BASIC DRAWING COMMANDS FOR AUTOCAD

Measuring Commands
GRID: Displays a grid of dots at a desired spacing on the screen.
Command: GRID (enter)
On/Off/Tick spacing(x)/Aspect: (enter value) (enter)

SNAP: Specifies a "round off" interval so that points entered with the mouse can be locked into
alignment with the grid spacing.
Command: SNAP (enter)
On/Off/Value/Aspect/Rotate/Style: (enter value) (enter)

Basic Draw Commands

CIRCLE: Draws circles of any size.
Command: Circle (enter)
3P/2P/TTR/<center point>: (pick a center point)
Diameter or <Radius>: (Pick a point on the circle)

LINE: Draws straight lines between two points

Command: LINE (enter)
From Point: (pick a point using the mouse)
To Point: (Pick a point using the mouse)
To Point: (Press return to end the command)

ARC: Draws an arc (any part of a circle or curve) through three known points.
Command: ARC (enter)
Center/ < Start point > : (pick the first point on the arc)
Center/End/ < Second point > : C
Center: (pick the arc's center point)
Angle/Length of chord/ <End point > : (pick the arc endpoint)

Display Commands
LIMITS: Sets the size of the drawing paper. For size "A" drawing paper the limits should be set for 10.5 x 8.
Command: LIMITS (enter)
On/Off/Lower left corner <0.0000> (enter)
Upper right corner: 10.5,8 (enter)

ZOOM: Enlarges or reduces the display of a drawing.

Command: ZOOM (enter)
All/Center/Dynamic/Extents/Left/Previous/Vmax/Window/<Scale(x/XP)>:
(pick a point to define one corner of a rectangular viewing window then pick a point to define the second point to define
the opposite diagonal corner of the viewing window)

Note: To return the picture to its original viewing size enter ALL and press the enter key when prompted instead of defining
a window.

PAN: Allows you to move your view point around the drawing without changing the magnification factor.
Command: PAN (enter)

Editing Commands
CHANGE: Alters properties of selected objects
Command: CHANGE (enter)
Select objects or window or Last (select objects to be changed)
Properties/<Change point>: (type P)
Change what property (Color/Elev/LAyer/LType/Thickness)? (type Layer)
New Layer: (enter new layer name and press enter)

ERASE: Erases entities from the drawing.

Command: ERASE (enter)
Select objects or Window or Last: (Select objects to be erased and press enter when finished)

EXTEND: Lengthens a line to end precisely at a boundary edge.

Command: Extend (enter)
 Select boundary edge(s)...
Select Objects (pick the line which represents the boundary edge which lines will be extended to)
(press enter when finished selecting cutting edges)
<Select object to extend>/Undo: (pick the line(s) that need to be extended

TRIM: Trims a line to end precisely at a cutting edge.

Command: Trim (enter)
Select cutting edge(s)...
Select Objects (pick the line which represents the cutting edge of line in which objects trimmed to)
(press enter when finished selecting cutting edges)
<Select object to trim>/Undo: (pick the line(s) that need to be trimmed)

GRIPS You can edit selected objects by manipulating grips that appear at defining points on the object. Grips is not a command.
To activate grips simply pick the object. Small squares will appear at various entity-specific positions. By selecting an end
grip you can stretch the entity to change its size. By selecting the center grip you can move the entity to a new location. To
remove grips press CTL-C twice. You can perform the following using grips: Copy, Multiple Copy, Stretch, Move, Rotate,
Scale, and Mirror.

Creating Layers
LAYER: Creates named drawing layers and assigns color and linetype properties to those layers.
Command: LAYER (enter)
A Layer & Linetype Properties dialog box will be displayed. To add a new layer, pick the New button. A new layer listing
appears, using a default name of Layer1. the layer name can be changed by highlighting the layer name. Colors and
Linetypes can be assigned to each new layer by picking the color box to assign a color and picking the linetype box to assign
a line type.

Standard AutoCAD colors

1 = Red 2 = Yellow 3 = Green 4 = Cyan
5 = Blue 6 = Magenta 7 = White

Standard AutoCAD linetypes

Hidden2 = hidden lines
Center2 = center lines
Phantom2 = phantom or cutting-plane lines

Construction Commands
ARRAY: Makes multiple copies of selected objects in a rectangular or circular pattern
Command: ARRAY (enter)
Select objects or Window or Last: (select object to array)
Rectangular or Polar array (R/P) <current>: (P)
Center point of array: (pick the point around which to form the array)
Angle to fill (+=CCW, -=Cw) <360>: (enter)

COPY: Draws a copy of selected objects.

Command: COPY (enter)
Select objects or Window or Last: (select objects to be copied)
Base point or displacement: (pick a point on the object to be use as a reference point)
Second point of displacement: (pick a point which represents the new location of the copied
object)

MIRROR: Makes mirror images of existing objects.

Command: MIRROR (enter)
Select objects or Window or Last: (select objects to be mirrored)
First point of mirror line: (pick a point on top of the mirror line)
Second point: (pick a point on the bottom of the mirror line)
Delete old objects? <N> y or n (enter)

MOVE: Moves designated entities to another location.

Command: MOVE (enter)
Select objects or Window or Last: (select objects to move)
Base point or displacement: (pick a point on the object to be use as a reference point)
Second point of displacement: (pick a point which represents the new location of the object)
OFFSET: Constructs an entity parallel to another entity at a specified distance. Offset can be used with lines, circles, arcs,
and polylines.
2
 Command: OFFSET (enter)
Offset distance or Through <last>: (enter a distance value)
Select object to offset: (select object to offset)
Side to offset: (Pick any point on the side of the object you wish to offset)

FILLET: Changes any corner to a rounded corner.

Command: FILLET
Polyline/Radius/Angle/Trim/Method/ <Select first line > : (pick the first line)
Select second line: (pick the second line)

CHAMFER: Changes any corner to an angled corner.

Command: CHAMFER
Polyline/Distance/Angle/Trim/Method/ < Select first line > : (pick the first line)
Select second line: (pick the second line)

OSNAP: Instantly locates exact points relative to existing objects (points).

Object Snap Modes: Endpoint, Midpoint, Center, Quadrant, Intersection, Insertion, Perpendicular, Tangent,
Nearest, Node, and None.

Placing lettering on a drawing

TEXT: Draws text characters of any size.
Command: TEXT (enter)
Justify/Style/<Start point>: (pick a starting point or enter a justification letter)
Height (0) (enter the height of the lettering)
Rotation Angle (0) (enter)
Text: (enter the desired lettering) (enter)

Summary of Options
<Start Point> Left-Justifies text along its baseline
Justify Justifies text according to the alignment options
Style Enters a new text style
Null reply Enters a new line of text below the previous text.
(space or Enter key will give a Null reply)

Text Alignment Options

Alignment Abbreviation Orientation
Aligned A Aligns text between two points. Text
height will adjust automatically
Fit F Fits text between two points. Text height
will not change
Centered C Centers text at the baseline of a specified
point
Middle M Centers text horizontally and vertically at
the baseline of a specified point
Right R Right Justify text at the baseline of a
specified point
Alignment Abbreviation Orientation
Top Left TL Left Justifies text at the top of text
Top Center TC Centers text at the top of text
Top Right TR Right justifies text at the top to text
Middle Left ML Left justifies text at the middle of text
Middle Center MC Centers text both horizontally and vertically
at the middle of the text
Middle Right MR Right justifies text at the middle of text
Bottom Left BL Left justifies text at the bottom of text
Bottom Center BC Centers text a the bottom of text
Bottom Right BR Right justifies text at the bottom of text

The SPELL command will check the spelling of a group of text.

Measuring Commands
GRID: Displays a grid of dots at a desired spacing on the screen.
Command: GRID (enter)
3
 On/Off/Tick spacing(x)/Aspect: (enter value) (enter)

SNAP: Specifies a "round off" interval so that points entered with the mouse can be locked into alignment with the grid spacing.
Command: SNAP (enter)
On/Off/Value/Aspect/Rotate/Style: (enter value) (enter)
Basic Draw Commands
CIRCLE: Draws circles of any size.
Command: Circle (enter)
3P/2P/TTR/<center point>: (pick a center point)
Diameter or <Radius>: (Pick a point on the circle)

LINE: Draws straight lines between two points

Command: LINE (enter)
From Point: (pick a point using the mouse)
To Point: (Pick a point using the mouse)
To Point: (Press return to end the command)

ARC: Draws an arc (any part of a circle or curve) through three known points.
Command: ARC (enter)
Center/ < Start point >: (pick the first point on the arc)
Center/End/ < Second point >: C
Center: (pick the arc's center point)
Angle/Length of chord/ <End point >: (pick the arc endpoint)

Display Commands
LIMITS: Sets the size of the drawing paper. For size "A" drawing paper the limits should be set for 10.5 x 8.
Command: LIMITS (enter)
On/Off/Lower left corner <0.0000> (enter)
Upper right corner: 10.5,8 (enter)
ZOOM: Enlarges or reduces the display of a drawing.
Command: ZOOM (enter)
All/Center/Dynamic/Extents/Left/Previous/Vmax/Window/<Scale(x/XP)>:
(Pick a point to define one corner of a rectangular viewing window then pick a point to define the second point to define the
opposite diagonal corner of the viewing window)

Note: To return the picture to its original viewing size enter ALL and press the enter key when prompted instead of defining
a window.
TRIM: Trims a line to end precisely at a cutting edge.
Command: Trim (enter)
Select cutting edge(s)...
Select Objects (pick the line which represents the cutting edge of line in which objects will be trimmed to)
(press enter when finished selecting cutting edges)
<Select object to trim>/Undo: (pick the line(s) that need to be trimmed)
Construction Commands
ARRAY: Makes multiple copies of selected objects in a rectangular or circular pattern
Command: ARRAY (enter)
Select objects or Window or last: (select object to array)
Rectangular or Polar array (R/P) <current>: (P)
Center point of array: (pick the point around which to form the array)

COPY: Draws a copy of selected objects.

Command: COPY (enter)
Select objects or Window or Last: (select objects to be copied)
Base point or displacement: (pick a point on the object to be use as a reference point)
Second point of displacement: (pick a point which represents the new location of the copied object)
OSNAP: Instantly locates exact points relative to existing objects (points).
Object Snap Modes: Endpoint, Midpoint, Center, Quadrant, Intersection, Insertion, Perpendicular, Tangent,
Nearest, Node, and None.