commands in auto cad

8/8/2019 Commands in Auto CAD

1/40

Complete AutoCAD Commands

Command Description Options

ABOUT Displays a dialogue box with AutoCAD version & serial numbers can be transparent

APERTURE Controls the size of the Object Snap"OSNAP") target box -- should setto 7

can be transparent

ARC

or

A

Draws an arc. The default method of drawing arcs is selecting three points(so-called "3 point arc"), which are thetwo endpoints of the arc and someother point along its locus. Other methods of drawing an arc can bespecified by three letters, such asSEA, which means "Start Point, EndPoint, and Included Angle."

A Included angle

C Center point of arc

D Direction angle of a line tangent to the

arc

E Endpoint of arc

L Length of chord passing thru bothendpoints of the arc

R Radius

S Start point of arc

uses the end of the last line or arc as thestart point for the arc

AREA Computes the area of any shape byselecting points at the corners of theshape, or by selecting a circle or polyline after typing or picking the "E"option

A sets "Add" mode

S sets "Subtract" mode

E computes area of selected circle or polyline

ARRAY Makes multiple copies of selectedobjects in a rectangular (parallel withthe snap rotation) or circular pattern

R rectangular array type

P "polar" array type in circular pattern, youmust indicate number of items and angleto fill, and whether the objects get rotatedwith the angle

C "circular" array type in a circular pattern,you must indicate angle between items,angle to fill, and whether objects getrotated with the angle


2/40

ATTDEF Creates an attribute definition entityfor textual information to beassociated with a block definition

I Controls attribute visibility

C Controls Constant/variable mode

V Controls verify mode

P Controls preset mode

ATTDISP Controls the visibility of attributeentities on a global basis

can be transparent ON Makes all attributes visible

OFF Makes all attributes invisible

N Visibility of attributes setindividually

ATTEDIT Permits editing of attributes

ATTEXT Extracts attribute data from drawings C CDF comma delimited format extract

D DXF format extract

S SDF format extract

E Extracts attributes from selected entities

AUDIT Invokes drawing integrity audit Y Fixes errors encountered

N Reports, but does not fix errorsencountered

BASE Specifies origin of current drawing for subsequent insertion into another drawing -- is normally set to point0,0,0

can be transparent

BHATCH Fills an automatically definedboundary with a hatch pattern throughthe use of dialogue boxes. Alsoallows previewing and replacingadjustments without starting over each time.

BLIPMODE Controls display of marker blips for point selection

can be transparent ON Enables temporary marker blips

OFF Disables temporary marker blips

BLOCK Forms a single compound entity froma group of entities within the currentdrawing

? Lists names of already-defined blocks inthe current drawing


3/40

BPOLY Creates a closed polyline of aboundary by picking an open areawithin a area enclosed by lines, arcsor circles.

BREAK Erases part of a line, arc or circle, or splits it into two lines or arcs

F allows respecification of first point

CHAMFER Creates a chamfer (a angled lineconnection) at the intersection of twolines

D Sets chamfer distances

P Chamfers an entire polyline

CHANGE A multifunctioning command whichcan be used to alter the following:

1. location of individualendpoints of lines

2. radius of a circle

3. properties: layer, elevation,thickness, color and linetypeof lines, polylines, arcs andcircles

4. style, font, size, location,rotation, and wording of textentities

P Changes properties of objects

C Color

E Elevation

LA Layer

LT Linetype

T Thickness

CHPROP Modifies properties of selectedobjects: layer, thickness, color andlinetype -- but not elevation

C Color

LA Layer

LT Linetype

T Thickness

CIRCLE

or

C

Draws a circle of any size. The defaultmethod is to pick a center point andpick a point on the radius or type theradius dimension, but other methodscan be selected.

2P Specifies circle by picking 2 points onthe diameter

3P Specifies circle by picking 3 pointsthrough which the circle will pass

D Allows entering the diameter dimensioninstead of radius dimension

TTR Specifies circle by pickingtwo lines, arcs or circles for thecircle to be tangent to, andentering the dimension of theradius


4/40

Enters radius of circle (thedefault)

COLOR

or COLOUR

Sets the current color for subsequently drawn objects (objectsdrawn after the command is invoked).The default current color is a so-called "logical" color called"BYLAYER" which means that thecolor of the object drawn will be thecolor which the current layer has beenset to.

can be transparent sets currentcolor to color number entered

sets currentcolor to color nameentered

BYBLOCK sets floatingentity color

BYLAYER sets currentcolor to whatever color is

assigned to the currentlayer

COMPILE Compiles shape and font files Morethan likely, you will never use thiscommand, unless you are creatingyour own letter design or are creating"shapes" to be used as commonlyused symbols in the drawing. Theseare not typically used in architecturaldrawings

CONFIG Displays options to allow you toreconfigure the video display,digitizer, plotter, and operatingparameters.

You should not have to use thiscommand, since the configuration of your system has already been doneand you will have no need to changeit.

COPY

or

CP

Draws a copy of selected objectsusing two methods -- "base point"method, or "displacement" method.

M Allows multiple copies to bemade of an object

DBLIST Lists database information for everyentity in the drawing

DDATTDEF Displays a dialogue box that allowscreation of an attribute definition for

I Controls attribute visibility


5/40

textual information to be associatedwith a block definition C Controls Constant/variable

mode

V Controls verify mode

P Controls preset mode

DDATTE Allows attribute editing via a dialoguebox

DDATTEXT Displays a dialogue box that extractsdata from a drawing.

C CDF comma delimited formatextract

D DXF format extract

S SDF format extract

E Extracts attributes fromselected entities

DDCHPROP Displays a dialogue box that modifiesthe color, layer, linetype, andthickness of selected objects

C Color

LA Layer

LT Linetype

T Thickness

DDEDIT Allows text and attribute definitionediting

Undo Undoes edit toreturn to the previousvalue

DDEMODES Sets current entity properties (layer,linetype, elevation, thickness, and textstyle) via a dialogue box

can be transparent

DDGRIPS Allows you to enable grips and settheir colors and size via a dialoguebox

can be transparent

DDIM Controls dimensioning variablesthrough a series of dialogue boxes

can be transparent

DDINSERT Allows you to insert a previouslymade block or file into the currentdrawing, select X- and Y- scalefactors, rotation angle, pre-explodethe block, and select the insertionpoint, through a dialogue box


6/40

DDLMODES Sets layer properties and allows youto set the current layer, create a newlayer, freeze and thaw layers, freezeand thaw layers in the currentviewport, assign or reassign colorsand linetypes to layers, through adialogue box

can be transparent

DDOSNAP Allows you to set running OSNAPSand set the size of the target boxaperture through a dialogue box.

can be transparent

DDRMODES Allows you to set drawing aidsvariables through a dialogue box

can be transparent

DDRENAME Allows you to rename layers, textstyles, linetypes, blocks, views, User Coordinate Systems, viewportconfigurations, and dimension styles

DDSELECT Allows you to set entity selectionmodes, size of the pickbox, and entitysort method through a dialogue box

can be transparent

DDUCS Allows you to save the current User Coordinate System and give it aname for future retrieval, or to select aUCS that is already saved

DDUNITS Allows you to set the unit type(Architectural or Decimal), angledisplay format (degrees-minutes-seconds, or decimal degrees), andprecision of the units,

can be transparent

DELAY This command is used with SCRIPTfiles. It will delay the execution of thenext command for the time inmilliseconds specified after theDELAY command.

can be transparent

DIM Takes you out of the drawing editor and into the semi-automaticdimensioning program built into

AutoCAD. Will display a Dim: prompton the command prompt line. To getback to the drawing editor andthe Command: prompt, type the key.

DIM1 Same as above, but only allows onedimensioning command to be used,and then takes you automatically


7/40

back to the drawing editor and theCommand: prompt.

DIM

ALIGNED

Dimensioning sub-command:

Draws a linear dimension withthe dimension line parallel to theselected dimension origin points.This lets you align a dimensionwith an angled line that is noteither exactly horizontal orvertical.

DIM

ANGULAR


Draws an arc and calculates theangle between two non-parallellines, and draws the text andarrowheads. Arrowheads are thestandard AutoCAD filledtriangles, regardless of yourdefined Arrow Block.

DIM

BASELINE


Continues a linear dimensionfrom the baseline (the so-called"first extension line") of theprevious or selected dimension.This is not frequently used inarchitectural dimensions. Thespacing between each dimensionline is controlled by theAutoCAD variable DIMDLI("Dimension Line Increment"),which you should set at 0normally, but if you use thebaseline command, you shouldreset to 1/8".

DIM

CENTER


Draws a pair of crossed lines atthe center of a circle or arc onthe current layer

DIM Dimensioning sub-command:


8/40

CONTINUE Continues a linear dimensionfrom the second extension line of the previous or selecteddimension. It is used to create aso-called "string" of dimensions.This is used quite a bit inarchitectural drawings.

DIM

DIAMETER


Draws a dimension through thecenter of a circle or arc,calculating the diameter, withone of the arrow heads locatedat the point on the circle or arc

which is picked. DIM

EXIT


E xits the dimensioning programand returns from the Dim:prompt to the normalCommand: prompt

DIM

HOMETEXT


R estores the text of anassociative dimension to itsdefault (home) location if youhave moved it.

DIM

HORIZONTAL


Draws a horizontal lineardimension line

DIM

LEADER


Draws an a line or series of lineswith an arrow head (commonlycalled a "leader") to point to anobject to notate it. Thiscommand will also prompt youfor the note at the end of theleader line, but it will allow only


9/40

one line of text. The most usefulmethod of using this command isto simply draw leaders betweenthe object to be notated and textthat you create with the DT EX Tcommand.

DIM

NEWTEXT


P ermits changing text of anassociative dimension withoutexploding it. However, once thetext has been changed, thedimension will no longer beassociative.

DIM OBLIQUE

Dimensioning sub-command: Adjusts the obliquing angle of alinear associative dimensionsextension lines. Useful indimensioning isometricdrawings.

DIM

ORDINATE


Draws the X and Y coordinateswithin a box with a leader lineattached to the point, for aselected point. Automaticallycalculates the coordinates.

DIM

OVERRIDE


O verrides the dimensionvariable settings on a selecteddimension.

DIM

RADIUS


Draws the radius dimension of an arc or circle from the centerto the point on its locus wherethe arc or circle was selected.

DIM Dimensioning sub-command:


10/40

REDRAW R edraws the viewport, just likethe regular RE DR AWcommand.

DIM

RESTORE


Makes a dimension style current

DIM

ROTATE


Draws a linear dimension withthe distance measured originpoints, but with the actualdimension line set at a differentangle.

DIM

SAVE


S aves the currently setdimension variables under adimension style name for futureretrieval through the RE S T O RE command.

DIM

STATUS


Lists all dimension variableswith their current status.

DIM

STYLE


S witches to a new Text S tyle forall future dimensions.

DIM

TEDIT


Allows moving text in associativedimensions without having to

explode the dimensions. DIM

TROTATE


Allows rotation of the text of several associative dimensions atonce.


11/40

DIM

UNDO


Undoes any changes made by themost recent dimensioningcommand.

DIM

UPDATE


Changes selected associativedimensions to use the currentdimension variables, the currenttext style, and the current unitssetting.

DIM

VARIABLES


Lists the settings of dimensionvariables associated with aparticular dimension style.

DIM

VERTICAL


Draws a vertical lineardimension line

DIST Finds distance between two points can be transparent

DIVIDE Places points along a line, polyline,arc, or circle, dividing it into thespecified number of equal parts

B Uses a specified Block to divide

the object instead of a point

DONUT

or DOUGHNUT

Draws filled rings with specified insideand outside diameters

DRAGMODE Allows control of dynamic draggingfeature for copy and move commands

can be transparent ON Makes dragging of objectvisible

OFF Disables visual dragging

A Auto mode -- enables draggingwhen possible

DTEXT Draws text "Dynamically" so that asyou enter text letters or numbers, theyare visible on the screen

J Prompts for Justification options

S Allows you to select text stylesthat are already created


12/40

A Aligns text between two points,with style-specified width factor,

AutoCAD adjusts height to keepletter proportion as designated inthe style.

C Centers text horizontally

F Fits text between two points,with a specified height, AutoCADadjusts width of letters to fit

M Centers text horizontally andvertically

R Right-justifies text

BL Bottom-left justification

BC Bottom-center justification

BR Bottom-right justification

ML Middle-left justification

MC Middle-center justification

MR Middle-right justification

TL Top-left justification

TC Top-center justification

TR Top right justification

DVIEW Allows perspective viewing of drawing CA Sets CAmera angle relative tothe Target

T Sub-option, togglesbetween angle in the X-Yplane, and angle from theX-Y plane

CL Sets Front and Back CLippingplanes

D Sets Camera to Target distanceand turns on Perspective viewing

H Removes hidden lines on theselection set

OFF Turns Perspective viewing


13/40

off

PA PAns drawing across thescreen

PO Allows specification of Camera and Target points

TA Rotates the TArget pointabout the Camera

T Sub-option, togglesbetween angle in the X-Yplane, and angle from theX-Y plane

TW Twists the view around theline of sight

U Undoes a DVIEW sub-command

X Exits the DVIEW command

Z Sets lens length

DXBIN Inserts specially coded binary filesinto the drawing

DXFIN Loads a drawing interchange file(DXF file) to be able to read a drawingfile created by another CAD program

DXFOUT Writes a drawing interchange file(DXF file) to be able to use an

AutoCAD drawing in another CADprogram

B Writes binary DXF file

E Outputs selected entities only

(0-16) Floating pointprecision

EDGESURF Constructs a 3d Polygon meshapproximating a Coons surface patchinterpolated between 4 adjoiningedges

ELEV Sets Elevation (distance above theground plane) and Thickness(extruded distance from the bottom of an object to the top) for subsequentlydrawn entities

ELLIPSE Draws ellipses C Allows specification of Center point of ellipse rather than first


14/40

axis endpoint

R Allows specification of eccentricity rotation rather thanlength of second axis

I Draws Isometric circle in currentisoplane

END Saves the drawing and exits AutoCAD back to DOS or WINDOWS

ERASE

or

E

Erases selected entities from thedrawing

EXPLODE Separates a block, dimension or hatch pattern into its constituententities or makes a polyline into aseries of straight lines. In the case of a block that is exploded, if it wasoriginally drawn on the 0 layer, itreturns to that layer, regardless of thelayer it was inserted on, and it losesits referential connection to theoriginal block. In the case of adimension or hatch pattern that hasbeen exploded, their parts go back tothe 0 layer, and are assigned the

logical color (BYBLOCK) regardlessof the layer they were drawn on. Inthe case of an exploded polyline, itloses any width it may have had.

EXTEND Lengthens a line, arc, or polyline tomeet a specified "boundary edge"

U Undoes effect of last Extendcommand

FILES Allows DOS disk and file utility tasksto be done through a dialogue box

can be transparent

FILL Controls whether solids, traces, widepolylines, and donuts will be filled withink. Note that fill is only visible whenviewing these entities in plan(perpendicular to line of sight)

can be transparent ON entities visually filled withsolid ink

OFF entities not visually filled butare shown in outline only

FILLET Constructs an arc of specified radiusbetween two lines, arcs, circles, or willcreate arcs of the specified radius at

P Fillets an entire Polyline at thevertices


15/40

the vertices of a polyline. Radius of the arc to be constructed may be setto 0, which will make a sharp corner

R Allows setting of the filletradius. Default value is 0. Radiusremains set until changed again

FILMROLL Generates a file for rendering by AutoShade, a separate program

GRAPHSCR A "toggle." Flips the display on single-screen systems (most of them) fromtext-screen to graphics-screen, andvice-versa.

can be transparent

GRID Displays a rectangular grid of whitedots on the screen at a specified X-and Y- spacing

can be transparent ON Turns grid display on

OFF Turns grid display off

S Locks grid spacing to SNAPresolution

A Sets grid aspect (different X-and Y- spacings

Setsgrid spacing for both X- and Y-coordinates

Setsgrid spacing tomultiple "X" of snap spacing

HANDLES Assigns a unique, permanent number to each entity of the drawing

ON Enables Handles DESTROY Discards allentity Handles

HATCH Allows drawing of cross-hatching andpattern filling

uses hatchpattern name from library file to filldesignated area with a pseudo-block hatch entity -- can bereduced to individual lines andpoints by EXPLODEing it.

uses hatchpattern name from library file to filldesignated area with individuallines and points, not a block

U "User-defined" hatch patterndrawn of parallel lines with a


16/40

specified distance between, at aspecified angle, and either single-hatching or double (cross)-hatching

? Lists names of available hatchpatterns

or U can befollowed by a comma and thefollowing sub-commands:

I Ignores any boundariesinside the outermostboundary

N Normal style of selecting boundaries with

alternating hatched andunhatched nested areas

O Hatches outermostboundary area only

HELP

or

?

Displays a list of all valid commandsand data entry options, or obtainshelp for a specific command or prompt

can be transparent

if invoked while another command is in process, itwill assume that you want help on that command

HIDE Regenerates a 3d visual image of thedrawing with hidden lines removed

ID Displays the X,Y, and Z coordinatesof a point selected

can be transparent

IGESIN Loads an IGES interchange file

IGESOUT Writes an IGES interchange file

INSERT Inserts a previously created block or drawing file into the current drawing

Inserts afilename from the defaultdirectory into the current

drawing, assuming thatthere is no block by thatname in the currentdrawing

=Creates a block in thecurrent drawing with the


17/40

same name as the file

Inserts a blockin its constituent entitiesrather than as a block --also called a "Star Block"or Pre-exploded block

C Reply to X scale prompt --allows scale to be specified bytwo points (Corner specification of scale)

XYZ Reply to X scale prompt --allows specification of X, Y, and Zscales

~ Displays a file dialogue box

? Lists names of defined blockswithin the current drawing

ISOPLANE Selects the plane of an isometric gridto be the current plane for anorthogonal drawing

can be transparent L Left plane

R Right plane

T Top plane

Toggle to nextplane in series, Left,Right, and Top

LAYER

or

LA

Creates named drawing layers,assigns color and linetype propertiesto those layers, allows layers to befrozen and thawed, locked andunlocked, and allows current layer tobe set

can be transparent C Assigns color to named layer

F Freezes named layers (commaseparates a list of layers to befrozen, * can be used as awildcard) -- current layer cannotbe frozen

L Assigns linetype to named layer

LO Locks named layer

M Makes a layer -- creates a newlayer and makes it the currentlayer

N Creates new layers with namednames (comma separates a list of


18/40

layers to be created, * can beused as a wildcard)

ON Turns named layers on if theywere turned off (commaseparates a list of layers to beturned on, * can be used as awildcard)

OFF Turns named layers off if they were turned on (commaseparates a list of layers to beturned off, * can be used as awildcard)

LAYER

or

LA

(Continued)

S Sets named layer as the currentlayer

T Thaws named layers which arefrozen (comma separates a list of layers to be frozen, * can be usedas a wildcard)

U Unlocks named layer

? Gives information about namedlayers, * can be used as awildcard

LIMITS Changes the imaginary boundaries of the drawing, and controls whether

drawing can be made outside of theboundaries. If Limit-checking is ON,drawing cannot be done outside of limits.

can be transparent Sets lower-left

and upper -right drawinglimits

ON Enables limit-checking

OFF Disables limit-checking

LINE

or

L

Draws straight lines In reply to Fr omPoint : prompt, line beginsat end of previous line or arc

C In reply to T o point: prompt,closes the polygon back to first"From Point"

U In reply to T o point: prompt,undoes last line segment

LINETYPE A linetype is a series of lines andspaces -- dots and dashes --

Sets the current linetype to be used

can be transparent ? Lists a linetype library , or named linetypes which are loaded


19/40

for all subsequent entities to bedrawn, allows creation of new linetypedefinitions, and allows loading of previously created linetypes fromDOS files

C Creates a linetype definition

L Loads a previously creatredlinetype definition

S Set current linetype -- note thatthe current linetype should alwaysbe set to the logical linetype"BYLAYER"

LIST Lists all information about selectedobject, such as what type of entity it is(Line, Arc, Circle, Block, etc.), whatlayer it is on, what color it is, thelocation of its endpoints, what its Z-axis (elevation), what its thickness is,etc.

LOAD Loads a file of user-defined shapes tobe used with the Shape command

? Lists the names of loadedShape files

LTSCALE Sets scale factor to be applied to alllinetypes within the drawing

can be transparent

MEASURE Places points (or, optionally, Blocks)at intervals along a selected line,polyline, arc or circle. The intervaldistance is given by the user. If pointsare used as the marker to be placedalong the entity, they are not visible

unless the Point type is set to type 3with the PDMODE command.

B specifies that a defined Block isto be used as a marker instead of a point.

MENU Loads a Menu file into the menuareas (Screen, pull-down, tablet, andbutton)

MINSERT Inserts multiple copies of a Block in arectangular pattern (word stands for "Multiple Insert." The entire arraycreated then becomes a Block.

fname Loads fname andforms a rectangular arrayof the resulting Block

fname=f Creates Blockfname from file f andforms a rectangular array

? Lists names of defined Blockswithin the drawing

C (as a reply to X scale prompt)specifies scale via two selectedpoints ("Corner" specification of


20/40

scale)

XYZ (as a reply to X scaleprompt) readies Minsert for X, Y,and Z scales)

- displays a file dialogue box

MIRROR Reflects designated entities about auser-specified axis

MOVE

or

M

Moves designated entities to another location

MSLIDE Makes a slide from the currentdisplay. Slide shows the drawing only,and not the UCSICON, the Toolbar,the Aerial View or menus.

MSPACE Switches to Model Space

MULTIPLE Causes the next command to repeatuntil cancelled

MVIEW Creates and controls Viewports ON Turns selectedViewports on and causesthe Model to beregenerated in theselected Viewports.

OFF Turns selectedViewports off and causesModel to be not displayedin the selected Viewports.

Hideplot Causes hiddenlines to be removed inselected Viewports duringPaper Space plotting.

Fit Creates a singleViewport to fit the currentPaper Space view

2 Creates 2 Viewports inspecified area or fit to thecurrent Paper Spaceview.


21/40



Restore Translatesviewport configurationssaved with the VPORTScommand into individualViewport entities in Paper Space.

Creates anew Viewport within thearea specified by 2points.

Sub-options to the "2" Option: Horizontal Creates ahorizontal divisionbetween the 2 newViewports

Vertical Creates a verticaldivision between the 2new Viewports.

Sub-options to the "3" Option: Above Specifiesplacement of larger Viewport above the other 2

Below Specifiesplacement of larger Viewport below the other 2

Horizontal Splits area into

thirds horizontally Left Specifies placementof larger Viewport to theleft of the other 2

Right Specifies placement of thelarger Viewport to the right of theother 2


22/40

Vertical Splits area into thirdsvertically

NEW Creates a new drawing. Whenselected from a menu or typed in atthe Command: prompt, this commandbrings up a dialogue box which allowssetting a name for the new drawing bytyping the name in the box, selectionof a "prototype" drawing or typing aname of the new drawing and then an= sign and then the name of adrawing to be used as a prototype.

OFFSET Creates a new line, polyline arc or circle parallel to the entity and at aspecified distance from it.

specifies offsetdistance

T "Through" allowsspecification of a pointthrough which the offsetline, polyline, arc or circleis to pass

OOPS restores erased entities, or entitiesmade into a Block

OPEN Opens an existing drawing

ORTHO Constrains drawing so that only linesaligned with the grid can be drawn --

usually means only horizontal or vertical lines, however, if thecrosshairs are rotated through the"Snap" "Rotate" command sequence,the lines drawn are constrained tobeing parallel with the crosshair rotation. Constraint can be overriddenby snapping to a point or by enteringexact coordinates for endpoints.

can be transparent

OSNAP Enables points to be precisely locatedon reference points of existingobjects. This is the so-called

"Running Mode" of OSNAP, whichsets selection method to runcontinuously until set to NON (none)or until overridden by selectinganother "Interrupt Mode" OSNAPmethod from the cursor menu.Combinations of OSNAP methodscan be used by selecting a series of options separated by commas. For

can be transparent CEN CENter of arc or circle

END closest ENDpoint of arc or line

INS INSertion point of Text or Block

INT INTersection of line,


23/40

instance, if you want ot always pickeither endpoints or intersection pointswhen locating endpoints of lines, youwould issue the command as follows:

OSNA P EN D,INT

arc, or circle

MID MIDpoint of line, arc,rectangle side, or polygonside

NEA NEArest pointselected by aperture online, polyline, arc, or circle

NOD NODe (another name for a Point)

NON NONe -- used whena "Running OSNAP" is onto temporarily turn off OSNAP selection

PER PERpendicular pointto line, arc or circle --when used with an arc or circle it will draw a line tothe surface of the arc or circle heading toward thecenter point

QUA QUAdrant point of arc or circle (top, bottom,right or left side)

QUI QUIck mode -- this is

a modifier to one of theother OSNAP options -- itwill find the first point thatmeets the requirements,not necessarily theclosest point to theaperture.

TAN TANgent point to arcor circle

PAN Moves the display window withoutchanging the magnification factor

can be transparent

PEDIT Allows editing of polylines which arealready drawn

C Closes an open polyline

D Decurves, or returns a Splinecurve to its control frame or seriesof connected straight lines


24/40

E Edit vertices

F Fits curve to a polyline -- makesa series of straight lines into acurve which will pass through thevertices

J Joins a line or arc or another polyline to an open polyline

L Toggles linetype generation tobe either a continuous pattern of dashes passing through thevertices, or a pattern which startsand ends at each vertex

O Opens a closed polyline

S Uses the polyline vertices as aframe for a Spline Curve -- type of Spline Curve is set by theVariable "Splinetype."

U Undoes one editing operation

W Sets a uniform width for thePolyline

PEDIT(Continued)

Vertex Editing Options: B Sets first vertex for Break

G "Go" -- performs a Break or Straighten operation

I Inserts a new vertex after current one

M Moves current vertex

N Makes the Next vertex current

P Makes the Previous vertexcurrent

R Regenerates the Polyline

S Sets first vertex for Straighten

T Sets tangent direction for current vertex


25/40

W Sets new width for thefollowing segment

X Exits vertex editing, or cancelsBreak and Straighten

PEDIT Mesh Allows editing of Meshes which arealready drawn

D De-smooth -- restores originalmesh

E Edits mesh vertices

M Opens (or closes) the mesh inthe M direction

N Opens (or closes) the mesh inthe N direction

S Fits a smooth surface asdefined by the VariableSURFTYPE

U Undoes one editing operation

X Exits Pedit command

Vertex Editing Options: D Makes previous vertex Down inM direction current

L Makes previous vertex to Left in

N direction current

M Moves the marked vertex

N Makes the Next vertex current

P Makes the Previous vertexcurrent

R Makes next vertex to Right in Ndirection current

RE Redisplays the polygon mesh

U Makes the next vertex Up in Mdirection current

X Exits vertex editing

PFACE Creates a 3D mesh of arbitrarycomplexity and surface characteristics


26/40

PLAN Puts the display in "Plan" view, withVpoint set to 0,0,1, relative to either the current UCS, a specified UCS, or the World Coordinate System

C Establishes the Plan view of theCurrent UCS

U Establishes the Plan view of aspecified UCS

W Establishes the Plan view of the World Coordinate System

PLINE Draws a 2D polyline, which areconnected line or arc segments withuser-determined width and taper

H sets the half-width of thepolyline segments

U Undoes previous segment

W sets the width of polylinesegments

Exits the Plinecommand The following options are available only as long as

you are drawing in Line mode: A Switches to the Arc mode toallow integration of arcs into thepolyline

C Closes the polyline with straightsegment

L Segment length (continuesprevious segment)

The following options are available only as long asyou are in the Arc mode:

A Included angle

CE Center Point

CL Closes with arc segment

D Starting direction

L Chord length, or switches to linemode

R Radius

S Second point of 3-point arc

PLOT Plots a drawing to a plotting device, aprinter, or to a "Plot File."


27/40

POINT Draws single points. Appearance of the points is set by the VariablePDMODE

POLYGON Draws regular polygons with aspecified number of sides. Polygonsare Polyline entities.

E Specifies size and rotation of polygon by picking endpoints of one edge

C Circumscribes polygon arounda circle

I Inscribes polygon within a circle

PSDRAG Controls the appearance of animported Postscript image that isbeing "dragged" (that is, positionedand scaled) into place by the PSINcommand

0 Only the images bounding boxis displayed as you drag it intoplace

1 The complete rendered

PostScript image is displayed asyou drag it into place

PSFILL Fills 2D Polyline outlines withPostScript fill patterns defined in the

ACAD.PSF file

. Entering a period results in no fillpattern

? Lists the fill patterns defined in ACAD.PSF file

PSIN Imports Encapsulated PostScript(EPS) files

PSOUT Exports the current view of your drawing to an EncapsulatedPostScript (EPS) file

PSPACE Switches to Paper Space -- this willwork only if the Variable TILEMODEis set to 0.

PURGE Removes unused Blocks, Text Styles,Layers, Linetypes, and DimensionStyles from current drawing

A Purges All unused namedobjects

B Purges unused Blocks

D Purges unused Dimstyles LA Purges unused LAyers

LT Purges unused Linetypes

SH Purges unused Shape files


28/40

ST Purges unused Text Styles

QSAVE Saves the current drawing "Quickly"without requesting a filename (as longas file has already been given aname)

QTEXT Controls display of text -- commandstands for "QuickTEXT"

ON Lines of textdisplayed as rectangles

OFF Lines of text displayed astext

QUIT Exits AutoCAD -- if the currentdrawing has not been Saveds in itscurrent state, a dialogue box willappear asking if you want to Save thedrawing, Discard the changes, or Cancel the Exit command

RECOVER Attempts to recover damaged or corrupted drawings

REDEFINE Restores a built-in command whichmay have been deleted by thecommand UNDEFINE

REDO Reverses a previous command if itwas U or UNDO

REDRAW Refreshed or cleans up the currentViewport

can be transparent

REDRAWALL Redraws all viewports can be transparent

REGEN Regenerates the current Viewport byrecalculating the vector locations of allendpoints

REGENALL Regenerates all Viewports

REGENAUTO Controls automatic regenerationperformed by other commands

can be transparent ON Allows automatic regens

OFF Prevents automatic regens

REINIT Allows the I/O ports, the digitizer, thedisplay, the plotter, and the

ACAD.PGP file to be reinitialized.This command allows selection of what you want to reinitialize through adialogue box. It is most useful whenyou make changes "on the fly" to the


29/40

ACAD.PGP file and want toimmediately make use of thosechanges without having to exit

AutoCAD and get back into it.

RENAME Changes the names associated withText Styles, Layers, Linetypes,Blocks, Views, User CoordinateSystems, Viewport Configurations,and Dimension Styles.

B Renames Blocks

D Renames Dimension Styles

LA Renames Layers

LT Renames Linetypes

S Renames Text Styles

U Renames UCS

VI Renames Views

VP Renames Viewports

RESUME Resumes an interrupted commandscript

can be transparent

REVSURF Creates a 3D polygon meshapproximating a surface of revolution,by rotating a curve around a selectedaxis

ROTATE Rotates existing objects parallel to thecurrent UCS

RSCRIPT Restarts a command script from thebeginning

SAVE Requests a filename and saves thedrawing

SAVEAS Same as SAVE, but also renames thecurrent drawing and keeps the newname current

SCALE Alters the size of existing objects R Resizes with respect to areference size

SCRIPT Runs a command script. A script is aan ASCII file which contains variouscommands that when executedoperates just as if you typed in thosecommands, one by one, by hand

can be transparent


30/40

SELECT Groups objects into selection sets for use in subsequent commands

SETVAR Allows you to display or change thesetting of system variables. Thiscommand is no longer necessary tochange the value of system variables.You now can type in the name of thevariable to change it.

can be transparent ? Lists specified (or all) systemvariables and their settings

SH Short for "SHell." Allows access tointernal operating system (DOS)commands. Once SH is invoked,followed by two s, the DOSPrompt will be displayed, so you canenter any DOS command. To getback to AutoCAD, simply type EXIT atthe DOS prompt.

SHADE Shades 3D model in current ModelSpace Viewport

SHAPE Draws predefined Shapes ? Lists available Shape names

SHELL Allows access to internal operatingsystem (DOS) commands. Once SHis invoked, followed by two s,the DOS Prompt will be displayed, soyou can enter any DOS command. Toget back to AutoCAD, simply typeEXIT at the DOS prompt.

SKETCH Permits freehand sketching simulation C Connect: restarts SKETCH atendpoint

E Erases (backs up over)temporary lines

P Raises/lowers sketching pen

Q Discards temporary lines,remains in SKETCH

R Records temporary lines,remains in SKETCH

X Records temporary lines, exitsSKETCH

. Draws line to current point

SNAP Specified a round-off interval for point can be transparent


31/40

entry so that entities can be placed atprecise locations

sets snapalignment resolution

ON aligns designatedpoints

OFF does not align designatgedpoints

A sets aspect ratio(differing X and Yspacing)

R Rotates the snap gridand crosshairs, and turnson SNAP after, if notalready turned on

S Selects either Standard

(rectangular) or IsometricSnap grid

SOLID Draws filled polygons. Fill can beturned ON or OFF with the FILLcommand

STATUS Displays drawing statistics and modeson the Text Screen

can be transparent

STRETCH Allows moving a portion of a drawingwhile retaining their connections toother parts of the drawing. You

cannot stretch Blocks, Hatch patterns,or Text entities, however.

STYLE Creates named Text styles, with user-selected combinations of font, height,mirroring, obliging, and horizontalscaling.

can be transparent ? Lists specified (or all) currentlydefined text styles

TABLET Aligns the digitizing tablet withcoordinates of a paper drawing toaccurately copy it with AutoCAD

ON Turns Tablet Mode ON (but ithas to be CALibrated first)

OFF Turns Tablet Mode OFF

CAL Calibrates Tablet for use --sets the distance to be used tocopy the drawing to an accuratescale

CFG Configures tablet menusand pointing area


32/40

TABSURF Creates a polygon meshapproximating a general tabulatedsurface defined by a path and adirection vector

TEXT Draws text characters of any size withselected styles

J Prompts for justification options

S Lists or selects text style

A Aligns text between two points,with style-specified width factor,

AutoCAD computes approximateheight proportional to length of text line

C Centers text horizontally abouta defined point

F Fits text between two points,with specified height, AutoCADcomputes approximate widthfactor to fill the distance betweenthe two points

M Centers text horizontally andvertically about a defined point

R Right-justifies text

BL Bottom Left justification

BC Bottom Center justification

BR Bottom Right justification

ML Middle Left justification

MC Middle Center justification

MR Middle Right justification

TL Top Left justification

TC Top Center justification

TR Top Right justification

TEXTSCR A "toggle." Flips the display on single-screen systems (most of them) fromtext-screen to graphics-screen, andvice-versa.

can be transparent


33/40

TIME Displays drawing creation and updatetimes, and permits control of anelapsed timer.

can be transparent D Displays current times

ON Starts user elapsed timer

OFF Stops user elapsed timer

R Resets user elapsed timer

TRACE Draws solid filled lines of specifiedwidth. Has mostly been supersededby the PLINE command.

TREESTAT Displays information on the drawing'scurrent spatial index, such as thenumber and depth of nodes in thedrawing database.

TRIM Erases a portion of selected entitiesthat cross a specified "cutting edge" U Undoes last trim operation

U Reverses the effect of the previouscommand

UCS Defines or modifies the current User Coordinate System

D ("Delete") Deletes one or moresaved coordinate systems

E ("Entity") Sets a UCS with thesame extrusion direction as thatof the selected entity

O ("Origin") Shifts the origin of thecurrent coordinate system

P ("Previous") Restores thePrevious UCS

R ("Restore") Restores apreviously saved UCS

S ("Save") Saves the current UCS

V ("View") Establishes a newUCS whose Z-axis is parallel tothe current viewing direction

W ("World") Sets the current UCSto the World Coordinate System

X Rotates the current UCS


34/40

around the X-axis

Y Rotates the current UCSaround the Y-axis

Z Rotates the current UCSaround the Z-axis

ZA Defines a UCS using an originpoint and a point on the positiveportion of the Z-axis

3 Defines a UCS using an originpoint, a point on the positiveportion of the X-axis, and a pointon the positive Y-portion of theXY plane

? Lists specified saved coordinatesystems

UCSICON Controls visibility and placement of the User Coordinate System Icon,which graphically indicates the originand orientation of the current UCS.The options normally affect only thecurrent viewport.

A Changes settings of all activeviewports

N ("NoOrigin") Displays theUCSICON at the lower-left corner of the viewport (i.e., not at theOrigin)

OR ("ORigin") Displays theUCSICON at the origin of thecurrent UCS, if possible (if theorigin point is not within thecurrent viewport, the location of the UCSICON defaults to thelower-left corner of the viewport)

OFF Turns the UCSICON off

ON Turns the UCSICON on

UNDEFINE Deletes the definition of a built-in AutoCAD command

UNDO Reverses the effect of multiplecommands, and provides control over the "Undo" facility

Undoes the of most recentcommands in reverseorder

A ("Auto") Controls treatment of menu items as UNDO "Groups"

B ("Back") Undoes back to


35/40

previous UNDO "Mark"

C ("Control") Enables/disables theUNDO feature

E ("End") Terminates an UNDOGroup (a sequence to be treatedas one command)

G ("Group") Begins an UNDOGroup (a sequence to be treatedas one command)

M ("Mark") Places "marker" inUNDO file (for use with "Back")

Control Sub-Options All Enables the full UNDO

feature None Disables U andUNDO entirely, anddiscards any previousUNDO information savedearlier in the editingsession

One Limits U and UNDOto a single operation

UNITS Selects coordinate and angle displayformats and precision

can be transparent

VIEW Saves the current graphic display andspace as a named view, or restores asaved view and space to the display

can be transparent D Deletes a named view

R Restores named view to screen

S Saves current display asnamed view

W Saves specified Window asnamed view

? Lists specified named views

VIEWPORTS

or

VPORTS

Used in Model Space only, and hasbeen superseded by Paper SpaceVports, created with the MVIEWcommand. Divides the AutoCADgraphics display into multipleviewports, each of which can contain

D Deletes a saved viewportconfiguration

J Joins (merges) two viewports


36/40

a different view of the current drawing(maximum of 4 "tiled" viewports per viewport)

R Restores a saved viewportconfiguration

S Saves the current viewportconfiguration

SI ("SIngle") Displays a SIngleviewport filling the entire graphicsarea

2 Divides the current viewport into2 viewports



? Lists the current and savedviewport configurations

VIEWRES Allows you to control the precisionand speed of circle and arc drawingon the monitor by specifying thenumber of sides in a circle. Acts likean AutoCAD variable. Recommendthat it be set to 2000.

VPLAYER Sets viewport visibility for new andexisting layers

? Lists layers frozen in a selectedviewport

F ("Freeze") Freezes specifiedlayers in selected viewports

T ("Thaw") Thaws specified layersin selected viewports

R ("Reset") Resets specifiedlayers to their default visibility

N ("Newfrz") Creates new layersthat are frozen in all viewports

V ("Vpvisdflt") Sets the defaultviewport visibility for existinglayers

VPOINT Selects the viewpoint for a 3Dvisualization

R Selects viewpoint viatwo rotation angles

Selects viewpoint


37/40

via a graphic compassand axis tripod whichappears on the screen

Specifies x, y,and z relative coordinatesof viewpoint

VSLIDE Displays a previously created slide file viewsslide with nameof "filename.SLD"

*filenamepreloads slidewhich the nextcommandVSLIDE will view

WBLOCK

Writes selected entities or previouslycreated Block to a drawing file writesspecified entities to"filename.DWG"

= filename.DWG to becreated is same as theentities included in apreviously defined Blockby the same name

* writes entire drawing tothe filename.DWG andpurges all unreferenced

blocks, layers, linetypes,text and dimensioningstyles

writes selectedobjects

XBIND Makes portions of an Xref apermanent part of your drawing

B ("Block") Makes a block in theXref a permanent part of your drawing

D ("Dimstyle") Makes a dimstylein the Xref a permanent part of your drawing

L ("Layer") Makes a layer in theXref a permanent part of your drawing

LT ("LType") Makes a Ltype in theXref a permanent part of your


38/40

drawing

S ("Style") Makes a text style inthe Xref a permanent part of your drawing

XREF Allows you to work with other AutoCAD drawings without addingthem permanently to your drawingand without altering their contents

A ("Attach") "Attaches" a new Xref to the drawing or updates an Xref that is already attached

B ("Bind") Makes an Xref apermanent part of your drawing

D ("Detach") Removes an Xref from your drawing

P ("Path") Allows you to view andedit the filename path (directory

and sub-directory) that AutoCADsearches when loading aparticular Xref

R ("Reload") Updates one or more Xrefs at any time

? Lists Xrefs in your drawing andthe drawing associated with eachone

ZOOM Enlarges or reduces the displaymagnification of the drawing, withoutchanging the actual size of theentities

can be transparent multiplier fromoriginal magnification

multiplier from currentmagnification

multiplier of magnification relative topaper space -- used for plotting to get right plotscale in each viewport

A ("All") fills limits of drawing toscreen

C ("Center") makes picked pointthe center of the screen

D ("Dynamic") makes anadjustible rectangular lens appear on the screen which is capable of


39/40

being made smaller or larger andmoved to different positions over the drawing and once set by theuser, the drawing will quicklyzoom to the location andmagnification set for the lens.This sub-command is no longer useful because all computershave very fast zooms naturallynow.

E ("Extents") makes the farthestedges of the actual visibledrawing fill up the graphics screen

L ("Lower-Left") makes the pointpicked become shoved to thelower-left corner of the graphicsscreen

P ("Previous") zooms back towhatever the last zoom, previousto the current zoom was --

AutoCAD stores about 10 of these, so you can walk backwardin zoom magnification 10 times

V ("Virtual Screen") makes thelargest area available to thegraphics card fill the graphicsscreen -- this varies with thequantity of graphics RAM thatyour graphics card has

W ("Window") asks you to pickthe lower left corner and theupper right corner of a zoomwindow and then fits that windowto the graphics screen

3DFACE Draws flat planes in 3D space witheither 3 corners or 4 corners (3 sidedor 4 sided flat planes). These areused to hide objects behind them inspace to create the illusion of a solidobject. 3DFACEs can also be shadedusing the SHADE command, in whichcase the entire plane takes on thecolor assigned to its edges. Normally(without using the HIDE or SHADEcommands, 3DFACEs aretransparent, which means that objectsbehind them in space are visible

I ("Invisible") this is used by typingin the letter "I" just before pickinga corner point for the 3DFACE,and it will make the edge of the3DFACE drawn from that point tothe next one "Invisible" (that is, itwill not be shown as a line on thedrawing). This is important when

joining several 3DFACEs together to cover a complex, multi-facetedsurface, where you do not wantthe "seams" of the 3DFACEs toshow in the final drawing. The


40/40

through them, and they appear as"wireframes."

visibility of edges of 3DFACEscan further be turned on or off bythe AutoCAD variable"SPLFRAME." When SPLFRAMEis set to 1 ("on"), both edgeswhich have been made "Invisible"as well as normal, visible edgesare shown on the drawing. WhenSPLFRAME is set to 0 ("off"),Invisible edges are not shown.The purpose of sometimeswanting to see invisible edges isthat you may want to move,stretch, or copy the 3DFACE andif its edges are invisible, youcannot select them fopr modification. You can only selecta 3DFACE by picking on a visibleedge.

3DMESH Draws a 3D polygon mesh byspecifying its size, in terms of thenumber of faces in each direction(called M and N directions), and thelocation in 3D space of each vertex(the corner of a face) in the mesh.

3DPOLY Creates a 3D polyline C Closes the polyline back to thefirst point

U Undoes (deletes) the lastsegment entered

Exits 3DPOLYcommand

commands in auto cad

Documents