& Construction
Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
& Manufacturing
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Learn key tools and functions to get you up and running with AutoCAD LT.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
20 min.
Most people use a mouse as their pointing device, but other devices have equivalent controls.
Tip: When you look for an option, try right-clicking. Depending on where you locate your cursor and whether a command is in progress, the menu that appears will provide relevant commands and options.
The Command window displays prompts, options, and messages. It is normally docked at the bottom of the application window, but can be undocked and moved as needed.
You can enter commands directly in the Command window instead of using the ribbon, toolbars, and menus. Many CAD professionals prefer this method.
The command line is where you will see instructions and options when using commands. Watch this video to understand the command line.
Transcript
00:03
The command line is one of the most
00:05
unique and recognizable components of the interface.
00:09
The command line is where you will
00:11
see instructions and options when using commands,
00:15
for example, on the home ribbon
00:17
in the draw panel, click the line tool
00:21
on the command line. The program prompts you to specify the first point of the line.
00:27
Once you click to pick that point,
00:29
the prompt changes
00:31
now on the command line, it states specify next point or undo
00:37
and notice that the word undo is inside square brackets,
00:42
click to pick some additional points.
00:46
Once you have drawn two line segments,
00:49
the prompt in the command line changes.
00:51
It still states specified next point,
00:54
but inside the square brackets it now states close undo
00:59
and those words have a gray background.
01:03
The words inside the square brackets are options
01:07
And most commands display one or more options.
01:11
When options are available,
01:13
you can choose one of those options by either typing the capital letter in this case,
01:18
C.
01:19
Or you
01:20
by right clicking and choosing the desired option from the shortcut menu.
01:26
By pressing the down arrow key and choosing the desired option
01:31
or by clicking the option right in the command line.
01:35
For example, click the close option
01:38
to create one more line segment from the end point of the
01:41
second line back to the starting point of the first line segment.
01:46
This also ends the line. Command.
01:50
The command line is actually a command window
01:53
that is initially anchored to the bottom of the drawing area.
01:57
You can click and drag this window and anchor
01:59
it at the top or bottom of the drawing window
02:03
when anchored.
02:04
If you drag the file tab to float the drawing window,
02:08
the command window stays with the act of drawing window.
02:12
You can also drag the command window so that it becomes a floating window.
02:17
When floating.
02:18
The command window maintains its position. When you change the Act of drawing
02:24
right click the drawing title bar and select move to file tab
02:29
to return the floating drawing window back to the file tabs
02:34
again. Since the command window is floating, it maintains its position,
02:40
drag the command window and anchor it back at the bottom of the Act of drawing window.
02:46
You can also dock the command window
02:49
to do this,
02:50
drag the command window to the bottom of the program window
02:54
when you do
02:56
the command window expands,
02:58
it now displays three lines of information and takes
03:01
up space that could otherwise be used by the drawing
03:06
note that you can also dock the command window to the top of the program window,
03:12
drag the command window so that it is once again floating
03:16
and then anchor it back to the bottom of the drawing window.
03:20
When floating or anchored.
03:22
The command window displays just a single line
03:26
which helps maximize the drawing area.
03:29
Most users prefer this arrangement,
03:33
although the command window now shows just one line of information
03:37
as you use various commands. You see multiple lines of command prompts
03:42
as a semi transparent extension without affecting the drawing area.
03:47
For example when you start the line tool,
03:50
the current prompt appears in the command window,
03:54
but as you select points,
03:56
those previous prompts scroll up into the semi transparent area.
04:01
Once you end the command,
04:04
the prompt history eventually fades away.
04:09
You can press the F two key or click the arrow at the right most edge
04:14
of the command window to expand the command
04:16
line to see additional command line history,
04:20
you can then scroll forward and back within this command history,
04:25
press F to
04:27
click the arrow again or click anywhere else in the program window
04:32
to collapse the command window,
04:34
you can also anchor the command window to the right or
04:37
left edge of the program window or to a docked palette.
04:42
For example on the home ribbon in the layers panel,
04:46
click the layer properties button to open the layer, Properties Manager palette,
04:52
right click the palette title and choose anchor left,
04:57
then
04:58
drag the command window and anchor it to the edge of the palette.
05:02
When you move the cursor over the palate,
05:05
the palate expands and covers the command line.
05:09
Right click the palette title and turn off auto hide.
05:14
Now the command line remains snap to the edge of the palate.
05:19
If you resize the palette,
05:21
the command line stays snap to the edge of the palette.
05:25
When you close the palette,
05:27
the command line snaps to the edge of the program window,
05:32
drag the command window and anchor it back to the bottom of the drawing area.
05:38
A quick glance at the command line indicates whether a command is active or not.
05:43
When no command is active,
05:45
the command line states type a command.
05:48
When a command is active, the command name appears along with its command icon,
05:55
for example, click the line tool again to start the line command
05:60
on the command line, you can see the name of the command and its command icon.
06:06
You can click the command icon to view and launch. The most recently used commands
06:13
press escape to cancel the command.
06:16
Even when no command is active,
06:18
you can still access the most recently used commands.
06:23
You can also close the command line window by clicking the close button. When you do
06:29
the program displays a warning dialog asking if you
06:32
really want to close the command line window.
06:36
It also tells you that you can display
06:38
the command line window again by pressing control nine
06:43
click yes to close the command line.
06:47
Although you closed the command line window,
06:50
there is still a separate command line text window that you can access at any time.
06:55
By pressing the F2 key
06:58
In this window.
06:59
You see the command line as well as up
07:01
to 400 lines of previous commands and command prompts.
07:06
You can select text within this window,
07:09
copy it to the Windows, clipboard
07:11
and then paste that text back to the command line or even into a word document.
07:18
Press F two to close the text window or simply click it's close button,
07:24
Then
07:25
press control 9
07:28
to restore the command line window to its previous location.
07:32
If you wish,
07:33
you can lock the user interface to prevent the command line from being relocated.
07:38
The tools for locking the user interface appear on the status bar,
07:43
but by default,
07:44
these tools are not initially visible
07:47
on the status bar, expand the customization menu
07:52
and select lock Ui
07:54
to add the lock ui tool to the status bar,
07:59
then click away from the menu to close it.
08:03
The lock user interface tool now appears on the status bar
08:07
but is initially toggled off,
08:10
click the arrow adjacent to the lock user interface tool
08:14
to display its shortcut menu.
08:17
The Menu has four options.
08:19
Floating toolbars slash panels prevents you
08:23
from moving any toolbar or ribbon panel
08:25
that is currently floating
08:28
docked toolbars, slashed panels
08:30
prevents you from moving any toolbar or ribbon panel
08:34
that is currently docked
08:36
floating windows prevents you from moving any palette that is currently floating
08:41
and docked Windows prevents you from moving any palette
08:44
that is currently docked or angered
08:48
in the shortcut menu. Select floating windows and docked windows
08:53
so that check marks appear adjacent to those options
08:57
and then click away from the menu To close it,
09:01
notice
09:01
that the lock user interface tool is now
09:03
toggled on as indicated by its blue background
09:08
when you move the cursor over the tool.
09:10
The tool tip also shows you that lock user interface is on.
09:16
Now try to move the command line window
09:20
when you do you see a small red circle with a line through it
09:24
indicating that you cannot undock the palate.
09:27
When the Ui is locked
09:30
and docked Windows is selected,
09:32
you cannot undock a docked window
09:35
however, you can temporarily unlock a window,
09:39
Press the control key and then try to drag the command line window.
09:43
As long as you press the control key, you can move it
09:48
now that the command line window is floating.
09:51
Release the control key and try to move it
09:54
again. You see the icon indicating that you cannot relocate the window
09:59
when the Ui is locked and floating window is selected,
10:02
you cannot move a floating window.
10:05
But again you can press the control key
10:08
to temporarily unlock the Ui and then relocate the window.
10:14
You can toggle off lock user interface
10:17
in order to move any user interface element freely.
10:21
Or you can leave lock user interface enabled
10:25
but toggle off floating windows and docked windows
10:28
so that you can once again relocate any window without restriction.
10:32
In this case on the status bar, toggle off lock user interface,
10:38
then expand the customization menu and click lock Ui
10:44
to toggle off the display of the lock user interface tool
10:49
being able to lock the user interface helps ensure
10:52
that various tools remain where you have placed them
10:55
but it does not completely prevent them from being moved.
Video transcript
00:03
The command line is one of the most
00:05
unique and recognizable components of the interface.
00:09
The command line is where you will
00:11
see instructions and options when using commands,
00:15
for example, on the home ribbon
00:17
in the draw panel, click the line tool
00:21
on the command line. The program prompts you to specify the first point of the line.
00:27
Once you click to pick that point,
00:29
the prompt changes
00:31
now on the command line, it states specify next point or undo
00:37
and notice that the word undo is inside square brackets,
00:42
click to pick some additional points.
00:46
Once you have drawn two line segments,
00:49
the prompt in the command line changes.
00:51
It still states specified next point,
00:54
but inside the square brackets it now states close undo
00:59
and those words have a gray background.
01:03
The words inside the square brackets are options
01:07
And most commands display one or more options.
01:11
When options are available,
01:13
you can choose one of those options by either typing the capital letter in this case,
01:18
C.
01:19
Or you
01:20
by right clicking and choosing the desired option from the shortcut menu.
01:26
By pressing the down arrow key and choosing the desired option
01:31
or by clicking the option right in the command line.
01:35
For example, click the close option
01:38
to create one more line segment from the end point of the
01:41
second line back to the starting point of the first line segment.
01:46
This also ends the line. Command.
01:50
The command line is actually a command window
01:53
that is initially anchored to the bottom of the drawing area.
01:57
You can click and drag this window and anchor
01:59
it at the top or bottom of the drawing window
02:03
when anchored.
02:04
If you drag the file tab to float the drawing window,
02:08
the command window stays with the act of drawing window.
02:12
You can also drag the command window so that it becomes a floating window.
02:17
When floating.
02:18
The command window maintains its position. When you change the Act of drawing
02:24
right click the drawing title bar and select move to file tab
02:29
to return the floating drawing window back to the file tabs
02:34
again. Since the command window is floating, it maintains its position,
02:40
drag the command window and anchor it back at the bottom of the Act of drawing window.
02:46
You can also dock the command window
02:49
to do this,
02:50
drag the command window to the bottom of the program window
02:54
when you do
02:56
the command window expands,
02:58
it now displays three lines of information and takes
03:01
up space that could otherwise be used by the drawing
03:06
note that you can also dock the command window to the top of the program window,
03:12
drag the command window so that it is once again floating
03:16
and then anchor it back to the bottom of the drawing window.
03:20
When floating or anchored.
03:22
The command window displays just a single line
03:26
which helps maximize the drawing area.
03:29
Most users prefer this arrangement,
03:33
although the command window now shows just one line of information
03:37
as you use various commands. You see multiple lines of command prompts
03:42
as a semi transparent extension without affecting the drawing area.
03:47
For example when you start the line tool,
03:50
the current prompt appears in the command window,
03:54
but as you select points,
03:56
those previous prompts scroll up into the semi transparent area.
04:01
Once you end the command,
04:04
the prompt history eventually fades away.
04:09
You can press the F two key or click the arrow at the right most edge
04:14
of the command window to expand the command
04:16
line to see additional command line history,
04:20
you can then scroll forward and back within this command history,
04:25
press F to
04:27
click the arrow again or click anywhere else in the program window
04:32
to collapse the command window,
04:34
you can also anchor the command window to the right or
04:37
left edge of the program window or to a docked palette.
04:42
For example on the home ribbon in the layers panel,
04:46
click the layer properties button to open the layer, Properties Manager palette,
04:52
right click the palette title and choose anchor left,
04:57
then
04:58
drag the command window and anchor it to the edge of the palette.
05:02
When you move the cursor over the palate,
05:05
the palate expands and covers the command line.
05:09
Right click the palette title and turn off auto hide.
05:14
Now the command line remains snap to the edge of the palate.
05:19
If you resize the palette,
05:21
the command line stays snap to the edge of the palette.
05:25
When you close the palette,
05:27
the command line snaps to the edge of the program window,
05:32
drag the command window and anchor it back to the bottom of the drawing area.
05:38
A quick glance at the command line indicates whether a command is active or not.
05:43
When no command is active,
05:45
the command line states type a command.
05:48
When a command is active, the command name appears along with its command icon,
05:55
for example, click the line tool again to start the line command
05:60
on the command line, you can see the name of the command and its command icon.
06:06
You can click the command icon to view and launch. The most recently used commands
06:13
press escape to cancel the command.
06:16
Even when no command is active,
06:18
you can still access the most recently used commands.
06:23
You can also close the command line window by clicking the close button. When you do
06:29
the program displays a warning dialog asking if you
06:32
really want to close the command line window.
06:36
It also tells you that you can display
06:38
the command line window again by pressing control nine
06:43
click yes to close the command line.
06:47
Although you closed the command line window,
06:50
there is still a separate command line text window that you can access at any time.
06:55
By pressing the F2 key
06:58
In this window.
06:59
You see the command line as well as up
07:01
to 400 lines of previous commands and command prompts.
07:06
You can select text within this window,
07:09
copy it to the Windows, clipboard
07:11
and then paste that text back to the command line or even into a word document.
07:18
Press F two to close the text window or simply click it's close button,
07:24
Then
07:25
press control 9
07:28
to restore the command line window to its previous location.
07:32
If you wish,
07:33
you can lock the user interface to prevent the command line from being relocated.
07:38
The tools for locking the user interface appear on the status bar,
07:43
but by default,
07:44
these tools are not initially visible
07:47
on the status bar, expand the customization menu
07:52
and select lock Ui
07:54
to add the lock ui tool to the status bar,
07:59
then click away from the menu to close it.
08:03
The lock user interface tool now appears on the status bar
08:07
but is initially toggled off,
08:10
click the arrow adjacent to the lock user interface tool
08:14
to display its shortcut menu.
08:17
The Menu has four options.
08:19
Floating toolbars slash panels prevents you
08:23
from moving any toolbar or ribbon panel
08:25
that is currently floating
08:28
docked toolbars, slashed panels
08:30
prevents you from moving any toolbar or ribbon panel
08:34
that is currently docked
08:36
floating windows prevents you from moving any palette that is currently floating
08:41
and docked Windows prevents you from moving any palette
08:44
that is currently docked or angered
08:48
in the shortcut menu. Select floating windows and docked windows
08:53
so that check marks appear adjacent to those options
08:57
and then click away from the menu To close it,
09:01
notice
09:01
that the lock user interface tool is now
09:03
toggled on as indicated by its blue background
09:08
when you move the cursor over the tool.
09:10
The tool tip also shows you that lock user interface is on.
09:16
Now try to move the command line window
09:20
when you do you see a small red circle with a line through it
09:24
indicating that you cannot undock the palate.
09:27
When the Ui is locked
09:30
and docked Windows is selected,
09:32
you cannot undock a docked window
09:35
however, you can temporarily unlock a window,
09:39
Press the control key and then try to drag the command line window.
09:43
As long as you press the control key, you can move it
09:48
now that the command line window is floating.
09:51
Release the control key and try to move it
09:54
again. You see the icon indicating that you cannot relocate the window
09:59
when the Ui is locked and floating window is selected,
10:02
you cannot move a floating window.
10:05
But again you can press the control key
10:08
to temporarily unlock the Ui and then relocate the window.
10:14
You can toggle off lock user interface
10:17
in order to move any user interface element freely.
10:21
Or you can leave lock user interface enabled
10:25
but toggle off floating windows and docked windows
10:28
so that you can once again relocate any window without restriction.
10:32
In this case on the status bar, toggle off lock user interface,
10:38
then expand the customization menu and click lock Ui
10:44
to toggle off the display of the lock user interface tool
10:49
being able to lock the user interface helps ensure
10:52
that various tools remain where you have placed them
10:55
but it does not completely prevent them from being moved.
You can use function keys to quickly access common settings while drafting. Function keys can be found in the top row of most keyboards. Review the Handy Function Key Reference Table to learn how to use function keys to turn different modes on and off.
You can quickly navigate to different views by using the pan and zoom functions.
Use the wheel on your mouse to easily change your view:
You can zoom in and out within a drawing using the mouse wheel.
Transcript
00:02
you can zoom in and out within a drawing
00:05
zooming in and out does not change the size of the objects in the drawing,
00:10
it changes only the magnification of the view.
00:14
Perhaps the easiest way to zoom is to use the roller wheel on the mouse,
00:20
move the mouse to position the cursor over a point in the drawing
00:24
and then roll the wheel.
00:27
When you roll the wheel up or away from you,
00:30
you zoom in.
00:32
When you roll the wheel down or towards you, you zoom out.
00:37
Each click of the roller wheel changes the magnification by a preset increment.
00:44
You can also use the roller wheel to move or
00:47
pan around in the drawing without changing the current magnification.
00:52
Press and hold the wheel and then move the cursor
00:56
to move around within the drawing
01:00
to zoom back out so that you can see the entire drawing.
01:04
Double click the roller wheel.
01:06
The program immediately zooms out to the drawing extents so
01:11
that the entire drawing fits within the drawing window.
01:15
You can adjust the behavior of the roller
01:17
wheel by adjusting the zoom wheel system variable
01:21
type zoom wheel
01:24
and press enter.
01:27
When the zoom wheel value is zero.
01:30
Rolling the wheel forward or away from you zooms in
01:33
and rolling the wheel backwards or toward you zooms out.
01:38
If you change the zoom wheel value to one,
01:41
this is reversed
01:43
with a zoom wheel value of one, rolling the wheel forward or away from you zooms out,
01:49
whereas rolling the wheel backwards or toward you zooms in.
01:54
Typically you should leave the zoom wheel value set to zero,
01:60
but in autodesk inventor,
02:02
the behavior of the wheels reversed
02:04
an inventor rolling the wheel toward you, zooms in
02:08
and rolling it away from you, zooms out.
02:11
If you often use inventor,
02:13
you may want to change the behavior of the roller wheel to match that of inventor.
02:18
Otherwise,
02:19
simply leave the Zoom wheel value set to zero.
Video transcript
00:02
you can zoom in and out within a drawing
00:05
zooming in and out does not change the size of the objects in the drawing,
00:10
it changes only the magnification of the view.
00:14
Perhaps the easiest way to zoom is to use the roller wheel on the mouse,
00:20
move the mouse to position the cursor over a point in the drawing
00:24
and then roll the wheel.
00:27
When you roll the wheel up or away from you,
00:30
you zoom in.
00:32
When you roll the wheel down or towards you, you zoom out.
00:37
Each click of the roller wheel changes the magnification by a preset increment.
00:44
You can also use the roller wheel to move or
00:47
pan around in the drawing without changing the current magnification.
00:52
Press and hold the wheel and then move the cursor
00:56
to move around within the drawing
01:00
to zoom back out so that you can see the entire drawing.
01:04
Double click the roller wheel.
01:06
The program immediately zooms out to the drawing extents so
01:11
that the entire drawing fits within the drawing window.
01:15
You can adjust the behavior of the roller
01:17
wheel by adjusting the zoom wheel system variable
01:21
type zoom wheel
01:24
and press enter.
01:27
When the zoom wheel value is zero.
01:30
Rolling the wheel forward or away from you zooms in
01:33
and rolling the wheel backwards or toward you zooms out.
01:38
If you change the zoom wheel value to one,
01:41
this is reversed
01:43
with a zoom wheel value of one, rolling the wheel forward or away from you zooms out,
01:49
whereas rolling the wheel backwards or toward you zooms in.
01:54
Typically you should leave the zoom wheel value set to zero,
01:60
but in autodesk inventor,
02:02
the behavior of the wheels reversed
02:04
an inventor rolling the wheel toward you, zooms in
02:08
and rolling it away from you, zooms out.
02:11
If you often use inventor,
02:13
you may want to change the behavior of the roller wheel to match that of inventor.
02:18
Otherwise,
02:19
simply leave the Zoom wheel value set to zero.
The Properties palette is an essential tool that displays the properties of a single selected object, or common properties shared by several objects when multiple objects are selected. When no objects are selected, it will display the default properties that are automatically assigned to new objects.
You can open the Properties palette in three different ways:
When you create objects, it is important to distinguish how the properties of the objects are assigned. Watch this video to learn more about understanding ByLayer and object property concepts.
Transcript
00:03
when you create objects,
00:05
it is important to distinguish how the properties of the objects are assigned
00:10
the current properties for any new object that you create
00:13
are shown in the properties panel on the home ribbon.
00:18
The first control determines the color,
00:21
which is typically set to bi layer.
00:25
The second control determines the line weight,
00:28
which is also typically set to bi layer.
00:32
The current line type is set to bi layer
00:36
and the current transparency is also set to buy layer,
00:41
objects created with their properties set to by
00:45
layer will take on the color line weight,
00:48
line type and transparency assigned to the layer on which they are created.
00:55
If you set these properties to anything other than by layer
00:59
then that property will be assigned to the object explicitly.
01:03
In other words,
01:04
the property will not be controlled by the layer on which the object is created.
01:10
So
01:11
when you create an object,
01:13
you can determine when you create it whether you want its color
01:17
line type, line,
01:18
weight and transparency assigned based on the property of the layer
01:23
or by choosing from one of these property dropdowns,
01:28
you can assign a particular color
01:31
line weight
01:32
line type or transparency explicitly to the object.
01:38
Typically you should assign color line weight line type and transparency by layer
01:45
so that the objects you create take on the properties
01:48
assigned to the layer on which they are created.
01:51
But if you wish, you can assign these properties explicitly
01:56
to the object,
01:57
in which case the color
01:60
line weight
02:01
line type or transparency assigned to the object overrides that
02:07
of the layer on which the object is created.
Video transcript
00:03
when you create objects,
00:05
it is important to distinguish how the properties of the objects are assigned
00:10
the current properties for any new object that you create
00:13
are shown in the properties panel on the home ribbon.
00:18
The first control determines the color,
00:21
which is typically set to bi layer.
00:25
The second control determines the line weight,
00:28
which is also typically set to bi layer.
00:32
The current line type is set to bi layer
00:36
and the current transparency is also set to buy layer,
00:41
objects created with their properties set to by
00:45
layer will take on the color line weight,
00:48
line type and transparency assigned to the layer on which they are created.
00:55
If you set these properties to anything other than by layer
00:59
then that property will be assigned to the object explicitly.
01:03
In other words,
01:04
the property will not be controlled by the layer on which the object is created.
01:10
So
01:11
when you create an object,
01:13
you can determine when you create it whether you want its color
01:17
line type, line,
01:18
weight and transparency assigned based on the property of the layer
01:23
or by choosing from one of these property dropdowns,
01:28
you can assign a particular color
01:31
line weight
01:32
line type or transparency explicitly to the object.
01:38
Typically you should assign color line weight line type and transparency by layer
01:45
so that the objects you create take on the properties
01:48
assigned to the layer on which they are created.
01:51
But if you wish, you can assign these properties explicitly
01:56
to the object,
01:57
in which case the color
01:60
line weight
02:01
line type or transparency assigned to the object overrides that
02:07
of the layer on which the object is created.
How to buy
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