You can add drawing tools in AutoCAD by creating a custom toolbar and populating it with the desired drawing commands. This process uses the Customize User Interface (CUI) editor.
AutoCAD's drawing tools, such as Line, Circle, Arc, and Polygon, are typically available on the Ribbon or default toolbars. However, if you want to create a specific collection of tools in a dedicated, easily accessible toolbar, or if your workspace is missing standard toolbars, you can customize your interface using the steps below.
The Customize User Interface (CUI) editor is a powerful tool in AutoCAD that allows you to modify various aspects of the user interface, including toolbars, ribbons, menus, and keyboard shortcuts. By using the CUI editor, you can create a personalized workspace tailored to your workflow.
Here's how to create a new toolbar and add drawing tools to it:
- Run the CUI command: Type CUI at the command line and press Enter. This opens the Customize User Interface editor window.
- Right Click the Toolbars section: In the upper-left pane (Customizations in All Files), expand the node for your current workspace. Then, right-click on the "Toolbars" section.
- Select New Toolbar: From the right-click menu, select New Toolbar. A new, empty toolbar will appear under the Toolbars section.
- Give the toolbar a name: Select the newly created toolbar and give it a descriptive name, like "My Drawing Tools" or "Custom Draw Bar".
- Click and drag commands from the section below: In the bottom-left pane, you'll see a list of commands. Search for the drawing commands you want to add (e.g., "Line", "Circle", "Arc", "Polyline", "Rectangle"). Click and drag the desired commands from this list upwards into the name of the new toolbar you created in the upper-left pane. As you drag them, they will appear as items within your new toolbar.
- Select Apply to add the toolbar in the AutoCAD workspace: Once you have added all the desired drawing tools to your new toolbar, click the Apply button in the CUI editor. This will add the new toolbar to your AutoCAD workspace. You can then click OK to close the CUI editor.
Your new toolbar containing the selected drawing tools will now be visible in your AutoCAD window, and you can position it wherever you prefer.
