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 START TAB

1. START TAB
Provides easy access to a
variety of start up actions

2. GET STARTED
1. Quick access to open files or
Templates from the drop
down menu

2. 3. 4. 3. RECENT DOCUMENTS
View the most recently
opened files

4. NOTIFICATIONS
Displays all notifications with
5. regards to product updates,
new features etc.

5. CONNECT
* * Sign in to A360 to access the
online services or send
feedback

6. LEARN AREA
Provides access to learning
resources such as videos,
tips, etc.

* Templates (.dwt)
New drawings start from
either a default drawing
template file or a custom
template file that you create.
It specifies the styles,
6. settings and layouts in a
drawing, including title
blocks.

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 INTERFACE

1 2. 4. 3. 1. APPLICATION MENU
The application menu
contains commands that are
relevant for the drawing as a
whole.
5.
6. 2. QUICK ACCESS TOOL BAR
8. Displays frequently used tools
7. like open, save, undo or plot

3. INFOCENTRE
Search for info, sign in to
your account, buy apps or get
help

4. TABS
Organizes the ribbons

5. RIBBON
Organizes commands and
9. tools into panels

6. PANEL
Contains commands and tools

7. VIEWPORT CONTROLS
Select a variety of views

8. DRAWING FILE TAB

Every open drawing is tabbed

9. DRAWING AREA
Create and modify objects
here to represent your design

*Hovering over tools displays

Tooltips, resting the cursor over
Tooltips displays further info*

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 INTERFACE

10. VIEW CUBE

Allows you to rotate the view
of your drawing

11. NAVIGATION BAR

Allows you to pan, rotate
zoom and orbit the drawing

12. CROSS-HAIR
Cross hair or cursor indicator
10.
13. ORIGIN / UCS
Display X & Y axis

14. LAYOUT AREA

Contains Model Space to
11. draw and Paper Space to Plot

15. COMMAND LINE

Accepts commands & system
variable inputs that displays
prompts to guide you
12. through the command
sequence

16. STATUS BAR

Contains common drafting
aids, annotation scaling and
work customization tools

* OPTIONS(OP)
Located in the Application
menu and contains a series of
13. options where the User can
15. fully customize and optimize
14. the software

16.

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 INTERFACE

OPEN AND SAVE DRAWING

1. Open template file 'acadiso.dwt'
2. Save drawing as 'AutoCAD_Day 01' to desktop or personal folder
Named drawing Tabs with an (*) at the end have been updated and require saving.

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS / HOTKEYS & COMMANDS

HOTKEYS are shortcuts to AutoCAD Commands
Below you will find an abbreviated list of common commands that can be used
https://www.autodesk.com/shortcuts/autocad

MOUSE CONTROLS
1. Select objects - Left click
2. Shortcut menu - Right click
3. Pan - Hold scroll-wheel down and drag
4. Zoom - Use the scroll-wheel, double click wheel to zoom extents

WINDOWS HOTKEYS
1. Ctrl + X = Cut 5. Ctrl + Y = Redo last action
2. Ctrl + C = Copy 6. Ctrl + Shift + C = Copy with base point
3. Ctrl + V = Paste 7. Ctrl + Shift + V = Paste as a block
4. Ctrl + Z = Undo last action 8. Ctrl + Shift = Toggle between drawings

NAVIGATE DRAWING/MODEL
1. PAN(P) and ZOOM(Z) with the mouse
2. Navigate by using the tools in navigation bar and command line

ACTIVATION / DE-ACTIVATION OF TOOLS

1. Select tool > use tool > tool will be active until you press ENTER or ESC to complete tool
2. Click ENTER / SPACE BAR to re-activate tool and de-activate once previously selected
3. Finished a Command by clicking ESC

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 INTERFACE

OBJECT SELECTION
Window selection
Only selects objects once inside the window selection
>Click once from the top left corner then move the cursor and click again at the bottom right corner
Creates a blue window

Crossing selection
Selects any object once it touches the crossing selection
>Click once from the bottom right corner then move the cursor and click again at the top left corner
Creates a green window

Window Polygon(WP)
Using a polygon objects are only selected once inside the window selection
>Click on the screen > select WP > create polygon around object
Creates a blue window

Crossing Polygon(CP)
Using a polygon any object that touches the window selection is selected
>Click on the screen > select CP > create polygon around object
Creates a green window

Lasso
Object selection windows have the same attributes as the window and crossing selection but more
freedom
>Click, hold and drag around objects, starting either from top left for blue window or bottom right
for green window

Deselect object
>Hold down SHIFT key and hover over a selected item, a (-) badge appears to indicate that selecting
the object will remove it from selection.

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 INTERFACE

STATUS BAR
The status bar displays the cursor location by coordinates, drawing tools and tools that affect your drawing environment.

The status bar provides quick access to some of the most commonly used drawing tools.
You can toggle settings such as GRID(F7), SNAP(F9), POLAR TRACKING(F10) and OBJECT SNAP(F3).
You can also access additional settings for some of these tools by clicking their drop down arrows.

*Tool is active when highlight blue

Gridmode
Snapmode, with drop down arrow
Dynamic Input
Model or Orthomode
Paper space Polar Tracking, with drop down arrow
Isometric Drafting, with drop down arrow
Drawing
Object Snap Tracking
Coordinates: Object Snap, with drop down arrow
X, Y & Z

Show/Hide Lineweight
Annotation Control
Annotation Scale of current view, with drop down arrow
Workspace Switching
Annotation Monitor
Isolate Objects
Hardware Acceleration
Clean Screen
Customization

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 INTERFACE

OBJECT SNAP OR OSNAP

The Object Snaps also known as OSNAP (OSNAP, F3) are drawing aids which are used in conjunction
with other commands to help you draw accurately. Osnaps allow you to snap onto a specific object
location when you are picking a point. Osnaps are so important that you cannot draw accurately
without them.
Here are a couple of examples of the most commonly used OSNAPs:

PARALLEL
INSERTION

NEAREST
EXTENSION

NODE
TANGENT
APPARENT
INTERSECTION (3D) GEOMETRIC
CENTRE

CENTRE MIDPOINT
INTERSECTION

ENDPOINT

QUADRANT PERPENDICULAR

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Level

 CHAPTER 01 - LINES, POLYLINES, DELETING, ORTHOMODE & DYNAMIC INPUT

LINES
Creates a series of contiguous line segments. Each segment is a line object that can be edited separately.
>Click LINE(L) in the Draw panel > click on screen to specify first point > move your cursor in the direction
which you want the line to go > enter in a specified length > ENTER to confirm > ENTER or ESC to complete

POLYLINES
A Polyline is a connected sequence of line segments created as a single object. You can create straight line
segments, arc segments or a combination of the two.
>Click Polyline(PL) in the Draw panel

GRIPS
Grips are small, solid-filled squares that are displayed at strategic points on objects that you have selected
with a pointing device. You can drag these grips to stretch, move, rotate, scale, or mirror objects quickly.
Draw multiple lines > highlight grips > hold SHIFT and select multiple grips

DELETING A LINE / OBJECT (2 different ways)

1. Click ERASE(E) in the Modify panel > select line to be deleted > ENTER to confirm
2. Highlight line to be deleted > click DELETE or DEL on keyboard to delete line

ORTHOMODE
Constrains cursor movement to the horizontal and vertical directions.
>Click ORTHOMODE(F8) in the Status Bar

DYNAMIC INPUT
Dynamic Input provides a command interface near the cursor in the drawing area.
>Click DYNMODE(F12) in the Status Bar

The first Input bar on the left requires a distance, the

second Input bar on the right requires an angle. To toggle
between the different input bars click SHIFT

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 PRACTICAL 01

ORTHOMODE IS ON

400 1000 200

200
300

100 100
300

300
200

200
START
300 400 200 700

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 CHAPTER 02.1 - COORDINATES

DRAWING BY ABSOLUTE COORDINATES

Absolute coordinates are based on the UCS origin (0,0), which is the intersection of the X and Y axis.
Best used if geographical coordinates are known.

You specify an absolute coordinate with the # prefix. e.g. #200,500

Y-Axis

1000

900

800
(300,700)
700
(700,600)

600

500

400

300
(200,300)

200 (800,200)

100

X-Axis
100

1000
500
200

300

700
600

800

900
400

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 PRACTICAL 02.1

(900,600)

(400,500)

(800,200)

(100,100)
Y

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 CHAPTER 02.2 - COORDINATES

DRAWING BY RELATIVE COORDINATES

Relative coordinates are based on the last point entered. Use relative coordinates when you know the
location of a point in relation to the previous point.

You specify a relative coordinate by entering the coordinates with no prefix e.g. 200,500
A negative (-) number will change the direction of the end point.

Y-Axis

500
(-300,400)
400

300
(300,200)
200

100

X-Axis X-Axis

100
0

500
300
-500

-400

-300

-200

-100

200

400
-100

-200

-300 (400,-300)

-400

(-400,-500) -500
Y-Axis

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 PRACTICAL 02.2

300 200 100 400 400

200
100
400
200

START
300 200 500 200 200

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 CHAPTER 03 - GRID & SNAP

GRID MODE
The Grid is a rectangular pattern of lines or dots that covers the entire XY plane of the user
coordinates system(UCS)
>Click GRID(F7) in Status Bar to activate or de-activate Gridmode

SNAP MODE
Restricts cursor movement to specified grid intervals
>Click SNAP(F9) in Status Bar to activate or de-activate Snapmode

SETTING UP THE GRID AND SNAP

>Turn SNAP(F9) and GRID(F7) on
>Click the drop down arrow of the Snapmode
>OR Snap settings(Dsettings)
>Change Snap spacing to 100 for X&Y
>Change Grid spacing to 100 for X&Y
>Change 'Major Line Every' to 100
>Snap type > Grid Snap > Rectangular snap

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 PRACTICAL 03

OBJECT SNAP IS ON, ENDPOINT IS ACTIVE SNAPMODE IS ON

GRIDMODE IS ON

400 100 100 100 800

100 100 100

300

500
300
200
100 100

200
START
400 100 100 100 600 200

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 CHAPTER 04 - POLAR TRACKING AND OBJECT SNAP TRACKING

POLAR TRACKING
Polar tracking restricts cursor movement to specified angles.
>Click POLAR TRACKING(F10) in the Status Bar

To create additional angles, go to Tracking Settings.

OBJECT SNAP TRACKING

Object Snap Tracking works in conjunction with object
snaps. Use object snap tracking to track along
alignment paths that are based on object snap points.
Acquired points display a small plus sign (+). After you
acquire a point, horizontal, vertical or polar alignment
paths relative to the point are displayed as you move
the cursor over their drawing paths.
>Click OBJECT SNAP TRACKING(F11) in the Status Bar

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 04 - POLAR TRACKING ANGLE

POLAR TRACKING ANGLE

Polar tracking angle depends on the cursors position, once in a line command and you
specify the first point, if you drag the cursor below the X-axis of that point the angle
doesn't continue from 181° to 360° but from 180° back to 0°.

Y-AXIS

100 90 80
70
110
0 60
12
50
1 30

40
14
0

30
15
160

20
180 170

10
X-AXIS X-AXIS

0
170

10
160

20
15

30
0
14

40
0

13
0 50
12
0 60
110
100 70
90 80

Y-AXIS

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 PRACTICAL 04
300
OBJECT SNAP IS ON,
ENDPOINT IS ACTIVE

POLAR TRACKING IS ON

200

100
0
50

50
0
34°

124°

200

100
400

300

100
0

18
1 8

0
100

100
45° 45°
START
254.63 250

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 CHAPTER 05 - EXPLODE, JOIN, OFFSET, TRIM & EXTEND

EXPLODE
Breaks a compound object into its component objects.
>Click EXPLODE(X) in the Modify panel

JOIN
Joins the endpoints of linear and curved objects to create a single object.
>Click JOIN(J) in the drop down arrow of the Modify panel

OFFSET
Creates concentric circles, parallel lines and parallel curves. You can offset an object at a
specified distance or through a point.
>Click OFFSET(O) in the Modify panel

TRIM
Trims objects to meet the edges of other objects.
To trim objects, select the boundaries and press Enter. Then select the objects that you
want to trim. To use all objects as boundaries, press Enter at the first Select Objects
prompt.
>Click TRIM(TR) in the Modify panel

EXTEND
Extends objects to meet the edges of other objects.
To extend objects, first select the boundaries. Then press Enter and select the objects that
you want to extend. To use all objects as boundaries, press Enter at the first Select Objects
prompt.
>Click EXTEND(EX) in the drop down arrow of the Extend tool in the Modify panel

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 PRACTICAL 05

900

50 200 50 300 50 200 50

50

150
100 100
600

200
500

50 50 50
150 150
50

50
250 400 250

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 CHAPTER 06 - MOVE, ROTATE, COPY, MIRROR & SNAP REFERENCE POINT

MOVE
Moves objects a specified distance in a specified direction.
Use coordinates, grid snaps, object snaps, and other tools to move objects with precision.
>Click MOVE(M) in the Modify panel

ROTATE
Rotates objects around a base point or by specifying an angle.
>Click ROTATE(RO) in the Modify panel

· Rotation angle: Determines how far an object rotates around the base point
· Copy: Creates a copy of the selected objects for rotation
· Reference: Rotates objects from a specified angle to a new, absolute angle

COPY
Copies objects a specified distance in a specified direction.
>Click COPY(CO) in the Modify panel

MIRROR
Creates a mirrored copy of the selected objects across a specified line.
>Click MIRROR(MI) in the Modify panel

SNAP REFERENCE POINT

Creates a temporary snapping point by hovering over a point.
>Click OBJECT SNAP TRACKING(F11) in the Status Bar

Snap reference points are a small green (+) plus symbol.

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 PRACTICAL 06

400
50 50 300
50
180
450

20
200

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 CHAPTER 07 - CIRCLES & POLYGONS

CIRCLES
Creates a Circle by 6 different methods.
>Click CIRCLE(C) in the Draw panel

Centre, Radius
Defines a circle based on a centre point and a radius or a diameter.
Centre, Diameter
Defines the diameter of the circle. Enter a value, or specify a second point.
2-Point
Draws a circle based on two endpoints of the diameter.
3-Point
Draws a circle based on three points on the circumference.
Tan, Tan, Radius
Draws a circle with a specified radius tangent to two objects
Tan, Tan, Tan
Creates a circle tangent to three objects.

POLYGONS
Creates an equilateral closed polyline by 2 different methods.
>Click POLYGON(POL) in the drop down arrow of the RECTANGLE icon in the Draw panel
>Specify the number of sides in the polygon (3-1024) then choose 1 of the following methods.

Centre of Polygon
Specifies the location of the center of the polygon and whether the new object is inscribed or circumscribed.
Edge
Defines a polygon by specifying the endpoints of the first edge.

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 07 - FILLETS

FILLETS
Rounds or fillets the edges of two 2D objects or the adjacent faces of a 3D solid.
>Click FILLET(F) in the Modify panel

Undo
Reverses the previous action in the command.
Polyline
Inserts a fillet at each vertex of a 2D polyline where two straight line segments meet.
The fillets become new segments of the polyline, unless the Trim option is set to No Trim.
Radius
Sets the radius for subsequent fillets; changing this value does not affect existing fillets.
Trim
Controls whether the selected objects are trimmed to meet the endpoints of the fillet.
Multiple
Allows for the rounding of more than one set of objects.

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 PRACTICAL 07
500 500 R130

R250

R650
380

500
6 sided Polygon
Inscribed in circle

500
Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course
 CHAPTER 08 - POLAR ARRAY

POLAR ARRAY
Evenly distributes object copies in a circular pattern around a center point or axis of rotation.
>Click POLAR ARRAY(AR) in the drop down arrow of RECTANGULAR ARRAY in the Modify panel

Items
Items>Specifies the number of items in the array
Between>Specifies the angle between items
Fill>Specifies the angle between the first and last item in the array

Rows
EQ° EQ° Rows>Sets the number of rows
Between>Specifies the distance between each row
EQ° EQ° Total>Specifies the total distance between the start and end row

Levels(for 3D arrays)

EQ° EQ° Properties

Associative>Specifies whether the arrayed objects are associative or
EQ° EQ° independent
Rotate Items>Controls Whether items are rotated as they are arrayed

Close
Close Array>Exits the command

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 PRACTICAL 08

R100

R550

R800

R50

8 Sided Polygon
Inscribed in circle
700 Radius=100
R150

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 PRACTICE EXERCISE 01

R800

R200

3 Sided Polygon
Inscribed in circle R800

3 Sided
Polygon
Circumscribed
about circle

R800 R800

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 PRACTICE EXERCISE 02

R700
R600

R200

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course

 COMMAND LIST

Instructor: Steve Fagan Level: Beginner Course