Difference between revisions of "QCad/C2/Introduction-to-QCAD/English-timed"

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| Hello and welcome to the tutorial- '''Introduction to QCAD -2D drafting tool'''.  

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|In this tutorial, I will introduce you to the basics of '''QCAD tool''' and its '''interface'''.

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|Let's look at what is QCAD? It is an '''application''' for '''computer aided drafting (CAD)''', in two dimensions.

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|Using QCAD, you can create technical drawings such as plans for buildings, interiors, mechanical parts or schemas and diagrams.  

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|For this tutorial, I am using: '''GNU Linux operating system Ubuntu''' version '''10.04 LTS'''

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|and '''QCAD Community Edition''' version '''2.0.5.0'''

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|and, at the search box, look for '''QCAD'''.

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| And install these '''applications'''.

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|For more information on how to install software, using synaptic,

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|please refer to '''spoken tutorial''' available on this website: '''www.spoken-tutorial.org'''.

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|Once installed, to start QCAD in '''Ubuntu 10.04''', go to '''Applications -> Accessories -> terminal'''

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|and at the prompt, type: “qcad” and hit 'Enter'.

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|This will launch the '''application''' in 10.04 version.  

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|For other Ubuntu versions, it is available under '''Applications''' menu.

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|In this tutorial, we will see:

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|Menu items and tool bar, drawing objects

snapping options and using layers.

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| On the left side is the '''tool bar''' which is used to draw objects.  

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|At the very bottom is the '''status bar''' which displays various information about the current drawing.  

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|Notice as my '''mouse''' is moving in the '''drawing area'''.

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|'''Coordinate widget''' on the extreme left side is displaying '''absolute''' and '''relative''' position of my '''mouse cursor'''.

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|Just above the status bar is the '''command line''' for QCad  

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|At the right side is the '''layer list''' and the '''block list'''.  

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|-

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|Right in the middle is the '''drawing area''',

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|black in color with dots.

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|Dots signify the '''grid'''. At any time you can choose not to view grid by going on to top option and click on this 'grid' icon to not to show the grid.

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|Similarly, all other windows as '''status bar, command line, block''' and '''list'''s can be enabled/disabled by going to top menu. View -> Views

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| and select '''check box''' in front of the window of your choice.

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| To draw objects, we use tool bar from left or this can also be accessed from top menu → '''Draw''' option.

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| Let's start by drawing a line. From the tool bar, click on the '''Line''' icon.

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| There are numerous options to choose from.

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|Let's click on '''Line with two points'''. Notice the command prompt is asking to specify first point.

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|Move your '''mouse''' cursor on the drawing area.

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| There are two things happening now - 1. mouse cursor has changed into white '''cross hair'''.

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|2. There is blue circle appearing right below the mouse cursor.  

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|It is basically hopping from grid to grid as I move my mouse, waiting for me to select.

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| I can click left-mouse-button to click for the start of the line

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| and click again for the line to end. Line is drawn.

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| Notice, if I keep clicking further it will start drawing line, as QCAD is still in '''line''' command.  

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|For this, I need to come out of that '''command'''.

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| To come out of any command, you press either 'Enter' or 'Esc' button on keyboard twice or double-click right-mouse-button,

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|you will be out of any command.

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|Similarly, you can draw parallel lines, horizontal lines, vertical lines, parallel lines with distance.  

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|Let's see this option. When I choose this option, I need to specify distance between the lines and number of lines.  

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|Let's say 10 here and no. of lines I want 3.  

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|You will move '''mouse cursor''' closer to entity in relation to which you would want parallel lines to be drawn.  

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|Once satisfied, I can confirm selection by clicking on left-mouse-button and lines will be drawn on the board.

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| Now, let us see the '''Arc''' tool. From the tool bar, choose '''Arc'''.

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|I am choosing '''Arc with center point and angles'''.  

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|From '''Snapping''' option, let's choose '''Snap to grid'''.

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| Notice, command prompt is asking to specify '''center'''; left click to specify center.  

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|Now it is asking to specify '''radius''', I can enter say 30.  

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|Now, specify start angle and click again for end angle and arc is drawn.  

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|Double-click right-mouse-button to come out of that command.

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|Let's try and draw circle. Go to the '''Circle''' icon from tool box, click on it. I am using '''Circle with centre and radius'''.  

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|Again from the '''Snapping''' option, choose 'Snap to grid'.

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|Command line is asking to specify circle's center.

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|Go on the grid and left-click to specify center. Circle is drawn.

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|It is drawn with previously specified radius. If I want to change, I can change and draw new circle with different radius.

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|So, double-click right-mouse-button and you are out of that.

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|Now that my drawing has become busier, I can use zoom from top menu → view -> Zoom in to Zoom in on the more details.

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|'''Zoom''' is a very essential command because it is very useful when you draw details.

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|Similar effects can be achieved by rolling a middle-mouse-button to '''zoom in''' and '''out'''.

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| Or I can also use '''View ->(third option) Auto zoom''' to fit the drawing in the given area.

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|Let's try drawing a new file. Let me clear this area.

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| For this, I click at one corner select and then from top menu -> '''modify -> Delete selected'''.  

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| Every drawing in QCAD starts at absolute 0,0 position; it is marked by red '''cross hair''' on the drawing area.  

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|Every other point is drawn in relation with this point.

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|Before starting any drawing, it is important to set drawing preferences for QCAD, to know which '''unit'''s you are using, what '''grid size''' you would want.

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|For this, you go to '''Edit'''- and there are '''Application Preferences''' and '''Current drawing preferences.'''

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|are the ones which apply to entire QCAD application, rather than just a single drawing.

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|You can change '''background, grid colour, meta colour''', language options and set the '''default Units''' that you want.

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|Let's say 'meter' here and click 'OK'.

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|Now, let's go to '''Edit -> set '''Current Drawing preferences''': These apply only to current drawing and once you close the drawing, these need to be set again.

|'''Paper''' applies only when we want to print a drawing.

|'''Units''': You can set units for that particular drawing. Let's say 'Inch' here. Decimal, precision can be 0.00.

|'''Grid''': You can either choose to show grid or not show grid. You can give grid size as .5x.5, specific size that you want.  

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|'''Dimensions''': Are useful when you want to start dimensioning on the drawing. '''Extension line, text height''' all these points matters when you want to show text.

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| I am setting some things now, after you are done, click 'OK'.

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|It is better to '''save''' the drawing

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|We go to '''File -> save as''' and select the directory where you would want to save it.

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|I want to save it as "qcad-dwg". Notice, it is saving it as "dxf" format. '''Document Exchange Format''', which is '''QCAD native'''.

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|Click on '''Save''', it saves the drawing.

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|Let us start with our drawing.

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|Draw rectangle: Go to '''tool bar'''-> '''Line''' option. select '''Rectangle'''.  

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|From the '''Snapping''' options, choose ''''snap to grid''''.

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|Move cursor over the drawing area and left-click for the first corner of rectangle and click away for second corner .

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|Rectangle is drawn. Double-click right-mouse-button to come out of that command.  

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|Draw line going through middle: Now we want to draw line exactly in the middle, cutting it in two halves.

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|Let's go, click on line - '''Line with two points'''.

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|Now, from grid options- since I want it exactly at middle, I choose ''''snap to middle point''''.  

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|Go over here, if you want circle to occupy entire width.

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|So, I put radius 15 to cover entire width and notice, I need to click on the snap to 'centre point'.

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| And left-click to confirm. Circle is drawn exactly in the centre of the rectangle.

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|Now that our drawing is ready, so, let's add dimensions. We always add dimensions to new layer so that we can keep it separate.

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|Click on '+' sign to add new layer. Go to ''''Dimensions''''.

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|Give it a different colour so that we can identify it separately from the rest of the drawing.

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|You can use type 'dash', then you go to top menu, 'Dimensions' Horizontal first. From the '''snapping''' option, click on 'end point'. Click on first point of the line, then second point.

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| Now to place dimensions away from the line, from '''snapping''' option, I can choose ''''snap to grid'''' or '''free positioning''' and place it away. Left-click once.

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|Again to place vertical, go to '''dimensions -> vertical''', from end point.

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|This way, if I have it on different layer, I can always, when drawing gets busier if click on '''Eye''' icon to not to show that layer and see the drawing clearly.

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|and when you want it back, click back on the '''eye''' icon again to make it visible.

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|Now, if I want to change attributes of any object-

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|I click on that object, go to '''Modify -> attributes'''.

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|Now, once the selection is made, click on the arrow.

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|Let's say I want to change '''color''' to 'Red'

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|'''Width''': let's increase it and the '''type''': make it 'Dash and dot', click 'OK'.

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|The attributes are changed. Let's '''save''' the drawing.

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|Now that you are familiar with the QCAD basic tool bar and drawing objects,

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|I would like you to draw a rectangle as shown in the figure, of size 20x30  

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| with center line of type '''dash and dot''' and red in colour.  

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| Draw two parallel lines which are 5 units apart.

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|Add dimensions on a new '''layer'''.

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|I would like to acknowledge the '''spoken tutorial''' project which is part of the '''talk to a teacher''' project.  

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|It is supported by the National Mission on Education through ICT, MHRD, government of India.

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|And you can see more information about this at this website.  

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|Thank you. I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and enjoy exploring QCAD.

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|This is Leena, signing off.