Introduction to AutoCAD: the Interface

This is the first article of my AutoCAD tutorial series. Since I have Revit and MicroStation tutorial for beginners, then I think, why not writing AutoCAD for beginners too? I know that there are many resources for learning AutoCAD, but I hope this is still useful.

I have posted 12 steps you need to get through to mastering AutoCAD. This AutoCAD tutorial will be based on that article.

The AutoCAD Interface

Let’s start your AutoCAD and get familiar with the AutoCAD interface elements, what they do, and where you can access them. You can see an image at the bottom of this post. You can see where are the interface elements by clicking the next/previous button on the image. If you can’t see the image, you need to install flash player for your browser.

Changing the Workspace

Before we start, I want to make sure we all see the same AutoCAD interface, so if you don’t see the same interface as we see in this image, click the workspace button in your AutoCAD, then select the ‘2D Drafting and Annotation’. Click next button to see how to do it.

AutoCAD Interface Elements

1. Your AutoCAD drawing area. This is where you will drawing your AutoCAD objects.
2. AutoCAD Ribbon. This is where you can access AutoCAD tools and settings.
3. AutoCAD Ribbon has several tabs. Each tab holds AutoCAD tools based on your drawing task. For example, we can use drawing tools and modify tools in home tab. But when we need to add text and dimensions, we need to open the Annotate tab. When we need to insert blocks, we need to move to insert tab.
4. In each tab have several panels. This panels have similar AutoCAD tools inside them.
5. Command Line. We can activate tools and change the tool settings by typing in command line. Command line is also providing information what you should do next.
6. Drafting Settings. While we draw, we need to change some drafting settings. This is where you can change it.
7. The AutoCAD logo. Click it once (do not click it twice, as doing it will end your AutoCAD session).
8. AutoCAD will show you the AutoCAD menu. Some will say ‘application menu’, since the application name is AutoCAD, I prefer to call it AutoCAD menu :) This is where you can access tools related to applications, such as saving files.

You will see more interface elements as we move forward.

About Edwin Prakoso

I work as a Sr. Consultant in PT Cipta Satria Informatika. I've been using AutoCAD since R14 and Revit since Revit Building 9. I occasionally write for AUGIWorld magazine and I am also active in Autodesk discussion forum. I'm a member of Autodesk Expert Elite, an appreciation for individuals who give contributions to the Autodesk community.
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