Different AutoCAD Commands

Basic Drawing Tools

The Draw commands can be used to

create new objects such as lines and
circles.
The Line Command
With the Line command you can draw a
simple line from one point to another.
 Command: LINE or L(enter)
 Specify first point: (pick P1)
 Specify next point or [Undo]: (pick P2)
 Specify next point or [Undo]: [press esc or enter]
The Polyline Command

The Polyline or Pline command is similar to the

line command except that the resulting object may
be composed of a number of segments which form
a single object.
 Command: PLINE or PL[enter]
 Specify start point: (pick P1)
 Current line-width is 0.0000
 Specify next point or [Arc/Half width/Length/Undo/Width]: (pick P2)
 Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Half width/Length/Undo/Width]: (pick P3)
 Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Half width/Length/Undo/Width]: (pick P4)
 Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Half width/Length/Undo/Width]: (pick P5)
 Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Half width/Length/Undo/Width]: (or C to
close)
The Rectangle Command
The Rectangle command is used to
draw a rectangle whose sides are vertical
and horizontal.
 Command: RECTANG or REC[enter]
 Specify first corner point or
[Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/ Thickness/Width]:
(pick P1)
 Specify other corner point or [Dimensions]: (pick P2)
The Polygon Command

The Polygon command can be used to draw any

regular polygon from 3 sides up to 1024 sides.
 Command: POLYGON or POL[enter]
 Enter number of sides <4>: 5
 Specify center of polygon or [Edge]: (pick P1 or type E
to define by edge length)
 Enter an option [Inscribed in circle/Circumscribed about
circle] <I>:
 (To accept the inscribed default or type C for
circumscribed)
 Specify radius of circle: (pick P2 or enter exact radius)
The Circle Command

The Circle command is used to draw

circles.
 Command: CIRCLE or C[enter]
 Specify center point for circle or [3P/2P/Ttr (tan
radius)]: (pick P1)
 Specify radius of circle or [Diameter]
<50.0195>: (pick P2 or enter the exact radius)
The Arc Command
The Arc command allows you to draw an arc of
a circle.
 Command: ARC or A[enter]
 Specify start point of arc or [Center]: (pick P1)
 Specify second point of arc or [Center/End]:
(pick P2)
 Specify end point of arc: (pick P3)
Selecting Objects by Picking
Perhaps the most obvious way to select an
object in AutoCAD is simply to pick it. Those of you
who have used other graphics based utilities will be
familiar with this concept.
 Modifying Objects

AutoCAD drawings are rarely completed simply

by drawing lines, circles etc. Most likely you will
need to modify these basic drawing objects in
some way or another in order to create the image
you need.
The Erase Command
The command erases (deletes) any selected
object(s) from the drawing.
 Command: ERASE or E[enter]
 Select objects: (pick an object to erase)
 Select objects: (to end the selection and erase
the object)
The Copy Command
The Copy command can be used to create one or
more duplicates of any drawing object or objects
which you have previously created.
 Command: COPY or CO[enter]
 Select objects: (pick object to copy, P1)
 Select objects: (to end selection)
 Specify base point or displacement, or [Multiple]: (pick
P2 or M for multiple copies)
 Specify second point of displacement or <use first point
as displacement>: (pick P3)
The Mirror Command
The Mirror command allows you to mirror
selected objects in your drawing by picking them
and then defining the position of an imaginary
mirror line using two points.
 Command: MIRROR or MI[enter]
 Select objects: (pick object to mirror, P1)
 Select objects: (to end selection)
 Specify first point of mirror line: (pick P2)
 Specify second point of mirror line: (pick P3)
 Delete source objects? [Yes/No] <N>: (for No to
keep the original object)
The Offset Command
The Offset command creates a new object parallel
to or concentric with a selected object. The new
object is drawn at a user defined distance (the
offset) from the original and in a direction chosen by
the user with a pick point.
 Command: OFFSET or O[enter]
 Specify offset distance or [Through] <1.0000>: 10
(specify distance)
 Select object to offset or <exit>: (select object, P1)
 Specify point on side to offset: (pick direction, P2)
 Select object to offset or <exit>: (to end or select
another object to offset)
The Move Command
The Move command works in a similar way to the
Copy command except that no copy is made, the
selected object(s) is simply moved from one location
to another.
 Command: MOVE or M[enter]
 Select objects: (pick object to move, P1)
 Select objects: (to end selection)
 Specify base point or displacement: (pick P2)
 Specify second point of displacement or <use first
point as displacement>: (pick P3)
The Rotate Command
The Rotate command allows an object or objects
to be rotated about a point selected by the user.
 Command: ROTATE or RO[enter]
 Select objects: (pick object to rotate, P1)
 Select objects: (to end selection)
 Specify base point: (pick base point, P2)
 Specify rotation angle or [Reference]: (pick second
point, P3 or enter angle)
The Scale Command
The Scale command can be used to change the
size of an object or group of objects. You are
prompted for a pick point about which the selection
set will be scaled.
 Command: SCALE or SC[enter]
 Select objects: (pick objects to be scaled, P1)
 Select objects: (to end selection)
 Specify base point: (pick base point, P2)
 Specify scale factor or [Reference]: (pick second
point, P3 or enter scale factor)
The Stretch Command
The Stretch command can be used to move one
or more vertices of an object while leaving the rest
of the object unchanged.
 Command: STRETCH or S[enter]
 Select objects to stretch by crossing-window or
crossing-polygon...
 Select objects: (pick first point of crossing window)
 Specify opposite corner: (pick second point of window)
 Select objects: (to end selection)
 Specify base point or displacement: (pick base point)
 Specify second point of displacement: (pick second
point)
The Trim Command
The Trim command can be used to trim a part of
an object. In order to trim an object you must draw
a second object which forms the "cutting edge".
Cutting edges can be lines, xlines, rays, polylines,
circles, arcs or ellipses.
 Command: TRIM or TR[enter]
 Select cutting edges ...
 Select objects: (select the cutting edge, P1)
 Select objects: (to end cutting edge selection)
 Select object to trim or shift-select to extend or
[Project/Edge/Undo]:
 (pick the part of the square which you want to
trim, P2)
 Select object to trim or shift-select to extend or
[Project/Edge/Undo]:
The Chamfer Command
The Chamfer command enables you to create a
chamfer between any two non-parallel lines as in
the illustration below or any two adjacent polyline
segments.
 Command: CHAMFER or CHA[enter]
 (TRIM mode) Current chamfer Dist1 = 10.0000,
Dist2 = 10.0000
 Select first line or
[Polyline/Distance/Angle/Trim/Method]: D (to set
distances)
 Specify first chamfer distance <10.0000>: 20 (enter
required distance)
 Specify second chamfer distance <20.0000>:(first
distance value or enter a different value)
 Select first line or
[Polyline/Distance/Angle/Trim/Method]: (pick P1)
 Select second line: (pick P2)
 The chamfer is made and the command ends.
The Fillet Command
The Fillet command is a very useful tool which
allows you to draw an arc between two intersecting
lines or adjacent polyline segments. You need first
to use the command to set the required radius and
then a second time to select the two lines.
 Command: FILLET or F[enter]
 Current settings: Mode = TRIM, Radius = 10.0000
 Select first object or [Polyline/Radius/Trim]: R
 Specify fillet radius <10.000>: 25
 Select first object or [Polyline/Radius/Trim]: (pick P1)
 Select second object: (pick P2)
The Array Command
Using the Array command, you can duplicate
existing objects in a rectangle or circular (polar)
pattern. You can select which type of array to use in
the Array dialog box. Click the Rectangular or Polar
options to see point, distance, and method
requirements for each type.
Array Dialog Box: Rectangular Array
1. Click to select the object(s) to include in the array.
2. Enter the number of rows (horizontal patterns) for
the array.
3. Enter the number of columns (vertical patterns) for
the array.
4. Enter a distance to offset each row. Use the
simulated preview window to see the direction of the
pattern.
5. Enter a distance to offset each column.
6. Enter an angle for the pattern.
7. Click Preview to preview the array. Preview is
not available until you select an object or objects
for the array.
Array Dialog Box: Polar Array
1. Click to select the object(s) to include in the array.
2. Enter the center point's coordinates in the X and Y
fields or click the Select Point icon to select a center
point in the drawing window.
3. Select the method for calculating the polar array.
- Total number of items and angle to fill.
- Total number of items and angle between items.
- Angle to fill and angle between items.
4. Enter the total number of items for the array. This
includes the original
object.
5. Enter the total angle for the array. A negative
number creates the array
in a clockwise direction.
6. Select to rotate each object as it is placed in the
array.