This document provides a guide to the AutoCAD interface, including the use of various tools such as the drawing and editing palettes, command line, and tools for drawing shapes like lines and circles. It outlines the procedure for creating an A-size prototype, including commands for drawing, trimming, formatting text, and creating layers. The document emphasizes understanding coordinate systems and the sequence of commands necessary for effective AutoCAD usage.

1. AutoCAD Basics
The AutoCAD Interface
Draw Tool Palette
Edit Tool Palette
Pull-down Menus
Zoom Tool Palette

2. AutoCAD Basics
The Drawing and Editing Interface
A thorough understanding of absolute, relative
and polar coordinates is suggested for utilizing
AutoCAD’s drawing engine.
Absolute = exact x,y position on the screen.
Relative = going from a known position @x,y to
the new position.
Polar = moving from a known position @distance
< theta .
Use the command line to assist you in the “what
to do next” process of drawing. It is located at the
bottom of the screen and acts as the message line
in Graphite. All of the creation tools are on the
drawing tool palette.
The “Line” tool allows you to draw continuous
lines starting with the “first” point. Each
subsequent point will generate a segment between
them. The line is terminated by hitting “Enter”, the
“Space bar” or “right mouse” clicking and
selecting “Enter”.
Circles are started with the default value for the
“Radius”. Be sure to double the value or change
the default to “Diameter” by typing “D” and “Enter”
before clicking the circle’s center
Line Circle
Erase Trim
The “Erase” tool show a pencil eraser icon and is used
to delete the entire entity. Make sure that you select the
icon, then select the object, and hit “Enter” to delete the
entity or entities.
The “Trim” works similar to Graphite. First select the
tool, then select the boundary, hit “Enter” and select the
part of the entity you wish to remove.

3. AutoCAD Basics
The A-size Prototype
Procedure
1.Open the “AutoCAD” program.
2. Select the “Line” tool.
3. Type the following coordinate positions:
0,0 + “Enter”,10,0 + “Enter”, 10,7.5 + “Enter”,
0,7.5 + “Enter”, C or 0,0 + “Enter”.
This will draw our border 10 inches wide by 7.5 inches
high. Type the letter ‘Z” + “E” + “Enter”
4. Select the “Offset” Tool ( looks like a race track
on the “Modify” tool palette.
5. Click the bottom line with the little square pick box.
Type the value of .38 + “Enter”. Select the side or
direction you want to copy the new line. Click any
where above the bottom line on the screen.
6. Select the “Offset” tool again and offset the
horizontal spaces for the title block moving left to right
with the spaces of 3.25, 3.25, reselect tool and offset
1, reselect and offset 1.25, reselect tool and offset .75.
Figure 1

4. AutoCAD Basics
The A-size Prototype
Procedure
7. Select the ”Trim” tool.
8. Select the .38 offset line.
9. Hit “Enter” and click all the lines above the .38 inch
offset line
10. Select the “Format” menu.
11. Select the “Text Style” option and set the “Font”
to “Arial” and the “Height” to .125. Select “Apply”
and “Close”.
12. Select the “Text” tool. Click the “Osnap” button
at the bottom of the screen.
13. Make a text box across the first box in the title
block. Look for the yellow box to mark the endpoint of
the lines for the width and height. Select the “Font” to
“Arial” and clink the “Properties” tab and select
“Middle Center” and click the “Character” tab and
type the generic name for your drawing title.
14. Complete the rest of the title block using the same
procedure.

5. AutoCAD Basics
The A-size Prototype
Procedure
15. Select the ”Format” menu.
16. Select the “Layer” option.
17. Select the “New” button.
18. Create all of the following layers: Visible, Hidden,
Center, Phantom, Construction, Dimension and Hatch.
19. Click on the color tab next to each layer and
assign the appropriate colors for each layer.
20. Click on the line tab next to each layer and load
the hidden2, center2 and the phantom2 linetypes.

6. AutoCAD Basics
The A-size Prototype
Procedure
The completed layer settings will like the figure to the
right..

7. AutoCAD Basics
The A-size Prototype