Datasheet

STARTING A DRAWING
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Next, try drawing a couple of objects just to get comfortable with drawing in AutoCAD. You’ll
draw a rectangle again, plus some additional objects.
1. Click the Rectangle tool in the Draw toolbar. You can also choose Draw  Rectangle from the
menu bar.
2. Click a point in the lower-left of the drawing area as shown in Figure 1.8. Don’t worry about
the exact location. You’re just practicing right now. After clicking, notice that one corner of
the rectangle follows the cursor.
3. Click a point in the upper-right of the drawing area as shown in Figure 1.8. Again, it’s not
important if you don’t pick the exact location. The rectangle is now drawn in place.
Now add a circle to the drawing.
1. Click the Circle tool in the Draw toolbar.
2. Click the location shown in Figure 1.8 to place the center of the circle. Now as you move the
cursor, a circle appears whose radius follows the location of the cursor.
3. Click another point as shown in Figure 1.8 to “fix” the circle’s radius in place. You can also
enter a radius value for a circle with an exact radius.
You now have a circle and a rectangle. As you can see, you create objects by placing key points
of their geometry within the drawing area. For the rectangle, it was two corners; for the circle, it was
the center and a location on the perimeter.
Once you’ve placed an object in the drawing, you can edit them using a variety of tools. In later
chapters, you’ll learn more about those editing tools. In the following section you’ll learn how to get
around in your drawing.
Figure 1.8
Drawing a circle
Then click here to
complete the rectangle.
Click here for the center of the circle.
Click here to start the rectangle.
Click here to “fix” the
circle’s radius.
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