History

AutoCAD is a CAD (Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting) software application for
2D and 3D design and drafting. It was developed and sold by Autodesk, Inc. First released in December
1982, AutoCAD was one of the first CAD programs to run on personal computers, notably the IBM PC.

Version History

Official Name Date of Release

1 AutoCAD Version 1.0 December 1982

2 AutoCAD Version 1.2 April 1983
3 AutoCAD Version 1.3 August 1983
4 AutoCAD Version 1.4 October 1983
5 AutoCAD Version 2.0 October 1984
6 AutoCAD Version 2.1 May 1985
7 AutoCAD Version 2.5 June 1986
8 AutoCAD Version 2.6 April 1987
9 AutoCAD Release 9 September 1987
10 AutoCAD Release 10 October 1988
11 AutoCAD Release 11 October 1990
12 AutoCAD Release 12 June 1992
13 AutoCAD Release 13 November 1994
14 AutoCAD Release 14 February 1997
15 AutoCAD 2000 March 1999
16 AutoCAD 2000i July 2000
17 AutoCAD 2002 June 2001
18 AutoCAD 2004 March 2003
19 AutoCAD 2005 March 2004
20 AutoCAD 2006 March 2005
21 AutoCAD 2007 March 2006
22 AutoCAD 2008 March 2007
23 AutoCAD 2009 March 2008
24 AutoCAD 2010 March 24, 2009
25 AutoCAD 2011 March 25, 2010
26 AutoCAD 2011 March 22, 2011

Orientation to AutoCAD
Parts of the AutoCAD Window

Title Bar Status Bar

Pull Down Menu Bar Draw Toolbar
Standard Toolbar Modify Toolbar
UCS Icon (User Coordinate System) Command Window
Model Tab & Layout Tab
Crosshair & Pick Box

1
 Review of Coordinates and Angles

Please take note of the direction of the X- and Y-axis.

Function Keys

F1 Help This opens a dialogue box to search for help on any AutoCAD command or topic.
F2 Text Window Contains the whole command history from the beginning of the drawing
session.
F3 “Osnap” Or Object Snap allows you to easily locate parts of a segment or line
F4 Tablet Used when drawing using a tablet
F5 Isoplane Used in 3D Drawing
F6 “DUCS” Dynamic UCS (used in 3D)
F7 Grid When the grid is turned on, a grid of dots is shown on the screen as a drawing
aid.
F8 Ortho When Ortho is turned on, AutoCAD allows you to easily (only) draw either
vertical or horizontal lines.
F9 Snap Snap makes the crosshair jump to points on a defined grid.
F10 Polar This allows you to snap specific angles and they are user definable.
F11 Otrack Object snap tracking; Used to track along alignment paths that are based on
object snap points.

2
Com: L (enter)
(specify first pt.)
(specify next pt.)
.
.
.

Com: L (enter)
(specify first pt.)
(specify next pt.)
.
.
C (enter)

Com: L (enter)
(specify first pt.)
.
.
.
U (enter)
.

3
Undo - undo the last command or reverse the most recent operation

Command: U (enter) or Ctrl+z

Crosswindow - is another way of choosing or selecting lines or objects

- made by 2 clicks (clicking the 2 corners of the window)

Blue – click from left to right

- includes or selects objects that are completely covered (end to end line segment) by
the blue area.

Green - click from right to left

- includes or selects objects that are inside the green area (even if only part of the line
are inside or included).

Pan - to move the drawing area or reposition the view in the drawing area.
- you can also use pan by dragging the scroll wheel of the mouse.

Pan button that can be found in the standard toolbar:

Command: P (enter)
(drag –left click and hold it down- the cursor and pan to the desired area)
(press ESC or Enter to Exit)

Zoom
Realtime - used to zoom in or out
- click the “zoom realtime” button and drag the cursor upwards to zoom or drag
the cursor downwards to zoom out
- you can also zoom in by rolling the scroll wheel up and zoom out by rolling the
scroll wheel down.

Zoom realtime button that can be found in the standard toolbar:

Window - used to zoom in on a specific area

- click the “zoom window” button then click the two corners of the window
where you want to zoom in.

Zoom window button that can be found in the standard toolbar:

Command: Z (enter)
W (enter)
(click first corner of the window)
(click second corner of the window)

4
 Extent - shows on all drawn objects on the screen.

Command: Z (enter)
E (enter)

Previous - used to undo zoom

- simply click the zoom previous button.

Zoom previous button that can be found in the standard toolbar:

Command: Z (enter)
P (enter)

Erase - used to erase selected objects or remove objects from the drawing.
- You can also delete objects by simply selecting them then press the “delete” key on
the keyboard.

Command: E (enter)
(select objects)
(enter)

Rectangle - used to create rectangle object

- a grouped lines or one object only

Command: REC (enter)

(specify first corner point)
(specify second corner point)

or

Command: REC (enter)

(specify first corner point)
D (enter)
(type value for length) (enter)
(type value for width) (enter)
(click for final position –other corner- of rectangle)

Explode - used to ungroup segments or grouped objects

Command: X (enter)
(select objects)
(enter)

5
Line Exercises (File name: Ex1)

1. Absolute Coordinates (X,Y values)

Command: L (enter)
1,1 (enter)
6,1 (enter)
6,3 (enter)
4,4 (enter)
1,4 (enter)
C (enter)

2. Relative Coordinates

Command: L (enter)
7,2 (enter) *absolute value
@5,0 (enter)
@0,2 (enter)
@-2,1 (enter)
@-3,0 (enter)
C (enter)

3. Relative Polar Coordinates

Specify a point by entering a distance and an angle relative to the last point in the
format: @ DISTANCE < POLAR ANGLE

Command: L (enter)
4,8 (enter) *absolute value
@3<180 (enter)
@3<270 (enter)
@5<0 (enter)
@2<90 (enter)
C (enter)

4. Direct Distance Entry

Makes line by guiding the next point using the crosshair and simply typing the length.
*Make sure that ORTHO is turned on for this part.

Command: L (enter)
st
(specify 1 point) *choose vacant area
← 3 (enter)
↓ 3 (enter)
→ 5 (enter)
↑ 2 (enter)
C

6
Seatwork: (Filename: Ex2)

Name: ______________________ Year & Section: __________ Date: ___________ Score: ________

1. Absolute Coordinates (X,Y values)

Command:

2. Relative Coordinates

Command:

3. Relative Polar Coordinates

Command:

4. Direct Distance Entry

Command:

7
Join - used to join two line segments (on the same plane)
- the two line segments will then become one line segment

Command: J (enter)
(select first object or segment to join)
(select second object or segment to join)
(enter)

Before: After Join:

* If you press enter directly without typing any command, the previous command will still be
followed.

Fillet - a fillet connects two objects with an arc that is tangent to the objects and has a
specified radius.
- You can also make fillet with radius = 0 which gives you a corner where the two lines
are just simply intersected, but no arc is created.

Fillet with Radius = 0

Command: F (enter)
R (enter)
0 (enter)
(select first segment to fillet)
(select second object or segment to fillet)

Fillet with Radius = n (or greater than zero)

Command: F (enter)
R (enter)
n (enter)
(select first segment to fillet)
(select second object or segment to fillet)

Or if the radius was already set to the desired value (previously), simply

Command: F (enter)
(select first segment to fillet)
(select second object or segment to fillet)

8
Trim - used to trim objects so that they end precisely at boundary edges defined by other
objects.
- You can clean up or trim excess/unwanted line in walls by using the trim command.

Command: TR (enter)
(select cutting edge/s)
(enter)
(select object/s to trim)
(enter)

*An object can be one of the cutting edges and one of the objects being trimmed.

Extend - used to extend existing lines

- It operates the same way as trimming.

Command: EX (enter)
(select boundary line/s)
(enter)
(select object/s to extend)
(enter)

Offset - used to create an object at a specified (offset) distance from an existing object.

Offset distance: 2

Command: O (enter)
(specify or type the offset distance)
(enter)
(select the object to offset)
(specify or click the side on where to offset)

*Press ESC key to end a command.

9
Circle - used to create circles
- there are 4 ways in making a circle.

1. Center Point – draws a circle based on a center point and a diameter or a radius.

Center  radius

Command: C (enter)
(specify or click the center of circle)
(click or type the radius of circle) (enter if you typed a value for the radius)

Center  diameter

Command: C (enter)
(specify or click the center of circle)
D (enter)
(click or type the diameter of circle) (enter if you typed a value for the diameter)

2. 2P (Two Points) – draws a circle based on two endpoints of the diameter.

Command: C (enter)
2P (enter)
(specify the first endpoint of diameter)
(specify the second endpoint of diameter)

3. 3P (Three Points) – draws a circle based on three points on the circumference.

Command: C (enter)
3P (enter)
(specify the first point of the circumference of the circle)
(specify the second point of the circumference of the circle)
(specify the third point of the circumference of the circle)

4. Ttr (Tangent, Tangent, Radius) – draws a circle with a specified radius tangent to two objects.

Command: C (enter)
T (enter)
(select the object for first tangent)
(select the object for second tangent)
(type the value for radius)
(enter)

10
Polygon - used to create an equilateral closed polyline (sides have equal lengths).
- Can make polygons with 3 to 1,024 sides.
- Polygons are grouped objects.
- There are three ways in making a polygon.

1. Edge – defines a polygon by specifying the endpoints of the first edge.

Command: POL (enter)

(type number of sides) (enter)
E (enter)
(specify or click first endpoint of edge)
(specify or click second endpoint of edge)

2. Inscribed in a circle– specifies the radius of a circle on which all vertices of the polygon lie.

Command: POL (enter)

(type number of sides) (enter)
(specify or click for the center point of the circle)
I (enter)
(specify or click radius of circle or vertex of polygon)

3. Circumscribed about a circle – specifies the distance from the center of the polygon to the
midpoints of the edges of the polygon.

Command: POL (enter)

(type number of sides) (enter)
(specify or click for the center point of the circle)
C (enter)
(specify or click radius of circle or the midpoint of and edge of polygon)

Polylines - A polyline is a connected sequence of line segments created as a single object.

- You can create a straight line segment, arc segments, or a combination of the two.
- Linewidth can be changed.

Command: PL Example: PL
(specify starting point) (pick starting point)
W (enter) W(enter)
(enter starting width) 1(enter)
(enter ending width) 1(enter)
(specify next point) @3<0(enter)
A(enter)
@2,-2(enter)
W(enter)
2(enter)
0(enter)
L(enter)
@2<270(enter)
(enter)

11
Special Line (SPL) - used to make curved lines (instead of straight lines) based on points chosen.
- Enter three times to end.

Command: SPL (enter)

(specify first point)
(specify second point)
.
.
(enter)
(enter)
(enter)

Construction Lines (XL) - used to make construction lines.

- Lines that extend infinitely on both directions.
- It can be used as references for creating objects.

1. Horizontal – create a construction line that pass through a point you specify and it’s parallel to
the X-axis of the current UCS.

Command: XL (enter)
H (enter)
(specify a point)
.
.
(enter or ESC key to end)

2. Vertical – create a construction line that pass through a point you specify and it’s parallel to
the Y-axis of the current UCS.

Command: XL (enter)
V (enter)
(specify a point)
.
.
(enter or ESC key to end)

3. Angle - Creates a construction line in one of two ways. Either you select a reference line and
then specify the angle of the construction line from that line, or you create a
construction line at a specific angle to the horizontal axis by specifying an angle and
then a point through which the construction line should pass.

Command: XL (enter)
A (enter)
(Type angle and enter / specify reference point)
(specify a point)
.
(enter or ESC key to end)

12
Arc - used to draw an arc using three specified points on the arc’s circumference.
- The first point is the start point (1). The third point is the endpoint (3). The second point (2) is a
point on the circumference of the arc.
- You can specify a three-point arc either clockwise or counter clockwise.

Command: ARC (enter)

(specify starting point)
(specify center point)
(specify end point)

Copy - used to create duplicates of objects at a specified distance and direction from the original.

Select the original object to be copied. Specify the base point for the move (1) followed by a second point (2). The
object is copied the distance and direction of point 1 to point 2.

Command: CO (enter)
(select object to copy)
(enter)
(specify the base point on where to hold the object)
(specify or click on where to paste the object)
(click escape or enter to end the command)

Move - use to move or transfer objects at a specified distance and direction from the originals.

Command: M (enter)
(select object to move)
(enter)
(specify the base point on where to hold the object)
(specify or click on where to transfer the object)

Select the object to be moved (1). Specify the base point for the move (2) followed by a second point (3). The
object is moved the distance and direction of point 2 to point 3.

13
Rotate - used to rotate objects in your drawing around a specified base point.
- To determine the angle of rotation, you can enter an angle value, drag using the cursor, or specify a
reference angle to align to an absolute angle.
- For example, you want to rotate the plan view of a house by selecting the objects (1), specifying a base
point (2), and specifying an angle of rotation by dragging to another point (3).

Command: RO(enter)
(select object to move)
(enter)
(specify the base point for the axis of rotation)
(specify the next position or type the value of angle or rotation)

Scale - used to make an object uniformly larger or smaller.

- To scale an object, you specify a base point and a scale factor.
- A scale factor greater than 1 enlarges the object.
- A scale factor between 0 and 1 shrinks the object.

Command: SC(enter)
(select object to scale)
(enter)
(specify the base point for scaling)
(type the scale factor or click the mouse until desired size is achieved )

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33
Mtext Creates paragraphs of text as a single multiline text (mtext) object If you enter -mtext at
the command prompt, MTEXT bypasses the In-Place Text Editor and displays additional
command prompts.

Command: T (enter)
Current text style: <current> Text height: <current> Annotative: <current>
Specify first corner: (Click the first corner
Specify opposite corner or [Height/Justify/Line
Spacing/Rotation/Style/Width/Columns]:

*The In-Place Text Editor includes a Text Formatting Toolbar, a Paragraph Dialog Box, a Columns Menu,
and an Display Options Menu.
*When a table cell is selected for editing, the In-Place Text Editor displays column letters and row
numbers.

Click "OK" to close.

34
35
 Exercise 8
Floor Plan

A. Wall

36
A. Wall

37
A. Wall

38
A. Wall

39
A. Wall

40
B. Door

41
B. Door

42
B. Door

43
B. Door

44
C. Windows

45
C. Windows

46
C. Windows

47
D. Offset the lines for kitchen table.

48
E.

49
F.

50
G.

51
H.

52
I.

53