Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
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For many of the modifying or construction-oriented commands, the Noun/Verb selection
method is inappropriate because for those commands, you must select more than one set of
objects. You'll know whether a command accepts the Noun/Verb selection method right away.
Commands that don't accept the Noun/Verb selection method clear the selection and then ask
you to select an object or set of objects.
If you'd like to take a break, now is a good time to do so. If you want, exit AutoCAD, and return
to this point in the tutorial later. When you return, start AutoCAD and open the Door.dwg file.
AutoCAD offers selection options in addition to Noun/Verb selection. See Appendix B on the
companion website to learn how you can control object-selection methods. That appendix also
describes how to change the size of the Standard cursor.
Editing with Grips
Earlier, when you selected the door, grips appeared at the endpoints, center points, and mid-
points of the lines and arcs. You can use grips to make direct changes to the shape of objects or
to move and copy them quickly.
If you didn't see grips on the door in the previous exercise, your version of AutoCAD
may have the Grips feature turned off. To turn them on, refer to the information on grips in
Appendix B on the companion website.
So far, you've seen how operations in AutoCAD have a discrete beginning and ending. For
example, to draw an arc, you first issue the Arc command and then go through a series of opera-
tions, including answering prompts and picking points. When you're finished, you have an arc
and AutoCAD will be ready for the next command.
The Grips feature, on the other hand, plays by a different set of rules. Grips offer a small yet
powerful set of editing functions that don't conform to the lockstep command/prompt/input
routine you've seen so far. As you work through the following exercises, it's helpful to think of
grips as a subset of the standard method of operation in AutoCAD. If you've used other graphics
programs, grip editing will be familiar to you.
To practice using the Grips feature, you'll make some temporary modifications to the door
drawing.
Stretching Lines by Using Grips
In this exercise, you'll stretch one corner of the door by grabbing the grip points of two lines:
1.
Use the Zoom tool in the status bar to adjust your view so the size of the door is similar to
what is shown in Figure 2.25.
2.
Press the Esc key to make sure you're not in the middle of a command. Click and drag
(or double-tap and drag) from a point below and to the left of the door to start a selection
w i ndow.
3.
Move the cursor above and to the right of the rectangular part of the door and then
release the mouse to place the selection window around the door and select it.
4.
Place the cursor on the lower-left corner grip of the rectangle,
but don't press the mouse but-
ton yet.
Notice that the cursor jumps to the grip point and that the grip changes color.
