Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD
15
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
A command or option accessible from the ribbon appears in a graphic located
in the margin of this textbook. The graphic identifi es the tab and panel where the
command is located. You may need to expand the panel or pick a fl yout to locate the
command. The example shown in this margin illustrates picking the
Line
button on
the
Draw
panel in the
Home
ribbon tab to access the
LINE
command.
Ribbon Panels
The large tool button of a panel typically signifi es the most often used panel command.
In addition to tool buttons, panels can contain fl youts, drop-down lists, and other items.
Some panels have a solid-fi lled triangle, or down arrow, next to the panel name. If you
see this down arrow, pick the title at the bottom of the panel to display additional related
commands and functions. See Figure 1-13. To show the expanded list on-screen at all
times, select the pushpin button in the lower-left corner of the expanded panel.
NOTE NOTE
When you pick an option from a ribbon fl yout, the option becomes the new default and
appears in the ribbon. This makes it easier to select the same option the next time you
use the command.
Some panels include a small arrow in the lower-right corner of the panel. Pick
this arrow to access a dialog box or palette associated with the panel. For example,
pick the arrow in the lower-right corner of the
Dimensions
panel in the
Annotate
tab,
as shown in Figure 1-13, to display the
Dimension Style Manager
dialog box used to
format dimensions.
Basic Adjustment
The ribbon appears maximized by default. You can minimize the display to show
only tabs, panel titles, or panel buttons by repeatedly picking the
Minimize
button to
the right of the tabs, or by selecting the appropriate option from the
Minimize
fl yout.
Picking the
Minimize
button corresponds to the
Cycle through All
fl yout selection. When
Minimize to Tabs
is active, pick a tab to show all panels in the tab. When
Minimize to
Panel Titles
is active, pick a panel title to display the panel. When
Minimize to Panel
Buttons
is active, pick a panel button to display the panel. Right-click on a portion of
the ribbon unoccupied by a panel to access the options described in Figure 1-14.
NOTE NOTE
The
Application
Menu,
Quick Access
toolbar, and ribbon replace the traditional menu
bar. To display the menu bar, pick the
Customize Quick Access Toolbar
fl yout on the
right side of the
Quick Access
toolbar and select
Show Menu
Bar.
LINE
Ribbon
Home
Draw
Line
Figure 1-13.
An expanded panel
provides additional,
related commands
and functions. This
example shows
the expanded list
of dimensioning
commands found
in the
Dimensions
panel in the
Annotate
ribbon tab.
Pick to pin the
expanded list
to the screen
Pick to display
the
Dimension
Style Manager