Beginning AutoCAD 2017. Cheryl R. Shrock

       Closing Lines

      If you have drawn 2 or more line segments, the endpoint of the last line segment can be connected automatically to the first endpoint using the Close option.

       Try the following example:

      1. Select the Line command.

      2. Place the First endpoint

      3. Place the next endpoint

      4. Place the next endpoint

      5. Type C <enter>

      Or

      5. Press the right mouse button and select Close from the Shortcut menu.

       What is the Shortcut Menu?

      The Shortcut menu gives you quick access to command options.

       Using the Shortcut menu:

      Press the right mouse button. The shortcut menu will appear. Select an option.

       Using the Dynamic Input down arrow:

      You may use the right mouse button or press the down arrow ↓ and the options will appear below the Dynamic Input prompt.

METHODS OF SELECTING OBJECTS

      Many AutoCAD commands prompt you to “select objects”. This means select the objects that you want the command to effect. There are 3 methods.

      Method 1. Pick, is very easy and should be used if you have only 1 or 2 objects to select. Method 2. Window selection, is a little more difficult but once mastered it is extremely helpful and time saving. Method 3. Lasso Selection, is a little more difficult than Window Selection but again, once mastered it is very useful and will save you time. Practice the following examples.

       Method 1. PICK

      Place the cursor on the object but do not press the mouse button yet. The object will highlight. This appearance change is called “Rollover Highlighting”. This gives you a preview of which object AutoCAD is recognizing. Press the left mouse button to actually select the highlighted object.

       Method 2. WINDOW selection, Crossing and Window

      Crossing:

      Place your cursor in the area up and to the right of the objects that you wish to select (P1) and press the left mouse button. (Do not hold the mouse button down. Just press and release) Then move the cursor down and to the left (P2) and press the left mouse button again. (Note: The window will be green and outer line is dashed.)

      Only the objects that this window crosses will be selected.

      In the example above, all 4 rectangles have been selected because the Crossing Window crosses a portion of each.

      Window:

      Place your cursor in the area up and to the left of the objects that you wish to select (P1) and press the left mouse button (Do not hold the mouse button down. Just press and release.) Then move the cursor down and to the right of the objects (P2) and press the left mouse button. (Note: The window will be blue and outer line is solid.) Only the objects that this window completely enclosed will be selected.

      In the example below, only 2 rectangles have been selected.

      (The other 2 rectangles are not completely enclosed in the Window.)

       Method 3. LASSO Selection, Crossing, Window and Fence

      Crossing:

      Place your cursor in the area up and to the right of the objects that you wish to select (P1) then press and hold the left mouse button. (Do not release the mouse button.) Then move the cursor in an anti-clockwise direction until you have crossed the objects you want to select (P2) then release the left mouse button. (Note: The Lasso window will be green and outer line is dashed.)

      Only the objects that the Lasso window crosses will be selected.

      Window:

      Place your cursor in the area up and to the left of the objects that you wish to select (P1) then press and hold the left mouse button. (Do not release the mouse button.) Then move the cursor in a clockwise direction until you have completely enclosed the objects you want to select (P2) then release the left mouse button. (Note: The window will be blue and outer line is solid.) Only the objects that this window completely enclosed will be selected.

      Fence:

      With the Fence option of the Lasso selection you can place the mouse cursor in any position you choose. For this example place your cursor at (P1) then press and hold the left mouse button. (Do not release the mouse button.) Move the mouse until you see either the green or blue lasso, then press the Spacebar until you see just a Dashed Fence Line. Move the mouse over the objects you want to select (P2) then release the left mouse button. Only the objects that the Fence line crosses will be selected.

      Note: You may have to press the Spacebar twice to activate the Fence Line option.

ERASE

      There are 3 methods to erase (delete) objects from the drawing.

      They all work equally well. You decide which one you prefer to use.

       Method 1.

      Select the Erase command first and then select the objects.

       Example:

      1. Start the Erase command using one of the following:

      Ribbon