Interested in improving your AutoCAD skills? Learn how to modify objects using grips, including how to stretch objects, convert lines to arcs, copy objects, and adjust their orientations.
Key Insights
- This tutorial covers how to modify objects in AutoCAD using grips, such as stretching, copying, and adjusting the orientation of objects.
- Techniques include making a table 12 inches longer by pulling the Grip at the Midpoint of the left side of the table to the left.
- You can convert a line segment to an arc by snapping the cursor to the Grip at the Midpoint of the bottom edge of a table and selecting 'Convert to Arc' when the menu appears.
- Copying objects, such as chairs, is made easy by selecting 'Move' and then 'Copy' from the Right-click menu. You can create additional copies by holding down the Ctrl key.
- Moving the position of objects, like a computer, to another desk involves selecting the object, Right-clicking, choosing 'Move', and then 'Copy', before snapping the base point to the geometric center in the corner of the new desk.
- Rotating objects can also be achieved using the 'Rotate' option in the Right-click menu, allowing you to adjust the orientation of objects to your preference.
This exercise is excerpted from Noble Desktop’s past AutoCAD training materials and is compatible with Photoshop updates through 2020. To learn current skills in AutoCAD, check out AutoCAD Bootcamp and AutoCAD classes in NYC and live online.
AutoCAD Drawing Basics
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Lines & Polylines
The core drawing primitives — most CAD work is built from these.
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Layers
Organize geometry by purpose: walls, dimensions, hatches, annotations.
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Blocks
Reusable symbols for doors, windows, fixtures — edit once, update everywhere.
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Dimensions
Annotate distances and angles with proper drawing standards.
Topics Covered in This AutoCAD Tutorial:
Stretching with Grips, Accessing Modify Tools with Grips
Exercise Preview
Modifying with Grips in a File
Continue working with Modify Tools-Office.dwg or open Modify-Office-Grips.dwg.
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Pan and Zoom to the table in the upper right area of the office that you placed the coffee maker on and select it. Click the Grip at the Midpoint of the left side of the table to make it hot. Pull to the left so that the horizontal Polar Tracking line appears. Type 12 for the distance and press Enter. The table is now 12 inches longer.
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Without clicking, snap the cursor to the Grip at the Midpoint of the bottom edge of the table. When the menu appears select Convert to Arc. The line segment will be converted to an arc.
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Pull the cursor down so that the vertical tracking line appears. Type 6 for the distance and press Enter. Press Escape to deselect the table, so it looks as shown.
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Pan and Zoom to the chair by the wall at the bottom right area of the office and click to select it. Click the grip to make it hot, and then Right–click. Select Move from the Right–click menu. Right–click again and select Copy. Pull the cursor to the left and make one copy along the horizontal tracking line. By making one copy, you have established a distance and angle you can repeat by holding down the CTRL key. Hold down the CTRL key and pull the cursor to the left. You will see that the next copy snaps to the same distance and angle as the first copy, when it does, click to create the copy. Repeat the process to make a total of four chairs. Press Enter to end the command and then press Escape to deselect.
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Pan and Zoom to the front desk with the computer on it. Click to select the computer and then click the Grip to make it hot. Right–click and choose Move, and Right–click again to choose Copy. Move the computer to the desk in the upper right cubicle and snap the base point to the geometric center in the corner of the desk. Keep the computer selected.
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Click to select the new computer copy. Click the grip to make it hot and then Right–click. Choose Rotate from the Right–click menu. Use Polar Tracking and your mouse to rotate the computer 45˚ to the right so that the computer is facing the chair. Keep the computer selected.
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Use the Grip to make another copy of the computer for the desk 2 cubicles to the left. You are placing the computer on this desk because it’s the only other desk that matches the current orientation of the computer.
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Now you will use the Grip to make multiple copies in the other desks similar to the way you did with the mirror tool. The mirror tool would not work with the computer because it’s asymmetrical, and using the Rotate tool outside of the grip menu would be less efficient because the copy option would only allow you to make one copy. Click the computer to select it. Click the grip to make it hot. Select Rotate from the Right–click menu. Right–click again and select Copy. Right–click a third time and select the Base Point option. Click the Geometric Center snap at the center of the small square where the cubicle partitions intersect. Use your mouse and Polar Tracking to make copies on the other 3 adjoining desks. Press Escape to deselect.
TIP: Place Base Point at the Geometric Center where the partitions intersect, as shown in the screenshot below:
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Use Copy to place computers on the remaining desks in the correct orientation.
