Book Image

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition

By : Jaiprakash Pandey, Yasser Shoukry
Book Image

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition

By: Jaiprakash Pandey, Yasser Shoukry

Overview of this book

AutoCAD is one of the most versatile software applications for architectural and engineering designs and the most popular computer-aided design (CAD) platform for 2D drafting and 3D modeling. This hands-on 2nd edition guide will take you through everything you need to know to make the most out of this powerful tool, from a simple tour of the user interface to using advanced tools. Starting with basic drawing shapes and functions, you'll get to grips with the fundamentals of CAD designs. You’ll then learn about effective drawing management using layers, dynamic blocks, and groups, and discover how to add annotations and plots like a professional. As you progress, the book will show you how to convert your 2D drawings into 3D models and shapes. You’ll also discover advanced features, such as isometric drawings, drawing utilities for managing and recovering complex files, quantity surveying, and multidisciplinary drawing files using xRefs. Finally, you’ll focus on rendering and visualizing your designs in AutoCAD. By the end of this book, you’ll have developed a solid understanding of CAD principles and be able to work with AutoCAD software confidently to build impressive 2D and 3D creations.
Table of Contents (21 chapters)
1
Part 1: Introduction and 2D Drafting
6
Part 2: Customization, Collaboration, and Using Reusable Content
12
Part 3: 3D Modeling

Using the Line command

You can select the Line command from the command bar, using its command alias, or you can also select the command from the ribbon panel. The Line command will make a straight-line segment of any specified length. This is the most basic of the drawing tools and one of the most frequently used ones in the drawing workflow.

The Line command is in the Draw panel of the Home tab. Alternatively, you can use its command alias, L. In this case, let’s start the Line command from the ribbon panel, as illustrated here:

Figure 2.4: The Line command

Once your command is active, you will notice that the cursor will change into a point selection cursor that looks like two perpendicular intersecting lines, and the command line will also show the name of the command, along with the prompt, as shown in the following screenshot:

Figure 2.5: The Line command with the command name and instruction

Where is the command line...