AutoCAD Tips

Here is a powerful tool that is honestly easily forgotten. The Multiple command lets you repeat a command that does not repeat by default. The LINE command is an example of a command that does repeat. You keep picking points and the command keeps going until you tell it to stop. The CIRCLE command or RECTANGLE command both do not repeat. So after you make the shape, the command ends and you have to restart the command.

Note: After I run the MULTIPLE command with another command the next time I use the command, it reverts to normal use (without the multiple option). This might be a great use for a LISP routine…

If you use the MULTIPLE command first, it will ask you what command do you want to use in a “multiple” manner. You then enter the command that you want to run. Then that command starts and continually runs until you either hit esc. or <enter>.

In the animated picture:

• I make 2 circles without the multiple command to show that the circle command does work normally.
• MULTIPLE <enter>
• CIRCLE <enter> to define what command is to be used with the multiple option.
• Then i pick a number of circles repeatedly without restarting the command.
• I then start the MULTIPLE command again
• REC <enter> to define the RECTANGLE command with the multiple command.
• Then I pick 2 points to make a number of rectangles

Let’s say that you download an AutoCAD block like the table as seen below. When you open the block, you notice that it is not scaled correctly. Let’s also say that you want to scale it to a certain length.

In the example below, I have a block of a table. I opened it in the block editor and now I am going to Scale the block so that its length is 6 feet long. I don’t actually need to know the current length of the block. I just need to make a line that is the length that I want the table to be. I made this line at an angle to show you that the reference does not need to be in line with the table.

Here’s the steps:

(Note: this tip works in all workspaces like modelspace and paperspace. I used the block editor in this example instead of exploding the block.)

• SCALE <enter> (or SC <enter>) to start the SCALE command.
• Select the objects that you want to scale
• <enter> when finished selecting
• Specify a base point
• R <enter> to use the “Reference” option
• Pick 2 points on the object that is going to be scaled that you want to be scaled to the desired length.
• P <enter> to use the “Points” option
• Pick 2 points that establish the final length. In the example picture, I picked the diagonal line that is six feet long.

After the second point is picked, the table is scaled to the desired length. I then deleted the reference line.

The first 2 points that you pick establish the “before” length (reference) and the last 2 points that you pick scale the first 2 points picked.

You may know that there is the ALIGN command which is really helpful. But with the ALIGN command the object that you are aligning/rotating end up being moved to its reference object. So how do you rotate an object and basically leave it in its current location and use another object’s angle as a reference?

Here’s how:

• ROTATE <enter> ( or RO <enter>) to start the rotate command
• Select the object(s) to rotate <enter>
• R <enter> to start the Reference option
• Click 2 points on the object that is to be rotated. This basically sets the relative angle to zero.
• P <enter>  for the “Points” option
• Click 2 points on the reference object. This will set the new rotation angle for the object that is to be rotate.