hatch in the command prompt.
2. At the right of the Boundary Hatch and Gradient fill dialog box, choose Pick Points or
Select Objects.
© 2009 - 2LearnCAD.com - All rights reserved
3. Specify an internal point for the hatch area or select the object.
4. Hit the Tab bar or press Enter to go back to the Hatch dialogue box.
5. Select Predefined in the Type box.
6. Select a Pattern From the Pattern box. If you select an ISO pattern, you can specify a pen
width, which determines the lineweight in the pattern.
7. Choose OK.
1. From the Draw Menu, choose Hatch or type Hatch in the command prompt.
2. At the right of the Boundary Hatch and Gradient fill dialog box, choose Pick Points or
Select Objects.
3. Specify an internal point for the hatch area or select the object.
4. Hit the Tab bar or press Enter to go back to the Hatch dialogue box.
If you need any further help, contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion forum site
http://www.2learncad.com/forum.
1. From the Draw menu, choose Block Make. Or type BLOCK in the command line.
2. At the prompt of the Block Definition dialog box, enter a block name in the Name box.
3. Under Objects, select Convert to Block.
Disregard the other options. As selecting delete will erase the original objects used to
create the block definition in your drawing, so make sure the Delete option is not
selected.
4. Choose Select Objects.
5. Use your mouse to select the objects to be included in the block. Then press ENTER or
the Space bar to complete object selection.
6. Under Base Point, choose Pick point or Specify on-screen and use your mouse device
to specify the block insertion point. You can also enter the X,Y,Z coordinate of the point
manually (but not recommend).
7. In the Description box, enter a description for the block. This will be displayed in
AutoCAD Design Center. (Optional).
8. Under Behavior, check Allow exploding if you want to disassemble them later.
9. Select OK to close the block definition dialogue box.
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Now your CAD block is defined in the current drawing and can be inserted at any time.
A. Open a new file and create a block, then use SAVE or SAVE AS to complete drawing
file.
B. Create a new drawing file from selected objects:
1. Open an existing drawing or create a new drawing containing the objects to be
converted into block.
2. In the Command prompt, enter WBLOCK.
3. In the Write Block dialog box, choose Select Objects.
4. Use your mouse to select the objects to be included in the new Wblock. Then
Press ENTER or the space bar to complete object selection.
5. Under Base Point, choose pick point or Specify on-screen and use your mouse
device to specify the block insertion point or specify the XYZ coordinate to be
(0,0,0).
6. Under Destination, enter a file name or browse to the directory where you want
to save the new block.
7. Select OK to close the Write block definition dialogue box.
NB: You can create a single block that contains multiple blocks within itself. They are called
Nested Blocks. For example, block A has two block components: block 1, 2. All you have to do
is select multiple blocks when you are selecting the objects.
The only restriction on nested blocks is that a block cannot coexist within itself. For example,
block A cannot contain block A again.
If you need any further help, contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion forum
site http://www.2learncad.com/forum.