Overview

A lot of programs let you draw lines, circles, and arcs, but AutoCAD lets you draw with a level of precision that goes way beyond most other drawing programs. To take advantage of that precision, however, you need to know how to use the Drafting tools.

This chapter covers the set of tools that allow you to place objects exactly where you want them. You ll start by learning about the AutoCAD coordinate system, which will be basic to your understanding of precision in AutoCAD. You ll then learn how to set up a drawing and how AutoCAD uses units of measure. The last half of this chapter covers the tools that let you select points in your drawing accurately. You ll learn how to select exact endpoints or midpoints of lines, for example, and how to align one object with another.

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Understanding the AutoCAD Coordinate System

• Setting Up a Drawing

• Using a Digital T Square and Triangle

• Getting a Visual Reference with the Grid Mode

• Snapping to the Grid or Other Regular Intervals

• Selecting Exact Locations on Objects

• Aligning Objects Using Object Snap Tracking and Tracking Points

Understanding the AutoCAD Coordinate System

Before you get too far in your use of AutoCAD, you ll want to know a little about the coordinate system in AutoCAD. Coordinates are important because they allow you to specify exact locations in your drawing. You ll use coordinates frequently to set the size and location...