AutoCAD commands list

Draws straight segments between picked points. Each segment is a separate object, unlike PLINE which keeps them joined.

Draws a connected sequence of straight and arc segments as one object, with an optional width. The default choice for outlines, road centrelines and hatch boundaries.

Shortens objects back to a cutting edge. Since AutoCAD 2021 the default Quick mode uses every visible object as a potential cutting edge.

Creates a parallel copy of a line, polyline, arc or circle at a set distance. The backbone of wall, kerb and setback drafting.

Joins two objects with an arc of a given radius. With radius 0 it makes a sharp corner, which is the fastest way to close two overshooting lines.

Fills a closed area with a pattern or solid fill. Used for material indication in sections, plans and details.

A single dimensioning command that picks the right dimension type from what you hover: linear, aligned, angular, radius or diameter.

Places multi-line paragraph text inside a bounding width, with in-place formatting, bullets and fields.

Opens the Layer Properties Manager, where layers are created, coloured, assigned lineweights and plot styles, and locked, frozen or turned off.

Attaches external drawings as references so shared backgrounds stay in one file. The core of multi-discipline coordination in AutoCAD.

Combines objects into a reusable named definition placed with INSERT. Edits to the definition update every instance.

Removes unused blocks, layers, linetypes, text styles and other named objects, shrinking the file and cleaning imported junk.