Datasheet

Working With AutoCAD
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17
Working with AutoCAD
Now that you’ve been introduced to the AutoCAD window, you’re ready to try using a few
AutoCAD commands. First you’ll open a sample file and make a few modifications to it. In
the process, you’ll become familiar with some common methods of operation in AutoCAD.
Opening an Existing File
In this exercise, you’ll get a chance to see and use a typical Select File dialog box.
Note
Before you start, make sure you have downloaded and installed the sample files for this book from the
Sybex website. See the introduction for instructions on how to find and download the sample files.
To start, you’ll open an existing file:
1. Click the close icon in the upper-right corner of the drawing area. It looks like an X.
Minimize
Restore Down
Close
A message appears, asking whether you want to save the changes you’ve made to the cur-
rent drawing. Click No.
2. Click the Open tool in the Quick Access toolbar to open the Select File dialog box. This is
a typical Windows file dialog box, with an added twist: In the large Preview box on the
right, you can preview a drawing before you open it, thereby saving time while searching
for files. To the left is a panel known as the Places list in which you can find frequently
used locations on your computer or the Internet (see Figure 1.12).
Note
If you don’t see a Preview box in the Select File dialog box, click the word Views in the upper-right corner
and select Preview from the list that appears.
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