The AutoCAD (Autodesk) ICONS and SHORTCUT keys that never been revealed by Teachers and Professor

AutoCAD in any version is the same use. I started using Autocad is in the year 2006 and the version, of course, is 2006. I never learn this in school and no one teaches me at the beginning. I just saw this in one my colleagues when I was an office assistant before. AutoCAD is a part of the Autodesk company like 3D MAX, MAYA, STINGRAY and much more.

All students with a course of AutoCAD think that this is not easy to learn. But they are wrong about that. In AutoCAD, at first, you must know how capable AutoCAD is. You must know first the basic, the icons. This is the important things you must know in AutoCAD. Once you know the meaning of each ICON in AutoCAD, you must study by your self of how to use it by clicking on each one of them.

Do not be afraid of clicking the icons. Most people who're using AutoCAD is afraid of clicking on icons because they think that they did something wrong. Do not be afraid to discover something while you are clicking on any icon of AutoCAD. That is the beginning of a clever mind.

There's a lot of explanation of how to use AutoCAD for beginners. But what I'm explaining is the easiest way. I will show all the basic icons that you need to know including the shortcut keys. But, take note! You must know first the use of each icon before using the shortcut keys. We will start from the 2D AutoCAD icon. Pay attention.

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The Basic ICONS (DRAW)

In the toolbar of AutoCAD, we call this "Draw".

• LINE - with the line, you can create a series of contiguous line segments. Each segments is a line object that can be edited separately.
• CONSTRUCTION LINE - Lines that extend to infinity, such as x-lines, can be used to create construction and reference lines, and for trimming boundaries.
• POLYLINE - A 2D polyline is a connected sequence of segments created as a single planar object. You can create straight line segments, arc segments, or a combination of the two.
• POLYGON - you can specify the different parameters of the polygon including the number of sides. The difference between the inscribed and circumscribed option is shown.
• RECTANGLE - Creates a rectangular polyline from the specified the rectangle parameters (length, width, rotation) and type of corners (fillet, chamfer, or square).
• ARC - Create an arc using three points.
• CIRCLE - Creates a circle using a center point and a radius.
• REVISION CLOUD - You can create a new revision cloud by dragging your cursor, or you can convert a closed object such as an ellipse or polyline into a revision cloud. Use revision to high light parts of a drawing that are being reviewed.
• SPLINE - creates curves called nonuniform rational B-splines (NURBS), referred to as splines for simplicity. Splines are defined either with fit points or with control vertices. By default, fit points coincide with the spline, while control vertices define a control frame. Control frames provide a convenient method to shape the spline. Each method determines advantage.
• ELLIPSE - The first two points of the ellipse determine the location and length of the first axis. The third point determines the distance between the center of the ellipse and the end point of the second axis.
• ELLIPSE ARC - The first two points of the elliptical arc determine the location and length of the first axis. The third points determine the distance between the center of the elliptical arc and the endpoint of the second axis. The fourth and fifth points at the start and end angles.

The Shortcut Keys

1. Line - (L)
2. Construction Line - (ray)
3. Polyline - (PL)
4. Polygon - (POL)
5. Rectangle - (REC)
6. Arc - (A)
7. Circle - (C)
8. Revision Cloud - (revcloud)
9. Spline - (SPL)
10. Ellipse - (EL)
11. Ellipse Arc - (ellipseA)

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The Basic ICONS (MODIFY)

In the toolbar of AutoCAD, we call this "MODIFY"

• ERASE - Instead of selecting objects to erase, you can enter an option, such as L to erase the last object drawn, P to erase the previous selection set, or ALL to erase all objects. You can also enter ? to get list of all options.
• COPY - With the copy mode system variable, you can control whether multiple copies are created automatically.
• MIRROR - You can create objects that represent half of a drawing, select them, and mirror then across a specified line to create the other half.
• OFFSET - You can offset an object at a specified distance or through a point. After you offset objects, you can trim and extend them as an efficient method to create drawings containing many parallel lines and curves.
• RECTANGULAR ARRAY -Distributes object copies into any combination of rows, columns, and levels.
• MOVE - Use coordinates, grid snaps, object snaps, and other tools to move objects with precision.
• ROTATE - You can rotate selected objects around a base point to an absolute angle.
• SCALE - To scale an object, specify a base point and a scale factor. The base point acts as the center of the scaling operation and remains stationary. A scale factor greater than 1 enlarges the objects. A scale factor between 0 and 1 shrinks the object.
• STRETCH - Objects that are partially enclosed by a crossing window are stretched. Objects that are completely enclosed within the crossing window, or that are selected individually, are moved rather than stretched. Some types of objects such as circles, ellipses, and blocks, cannot be stretched.
• TRIM - To trim objects, select the boundaries. Then press Enter and select the objects that you want to trim. To use all objects as boundaries, press Enter at the first Select Objects prompt.
• EXTEND - To extend objects, first select the boundaries. Then press Enter and select the objects that you want to extend. To use all objects as boundaries, press Enter at the first Select Object prompt.
• BREAK AT POINT - valid objects include lines, open polylines, and arcs. Closed objects such as circles cannot be broken at a single point.
• BREAK - You can create a gap between two specified points on an object, breaking it into two objects. If the points are off of an object, they are automatically projected on to the object. The Break is often used to create space for a block or text.
• JOIN - Combines a series of infinite linear and open curved objects at their common endpoints to create a single 2D or 3D objects. The type of object that results depends on the types of objects selected, the type of object selected first, and whether the objects are coplanar.
• CHAMFER - The distance and angles that you specify are applied in the order that you select the objects.
• FILLET - An arc is created that is tangent to both of the selected lines. The lines are trimmed to the ends of the arc. To create a sharp corner instead, enter a radius of zero.

The Shortcut Keys

1. Erase - (E)
2. Copy - (CO)
3. Mirror - (MI)
4. Offset - (O)
5. Rectangular Array - (ARRAYRECT)
6. Move - (M)
7. Rotate - (RO)
8. Scale - (SC)
9. Stretch - (ST)
10. Trim - (TR)
11. Extend - (EX)
12. Break at Point - (BR)
13. Break - (BR)
14. Join - (J)
15. Chamfer - (CHAM)
16. Fillet - (F)

To master this icon and shortcut keys, you need to use it always. Try to imagine a thing, like a simple glass or a box. Create something that is easy. When I start AutoCAD, I did a box then I did a very simple school chair and a table.

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