Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD
45
PROFESSIONAL S TIP P P P R O R O F FE S SS I O N N A A L T NA NA AL T TI P P P P
While learning AutoCAD, pay close attention to prompts in the dynamic
input area and at the command line. Prompts guide you through the
operation.
Input Search Tools
Input search tools are active by default to help you access and research commands
and system variables. The AutoCAD input search tools include AutoComplete,
AutoCorrect, and additional functions available when accessing commands by typing.
Begin typing a command name using dynamic input or the command line. Commands
that match the letters you enter appear in a suggestion list as you type. Type additional
letters to narrow the search, with the best-matched command listed first. fi Figure 1-25A
shows the results of typing a lowercase letter l. The lowercase
l
changes to the preferred
format of an uppercase
L
by default.
The suggestion list identifi commands by alias followed by the command name fies
in parentheses, such as
L (LINE)
shown in Figure 1-25A. If you type a word that does
not exist as a command, AutoCAD references a list of synonyms in an effort to match
the word you type. For example, the word curve is not a command, but if you type
CURVE, you will see
CURVE (SPLINE)
in the list. Select this suggestion to access the
SPLINE
command.
An easy way to toggle input search settings on and off is to right-click on the
dynamic input suggestion list and choose from the menu. You can also right-click on
the command line, or pick the
Customize
button on the command line, and choose
from the
Input Settings
cascading menu. Figure 1-25B briefly describes the input fl
search settings.
The command line offers input search tools not available using dynamic input.
Content search, explained later in this textbook, is only available from the command
line. In addition, by default, the command line suggestion list uses categories to group
commands, system variables, and content. Pick the plus (+) icon to expand a category,
as shown in Figure 1-25A, or press
[Tab]
to cycle through the categories. Pick the
Search in Help
button to search the AutoCAD help system for information about the
command. Pick the
Search on Internet
button to search the Internet for information
about the command. The word
AutoCAD
followed by the command name appears in
the search bar of your Internet browser.
NEW
AutoCADDCAotu A Au o o A D
system variable:
A named definition
that stores a value
and configures
AutoCAD to
accomplish a
specific task or
exhibit a certain
behavior.
Figure 1-24.
Additional command line functions.
Button Name Description
Command
History
Displays up to 50 lines of command history; scroll through
the list as needed to view earlier commands. Displays p y when
you press [F2]; hide using the same method you used to
access, or pick any visible portion of the graphics screen.
R Re ce t nt
Commands Co mm an d s
Lists Li recentl ly used d command ds ; i pi k ck a comma d nd to ac ivate. ti
Customize Provides options for adjusting input search options, the
number of lines of prompt history, transparency, and
ap li l pl ic ti at io n options. ti
Close Hides the command line.