CCC Architecture

Programs in Architectural Studies at the City Colleges of Chicago

AutoCAD Settings for Arch 170 Drawings

General Settings

Before you start an AutoCAD drawing assignments for this course, you’ll need to modify the status bar.

Open AutoCAD
Look for the Status Bar in the lower-right part of the screen.

AutoCAD interface showing the location of the Status Bar

3. Click on the Customization Icon

Drawing Aids showing where to click on the Customization Icon

4. Make sure your settings match those shown.

5. Check the status of your running object snaps (OSNAPS). Click the down arrow next to the OSNAP icon.

Status Bar showing the location of the OSNAP down arrow

6. Make sure your settings match those shown.

As you complete more drawings, you may want to turn on different OSNAPS. Keep the number of running OSNAPS to no more than 4 or 5 to avoid precision errors while drawing.

Menu showing the current running object snaps (OSNAPS)

7. The coordinate display (X, Y, Z, values) should change as you move your mouse around the drawing area. If the values are not changing, press CTRL + i and move your mouse again. If needed, press CTRL + i until you see the X and Y coordinates changing with the movement of your mouse in the drawing area..

Statsu Bar indicating the location of the coordinates

You are ready to use the AutoCAD interface. More changes specific to architecture will be made as you begin drawing.