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AutoCAD: Using the Command Line
Learn how to work more efficiently in AutoCAD by using the command line for input, navigation, dynamic interaction, coordinates, customization, and faster drafting workflows across architecture, BIM, and CAD projects.
Course overview
This course focuses on one of the most useful long-standing AutoCAD features: the command line. It explains how to use it more effectively so drafting and navigation become faster and more deliberate.
Created by Shaun Bryant, this Lynda course walks through the command line at the bottom of the AutoCAD interface and shows how it can support a more productive workflow. The course starts with the fundamentals, then moves into positioning the command line, adjusting settings, and entering commands more efficiently with both keyboard and mouse input.
It also explores dynamic input, function keys, human interface devices, coordinate entry, and command-line navigation techniques. By the end, learners should have a stronger understanding of how to customize the command line and use it as a more practical part of everyday AutoCAD work.
Topics covered
The course is centered on the practical ways the AutoCAD command line supports day-to-day drafting and navigation.
Command input basics
Learn how to enter commands accurately using the keyboard and mouse together.
Command-line positioning
See how to place, close, reopen, and manage the command line inside the AutoCAD workspace.
Dynamic input and coordinates
Use dynamic input tools and coordinate entry methods to work with better precision.
Navigation and controls
Improve drawing navigation and workflow speed through function keys and interface settings.
What you will learn
- Entering input with the keyboard and mouse
- Positioning the command line
- Closing the command line
- Customizing command-line settings
- Typing commands
- Using dynamic input
- Using human interface devices (HID)
- Navigating an AutoCAD drawing with the command line
- Using the function keys
- Entering coordinates
Related tutorials
These related tutorials appear alongside this course and connect to adjacent design and creative workflows on the site.
Frequently asked questions
Who is this course for?
This course is useful for AutoCAD users who want to improve speed and efficiency by relying more on the command line.
Why focus on the command line?
The command line remains one of the most practical ways to work quickly in AutoCAD, especially for frequent drafting and navigation tasks.
What skills does it support?
It supports command entry, interface customization, dynamic input, navigation, precision, and broader workflow control inside AutoCAD.