Autodesk AutoCAD 2016

INTRODUCTION
AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting software
application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk.
These tutorials are intended for ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS.
Most users prefers to use mouse and AutoCAD user interface to do design.
As a student you are able to download a copy of AutoCAD to your own computer /
laptop from here http://www.autodesk.com/education/free-software/all.
You can get more help from:
Ask fellow students,
From the internet – there are many different organizations offering free CAD tutorials including software
designer website:
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/gettingstarted/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2015/ENU/AutoCAD
-Core/files/GUID-2AA12FC5-FBB2-4ABE-9024-90D41FEB1AC3-htm.html. It’s called the “ Hitchhikers Guide
to AutoCAD basics”.
By clicking on the ‘help’ button at the top of the screen.
In these tutorials we will be working our way through the tools necessary to produce the plans for your modules ;
to annotate them; and to plot at a chosen scale. We will also show you how AutoCAD is increasingly used in
practice.

UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT, AUTOCAD TUTORIAL
• AutoCAD is installed in all PC’s in computer lab; However, you might see different versions. Start AutoCAD
2016/15/14. It might take a while for it to get started.
• There might be a welcome screen including some basics of usage and opening tab, but it can be close, click
one the ‘X’ to close it, until your screen looks like the above picture.

• You can:
• Click + To open a new TAB
• Or you can:
• Click A To select new window or Tab
• Select New > Drawing
• Open acadiso

• Ribbon: Across the top with the icons and patterns including the AutoCAD functions. Hold the cursor
over a command for a few second to have information about key function.
• In each group of function clicks on the small down arrow to get a broad set of options or more keys.
• Ribbon is categorized as ‘Home’, ‘Annotate’, ‘View’, ‘output’, ‘Add-ins’, ‘Express Tools’, ‘Feature
Apps’, ‘BIM 360’, and ‘Performance’. Each category included sub groups or set of commands. The
first ones we will use, will be ‘Draw’ set and the ‘Modify’ set.
• Main function can be found it the ribbon; however some specific commands needs to be written in the
command bar.
Command bar: it can be
used to type in the command
and start it. If there is
options or steps under the
command will appear there
to proceed the main
command. Basically, its
where we ‘Talk to
AutoCAD’.
Status bar: controls the
environment we are
working. Including set of
controlling commands.
Ribbon
Visualization
Command bar
Status Bar

• Option menu: Click A > Option
• Important Tabs: Display, Open and save, Drafting, Selection
• Important setting for Display: window elements to adjust colour of display,

• Important setting for Open and save:
File save: Open ‘save as’ for setting format and version of the saved file;
‘File Safety Precautions’ : to setting interval for automatic saving.

• Important setting for Display: Pick box size, Selection effect colour and Grip size and colours

• Setting the Current unit: Click A > Drawing Utilities>unit or Drawing Setup, Comm: units
• Change the unit from: Drawing Units;
This is very important to do as it will affect the dimensions and scale of all your drawings.

SECTION 2
BASIC DRAWING COMMAND

• Drawing Lines: Click Home > Line, or Comm: ‘L’ then press enter or space bar
• Important note: To start drawing and keying in coordinates or length of the line the ‘Dynamic Input’ needs to be
one. Find it in right side of the status bar . Those tools with blue highlight are ‘on’.
Type ‘L’> inter/space bar/> click anywhere in the screen> move the cursor and select next
point> … stop by pressing Escape.
To draw precisely:
‘L’ > Inter/ space bar> chose start point > type the length of the line > press TAB> type the
angle > Inter/Space bar> Escape
• Use CTRL+Z to undo your
command. Or wrong lines.
It’s among the most
important commands.

• The easiest way to move around and panning your drawing or to zoom in our out is to use mouse.
• To select: press and release the left mouse key:
Move the mouse from right to left(a green rectangle selection box). It select every items that
covers.
 move from left to right : a blue rectangle box. It selects only items which is fully inside the blue
rectangle.
• Zoom: Click Home > View, or Comm: ‘Z’ then press enter or space bar
• Using mouse keys function
• Press A> Open> drawing> select ‘Practice Zoom-select’.
• Practice 1: Use mouse keys to zoom in and out and panning to clearly see the drawing.
• Practice 2: Use command ‘z’ to zoom all and extend zoom.
• Practice 3: select files with mouse function.

• Drawing Lines: Click Home > Line, or Comm: ‘L’ then press enter or space bar
Practice: Use line command to draw rectangle and triangle as follow:
To erase: select the object press ‘Delete’ or key in ‘E’> inter/space> select object(s)> inter/space

• Drawing rectangle: Click Home > rectangle, or Comm: ‘rec’ then press enter or space bar
Type ‘rec’> inter/space bar/> click anywhere in the screen> move the cursor and select next
point.
To draw precisely:
‘rec’ > Inter/ space bar> chose start point > Type d> space/inter> type length> Inter/Space
bar>type the wide > inter/space
Practice draw following rectangle

• Osnap (Object snap): One of the most important functions to make working with AutoCAD
super comfortable. Blue high light means its on. Short cut key F3 for turning on and off
The icon can be found in status bar
The function helps you to snap specific points
easier. Like start or end or middle of any line.
• - The function helps you to snap specific points
easier. Like start or end or middle of any line.
• The items that can be snapped are shown in osnap
setting as follow. They can be turned on or off
according to your need.
• To adjust setting click on the arrow shape right
side of the osnap icon and click setting.
• Click on osnap setting and tick items that have
been shown in the picture.
• Practice: Draw a rectangle. Then use line. Hold
your cursor over the rectangle at different points
and you will see little green ‘highlights’ – these
are points to which you can automatically start the
next element of your drawing.

• Ortho: make it on to have straight lines. Short cut key F8 for turning on and off
The icon can be found in status bar
• Practice: Draw a rectangle. Using osnap and ortho option with line
command.

• Drawing Polyline: Click Home > Polyline, or Comm: ‘PL’ then press enter or space bar
Type ‘PL’> inter/space bar/> click anywhere in the screen> Type W>space/inter> set line
weight > two times spaceinter> draw line> (type w and space/inter if u need to change
weight)> type A> inter/space> draw arc> type L> inter/space> select last point> … stop by
pressing Escape.
Difference of the polyline
with line: with poly line
you can have a
continuously line including
arcs without breaking
points. You can also adjust
the wide of the line.
To edit polyline: PL>check the command bar and key in the command you want>
inter/space

• Drawing Multiline: Comm: ‘ml’ then press enter or space bar
Type ‘ml’> inter/space bar/> click anywhere in the screen> move the cursor and select next
point> … stop by pressing Escape.
After in interning the command
before selecting a point: look into
the command bar,
Key in J (short command of
justification as its highlight with
blue) >inter/space> then select
among Top/Zero/Bottom> and key
in > space/ inter.
Top: The selecting point will be
top of the multiline.
Zero: the selecting point at middle
of lines.
Bottom: The selecting point will
be bottom of the multiline.
Key in ML> key in S (short
command of scale as its highlight
with blue) >inter/space> inter the
desired gap between lines>
inter/space

• Practice: Use the following commands to draw the plan shown in the picture.
• Line: l Multi line: ml Osnap on: F3 Ortho: F8

• Circle: Click Home > Circle, or Comm: ‘c’ then press enter or space bar
Type ‘C’> inter/space bar/> click anywhere in the screen> key in length of radios or select
the next point> space/inter
Circle can be drawn according to your need in different type of drawing. Types of drawing
circle can be found in the circle menu by clicking the arrow below circle icon.

Circle: C Rectangle: Rec Osnap on: F3

• Arc: Click Home > arc, or Comm: ‘arc’ then press enter or space bar
Type ‘arc’> inter/space bar/> click anywhere in the screen> select next point > space/inter> select final point
Similar as circle arc can be drawn according to your need in
different type of drawing. Types of drawing arc can be found in the
arc menu by clicking the arrow below the arc icon.
However, the most useful ones are: Arc, 3points and Arc, start, center,
end.

Arc: Arc Rectangle: Rec Osnap on: F3

Copy : Comm: CO > inter > select object(s) base point > move them > click to past> ESC
• After learning the basics line works in AutoCAD it is
significant to learn modifying tools to make life easier.
• The modifying section includes different tools as
shown in the picture. Lets practice the important tools
together.
Move : Comm: M > inter > select object(s) base point > move them > click on new location
Copy Move

Offset : Comm: o > space > select object(s) > move them > click to past> ESC
Offset: it allows to copy a line or object at a chosen or fixed distance on either side of the original object
Type ‘O’> inter/space bar/> key in distance for copying> select object> click on the side >…>ESC
Mirror : Comm: Mi > space > select object(s) > space > select spot for
mirror point> click to mirror>space ; ESC to cancel at any point

Stretch : Comm: S > inter > select lines of the object that want to be stretched> Pick a
point > stretch > click
Rotate : Comm: RO > space > select object(s) > space> select reference point> rotate or key in
angel> click/space
Scale : Comm: SC > space > select object(s) that want to be stretched> space> Pick a
base point (this point stay at the same position while other points changes) > key in the scale
factor (exp: 2 makes it twice bigger)> space
One of the most important commands.
To convert units you can use this command as well for example to convert from meters to
millimeters make it 1000 bigger.

Trim : Comm: TR > space > select object(s) as
reference line> space to confirm> select line(s) you
need to cut > space
Extend : Comm: EX > space > select object(s)
as reference line> space to confirm> select line(s) you
need to extend > space
Fillet/Chamfer : Comm: Fillet > space >
select one side line/object(s) > key in r (radios
of the fillet) >space> select other side of the
line/object(s)
UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT, AUTOCAD TUTORIAL SESSION ONE

Polar - Array : Comm: Ar > inter > select object(s)/line(s) that want to be arrayed> space
to confirm> Pick a base point around which the selected object will be arrayed (check the ribbon)
>there are a number of different options here but the easiest on is to change the number of items
you want to array> space to confirm
Note1: you need to play
with options to master
them,
Note2: an Array behaves
like a single object. If you
need to do any
modification on with, the
it has to be “Explode”
Explode : Comm: X > space > select object(s) or component or block> space to confirm
UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT, AUTOCAD TUTORIAL SESSION ONE

Array- rectangular : Comm: Ar > inter > select object(s)/line(s) that want to be
arrayed> key in R(rectangular array) space to confirm> check the ribbon to adjust the
options > space to confirm

Array- Path : Comm: Ar > inter > select object(s)/line(s) that want to be
arrayed> key in PA(Path array) space to confirm> select the path or line or polyline >
check the ribbon to adjust the options > space to confirm

SECTION 4
HATCH AND PROPERTIES

Hatch : Comm: H > space > Pick the spaces / select the loop> check the ribbon
to adjust and modify the options > click to put the hatch> space to confirm
Hatching is a way of filling a space or and object with a pattern.
Pattern: To the right of the 4 visible
patterns there are 3 arrows. Click on the
one at the bottom and the whole range of
options appears. Many of these are
‘standard’ hatches eg earth or concrete.
Select the pattern you want.
Note: to modify a hatch click on the hatch
and do the adjustment from ribbon.
Note: if the scale is too large then hatch
doesn’t show up, if its too small then
hatch shows as solid.

Object Properties: it can be used to do number of changes to different objects including, color,
width of a line, type of the line and etc.
Properties window is usually located in the right side of the AutoCAD window, and can be
docked there.
Depend on the type
of the object the
options in the
properties panel can
be different.
To activate the panel:
Home> Tools> click
on properties
Or right click on
screen or selected object
and select properties
Or use Ctrl +1

Layers: One of THE most useful aspects of AutoCAD that every one needs to master it.
It makes drawing easy to understand and edit as well as to make it possible to hide or
visible part of the design. It allow us to edit lines type and scale for printing.
Objects from same group stands in one layer; exp: all the doors in one layer, windows in
one layer, etc.
From home tab, go to layer and then open layer properties manager window or (LA> space)

Create new layer (Alt+N), you can put the name by your self and define specifics for layer
such as color, line type, freeze one layer, line weight for plotting, hide a layer, and lock a
layer.
Delete existing layer
Set the layer as a default
To give an object a layer: 1. select the object > change the layer from properties menu
2. Select object> go to home> layers > select the name of layer from menu
3. Create a new layer> set as default > start your drawing
Note: You can use match properties tools to copy an objective later for another ones.
To do so: 1. from home >modify> match properties> select the reference object> select
other object that needed to be in the same layer
2. MA> select the reference object> select other object that needed to be in the same layer
Practice it in the open file.

Line Types: all the line types in one layer will be changed by loading and allocating
new line type to a layer as well as the color.
To do so:
Open layer properties:
1. Under the line type column click on
‘continuous’
2. Select the line type from list or if its not
there click on ‘load’ and then select the line
type you need then click ‘ok’. (you can
select as many as you like or later add
more types again)
3. Find the desired line type from list, select it
and then click ‘ok’.
4. Every line in this layer will change to you
new line type.
1
2

5. Use line scale to adjust the scale of the line type (if the scale is too small or to larg, then line will
be shown as continuous.
6. To do so: use ‘line type scale’ command: key in LTS> key in the scale ( as scale starts from 0)
Different line scale
Note:
You can change the line type or scale just for a specific line from line ‘properties’.
You can use ‘match properties’ to expand a line type to other lines.

7. Turn on and off a layer: Open the Layer Properties Manager> click on the ‘light
bulb’ for the layer you want to switch off> then check the autoCAD screen all the
line(s)/object(s) in that layer is disappeared.
8. lock layer: Open the Layer Properties Manager>
click on the ‘lock’ > then check the autoCAD
screen all the line(s)/object(s) in that layer is
shown with less brighter and there will ne a lock
icon above them when holding mouse on them or
selecting. As result no changes will happens to
this items.
9. There are other options as freezing or layer
isolating which basically repeating the above
orders. Work them by your self and see the
difference.

SECTION 5
OBJECT BLOCKS, DIMENSIONS, TEXT

Blocks: They are there to make you do less design or help you to make an object from many lines to become
one object. So basically blocks are objects in Autocad that may have lots of detail (i.e. are made up of lots of
different polylines and shapes) but form one entity in a drawing, so that wherever you click on it, the whole
object will be selected. Its one of tools that helps you to speed up your design. They remain with the drawing
but in the future you can open the same drawing and ‘save as’ another and the blocks will be there to use
again. For example you can have blocks of different threes, various standard window or door, or any objects
that you will need to use it a lot in your designs. Usually having a collection of object blocks for furniture is
very help full.
Samples of object block
CAD BLOCK SITES – there are
many places on the internet where
you can download CAD files to
use to create blocks. This is one
of them http://www.ceco.net/ but
have a look around.

Creating blocks:
To create a block it is better to be in “Layer 0”.
(Open the ‘Block’ file form the files given to you)
• From insert tab> block> create new block> click
on select objects > select car or tree> space>
select pick point > select the most useful point of
the object as reference like center or corners>
Key in the name of the block> click OK > you
can put it in the desire layer after its created.
• Note1: by double clicking on the block you can
go inside it to do any modification. Just
remember that any modification affect the blocks
in your work.
• Note 2: You can use explode command to explode
the block.
• Note 3: you can use B as a command for block.

Insert a block:
• From insert tab> block> Insert>
browse > select the block > click
ok > pick point to put block> (tick
specify on screen)
• Note: you can use scale command
to change the scale of block. or
rotate command to put it in the
direction you need.

• Dimensions: This tool automatically measures elements in
the drawing and places a label next to the object/distance
measured. These are essential for working drawings.
• Create a layer called dimension ( to put all of the
dimensions under same layer and properties, you can have
more than one layer for them if you needed)
• Create a dimension:
• From ‘home’ or ‘Annotate’ tab click on ‘linear’> select the
first point of the item you want to measure> click on the
second point to measure.
Note1: if you need to continuously measure items in one
direction right click on the created dimension and then select
continue > select all the points you need.
Note2: to measure the lines that are not straight use ‘Aligned’
Note3: To measure angle use ‘angular’ dimension

• Dimensions style: This tools helps you to
create or modify the style of the
dimensions.
• Click on ANNOTATE on top row. Click
on the arrow pointing down and right next
to the ‘Dimensions’ toolbar title or key in
“D” > space to open dimension style
manager window.
• Click on new> put the name > click
continue

• The ‘New Dimension Style : new’ menu now opens.
• LINES – the most important options here are extend beyond
dim lines which controls how far the ‘vertical’ lines stick out
beyond the ‘arrowheads’
• ‘Offset from origin’ controls how far from the point of
measurement the ‘vertical’ line starts. – Too close and the
drawings get confusing. (units are related to the drawing units)
• Symbols and arrows controls the size and shape of the
‘arrowhead’. Click on the down arrows to see the options.
• Set an arrow size appropriate to the drawing. Do the same
with the TEXT options- chooing a better font and correct text
height
• When you have done click on ‘OK’ which returns you to the
‘Dimension Style Manager’ menu.
• Click on ‘SET Current’ and then ‘Close’.
• If the dimensions still look strange / small / large then go back
to the ‘Dimension Style Manager’ and use ‘Modify’ rather
than create new.

• Text: (Command : MT)
Go to ‘Annotate’>Multiline text> Draw a rectangle
where you want to put text> write your text> (Note that
the tools ribbon at the top has changed) > click the close
on ribbon after finish writing. You can do some
modification for the text from ribbon.

• Text style: same s the dimension style you can
create a style and save it for the text.
Command =St or
Select the small angular arrow under the
‘annotate’, text group > click new> give the
name> ok> un check Annotative> select your
font> define the height> modify other styles >
click apply> click set current > close>
Note1: you can change the scale of the written
text by scale tools.
Note2: you can have more than one style

To practice learned tools and techniques, try to recreate the bellow design with using the given dimensions.
Try to use hatch to show floors finishing or material.
PDF of the following file with a better quality can be found with the name of “Practice –bungalow”

THANK YOU
FOR PAYING
ATTENTION

Autodesk AutoCAD 2016

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