Sample Chapter 02

10 Part 1: Groundwork

Objectives

Identify the parts that make up the AutoCAD user interface and describe the function of each part

Become familiar with AutoCADs Ribbon and learn its display options

Navigate AutoCADs Application Menu Describe the functions of the Quick Access

toolbar, the InfoCenter, the Command Line window, and the status bar

Introduce the Display tab on the Options dialog box

Vocabularycontext-sensitivecrosshairspanelpull-down menu

AutoCADs user interface includes many parts that are important to the effi cient operation of the software. For example, the proper positioning and grouping of buttons improves the speed with which you create, edit, and dimension drawings. Productive users of AutoCAD employ the pan-els, toolbars, palettes, dialog boxes, and keystrokes to enter commands and interact with AutoCAD. Each of these elements is a part of the AutoCAD user interface.

In this chapter, you will be introduced to the different elements of the user interface. In later chapters, you will explore each element of the user interface further.

User Interface

C h a p t e r 2

Objectives

Identify the parts that make up the AutoCAD Vocabulary

11Chapter 2: User Interface

Overview of the User Interface

1. Start AutoCAD.

2. If the Startup dialog box appears, click the Cancel button.

As you learned in Chapter 1, the exact confi guration of the AutoCAD window may vary depending on the screen resolution and how it was left by the last person to use the software. If windows, buttons, and menus are not present as described in the steps of this chapter, thats okay. You will learn how to display and position them in this chapter and later in the book.

The AutoCAD window appears, as shown in Fig. 2-1. Notice the locations of the title bar, the Ribbon, the Command Line window, and the status bar.

F ig . 2- 1

Command Line Window

Model and Layout Tabs

Crosshairs

ViewportControls

Drawing Area

Navigation Bar

ViewCube

Status Bar

ApplicationMenuButton Title Bar

Ribbon

Quick Access Toolbar

Minimize, Maximize, and Close Buttons

InfoCenter

12 Part 1: Groundwork

The rest of the screen is the drawing area. As you move the pointing device in the drawing area, notice that the pointer becomes a special cursor called the crosshairs. You will use the crosshairs to pick points and select objects in the drawing area. When you move outside the drawing area, the normal Windows pointer appears. You will learn more about the features in the drawing area in future chapters.

The Ribbon

On the top of the AutoCAD window, just below the title bar, is a wide area called the Ribbon. It provides easy access to many AutoCAD tools with tabs, panels, and buttons. In AutoCAD, a panel is a grouping of buttons for similar commands. In the Home tab of the Ribbon, the Draw, Modify, Layers, Annotation, Block, Properties, Groups, Utilities, and Clipboard panels are dis-played.

1. Move the pointer to the word Insert in the tab area above the Ribbon and single-click on the Insert tab.

A different collection of panels appears on the Ribbon.

2. Select each of the other tabs and notice the panels that appear; then return to the Home tab.

Notice that several of the panel title bars contain a small arrow pointing down. This means that when you select them, they will display additional buttons and commands.

3. Click inside the Draw panel title bar.

Two additional rows of buttons appear in the expanded Draw panel.

4. Move the pointer out of the expanded Draw panel and into the drawing area.

The expanded part of the Draw panel disappears.

5. Click inside the Draw panel title bar again.

6. Move the pointer to the lower left corner of the expanded panel and select the pin icon.

13Chapter 2: User Interface

7. Move the pointer out of the expanded Draw panel and into the drawing area.

Notice the expanded Draw panel remains visible, as shown in Fig. 2-2. AutoCAD allows you to pin the expanded panel open. When you no longer need the panel expanded, you can unpin it.

8. Click on the pin icon and move the pointer out of the expanded Draw panel.

The expanded part of the Draw panel disappears.

Notice the row of Ribbon tabs, just below the Quick Access toolbar and the Title Bar. To the right of the last tab, Express Tools, is a button with a down-facing arrow. This is the Collapse button.

9. Select the Collapse button.

The Ribbon is minimized to the panel titles only. The buttons are now hidden.

10. Move the pointer over the Layers panel title.

The buttons for the Layers panel appear.

11. Select the Collapse button again.

The Ribbon is further minimized to display only the panel titles.

12. Select the Collapse button once again.

The Ribbon is further minimized to display only the tabs.

13. Move the pointer over the Home tab and single click.

The full Ribbon appears, with buttons and panel titles.

14. Move the pointer off of the Ribbon into the drawing area.

The Ribbon disappears.

15. Select the Collapse button one last time to return to the Show Full Ribbon display mode.

F ig . 2-2

14 Part 1: Groundwork

The Application Menu

Now direct your attention to the big red A in the upper left corner of the AutoCAD window. This large button is called the Application Menu button.

1. Single-click on the Application Menu button.

A pull-down menu appears, as shown in Fig. 2-3. A pull-down menu is a vertical list of commands that appears when a button or menu item is selected. This pull-down menu is called the Application Menu. The Application Menu is context-sensitive, which means it changes depending on what command the user has selected. In this case, since we have not opened a fi le, AutoCAD displays options for opening, saving, and other fi le management commands.

F ig . 2-3

15Chapter 2: User Interface

2. Move and rest the pointer over each of the menu items in the Application Menu, and notice the different groupings of commands that appear to the right.

3. Move the pointer into the drawing area and single-click to close the Application Menu.

Other FeaturesThe Title BarIn addition to housing the Application Menu button, the title bar contains the Quick Access toolbar and the InfoCenter. You were introduced to the Quick Access toolbar in Chapter 1. It contains buttons for the most common functions: New fi le, Open fi le, Save, Save As, Print, Undo, and Redo. It also contains the Workspaces pull-down menu, which you will learn more about in Chapter 3. The InfoCenter allows you to search for help by typing into the search fi eld.

Command Line WindowNotice the Command Line window near the bottom of the screen. As you learned in Chapter 1, you can enter AutoCAD commands at the Command line. However, in many cases, it is faster and easier to use buttons on the Ribbon and on toolbars, or to use dynamic input. You will learn more about the Command line and dynamic input in Chapter 4.

Status BarThe Status Bar at the bottom of the screen shows the coordinates of the screen crosshairs, the status of various AutoCAD modes and settings, the Quick View buttons, drawing annotation tools, and several other important commands. The more you work with AutoCAD, the more you will appreciate the availability of the buttons on the status bar.

Display Options

1. Single-click the red A to display the Application Menu and select the Options button near the bottom of the Application Menu.

16 Part 1: Groundwork

F ig . 2-4

The Options dialog box appears.

2. Select the Display tab in the Options dialog box.

The Display tab is shown in Fig. 2-4. In this dialog box you can choose to show, hide, and resize the different elements of the user interface. For exam-ple, you can choose to display or hide scroll bars. Another useful tool in the Display tab is the Colors button, where you can change the color of many elements of the user interface. Some AutoCAD users prefer a dark drawing area over a light one, or choose to personalize parts of the user interface with color.

3. Pick the Cancel button to close the Options dialog box.

4. Exit AutoCAD without saving.

17Chapter 2: User Interface

Continued

REVIEW QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. How do you access the Application Menu?

2. Describe how to display all of the buttons of the Draw panel on the Ribbon. How can you keep them displayed while you work elsewhere in the drawing?

3. What is the quickest way to open a fi le in AutoCAD?

4. How do you hide all the buttons on the Ribbon?

5. Write the names of items A through N in Fig. 2-5.

F ig . 2-5

C h a p t e r 2 Review & Activities

A B C D E

H

G

L

K

N

J

F

I

M

C h a p t e r 2 Review & Activities

18 Part 1: Groundwork

CHALLENGE YOUR THINKING

These questions are designed to further your knowledge of AutoCAD by encouraging you to explore the concepts presented in this chapter. Answer each question on a separate sheet of paper.

1. AutoCAD provides ways to change the appearance and colors of the AutoCAD window. For example, if you prefer to work on a blue back-ground, you can change the drawing area to blue. Find out how to cus-tomize AutoCADs appearance and colors. Then write a short paragraph explaining how to customize the display. Tell why it might sometimes be necessary to do so.

2. The AutoCAD window includes two sets of Windows-standard Maximize, Minimize, and Close buttons. Explain why there are two sets. What is the function of each set?

APPLYING AUTOCAD SKILLS

Work the following problems to practice the commands and skills you learned in this chapter.

1. Navigate to AutoCADs Sample/Mechanical Sample folder and open and view each of the following drawings. Where possible, use the Zoom button to look closely at the drawings. Close each of the drawings when you are fi nished.

Mechanical - Data Links.dwg

Mechanical - Multileaders.dwg

Mechanical - Text and Tables.dwg

2. Arrange the panels of the Ribbon so that your AutoCAD screen looks similar to the one in Fig. 2-6.

F ig . 2-6

Review & Activities C h a p t e r 2

19Chapter 2: User Interface

USING PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

Complete the following activities using problem-solving skills and your knowledge of AutoCAD.

1. Open the fi le db_samp.dwg, which is located in the Sample/Database Connectivity folder. Use the Zoom command to zoom in on a small area near the center of the drawing. Notice that scroll bars are not available in the default window display. Click on the Application Menu button and select the Options button. In the Options dialog box, pick the Display tab. Then check the box next to Display scroll bars in drawing window and pick OK. The scroll bars are now displayed. Use the horizontal and vertical scroll bars to navigate the drawing. Pick and drag the movable box within the scroll bars to move quickly around the drawing. Experiment to fi nd other ways to navigate. What other ways does AutoCAD provide? Close the drawing without saving.

2. The following fi les are located in AutoCADs Sample/Dynamic Blocks folder: Architectural - Metric.dwg, Civil - Metric.dwg, and Multileader Tools.dwg. Close all drawings that are open, then open these three drawings. Then click on the View tab of the Ribbon and focus on the Windows panel. Experiment with the following buttons on the Windows panel: Tile Horizontally, Tile Vertically, and Cascade. These are some of the ways you can arrange the AutoCAD window when you have more than one drawing open. Describe a situation where it would be preferable to cascade drawings. When would tiling be preferable? When you are fi n-ished, quit AutoCAD without saving.