How to Input Coordinates Into AutoCAD
Autodesk AutoCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) program that draws on a Cartesian plane. You can draw by clicking your mouse on the screen or typing dimensions and coordinates with your keyboard. Typing the dimensions and coordinates creates accurate drawings, and it is the preferred method for creating precise architectural, engineering and mechanical drawings. When typing the coordinates, you will need to distinguish between relative and absolute coordinates. Relative coordinates correspond to any drawn point, while absolute coordinates correspond to the origin, point "0,0,0," of the AutoCAD drawing.
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Instructions
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Open Autodesk AutoCAD and select "New" in the "File" menu to create a new drawing.
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Draw a point using one absolute coordinate with the point tool -- typing "x,y" for the point, where "x" is the horizontal distance from the origin and "y" is the vertical distance from the origin.
Type "Point" in the command line to draw a point. Type the absolute coordinate "4,-8" to place a point on the Cartesian grid at 4 units horizontally distant from the origin, along the x-axis; and negative eight units vertically distant from the origin along the y-axis. Press the "Enter" or "Return" key on your keyboard to complete the point.
Type "4,-8,3," after typing "Point" in the command line to place the point three units above the xy-plane, along the z-axis. Press the "Enter" or "Return" key on your keyboard to complete the point.
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Draw a two-dimensional shape or line, created using two absolute coordinates by selecting the drawing tool, typing "x,y" for the first point and typing a second coordinate "x,y," -- where "x" is the horizontal distance from the origin and "y" is the vertical distance from the origin.
Example:
Type "Rectangle" in the command line to create a rectangle. Type "3,10" to place the first corner, then type "7,12" to place the opposite corner; the rectangle will appear with horizontal sides four units long and two units deep as defined by the absolute coordinates. Press the "Enter" or "Return" key on your keyboard to complete the rectangle.
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Draw a line using an arbitrary endpoint, defined by the mouse, and a second endpoint relative to the first, created using a relative coordinate by typing "@x,y," where "@" defines the point as relative to the first endpoint, "x" is the horizontal distance from the first endpoint and "y" is the vertical distance from the first endpoint.
Example:
Type "Line" in the command line to create a line. Click anywhere inside the drawing to create the line's first endpoint. Type "@4,5" to place the second endpoint and press "Enter" or "Return" on your keyboard; a diagonal line will appear with the second endpoint four units horizontally and five units vertically distant to the first point.
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Draw a line at an angle using a cursor-based endpoint, as well as a length and angle, by typing "@d<a," where "@" defines the point as relative to the first endpoint, "d" is the distance from the first endpoint and "a" is the angle of the line, with "a=0" as the positive x-axis.
Example:
Type "Line" in the command line and click the mouse anywhere on the screen, then type "@7<120" and press the "Enter or "Return" key on your keyboard. A diagonal line will appear seven units long at a 120 degree angle from the positive x-axis.
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Tips & Warnings
Mix the absolute coordinate, relative coordinate and mouse-based coordinate endpoints to create different actions with the AutoCAD tools.
References
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