by John Flanagan
Introduction
Customising the User Interface in AutoCAD is an excellent way to improve productivity. Two key components to consider are the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) and the Status Bar.
QUICK ACCESS TOOLBAR (QAT)
The QAT allows for easy customisation. Populate the QAT with the tools that you use often. A simple right click on any tool from any ribbon tab gives you the option to add it to the QAT. This saves you from having to browse to various ribbon tabs for favourite commands.
TIP:
Put the Layer drop-down list on the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) for speedy access at all times! A simple right click on the layer drop down list allows you to easily add it to the QAT.
STATUS BAR
You can also populate the Status bar with the drafting-aid tools you want by clicking on the three horizontal lines in the lower-right corner of the user interface. The Status bar will automatically wrap onto two rows when the icons can’t fit into a single row.
Hover over each of the icons on the Status Bar to see which function key toggles it on or off.
Conclusion
AutoCAD is very intuitive and working interactively with the User Interface components such as the Quick Access Toolbar and Status Bar will greatly increase drafting productivity. The quicker you can access tools the more efficient you become.
Tip:
Hover over any tool on the Ribbon panels to access tooltips on functionality. Press the F1 function key for more help.