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AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules
®

AutoCAD 2D
Module 22
Moving and Copying

Learning Outcomes:
When you have completed this module, you will be able to:

1. Describe and apply the MOVE, COPY, COPYCLIP, PASTECLIP, and COPYBASE
commands to move and copy objects in the current drawing plus copy objects from one
drawing to another.

Moving and Copying Objects

One of the real benefits of using a CAD program is increasing your productivity. The MOVE and
COPY commands are a big part of that productivity. In AutoCAD, objects only have to be drawn
once and then they can be used over and over again even if they are in a different drawing or at
a different size or orientation. If you have to draw an object that is similar to one you or
someone else has previously drawn, simply copy it and change it. Using these principles in
your day-to-day work will noticeably increase your productivity.

AutoCAD Command: MOVE

The MOVE command is used to move an object(s) from one location to another on the current
drawing.
Shortcut: M

2004-2008

2000-2002

Objects only have to be drawn once in AutoCAD and then they can be used
over and over. Their size and orientation are not important as they can
easily be changed as you will see in future modules. If you have to draw an
object that is similar to one you or someone else has drawn before, simply
make a copy of it and make your changes.

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AutoCAD Command: COPY

The COPY command is used to make a copy of an object(s) on the current drawing.
Shortcut: CO

2004-2008

2002-2002

When an object is copied, the copies retain all of the properties of the
original object even the layer it resides on. This happens regardless of the
current layer when the COPY command is executed.

Using the MOVE and COPY Commands

Step 1 Start a new drawing using the template Module Template A.

Step 2 Save and name the drawing

AutoCAD 2D Workalong 22-1.
Step 3 Create the layers as shown in
Figure Step 3.
Step 4 On layer Object, draw an
inscribed hexagon and a circle as shown Figure Step 3
below. See Figure Step 4A and 4B.

Figure Step 4A Figure Step 4B

...continued on page 22-3

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Using the MOVE and COPY Commands - Continued

Step 5 Enter the MOVE command below to practice moving
objects on a drawing. See Figure 5A and 5B.
Command: MOVE
Select objects: P1
Specify opposite corner: P2
(Selecting the object with a window.)
Select objects:
(press enter)
Specify base point or [Displacement] <Displacement>: 0,0
(Any point could have been used as the base point since an @ is
being used later. It is handy to use 0,0 as it is easy to type.)
Specify second point or <use first point as displacement>: @2,0 Figure Step 5A
(The objects are moved 2 units in the X direction.)
Command:

Step 6 Enter the MOVE command shown below to move the

objects as shown in Figure 6A and 6B.

Command: MOVE
Select objects: P3
Specify opposite corner: P4
(Use a crossing window to select the objects.)
Select objects:
(press enter.)
Specify base point or [Displacement] <Displacement>: (cen) P5
(Snapping to the center of the circle.) Figure Step 5B
Specify second point or <use first point as displacement>: 4.5,7
(Moving the objects and relocating the center of the circle at the absolute coordinates X4.5Y7.)
Command:

Figure Step 6A

Figure Step 6B

...continued on page 22-4

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Using the MOVE and COPY Commands - Continued

Step 7 Enter the COPY command shown below to copy the objects. See Figure 7A and
7B.
Command: COPY
Select objects: P6
Specify opposite corner: P7
Select objects:
Specify base point or [Displacement] <Displacement>: 0,0
Specify second point or <use first point as displacement>: @-1,-2
(Copying the selected objects 1 unit in the negative X direction and 2
units in the negative Y direction.)
Specify second point or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>:
(Press enter or space) Figure Step 7A
Command:

Step 8 Enter the COPY command shown below to copy the

objects. See Figure 8A and 8B.

Command: COPY
Select objects: P8
Specify opposite corner: P9
Select objects:
Specify base point or [Displacement] <Displacement>: (end) P10
(Using the end of the line as the basepoint.)
Specify second point or <use first point as displacement>: 3,8
(Copying the selected objects and locating the end of the selected Figure Step 7B
line at the absolute coordinates X3Y8.)
Command:

Figure Step 8A

Figure Step 8B
...continued on page 22-5

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Using the MOVE and COPY Commands - Continued

Step 9 On layer Construction, enable ortho mode and
draw a rectangle using the LINE command as shown
below. The location of the lines is not important but try
to duplicate Figure 9 the best that you can.
Command: <Ortho on>
Command: L
Specify first point: P11
Specify next point or [Undo]: P12
Specify next point or [Undo]: P13
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: P14
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: C
Step 10 Using the COPY command, select any one of
the hexagon-circle objects and copy it to four different
locations. Ensure you snap the snap modes shown to
the ends of the construction lines as shown in Figure
Step 10A and 10B. Figure Step 9

Endpoint to Endpoint
Center to Endpoint

Figure Step 10B

Midpoint to Endpoint
Endpoint to Endpoint

Figure Step 10A

Step 11 Freeze layer Construction and your drawing should

appear similar to Figure Step 11.

Step 12 Save and close the drawing.

Figure Step 11

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AutoCAD Command: COPYCLIP

The COPYCLIP command is used to copy an object(s) from the drawing onto the clipboard.

Shortcut: CTRL+C

AutoCAD Command: PASTECLIP

The PASTECLIP command is used to paste an object(s) from the clipboard onto the drawing.

Shortcut: CTRL+V

AutoCAD Command: COPYBASE

The COPYBASE command is used to copy an object(s) onto the clipboard with a known
basepoint.

Shortcut: CTRL+SHIFT+C

The COPYBASE command is very important to the AutoCAD operators who

work in disciplines such as mapping. When copying objects from one
drawing to another and the objects must be in the exact location as the
original drawing, use the COPYBASE command with 0,0 as the base point.
Use the same coordinates when pasting it into the new drawing.

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Using the COPYCLIP, PASTECLIP and COPYBASE Commands

Step 1 Start a new drawing using the template Module Template A.

Step 2 Save and name the drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong 22-2.

Step 3 Open drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong 22-1 that you completed in the workalong
on page 22-1. If you have not completed that drawing, do it first before continuing in this
workalong.

Step 4 You will now have

two drawings open in your
current AutoCAD session.
You can switch between
them selecting the active
drawing using the Windows
pull-down menu as shown
in Figure Step 4.

Figure Step 4

Step 5 Ensure the drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong

22-1 the active drawing as shown in Figure Step 5.

Figure Step 5

Step 6 Without entering a command, using either a

window or a crossing window, select the 5 objects as
shown in Figure Step 6.
Figure Step 6

...continued on page 22-8

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Using the COPYCLIP, PASTECLIP and COPYBASE Commands - Continued

Step 7 While the objects you selected in Step 6
are selected, click the Copy with Base Point
command from the Edit pull-down as shown in
Figure Step 7. On the command line (see below),
enter 0,0 as the base point and press enter.
Command: COPYBASE
Specify base point: 0,0
35 found
Command:
(The coordinate X0Y0 is set as the base point when Figure Step 7
the objects are copied.)

Step 8 Using the Windows pull-down as shown in Step

4, change the active drawing to AutoCAD 2D Lab 22-2.
You should see a blank drawing as shown in Figure
Step 8.

Step 9 Click Paste from the Edit pull-down as shown in

Future Step 9A. On the command line (see below),
enter 0,0 as the insertion point and press enter. Your
drawing should appear as shown in Figure Step 9B.

Figure Step 8

Figure Step 9A

Command: PASTECLIP
Specify insertion point: 0,0
Command
(By setting the insertion point at X0Y0, the objects will be
inserted in the exact position they were in the drawing you are
copying them from.)
Figure Step 9B
...continued on page 22-9

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Using the COPYCLIP, PASTECLIP and COPYBASE Commands - Continued

Step 10 Using the Windows pull-down as shown
in Step 4, change the active drawing to AutoCAD
2D Lab 22-1.
Step 11 Click the Copy command from the Edit
pull-down as shown in Figure Step 11A. When you
are prompted to select the objects, select the two
objects on the right side using a window or a
crossing window as Figure Step 11A
shown in Figure Step
11B.

Step 12 Using the Windows

pull-down as shown in Step 4,
change the active drawing to
AutoCAD 2D Lab 22-2. You
should see your drawing as
shown in Figure Step 12.

Figure Step 12
Figure Step 11B

Figure Step 13A

Figure Step 13B

Step 13 Click Paste from the Edit pull-down as shown in Future

Step 13A. Using the cursor, select any location on the drawing as
shown in Figure Step 13B. Your completed drawing should appear
similar to Figure Step 13C.

Step 14 Save and close the drawing.

Figure Step 13C

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Geometry Lesson
Tangency - Part 2
When you are constructing an arc that
has one end tangent to a line and
other end going through a point, you
cannot use the FILLET command. A
fillet must be tangent to both objects.
To draw the arc, you must first draw
some construction objects as shown
below:
Step 1 This is the arc to be drawn.

Step 2 Draw the construction lines.

Step 3 Offset the line which is tangent to the arc at a
distance of 1.5 units. 1.5 is the radius of the arc being
inserted. Draw a circle with the radius of 1.5 units with
its center at the point where the arc ends.

Step 4 Draw the arc at a radius of 1.5. Its center is

the intersection of the offset line and the circle. Trim
the arc after you construct it.

The Key Principles in Module 22

1. Objects only have to be drawn once in AutoCAD and then they can be used over and
over again even if they are in a different drawing or at a different size or orientation.
2. When an object is copied, the copies retain all of the properties of the original object.
3. When copying objects from one drawing to another and the objects must be in the exact
location as the original drawing, use the COPYBASE command with 0,0 as the base
point. Use the same coordinates when pasting into the new drawing.

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Lab Exercise 22-1 Time Allowed: 45 Min.

Drawing Specifications
Name Template Units Text Style Font
AutoCAD 2D Lab 22-1 Module Template B Inches N/A N/A
Note: Color, Linetype, and Lineweight are all < ByLayer < unless otherwise instructed.
Layering Scheme
Objects on Layer Name Color Linetype Lineweight
Construction Objects Construction 253 Continuous N/A
All Objects Object Red Continuous N/A
Text in the Titleblock Titleblock Text White/Black Continuous N/A
Instructions:
1. Draw the object shown below.
2. Use the MOVE and COPY command as much a possible. Do not draw anything twice, copy it.

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3. Copy all of the objects 7

units in the X direction.

Completed Drawing

4. Complete the titleblock according to the standards in Module 20, page 20-10.

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Lab Exercise 22-2 Time Allowed: 40 Min.

Drawing Specifications
Name Template Units Text Style Font
AutoCAD 2D Lab 22-2 Module Template A3 Millimeters N/A N/A
Note: Color, Linetype, and Lineweight are all < ByLayer < unless otherwise instructed.
Layering Scheme
Objects on Layer Name Color Linetype Lineweight
Construction Objects Construction 253 Continuous N/A
All Objects Object Red Continuous N/A
Text in the Titleblock Titleblock Text White/Black Continuous N/A
Instructions:
1. Draw the object shown below.
2. Complete the titleblock according to the standards in
Module 20, page 20-14.

DETAIL A
Completed
Drawing

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Construction Hints
Do your best to complete the lab exercise drawing without using the following hint(s). If you get
stuck and can't complete it on your own, use the following hint(s) to help you.
Hint 1
Figure Hint 1 shows
you the steps to
constructing the object
Detail A.

Figure Hint 1
Hint 2
There are four locations
on the object that you
must use the Geometry
Lesson on Tangency
shown on page 22-10.
Figure Hint 2 shows you
the three steps the draw
one of them.

Figure Hint 2

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Lab Exercise 22-3 Time Allowed: 30 Min.

Drawing Specifications
Name Template Units Text Style Font
AutoCAD 2D Lab 22-3 Module Template A3 Millimeters N/A Arial
Note: Color, Linetype, and Lineweight are all < ByLayer < unless otherwise instructed.
Layering Scheme
Objects on Layer Name Color Linetype Lineweight
Construction Objects Construction 253 Continuous N/A
All Objects Object Red Continuous N/A
Text in the Titleblock Titleblock Text White/Black Continuous N/A
Instructions:
1. Open drawing AutoCAD Lab 22-2 that you completed in Lab 22-2. If
you have not completed this lab, do it first.
2. Start a new drawing using the information above. Save and name the
drawing AutoCAD 2D Lab 22-3.
3. Using the COPYBASE and PASTECLIP, copy all of the objects from
drawing Lab 22-2, except the titleblock and border into drawing Lab
22-3. Use the basepoint 0,0.
4. Edit the drawing to match the one below using the MOVE and COPY
commands wherever possible. Completed
5. Copy the text from the Lab Exercise 22-2 into your titleblock. Edit the Drawing
text to reflect the new drawing name and number.

Moving and Copying The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 22