1. Function Keys, Grid, Snap Limits
Engineering Design Technology
Sacramento City College
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

2. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
Material to Cover
Selecting AutoCAD Commands
Function Keys
Drawing with keyboard coordinates
LINE command
ID command
OSNAP settings
LIMITS
UNITS
SNAP
GRID and ORTHO
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

3. Selecting AutoCAD Commands
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

4. Selecting AutoCAD Commands
Commands may be selected in four ways
1. Executed by picking a toolbar button or icon
2. Selected from one of the pull-down menus
3. Selected from the digitizer table menu overlay
4. Typed at the keyboard
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

5. Selecting AutoCAD Commands
Command Line Editing
You can select previously used commands in the current drawing session by using the up and down arrow keys
Just hit the “up” arrow to recall the command.
This capability allows for fast, repeated use of the same command.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

6. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

7. The [Enter] key and the [Spacebar]
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

8. The [Enter] key and the [Spacebar]
The [Spacebar] functions (most of the time) like the [Enter] key.
A good AutoCAD speed tip is to
Keep your right hand on the mouse.
Keep your left hand on the keyboard and use it to enter data.
use your left thumb as the [Enter] key.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

9. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The [Esc] key
Control Keys
Function Keys
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

10. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The [Esc] key
Cancels a command and returns to the Command: prompt
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

11. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
Control Keys
Control functions are activated by pressing and holding the [Ctrl] key while pressing a second key.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

12. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
Ctrl B - Snap mode (toggle)
Ctrl C - Copy
Ctrl D - coordinate display on/off toggle
Ctrl E - crosshairs in isoplane toggle (left/right/top)
Ctrl G - Grid on/off toggle
Ctrl H - same as backspace
Ctrl L - Ortho mode toggle
Ctrl O - Open
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

13. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
Ctrl P - Print (Plot)
Ctrl R - toggle viewport
Ctrl S - Save
Ctrl T - Tablet mode toggle
Ctrl V - Paste
Ctrl X - Cut
Ctrl Y - Redo
Ctrl Z - Undo
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

14. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
AutoCAD Units
The UNITS command
Allow you to set the unit used by AutoCAD.
Choices are:
Decimal decimal units
Fractional fractional units
Engineering decimal feet
Architectural feet and inches
Scientific 1 x 10x
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

15. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
AutoCAD Units
For this class, we will use either
Decimal decimal units
Architectural feet and inches
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

16. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
Drawing Aids
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

17. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
Drawing Aids
AutoCAD provides drawing aids that help prepare the drawing layout, increase speed and efficiency and ensure accuracy.
These drawing aids are:
GRID
SNAP
ORTHO
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

18. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The GRID
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

19. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The GRID
A grid
is a predefined spacing of points which is used to help lay out a drawing
The GRID command places this pattern of dots/lines at any desired spacing.
It can be equal or non-equal spacing
The grid pattern shows only within the drawing limits
Entering the GRID command provides a prompt showing the default grid spacing and several other options.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

20. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The GRID Command
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

21. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The GRID
GRID
Is a COMMAND and a TOGGLE
Command
Displays a grid pattern in the current viewport.
Toggle
Turns the display of the grid pattern in the current viewport ON or OFF.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

22. Right-click GRID button
Grid Settings
Right-click GRID button
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

23. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

24. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
GRID Command
GRID can also be set by using the Command: prompt.
More tedious to use than right-clicking GRID on Status Bar.
Command: GRID
Grid spacing (X) or ON/OFF/Snap/Aspect <0.5…): 0.25
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

25. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
GRID Command
GRID on or off:
Click the GRID button on the Status Bar or
The [F7] function key
[Ctrl + [G]
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

26. GRID Command – Aspect Option
Setting a different horizontal/vertical grid spacing can be done.
Type a different X, Y value.
From the Command: prompt
Select the Aspect option of the GRID command.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

27. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

28. GRID Command – Aspect Option
Command: GRID
Grid spacing (X) or ON/OFF/Snap/Aspect<current>: A
Horizontal spacing (X) <0.5000>: 1
Vertical spacing (Y) <0.5000>: .5
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

29. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The SNAP Command
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

30. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The SNAP
SNAP
Is a COMMAND and a TOGGLE
Command
Restricts cursor movement to specified intervals
Similar to an invisible screen grid.
Toggle
Turns the SNAP action ON or OFF.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

31. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The cursor crosshairs move freely on the screen
It may be difficult to accurately place a point
It would be desirable to cause the cursor to move only to an invisible grid.
This is called “SNAP”.
Very useful
Makes drawing much easier and more accurate
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

32. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
Snap grid or snap resolution
controls the movement of the cross-hairs to this invisible grid.
It can be set to a different value than the GRID command.
The two commands SNAP and GRID are generally used together.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

33. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The SNAP Command
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

34. The SNAP Command
Properly setting the Snap Grid can greatly increase your drawing speed.
The SNAP command is used to set the invisible snap grid.
SNAP Settings
Right-click SNAP button
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

35. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

36. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The SNAP Command
Setting SNAP can also be done at the Command: prompt
Command: SNAP
Snap spacing or ON/OFF/Aspect/Rotate/Style <current>
Pressing [Enter]
accepts the value shown in brackets.
If a different spacing is required, such as 0.25, enter the new value.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

37. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The SNAP Command
Command: SNAP
Snap spacing or ON/OFF/Aspect/Rotate/Style <current>: 0.25
This sets up snap at 0.25
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

38. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
Rotating the SNAP Grid
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

39. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
Rotating the SNAP Grid
The normal snap grid is horizontal rows and vertical columns.
The grid can be rotated using the Rotate option of the SNAP command to a different angle.
Command: SNAP
Snap spacing or ON/OFF/Aspect/Rotate/Style <current>: R
Basepoint <0.0000,0.000>:(press [Enter], type a new coordinate value, or pick a new base point.
Rotation angle <0>: 25
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

40. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

41. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
Setting the SNAP Style
The Style option of the SNAP command allows you to set the snap grid to either a
Standard (default) or
Isometric pattern.
Command: SNAP
Snap spacing or ON/OFF/Aspect/Rotate/Style <current>: S
Standard/Isometric <current> S
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

42. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

43. Setting Grid Spacing Relative To SNAP Spacing
The visible grid can be set to be the same as the invisible snap grid.
Choose the Snap option of the GRID command.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

44. Setting Grid Spacing Relative To SNAP Spacing
Command: GRID
Grid spacing or ON/OFF/Aspect <current>: 2x
In this case the GRID spacing would be 2x the SNAP setting.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

45. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

46. The AutoCAD Drawing Area
The AutoCAD drawing area is basically INFINITE in all directions.
Think “outer space”
It is beneficial to “define a drawing area” that represents the size of your project.
LIMITS are the extent of the drawing area.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

47. The AutoCAD Drawing Area
LIMITS allow you to define a reasonable drawing area.
This area can be turned On
Off
You can draw outside the area when LIMITS is turned off.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

48. The AutoCAD Drawing Area
LIMITS
Should correspond to the project maximum size.
For example: a building being drawn in AutoCAD should fit within the drawing limits.
If the Technology building was drawn in AutoCAD, the limits would be at least 300 feet by 50 feet (!)
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

49. The AutoCAD Drawing Area
LIMITS
The sheet size on which the project will be plotted must also be considered when determining LIMITS.
For most assignments in the class, we will use a sheet size of 11” x 8.5”.
Set your limits to this value.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

50. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
If you wanted a 17” x 11” drawing area, you would set the LIMITS to 17, 11.
The first number is the horizontal dimension.
The second number is the vertical dimension.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

51. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
LIMITS can be turned ON or OFF.
To set LIMITS, enter "LIMITS" at the Command: prompt.
AutoCAD restricts you from drawing outside the area defined by the LIMITS when the LIMTS are ON
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

52. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
If you wanted an 11” x 8.5” drawing area, you would set the LIMITS to 11, 8.5.
The first number is the horizontal dimension (X dimension)
The second number is the vertical dimension (Y dimension)
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

53. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The “ORTHO” Mode
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

54. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The ORTHO Mode
The term ORTHO comes from the word “orthogonal”, which means at “at right angles”.
The ORTHO mode restricts the cursor movement to the X, Y plane ONLY.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits

55. Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits
The ORTHO Mode
Turn ORTHO mode on or off with
The F8 key.
The Cntrl L key combination.
Function Keys, Grid, Snap, Limits