AutoSketch 10
AutoSketch 10 Frequently Asked Questions
What is AutoSketch 10 software? AutoSketch software provides a comprehensive set of basic computer aided design (CAD) tools for creating professional-quality precision drawings. Use AutoSketch software to easily create AutoCAD compatible industry-standard CAD drawings, including electrical details, interior floor plans, design sketches, and product specifications. I have never used CAD software. How will it help me? AutoSketch is software for 2D precision drawing. It provides a set of tools that allow you to draw with the computer the same drawings that you would draw on paper. Special drawing and editing tools provide quick and easy ways to modify your work, saving hours. Who uses AutoSketch 10 software? Hobbyists, architects, engineers, contractors, illustrators, designers, and students use AutoSketch to create conceptual sketches, architectural drawings, technical illustrations, electrical drawings, product specifications, informative graphics, and much more. How do I start using AutoSketch 10 software? Autodesk provides a variety of resources to help you learn more about AutoSketch 10 software. The Help System can be accessed directly from the product. A series of Getting Started Tutorials available at www.autodesk.com/autosketch-documentation will get you up and running quickly. Can I share files with AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT software? Yes. You can Import and Export your files to AutoCAD DWG format which means you can share files with AutoCAD software, back to version AutoCAD 2000i, as well as with AutoCAD LT users. The DXF file format is also available for both import and export. What are the key differences between AutoSketch 10 and AutoCAD LT software? AutoSketch and AutoCAD LT are both 2D CAD software applications for creating precision drawings. While both offer a complete set of CAD tools, only AutoCAD LT shares the same software architecture and technology as AutoCAD, the world-renowned 2D and 3D CAD software. Customers accustomed to the toolset and command line in AutoCAD will find AutoCAD LT to be a more familiar work environment.
Autodesk and AutoCAD LT are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document. 2008 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Whats the difference between AutoSketch 10 and Autodesk Sketchbook Pro ? AutoSketch is CAD software for 2D precision drawing. Autodesk Sketchbook Pro software is a creative paint and drawing toolset designed for use with tablet PCs or digitized pen tablets.
Does AutoSketch 10 work with the Windows Vista operating system? AutoSketch 10 has been updated to work with Windows Vista.
What are the system requirements for AutoSketch 10?
Intel Pentium 4 processor or AMD Athlon, 2.2 GHz or greater Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows XP SP2 32-bit operating systems

o o

512 MB RAM Microsoft Windows XP 1 GB RAM Microsoft Windows Vista
200 MB free disk space for installation 800x600 VGA display with true color Mouse, trackball, or compatible pointing device Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 (SP1 or later) CD-ROM or DVD drive
Whats new in the AutoSketch 10 release? This release of AutoSketch 10 brings AutoSketch file format compatibility into alignment with other Autodesk products. AutoSketch 10 has been enhanced to read DWG files v 2.5 and greater and save to AutoCAD 2004 and 2008 DWG files formats. AutoSketch 10 has been enhanced to work with the Windows Vista Operating System. These improvements ensure AutoSketch 10 continues to be a versatile and contemporary software product. Is there any real benefit to registering the software? Yes. Although registration is voluntary, we encourage you to register so that we can update you with information regarding new products and versions. Registration is required to qualify for technical support. What is the product serial number for? The serial number is required to install the software. You will also be required to supply this number when calling for Up and Ready support.

How do I obtain direct, technical support? You are entitled to 30 days support from your date of Registration that covers installation and configuration of your new AutoSketch 10 software. The 30-day support program will automatically be set up in the name of the person registering the product. This registering party will receive an email notification to set up a login to access the support program. Installation support Installation support is support for installing software on your computer system using the installation process described in the products Getting Started tutorials www.autodesk.com/autosketchdocumentation. Troubleshooting of installation issues is also included. Configuration support Configuration support is support for setting up peripheral devices to work with your Autodesk software. It includes support for setting product and system variables to make the best use of the product on your system.
North America Product Support in English You are entitled to 30 days of Up and Ready web and telephone support from your date of registration, covering installation, configuration and licensing of your new Autodesk software. Call +1-425-485-a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific time) Monday through Friday, excluding local holidays. Europe Product Support in English and German You are entitled to 30 days of Up and Ready web support from your date of registration, covering installation and configuration of your new Autodesk software. The registering party will receive email notification to set up a login to access the support program. Australia and New Zealand Product Support in English You are entitled to 30 days of free Up and Ready telephone support, from your date of purchase, covering installation and configuration of your new Autodesk software. In Australia, call 1 800-655-794 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, In New Zealand, call +64-9414-0100, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays

Chapter 3

AutoSketch Basics
Introduction. Start AutoSketch. Use the Start Up Dialog Box to Create or Open a Drawing. Start a Drawing or Choose a Wizard (Wizard Tab). Choose a Template (Template Tab). Open an Existing Drawing (Open Tab). Understand the User Interface. Drawing Window. All-In-One Toolbar. Content Librarian. Edit Bar. Menu Bar. Property Bar. Status Bar. Title Bar. Toolbars. Tooltips. Basic Features and Functionality. Entities. Properties. Scale. Coordinates. Drawing Origin. Reference Grid. Grid Origin. Snap. Lock Modifier.
Appendix Drawings Created with AutoSketch

Installation

In this chapter
Contents of the AutoSketch
This chapter tells you how to install AutoSketchon your computer. After you install the software, view the Readme (click Read Me on the Help menu). The Readme contains important information that was compiled after this guide was printed. For step-by-step instructions about learning the product, read the entire Getting Started guide. You can find a PDF version of this guide in the following location (C is the installation drive letter): C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoSketch10

Package

System Requirements Install AutoSketch Register AutoSketch Repair AutoSketch Repair AutoSketch Uninstall AutoSketch
Contents of the AutoSketch Package
AutoSketch includes the following:
AutoSketch disc AutoSketch Getting Started (this guide) Create and Trim Entities (online tutorial) Create a Birdhouse Drawing (online tutorial) Create and Office Layout Drawing (online tutorial) Advanced Exercises (online tutorial)

System Requirements

Before you install AutoSketch, make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements. Hardware and software requirements
Hardware/Software Operating system Requirement WindowsVista or WindowsXP Service Pack 2, 32bit MicrosoftInternet Explorer 6.0 with Service Pack 1 (or later) Intel Pentium IV or AMD Athlon2.2 GHz or greater Windows Vista - 1 GB Windows XP - 512 MB 800 x 600 (minimum) with True Color 200 MB Mouse, trackball, or other compatible pointing device Any speed (for installation only) Requires a Windows-supported display adapter Notes

Web browser

Processor
Hard disk Pointing device

CD-ROM or DVD drive

Install AutoSketch
This section explains how to install AutoSketch on a stand-alone computer. To install AutoSketch 1 Insert the AutoSketch CD into your CD-ROM drive. 2 Follow the installation prompts that are displayed. If installation did not begin when you inserted the AutoSketch CD into your CD-ROM drive, Autorun may be turned off on your machine. To install AutoSketch if Autorun is turned off 1 Insert the AutoSketch CD into your CD-ROM drive. 2 On the Start menu (Windows), click Run. 3 In the Run dialog box, enter <CD drive letter>:\Setup.exe and click OK. 4 Follow the installation prompts. Congratulations! You have successfully installed AutoSketch. You are now ready to register your product and start using the program.

Register AutoSketch

Registering AutoSketch makes you eligible for technical support and for early notification of new product releases. To register AutoSketch 1 On the Start menu (Windows), click All Programs (or Programs) Autodesk AutoSketch 10. 2 In the AutoSketch Product Registration wizard, select Register Now, and then click Next. 3 Follow the on-screen instructions.

Repair AutoSketch

If you accidentally delete or alter files that are required by AutoSketch, it might not perform correctly. You can attempt to repair AutoSketch. To repair AutoSketch 1 In the Control Panel (Windows), start Add or Remove Programs. 2 In the Add or Remove Programs window, select AutoSketch Release 10, and then click Change. 3 In the Setup wizard, Application Maintenance page, select the Repair option, and then click Next. 4 On the Ready to Repair the Application page, click Finish. 5 If prompted, restart your computer.

Uninstall AutoSketch

When you uninstall AutoSketch, all components are removed from the computer.
Note Uninstalling the application does not automatically delete drawing files
you have created. You can delete those files manually. To uninstall AutoSketch 1 In the Control Panel (Windows), start Add or Remove Programs. 2 In the Add or Remove Programs window, select AutoSketch Release10, and then click Remove. 3 In the message box that is displayed, click Yes to remove AutoSketch. 4 If prompted, restart your computer.
Draw to Scale Organize Drawing Information Draw Efficiently Draw Accurately View Your Drawing Modify Your Drawing Create Dimensions and Text
With your decision to use AutoSketch, you have entered the world of computer-aided design (CAD). AutoSketch makes your drawings more precise and you more productive than you have been using paper as your design format. This chapter explains how you can take your drafting knowledge and apply it to CAD.

Draw to Scale

Drawing scale is something you consider when laying out your drawing. You establish scale differently in CAD than you do with manual drafting. With manual drafting, you must determine the scale of a view before you start drawing. This scale compares the size of the actual object to the size of the object drawn on paper.

Draw the object at full scale in the units you specify.
In AutoSketch, drawings are created using the real-world values you specify. The computer handles scaling the drawing to fit on paper. For example, you can use feet and inches, or meters and kilometers, and so on. You might draw a motor part with millimeters as the unit of length so that entering 25 means 25 millimeters. When you draw a map, you might select kilometers so that entering 25 means 25 kilometers. Although you can easily change scaling at any point while drawing, it is useful at the start to select a scale that is appropriate to the drawing you are working on. This allows you to keep your drawing on the page that AutoSketch displays on screen.
When you lay out and plot your drawing, you can set any scale you like.
Organize Drawing Information
In both manual drafting and CAD, you need a way to organize your drawing contenta method for separating, sorting, and editing specific drawing data. With manual drafting, you can separate information onto individual transparent overlays. For example, a building plan might contain separate overlays for its structural, electrical, and plumbing components. In AutoSketch, layers are equivalent to transparent overlays. As with overlays, you can display, edit, and print layers separately or in combination. You can name layers to help track content, and lock layers so they cant be altered. Assigning settings such as color, pen style, or pen width to layers helps you comply with industry standards.
Turn off layers to hide complex details as you work.
You can also use layers to organize drawing objects (called entities in AutoSketch) for printing. This mechanical drawing of a press uses layers to show different types of information in different styles and colors.
Display layers when you need to see all components.

Draw Efficiently

Draw with less effort and revise with more speed: these are the two main reasons you use CAD. AutoSketch has a complete set of drawing and editing tools to help eliminate repetitive, time-consuming drafting tasks. If you work with paper and a drawing board, your set of drawing tools is likely to include pencils, scales, parallel rules, templates, and erasers. Repetitive drawing and editing tasks must be done manually. In AutoSketch, you can choose from a variety of drawing tools that create lines, rectangles, circles, curves, and more. With AutoSketch, you can easily copy, scale, rotate, and mirror entities. You can move or copy entities between open drawings or within the same drawing. Editing is easy with tools such as stretch, align, and offset. To add hatching, simply insert a hatch pattern from the AutoSketch Content Librarian into the area to be filled.

With detail views, you can arrange additional views at different zoom levels or scales. You can create split windows, and you can pan and zoom in each window to create the best working conditions.

Modify Your Drawing

Revisions are a part of any drawing project. Whether you work on paper or with CAD, you will need to modify your drawing in some way. On paper, you must manually erase and redraw to make revisions to your drawing. AutoSketch eliminates tedious manual editing by providing a wealth of editing tools. If you need to copy all or part of an entity, you dont have to redraw it. If you need to remove an entity, you can erase it with a few clicks of the mouse. And if you make an error, you can quickly undo your actions.
If you stretch an entity.
Once you draw an entity, you never need to redraw it. You can modify existing entities by mirroring, rotating, scaling, stretching, trimming, and more. At any time, you can change entity properties, such as pen style, pen width, color, and layer. These before-and-after drawings show some typical edits to a house elevation.
.the hatch adjusts automatically.

Use Standard Symbols

Symbols have long been used in manual drafting as a way to represent realworld objects in a simplified way. The ability to create and reuse standard symbols is one of CADs greatest strengths. With manual drafting, you might use a symbol template or printed stickers to draw repetitive landscape, architectural, mechanical, or electrical symbols. This method, however, limits the possible variations of a symbol. In AutoSketch, you can save time by inserting symbols from the Content Librarian anywhere in your drawing, at any rotation or scale. You can then add a symbol as many times as needed by simply clicking to place the symbol. Should a standard symbol change (be redefined), all instances of the symbol in your drawing will automatically be replaced. In AutoSketch, you can also create your own symbols from scratch or modify existing ones. Standard landscaping symbols are used in this drawing of a residential home floor plan.
The Content Librarian lets you locate libraries (collections) of symbols. You choose the symbol you want and drag it into your drawing.

Create Dimensions and Text
Creating accurate dimensions and consistent, legible text is a time-consuming task for the manual drafter. CAD provides ways to streamline this task. When you work on paper, you typically draw to scale and then add dimensions and annotations. If you resize any part of the drawing, you must erase and then redraw the dimensions. Changing text can often involve relettering the whole drawing. AutoSketch automates the process of creating and changing dimensions and text. In AutoSketch, you can customize individual dimensions, and when information changes, you can easily revise text, including its content, font, height, angle, and justification. Virtually all standard dimensioning types are provided in AutoSketch: linear, radial, ordinate, angular, baseline, and more.
Introduction Start AutoSketch Use the Start Up Dialog Box to
In this chapter, you learn how to start AutoSketch and use the Startup dialog box to create or open a drawing. You also learn about the user interface and the basic features and functionality of AutoSketch. Once you have learned these AutoSketch basics, you can do the exercises in this guides tutorials and learn to use the product. More information about each of these components and features is available in the Help system.

Create or Open a Drawing

Understand the User Interface Basic Features and Functionality

Introduction

AutoSketch is a precision drawing tool for the Microsoft WindowsXP and Windows Vista operating systems. The emphasis in AutoSketch is on speed, power, and ease of use. AutoSketch features appear when you need them, and are kept out of the way when you dont. If youre already a Windows Vista or Windows XP user, youll find the menu system and much of the user interface familiar. If youre new to Windows, youll find AutoSketch an easy place to work. In this chapter, you learn how to start AutoSketch and use the Start Up dialog box to create or open a drawing, and you get familiar with the user interface components.

Start AutoSketch

When you start AutoSketch, you can begin a new drawing, start with a template, or open existing drawings. Simply click a selection and begin. To start AutoSketch for the first time
On the Start menu (Windows), click All Programs (or Programs) Autodesk AutoSketch 10.
The AutoSketch Start Up dialog box is displayed.
Use the Start Up Dialog Box to Create or Open a Drawing
The Start Up dialog box has three tabs with options for starting a drawing:

Choose a Template (Template Tab)
In the Start Up dialog box, Template tab, you can choose a template file to start a drawing. AutoSketch includes dozens of drawing template files. A template is a drawing file that has settings such as borders, title blocks, grid spacing, drawing scale, and page size already selected for you. When you select one of the templates in the list, you can preview it in the Preview area. Then, you simply choose the template that is right for your project. You can also create your own template from an existing drawing. If you create the same type of drawing each time you work with AutoSketch, you may want to redefine the default template by saving an existing drawing as a template, and then selecting that template as the new default. Then, you can use the template to create new drawings of the same type. The following illustration shows the Template tab.
Tip During an AutoSketch work session, you can access templates by clicking

File New.

Open an Existing Drawing (Open Tab)
In the Start Up dialog box, Open tab, you can open an existing drawing file. You can adjust how files are displayed in the list, browse for more files, and preview a selected file. The following illustration shows the Open tab.
Tip During an AutoSketch work session, you can access existing drawings by

clicking File Open.

Understand the User Interface
The first step in learning how to use AutoSketch is to become familiar with its user interface.

Drawing Window

Once you choose the type of drawing you want to create, AutoSketch opens a drawing window. The drawing window in AutoSketch is the space where you work. Many drawing windows can be open at one time. Clicking a drawing window makes it active so that you can work in it. You can make changes in the active window only. You can resize, minimize, maximize, and close each drawing window independently. The following illustration shows the AutoSketch user interface elements in a drawing window. These elements are listed alphabetically and described after the illustration.
Content Librarian Title Bar Drawing Window Menu Bar

Property Bar

Edit Bar

All-In-One Toolbar

Status Bar Drawing Origin

Reference Grid

Relative Coordinates Dial Absolute Coordinates Dial
As its name suggests, the All-In-One toolbar contains buttons that help you perform most of the tasks that you need to do to create a drawing. Take a few moments to understand how this toolbar works before doing the exercises in this guide.
Most of the buttons on the AutoSketch specialized toolbars can be found on the All-In-One Toolbar. For example, the All-In-One toolbar contains all of the 15 snap tools on the Snap toolbar. Simply click and hold the Snap to Grid button on the All-In-One toolbar, and the other Snap tools are displayed on the toolbar that appears, called the toolset. To display a tooltip for any toolbar button on a toolset, keep the mouse button depressed and place your pointer over the button. To select a button, release the mouse button. In the exercises in this guide, you are instructed to use the Draw menu, the All-In-One toolbar, and other toolbars to complete the tasks. You may find that many of the same tasks can be performed by using different toolbars included in AutoSketch. You can learn more about those toolbars in the Help system.

Picture/Detail View

Symbol

Inquire

Transform

Content Librarian

Contains symbols, fill colors, and hatches that you can insert into a drawing. If a wizard was used to create a drawing, the Content Librarian provides symbol libraries specific to that wizard.
The Content Librarian with the _DoorOffice symbol library displayed
When active, allows you to edit geometric properties of an entity. The function of the edit bar changes depending on the task you are doing. For example, if you select text in the drawing, the controls on the edit bar allow you to edit the text, font, height of the text, and so on.
The edit bar when text is selected in a drawing

Menu Bar

Displays a list of menus and their options. You can also use toolbars and shortcut keys on the keyboard (CTRL+<letter>) to perform the same tasks.

The menu bar

Sets the current layer, color, style, width, and pattern. Any change you make on the property bar affects entities that are currently selected, and those that you draw in the future.

The property bar

To change a setting on the property bar, click the small arrow to display the list of properties, and make a new selection. To apply a new setting to an entity, select the entity you want to change, and then click the property setting on the property bar.

Status Bar

Displays a message area on the left side and the coordinates dials on the right. The message area displays prompts, messages, and step-by-step instructions for most procedures.

The status bar

Two dials occupy the right side of the status bar. The Absolute Coordinates dial (on the left side) displays the absolute location of the point (its position in relation to the drawing origin). The Relative Coordinates dial (on the right side) displays the relative location of the point (its position in relation to the last point entered).

Title Bar

Displays the name of the program and the name of the current drawing file. The AutoSketch title bar extends across the top of the application window.

The title bar

Toolbars
Provide buttons that allow you to do drawing tasks. (You can also use menus to perform the same tasks.) When a toolbar button has a triangle in its lowerright corner, you can click and hold the button to access additional items, called toolsets.

Entity Arc

Description A portion of a circle. You can use an arc to show a rounded wall, the direction a door swings, and so on. A curved line with every point equally distant from the center. You can use a circle to represent a hole, a round object, and so on. A polyline that is rendered onscreen and on printed output in a special way. Use curves to create free-form shapes such as curved sidewalks and car fenders. A rectangular area that displays another portion of the drawing defined by a previously saved view. A predefined collection of lines, arcs, markers, and text that display a measurement in the drawing. The text label is updated automatically when you stretch or reshape the dimension. A closed symmetrical curve that resembles a flattened circle. A hidden-line polygon that conforms to the shape of a bounded area and displays either a solid color, a hatch, or a bitmap fill. A compound entity consisting of individual symbols and entities that AutoSketch treats as a single entity. An entity that connects two points. You can use a line to represent any straight object such as a water pipe, a wall edge, an electrical connection, or a street. An entity that notes a specific point in a drawing.

Detail view

Ellipse Fill

Entity OLE Object

Description An entity that is created in one application and embedded in another. When you double-click a linked OLE object, Windows opens the source application that created it and loads the associated file. A picture or bitmap that can be imported and placed in the drawing. AutoSketch treats the raster image like most other entities, allowing you to move, scale, or duplicate the image as needed. A closed polyline that can contain a fill pattern. Use a polygon when you need to know the area of an enclosed region or when you need to fill an area with a solid color, a hatch, or a bitmap fill. A multi-segmented line that AutoSketch treats as a single entity. When a polyline is closed, it becomes a polygon. Use a polyline when you need to know the total length of a series of connected segments. A group of entities that AutoSketch treats as a single entity. Symbols can be stored in libraries for use in multiple drawings. A text entity that can be any size, can use any TrueType font, and can be rotated at any angle.

Picture

Properties
Properties are the individual qualities that define an entity. They are divided into three categories:
Geometric properties define an entitys size, position, and so on. AutoSketch assigns geometric properties automatically as you draw and edit. Graphic properties specify the appearance of an entity. Graphic properties include layer, color, width, style, and pattern. AutoSketch assigns these properties as you draw, based on the current settings on the property bar. Fields customize an entity in ways that you define. Define a field by specifying its name, type, and width or precision. A desk symbol, for example, can have fields for model, size, color, and style.

Drawing scale is the ratio between the actual size of the entities in a drawing and their size on printed output. In conventional drafting, you scale the components of a drawing by using an architectural or engineering scale. In AutoSketch, you simply enter the actual (world) size of an entity, and the software keeps track of the scale for you. You can create 1:1 drawings in AutoSketch without regard for scale. Specifying a drawing scale, however, has two important benefits. It allows AutoSketch to accurately depict how your drawing will look on a printed page. It also allows you to specify entities such as text, markers, and dimensions by output size. Any output you plan to measure with an architectural or engineering scale must be printed to scale. When you create scaled output, you can print the entire drawing or a portion of the drawing. The scale used when printing is the current drawing scale.

Coordinates

Coordinates are numbers that specify the location of one point in relation to another. This relationship is classified as either absolute or relative. Absolute coordinates reference the origin of whatever coordinate system is currently being used (for example, the drawing origin or the grid origin). Relative coordinates reference the last point you entered. They are useful when you want to draw or place another entity a known distance from another entity or point. AutoSketch expresses location in three ways: xy (Cartesian), polar, and isometric coordinates. X- and y-coordinates express location in terms of horizontal and vertical distances from another point. Polar coordinates express location in terms of distance (radius) and angle. For example, the xy coordinates 7,5 are equivalent to the polar coordinates 8.6,35.5. Isometric coordinates add a third axis (z) to the expression. Isometric drawings are often used to create two-dimensional views of a three-dimensional object.

Examples of coordinates

Drawing Origin
The drawing origin displays the x (horizontal), y (vertical), and (if isometric) z coordinates of a drawing. AutoSketch locates most points in relation to the drawing origin. The drawing origin is shown on screen as colored arrows.
Example of the drawing origin arrows in the lower-left corner of a drawing
If you move the drawing origin, the entire drawing shifts to reflect that change. The drawing origin does not appear when you print the drawing. Normally, the drawing origin is located at the lower-left corner of a drawing. If you need to move it, you can center the drawing origin or relocate it.
A reference grid is a visual drawing aid that contains a pattern of horizontal and vertical lines or dots that represent a grid. Use gridpoint snaps to make your drawing precise.
Example of a first point snapping to a grid

There are three types of reference grids available in AutoSketch, each suited for different purposes.
The default grid is rectangular, with snap intervals and lines that parallel the x- and y-axes. This grid is the standard reference tool for most twodimensional drawings. Circular grids extend radially from the grid origin. They provide an excellent reference tool for drawings that require alignment of points along an arc or circle, such as a mechanical drawing of a gear. Isometric grids align along three major axes, instead of two. This allows you to create two-dimensional drawings of three-dimensional objects.
You can modify the settings for each of the reference grids. The following table lists the Grid tools you can use in AutoSketch. These buttons are located on the Grid toolbar.

Toolbar button

Button name

Description

Rectangular
The most commonly used, is useful for most twodimensional drawings. Aligns grid lines along an arc or circle. The radial grid lines allow you to enter such points precisely. When you set up a circular grid, you may need to reposition the grid origin so that the radial lines of the grid are aligned correctly on the page. Aligns snap and grid lines along 30- and 150-degree axes.

Circular

Isometric Top

Isometric Left

Aligns snap and grid lines along 90- and 150-degree axes. Aligns snap and grid lines along 90- and 30-degree axes. Doubles the current grid size.

Isometric Right

Double Grid Size

Halve Grid Size

Decreases the current grid size by half.
Tip You can also change settings using the Edit Grid button on the Standard

toolbar.

Grid Origin
The grid origin is similar to the drawing origin in function and appearance. However, the grid origin serves as a reference point for grid coordinates only. By default, the grid origin is located at the drawing coordinates 0,0. You can move the grid origin of rectangular, circular, or isometric reference grids.
Using snap, you can draw with real precision by identifying exact points such as an entitys midpoint, endpoint, or centerpoint. These points are called snap points because when you click near one, the point is snapped to the exact point shown. There are 15 ways to snap to a point in AutoSketch. These correspond with the 15 snaps you can choose by clicking their buttons on the All-In-One toolbar, Snap toolbar, or by typing the letter shown on the button.

birdhouse drawing sample drawing, 45 blank drawings, creating, 20 browsers, 2 Building wizard, 20, 44 buildings creating drawings for, 20 buttons on toolbars, 25 in toolsets, 25 tooltips, 30 triangle symbol on, 30
Cartesian coordinates, 34 CD-ROMs AutoSketch installation, 3 hardware requirements, 2 Centerpoint snap symbol, 38 centerpoints snapping, 38 Circle toolset, 26 circles defined, 32 Circular button (Grid toolbar), 36 circular reference grid, 36 color fill color, 28, 32 setting with property bar, 29 compound entities, 32 Content Librarian defined, 28 efficiency and, 10 illustration, 28

base entities, 32

inserting symbols, 14 coordinates absolute coordinates, 34 Absolute Coordinates dial, 29 defined, 11, 34 drawing origin and, 35 grid origin and, 37 illustration, 35 isometric coordinates, 34 polar coordinates, 34 relative coordinates, 29, 34 Relative Coordinates dial, 29 xy (Cartesian) coordinates, 34 Create Precision Drawing wizard, 20 Curve toolset, 26 curves, 32
starting with wizards, 18, 19 viewing, 12 Duplicate toolset, 26
edit bar, 28 illustration, 28 editing dimensions and dimension text, 15 drawings, 13 edit bar, 28 efficiency and, 10 templates, 21 electronic schematic wizards, 21 ellipses, 32 Endpoint snap symbol, 38 entities base, 32 compound, 32 defined, 9 deleting, 13 edit bar, 28 overview, 32 properties, 33 snapping into place, 11 types of, 32 erasing, ease of, 13 examples of drawings, 45
deleting entities from drawings, 13 detail views, 12, 32 Diagram wizard, 21, 42 dials on status bar, 29 Dimension toolset, 26 dimensions accuracy, 11 adding to drawings, 15 defined, 32 text in, 15 tools for, 26 displaying detailed Help for tools on toolbars, 30 docking toolbars, 30 Double Grid Size button (Grid toolbar), 37 drawing area. See drawing window drawing objects. See entities drawing origin, 35 illustration, 35 drawing scale defined, 34 overview, 8 drawing tools, efficiency and, 10 drawing window, 23 drawings accuracy and, 11, 20, 37 dimensions, 15, 34 drafting vs. AutoSketch, 8 drawing scale, 8, 34 editing, 13 examples of, 45 multiple windows, 12 opening, 18, 22 organizing information in layers, 9, 29 repetitive tasks in, 10 starting, 18 starting from templates, 18, 21
fields defined, 33 files opening, 18, 22 templates, 22 fill color in Content Librarian, 28 fills, defined, 32 setting with property bar, 29 Fill toolset, 27 fills, 32 floor designs in office design, 20 flowchart wizards, 21 flyouts (on toolbars). See toolsets

geometric properties, 33 graphic properties, 33 grid origin, 37 Grid toolbar, 36 grid. See reference grid Gridpoint snap symbol, 38
gridpoint snaps precision and, 36 symbol, 38 groups defined, 32
manual drafting accuracy and, 11 compared to AutoSketch, 8 layers, 9 repetitive tasks in, 10 viewing entire drawings, 12 Marker toolset, 26 markers, 32 measurement systems drawing scale and, 8 Mechanical Part wizard, 21, 41 mechanical projects, 20 memory requirements, 2 menu bar, 28 illustration, 29 Microsoft Internet Explorer, 2 Midpoint snap symbol, 38 moving drawing origin, 35 toolbars, 30
Halve Grid Size button (Grid toolbar), 37 hard disks hardware requirements, 2 hardware requirements, 2 hatches in Content Librarian, 28 fills, defined, 32 Help, displaying, 30 horizontal alignment of entities, 38
Inquire toolset, 27 inserting dimensions, 15 symbols, 14, 28 installing AutoSketch program, 3 Internet Explorer, 2 Intersection snap symbol, 38 intersections snapping to, 38 isometric coordinates, 34 Isometric Left button (Grid toolbar), 37 isometric reference grid, 36 Isometric Right button (Grid toolbar), 37 Isometric Top button (Grid toolbar), 36
networking diagram wizards, 21
objects. See entities office layout creating drawings for, 20 sample drawing, 40 Office Layout wizard overview, 20 sample drawing, 40 OLE objects, 33 Open tab (Start Up dialog box), 22 opening AutoSketch, 18 drawings, 18, 22 drawings with wizards, 18 templates, 18, 22 toolsets, 30 wizards, 19 operating system requirements, 2 organization chart wizards, 21 orthogonal alignment, 38 output, drawing scale and, 34

jig drawing, 41

layers organizing information in, 9 setting with property bar, 29 Line toolset, 26 lines defined, 32 lock modifier, 38 defined, 31 illustration, 38 Lock toolset, 27 logic diagram wizards, 21
panning drawings defined, 12 patterns, 29 PC board layout wizards, 21 Picture/Detail View toolset, 27
pictures, 33 piping wizards, 21 polar coordinates, 34 Polygon toolset, 26 polygons defined, 33 Polyline toolset, 26 polylines defined, 33 precision drawings AutoSketch and accuracy, 11 creating drawings, 20 snap feature and, 37 previewing templates, 21 printing drawing scale and, 34 properties defined, 33 types of, 33 property bar, 29 illustration, 29

Rectangular button (Grid toolbar), 36 rectangular reference grid, 36 redefined symbols, updating, 14 reference grids defined, 36 grid origin, 37 illustration, 36 settings and alignment, 36 types of, 36 registering AutoSketch, 3 relative coordinates, 29, 34 Relative Coordinates dial, 29 removing entities from drawings, 13 repairing AutoSketch installation, 4 repetitive tasks, 10 replacing redefined symbols, 14
Snap toolset, 27 Start Up dialog box Open tab, 22 options for starting drawings, 18 Template tab, 21 Wizard tab, 19 starting AutoSketch, 18 drawings, 18 drawings from templates, 18, 21 drawings with wizards, 18, 19 status bar defined, 29 dials, 29 illlustration, 29 styles, 29 symbol libraries, 28 Symbol toolset, 27 symbols defined, 33 inserting, 14, 28 redefined, 14 system requirements for AutoSketch, 2
Template tab (Start Up dialog box), 21 templates defined, 21 opening, 22 starting drawings from, 18, 21 test site drawing, 42 text defined, 33 dimension text, 15 Text toolset, 26 title bar, 30 illustration, 30 toolbars All-In-One toolbar, 25 defined, 30 illustration showing toolset, 30 moving and docking, 30 toolsets, 30 tools, efficiency and, 10 toolsets accessing on toolbars, 30 defined, 25 triangle symbol, 30 tooltips, 30 illustration, 30 Transform toolset, 27 triangle symbol on buttons, 30 Trim toolset, 27 troubleshooting, AutoSketch installation (repair), 4 tuner diagram drawing, 43
sample drawings, 45 schedule wizards, 21 schematic wizards, 21 Select toolset, 25 site map wizards, 21 size drawing scale and, 34 snap feature defined, 11, 37 grid alignment features, 36 lock modifier and, 38 snap points, 37 snap points, 37
uninstalling AutoSketch, 4 updates changed symbols, 14 user interface All-In-One toolbar, 25 Content Librarian, 28 drawing windows, 23 edit bar, 28 elements (illustrated), 23 menu bar, 28 property bar, 29 status bar, 29 title bar, 30 tooltips, 30 utopia drawing, 44
Web browsers, 2 Web sites mapping wizards, 21 windows in AutoSketch defined, 12 drawing windows, 23 Wizard tab (Start Up dialog box), 19 wizards AutoSketch Product Registration wizard, 3 Building wizard, 20, 44 Create Precision Drawing wizard, 20 defined, 19 Diagram wizard, 21, 42, 43 Mechanical Part wizard, 21, 41 Start Up wizards, 19 Workbench wizard, 20, 45 woodworking projects, 20 Workbench wizard, 20, 45
vertical alignment of entities, 38 viewing drawings detail views, 12 multiple windows, 12 zooming and panning, 12 views detail views, 12 multiple windows, 12
xy (Cartesian) coordinates, 34
Zoom toolset, 25 zooming in or out defined, 12