ZWCAD is highly compatible with AutoCAD, yet much more affordable. Because of its low learning curve, it is one of the best software choices for CAD beginners.
This guide explains the basic operations step by step, helping beginners quickly get started with ZWCAD and step into the world of CAD design.
Before downloading, check your computer specifications. ZWCAD requires a minimum operating system, processor, RAM, and disk space. Make sure your PC meets these requirements.
Go to the official ZWCAD download center and click the Download button under ZWCAD. You will need to register a ZWSOFT account. After registration, fill out the download form to get the installer. Once installed, you can use ZWCAD free for 30 days.
If you are satisfied after the trial, you can purchase a license through our official store, or contact our sales team, or local partner. ZWCAD offers multiple editions, with prices starting at $899. Choose the version that best fits your needs.
1.Prices may vary by country. Please refer to the quotation provided by your local partner.
2.The official online store is available only in certain regions. If you cannot access it, please contact your local reseller.
After obtaining your license number, start the ZWCAD License Manager on your computer and follow the on-screen instructions to activate.
Activation requires an active internet connection. Once complete, ZWCAD is fully functional.
Since ZWCAD offers many powerful features, beginners may feel overwhelmed without a clear path. The key is to learn step by step, focusing on the essentials. We recommend starting with these areas:
● Interface and Basic Operations – Learn the workspace layout and navigation.
● Layer Management & Page Setup – Master layer use for efficient drafting.
● Basic Drawing & Editing Commands – Practice lines, circles, copy, move, trim, etc.
● Dimensions and Text – Add measurements and annotations for clear communication.
● Saving & Printing Settings – Ensure your work is properly saved and shared.
Mastering these basics builds a strong foundation before moving on to advanced functions.
When you launch ZWCAD, the interface will automatically appear. If you want to create a new drawing, there are two ways to do it:
Method 1: Using a Shortcut Key
Press Ctrl + N on your keyboard to instantly create a blank new drawing.
Method 2: Using the Menu Bar
From the menu bar at the top of the screen, click File → New, choose an appropriate template, and then click Open to create a new drawing.
After creating a new drawing, you can start your design work in the drawing area. To open an existing file, press Ctrl + O and select the file you want.
The command line in ZWCAD is usually located at the bottom of the screen. It is the main window for entering commands and receiving prompts. If it is not displayed, you can press Ctrl + 9 or type command line to make it visible.
Below are examples using the line and circle commands.
Drawing a Line (LINE)
1. Type L in the command line and press Enter to start the line command.
2. Follow the prompts: click a start point in the drawing area, then click an endpoint to draw the line.
3. To continue drawing connected lines, keep clicking additional points. Press Enter to finish the command.
Drawing a Circle (CIRCLE)
1. Type C in the command line and press Enter to start the circle command.
2. Click a center point in the drawing area, then either enter a radius value or click another point to define the radius and complete the circle.
Examples of Common Shortcut Keys
L: Draw a line
C: Draw a circle
REC: Draw a rectangle
M: Move
CO: Copy
TR: Trim
F8: Toggle Ortho mode
These shortcut keys can greatly improve your drafting efficiency. Beginners are encouraged to learn and practice them step by step.
View manipulation in the drawing area is a basic skill essential for everyday drafting work.
Zoom
Scroll the mouse wheel forward to zoom in and backward to zoom out. This makes it easier to check details or get an overview of the entire layout.
Pan
Press and hold the mouse wheel button while dragging the mouse to move (pan) the view in the drawing area. This allows you to quickly shift your viewpoint and check different parts of your drawing.
By mastering these operations, you can navigate your drawings more freely without constantly switching commands.
When you start ZWCAD, first open the Layer Properties Manager. You can do this by clicking Format → Layer in the menu bar or by typing LA in the command line and pressing Enter.
In the Layer Manager window, click the New Layer button to create a new layer, which will be given a temporary name such as Layer1. To rename it, simply type a new name (e.g., Dashed Line, Solid Line Layer) and press Enter. You can repeat this process to create multiple layers.
To make a layer the current working layer, select it and click the Set Current button, or double-click the layer name. Any objects you draw afterward will be placed on this active layer.
In the Layer Properties Manager, you will see options next to each layer name for color, linetype, and lineweight.
Color: Click the color box to open the color selection dialog. Choose a standard or custom color, then click OK. All objects on that layer will display in the selected color.
Linetype: Click the linetype field and choose from options like Continuous, DASH, or HIDDEN. If the linetype you need is not listed, click Load to add more.
Lineweight: Click the lineweight field and select an appropriate thickness. This helps visually distinguish objects on different layers.
After adjusting these settings, close the Layer Properties Manager to apply the changes immediately.
The Layer Manager provides two important control options:
Turn On/Off (Visibility): Click the light bulb icon next to a layer name to toggle its visibility. When the bulb is on, the layer is visible. When it is off, the layer and its objects are hidden from the drawing area.
Freeze: Click the snowflake icon to freeze a layer. A frozen layer is not only invisible but also excluded from processing, which improves performance when working with large drawings. Objects on frozen layers cannot be selected or edited.
Freezing is a stronger option than simply turning a layer off, as it completely excludes the layer from operations until it is unfrozen.
There are many commands in CAD software. In here, we will mainly introduce some basic drawing commands.
Drawing Lines
Lines are the most basic drawing operation. You can draw a line using the following steps:
● Type L in the command line and press Enter to start the Line command.
● Follow the prompts and click the starting point of the line in the drawing area.
● Click the endpoint to complete the line.
● To draw multiple connected lines continuously, keep clicking for each segment, and press Enter to finish the command when done.
Drawing Polylines
A polyline is a complex shape composed of multiple connected line segments or arcs. It is often used to draw closed areas or complex contours.
● Type the shortcut PL in the command line and press Enter to start the Polyline command.
● Click the starting point of the polyline in the drawing area.
● Click subsequent vertices in order to draw connected segments.
● While drawing, type A to switch to Arc segment mode and draw arcs.
● Type W to set the line width.
● Press Enter to finish the command when the drawing is complete.
● Type PE to edit an existing polyline.
Drawing Circles
Circles are a commonly used basic shape in CAD, drawn as follows:
● Type the shortcut C in the command line and press Enter to start the Circle command.
● Click the center point of the circle in the drawing area.
● Enter the radius value or click a point in the drawing area to define the radius, completing the circle.
This method is the basic way to draw a circle by center and radius. Once familiar, you can also use other methods (e.g., diameter, three-point) as needed.
Drawing Rectangles
Rectangles can be drawn quickly with a dedicated command:
● Select the Rectangle command from the menu or toolbar, or type RECTANGLE in the command line and press Enter.
● Click the first corner of the rectangle in the drawing area.
● Move the mouse to adjust the rectangle’s size and click the opposite corner to complete it.
This method allows easy creation of rectangles with precise dimensions. Since rectangles consist of four lines, if overlapping lines occur, it is recommended to use the cleanup command to merge them.
To create a rectangle with rounded corners, use the Fillet (rounded corner) command.
● After drawing the rectangle, type “F” in the command line or select Modify → Fillet from the menu to open the Fillet settings.
● Then press “R”, enter the fillet radius (the size of the rounding), and press Enter to confirm.
● Next, click the two adjacent edges of the rectangle that you want to round. The right-angled corner will automatically be converted into an arc with the specified radius.
This operation allows you to easily transform a right-angled rectangle into a rounded-corner rectangle.
Ortho mode restricts cursor movement to horizontal or vertical directions, ensuring lines are perfectly parallel or perpendicular to the axes. This is useful for architectural floor plans or mechanical parts where strict alignment is required.
How to enable:
● Press F8 on the keyboard, or type ORTHO to toggle Ortho mode on/off.
● Alternatively, click the Ortho button in the status bar at the bottom of the screen.
Effect:
When Ortho mode is on, the cursor automatically locks to horizontal or vertical directions while drawing lines. You only need to specify the start point and length, without manually entering endpoint coordinates. Turning it off allows free cursor movement for lines at any angle.
Polar tracking helps snap the cursor along predefined angle increments while drawing, allowing easy creation of lines at specific angles such as 30°, 45°, or 60°. This is ideal for slanted lines, polygons, and other complex shapes.
How to enable:
● Press F10 on the keyboard to toggle Polar Tracking on/off.
● Alternatively, click the Polar Tracking button in the status bar.
Angle Settings:
Type DS to open the Drafting Settings dialog, go to the Polar Angle Settings tab, and set the increment angles (e.g., 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°) or additional angles. Users can customize the angle list as needed.
Example:
To draw an equilateral triangle with side length 100, set the increment angle to 60° and turn on Polar Tracking. After drawing the first side, the cursor will automatically snap to the 60° direction, making it easy to draw the second side accurately.
This feature reduces the need for manual angle input, enabling efficient and precise drawing.
●Type the shortcut “M” in the command line and press Enter to start the Move command.
●Click on the object you want to move to select it, then press Enter to confirm the selection.
●Specify a base point (any point on the object) and click to set it.
●Move the mouse to the desired location and click to complete the move.
Example: Select a circle, set its center as the base point, and move it to another position in the drawing area.
● Type the shortcut “CO” or “CP” in the command line and press Enter to start the Copy command.
● Select the object you want to copy and press Enter to confirm.
● Specify a base point and click to set it.
● Move the mouse to the desired location and click to complete the copy.
● To copy multiple times, continue clicking additional locations. Press Enter to finish the command when done.
Example: Copy a single rectangle to multiple locations to create an array.
● Type the shortcut “O” in the command line and press Enter to start the Offset command.
● Enter the offset distance and press Enter.
● Select the object you want to offset and click to confirm.
● Click the direction (inside or outside) in the drawing area to complete the offset.
Example: Offset a polygon 10 units outward to create parallel lines.
This command is useful for creating parallel copies of lines, circles, or polylines at a specified distance. Multiple consecutive offsets are also possible.
● Type the shortcut “MI” in the command line and press Enter to start the Mirror command.
● Select the object to mirror and press Enter.
● Specify two points for the mirror axis (start and end points).
● When prompted “Delete the original object?”, type “N” to keep the original or “Y” to delete it, then press Enter.
● The mirror operation is complete.
Example: After drawing one side of a mechanical part, use the Mirror command to generate the symmetrical other side, maintaining consistent dimensions. This helps create symmetrical shapes efficiently and improves design accuracy.
● Type the shortcut “TR” in the command line and press Enter to start the Trim command.
● Select the object(s) that will act as the trimming boundary and press Enter.
● Click the part of the object you want to trim. ZWCAD automatically removes the unwanted section.
● Press Enter to finish the command.
Example: Trim two intersecting lines to remove unnecessary parts and clean up the drawing.
You can also select multiple objects to trim them against each other, which improves drawing efficiency.
Click Selection:
Click an object directly with the left mouse button. Best for selecting a small number of objects.
Window Selection:
Hold the left mouse button and drag to create a rectangular selection window. All objects inside the rectangle are selected.
Drag from left to right:
Only objects completely within the window are selected (window selection).
Drag from right to left:
Objects inside or crossing the window are selected (crossing selection).
Quick Select:
Use the Quick Select tool from the command or toolbar to filter objects based on type, color, layer, etc., and quickly select objects that meet the criteria. Ideal for complex drawings.
Linear Dimensions
Linear dimensions are used to measure horizontal or vertical lengths. The steps are as follows:
● Type the shortcut command DIMLINEAR in the command line and press Enter to start the linear dimension command.
● Click the start point and end point of the dimension in sequence. ZWCAD will automatically calculate and display the horizontal or vertical distance between the two points.
● Move the mouse to adjust the position of the dimension line, then click to place the dimension.
● To add multiple dimensions consecutively, repeat the selection of start and end points. Press Enter when finished to exit the command.
Example: To create a linear dimension of 100 for a horizontal edge, select both endpoints of the line, and ZWCAD will automatically display "100" as the dimension value.
Radius Dimensions
Radius dimensions are used to measure the radius of circles or arcs. The steps are as follows:
● Type the shortcut command DIMRADIUS in the command line and press Enter to start the radius dimension command.
● Click the circle or arc you want to dimension. ZWCAD will automatically display the radius.
● Move the mouse to adjust the position of the dimension text and line, then click to confirm.
Example: To dimension a circle with a radius of 30, click the circle. The system will automatically display “R30.”
Dimension styles control how dimension text, arrows, lines, and other elements are displayed. The steps to adjust them are:
● Type DIMSTYLE in the command line and press Enter to open the Dimension Style Manager.
● Select the currently used dimension style and click Modify.
● In the dialog box, adjust parameters such as text height, arrow size, dimension line spacing, and unit format.
● Click OK to confirm and close the Dimension Style Manager. The new settings will be applied immediately.
Adjusting dimension styles allows you to optimize the display according to design standards or personal preference, improving both professionalism and aesthetics of your drawings.
Text is used to add annotations or notes to your drawing. The steps are as follows:
● From the menu bar, select Annotate → Single Line Text, or type TEXT in the command line and press Enter to start the text command.
● Specify the insertion point for the text and click to confirm.
● Enter the text content, then press Enter to finish.
● To edit existing text, select the text object, right-click and choose Properties, or double-click the text to enter edit mode, modify the content, and save.
Text styles can also be adjusted via the Text Style Manager (STYLE command), allowing you to change font, size, oblique angle, and other settings to make your text more readable.
Click the File menu at the top-left corner of the screen and select Save, or use the shortcut Ctrl + S.
When saving for the first time, a save dialog will appear. Choose the save location, enter a file name, and click Save. Subsequent saves will overwrite the existing file by simply executing the save command.
Saving as a Template
Template files (*.dwt) include frequently used layer settings, linetypes, text styles, and dimension styles, making it convenient to create drawings that conform to your standards quickly. The steps to create a template are as follows:
● In a new or existing drawing, complete commonly used settings such as layer management, loading linetypes, and adjusting text and dimension styles.
● Ensure there are no unnecessary objects in the drawing.
● Click the File menu and select Save As.
● In the save dialog, set the file type to Drawing Template (*.dwt).
● Enter a template name and click Save.
Afterward, when creating a new drawing, selecting this template will automatically apply the preset styles and settings, saving repetitive setup work.
Accurate print settings ensure that the design drawing meets actual requirements. The steps are as follows:
Switch to Layout Space
Click the Layout tab on the tab bar at the bottom of the screen to switch to layout view. Layout space is similar to print preview, where you can set paper size and print area.
Page Setup
Right-click the layout tab and select Page Setup.
In the dialog that appears, click Modify to set the printer/plotter, paper size, print scale (e.g., 1:1, 1:50), and print area (window, display area, etc.).
You can also specify print style tables that control line weights, colors, and other print effects, as well as print orientation (landscape or portrait). Click OK to complete the setup and close the page setup manager.
These settings will be applied when printing from layout space, ensuring drawing quality and accuracy.
Viewport Adjustment
Insert viewports (vports) in the layout to define the display area and scale of the drawing. Adjust the size and position of the viewports to display the drawing accurately and clearly.
Click the File menu and select Print, or use the shortcut Ctrl + P.
In the print dialog, click Preview to check the print result. If there are issues, adjust the page setup or viewports and repeat until satisfied. Once the preview is correct, select a printer and click OK to print.
To grow from a beginner to an expert in the CAD industry, it is essential first to master the basic operations of CAD software. Starting with the fundamentals of 2D drafting, one should gradually expand skills to include advanced functions such as 3D modeling, parametric design, and dynamic blocks. These advanced features greatly contribute to improving design efficiency and accuracy, so it is advisable to actively use them in daily work to accumulate practical experience.
In addition to mastering CAD operations, it is also necessary to deepen one’s knowledge of drafting principles. For example, understanding engineering drawing standards, drawing conventions, dimensioning rules, and projection methods is indispensable for creating accurate and comprehensible drawings. In Japanese architecture and civil engineering, the CAD drafting standards from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and JIS standards serve as guidelines. Adhering to these ensures drawings meet industry standards. Knowledge of line types, line thicknesses, and layer management is also critical, as these factors directly affect drawing quality.
Furthermore, acquiring knowledge specific to one’s professional field and improving project management skills are essential for career advancement. By deepening expertise in areas such as mechanical design, architectural structures, or electrical wiring, designers can accurately understand project intentions and reflect them in their drawings. Strong project management, smooth communication with team members, and flexibility in handling design changes are also required. These skills are honed through qualifications and practical experience and are key to developing a professional capable of overseeing the entire design process.
In this way, balancing three elements—CAD operation skills, fundamental drafting knowledge, and field-specific understanding with management ability—is the key to long-term professional growth and the development of specialized expertise.
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