The Modify Toolbar

Please experiment with the tools described within this page as you progress through this section of the Tutorial.

The Modify Toolbar contains several general use utilities that come in handy when needing to modify drawing objects. We will now take a closer look at some of the more common tools you will be using this year.

Move : Used to move objects or group of objects.

• Click the Move button
• Click on the object(s) you wish to move
• Press Enter
• Select a base point of displacement (this is the location of where you pick up the object). Where necessary you may need to snap to a base point of displacement.
• Select the second point of displacement (this is the location of where you move the object to). You may need to snap the object to a second point of displacement.

Create an object and try moving it using this tool.

Duplicate : Used to duplicate an object. The original object is left in its original position.

• Click the Duplicate button
• Click on the object(s) you wish to duplicate
• Press Enter
• Select a base point of displacement (this is the location of where you pick up a copy of the object). Where necessary you may need to snap to a base point of displacement.
• Select the second point of displacement (this is the location of where you move the copy of the object to). You may need to snap the object to a second point of displacement.

Create an object and try duplicating it using this tool.

Mirror : This tool can be reached by expanding the duplicate button. This tool is used for creating a mirror image of one or more objects on a drawing.

• Click the Mirror button
• Select object(s) you wish to mirror
• Press Enter key
• Then create a mirror line (first and second point). Consider this line as the midpoint between the original and its mirror image.

• Then indicate whether the original is to be deleted or not (Y or N).

Create an object and try mirroring it using this tool.

Rotate : Used to rotate object(s). The rotation angle is indicated in degrees. Positive angles rotate counter clockwise. Negative angles rotate clockwise.

• Click Rotate Button
• Select object(s) with mouse
• Press Enter
• Select a Basepoint. The Basepoint is the pivot point where the object(s) are rotated.
• Enter the rotation angle (+ goes counter clockwise, - goes clockwise)
• Press Enter

Create an object and try rotating it using this tool.

Trim : Used to trim away (cut) unwanted lines. Take for example the following 2 sets of lines:

To trim away unwanted lines:

• Click Trim tool

• Select the cut planes (both lines)

• Press Enter

• Select objects you wish to trim away

• Press Enter

Create intersecting lines and try trimming using this tool.

Chamfer/Fillet : Used to chamfer (cut a 45 degree angle) or fillet (round off) a corner.

Take for example the following corner:

To Chamfer the corner you first need to set the chamfer properties. To do this select the Chamfer tool. On the command line you will see several options (see below).

Type D for Distance. The command line will then ask you for the first and then the second chamfer distance. If you want the chamfer to be symetrical, both distances should be the same (eg. 0.25). Once these settings are made, the computer will remember these settings until the next time they are changed. Press Enter when done.

To use the Chamfer tool:

• Click Chamfer Tool

• Select each line in the corner

This Corner

Becomes This Corner

Create a corner and try chamfering the corner using this tool.

Filleting works much the same way. You first have to set the fillet properties. To do this select the Fillet tool. On the command line you will see the following options:

Type R for Radius. The command line will then ask for the radius of the fillet (eg. .25). Once these settings are made, the computer will remember these settings until the next time they are changed. Press Enter when done.

To use the Fillet Tool:

• Click Fillet tool
• Select each line in the corner

This Corner

Becomes This Corner

There are several other useful tools in the Modify Toolbar. I encourage you to explore how they are used on your own. For help on any particular tool, go to the Index of the AutoCad Help System.

Last Updated Sept. 14/99