AutoCAD provides various ways to create text. The method you use depends on the requirements of your drawing: 

• For long, complex entries with internal fomatting, use multiline text via the MTEXT command. 
  Multiline text: 
  • fits a specified width but can extend to an indefinitelength. 
  • consists of any number of text lines or paragraphs that fit within a width you specify. Regardless of the number of lines, each set of paragraphs forms a single object, which you can move, rotate, erase, copy, mirror, stretch, or scale. 
  • has more editing options than line text. You can apply underlining, overlining, fonts, colour, and text height changes to individual words or phrases within a paragraph.
• For short, simple entries that do not require internal formatting, use line text using the DTEXT or TEXT command. Line text is more convenient for labels.

Although all newly entered text uses the current text style (see below: Working with Text Styles), which establishes the default font and format settings, you can use several other methods to customise the text appearance. You also can save collections of formatting choices under style names for later use. 

To create line text: 

Go to the menubar and choose Draw > Text > Single Line Text

Command: _dtext Justify/Style/<Start point>:

With the mouse, indicate the insertion point for the first character. If you press ENTER, AutoCAD locates the new text immediately below the last text object you created, if any.

Height <0>: 500 (Specify the height of the text) 

Rotation angle <0>:

by simply pressing , you are accepting the offered value of 0 for the text angle .AutoCAD generally offers "default" values for most requested input . The default value is shown in angle brackets on the Command Line. 

Text:Floor Plan 

The Text: prompt indicates that you should enter the text that you wish to appear on your drawing. An "I-beam" cursor will also appear at your specified starting point. You can enter as many lines of text as you wish, each terminated with . To stop the process, simply press ENTER twice (the second time, at the Text: prompt, effectively terminates the command). Try using the Line Text command again (just by pressing ENTER to recall the command), but this time, instead of typing the text height as a number, use the mouse pointer to pick two points on the screen that "shows" the text height that you want. In general, AutoCAD will always allow you to "point" to a distance (by picking two points) just as it also lets you type in a coordinate pair (x and y values) instead of picking a point on the screen. 

Move cursor vertically, up to a suitable distance below the long elevation, pick a point and continue: 

Text: Elevation A 

Move cursor horizontally, across to a suitable distance below the other elevation and continue: 

Text: Elevation B (double ENTER to quit command)

New text inherits height, width factor, obliquing angle, backwards, upside-down, and vertical alignment properties from the current text style. Except for the STANDARD style, you must create any text style that you want to use. Use the Text Style dialog box to create or modify text styles. 

If you change an existing style's font or vertical alignment, ALL text using that style is regenerated using the new font or orientation. However, for text objects, changing other text style properties, such as text height, does not change existing text. 
 

Command: Change layer to TEXT 

Refer to earlier tutorials for method of changing layers. 

Before you add the text, define a text style based on the Times New Roman TrueType font. From the Format menu choose Text Style.

Click New, and enter Times as the new style name. In the Font Name drop-down list choose the Times New Roman font. Click Close to continue.

This command allows you to enter several lines of text inside a dialogue box . AutoCAD will prompt you (on the Command Line) to pick two points that form the opposite corners of a rectangle that defines the area in which the text is to be positioned ... the Edit MText dialog will then appear. Enter a few lines of text in the dialog box and then click OK. Notice that the text wraps automatically in the dialog box to fit within the width of the rectangle that you defined. You may notice also that if there is too much text to fit in the rectangle, then AutoCAD simply allows it to spill over the lower boundary of your rectangle. 

Once the text is on the drawing, it is treated as a single entity by AutoCAD. 

Specify two opposite corners of the text box.

Specify opposite corner or etc: (use mouse to pick opposite corner of textbox) 

Height: 500

The Multiline Text Editor dialog box appears (see below). Enter your text via the keyboard. 

Command: qsave (save your work) 

• linear – include horizontal, vertical, aligned, rotated, ordinate, baseline, and continued dimensions
• radial, 
• angular

The figure below shows a simple example of each. 

Angular and radial dimensioning are outside the scope of this introductory course. Typically, users create a separate layer to hold just dimension information. AutoCAD draws dimensions on the current layer. Every dimension has a dimension style associated with it, whether the default or the one you define. The style controls characteristics such as colour, text style, and linetype scale. Thickness information is not supported. 

You use the DIM command to access dimensioning mode. 
 

• A dimension line is a line that indicates the direction and extent of a dimension. For angular dimensioning, the dimension line is an arc.
• Extension lines, also called projection lines or witness lines, extend from the feature being dimensioned to the dimension line itself. 
• Arrowheads are added to each end of the dimension line. 
• Dimension text is a text string that usually indicates the actual measurement. 
• A leader is a solid line leading from some annotation to the referenced feature.

• horizontal,
• vertical, 
• aligned – with the dimension line parallel to the line along which the extension line origins lie., or 
• rotated

In all four illustrations, above, the extension line origins are designated explicitly (1 & 2 respectively); the dimension line location is shown at 3. 

As you create linear dimensions, you can modify the text, the angle of the text, or the angle of the dimension line. You can also place text in any location using the User Defined option in the DDIM Format dialog. 
 

To create a horizontal or vertical dimension: 

1. From the menubar, choose Draw > Dimensioning > Linear

OR

From the Dimensioning toolbar, choose Dimensioning then Linear 

2. Press  to select the object to dimension, or specify the first and second extension line origins.

3. Specify the dimension line location to complete the dimension.
 

To create an aligned dimension: 

1. From the menubar, choose Draw > Dimensioning > Aligned

OR 

From the Dimensioning toolbar, choose Aligned Dimension 

2. Press  to select the object to dimension, or specify the first and second extension line origins.

3. Edit the text content or angle. 

4. Specify the dimension line location. 
 

To create a baseline linear dimension: 

1. From the menubar, select Draw > Dimensioning > Baseline

OR 

From the Dimensioning toolbar, choose Baseline Dimension 

AutoCAD uses the origin of the base dimension's first extension line (1 in figure, above) and prompts for a second extension line origin. 

2. Use Endpoint snap to select the end of the section (2, in figure) as the second extension line origin, or press  to select any dimension as the base dimension. 

3. Complete command. 

The figure below shows an example of continued dimensions. 

To create a continued dimension: 

1. From the menubar, select Draw > Dimensioning > Continue

OR 

From the Dimensioning toolbar, choose Continue Dimension

2. Use Endpoint snap to select the end of the existing dimension as the first extension line origin. 

3. Complete command. 
 

To rotate dimension text: 

1. Go to the menubar and choose Draw > Dimensioning > Align Text > Rotate

OR 

Go to the Dimensioning toolbar, click on the Align Dimension Text flyout, and choose Rotate

OR 

At the command line, enter DIMEDIT 

2. Enter the new angle for the text. 

3. Select the dimensions to edit. 
 

If your file from last week is incomplete or requires corrections, do this work first. Then qsave. 

Now make a renamed copy (call it temple2.dwg; save it on your Z drive) using saveas. Keep Ortho ON, restricting movements to vertical and horizontal. (Use F4 key) 
 

Creating a layer: 

The next important step will be to dimension your drawing. At present the drawing does not have a layer for dimensions. Making and setting layers can be achieved with either the layer or ddlmodes commands. The example shows the layer command. 

Command: layer (or ddlmodes) 

The Layer & Linetype Properties dialog appears. Click New. Enter dim to name the new layer. Click on dim. Click on the colour square to bring up the Colour dialog—choose a colour for yopur dimensions. Click OK to return to the Layer.. dialog. Click on Current button to make the new layer current. Click OK.

Earlier tutorials show method of changing current layer if you are not sure how to go about it. 

The menubar commands require selection by, holding down the Menu (right) button, dragging the pointer across additional sub-menus and releasing the button when the final option is reached. 
 

Dimensioning the first bay: 

Command: Select from menubar Dimension > Linear

First extension line origin...: end 

of

Pick bottom left corner of floor plan

Second extension line origin: end 

of

Pick bottom of first grid line

Dimension line location: 

Dimension line location...:

Pick location about 1000 below bottom line of plan 

Dimension text = 2000 (AutoCAD will compute value) 
 

Dimensioning successive bays: 

Command: Select from menubar Dimension > Continue

Selecting Continue allows a quicker procedure to operate 

Specify a second extension line origin...: end 

of

Pick bottom of next grid line 

Second ext..: end of

Pick bottom of next grid line.

Repeat, the above process until all bays are dimensioned (see figuire, below). 

Specify a second extension line origin...: (to end) 

Dimensioning Overall Building: 

Command: Select from menubar Dimensioning > Linear

Then provide an overall dimension for the length of the building, about 1000 below the grid dimension line you have just drawn. Use end of snap, as above. See figure below. Select the bottom left and right corners of the floor.

Command: qsave (save your work) 
 

Vertical Dimensions: 

Using the figure below as a guide, add the other dimensions shown on that drawing. 

The procedure for drawing vertical dimensions is the same as that used to draw horizontal dimensions. 

Command: Select from menubar Dimensioning > Linear

Vertical dimensions may be generated using a similar sequence of commands to that used for horizontal dimensions. You should work up the page, to provide text the right way up if read from the right hand side of the drawing. Dimensions that are wrongly positioned by AutoCAD may be re-edited with the dimtedit sub-command. It is easiest to use with Ortho set to OFF (Use F4 key): 

Command: dimtedit

Select dimension: Pick dimension text to edit 

Enter text location: Click at required location 

Command: qsave (save your work frequently) 

You may need to move the Floor Plan title when you place your drawing border later in this tute. 
 

Command: Change layer to text

Refer to earlier tutorials for method of changing layers. 

Select from menubar Draw > Text > Single Line Text

Text Justify/Style...: s 

Style name (or ?): ?

Text style (*): * 

Select a suitable style from the many displayed. (eg. Style 2)

Justify/Style...: s

Style name (or ?): style2

Justify/Angle/:

Pick start point below the the previously drawn dimension lines and centred beneath the plan. 

Height: 500

Rotation Angle<0>:

Text: Floor Plan 

Move cursor vertically, up to a suitable distance below the long elevation, pick a point and continue: 

Text: Elevation A 

Move cursor horizontally, across to a suitable distance below the other elevation and continue: 

Text: Elevation B 

Text: (to exit) 

Command: qsave (save your work) 

To complete a drawing it is only necessary to add drawing titles, identifying the creator, the subject and title of the drawing, date and scale. A professional office would also include other essential information such as drawing number, north point and perhaps a space to enter amendment details. Change the current layer to then enter title text. 

You may find it is a good idea to draw the borders, as described below, before you add the drawing titles. 
 

Borders: 

Ready made borders are often stored as blocks, in libraries. For this project it is suggested that you draw a rectangular polyline border (Command: pline), with as the current layer, with the bottom left hand corner at -5000,-5000. 

Dimensions of the polyline outer border to fit a 1:100 A3 page, are 42200w x 29700h. The procedure would be to ensure ORTHO is ON and then: 

Command:pline

From point: -5000, -5000

Arc/Close...: @29700<90

Arc/Close...: @42200<0

Arc/Close...: @29700<270

Arc/Close...: c (for close) 

Refer to the figure below. 

The inner border can be generated by offsetting (Command: offset) the outer border, by 1000. (ie. 10mm at 1:100) 

Minor repositioning of the border can be achieved, if necessary, by using the move command. 

Don't forget to include the drawing titles if you haven't already done so. 

Command: qsave (save your work) 
 

• TILEMODE ON (or 1). This is the mode you have used so far. In this mode it is possible to create additional tiled or mutually exclusive viewports, to split the screen like tiles.
• TILEMODE OFF (or 0), also referred  to as floating or  paperspace mode. In this mode you must create all viewports, but these viewports are floating, in the sense that any viewport can be overlaid on another, so that you can produce more interesting graphic arrangements.

Think of paperspace as an infinitely large sheet of paper on which you can arrange viewports that show your model. 

As its name implies, paperspace represents the paper on which you are going to print your drawing. 

NOTE: You do not have to be in paperspace in order to plot, but for the commands we are about to use you will transfer between TILEMODE ON and TILEMODE OFF in order to perform certain tasks. 

Now, change to paperspace (TILEMODE OFF) by double-clicking the mouse arrow on the button (at the bottom of the AutoCAD window) labeled TILE (see figure below). 

and the word TILE on the TILE button has become "dim" or grey. This indicates that you are no longer in TILEMODE. 

Do not be alarmed that your drawing suddenly disappeared when you change to PAPER SPACE. It is now being covered by a virtual "piece of paper."   All "TILED" Viewports that you may have set through the VPORT Command will disappear
while you are in this mode. You can return to TILEMODE when necessary by double-clicking the same button. 
 

Think of paperspace as an opaque sheet of paper held in front of your model. You can't see the model because the paper blocks your view unless you cut openings in the paper to look through. Suppose that instead of just clipping "peep holes," you could also mount a monitor in each of the openings you cut, and each monitor is connected to a TV Camera. Each TV camera transmits an image of the model to its monitor, but each camera does not have to be positioned the same relative to the model. With each camera in a different position, each monitor would display a different view of the model. In AutoCAD, changing the camera position is accomplished by the Viewpoint (VPOINT) Command you used earlier—look for the tiled vports exercise in the tutorial exercise. 

For the purposes of creating multiview projections, the views you want to project to the "port monitors" are those you are already know (FRONT, TOP, and RIGHT SIDE). Let's talk about how this relates to paperspace. In paperspace, you create "floating" Viewports instead of tiled Viewports. This is why you are no longer in TILEMODE or TILEMODE is OFF or 0. In other words, the viewports you create are not automatically arranged in a distinct grid pattern. 

Floating viewports can be any size, at any position, can overlap, and can be moved around. They also can display a STATIC "snap shot" view of the model, or a DYNAMIC "editable" view of the model. These are the two modes you can use when TILEMODE is OFF or 0. In the "static" mode of paperspace, like a snap shot or photograph, you cannot edit the Paper image because it is frozen; however, you can add 2D elements such as centre lines and dimensions, like drawing on a photograph. These elements are NOT part of the photograph, but are on the surface. So think of adding elements to a drawing in the "static" mode of paper space as drawing on a transparency placed over the views. In the "dynamic" mode of paperspace the viewports display the model again and the model can be edited in any viewport. Look at the three figures below which show the STATUS BAR located at the bottom of the AutoCAD Window. These figures show the look of the last two buttons on the status bar when certain modes are active. 

TILEMODE =1

With TILEMODE set at 1, you are looking at the MODEL, and you can setup TILED VIEWPORTS. When TILEMODE=1 you are only see the MODEL. When TILEMODE is set to 1 the word TILE is dark (known as highlighted). 

TILEMODE=0

With TILEMODE set at 0, you are in PAPER SPACE and the TILE button is dim (or gray). With the word PAPER showing you are in the "Static" side of paperspace, and to see the model you must create floating Viewports through which you can view the model, but the model is like a photograph (or frozen in place) and cannot be edited. 

To change to paperspace, double click on the word MODEL or TILE. The word PAPER will appear. 

TILEMODE=0
 
 

With TILEMODE set at 0 (the TILE button is dim, and the word MODEL showing in place of the word PAPER, you are now in the "dynamic" side of paperspace and the floating viewports display views of the model which can be edited. The second button from the right is a toggle between the Paper and Model side of paperspace. To change to the Model side of paperspace, double click on the word PAPER, but the TILE button must be dim. To change back to the "static" or Paper side of Paper Space double click on the word MODEL. Double click on the TILE button and see that you return to the original view of the model you just had. The MODEL button (next to TILE) also reappeared. Double click on the TILE button again, and you will be back in the "static" side of paperspace; however, you cannot see the MODEL, because you have not created floating viewports through which to see it. 

Now, to plot the drawing: 

From the pull-down menu, click File => Print

or

At the Command: prompt type plot,and on the main screen, the Print / Plot Configuration dialogue box will appear).

When the box appears make sure that these items are selected: 

-Under the heading Paper size and Orientation click on mm and A size paper. 

-Click on the Rotation and Origin bar. Type 0.000 by x and0.000 by y if not already there. 

-While in Rotation and Origin change the orientation to90degrees. 

-Look at the box marked to Scale to Fit, and if a check appears in the box, click on it to deselect. 

-Under Plotted MM=Drawing Units type 1=1

-Under Additional Parameters click on Extents.

-Click on the button marked Pen Assignments. When a dialog box appears, click on the row labeled 7 (for white), and then move to the Width window and change the size to .7.

Before moving on, check these settings again. Changing some settings before others will change settings you have already made and your print will have errors.**

-Click the Full button, then click the Preview Bar to examine the way your file will plot. 

**To EXIT Print Preview**- Click the RIGHT mouse button on the screen and a dialogue box will appear. Drag down to EXIT and you will return to the Plot Dialogue box. 

-If everything looks OK, then click the OK button and the print will be sent to the printer.

Command: end (to save and exit) 

Remember to log off before leaving.