1

AutoCad Command Summary

Tim A. Hawkins  2006, All Rights Reserved

Revised: 10/23/06

Table of Contents

Subject Page(s)

Notes ……………………………………………………………… 2

Setting Up or Accessing Parameters ……………………….. 2

Buttons on Quick-Access Bar ……………………………….. 3

Object Snap Options …………………………………………… 4

Drawing Commands ……………………………………………. 5 – 7

Dimensioning Commands …………………………………….. 8 – 10

Other Commands ……………………………………………….. 11

3D Commands …………………………………………………… 12 - 14

( Vpoint ) Coordinate Views …………………………………… 15 – 22

Paper Space Commands ………………………………………. 23

Methods Of Point Input ………………………………………... 24 - 25

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Notes
- Words contained in parenthesis ( ) are command-line commands; they are NOT case
sensitive

- Units selection such as inches, metric, feet/inches should be changed in both ( units )
and ( dimstyle )

Setting Up or Accessing Parameters and/or Making a Template

Command Notes

( units ) <Enter> Choose Type of Units

( limits ) <Enter> Set Up Drawing Limits

(d) <Enter> Set Up Dimension Parameters or ( dimstyle ) or

( ddim )

( ds ) <Enter> Drafting Settings or ( dsettings )

( lw ) <Enter> Change Line Weight options such as units measured in

mm or inches or ( lweight )

( ltype ) <Enter> Load Line-Types: Hidden Lines, Center Lines, etc.

( la ) <Enter> Set Up or Access Layers

( op ) <Enter> Configure Various Display and User Preference

Options or ( options )

( st ) <Enter> Set Text Style

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Buttons on Quick-Access Bar Near Bottom of AutoCad Window

Function Key Command Notes

F9 ( Snap ) Set in ( dsettings ) / "Snap and Grid"

F7 ( Grid ) Set in ( dsettings ) / "Snap and Grid"

F8 ( Ortho ) Makes lines either Verticle of Horizontal

F10 POLAR Set in ( dsettings ) / "Polar Tracking"

F3 ( Osnap ) Or ( os ), Set in ( dsettings ) / "Object Snap"

F11 OTRACK Alignment paths using Osnap Locations

F6 DUCS Dynamic UCS changing; Used in 3D

F12 DYN Puts Information Near Cursor

LWT Shows or Hides Line Weight Specified in Layers

F1 Help Bring Up Help

F2 FlipScreen Toggle Command Input Text Screen On and Off

In the Bar Above:

SNAP, GRID, ORTHO POLAR, OSNAP, OTRACK, and DUCS are all Off

DYN, LWT, and MODEL are all ON

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Object Snap Options

Command Notes

( end ) Snaps to the End of a Line

( mid ) Snaps to the Midpoint of a Line

( int ) Snaps to the Intersection of Two or more Lines

( cen ) Snaps to the Center of a Circle

( qua ) Snaps to the Quadrant of a Circle

( per ) Snaps to a point Perpendicular to a Line

( tan ) Snaps to a point Tangent to a Circle

( nea ) Snaps to the Nearest Location on an Object

( nod ) Snaps to the Node of a Point Object

( mtp ) Snaps to the midpoint of Two Points; Pick 1st, then 2nd

( .x ) Specify Only X Value

( .y ) Specify Only Y Value

( .z ) Specify Only Z Value

( .xy ) Specify Only X and Y Values

( .xz ) Specify Only X and Z Values

( .yz ) Specify Only Y and Z Values

( aperture ) Change the Aperture Size On the Cross Hairs that Appear
when using OSNAP
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Drawing Commands

Command Notes

(E) Erase

(M) Move an Object

( co ) Copy an Object

(L) Draw a Line

(C) Draw a Circle

(A) Draw an Arc

( el ) Draw an Ellipse

( isoplane ) [ Left/Top/Right ]
Set Plane for Isometric Ellipses
Use F5 to Toggle

( xline ) Draw a Construction Line

( ray ) Draw a Ray

( rec ) Draw a Rectangle

(Z) Zoom

(P) Pan

( pol ) Draw a Polygon

( do ) Draw a Donut

( fill ) Specify Weather or Not Donut Gets Filled

( offset ) Offset an Object

( offsetgaptype )[ 0 / 1 / 2 ]
Extended Gaps are: 0 -> Square; 1-> Arced;
2 -> Chamfered

( po ) Draw a Single Point

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( ddptype ) Set the Point Style

( br ) Remove a Section from an Object; Type @ <ENTER>

for the Second Point to Simply Divide an Object into
Two Entities

( div ) Divide: Place Points on an Object Equidistant According

to the Number of Points Input

( me ) Measure: Place Points on an Object From One Edge

According to the distance Input

( tr ) Trim an Object

( ex ) Extend an Object

( scale ) Scale an Object

(S) Stretch an Object

( ro ) Rotate an Object

(x) Explode an Object into Primative Components

( mi ) Mirror Symmetrically a Line

(F) Make a Fillet

( cha ) Make a Chamfer

( dt ) or ( text ) Make a Single Line of Text; Double Click to Edit

( mt ) Make a Multiline Text Box; Double Click to Edit

( scaletext ) Scale a Single or Multiline Text

( pl ) Draw a Poly Line

( pe ) Edit a Poly Line

(J) Join Lines, Arcs, and Poly Lines

( array ) Make an Array of Objects

( bh ) Draw a Hatch in a Boundary

( he ) Edit a Boundary Hatch

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( wipeout ) Create a Clear Area Covering Objects

( mi ) Mirror an Object

( mirrtext ) 1: Text is Mirrored When Using the Mirror Command

2: Test is Not Mirrored When Using the Mirror Command

( co ) Copy an Object
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Dimensioning Commands

Command Notes

( qdim ) Quick Dimensioning

( dimassoc ) [ 0 / 1 / 2 ] 0: Dimensions Are Not Associated to Objects and

Are Exploded Entities
1: Dimensions Are Not Associated to Objects
2: Dimensions Are Associated to Objects

( dimreassociate ) Make Dimension Associated

( dimregen ) Regenerate Drawing After Pan or Zoom

( ddim ) Change Dim Styles

( dim ) Go into Dimensioning Mode

(e) Exit Dimensioning Mode

The Following Commands Can be Used Only in “Dimensioning Mode,” which is

entered Using the ( dim ) Command Shown Above, and Exited Using the ( e )
Command or <ESC>

( ve ) Draw Verticle Dimension

( hor ) Draw Horizontal Dimension

( al ) Draw Dimension Aligned to Object

(B) Continues From the Fist Extension Line

of Previous Dimension

( co ) Continues From Second Ext. Line of Prev. Dimension

(L) Draw Leader

(d) Draw Diameter of a Circle Dimension

( ra ) Draw Radius of a Circle Dimension

( an ) Draw Angular Dimension

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( ce ) Draw Center Mark

( or ) Draw Ordinate Dimensions

( up ) Update Existing Dimensions to match changes made

to the Dim Style

Syntax for Special Text Characters:

%%C Diameter Symbol

%%D Degree Sign

%%P Plus / Minus Sign

Dim Variables, Do Not Have to be in Dim Mode to Change:

( dimtxt ) Change the Dimension Text Size

( dimexo ) Extension Line Offset; Adjust the Gap between Object

and Start of Extension Line

( dimexe ) Extension Line Extension; Adjust Distance the Extension Line

Extends Past the Dimension Line

( dimse1 ) To Turn Off 1 st Extension Line, Set to 1

( dimse2 ) To Turn Off 2nd Extension Line, Set to 1

( dimtih ) Dimension Text Inside Horizontal

1 = All Dimension Text is Horizontal
0 = Dimension Text is Aligned with Dimension Line

( dimtad ) Text Above Dimension Line

1 = Dimension Line is One Continuous Line with Text
Above Dimension Line
0 = Dimension Text is On Same Vertical Level as Dimension
Line with Dimension Line Extending Out on Both Sides of
Dimension Text

( dimasz ) Dimension Arrowhead Size; Change the Dimension Line

Arrowhead Size

( dimtsz ) Dimension Line Tick Marks; 0 = Use Arrowheads, Otherwise

Enter Tick Size, Such as .05
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( dimcen ) Change Center Mark Size; A Negative Value Will Bring Center
Lines to Outside of Circle or Arc

( dimtix ) Text Inside Extension Lines

( dimgap ) Adjust the Size of the Gap between the Dimension Text
and the Start of the Dimension Line

( dimdli ) Dimension Line Increment; Used with Baseline Dimensioning

to Adjust Spacing Between Dimension Lines

( dimscale ) Set Scaling that Effects All Dimension Parameters

( ov ) Override Dimension Variable Temporarily to Adjust

Certain Dimension Variables
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Other Commands

Command Notes

(U) Undo

( ucs ) Change Location of User Coordinate S ystem Origin,

Type in M at Prompt to move UCS, then pick -- or Type
Coordinates – to Choose New UCS; Type in W at prompt

To Bring Back the UCS to the World Coordinate System

Location

See More Options in 3D Commands Section For Rotating

UCS About an Axis, etc.

(B) Create a Block to be Used in the Existing Drawing

( wblock ) Create a Block that Will Become a Drawing File With

a .dwg Extension to be Used in Other Drawings

( ddinsert ) Insert a Block

( minsert ) Insert multiple Copies of a Block

( ma ) Match Properties

( revcloud ) Highlight Revisions Made to an Area

( list ) Show List of Properties of an Object

( di ) Find the Distance Between Two Selected Pints

( id ) Show Absolute Coordinates of a Point

(r) Redraw Drawing

( regen ) Regenerate Drawing

( ch ) Bring Up the Properties Box or ( properties )

( adc ) AutoCad Design Center

( ‘cal ) Perform a Calculation While Entering a Point

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3D Commands

Command Notes

( vports ) Create Model Space Viewports

( vpoint ) Change 3D Viewpoint; Either Type In X,Y,Z Coordinate

Views ( see ( Vpoint ) Coordinate Views For
Examples ), Or Hit <ENTER> To Use Mouse

( elev ) Elevation: New Z Coordinate level to Draw On

Thickness: Plane Thickness in Z Direction for Object Drawn

( 3dface ) Make a 3D Face Between Three Or Four Points

( vsCurrent ) [2dwireframe/3dwireframe/3dHidden/Realistic/Conceptual/Other]
Define the Visual Style of a Model Space Viewport

( hide ) Make a Viewport’s Visual Style 3dwireframe (with Hidden Lines

if ( obscuredltype ) = 2)

( ucs ) [Face/NAmed/OBject/Previous/View/World/X/Y/Z/Zaxis] <World>:

Change the User Coordinate System Origin, Rotation
Etc.

The Default is to First Specify the Origin Point, then Specify

the Point to Define the X Axis, then Specify the Point to
Define the Y Axis

Choosing Either the X, Y, or Z Options Will Allow You

to Rotate the UCS About Either the X, Y, or Z Axis
Respectively

Choosing the Zaxis Option Will Allow You to Define the

Z Axis of the New User Coordinate System

Choosing the Previous Option Will Change the UCS

to the Last UCS

( plan ) [Current ucs/Ucs/World] <Current>:

Current ucs Option Sets the Drawing Surface to the Current
User Coordinate System
World Option Sets the Drawing Surface to the World
Coordinate System

( 3d ) Create Pre-defined 3D Shapes

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( rotate3D ) Rotate an Object About Any Axis

( mirror3d ) Mirror an Object About Any 3D Axis

( tabsurf ) Create a Ruled Surface Based on Any Shape

( surftab1 ) Determines the Number of Tabulated Surfaces in

( tabsurf ), and the Number of Segments in the
Direction of Rotation in ( revsurf )

( surftab2 ) Divides the Path Curve of ( revsurf ) Into Segments of

Equal Size

( revsurf ) Rotate a Profile Around a Chosen Axis

( 3dmesh ) Define a Polygon Mesh

( al_mesh ) Construct a Single Plane Mesh

( pface ) Similar to ( 3dface ), But Will Allow More than Four

Vertices

( edgesurf ) Create Curved Surfaces Having Four Sides

( rulesurf ) Place Surfaces Between Two Curves, a Curve and a

Line, a Curve and a Point, or a Line and a Point

( ext ) Extrude a Close 2D Shape

( reg ) Create a 2D Solid Region From Lines, Circles, etc. that

can be Extruded

( pedit ) Can use the Join Option to make Line Segments into a Closed
Polyline for Extruding

( uni ) Union of 2 or More Solids

( su ) Subtract One or More Solids from a Chosen Solid

( in ) Create Intersection of 2 Solids

( align ) Move a Solid to Match a Face of another Solid

( sec ) Create a 2D Section from a Solid

( sl ) Slice a Solid into 2 Pieces

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( rev ) Revolve a Closed Shape Around an Axis

( solidedit ) Edit a Solid Using One of the following

Extrude Faces
Move Faces
Offset Faces
Delete Faces

( ucsvp ) 0: UCS Icon Will be the Same in All Viewports

1: UCS Icon is Independent in Each Viewport (Default)

( dispsilh ) 0: Show Zig Zag Mesh Line when Using ( hide ) on 2d

Wireframe
1: Don’t Show Zig Zag Mesh Lines

( obscuredltype ) Controls the Appearance of Hidden Lines:

1 = Off
2 = Solid
3 = Dotted
4 = Short Dash
5 = Medium Dash
6 = Long Dash
7 = Double Short Dash
8 = Double Medium Dash
9 = Double Long Dash
10 = Medium Long Dash
11 = Sparse Dot
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( Vpoint ) Coordinate Views

( vpoint ) -> 0, 0 , 1

X=0
Y=0
Z=1

Looking Down from the Positive

Z Axis, Perpendicular to the X
Axis and Y Axis
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( vpoint ) -> 0, -1 , 0

X=0
Y = -1
Z=0

Looking Down from the

Negative Y Axis, Perpendicular
to the X Axis and Z Axis

( vpoint ) -> 1, 0 , 0

X=1
Y=0
Z=0

Looking Down from the Positive

X Axis, Perpendicular to the Z
Axis and Y Axis
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( vpoint ) -> 0, 1 , 0

X=0
Y=1
Z=0

Looking Down from the Positive

Y Axis, Perpendicular to the X
Axis and Z Axis

( vpoint ) -> -1, 0 , 0

X = -1
Y=0
Z=0

Looking Down from the

Negative X Axis, Perpendicular
to the Y Axis and Z Axis
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( vpoint ) -> -1, -1 , 0

X = -1
Y = -1
Z =0

Looking Perpendicular to the Z

Axis, In from the Negative X
Axis, and in from the Negative
Y Axis

( vpoint ) -> 0, 0 , -1

X=0
Y=0
Z = -1

Looking Down from the

Negative Z Axis, Perpendicular
to the X Axis and Y Axis
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( vpoint ) -> -1, -1 , 1

X = -1
Y = -1
Z=1

Looking Down from the Positive

Z Axis, the Negative X Axis,
and the Negative Y Axis

( vpoint ) -> 1, -1 , 1

X=1
Y = -1
Z=1

Looking Down from the Positive

Z Axis, the Positive X Axis, and
the Negative Y Axis
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( vpoint ) -> 1, 1 , 1

X=1
Y=1
Z=1

Looking Down from the Positive

Z Axis, the Positive X Axis, and
the Positive Y Axis

( vpoint ) -> -1, 1 , 1

X = -1
Y=1
Z=1

Looking Down from the Positive

Z Axis, the Negative X Axis,
and the Positive Y Axis
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( vpoint ) -> -1, 1 , -1

X = -1
Y=1
Z = -1

Looking Up from the Negative Z

Axis, the Negative X Axis, and
the Positive Y Axis

( vpoint ) -> -1, -1 , -1

X = -1
Y = -1
Z = -1

Looking Up from the Negative Z

Axis, the Negative X Axis, and
the Negative Y Axis
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( vpoint ) -> 1, -1 , -1

X=1
Y = -1
Z = -1

Looking Up from the Negative Z

Axis, the Positive X Axis, and
the Negative Y Axis

( vpoint ) -> 1, 1 , -1

X=1
Y=1
Z = -1

Looking Up from the Negative Z

Axis, the Positive X Axis, and
the Positive Y Axis
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Paper Space Commands

Command Notes

( mvsetup ) [Align/Create/Scale viewports/Options/Title block/Undo]

Set Options Such as Aligning Different Viewports, Creating
Paper Space Viewports, Scaling Viewports, Loading
Standard Title B locks, etc.

( mv ) Create Paper Space Viewports, and Adjust Other Parameters

( xref ) Insert External Drawing File Into Paper Space Viewport

( vplayer ) Control the Display of Layers in Specific Viewports

- Use the Zoom command ( z ) in a particular Paper Space Viewport, then use the nxp
command inside the Zoom command to set the scale of the Viewport. For example, 1/4xp
will set the scale to 1:4.

- Use File>Page Setup Manager… to select printer, page size, etc.

( .pspace ) Activate Paper Space in the Layout Tab; or Double Click

Outside of the Paper Space Viewports

( .mspace ) Activate Model Space in Individual Paper Space Viewports

in the Layout Tab; or Double Click in an Individual Paper
Space Viewport

( psltscale ) Paper Space Non-Continuous Linetype Scale

1 = Non-Continuous Linetypes in Different Paper Space
Viewports with Different Scales will Appear the Same
0 = No Scale Adjustment for Non-Continuous Linetypes
in Different Paper Space Viewports with Different Scales

Plot Resolution Variables:

VIEWRES
3DDWFPREC
FACETRES
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Methods Of Point Input

Absolute Cartesian 2D:

X, Y

Relative Cartesian 2D:

@X, Y

Absolute Cartesian 3D:

X, Y, Z

Relative Cartesian 3D:

@X, Y, Z

Absolute Polar (2D):

Radius<Angle

Angle = ( Angle from X axis in the XY plane )

Relative Polar (2D):

@Radius<Angle

Angle = ( Angle from X axis in the XY plane )

Relative Spherical (3D):

@Radius<Angle <Angle 2

Angle 1 = ( Angle from X axis in the XY plane )

Angle 2 = ( Angle towards Z axis from XY plane )
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Relative Cylindrical (3D):

@Radius<Angle , Z

Angle = ( Angle from X axis in the XY plane )

Relative Input For X = 5 Feet, 5/8 Inches, Y = 0:

@5’-5/8”,0

Or

@5’5/8”,0

Or

@5’.625”

Relative Input For X = 5 Feet, 1 and 1/4 Inches, Y = 0:

@5’-1-1/4”,0

Or

@5’1-1/4”,0

Or

@5’1.25”