Datasheet

14 Chapter 1: Getting Familiar with AutoCAD
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 line. When Auto-
CAD asks for specific data, the command line allows you to enter data using the keyboard.
It is also an area that provides information about your drawing when you request it.
“Chatting” with autoCaD
AutoCAD communicates its needs to you in messages in the command line. These mes-
sages often tell you what to do next or offer options, usually shown in
square brackets. Commands often display a series of messages, which
you answer to complete the command. If you aren’t sure what to do,
check the command line 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 pro-
vides a list of options specifically related to that command. For example,
if you right-click before selecting the first point for the Rectangle com-
mand, a menu appears, offering the same options that are listed at the
command prompt, plus some additional options.
Using the Menu Browser
The command line is a little unusual for a Windows program, so the AutoCAD Menu
Browser provides a familiar means of finding commands. You can open the Menu
Browser by clicking the AutoCAD icon in the upper-left corner of the AutoCAD window
(shown earlier in Figure 1.3).
You can think of the Menu Browser as a menu bar that is oriented vertically, instead
of horizontally across the top of the window. If you’re familiar with Windows Internet
Explorer, you’ll find that the Menu Browser behaves much like the Favorites list. In fact,
the Menu Browser behaves like the tree view found in many navigation schemes.
what happeneD to the Menu Bar?
Earlier versions of AutoCAD had a horizontal list of options called a menu bar across the top
of the window. If you prefer to use the menu bar, you can turn it on by doing the following:
1. Right-click the Quick Access Toolbar.
2. Select Show Menu Bar.
The menu bar appears just below the Quick Access Toolbar. Note that the menu bar
does not offer the tooltips you find in the Menu Browser.
If you prefer to use the menu bar rather than the Menu Browser, you can still follow
the instructions in this book. Whenever I ask you to open the Menu Browser, just go to the
appropriate menu option in the menu bar instead.
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