How can you view the total area of a closed object in AutoCAD?

Using the AREA command in AutoCAD is the most straightforward and effective way to view the total area of a closed object. When you activate the AREA command, you can either select an existing closed shape or specify points to create a polygon, and the command will calculate and display its area directly in the command line. This method is specifically designed for area calculations, making it both quick and efficient.

The other choices, while they may provide relevant information about dimensions or properties of objects, do not serve the primary purpose of calculating the total area figure as effectively as the AREA command does. Selecting an object to check its properties may offer area information, but it requires extra steps and may not be as precise or readily clear for complex shapes. The DIM command is intended for dimensioning and does not focus on area calculations, while the MEASURE command is used for measuring distances or lengths rather than computing area. Thus, the AREA command remains the most suitable and direct option for determining the total area of a closed object.