You Drew It - Now Change It

Now that you have learned how to draw objects and modify them using special commands, you need to know more ways to change the properties of an object. For instance, you may have made a spelling mistake in your text. You could erase it and re-create it, or you could double-click on it and just correct the error. Maybe you drew something on the wrong layer? This process is an extremely important tool to help you with your CAD work.

DON'T REDRAW AN OBJECT - CHANGE ITS PROPERTIES

Command	Keystroke	Icon	Location	Result
Properties	PROPERTIES / PR / CTRL+1	No Icon	Home > Properties	Displays the properties of the object in the Properties Palette
Match Properties	MATCHPROP / MA PAINTER		Home > Clipboard > Match Properties	Copies the properties from one object to another

There isn't an icon for Properties, but if you look at the ribbon, you'll see that there are a number of tools that you can select quickly to see things like layer, linetype, lineweight, etc.

There are a few ways to change, or view an objects properties. First is by using the PROPERTIES command.
The method is quite easy and also the most complete way of viewing properties.
Draw a line from (any point) to (any point) and press . This is only time I will not tell you to use specific coordinates. :)
Now select the object by right-clicking on it and choosing Properties from the context menu. Once you do this, you should see the properties palette appear showing everything that makes that line what it is.

What you see here is the complete palette. Before you look at the properties, take a moment to examine the palette itself. These are new to later versions of AutoCAD (2010 and newer). Since it takes up a large amount of the screen, you have the option to either close it completely ('X' at the top) or collapse or hide the palette (below the X) for future reference. You can also dock a palette to the side of the screen. Try the buttons out and then continue reading.

Now look at the properties as displayed in the palette. At the top are the 'General' properties - these are common to all AutoCAD objects (color, layer, linetype, etc).

Below that is the 'Geometry' tab and these fields will be different for different types of objects. You will see that one endpoint of the line is shown as the "Start X" and "Start Y" points (X,Y point). If you want to change the location of the X coordinate for the Start point, pick in the text area, type a number and press (ENTER). You also have the option of picking new X coordinate with the small iconon the right of the text box.

Have a good look at the palette. ERASE the first line, draw another LINE and then display the new line's properties. You should see different numbers.

ERASE the line and draw a CIRCLE. Display the properties and you will see different fields. You will see that the the Start X point has been changed to "Center X". The properties displayed are specific to the object you have selected.

Now draw a line next to the circle. Select both by clicking on one, and then the other. Now display the properties. You will now see a much short list of properties. This short list will include properties that are common to both objects, such as layer, color, etc.

Now try something different. Erase everything and close the Properties palette. Draw a circle and then select it. Right click on the screen and choose the Properties option at the bottom of the list as shown below:

You'll see the same palette appear - in the same space where you closed it. You also have the choice of selecting Quick Properties the same way. If you do, this is the smaller palette that you will see (handy on smaller monitors).

TEXT OBJECTS

Now you can view and edit properties of objects you have drawn. Those the methods will work on any object. But what about other objects? Could there be easier ways to edit their properties? You bet!

Enter a line of text like you did in the Lesson 1-8. View the properties like you did in the previous examples. Note again, the various fields that in this case are unique to Text.

Try "Double-Clicking" on the text.

Now you can change the text and then click away from the text to submit the changes. This is a much easier method to change the text's content, but none of the other properties. You could also have changed the text in the Properties palette (shown above), but this method is much quicker.

Changing an Object's Layer

Many times you will draw an object and find that is on the wrong layer. To change an object's layer, you can open the Properties palette (as shown above) or use this easy tip.

Create a new LAYER (as you did in Lesson 1-8) and call it LINES. Do not make it the current layer. Draw a line on the 0 layer. Now select the object and then move your cursor up to the layer droplist. You'll see a list of all of your layers - pick on the LINES layer - then press ESC.

Now when you check the properties of the line, you'll see that it is on the LINES layer. This is one method you will be using a lot, so learn it and master it.

Match Properties

One of the easiest ways to set properties is to use the MATCHPROP command. This is used by starting the command (MA) and then selecting the source object (the one that has the desired properties) and then selecting the target object(s). Use can also select the source object first, then the icon and then the target object. The icon for this command is in the clipboard tool panel. And no, I don't know why it's not in the Properties panel.

To try this out, draw 2 lines and make sure that they are on two different layers. Start the MATCHPROP command and select the source object. Notice how your cursor changes? Now select your destination object(s).

Conclusion

You now have the skills to change to properties of any object you draw. There are many ways of doing it, but you'll see that some methods are easier. So remember, once something is drawn, you can modify it as shown in the previous lessons in this level, or modify the properties. In only rare instances, is it easier to erase and redraw the object. As you learn more commands in the next lessons, try these methods to see what can be changed - and how.

Video: Object Properties