24 AutoCAD and Its Applications—Advanced Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. NOTE NOTE AutoCAD provides a suggestion list of commands and system variables at the dynamic input area as you type. As additional characters are typed, the suggestion list changes. You can then use the pointer to select an item or press the down arrow key until the desired item is highlighted, and press [Enter]. In addition, AutoCAD recognizes certain synonyms of command names when you type a command. For example, typing SPIRAL displays the HELIX command in the suggestion list. Options controlling AutoComplete, AutoCorrect, and other AutoCAD input search functions can be accessed by right-clicking inside the command line window and selecting Input Search Options…. As an example of using dynamic input, if you select the modeling command BOX, the fi rst item that appears in the dynamic input area is the prompt to specify the fi rst corner and a display of the X and Y coordinate values of the crosshairs. At this point, you can use the pointer to specify the fi rst corner or type coordinate values. Type the X value and then a comma or the [Tab] key to move to the Y value input box. This locks the typed value and any movement of the pointer will not change it. CAUTION CAUTION When using dynamic input to enter coordinate values from the keyboard, it is impor- tant that you avoid pressing [Enter] until you have completed the coordinate entry. When you press [Enter], all of the displayed coordinate values are accepted and the next command prompt appears. In addition to entering coordinate values for sizes of solid primitives, you can provide direct distance dimensions. For example, the second prompt of the BOX command is for the second corner of the base. When you move the pointer, two dimensional input fi elds appear. Also, notice that a preview of the base is shown in the drawing area. This is the dynamic feedback that AutoCAD provides as you create a solid primitive. See Figure 2-3A. Once you enter or pick the fi rst corner of the base, the dynamic input area changes to display X and Y coordinate boxes. In this case, the values entered are the X and Y coordinates of the opposite corner of the box base. If X, Y, and Z coordinates are entered, the point is the opposite corner of the box. After establishing the location and size of the box base, the next prompt asks you to specify the height. Again, you can either enter a direct dimension value and press [Enter] or select the height with the pointer. See Figure 2-3B. AutoCAD provides dynamic feedback on the height of the box as the pointer is moved. NOTE NOTE The techniques previously described can be used with any form of dynamic input. The current input fi eld is always highlighted. You can always enter a value and use the [Tab] key to lock the input and move to the next fi eld. Box A box has six fl at sides forming square corners. It can be constructed starting from an initial corner or the center. See Figure 2-4. A cube can be constructed, Figure 2-4A, as well as a box with unequal-length sides, Figure 2-4B. BOX Ribbon Home Modeling Solid Primitive Box Type BOX