Datasheet

NOTE Often, you can start AutoCAD commands in a number of ways:
from the Ribbon, the Application menu, the Command window, and the menus
that appear when you right-click. When you get used to drawing with Auto-
CAD, you’ll learn some shortcuts that start commands quickly, and you’ll find
the way that best suits you.
Using the Ribbon
The Ribbon is a consolidated location for nearly all the AutoCAD tools in the form
of easily recognizable buttons or drop-down lists. A set of tabs delineates the dif-
ferent collections of tools by their purposes: creating and editing objects, adding
notes and dimensions, sending the drawing to a printer or plotter, and so on.
Displaying the Ribbon Tools
The Ribbon self-adjusts according to the width of the AutoCAD window. The
panels have the most commonly used command as a button, larger than the oth-
ers, centered on the left side (see the top of Figure 1.21). Often, this button has a
down arrow below it that opens a menu displaying additional, similar com-
mands. When the width is too narrow to display each panel fully, the panels will
begin to collapse first by replacing the large buttons with smaller buttons and
then by replacing the panels with a single button bearing the name of the panel.
The collapsed panel’s tools are displayed by clicking this single button, as shown
at the bottom of Figure 1.21.
FIGURE 1.21: The Ribbon fully displaying all panels (top) and with partially and com-
pletely collapsed panels (bottom)
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