AutoCAD Beginners' Area Latest Topics

How to copy an object to a specified distance

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 22:28:34 +0000

Hi,
I am a beginner, and I am actually using nanocad, which seems to have very similar basic commands as Autocad. It basically looks so ...
I'd like create a copy of an existing object, such as a rectangle, just beside the original one but at a specific distance.
I am using the copy command which has a parameter for inputting a distance but I never manage to actually copy the new object exactly beside the exiting one at the specified distance. How is this done in Autocad?

Error in Drawing file

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 19:10:46 +0000

can anyone help me to fix the error in .dwg file.

Opening DWG files in Google Drive/Gmail

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 14:53:52 +0000

I'm an engineer and work with a lot of different clients etc and receive often dwg files by email and store them in Google Drive. The flow of always having to download it import it in your software of choice is always so tedious that i've decided to build a quick app to solve this issue.

I would love to get feedback from the community etc. The task was actually so difficult that I've even wrote a blog post about it here (on why dwg is a hostile format)

I also made a quick demo video here as well

how do I set the trim command

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 15:22:07 +0000

After updating to 2021 my trim command completely deletes a line, how do I set it to be between cutting lines as default?

Blocks and library

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 19:30:00 +0000

I have just created a load of blocks for future use, they where in the block panel, but have now disappeared?

is thewre a tutorial for creating a block library. Using 2026LT

Stop text appearing massive...

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:54:00 +0000

Hello. When I'm in a drawing and draw a text box, sometimes the text appears when I write it to be the right font size for the drawing, but then clicking out of the box the finished text is absolutely tiny. To get the text to appear at an appropriate size it has to be written at a huge size that covers the screen and the only way to get out of this is to do zoom extents.

Is there a way to set it so that it can be written at the size it will then appear?

Thanks

Rich

Hatching change of proprieties

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:59:10 +0000

Hello, in the attached DWG drawing there was already a hatch, I drew a new one at the bottom, which should have the same properties, but I can't assign them. I tried with the brush, it doesn't work; with edit hatch I can't identify the exact scale of the original hatch, and if I try to change the scale of the new hatch, it disappears. I would like to ask how I could solve the problem. Thank you.

Tratteggi.dwg

Pyramid rotation

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 01:42:04 +0000

I need to draw hexagonal pyramid like this in AutoCAD. So i used Pyramid command where I got hexagon as top view and a triangular shape at the front view at first. Now I need to turn the first front view as shown in the figure (attached). When I used rotate command, the tracking lines showing angles is not coming. here there is no angle specified. we need to turn it manually so that the o'd' line should be horizontal in the second front view. help me drawing like this in AutoCAD. What i mean is, while in rotate3D command, i selected the object, then VIEW, then specified the base point, then its asking for angle. here angle is not specified. we need to rotate the first front view such that the line O'D' becomes horizontal. any way of doing it. please help. The angle tracking lines are not coming as we rotate. Polar tracking is ON. please help. I need to rotate first front view like the one as in second front view in image shown. Thank you

Rotate3D.mp4

Question About Roof Section Drawing

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 23:50:19 +0000

I’m sharing my drawing for your review. Could you please check if it looks correct? I think there may be an issue with the roof section, but I’m not sure what exactly is wrong.

Kitchen Design Pointers

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 22:35:50 +0000

I’ve been a technical kitchen designer for many years, using 2020 Design and Chief Architect. I just started working for a local Design Build that uses AutoCAD full version for all drawings for all trades. I have a background using AutoCAD from vocational training as well as a brief few years doing shop drawings for a millwork company. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around the fact I’m creating cabinets from lines ( floor plan view to elevations ) when I just think of how much time would be saved if using other software. The company has standards for different line types, layers on all the particular plans. They use blocks for the different door styles and drawer fronts appliances, plumbing fixtures etc. I respect it and they do a great job at what they do, but I feel that I could be doing things that aren’t so archaic to make the process quicker and easier from project to project. I’d really like to wow them with some ideas of things that you guys might do to make things easier. Maybe using dynamic blocks (not familiar with the limitations or the process) with different options for door swings? Can you show different line types in a single block? Maybe create a catalog of different size cabinets with different door/drawer configurations. I’m really just looking for ideas and inspiration on things you guys do in similar roles.

TEXT HEIGHT VALUE FOR ARCHITECHTURAL UNIT IN TEXT TAB OF DIMSTYLE MANAGER DILOG

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 05:50:35 +0000

HI ,

WHEN ARCHITECTURAL UNIT IS SELECTED IN A DRAWING,
THEN FOR 2.6MM TEXT,
WHAT WILL BE ENTERED IN TEXT HEIGHT BOX IN TEXT TAB OF DIMENSION-STYLE-MANAGER DIALOG ?

DONT THINK THIS IS A FOOL'S QUESTION.
YOU CAN IMAGINE, HOW BEGIINERS STRUGGLE !!!!!

Upper Slab Drawing How to Draw Autocad

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 01:23:23 +0000

이걸 지금 오토캐드2026 무료버전으로 그리려고 하거든 이것에 대한 방법을 자세히 쉽게 설명해줘

Quote

Now that I'm going to draw this as a free version of Autocad 2026, please explain in detail how to do this.

PICK BOX SENSITIVITY

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:29:27 +0000

Good Morning, hopefully someone will have an easy fix for my latest question

for example I want to move an object, I click the move button then click the object to be moved, if I am zoomed out the pick box moves straight to the tab on the object, if I am zoomed in the pick box jumps around and will not attach to the tab, is there a pick box sensitivity setting I can change

Mike

New Pc with LT2026, i need to set up the screen to how it was WITH lt2020

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 12:58:29 +0000

hi Guys someone might be able to help, last week my old pc packed up, a pal of mine has built me a new PC and installed Autocad 2026, how do I get my old settings and screen design back

TIA Mike

Merging overlapping circles to form a single polyline outline.

Mon, 27 May 2019 10:46:34 +0000

As the title suggests I am looking for help on how to merge overlapping circles to form an overlapping shape as per the attached.

I created the attached in Adobe illustrator. How can I achieve the same result in AutoCAD.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide.

Converting a .ttf to .shx file for fonts

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 01:05:17 +0000

I work at an engineering firm and handle our library of title blocks that we have on file for the architects, clients, etc. A little back story as to why it is important but basically we received a text font in a ttf format and I understand that autocad uses both ttf and shx files for text fonts but I need this title block accessible with the correct font for 50+ people and if I use the ttf file then I would need everyone to manually install it on their computer but if I add the shx file to the autocad file then everyone has it without having to do anything. Is there anything I can do to convert the PlayFairDisplay.ttf file to a shx file?

AutoCad Drawing

Fri, 23 May 2025 10:49:33 +0000

Hello!

Could you help me with this piece?

I don t know how to start draw this in autocad

file:///C:/Users/Catalin/Downloads/WhatsApp Image 2025-05-23 at 13.45.45.jpeg

How to fit non uniformed ellipse inside a rhombus?

Tue, 13 May 2025 15:20:53 +0000

How can i fit the ellipse inside the rhombus as shown in the image? https://imgur.com/a/wPVzeXw
The ellipse isocircle just scales uniformly on all sides but how can i squish it at -30 degrees so that it will fit the rhombus, the rhombus is a rectangle in a normal view

Space measuring tools

Sat, 10 May 2025 12:59:58 +0000

Hi,

We usually measure using a couple of laser levels and tape. What are some (entry level) tools that could measure into a dxf i.e measure whole perimeter by shooting a series of points.

How effective is it compared to traditional method? Our method works OK, it is time consuming though, and usually takes two people.

Thanks!

need help with cursor command line please

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 16:31:32 +0000

my menu line next to my cursor doesn't show the whole menu it cuts off 90 percent of what's supposed to be showing. for example when i run mirror command it will mirror but after i mirror it and it would normally ask if i want to erase source object yes or no, the yes or no doesn't show up here is a print screen of what I'm talking about its really annoying it only happened after i updated my AutoCAD from 2023 to 2025. and also when I'm doing a polyline it would normally show the length but it doesn't show anymore

i have tried f12 for dynamic input i have tried dynmode changing from 3 to 2 to 1 . i have tried to adjust dynoprompt to 1 to 0 I'm at a complete loss.

Xref save

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:53:04 +0000

hi ,

how to save a drawing as xref file in autocad ?

thanks

Beginner guide for making a network cable block diagram?

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 01:16:44 +0000

I have AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical. The most I've ever done in AutoCAD is export existing files to PDF. I've never created a drawing (though I am familiar with other software like rhino3d)

Anyways, I'm trying to create a network cable block diagram depicting my network of ethernet and fiber. I want to show the connections between each equipment (computers, switches, patch panels, etc) showing the cables (id#, type, etc). I want to show connector labels at each end and box labels so the connection is clear. Some cable are breakout cables (one connector on one end to many connectors on the other). I don't need to depict every strand of wire in each cable just enough so one can figure out where the cables are going

What's shown in this video is a decent example of what I want to create except they are doing AV and they didn't put labels on the cables or connectors.

In an ideal world, I'd want to be able to then export this to a table so I could have all the info in excel too. That way I wouldn't have to maintain two things at once.

Most examples I've seen seem to be more like electrical schematics (switches, resistors, etc). I've tried software like Visio but it lacks detail and seems to focus more on pretty icons. I've also tried draw.io but i find that process is very "manual/tedious" eventhough it is more intuitive to use. The closest thing I've seen in the past are autocad drawings so I thought this might be a good tool to learn.

Therefore, I'm hoping someone can give me some tips and/or point me to some videos where I can follow along. Ideally a video creating something similar to what I'm looking for. I know autocad has a ton of features, at this time, I'm only interested in learning how to use the features needed to do my current task.

also, I tried posting this in the autodesk forum but once I sign in, the site just continues to reload over and over again. I tried 3 different computers, chrome and firefox. Anyone else have this issue?

A table

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 15:02:41 +0000

https://share.icloud.com/photos/01c5aEl8MX3GVTE5asbFySV8w

Insert block / Paper Space vs Model Space inserted?

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:21:09 +0000

All things being equal....

If I have a block that contains both entities in Paper Space and entities that are in Model Space
and I insert this block into a virgin drawing using CLASSICINSERT..
Are you inserting the MS entities or the PS entities?