Page |1

…..Introduction to AutoCAD:
 AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting software. It is
developed and marketed by a organisation known as Autodesk. inc. The first version
of AutoCAD known as MicroCAD was introduced in December 1982. The name
AutoCAD was given to it in later updates.
 The native file format of AutoCAD is “.dwg”, and the backup file format is “.bak”.
AutoCAD is also compatible with other designing software.

 Several variant of autoCAD has been developed for different fields & use. Some of
those are:

 Vanilla AutoCAD: Plain/generic version of AutoCAD without any enhancements.

 AutoCAD LT: AutoCAD LT is the lower cost version of AutoCAD, with reduced
capabilities & functionalities such as 3D modelling, Program customisation etc.
 AutoCAD CIVIL 3D: A design and documentation solution for civil engineering.
 AutoCAD Advance Steel: Advance Steel is a CAD software application for 3D
modelling and detailing of steel structures and automatic creation of fabrication
drawings, bill of materials.
 AutoCAD Architecture: AutoCAD Architecture is a variant of AutoCAD with
tools and functions especially suited to architectural work.
 AutoCAD Electrical: It is a powerful AutoCAD add-on for electrical designers
and engineers
 AutoCAD Map 3D: It provides access to GIS and mapping data to support
planning, design, and data management.
 AutoCAD Mech: It is a design software which is used for manufacturing
products for acceleration of mechanical CAD process in AutoCAD environment.
 AutoCAD MEP: It is a design and construction documentation software created
by Autodesk for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) professionals.
 AutoCAD Structural Detailing: It is a variant of autoCAD specially customised for
structural engineers, detailers and fabricators that helps create detailing and
fabrication drawings.
 AutoCAD P&ID: It allows you to create, modify, and manage schematic Piping
and Instrumentation Diagrams.
 AutoCAD Plant 3D: It includes the features of AutoCAD P&ID and adds the 3D
modelling capability.
 Page |2

Interface
Title Bar
Menu Bar

Drawing
Cursor
space

Scroll bars

UCS Icon

Command
Line

1. Title Bar:
It contains the Name and Version details of AutoCAD.

2. Menu Bar:
It contains different menu consists of tools to be used in certain drawing file such
as File, Edit, View Insert…..ETC.

3. Drawing Space:
It is the Blank Space on AutoCAD Screen that is used for Drawing/Drafting purpose.

4. Cursor:
It is used to make a selection of an object and also to use Draw tool and other
given tools. (The small box on cursor is known as pick box)

5. UCS Icon:

It is “ “shaped arrows present at lower left corners of the screen. It represents

the origin coordinate (0,0) on the screen.

6. Scroll Bars:
It helps to move the Drawing with respect to drawing area.

7. Command Line:
It is used for input commands for any function.

8. Status Bar:
It contains the coordinate value.
 Page |3

Keyboard Shortcuts:
Following shortcuts are used for some basic functions in AutoCAD

Ctrl+C= Copy

Ctrl+Shift+C= Copy with a base point

Ctrl+V = Paste

Ctrl+Shift+V = Paste origin

Ctrl+A = Select All

Ctrl+Z = Undo

Ctrl+Y = Redo

Ctrl+N = Create a New File

Ctrl+O = Open a existing File

Ctrl+S = Save a File

Ctrl+shift+S = Save as

Ctrl+P = to toggle Printing Menu

Ctrl+N = to Open a New Tab

Alt+F4 = to Close Anything on Screen

Ctrl+1 = to toggle Properties bar

Ctrl+2 = to toggle Design Centre Tab

Ctrl+3 = to toggle Tool Pallets

Ctrl+4 = to toggle Sheet set manager

Ctrl+8 = to toggle quick Calculator

Ctrl+9 = to Turn On/Off Command Line

Function of Mouse :
 Left Click is used to make a selection in a certain drawing file.
 Right Click is used to toggle popup window for all sorts of additional tools.
 Scroll Button Click: Click and hold the scroll button to toggle panning feature.
 Scroll Wheel: Move Scroll Wheel accordingly to Zoom in / Zoom out.
 Page |4

Toggle/Mode Indicator:

Function Keys:

F1: AutoCAD Help

F2: AutoCAD Text Window

F3: Osnap (Object Snap) on/off

F4: Tablet on/off

F5: Create ISO place

F6: Dynamic UCS on/off

F7: Grid on/off

F8: Ortho on/off

F9: Snap on/off

F10: Polar Tracking on/off

F11: Otrack on/off

F12: Dynamic input on/off

A. Snap:
When it’s turned on, the movement of the cursor will be done by specifying the
distance with x & y axis plane.

B. Grid:
When it’s in on condition in displays the points with in specified drawing area.
These points are called Grid points.

C. Ortho:
When it’s in on condition we can draw a line or object with a particular angle. (Such
as 90◦, 180◦… etc.)

D. Polar Setting: (How to make)

Right click on Polar, Click on settings, then in Polar setting window give the
increment angle.

In Object snap tracking settings, click on track using all polar angle setting, Click
on Ok.
 Page |5

E. Object Snap:
When it is in on condition it displays the different Marking point, Such as Endpoint,
Midpoint, Centre Point, etc. (osnap, object snap)

F. Object Snap Settings:

Right click on Osnap, click on settings, it displays the osnap settings window, Select
the option as per your requirements, Click on Ok.

G. Otrack (Object Snap Tracking):

When it is in on condition it displays the tracking line of different point of the
object.

H. DUCS (Dynamic User Co-ordinate System):

When it is in on condition we can take any plane as XY plane.
It is used in 3D Modelling.

I. DYM (Dynamic Input):

When it is in on condition we can put the command directly over the graphics
window instead of putting in command line.

J. LWT (Line Weight Thickness):

When it is in on condition the thickness of all the lines in certain drawing are visible,
by default Line Weight Thickness in AutoCAD is 0.25 NM.

Options:
A. QP (Quick Properties):
This TAB shows property of any selected object on Drawing Space.

B. Changing Colour of Drawing Space:

 Right click on the screen
 Click on Option in the pop up menu.
 Click on Display in the option window.
 Click on Colours.
 Select the Colour you want.
 Click on apply and close.
 Click apply and ok.

C. How to change Interface:

In total we will use 3 Interface:-

 2D Drafting & Annotation

 3D Modelling
 AutoCAD Classic

We can toggle between interfaces in workspace tab. There we can also create own
costume workspace.
 Page |6

Interface:
A. Advantages of AutoCAD Classic Workspace:

Classic workspace is simple easy and the toolboxes are fully customizable. You can
show/hide, change the position of the toolboxes as per your comfort. You can also
toggle both 2D & 3D tool boxes in AutoCAD classic workspace. It also gives larger
Drawing Space.

(Note: Autodesk has discontinued AutoCAD Classic Workspace with its 2015
Update, but it’s still accessible manually.)

AutoCAD Classic Workspace. AutoCAD Advance Workspace.

B. Toolbars:
There are total 47 toolbars containing 360 tools. Ex:- Draw, Modify Layers, View,
Styles, Properties, Standard, Mesh etc.

C. How to call Toolbars to screen:

There are 3 different ways of calling toolbars on screen.

 1st Method:
In command line type “-Toolbar↵ “
Then specify Toolbar, such as “Menu↵“
Then “S↵“for show.
 Page |7

 2nd Method:
Right click on the left side of a toolbar already present in the screen.
From the list of toolbar select any one you required.

 3rd Method:
Go to “Tools “option in Menu bar.
Go to Tool bar.
Go to AutoCAD.
From the list of toolbars select any one you want.

D. 2D:
In this option we will use two axis for any kind of drawings i.e. X & Y axis.

E. Limit Settings:
Command “Limits ↵”,
Specify lower left corner↵,
Specify upper right corner↵,
z↵, a↵, (z=Zoom, a=All)

F. Unit Settings:
Command “un↵”,
In the unit window change the Length Type settings
As per your requirements,
Architectural, Decimal, Engineering, Fractional, Scientific.
Choose precision.
Select any one option in incretion scale menu as per your requirement.
Click ok.
 Page |8

(Notes: - Basically we use only two types of units in India, First one is Decimal and
second one is engineering.

In engineering type we can use only Feet & inch type of units. In Decimal type all
other units like MM, CM, Meter, Kilometre, etc. can be used. )

Toolbars
Draw Tool:

A. Line:
Command “L↵” or Click on the line option in Draw toolbar.
Click anywhere on the screen for first point of the line.
Specify the value of next point ↵, L↵,
Specify the coordinate value of the next point ↵.

B. Co-ordinate Geometry:
Rectangular Method:
Rectangular Method divided in to two parts
(1) Relative Methods (Absolute Method).
(2) Incremental Method.

B1. Absolute Method:

1st Point = (10,20)

2nd Point = (60,20)
3rd Point = (60,40)
4th Point = (10,40)
Steps:

L↵/ Click on line in draw tool bar.

Follow the coordinate ↵,
C↵ (C= Close)

B2. Incremental Method:

Steps:

In this method there is no fixed origin.

Follow direction to complete the drawing.
Previous point of every given point will act as
 Page |9

Origin according to the direction we move.

For this given example: it’s moving in X direction first.

(1) @(0,0)
(2) @(50,0)
(3) @(0,20)
(4) @(50,0)

Polar Method:

Command: L↵
(1) (0,0) (6) @50<240
(2) @50<0 (7) C↵
(3) @50<60 (8) Command L↵
(4) @50<120 (9) Follow the co-ordinate
(5) @50<180 (10) C↵, C= Close

Direct Entry Method: In case of direct entry method it depends upon the mouse point
direction.

C. Polyline:
By using this type of lines we can draw continuous object & also closed object.

Single Line Polyline It’s drawn by the line option.

There are four lines
1. Difference:
In case of line object, the whole object consists of more than one line.
But in case of Polyline the whole object consists of Single line.

2. Converting Polyline to Line:

Command “X↵” Or
Click on Explode option in modify Toolbar.
Select the whole polyline object then press
Enter.
 P a g e | 10

3. Line to Polyline:
Command “PE↵” (PE= Polyline Edit)
M↵ (Multiple)
Select all the Lines ↵
Y↵ (Y= Yes)
J↵ (j= Join)
1↵ (Fuzz Distance = 1)

4. Converting Single Line to Polyline:

Pe↵
Select the object
Y↵
J↵

(Note: Use of polyline is a same method as line option. The shortcut for poly line is PL↵)

D. Polygon: (POL↵)
There are 3 methods to draw a polygon in AutoCAD.
Edge method (C↵).
Inscribe in circle method (i↵).
Circumscribe in circle method (c↵).

Steps: (First Method)

 Pol↵ or Click on Polygon option in draw tool bar.
 S↵ (Number of side = S).
 Enter the number of sides then press Enter Key.
 Click anywhere on screen for centre point.
 Specify the Radius value then press Enter Key.
 Then i↵ or c↵
(I = Inscribed Circle, C= Circumscribed Circle)

Second Method:
 Pol↵
 S↵
 No of Sides↵
 Edge method i.e. E↵
 Click anywhere on the screen for starting point↵.
 Put distance value↵.

E. Rectangle:
We are having Four Method to draw a Rectangle in AutoCAD.
 Normal Method
 Area Method
 P a g e | 11

 Dimension Method
 Rotation Method

(i) Normal Method:

 Rec ↵ or Click on rectangle option in draw tool bar.
 Click at anywhere on the screen to select the list corner point.
 Click on the screen for the second corner point.

(ii) Area Method:

 Rec ↵ or Click on Rectangle option in draw tool bar.
 Click at anywhere on the screen to select the first corner point. A ↵
(A= Area).
 Specify the area value ↵.
 L ↵/W ↵ (L=Length, W=Width).
 Specify the value ↵.

(iii) Dimension Method:

 Rec ↵.
 Click at anywhere on the screen
for the first corner point.
 D ↵ (D= Dimension).
 Specify the Value of length ↵.
 P a g e | 12

 Specify the value of width.

(iv) Rotation Method:

 Rec ↵.
 Click at anywhere on the screen for the first point.
 R ↵. (Rotation = R)
 Specify the rotation angle ↵.
 Follow the other three method for completion of the rectangle.

F. Circle: (C ↵)
 Click on circle option in Draw toolbar.
 Click at anywhere on the screen for the circle point.
 Specify the radius value ↵, or D ↵.
 Specify the value of diameter ↵.

Note Point:There are six other method to draw a circle.

(1) Circle Radius
(2) Centre Diameter
(3) Two Points Method
(4) Three Points Method
(5) Tan Tan Radius Method
(6) Tan Tan Tan Method

G. Arc: This is a segment of a Circle.

Method to draw an arc:

3 points.
Start, Centre, Angle.
Start, Centre, Length.
Start, End, Angle.
Start, End, Direction.
Start, End, Radius.
Centre, Start, End.
Centre, Start, Angle.
Centre, Start, Length.
Continue….
 P a g e | 13

A. Blocks:

Steps:
 After finish drafting an object, Enter command “B↵”
 Select the object, then press Enter key
 Click on the pick point tab and select a base point
 Specify the file name
 Click on Ok.

How to insert a Block:

There are certain blocks available in design centre option

Steps:
 Command “i↵”, or Click on insert block tool bar from draw tool bar
 Click Browse & Select your file
 Open
 If required then change the setting of insertion point, rotation, Scale.
 Click on Ok, then Place it on screen.

H. Hatch:
This tool fills an enclosed area or object with patterns in 2D Profile.
By using hatch edit option we can edit hatch patterns, its scale and angle

Steps:
 Command H↵, or Click on hatch option in Draw Toolbar.
 Click on Pattern tab in hatch window & Select the pattern.
 Click on Add Select object tab or pick internal point tab and select the
required object.
 Specify Angles and scale as per your requirement.
 Click on preview.
 Press enter key afterwards or Press esc to remodify the edit.
 P a g e | 14

I. Gradient: This tool fills an enclosed object with colourful gradient shades.

Steps:
 Command GD↵, or Click on gradient icon on draw tool bar.
 In the gradient window, select either one colour or two colour option as per
your requirement.
 Click on colours tabs to select your required colours from the colours
window.
 Click on Select object tab or Pick internal point and select object↵.
 Select the pattern (total line pattern) you required.
 Click on preview.
 Press ↵ afterwards or esc button to modify further.
 P a g e | 15

J. Multi text Formatting (Mtext)/ Text Formatting: By using this option we can write
anything anywhere on Drawing space.

Steps:
 Select multiline text option in draw toolbar or enter command MT↵.
 Select the area you want your text to appear.
 In Multiline text window/Annotation window select your text font, size,
colour.
 In Textbox, type your text.
 Click Ok afterwards.

Notes: By double clicking on the text we can edit/modify a certain text further.
 P a g e | 16

Modify Toolbar:

B. Erase:
This option is used to delete unnecessary or excessive part of 2D profile.

Steps:
 Command E↵, or Click on erase option in Modify toolbar
 Select the object you need to erase.
 Afterwards press Enter.

C. Copy:
By this tool we can create copy/copies of certain object.

Steps:
 Command Co↵/Cp↵, or Click on the copy tool
in Modify Toolbar.
 Select the object you want to copy↵
 Click at anywhere on the screen or on object for
base point.
 Now you can copy object anywhere you want.

D. Move:
By this option we can displace any object on screen from its genuine point.
 P a g e | 17

Steps:
 Command m↵.
 Select the object↵
 Click at anywhere for the base point.
 Place it anywhere you want.

(Same procedure as Copy)

E. Trim:
By this option we can delete a specify part of an Object.

Steps:
 Command Tr↵↵
 Click on the part of the object to trim it.

Method 2:
 Command “Tr↵”
 Select the reference object first ↵
 Select the objects trim, once done trimming, press Enter key.

F. Mirror:
By using this option we can create similar mirror images with respect to the Mirror axis.

Steps:
 Mi↵, or Click on the Mirror icon modify toolbar
 Select the object↵
 Click at 2 different points on the mirror axis.↵
 P a g e | 18

G. Array: Creating similar kind of objects arranged in a certain pattern is called “Array”.
By using the option we can create up to 1024 no. of duplicate objects arranged in
order.
2 types of array are there
 Rectangular array
 Polar array

Rectangular Array: By using this type of array we can arranged similar object in a
rectangular pattern.
Steps:
 After creating the main object, enter command “Arr↵”, or Click on array tool on
modify toolbar.
 In array window select rectangular array.
 Click on select object tab & Select the object enter.
 Specify row offset distance & column offset distance.
 Specify no. of rows and no. of columns.
 Click on preview.
 If result is satisfactory then press Enter key or else press esc key to modify
further.
 P a g e | 19

Polar Array:

Steps:
 Enter array command or Click on array icon on modify toolbar
 Select polar array option
 Click on select object tab & select the main object, ↵.
 Click on centre point tab & Select the centre of array.
 Specify the total no of item & angle to fill
 Click on preview.
 If it is ok then proceed further or press esc button to further modification.
 Maximum number of entry is 32767.

H. Offset: By using this option we can create parallel objects may be smaller or bigger
than the main object.

Steps:
 Command “O↵”, or Click Offset tool in modify toolbar.
 Provide the offset distance.
 Select the object
 Click in which direction you want to offset the object.
 Press enter key when done.
 P a g e | 20

I. Rotate:
By this option we can rotate an object as per our requirement.

Steps:
 Command “Ro↵”, or Click on the rotate tool icon in modify toolbar.
 Select object ↵
 Specify base point.
 Provide rotation angle if mentioned of simply click in direction of which you
want to rotate.

J. Scale:
By this option we can increase/decrease size of object to any ratio.

Steps:
 Command “Sc↵” or Click on the scale tool on modify toolbar.
 Select the object ↵”
 Click at anywhere for base point.
 Specify the scale factor, then press the enter key.
 P a g e | 21

K. Extend:
As the command suggests, it extends Lines that are already on drawing space, as per
requirement.

Steps:
Command “Ex↵↵”or Click on the extend tool on Modify toolbar.
Just like trim, it also has two method.

L. Fillet: By using this option we can create Sharp as well as round Corners.

Steps:
 Command “F↵”, or Click on Fillet icon in modify toolbar.
 “M↵” for multiple
 “R↵” for radius.
 Specify the Radius vale.
 Then select the lines respectively.

Notes:
 By using trim option we can keep the trimmed part.
 By using polyline option we can chamfered all the corners of any 2D polyline
profile.
 By using radius value as 0 we can create a sharp corner.
 P a g e | 22

M. Chamfering: By using this option we can create sharp corners. To cut the edges &
transfer it into some other sharp object is called chamfering.

3 Parameters:
 Distance of x-axis
 Distance of y-axis
 Corresponding angle

Steps:
 Command “Cha↵” or Click on chamfer option on modify toolbar.
 M“↵” (M=Multiple)
 “D↵” (D=Distance)
 “A↵” (A=Angle)
 Specify 1st chamfering distance ↵.
 Specify the 2nd chamfering distance↵, or specify the angle↵.
 Select the first line &2nd line respectively.

Notes:
 By using trim option we can keep the trimmed part.
 By using polyline option we can chamfered all the corners of any 2D polyline
profile.
 By using radius value as 0 we can create a sharp corner.

N. Break:
Shortcut key is “Br↵”
 After completion of the object, click on break option on modify toolbar.
 Select the object ↵.
 Click anywhere on the object you want to break.

O. Break At a Point:
After completion of the object, Click on break at a point option in modify toolbar.
 Select the object ↵.
 P a g e | 23

 Click at anywhere for the first point.

 Specify the value ↵.

P. Join: Select the objects you want to join. Then press J↵.

Properties Toolbar:
By default AutoCAD creates
1. Black Colour
2. Thickness 0.25mm
3. Continuous

A. Changing Colour:
Select the object & change its colour from properties toolbar, or you select a specific
colour before begin Drafting.

B. Line Type Control:

By this option we can add & choose between different type of lines.
 Click on the LTC (Line type control pattern)
 Click on others
 Click on loads
 Click on the required line type
 Click on OK
 Select the line type you required.
 Click on Ok.

C. Line Weight Control:

By using this option we can provide thickness to any object. In LWC popup menu we
can select our required thickness of our object. Turn on the LWT option to see the
thickness of the lines.

D. LTS(Line Type Scale):

1st Method:
Command “LTS↵” Specify the scaling factor option.
Using this above method we can Change the LT scale of all the object at a time.

2nd Method:
Select the object Ctrl+L & change the required properties.
 P a g e | 24

Layers Toolbar:
By the help of Layers Toolbar we can categorise object into different colour type.

Steps:
 Command “LA↵”, or Click on Layer Properties manager in layer toolbar.
 Click on new layer option.
 Specify the name, colour & Line type of that Layer.
 If you want more than one layer then again click on new layer option & repeat
the
 Above process.
 After setting all the layers close the window.
 Click on drop down arrow of layers toolbar, select any particular layer & use it.

Notes: Keep all 3 segments of Properties Toolbar in By Layer settings in drawing if

you’re using different layers.

Design Centre: (Ctrl+2)

Design centre is known as the library of AutoCAD software in which we can get
preloaded design blocks.

Steps:
 Go to tools menu
 Then Pallets
 Then Design centre
 P a g e | 25

Raster Image & References:

By this option we can import an image file into AutoCAD.

Steps:
 Go to insert menu & Click on Raster Image References.
 Select your file & Click on open.
 Change the settings if required.
 Place it in the file & use it.

Notes: By double clicking on border of image we can change the settings.

Plotting:
By this option we can take print out of any drawing directly from AutoCAD.

Steps:
 After finishing the object click on layout option just above the command line.
 Use CTRL+P (for printing tab)
 Select your printer name in segment.
 Select a paper size as required.
 Go to plot area segment & change the “what to plot” option to window.
 Click on two opposite corner in the file which will decide the printing area.
 Specify the no. of copies if required.
 Switch on fit to paper & centre the plot option.
 Click on the preview.
 If it is ok then proceed further.

Constraints.

Steps:
 Go to Parametric Menu.
 Geometric Constrains.
 Horizontal, Vertical Fix, Coincident, Tangent, Perpendicular, ETC.

Arc Align Text:

Steps:
 Go to express menu
 Text
 Arc Aligned Text.
 Select the area.
 Write the text & change the settings if required.
 Click on Ok.
 P a g e | 26

Dimensioning:
By using this option we can show the measurement that we have provided to our
object.
e.g: Distance, Radius, Angle, etc.