Drawing Tools

• The tools perform the editing operations are available in the Modify panel of the home ribbon. can modify existing objects or use existing objects to create new or similar objects
• Move tool - used to move a selected object(s) from one location to a new location without changing its orientation. specify base point and destination point
• Move tool - M in the command line
• Copy tool - used to copy objects and place them at a required location. similar to move tool but the object will remain at its original position and a copy of it will be placed at a new location
• Copy tool - CO in the command line
• Esc - to deactivate tool
• Rotate tool - used to rotate an object or a group of objects about a base point. need to specify the base point and angle of ratation
• Rotate tool - RO in the command line
• Scale tool - used to change the size of objects, and reduce or enlarge size without changing the shape of an object. specify base point and scale factor
• scale factor - is the ratio between the original size of the object and the size to be achieved
• scale tool - SC in the command line
• Trim tool - can remove unwanted portions. invoke tool then select cutting edge(intersecting tools). all the objects in the drawing object will act as cutting edges
• Trim tool - TR in the command line
• Extend tool - similar to the trim tool but its use is opposite of it. used to extend lines, arcs, and other open entities to connect to other objects
• Extend tool - EX in the command line
• Fillet tool - used to convert the sharp corners into round corners. need to specify the radius and select the objects to be filleted
• Fillet tool - F in the command line
• Chamfer tool - used to replace the sharp corners with an angled line. similar to the fillet tool, except that an angled line is placed at the corners instead of rounds
• Chamfer tool - CHA in the command line
• Mirror tool - used to create a mirror image of objects. can create symmetrical drawings using this tool. select objects then specify the mirror line. can specify the mirror line either by creating a line or selecting an existing line
• Mirror tool - MI in the command line
• Explode tool - X in the command line
• Stretch tool - used to lengthen or shorten drawings or parts of drawings. we cannot stretch circles. need to select the portion of the drawing to be stretched by dragging a window
• Stretch tool - STRETCH in the command line
• Offset tool - used to create parallel copies of lines, polylines, circles, arcs, and so on. need to specify the offset distance and then select the object
• Offset tool - O in the command line
• Rectangular array tool - used to create an array of objects along X and Y directions.
• Rectangular array tool - ARRAYRECT in the command line
• Path array tool - used to create an array of objects along a path(line, polyline, circle, helix, spline, etc)
• Path array tool - ARRAYPATH in the command line
• Polar array tool - used to create an arrangement of objects around a point in circular form
• Polar array tool - ARRAYPOLAR in the command line
• Rotate items is active in the properties panel of the array creation tab. the array objects are rotated
• Associative button is active by default. this ensures that you can edit the array after creating it. make sure that associative and rotate item buttons are active