Features
of
the
textbook
v
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Chapter 5
Line
Standardsand
Layers
137
Copyrigh
t Goodheart-Willcox
Co., Inc.
After
you
select a
color,
pick
the
OK
button
to
assign
the
color
to
layer.Theldlayercolor,
ayercolor
swatchindicates
thecolor.Bydefault,
all
objects
aredisplayedinhedecifipset
the
selecte
orByLayer.
NOTE NOTE
Your
graphicscilableandlors.nitor
ard
mo
affectcolordisplaycharacteristics
and
sometimes
the
number
of
ava
co
PROFESSIONAL TIP
PR O
F
ESSIONAL TIP
Use
thecoloessing r
swatchin
theLayerdrop-dManager.litochange
own
st
thecolor
assignedto a
layer
without
acc
theLayer Prop
erties
CAUTION CAUTION
The
COLOR
commandvalueforcolor.Ifned
provides
access to
theSelectabsolutealloobjetotsseppearsrendFtor Color
dialog
box,
which
you
can
useto set
anabsolutees
you
set
the
c
lor
red,for
example,
the
red
color
overrid
the
colors assig
to
layers,
and
c
a
r
d.
most
applicattiens,Managerctolcontorohe
io
set
the
oor
t
default
ByLayer
setting
and
u
laye
a
h
e
Layer Proper
s
t
l
objectcolor.
-4
5
Exercisee
www.g
-wlearning.com/CAD/
Complete th
exercise
on
thecompanion
website.
SettingLayerlinetypes
Linetype
Appropriy
ate
andlinenthickntodobjeclinetypesighatmatch
e t
esses
enhancasshtning
e t
e
readability
of a
drawing.
Youcan
appl
standardCADcprovides line
onv
ions
ts by
a
linetypeeasimilar
nd t
hick -
ness to
eachlayer.
Auto
stan
ard
or
ar
to
COLOR
Type
COLOR
absolute value:
In
property
settings, a value
set
directly
instead
of
referenced by
layer or
by block.
An
absolute value
overrides
the
corr
espondin
g
layer
settings.
Figure
5-10.
U
Select Color
dialogrboxatoayer.ignassltoeohtlocsea
Index Color
tab
255colors
True Color
tab
24-bitcolor
Color
Color
bookcolorsBookstab
Previously
selectedcolor
New
selected
color
Selected
color
Standard
colors
#1–9
Selected
colorindexr
numbe
F
e
a
t
u
r
e
s
o f
t
h
e
t
e
x
t
b
o
o
k
Ch
apter 5
L
i n
20
AutoCAD and Its Applications—Basics
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
The AutoComplete feature is active by default to help locate and access AutoCAD
commands. When you type a command name, a suggestion list displaying selectable
entries appears at the command line or next to the dynamic input entry area. You will
learn more about AutoComplete and other AutoCAD input search functions later in
this chapter.
A benefi
t of accessing a command using a method other than typing is that you
do not need to memorize command names or aliases. Another advantage is that
commands, options, and drawing activities appear on-screen as you work, using visual
icons, tooltips, and prompts. As you work with AutoCAD, you will become familiar
with the display and location of commands. Decide which command selection tech-
niques work best for you. A combination of command selection methods often proves
most effective.
PROFESSIONAL
TIP
P
R OFESSIONAL TIP
When typing commands, you must exit the current command before issuing a new
command. In contrast, when you use the ribbon or other input methods, the current
command automatically cancels when you pick a different command.
NOTE NOTE
Even though you may not choose to access commands by typing command names or
aliases, you must still type certain values, as explained in Chapter 3. For example, you
may have to type the diameter of a circle or radius of an arc.
R
eference Material
www.g-wlearning.com/CAD/
Command Aliases
For a list of common command aliases, the companion website, select the
Resources
tab, and select
Command
Aliagoesto
s
.
Dynamic Input
Dynamic input allows you to keep your focus at the crosshairs while you draw.
When dynamic input is on, a temporary input area appears in the drawing window,
below and to the right of the crosshairs by default. See
Figure 1-18.
Depending on the command in progress, different information and options
appear in the dynamic input area. For example,
Figure 1-19A
shows the display after
starting the
RECTANGLE
command. The fi
rst portion of the dynamic input area is the
prompt, which reads
Specify first corner point or
. In this case, to draw a rectangle, pick in
the drawing window or enter
coordinates
specify the fi
rst corner of the rectangle,
or access other options as suggested by the “to
or ” portion of the prompt.
Press the down arrow key to display available command options. See
Figure 1-19B.
Select an option using the cursor, or press the down arrow key again to cycle through
the options. Press
[Enter]
to select the highlighted option. You can also select an
option by right-clicking and picking an option from the shortcut menu. The informa-
tion displayed in the dynamic input area changes while you work with a command,
depending on the actions you choose.
Figure 1-20
shows the dynamic input display
when the
LINE
command is active.
coordinates:
Numerical values
used to locate a
point in the drawing
area.
Running Glossary
Entries defi ne key terms.
Reference Material
References direct you to
charts, tables, and other
useful references available
on the companion website.
Professional Tips increase
your productivity in using
AutoCAD commands and
techniques.
Notes explain important
aspects of a topic.
Cautions alert you to
potential problems.