Datasheet
Introducing the AutoCAD
Graphics Window
At the top of the graphics window sit the Ribbon, the Quick Access toolbar to the
left, and the InfoCenter and related tools on the right.
The title bar is analogous to the title bar in any Windows program. It contains
the program name (AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT) and the title of the current draw-
ing with its path, as long as any drawing other than the default
Drawingn.dwg is
open. Below the title bar is the Ribbon, where you’ll find most of the AutoCAD
commands and tools needed to complete any drawing task. Related tasks are
found under the different tabs, which are further segmented into panels contain-
ing similar tools.
To the far right of the title bar are the InfoCenter, Communications Center,
Favorites, and Help buttons. You can enter a question in the field to the left of the
InfoCenter button to quickly access information from the Help system through
the InfoCenter’s drop-down panel. With the Communications Center, you can
determine what type of information, such as software updates, product support,
or RSS feeds, Autodesk sends directly to your system. With the Favorites tool,
you can define a list of help or informational topics that can be quickly accessed
whenever you need them. The Help button is a direct link to the AutoCAD help
system.
The blank middle section of the screen is called the drawing area. Notice the
movable crosshair cursor. The crosshairs on your cursor might extend com-
pletely across the screen. Later in this chapter, I will show you how to modify the
length of the crosshairs as well as make a few other changes.
Notice the little box at the intersection of the two crosshair lines. This is one
of several forms of the AutoCAD cursor. When you move the cursor off the draw-
ing area, it changes to the standard Windows pointing arrow. As you begin using
Quick Access
Toolbar
Chapter 1 • Getting to Know AutoCAD
8
The title bar and
menu bar at the top
of the LT screen are
identical to those in
AutoCAD except that
AutoCAD LT appears
in the title bar rather
than AutoCAD.
260586c01.qxd 3/27/08 3:03 PM Page 8