Topics covered in this Lesson:

Rectangle | Multi Line | Extend | Offset | Trim | Introduction to Object Snaps

The previous lesson dealt with drawing commands. This lesson will introduce some common modifying commands. In AutoCAD, you
may actually use modifying commands more often than drawing commands. Now that you know the basics, here's some more
commands to add to your collection. Three commands, Trim, Extend and Offset are used standard AutoCAD work.

Keystroke Icon Location Result

Command
RECTANGLE /
H ome > Draw >  Draws a rectangle after you enter
Rectangle
Rectangle one corner and then the second.
REC
Home > Modify >  Trims objects to a selected cutting
Trim TRIM / TR
Trim edge.
Home > Modify > Extends objects to a selected
Extend EXTEND / EX
Extend boundary edge.
Home > Modify > Offsets an object (parallel) by a
Offset OFFSET / O
Offset set distance.
CLICK
Object OSNAP / OS / Tools > Object 
Brings up the OSNAP dialog box.
Snaps F3 Snap Settings

Assignment #2 - Modifying Commands

The purpose of this assignment is to use the commands learned in the previous lesson and learn some new ones.

Duplicate the drawing called Assign_2. 

Click HERE to download the DWG file.

Once again, do not worry about title blocks, text or dimensions, draw only what is in yellow.

Start AutoCAD and begin the the drawing by opening up the template file like you did in Lesson 1-2.

Draw a LINE from 1,2 to 3,2 to 3,4 to 1,4 (*Remember to watch the command line as you do this.) For the last line's
endpoint , you can either type in 1,2 or C to close the line back to the first point you entered. These are absolute
coordinates. Make sure you understand what the points your just entered represent.

Draw the next square using the RECTANGLE command. A rectangle is created by specifying 2 points to represent the opposite
corners. Enter the first point as 4.5,2 and then make the opposite corner 2 inches over and 2 inches up @2,2 using relative
coordinates. This is much faster and also makes the square one object and not 4 separate lines.

ERASE the rectangle. You will see that all of it is gone with one pick. Redraw it and continue.

For the 3rd square, draw a 1.5 x 1.5 unit square using any of the methods you know. The bottom left corner must be a 8,2.

Draw a line from 2,5 to 2,6.5 Draw another line from 1,6 to 3,6 You should now have two perpendicular lines. What you want
to do is trim off the top of the vertical line and create a T.

Start the TRIM command. It will first ask for a cutting edge. Select the horizontal line and press <ENTER>. It will now ask for the
object to be trimmed. Select the vertical line anywhere above the horizontal (cutting) line and press <ENTER> to finish the command.
This is what you saw on the command line:

Command: TR <enter> TRIM
Current settings: Projection=UCS, Edge=None
Select cutting edges ...
Select objects: <Select the Horizontal line> 1 found
Select objects: <enter>
Select object to trim or shift-select to extend or
[Fence/Crossing/Project/Edge/eRase/Undo]:<Select the vertical line>
Select object to trim or shift-select to extend or [Project/Edge/Undo]: <enter>

Once again, it is important to keep your eye on the command line as it will guide you through most commands.

Draw a LINE from 4,6.5 to 6,6.5 Draw another line from 5,5 to 5,6 What you want to do now is extend the vertical line up
to the meet horizontal line. Start the EXTEND command. AutoCAD asks for a boundary edge; select the horizontal line
press<ENTER>. It then asks for an object to extend; select somewhere in the top half of the vertical line. Press <ENTER> to end
the command. Your command line history should match what is shown below.

Command: EX <enter> EXTEND
Current settings: Projection=UCS, Edge=None
Select boundary edges ...
Select objects: <Select the horizontal line> 1 found
Select objects: <enter>
Select object to extend or shift-select to trim or [Fence/Crossing/Project/Edge/Undo]: <Select
the top half of the vertical line>
Select object to extend or shift-select to trim or [Project/Edge/Undo]: <enter>

Draw a CIRCLE with a center point of 7.5,5.5 with a radius of .5 Now you will use to offset command to make another circle
1/4" larger. Start the OFFSET command (watch the command line) and enter .125 as the offset distance (1/2 of 1/4"). Now select
the circle and pick anywhere outside the circle. Press <ENTER> to end the command.

BREAK TIME : You won't believe me now, but I use the Offset A LOT when I am drafting. As you
watch the videos in the next level, you'll see what I mean. I would be lost without my Offset. You will
be too, so learn how to use it and be quick with it. You'll get more practice.

 
Object Snaps

Suppose you want to draw a line from the center of the circle to the middle of the vertical line you extended earlier. AutoCAD has a
feature that makes this very easy. These are the Object Snaps (or Osnaps "Oh-Snaps"). Type OS <ENTER> . You will see this
dialog box appear.
 SETTING   ICON SETTING
ICON

Endpoint   Insertion Point

Midpoint   Perpendicular

Center   Tangent

Node   Nearest

Quadrant   Apparent Intersection

Intersection   Parallel

Extension   M2P Midpoint between 2 points

You may select whichever points you want to 'snap' on an object. Here is a list of your options. Followed by the command entry to
invoke the needed Osnap.

Endpoint - snaps to either the beginning or the end of an object such as a line - END

Midpoint - snaps to the exact middle of a line or an arc - MID

Center - snaps to the center-point of a circle or arc - CEN

Node - snaps to 'nodes' (not covered in this course) - NOD

Quadrant - snaps to any of the four quadrants of a circle - QUA

Intersection - snaps to the point where two object cross - INT

Extension - Snaps to the phantom extension of an arc or line - EXT

Insertion - snaps to the insertion point of an object (such as a block or text) - INS

Perpendicular - will snap so that the result is perpendicular to line selected - PER

Tangent - snaps to create a line tangent to a circle or arc - TAN

Nearest - will find the closest point an object and snap to that point - NEA

Parallel -Snaps parallel to a specified line - PAR

M2P - This isn't technically an 'Object Snap' as you are not snapping to specific point on an object, but it allows you to select 2 points
and it will calculate the midpoint between those 2 points. This is a very handy option to have.

Note: Beside each checkbox is a symbol. That symbol will show up on the screen when you have found a valid snap point. (An
endpoint will show a small square). If you select the "Options" button, you can change the aperture size and the color of the Osnaps.
Depending upon the background you are drawing on, this may be needed.

a. Check off the boxes as shown in the dialog box above (Object Snaps On, Endpoint, Midpoint, Center) and press OK.
b. Begin the LINE command. Move your cursor around the screen and you'll see that as you get close to an object, it will 'snap'
to one of the points that you had checked off in the dialog box. Place your cursor on the circle (not the middle of the circle)
until you see a small purple circle appear at its center. Left-click to make this the start point of the line. Move the cursor
towards the middle of the vertical line until you see a small triangle appear. (Remember this is the symbol for
'midpoint'). When you see it left-click to accept this as your endpoint. Press <ENTER> to end the line command.
c. Save your drawing.
d. Print your drawing with the same settings as in Assignment #1. Don't forget to use the preview.

 View the video for Assignment 2.

TIP: Before you select the Osnap you want, you can press the TAB key on your keyboard to cycle through the available Osnaps in the
area of your cursor.

CAUTION: Although it may seem tempting to turn 'all' the Osnaps on when drawing, you can have too much of a good thing. For
example, in shorter lines, Midpoint, Nearest and Perpendicular could all be very close to each other, and you could select the wrong
point.
When you have finished the assignment, continue practicing with the commands until they are mastered. These are common
commands that you will use in everyday drafting.

Extra Practice: Copy this drawing, using lines, mlines, offset, osnaps - extra_003.gif 

 View the video for Exercise 3.

Extra Practice: Copy this drawing, it could a little to figure out, but still uses the commands you have learned so far. - extra_004.gif

 View the video for Exercise 4.

Extra Practice: Have a look at this drawing of a simple reflected ceiling plan (RCF) and see how the offset, trim and extend
commands might be used. If you know how to change units to Architectural, try drawing it. 

 View the video for Bonus 1.

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