Datasheet

6 Chapter 1: Getting Familiar with AutoCAD
Status bar•
Command window•
InfoCenter•
Your AutoCAD window should look like the earlier Figure 1.1, which shows the
default configuration for a new AutoCAD installation. Since AutoCAD is so easy to cus-
tomize, you might not see exactly the same layout, but the basic components should be
there.
AutoCAD 2009 offers the Ribbon that contains most of the common functions you’ll
need to use (see Figure 1.2). The Quick Access Toolbar offers the most commonly used
Windows functions, such as Save, Undo, Redo, and Print.
The Ribbon contains several panels, each of which contains tools for drawing and
editing. The set of panels changes depending on which Ribbon tab is selected. The Rib-
bon panels can be moved with a click and drag of their title bars, and the entire Ribbon
can be set up to stay hidden until you need to use it. You’ll learn more about these fea-
tures a bit later in this chapter.
When Ribbon panels are away from the edge of the window and appear “free float-
ing,” they are said to be floating, as opposed to docked.
If you click the AutoCAD logo in the upper-left corner of the window, you open the
Menu Browser, which gives you a more conventional menu structure for finding Auto-
CAD functions with a few additional features (see Figure 1.3).
At the top of the Menu Browser, you see the Search tool. This enables you to find a
specific tool by name just by typing the name into the search input box. At the bottom
of the Menu Browser, you have three options: Recent Documents, Open Documents,
and Recent Actions. If you point to Recent Documents, the panel to the right lists the
most recent files you’ve opened. Each file has a pushpin icon to the right, enabling you
to lock the item in the list. If you point to Open Documents, you’ll see a list of docu-
ments that are currently open in AutoCAD. The Recent Actions option lists the last few
actions you’ve taken using the Menu Browser. You can repeat an action by selecting it
from the list.
Figure 1.2
The Ribbon and its
components
InfoCenter
Quick Access Toolbar
Ribbon tabs
Ribbon
panels
Ribbon panel
title bars
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