Reference

ARRAY in AutoCAD

Q: What is the shortcut for ARRAY in AutoCAD?

AR, then Enter or Space. The full name works too, and _ARRAY in any language of AutoCAD. ARRAYRECT, ARRAYPOLAR and ARRAYPATH have no alias, and typed in full they skip the question of the type.

Q: How do I make a circular array?

Choose POlar, or run ARRAYPOLAR, and pick the centre point: the selection is copied round it, 6 items at first. Change the count with Items, and set the angle they fill with Fill.

Q: How do I explode an array?

Select it and run EXPLODE: the array becomes its items' objects, each object on its own layer. To get loose copies from the start, answer No to ASsociative before you press Enter.

How AutoCAD's ARRAY (AR) works, prompt by prompt: rectangular, polar and path arrays, edited live before they are made. Try it free in your browser.

ARRAY copies a selection in a pattern: in columns and rows, round a centre, or along a path. It asks for the objects, then for the type of array, Enter taking a rectangular one, and hands the selection to ARRAYRECT, ARRAYPOLAR or ARRAYPATH, which go on without asking for the objects again. Each shows the array at once and edits it live, through its options and its grips, until Enter makes it: one array object, or loose copies if you said it should not be associative. The whole run is one undo step, and Enter at the command prompt repeats ARRAY.

Command: ARRAY
Aliases: AR
Panel: Modify
Try it: Open the editor, type AR and press Enter.

At the command line

The engine draws it and writes its history as you would type it: the prompts in AutoCAD 2027's order, with the same option letters.

Command: ARRAY
Select objects: 1 found
Select objects: 1 found, 2 total
Select objects:
Enter array type [Rectangular/PAth/POlar] <Rectangular>:
Type = Rectangular Associative = Yes
Select grip to edit array or [ASsociative/COUnt/Spacing/COLumns/Rows/Levels/eXit]<eXit>: X

A square and its circle arrayed with the defaults: Enter for a rectangular array, 4 columns and 3 rows.

Options

`Rectangular` (`R`)

Columns and rows, and levels stacked along Z if you want them: ARRAYRECT. It starts with 4 columns and 3 rows, one and a half times the selection's size apart.

`PAth` (`PA`)

Along a line, an arc, a circle or a polyline: ARRAYPATH. It asks for the path curve, then lays the items along it, each turned as the path turns.

`POlar` (`PO`)

Round a centre point: ARRAYPOLAR. It asks for the centre and starts with 6 items over a full turn.

What it does not do yet

The type offered is always Rectangular: ARRAYTYPE, the variable that sets AutoCAD's default, is not read.

What it does and still lacks, in detail (in English)

Questions

What is the shortcut for ARRAY in AutoCAD?

AR, then Enter or Space. The full name works too, and _ARRAY in any language of AutoCAD. ARRAYRECT, ARRAYPOLAR and ARRAYPATH have no alias, and typed in full they skip the question of the type.

How do I make a circular array?

Choose POlar, or run ARRAYPOLAR, and pick the centre point: the selection is copied round it, 6 items at first. Change the count with Items, and set the angle they fill with Fill.

How do I explode an array?

Select it and run EXPLODE: the array becomes its items' objects, each object on its own layer. To get loose copies from the start, answer No to ASsociative before you press Enter.

How do I change an array after it is made?

Select it. Its grips change it: the square at the base point moves it, the arrows set the counts and the spacing, and a number typed while a count arrow is hot is the count. The Properties palette lists its columns, rows and spacing, or its items and angles, to retype. ARRAYEDIT is not there yet.