Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
in Chapter 7 before you apply the editing techniques from this chapter to real
drawings.
Commanding and Selecting
AutoCAD offers three styles of editing:
Command-irst editing
Selection-irst editing
Direct object manipulation (grip editing)
AutoCAD refers to command-first editing as
verb-noun editing
and to selection-
first editing as
noun-verb editing.
When you see this terminology — for example, in
the Options dialog box or the online help system — don't worry, you haven't
dropped back into your fifth-grade English class!
Command-first editing
With
command-first editing,
you start a command and then select the objects on which
the command works. This style of editing may seem backward to you at first unless
you're a longtime AutoCAD user. Command-first editing works well for power users who
are in a hurry and who are willing to memorize most of the commands they need to do
their work. It's also the
only
way to use some of the editing commands (such as FILLET
and BREAK). It's no surprise that command-first editing is the traditional editing style in
AutoCAD, and the one method with which you need to be most comfortable.
Selection-first editing
In
selection-first editing,
you perform the same steps — in the same order — as in most
Windows applications: Select the object first, and then choose the command. Selection-
first editing tends to be easier to master and makes AutoCAD more approachable for
new and occasional users.
