Jan 08, 2010 The Basic of Using AutoCAD Drawing Tools. January 8, 2010 by Edwin Prakoso 20 Comments. This time we are going to learn how to use AutoCAD drawing tools. I will not describe how you can use every tools, but how to use AutoCAD drawing tools in general. My objective is you know how to learn AutoCAD by yourself. In this massive list of approximately 150 AutoCAD commands, I have tried to include some of the most useful commands, Keyboard Shortcuts and Tools which every AutoCAD user must know. Some of the commands in this list are very basic which are used very frequently and also there are commands and tools which are not often used despite their great.
AutoCAD Express Tools is a collection of productivity tools that extend the power of AutoCAD. These tools are provided as a courtesy to you but are unsupported. Autodesk does not assume any responsibility for their successful operation.
You can install the Express Tools during the initial product installation or you can add them later using Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel. You can access most of the Autodesk Express Tools from the Express Tools tab on the ribbon.
You can also access Express Tools using corresponding commands. Personally, I like using Express Tools so I thought I’d write about some of my favorites.
Super Hatch
SUPERHATCH is similar to the hatch command but it allows you to use an image, block, Xref, or WIPEOUT as a hatch pattern. The SUPERHATCH dialog box provides several options:
Image – Opens the Attach Image dialog box for specifying the image for the superhatch pattern.
Block – Opens a dialog box for specifying the block for the superhatch pattern.
Xref Attach – Opens the Xref File Name dialog box for specifying an Xref file for the superhatch pattern.
Wipeout – Uses a wipeout object for the superhatch pattern.
Select Existing – Selects an existing image, block, Xref or wipeout object for the superhatch pattern.
Curve Error Tolerance – Specifies the error tolerance for the vector approximation of curved superhatch boundaries.
You can use the Block option to create hatch patterns on-the-fly, you can create blocks with different layers, colors and linetypes to create hatch patterns that react to layer states and plot with a variety of line weights.
You can use hatch images on surfaces to get a rendered effect. Use 3D blocks as hatch patterns to place repeating items such as bricks, roof tiles, or fence fills in 3D drawings.
SUPERHATCH makes hatching to curved boundaries possible by traversing arc segments with a series of short straight segments. SUPERHATCH lets you control the precision with which it traverses arc segments by allowing you to specify the maximum distance between the midpoint of any given segment and the arc.
Entering a large error value results in fewer segments and faster performance but arcs appear less smooth. Conversely, entering a very small value results in smooth hatching along arcs but places more of a processing burden during regeneration of a drawing.
Superhatch objects are glued together using unnamed groups. Therefore, they are not associative. If you want to modify a single object that is part of a superhatch, you can use the GROUP command to turn off the selection of the group as follows:
Start the group command, (Command: GROUP). Make sure that the Include Unnamed check box is selected.
Select the group. Note that “superhatch” appears in the description field for groups created by SUPERHATCH. Click Selectable.
Choose OK. The individual objects can now be modified separately.
Breakline
BREAKLINE will create a polyline and will insert the breakline symbol. You can specify two points and the location of the breakline symbol between them. You can control the relative size and appearance of the breakline symbol and the extension of the polyline beyond the selected start and end points. You have the following options:
Block – Determines the block to be used as the breakline symbol. The default block is defined by brkline.dwg.
Size – Determines the size of the breakline symbol.
Extension – Determines the length of the line extension beyond selected points.
You can create your own block for the breakline symbol by creating a drawing in the AutoCAD Express folder. Make sure that the drawing contains two point objects that have been created on the Defpoints layer. Those point objects determine the placement of the symbol and how the line will be broken. Here are the steps:
Start a new drawing then draw the breakline symbol. Make the Defpoints layer current, If it does not exist, create it and make it the current layer. Use the POINT command to create a point object at each location where the line will connect with the breakline symbol, use only two points. Save the drawing file in the Express folder of the AutoCAD installation folder.
When you start the BREAKLINE command, use the Block option to specify the drawing file for the new breakline block.
Explode Attributes to Text
BURST will explode blocks and convert attribute values to text objects. The component objects are placed on the layer of the block and do not revert to their original layers. The values of any attribute objects are preserved by converting them to text objects. The exploded attributes assume the original attribute definition’s layer and style.
Synchronize Viewports
VPSYNC will synchronize one or more viewports with a master viewport. All synchronized viewports will take on the zoom factor of the master viewport. To give your drawing a cleaner appearance, you can place all the viewports on a separate layer and then turn that layer off after running VPSYNC so that the edges of the viewport are not displayed.
Command Alias Editor
ALIASEDIT will allow you to create, delete, and modify command aliases. Aliases can be created for AutoCAD or DOS executable commands. There are two tabbed sections: Command Aliases and Shell Commands. Options common to both sections include:
Add – Displays a dialog box that allows you to add a new AutoCAD alias and command or DOS alias, command, and prompt.
Remove – Removes AutoCAD or DOS command alias from the acad.pgp file.
Edit – Displays a dialog box where you can edit the currently selected AutoCAD alias and command or DOS alias, command, and prompt.
Confirm Changes – Turns the display of the confirmation dialog box on or off.
OK – Saves changes and exits Alias Editor
Close – Exits the Alias Editor without saving changes. Any changes made before the Apply button was clicked are saved.
Apply – Saves changes in progress, and then allows you to continue editing.
System Variable Editor
SYSVDLG will allow you to view, save and edit system variable settings. It is important to note that no changes are saved to the drawing until you choose OK. All of the pending changes can be discarded with the Cancel button. New system variable values are validated as they are changed. The dialog box includes the following options:
List Box – Displays a list of system variables. The edit field above the list box allows for filtering the list box display based on user input. If nothing is entered in the edit field, the list will display all of the system variables. If more than one system variable is highlighted, all of the edit and display options are unavailable.
New Value – Displays the current value of the system variable highlighted in the list box and allows you to edit that value. No changes are committed until the dialog box is closed with the OK button. The edit field will be unavailable if the selected variable is a read-only type.
Autocad Display Tools
Current Value – Displays the value of the system variable that is highlighted in the list box as of when SYSVDLG was started.
Initial Value – Displays the initial value of the system variable highlighted in the list box. This is the value that the system variable has in a new drawing.
Saved In – Displays where the value of the highlighted system variable is saved.
Type – Displays the type of the highlighted system variable.
Save x – Saves the current system variable settings to an SVF or SCR file. SVF files can be read into SYSVDLG. SCR files are AutoCAD scripts, which can be run from the AutoCAD command line. The button will display Save All, Save Filtered or Save Selected, which depends on the condition of the system variable list. If only one system variable is selected and the list is not filtered, then all of the system variables will be saved. If more than one system variable is selected, then only the highlighted items will be saved. If the list has been filtered, as with a wild-card, the list is saved as displayed.
Read – Restores saved settings from an SVF file.
Calendar Date
JULIAN contains the DATE tool and several AutoCAD Julian date and calendar date conversion routines. JULIAN is not meant to be entered in the Command window. Enter DATE to display the current date and time in this format: Day YYYY/M/D HH:MM:SS.msec. DATE uses (JTOD) to convert to calendar format and edits the date and time from there. Use the syntax indicated for the following AutoLISP functions:
CTOJ Converts calendar date and time to Julian date Function syntax: (ctoj <year> <month> <day> <hour> <minute> <second/fraction>) Input: Calendar date as argument list Returns: Julian date / fraction, as in the DATE system variable
DTOJ Converts AutoCAD calendar date/time to Julian date Function syntax: (dtoj <calendar date>) Input: Real number YYYYMMDD<.HHMMSSmsec>, like CDATE setvar. Returns: Julian date / fraction, as in DATE system variable
JTOC Converts Julian date to calendar date list Function syntax: (jtoc <Julian date>) Input: Real number <Julian day>.<fraction>, like DATE setvar Returns: Calendar date/time list: (<year> <month> <day> <hour> <minute> <second/fraction>)
JTOD Converts Julian date to AutoCAD calendar date/time Function syntax: (jtod <Julian date>) Input: Real number <Julian day>.<fraction>, like DATE setvar Returns: Calendar date/time, as in CDATEsystem variable
JTOW Determines day of the week for a given Julian day Function syntax: (jtow <Julian date>) Input: Real number <Julian day>.<fraction>, like DATE system variable Returns: Integer day of the week, 0 = Sunday, 1 = Monday, 6 = Saturday
To access the read-only DATE system variable instead, use (getvar “DATE”).
Layout Merge
LAYOUTMERGE combines specified layouts into a single layout. A Command line version, -LAYOUTMERGE is also available. The prompts appear as follows:
Specify layout(s) to merge or [?]: layout1,layout2 Enter layout names and/or wild cards separated by commas
Specify destination layout or [?] <Model>: Specify an existing layout name or enter a new name to create a new layout
Delete unused layouts? <Y>:
Each merged layout will have a corresponding saved view in the destination layout and will be labeled with a rectangle and text identifier on the DEFPOINTS layer. Object Handle IDs are changed for all merged objects.
Offset
EXOFFSET offsets selected objects. This enhanced version of the OFFSET command offers several advantages over the standard command, including layer control, undo and a multiple option. The following options are available:
Distance – Offsets the selected object a specified distance
Through – Offsets the selected object through a specified point
Layer – Specifies the layer for new objects, either the current layer or the layer of the source object
Gaptype (automatically applied) – Uses the current setting of the OFFSETGAPTYPE variable to create extended, filleted, or chamfered corners to fill potential gaps in offset polylines.
Multiple – Creates multiple offsets.
Pressing Shift while specifying a side to offset acts as a multiple option and selects the new object. Pressing Ctrl while specifying a side to offset erases the original object.
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Perform editing operations such as erase, move, and trim on the objects in a drawing.
The most common of these tools are located on the Modify panel of the Home tab. Take a minute to look through them.
Erase
To erase an object, use the ERASE command. You can enter E in the Command window, or click the Erase tool. When you see the cursor change to a square pickbox, click each object that you want to erase, and then press Enter or the Spacebar.
Note: Alternatively, before you enter any command, you can select several objects and then press the Delete key. Experienced users often use this method as well.
Select Multiple Objects
Sometimes you need to select a large number of objects. Instead of selecting each object individually, you can select the objects in an area by clicking an empty location (1), moving your cursor right or left, and then clicking a second time (2).
- With a crossing selection, any objects within or touching the green area are selected.
- With a window selection, only the objects completely contained within the blue area are selected.
The result is called the selection set, the set of objects that will be processed by a command.
Tip: You can easily remove objects from the selection set. For example, if you select 42 objects, and two of them should not have been selected, hold down Shift and then select the two that you want to remove. Then, press Enter or the Spacebar, or right click to end the selection process.
Note: Clicking and dragging results in a different selection method called lasso selection.
Move and Copy
Here's how you would use the COPY command to lay out a row of decorative tiles. Starting with a polyline that represents its shape, you need to make copies that are 1/8' apart.
You click the Copy tool or enter CP in the Command window to start the command. From here, you can choose between two methods, depending on what's more convenient. You will use these two methods frequently.
The Distance Method
The second tile needs to be a total of 9-7/8' + 1/8' = 10' to the right of the original tile. So, you select the tile, press Enter or the Spacebar to end your selection, and click anywhere in the drawing area (1). This point does not have to be located on the tile.
Next, you move your cursor to the right, relying on the polar tracking angle to keep the direction horizontal, and then enter 10 for the distance. Press Enter or the Spacebar a second time to end the command.
Basic Tools Used In Autocad
The specified distance and a direction from a point (1) is applied to the tile that you selected.
The Two Points Method
Another method, one that you will often use when you don't want to add numbers together, requires two steps. You start the COPY command and select the tile as before, but this time you click the two endpoints as shown. These two points also define a distance and direction.
Next, to add the 1/8' space between the tiles, click the Move tool or enter M in the Command window. The MOVE command is similar to the COPY command. Select the newly copied tile, and press Enter or the Spacebar. As before, click anywhere in the drawing area and move your cursor to the right. Enter 1/8 or .125 for the distance.
Tip: The two points that define the distance and direction don't need to be located on the object that you want to copy. You can use two points specified anywhere in your model.
Create Multiple Copies
You can use the two-points method as a repeating sequence. Let's say that you want to make more copies of the circle at the same horizontal distance. You start the COPY command and select the circle as shown.
Then, using the Center object snap, click the center of circle 1, followed by the center of circle 2, and so on.
For larger numbers of copies, try experimenting with the Array option of the COPY command. For example, here's a linear arrangement of deep foundation piles. From a base point, you specify number of copies and the center-to-center distance.
Offset
Most models include a lot of parallel lines and curves. Creating them is easy and efficient with the OFFSET command. Click the OFFSET tool or enter O in the Command window.
Select the object (1), specify the offset distance, and click to indicate on which side of the original that you want the result (2). Here is an example of offsetting a polyline.
Tip: A fast way to create concentric circles is to offset them.
Trim and Extend
A popular technique is to use the OFFSET command in combination with the TRIM and EXTEND commands. In the Command window, you can enter TR for TRIM or EX for EXTEND. Trimming and extending are some of the most commonly used operations.
In the following illustration, you want to extend the lines that represent the steps for this deck. You start the Extend command, select the boundary, and then press Enter or the Spacebar.
Pressing Enter or the Spacebar indicates that you've finished selecting the boundaries, and that you're now ready to select the objects to be extended.
Tip: A faster method is to press Enter or the Spacebar right away instead of selecting any boundary objects. The result is that all objects are available as possible boundaries.
Next, you select the objects to be extended (near the ends to be extended), and then you press Enter or the Spacebar to end the command.
The result is that the lines are extended to the boundary.
The TRIM command follows the same steps, except that when you select the objects to trim, you select the portions to trim away.
Mirror
The following illustration comes from a tile project. The walls in this residential bathroom are flattened out to be able to lay out the tile pattern and estimate the number of tiles needed.
You can save a lot of work by taking advantage of the symmetry between the left and right walls. All you need to do is create the tiles on one wall and then mirror the wall across the center of the room.
Different Tools Used In Autocad
In the example below, you start the MIRROR command (or enter MI in the Command window), use window selection (1 and 2) to select the geometry on the right wall, press Enter or the Spacebar, and then specify a mirror line (3 and 4) corresponding to the centerline of the bathroom.
Finally, decline the option to 'Erase source objects' by pressing Enter or the Spacebar.
Tip: Always look for symmetry to save yourself extra work, even if the symmetry is not 100% identical.
Stretch
You can stretch most geometric objects. This lets you lengthen and shorten parts of your model. For example, this model might be a gasket or the design for a public park.
Use the STRETCH command (or enter S in the Command window) and select the objects with a crossing selection as shown below (1 and 2). The crossing selection is mandatory—only the geometry that is crossed by the crossing selection is stretched. Then click anywhere in the drawing area (3), move the cursor to the right, and enter 50 as the distance. This distance might represent millimeters or feet.
To shorten the model by a specified amount, you'd move your cursor to the left instead.
Fillet
The FILLET command (enter F in the Command window) creates a rounded corner by creating an arc that is tangent to two selected objects. Notice that the fillet is created relative to where you select the objects.
You can create a fillet between most types of geometric objects, including lines, arcs, and polyline segments.
Tip: If you specify 0 (zero) as the radius of the fillet (imagine a circle shrinking to a radius of 0), the result trims or extends the selected objects to a sharp corner.
Explode
The EXPLODE command (enter X in the Command window) disassociates a compound object into its component parts. You can explode objects such as polylines, hatches, and blocks (symbols).
After you explode a compound object, you can modify each resulting individual object.
Edit Polylines
You can choose from several useful options when you want to modify a polyline. The PEDIT command (enter PE in the Command window) is located on the drop-down list of the Modify panel.
With this command, you can
- Join two polylines into a single polyline if they share a common endpoint
- Convert lines and arcs into a polyline—simply enter PEDIT and select the line or arc
- Change the width of a polyline
Tip: In some cases, the easiest method to modify a polyline is to explode it, make the modifications, and then turn the objects back into a polyline using the Join option of the PEDIT command.
Grips
Grips are displayed when you select an object without starting a command. Grips are often handy for light editing. For example, the line below accidentally snapped to the wrong endpoint. You can select the misaligned line, click on a grip and then click to specify the correct location.
By default, when you click a grip, you automatically start in **STRETCH** mode as indicated in the Command window. If you want to explore other ways of editing objects with grips, press Enter or the Spacebar to cycle through several other editing modes. Some people perform most editing operations using grips.
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