AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules

AutoCAD 2D
Module 2
Getting Started

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

1. Describe an AutoCAD command, option prompt, defaults, drawing name, drawing

extensions, and drawing templates.
2. Describe and apply the commands NEW, QSAVE, OPEN, and CLOSE. Demonstrate
you can use them by starting new drawings, naming the drawings, saving them to a
specified folder location, open existing drawings, and closing drawings.

AutoCAD Commands
Most work in AutoCAD
consists of giving
instructions, telling
AutoCAD what you
want it to do. Those
instructions are called
commands. Most of
the time you will be
entering commands
using the command
line window, a pull-
down menu or a
toolbar menu. Figure
2-1 shows the LINE
command being
entered using all three Figure 2-1
methods. Different Methods of Executing the LINE Command
Regardless of the way you enter commands, AutoCAD doesn't really know or care where the
command was initiated. To AutoCAD, all commands look alike. Therefore, you have the choice
as to which method you want to use. There is no right or wrong way. Throughout the AutoCAD
Modules, you will be shown different ways of entering each command. You can decide which
one(s) you want to use.
Executing Commands
Many menu items execute commands automatically but a lot of the time it is up to you to do this.
Executing a command is your way of telling AutoCAD that you are finished and it is AutoCAD's
turn. You can execute a command by either pressing the enter key or the space bar on the
keyboard.

Getting Started The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Module 2
2-2 AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules - AutoCAD 2D - Revised 2007-06-30
Repeating the Last Command
AutoCAD can be very repetitive. To work faster, you can repeat the last command that was
executed by pressing the enter key, the space bar, or clicking the right mouse button.
Option Prompts
After you execute most commands,
AutoCAD will respond with an option
prompt. An option prompt is AutoCAD
asking you a question in response to a
command or requesting some input.
Figure 2-2 shows three commands and the
option prompts returned. User input is in
bold. In the first command LINE, you can
see that the AutoCAD option prompt is
Specify first point and the user responds
2,2. AutoCAD then asks Specify next
point or [Undo]:. As you can see, it is
important for you to watch the command
line window to see what AutoCAD is asking
from you next.
Defaults
AutoCAD sets defaults for almost
everything. A default is the value
AutoCAD uses if the user does
not supply one. The default is
inside angle brackets "< >". If you
want to use the default value,
simply respond by pressing the
enter key or the space bar. See
Figure 2-3.
Command Options
Command options are selections
you can choose from to change
the default if required. Command
options are inside "[ ]" as you can
see in Figure 2-3. An example of
the defaults and options for the
CIRCLE command are shown in
the second line of the figure:
Specify center point for circle or
[3P/2P/Ttr (tan tan radius)]:
Specify center point for circle - is
the default.
[3P/2P/Ttr (tan tan radius)] - are the options.
Getting Started The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 2004 - 2007
Command: LINE
Specify first point: 2,2
Specify next point or [Undo]: @2,0
Specify next point or [Undo]:
Command: FILLET
Current settings: Mode = TRIM, Radius = 0.2500
Select first object or [Polyline/Radius/Trim]: R
Specify fillet radius <0.3500>: 0.25
Select first object or [Polyline/Radius/Trim]:
Select second object:
Command: REGEN
Regenerating model.
Figure 2-2
Option Prompts
Command: CIRCLE
Specify center point for circle or [3P/2P/Ttr (tan tan radius)]:
(The default is Specify center point for circle)
Specify radius of circle or [Diameter] <3.0000>:
(The default is radius of circle, size 3.0000)
Command:
Command: FILLET
Current settings: Mode = TRIM, Radius = 0.2500
(The default Mode is TRIM and Radius is 0.2500)
Select first object or [Polyline/Radius/Trim]:
(The default is Select first object)
Command: TEXT
Current text style: "Standard" Text height: 0.2000
(The default text style is Standard and height 0.2000)
Specify start point of text or [Justify/Style]:
(The default is Specify start point of text)
Specify height <0.2000>:
(The default height is 0.2000)
Specify rotation angle of text <0>:
(The default rotation angle is 0)
Text:
Figure 2-3
AutoCAD Defaults
Module 2
 AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules - AutoCAD 2D - Revised 2007-06-30 2-3

When you want to accept the default value for any option prompt, simply
press the enter key or space bar. Do not re-enter the value as this will slow
your drawing speed. For example:
Specify fillet radius <0.25>: If you want to use 0.25, press the enter key or
space bar here.

AutoCAD's option prompts will be a combination of upper and lower case

letters. Only enter the letters in uppercase as this will help you work
faster. For example:
Command: LENGTHEN
Select an object or [Delta/Percent/Total/DYnamic]:
(For Delta enter D, for Percent enter P, for Total enter T, and for
DYnamic enter DY.)

AutoCAD Drawings
An AutoCAD drawing is a database file containing graphical and non-graphical data. The file
must have the extension .DWG. To be able to do anything in AutoCAD, you must have at least
one drawing open. You can open multiple drawings at the same time and switch between
them at will. Only one drawing can be active at a time. The active drawing is the drawing
current being affected by the commands you are entering.

The NEW command is used to create a new drawing. All new drawings must be started from a
template file. All lab exercises in this course will use supplied template files.

AutoCAD Command: NEW

The NEW command is used to create and open a new drawing.

Shortcut: CTRL+N

2004-2008

2000-2002

Getting Started The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Module 2
2-4 AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules - AutoCAD 2D - Revised 2007-06-30

If the file dialogue box does not open for the NEW command, enter the
FILEDIA command and set the value to 1 as shown below:

Command: FILEDIA
Enter new value for FILEDIA <0>: 1
Command:

Drawing Templates
A drawing template is a
drawing file with defaults
and standards set by the
creator. A template
drawing is simply an
AutoCAD drawing saved
as a template file.
AutoCAD assigns it the file
extension name .DWT.
For the ten templates you
will be using for the
AutoCAD Modules, the
titleblock and border have
been drawn and the
AutoCAD standards and
defaults were set for this
course. The AutoCAD Figure 2-4
Customization Modules Select Template Dialogue Box 2004-2008
will teach you how to
create your own template
files.
In 2004-2008, the NEW
command opens the
Select Template dialogue
box as shown in Figure
2-4.
In 2000-2002, the NEW
command will initiate the
Create New Drawing
dialogue box as shown in
Figure 2-5. To start a new
drawing with a template,
click the third icon from
the left and the words Use
a Template will display as
well as the available
templates. Figure 2-5
Create New Drawing Dialogue Box for 2000-2002

Getting Started The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Module 2
 AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules - AutoCAD 2D - Revised 2007-06-30 2-5

Drawing Templates for the AutoCAD Modules

There are 10 drawing templates that are an important part of the AutoCAD Modules. You must
use the templates as instructed in the lab exercises as they contain the keys you will use to
check your drawings. You will learn how to do this in Module 3. The template drawings you
will be using and their actual size are as follows:

AutoCAD Module Templates

English Templates Metric Templates
Template Name Paper Size Template Name Paper Size
Module Template A 81/2 X 11 in Module Template A4 210 X 297 mm
Module Template B 11 X 17 in Module Template A3 297 X 410 mm
Module Template C 17 X 22 in Module Template A2 410 X 594 mm
Module Template D 22 X 34 in Module Template A1 594 X 820 mm
Module Template Layout English N/A Module Template Layout Metric N/A

Figure 2-6
AutoCAD Modules Template Files
Drawing Name
When you create a new drawing,
by default, AutoCAD will name
the drawing Drawing1.dwg, see
Figure 2-7. The name will
display in the upper left corner of
the graphic window. If you open
more than one drawing in your
AutoCAD session, they will be
named Drawing2.dwg, Figure 2-7
Drawing3.dwg etc. AutoCAD’s Default Drawing Name

It is important for you to name a new drawing as soon as possible after you start it. Getting into
this habit will save you many hours looking for lost drawings. To save and name a new
drawing, use the QSAVE command. If the drawing you are saving is not yet named, QSAVE
will open the Save Drawing As dialogue box and allow you to select the drive, folder, and
drawing name as shown in Figure 2-8.

Command options are selections you can choose from to change the
command default, if required. Command options are inside "[ ]".
For example, the option prompt for the FILLET command:
Select first object or [Polyline/Radius/Trim]:
Select first object - Is the default.
[Polyline/Radius/Trim] - Enter either a P, R or T to change the default.

Getting Started The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Module 2
2-6 AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules - AutoCAD 2D - Revised 2007-06-30

AutoCAD Command: QSAVE

The QSAVE command is used to save your drawing in the .dwg file.
Shortcut: CTRL+S

2004-2008

2000-2002

Saving Your Drawings

It's a good idea to save a new drawing immediately after you start it, then every 15 minutes after
that. If you have a power failure or your computer freezes up, the maximum you can lose is the
last 15 minutes of drawing time. When you save a drawing, it creates a file on the disk drive.
Choose the disk drive and the folder location on that drive using the Save Drawing As dialogue
box. See Figure 2-8. The first time you save your drawing, you will be asked for its name.
Once it is named, you can save it quickly with the QSAVE command. As soon as a drawing is
saved, the file location and the drawing name will display in the top left corner of the graphic
window. See Figure 2-9.

Figure 2-8
Save Drawing As Dialogue Box

Getting Started The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Module 2
 AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules - AutoCAD 2D - Revised 2007-06-30 2-7

Figure 2-9
A Named Drawing

Drawing File Extension Names

AutoCAD uses many different file
AutoCAD File Extensions
extension names as you will see as
you work your way through the .dwg AutoCAD Drawing
AutoCAD Modules. The first three
you must know are .dwg, .dwt, and .dwt AutoCAD Drawing Template
.bak. See Figure 2-10. .bak Back-up file
AutoCAD creates a .bak file when
Figure 2-10
you save a previously filed drawing.
When you save the drawing, AutoCAD File Extension Names
AutoCAD changes the extension of the existing drawing on the disk to .bak and creates a new
file with the extension .dwg. If a drawing file ever gets lost or corrupted, you can change the
extension name of the .bak file to .dwg and open it in AutoCAD.
Opening an Existing Drawing
To open a previously saved drawing from a disk drive, use the OPEN command. With the
Select File dialogue box, you can find the folder location and the drawing you want to open.
See Figure 2-11. The OPEN command will show a small drawing preview of each drawing to
help you select the correct one.

AutoCAD Command: OPEN

The OPEN command is used to open a previously saved drawing

Shortcut: CTRL+O

2004-2008

2000-2002

Getting Started The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Module 2
2-8 AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules - AutoCAD 2D - Revised 2007-06-30

Figure 2-11
Select File Dialogue Box
Closing a Drawing
To close a drawing, use the CLOSE command. If you have modified the drawing and have not
saved those changes, AutoCAD will ask you if you want to save the drawing before closing.

AutoCAD Command: CLOSE

The CLOSE command is used to close a drawing.

Shortcut: none

When you save a drawing for the first time in AutoCAD, it will add the
extension .dwg to the file name. When you save the drawing, AutoCAD
creates a .bak file from the previous filed .dwg file. AutoCAD changes the
extension of the existing drawing on the disk to .bak and creates a new file
with the extension .dwg. If a drawing file ever gets lost or corrupted, you can
change the extension name of the .bak file to .dwg and open it in AutoCAD.

Getting Started The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Module 2
 AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules - AutoCAD 2D - Revised 2007-06-30 2-9

Cancelling or Aborting a Command

You can cancel or abort any command by pressing the ESC key on the keyboard. Sometimes
you must press it twice to completely abort the command and return you the command prompt.

The Enter key or the space bar on the keyboard are used to execute the
active command. If there is no active command and you press the space
bar, Enter key, or click the right mouse button, AutoCAD will repeat the last
command.

When an AutoCAD pull-down menu item displays a small triangle, it

means that it contains a flyout menu. When a menu item has 3 dots
following the name, it means it will open a dialogue box. A check mark in
front of the name means that the item is enabled. Notice how a menu
item will also display the shortcut key. For example: Text Window F2.

The Esc key, located in the upper left corner of the keyboard, is a very
important key when using AutoCAD. When pressed, it will cancel or abort
any command and return you to a command prompt. You will be using this
key frequently while working in AutoCAD.

The Key Principles in Module 2

1. Regardless of the way you enter commands, AutoCAD doesn't really know or care
where the command was initiated. To AutoCAD, all commands look alike.

2. In an AutoCAD command, the default is inside angle brackets "< >" and the options are
inside "[ ]".

3. The enter key or the space bar on the keyboard are used to execute the active
command. If there is no active command and you press the space bar, enter key, or
click the right mouse button, AutoCAD will repeat the last command.

4. The extension for an AutoCAD drawing file is .DWG and for an AutoCAD template file, it
is .DWT.

5. The Esc key will cancel or abort any AutoCAD command or process.

Getting Started The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Module 2
2 - 10 AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules - AutoCAD 2D - Revised 2007-06-30

Lab Exercise 2-1 Time Allowed: 20 Min.

Drawing Specifications
Name Template Units Text Style Font
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Note: Color, Linetype, and Lineweight are all < ByLayer < unless otherwise instructed.
Layering Scheme
Objects on Layer Name Color Linetype Lineweight
N/A
Instructions:
1. Start AutoCAD.
2. IMPORTANT STEP - Unless otherwise instructed, each time you start a lab exercise for this course,
the graphic screen should be set as shown below:

All Versions

2006-2008

2000-2005

2004-2008

2000-2002

3. a) Using the NEW command, start a new drawing using the template :
Module Template A
b) Save the drawing in the folder:
CAD Courses/AutoCAD 2D/Lab Exercises
Note: You should have this folder structure already
created on your hard drive as instructed in the Module
Introduction 2. If you have not yet completed Module
Introduction 2, do it now.
c) Save it with the name:
AutoCAD 2D Lab 02-1
d). Using the CLOSE command, close the drawing.

Getting Started The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Module 2
 AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules - AutoCAD 2D - Revised 2007-06-30 2 - 11

4. a) Start a new drawing using the template:

Module Template A2
b) Save the drawing in the folder:
CAD Courses/AutoCAD 2D/Lab Exercises
c) Save it with the name:
AutoCAD 2D Lab 02-2
d) Close the drawing.

5. a) Start a new drawing using the template:

Module Template D
b) Save the drawing in the folder:
CAD Courses/AutoCAD 2D/Lab Exercises
c) Save it with the name:
AutoCAD 2D Lab 02-3
d) Close the drawing.

6. Using Windows Explorer, find the folder:

CAD Courses/AutoCAD 2D/Lab Exercises
It should have a list of 3 drawings as follows:

Author's Comments: Don't be concerned If the drawing sizes are different in your list then the
ones shown in the figure. Each version of AutoCAD could create a different file size.

Getting Started The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Module 2