Download - AutoCAD Reference Commands

8/9/2019 AutoCAD Reference Commands

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Complete AutoCAD CommandsCommand Description Options

ABOUT Displays a dialogue box with AutoCADversion & serial numbers

can be transparent

APERTURE Controls the size of the Object Snap

"OSNAP") target box -- should set to 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 the twoendpoints of the arc and some other pointalong its locus. Other methods of drawingan arc can be specified by three letters,such as SEA, which means "Start Point,End Point, and Included Angle."

A Included angle

C Center point of arc

D Direction angle of a line tangent tothe arc

E Endpoint of arc

L Length of chord passing thru both

endpoints of the arc

R Radius

S Start point of arc

uses the end of the last line or arc asthe start point for the arc

AREA Computes the area of any shape byselecting points at the corners of theshape, or by selecting a circle or polylineafter 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 selected objectsin a rectangular (parallel with the snaprotation) or circular pattern

R rectangular array type

P "polar" array type in circular pattern,you must indicate number of itemsand angle to fill, and whether theobjects get rotated with the angle

C "circular" array type in a circular pattern, you must indicate anglebetween items, angle to fill, andwhether objects get rotated with theangle

ATTDEF Creates an attribute definition entity for textual information to be associated with ablock definition

I Controls attribute visibility

C Controls Constant/variable mode

V Controls verify mode


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P Controls preset mode

ATTDISP Controls the visibility of attribute entitieson a global basis

can be transparent

ON Makes all attributes visible

OFF Makes all attributesinvisible

N Visibility of attributes setindividually

ATTEDIT Permits editing of attributes

ATTEXT Extracts attribute data from drawings C CDF comma delimited formatextract

D DXF format extract

S SDF format extract

E Extracts attributes from selectedentities

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 point 0,0,0

can be transparent

BHATCH Fills an automatically defined boundarywith a hatch pattern through the use of dialogue boxes. Also allows previewingand replacing adjustments without startingover each time.

BLIPMODE Controls display of marker blips for pointselection

can be transparent

ON Enables temporary marker blips

OFF Disables temporarymarker blips

BLOCK Forms a single compound entity from agroup of entities within the currentdrawing

? Lists names of already-definedblocks in the current drawing

BPOLY Creates a closed polyline of a boundaryby picking an open area within a area


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enclosed by lines, arcs or circles.

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

F allows respecification of first point

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

D Sets chamfer distances

P Chamfers an entire polyline

CHANGE A multifunctioning command which can beused to alter the following:

1. location of individual endpointsof lines

2. radius of a circle

3. properties: layer, elevation,thickness, color and linetype of lines, polylines, arcs and circles

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 selected objects:layer, thickness, color and linetype -- butnot 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 and pick apoint on the radius or type the radiusdimension, but other methods can beselected.

2P Specifies circle by picking 2 pointson the diameter

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

D Allows entering the diameter dimension instead of radius dimension

TTR Specifies circle by picking

two lines, arcs or circles for thecircle to be tangent to, andentering the dimension of theradius

Enters radius of circle(the default)

COLOR Sets the current color for subsequentlydrawn objects (objects drawn after thecommand is invoked). The default current

can be transparent


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or COLOUR color is a so-called "logical" color called"BYLAYER" which means that the color of the object drawn will be the color whichthe current layer has been set to.

sets currentcolor to color number entered

sets currentcolor to color nameentered

BYBLOCK sets floatingentity color

BYLAYER sets currentcolor to whatever color is assigned to thecurrent layer

COMPILE Compiles shape and font files More thanlikely, you will never use this command,unless you are creating your own letter design or are creating "shapes" to beused as commonly used symbols in thedrawing. These are not typically used in

architectural drawings

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

You should not have to use thiscommand, since the configuration of your system has already been done and youwill have no need to change it.

COPY

or

CP

Draws a copy of selected objects using

two methods -- "base point" method, or "displacement" method.

M Allows multiple copies to be

made of an object

DBLIST Lists database information for every entityin the drawing

DDATTDEF Displays a dialogue box that allowscreation of an attribute definition for textual information to be associated with ablock definition

I Controls attribute visibility

C Controls Constant/variablemode

V Controls verify mode

P Controls preset mode

DDATTE Allows attribute editing via a dialogue box

DDATTEXT Displays a dialogue box that extracts datafrom a drawing.

C CDF comma delimited formatextract


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D DXF format extract

S SDF format extract

E Extracts attributes fromselected entities

DDCHPROP Displays a dialogue box that modifies thecolor, layer, linetype, and thickness of

selected objects

C Color

LA Layer

LT Linetype

T Thickness

DDEDIT Allows text and attribute definition editing 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 set their colors and size via a dialogue box

can be transparent

DDIM Controls dimensioning variables through aseries of dialogue boxes

can be transparent

DDINSERT Allows you to insert a previously madeblock or file into the current drawing,select X- and Y- scale factors, rotationangle, pre-explode the block, and selectthe insertion point, through a dialogue box

DDLMODES Sets layer properties and allows you toset the current layer, create a new layer,freeze and thaw layers, freeze and thawlayers in the current viewport, assign or reassign colors and linetypes to layers,through a dialogue box

can be transparent

DDOSNAP Allows you to set running OSNAPS and

set the size of the target box aperturethrough a dialogue box.

can be transparent

DDRMODES Allows you to set drawing aids variablesthrough a dialogue box

can be transparent

DDRENAME Allows you to rename layers, text styles,linetypes, blocks, views, User CoordinateSystems, viewport configurations, anddimension styles


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DDSELECT Allows you to set entity selection modes,size of the pickbox, and entity sort methodthrough a dialogue box

can be transparent

DDUCS Allows you to save the current User Coordinate System and give it a name for future retrieval, or to select a UCS that isalready saved

DDUNITS Allows you to set the unit type

(Architectural or Decimal), angle displayformat (degrees-minutes-seconds, or decimal degrees), and precision of theunits,

can be transparent

DELAY This command is used with SCRIPT files.It will delay the execution of the nextcommand for the time in millisecondsspecified after the DELAY command.

can be transparent

DIM Takes you out of the drawing editor andinto the semi-automatic dimensioning

program built into AutoCAD. Will display aDim: prompt on the command promptline. To get back to the drawing editor andthe Command: prompt, type the key.

DIM1 Same as above, but only allows onedimensioning command to be used, andthen takes you automatically back to thedrawing editor and the Command:prompt.

DIM

ALIGNED

Dimensioning sub-command:

Draws a linear dimension with thedimension 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 filled triangles, regardless of your defined ArrowBlock.

DIM Dimensioning sub-command:


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BASELINE Continues a linear dimension fromthe baseline (the so-called "firstextension line") of the previous orselected dimension. This is notfrequently used in architecturaldimensions. The spacing betweeneach dimension line is controlled bythe AutoCAD variable DIMDLI("Dimension Line Increment"),

which you should set at 0 normally, but if you use the baselinecommand, you should reset to 1/8".

DIM

CENTER


Draws a pair of crossed lines at thecenter of a circle or arc on thecurrent layer

DIM

CONTINUE


Continues a linear dimension fromthe second extension line of theprevious or selected dimension. It isused to create a so-called "string"of dimensions. This is used quite abit in architectural drawings.

DIM

DIAMETER


Draws a dimension through thecenter of a circle or arc, calculatingthe diameter, with one of the arrowheads located at the point on thecircle or arc which is picked.

DIM

EXIT


Exits the dimensioning programand returns from the Dim: promptto the normal Command: prompt

DIM

HOMETEXT


Restores the text of an associativedimension to its default (home)location if you have moved it.

DIM

HORIZONTAL


Draws a horizontal linear


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dimension line

DIM

LEADER


Draws an a line or series of lineswith an arrow head (commonlycalled a "leader") to point to anobject to notate it. This commandwill also prompt you for the note at

the end of the leader line, but it willallow only one line of text. Themost useful method of using thiscommand is to simply draw leadersbetween the object to be notatedand text that you create with theDTEXT command.

DIM

NEWTEXT


Permits changing text of an

associative dimension withoutexploding it. However, once the texthas been changed, the dimensionwill no longer be associative.

DIM

OBLIQUE


Adjusts the obliquing angle of alinear associative dimensionsâextension lines. Useful indimensioning isometric drawings.

DIM

ORDINATE


Draws the X and Y coordinateswithin a box with a leader lineattached to the point, for a selectedpoint. Automatically calculates thecoordinates.

DIM

OVERRIDE


Overrides the dimension variablesettings on a selected dimension.

DIM

RADIUS


Draws the radius dimension of anarc or circle from the center to thepoint on its locus where the arc orcircle was selected.


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DIM

REDRAW


Redraws the viewport, just like theregular REDRAW command.

DIM

RESTORE


Makes a dimension style current

DIM

ROTATE


Draws a linear dimension with thedistance measured origin points, but with the actual dimension lineset at a different angle.

DIM

SAVE


Saves the currently set dimensionvariables under a dimension style

name for future retrieval throughthe RESTORE command.

DIM

STATUS


Lists all dimension variables withtheir current status.

DIM

STYLE


Switches to a new Text Style for all

future dimensions.

DIM

TEDIT


Allows moving text in associativedimensions without having toexplode the dimensions.

DIM

TROTATE


Allows rotation of the text of

several associative dimensions atonce.

DIM

UNDO


Undoes any changes made by themost recent dimensioningcommand.

DIM Dimensioning sub-command:


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

DIM

VARIABLES


Lists the settings of dimension

variables associated with aparticular dimension style.

DIM

VERTICAL


Draws a vertical linear dimensionline

DIST Finds distance between two points can be transparent

DIVIDE Places points along a line, polyline, arc, or

circle, dividing it into the specified number of equal parts

B Uses a specified Block to

divide the object instead of apoint

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 -- enablesdragging when possible

DTEXT Draws text "Dynamically" so that as youenter text letters or numbers, they arevisible on the screen

J Prompts for Justificationoptions

S Allows you to select textstyles that are already created

A Aligns text between twopoints, with style-specifiedwidth factor, AutoCAD adjustsheight to keep letter proportionas designated in the style.

C Centers text horizontally

F Fits text between two points,with a specified height, AutoCAD adjusts width of


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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 relativeto the Target

T Sub-option, togglesbetween angle in the X-Y plane, and angle fromthe X-Y plane

CL Sets Front and Back

CLipping planes

D Sets Camera to Targetdistance and turns onPerspective viewing

H Removes hidden lines on theselection set

OFF Turns Perspective viewingoff

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-Y plane, and angle from


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the X-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 files intothe drawing

DXFIN Loads a drawing interchange file (DXFfile) to be able to read a drawing filecreated by another CAD program

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

drawing in another CAD program

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 adjoining edges

ELEV Sets Elevation (distance above theground plane) and Thickness (extruded

distance from the bottom of an object tothe top) for subsequently drawn entities

ELLIPSE Draws ellipses C Allows specification of Centerpoint of ellipse rather than firstaxis endpoint

R Allows specification of eccentricity rotation rather thanlength of second axis

I Draws Isometric circle in

current isoplane

END Saves the drawing and exits AutoCADback to DOS or WINDOWS

ERASE

or

E

Erases selected entities from the drawing


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EXPLODE Separates a block, dimension or hatchpattern into its constituent entities or makes a polyline into a series of straightlines. In the case of a block that isexploded, if it was originally drawn on the0 layer, it returns to that layer, regardlessof the layer it was inserted on, and it losesits referential connection to the originalblock. In the case of a dimension or hatchpattern that has been exploded, their

parts go back to the 0 layer, and areassigned the logical color (BYBLOCK)regardless of the layer they were drawnon. In the case of an exploded polyline, itloses any width it may have had.

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

U Undoes effect of last Extendcommand

FILES Allows DOS disk and file utility tasks to bedone through a dialogue box

can be transparent

FILL Controls whether solids, traces, widepolylines, and donuts will be filled with ink.Note that fill is only visible when viewingthese entities in plan (perpendicular toline of sight)

can be transparent

ON entities visually filled withsolid ink

OFF entities not visually filledbut are shown in outline only

FILLET Constructs an arc of specified radiusbetween two lines, arcs, circles, or will

create arcs of the specified radius at thevertices of a polyline. Radius of the arc tobe constructed may be set to 0, which willmake a sharp corner

P Fillets an entire Polyline atthe vertices

R Allows setting of the filletradius. Default value is 0.Radius remains set untilchanged 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) from text-

screen to graphics-screen, and vice-versa.

can be transparent

GRID Displays a rectangular grid of white dotson 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


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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 toeach 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

fill designated area with apseudo-block hatch entity --can be reduced to individuallines and points byEXPLODEing it.

uses hatchpattern name from library file tofill designated area withindividual lines and points, nota block

U "User-defined" hatch pattern

drawn of parallel lines with aspecified distance between, ata specified angle, and either single-hatching or double(cross)-hatching

? Lists names of availablehatch patterns

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

I Ignores anyboundaries inside theoutermost boundary

N Normal style of selecting boundarieswith alternating hatchedand unhatched nestedareas

O Hatches outermost


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boundary area only

HELP

or

?

Displays a list of all valid commands anddata entry options, or obtains help for aspecific command or prompt

can be transparent

if invoked while another command is inprocess, it will assume that you want help onthat command

HIDE Regenerates a 3d visual image of the

drawing with hidden lines removed

ID Displays the X,Y, and Z coordinates of apoint 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

default directory into thecurrent drawing,assuming that there isno block by that name inthe current drawing

= Creates ablock in the currentdrawing with the samename as the file

Inserts a block

in its constituent entitiesrather than as a block --also called a "Star Block" or Pre-explodedblock

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

XYZ Reply to X scale prompt --

allows specification of X, Y, andZ scales

~ Displays a file dialogue box

? Lists names of defined blockswithin the current drawing

ISOPLANE Selects the plane of an isometric grid tobe the current plane for an orthogonaldrawing

can be transparent

L Left plane


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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 properties to thoselayers, allows layers to be frozen andthawed, locked and unlocked, and allowscurrent layer to be set

can be transparent

C Assigns color to named layer

F Freezes named layers(comma separates a list of layers to be frozen, * can beused as a wildcard) -- currentlayer cannot be frozen

L Assigns linetype to namedlayer

LO Locks named layer

M Makes a layer -- creates anew layer and makes it thecurrent layer

N Creates new layers withnamed names (commaseparates a list of layers to becreated, * can be used as awildcard)

ON Turns named layers on if

they were 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 thecurrent layer

T Thaws named layers whichare frozen (comma separates alist of layers to be frozen, * canbe used as a wildcard)

U Unlocks named layer

? Gives information aboutnamed layers, * can be used as


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a wildcard

LIMITS Changes the imaginary boundaries of thedrawing, and controls whether drawingcan be made outside of the boundaries. If Limit-checking is ON, drawing cannot bedone outside of limits.

can be transparent

Sets lower-left and upper -rightdrawing limits

ON Enables limit-checking

OFF Disables limit-checking

LINE

or

L

Draws straight lines In reply to FromPoint: prompt, linebegins at end of previous line or arc

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

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

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

Sets the current linetype to be used for allsubsequent entities to be drawn, allowscreation of new linetype definitions, andallows loading of previously createdlinetypes from DOS files

can be transparent

? Lists a linetype library , or named linetypes which areloaded

C Creates a linetype definition

L Loads a previously creatredlinetype definition

S Set current linetype -- notethat the current linetype shouldalways be set to the logicallinetype "BYLAYER"

LIST Lists all information about selected object,such as what type of entity it is (Line, Arc,Circle, Block, etc.), what layer it is on,

what color it is, the location of itsendpoints, what its Z-axis (elevation),what its thickness is, etc.

LOAD Loads a file of user-defined shapes to beused 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


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MEASURE Places points (or, optionally, Blocks) atintervals along a selected line, polyline,arc or circle. The interval distance is givenby the user. If points are used as themarker to be placed along the entity, theyare not visible unless the Point type is setto type 3 with the PDMODE command.

B specifies that a defined Blockis to be used as a marker instead of a point.

MENU Loads a Menu file into the menu areas(Screen, pull-down, tablet, and button)

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

fname Loads fname andforms a rectangular array of the resultingBlock

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 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 a user-specified axis

MOVE

or

M

Moves designated entities to another location

MSLIDE Makes a slide from the current display.Slide shows the drawing only, and not theUCSICON, the Toolbar, the Aerial View or menus.

MSPACE Switches to Model Space

MULTIPLE Causes the next command to repeat untilcancelled

MVIEW Creates and controls Viewports ON Turns selectedViewports on and


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causes the Model to beregenerated in theselected Viewports.

OFF Turns selectedViewports off andcauses Model to be notdisplayed in the selectedViewports.

Hideplot Causes hiddenlines to be removed inselected Viewportsduring Paper Spaceplotting.

Fit Creates a singleViewport to fit thecurrent Paper Spaceview

2 Creates 2 Viewports inspecified area or fit to

the current Paper Spaceview.

3 Creates 3 Viewports inspecified area or fit tothe current Paper Spaceview.

4 Creates 4 Viewports inspecified area or fit tothe current Paper Spaceview.

Restore Translatesviewport configurationssaved with the VPORTScommand into individualViewport entities inPaper Space.

Creates anew Viewport within thearea specified by 2points.

Sub-options to the "2" Option:

Horizontal Creates ahorizontal divisionbetween the 2 newViewports

Vertical Creates avertical division betweenthe 2 new Viewports.

Sub-options to the "3" Option:


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Above Specifiesplacement of larger Viewport above theother 2

Below Specifiesplacement of larger Viewport below the other 2

Horizontal Splits areainto thirds horizontally

Left Specifies placementof larger Viewport to theleft of the other 2

Right Specifies placement of the larger Viewport to the rightof the other 2

Vertical Splits area into thirdsvertically

NEW Creates a new drawing. When selectedfrom a menu or typed in at the Command:prompt, this command brings up adialogue box which allows setting a namefor the new drawing by typing the name inthe box, selection of a "prototype" drawingor typing a name of the new drawing andthen an = sign and then the name of adrawing to be used as a prototype.

OFFSET Creates a new line, polyline arc or circleparallel to the entity and at a specifieddistance from it.

specifiesoffset distance

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

OOPS restores erased entities, or entities madeinto 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 verticallines, however, if the crosshairs arerotated through the "Snap" "Rotate"command sequence, the lines drawn areconstrained to being parallel with thecrosshair rotation. Constraint can be

can be transparent


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overridden by snapping to a point or byentering exact coordinates for endpoints.

OSNAP Enables points to be precisely located onreference points of existing objects. Thisis the so-called "Running Mode" of OSNAP, which sets selection method torun continuously until set to NON (none)or until overridden by selecting another "Interrupt Mode" OSNAP method from the

cursor menu. Combinations of OSNAPmethods can be used by selecting aseries of options separated by commas.For instance, if you want ot always pickeither endpoints or intersection pointswhen locating endpoints of lines, youwould issue the command as follows:

OSNAP END,INT

can be transparent

CEN CENter of arc or circle

END closest ENDpointof arc or line

INS INSertion point of Text or Block

INT INTersection of line,arc, or circle

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

NEA NEArest pointselected by aperture on

line, polyline, arc, or circle

NOD NODe (another name for a Point)

NON NONe -- usedwhen a "RunningOSNAP" is on totemporarily turn off OSNAP selection

PER PERpendicular point to line, arc or circle-- when used with an arcor circle it will draw aline to the surface of thearc or circle headingtoward the center point

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

QUI QUIck mode -- this

is a modifier to one of the other OSNAPoptions -- it will find thefirst point that meets therequirements, notnecessarily the closestpoint to the aperture.

TAN TANgent point toarc or circle


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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 series of connected straightlines

E Edit vertices

F Fits curve to a polyline --makes a series of straight linesinto a curve which will passthrough the vertices

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

L Toggles linetype generationto be either a continuous

pattern of dashes passingthrough the vertices, or apattern which starts and endsat each vertex

O Opens a closed polyline

S Uses the polyline vertices asa frame for a Spline Curve --type of Spline Curve is set bythe Variable "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 vertexcurrent

P Makes the Previous vertexcurrent


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R Regenerates the Polyline

S Sets first vertex for Straighten

T Sets tangent direction for current vertex

W Sets new width for thefollowing segment

X Exits vertex editing, or cancels Break and Straighten

PEDIT Mesh Allows editing of Meshes which arealready drawn

D De-smooth -- restoresoriginal mesh

E Edits mesh vertices

M Opens (or closes) the meshin the M direction

N Opens (or closes) the meshin the 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 Downin M direction current

L Makes previous vertex to Leftin N direction current

M Moves the marked vertex

N Makes the Next vertexcurrent

P Makes the Previous vertexcurrent

R Makes next vertex to Right inN direction current

RE Redisplays the polygonmesh

U Makes the next vertex Up inM direction current


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X Exits vertex editing

PFACE Creates a 3D mesh of arbitrary complexityand surface characteristics

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

C Establishes the Plan view of the Current UCS

U Establishes the Plan view of

a specified UCS

W Establishes the Plan view of the World Coordinate System

PLINE Draws a 2D polyline, which are connectedline or arc segments with user-determinedwidth and taper

H sets the half-width of thepolyline segments

U Undoes previous segment

W sets the width of polyline

segments

Exits the Plinecommand

The following options are available only aslong as you are drawing in Line mode:

A Switches to the Arc mode toallow integration of arcs into thepolyline

C Closes the polyline withstraight segment

L Segment length (continuesprevious segment)

The following options are available only aslong as you are in the Arc mode:

A Included angle

CE Center Point

CL Closes with arc segment

D Starting direction

L Chord length, or switches toline mode

R Radius

S Second point of 3-point arc


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

POINT Draws single points. Appearance of thepoints is set by the Variable PDMODE

POLYGON Draws regular polygons with a specifiednumber of sides. Polygons are Polylineentities.

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

C Circumscribes polygonaround a circle

I Inscribes polygon within acircle

PSDRAG Controls the appearance of an importedPostscript image that is being "dragged"(that is, positioned and scaled) into placeby the PSIN command

0 Only the imageâs boundingbox is displayed as you drag itinto place

1 The complete renderedPostScript image is displayedas you drag it into place

PSFILL Fills 2D Polyline outlines with PostScriptfill patterns defined in the ACAD.PSF file

. Entering a period results in nofill pattern

? Lists the fill patterns definedin ACAD.PSF file

PSIN Imports Encapsulated PostScript (EPS)files

PSOUT Exports the current view of your drawingto an Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) file

PSPACE Switches to Paper Space -- this will workonly if the Variable TILEMODE is set to 0.

PURGE Removes unused Blocks, Text Styles,Layers, Linetypes, and Dimension Stylesfrom 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

ST Purges unused Text Styles


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QSAVE Saves the current drawing "Quickly"without requesting a filename (as long asfile has already been given a name)

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 current drawinghas not been Saveds in its current state, adialogue box will appear asking if youwant to Save the drawing, Discard thechanges, or Cancel the Exit command

RECOVER Attempts to recover damaged or corrupted drawings

REDEFINE Restores a built-in command which mayhave been deleted by the commandUNDEFINE

REDO Reverses a previous command if it was Uor 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 automaticregens

REINIT Allows the I/O ports, the digitizer, thedisplay, the plotter, and the ACAD.PGPfile to be reinitialized. This commandallows selection of what you want toreinitialize through a dialogue box. It ismost useful when you make changes "onthe fly" to the ACAD.PGP file and want toimmediately make use of those changeswithout having to exit AutoCAD and get


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back into it.

RENAME Changes the names associated with TextStyles, Layers, Linetypes, Blocks, Views,User Coordinate Systems, ViewportConfigurations, 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 command script can be transparent

REVSURF Creates a 3D polygon mesh

approximating a surface of revolution, byrotating a curve around a selected axis

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 new namecurrent

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

SCRIPT Runs a command script. A script is a an ASCII file which contains variouscommands that when executed operates

just as if you typed in those commands,one by one, by hand

can be transparent

SELECT Groups objects into selection sets for usein 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 the

can be transparent

? Lists specified (or all) systemvariables and their settings


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variable to change it.

SH Short for "SHell." Allows access tointernal operating system (DOS)commands. Once SH is invoked, followedby two s, the DOS Prompt will bedisplayed, so you can enter any DOScommand. To get back to AutoCAD,simply type EXIT at the DOS prompt.

SHADE Shades 3D model in current Model SpaceViewport

SHAPE Draws predefined Shapes ? Lists available Shape names

SHELL Allows access to internal operatingsystem (DOS) commands. Once SH isinvoked, followed by two s, theDOS Prompt will be displayed, so you canenter any DOS command. To get back to AutoCAD, simply type EXIT 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,exits SKETCH

. Draws line to current point

SNAP Specified a round-off interval for pointentry so that entities can be placed at

precise locations

can be transparent

sets snapalignment resolution

ON aligns designatedpoints

OFF does not aligndesignatged points

A sets aspect ratio(differing X and Yspacing)


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R Rotates the snap gridand crosshairs, andturns on SNAP after, if not already turned on

S Selects either Standard (rectangular)or Isometric Snap grid

SOLID Draws filled polygons. Fill can be turnedON or OFF with the FILL command

STATUS Displays drawing statistics and modes onthe Text Screen

can be transparent

STRETCH Allows moving a portion of a drawingwhile retaining their connections to other parts of the drawing. You cannot stretchBlocks, Hatch patterns, or Text entities,however.

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

can be transparent

? Lists specified (or all)currently defined text styles

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

ON Turns Tablet Mode ON (butit has to be CALibrated first)

OFF Turns Tablet Mode OFF

CAL Calibrates Tablet for use --sets the distance to be used tocopy the drawing to anaccurate scale

CFG Configures tablet menusand pointing area

TABSURF Creates a polygon mesh approximating ageneral tabulated surface defined by apath and a direction vector

TEXT Draws text characters of any size withselected styles

J Prompts for justificationoptions

S Lists or selects text style

A Aligns text between twopoints, with style-specifiedwidth factor, AutoCADcomputes approximate heightproportional to length of textline


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C Centers text horizontallyabout a defined point

F Fits text between two points,with specified height, AutoCADcomputes approximate widthfactor to fill the distancebetween the 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) from text-screen to graphics-screen, and vice-versa.

can be transparent

TIME Displays drawing creation and updatetimes, and permits control of an elapsedtimer.

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 specified width.Has mostly been superseded by thePLINE command.

TREESTAT Displays information on the drawing'scurrent spatial index, such as the number and depth of nodes in the drawingdatabase.


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TRIM Erases a portion of selected entities thatcross 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 more saved coordinatesystems

E ("Entity") Sets a UCS with thesame extrusion direction asthat of the selected entity

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

P ("Previous") Restores thePrevious UCS

R ("Restore") Restores a

previously saved UCS

S ("Save") Saves the currentUCS

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

W ("World") Sets the currentUCS to the World CoordinateSystem

X Rotates the current UCSaround the X-axis

Y Rotates the current UCSaround the Y-axis

Z Rotates the current UCSaround the Z-axis

ZA Defines a UCS using anorigin point and a point on thepositive portion of the Z-axis

3 Defines a UCS using anorigin point, a point on thepositive portion of the X-axis,and a point on the positive Y-portion of the XY plane

? Lists specified savedcoordinate systems


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UCSICON Controls visibility and placement of theUser Coordinate System Icon, whichgraphically indicates the origin andorientation of the current UCS. Theoptions normally affect only the currentviewport.

A Changes settings of all activeviewports

N ("NoOrigin") Displays theUCSICON at the lower-leftcorner of the viewport (i.e., notat the Origin)

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 theviewport)

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 mostrecent commands inreverse order

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

B ("Back") Undoes back toprevious UNDO "Mark"

C ("Control") Enables/disablesthe UNDO feature

E ("End") Terminates an UNDOGroup (a sequence to betreated as one command)

G ("Group") Begins an UNDOGroup (a sequence to betreated as one command)

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

Control Sub-Options

All Enables the fullUNDO feature

None Disables U andUNDO entirely, anddiscards any previousUNDO information


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saved earlier in theediting session

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 toscreen

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 has beensuperseded by Paper Space Vports,created with the MVIEW command.Divides the AutoCAD graphics displayinto multiple viewports, each of which cancontain a different view of the currentdrawing (maximum of 4 "tiled" viewportsper viewport)

D Deletes a saved viewportconfiguration

J Joins (merges) two viewports

R Restores a saved viewportconfiguration

S Saves the current viewportconfiguration

SI ("SIngle") Displays a SIngleviewport filling the entiregraphics area

2 Divides the current viewportinto 2 viewports



? Lists the current and savedviewport configurations

VIEWRES Allows you to control the precision andspeed of circle and arc drawing on themonitor by specifying the number of sidesin a circle. Acts like an AutoCAD variable.


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Recommend that it be set to 2000.

VPLAYER Sets viewport visibility for new andexisting layers

? Lists layers frozen in aselected viewport

F ("Freeze") Freezes specifiedlayers in selected viewports

T ("Thaw") Thaws specifiedlayers in selected viewports

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

N ("Newfrz") Creates newlayers that are frozen in allviewports

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

VPOINT Selects the viewpoint for a 3Dvisualization

R Selects viewpoint viatwo rotation angles

Selectsviewpoint via a graphiccompass and axis tripodwhich appears on thescreen

Specifies x, y,and z relativecoordinates of 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


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* writes entire drawing tothe filename.DWG andpurges all unreferencedblocks, layers, linetypes,text and dimensioningstyles

writes selectedobjects

XBIND Makes portions of an Xref a permanentpart of your drawing

B ("Block") Makes a block inthe Xref a permanent part of your drawing

D ("Dimstyle") Makes adimstyle in the Xref apermanent part of your drawing

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

LT ("LType") Makes a Ltype inthe Xref a permanent part of your drawing

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

XREF Allows you to work with other AutoCADdrawings without adding thempermanently to your drawing and without

altering their contents

A ("Attach") "Attaches" a newXref to the drawing or updatesan 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 viewand edit the filename path(directory and sub-directory)that AutoCAD searches whenloading a particular Xref

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

? Lists Xrefs in your drawingand the drawing associatedwith each one

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

can be transparent

multiplier


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from originalmagnification

multiplier from currentmagnification

multiplier of magnification relativeto paper space -- usedfor plotting to get rightplot scale in eachviewport

A ("All") fills limits of drawing toscreen

C ("Center") makes pickedpoint the center of the screen

D ("Dynamic") makes anadjustible rectangular lensappear on the screen which is

capable of being made smaller or larger and moved to differentpositions over the drawing andonce set by the user, thedrawing will quickly zoom to thelocation and magnification setfor the lens. This sub-commandis no longer useful because allcomputers have very fastzooms naturally now.

E ("Extents") makes thefarthest edges of the actual

visible drawing fill up thegraphics screen

L ("Lower-Left") makes thepoint picked become shoved tothe lower-left corner of thegraphics screen

P ("Previous") zooms back towhatever the last zoom,previous to the current zoomwas -- AutoCAD stores about

10 of these, so you can walkbackward in zoommagnification 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 pick


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the lower left corner and theupper right corner of a zoomwindow and then fits thatwindow to the graphics screen

3DFACE Draws flat planes in 3D space with either 3 corners or 4 corners (3 sided or 4 sidedflat planes). These are used to hideobjects behind them in space to create

the illusion of a solid object. 3DFACEscan also be shaded using the SHADEcommand, in which case the entire planetakes on the color assigned to its edges.Normally (without using the HIDE or SHADE commands, 3DFACEs aretransparent, which means that objectsbehind them in space are visible throughthem, and they appear as "wireframes."

I ("Invisible") this is used bytyping in the letter "I" justbefore picking a corner point for the 3DFACE, and it will make

the edge of the 3DFACE drawnfrom that point to the next one"Invisible" (that is, it will not beshown as a line on thedrawing). This is importantwhen joining several 3DFACEstogether to cover a complex,multi-faceted surface, whereyou do not want the "seams" of the 3DFACEs to show in thefinal drawing. The visibility of edges of 3DFACEs can further be turned on or off by the

AutoCAD variable"SPLFRAME." WhenSPLFRAME is set to 1 ("on"),both edges which have beenmade "Invisible" as well asnormal, visible edges areshown on the drawing. WhenSPLFRAME is set to 0 ("off"),Invisible edges are not shown.The purpose of sometimeswanting to see invisible edgesis that you may want to move,stretch, or copy the 3DFACE

and if its edges are invisible,you cannot select them fopr modification. You can onlyselect a 3DFACE by picking ona visible edge.

3DMESH Draws a 3D polygon mesh by specifyingits size, in terms of the number of faces ineach direction (called M and N directions),and the location in 3D space of eachvertex (the corner of a face) in the mesh.

3DPOLY Creates a 3D polyline C Closes the polyline back tothe first point

U Undoes (deletes) the lastsegment entered

Exits 3DPOLYcommand


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Download - AutoCAD Reference Commands

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