User Interface

1. Application Menu
2. Crosshair and Prompt
3. Drawing Area
4. Quick Access Toolbar QAT
5. Ribbon
6. InfoCenter
7. Tooltips
8. Command Line
9. Status Bar
10. Navigation Bar

Navigating in a Drawing

AutoCAD drawings are drawn in full scale, it need to move in and out frequently within an area

Wheel Mouse Zoom and Pan

Zoom-in: Roll the wheel UP

Zoom-out: Roll the wheel DOWN

Pan: Hold down the wheel

Move the view

Zoom Extents: Double-click on the wheel

Fit the entire drawing on the screen

Cartesian Workspace

AutoCAD using Cartesian (x , y) coordinates to locating a point

Cartesian Coordinate System

AutoCAD uses cartsian coordinates (X, Y) to locating a point in the drawing

X: Horizontal distance from origin (0,0)
Y: Vertical distance from origin (0,0)

Polar Coordinate System

AutoCAD uses polar coordinates (distance, angle) to measure angle

One distance, one angle from origin (0,0)

Absolute Coordinates

Can be cartesian or polar coordinates
Coordinates start from the origin (0,0)

Relative Coordinates

Can be cartesian or polar coordinates
Coordinates start from any point other than origin

Polar Angle

By default, AutoCAD measure angle in counter-clockwise

Dynamic Input

Status Bar - Drafting Settings - Dynamic Input

Dynamic Input let you view the command prompt and input in the drawing
It also automatically detect the relative coordinates without menually input the @

Save the Drawing

To prevent losing any data of your work, it's important to save frequently

Quick Save

Quick Access Toolbar > Save

This will saved without prompting for the name or location

Quick Access Toolbar > Save As

This will saved with prompting for the name and location

Automatic Save

The default Auto Save for AutoCAD is 10 mins
Auto Save file extension is *.SV$

AutoCAD also create a backup copy every time you save
Backup file extension is *.BAK

Save in Different Version

Quick Access Toolbar > Save As

Line - Draw

Add straight-line segments to drawing
Each segment is a separate object

Home  tab > Draw panel > Line

Specify first point

Input coordinates or click any point to start

Point vertically up, a green continuous dotted line appear
Input the length then press Enter

Point to right, make sure the green continuous dotted line is appear
Input the length (50) then press Enter

Continue to drawing lines:
Up 200, Right 50, Up 50
Right 300, Down 50, right 50
Down 200, Right 50, Down 50

Click Close on the command line to close to the starting point

Circle - Draw

Home tab > Draw panel > Center, Radius

Specify center position for circle

Pick any point for the center

Input 100 for the radius, then press Enter to end it

3P Option

Start the Circle command

Click 3P on the command line

Specify first point on circle

Specify second point on circle

Specify third point on circle
Use the same method, draw another circle on the right side

2P option

Start Circle command

Click 2P option on command line

Specify first end point of circle's diameter

Specify second end point of circle's diameter

Use the same method, draw circle on the right side

Ttr Option

Start the Circle command

Click Ttr option on command line

Specify point on object for 1st tangent of circle

Specify point on object for 2nd tangent of circle

Specify radius of circle: 150

Arc - Draw

Add curved segments

Arc Options

Start: Start point
Center: Center point
End: End point
Radius: Radius
Angle: Included angle turned by arc
Direction: Starting direction
Chord (Length): Chord length (distance between start and end point)

Home tab > Draw panel > 3 Point Arc

Specify start point of arc

Specify 2nd point of arc

Specify end point of arc

Center Option

Specify center point of arc

Specify start point of arc

Specify end point of arc

Repeat the same steps, draw another arc on right side

Erase - Modify

Remove objects from the drawing

Home tab > Modify panel > Erase

Select objects

Press Enter to confirm

The easiest way to erase objects is select them and press Delete on the keyboard

Undo and Redo

Reverses the effects of the last command

Quick Access Toolbar > Undo

You undo how many time then you can redo the same number of time

OOPS Command

Undo last erase objects but not the objects created

Rectangle - Draw

Draw a rectangle as a single object

Home tab > Draw panel > Rectangle

Specify 1st corner point

Move diagonaly, then input X coordinates as length, Y coordinates as width

If you want to draw rectangle at the different location

Location 1: +x, +y
Location 2: -x, +y
Location 3: -x, -y
Location 4: +x, -y