Day 17
Review
100 XP

ARRAY + Dimensions Review

Master ARRAY and review dimensioning.

Explore all lessons for free Create an account to save progress, earn XP, and track completed lessons.

Sign up free

Learning objective

By the end of this lesson you can use ARRAY to create rectangular and polar patterns of objects, and review your dimension style.

What ARRAY is

ARRAY creates a controlled pattern of copies — either in rows and columns (rectangular), around a centre (polar), or along a path. The pattern is associative: edit one source, the whole pattern updates.

Why and when you use it

Use ARRAY for anything that repeats with a regular spacing — bolt circles, fence posts, parking spaces, ceiling tiles, columns.

Where to find it in the AutoCAD interface

Ribbon
Home tab → Modify panel → Array dropdown (Rectangular / Polar / Path).
Menu
Modify menu → Array.
Command line
Type ARRAY and press Enter.
Alias / shortcut
AR (then Enter).

Key vocabulary

Rectangular array
Copies arranged in rows and columns.
Polar array
Copies arranged around a centre point.
Path array
Copies arranged evenly along a chosen curve.
Associative
The pattern stays editable as a single object after creation.

Before you start

  • Have a source object drawn (circle, block, polyline).
  • Decide the pattern: rectangular, polar or path.
  • Pick a meaningful base/centre point — symmetry makes ARRAY much cleaner.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. 1
    Start the ARRAY Command
  2. 2
    Select the Source Object
  3. 3
    Choose an Array Type
  4. 4
    Review Rectangular, Path, and Polar
  5. 5
    Adjust Count and Spacing
  6. 6
    Finish the Array
  7. 7
    Add and Review Dimensions

Visual reference

Common mistakes & fixes

  • Negative spacing in a rectangular array — copies overlap.
    Fix: Use positive spacing in both directions, or set count to 1 in one direction.
  • Polar centre snapped to the wrong point.
    Fix: Turn OSNAP on and snap to a true centre or intersection.
  • Editing one copy without realising it changes all of them.
    Fix: ARRAY is associative — use ARRAYEDIT, or EXPLODE the array first if you really want independent copies.

Troubleshooting

Pattern looks rotated wrong.Show
Cause: 'Rotate items' is on/off in the wrong state.
Fix: Use the ribbon toggle 'Rotate Items' during the polar array to flip behaviour.
Array doesn't appear.Show
Cause: Spacing is too small to see at the current zoom.
Fix: Run ZOOM EXTENTS (Z → E) and verify the count and spacing on the ribbon.

Practice exercise

Polar array a circle 8 times
  1. Draw a circle of radius 10 offset from the origin.
  2. Type AR, Enter. Select the circle. Enter.
  3. Type PO, Enter.
  4. Snap to the drawing origin as the centre.
  5. Set Items 8, Fill 360, press Enter.
Success looks like: Eight evenly-spaced circles ring around the origin — a clean polar pattern.

Pro tips & related commands

Pro tips
  • Double-click any associative array to open ARRAYEDIT and tweak count or spacing.
  • Use ARRAYPATH to distribute objects along a curved path.
  • EXPLODE an array if you want to edit copies individually — but you lose associativity.
Related commands
  • ARRAYEDIT
    Edit an associative array's count, spacing or source.
  • ARRAYPATH
    Distribute copies along a curve.
  • DIMSTYLE(D)
    Open Dimension Style Manager.
Lesson quiz
0/2 correct

Score at least 2/2 to unlock lesson completion.

1. ARRAY supports which patterns?
2. What happens if spacing is negative in a rectangular ARRAY?

Create a free account to complete quizzes and save your progress.

Sign up free
FILLET + CHAMFER

Create a free account to mark lessons complete and earn XP.

Sign up free