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Lesson Basic GUI PDF

The document discusses the basic graphics user interface in AutoCAD, including the main toolbar, toolbars and tools, work area, and command line. The main toolbar contains drawing and editing tools. Toolbars provide shortcuts to commands and can be displayed or hidden. The work area is where graphics are displayed and can be navigated using zoom and pan. The command line allows direct entry of commands and displays prompts to the user.

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70 views

Lesson Basic GUI PDF

The document discusses the basic graphics user interface in AutoCAD, including the main toolbar, toolbars and tools, work area, and command line. The main toolbar contains drawing and editing tools. Toolbars provide shortcuts to commands and can be displayed or hidden. The work area is where graphics are displayed and can be navigated using zoom and pan. The command line allows direct entry of commands and displays prompts to the user.

Uploaded by

ruayo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AutoCAD basic graphics user interface

By Isidro V. Marfori III

I. Main toolbar
The main toolbar is used to communicate with the AutoCAD software. It contains all
drawing and editing tools and option settings of the software. It is located at the top
most edge of the software. The following figure shows the main toolbar, highlighted
by the red rectangle.

II. Toolbars and tools


Toolbars are shortcut icons for the command from the main toolbar. It uses easy to
understand graphics that can easily be accessed to make the designing process easier
and more efficient. Toolbars are located on the top, sides, or bottom edge of the
screen. It can also be a small window placed anywhere in the screen. The following
shows sample of toolbars, highlighted by the red rectangle.

Inside a toolbar are set of tools grouped according to their function. Some toolbars are
used to create lines, circles, arcs and many other geometric shapes while some are
used to edit geometrical shapes.
Toolbars can be displayed or hidden. AutoCAD has this feature in order for the user
to maximize the working space. The next item will show how to hide and display
toolbars.

Displaying and hiding toolbars


1. Using the right mouse button, click on any tool icon on the screen.
This will display a drop down menu that displays all the toolbars available in
AutoCAD.
2. Click any of the items on the list.
Selecting item without check mark will hide the list and display the toolbar that
was selected.
Selecting item with a check mark will hide the list and hide the toolbar that was
selected.

The following shows the drop down list of the toolbars.

III. Work Area


The work area is where the graphics are displayed in AutoCAD. The graphics area
uses vector coordinate system to create lines, circles and other geometric shapes. The
work area is the center black area in the screen. The work area has virtually no limit
to its size, therefore it is important to navigate through the work area. The following
are ways to pan and zoom through the work area.

Zooming
By placing the mouse cursor over any location in the work area and rolling
the mouse wheel will enable zooming.
You can also use the zoom toolbar.
Panning
By placing the mouse cursor over any location in the work area and by
clicking the mouse wheel without releasing while moving the mouse will
allow the user to pan. The mouse cursor will change from a crosshair to a
white hand, upon doing this.
You can also use the scroll bar located at the bottom and right side of the
work area.

IV. Command Line


The command line is the most basic user interface in AutoCAD. It allows the user to
directly instruct commands to AutoCAD. It is also used to gather information from
the user. All commands that requires information from the user will be displayed in
the command line. The following shows the command line, highlighted by the red
rectangle.

A key press from the keyboard will automatically enable the command line.
Therefore, the user may not need to place the cursor in the command line.

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