Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
The Dynamic Input display allows you to enter dimensional data of objects as you draw
them. Besides echoing the Command Line palette messages, the Dynamic Input display shows
temporary dimensions, coordinates, and angles of objects you're drawing and editing. As you
enter coordinate or angle values through the keyboard, they appear in the Dynamic Input dis-
play, which is connected to the cursor (Figure 1.12).
FIGURE 1.12
A sample of how
the Dynamic Input
display looks
You can easily turn the Dynamic Input display on or off by clicking the Dynamic Input tool
in the status bar. When the Dynamic Input display is turned off, responses to your keyboard
input appear only in the Command Line palette.
The messages in the Command Line palette, or in the Dynamic Input display, often tell you
what to do next. Commands may also display a list of options in the Command Line palette. A
single command often presents a series of messages, which you answer to complete the com-
mand. These messages serve as an aid to new users who need a little help. If you ever get lost
while using a command or forget what you're supposed to do, look at the Command Line pal-
ette for clues. As you become more comfortable with AutoCAD, you'll find that you won't need
to refer to these messages as frequently.
As an additional aid, you can right-click to display a context-sensitive shortcut menu. That is,
if you're in the middle of a command, the context-sensitive menu displays a list of options spe-
cifically related to that command. For example, if you right-click before picking the first point
for the Rectangle command, a menu opens, displaying the same options that are listed in the
Command Line palette plus some additional options.
As mentioned, the Command Line palette
is located in the bottom left of the AutoCAD appli-
cation
.
By default, it shows a single line of text. You can expand the Command Line palette by
clicking the disclosure triangle, which, as mentioned earlier, is the triangle icon on the right
side of the palette. The expanded Command Line palette shows several lines. The bottom line
shows the current messages, and the top lines show messages that have scrolled by or, in some
