Datasheet

UNDERSTANDING THE AUTOCAD WINDOW

You’ll want to pay close attention to the Command window as you start using AutoCAD

because it tells you what AutoCAD expects you to do. It also lists information when you query

AutoCAD for certain types of information, which you’ll learn about in later chapters.

In addition to getting feedback from the Command window, you will also see the Command

prompt at the cursor whenever you have Dynamic Input display turned on.

The Command window is a little like a chat window when you’re online. You “chat” with

AutoCAD by responding to messages that appear in the Command window. When AutoCAD asks

for specific data, the Command window allows you to type data through the keyboard. It is also an

area that provides information about your drawing when you request it.

The Menu Bar

Although the Command window is a little unusual for a Windows program, the AutoCAD menu

bar provides a familiar means to finding commands. You’ll see many of the standard Windows

commands such as Cut, Paste, Copy, Save, Save As, and AutoCAD’s version of the Print command

called Plot.

You’ll also find lots of other commands and options that are pure AutoCAD, but the basic oper-

ation of the menu bar is the same as that of other Windows program. The menu bar lets you issue

commands and open dialog boxes to change settings. Some of the menu bar options expand to

show additional menu choices in what is called a

cascading

menu.

One helpful feature of the menu bar that you don’t often find in other programs are the icons

shown to the left of many menu options. These icons help you connect the option names with

their equivalent toolbar options. For example, if you open the Modify menu, you’ll see that the

“Chatting” with AutoCAD

AutoCAD communicates its needs to you through messages in the Command window. These messages

often tell you what to do next or offer options, usually shown in square brackets. Commands often dis-

play a series of messages, which you answer to complete the command. If you ever get lost while using

a command or forget what you are supposed to do, look at the Command window for clues.

As an additional aid, you can right-click to display a context-sensitive shortcut menu. If you are in the

middle of a command, this menu provides a list of options specifically related to that command. For

example, if you right-click before selecting the first point for the Rectangle command, a menu appears,

offering the same options that are listed in the Command prompt, plus some additional options.

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