AutoCAD Fundamentals

Launch AutoCAD from desktop, start menu, or icon, then use the start screen to access learn and create, start a new drawing, view recent drawings, and connect to Autodesk.

Explore the AutoCAD user interface from the application menu and quick access toolbar to the drawing window, ribbon, and file tabs, enabling efficient handling of multiple drawings.

Access AutoCAD commands through the ribbon, quick access toolbar, and application menu; use the command line and dynamic input with autocomplete to enter commands and manage docked or floating panels.

Explore AutoCAD's cartesian workspace with X, Y coordinates from the origin at zero zero, and Z for 3D. Enter points by clicking or typing coordinates using dynamic input.

Open and edit drawings with the open command, access recent documents, and add folders to places for access; switch between drawings via tabs and close them individually or all.

Open two drawings from the desktop using the quick access toolbar and open documents, switch between building rock and building side tabs, then close all without saving.

View and navigate AutoCAD drawings using zoom, pan, the view cube, and the navigation bar. Real-time zoom, pan, and view rotation; plus zoom window and extents.

Master drawing viewing in AutoCAD fundamentals by zooming, panning, and navigating with the mouse wheel, real-time pan, zoom window, and zoom to extents.

Save frequently to prevent data loss, enable automatic backups every ten minutes, and use quick save or save as to name or duplicate drawings, preserving compatibility with earlier AutoCAD versions.

Save a drawing in AutoCAD using quick save, then adjust open and save settings to 15 minutes in the application options, and verify the saved status with the star indicator.

Explore drawing lines with AutoCAD’s line command, specifying points and dynamic input for length and angle, and using close and undo options to refine the result.

Select objects and erase them using the delete key or erase command; observe grips and the X box indicating deletable items, then press enter or delete to remove selected objects.

Turn on ortho mode or polar tracking to constrain drawing to vertical and horizontal lines, using dynamic input to specify lengths and snapping to 0 and 90 degrees.

Draw rectangles in AutoCAD using the rectangle command or by composing them from lines, then specify dimensions from dynamic input or the command line and place the opposite corner.

Learn to draw circles in AutoCAD using center radius, center diameter, two-point, three-point, and tangent radius methods from the home tab draw panel.

Use the undo and redo commands on the Quick Access Toolbar to reverse the last command, reapply a previous state, and review your command history for multiple steps.

Learn basic drawing and editing commands in AutoCAD, using dynamic input and polar tracking to draw lines, rectangles, and tangent circles with coordinates and dimensions, then save and close.

Open the PDF resource and practice drawing the object using line, circle, and rectangle commands with coordinates starting at the lower left corner at zero, zero; then save and close.

Draw simple shapes in AutoCAD using the line command on a blank drawing, starting at the lower left corner, tracing clockwise and closing the shape, then undo mistakes and save.

Enable running object snaps to snap to exact points like endpoints and centers while drawing. Toggle status bar options to use extension and geometric center snaps for precise construction.

Use object snaps to draw a fence and rooflines by enabling endpoint, midpoint, center, and extension, then switch to intersection for roofline alignment and hip roof construction.

Apply one-time object snap overrides to snap to quadrant, tangent, or parallel during a command, without changing running object snaps.

Master object snap overrides in AutoCAD using running object snaps (center, midpoint, end point) and tangent, to draw circles and lines with a distance of five.

Explore polar tracking in AutoCAD to draw horizontal, vertical, and custom angles by adjusting incremental and preset angles, and manage absolute versus relative tracking in the tracking settings.

Adjust polar tracking by adding a 35 degree angle and setting a 45 degree preset, then draw the part outline using these angles.

Use object snap tracking to place new points from one or two existing points, set endpoint, midpoint, and center snaps, and visualize tracking with acquired points and dotted guidance.

Create a top view by tracking from the side and front views using object snaps (endpoint, midpoint, center, quadrant, intersection) and object snap tracking, including a hole and a cutout.

Practice object snap tracking in AutoCAD fundamentals by using midpoint and quadrant snaps to draw lines in a schematic, enabling precise connections and finished lines.

Learn how snap mode and grid display guide drawing in AutoCAD Fundamentals, forcing crosshairs to snap to one unit or 0.5 units and showing a reference grid.

Practice placing objects on a drawing using snap and grid, drawing two-by-two and four-by-two shapes and a circle, then connect shapes with lines and save.

Master object selection techniques in AutoCAD fundamentals, including window, crossing, lasso, fence, and polygon methods, and learn how to add or remove via shift, R, or A before editing.

master object selection in AutoCAD fundamentals by using crossing window, window, and crossing lasso methods, then refine selections with the shift key to include or remove items before moving.

Move selected objects with the move command by picking a base point and a second point. Use object snaps for precision, or drag and nudge, and enter coordinates for displacement.

Copy objects with the copy command, selecting via crossing window, and create multiple copies using the rubber band line from an endpoint to a circle center, finishing with enter.

Select objects and rotate them around a base point, specifying an angle (default counterclockwise). Create copies at 90 degrees and switch rotation direction in drawing units.

Learn to scale objects in AutoCAD with the scale command, selecting a base point from a snap point, applying a scale factor such as 1.5, and copying if needed.

Use the mirror command to create symmetrical copies across a user-defined mirror line. Define the line, select objects, and decide whether to erase originals to shape the mirrored outcome.

Modify a floor plan in AutoCAD fundamentals by moving, copying, rotating, scaling, and mirroring objects using object snaps and endpoints to precisely place furniture and cubicles.

Edit objects with grips in AutoCAD to stretch or move lines and circles, using blue grips that turn pink on hover and red when selected, with radius and diameter options.

Learn to edit a building facade in AutoCAD using grips to move, copy, mirror, rotate, and scale objects, using object snaps, base points, and crossing window selections.

Learn to edit drawings in AutoCAD fundamentals using grips to move, copy, rotate, and scale objects, enable endpoint and midpoint object snaps, and mirror, scale, and place items quickly.

Copy and rotate electronic symbols onto the electronics diagram using object snaps and precise base points from the PDF resource. Verify midpoint and endpoint snaps and save the drawing.

Create a landscape by drawing a house and garage, placing shrubs and trees, and applying AutoCAD commands such as line, move, copy, scale with polar tracking and object snap tracking.

Draw a mechanical part in AutoCAD using line and circle with polar tracking at 45 degrees and object snap tracking; open the plate, draw only objects, not dimensions, then save.

Arrange the surge protector drawing in AutoCAD using move, copy, rotate, and scale commands, open the PDF resource and surge protector IWG, make copies, position outlets, scale text, and save.

Assemble the satellite drawing by copying, moving, and rotating components precisely using object snaps. Set quadrant and midpoint snaps to speed up the assembly, then save and close the drawing.

Start new drawings from templates in AutoCAD fundamentals using q new or new, set a default template, and tailor units and dimension styles (architectural or decimal) for feet and inches.

Learn to start a drawing from mechanical inch and architectural imperial templates, switch between decimal and feet and inches units, and save your practice files as plan drawings.

Understand how AutoCAD uses layers to organize drawings with unlimited layers, each carrying color, line type, and weight, and control visibility and current layer easily.

Explore how layer states control visibility and selection in AutoCAD, including on/off, freeze/thaw, and lock/unlock. Use isolate to hide other layers and restore all layers later.

Learn to work with multiple layers in AutoCAD, drawing center lines on object and hidden layers, then adjust layer states by setting current layer to zero, freeze, and lock.

Select an object and move it to another layer with the layer control, such as from hidden to construction. Use match layer to apply a destination layer to multiple objects.

Learn to organize a drawing by assigning objects to layers with laser control and the match properties command, then apply changes to walls, furniture, electrical, doors, windows, and plants.

Explore the arc command in AutoCAD fundamentals, using options like three-point arcs, start center, radius, and start-end-angle, and reverse direction with the control key.

Learn to draw arcs for door swings and floor plans using AutoCAD's arc options, including start center, start center angle, and start center endpoint, with counterclockwise and direction controls.

Master AutoCAD polylines by drawing complex, single objects with lines and arcs, setting widths, creating open or closed shapes, and using grips to edit quickly.

Master editing polylines in AutoCAD fundamentals by adjusting vertices, changing width, and converting between lines, arcs, and polylines, including join, explode, and spline options for precise curves.

Learn to draw and edit polyline symbols for flowcharts in AutoCAD fundamentals, using end points and arc construction, width adjustments, and copy routines to assemble the diagram.

Draw polygons with the polygon command, edit vertices like polylines, and use inscribed, circumscribed, or edge-length options to create polygons such as triangles and hexagons.

Draw three symbols using polygon and rectangle commands. Build a six-sided circumscribed window tag, a 0.75 by 0.25 rectangle room tag, and a triangle revision tag, then save as symbols.

Learn to draw ellipses in AutoCAD using center or endpoint axes, defining major and minor axes, creating elliptical arcs, and exploring rotation to orient ellipses.

practice drawing ellipses with the ellipse and elliptical arc commands to create a 2d cylinder, using endpoints, 60-degree rotation, and counterclockwise arcs.

Explore how object properties define layers, color, line type, and geometry in AutoCAD. Use quick properties, the properties palette, and match properties to view and edit attributes.

learn to view and modify object properties with the quick properties panel and properties palette, select circles with quick select, and adjust diameters in a practice drawing.

Learn to use the properties palette and quick select in AutoCAD to move objects to the walls and text layers, adjust text height, and set text to 12 inches.

Learn to obtain exact measurements in AutoCAD drawings using measure tools for distances, radii, diameters, angles, areas, and volumes, with quick measure for real-time dimensions.

Apply AutoCAD fundamentals by using quick measure to capture wall distances, calculate the training room area, size a column, and measure the building area by object with a magenta line.

Learn to measure object areas in a drawing using the measuring tool, convert multiple objects into a single polyline, and subtract holes to obtain the total area.