About the Authors

George Omura is a licensed architect, Autodesk Authorized Author, and CAD specialist with more than 27 years of experience in AutoCAD and over 35 years of experience in architecture. He has worked on design projects ranging from resort hotels to metropolitan transit systems. George has written numerous other AutoCAD books for Sybex, including Introducing AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 and Mastering AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD LT 2012.

Brian C. Benton is a senior engineering technician, CAD service provider, technical writer, and blogger. He has over 20 years of experience in various design fields (mechanical, structural, civil, survey, marine, environmental) and is well versed in many design software packages (CAD, GIS, Graphics). He is Cadalyst magazine’s Tip Patroller, AUGI HotNews production manager, and Infinite Skills AutoCAD training video author.

Introduction

Welcome to Mastering AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT 2014. As many readers have already discovered, this book is a unique blend of tutorial and reference that includes everything you need to get started and stay ahead with Autodesk® AutoCAD® software. With this edition, you get coverage of the latest features of both AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT 2014 software along with detailed information on existing features.

How to Use This Book

Rather than just showing you how each command works, this book shows you AutoCAD 2014 in the context of a meaningful activity. You’ll learn how to use commands while working on an actual project and progressing toward a goal. This book also provides a foundation on which you can build your own methods for using AutoCAD and become an AutoCAD expert. For this reason, we haven’t covered every single command or every permutation of a command response. You should think of this book as a way to get a detailed look at AutoCAD as it’s used on a real project. As you follow the exercises, we also encourage you to explore AutoCAD on your own, applying the techniques you learn to your own work.

Both experienced and beginning AutoCAD users will find this book useful. If you aren’t an experienced user, the way to get the most out of this book is to approach it as a tutorial—chapter by chapter, at least for the first two parts of the book. You’ll find that each chapter builds on the skills and information you learned in the previous one. To help you navigate, the exercises are shown in numbered steps. To address the needs of all readers worldwide, the exercises provide both Imperial (feet/inches) and metric measurements. Some exercises use generic units of measurement or if the focus of the exercise is not dependent on the measurement system, Imperial is used.

After you’ve mastered the material in Parts 1 and 2, you can follow your interests and explore other parts of the book in whatever order you choose. Part 3 takes you to a more advanced skill level. There you’ll learn more about storing and sharing drawing data and how to create more complex drawings. If you’re interested in 3D, check out Part 4. If you want to start customizing right away, go to Part 5. You can check out Chapters 27 and 28 at any time because they give you general information about sharing AutoCAD files with your coworkers and consultants. Chapter 28 focuses on the Sheet Set Manager, which offers a way to organize your multisheet projects.

You can also use this book as a ready reference for your day-to-day problems and questions about commands. Optional exercises at the end of each chapter will help you review and look at different ways to apply the information you’ve learned. Experienced users will also find this book a handy reference tool.

Finally, if you run into problems using AutoCAD, see the section “When Things Go Wrong” in Bonus Chapter 3, “Hardware and Software Tips.” You’ll find a list of the most common issues that users face when first learning AutoCAD.

AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT 2014

Autodesk has released both AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT 2014 simultaneously. Not surprisingly, they’re nearly identical in the way they look and work. You can share files between the two programs with complete confidence that you won’t lose data or corrupt files. The main differences are that AutoCAD LT doesn’t support all the 3D functions of AutoCAD 2014, nor does it support the customization tools of AutoLISP® or the .NET Framework. But AutoCAD LT still has plenty to offer in both the productivity and customization areas. Because they’re so similar, we can present material for both programs with only minor adjustments.

When a feature is discussed that is available only in AutoCAD 2014, you’ll see the AutoCAD Only icon.

For the purposes of this publication, the “ACAD only” icon means the relevant (or adjacent) content applies only to AutoCAD® software and not to AutoCAD LT® software.

You’ll also see warning messages when tutorials vary between AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT. If only minor differences occur, you’ll see either a warning message or directions embedded in the tutorial indicating the differences between the two programs.

We’ve also provided workaround instructions wherever possible when AutoCAD LT doesn’t offer a feature found in AutoCAD 2014.

Getting Information Fast

In each chapter, you’ll find extensive tips and discussions in the form of sidebars set off from the main text. These provide a wealth of information we have gathered over years of using AutoCAD on a variety of projects in different office environments. You may want to browse through the book and read these boxes just to get an idea of how they might be useful to you.

Another quick reference you’ll find yourself using often is Bonus Chapter 4, “System Variables and Dimension Styles.” It contains descriptions of all the dimension settings with comments on their uses. If you experience any problems, you can consult the section “When Things Go Wrong” in Bonus Chapter 3.

The Mastering Series

The Mastering series from Sybex provides outstanding instruction for readers with intermediate and advanced skills in the form of top-notch training and development for those already working in their field, and clear, serious education for those aspiring to become pros. Every Mastering book includes the following:

• Skill-based instruction, with chapters organized around real tasks rather than abstract concepts or subjects
• Self-review test questions, so you can be certain you’re equipped to do the job right

What to Expect

Mastering AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT 2014 is divided into five parts, each representing a milestone in your progress toward becoming an expert AutoCAD user. Here is a description of those parts and what they will show you.

Part 1: The Basics

As with any major endeavor, you must begin by tackling small, manageable tasks. In this first part, you’ll become familiar with the way AutoCAD looks and feels.

• Chapter 1, “Exploring the Interface,” shows you how to get around in AutoCAD.
• Chapter 2, “Creating Your First Drawing,” details how to start and exit the program and how to respond to AutoCAD commands.
• Chapter 3, “Setting Up and Using the Drafting Tools,” tells you how to set up a work area, edit objects, and lay out a drawing.
• Chapter 4, “Organizing Objects with Blocks and Groups,” explores some tools unique to CAD: symbols, blocks, and layers. As you’re introduced to AutoCAD, you’ll also get a chance to make some drawings that you can use later in the book and perhaps even in future projects of your own.
• Chapter 5, “Keeping Track of Layers and Blocks,” shows you how to use layers to keep similar information together and object properties such as linetypes to organize things visually.

Part 2: Mastering Intermediate Skills

After you have the basics down, you’ll begin to explore some of the more subtle qualities of AutoCAD.

• Chapter 6, “Editing and Reusing Data to Work Efficiently,” tells you how to reuse drawing setup information and parts of an existing drawing.
• Chapter 7, “Mastering Viewing Tools, Hatches, and External References,” details how to use viewing tools and hatches and how to assemble and edit a large drawing file.
• Chapter 8, “Introducing Printing, Plotting, and Layouts,” shows you how to get your drawing onto hard copy.
• Chapter 9, “Understanding Plot Styles,” discusses methods for controlling lineweights and shading in your printer output.
• Chapter 10, “Adding Text to Drawings,” tells you how to annotate your drawing and edit your notes.
• Chapter 11, “Using Fields and Tables,” shows you how to add spreadsheet functionality to your drawings.
• Chapter 12, “Using Dimensions,” gives you practice in using automatic dimensioning (another unique CAD capability).

Part 3: Mastering Advanced Skills

At this point, you’ll be on the verge of becoming a real AutoCAD expert. Part 3 is designed to help you polish your existing skills and give you a few new ones.

• Chapter 13, “Using Attributes,” tells you how to attach information to drawing objects and how to export that information to database and spreadsheet files.
• Chapter 14, “Copying Existing Drawings from Other Sources,” details techniques for transferring paper drawings to AutoCAD. You’ll also learn how to include aerial and map views in your drawings.
• Chapter 15, “Advanced Editing and Organizing,” is where you’ll complete the apartment building tutorial. During this process you’ll learn how to integrate what you’ve learned so far and gain some tips on working in groups.
• Chapter 16, “Laying Out Your Printer Output,” shows you the tools that let you display your drawing in an organized fashion.
• Chapter 17, “Making ‘Smart’ Drawings with Parametric Tools,” introduces you to parametric drawing. This feature lets you quickly modify a drawing by changing a few parameters.
• Chapter 18, “Using Dynamic Blocks,” shows you how you can create blocks that can be edited with grips without having to redefine them.
• Chapter 19, “Drawing Curves,” gives you an in-depth look at some special drawing objects, such as splines and fitted curves.
• Chapter 20, “Getting and Exchanging Data from Drawings,” is where you’ll practice getting information about a drawing and learn how AutoCAD can interact with other applications, such as spreadsheets and page layout programs. You’ll also learn how to copy and paste data.

Part 4: 3D Modeling and Imaging

Although 2D drafting is the workhorse application in AutoCAD, its 3D capabilities give you a chance to expand your ideas and look at them in a new light.

• Chapter 21, “Creating 3D Drawings,” covers basic features for creating three-dimensional drawings.
• Chapter 22, “Using Advanced 3D Features,” introduces you to some of the program’s more powerful 3D capabilities.
• Chapter 23, “Rendering 3D Drawings,” shows how you can use AutoCAD to produce lifelike views of your 3D drawings.
• Chapter 24, “Editing and Visualizing 3D Solids,” takes a closer look at 3D solids and how they can be created, edited, and displayed in AutoCAD 2014.
• Chapter 25, “Exploring 3D Mesh and Surface Modeling,” introduces you to free-form 3D modeling using mesh and surface objects. With this latest addition to AutoCAD, there isn’t anything you can’t model in 3D.

Part 5: Customization and Integration

One of greatest strengths of AutoCAD is its openness to customization, which you’ll explore in this section.

• Chapter 26, “Customizing Toolbars, Menus, Linetypes, and Hatch Patterns,” shows you how to use workspaces, customize the user interface, and create custom linetypes and hatch patterns. You’ll also be introduced to the Diesel macro language.
• Chapter 27, “Managing and Sharing Your Drawings,” shows you how to adapt AutoCAD to your own work style. You’ll learn about the tools that help you exchange drawings with others and how to secure your drawings to prevent tampering.
• Chapter 28, “Keeping a Project Organized with Sheet Sets,” shows you how to use the new Sheet Set Manager to simplify your file management. By using the Sheet Set Manager, you can automate some of the tedious drawing coordination tasks.

The Appendices

Finally, this book has several appendices.

• Appendix A, “The Bottom Line,” contains the solutions to the book’s Master It review questions.
• Appendix B, “Installing and Setting Up AutoCAD,” contains an installation and configuration tutorial. If AutoCAD isn’t already installed on your system, follow the steps in this tutorial before starting Chapter 1.

• Appendix C, “The Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2014 Certification,” shows you where in the book the learning objectives are covered for the Certified User, Certified Associate, and Certified Professional Exams. If you want to get certified, this information will be very useful.

Where to Get the Tutorial Files and Bonus Chapters

Many of the exercises in this book make use of sample files that you can download from the following website: www.sybex.com/go/masteringautocad2014. With these files, you can pick up an exercise anywhere you like without having to work through the book from front to back. You can also use these sample files to repeat exercises or to just explore how files are organized and put together. You can also download additional bonus chapters that cover other AutoCAD features:

• Bonus Chapter 1, “Using the Express Tools,” gives you a gentle introduction to the world of AutoCAD customization. You’ll learn how to load and use existing Express tools that expand the software’s functionality, and you’ll be introduced to AutoLISP as a tool to create macros.
• Bonus Chapter 2, “Exploring AutoLISP,” is a primer to this popular macro language found in AutoCAD. You’ll learn how you can create custom commands built on existing ones and how you can retrieve and store locations and other data.
• Bonus Chapter 3, “Hardware and Software Tips,” provides information about hardware related to AutoCAD. It also offers tips on improving the performance of AutoCAD and troubleshooting and provides more detailed information on setting up the plotting feature.
• Bonus Chapter 4, “System Variables and Dimension Styles,” provides a reference to dimension style settings.

The Minimum System Requirements

This book assumes you have a Windows-based PC with at least a dual-core processor or equivalent CPU. Your computer should have at least one DVD drive and a hard disk with 2 GB or more of free space for the AutoCAD program files and about 120 MB of additional space for sample files and the workspace. In addition to these requirements, you should have enough free disk space to allow for a Windows virtual memory page file that is about 1.5 times the amount of installed RAM. Consult your Windows manual or Bonus Chapter 3 of this book for more on virtual memory.

AutoCAD 2014 runs best on systems with at least 2 GB or more of RAM, although you can get by with 1 GB. Your computer should also have a high-resolution monitor and an up-to-date display card. An SVGA display with a resolution of 1024×768 or greater will work fine with AutoCAD, but if you want to take full advantage of the new 3D features, you should have a 128 MB or greater, OpenGL-capable, workstation-class graphics card. If you intend to use a digitizer tablet, you’ll need one free USB port available. We also assume you’re using a mouse and have the use of a printer or a plotter. Finally, you’ll need an Internet connection to take full advantage of the support offerings from Autodesk.

If you want a more detailed explanation of hardware options with AutoCAD, see Bonus Chapter 3. You’ll find a general description of the available hardware options and their significance to AutoCAD.

Doing Things in Style

Much care has been taken to see that the stylistic conventions in this book—the use of uppercase or lowercase letters, italic or boldface type, and so on—are the ones most likely to help you learn AutoCAD. On the whole, their effect should be subliminal. However, you may find it useful to be conscious of the following rules:

• Menu selections are shown by a series of options separated by the ⇒ symbol (for example, choose File ⇒ New). These are typically used to show selections from a context menu or the Application menu, which you will learn about in Chapter 1.
• Keyboard entries are shown in boldface (for example, enter Rotate↵).
• Command-line prompts are shown in a monospaced font (for example, Select objects:).

For most functions, this book describes how to select options from Ribbon panels and the Application menu. In addition, where applicable, we include related keyboard shortcuts and command names in parentheses. These command names provide continuity for readers who are accustomed to working at the Command prompt.

New Features of AutoCAD 2014

AutoCAD 2014 has a long list of new features, many of which are aimed at making your work easier and faster. Some features like AutoCAD® WS and Autodesk Exchange are web tools that help you share your work, keep up with the latest on AutoCAD, and discuss issues you may be having. Here are some of the new features we cover in this book:

• Improved online help and collaboration tools
• A redesigned command line with Autocorrect and Autocomplete capabilities
• File tabs that allow quick navigation between open files
• Full-screen previews of files through the file tabs
• A layer merge option in the Layer Manager
• Improved Xref management options to switch from attached to overlay Xrefs
• Aerial and map backgrounds with the geographic location tools
• Improved point cloud support
• Improved executable file security

Contact the Authors

We hope that Mastering AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT 2014 will be of benefit to you and that, after you’ve completed the tutorials, you’ll continue to use the book as a reference. If you have comments, criticism, or ideas about how the book can be improved, you can email us at the following addresses:

George Omura: george.omura@gmail.com

Brian C. Benton: bbenton@cad-a-blog.com

If you find errors, please let our publisher know. Visit the book’s web page, www.sybex.com/go/masteringautocad2014, and click the Errata link to find a form to use to identify the problem.

And thanks for choosing Mastering AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT 2014.

Part 1

The Basics

• Chapter 1: Exploring the Interface
• Chapter 2: Creating Your First Drawing
• Chapter 3: Setting Up and Using the Drafting Tools
• Chapter 4: Organizing Objects with Blocks and Groups
• Chapter 5: Keeping Track of Layers and Blocks

Chapter 1

Exploring the Interface

Before you can start to use the new capabilities of the AutoCAD® 2014 software, you must become familiar with the basics. If you’re completely new to AutoCAD, you’ll want to read this first chapter carefully. It introduces you to many basic operations of AutoCAD, such as opening and closing files, getting a close-up look at part of a drawing, and changing a drawing. If you’re familiar with earlier versions of AutoCAD, you should review this chapter anyway to get acquainted with the features you haven’t already used.

Autodesk releases new versions of AutoCAD every year. Part of this strategy is to introduce improvements that focus on a particular category of features. This latest version, AutoCAD 2014, includes new and improved features that are related to the command input and GIS.

The command line has been beefed up to be more interactive and intuitive. It offers an autocorrect feature and can display suggestions, much like the way some popular web browsers work.

The ability to make objects appear transparent has also been improved.

Autodesk has discovered that the number of users making use of point cloud scanning is on the upswing, so with this version, you’ll see some new features that will allow you to make smoother use of real-world references with point clouds, with controls similar to those in other referenced files. A new adjunct program called ReCap is available to help you import point cloud data into AutoCAD. You’ll get a chance to explore these new features and many more as you work through this book.

Before you begin the exercise later in this chapter, make sure that you have loaded the sample files from this book’s web page at http://www.sybex.com/go/masteringautocad2014. See the introduction for details. If you have purchased the e-book version, please see the introduction for instructions on how to download the sample files.

In this chapter, you will learn to:

• Use the AutoCAD window
• Get a closer look with the Zoom command
• Save a file as you work
• Make changes and open multiple files

Taking a Guided Tour

First, you’ll get a chance to familiarize yourself with the AutoCAD screen and how you communicate with AutoCAD. As you do the exercises in this chapter, you’ll also get a feel for how to work with this book. Don’t worry about understanding or remembering everything you see in this chapter. You’ll get plenty of opportunities to probe the finer details of the program as you work through the later chapters. To help you remember the material, we have included a brief set of questions at the end of each chapter. For now, just enjoy your first excursion into AutoCAD.

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AutoCAD References in This Book

In this chapter and throughout the rest of the book, when we say AutoCAD, we mean both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT®. Some topics apply only to AutoCAD. In those situations, you’ll see an icon indicating that the topic applies only to AutoCAD and not to AutoCAD LT. If you’re using AutoCAD LT 2014, these icons can help you focus on the topics that are more relevant to your work by letting you skim over items that do not apply.

AutoCAD 2014 is designed to run on Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows 8. This book was written using AutoCAD 2014 running on Windows XP Professional.

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Launching AutoCAD

If you’ve already installed AutoCAD (see Appendix B, “Installing and Setting Up AutoCAD”) and are ready to jump in and take a look, proceed with the following steps to launch the program:

1. Choose Start ⇒ All Programs ⇒ Autodesk ⇒ AutoCAD 2014 ⇒ AutoCAD 2014. You can also double-click the AutoCAD 2014 icon on your Windows Desktop. AutoCAD LT users will use AutoCAD LT 2014 in place of AutoCAD 2014.

2. The AutoCAD window displays a blank default document named Drawing1.dwg. Users may see the Sheet Set Manager palette to the left of the AutoCAD window. AutoCAD LT users may see the Info palette to the left of the AutoCAD window.

If you’re using the trial version, you’ll see the Product License Activation window before step 2. This window shows you the number of days you have left in the trial version. It also enables you to activate the product if you purchase a license. Click the Try button to continue opening the program. Now let’s look at the AutoCAD window in detail. Don’t worry if it seems like a lot of information. You don’t have to memorize it, but by looking at all the parts, you’ll be aware of what is available in a general way.

The AutoCAD Window

The AutoCAD program window is divided into several parts:

• Application menu
• Quick Access toolbar
• InfoCenter
• Ribbon
• Drawing tabs
• Drawing area
• UCS icon (User Coordinate System icon)
• Viewport Controls
• ViewCube®
• Navigation bar
• Command window
• Status bar

Figure 1-1 shows a typical layout of the AutoCAD program window. You can organize the AutoCAD window into any arrangement you want and save it as a workspace. You can save and recall a workspace at any time using the Workspace Switching tool in the Quick Access toolbar. (You’ll learn more about this tool in the next chapter.) The default workspace in Figure 1-1 is called the Drafting & Annotation workspace and is one of several workspaces built into AutoCAD.

Figure 1-1 A typical arrangement of the elements in the AutoCAD window

Figure 1-2 shows the AutoCAD 3D Modeling workspace, which has a different set of Ribbon panels. It also shows an AutoCAD drawing file using one of the 3D modeling templates in AutoCAD. Beneath these external changes, the underlying program is the same.

Figure 1-2 The 3D Modeling workspace offers an alternative set of menus whereas the 3D drawing template displays the drawing space in 3D.

You’ll learn more about workspaces and templates later in this chapter and in Chapter 26, “Customizing Toolbars, Menus, Linetypes, and Hatch Patterns.”

In the upper-left corner of the AutoCAD program window, the red AutoCAD icon displays the Application menu, which offers a set of options not directly related to drawing; we’ll elaborate on this menu in the next section. The Quick Access toolbar at the top of the drawing area (shown in Figure 1-3) includes the basic file-handling functions that you find in nearly all Windows programs. The InfoCenter is the AutoCAD online help facility; you’ll learn more about it in Chapter 2, “Creating Your First Drawing.” The Ribbon uses icons to provide nearly all the commands you’ll need; you’ll learn more about it in the section “Using the Ribbon” later in this chapter.

Figure 1-3 The Quick Access toolbar, featuring basic Windows file-handling functions, appears above the Ribbon.

The drawing area occupies most of the screen. Everything you draw appears in this area. As you move your mouse around, crosshairs appear to move within the drawing area. This is the drawing cursor that lets you point to locations in the drawing area. You’ll get your first chance to work with the drawing area later, in the section “Picking Points in the Drawing Area.”

Just above the drawing area are the Drawing tabs that let you create new drawings or switch between open drawings in a way similar to popular web browsers. Notice the “x” in the current tab that lets you close the current drawing, and the plus icon just to the right of the tab that lets you create a new drawing or open an existing one. When you click the plus icon, the Select Template dialog box appears, allowing you to start a new drawing. Right-click on the plus icon, and a context menu opens that offers you the option to open an existing drawing, to save all of the currently open drawings, or to close all of the drawings.

If you hover over the Drawing tab, you’ll see preview images of the model and layouts of the drawing. You’ll learn more about model and layout spaces later in this chapter.

Within the drawing area, you see several items along the side and in the corners. The UCS icon appears in the lower-left corner. You’ll learn more about the UCS icon in a moment (see the section “Using the UCS Icon”). In the upper-right corner, you see the ViewCube. The ViewCube is primarily for 3D modeling, and you’ll learn more about it in Chapter 21, “Creating 3D Drawings.” You’ll also see a Navigation bar along the right edge of the AutoCAD window. This bar offers tools you can use to get around in your drawing. Basic tools like Zoom and Pan can be found here as well as some advanced tools for viewing 3D models.

The Viewport controls in the upper-left corner of the drawing area offer menu options to control 3D and 2D views and visual styles and duplicate some of the functions of the ViewCube. You’ll learn more about the Viewport controls when you explore 3D modeling in Chapter 25, “Exploring 3D Mesh and Surface Modeling.”

Just below the drawing area in the lower-left corner are the Model and Layout tabs. These tabs enable you to switch quickly between different types of views called the model and layout views. You’ll get to see firsthand how these work in a section called “Working with AutoCAD” later in this chapter.

The Command window, located just below the drawing area, gives you feedback about the AutoCAD commands as you use them. You can move and resize this window just as you move and resize other display components. By default, the Command window is in its undocked position, as shown in Figure 1-4. We’ll elaborate on the Command window in the section “Working in the Command Window” later in this chapter.

Figure 1-4 The Command window and the status bar

Below the Command window is the status bar (also shown in Figure 1-4). The status bar gives you information at a glance about the state of the drawing. For example, the coordinate readout at the far left of the status bar tells you the location of your cursor. The tools in the status bar offer aids to the drafting process.

Using the Application Menu

The Application menu offers tools to help you manage your AutoCAD files. It is basically the File pull-down menu from previous versions of AutoCAD. Try it out to see how it works:

1. Click the Application menu icon in the upper-left corner of the AutoCAD window. A list of options appears.

2. Move the cursor slowly down the list of options in the left column. As you highlight the options, additional options appear in a column to the right.

3. Highlight the Export option to see the various formats available for export (see Figure 1-5).

Figure 1-5 The Export option in the Application menu showing the list of export options

The Application menu also gives you a convenient way to find recently used files or to get to a file you already have open. If you move your cursor away from the list of options to the left in the Application menu, you’ll see Recent Documents in the upper-left portion of the menu. You’ll also see two icon tools, named Open Documents and Recent Documents (see Figure 1-6).

The Open Documents option lets you quickly change from one open file to another when you are viewing your files full-screen. The Recent Documents option displays a list of documents on which you’ve recently worked.

You can use the View tool in the upper-right portion of the Application menu to select the way the list of files is displayed in a manner similar to the way you would use the Windows Explorer View option. You can click this icon and select Small Images to have the list display the files with thumbnail images of their content. Hover over a filename and you will see a tool tip that displays a larger thumbnail of the drawing.

Figure 1-6 The Open Documents and Recent Documents tools

Using the Ribbon

The most prominent feature in the AutoCAD window, besides the drawing area, is the Ribbon (see Figure 1-7). This is where you’ll be selecting tools to draw, edit, or perform other functions. The Ribbon contains a set of panels representing groups of tools and features. The name of each Ribbon panel is found in its title bar at the bottom of the panel. Ribbon panels are further organized by the tabs that appear above them. Each tool in the Ribbon offers a tool tip and cue card that provides a short description to help you understand what the tool icon represents.

Figure 1-7 A typical cue card from a Ribbon panel tool

If you see only the Ribbon tabs, click the arrowhead button in the Ribbon Control tool. If you don’t even see the tabs, type Ribbon↵.

Move the arrow cursor onto one of the Ribbon panel tools and leave it there for a moment; you’ll see a tool tip appear just below the cursor. Hold the cursor there a bit longer and the tool tip changes to give you even more information about the tool.

In most cases, you’ll be able to guess what each tool does by looking at its icon. The icon with an arc in the Draw Ribbon panel, for instance, indicates that the tool draws arcs; the one with the circle shows that the tool draws circles; and so on. For further clarification, the tool tip gives you the name of the tool.

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Communicating with the Command Window and Dynamic Input Display

AutoCAD is the perfect servant: It does everything you tell it to do and no more. You communicate with AutoCAD by using tools and menu options. These devices invoke AutoCAD commands. A command is a single-word instruction you give to AutoCAD telling it to do something, such as draw a line (the Line tool in the Draw Ribbon panel) or erase an object (the Erase tool in the Modify Ribbon panel). Whenever you invoke a command, either by typing it or selecting an option or tool, AutoCAD responds by presenting messages to you in the Command window and the Dynamic Input display or by displaying a dialog box. The Dynamic Input display is the display of information that appears at the cursor and consists of messages, dimensions, and coordinates.