Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD
27
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unique AutoCAD interface in this chapter and throughout this textbook. Learn the
format, appearance, and proper use of interface items to help quickly master AutoCAD.
NOTE NOTE
As you learn AutoCAD, you may want to customize the graphical user
interface according to common tasks and specifi c applications. Use the
Options
dialog box to change display colors and window elements. To
display the
Options
dialog box, pick the
Options
button at the bottom of the
Application
Menu, or right-click in the drawing area and select Options….
Use the
Customize User Interface
dialog box, accessed with the
CUI
command, to customize the ribbon and other AutoCAD-specifi c items.
New Tab
The
New Tab
is an element of the AutoCAD fi le tab system and is displayed by
default. Chapter 2 explains fi le tabs. The
Create
page appears by default when you fi rst
launch AutoCAD. See Figure 1-4. The
Get Started
column includes options for starting
a new drawing or opening a saved fi le. Pick the
Start Drawing
button to start a new
drawing. The
Templates
drop-down list below the
Start Drawing
button lists drawing
templates currently found in the default template folder. The highlighted template
is used to start a new drawing fi le when you pick the
Start Drawing
button. Pick a
different template from the list to start a new drawing using the selected template. The
template you select also becomes the new default assigned to the
Start Drawing
button.
Use the
Recent Documents
column to open a recently saved fi le or a fi le that has
been pinned to the
Recent Documents
list. Select from the display options below the
NEW

default: A value
maintained by the
computer until
changed.
drop-down list: A
list of options that
appears when you
pick a button that
contains a down
arrow.
Figure 1-4.
The
Create
page of the
New Tab
appears by default when you first launch AutoCAD.
Pick to sign in to the
Autodesk 360 online service
Pick to select a template
to start a new drawing
Pick to start a new drawing
based on the specified template
Pick to pin the file
to the list
Pick to
open a
saved
file
Pick to display
the
Learn
page
Select a display option
for recent documents
Recently
opened
or pinned
files