AutoCAD® 2012 FOR DUMMIES®

Modifying to Make It Merrier

When you have a better view of your base plate (which I talk about in the preceding section), you can edit the objects on it more easily. In the following sections, you use the ARRAY command to add more anchor bolts, the STRETCH command to change the shape of the plate, and the HATCH command to add crosshatching to the column. (As always, I cover these commands in detail later in the book.)

Hip-hip-array!

Using the ARRAY command is a great way to generate a bunch of new objects from existing objects at regular angles or spacing. The array pattern can be rectangular (that is, columns and rows of objects), polar (in a circle around a center point, like the spokes of a wheel around its hub), or it can follow a path.

AutoCAD 2012 introduces a sophisticated new method of arraying objects — I explain it in detail in Chapter 18. In this chapter, I introduce the simpler, old-style array feature.

In this example, you use a rectangular array to create three additional anchor bolts:

1. Type –ARRAY and press Enter (don't omit the hyphen!).

   Typing a hyphen in front of a command name tells AutoCAD you want to use the command line rather than a dialog box to specify values for the array.

   The old-style ARRAY command starts at the command line, and AutoCAD prompts you to select the objects you want to array.

2. Click the anchor bolt and then click the nut.

   If you encounter ...