Datasheet
36 Chapter1•GettingtoKnowAutoCAD
of keeping your left hand on the keyboard and your right hand on the mouse if
you’re right-handed, or the other way around if you’re left-handed.
Using the Mouse
Your mouse most likely has two buttons and a scroll wheel. So far in this chap-
ter, you have used the left mouse button to choose menus, commands, and
options, and you’ve held it down to drag the Ribbon. The left mouse button is
the one you’ll be using most often, but you’ll also use the right mouse button.
While drawing, you’ll use the right mouse button for the following three
operations:
To display a menu containing options relevant to the particular step
you’re in at the moment
To use in combination with the Shift or Ctrl key to display a menu
containing special drawing aids called object snaps
To display a menu of toolbars when the pointer is on any icon of a
toolbar that is currently open
The middle button with a scroll wheel serves a dual function:
Pressing and holding the middle button enables you to pan through-
out your drawing until you release the middle button.
You can zoom in/out within your drawing: When scrolling toward
the screen, you zoom into your drawing. Conversely, when scrolling
away from the screen, you zoom out from your drawing.
AutoCAD makes extensive use of toolbars and the right-click menu feature.
This makes your mouse an important input tool. The keyboard is necessary for
inputting numeric data and text, and it has hot keys and aliases that can speed
up your work; however, the mouse is the primary tool for selecting options and
controlling toolbars.
The next chapter will familiarize you with a few basic commands that will
enable you to draw a small diagram. If you want to take a break and close
AutoCAD, choose Application menu
➢ Exit AutoCAD (lower-right corner), and
choose not to save the drawing.
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