Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
TOOLS VS. THE KEYBOARD
Throughout this topic, you'll be told to select tools from the Tool Sets palette to invoke commands.
For new and experienced users alike, the Tool Sets palette offers an easy-to-remember method for
accessing commands. If you're an experienced AutoCAD user, though, you can type commands
directly from the keyboard. The keyboard commands you know and love still work as they do in the
Windows version of AutoCAD (but with the
key used in place of the Windows Control key).
Many tools and commands have
aliases
. Aliases are one-, two-, or three-letter abbreviations of a
command name. As you become more profi cient with AutoCAD, you may fi nd these aliases helpful.
As you work through this topic, the aliases will be identii ed for your reference.
Finally, in typical Mac fashion, you can fi nd the command shortcuts in the pull-down menus of
the menu bar. Shortcuts are multiple key presses that start a command or change a feature. For
example, you can press
-1 to open or close the Tool Sets palette. If you choose Tools
Palettes,
you'll see the keyboard shortcuts to the right of the command names.
Picking Points in the Drawing Area
Now that you've seen the general layout of AutoCAD, take a look at the drawing cursor to get a
sense of how the parts of the AutoCAD screen work together:
CLICK A MOUSE OR TAP A TRACKPAD?
This topic assumes that you are using a mouse. If you are using a trackpad, use the corresponding
gestures to issue a click, a click-and-drag, or a right-click. For example, a mouse click is a one-fi nger
tap on a trackpad. A right-click is a two-fi nger tap on a trackpad. A click-and-drag requires a
one-fi nger double-tap and drag on the trackpad.
1.
Place the cursor in the middle of the drawing area and click and hold. Trackpad users
should use a one-fi nger double-tap. Move the mouse and a rectangle follows. This is a
selection
window
;
you'll learn more about this window in Chapter 2. You also see Specify
opposite corner: in the Command Line palette (Figure 1.10).
FIGURE 1.10
The Command
Line palette shown
un-docked
