How to draw a line This tutorial shows you how to draw a line by using the Line symbol from the Draw tool bar and the line command. PDF trim How to trim a line This tutorial shows you how to trim lines by using the trim symbol from the tool menu and the trim command. PDF circle drawing How to draw a circle This tutorial shows you how to draw a circle by using the circle symbol from the tool menu and the circle command. PDF extend How to extend a line This tutorial shows you how to extend a line by using the extend symbol from the modify tool menu. PDF rectangle Drawing a rectangular Polyline This tutorial teaches you how to draw rectangular Polyline by using the Rectangle symbol from the draw tool menu and the Rectang command. PDF rotate background image Working with a rotated background This tutorial teaches you how to work with a rotated background when XREFing it a into your drawings. PDF fillet Creating a Fillet This tutorial teaches you how to create a Fillet by using the Fillet symbol from the modify menu and the Fillet command.
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How to draw a line:
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:
1 Select the line symbol from the draw menu
2 Select a starting point for the line
3 Select an end point for the line
4 Hit Enter
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 .
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How to trim a line:
An AutoCAD line can be shortened by trimming the edges In this tutorial we will trim a straight line segment by using the trim symbol from the modify tool bar and the trim command
Method 1:
1 Select the trim symbol from the modify menu
2 Select the intersected object you want to trim from
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 .
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How to draw a circle:
Method 1:
1 Select the circle symbol from the draw menu
2 Click on the screen where you want to specify the center point for the circle
3 Drag the mouse across to specify a node of the circle
4 Click
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
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How to extend a line:
A Line can be extended to meet other lines or objects precisely at their boundaries In this
tutorial we will use the extend symbol from the modify tool bar
Method 1:
1 Select the extend symbol from the modify menu
2 Select the intersected object to extend to
3 Hit Enter
4 Select the line you want to extend
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 .
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Drawing a rectangular Polyline:
Method 1:
1 Select the Rectangle symbol from the draw menu
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
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 .
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Working with rotated background
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
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Follow these Steps:
1 Type UCS in the command prompt
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4 Type UCSMAN
5 On the UCS list, rename the Unnamed (double click) to whatever you want For example
UCS90 and that would be your custom view
6 Click OK to finish (see fig 3)
Figure 3
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7 Type PLAN
8 Select Current or UCS to input the named view that you have just created
The view should look like your custom view and you are ready to work (see fig.4)
Figure 4
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Now look what happens when you type PLAN and select WORLD in the command line (See fig.5)
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Creating a fillet:
A fillet connects two objects with an arc that is tangent to the objects.
Method 1:
1 Select the fillet symbol from the modify menu
2 Type R to specify the fillet radius
3 Enter the radius
4 Select the first and second intersected line, object or polyline you want to fillet
5 Hit Enter
Method 2:
1 Type FILLET or F in the command line
2 Type R to specify the fillet radius
3 Enter the radius
4 Select the first and second intersected line, object or polyline you want to fillet
5 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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XREF – AutoCAD tutorial:
Xref is the most useful command from AutoCAD If you are going to use the software for work
or you are looking to advance further, you will need to know how to use the xref command It is
absolutely necessary And I will show you why
Xref is used to cross reference plans and objects because you want to minimize repetitions,
maximize consistency, save time and increase productivity
Now, let us become more practical here Let us assume you have three drawings I will call them sheet 1, sheet 2 and sheet 3 (see images below)
Sheet 1 shows a rectangle But it could be anything else The two other sheets have circles, etc.,
but they both have one thing in common: a rectangle So instead of drawing that rectangle twice,
it would be wise to draw it once and xref it to both drawings Some of you might think: What if I
draw it once and then copy it to each drawing?
If you copy the drawing you will have to copy it again if you want to make changes to that
rectangle Let us say you want to make it larger or want to chamfer the edges Do you want to
copy again? Or do you want to just change the xref and that is it
The idea here is to reduce steps and time by drawing anything in common once And that is
when the xref comes in handy
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There are two types of xrefs: Overlay and Attachment
Overlay: only brings what you draw inside that xref sheet No other dependent In other words: if
you were to look at a tree diagram, it only goes one level deep (see image above on the left)
Attachment xrefs bring unlimited dependent xrefs and levels (see image above on the right)
Steps:
1 Type XREF at the command line to bring the dialogue box
2 Right click and select Attach DWG
3 Browse for the drawing you want to xref
4 Select Open
5 Pick Overlay or Attachment
6 For the path, choose Full path for this tutorial
7 For insertion point, scale and rotation: leave them unchecked for this tutorial
8 Click OK and close the dialogue box
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Your xref drawing should be inserted inside the current drawing like the above image
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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CAD Layers – AutoCAD tutorial
The Layer command is a very important tool of AutoCAD It lets you create layers to separate
your drawing objects Layers are used to group, change the visibility and to control objects
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
Steps to create a layer:
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
3
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4 In the right column you can assign color, line type to the layer, freeze or thaw it
5 Select the object in the drawing to which the layer will be assigned
6 Click on the layer icon bar and select the appropriate layer
Filters
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”
To create a new filter:
1 Click on the very first button on the top left side above the tree navigation and renamed
it
5
6
1
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Within the filter dialogue you can double click below any column For example, you want to create a filter for all layers with the color blue
2 Double click below the color column and select the blue color
You can use the layer group filter to group layers that you define regardless of their properties
2
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Group Filter
To create a new 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 .
1
2
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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:
To create an array of objects follow the steps 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)
See the figure below for visual step by step instructions
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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)
See the figure below for visual step by step instructions
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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
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Base point: is the reference point where AutoCAD will rotate the object By default, depending
on the shape, the base point is already set For example, a circle, an ellipse, or an arc, they all
have a default base point at the center, but you can manually specify a different point
If you need any further help, please contact me using the contact page or visit the discussion
forum site http://www.2learncad.com/forum .
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CAD table – AutoCAD tutorial
Although working with tables in Microsoft Excel is easier and more convenient than the table
features in AutoCAD, sometimes you might want to create just a quick small table in AutoCAD The table will look as if you were to draw it by drawing lines in CAD
When creating the table you have different options to choose from You can start from:
• Empty cell table: Normal blank CAD table
• From a data link: CAD table linked to an Excel data sheet and the table will
automatically be updated when the Excel data is changed
• From object data in the drawing (Data Extraction): table made from selected object
data in the current drawing
To create a simple table, follow these simple steps below:
Steps to create a simple table:
1 Type “TABLE” in the command line or select from the Draw toolbar
2 Select “Standard” for table style unless you have a custom or template table already
made
3 Select “Start from empty table”
4 Specify an insertion point or specify a window where you want the table to be located in
drawing
5 Enter the number column
6 Specify the column width
7 Enter the number of rows
8 Specify the row height
9 Set the styles for the rows Choose in which row you want the header, title and data to be
placed
See figure below
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Steps to create a simple table from a data link:
1 Type “TABLE ” in the command line or select from the Draw toolbar
2 Select the “From a data link“for insert options
3 Click the data link manager icon to launch the manager dialogue
4 Select “Create a new Excel Data Link”
5 Enter a name for your linked data
6 Browse for the Excel data file location
7 Select the excel file you wish to link