Starting AutoCAD

Alternatively, click on the AutoCAD
icon in the "icon tray" at the bottom
of the (Windows 95/98/NT) screen.
Note that these instructions are
specific to the FBE.
Start AutoCAD by clicking on the
Windows Start button (bottom left),
then move the mouse to Programs
then CAD and Modelling then
"AutoCAD Architectural Desktop 2"
and click on AutoCAD
Architectural Desktop 2. A dialog
giving various startup options will
be displayed. Select the second
option: "Start from Scratch" and
click OK.
Despite command line interfaces
being considered totally archaic the
command area in AutoCAD is
absolutely vital! One of the key
things I'm trying to "get you to do"
in these tutorials is to watch the
command area! Using AutoCAD is
like a conversation and AutoCAD's
half of the conversation comes from
the text in the command area...
Once AutoCAD has loaded, move
the mouse around until you see a
crosshair cursor. The AutoCAD
window has a number of important
features:
1. The standard Windows drop-
down menus.
2. The standard Windows
toolbar below the menus, it
includes: File-New, File-Open,
File-Save, Print and "Find and
Replace"(!!).
3. In addition to the standard
toolbar there will be a number
of AutoCAD specific toolbars:
Object Properties, Draw and
Modify (there may be
others...?).
4. The graphics area - that's the
area where you draw - note
the scroll bars and the axis
label.
5. View Tabs - these 'tabs' give
access to different view of the
current drawing. The "model"
tab should be selected at
present.
6. The command area - this
small window (by default) has
space for three lines of text -
this is where you type
commands.
7. The status area, at the bottom
of the AutoCAD window, this
includes the current cursor
position.