1. Line
A line tool lets you create a
straight path between two points in
a CAD drawing. Click the Line tool
in the Draw panel.
Command Prompt: Type “LINE” or “L” in
the command prompt and press Enter.
How to Use it?
When to Use it?
 Pick a starting point: Click your
mouse to tell AutoCAD where to
begin the line.
 Choose the ending point: AutoCAD
will then ask you to pick a second
point, indicating where the line
should end. Click again to set this
point.
 Finish the command: You can end
the LINE command by hitting
Enter, Escape (ESC), or the
Spacebar.
 Creating walls and partitions in
architectural drawings.
 Drawing electrical wiring diagrams with
straight wire segments.
 Sketching basic geometric shapes
(square, rectangle, triangle, etc.).
Output:
2. Circle
Look for an icon that resembles a circle or the letter “C” in the Draw panel of the Home tab.
Command Prompt: Type “CIRCLE” or “C” > Press
Enter.
How to use it?
 Specify the center point: Choose the circle’s
center by clicking at any point in the open
window or by entering coordinates.
 Specify radius or diameter: Specify circle size as
radius or diameter.
 Adjust properties: Modify attributes (e.g., layer,
color) through the Properties palette or right-click
menu.
Output:
When to use it?
 Drawing wheels, gears, and other circular
objects.
 Marking locations of circular objects in a site
plan.
 Representing holes and openings in engineering
drawings.
3. Rectangle
The rectangle tool constructs a four-sided shape
with equal-length sides and right angles.
When to use it?
 Designing rooms and spaces in architectural
drawings.
 Creating frames for illustrations and diagrams.
 Drafting floor plans and site layouts.
Command Prompt: Type “RECTANGLE” or
“REC” > Press Enter.
How to use it?
 First corner: Click to mark one corner of the
rectangle.
 Second corner: Click again to mark the diagonally
opposite corner. AutoCAD creates the rectangle
between these two points.
 Adjust properties: You can change attributes like
color or layer using the Properties palette or by
right-clicking on the rectangle.
Output:
4. Polyline
The polyline tool connects multiple line segments or
curves in CAD to form complex shapes.
Command Prompt: Type “PLINE” or “PL” > Press
Enter.
How to use it?
Start: Click to begin the polyline at a point.
Add segments: Click more points to create connected
lines; AutoCAD joins them into one polyline.
End: Double-click the last point or press Enter to finish
creating the polyline. Also, AutoCAD closes the polyline
only if the start and end points match; otherwise, you may
have an open polyline.
Adjust properties: You can change line attributes (like
color) using the Properties palette or right-click menu.
Output:
When to use it?
Creating complex outlines and shapes like
building footprints.
Designing piping and ductwork layouts.
Tracing irregular boundaries in land surveys.
Output:
How to use it?
5. Copy
The copy tool duplicates selected objects within a Select what to duplicate: Click on the objects you want to
copy. Hold Shift for multiple items or draw a box around
CAD drawing.
them.
How to open it?
Choose a starting point: Click where you want the copying
The Copy tool is present in the Modify group. The to begin. Objects will be pasted in relation to this point.
Pick the new spot: Click where you want to paste the
icon has one small circle and two overlapping
copied objects (The objects will be positioned based on
circles.
the starting point).
Keep going: Repeat by selecting, choosing a start, and
picking new spots. Finish with Enter or right-click and
“Enter.”
When to use it?
Replicating furniture or fixtures in an interior design layout.
Placing multiple instances of the same detail in a drawing.
Creating symmetrical patterns and layouts.
Output:
Command Prompt: Type “COPY” > press Enter.
6. Rotate
How to open it?
Go to the Modify panel and select the tool that
looks like a circular arrow or a rotation symbol.
How to use it?
Choose what to rotate: Click on the objects you want to
turn. To pick multiple items, hold Shift or draw a box
around them.
Set the center point: Click on the screen to select the point
from which you want the object to rotate. For example, it
can be the top, bottom, or center of the object.
Pick the angle: Type the rotation angle in degrees or use
your mouse to set it visually. You can also specify angles
in the command prompt.
Keep rotating: Do more rotations by selecting, setting the
center, and choosing angles. To finish, press Enter or
right-click and “Enter.”
Output:
Command Prompt: Type “ROTATE” >
press Enter.
When to use it?
Aligning objects at specific angles in architectural
drawings.
Positioning components in mechanical assemblies.
Adjusting the orientation of text or labels.
7. Erase
How to open it?
Find the Erase command under the Modify panel. It
looks like a pencil that has a back eraser.
How to use it?
Pick what to delete: Click on the things you want to
eliminate. You can choose many by clicking on each
or dragging a box around them.
Finish deleting: After you have selected the objects
to delete, press Enter or right-click and pick “Enter.”
The selected objects vanish from your drawing.
When to use it?
Deleting unnecessary or unwanted elements from
a cloth design.
Cleaning up draft sketches before finalizing a
design.
Output:
Command Prompt: Type “ERASE” or “E” > press
Enter.
8. Trim
How to open it?
Under the Modify panel, you will see a tool booking like
scissors or a knife. Open the dropdown menu for that tool
and then select the first option (Trim).
Command Prompt: Type “TRIM” > press Enter.
How to use it?
Select the cutting edge: Click the line or object you want
to use for cutting.
Select what to trim: Click the parts of other objects you
want to remove. AutoCAD erases what you choose up to
the cutting line.
Repeat if necessary: Keep selecting cutting lines and
portions to trim as needed. To complete, press Enter or
right-click and choose “Enter.”
When to use it?
 Trimming excess lines to create clean
intersections.
 Creating doors and windows in walls.
 Removing overlapping geometry.
Output:
9. Extend
The extend tool increases an object’s length so it
can join with a boundary or another object.
How to open it?
In the Modify group, open the dropdown menu for a
tool booking like a knife and then select the second
option (Extend).
How to use it?
Select boundary: Click on the point (line or object) where
you want to set the boundary.
Select what to extend: Click on the lines or objects you
want to make longer until they touch the boundary.
Keep going: You can pick more boundaries and objects to
extend. To finish, press Enter or right-click and choose
“Enter.”
When to use it?
Extending walls to meet at a common intersection.
Lengthening objects to match other features in a
design.
Connecting lines to form a continuous boundary.
Output:
Command Prompt: Type “EXTEND” > press Enter.
10. Move
The move tool relocates the selected objects to
new positions in a CAD drawing.
How to open it?
The move command’s icon resembles a fourdirection arrow or a crosshair.
Command Prompt: Type “MOVE” or “M” > press
Enter.
How to use it?
Choose what to move: Click on what you want to move.
Hold shift to choose many items.
Set the anchor point: Click to choose a point on the
selected objects that will act as the center during the
move. (Keep holding the mouse key; Do not leave your
mouse key yet).
Pick the new spot: Click where the objects should go.
They move with the anchor point.
Keep moving: Do more moves by selecting, setting the
anchor, and choosing new spots. To finish, press Enter or
right-click and “Enter.”
When to use it?
Adjusting the position of furniture in an interior design
layout.
Shifting components within a mechanical assembly.
Rearranging elements in a drawing to improve clarity.
Output:
How to use it?
11. Scale
Pick what to resize: Click on the object you want to make
The scale tool resizes selected objects
bigger or smaller. You can pick lots by holding Shift or
proportionally or non-proportionally.
drawing a box around them.
Set a starting point: Click to choose a point that stays still
How to open it?
during the resizing. Everything resizes around this point.
You can find the Scale command in the Ribbon on
the Home tab under the Modify panel. The icon has Choose how much to resize: Type in how much bigger or
smaller you want the object to be and press Enter or type
two boxes, a smaller box inside the bigger one.
the scale factor.
Preview and adjust: AutoCAD shows you what the resized
object will look like. Make changes if needed.
Finish resizing: Press Enter or right-click and select
“Enter.” AutoCAD resizes the selected object based on
your instructions.
Output:
Command Prompt: Type “SCALE” > press Enter.
12. Mirror
The mirror tool creates an exact same (symmetrical) copy
of selected objects.
How to open it?
The Mirror tool comes under the Modify panel and looks
like a mirrored triangle (reflection or mirror image).
How to use it?
Select what to mirror: Click on the objects you want to
mirror. You can pick multiple objects by holding Shift or
drawing a box around them.
Pick the mirror line’s start: Click at a point where you want
the mirror line to start.
Choose the mirror line’s end: Click where the mirror line
ends. It decides which way the mirroring happens. For
instance, if the endpoint is at the left side of the start point,
AutoCAD will create the mirror image to the left and vice
versa.
Keep going: Continue by selecting, setting start and end
points, and placing mirrored copies. Finish with Enter or
right-click and “Enter.”
Output:
Command Prompt: Type “MIRROR” > press Enter.
When to use it?
Designing symmetrical parts in mechanical drawings.
Creating symmetrical floor plans for buildings.
Mirroring text or labels for readability.
13. Offset
How to use it?
The offset tool generates parallel copies of lines or curves Specify offset distance: When you start Offset, tell
at a specified distance.
AutoCAD how far you want to offset:
How to open it?
Type the distance and press Enter.
Represented by an icon resembling parallel or
Click on the shape you want to create in the offset.
perpendicular lines, you can find the Offset command in Select objects to offset: Click the objects you want to
the Modify panel.
offset. Use a selection window to choose many items by
dragging a box around them.
Specify offset side: To choose the direction:
Click inside the objects to offset inward.
Click outside the objects to offset outward.
Finish offsetting: Press Enter or right-click and select
“Enter” to finish. AutoCAD makes copies of the objects
using the specified distance and direction.
Output:
Command Prompt: Type “OFFSET” or simply “O” >
press Enter.
When to use it?
Adding offsets to represent walls or partitions in
architectural plans.
Designing concentric shapes or patterns.
Creating clearance gaps in mechanical drawings.
14. Array
The array tool produces multiple copies of objects in a
pattern that you define.
How to open it?
You can find the Array command in the Modify panel with
an icon resembling a grid or pattern.
Command Prompt: Type “ARRAY” > press Enter.
When to use it?
Replicating objects in a grid pattern, like windows on a
building façade.
Creating circular arrays for features like bolts on a wheel
rim.
Distributing elements along a specified path.
How to use it?
1. Choose what to multiply: Click on the objects you want to
create copies of. Hold Shift for many items or draw a box around
them.
2. Pick the Array type: AutoCAD asks how you want to arrange
the copies:Rectangular: Like rows and columns.
Polar: Like a circle around a point.
3. Set up the array: For rectangular:
Say how many rows and columns you want.
Set the space between rows and columns.
For polar: Select the point where you want the center to be.
Mention the number of copies to create.
Set the angle between each copy.
4. See how it looks: AutoCAD shows you a preview. You can then
adjust as needed.
5. Finish making the array: Press Enter or right-click and pick
“Enter.”
Output:
15. Fillet
The fillet tool converts the corners of intersecting lines or
objects into a rounded shape.
How to open it?
Look for this tool in the Modify panel. The fillet tool looks
like a quarter circle with an arc above it.
Command Prompt: Type “FILLET” > press Enter.
When to use it?
Adding rounded corners to architectural elements like
door frames.
Smoothing sharp edges in mechanical parts.
Creating aesthetically pleasing curves in drawings.
How to use it?
Pick fillet size: After you start Fillet, tell AutoCAD how big
you want the rounded corner to be. Type the size or click
a point to set it.
Choose the first thing: Click on the first line or object
where you want the rounded corner.
Select the second thing: Click on the second line or object
that meets the first one at the corner you want to round.
Keep going if needed: You can make more rounded
corners by selecting the first and second things for each
one.
Finish filleting: When you are done, press Enter or rightclick and pick “Enter” to exit the Fillet tool.
When to use it?
Output:
16. Explode
The explode tool breaks down complex objects into
individual components so the user can easily edit
those.
How to open it?
Find the Explode tool in the Modify panel. It looks like
a broken-apart cube with four sides showing.
How to use it?
Choose what to break: Click on the thing or group of
things you want to break into pieces. It could be a block, a
drawing, or some other complex object.
Make it happen: After that, press Enter or right-click and
pick “Enter.” AutoCAD takes apart the chosen object into
its basic parts, like lines, curves, and text.
Check what you got: Now, you can easily edit, move,
delete, or change each separate piece.
Finish breaking: When done, press Enter or right-click and
pick “Enter” to exit the Explode tool.
Output:
Command Prompt: Type “EXPLODE” > press Enter.
When to use it?
Converting blocks or groups into individual elements for
editing.
Decomposing complex shapes into basic lines and arcs.
Separating overlapping or grouped elements.