AutoCAD Tutorial for Beginners (User Interface)

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AutoCAD is a software application which has been developed by Autodesk. AutoCAD helps to enable the users to create, edit and collaborate innovative 2D and 3D designs. AutoCAD software has been widely used by engineers, interior designers, architects, and construction professionals.

This software helps to produce detailed geometric models and technical drawings along with unparallel accuracy and precision. This software also allows for the creation and modification of complex designs more accurately.

Overview of the user interface of AutoCAD

The user interface of AutoCAD helps to provide all the tools that are required to work on a drawing. The user interface of AutoCAD helps to simplify the design workflow of the users as well as enhance their design productivity by enabling the customization options for the interface thus helping to support the design work.

The Ribbon

This tool has been displayed horizontally across the top of the drawing window.

Action Recorder

This tool enables the automation of repetitive drafting and editing with the help of the recording action macros. Users can use most of the user interface elements of the AutoCAD software for creating their action macros. The action recorder can be found in the ribbon tab.

Quick Access Toolbar

From the quick access toolbar of AutoCAD, users can access the New, open, plot, undo, save, and redo options. In addition, users are also able to add commands to the quick access toolbar by using the shortcut menus of commands on the menu browser, ribbon and toolbar.

The Menu Browser

This tool helps to browse all classic drop-down menus that are available in AutoCAD. Users can use the menu browser to browse currently opened documents, recent documents, and commands that are recently executed from the menu browser.

ViewCube

Through this tool, users can display the visual feedback of the current orientation of the design model or can also adjust the viewpoint of the model.

InfoCenter

Through this tool, users can search for information with the help of keywords or phrases. This helps to display the communication centre panel for getting product announcements and updates.

Tool Palettes

This helps to organize, share and place the tools which has been dragged from drawing into a tool palette. Users are able to organize the tool palette into groups.

Status Bar

This helps to view the coordinate values for the cursor as well as helps to access several buttons for turning the drawing tools on and off.

ShowMotion

Users can access ShowMotion from the drawing status bar which enables the users to access named views which have been organized into categories of animated sequences in the current drawing.

The Command Prompt

This helps to execute a command by entering the full command name in tooltips that have been displayed near the cursor.

Viewports

This helps to display multiple views of the same drawing. In addition, users can add or remove the viewports by using the VPORTS command.

Different tools and features of AutoCAD

There are numerous drawing tools and features which enable the users to detailed drafts with accuracy. These tools and features of AutoCAD software are as follows:

Visualization and 3D modeling features

Powerful 3D modelling tools have been offered by AutoCAD software which enables the users to create more realistic representations. With this software, users can transform 2D designs into 3D models very easily.

Layer management features

This feature of AutoCAD allows the user to organize their drawings. This feature also enables the users to separate different components of the design projects thus helping to make complex designs more easier to manage.

Automation features

This is one of the critical aspects of the AutoCAD software which can automate repetitive tasks thus improving the productivity and efficiency of the design process.

Sheet Set Manager tool

This tool helps to manage multiple drawings thus enabling the designers to make the drawings more easier by maintaining consistency across different layouts. Users can also add additional information through this feature thus streamlining the documentation and organization.

Dynamic Blocks features

This is another advanced feature of AutoCAD software which allows users to edit their design properties dynamically including changing the size and shape of windows or doors without the creation of multiple block instances.

Parametric Constraints tools

This is another powerful tool which enables users to control the relationship among geometric objects in a drawing. The easy modification of the designs has been also allowed by this design feature of AutoCAD software.

To get online demonstration, watch the following video tutorial.

Video Source: Fech

Data extraction feature

This AutoCAD feature allows the users to extract data from designs and export those data into different formats including spreadsheets or databases.

Collaborative features

Various design features have been offered by AutoCAD which enables the designer professionals to work together on the design project from different locations.

File compatibility feature

AutoCAD supports DWG files which can be opened and edited in various types of CAD software thus making it a universal format to share drawings.