Engineering Graphics Essentials - Chapter 2 - Drawing in AutoCAD - Instructional outline

Oct 25, 2026

Uploaded by Aldword

Chapter 2 focuses on drawing workflows in AutoCAD, starting with an introduction to the AutoCAD tutorials and how to navigate them. It explains the program’s workspaces and user interface, the drawing area, and how to access commands through key elements such as the ribbon, tool palettes, command prompt, menus, status bar, and quick access toolbar. It also covers starting, saving, and opening drawings, file tools, Autodesk 360, interface customization, startup setup, and coordinate systems including Cartesian, polar, relative coordinates, WCS/UCS, and coordinate panels.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages158

Reading Time6 h 38 min

AccessFree to download

Chapter 2: Drawing in AutoCAD

Chapter Outline

2.1 Introduction

2.2 AutoCAD’s Workspaces and User Interface

2.3 The Drawing Area

2.4 Accessing AutoCAD Commands

2.5 Starting, Saving, and Opening Drawings

2.6 Customize User Interface (CUI)

2.7 User Interface and Startup Tutorial

2.8 Coordinates

2.9 WCS/UCS Coordinate Systems Tutorial

2.10 Drawing Using Coordinates Tutorial

Kirstie Plantenberg Engineering Graphics Essentials with AutoCAD® 2018 Instruction Text and Video Instruction SDC PUBLICATIONS Better Textbooks. Lower Prices. [www.SDCpublications.com](www.SDCpublications.com) ACCESS CODE UNIQUE CODE INSIDE Visit the following websites to learn more about this book: CHAPTER 2 DRAWING IN AUTOCAD® CHAPTER OUTLINE 2.1) INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 5 2.1.1) Navigating through the AutoCAD tutorials ........................................................................................5 2.2) AUTOCAD’S WORKSPACES AND USER INTERFACE........................................................ 7 2.3) THE DRAWING AREA ............................................................................................................. 7 2.4) ACCESSING AUTOCAD COMMANDS................................................................................... 9 2.4.1) Application button .............................................................................................................................9 2.4.2) The ribbon....................................................................................................................................... 10 2.4.3) Tool palettes ................................................................................................................................... 12 2.4.4) Command prompt / window ............................................................................................................ 13 2.4.5) Shortcut menus ............................................................................................................................... 14 2.4.6) Application status bar...................................................................................................................... 14 2.4.7) Quick access toolbar ....................................................................................................................... 15 2.4.8) Touch screen .................................................................................................................................. 15 2.5) STARTING, SAVING, AND OPENING DRAWINGS ............................................................. 16 2.5.1) Starting a new drawing ................................................................................................................... 16 2.5.2) Saving and opening a drawing........................................................................................................ 18 2.5.3) File tab ............................................................................................................................................ 18 2.5.4) Autodesk 360 .................................................................................................................................. 19 2.6) CUSTOMIZE USER INTERFACE (CUI) ................................................................................ 20 2.7) USER INTERFACE AND STARTUP TUTORIAL ..................................................................20 2.7.1) Setting up the user interface ...........................................................................................................20 2.7.2) Starting a new drawing ...................................................................................................................24 2.7.3) Saving your drawing as a template .................................................................................................26 2.7.4) Checking your drawing parameters ................................................................................................27 2.8) COORDINATES ..................................................................................................................... 27 2.8.1) Cartesian and polar coordinates ..................................

FAQs

What does Chapter 2 of the book cover in AutoCAD?

It covers core drawing tasks in AutoCAD, including the user interface, how to access commands, and how to start, save, and open drawings. It also introduces coordinate systems used for drawing.

How does the chapter explain accessing AutoCAD commands?

It breaks down access methods using the application button, ribbon, tool palettes, command prompt/window, shortcut menus, and other interface elements like the status bar and quick access toolbar.

What coordinate systems are discussed in this chapter?

The chapter covers Cartesian and polar coordinates, Cartesian coordinate system, relative coordinates, the world coordinate system (WCS), and the user coordinate system (UCS). It also includes a coordinates panel and tutorials using WCS/UCS.

Oct 25, 2026

Uploaded by Aldword