I trust you've taken a little time to get aquainted with your system. This is going to be extremely basic as I'm going to assume that you, the reader, has little to no knowlege of CAD systems, and are starting from near ground zero.
The Commands and Techniques I'm going to use, are for AutoCad, but there are similarities to other systems.
I invite users of other systems to join in and explain the commands and techniques used to accomplish the same tasks we're trying out in AutoCad. This way we can learn how to use many differnt systems, and we may also learn different and, or better techiques to accomplish a task as well.
Let's power up your system.
You'll need to go through the steps that get you to a clean blank screen.
In this tutorial, you'll have a basic screen with the default parameters in force.
Here's the task.
We want to draw 2 lines, at right angles to each other, preferably crossing near the center of each line.
Let's get started.
Select the pic box for line, or type in L (the default short cut command for Line) and hit enter, or left click your mouse, which is the same thing.
Note:
Some older versions, pre R-14, may not have, or may have different shortcut letters. These can be changed, but we need to enter inside the program to do it. I'm not going to get into that right now.
Your cursor has now changed to a small box.
Move the cursor box to the point where you want to start your line.
Left click your mouse, and that point is now selected as the starting point.
Drag the "elastic line", (it stretches as you move your mouse), to the ending point of your line.
left click the mouse to select this as the ending point.
Now right click, or hit enter, to return to the command mode.
You have now drawn a straight line. Here's a question though. Is the line straight accross the page, parallel to the top and bottom of the screen, or is it angled off in some other direction?
There's a function in AutoCad that limits, or controls the directions that a line can go in. You activate, or change this function with the F8 key. Toggled on, and the line can only go left and right, or up and down. This will creat lines at right angles to each other. Toggled off, and you can send a line in any direction you want it to go.
Let's draw a few more lines, some with F8 toggled on, and some toggled off.
Here's a neat litle function, Let's say you've defined a line, and now you want to define another line at a different location. If you hit the right button again, or the enter key, a small box pops up asking if you want to repeat line command. click that answer, and you're back, ready to draw and define another line.
I'll wait.
There's probably a mess of lines on your screen at this point. Let's take a minute and play with a few more basic commands.
Let's zoom in and take a close up look at some line intersections.
Zoom functions are a powerful tool. They allow you to really get close to your work, they also allow you to stand back and get the big picture.
As you'll find, there are at least 2 basic ways to get into the zoom functions. (Actually, almost any function in AutoCad has at least two ways to get into it.)
You can use the pic box's and select which zoom function you want. You can usually locate the zoom pic box's by recognising the zoom return icon. It's sort of a slightly curved arrow in the pic box, representing a return to a previous view.
Clustered, usually to the left of the return zoom box, there will be several box's that will toggle on different zoom functions. Usually directly to the left of the return box, is one that will toggle on a window. A zoom window is the most used form of a zoom command, so it makes sense to have the pic box right next to the zoom return.
Let's left click. ( select) the Zoom window pic box. Notice that your cursor has once again changed to a small box. You can always tell that the command has been toggled by seeing this change.
Move your cursor to a point where you want to start a zoom window, and left click, but this time hold the left button down while dragging the mouse. Notice that a box is being defined on the screen. Objects with in the box will be the ones that will show in the zoomed in window, when you finish the command.
When you have your zoom box defined, release the left button, and hit the right button. you could also simply hit enter on your keyboard. (There are always several options to entering and executing commands in a CAD system).
Your screen will now change and only show what was included inside your zoom box. Neat huh? You can do this as often as you want, getting, in a virtual way, closer and closer to your work.
Try zooming into another detail within the first zoom box.
Did you notice that the line is always dispalyed the same width, even when you've zoomed way in? That's because the line in a Cad drawing has zero physical width. They are nothing but defined points in the virtual space on your screen. We define the width at the time we print, but we'll get into that later.
OK, let's zoom back out to the original screen.
You can get there by toggling on the zoom return pic box. (cursor on the pic box, left click to select, right click to execute the command.
You can repeat this until you return to the original screen, where in no further returns are possible.
There are other zoom pic box's to the left of the ones we've been working with. Each has a specific function. There are clues to what the function is by the icon, and as always, if you leave your cursor on one long enough, a small window will open up and tell you what it does.
I particularly like the one defined by the hand icon. This will grip the page, and move the viewing port around as you move the pic icon. Try it out, try them all out.
I'll wait.
OK, did you return to the first screen? The one with all the lines on it?
I'm going to give you the keyboard commands to do much of what you've been doing with the pic box's.
Sometimes the keyboard command can get you out of a sticky place.
First, type Z. This is the shorthand command telling the system that you want to select a zoom function. select, ( hit enter), the command line down at the bottom shows that the command has been recognised and it is ready for your next command. It may even offer you a list of short commands to select with the keyboard.
The first keyboard Zoom commands we'll try are related, and very useful. These will get you out of trouble sometimes, so it's good to be aware of them.
So we've told the system we want to make a zoom command, it's waiting for the command, so let's give it one.
Type W, and execute. (hit enter)
Let's stop for a second here. Have you noticed something. It's the seperation between pic (select) and execute.
With the keyboard as your inputing device, the first enter is your pic, the second is your execute. When you execute a command, it is carried out, and your system is now ready for your next command.
I'm going to use the following to show these functions in either keyboard, or mouse entrys.
The first () will include the pic, or selection. There will be a letter within the parenthesise. This will be followed by a comma, and then (pic) to indicate a return when in keyboard mode, or a left click, when in the mouse mode, followed by another comma, Then another (), Agian with a letter within the parenthisise to indicate the command. once again followed by a comma, and the (execute) to indicate right click when in mouse mode, or return when in keyboard mode.
Using the mouse, the pic is the left button, execute is the right button. Clear?
Taking back up where we stopped, You've typed W and executed the command. Your cursor has changed to a small box, and you are ready to define your (Z)oom (W)indow. yep, that's what (Z), (pic), (W), (execute) does.
This is almost too easy.
Let's do the keyboard command for the return pic box we were using earlier.
Start with (Z)oom, (pic), (P)revious, (execute)
Remember that pic, and execute relate to the buttons on the mouse, or in the case with keyboard commands, the first and second enters.
So, using the above as a guide, how do you suppose you wou return to the first screen in one sequence?
How about (Z)oom, (pic), (A)ll, (execute)
Neat huh? I find this command invaluable, esp. when I want to return to the original screen in a hurry.
Here's another helpful keyboard zoom function.
Sometimes we accidentally wind up with some part of the drawing ending up way out there in left field. You know it's there, but it's dissapeared from your screen.
Try (Z)oom, (pic), (E)ntity, (execute)
Ah, there it is.
Well, if we really had something out there, we'd want to erase it, but since, at this point, there's nothing there, we'll learn how to erase on the screen we have.
Let's shorten up the typing for me, by now agreeing to the following.
(), (pic), (), (execute) will now equal, (),(P),(),Ex)
It just speeds up my typing.
Let's learn the erase command.
Ah, Erase. Don't we all need it? there are lots of things I'd like to erase, but in CAD, unlike life, I can do it easily and without a trace showing on my drawing.
OK, we still have our screen up there with all the scribblings we did back at the beginning. It might be quite a mess, or with you obsessive compulsive types, it could be organized and orderly. We're going to get rid of it all.
Lets just do one line right now.
Check out the pic box's. there's one for erase. (P) the pic box, and your cursor changes. drag a window around the item you wish to erase. Remeber, you drag by moving your mouse while holding the left button down. When you release the left button, the box is defined.
OK, (Ex), and your item is erased.
Wait a minute, I didn't want you to erase that line, put it back.
Type in oops, and (Ex)
All back like it was.
Opps can only be used right after the command has been executed. It will often undo other things, but there is an undo command as well. You can find it in the pic box's, but both of these commands are faster and easier to use with the keyboard. we'll look at this in a minute.
Again, erase works like this.
Type (E),(P), and draw the box around the item you want to remove. Next (Ex), and the item is gone. You can still use oops at this time, to get it back.
OK, there's a neat little trick they have given us to use when we pick something.
If you start a pic box on the scren, going from left to right, only the items fully contained inside the box will be picked. If your pic box goes from right to left, every thing within, and touched by the box will be selected.
Play with it, and use oops to get it back.
I'll wait.
OK, having fun? Of course you are.
Let's do some keyboard work using the undo function.
Undo will move you back in time, clear back to the point where you have a clear screen, if you have a drawing that hasn't been entered from a saved file. If you enter from a saved file, it can be used to take you back to what was opened up from the saved file.
(We're going to cover the various ways drawings are saved a bit later.)
Be careful with undo, you can wipe out things easily because oops only works for the last action.
Undo also has a pic box, and you should understand how to use it with your mouse now.
Undo from the keyboard is once again, easier and faster. How is this so you ask? Well, I don't have to stop and look for the pic box, move the mouse to it and such. I just type in the info, and execute it.
To enter undo from the keyboard, (U),(P)
Undo will undo the last command string the system processed, so you'll next simply (Ex). Done. ress return (Ex) again and you undo the next command. Continue, and as I said, you'll eventually wind up back where you started. But remember, Opps won't help you out much if you decide you didn't want to go that far.
OK, let's erase the entire screen.
You can do it, use what you've learned.
Now, using what you've learned, draw me two lines running east and west, (across your screen), and north and south, (Perpendicular, or crossing the first line at right angles).
This drawing, simple as it is, will be the basis for our next lesson. We'll be doing a lot of interesting things to these lines. Such as centering them strtching and curving them, so we should have some fun.
So, let's save it.
I told you we would cover this, and now's the time.
AutoCad, and I imagine all Cad sytems will not let you shut down without saving your work. In fact there are usually Automatic Saves taking place at defined intervals while you work. These saves are to a special location within the program, and are helpful because should the power fail, any hiccup in the system that could cause a failure, and you only lose the work you did from the last atuosave until the event.
It's a good practise to set up autosaves about every half hour. I can usually, easily reconstruct, a half hours work. More frequent autosaves can start to become annoying, as the system stops while making the save. Large drawings can take time to save, slowing you down.
You should read the manual to learn about setting up the autosaves, i will point you in the right direction though. There is a pulldown menu, located at the top of the screen called Format, where you can get in and change items. The manual will guide you through it, but we can discuss it here as well, at a later date.
If you try and shut down your system without saving, it will ask you if you want to save before shutting down. You can answer yes, but if you haven't defined where you want to save your drawings, you might have a time finding them in the future.
So, let's do it this way the first time.
At the upper left hand corner, there are what are called pull down menus. the one on the far left is named file.
Click on file, and a menu drops down.
Go down the list until you see "Save as".
Select (P)
Another box will pop up asking you for information about this save.
You can define the exact folder, name, and more within this box, but for now, that's all we're going to do.
Within this box there will be an area that allows you to asign a name for this drawing. Let's name it L-1, for lesson 1.
You can also define the location within your computer that you want to save it to. I prefer a different location than the default, (within the Cad programming files), for many reasons I won't go into at this time. I suggest that you get into your "Documents" file, and create a new folder named "Drawings". Save your L-1 drawing into that new folder.
Now, it's a lot easier to find, and when you open it up the next time, it'll save to that file without you doing this again.
OK, there is, of course, a keyboard method of doing the same thing, but I find it easier to just use the mouse to save and close down.
You've saved your work,
Hey, consider saving your work manually,as well as autosaves when you are working. I often do this at important junctures where I don't want to have to try and reconstruct even a minutes worth of work should the system shut down.
Lesson 1 is over, it's time to properly close down the system.
There are at least two ways to do this with the mouse.
When you use the pull down menu under file at the top left corner of the screen, at the very bottom of that pull down, there's an Exit button, you can click on exit, and the sytem will shut down.
At the upper right hand corner, there are the typical windows buttons for minimise, expand, and close. By clicking the close, red, button, the system will shut down.
That's enough for now, have fun.
I'm wondering why everything is spinning around?
John Miller
Hey John
I thought that by tabbing your sentences it would identify them but the email wiped them out. Lets see what they can do with JMW.
Split is our Erase and quite easy to use I have corrected that jumbled up mess I sent.
I am using TurboCAD Deluxe 14
In the opening TCW window.
Select New
Select File
Half way down Click on Page Set Up Wizard
On Page 1 Click Next for English Next
On Page 2 select Fractional, “ and 1/16ths Next. 3 selection
On Page 3 select Landscape Next
On Page 4 select Absolute and Full Size Next
On Page 5 Next
ON Page 6 Finish
Your TCW opens with tool bars, The one on the top is your Menu bar File, Edit, View, etc.
Under the Menu Bar is the Standard Tools bar, below it is the Properties Bar the left is your Drawing bar and across the bottom is another properties bar. And across the bottom is the Inspector Bar.
JMW We want to draw 2 lines, at right angles to each other, preferably crossing near the center of each line. We want to draw 2 lines, at right angles to each other, preferably crossing near the center of each line.
Move your cursor to the left of the screen on the Drawing Bar. As you move the cursor over the buttons it will read out the line stile.
Line, Rectangle, , etc. By Right Clicking on a button a Fly out will appear allowing further selection.
Select the Line button move your cursor into the window. Right click and drag the cursor to the opposite side, and Right click. Move the cursor to the top of the screen Click and Drag it near the bottom and click once. Ok for the fun one Move your cursor to the Spline button in the Drawing Bar.You can scroll down or go to Menu / Edit / Clear / All
JMW There's a function in AutoCad that limits, or controls the directions that a line can go in.
At the bottom left of your monitor in the Inspector Bar you can set the Length and Angle of the Line.
JMW Zoom functions are a powerful tool. They allow you to really get close to your work, they also allow you to stand back and get the big picture.
Under the word Format in the Tool Bar is your Zoom buttons , under the word Tools is a button with two ++ signs , this button will bring you back if you lose your place on the drawing.
Menu /Help / Keyboard
Will give you a chart of all the Keyboard Commands.
JMW Sometimes we accidentally wind up with some part of the drawing ending up way out there in left field. You know it's there, but it's dissapeared from your screen.
Under the word Tools, the double ++ button will bring your plan back.
If TurboCAD has a Zoom in a Zoom I have not found it.
JMW Ah, Erase. Don't we all need it? there are lots of things I'd like to erase, but in CAD, unlike life, I can do it easily and without a trace showing on my drawing.
Menu / Modify / Split
Click on two points on your line.
Get your Select Tool
The top Tool on your Drawing Bar
Click between the two points
Hit the Delete Key
This will work on a Circle, Line and Spline
JMW . Let's do some keyboard work using the undo function.
Under the word Insert on them Menu Bar are two arrows one spinning forward and the other backwards the number of step backward come set at 100 and can be changed
.JMW If you try and shut down your system without saving, it will ask you if you want to save before shutting down. You can answer yes, but if you haven't defined where you want to save your drawings, you might have a time finding them in the future.
When closing TurbCad will ask if you want to save. When answering yes will take you to the window to select the Folder and place to enter the file name.
At the top very left corner Click File scroll down to Save As add the file name and what select what Folder
TurboCad has a very good Users Manual it is now on CD and makes it very easy to search. And the price was $80.00 from Amazon in January
Ok that is enough for to night.
David Craft
[email protected]P.S. Sure would be nice to hear from someone who tested these tutorials. Tend to think one thing and type another.
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