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AutoCAD Best Practices

This guide covers AutoCAD-specific prompting techniques and common workflows with Algomim.

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Key Concepts

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Layers

AutoCAD organizes objects on layers. When creating objects, specify the target layer: 
Draw a rectangle from (0,0) to (10,5) on layer "Walls"

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Coordinate System

AutoCAD uses a Cartesian coordinate system. Specify points as (X,Y) for 2D or (X,Y,Z) for 3D: 
Draw a line from (0,0) to (10,5)
Draw a 3D line from (0,0,0) to (10,5,3)

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Transactions

AutoCAD scripts manage their own database transactions. All operations can be undone with Ctrl+Z.

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Common Workflows

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Drawing Geometry

Draw a rectangle from (0,0) to (20,10) on layer "Walls"

Draw a circle with center at (10,5) and radius 2.5
on layer "Columns"

Create a polyline with vertices at (0,0), (10,0),
(10,8), (5,12), (0,8), and close it

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Layer Management

Create the following layers:
- "Walls" with color Red
- "Doors" with color Blue
- "Windows" with color Cyan
- "Furniture" with color Green

List all layers with their colors and object counts

Move all objects from layer "0" to layer "Misc"

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Object Queries

Count all objects in the drawing grouped by type

List all blocks and how many instances of each exist

Find all text objects containing "REVISION"

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Block Operations

Insert block "Chair" at point (5,3) with rotation 45 degrees

List all block definitions in the drawing

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Modifying Objects

Move all objects on layer "Furniture" by offset (2, 0)

Change the color of all circles to yellow

Scale all objects on layer "Detail" by factor 2
with base point (0,0)

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Tips for Better Results

Always mention the target layer when creating objects. If you don’t specify, objects go to the current layer.
AutoCAD is a precision tool. Provide exact coordinates rather than vague descriptions like “near the center”.
Use consistent naming for layers, blocks, and other named objects. This makes it easier to reference them in future prompts.
You can select objects in AutoCAD before asking the AI to operate on them:
Change the selected objects' color to blue

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Example Prompts

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Beginner

List all layers in the drawing

How many objects are in the drawing?

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Intermediate

Create a title block at coordinates (0,0) with
a border of 841x594mm (A1 sheet) on layer "TitleBlock"

Find all polylines that aren't closed and close them

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Advanced

For each unique block in the drawing, create a table
listing: block name, instance count, and the layer
most instances are on. Place the table at (0, -10).

Analyze all layers: list those with no objects
(empty layers) so I can decide which to purge.