Draw and Modify Objects
Not publishedof exam
Draw with Accuracy
Not publishedof exam
Basic Editing
Not publishedof exam
Annotation
Not publishedof exam
Layouts and Printing
Not publishedof exam
Quick Facts
- Exam
- AutoCAD ACU
- Credential
- Autodesk Certified User
- Time
- 50 min
- Questions
- 30-35
- Pass
- 700 of 1000
- Domains
- 5
- Weights
- Not published
- Level
- Entry-level
- Retake
- 1 day, then 5
- Validity
- 5 yrs after 2025
Isoplane Axis Angles
Top 30/150, Right 30/90, Left 90/150 degrees
F5 or Ctrl+E cyclesIsocircle needs isometric snapOrtho follows isoplane axes
Window vs Crossing Selection
Window
- Drag left to right
- Selects only fully inside
Crossing
- Drag right to left
- Selects touching objects too
Inside only vs touching
Draw Tool Picker
- Need one multi-edit shape→PLINE(Single object)
- Need independent segments→LINE(Separate objects)
- Need a one-way reference→RAY(Alignment aid)
- Need a two-way reference→XLINE(Construction line)
- Drawing an isometric face→ISODRAFT(Pick isoplane first)
- Need an N-sided shape→POLYGON(Enter side count)
Basic Draw Commands
- LINE
- Independent straight segmentsL
- CIRCLE
- Radius or diameter definedC
- ARC
- One curved segmentA
- RECTANG
- Rectangle from two cornersREC
- POLYGON
- N-sided regular shapePOL
- ELLIPSE
- Oval from axis endpointsEL
- RAY
- One-direction infinite line
- XLINE
- Two-direction infinite lineXL
Layer State Behavior
Freeze skips regen; Lock blocks edits; Off just hides
Freeze: fastest for regenLock: visible, no editsOff: still regenerates
Freeze vs Lock
Freeze
- Hides the layer
- Skips it during regen
Lock
- Stays visible
- Blocks editing its objects
Hidden vs protected
Polylines
- PLINE
- Connected line and arc objectPL
- PEDIT
- Edits an existing polylinePE
- Join option
- Adds a segment into polyline
- Width option
- Sets tapered or uniform width
Isometric Drafting
- ISODRAFT
- Turns isometric drafting on
- F5 or Ctrl+E
- Cycles the active isoplane
- Top isoplane
- 30-degree and 150-degree axes
- Right isoplane
- 30-degree and 90-degree axes
- Left isoplane
- 90-degree and 150-degree axes
- Isocircle option
- ELLIPSE's isometric circle tool
Layers
- LAYER
- Opens Layer Properties ManagerLA
- Freeze / Thaw
- Hides and skips regeneration
- Lock / Unlock
- Blocks edits, stays visible
- On / Off
- Hides, still regenerates
- Layer 0
- Default, cannot be deleted
- Current layer
- New objects draw onto it
- LAYWALK
- Previews objects by layer
Blocks
- BLOCK
- Defines a named blockB
- INSERT
- Places a block referenceI
- EXPLODE
- Breaks a block apartX
- Base point
- Block's insertion handle
- Block on Layer 0
- Inherits the insert layer
- DesignCenter
- Drags blocks between drawingsADC
Osnap Marker Shapes
Square end, triangle mid, circle center, diamond quadrant
X: IntersectionRight angle: PerpendicularCircle+dash: Tangent
Relative vs Polar Coordinates
Relative
- @x,y from last point
- Needs both axis values
Polar
- @distance<angle from last point
- Needs length and direction
XY offset vs angle
Object Snap Picker
- Land on a segment end→Endpoint(Square marker)
- Land on segment middle→Midpoint(Triangle marker)
- Land on a curve center→Center(Circle marker)
- Align beyond an edge→Extension(No click needed)
- Match a reference angle→Parallel(Hover it first)
- Need midpoint of two picks→M2P(Shift+right-click menu)
Object Snaps
- Endpoint
- Closest segment end
- Midpoint
- Segment's exact middle
- Center
- Circle or arc middle
- Quadrant
- 0/90/180/270-degree point
- Intersection
- Where two objects cross
- Perpendicular
- 90 degrees to reference
- Tangent
- Touches a curve once
- Nearest
- Closest point on object
Coordinate Entry Forms
Absolute x,y; relative @x,y; polar @dist<angle
x,y = from origin@x,y = from last point@dist<angle = length + direction
More Object Snaps
- Extension
- Along an object's projected path
- Parallel
- Matches a hovered reference angle
- Geometric Center
- Closed-shape centroid point
- Insertion
- Block, text, or attribute anchor
- Node
- Snaps to a point object
Osnap Markers
- Endpoint marker
- Square
- Midpoint marker
- Triangle
- Center marker
- Circle
- Quadrant marker
- Diamond
- Intersection marker
- X shape
- Perpendicular marker
- Right-angle corner
- Tangent marker
- Circle with tangent dash
Coordinate and Precision Input
- Absolute coordinates
- x,y measured from origin
- Relative coordinates
- @x,y from last point
- Polar coordinates
- @distance<angle from last point
- Dynamic input
- Editable tooltip near cursor
- Direct distance entry
- Move cursor, type length
- M2P
- Midpoint between two picks
- Object snap tracking
- Alignment paths from osnaps
TRIM vs EXTEND
TRIM
- Cuts to a boundary
- Removes the excess part
EXTEND
- Lengthens to a boundary
- Adds up to the edge
Shorten vs lengthen
Modify Tool Picker
- Cut back to an edge→TRIM(Quick mode default)
- Stretch out to a boundary→EXTEND(Quick mode default)
- Change length by a value→LENGTHEN(No edge needed)
- Move only inside vertices→STRETCH(Crossing selection)
- Resize the whole object→SCALE(Uniform factor)
- Need a parallel duplicate→OFFSET(Set the distance)
Property Tools
- Properties palette
- Lists every propertyCtrl+1
- Quick Properties
- Pop-up common properties
- MATCHPROP
- Copies props to targetsMA
- ByLayer
- Inherits the layer's settings
- Settings option
- Chooses which props to match
LENGTHEN vs STRETCH
LENGTHEN
- Changes length by value
- No boundary edge needed
STRETCH
- Moves crossing vertices only
- Needs a crossing selection
Value vs selection
Move Copy Transform Tools
- MOVE
- Relocates, no duplicate leftM
- COPY
- Duplicates, keeps the originalCO
- ROTATE
- Turns around a base pointRO
- MIRROR
- Reflects across a lineMI
- SCALE
- Resizes uniformly by factorSC
- STRETCH
- Moves only crossing verticesS
MOVE vs COPY
MOVE
- Relocates the object
- Nothing left behind
COPY
- Duplicates the object
- Original stays in place
Relocate vs duplicate
Trim Extend Lengthen Offset
- TRIM
- Cuts back to an edgeTR
- EXTEND
- Lengthens out to a boundaryEX
- LENGTHEN
- Changes length by a valueLEN
- Quick mode
- Every object is an edge
- Standard mode
- Pick edges before trimming
- OFFSET
- Parallel copy at a distanceO
ROTATE vs MIRROR
ROTATE
- Turns around a point
- Keeps the same shape
MIRROR
- Reflects across a line
- Can erase the source
Turn vs reflect
Arrays Fillet and Chamfer
- Rectangular array
- Rows, columns, and levels
- Polar array
- Items around a center point
- FILLET
- Rounded-arc corner joinF
- FILLET radius 0
- Trims to a square corner
- CHAMFER
- Straight angled corner joinCHA
- Grip stretch
- Default mode for a grip
FILLET vs CHAMFER
FILLET
- Rounded arc corner
- Radius 0 makes it square
CHAMFER
- Straight angled corner
- Set by distances or angle
Round vs angled
COPY vs OFFSET
COPY
- Duplicates exact geometry
- Any pick point works
OFFSET
- Builds a parallel copy
- Needs a set distance
Exact vs parallel
Rectangular vs Polar Array
Rectangular
- Rows and columns grid
- Set spacing values
Polar
- Items around a center
- Set count and angle
Grid vs radial
Dimension Chain Commands
Continue chains from last; baseline stacks from first
DIMCONTINUE: next extension lineDIMBASELINE: first extension lineDIMSCALE default: 1
TEXT vs MTEXT
TEXT
- Single line per object
- Each line stands alone
MTEXT
- One wrapped paragraph
- In-place editor opens
Line vs paragraph
Annotation Tool Picker
- Label one line of text→TEXT(DT alias)
- Need a wrapped paragraph→MTEXT(MT alias)
- Point at one feature→MLEADER(Arrow plus content)
- Chain measurements in a row→DIMCONTINUE(From last extension)
- Stack from one origin→DIMBASELINE(From first extension)
- Fill a closed boundary→HATCH(Pick Points or Select)
Text Tools
- TEXT / DTEXT
- Single-line, own object eachDT
- MTEXT
- One wrapped paragraph objectMT
- Text style
- Stores font and default height
- Height 0 style
- Prompts for height every time
- Justification
- Text's anchor point setting
- Wrapping width
- MTEXT paragraph boundary
DIMLINEAR vs DIMALIGNED
DIMLINEAR
- Horizontal or vertical only
- Ignores the object angle
DIMALIGNED
- True straight-line distance
- Follows the object angle
Axis vs true length
Leaders and Multileaders
- MLEADER
- Bundles arrow, landing, and content
- Content types
- Mtext, Block, or None
- MLEADERALIGN
- Rows landings evenly
- MLEADERCOLLECT
- Merges block leaders onto one landing
- MLEADERSTYLE
- Format, Structure, Content tabs
Dimension Commands
- DIMLINEAR
- Horizontal or vertical distanceDLI
- DIMALIGNED
- True length, even if angledDAL
- DIMRADIUS
- Labeled with an R prefixDRA
- DIMDIAMETER
- Labeled with diameter symbolDDI
- DIMANGULAR
- Angle between two linesDAN
- DIMCONTINUE
- Chains from last extension lineDCO
- DIMBASELINE
- Stacks from one origin lineDBA
- DIMSCALE
- Overall scale, default is 1
Hatch and Fill Patterns
- HATCH
- Fills a closed boundaryH
- Pick Points
- Clicks inside the boundary
- Select Objects
- Clicks the boundary objects
- Match Properties
- Copies pattern to new hatch
- Angle and scale
- Rotates and resizes the pattern
Plot to Scale Reminder
1:1 plots true size; Fit to Paper only fills
1:1 = measurable sizeFit to Paper = convenienceStandard Scale sets the ratio
Model Space vs Paper Space
Model space
- Full real-world scale
- Where geometry is drawn
Paper space
- Layout sheet for output
- Holds scaled viewports
Drawing vs sheet
Layout and Plot Picker
- Draw at real-world size→Model space(Full scale)
- Compose a sheet to print→Layout tab(Paper space)
- Add or resize a viewport→MVIEW(On a layout)
- Make geometry plot to scale→Standard Scale(Viewport property)
- Send one sheet to output→PLOT(Current layout)
- Send many sheets at once→PUBLISH(Uses page setups)
Layouts and Viewports
- Model tab
- Full-scale drawing geometry
- Layout tab
- Paper space output sheet
- MVIEW
- Creates or edits viewports
- Standard Scale
- Sets the plot-to-scale ratio
- Display Locked
- Locks a viewport's zoom scale
- Title block
- Sheet border and project info
PLOT vs PUBLISH
PLOT
- One layout at a time
- Opens the plot dialog
PUBLISH
- Many layouts in one batch
- Uses saved page setups
Single vs batch output
Plot and Publish
- PLOT
- Outputs the current sheet
- PUBLISH
- Batches many layouts at once
- PAGESETUP
- Opens Page Setup Manager
- Named page setup
- Reusable saved plot settings
- Fit to Paper
- Scales to fill the sheet
- 1:1 plot scale
- True, measurable paper size
Common Traps
Off vs Freeze
Off hides, still regenerates ≠ Freeze hides, skips regen
Endpoint vs Nearest
Endpoint snaps to vertices ≠ Nearest snaps to any point
Halfwidth vs Width
Halfwidth measures center to edge ≠ Width measures edge to edge
Quick vs Standard Trim Mode
Quick treats all as edges ≠ Standard needs edges picked first
DIST vs a Dimension
DIST only measures, no object ≠ Dimension measures and annotates
PLINE Close Option
Close option sets Closed to Yes ≠ Manual snap-back leaves Closed No
DIMRADIUS vs DIMDIAMETER
Radius label starts with R ≠ Diameter label uses ⌀ symbol
Layout Display Lock
Locked pans without scale change ≠ Unlocked zoom changes plot scale
Last Minute
- 1.30-35 questions in 50 minutes
- 2.Pass = 700 of 1000
- 3.Five domains = no published weights
- 4.TRIM/EXTEND default = Quick mode
- 5.Fillet radius 0 = square corner
- 6.DIMSCALE default = 1
- 7.F5 cycles Top/Right/Left isoplane
- 8.Window = inside objects only
- 9.Crossing = inside or touching
- 10.Freeze skips regen; Off does not
- 11.Layout tab = paper space
- 12.PLOT = one sheet; PUBLISH = many
- 13.Retake wait = 1 then 5 days
- 14.Certified 5 years after June 2025
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