AutoCAD For Dummies, 17th Edition

Chapter 3

A Lap around the CAD Track

IN THIS CHAPTER

Setting up a simple drawing

Drawing some objects

Zooming and panning in a drawing

Editing some objects

Plotting a drawing

Chapters 1 and 2 introduce you to the AutoCAD world and to the AutoCAD interface. Other chapters in this book present the techniques that underlie good drafting practice. By now, you’re probably eager to start moving the cursor around and drawing something. This chapter leads you on a gentle tour of the most common CAD drafting functions, including setting up a new drawing, drawing and editing objects, zooming and panning the view, and plotting (or printing) a drawing. I don’t go into full detail about every option of every command, but I give you a feel for what it can do. Go ahead and slam the tires, and don’t worry about putting a dent in the doors!

In this chapter, you create a drawing of an architectural detail of a base plate and column. Even if you don’t work in architecture or building construction, this exercise gives you some simple shapes to work with and demonstrates commands you can use in most drafting disciplines.

Throughout this book, I show AutoCAD running in the Ribbon-based Drafting & Annotation workspace that is present in both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. Likewise, I tell you where to find commands and what to select by using the Ribbon.

Although the drafting example in this chapter is simple, the procedures that it demonstrates are real, honest-to-CAD-ness, proper drafting practice. I emphasize ...