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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
1. Create and use a Template.
2. Select a Command.
3. Draw, Select and Erase Objects.
4. Start a New drawing.
5. Open an Existing Drawing.
6. Open Multiple Drawings.
7. Save, Backup and Recover a Drawing.
8. Exit AutoCAD.
The first item on the learning agenda is how to create a template file from a drawing file. This is important: You will need this template to complete Lessons 2 through 8.
First you need to download a drawing file.
A. Type the website address shown below into your web browser, then press <enter>
http://new.industrialpress.com/ext/downloads/acad/workbook-helper.zip
B. The workbook-helper file will download automatically.
C. Save the downloaded file to your desktop then unzip the file to extract both drawings.
Now you will create a template. (This will be a very easy task.)
1. Start AutoCAD, if you haven’t already. (Refer to page 1-2)
2. Select the OPEN tool from the Quick Access Toolbar. (Refer to page 1-10)
3. Select the Desktop directory
4. Select either the inch-helper or metric-helper drawing.
5. Select the Open button located in the lower right corner.
Your screen should appear as shown below.
I created the Rectangular shape that appears in the drawing area. I have designed the exercises that follow to fit on a 11” X 8-1/2” sheet of paper for inch users, or to fit on a 297mm × 210mm sheet of paper for metric users. This will enable you to easily print them on any letter or A4 size printer. The Rectangle represents an 11” X 8-1/2” or 297mm × 210mm sheet of paper, depending on which file you use. While completing the exercises within this workbook please try to draw all objects within this rectangle.
The criss-cross lines are Grids. I have set them to display every 1 inch vertically and horizontally for inch users, and every 25mm for metric users. You will learn more about Grids in Lesson 3. For now notice that the grids are 11 horizontally and 8.5 vertically for inch users, and 11.88 horizontally and 8.4 vertically for metric users. Grids are merely a visual aid and will not print. The size may be changed at any time and they may be turned ON or OFF easily by selecting the “Grid” button on the status line or F7. (Refer to page 1-13)
The next step is to create a template from this drawing. Continue on to Step 6 on the next page.
6. Select the “Application Menu”
7. Select Save As “
8. Select “Drawing Template”.
9. The name of the new file should already be highlighted in the “File name” box, if it’s not just type in; inch-helper or metric-helper in the File name box.
Do not type the extension .dwt, AutoCAD will add it automatically.
10. Select the Save button.
11. Type the description as shown below.
12. Select OK button.
Now you have a template to use for Lessons 2 through 8.
At the beginning of each exercise you will be instructed to start a NEW drawing using either the inch-helper.dwt or metric-helper.dwt
Using a template as a master setup drawing is very good CAD management.
More on using the template on the next page
The template that you created from the previous pages will be used for lessons 2 through 8. Many variables have been preset in this template. This will allow you to start drawing immediately. You will learn how to set those variables before you complete this workbook, but for now you will concentrate on learning the AutoCAD commands and hopefully have some fun.
TO USE A TEMPLATE
1. Select the NEW tool from the Quick Access Toolbar.
2. Select Drawing Template (*.dwt) from the “Files of type” if not already selected.
3. Select either the inch-helper.dwt or metric-helper.dwt from the list of templates.
Note: If you do not have these templates, refer to page 2-2 for instructions.
4. Select the Open button.
AutoCAD provides you with 2 different methods for selecting commands.
One is selecting a tool from the Ribbon, the other is typing the command. Both methods will accomplish the same end result. You decide which method you prefer. An example of Method 1