Applied Sciences Department

Chandigarh Engineering College

AutoCAD Basic

INTERFACE – TOOL BARS – COMMANDS

AutoCAD Basic Commands explanation and steps to use the commands

What is AutoCAD?

AutoCAD, created by Autodesk, is the most widely used technical drawing program anywhere,
with more than 3 million registered users. According to Autodesk, CAD stands for computer-
aided design, but can also stand for computer aided drafting or drawing. The first version of
AutoCAD, running under DOS, came out in 1982. AutoCAD was the first significant CAD
program to run on a desktop computer. At the time, most other technical drawing programs ran
on high-end workstations or even mainframes. AutoCAD’s success has been attributed to its
famous open architecture—many source code files in plain text (ASCII) files that you can easily
customize and programming languages (such as AutoLISP and Visual Basic for Applications)
designed especially so that the end user can program AutoCAD. As a result, AutoCAD is the
most flexible drafting program available, applicable to all fields. AutoCAD’s support for
languages other than English, including those using other alphabets, is unparalleled, making
AutoCAD without serious competition abroad. As a result, AutoCAD is used in all disciplines
and in more than 150 countries

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS TUTORIAL

1. AutoCAD Interface
2. Draw Commands
3. Line command
1. Polygon command
2. Rectangle command
3. Circle command
4. Ellipse commands
4. Edit Commands
1. Erase command
2. Copy command
3. Mirror command
4. Offset command
5. Stretch command
6. Array command
7. Move command
8. Rotate command

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 9. Scale command
10. Trim command
11. Chamfer command
12. Fillet command
13. Explode Command

AUTOCAD Interface

DRAW COMMANDS

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Draw toolbar is used to access AutoCAD Draw commands. You can also use draw pulldown
menu or type the command in at the command line. The draw commands create objects such as
lines, circles and ellipses. An object is the smallest component of a drawing. A drawing is made
up of a combination of these objects. When creating objects with draw commands, AutoCAD
always prompts “Ask” you to indicate points (such as end points, centers, or radii) to describe the
size and location of the object to be drawn. Drawing commands can be entered from the
keyboard (command line), the Draw Toolbar or the Draw Pull-down menu.

1. Line: Draw lines in AutoCAD

2. Polyline: Create 2D polyline
3. Circle: Command used to draw circles
4. Arc: Arc Creation
5. 5.1. Polygon: Draws polygons with three or more sides
5.2. Rectangle: Used to draw rectangles
6. Ellipse: Used to draw ellipse
7. Hatch: Fills an enclosed area or selected objects with a hatch pattern, solid fill, or
gradient fill.

LINE COMMAND

Line Command is use to draw lines in AutoCAD. Steps to use Line Command are as follows.
1. Press F8 on keyboard to turn on ORTHO
2. Click on the LINE icon in the draw toolbar
3. Specify first point. Pick any point on your screen with the mouse
4. Move your cursor to the right a little do not click down
5. Type in: 2 (Press Enter)
6. Move your cursor up a little do not click down
7. Type in: 2 (Press Enter)

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8. Move your cursor to the left a little do not click down
8. Type in: 2 (Press Enter)
9. Move your cursor down a little do not click down
10. Type in: 2 (Press Enter)

You should have drawn a perfect Square box!

1. Click on LINE icon

2. Specify first point: Pick any point on your screen with the mouse
3. Move your cursor to the right a little do no click down
4. Type in: 2 (Press Enter)
5. Press F8 on the keyboard to turn off ORTHO
6. Specify next point: Pick point 2 with your mouse
7. Type in: C (Press Enter)

You should have created something that resembles a triangle.

POLYLINE COMMAND

 Creates a 2D polyline, a single object that is composed of line and arc segments.

 Find

The following prompts are displayed.

Specify start point

Sets the starting point for the polyline.

A temporary plus-shaped marker displays at the first point.

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Pressing Enter starts a new polyline from the last endpoint specified in creating a polyline, line,
or arc.

Specify next point

If you specify a second point, you create straight segments.

If you enter a (for Arc), you create arc segments.

Prompts Common to Line and Arc Segments

Close

Connects the first and last segments to create a closed polyline.

Halfwidth

Specifies the width from the center of a wide segment to an edge.

Width

Specifies the width of the next segment.

Some things to keep in mind when defining the half-width or width of a polyline.

The starting width becomes the default ending width.

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The ending width becomes the uniform width for all subsequent segments until you change the
width again.

The starting and ending points of wide line segments are at the centerline of the segment.

Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide polyline segments are beveled.

No beveling is performed for nontangent arc segments, very acute angles, or when a dot-dash
linetype is used.

Undo

Removes the most recently added segment.

Line-Only Prompts

Arc

Begins creating arc segments tangent to the previous segment.

Length

Creates a segment of a specified length at the same angle as the previous segment. If the previous
segment is an arc, the new line segment is tangent to that arc segment.

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Arc-Only Prompts

Endpoint of arc

Completes an arc segment. The arc segment is tangent to the previous segment of the polyline.

Angle

Specifies the included angle of the arc segment from the start point.

Entering a positive number creates counterclockwise arc segments. Entering a negative number
creates clockwise arc segments.

Center

Specifies an arc segment based on its center point.

Note: For the Center option of the PLINE command, enter ce; for the Center object snap,
enter cen or center.

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Direction

Specifies the tangent for the arc segment.

(2) Tangent direction from the start point of the arc. Specifies a point that establishes a tangency
of the curve to the start point. The arc curves away from the vector between the start point and
the tangent point.

CIRCLE COMMAND

Command used to draw circles

1. Click on the CIRCLE icon in the draw toolbar.
2. Specify center point of circle click anywhere in the drawing area.
3. Specify the radius of circle Type in 25 (press enter)
To draw a circle by specifying a circle diameter do the following
1. Repeat steps 1 and 2
2. Specify radius of circle Type in D (Press enter) D stands for diameter
3. Specify diameter of circle Type in 1 (Press enter)

To draw a circle at the intersection of two lines 1. Draw two lines that overlap using the line
command
2. Click on the CIRCLE in the draw toolbar
3. Specify center point of circle Type in INT (press enter)
4. Move your cursor to the intersection of two lines until you see a small yellow X and the word
INTERSECTION

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5. Now you can either type in a radius or type in D for diameter and move on the next prompt to
type in the diameter.

ARC COMMAND

Creates an arc.

 Find

To create an arc, you can specify combinations of center, endpoint, start point, radius, angle,
chord length, and direction values. Arcs are drawn in a counterclockwise direction by default.
Hold down the Ctrl key as you drag to draw in a clockwise direction.

The following options are available.

Start point

Draws an arc using three specified points on the arc's circumference. The first point is the start
point (1).

Note: If you press ENTER without specifying a point, the endpoint of the last drawn line or arc is
used and you are immediately prompted to specify the endpoint of the new arc. This creates an
arc tangent to the last drawn line, arc, or polyline.

Second point

Specify the second point (2) is a point on the circumference of the arc.

End point

Specify the final point (3) on the arc.

You can specify a three-point arc either clockwise or counterclockwise.

Center

Starts by specifying the center of the circle of which the arc is a part.

Start point

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Specify the start point of the arc.

End point

Using the center point (2), draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to an endpoint
that falls on an imaginary ray drawn from the center point through the third point (3).

The arc does not necessarily pass through this third point, as shown in the illustration.

Angle

Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) using a center point (2) with a specified
included angle. If the angle is negative, a clockwise arc is drawn.

Chord length

Draws either a minor or a major arc based on the distance of a straight line between the start
point and endpoint.

If the chord length is positive, the minor arc is drawn counterclockwise from the start point. If
the chord length is negative, the major arc is drawn counterclockwise.

End

Starts by specifying the endpoint of the arc.

Center point

Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to an endpoint that falls on an imaginary
ray drawn from the center point (3) through the second point specified (2).

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Angle

Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to an endpoint (2), with a specified
included angle. If the angle is negative, a clockwise arc is drawn.

Included angle

Enter an angle in degrees or specify an angle by moving the pointing device counterclockwise.

Direction

Begins the arc tangent to a specified direction. It creates any arc, major or minor, clockwise or
counterclockwise, beginning with the start point (1), and ending at an endpoint (2). The direction
is determined from the start point.

Radius

Draws the minor arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to the endpoint (2). If the radius is
negative, the major arc is drawn.

Center

Specifies the center of the circle of which the arc is a part.

Start point

Specify start point of arc.

End point

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Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to an endpoint that falls on an imaginary
ray drawn from the center point (2) through a specified point (3).

Angle

Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) using a center point (2) with a specified
included angle. If the angle is negative, a clockwise arc is drawn.

Chord length

Draws either a minor or a major arc based on the distance of a straight line between the start
point and endpoint.

If the chord length is positive, the minor arc is drawn counterclockwise from the start point. If
the chord length is negative, the major arc is drawn counterclockwise.

Tangent to last line, arc, or polyline

Draws an arc tangent to the last line, arc, or polyline drawn when you press ENTER at the first
prompt.

End point of arc

Specify a point (1).

POLYGON COMMAND

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Command use to draw a polygon with three or more sides
1. Draw two circles of any diameter using the circle icon. (Refer to the circle command if you do
not know how to use this command)
2. Click on the POLYGON icon in the draw toolbar
3. Enter number of sides at this point you can enter as many sides as you wish (No less than three
sides) At this time type in 8 (press enter)
4. Specify center of polygon type in CEN (press enter)
5. Move your cursor around the outer edge of one of the circles until you see a small yellow
circle at the center of the bigger circle. Hold the cursor there until the word CENTER appears
then click down with the mouse
6. Enter the option type, type in c (Press Enter)
7. Specify radius of circle type in NEAR (Press Enter)
8. Move the cursor to the outer edge of the circle hold it there until you see a small yellow hour
glass and the word NEAREST appears then click down with the mouse. You may put a polygon
within a circle (Inscribed) by typing in, in step 6 an “I” instead of a “c”

RECTANGLE COMMAND

Command used to draw a rectangle

1. Click on the RECTANGLE icon in the draw toolbar
2. Specify first corner point: click anywhere on your screen
3. Specify other corner, move your cursor up and to the right any distance you wish then click
down. If you wish to draw a rectangle a specific size, follow the below steps.
1. Repeat steps 1 and 2
2. Specify other corner type in @3,1 (press enter)
Using this option you have entered a specific length and height for your polygon. You may
change the numbers to anything you wish but leave the @ and the, in its exact location. Broken
down the 3 is the length and 1 is the height. The @ symbol tells AutoCAD that you are using
relative co-ordinate entry.

ELLIPSE COMMAND

Command used to draw ellipses

1. Click on the ELLIPSE icon in the draw toolbar 2. Specify axis endpoint. Click anywhere on
your Screen
3. Specify other endpoint. Pick another point a distance you specify to the right of first point you
picked. This will be the major axis of your ellipse
4. Move your cursor up a distance you specify and click. This will be your minor axis.

To draw an ellipse with a center, rotation,and angle do the following

1. Repeat step 1 above.

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2. Specify axis endpoint of ellipse Type in: C (press enter)
3. Specify center of ellipse. Pick anywhere in the drawing area
4. Specify the endpoint of axis. move your cursor to the right a little then type in: .50 (press
enter) You have entered the radius of the circle you are trying to make an ellipse from. The
radius of the circle is all that is needed
5. Specify distance to other axis Type in R (press enter)
6. Specify rotation around major axis Type in 30 (press enter). You have entered the rotation
angle of the line of sight of the ellipse. For example if you were looking at an ellipse at a 30
degree angle, the rotation would be 30 degrees

HATCH COMMAND

Fills an enclosed area or selected objects with a hatch pattern, solid fill, or gradient fill.

 Find

When the ribbon is active, the Hatch Creation contextual tab is displayed. When the ribbon is
off, the Hatch and Gradient dialog box is displayed. If you prefer using the Hatch and Gradient
dialog box, set the HPDLGMODE system variable to 1.

If you enter -HATCH at the Command prompt, options are displayed.

Note:

To prevent memory and performance problems, the maximum number of hatch lines created in a
single hatch operation is limited. However, you can change the maximum number of hatch lines
with the HPMAXLINES system variable.

To maintain performance for hatches with non-continuous hatch lines, choose a predefined
hatch pattern rather than loading and setting a non-continuous linetype. Beginning with
AutoCAD 2015-based products, the HPLINETYPE system variable suppresses the display of
non-continuous linetypes in hatches by default.

To control whether object snaps ignore hatch objects, add or subtract 1 from the OSOPTIONS
system variable.

Choose from several methods to specify the boundaries of a hatch.

Specify a point in an area that is enclosed by objects.

Select objects that enclose an area.

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Specify boundary points using the -HATCH Draw option.

Drag a hatch pattern into an enclosed area from a tool palette or DesignCenter.

The following prompts are displayed.

Pick internal point

Determines a boundary from existing objects that form an enclosed area around the specified
point.

Select objects

Determines a boundary from selected objects that form an enclosed area.

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Remove boundaries

(Available only when adding hatches from within the Hatch and Gradient dialog box)

Removes the hatch patterns added during the currently active HATCH command. Click the
pattern you want to remove.

Add boundaries

(Available only when adding hatches from within the Hatch and Gradient dialog box)

Switches from the Remove Boundaries mode so you can add hatch patterns again.

Undo

Removes the last hatch pattern you inserted with the currently active HATCH command.

Settings

Opens the Hatch and Gradient dialog box, where you can change settings.

MODIFY TOOLBAR

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Modify toolbar is used to access AutoCAD Draw commands can also Modify pulldown menu or
type the command in at the Command line. After you have created some objects in AutoCAD,
objects that make up a technical drawing such as lines and circles or a combination of both, they
are sometimes just not the way you would like them, they may need to be rotated, moved,
copied, scaled larger or smaller, etc. To do these things you need to have a good basic
understanding of some of the AutoCAD editing commands.
In this module these are 12 of the most basic AutoCAD editing commands. With these 12
commands you can do 90 percent of most editing operations. Practice these 12 commands learn
them well. The best way to access these commands is by using the editing toolbar at the right of
the AutoCAD opening screen.

1. Erase – Erase object in the drawing area

2. Copy – Used to copy one or more objects
3. Mirror – Command used to mirror an exact duplicate of an object.
4. Offset – Used to offset one object from another a distance you specify
5. Stretch – Stretch objects crossed by selection window or polygon
6. Array – Use to make a rectangular or polar array of an object
7. Move – Used to move objects around in the drawing area
8. Rotate – Used to rotate an object around a base point
9. Scale – Command used to make an object larger or smaller
10. Trim – Command used to trim an object from another object
11. Chamfer – Used to put a chamfer between two lines
12. Fillet – Used to put a fillet between two lines of a radius you specify
13. Explode- Break a compound object into a component object.

ERASE COMMAND

Command used to erase objects in the drawing area

1. Draw a line and a circle of any length any diameter
2. Click on the ERASE icon in the edit toolbar
3. Select objects: Select all objects that you would like to erase with the pick box. When you are
done selecting objects press ENTER on keyboard. The objects should disappear.

COPY COMMAND

Command used to copy objects in the drawing area

1. Draw a circle any diameter.
2. Click on the COPY icon in the edit toolbar.
3. Select objects: Select the circle with the pick box (on the line) when the circle is highlighted
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press the ENTER key on the keyboard.
4. Select objects: 1 found (This line ask you if you would like to select more objects if not press
ENTER on the keyboard).
5. Specify base point of displacement: Pick with the near the center of the circle
6. Move the object to the location you desire and click down with the mouse.

MIRROR COMMAND

Command used to mirror an object to the side of another object

1.Draw a rectangle any size using the rectangle command
2. Click the MIRROR icon in the edit toolbar
3. Select objects: Select the rectangle with the pick box (on the line)
4. Select objects: Press ENTER on the keyboard 5. Specify point on mirror line: Move your
cursor to the right and above a short distance from the rectangle. Click down with the mouse. 6.
Specify first point of mirror line: Specify second point of mirror line: move your cursor down a
short distance then click down with the mouse
7. Delete source objects Type in: N (Press enter) An exact duplicate of the rectangle you created
in step 2 will be created to the right Note: If you create a mirror line above the rectangle an exact
duplicate of the rectangle will be created above. You can mirror any object in the drawing area
text, lines, circles, views, etc.

OFFSET COMMAND

Command used to offset one object from another

1. Draw a circle and a line of any diameter any length
2. Click on the OFFSET icon in the edit toolbar.
3. Specify offset distance Type int: .50 (press enter)
4. Select object to offset Select the line with the pick box.
5. Specify point on side to offset: Pick just above the line you have selected in step 4 with the

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cursor. An exact duplicate of the first line you selected in step 4 is created just above .50 distance
away. If you would have picked the line you in step an exact duplicate be created .50 below.
6. Select object to offset press ENTER on the keyboard. You can offset almost any object in the
drawing area. You can offset text. You can also offset a circle to the inside or outside itself. To
offset inside a circle click inside the circle. To offset outside the circle click outside the circle

Stretch COMMAND

Select objects

Specifies the portion of the object that you want to stretch. Use the cpolygon option or the
crossing object selection method. Press Enter when the selection is complete.

STRETCH moves only the vertices and endpoints that lie inside the crossing selection, leaving
those outside unchanged. STRETCH does not modify 3D solids, polyline width, tangent, or
curve-fitting information.

Base Point

Specifies the base point from which the offset for the stretch is calculated. This base point can be
outside the area being stretched.

Second point
Specifies a second point that defines the distance and direction of the stretch. The
distance and direction of this point from the base point defines how far the and in what
direction the selected portions of the object will be stretched.

Use first point as displacement

Specifies that the stretch distance and direction will be based on the distance and
direction of the base point you specified from the 0,0,0 coordinates in the drawing.

Displacement

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Specifies the relative distance and direction of the stretch.
 To set a displacement based on the relative distance from the current location, enter
distances in X,Y, Z format. For example, enter 5,4,0 to stretch the selection to a point that is 5
units along the X axis and 4 units along the Y axis from the original point.
 To set the displacement based on the distance and direction from the 0,0,0 coordinates in
the drawing, click a location in the drawing area. For example, click a point at 1,2,0 to stretch
the selection to a point that is 1 unit along the X axis and 2 units along the Y axis from its
current location.
 Press the ESC key on the keyboard to cancel the command.

ARRAY COMMAND

How to do a rectangular array

1. Start a new drawing from scratch.
2. Draw a polygon, 6 sides, inscribed, with a radius of .50
3. Click on the ARRAY icon in the edit toolbar. The array dialog box opens
4. Set ROWS to 6, set COLUMNS to 6.
5. Set ROW OFFSET to 1.5 set COLUMNS OFFSET to 1.50
6. Click on SELECT OBJECTS icon.
7. Select the polygon with the pick box (on the line), Then press ENTER on the keyboard
8. Click on OK
Note: The row and offset distance is taken from the center of the polygon

How to do a polar array

1. Draw two circles diameter
2. Click on the ARRAY icon. The array dialog box opens
3. Click on POLAR ARRAY
4. Click on SELECT OBJECTS icon Click on the small circle (on the line) then press ENTER on
the keyboard.
5. Click on the PICK CENTER POINT icon Type in CEN (press enter), Move the curs over to
the large circle (on the line) when a small circle appears at its centre click down with the mouse
6. Set TOTAL NUMBER OF ITEMS to 6, set ANGLE TO FILL to 360
7. Click on OK. 6 small circles should appear around the larger circle.

SCALE COMMAND

Command used to scale an object larger or smaller in size

1. Draw circle of any diameter
2. Click on the SCALE icon in the edit toolbar
3. Select objects: Select the circle (on the line) then press ENTER on the keyboard

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4. Specify base point: Click near the center of the circle with the cursor.
5. Specify scale factor or reference: Type in 2 press enter on the keyboard. This makes the circle
2 times its original size if you were to type in 50 it would make the circle-half its original size.
This can be done with any object created the AutoCAD drawing area a percentage less than 1
makes the object smaller A percentage more than 1 makes the object bigger.

MOVE COMMAND

Command used to move an object from one location to another in the drawing area
1. Draw a circle of any diameter
2. Click on the MOVE icon in the edit toolbar
3. Select objects: Select the circle (on the line)  then press ENTER on the keyboard
4. Specify basepoint of displacement Select near the center of the circle with the cursor.
5. Specify second point of displacement. If you move your cursor around little in the drawing
area you can see what is called rubber banding
6. Click down the mouse anywhere within the drawing area at the desired location for the move.

ROTATE COMMAND

Command used rotate an object around a point you pick

1. Draw a rectangle with only two equal sides’ rectangle command
2. Click on the ROTATE icon in the edit toolbar
3. Select objects: Select the rectangle (on the line) then press ENTER on the keyboard
4. Specify base point select somewhere near the center of the rectangle with the cursor.
5. Specify rotation angle At this point you can type in an angle of rotation at the command line or
by moving your mouse around you can dynamically see the rotation angle, then click down with
the mouse when you like the rotation angle.

TRIM COMMAND

Command used to trim one line back from another line

1. Draw two overlapping line one horizontal and one vertical
2. Click on the TRIM icon from the edit toolbar
3. Select cutting edges. Select objects: Select the Vertical line with the pick box (this will be
your cutting edge).
4. Press ENTER on the keyboard
5. Select object to trim: Select the horizontal line the part to the right of the vertical line (this is
your object to trim).
6. Press the ESC key on the keyboard to exit the command

CHAMFER COMMAND

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Command use to put a chamfer between two connecting lines
1. Draw a 1″ horizontal line and a 1″ vertical line joined at endpoints.
2. Click on the CHAMFER icon in the edit toolbar 3. Select first line Type in D (press enter)
This is to set the distance of the chamfer.
4. Specify first chamfer distance Type in 25 (press enter)
5. Specify second chamfer distance Type in: 25 (press enter)
6. Select first line Select the horizontal line somewhere close to the endpoint near the vertical
line (But not on the endpoint itself with the pick box.
7. Select second line select the vertical line somewhere close to the endpoint near the horizontal
line (but do not select the endpoint itself with pick box. You should now have a .25 chamfer at
45 degrees. Note: When both chamfer distances are the same the chamfer angle will always be
45 degrees, if you would like a chamfer at an angle other than 45 degrees just make the two
distance settings a different value.

FILLET COMMAND

Command used to put a fillet between two lines 1. Draw a 1″ horizontal Line and a 1″ vertical
line joined at endpoints.
2. Click on the FILLET icon in the edit toolbar.
3. Select first object Type in R (press enter) This is to set the fillet radius.
4. Specify fillet radius Type in .25 (press enter)
5. Select first object: Select the Horizontal line somewhere near the endpoint close to the vertical
line (do not click on the endpoint itself with the pick box.
6. Select second object: Select the vertical line some where near the endpoint close to the
horizontal line (do not pick on the end point itself) with the pick box. Now there should be a
fillet with a radius of .25 between the two lines

EXPLODE COMMAND
The Explode command allows breaking an object into its component objects. Sometime
in AutoCAD you have a group of objects all locked in a single object. We can use the same
analogy to say that a rectangle will be formed by 4 lines.
If you use the command line RECTANG to draw a rectangle, you will notice you can not select a
line of the rectangle without selecting the whole rectangle. We will, in this case, say that the
rectangle is formed by its 4 lines. If you wish to break the rectangle into 4 lines in a way to allow
you to use each line individually, you will need to use the EXPLODE command.
This command can also be used after creating an ARRAY that has Associative elements. To be
able to remove the associative feature of the array, the EXPLODE command can be used.
To use the Explode command in AutoCAD

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1. Active the EXPLODE command using the tool shown on the image below
2. select the object to explode

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