Delve into the process of creating a new drawing file in AutoCAD, from saving the file to defining layers. Learn the traditional drafting techniques to ensure your work is saved properly, organized into layers, and aligns with CAD standards.
Key Insights
- AutoCAD creates new unnamed files by adding "drawing" and a number to the document. To save work properly and prevent lost data, navigate to 'File' and 'Save', renaming the file with an all-caps, relevant name.
- Before drawing, ensure the correct layer in your AutoCAD drawing is activated. This organizes geometry into separate layers and defines the distinct, colorful drawings seen in AutoCAD projects.
- When creating a new layer, follow CAD standards of naming the layer with a discipline first, and then four letters to define the layer. Assign a distinct color to the layer for easy visual identification, and activate the layer so all new geometry drawn will go onto that layer.
Note: These materials offer prospective students a preview of how our classes are structured. Students enrolled in this course will receive access to the full set of materials, including video lectures, project-based assignments, and instructor feedback.
In this video, we will draw the detail symbol, which is the first symbol on the Drafting Symbols PDF handout. You can see at the top of the screen that when I went to File > New, Drawing 3 asterisk was created.
This is not a named or saved file. AutoCAD creates new unnamed files by adding the word 'drawing' followed by a number. You might see number 1,2, 3, or any number, depending on how many drawings you've created since opening AutoCAD.
To start fresh, let's go to File > New one more time, and I will choose the VDCI Fundamentals template and hit Open. Before we draw any geometry, I want to make sure that this is saved. AutoCAD, like any software, could crash, and we don't want to lose any data.
So, I will go up to File > Save. I want to navigate to the C drive, CAD101 File Downloads, or wherever you have saved your CAD101 File Downloads folder. I will change the file name to Detail-Symbol.
It is a drafting tradition to use all caps when writing in AutoCAD. So, I will name these files in all caps. Once I have typed Detail-Symbol, I will hit Save.
Now that our drawing is saved, we can continue drawing the Detail Symbol. There is one more step before activating any drawing tools, and that is to ensure I have the correct layer in my AutoCAD drawing. AutoCAD organizes geometry onto separate layers, which define the distinct, colorful drawings we see in AutoCAD projects.
The Layer Properties dialog box can be opened by clicking this button. This is a comprehensive breakdown of all the layers in our project. You can see in the VDCI Fundamentals Template that we have Layer 0 and No Plot.
Def Points is also included, and it is a default layer in many AutoCAD projects. In this case, we want to create a new layer, which I will name A-Syms, S-Y-M-S. AutoCAD has historically helped define and follow CAD standards, which suggest that AutoCAD layers be named with the discipline first, followed by four letters to define the layer.
In this case, our discipline is Architectural (A), and our layer designation is Syms, representing 'symbol.' With Layer 0 selected, I will click this button to create a new layer. You will see that AutoCAD automatically highlights the name of the layer, and I can immediately start typing.
I will type A-S-Y-M-S, again making sure that I have Caps Lock on, and I will click into this space to lock in my name. I can always rename a layer by right-clicking and selecting 'Rename Layer, ' or by clicking once to select the layer, and clicking again to highlight the text.
Now that we've named our layer, I would like to assign it a distinct color so we can visually identify what is on Layer 0 and what is on our A-Syms layer.
I will go to the Color column, click the square, and choose color 1-2-0. I can move my mouse around this color grid to find 1-2-0, or I can type 1-2-0 in the text box.
I will hit OK, and the last thing I need to do is activate the layer. This means that all new geometry drawn will be placed on that layer. You can activate a layer by right-clicking on it and choosing 'Set Current, ' or by double-clicking on the layer.
A green checkmark will appear next to your active layer. Additionally, the Layer drop-down window will display your active layer, as long as no geometry is selected. I will close Layer Properties, and we can start drawing.
