2004

Table Of Contents

Enter Commands on the Command Line | 37

Interrupt a Command with Another Command or System Variable

Many commands can be used transparently: that is, they can be entered on

the command line while you use another command. Transparent commands

frequently change drawing settings or display options, for example,

GRID or

ZOOM. In the Command Reference, transparent commands are designated by

an apostrophe in front of the command name.

To use a command transparently, choose its toolbar button or enter an apos-

trophe (') before entering the command at any prompt. On the command

line, double angle brackets (>>) precede prompts that AutoCAD displays for

transparent commands. After you complete the transparent command, the

original command resumes. In the following example, you turn on the dot

grid and set it to one-unit intervals while you draw a line, and then you

continue drawing the line.

Command: line

Specify first point: 'grid

>>Specify grid spacing (X) or [ON/OFF/Snap/Aspect] <0.000>: 1

Resuming

LINE command

Specify first point:

Commands that do not select objects, create new objects, or end the drawing

session usually can be used transparently. Changes made in dialog boxes that

you have opened transparently cannot take effect until the interrupted com-

mand has been executed. Similarly, if you reset a system variable transpar-

ently, the new value cannot take effect until you start the next command.