Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Setting up the Drawing units
When you draw lines of a precise length in AutoCAD, you use one of five kinds
of linear units. Angular units can also be any of five types. The combination you
choose will largely depend on the type of drawings you plan to prepare. We'll
discuss each of these linear and angular units at the end of this chapter, but for
now let's focus on getting ready to begin drawing our cabin.
When you first start a new drawing, AutoCAD displays a blank drawing called
Drawing#.dwg
. By default the linear and angular units inside this drawing are set
to decimal numbers. The units and other basic setup parameters applied to this
new drawing are based on a prototype drawing with default settings — including
those for the units. This chapter covers some of the tools for changing the basic
parameters of a new drawing so that you can tailor it to the cabin project or for
your own project. Begin by setting up new units:
1.
With AutoCAD running, close all drawings and then click the New
button (on the Quick Access toolbar) to start a new drawing. In the
Select Template dialog box, click the arrow to the right of the Open
button and select Open With No Template - Imperial (see Figure 3.1)
or Open With No Template - Metric, depending on your preference.
If the Select
template dialog box
doesn't appear after
you click New from
the Quick access
toolbar, use the
application Menu
➢
New
➢
Drawing.
FiGuRE 3.1
The Select Template dialog box
To get started with the steps in this chapter, check to be sure each of
the status bar buttons except Dynamic Input are clicked to the off posi-
tion — that is, they appear unpushed and with a gray background. Also
make sure you are in model space by clicking the Quick View Layouts
➢
Search WWH ::
Custom Search