The AutoCAD Command Line

For example, if you want to draw a line, begin typing the word "Line" in the Command line. As you type more letters, a menu will appear above the command line listing suggested commands that begin with those letters.

Thus, when you type "Li," you'll see the menu shown below. You can continue typing your command or select it from the menu. In this case, we can select Line.

For example, when you run the Line command, you'll see a prompt to Specify first point.

In this case, you can either type coordinates for a starting point for your line, or simply begin drawing the line.

To move the Command line, grab it at the two rows of dots in the top left corner.

You can then move it wherever you see fit.

Command line docked at the bottom of the screen

Command line docked at the top of the screen

To undock the Command line, click the two rows of dots, or simply within the dark gray area surrounding them, as pictured to the left.

To close the Command line, click the X on its left end.

You'll now see the dialog box pictured to the left.

Click Yes to close the Command line.

To change the height of the Command line, hover your mouse on its top border.

Once you expand the Command line, it will display more of your past commands.

To open a menu of customization options, click the wrench (Customize) icon below the X on the left end of the Command line.

A menu of several customization options will open.

The Input Settings menu offers the following options:

• AutoComplete: Option to have the Command line automatically complete typed commands based on the letters you type
• AutoCorrect: Option to allow CAD to automatically correct the spelling of typed commands
• Search System Variables: Option to include CAD search variables in the suggested list of commands
• Search Content: Option to display named objects (content) in the command suggestion list
• Mid-string Search: Option to suggest commands and system variables containing the letters you type
• Delay Time: Option to control he amount of elapsed time before the list of suggested commands appears

• Enable AutoComplete: Check this box to have the Command line automatically complete typed commands based on the letters you type.

• Mid-string Search: Check this box to suggest commands and system variables containing the letters you type. (Note: This option is only available when AutoComplete is selected.)

• Sort Suggestions: Select whether to sort the suggested commands:
  • According to frequency of usage, or
  • Alphabetically

• Enable AutoCorrect: Check this box to allow CAD to automatically correct the spelling of typed commands.
  • Remember corrections after ... mistypes: Type a number in the provided field to control the number of mistypes you can make before AutoCAD stoops remembering the corrected commands.

• Search system variables: Check this box to include CAD search variables in the suggested list of commands.
  • Separate commands and system variables: Check this box to list commands and system variables separately.

• Suggestion list delay time ... milliseconds: Type a number of milliseconds to control the delay time of the list of suggested commands.

• Search content at command line: Check this box to display named objects (content) in the command suggestion list.
  • Content Type: Select which types of objects (content) to include in the suggestion list:
    • Block
    • Layer
    • Hatch
    • Text Style
    • Dim Style
    • Visual Style

Select Options ... from the customization menu to open the CAD Options dialog box.