Coordinate values measured from a coordinate system's origin point. See also origin, relative coordinates, user coordinate system (UCS), world coordinates, and World Coordinate System (WCS).
A method to accelerate the anti-aliasing process within the bounds of the sample matrix size. See also anti-aliasing.
For Autodesk Device Interface. An interface specification for developing device drivers that are required for peripherals to work with AutoCAD LT and other Autodesk products.
A tablet calibration method that provides an arbitrary linear transformation in two-dimensional space. Affine calibration requires three calibration points to allow a tablet transformation that combines translation, independent X and Y scaling, rotation, and some skewing. Use affine calibration if a drawing has been stretched differently in the horizontal or vertical direction. (Associated command: TABLET)
A shortcut for an AutoCAD LT command. For example, CP is an alias for COPY, and Z is an alias for ZOOM. You define aliases in the aclt.pgp file.
The effect of discrete picture elements, or pixels, aligned as a straight or curved edge on fixed grid appearing to be jagged or stepped. See also anti-aliasing.
A dimension that measures the distance between two points at any angle. The dimension line is parallel to the line connecting the dimension's definition points. (Associated command: DIMALIGNED)
A dimension that measures angles or arc segments and consists of text, extension lines, and leaders. (Associated command: DIMANGULAR)
The unit of measurement for an angle. Angular units can be measured in decimal degrees, degrees/minutes/seconds, grads, and radians.
Text, dimensions, tolerances, symbols, or notes.
An unnamed block that supports associative dimensions.
For American National Standards Institute. Coordinator of voluntary standards development for both private and public sectors in the United States. Standards pertain to programming languages, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), telecommunications, and the physical properties of diskettes, cartridges, and magnetic tapes.
A method that reduces aliasing by shading the pixels adjacent to the main pixels that define a line or boundary.
Point locations that a B-spline must pass near, within a fit tolerance. See also fit points and interpolation points.
1. Multiple copies of selected AutoCAD LT objects in a rectangular or polar (radial) pattern. (Associated command: ARRAY) 2. A collection of data items, each identified by a subscript or key, arranged so a computer can examine the collection and retrieve data with the key.
A terminator, such as an arrowhead, slash, or dot, at the end of a dimension line showing where a dimension begins and ends.
For American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A common numeric code used in computer data communications. The code assigns meaning to 128 numbers, using seven bits per character with the eighth bit used for parity checking. Nonstandard versions of ASCII assign meaning to 255 numbers.
Ratio of display width to height.
A dimension that adapts as the associated geometry is modified.
Hatching that conforms to its bounding objects such that modifying the bounding objects automatically adjusts the hatch. (Associated command: BHATCH)
An AutoCAD LT object that is included in a block definition to store alphanumeric data. Attribute values can be predefined or specified when the block is inserted. Attribute data can be extracted from a drawing and inserted into external files. (Associated commands: DDATTDEF, ATTDEF)
An ASCII text file to which extracted attribute data is written. The contents and format are determined by the attribute extraction template file.
An ASCII text file that determines which attributes are extracted and how they are formatted when written to an attribute extraction file.
The text string displayed when you insert a block with an attribute whose value is undefined. See also attribute definition, attribute tag, and attribute value.
A text string associated with an attribute that identifies a particular attribute during extraction from the drawing database. attribute definition, attribute prompt, and attribute value. See also attribute definition, attribute prompt, and attribute value.
The alphanumeric information associated with an attribute tag. See also attribute definition, attribute prompt, and attribute tag.
The order in which AutoCAD LT looks for a support file: current directory, drawing directory, directory specified in the support path, and directory containing the AutoCAD executable file, aclt.exe.
Icon with X, Y, and Z coordinates that is used to visualize the viewpoint (view direction) of a drawing without displaying the drawing. (Associated command: VPOINT)
An imaginary line on which text characters appear to rest. Individual characters can have descenders that drop below the baseline.
Multiple dimensions measured from the same baseline. Also called parallel dimensions.
1. In the context of editing grips, the grip that changes to a solid color when selected to specify the focus of the subsequent editing operation. 2. A point for relative distance and angle when copying, moving, and rotating objects. 3. The insertion base point of the current drawing. (Associated command: BASE) 4. The insertion base point for a block definition. (Associated command: BLOCK)
A polynomial curve defined by a set of control points, representing an equation of an order one less than the number of points being considered. A Bezier curve is a special case of a B-spline curve.
The digital representation of an image having bits referenced to pixels. In color graphics, a different value represents each red, green, and blue component of a pixel.
Temporary screen markers displayed in the AutoCAD LT graphics area when you specify a point or select objects. (Associated command: BLIPMODE)
A generic term for one or more AutoCAD LT objects that are combined to create a single object. Commonly used for either block definition or block reference. See block definition and block reference. (Associated command: BLOCK)
The name, base point, and set of objects that are combined and stored in the symbol table of a drawing. See block. See also block reference. (Associated command: BLOCK)
A compound object that is inserted in a drawing and displays the data stored in a block definition. Also called instance. See block. See also block definition. (Associated command: INSERT)
The nongraphic data area of a drawing file that stores block definitions. See also symbol table.
A blended piecewise polynomial curve passing near a given set of control points. (Associated command: SPLINE)
The menu for a pointing device with multiple buttons. Each button on the pointing device (except the pick button) can be defined in the AutoCAD LT menu file aclt.mnu in the BUTTONSn and AUXn sections.
A special object property used to specify that the object inherits the color or linetype of any block containing it. See also BYLAYER.
A special object property used to specify that the object inherits the color or linetype associated with its layer. See also BYBLOCK.
An externally referenced drawing (xref) that references itself directly or indirectly. AutoCAD LT ignores the xref that creates the circular condition.
The boundaries that define or clip the field of view. (Associated command: DVIEW)
A text area reserved for keyboard input, prompts, and messages.
A plane on which planar geometry is constructed. The XY plane of the current UCS represents the construction plane. See also elevation and user coordinate system.
A type of linear dimension that uses the second extension line origin of a selected dimension as its first extension line origin, breaking one long dimension into shorter segments that add up to the total measurement. Also called chain dimension. (Associated command: DIMCONTINUE)
A series of point locations used as a mechanism to control the shape of a B-spline. These points are connected by a series of line segments for visual clarity and to distinguish the control frame from fit points. The SPLFRAME system variable must be turned on to display control frames.
Functions that extract individual X, Y, and Z coordinate values from different points to create a new, composite point. Also called X,Y,Z point filters.
A multisided area specified to select objects fully or partially within its borders. See also crossing window and WPolygon.
A type of cursor consisting of two lines that intersect. Also called graphics cursor.
A rectangular area drawn to select objects fully or partly within its borders. See also CPolygon.
A pointer on a video display screen that can be moved around to place textual or graphical information. Also called graphics cursor. See also crosshairs.
The menu that is displayed in the graphics area at the cursor location when you hold down SHIFT and press the Enter button on a pointing device. The cursor menu is defined in the POP0 section of aclt.mnu.
A predefined value for a program input or parameter. Default values and options for AutoCAD LT commands are denoted by angle braces <>.
Points for creating an associative dimension. AutoCAD LT refers to the points to modify the appearance and value of an associative dimension when the associated object is modified. Also called defpoints and stored on the special layer DEFPOINTS.
Symbol table definitions that are brought into a drawing by an external reference. See also symbol table.
For Direct Interpretively Evaluated String Expression Language. A macro language for altering the AutoCAD LT status line with the MODEMACRO system variable and for customizing menu items.
An arc (usually with arrows at each end) spanning the angle formed by the extension lines of an angle being measured. The dimension text near this arc sometimes divides it into two arcs. See also angular dimension.
A named group of dimension settings that determines the appearance of the dimension and simplifies setting dimension system variables. (Associated command: DDIM)
The measurement value of dimensioned objects.
A set of numeric values, text strings, and settings that control AutoCAD LT dimensioning features. (Associated command: DDIM)
A method to specify a second point by first moving the cursor to indicate direction and then entering a distance.
Combining color dots to give the impression of displaying more colors than are actually available.
The smallest rectangle that contains all objects in a drawing, positioned on the screen to display the largest possible view of all objects. (Associated command: ZOOM)
The user-defined rectangular boundary of the drawing area covered by dots when the grid is turned on. Also called grid limits. (Associated command: LIMITS)
For drawing Web format. A highly compressed file format that is created from a DWG file. DWF files are easy to publish and view on the Web.
Standard file format for saving vector graphics from within AutoCAD LT.
For drawing interchange format. An ASCII or binary file format of an AutoCAD LT drawing file for exporting AutoCAD LT drawings to other applications or for importing drawings from other applications.
The default Z value above or below the XY plane of the current user coordinate system, which is used for entering coordinates and digitizing locations. (Associated command: ELEV)
To use object linking and embedding (OLE) information from a source document in a destination document. An embedded object is a copy of the information from a source document that is placed in the destination document and has no link to the source document. See also link.
To disassemble a complex object, such as a block, solid, or polyline, into simpler objects. In the case of a block, the block definition is unchanged. The block reference is replaced by the components of the block. See also block, block definition, and block reference. (Associated command: EXPLODE)
A drawing file linked (or attached) to another drawing. (Associated command: XREF)
Specifies the tolerance that applies to specific features or patterns of features. Feature control frames always contain at least a geometric characteristic symbol to indicate the type of control and a tolerance value to indicate the amount of acceptable variation.
A multisegmented line specified to select objects it passes through.
A solid color covering an area bounded by lines or curves. (Associated command: FILL)
Locations that a B-spline must pass through exactly or within a fit tolerance. See also interpolation points and approximation points.
The setting for the maximum distance that a B-spline can pass for each of the fit points that define it.
Rectangular objects that are created in paper space that display views. See also paper space. (Associated command: MVIEW)
A character set, comprising letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and symbols, of a distinctive proportion and design.
A setting that suppresses the display of objects on selected layers. Objects on frozen layers are not displayed, regenerated, or plotted. Freezing layers shortens regenerating time. See also thaw. (Associated command: LAYER)
The area of the AutoCAD LT screen for creating and editing a drawing.
See crosshairs and cursor.
The graphics area, its surrounding menus, and the command line.
An area on the graphics display covered with regularly spaced dots to aid drawing. The spacing between grid dots is adjustable. Grid dots are not plotted. See also drawing limits. (Associated command: GRID)
The editing capabilities activated when grips are displayed on an object: stretching, moving, rotating, scaling, and mirroring.
Small squares that appear on objects you select. After selecting the grip, you edit the object by dragging it with the mouse instead of entering commands.
A unique alphanumeric tag for an object in the AutoCAD LT database.
The main navigating screen for a Web site.
For initial graphics exchange specification. An ANSI-standard format for digital representation and exchange of information between CAD/CAM systems.
The variables and settings for new drawings as defined by the default template drawing, such as aclt.dwg or acltiso.dwg. See also template drawing.
Defining points that a B-spline passes through. See also approximation points and fit points.
An enclosed area within a hatched area.
For International Standards Organization. The organization that sets international standards in all fields except electrical and electronics. Headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.
An AutoCAD LT drafting option that aligns the cursor with two of three isometric axes and displays grid points, making isometric drawings easier to create.
A logical grouping of data that are like transparent acetate overlays on a drawing. You can view layers individually or in combination. (Associated command: LAYER)
How a line or type of curve is displayed. For example, a continuous line has a different linetype than a dashed line. Also called line font. (Associated command: LINETYPE)
To use object linking and embedding (OLE) to reference data in another file. When data is linked, any changes to it in the source document is automatically updated in any destination document. See also embed.
To create a new version of an existing object by reflecting it symmetrically with respect to a prescribed line or plane. (Associated command: MIRROR)
A software setting or operating state.
A two- or three-dimensional representation of an object.
One of the two primary spaces in which AutoCAD LT objects reside. Typically, a geometric model is placed in a three-dimensional coordinate space called model space. A final layout of specific views and annotations of this model is placed in paper space. See also paper space. (Associated command: MSPACE)
A view saved for restoration later. (Associated command: VIEW)
An object snap specification to locate points, dimension definition points, and dimension text origins.
Selecting an object first and then performing an operation on it rather than entering a command first and then selecting the object.
For nonuniform rational B-spline curve. A B-spline curve or surface defined by a series of weighted control points and one or more knot vectors. See B-spline curve.
One or more AutoCAD LT graphical elements, such as text, dimensions, lines, circles, or polylines, treated as a single element for creation, manipulation, and modification. Also called entity.
Methods for selecting commonly needed points on an object while you create or edit an AutoCAD LT drawing. See also running object snap and object snap override.
Turning off or changing a running object snap mode for input of a single point. See also Object Snap modes and running object snap.
For object linking and embedding. An information-sharing method in which data from a source document can be linked to or embedded in a destination document. Selecting the data in the destination document opens the source application so that the data can be edited. See also embed and link.
The point where coordinate axes intersect. For example, the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system is where the X, Y, and Z axes meet at 0,0,0.
Having perpendicular slopes or tangents at the point of intersection.
An AutoCAD LT setting that limits pointing device input to horizontal or vertical (relative to the current snap angle and the user coordinate system). See also snap angle and user coordinate system.
To shift the view of a drawing without changing magnification. See also zoom. (Associated command: PAN)
One of two primary spaces in which AutoCAD LT objects reside. Paper space is used for creating a finished layout for printing or plotting, as opposed to doing drafting or design work. Model space is used for creating the drawing. See also model space and viewport. (Associated command: PSPACE)
Customizing the AutoCAD LT executable file, aclt.exe, during installation by entering the user name, company, and other information.
The button on a pointing device that is used to select objects or specify points on the screen. For example, on a two-button mouse, it is the left button.
A view orientation from a point on the positive Z axis toward the origin (0,0,0). (Associated command: PLAN)
1. A location in three-dimensional space specified by X, Y, and Z coordinate values. 2. An AutoCAD LT object consisting of a single coordinate location. (Associated command: POINT)
Objects copied around a specified center point a specified number of times. (Associated command: ARRAY)
A multisided area specified to select objects in groups. See also CPolygon, crossing window, and WPolygon.
An AutoCAD LT object composed of one or more connected line segments or circular arcs treated as a single object. Also called pline. (Associated commands: PLINE, PEDIT)
A message on the command line that asks for information or requests action such as specifying a point.
To quickly refresh or clean up the current viewport without updating the drawing's database. See also regenerate. (Associated command: REDRAW)
To update a drawing's screen display by recomputing the screen coordinates from the database. See also redraw. (Associated command: REGEN)
Coordinates specified in relation to previous coordinates.
The button on a pointing device used to accept an entry. For example, on a two-button mouse, it is the right button.
For red, green, and blue. A system of defining colors by specifying percentages of red, green, and blue.
A line that stretches dynamically on the screen with the movement of the cursor. One endpoint of the line is attached to a point in your drawing, and the other is attached to the moving cursor.
Setting an object snap mode so it continues for subsequent selections. See also Object Snap modes and object snap override. (Associated command: OSNAP)
A set of AutoCAD LT commands executed sequentially with a single SCRIPT command. Script files are created outside AutoCAD LT using a text editor, saved in text format, and stored in an external file with the extension .scr.
One or more AutoCAD LT objects specified for processing as a unit.
A rectangular area drawn in the AutoCAD LT graphics area to select objects in groups. See also CPolygon, crossing window, polygon window, and WPolygon.
A file that contains a raster image or snapshot of the display on the graphics screen. Slide files work with Autodesk Animator and Animator Pro and have the file extension .sld. (Associated commands: MSLIDE, VSLIDE)
A collection of slide files organized for convenient retrieval and display. Slide library names have the extension .slb and are created with the slidelib.exe utility.
The angle that the snap grid is rotated.
The invisible grid that locks the graphics cursor into alignment with the grid points according to the spacing set by SNAP. Snap grid does not necessarily correspond to the visible grid, which is controlled separately by GRID. (Associated command: SNAP)
A mode for locking a pointing device into alignment with an invisible rectangular grid. When Snap mode is on, the screen crosshairs and all input coordinates are snapped to the nearest point on the grid. The snap resolution defines the spacing of this grid. See also Object Snap modes. (Associated command: SNAP)
The spacing between points of the snap grid.
A nongraphic AutoCAD LT object definition that is stored in the drawing, also known as a named object. Symbols can include definitions of blocks, dimensioning styles, layers, linetypes, and text styles.
A name that AutoCAD LT recognizes as a mode, size, or limit. Read-only system variables, such as DWGNAME, cannot be modified directly by the user.
A drawing file with preestablished settings for new drawings such as aclt.dwg and acltiso.dwg; however, any drawing can be used as a template. See also initial environment.
Data files created during an AutoCAD LT session. AutoCAD LT deletes the files by the time you end the session. If the session ends abnormally, such as during a power outage, temporary files might be left on the disk.
Lines that help you visualize a curved surface. See also thickness.
A named, saved collection of settings that determines the appearance of text characters-for example, stretched, compressed, oblique, mirrored, or set in a vertical column.
A setting that displays previously frozen layers. See also freeze. (Associated command: LAYER)
The distance certain objects are extruded to give them a 3D appearance. (Associated commands: CHPROP, DDCHPROP, ELEV, THICKNESS)
A type of display that splits the AutoCAD LT graphics area into one or more adjacent rectangular viewing areas. See also floating viewports, TILEMODE, and viewport. (Associated command: VPORTS)
A system variable that controls whether viewports can be created as movable, resizable objects (floating), or as nonoverlapping display elements that appear side-by-side (tiled). See also viewport. (Associated system variable: TILEMODE)
Part of the AutoCAD LT interface containing icons that represent commands.
A way to locate a point relative to other points on the drawing.
A command started while another is in progress. Precede transparent commands with an apostrophe.
An icon that indicates the orientation of the UCS axes. (Associated command: UCSICON)
A user-defined coordinate system that defines the orientation of the X, Y, and Z axes in 3D space. The UCS determines the default placement of geometry in a drawing. See also World Coordinate System. (Associated command: UCS)
A mathematical object with precise direction and length but without specific location.
A location where polyline segments meet.
A graphical representation of a model from a specific location (viewpoint) in space. (Associated commands: VPOINT, DVIEW, VIEW)
The location in 3D model space from which you are viewing a model. (Associated commands: DVIEW, VPOINT)
A bounded area that displays some portion of the model space of a drawing. The TILEMODE system variable determines the type of viewport created. 1. When TILEMODE is off (0), viewports are objects that can be moved and resized. (Associated command: MVIEW) 2. When TILEMODE is on (1), viewports are noneditable, nonoverlapping screen displays. See also floating viewports and TILEMODE. (Associated command: VPORTS)
A named collection of tiled viewports that can be saved and restored. (Associated command: VPORTS)
The area in which AutoCAD LT can pan and zoom without regenerating the drawing.
The representation of an object using lines and curves to represent its boundaries.
A drawing for manufacturing or building purposes.
A coordinate system used as the basis for defining all objects and other coordinate systems.
Coordinates expressed in relation to the World Coordinate System.
A multisided polygon area specified to select objects contained completely within its borders. See also crossing window and CPolygon.
To reduce or increase the apparent magnification of the graphics display. (Associated command: ZOOM)