Ortho mode in AutoCAD restricts cursor movement to horizontal or vertical directions, aiding precision in drafting. It should be used when drawing straight lines aligned with the X or Y axis such as walls, rectangles, or right-angled shapes, especially in floor plans or schematics. To activate Ortho mode, press F8, click the ORTHO button on the status bar, or type ORTHO and select On. For effective use, ensure your drawing aligns with the default UCS, remember that holding Shift can temporarily override Ortho, and disable it when drawing diagonal lines. Note that Ortho only affects drawing or editing commands, not object selection or movement.
Ortho mode in AutoCAD is a drawing aid that restricts cursor movement to horizontal or vertical directions only. It’s especially useful when you need to draw straight lines aligned with the X or Y axis, like walls in floor plans or structural elements.

When to Use Ortho Mode
You’ll want to turn on Ortho mode whenever precision matters—especially for drafting tasks where angles should be strictly 90 degrees.
For example:

- Drawing rectangles or right-angled shapes
- Lining up objects vertically or horizontally
- Creating floor plans, elevations, or schematics
Without Ortho, it's easy to accidentally draw lines at slight angles, which can lead to inaccuracies later on.
How to Turn On Ortho Mode
There are a few quick ways to toggle Ortho mode:

- Press the F8 key on your keyboard (this is the most common method)
- Click the ORTHO button on the status bar at the bottom of the AutoCAD window
- Type
ORTHO
in the command line and choose On or Off
It’s helpful to keep an eye on the status bar so you know whether Ortho is active before starting a drawing command.
Tips for Using Ortho Effectively
Even though Ortho seems straightforward, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Ortho works best when your drawing is aligned with the default coordinate system (UCS). If you're working in a rotated UCS, Ortho will follow that orientation.
- You can temporarily override Ortho by holding down the Shift key and using object snaps or polar tracking.
- Don’t forget to turn it off when you need to draw diagonal lines or angles—otherwise, you might end up confused why your line isn't going the way you intended.
One thing users often miss: Ortho doesn’t affect object selection or movement—it only affects drawing or editing commands where the cursor guides the direction.
Basically, Ortho mode is a small feature that makes a big difference in accuracy and speed once you get used to it.
The above is the detailed content of What is ORTHO mode in AutoCAD?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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