by Martin Phelps
Following on from the previous blog on the “Erase” command, this one looks at the “Move” command. To activate the “Move” command use one of the following methods, type in “M” which is the short- cut for the “Move” command and press enter, or select “Move” from the “Modify” panel in the ribbon menu, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Location of the “Move” command within the “Modify Panel”.
If using the tool bars, select “Move” from the “Modify” tool bar as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Location of the “Move” command in the “Modify Toolbar”.
Or if the drop-down menus are active select “Move” from the “Modify Menu Bar”, as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Location of the “Move” command in the “Modify Menu Bar”.
Once the “Move” command is active, select the objects to be moved using any preferred method, “Window”, “Crossing Window”, “Implied Window”, “Implied Crossing Window” etc.
Note: - The selected objects are highlighted, the colour of the objects depends on the colour used to create the objects. The colour of the selected objects can be set to a required colour, by using the “System Variable”, “SELECTIONEFFECTCOLOR”, as covered in an earlier blog.
When all objects have been selected, press “Enter” to confirm.
View the “Command Line”, AutoCAD now requests a “Base Point”, as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Command Line Requesting a “Move” Base Point.
Any point in the drawing can be selected, however its best to select a point on one of the objects selected to be moved, this “Base Point” could also be an “Object Snap”, this will allow greater flexibility and accuracy, select the “Base Point” by “Left Click.
Note: - The selected objects change colour to dark grey since they will be moved from the original position.
Move the “Crosshairs” to the new location and again “Left Click”; to define the second point, this point could also be a suitable “Object Snap” to accurately position the selected objects. The selected objects have now moved to the new location, and the original colour of the objects is restored.
Note: - When using the “Move” command, once the objects have been selected, and a “Base Point” specified, the move symbol or “Badge” will appear at the cross hairs as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5. The “Move Badge”.
Note: - As an alternative to activating the “Move” command, select the “Object” or “Objects” prior to command selection, blue squares known as “Grips” are displayed and are located at the “Object Snap” points, (End, Mid, Etc.), either select the “Move” icon, type the letter “M” and enter, or right click and from the menu select “Move”, with all the above options, left click to define a “Base Point”, left click again to define the second point.
The next blog in this series looks at the “Copy” command.