Datasheet
18 Chapter 1: Getting Familiar with AutoCAD
5. The rectangle is still selected, so press the Delete key to delete it. This removes the
rectangle from the drawing.
In step 1, AutoCAD shows you exactly what the cursor is pointing to by highlighting
objects that will be selected with the next click.
When drawing and erasing the rectangle, you were exposed to the most common pro-
cesses you need to know about to work in AutoCAD: you selected a command from the
menu bar, and then you selected points in the drawing area while following the messages in
the command line. Commands from the toolbars work in the same way, as you’ll see next.
unDerstanDing the CoMManD-tooL-option reLationship
One of AutoCAD’s greatest assets is its ability to adjust to your way of performing tasks. If
you prefer using toolbars, you can gain access to nearly all the AutoCAD functions through
toolbars. If you prefer using options from a menu bar, again, you can perform most of what
you need through them. And the Ribbon offers the most commonly used functions in Auto-
CAD. Experienced users know how to use the command line and know nearly all the com-
mands by heart.
The AutoCAD commands are really at the heart of its operations. Menu bar options,
the Ribbon, and the toolbar buttons are really just different ways to invoke AutoCAD com-
mands. When you click a toolbar button or a menu option, you are really initiating a com-
mand through AutoCAD’s menu system, sometimes with predetermined options already
selected. In fact, if you watch the command line as you click a menu option or toolbar but-
ton, you’ll see that the messages in the command line are the same regardless of where you
invoked the command.
For this reason, I’ll often intermix the terms tool, option, and command, because at a prac-
tical level they are really all the same. Just be aware that menu options and toolbar buttons
invoke commands.
Using Other Toolbars
If you are familiar with earlier versions of AutoCAD, you’ll remember that toolbars
were the primary method for using the many AutoCAD drawing and editing tools. The
toolbars are still available and can offer a quick way to get to the tools you need. Table 1.1
describes the toolbars that are available in AutoCAD.
Like the floating Ribbon panel, a toolbar will display its Close icon (the X in the upper-right
corner) when you hover over the toolbar with your cursor. Otherwise, the Close icon will be
hidden.
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