Step 1 -Lesson 1.3

-In this stage you are going to:

1.3.1 - Modify Objects

• Move Object
• Copy Object
• Offset Object
• Trim Object
• Extend Lines

The 'Modify object' basic commands

Move Objects

You can move one or more objects at a specified distance and direction from the originals.
To move objects with precision you use coordinates, object snaps, grid snaps and other tools.

Begin the move command via Toolbar icon.

To move the rectangle (ABCDA), as shown in Fig. 1.3.1.2, from point P1 to point P2 (they define the direction and distance of the movement) :

On Ribbon ► Click Home tab►Modify panel ►click Move icon (Fig.1.3.1.1).

1. CommandLine prompt says: Select object: Using the mouse Select with your mouse the rectangle (ABCDA), and press ENTER.
2. CommandLine prompt says: Specify based point: Using the mouse select the point P₁.
3. Commandline prompt says: Specify second point or [ ]: Using the mouse, select the point P₂ to specify the second point of the movement.

You can repeat this as many times as you wish. When you are done, click Enter or Esc.
You have moved the rectangle (ABCDA) from point P₁ to point P_2, as shown in Fig.1.3.1.2.

When AutoCAD asks for a "base point or displacement" you can select any point you want as a reference point. Click on the bottom left corner of the rectangle. AutoCAD now asks for a 'second point of displacement', it needs to know now is at which point you want to move it. You can select with the mouse another point on the screen, or to use relative coordinates.

Using relative coordinates

If you want to move it 20 (units) over and 40 (units) up, using relative coordinates, type @20,40 and press ENTER to achieve this. The rectangle will automatically move to its new location.

If you want to move it in a distance 20 (units) and in a direction of 30°, for the second point type <20, 30 and press ENTER to achieve this.

The rectangle will automatically move to its new location.

1.3.2 - Copy Objects

With the copy command, you can create one or more objects from the original at a specified distance and direction, or from one point to another point. Begin the copy command via Ribbon.

To copy the object (ABCDA), as shown in Fig. 1.1, from point P1 to point P2:

• On Ribbon ► Click Home tab ►Modify panel ►click Copy icon .

To copy the rectangle (ABCDA), as shown in Fig. 1.1, from point P1 to point P2 (they define the direction and distance of the movement) :

1. CommandLine prompt says: Select object: Using the mouse Select with your mouse the rectangle (ABCDA), and press ENTER.
2. CommandLine prompt says: Specify based point: Using the mouse select the point P₁.
3. Commandline prompt says: Specify second point or []: Using the mouse select the point P₂ to specify the second point of the movement, and press ENTER.

You have copied the rectangle (ABCDA) in distance and direction which is specified by the point P₁ and P₂, as shown in Fig.1.3.2.2.
When AutoCAD asks for a "base point or displacement" you can select any point you want as a reference point. Click on the bottom left corner of the rectangle. AutoCAD now asks for a 'second point of displacement', it needs to know now is at which point you want to move it. You can select with the mouse another point on the screen, or to use relative coordinates.

Copy an object using coordinates

If you want to copy an object using relative coordinates:

1. CommandLine prompt says: Select object: Using the mouse Select with your mouse the rectangle (ABCDA), and press ENTER.
2. CommandLine prompt says: Specify based point: Using the mouse select the point P₁.
3. Commandline prompt says: Specify second point or []: Type @200<45, and press ENTER.

The copy created in a distance 200 from the original and direction 45°, as you see in Fig. 1.3.2.3.

1.3.3 - Offset objects

With offset command, you can create a new object in a certain distance but parallel to the original.
You can use the offset command to offset: Lines, arcs, circles, ellipses, 2d polylines, construction lines, rays, and Splines.

If you offset a line, another similar line is created, on the side you specify for the offset.
If you offset a circle or an arc, a larger or smaller circle or arc is created, depending on which side you specify for the offset.
If you offset a polyline, you will create a polyline parallel to original.

Offset an object by specifying a distance

Begin the offset command via Toolbar icon.

• On Ribbon ► Click Home tab►Offset panel ►click offset icon (Fig. 1.3.3.1).

To offset the rectangle (ABCDA), as shown in Fig. 1.3.3.2, in a distance 60 and outside the original object, (the units are in mm):

1. Command Line prompt says;">: Specify offset distance or [Through/Erase/Layer] <Through>: Enter 60 for the offset distance, and press ENTER.
2. Command Line prompt says: Select object to offset or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>: Using the mouse, select rectangle (ABCDA), the rectangle becomes dashed.
3. Command line prompt says;">: Specify point on side to offset or [Exit/Multiple/Undo] <Exit>: Specify a point to indicate whether the object is to be offset, inside or outside of the original object, in your example select a point outside the rectangle (ABCDA), and press ENTER to end the command.
4. The offset of the rectangle is drawn as you can see in Fig. 1.3.3.2.

Offset an object through a point

Begin the offset command via Toolbar icon.

• On Ribbon ► Click Home tab►Offset panel ►click offset icon .

To offset the circle r1, as shown in Fig. 1.3.3.3, and through the point P1 :

1. Command Line prompt says: Specify offset distance or [Through/Erase/Layer] <Through>: Enter t to indicate that the offset of the object will pass through a specific point, and press ENTER.
2. CommandLine prompt says: Select object to offset or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>: Using the mouse, select circle (r1), the circle becomes dashed.
3. Commandline prompt says: Specify through point or [Exit/Multiple/Undo] <Exit>: Click on point P1 to indicate whether the object is to be offset, and press ENTER to end the command.
4. The offset of the circle is drawn as you can see in Fig. 1.3.3.3.

Create Offset from the edges of a face

Make sure you are in 3D modeling mode (Fig. 1.3.3.4).
Begin the offset command via Toolbar icon.

• On Ribbon ► select 3D Modeling mode ► Click Solid tab►Solid Editing panel ►click Offset Edges icon (Fig. 1.3.3.4) .

You will offset the polyline (ABCDA) of the solid object face, as shown in Fig. 1.3.3.5.:

1. Command Line prompt says: Select face: Select the face (ABCDA), after the mouse is on the face, it turns to gray.
2. Command Line prompt says: Specify through point or [Distance/Corner] : type 100 to specify the offset distance of the new polyline (A1B1C1D1A1) from the original polyline (ABCDA). You can, instead of typing the distance value, to select with your mouse a through point for the new polyline, and press ENTER to end the command.
3. You created the polyline (A₁B₁C₁D₁A₁) that is the offset of the polyline (ABCDA), and  is drawn at the same surface, as you can see in Fig. 1.3.3.5 .

1.3.4 - Trim Objects

When an object intersects with another object, you can remove its unwanted portion by using the Trim tool. To trim an object, you need to first invoke the Trim tool, and then select the cutting edge (intersecting object) and the portion to be removed.

If there are multiple intersection points in a drawing, you can simply select the 'select all' option from the command line; all the objects in the drawing objects will act as ‘cutting edges’

Begin the Trim command via Toolbar icon.

• On Ribbon ► Click Home tab►Modify panel ►click Trim icon (Fig.1.3.4.1) .

To trim the line (P1P2P3), as shown in Fig. 1.3.4.2, from point P2 to point P3, using as Cutting edge the line (AB) :

1. CommandLine prompt says:TRIM Select object or <select all>: Using the mouse select line (AB) as Cutting edge, and press ENTER.
2. CommandLine prompt says:Select object to trim or shift-select to extend or : Pick anywhere into line (P2P3), it is the part of the line (P1P2P3) that you want to trim.
3. Remember two things to avoid mistakes: Pick the cutting edge first, and do not forget to press Enter before picking the line to be chopped.

You have trimed the part (P₂P₃) of the line (P₁P₂P₃), using as cutting edge line (AB), as shown in Fig.1.3.4.3.

You can repeat this as many times as you wish. When you are done, click Enter or Esc. 

1.3.5 - Extend Objects

This command allows you to extend an end of an object to the boundary edge(s) defined by other objects. In order to successfully complete this command, you have to select the boundary edges first, press [Enter], and then select the ends of the objects you want to extend.

In this example, you extend the line (AB) to the line (P₁P₂)_, as shown in Fig. 1.6.6.2:

Begin the Extend command via Toolbar icon.

• On Ribbon ► Click Home tab►Modify panel ►click Extend icon (Fig.1.3.5.1) .

1. CommandLine prompt says:Extend Select object or <select all>: Using the mouse select line (P1P2) as boundary edge, and then press ENTER.
2. CommandLine prompt says::Extend [Fence Crossing Project Edge Undo]: select the line (AB) and press Enter, the line will be extended up to the boundary edge (P_1P2) that you want to trim.
3. Remember two things to avoid mistakes: Pick the boundary edges first, and then select the ends of the objects you want to extend.

You have extended the (AB) to line (P₁P₂) as shown in Fig.1.3.5.3.