Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD
43
NOTE N OT OT TE
Toggle dynamic input on and off by picking the
Dynamic Input
button
on the status bar or pressing [F12]. You can issue commands without
dynamic input or the command line on.
Command Line
The command line, shown in Figure 1-19, provides the same function as dynamic 9
input but uses a more traditional command input format. The command line also
allows you to display extensive command history and search for information about
commands. Depending on your working preference, disable dynamic input to use
only the command line, use the command line with dynamic input, or disable the
command line to use only dynamic input.
NOTE N OT OT TE
The command line offers an alternative method to activate and use
layers, text styles, dimension styles, visual styles, blocks, and hatch
patterns, as explained later in this textbook.
Each default AutoCAD workspace includes the command line. The command line
is a palette that can float, dock, or be resized. If dynamic input is on, and you want to fl
type a command at the command line, pick the command line input area to display a
text cursor. If dynamic input is off, typing a command automatically takes place at the
command line.
NOTETEOT N OT
Illustrations in this textbook that have the command line displayed
show the command line docked at the bottom of the AutoCAD
window, above the status bar. This may be different from the initial
appearance after AutoCAD is first installed. Where appropriate in fi
this textbook, the command line is shown fl oating to explain features fl
associated with the floating command line or to show additional fl
command line history.
Depending on the command in progress, different information and options appear
at the command line. For example, Figure 1-22A shows the display after starting the
CIRCLE
command. The prompt line shows an icon and the name of the active command
followed by a prompt, which reads
Specify center point for circle
or. In this case, to draw
a circle, pick in the drawing window or enter coordinates to specify the center point of
the circle, or choose a different option as suggested by the “or” “ portion of the prompt.
The square brackets ([]) contain available options. Select an option using the cursor or
type the name of the option. Each option has an alias, or unique highlighted upper-
case character(s), that you can enter at the prompt rather than typing the entire option
name. You can also choose an option by right-clicking in the drawing window and
picking an option from the shortcut menu.
The information displayed at the command line changes while you work with a
command, depending on the actions you choose. The active prompt background is
white by default to distinguish it from prompt and command line history, which is gray
by default. Figure 1-22B shows the display after specifying the center point of the circle
COMMANDLINE
Ribbon
View
Palettes
Command Line
Type
COMMANDLINE
[Ctrl]+[9]