Configure Your AutoCAD Software

Learning Outcomes

When you have completed this module, you will be able to:

  1. Configure your AutoCAD software for the AutoCAD 2D book.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ BEFORE COMPLETING THIS MODULE

If you are working on the AutoCAD 2D course in an instructor-led educational institute and only completing the workalongs and lab exercises on the computers at your school or college, skip this module. Go directly to Module 1.

If you are working on the AutoCAD 2D book in an instructor-led educational institute and completing the workalongs and lab exercises on your personal computer, do the following:

  1. Go to the BCcampus Open Education website and search for “AutoCAD 2D.” Download the Templates that are listed under “Supplementary Materials”
  2. After you download the templates, complete the remainder of this module to configure your personal AutoCAD software. Complete Steps 1 to 48 in the next Workalong. Do not start Module 1 until you completed all 48 steps.

This book was written to be used with AutoCAD running on a computer with Windows software.

WORKALONG: Configuring Your AutoCAD Software

Step 1

Start AutoCAD by clicking the desktop icon. In AutoCAD’s Graphic window, click the New icon located in the upper left corner. It will open the Select Template dialogue box (Figure Step 1).

Figure Step 1

Step 2

In the Select Template dialogue box, click the template file: acad.dwt (or just acad on some computers) to highlight it. Then click the Open button. This will display AutoCAD’s Graphic window. (Figure Step 2)

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: Your dialogue box may not match the figure exactly.
Figure Step 2

Step 3

Disable all features on the Status bar by clicking any that display with a blue background as shown in Figure Step 3A. All features should display with a gray background as shown in Figure Step 3B. (Figure Step 3A and 3B)

 

Figure Step 3A
Figure Step 3B

Step 4

In the Command Line window, located on the bottom of the Graphic window, enter the OPTIONS command by typing it on your keyboard. This will open the Options dialogue box. (Figure Step 4)

Figure Step 4

Step 5

In the Options dialogue box, enable the Profiles tab. (Figure Step 5)

Figure Step 5

Step 6

Click the Add to List button. This will open the Add Profile dialogue box. Enter the name: Original for the Profile name. (Figure Step 6A and 6B)

Figure Step 6A
Figure Step 6B
AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: I am having you create a profile named Original so that you can go back to the way your AutoCAD was configured when you started this book. You will not be using this profile during the course, but at anytime (or when you complete the book) you can use this original profile to restore the original configuration.

Step 7

Using what you learned in Step 6, create a new profile named: AutoCADbook. (Figure Step 7)

Figure Step 7

Step 8

Click the AutoCADbook profile to highlight it. While it is selected, click the Set Current button. Ensure that the Current profile is AutoCADbook as shown across the top of the dialogue box. (Figure Step 8)

Figure Step 8

Step 9

Enable the display of the Files tab. Click the + on Customization Files to expand it. Click the + on the Main Customization File to expand it. Click the file and location to highlight it as shown in the figure. While it is selected, click the Remove button. (Figure Step 9)

Figure Step 9
AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: Your dialogue box may not match the figure exactly.

Step 10

Step 9 will remove the customization file and show a blank box as shown in the figure. Click the Browse button to open the Select a file dialogue box. (Figure Step 10A and 10B)

Figure Step 10A
Figure Step 10B

Step 11

In the Select a file dialogue box, pull down the Look in: box and find C drive. Click the folder: CAD Courses. (Figure Step 11)

Figure Step 11
AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: If you used a different drive when you downloaded the templates and menu from the website, you will have to find that drive letter instead of drive C.

Step 12

Under CAD Courses, click the folder: AutoCAD 2D. (Figure Step 12)

Figure Step 12

Step 13

Under the folder: AutoCAD 2D, click the folder: Menu. (Figure Step 13)

Figure Step 13

Step 14

In the folder: Menu, click the file: AutoCADbook.CUIX and then the Open box. (Figure Step 14)

Figure Step 14

Step 15

You should now see the file location:
C:\CAD Course\AutoCAD 2D\Menu\AutoCADbook.CUIX. (Figure Step 15A and 15B)

Figure Step 15A
Figure Step 15B

Step 16

Click the small arrow in the Workplace Switching icon on the right end of the Status bar located along the bottom of the Graphic window. (Figure Step 16)

Figure Step 16

Step 17

In the Workspace pull-up menu, click Workspace Settings. This will open the Workspace Settings dialogue box. (Figure Step 17)

Figure Step 17
AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: AutoCAD has two basic menu systems, Toolbars and Ribbons. You can switch back and forth between them. Along with using either the Toolbar or Ribbon menu, you should enable the Pull-down menu and use it in conjunction with either menu. The AutoCAD 2D book shows all three menus. I advise the beginner to use the Toolbar menus while working on the AutoCAD 2D book and then try the Ribbon menu after completing it. The AutoCAD 2D Advanced book teaches more about Toolbar, Ribbon, and Pull-down menus as well as how to create and edit them.
If you intend to use Toolbars menus to do this book, complete steps 18a and 19a. If you intend to use Ribbon menus to do this book, complete steps 18b and 19b.
AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: I suggest that you use Toolbar menus while working on this book.

Step 18a (Toolbar Menus)

In the Workspace Settings dialogue box, set My Workspace to: AutoCADbook. Enable Automatically save workspace changes by clicking the radio button. Click OK to close the box. (Figure Step 18a)

Figure Step 18a

Step 19a (Toolbar Menus)

Click the small arrow in the Workplace Switching icon again on the Status bar. Click the workspace: AutoCADbook to set it as the current workspace. Make sure that the check mark is beside the workspace: AutoCADbook as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 19a)

Figure Step 19a

Step 18b (Ribbon Menus)

If you intend to use Ribbon menus to do this book, complete Steps 18b and 19b. If you intend to use Toolbar menus to do this book, skip to Step 20.

In the Workspace Settings dialogue box, set My Workspace to the workspace: Drafting & Annotation. Enable Automatically save workspace changes by clicking the radio button. Click OK to close the box (Figure Step 18b)

Figure Step 18b

Step 19b (Ribbon Menus)

Click the small arrow in the Workplace Switching icon again on the Status bar. Click the workspace: Drafting & Annotation to set it as the current workspace. Make sure that the check mark is beside the workspace: Drafting & Annotation as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 19b)

Figure Step 19b

Step 20

Click the Hamburger icon located on the far right side of the Status bar. This will display the Customization menu. Enable or disable each item in the menu until it matches the figure. (Figure Step 20)

Figure Step 20

Step 21

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: Enter the following commands in the Command Line window located along the bottom of the Graphic window.

Enter the MENUBAR command and set it to 1, as shown below.

Command: MENUBAR
Enter new value for MENUBAR <0>: 1
Command:

Step 22

Enter the NAVBARDISPLAY command and set it to 0, as shown below.

Command: NAVBARDISPLAY
Enter new value for NAVBARDISPLAY <1>: 0
Command:

Step 23

Enter the VPCONTROL command and set it to OFF, as shown below.

Command: VPCONTROL
Enter new value for VPCONTROL <ON>: OFF
Command:

Step 24 (2015)

If you are using AutoCAD 2015 execute the following command:

Enter the NEWTABMODE command and set it to 0, as shown below.

Command: NEWTABMODE
Enter new value for NEWTABMODE <1>: 0
Command:

Step 24 (2016-2017)

If you are using AutoCAD 2016 or 2017 execute the following command:

Enter the STARTMODE command and set it to 0, as shown below.

Command: STARTMODE
Enter new value for STARTMODE <1>: 0
Command:

Step 25

Click Tools in the Pull-down menu. In the Pull-down menu, click Options. (Figure Step 25)

Figure Step 25

Step 26

In the Options dialogue box, enable the Files tab. Expand Template Settings and Drawing Template File Location. Highlight the current location by clicking it. Click the Remove button. (Figure Step 26)

Figure Step 26

Step 27

It will display an empty box as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 27).

Figure Step 27

Step 28

Click the Browse button. In the Browse for Folders dialogue box, locate the folder: (Figure Step 28)

Figure Step 28

Step 29

Click OK and the new location will appear as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 29A and 29B)

Figure Step 29A
Figure Step 29B

Step 30

Enable the display of the Display tab. (Figure Step 30)

Figure Step 30

Step 31

In the Display resolution area, set the Arc and circle smoothness to 20000. (Figure Step 31)

Figure Step 31

Step 32

Set the Crosshair size to 100. (Figure Step 32)

Figure Step 32

Step 33

Click the Colors button to open the Drawing Window Color dialogue box. Highlight 2D model space, Uniform Background and then select the color White as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 33A and 33B)

Figure Step 33A
Figure Step 33B

Step 34

Click Apply and Close.

Step 35

Enable the User Preferences tab. (Figure Step 35)

Figure Step 35

Step 36

Ensure that both boxes are enabled in the Windows Standard Behavior area. Click the Right-click Customization button. Enable the box Turn on time sensitive right-click and set the Longer click duration to 250 milliseconds. (Figure Step 36A and 36B)

Figure Step 36A
Figure Step 36B

Step 37

Click Apply and Close.

Step 38

In the Insertion scale area, pull down the Source content units menu and select Inches. Do the same for the Target drawing units menu to set both to inches. (Figure Step 38A and 38B)

Figure 38A
Figure Step 38B

Step 39

Enable the Drafting tab. (Figure Step 39)

Figure Step 39

Step 40

Click the Colors box.  In the Color box, pull-down the list and  click Select Color.  Enable the Index Color tab in the Select Color dialogue box, enter the number 253 and click OK. (Figure Step 40A, 40B, and 40C)

Figure Step 40A
Figure Step 40B
Figure Step 40C

Step 41

Click OK and then click Apply and Close.

Step 42

Set the AutoSNAP Marker Size and the Aperture Size to approximately the sizes shown in the figures.  If required, you can adjust these sizes, when required, as you work your way  through the book. (Figure Step 42)

Figure Step 42

Step 43

Enable the 3D Modeling tab.  (Figure Step  43)

Figure Step 43

Step 44

In the Display Tools in Viewport area, set it as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 44)

Figure Step 44

Step 45

Enable the Selection tab. (Figure Step 45)

Figure Step 45

Step 46

Set the Pickbox Size and the Grip Size to approximately the sizes as shown in the figure. If required, you can adjust these sizes, when required, as you work your way through the book. (Figure Step 46)

Figure Step 46

Step 47

Click the OK button on the bottom of the Options dialogue box to close it.

Step 48

Your AutoCAD software is now configured for the AutoCAD 2D book. Your Graphic window should closely match the figure. (Figure Step 48)

Figure Step 48

Step 49

Go to Module 1.

License

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Introduction to Drafting and AutoCAD 2D Copyright © 2021 by Wally Baumback is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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