Exploring the AutoCAD Interface - Mastering AutoCAD for Mac - page 11

2. Release the mouse button. Trackpad users should use a one-finger tap. The window selec-
tion disappears.
3. Try the click-and-drag motion with the mouse (or double-tap, tap gesture for trackpads)
again in the drawing area. Notice that as you click and drag, a window appears, and as
you release the mouse, the window disappears.
If you happen to right-click (or  -click or use a two-finger tap on a trackpad), a shortcut
menu appears. A right-click frequently opens a menu containing options that are context sensi-
tive. This means the contents of the shortcut menu depend on the location where you right-click
as well as the command that is active at the time. If there are no appropriate options at the time
of the right-click, AutoCAD treats the right-click as a ↵. You'll learn more about these options as
you progress through the topic. For now, if you happen to open this menu by accident, press the
Esc key to close it.
Understanding the UCS Icon
In the lower-left corner of the drawing area, you see an L-shaped line (Figure 1.11). This is the
User Coordinate System (UCS) icon, which tells you your orientation in the drawing. This icon
becomes helpful as you start to work with complex 2D drawings and 3D models. The X and Y
indicate the X and Y axes of your drawing. Chapter 20 discusses this icon in detail. For now, you
can use it as a reference to tell you the direction of the axes.
FIGURE 1.11
The UCS icon
IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE UCS ICON
The UCS icon can be turned on and off, so if you're on someone else's system and you don't see the
icon, don't panic. If you don't see the icon or it doesn't look as it does in this chapter, see Chapter
20 for more information.
Using the Command Line Palette and the Dynamic Input Display
AutoCAD is the perfect servant: It does everything you tell it to and no more. You communicate
with AutoCAD by using tools and menu bar options to invoke AutoCAD commands. A com-
mand is a single-word instruction you give to AutoCAD telling it to do something, such as draw
a line (the Line tool in the Tool Sets palette) or erase an object (the Erase tool in the Tool Sets
palette). Whenever you invoke a command, by either typing it or selecting a menu option or
tool, AutoCAD responds by presenting messages to you in the Command Line palette and the
Dynamic Input display or by displaying a dialog box.