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Module 1
AutoCAD's User Interface
Learning Outcomes:
When you have completed this module, you will be able to:
1. Describe and configure AutoCAD's Interface including the graphic window, graphic cursor, status
bar, model and layout tabs, command line window, pull-down and toolbar menus, use of the mouse
and the text window.
Figure 1-1
AutoCAD Graphic Window
Module 1
1-2
Graphic Cursor
The graphic cursor indicates the position you are presently located at on the AutoCAD drawing.
Think of it as the point of your pencil. It is sometimes called the crosshairs. You use it
extensively while working on AutoCAD. It is one of your most used tools.
The size of the graphic cursor can be changed. For this course and most
AutoCAD work, it is best to have it full screen as shown in Figure 1-1.
See Module Introduction 2 if the cursor on your computer is not displaying
full size.
Status Bar
The status bar, Figure 1-2, is positioned across the bottom of the graphic window and becomes
a very important part of your day-to-day AutoCAD work. On the left side, it displays the
coordinate location or XYZ coordinates of the location of the graphic cursor. You can enable or
disable the coordinate location display with the function key F6 in AutoCAD 2000 - 2006 or by
clicking it in AutoCAD 2007 and 2008.
On the remainder of the status bar are the toggle buttons for several of AutoCAD's features.
They will all be discussed in future modules.
2006-2008
2000-2005
Figure 1-2
Status Bar
Module 1
1-3
Figure 1-4
Command Line Window
Pickbox
The pickbox, located at the center of the graphic cursor, see Figure 1-5. It is
used by you to pick objects in the drawing. Its size can be changed larger or
Figure 1-5
smaller using the Options dialogue box. See Module Introduction 2.
The Pickbox
Scroll Bars
The scroll bars work exactly the same as scroll bars in other software programs. You can use
them to scroll your drawing up, down, left or right. You will be shown a much better way to
scroll around your drawing in Module 9. One thing the scroll bars do is give you an indication
of the overall size of your drawing and the current viewing position in the overall drawing.
AutoCAD's Menus
AutoCAD has many different menus that allow you to communicate with it. The most useful
ones are the pull-down, and the toolbar menus as shown in Figure 1-6.
Figure 1-6
AutoCADs Pull-Down and Toolbar Menus
1-4
Pull-Down Menu
The pull-down menu Is located
across the top of the graphic
window. When you click a
word with the left button of your
mouse, the menu will pull down
Flyout Menu
If the pull-down menu has a
small solid triangle at the end, it
has a flyout menu associated
with it. Place your cursor over
it and the flyout menu will
display as shown in Figure 1-8.
Toolbar Menus
Figure 1-7
The toolbar menus are a series
Pull-Down Menu
of icons that are located on a
collection of menu bars. You can enable or
disable the menu display of each toolbar
Figure 1-8
Pull-Down Flyout Menu
Figure 1-9
A Toolbar Menu
Customization Modules.
Figure 1-10
A Toolbar Menu
Showing a Tooltip
Figure 1-11
Toolbar Right-click
Menu
1-5
Dialogue Boxes
AutoCAD uses many different dialogue
boxes to speed the drawing process. A
dialogue box is an effective and efficient
method for AutoCAD to allow you to
modify or enter information, settings and
sizes. They are also used to give you
data and information about the active
drawing or objects in that drawing. A
typical dialogue box is shown in Figure
1-12. When you see three dots behind a
word in a pull-down menu it means
clicking that word will open a dialogue
box.
The Mouse
AutoCAD is programed to use the three
buttons on a mouse as follows:
Figure 1-12
Dialogue Box
Left Button:
Middle Button:
Right Button:
Figure 1-13
2000-2002 Users - By default, the right mouse button only displays the
Cursor Menu for
cursor menu. It can be set to repeat the last command. Ask your instructor
the FILLET
if you want to set it to repeat rather then displaying the cursor menu.
command
1-6
Figure 1-14
AutoCADs Text Window
AutoCAD uses the function keys F1 to F12 located across the top of the
keyboard as shortcuts. These shortcuts are very important to the AutoCAD
user as they help speed the drawing process. The shortcut for each
function key will be introduced as you work through the modules. In this
module, the following function keys were taught:
F2 = Toggles the Text Box display
F6 = Toggles the Coordinate Location display. (AutoCAD 2000 - 2006)
1-7
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.
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. Change the appearance of the AutoCAD graphic window to appear as shown on the next page.
For 2004-2008 the Standard, Layers, Properties, Styles, Modify, Modify II and Draw toolbar
menus are displayed.
For 2000-2002, the Standard Toolbar, Object Properties, Draw, Modify and Modify II toolbar
menus are displayed.
4. Open each pull-down menu and study its contents.
5. Toggle the coordinate location display off.
6. Toggle the coordinate location display on. Check to make sure it is on by moving the graphics cursor.
7. Open the text window.
8. Close the text window.
9. Exit AutoCAD by using the pull-down menu. Click File then Exit. When asked if you want to save the
drawing, answer No.
1-8
2004-2008
2000-2002
1-9
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. Change the appearance of the AutoCAD graphic window to appear as shown on pages 1-10 or 1-11.
For 2004-2008 the Standard, Layers, Properties, Styles, Modify, Inquiry, Object Snap and Draw
toolbar menus are displayed.
For 2000-2002, the Standard Toolbar, Object Properties, Draw, Modify, Object Snap and Inquiry
1 - 10
2004-2008
2000-2002