AutoCAD User-Interface

The Application Menu

The Ribbon for the Drafting & Annotation workspace
The Status Bar displayed in the Drafting & Annotation workspace
The Draw toolbar
 Invoking Tools in AutoCAD
Keyboard
Ribbon
Application Menu
Toolbar
Tool Palettes
Menu Bar
Shortcut menu
Partial view of the shortcut menu Shortcut menu with the
with the recently used tools Polyline tool active
Shortcut menu displayed on right-clicking on File tab bar
The predefined workspaces
Starting a New Drawing
Application Menu: New > Drawing
Menu Bar: File > New
Quick AccessToolbar: New
Command: NEW or QNEW

The Select template dialog box

Drawing Lines in AutoCAD
Ribbon: Home > Draw > Line
Toolbar: Draw > Line
Menu Bar: Draw > Line
Tool Palettes: Draw > Line
Command: LINE or L

Invoking the Tool Palettes The Line tool in the Draw

from the Palettes panel panel

The Line tool in the Draw toolbar

 Coordinate Systems

1. Absolute coordinates
2. Relative coordinates
a. Relative rectangular coordinates
b. Relative polar coordinates
3. Direct distance entry
Cartesian coordinate system
 Absolute Coordinate System
Choose the Line tool (Ensure that the Dynamic Input button is not chosen)
LINE Specify first point: 1,1
(X = 1 and Y = 1.)
Specify next point or [Undo]: 4,1
(X = 4 and Y = 1.)
Specify next point or [Undo]: 4,3
Specify next point or [Close /Undo]: 1,3
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: C

Absolute Coordinate System

Rectangle created by using the absolute coordinates
Example 1

Drawing a figure using the absolute coordinates

 Relative Coordinate System
Relative Rectangular Coordinates
Choose the Line tool
LINE Specify first point: 1,1 (Start point)
Specify next point or [Undo]: @4,0 (Second
point DX = 4, DY = 0.)
Specify next point or [Undo]: @0,3
(Third point DX = 0, DY = 3.)
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]:
@-4,0 (Fourth point DX = -4, DY = 0.)
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @0,-3
(Start point DX = 0, DY = -3.)
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]:
Drawing lines using the relative
rectangular coordinates
Example 2

Profile for Example 2

 Relative Polar Coordinates
Choose the Line tool
Specify first point: 1,1
Specify next point or [Undo]: @5<30

Drawing a line using relative polar coordinates

Example 3

Drawing for Example 3

 Direct Distance Entry
Choose the Line tool
LINE Specify first point: Start point.
Specify next point or [Undo]: Position the cursor and then enter distance.
Specify next point or [Undo]: Position the cursor and then enter distance.

Drawing lines using the Direct

Distance Entry method
Example 4
The Drafting Settings dialog box
Setting Grid

Grid as check lines Grid as dots

The Grid Spacing area of the Drafting Settings dialog box

Setting Snap

Creating unequal grid spacing

Snap Type

Invisible Snap grid Isometric Snap grid

 WORKING WITH OBJECT SNAPS
Toolbar: Object Snap

The Object Snap toolbar The Object snap modes

shortcut menu
Using the Absolute Coordinate
System
To draw a line, click Home > Draw > Line on the ribbon, or enter LINE or L in
the command line.
Type 50, 50 and press ENTER.
Type 150, 50 and press ENTER.
Type 150,100 and press ENTER.
Type 50,100 and press ENTER.
Select the Close option from the command line. This creates a rectangle, as shown
below

Using Relative Coordinate system
Click Home > Draw > Line on
the ribbon, or enter LINE or L in
the command
line.
Type 100,100 and press ENTER.
This defines the first point of
the line.
Type @50,0 and press ENTER.
Type @0,20 and press ENTER.
Type @100,0 and press ENTER.
Type @0,-20 and press ENTER.
Type @50,0 and press ENTER.
Type @0,120 and press ENTER.
Type @-50,0 and press ENTER.
Type @0,-20 and press ENTER.
Type @-100,0 and press
ENTER.
Type @0,20 and press ENTER.
Type @-50,0 and press ENTER.
Select the Close option from
the command line.
 Using Polar Coordinate system
points entered by typing @distance<angle
Click Home > Draw > Line on
the ribbon, or enter LINE or L in
the command
line.
Type 50,50 and press Enter key.
Type @110<0 and press ENTER.
Type @20<90 and press ENTER.
Type @80<120 and press
ENTER.
Type @30<180 and press
ENTER.
Type @80<240 and press
ENTER.
Select the Close option from the
command line
Polar coordinates
Isometric Drawing