MODULE I - INTRODUCTION TO CAD SOFTWARE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Start AutoCAD program
2. Understand AutoCAD Workspaces
3. Recognize all of the features in the AutoCAD Window

User Interface of AutoCAD

The AutoCAD User Interface was intended to be instinctive and easy to understand. Regardless of
whether you are at the learner's level for AutoCAD, you should even now have the option to
effortlessly explore through the product.

The Start Tab

The Start tab is shown at startup, giving simple access to a variety of beginning activities, including
access to drawing format files, as of late opened drawings and sheet sets, and on the web and
learning alternatives.

Upon first opening the program, you can either begin drawing from a format of your decision, or
open an ongoing document.
 Autodesk AutoCAD User Interface

Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Explore the User Interface
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-53EC6386-50E6-4983-
A2BE-33BFB46F495B

Accessing Common Tools

In the Application menu, access common tools to start or publish a file

Click the Application button to do the following:

 Create, open, or save a file

 Audit, recover, and purge a file
 Print or publish a file
 Access the Options dialog box
 Close the application

Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Explore the User Interface
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-D976938F-5EE4-4B63-
81C6-51175D8B4C34
Quick Access Toolbar
Quick Access toolbar shown below includes familiar commands such as New, Open, Save, Print,
Undo, and so on.

View Undo and Redo History

Quick Access toolbar displays options to undo and redo changes to your work. To undo or redo a
less recent change, click the drop-down button to the right of either the Undo or the Redo button.

Add Commands and Controls

By clicking the indicated drop-down button and clicking your choices from the drop-down menu,
you can easily add commonly used tools to the Quick Access toolbar
Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Explore the User Interface
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-BC96A2AA-2AEE-47C0-
B1F2-85F8B60663D6

Drawing Area
You can create and modify objects in the drawing area.
The Mouse
Many people utilize a mouse as their pointing device, yet different devices have identical controls.

Viewing
To better control the order of overlapping objects, zoom in your drawing. The easiest way to
change your view is by using the mouse wheel.

 Zoom in or out by rolling the wheel.

 Pan a view in any direction by holding the wheel down while moving your mouse.
 Zoom in on a specific area for greater detail holding your mouse over the area and clicking
the wheel twice.
Shortcut Menus

Reference:

 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Explore the User Interface

 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-D4A2C069-3AAD-492D-
84C2-4134C7031B2F
The Ribbon

Ribbon Tabs and Panels

The ribbon is composed of a series of tabs, which are organized into panels that contain many of
the tools and controls available in toolbars.

The dialog box launcher is denoted by an arrow icon in the lower-right corner of the panel. Click
it to display the related dialog box.

Right-click the ribbon and click or clear the names of tabs or panels listed on the shortcut menu to
control which ribbon tabs and panels you want to display.

Floating Panels
You can pull a panel off a ribbon tab and into the drawing area or onto another screen. The floating
panel stays open until you return it to the ribbon, regardless of whether you switch the ribbon tabs.

Slide-out Panels
By clicking the arrow in the middle of a panel title, the panel will expand to display additional
tools and controls. By default, slide-out panels automatically close when you click another panel.
Click the push pin, in the bottom-left corner of the slide-out panel to keep a panel expanded.

Contextual Ribbon Tabs

A contextual ribbon tab is displayed instead of a toolbar or dialog box when you select a certain
type of object or start certain commands. When you end the command, the contextual tab closes.
Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Explore the User Interface
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-D20EF1D7-4135-48A7-
B68E-65BF3BFF3D70

The Status Bar

The status bar gives quick access to the most usually utilized drawing tools. You can toggle
settings, for example, grid, snap, polar tracking, and object snap. By clicking their drop down
arrows, you can also access additional settings for some of these tools.

Status Bar
Status Bar
You can toggle some of these settings with the function keys on your keyboard (F1 - F12).

The Command Window

The Command window shows prompts, options, and messages.

Instead of using the ribbon, toolbars, and menus, you can enter commands directly in the Command
window.

As you start to type a command, notice that an autocomplete menu appears. In the example above,
several options are available. Make your choice by clicking the correct option or using the arrow
keys and then pressing Enter or the Spacebar to confirm your selection.
Basic AutoCAD Commands

Below, you'll find an abbreviated list of common commands that can be used on AutoCAD.

COMMANDS DESCRIPTION

A ARC / Creates an arc.

AA AREA / Calculates the area and perimeter of objects or defined areas.

AL ALIGN / Aligns objects with other objects in 2D.

AR ARRAY / Creates multiple copies of objects in a pattern.

C CIRCLE / Creates a circle.

CO COPY / Copies objects a specified distance in a specified direction.

D DIMSTYLE / Creates and modifies dimension styles.

DDI DIMDIAMETER / Creates a diameter dimension for a circle or an arc.

E ERASE / Removes objects from a drawing.

EL ELLIPSE / Creates an ellipse or an elliptical arc.

EPDF EXPORTPDF / Exports drawing to PDF.

EX EXTEND / Extends objects to meet the edges of other objects.

EXIT QUIT / Exits the program.

EXP EXPORT / Saves the objects in a drawing to a different file format.

F FILLET / Rounds and fillets the edges of objects.

G GROUP / Creates and manages saved sets of objects called groups.

HATCH / Fills an enclosed area or selected objects with a hatch pattern,
H
solid fill, or gradient fill.
I INSERT / Inserts a block or drawing into the current drawing.

L LINE / Creates straight line segments.

 M MOVE / Moves objects a specified distance in a specified direction.
MEASURE / Creates point objects or blocks at measured intervals along the
ME
length or perimeter of an object.
MI MIRROR / Creates a mirrored copy of selected objects.

MT MTEXT / Creates a multiline text object.

N NEW / Create a new drawing.

O OFFSET / Creates concentric circles, parallel lines, and parallel curves.

OS OSNAP / Sets running object snap modes.

P PAN / Adds a parameter with grips to a dynamic block definition.

PE PEDIT / Edits polylines, objects to be joined to polylines and related objects.

PL PLINE / Creates a 2D polyline.

PO POINT / Creates a point object.

POL POLYGON / Creates an equilateral closed polyline.

PRINT PLOT / Plots a drawing to a plotter, printer, or file.

PURGE / Removes unused items, such as block definitions and layers, from
PU
the drawing.
Q QSAVE / Saves the current drawing.

QC QUICKCALC / Opens the QuickCalc calculator.

R REDRAW / Refreshes the display in the current viewport.

RE REGEN / Regenerates the entire drawing from the current viewport.

REA REGENALL / Regenerates the drawing and refreshes all viewports.

REC RECTANG / Creates a rectangular polyline.

RO ROTATE / Rotates objects around a base point.

S STRETCH / Stretches objects crossed by a selection window or polygon.

SCALE / Enlarges or reduces selected objects, keeping the proportions of the
SC
object the same after scaling.
 T MTEXT / Creates a multiline text object.

TB TABLE / Creates an empty table object.

TR TRIM / Trims objects to meet the edges of other objects.

UN UNITS / Controls coordinate and angle display formats and precision.

VIEW / Saves and restores named views, camera views, layout views, and
V
preset views.
X EXPLODE / Breaks a compound object into its component objects.
ZOOM / Increases or decreases the magnification of the view in the current
Z
viewport.

New Drawings

 Use acad.dwt or acadlt.dwt for imperial drawings that assume your units are inches,
 Use acadiso.dwt or acadltiso.dwt for metric units that assume your units are millimeters,
Units
At the point when you first start a drawing, you have to choose what the length of one unit
represents to—an inch, a foot, a centimeter, a kilometer, or some other unit of length. For instance,
the objects below could represent to two structures that are each 125 feet in length, or they could
represent to a segment from a mechanical part that is estimated in millimeters.

Unit Display Settings

Format (or Type): For example, a decimal length of 6.5 can be set to display as a fractional
length of 6-1/2 instead.

Precision: For instance, a decimal length of 6.5 can be set to display as 6.50, 6.500, or 6.5000.
Use the UNITS command to set the unit type to Architectural if you plan to work in feet and
inches, and then, specify their lengths in inches when you create the objects. Leave the unit type
set to Decimal if you plan to use metric units. Changing the unit format and precision affects only
how lengths, angles, and coordinates are displayed in the user interface. It does not affect the
internal precision of your drawing.
In the event that you have to change the UNITS settings, ensure that you save the drawing as a
drawing template file (.dwt). Else, you should change the UNITS settings for each new drawing.

Model Scale
Continuously make your models at full size (1:1 scale). The term model refers to the calculation
of your plan. A drawing incorporates the model math alongside the views, notes, measurements,
callouts, tables, and the title block showed in the layout.

When you create the layout, you can specify the scaling that is necessary to print a drawing on a
standard-sized sheet later,

Press F1, to open Help for information about the command in progress,
Press Enter or the Spacebar, to repeat the previous command,
Select an object and right-click or right-click a user interface element to see various options.

Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Explore the User Interface
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-C5C9380F-5469-4858-
B306-B1BFFC19C0A9
MODULE 2 (PART I) - CAD DRAWING

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this lesson, student will be able:
 To Draw Lines, Rectangle, Polygon, Arc, Circle, Ellipse, Donut, Spline
 To Erase, Move, Mirror, Offset, Trim, Extend, Fillet, and Array Object
 To Edit Objects

TO DRAW LINES

1. Click Home tab  Click Draw panel  Click Line. or Type L at the command
bar/line, then press enter or space bar

2. Specify the line segment start- and end-point.

 3. To Continue, specify next point. To undo the section of the previous line, enter U. Click
Undo button

4. To end the command, Press Enter or Space BAR or Esc

Draw a Line at a Specific Angle

1. Click Home tab  Click Draw panel  Click Line. or Type L at the command Line/
bar, then press enter or space bar
 2. Specify starting point.
 To specify angle, Press the left angle bracket (<), then enter the value of the angle,
for example <45.


3. To specify length, enter the length value, for example 4.

TO DRAW POLYLINES
Draw polylines with straight or curved segments. Define the width for the polyline segments and
taper the width across the segment. Draw polygons specifying the number of sides and size.

Draw a Polyline with Straight Segments

1. Click Home tab  Click Draw panel  Click Polyline. Or Type PL at the Command
Bar/line, then press enter or space bar
2. Specify the first point, then next point

3. To end the command, Press Enter or Space BAR or Esc

Draw a Wide Polyline

1. Click Home tab Click Draw panel  Click Polyline. Or Type PL at the Command
Line/ Bar, then press enter or space bar
2. Specify the first point of the polyline.
3. Type w (Width) at the command bar , the press enter/or space bar
4. Type the starting width of the segment, press enter, then specify the ending width, then
press enter/or space bar

5. To continue, specify next point/ or specify new width/ specify end point.
6. To end the command, Press Enter or Space BAR or Esc
Draw A Polyline with Straight and Curved Segments

1. Click Home tab  Click Draw panel  Click Polyline. Or Type PL at the Command
Bar/Line, then press enter or space bar
2. Specify the first point of the polyline,
3. Type A, to Switch to Arc, then press enter/or space bar
4. To change the width of the PLine, Type W, then press enter/space bar
5. To continue, specify the next point/ or specify new segment then press enter.
6. To end the command, Press Enter or Space BAR or Esc

DRAW A RECTANGLE

1. Click Home tab Click Draw panelRectangle. Or Type REC at the Command
Bar/line, then press enter or space bar
2. Specify the first corner of the rectangle, then specify the second point,
DRAW A POLYGON

1. Click Home tab Click Draw panel Click Polygon. or type POL at the command
line/bar, then press enter/or space bar

2. Specify the number of side, then press enter/ or space bar, 4 is the default value

3. Specify the center or edge of the polygon, Type C for Center, E for edge, then press enter/
or space bar
4. Specify the construction option for polygon, Type I (Inscribed) or C (circumscribed), then
press enter or space bar.
 5. Specify the length of radius, then press enter/ or space bar

DRAW A CIRCLE BY CENTER AND RADIUS OR DIAMETER

1. To draw a circle, the following approach can be done:
 Click Home tab  Click Draw panel  Circle drop-down  Click Center,

Radius.
 Click Home tabDraw panel Circle drop-down  ClickCenter,

Diameter.
 Type C Press Enter or Space Bar  Type D for Diameter/or R for Radius
Enter or Space Bar
 2. Specify the center point, type R for (Radius) D for Diameter, enter value, then press enter/
or space bar

CREATE A CIRCLE TANGENT TO TWO OBJECTS

The tangent is the point where an object touches another object without intersecting it.

1. Click Home tab Draw panel  Circle drop-down Tan, Tan, Radius. or type C,
press enter, type TTR, press enter/or space bar
2. Specify the first tangent, then the second tangent, then specify the radius, the press enter/or
space bar.
TO DRAW ARCS
To create an arc, you can select different combinations of center, endpoint, start point, radius,
angle, chord length, and direction values.

Draw an Arc by Specifying Three Points

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Click Arc drop-down 3-Point. , select the
method of construction, specify the first point, then the second point, then the third point.
Draw an Arc Using a Start Point, a Center Point, and an Endpoint

1. Click Home tab  Draw panel  Click Arc drop-down Start, Center, End. or
Type A the press enter/ or space bar
2. Specify a start point, then second point, then end point of the arc.

TO DRAW ELLIPSES

1. Click Home tab  Draw panel  Click Ellipse drop-down  Axis, End. or type
EL at the command bar/ line  Press Enter/or space bar
2. Specify the first point, then the second point, then distance to other axis or Rotation
 .
TO CREATE A DONUT

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Donut. Or type DO at the Command line/ Bar then
press enter/ or space bar

2. Specify the inside diameter, then specify the outside diameter, then specify the center of
the donut
TO WORK WITH SPLINES

1. Click Home tab Draw panel Spline. or type SPL at the command line/bar
 2. Specify the first point, the second point, continue as needed, then press enter/ or space bar/
or type C to close the spline

TO ERASE OBJECT

1. Click or Type E at the command line/ bar, select object then press enter or space
bar.
TO TRIM object
Trims objects to meet the edges of other objects.

1. Click or Type TR at the Command Line/bar, then select object or boundaries, press
enter/ or space bar, then select object to trim

.
FILLET (COMMAND)

1. Click or Type F at the command line/bar then press enter/ or space bar
2. Select object to fillet then press enter or select fillet option
3. Type R for fillet Radius then enter, then specify the radius, press enter or space bar, then
select object
4. Type T for Trim, Then select trim or No trim
5. Type P for Polyline, then select 2D or radius
MOVE (COMMAND)
Moves objects a specified distance in a specified direction.

1. Click or Type M at the command line/bar, then press enter/ or space bar

2. Select of object, select base point, then select point of displacement

TO MIRROR OBJECTS IN 2D

1. Click Home tab Modify panel Mirror. or Type MI at the command line/bar

2. Select the objects to mirror, select first mirror point, then second mirror point, then specify
to erase source object, type Y for yes, N for no,then press enter
TO EXTEND AN OBJECT

1. Click Home tab Modify panel Extend. or Type EX at the command line/bar

2. Select the objects to serve as boundary edges, then press enter or space bar
.
 3. Select the objects to extend and press Enter or space bar

TO OFFSET AN OBJECT
You can offset an object by specifying either an offset distance or a point to pass through.
Specify an Offset Distance

1. Click Home tab Modify panel Offset. or Type O at the command line/bar
 2. Enter the offset distance, then Select the object, then click on the offset direction.

TO WORK WITH POLAR ARRAYS

How to create and edit polar arrays.
Create a Polar Array

1. Click Home tab Modify panel Polar Array. or Type AR the press enter/space
bar, select object, then type PO polar array, press enter/ space bar
2. Specify the base point or axis of rotation, then specify any of the following
ASsociative/Base point/Items/Angle between/Fill angle/ROWs/Levels/ROTate.
TO WORK WITH RECTANGULAR ARRAYS
How to create and edit rectangular arrays.
To Create a Rectangular Array

1. Click Home tab Modify panel  Click Rectangular Array. or Type AR at the
command line/bar  Enter  select Object  enter  Type REC  enter
 2. The specify the number of row/ column, etc

Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Explore the User Interface
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-C5C9380F-5469-4858-
B306-B1BFFC19C0A9

EXERCISE 2D (see attached drawing)

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Start a New file and select acad.dwt.
2. Draw the objects below using:
Draw / Line L
Draw / Polyline PL
Draw / Rectangle REC
Draw / Polygon POL
Draw / Arc A
Draw / Cirle C
Draw/ Elipse EL
Ortho (f8) ON for Horizontal and Vertical lines
Ortho (f8) OFF for lines drawn on an Angle.
Increment Snap (f9) ON
Osnap (f3) OFF
Erase E
Trim TR
Mirror MI
Move M
Fillet F
Array AR
3. Save this drawing
EXERCISE 2-1

EXERCISE 2-2
EXERCISE 2-3
CAD DRAWING – PART II

Learning Objectives:

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Organize drawings with layers with LAYER command.
2. Create texts and tables using TEXT and TABLE commands.
3. Hatch drawings using HATCH command.
4. Insert and create blocks using BLOCK command.

Organizing Drawing with Layers

Layers
Organize your drawing by assigning objects to layers.

When a drawing becomes visually complex, you can hide the objects that you currently do not
need to see.

In the drawing below, the doors and electrical wiring were temporarily hidden by turning off their
layers.
You gain this level of control by organizing the objects in your drawing on layers that are
associated with a specific function or a purpose. It might be helpful to think of layers as clear
plastic sheets:

With layers, you can

 Associate objects by their function or location
 Display or hide all related objects in a single operation
 Enforce linetype, color, and other property standards for each layer

Important: Resist the temptation to create everything on one layer. Layers are the most important
organizing feature available in AutoCAD drawings.

Layer Controls

To see how a drawing is organized, use the LAYER command to open the Layer Properties
Manager. You can either enter LAYER or LA in the Command window, or you can click the
Layer Properties tool on the ribbon.
Here's what the Layer Properties Manager displays in this drawing.

As you can see in the illustration, layer 10 WALLS is the current layer. All new objects are
automatically placed on that layer. In the list of layers, the green check next to layer 10 WALLS
confirms that it is the current layer.

In the column labeled On, notice that the light bulb icons for two layers are dark. These layers
were turned off to hide the doors and electrical wiring in the floor plan.

Notice that each layer name starts with a two-digit number. This convention makes it easy to
control the order of the layers because their order does not depend on the alphabet.

Tip: For complex drawings, you might want to consider a more elaborate layer naming standard.
For example, layer names could begin with 3 digits followed by a naming code that accommodates
multiple floors in a building, project numbers, sets of survey and property data, and so on.

Practical Recommendations
 Layer 0 is the default layer that exists in all drawings and has some esoteric properties.
Instead of using this layer, it's best to create your own layers with meaningful names.
 Any drawing that contains at least one dimension object automatically includes a reserved
layer named Defpoints.
 Create a layer for behind-the-scenes construction geometry, reference geometry, and notes
that you usually do not need to see or print.
  Create a layer for layout viewports. Information about layout viewports is covered in the
Layouts topic.
 Create a layer for all hatches and fills. This lets you to turn them all on or off in one action.

Layer Settings
The following are the most commonly used layer settings in the Layer Properties Manager. You
click the icon to turn the setting on and off.
 Turn off layers. You turn off layers to reduce the visual complexity of your drawing while
you work.

 Freeze layers. You freeze layers that you do not need to access for a while. Freezing layers
is similar to turning them off, but improves performance in very large drawings.

 Lock layers. You lock layers when you want to prevent accidental changes to the objects
on those layers. Also, the objects on locked layers appear faded, which helps reduce the
visual complexity of your drawing, but still lets you see the objects faintly.

 Set default properties. You set the default properties for each layer, including color,
linetype, lineweight, and transparency. New objects that you create will use these
properties unless you override them. Overriding layer properties is explained later in this
topic.

Controls in the Layer Properties Manager

To create a new layer, click the button shown and enter the name of the new layer. To make a
different layer the current one, click the layer and then click the indicated button.

Quick Access to Layer Settings

The Layer Properties Manager takes up a lot of space, and you don't always need to access all the
options. For quick access to the most common layer controls, use the controls on the ribbon. When
no objects are selected, the Layers panel on the Home tab displays the name of the current layer
as shown here.
Occasionally, check to make sure that the objects you create will be on the correct layer. It's easy
to forget to do this, but it's also easy to set. Click the drop-down arrow to display a list of layers,
and then click a layer on the list to make it the current layer. You can also click on any icon in the
list to change its setting.

Maintain Your Standards

It's critically important either to establish or to conform to a company-wide layer standard. With a
layer standard, drawing organization will be more logical, consistent, compatible, and
maintainable over time and across departments. Layer standards are essential for team projects.
If you create a standard set of layers and save them in a drawing template file, those layers will be
available when you start a new drawing, and you can start working immediately. Additional
information about drawing template files is presented in the Basics topic.
Summary
Layers organize your drawing, enabling you to temporarily suppress the display of unneeded
graphical data. You can also assign default properties such as color and linetype to each layer.

Note: Some experienced AutoCAD users set properties only with layers, while others set
properties independently of layers or in combination with layers. Assigning properties to objects
is covered in the Properties topic.

Reference: AutoCAD User’s Guide: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD/Layers

http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-FA005756-B8F5-4A78-988F-
31335A68D77C

Learning Video: Using Layers to Organize Drawings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNGkSOczABI
HOW TO USE LAYERS
First you select the layer and then you draw the objects.
Always select the layer first and then draw the objects.
It is good “drawing management” to draw related objects on the same layer.
For example, in an architectural drawing, you would select layer “walls” and then draw the floor
plan.
Then you would select the layer “Electrical” and draw the electrical objects.
Then you would select the layer “Plumbing” and draw the plumbing objects.
Each layer can then be controlled independently.
If a layer is Frozen, it is not visible. When you Thaw the layer it becomes visible again.

HOW TO SELECT A LAYER

1. Go to Ribbon = Home tab / Layers panel

2. Select the drop down arrow

3. Highlight the desired layer and press the left mouse button.

The selected layer becomes the “Current” layer. All objects will be located on this layer
until you select a different layer.

HOW TO CONTROL LAYERS

The following controls can be accessed using the Layer drop down arrow .
ON or OFF
If a layer is ON it is visible. If a layer is OFF it is not visible.
Only layers that are ON can be edited or plotted.

FREEZE or THAW
Freeze and Thaw are very similar to On and Off. A Frozen layer is not visible and a Thawed
layer is visible. Only thawed layers can be edited or plotted.

Additionally:
a. Objects on a Frozen layer cannot be accidentally erased
b. When working with large and complex drawings, freezing saves time because frozen layers are
not regenerated when you zoom in and out.

HOW TO LOCK OR UNLOCK LAYERS

Locked layers are visible but cannot be edited.

They are visible so they will be plotted.

To access the following options you must use the Layer Properties Manager.
You may also access the options listed on the previous page within this dialog box.
To open the Layer Properties Manager use one of the following.

Ribbon = Home tab / Layers panel /

or
Keyboard = LA <enter>

HOW TO DELETE AN EXISTING LAYER

1. Highlight the layer name to be deleted.

2. Select the Delete Layer tool.
Or
1. Highlight the layer name to be deleted.
2. Right click and select Delete Layer

Creating Text and Tables

The text you add to your drawing conveys various information. It may be a complex specification,
title block information, or a label.

Single-Line Text
For short, simple entries use single-line text. Each text line is an independent object that you can
relocate, reformat, or otherwise modify.
Multiline Text
For longer entries, or text that requires special formatting, use multiline text. Multiline text
supports:
  Text wrapping
 Formatting individual characters, words, or phrases within a paragraph
 Columns
 Stacked text
 Bullet and numbered lists
 Tabs and indents

Note: Text that is included in a dimension or tolerance is created using the dimensioning
commands. You can also create multiline text with leaders.

Text Styles
The text style sets the font, size, oblique angle, orientation, and other text characteristics. When
you insert a text object it uses the current text style.
The Standard text style exists by default in all drawings. You can create and modify text styles as
needed. Once you create a standard set of text styles, you can save the drawing as a template file
(.dwt) that you can use when you start a new drawing.

Rotated Views
Leader landings, components of dimensions, and text objects determine their horizontal and
vertical directions from the UCS axes at the time when they are created. If a view in a drawing is
rotated, you can first use the UCS /View option to set the horizontal and vertical directions relative
to the drawing rather than the rotated view.

HOW TO CREATE TEXT

Create Multiline Text
For longer notes and labels with internal formatting, use multiline text.
1. Click Home tab > Annotation panel > Multiline Text. Find

2. Specify opposite corners of a bounding box to define the width of the multiline text object.
If the ribbon is active, the Text Editor contextual tab displays.

If the ribbon is not active, the Text Formatting toolbar displays.

 Note: The MTEXTTOOLBAR system variable controls the display of the Text Formatting
toolbar.

3. Specify the initial formatting.

 To indent the first line of each paragraph, drag the first-line indent slider on the ruler.
To indent the other lines of each paragraph, drag the hanging indent slider.
 To set tabs, click the ruler where you want a tab stop.
 To change the current text style, select the desired text style from the drop-down list.

4. Enter the text.

Note: While typing, the text may be displayed horizontally and at a legible size.

5. To change individual characters, words, or paragraphs, highlight the text and specify the
formatting changes.
Note: SHX fonts do not support boldface or italics.

6. To save your changes and exit the editor, use one of the following methods:
 On the Text Editor ribbon contextual tab, in the Close panel, click Close Text Editor.
 Click OK on the Text Formatting toolbar.
 Click in the drawing outside the editor.
 Press Ctrl+Enter.
Note: Press Esc to exit the editor without saving your changes.

Create Single-line Text

For short, simple notes and labels, use single-line text.

1. Click Home tab > Annotation panel > Single Line Text. Find

2. Specify the insertion point.

If you press ENTER, the program inserts the new text immediately below the last text
object you created, if any.
3. Enter a height or click to specify the height of the text.
Note: If a specific text height is set in the current text style, this prompt is skipped.

4. Enter an angle value or click to specify the rotation angle.

5. Enter the text.

Note: While typing, the text may be displayed horizontally and at a legible size.

6. To create another single-line text, do one of the following:

 Press ENTER to start another line of text immediately below.
 Click a location for the next text object.

7. Press ENTER on a blank line to end the command.

Tables
A table is a compound object that contains information arranged in rows and columns. Similar to
most spreadsheet applications, the rows and columns can be adjusted with grips, and styles can be
assigned to the table and to selected cells.
The illustration below shows the grips on a table and a selected cell.

Drawings often include tabular information such as a variety of schedules, parts lists, bills of
materials, and price lists. The information itself might be text, graphical blocks, and several types
of numeric data. Cells that contain data might be computationally related to other cells or to
external information such as a spreadsheet or other extracted data.
Creating tables manually from lines and text can be tedious and modifying them can be time-
consuming, but you can easily create a table object simply by specifying the rows and columns
from the Table command. You can also create a table object in AutoCAD by referencing a
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

Table and Cell Styles

Use table styles to store the default settings and definitions for the table and its cells. The settings
are similar to what you see in a spreadsheet application. Several cell styles can be saved in a table
style. Each cell style stores settings such as text style, height, color, background fill, and cell
borders. You can create your own cell styles that you can save in your own table styles. You can
also import table styles from other drawings using Autodesk DesignCenter.

Data Links
A data link is information included within an AutoCAD drawing file that establishes a connection
to an external source of information, specifically a Microsoft Excel file or a data extraction (.dxe)
file.

Cells in a table object can be linked to data in specified cells of a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.
You can choose whether the link is only in one direction or bidirectional, and where the
computations are done.

Reference:
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-
explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-831E41E7-04EB-
44DE-BEC8-F6A3A992DA61-htm.html

Learning Video: Creating Table

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnxTsixEfhA

HOW TO CREATE TABLES

With this method, you use the Table command to specify the number of rows and columns, stretch
and resize the columns, rows, or the entire table. If you use layout tabs for annotation, create your
table directly on a layout tab. The scaling is automatic. If you use model space for annotation, you
will need to scale the table. Tables do not support annotative scaling.

1. Enter TABLE at the Command prompt.

2. In the Insert Table dialog box, enter 4 columns and 3 data rows. Specify a location for the
table.
 By default, there are three styles of cells that appear when you use the Standard table style:

3. Click outside the table, and then select it on an edge to display its grips

4. To change the size and shape of the table, click the dark blue triangular grips. You can
click the square grips to adjust the width of the columns. You can also use object snap
tracking to align the grips to existing geometry.

Tip: To adjust the width of the columns, it's often best to turn off object snaps [F3] first.

At this point, you could explode the table to convert it into simple lines. This is not a best
practice, but is still much faster than creating the lines from scratch. Instead, let's take this
table further.

Adding Information to a Table

1. Click into each cell and enter the text as shown.
2. Next, click and drag to select all nine data cells, and choose Bottom-Right from the
Alignment button on the ribbon.

3. In the same way, click and drag to select the three cells under Price/Unit. Right-click,
choose Data Format, and then choose Currency.

4. Do the same for the data cells under the Quantity and Price headers. For the cells under
Quantity, choose Whole Number, and for the cells under Price, choose Currency again.
 The term, headers, is used in Excel rather than headings, so we will continue this standard.

5. Enter the values in each cell as shown below.

If you assigned the data format as Currency, the $ symbol will appear automatically. The
$0.00 entries are needed as placeholders for the format. If the values for the currency
columns don't display the $ symbol, right click and then choose Data Format to change the
cell data format to Currency.

6. In the first cell under Price (D3), enter =B3*C3. The cells are automatically multiplied

7. Similarly, in cell D4, enter =B4*C4.

8. Next, in cell D5 enter =SUM(D3:D4).

The colon between D3 and D4 indicates a range of cells between D3 and D4 inclusive.

9. Finally, for some color, click within the Title cell, right-click, and click Background Fill.
Choose a background color for the title of the table.

HATCH Command
1. Select the HATCH tool above or input H.

2. Select the boundaries of the hatch. Use the tools highlighted below for the options on choosing
the boundaries. The default setting is Pick Points where the internal points of the boundaries
 are chosen. Select option lets you select the boundaries such as edges. Remove deselects the
chosen boundaries.

3. Choose the desired pattern from the predefined set.

4. Other hatch options are also available such as Gradient and Solid.
5. For patterns, it is important to choose the scale of the hatch for better visualization.

6. Confirm when the desired pattern and scale are selected.

Working with Blocks

In AutoCAD, a block is a collection of objects that are combined into a single named object.

These blocks can vary from different drawings such as symbols, realistic representation or a title
block.

Upon clicking the insert block, a window will popup where you need to browse the block or
drawing file.
When inserting a block, the block will be at your cursor. This is called the insertion point. By
default, this is the origin point (0,0) of the block. The block can be moved or rotated by the grip
shown below.

Creating a Block Definition

Note: This block definition would be limited to the current drawing.

1. Name the block appropriately.
2. Select the objects to be made into a block.
3. Specify the insertion point of the block.

This is useful for parts of the drawing that need to be repeated or copied for the entire drawing.
Example: chairs for a house drawing. Note: blocks can be exploded if changes are to be made.

Reference: AutoCAD User’s Guide

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/getting-
started/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2015/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-2DA2ADA1-C8CC-
4E61-9598-06580FFD3544-htm.html
MODULE 3 - DIMENSIONING

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this lesson, student will be able:
 To Work with Linear Dimensions
 To Work with Radial Dimensions
 To Create an Angular Dimension
 To Create an Arc Length Dimension
 To Create Multiple Types of Dimensions Within a Single Command Session
 To Work with Dimension Associativity
 To Create a Dimension Style

TO WORK WITH LINEAR DIMENSIONS

Creates linear dimensions of lines of proportions horizontal, vertical and aligned. Creating
measurements baseline or chained. Place dimensional lines at an angle to the extension lines, or
oblique the extension lines.

Create Horizontal, Vertical, or Aligned Dimensions

1. Click Annotate tab, then Dimensions panel, then click Dimension.

 2. Select a line, or click the origin points of the first and second extension line.

3. Shift your pointing system into the desired dimension location and orientation.
4. You may edit or rotate the text before defining the position of the dimension line.
5. Click to position the line for dimension.
6. Repeat steps for further dimensioning, or press Enter to finish dimensioning.

Create a Rotated Dimension

1. Click Annotate tab Dimensions panel Linear.

 2. Specify the base of both the first and second line extensions.
3. Enter r (Rotated), at the prompt.

4. Enter an angle for the dimension line, then click the point of dimension line

Create a Continued or Chain Dimension

1. Click Annotate tab  Dimensions panel  Continue.

2. If prompted, select the dimension to continue. The press Enter twice to end the command.

Create a Baseline Dimension

1. Click Annotate tabDimensions panelBaseline.

 2. Pick the Base Dimension if asked.
3. Choose an object snap to select the root of the second extension line, or press Enter to
choose any dimension as the base dimension.
4. Using an object snap to define the root of the next line of extensions.
5. Continue selecting the origin of extension line as desired.
6. To end the order click Enter twice.

Use Oblique Extension Lines

1. Click Annotate tab Dimensions panelOblique.

2. Select a linear dimension.

3. Enter a value for obliqueness angle, or define 2 points.
TO WORK WITH RADIAL DIMENSIONS
Create radius or diameter dimensions of arcs or circles.

Create a Radius or Diameter Dimension

1. Click Annotate tabDimensions panelDimension.

2. Choose an arc, or circle.
3. Enter r (Radius) or enter d (Diameter) at the command bar.
4. You may edit or rotate the text before defining the position of the dimension line.
5. Click to position the line for dimension.
6. Repeat steps for further dimensioning, or press Enter to finish dimensioning.

Create a Jogged Radius Dimension

1. Click Annotate tab Dimensions panel Dimension.

2. Hover over an arc or a circle.
3. Enter j (Jogged) at the prompt.
4. Select the arc or circle.
5. Click to specify a point for the origin of the false-center dimension, called an override of
the center position.
6. Click to specify a point for the dimension line angle.
7. Click to specify the location of the dimension jog.
8. Repeat steps for further dimensioning, or press Enter to finish dimensioning.

TO CREATE AN ANGULAR DIMENSION

1. Click Annotate tab Dimensions panel Dimension.

2. At the prompt, enter a (Angular).
3. Select one of the following:
 An arc
 A circle and two points
 Two nonparallel lines
 A vertex and two points
4. You may edit or rotate the text before defining the location of the dimension line.
5. Click to place the dimension line.
6. Repeat steps to continue dimensioning or press Enter to end dimensioning.

TO CREATE AN ARC LENGTH DIMENSION

1. Click Annotate tab Dimensions panel Dimension.

2. Hover over an arc or an arc segment in a polyline.
3. At the prompt, enter L (Arc Length).
 4. Select the arc or the arc segment in a polyline.
5. Click to place the dimension line.
6. Repeat steps to continue dimensioning or press Enter to end dimensioning.

TO CREATE MULTIPLE TYPES OF DIMENSIONS WITHIN A SINGLE COMMAND

SESSION

1. Click Annotate tab Dimensions panel Dimension.

2. Hover the cursor over objects, lines, or points to preview the resulting dimension.
3. Select the objects or points to dimension.
The available options depend on the selected objects, lines, or points.
4. Modify the dimension options as desired.
5. Click where you want to insert the dimension.
6. Select other objects or points to create multiple dimensions.
7. Press Enter to end the command.

TO WORK WITH DIMENSION ASSOCIATIVITY

Add, redefine, or remove the associativity between dimensions and the objects that they measure.

Associate or Reassociate a Dimension

1. Click Annotate tab Dimensions panel Reassociate.

 2. Select one or more dimensions to associate or reassociate.
3. Press Enter and do one of the following:
 To associate the dimension to a specific object, enter s (Select object) and select
the geometric object.
 Select the reference point on an object, using object snaps as needed, to associate
the indicated extension line.
4. Repeat steps as needed.

Disassociate a Dimension
1. At the Command prompt, enter DIMDISASSOCIATE.
2. Select one or more dimensions to disassociate and press Enter.

Control Whether New Dimensions Are Associative

1. Click Application button Options.
2. In the Options dialog box, User Preferences tab, under Associative Dimensioning, select
or clear Make New Dimensions Associative.
3. Click Apply or OK.

TO CREATE A DIMENSION STYLE

1. Click Home tab Annotation panel Dimension Style.

2. click New , In the Dimension Style Manager,.

3. In the Create New Dimension Style dialog box, enter a name for the new dimension style,
and click Continue.
 4. Click each tab, and make any changes for the new dimension style, in the New
Dimension Style dialog box,

5. Click OK and then Close to exit the Dimension Style Manager.

Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Explore the User Interface
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-C5C9380F-5469-4858-
B306-B1BFFC19C0A9
EXERCISE

Draw the figure with the dimensions given.

EXERCISE 4-1
EXERCISE 4-2
EXERCISE 4-3
EXERCISE 4-4
MODULE 4 - PLOTTING AND INPUTTING IMAGES

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Understand the difference between Model and Layout tabs
2. Create Viewports
3. Create a Page Setup
4. Create a Plot Page Setup
5. Attach, Scale and Manage Raster Image
6. Print the output drawing

Layout and Output Drawings

Drawing Layouts
A layout may be a 2D working environment for making drawing sheets. You'll be able get to one
or more layouts from the tabs found at the bottom-left corner of the drawing range to the right of
the Model tab.
Model Space and Paper Space

There are two awesome working environments, referred to as "model space" and "paper space," in
which you can work with objects in a drawing. As you know, you create the geometry of your
model in model space.
The area inside a design layout is called paper space, where you can add a title block, show scaled
views of model space within layout viewports, and create tables, schedules, notes, and dimensions
for your drawing.

There are countless methods in which you can add new layouts or copy existing layouts.

 Use the LAYOUT command

 Right-click a layout tab
 Step through the Create Layout wizard
 Use Design Center
Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD/Layout
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-DF5C5E9A-113E-456E-
AFC4-4CEDAEE60A78
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Layout and Output Drawings
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-93E88E2A-3BA8-40C1-
8BF5-9A50B716EB34

Specifying the Paper Size of a Layout

The first aspect that you have to do when you access a layout tab (1) is right-click the tab (2) and
rename it (3) to something greater specific than Layout 1. For a D-size layout, ARCH D or ANSI
D might be a correct choice.
Some printers and plotters do no longer recognize the drawing orientation setting.

With the paper space feature, you can click a layout tab designed specially for exhibiting multiple
views, automatic scaling, and electronic or printing output.

Layout Viewports

A layout viewport is an object it is created on a layout tab to show a scaled view of model space.
In the illustration, model space is active and accessible from within the current layout viewport.

In a layout, when model space is active, you can pan and zoom, and whatever else that you ought
to do on the Model tab.

For Illustration;
Create a New Viewport
You’ll be able to utilize the New option of the MVIEW (make view) command to make additional
layout viewports in paper space.

1. From a layout tab, enter MVIEW within the Command window and select the New option.

2. A maximized view of model space displays temporarily and you can click on two points
as shown to outline an area.
3. Back in the layout, right-click to display a listing of scales and click on the one that you
desire to use.
4. Click a location to area the new layout viewport containing the scaled view.
Modify Layout Viewports
After you create a layout viewport, you can change its size and properties, and additionally scale
and move it as needed.

 For control of all the properties of a layout viewport, use the Properties palette.
 For the most common changes, pick out a layout viewport and use its grips.

HOW TO CREATE A VIEWPORT

1. First, create a drawing in Model Space (Model tab) and save it.

2. Select the “Layout1” tab.

 When the “Page Setup Manager” dialog box shows up, select the New button.
Then you may select the Printing device and paper size to plot on.

3. You are presently in Paper Space. Model Space shows up to have disappeared, since a
blank paper is presently before Model Space, anticipating you from seeing your drawing.
You assigned the size of this sheet within the “page setup” specified in #2 above. (The
Border, title block and notes will be drawn on this paper.)
4. Draw a border, title block and notes in Paper Space (Layout)

Now you will want to see the drawing that is in Model Space.

5. Select layer “Viewport” (You want the viewport frame to be on layer viewport)
6. Select the Viewport command utilizing one of the following:
Ribbon = Layout tab / Layout Viewports panel / or Keyboard = MV <enter>

7. Draw a rectangular formed Viewport “frame” by setting the area for the “first corner” and
after that the “opposite corner” utilizing the cursor. (Similar to drawing a Rectangle, but
don’t use the Rectangle command. You must stay within the MV command)
Locked Layout Viewports
As required by drafting traditions, the dashes and spaces in a non-continuous linetype continuously
show up at the same length in any case of the scale of the layout viewport. In the event that you
alter the scale of the layout viewport, you may have to enter REGENALL to upgrade the display
immediately.

Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Layout and Output Drawings
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-2B5D404A-DCAB-4AF6-
A5C1-51593B38F519

HOW TO LOCK A VIEWPORT

After you’ve got controlled the drawing inside each viewport, to suit your display needs, you’ll
need to LOCK the viewport so the display can’t be changed accidentally. At that point you will
zoom in and out and you’ll not exasperate the display.

1. Make sure you are in Paper Space.

2. Click once on a Viewport Frame.

3. Click on the Open Lock tool located in the lower right corner of drawing area. The icon
will change to a Closed Lock tool

.
Four Diverse Strategies for Scaling Views and Annotating Drawings
There are four diverse strategies in AutoCAD for scaling views, notes, labels, and dimensions.
Each strategy has preferences depending on how the drawing will be utilized. Here's a brief outline
of each of the strategies:

 The Original Strategy. You make geometry, annotate, and print from model space.
Dimensions, notes, and labels must all be scaled in invert. You set the dimension scale to
the inverse of the plot scale. With this method, scaling requires a small math. For
illustration, a commonly used royal scale in design is 1/4" = 1'-0" which is 1:48 scale. In
case a note is to be printed 1/4" tall, at that point it must be made 48 times as large, or 12"
tall in model space. The same scale factor moreover applies to dimensions, and an ARCH
D drawing border at that scale is 144 feet long. When the drawing is printed as a D-size
sheet, everything scales down to the right size.

 The Layout Strategy. You make geometry and annotations in model space, and after that
print from the layout. Set the dimension scale to 0 and the dimensions will be scale
automatically.

 The Annotative Strategy. You make geometry in model space,

make annotative dimensions, notes, and labels, which utilize a special annotative style, in
model space from the layout, and after that you print from the layout. Annotative object
shows as it were in layout viewports that share the same scale. The dimension scale is
consequently set to 0 and all annotative objects scale automatically.

 The Trans-Spatial Strategy. You make geometry in model space, make annotations in
paper space on a layout with the dimension scale set to 1, and after that you print from the
layout. Typically apparently the best, most coordinate strategy, which is why it is the
strategy of choice for this guide.

Scaling Views and Trans-Spatial Annotation

Here are the steps to take after you use the trans-spatial strategy of annotating your drawing:

1. Press the layout tab. In case you begun the drawing along with your own custom drawing
template file, a few tasks might as now have been completed: the layout might as of now be set to
D-size, and the title block might as of now have been inserted in the layout.

2. By default, paper space is active, so double-click within the layout viewport to form the model
space active. Take note that the edge of the layout viewport gets to be thicker as a result of
exchanging to model space.

3. Zoom out and center the model space view by panning. Note that the shown view will not
however be set to the proper scale.
4. Double-click outside the layout viewport to form paper space active again.

5. Open the Properties palette and after that click to choose the edge of the layout viewport.

6. Within Properties palette, indicate a standard scale of 1/4” = 1’-0” from the drop-down list. This
activity scales your view of model space accurately to the D-size drawing. You should also set the
Display Locked property from No to Yes, which can anticipate any unintentional display changes
to the view.

7. Move the layout viewport as required, and alter its edges using grips.
Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD/Layout
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-DF5C5E9A-113E-456E-
AFC4-4CEDAEE60A78
Setting the Plot Scale
Once you indicate a scale to output your drawing, you’ll select from a list of real-world scales,
enter your possess scale, or select Fit to Paper to fit onto the selected paper size.
Usually, you draw objects at their real size. That’s, you choose how to interpret the measure of a
unit (an inch, a millimeter, a meter) and draw on a 1:1 scale. For illustation, in case your unit of
measurement is millimeters, at that point each unit in your drawing represents a millimeter. Once
you plot the drawing, you either indicate an exact scale or fit the image to the paper.

Set a Specific Scale

After you plot, the paper size you select decides the unit type, inches or millimeters. For case, in
the event that the paper size is in mm, entering 1 under mm and 10 under Units produces a plotted
drawing in which each plotted millimeter represents 10 actual millimeters.

The outlines appear a light bulb plotted at three diverse scales.

Scale the Drawing to Fit the Page

When you plot a perspective view from model space, the view is scaled to fit the paper indeed
once you enter a scale.

When you select the Fit to Paper choice, the content boxes alter to reflect the proportion of plotted
units to drawing units. This scale is updated at whatever point you alter the paper size, plotter, plot
origin, orientation, or size of the plotted region within the Plot dialog box.

Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Layout and Output Drawings
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-89604826-0B55-4994-
8214-1CA93FA66985
Reference External Files and Data
Raster Images in Drawings
Raster images comprise of a rectangular grid of little squares or dots known as pixels. For case, a
photo of a house is made up of an arrangement of pixels colorized to represent the appearance of
a house. A raster image references the pixels in a particular framework.

Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Reference External Files and Data
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-E6EDF33B-052A-4A7C-
AF7B-870FC6303598

Attaching Raster Images

Images can be referenced and put in drawing files, but like external references (xrefs), they are not
really portion of the drawing file. The image is connected to the drawing file through a path name.
Linked image paths can be changed or removed at any time.
By attaching images utilizing connected image paths, you can place images in your drawing and
as it were somewhat increment the drawing file size.

Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Reference External Files and Data
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-E694F465-08C4-47B7-
9A68-CC6B532F566E

Scaling Raster Images

You’ll be able to control the estimate size of a raster image in a drawing to match the scale of the
drawing. You’ll indicate the raster image scale factor after you join the image so that the scale of
the geometry in the image matches the scale of the geometry within the drawing. The default image
scale factor is 1, and the default unit for all images is “Unitless.” The image file can contain
resolution information defining the dots per inch (DPI), relating to how the image was scanned.
Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Reference External Files and Data
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-075AED05-46E8-4ABF-
812D-75D0E450FDF1

Learning Video: Attaching and Scaling Raster Image

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jjJ-mhebWY

HOW TO ATTACH AND SCALE AN IMAGE

1. Click Insert tab > References panel > Attach. Find

2. In the Select Image File dialog box, choose a file name from the list or enter the name of
the image file in the File Name box. Click Open.
 3. In the Image dialog box, use one of the following strategies to specify insertion point, scale,
or rotation:
 Choose Specify On-Screen to use the pointing device to insert the image at the
location, scale, or angle you want.
 Clear Specify On-Screen and input values under Insertion Point, Scale, or Rotation.
To view the unit of measurement for the image, click Details.

Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Reference External Files and Data
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-327B966B-161E-429C-
841F-BAC13E121367

Output a Drawing Layout to a Printer, a Plotter, or a file

What is the Difference between Printing and Plotting?

The terms printing and plotting can be utilized interchangeably for CAD output. Truly, printers
would create as it were, and plotters would create vector illustrations. As printers got to be more
capable and might produce high-quality raster images of vector information, the qualification
generally disappeared.

Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: Layout and Output Drawings
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-2DB9EB8C-767C-4C91-
B0A3-FFFEC4C5863A
Printing
Output a drawing layout to a printer, a plotter, or a file. Save and restore the printer settings for
each layout. Initially, individuals printed content from printers and plotted drawings from plotters.
Presently, you’ll be able to perform both with either device, so this guide will utilize the terms
‘print’ and ‘plot’ interchangeably.

The command to output a drawing is PLOT and you’ll be able to get it from the Quick Access
toolbar.
For comfort, you’ll be able to save and restore collections of these settings by title. These are
called page setups. With page setups you’ll store the settings that you simply require for diverse
printers, printing in gray scales, creating a PDF file from your drawing, and so on.

Create a Page Setup

Each layout stores its possess page setup which controls the appearance and format for showing
and printing each layout. For illustration, you would utilize the page setup to indicate the sheet
size and orientation. The Page Setup Manager is open from the PAGESETUP command, the
Application menu, and the ribbon.
To make a new page setup, click New and enter the name of the new page setup. The Page Setup
dialog box that displays next looks just like the Plot dialog box. Choose all the options and settings
that you simply need to save.

Named Page Setups

Before you plot a drawing, you must indicate the settings that decide the appearance and format
of the output. To spare time, you can store these settings with the drawing as a named page setup.
In addition, the page setup moreover incorporates numerous other settings and alternatives such as

 The orientation of the plot, portrait or landscape

 The plot scale
 Whether lineweights should be plotted
 The shading style

When you are ready to plot, you essentially indicate the name of the page setup in the Plot dialog
box, and all your plot settings will be restored. Within the taking after illustration, the Plot dialog
box is set to utilize the Hitchhiker page setup, which can output a DWF (Design Web Format) file
instead than print to a plotter.

How to Create a Page Setup

Once you select a layout tab for the first time the Page Setup Manager will show up.
The Page Setup Manager permits you to choose the printer/plotter and paper size.
These specifications are called the “Page Setup”. This page setup will be saved to that layout tab
so it will be accessible at whatever point you utilize use that layout tab.

1. Open the drawing you want to plot. (The drawing must be shown on the screen.)
2. Choose a Layout tab.

3. Click the New… button.

4. Choose <Default output device> in the Start with: list.

5. Enter the New page setup name: Setup A

6. Click OK button.
 This is often where you may select the printer / plotter, paper size and the plot offset.

7. Choose the Printer / Plotter

8. Choose Paper Size
9. Choose Plot Offset
10. Click OK button.

11. Choose the Page Setup.

12. Click the Set Current button.

 13. Click the Close button.

14. Right click on the active Layout tab and select Rename from the list.

15. Enter the new Layout name <enter>

.
Output to a PDF File
The following illustration appears how to make a page setup for making PDF files. From the
Printer/plotter drop-down list, select AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3:

Next, Select the size and scale options merely need to use:
  Paper Size. The orientation (portrait or landscape) is built into the choices within the drop-
down list.
 Plot Area. You can clip the region to be plotted with these choices, but more often you
plot everything.
 Plot Offset. This setting changes based on your printer, plotter, or other output. Attempt
centering the plot or altering the origin, but keep in mind that printers and plotters have a
built-in margin around the edges.
 Plot Scale. Select your plot scale from the drop-down list. A scale such as 1/4” = 1’-0” is
implied for printing to scale from the Model tab. On a layout tab, you regularly print at a
1:1 scale.

The plot style table gives data about processing colors. Colors that look great on your screen might
not be suitable for a PDF file or for printing. For illustration, you might need to form a drawing in
color, but make monochrome output. Here is how you indicate monochrome output:
The resulting Preview window incorporates a toolbar with few controls, including Plot and Close
Preview Window.

After you are satisfied with your plot settings, save them to a page setup with a descriptive name
such as "PDF-monochrome." At that point, whenever you want to output to a PDF file, all that you
simply need to do is tap Print, select the PDF-monochrome page setup, and press OK.

HOW TO PLOT FROM A LAYOUT

The previous page setup instructions were to choose the printer and paper size.
Now you need to indicate how you need to plot the drawing. You may discover the PLOT dialog
box almost identical to the Page Setup dialog box.

1. Open the drawing you want to plot.

2. Select the layout tab you want to plot.

3. Select the Plot command utilizing one of the following:

Quick Access tool bar =

or
Ribbon = Output tab / Plot panel /
or
Application Menu = Print / Plot
or
Keyboard = PLOT <enter>

The Plot dialog box shown below should appear. Select the “More Options” button
in the lower right corner if your dialog box does not appear the same as shown below
4. Page Setup name:
After you have selected the required settings you will save the new page setup and it will
appear here. If you have previously created a page setup you may select it from the drop
down list and all of the settings will change to reflect the previously saved page setup
settings.

5. Printer / Plotter:
Select the Printer that you wish to use. All previously configured devices will be listed
here.

6. Paper Size:
Select the paper size. The paper sizes appeared within the drop down list are the available
sizes for the printer that you just chosen. In the event that the size you require is not listed
the printer you selected may not be able to handle that size. For illustration, a letter size
printer cannot handle a 24 X 18 size sheet. You must select a large format printer.

7. Plot Area:
Select the area to plot. Layout is the default.
Limits plots the area inside the drawing limits.
(This option is only available when plotting from model space)
 Layout plots the paper size
(Select this option when plotting from a Layout)

Extents plots all objects in the drawing file even if out of view.
(This option only available if you have a viewport)
Display plots the drawing exactly as displayed on the screen.
Window plots objects inside a window. To specify the window, choose Window
and specify the first and opposite (diagonal) corner of the area you choose to plot.
(Similar to the Zoom / Window command)

8. Plot offset:
The plot can be moved away from the lower left plot limit corner by changing the
X and / or Y offset. If you have select Plot area “Display” or “Extents”, select “Center
the plot .”

9. Scale: Select a scale from the drop down list or enter a custom scale.
Note: This scale is the Paper Space scale. The Model space scale will be adjusted within
the viewport. If you are plotting from a “LAYOUT” tab, normally you will use plot scale
1:1

10. Plot Style Table: Select the Plot Style Table from the list. The Plot Styles determine if
the plot is in color, Black ink or screened. You may also create your own.
If you want to print in Black Ink only select Monochrome.ctb
If you want to print in Color select Acad.ctb

11. Shaded viewport options

This area is used for printing shaded objects when working in the 3D environment.

12. Plot options

Plot background = specifies that the plot is processed in the background.
Plot Object Lineweights = plots objects with assigned lineweights.
Plot transparency = Plots any transparencies
Plot with Plot Styles = plots using the selected Plot Style Table.
Plot paperspace last = plots model space objects before plotting paperspace
objects. Not available when plotting from model space.
Hide Paperspace Objects = used for 3D only. Plots with hidden lines removed.
Plot Stamp on = Allows you to print information around the perimeter of the
border such as; drawing name, layout name, date/time, login name, device name,
paper size and plot scale.
Save Changes to Layout = Select this box in case you need these settings to the
current Layout tab.

13. Drawing Orientation.

Portrait = the short edge of the paper represents the top of the page.
Landscape = the long edge of the paper represents the top of the page
Plot Upside-down = Plots the drawing upside down.
 14. Select Preview button.
Preview displays the drawing as it will plot on the sheet of paper.
If the drawing appears as you would like it, press the Esc key and continue.
If the drawing does not look correct, press the Esc key and re-check your settings, then
preview again.

15. Apply to Layout button

This applies all of the settings to the layout tab. Whenever you select this layout tab the
settings will already be set.

16. Save the Page Setup

At this point you have the option of saving these settings as another page setup for future
use on other layout tabs. In case you would like to save this setup, select the ADD button,
type a name and select OK.

17. If your computer is connected to the plotter / printer selected, click the OK button to plot,
then proceed to 19.

18. If your computer is not connected to the plotter / printer selected, click the
Cancel button to close the Plot dialog box and proceed to 19.

19. Save the drawing

This will assure that the Page Setup you have made will be saved to this file for future use.

Reference:
 AutoCAD User’s Guide: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD/Print
 http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-F5A39DF2-41FE-4341-
BF26-AC620B3905F3
Learning Video: Printing
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG6jDNoLOJo
MODULE 5 – 3D AND NAVIGATING IN 3D

Learning Objectives:

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Navigate in 3D using the ViewCube and 3D ORBIT
2. Make 3D drawings using the predefined 3D Object commands and commands such as
EXTRUDE, CHAMFER, and FILLET
3. Use UNION, SUBTRACT AND INTERSECT commands
4. Utilize REVOLVE, LOFT, and SWEEP commands for various 3D shapes

Accessing the 3D Tools Tab

To start, your AutoCAD should show the 3D Tools Tab. This is done by right-clicking the tab as
shown below.

This will display the commands that can be used for 3D drawings.

Navigating in 3D

Using the ViewCube

The ViewCube is a navigation tool that is used to view a predefined setting such as top, front,
left right faces isometric views.

The View Cube also has arrows to rotate the orientation of the drawing as well as a compass for
the various directions.
Reference: AutoCAD User’s Guide
http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-E6D3896C-AF39-4F5C-A57C-
CACE2A1117F9

Start by making a simple rectangle and using the ViewCube to change its orientation.

Using 3D ORBIT

Another useful command for navigating in 3D is 3D ORBIT with shortcut ORBIT or 3DO. This
is done by just dragging the mouse around. This can also be executed by holding SHIFT and
pressing the mouse wheel.
Other 3D Navigation Tools

You can still use some 2D commands such as ZOOM, PAN, ROTATE commands in 3D view.
This is the other commands that can be used for navigating in 3D.

 Constrained Orbit. Same as 3D Orbit but along the Z-axis or XY plane.

 Free Orbit. Orbits in any direction which is not constrained on any plane or axis.
 Continuous Orbit. Orbits endlessly. Click and drag to orbit in the direction of the drag.
 Adjust Distance. Adjusts the distance of objects where it may appear smaller or larger.
 Swivel. Pans in the direction of the mouse.
 Zoom. Zooms closer or further on the cursor of the mouse.
 Pan. Move the screen horizontally or vertically.

Reference: AutoCAD User’s Guide

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/getting-
started/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-072D3942-A308-
455C-8A75-8E63FB62FA4C-htm.html

3D ROTATE

3D ROTATE or 3D RO rotates the object in any direction in the coordinate system.

Predefined 3D Objects

There are various predefined 3D objects that can be made using the commands above.

 For BOX and WEDGE, this is similar to the 2D command RECTANGLE but with an
additional input, height.
1. Click first corner or center
2. Click the second corner
3. Input the height

 For CYLINDER, CONE, and PYRAMID, this is similar to CIRCLE but with height.
1. Click the center point of base
2. Input the base radius
3. Input the height

 For SPHERE, again similar to CIRCLE but generates a 3D object.

1. Click the center point
2. Input the radius or diameter

 For TORUS, similar to DONUT.

1. Click the center point
2. Input the radius or diameter
3. Input the tube radius or diameter

 For POLYSOLID, this is similar to POLYLINE.

1. Input the height and width
2. Click the start point
3. Click the subsequent points
Changing Visual Styles

A visual style determines how the drawing appears in terms of edges, lighting and shading.
There are predefined visual styles available by default as shown below.

Visual Styles have the following predefined options:

 2D Wireframe
 Conceptual
 Hidden
 Realistic
 Shaded
 Shaded with Edges
 Shades of Gray
 Sketchy
 Wireframe
 X-ray

Reference: AutoCAD User’s Guide

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-
explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2020/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-F9113233-6798-
4F5C-9A9F-7BA41CFA2533-htm.html
EXTRUDE Command

2D figures can be made into 3D objects using the EXTRUDE command or EXT by extruding
orthogonally in a direction or a path. The extruded object can also be applied a taper angle. Note:

1. Use the EXTRUDE tool (as shown above) or typing EXT.

2. Select objects to extrude. Note: Multiple objects can be selected.

3. Input the height of extrusion. Note: Path, taper angle, and direction can also be used.

4. Confirm by pressing ENTER or SPACE.

FILLET EDGE Command

1. Click the FILLET EDGE Tool or typing FILLETEDGE.
2. Select the edges where the fillet is to be applied. Note: This will preview the fillet.
3. Type Radius or R and input the fillet radius.
4. Press ENTER or SPACE to accept the desired fillet.
CHAMFER EDGE Command

1. Click the CHAMFER EDGE Tool or typing CHAMFEREDGE.

2. Select the edges where the chamfer is to be applied. Note: This will preview the chamfer.
3. Type Distance or D and input the first distance. Press ENTER or SPACE.
4. Specify the second distance. Press ENTER or SPACE.
5. Press ENTER or SPACE to accept the chamfer.
UNION, SUBTRACT and MERGE Commands

These are the commands that can be used to join, subtract objects to form complex shapes or a
single object.
For UNION command, select the objects to be joined and confirm.

For SUBTRACT command, select the base object, then select the object to be subtracted.
For INTERSECT command, select the objects where the intersect is located and confirm.

SWEEP Command

Makes a 3D solid by sweeping a 2D figure along a path. Note: You can select multiple edges
and faces by holding down CTRL.

1. Click the SWEEP tool or input SWEEP.

2. Click the objects to sweep.

3. Click the sweep path.

4. Press ENTER or SPACE to complete the sweep.

 Objects to Sweep. Selects the object to sweep.
 Sweep Path. Selects the sweep path of the object.
 Mode. Specifies if the sweep object will be solid or surface.
 Alignment. Chooses the alignment whether normal or tangent to the sweep path.
 Base Point. Selects the base point for the sweep.
 Scale. Scales the sweep. It is the same throughout the sweep.
 Twist. Specify the twist angle of the sweep along its entire sweep path.

Reference: AutoCAD User’s Guide

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-
explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2020/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-2391CE97-3794-
402C-8BC1-E2DCB452DD13-htm.html

LOFT Command

Makes a 3D object based on cross sections which will determine its shape. Any number but one
of cross sections can be chosen.

Cross Sections in Lofting Order. Denotes the order in which the curves are to be lofted.
Point. Selects the first or last point of the loft to be made.
Join Multiple Edges. Joins multiple edges as a single cross section.
Mode. Specifies whether the loft will be a solid or surface.
Continuity. Only if the LOFTNORMALS is set to 1 (smooth fit). Denotes whether G0, G1, or
G2 will be applied to the continuity of surface.
Bulge Magnitude. Only if the LOFTNORMALS system variable is set to 1 (smooth fit).
Denotes the bulge magnitude of G1 or G2 continuity.
Guides. Selects the curves that will guide the shape of the loft. This can be used to achieve the
desired results without wrinkles or unnecessary curves.
Path. Selects the path of the loft. The path must pass through the cross sections of the loft.
Cross Sections Only. Makes lofts with cross sections only, disregarding paths or guides.
Settings. Shows the settings of the loft.
Reference: AutoCAD User’s Guide
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-
explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2020/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-0A041818-2E32-
4212-A3D8-CE0361C3D229-htm.html

REVOLVE Command

Makes a 3D solid by revolving an object around an axis.

Objects that can be revolved:
 Closed or open objects
 Non-planar or planar objects
 Surface and solid edges
 A single object or multiple objects joined by JOIN
 A single region or multiple regions joined by UNION

1. Select the REVOLVE tool or input REVOLVE.

2. Click the objects to revolve. Refer to the list above.

3. Click the axis start point.

4. Click the axis end point. This will serve as the axis of rotation.
5. Input the angle of revolution. If 360° is inputted, the object will be solid.

 Objects to Revolve. Indicates the objects to be rotated about an axis.

 Mode. Specify whether a soldi or a surface is formed.
 Axis Start Point. Indicates the first point in the axis where the object will be revolved.
 Axis Endpoint. Indicates the end point in the axis where the object will be revolved.
 Start Angle. Indicates an offset from the plane of the object being revolved.
 Angle of Revolution. Denotes the angle of revolution, how long will the revolution will be.
 Object. Selects the object or line that will be used as the axis of revolution.
 X (Axis). Sets the active UCS’ positive X axis as the positive axis.
 Y (Axis). Sets the active UCS’ positive Y axis as the positive axis.
 Z (Axis). Sets the active UCS’ positive Z axis as the positive axis.
 Reverse. Reverses the direction of the revolution.
 Expression. Use a formula or equation to input the revolution angle.

Reference: AutoCAD User’s Guide

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-
explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2020/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-0A041818-2E32-
4212-A3D8-CE0361C3D229-htm.html
EXERCISE for 3D Drawings
Instructions:
1. Draw the following figures using the commands for 3D.
2. Save the drawing.

3D Exercise 1

3D Exercise 2
3D Exercise 3

3D Exercise 4
3D Exercise 5

3D Exercise 6
3D Exercise 7

3D Exercise 8
3D Exercise 9

3D Exercise 10
MODULE 6 – RENDERING

Learning Objectives:

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Utilize the Visual Tab for rendering.
2. Use Lights, Sun and Location and Materials for rendering.

Rendering

A 3D rendering of the 3d model would be appealing to the observer and would contribute to the
understanding of the design.

Rendering is a way of transforming your drawing into realistic representation of the objects. This
encompasses changing the material of the drawing or parts of the drawing to meet its actual
appearance, as well as incorporating lighting and shadows to give the image further visual
appeal. Various settings can be adjusted to meet the desired result that would be pleasing to see.

Reference: AutoCAD User’s Guide

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-94CF8D57-8844-495B-AD85-
003D1C32B406
Accessing the Visualization Tools Tab

To start rendering, your AutoCAD should show the Visualize Tools Tab. This is done by right-
clicking the tab as shown below.

This will display the tools that can be used for rendering in AutoCAD.

Materials

Materials will give your drawings a realistic appearance.

Different materials are available and properties can be adjusted to improve visualization.

Reference: AutoCAD User’s Guide

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-F1EC9EC0-C7B1-4490-AEE5-
CC3B6B189AED

Lighting
Point Light

Spot Light
Distant Light
Weblight

Makes a 3D illustration of the light intensity distribution of a light source.

Shadows
Sun and Sky

Sun and sky is a special light that can specify the light in a certain location and time as a
representation of the actual sun. This would consider the intensity and color of the sun on
different times of the day and atmospheric conditions and serves as a natural illumination.

Reference: AutoCAD User’s Guide

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-F1EC9EC0-C7B1-4490-AEE5-
CC3B6B189AED
EXERCISE

1. Draw a 3D model of a stool with the dimensions given.

2. Render the finished model.