Starting AutoCad

— Start AutoCAD by clicking on the

Windows Start button (bottom left), then move the
mouse to All Programs then Autodesk and select
AutoCad 2008 . Once AutoCAD has loaded, move the
mouse around until you see a crosshair cursor.
— Alternatively, click on the AutoCAD2008 icon
Autocad Screen

Standard Toolbar Draw Toolbar Object Properties Toolbar

Modify Toolbar

Crosshair Cursor

View Tabs
Status Area Command Area
Command Entry
— There are 4 ways of giving a command :

1. To type a command in the command area the AutoCAD

command will be written like:
— type: QSAVE <ENTER>
2.To select a command from a menu, it will look like:
— select File – Save
3. Select the command icon from toolbars.
4. AutoCAD also supports common shortcuts like
— Ctrl-S for Save!!
— Press F2 to prompt out the command window. Here we can
type the command and view the history of commands.
Draw a Rectangle
— Select Rectangle ( or (type rectang), then type:
— 15,15 <ENTER>
— 415,315 <ENTER> (these are absolute Cartesian coordinates)

— If the rectangle can’t be seen, type :

— z [space] a [space] <ENTER> (zoom all)

This instructs AutoCAD to redraw the view, "zooming

out" to show all the graphics on the drawing.
Saving a Drawing
— Select the Save icon from the standard toolbar.
— The drawing has not been saved before, so AutoCAD
will display the SAVE AS dialog box.
— Select the appropriate Drive and Directory (for
example: S:\arch\u1234567).
— Type the drawing name (for example Model1), and
then select "OK".
— The quickest way -> Ctrl +S
Draw some Lines
— To draw a line type :
— Line <ENTER>
— Move the crosshair to near the bottom-left of the
rectangle and click the left mouse button, then move the
crosshair to the top-right of the rectangle and again click
the left mouse button.
— Press <ENTER> to terminate the command, and then
press <ENTER> again to re-start the command!
— Draw a line from the top-left to the bottom-right of the
rectangle, and then press <ENTER> to end the command.
— Now type:
QUIT <ENTER>
— We will be prompted to save the changes we've made - click
OK.
Coordinate System
— To specify a position use :
— Cartesian
— (x,y)
— e.g (100,200)
— Polar Coordinates
— distance<angle
— e.g 10<25 ; Angles are measured in degree i.e North = 90
East = 0.
— Both of them are absolute coordinates because it
mention the particular positions.
— Relative coordinates – specify position relative to the
current position. E.g @6.5<20 and @7.3,4.5
Draw a “Diamond”
— “Polyline” – used to create sequence of line to become
one object. If we use “Line” command it will become
separate objects.
— Select Polyline (or type: pline ) and then type:
— 215,15 <ENTER> absolute Cartesian coordinate
— @212<45 <ENTER> relative polar coordinate
— @212<135 <ENTER>
— @212<225 <ENTER> type : u <ENTER> to undo
— c <ENTER> “c” command is to complete the shape
Reveal geometric data

— Turn on Dynamic Input by clicking DYN on the status

bar.
— Click any object and place the crosshair over the grip
box.
— We can verify the any geometric data e.g. radius,
distance or angle.
— Press ESC to quit the object selection.
Snap Modes
— Snap modes are important for us to draw something base on reference
points e.g :
— “Endpoint” – snaps to the end of the selected graphic.
— “Intersection” – snaps to the intersection of 2 graphics.
— To turn Object Snap ON or OFF,click on "OSNAP" in the status Area.
— To see the various snap options "right-click" on "OSNAP" (in the status
area) and select "Settings...".
— The object snap modes can either be typed or they can be selected from
the standard toolbar or from the snap toolbar:
Draw an Arc
— Select Arc (or type ARC <ENTER> ),
— Then select the midpoint snap mode (or type: MID <ENTER>)
— Select the left side of the bottom of the "diamond" polyline we drew
before.
— Use the midpoint snap to enter points on the right side at the bottom
and then the top of the polyline .(refer to the figure ).
Still need to be drawn….
— Draw a rectangle in the diamond shape.
— Another diamond inside that rectangle.
— A circle inside that diamond.
— A horizontal and vertical line also inside the last diamond (refer to the
figure)
— ! Each shape should touch the Midpoints of the previous shape...
— HINT: To draw the circle, select Draw - Circle - 2 Points and then
(using midpoint snap) pick opposite sides of the inner diamond.
Drawing Polygon
— Draw circles at those 4 corners of the diamond with radius
= 20.
— Select Polygon (or type POLYGON <ENTER> ),
— Enter the number of sides i.e 6.
— Specify the center of polygon. i.e the center of circles.
— Enter the option i.e inscribed in circle. ( the sides = radius
) and Circumscribed about circle ( polygon will be drawn
around the circle.
— Enter the radius of circles radius = 30.
— Press <ENTER> to terminate them.
Move and Copy Objects
— Select Move (or type MOVE <ENTER> ),
— Select 2 outer hexagons and press <ENTER>
— Select the center /base point i.e the center of the circle.
— Move the object to the left corners of the outer rectangle.
— Select Copy ( or type COPY <ENTER>)
— Select the hexagon and press <ENTER>
— Select the center /base point i.e the center of the hexagon.
— Copy the hexagon to all corners of the rectangle.
Pan in the Drawing
— Move the cursor over the zoom tools and select pan
icon.
— Right click anywhere on the drawing. Click Pan.
— Click and hold the mouse button to change the view of
the drawing.
— While still panning in the drawing, press and hold
SHIFT. – The drawing will move in orthogonal mode.
— Right click on the drawing and select Ext to end the
command. Or press Escape.
Zoom in real time
— On the navigate panel select Realtime.
— Click , hold the mouse button move the cursor up .
The drawing zooms in.
— Click , hold the mouse button move the cursor down.
The drawing zooms out.
— This function also can be activated by rotating the
wheel mouse .
Zoom to a window
— On the navigate panel select Window.
— Click 2 points on the selected portion on the drawing.
— It will zoom to the selected portion that we want to
view.
— On the navigate panel select Previous view.
— This returns us to the last view that we zoomed or pan.
— Only last 10 views will be saved.