In this first tutorial you will learn how to start AutoCAD, save a drawing, and a range of common drawing commands.
Start AutoCAD by clicking on the Windows Start button (bottom left), then move the mouse to Programs then CAD and Modelling then “AutoCAD Architectural Desktop 2″ and click on AutoCAD Architectural Desktop 2. A dialog giving various startup options will be displayed. Select the second option: “Start from Scratch” and click OK.

Once AutoCAD has loaded, move the mouse around until you see a crosshair cursor. The AutoCAD window has a number of important features:
1. The standard Windows drop-down menus.
2. The standard Windows toolbar below the menus, it includes: File-New, File-Open, File-Save, Print and “Find and Replace”(!!).
3. In addition to the standard toolbar there will be a number of AutoCAD specific toolbars: Object Properties, Draw and Modify (there may be others…?).
4. The graphics area - that’s the area where you draw-note the scroll bars and the axis label.
5. View Tabs - these ‘tabs’ give access to different view of the current drawing. The “model” tab should be selected at present.
6. The command area - this small window (by default) has space for three lines of text - this is where you type commands.
7. The status area, at the bottom of the AutoCAD window, this includes the current cursor position.

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