New drawing set up

[saabcabinboy]

Hi All

I have just purchased autocad 2011 student version to try and better myself in the aviation industry. I have also purchased autocad 2011 for dummies. I have gone through the drawing set up detailed in the book and when attempting to recreate the rectangle I do not get the same as the figure on page 62. I would appreciate any help

Saabcabinboy:(

[ReMark]

Even with 20/20 vision it would be difficult to see the figure on page 62 since most of us do not have the book by our side.

 

You can create a rectangle in a number of ways. What is the book asking you to do? Are you told to use the RECTANGLE command or are you constructing the rectangle of separate lines (or polylines)?

[saabcabinboy]

It is asking me to use the rectang command in the application menu. After I have done that it says go to point 32,7 and click in the drawing area then type in the command line 36,36 and then the rectangle should appear in the drawing area. Mine does not replicate the picture it seems to be going up instead of sideways. I have the dynamic input button enabled as instructed. Is it a problem with the set up or a problem with my application.

Any help much appreciated.

saabcabinboy

[ReMark]

Stop! It almost sounds like you are about to talk yourself into uninstalling your program. There is no problem with your set up or the application. Calm down.

 

The rectangle can assume a variety of positions based upon which way you drag your mouse. I take it that was not immediately apparent to you.

[ReMark]

Command: _rectang

Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/Thickness/Width]: pick a point on your screen

Specify other corner point or [Area/Dimensions/Rotation]: D (for Dimensions)

 

Specify length for rectangles : 36

 

Specify width for rectangles : 36

 

Specify other corner point or [Area/Dimensions/Rotation]: Drag your mouse left/right/up down. The rectangle will rotate around your pick point.

Understand?

[saabcabinboy]

I am following the set up process to the letter. The way I drag the mouse could affect the position was not apparent to me. The book does not imply that. I am clicking the first point in the drawing area then inputting the second command via the command line. It seems I am doing something fundamentally wrong and I cannot find out what

[ReMark]

Did you read post #5?

 

Once you have dragged your mouse in the direction you want the rectangle to rotate then click. Stop. You're done. It really is that simple.

[saabcabinboy]

Will give it a go. Thanks

[saabcabinboy]

that worked. Now I have to draw another rectangle inside the co ordinates given in the book don't work. I am trying to self study but when simple commands do not correspond it all gets very demoralising. Why do the commands in the book not work. Are my default settings correct or is the program faulty.

[ReMark]

Please STOP with the "faulty program" excuse as it is NOT a bug in the program that is preventing you from accomplishing the task.

 

Yes, it could be that the instructions are either unclear and/or poorly written. It happens.

 

As far as your default settings go my guess is that too is a doubtful premise for why you are unable to do the exercise. However, since we have no idea how you set your drawing up we are in the dark.

 

What are the instructions in the book asking you to do?

[saabcabinboy]

Once drawing set up I am using imperial at the moment. Select rectang from application menu command menu prompt specify first corner, book says click in drawing area at point 32,7. prompt specify other corner book says with dynamic input button enabled type 36,36 and the rectangle should appear, in my area it doesn't, then choose recent input choose rectang again specify first corner type 44,16 press enter specify other corner 12,18 and another rectangle is drawn inside the other once again it doesn't next step is fillet and offset but without the rectangles this isn't possible.

[ReMark]

Did it occur to you that maybe you should zoom out a bit so you could see more of your drawing?

 

The default limits of the template you are using (acad.dwt = imperial units) is 12,9. 32,7 falls outside of those limits doesn't it?

 

Also...your rectangle is 36x36. That's pretty big compared to the default limits of your drawing.

[saabcabinboy]

in set up you select the zoom all option

[ReMark]

The default limits for a new imperial units drawing is 12,9. So if you do a zoom > all in an empty drawing how much of the drawing are you actually seeing? Think on it a moment.

[ReMark]

White rectangle is 70x60.

Red rectangle is 36x36.

Yellow rectangle is 12x18.

 

Note: Coordinates shown are for lower left hand and upper right hand corners of the respective (by color) rectangles.

 

Are you seeing the picture clearer now?

 

My advice is to open a new drawing, draw the 70x60 rectangle using 0,0 at the lower left hand corner and when done do a Zoom > Extents to see the entire rectangle. Then go ahead and draw the two rectangles as called for in the AutoCAD for Dummies book.

Edited October 22, 2013 by ReMark

[JD Mather]

Hi All

I have just purchased autocad 2011 student version...

Saabcabinboy:(

 

Students can get AutoCAD 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 for FREE here http://www.autodesk.com/edcommunity

There is no functional difference between student version and commercial version.

[iainlines]

Have a look at some youtube tutorials for basic commands if you're not getting along with the book. I'm sure if you watch a few vidoes all will become clear. Don't get demoralised

[Cad64]

If the OP decides to come back, he will do so when he is ready. Please stop bumping this thread with posts about where he might be and what he might be doing.

 

Off topic posts have been removed.

[ReMark]

saab: Put the book down for a moment and first go through the tutorials here at CADTutor. Then follow that up by going through the tutorials here...http://www.we-r-here.com/cad/tutorials/index.htm

 

When you are done pick up the book and continue. You should find the going much easier.

[PotGuy]

Students can get AutoCAD 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 for FREE here http://www.autodesk.com/edcommunity

There is no functional difference between student version and commercial version.

 

I would like to add though that a Student Version will have a watermark that indicates that it was not made with a commercial version of AutoCAD. There is no way to remove the watermark, and any files you save that was made with the commercial version WILL be 'infected' with the watermark, with no way to reverse it.