Advanced AutoCAD® 2022 Exercise Workbook: For Windows®

By Cheryl R. Shrock and Steve Heather

Looking to take your AutoCAD skills to the next level, but don’t know where to turn? Your search is over. AutoCAD® gurus Cheryl Shrock and Steve Heather have created the perfect learning system, packed with lessons, exercises, projects, and practical inside tips.  
Refreshed screenshots and step-by-step exercises, frequently asked questions, and updated industry-specific projects highlight this edition covering the new AutoCAD 2022 software. This Exercise Workbook covers important AutoCAD commands and step-by-step procedures, including a thorough review of the latest features available (see the feature box, below), including Floating Drawing Tabs and Shared Views. All of this is reinforced by inch and metric exercises, designed to give you the practice needed to efficiently master key skills and complete more advanced projects. Plus, for the first time ever, an AutoCAD Quick Key Guide is included, providing a handy reminder for one-key shortcuts and multiple keyboard combinations.
Whether you are an instructor, a student of engineering, design, architecture, or computer graphics, or a hobbyist looking to hone your craft, you will find the Advanced AutoCAD Exercise Workbook an invaluable asset in your AutoCAD library.  


New and/or Improved Features in AutoCAD 2022:

• Installer–The new Installer reduces the number of steps required for the initial install, improving performance.
• Floating Drawing Tabs–Drag a drawing file tab from the main application window to make it a separate drawing file window and have several drawings open at once. This is particularly useful if you have two or more monitors.
• Shared Views–Store your designs in the Cloud for other users to view, measure, and exchange feedback.
• Share Current Drawing–Share a link to your drawing file and others can view or edit that drawing in AutoCAD’s online application.
• Trace–Turn this on so that collaborators can work together on drawing changes without altering the existing drawing.
• Redesigned Start Tab–Take advantage of easier access to recent work and saved drawing files from connected drives, as well as learning resources and announcements from Autodesk.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Industrial Press, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9780831195953

Cheryl R. Shrock

Cheryl Shrock is a retired Professor and Chairperson of Computer Aided Design at Orange Coast College in California. The AutoCAD ExerciseWorkbooks are the result of both her teaching skills and her industry experience. She also is an Autodesk® registered author.

Book preview

LESSON 1

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Open multiple drawings.

2. Using Floating File Tabs.

3. Easily switch from one open drawing to another.

4. Test your current AutoCAD skills.

5. Plot from Model Space.

Note:

This lesson should be used to determine whether or not you are ready for this level of instruction. If you have difficulty creating Exercises 1A, 1B, and 1C, you should consider reviewing the Beginning AutoCAD® 2022 Exercise Workbook before going on to Lesson 2.

Opening Multiple Files

The File Tabs tool allows you to have multiple drawings open at the same time. If the File Tabs tool is switched on (it is on by default), you can open existing saved drawings or create new ones.

The File Tabs tool is located on the Interface Panel of the View Tab. It is a neon blue color when switched on.

How to open an existing saved drawing from the File Tabs

1. Right mouse click on the + icon.

2. Select Open from the menu.

3. Locate the Directory and Folder for the previously saved file.

4. Select the file that you want to open.

5. Select the Open button.

How to open a new drawing from the File Tabs

1. Right mouse click on any File Tab and select New from the menu.

2. Select Drawing Template (*.dwt) from the Files of type drop-down list (as shown on the next page).

3. Select the Template you require.

4. Select the Open button.

Note:

If you right mouse click on any File Tab, a menu appears with various options, including closing all open drawing Tabs except the one you just clicked on.

You can also start a new drawing using the default template by left clicking on the + icon.

The File Tabs drawing previews allow you to quickly change between open drawings. If you hover your mouse over any open File Tab, a preview of the Model and the Layout Tabs are displayed. You can click on any of the previews to take you to that particular open drawing or view, as shown in the example below.

If an asterisk is displayed on a File Tab, it means that particular drawing has not been saved since it was last modified. The asterisk will disappear when the drawing has been saved. An example of having two separate drawings open that have not been saved is shown below.

Using Floating File Tabs

You can drag a File Tab off the main AutoCAD Application Window to make it a separate drawing window. This means that you could have several drawing files open at the same time with each file in its own drawing window, without having to switch between File Tabs. The floating File Tabs are particularly useful if you have two or more monitors, because you can have a different drawing file open on each monitor.

You can switch between the main AutoCAD Application Window and any floating File Tab by left clicking inside the drawing area of that separate file's drawing window. A floating File Tab window also can be resized to make it larger or smaller.

How to create a floating File Tab

1. Left click and hold down the left mouse button (do not release the button) on the File Tab you want as a floating File Tab.

2. Drag the File Tab away from the main AutoCAD Application Window.

3. Drag the File Tab to the location you want for the floating File Tab. This could be on the same screen or on a second monitor.

4. When you are happy with the location of the floating File Tab, release the left mouse button.

How to move a floating File Tab back to the main AutoCAD Application Window

1. Left click and hold down the left mouse button (do not release the button) on the Title Bar of the floating File Tab you want to move back to the main AutoCAD Application Window.

2. Drag the File Tab back to the main AutoCAD Application Window, until you see the entire drawing area turn a translucent blue in color.

3. Release the left mouse button.

4. The floating File Tab will now be back on the main AutoCAD Application Window.

Warm Up Drawings

The drawing exercises on the following pages have been included for two purposes:

First purpose: To make sure you remember the commands taught in the Beginning AutoCAD® 2022 Exercise Workbook and to get you prepared for the new commands in this Advanced AutoCAD® 2022 Exercise Workbook.

Second purpose: To confirm that you are ready for this level of instruction.

IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:

This Workbook assumes you already have enough basic AutoCAD® knowledge to easily complete Exercises 1A, 1B, and 1C. If you have difficulty with these exercises, you should consider reviewing the Beginning AutoCAD® 2022 Exercise Workbook. If you try to continue without this knowledge, you will probably get confused and frustrated. It is better to have a good solid understanding of the basics before going on to Lesson 2.

PLOTTING AND PRINTING

Exercises 1A, 1B, and 1C should be plotted and printed from Model Space on any Letter or A4 size paper. See the instructions on page 1-11.

Exercise 1A

Exercise 1A

Instructions:

1. Start a New file using either the inch-helper.dwt or the metric-helper.dwt (refer to page Intro-1).

2. Draw the objects below using Layers Object Line and Centerline.

3. Do not dimension.

4. Save as Ex-1A

5. Plot using the instructions on page 1-11.

Exercise 1B

Exercise 1B

Instructions:

1. Start a New file using either the inch-helper.dwt or the metric-helper.dwt

2. Draw the objects below using Layer Object Line.

3. Do not dimension.

4. Save as Ex-1B

5. Plot using the instructions on page 1-11.

Exercise 1C

Exercise 1C

Instructions:

1. Start a New file using either the inch-helper.dwt or the metric-helper.dwt

2. Draw the objects below using Layers Object Line and Centerline.

3. Do not dimension.

4. Save as Ex-1C

5. Plot using the instructions on page 1-11.

Plotting from Model Space

1. Important: Open the drawing you want to plot, if it is not already open.

2. Select: Zoom / All to center the drawing within the plot area.

3. Select the Plot command using one of the following:

Quick Access Toolbar =

or

Ribbon = Output Tab / Plot Panel /

or

Keyboard = PLOT

The Plot – Model dialog box will appear.

4. Select your printer from the drop-down list or use the settings for Default Windows System Printer.pc3. Note: If your printer is not shown in the list, you should configure your printer within AutoCAD. This is not difficult. (Refer to Appendix-A for step-by-step instructions.)

5. Select the Paper size: Letter for inch users or A4 for metric users.

6. Select the Plot Area: Extents

7. Select the Plot Offset: Center the plot

8. Uncheck the Fit to paper box

9. Select Plot Scale 1:1

10. Select the Plot Style table: monochrome.ctb (for all black) acad.ctb (for color)

11. If the following dialog box appears, select Yes.

12. Select the Preview... button.

Does your display appear as shown above with your drawing fully in view? If yes, press and proceed to Step 13 on the next page. If not, recheck Steps 1 through 11.

13. Select the Apply to Layout button.

14. Select the OK button to send the drawing to the printer, or select Cancel if you do not want to print the drawing at this time. The Page Setup will still be saved.

15. Save the entire drawing again. The Plot settings will be saved to the drawing.

Notes:

LESSON 2

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Customize the Workspace.

2. Customize the Ribbon.

3. Select, Export, Import, and Delete a Workspace.

Customizing the Workspace

At this stage of your AutoCAD education, you are probably not too interested in customizing AutoCAD. But I would like to at least introduce you to the Customize User Interface to familiarize you with a few of the customizing options that are available. These are relatively easy to use and sometimes helpful. If you find customizing intriguing, you may explore the user interface options further using the AutoCAD Help system discussed in Lesson 1 in the Beginning AutoCAD® 2022 Exercise Workbook.

You can open the Customize User Interface dialog box using one of the following:

Ribbon = Manage Tab / Customization Panel /

or

Keyboard = cui

The Customize User Interface dialog box should appear.

Creating a New Workspace

Have you found yourself wishing that you could move some of the commands from one Ribbon Panel to another? Or possibly Add, Remove, or Move the Tabs? Well, you can create a workspace of your own.

Important: Before you begin customizing your workspace, it is important to create a duplicate workspace rather than modify an existing workspace. This will allow you to revert back to the original AutoCAD default workspace appearance.

Don't be afraid to experiment. I will also show you how to easily return to the AutoCAD default workspace.

1. Open the Customize User Interface dialog box as shown on the previous page.

2. Duplicate the Drafting & Annotation workspace:

Right click on Drafting & Annotation and select Duplicate.

3. Rename the duplicate workspace:

Right click on Copy Of Drafting & Annotation 1 and select Rename.

4. Enter the new workspace name Class Workspace Demo and then press .

5. Right click on the new workspace Class Workspace Demo and select Set Current.

6. The new workspace should now be displayed as shown below.

7. Select Apply and then OK to close the Customize User Interface dialog box.

Now you have a workspace to customize. The following pages will guide you through:

A. Creating a new Ribbon Tab.

B. Adding a new Ribbon Panel to the new Tab.

C. Adding commands to the new Panel.

Create a Ribbon Tab

1. Open the Customize User Interface dialog box. (Refer to page 2-2.)

2. Select Class Workspace Demo.

3. Click on the [+] beside Ribbon to expand. The [+] will change to [-].

4. Right click on Tabs.

5. Select New Tab.

6. Enter a name for the New Tab and press . (Note: I entered Class Tab.)

7. Select the Apply and then the OK button at the bottom of the Customize User Interface dialog box.

Note: New Tabs are not automatically added to the workspace. You must tell AutoCAD that you want to display this new Tab in your workspace. The following steps will guide you through how to add a Ribbon Tab to a workspace.

Add a Ribbon Tab to a Workspace

1. Open the Customize User Interface dialog box.

2. Select Class Workspace Demo.

3. Click on the Customize Workspace button. (It will change to Done.)

4. Click on the [+] beside Ribbon and then the [+] beside Tabs to expand.

5. Scroll down the list of Tabs and click the check box beside the Class Tab.

Notice the Class Tab also was added to the Workspace Contents.

6. Click on the Done button.

7. Select the Apply and then the OK button at the bottom of the Customize User Interface dialog box.

The new Tab should now appear in the Ribbon.

8. Select the Class Tab.

The following steps will guide you through how to add a Ribbon Panel to the new Tab.

Add a Ribbon Panel to a Tab

1. Open the Customize User Interface dialog box.

2. Select Class Workspace Demo.

3. Select the [+] beside Ribbon to expand.

4. Select the [+] beside Tabs to expand.

5. Select the [+] beside Panels to expand.

6. Scroll down the list of Panels and select the one you want to add to the Tab.

7. Right click on the Panel and select Copy from the menu.

For this example I selected: Home 2D – Draw

8. Scroll up and find the Tab to which you want to add the Panel.

9. Right Click on the Tab name and select Paste.

10. The Panel should now be listed under Class Tab. (Next to the Class Tab will now be a [-] and then, when you click on that, a [+], indicating a Ribbon Panel is now listed under it.)

11. Select the Apply and OK buttons located at the bottom of the Customize User Interface dialog box.

12. Select the Class Tab. (The added Panel should appear.)

Create a New Ribbon Panel

The previous example showed you how to add an existing Ribbon Panel to a Tab. The following will guide you through creating a new Ribbon Panel to which you will add commands. Then you will add it to a Ribbon Tab.

1. Open the Customize User Interface dialog box.

2. Select Class Workspace Demo.

3. Select the [+] beside Ribbon to expand.

4. Right click on Panels.

5. Select New Panel.

6. Enter a name for the new Panel and then press . (Note: I entered My Panel.)

7. Select the Apply and OK buttons.

Add a Command to a Ribbon Panel

The previous example showed you how to create a new Ribbon Panel. The following will guide you through adding commands to a Panel. After adding commands to your new Panel, you will add it to a Ribbon Tab.

1. Open the Customize User Interface dialog box.

2. Select Class Workspace Demo.

3. Select the [+] beside Ribbon to expand.

4. Select the [+] beside Panels to expand.

5. Select the [+] beside the Panel name to which you want to add commands. (Note: Your new Panel will be located at the bottom of the list of Panels.)

6. Locate the command, that you wish to add, in the Command List area.

7. Click, drag, and drop the command on Row 1. (Note: I selected Save As for this example.)

8. Now refer back to page 2-6 for instructions to Add a Ribbon Panel to a Tab.

After adding the My Panel to the Class Tab, it should appear as shown below.

Export a Workspace

Now that you have created your workspace, you might want to Export the workspace and then Import the workspace onto another computer.

1. Select the Customize User Interface Export command using one of the following:

Ribbon = Manage Tab / Customization Panel /

or

Keyboard = cuiexport

2. Select the workspace you wish to export.

3. Select Save As from the drop-down list.

4. Locate where you want to save the workspace file. Note: If you want to import the workspace on another computer, it is best to save the file to a portable storage device such as a flash drive or Autodesk A360® Drive.

5. Enter a name for the workspace.

6. Select the Save button.

Your customized workspace is now saved and can be imported onto another computer. Import instructions are on the next page.

Import a Workspace

Now that you have created your workspace, you may want to Import the workspace onto another computer. Note: You should be importing the workspace to a computer that does not already have that workspace.

1. Select the Customize User Interface Import command using one of the following:

Ribbon = Manage Tab / Customization Panel /

or

Keyboard = cuiimport

2. Select Open from the drop-down list.

3. Locate the previously saved workspace file.

4. Select the workspace file.

5. Select the Open button.

6. Set Current if you wish to use it. (Refer to page 2-4.)

7. Select the Apply and then the OK buttons located at the bottom of the dialog box.

Delete a Workspace

1. Select the Customize User Interface dialog box.

2. Right click on any workspace that you do not want to delete.

3. Select Set Current from the Menu.

4. Right click on the workspace that you do want to delete.

5. Select Delete.

6. Select Yes if you really want to delete the workspace.

7. Select the Apply and then the OK buttons.

Notes:

LESSON 3

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Create a Template for use with Decimals.

Exercise 3A

Create a Master Decimal Setup Template

The following instructions will guide you through creating a Master decimal setup template.