• AutoCAD

Rectangles in AutoCAD

Learn the building block basics by drawing rectangles and squares.


00:03

In AutoCAD, it is easy to create rectangles.

00:06

Simply use the Rectangle command.

00:08

This command creates a closed rectangular polyline from specified parameters,

00:13

such as diagonal corner points, dimensions, area, and type of corners.

00:20

On the ribbon, Home tab, Draw panel, select Rectangle.

00:24

You are prompted to specify the first corner point.

00:28

In the drawing area, pick to place the first point.

00:31

Then, choose a second corner point.

00:34

You can pick to place the second point in any direction.

00:37

Also, as you are choosing a point, notice that dimension values for the length and width of the rectangle display.

00:45

Create another rectangle.

00:49

This time, before choosing the second corner point, specify the dimensions of the rectangle.

00:54

In one field, enter a dimension, such as 8.

00:58

Then, on your keyboard, press TAB to save the value and move to the second field.

01:03

Enter a second dimension, such as 10.

01:06

Press ENTER to create the rectangle.

01:09

Invoke the Rectangle command again.

01:11

Before selecting the initial point, you can view other options for creating a rectangle by expanding the tooltip.

01:18

On your keyboard, press the down arrow key to view these options.

01:23

Here, you can set the chamfer distances for the rectangle;

01:26

specify the elevation, or Z-value, for the rectangle;

01:30

specify the fillet radius of the rectangle;

01:33

specify the thickness of the rectangle;

01:36

or set the polyline width of the rectangle to be drawn.

01:40

Select Fillet.

01:41

In the tooltip field, enter a value for the fillet radius, such as 0.5.

01:47

Press ENTER.

01:48

Then, pick the first corner point.

01:51

Notice the filleted corners of the rectangle.

01:53

Before picking the second point, open the options menu again.

01:57

These options differ from the ones available when initializing the rectangle command.

02:02

From this options menu, you can choose to finish creating the rectangle by specifying its area, dimensions, or rotation.

02:10

Without selecting an option, pick a second point.

02:12

You can modify rectangles also.

02:14

To do so, select one of the rectangles you just created.

02:19

Now, click and drag one of the rectangle’s grips to adjust the size.

02:23

Then, click and drag one of the vertices to adjust its shape.

02:28

Undo any adjustments to the vertices.

02:32

You can also edit the rectangle by hovering your cursor over one of the midpoint grips.

02:37

A menu displays.

02:39

From here, you can stretch the line, add a vertex, or convert the line into an arc.

02:45

Rectangles are hugely useful when creating drawings,

02:48

and with AutoCAD, you have numerous rectangle options to create just the shape you need.

Video transcript

00:03

In AutoCAD, it is easy to create rectangles.

00:06

Simply use the Rectangle command.

00:08

This command creates a closed rectangular polyline from specified parameters,

00:13

such as diagonal corner points, dimensions, area, and type of corners.

00:20

On the ribbon, Home tab, Draw panel, select Rectangle.

00:24

You are prompted to specify the first corner point.

00:28

In the drawing area, pick to place the first point.

00:31

Then, choose a second corner point.

00:34

You can pick to place the second point in any direction.

00:37

Also, as you are choosing a point, notice that dimension values for the length and width of the rectangle display.

00:45

Create another rectangle.

00:49

This time, before choosing the second corner point, specify the dimensions of the rectangle.

00:54

In one field, enter a dimension, such as 8.

00:58

Then, on your keyboard, press TAB to save the value and move to the second field.

01:03

Enter a second dimension, such as 10.

01:06

Press ENTER to create the rectangle.

01:09

Invoke the Rectangle command again.

01:11

Before selecting the initial point, you can view other options for creating a rectangle by expanding the tooltip.

01:18

On your keyboard, press the down arrow key to view these options.

01:23

Here, you can set the chamfer distances for the rectangle;

01:26

specify the elevation, or Z-value, for the rectangle;

01:30

specify the fillet radius of the rectangle;

01:33

specify the thickness of the rectangle;

01:36

or set the polyline width of the rectangle to be drawn.

01:40

Select Fillet.

01:41

In the tooltip field, enter a value for the fillet radius, such as 0.5.

01:47

Press ENTER.

01:48

Then, pick the first corner point.

01:51

Notice the filleted corners of the rectangle.

01:53

Before picking the second point, open the options menu again.

01:57

These options differ from the ones available when initializing the rectangle command.

02:02

From this options menu, you can choose to finish creating the rectangle by specifying its area, dimensions, or rotation.

02:10

Without selecting an option, pick a second point.

02:12

You can modify rectangles also.

02:14

To do so, select one of the rectangles you just created.

02:19

Now, click and drag one of the rectangle’s grips to adjust the size.

02:23

Then, click and drag one of the vertices to adjust its shape.

02:28

Undo any adjustments to the vertices.

02:32

You can also edit the rectangle by hovering your cursor over one of the midpoint grips.

02:37

A menu displays.

02:39

From here, you can stretch the line, add a vertex, or convert the line into an arc.

02:45

Rectangles are hugely useful when creating drawings,

02:48

and with AutoCAD, you have numerous rectangle options to create just the shape you need.

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