How Do You Do Ortho in AutoCAD?

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How Do You Do Ortho in AutoCAD?

Ortho, short for orthographic projection, is a useful feature in AutoCAD that allows you to restrict cursor movement to horizontal or vertical directions. This can be especially handy when you need to create precise drawings or align objects with existing elements. In this tutorial, we will explore how to enable and use the Ortho mode in AutoCAD.

Enabling Ortho Mode

To begin using the Ortho mode, you first need to enable it. There are two ways to do this:

  • Method 1:
    • Click on the Ortho button located on the status bar at the bottom of the AutoCAD window.
  • Method 2:
    • Type “ortho” in the command line and press Enter.

Using Ortho Mode

After enabling Ortho mode, you will notice that cursor movement is now restricted to horizontal and vertical directions only. This makes it easier to draw lines, rectangles, circles, and other geometric shapes with precision.

To draw a line using Ortho mode:

  1. Select the Line tool from the AutoCAD toolbar or type “line” in the command line and press Enter.
  2. Pick a starting point by clicking anywhere on your drawing canvas.
  3. Moving your cursor horizontally or vertically, click again to specify the endpoint of your line.

If you want to draw a line at an angle other than horizontal or vertical, simply press the Shift key while drawing. This temporarily disables Ortho mode and allows you to draw freely.

Disabling Ortho Mode

If you want to disable Ortho mode and revert to free cursor movement, there are two ways to do it:

  • Method 1:
    • Click on the Ortho button located on the status bar at the bottom of the AutoCAD window. The button will no longer be highlighted, indicating that Ortho mode is turned off.
  • Method 2:
    • Type “ortho” in the command line and press Enter again. This will toggle Ortho mode off.

In Conclusion

The Ortho mode in AutoCAD is a valuable tool for maintaining precision in your drawings. By restricting cursor movement to horizontal or vertical directions, you can create accurate geometric shapes and align objects effortlessly.

Remember to enable Ortho mode when needed and disable it when you want free cursor movement. With practice, using Ortho mode will become second nature, enhancing your productivity in AutoCAD.