Dynamic Input
Dynamic Input is a leap forward in what AutoCAD has to offer for Heads-up Design. Autodesk include some Heads-up Design features way back in AutoCAD 2000 with the ability to display Command Line options via the right-click menu and also to have command context sensitive menus based on what type of command was running or what objects were currently selected. Dynamic Input is the next evolution of Heads-up Design. It brings much more than the command options from the Command Line up to the current location of the cursor. Rather it brings a majority of the information from the Command Line to the cursor. This allows the user to truly focus on designing in AutoCAD, and not having to look and watch the Command Line.

There are a couple different components to Dynamic Input that affect the way you use the feature. These two components are the pointer input and dimension input. Pointer input is used to display command prompts and options at the cursor’s location on screen. The options are available via either the right-click menu like before or from a popup menu.



Dimension Input is used to display and interact with the creation process via input fields that allow you to specify things like width and angle.



Recent Input
The recent input is a new addition that expands upon the Command History feature that has been in AutoCAD since release 2000. If you are in a command that expects a point you can use the up and down arrows to recall a previous picked point, or you can select a previous point from the Recent Input option under the right-click menu.



Command Line Changes
With the introduction of Dynamic Input, it is now possible to save even more screen real estate by being able to close the Command Line window. You can undock the window or use the key combination Ctrl+9 to close the window. Now the question is, will you be able to close it. For the most part the Dynamic Input will give you all the information that you will need to about the current command in progress. So the Command Line will start playing a lesser role in the user interaction part of AutoCAD in the future.