Rectangles in AutoCAD

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In AutoCAD, it is easy to create rectangles.

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Simply use the Rectangle command.

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This command creates a closed rectangular polyline from specified parameters,

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

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

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You are prompted to specify the first corner point.

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

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Then, choose a second corner point.

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

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

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Create another rectangle.

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

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

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

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Enter a second dimension, such as 10.

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Press ENTER to create the rectangle.

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Invoke the Rectangle command again.

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

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

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

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

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specify the fillet radius of the rectangle;

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specify the thickness of the rectangle;

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

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Select Fillet.

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

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Press ENTER.

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Then, pick the first corner point.

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Notice the filleted corners of the rectangle.

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

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

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

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Without selecting an option, pick a second point.

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You can modify rectangles also.

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

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

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

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Undo any adjustments to the vertices.

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

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A menu displays.

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

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Rectangles are hugely useful when creating drawings,

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