How to Draw a Line in AutoCAD 2008

AutoCAD displays the line's coordinates as you create the line.

AutoCAD 2008 offers several approaches for you to create lines. Some approaches use the mouse while others use the keyboard. Both the Line and Polyline commands enable you to create lines with the keyboard and the mouse. The difference between the two commands is the number of segments you can draw with them. One application of skill in drawing AutoCAD lines is creating additional geometry for your 2-D shapes. A benefit of learning to draw lines is the ability to create other AutoCAD shapes, including polygons and 3-D objects.

Instructions

Keyboard

1. Type "Line," then press "Enter." AutoCAD will prompt you to enter the line's first point in 2-D coordinates. Type these coordinates on the keyboard.

2. Type any number for the X coordinate, which locates the first point's horizontal position.

3. Press "Tab" to move to the text box for entering the "Y" coordinate, which locates the first point's vertical position.

4. Type any number for the "Y" coordinate, then press "Enter." AutoCAD will prompt you for the coordinates for the line's second point.

5. Type the second point's coordinates as you did the first point's, then press "Enter." AutoCAD draws the line.

Mouse

1. Type "Line."

2. Press "Enter."

3. Click the mouse anywhere on the drawing canvas to plot the first point.

4. Drag the mouse to another screen location.

5. Click the mouse to plot the line's second point.

Polyline

1. Type "Pline," then press "Enter." "Pline" stands for "Polyline," which is a 2-D object with an arbitrary number of line segments.

2. Click the mouse anywhere on the screen to plot the first point of the polyline's first segment.

3. Type a number to indicate the length of the first line segment.

4. Type a number to indicate the angle of the first segment with respect to the drawing canvas's horizontal. For example, type "90" to indicate 90 degrees from horizontal.

5. Press "Enter" to place the polyline's first segment on the drawing canvas.

6. Repeat Steps 2 through 5 for each of the segments you want the polyline to have.

7. Right-click the mouse, then click "Close." AutoCAD will create the polyline's last segment for you.

Insert in Polyline

1. Type "Pline," then press "Enter."

2. Click a point on the screen, then drag and click to create the polyline's first segment.

3. Drag and click to several other screen locations to add more segments to the polyline. You'll insert a new segment among these existing segments.

4. Press "Enter" twice to complete the polyline.

5. Right-click the polyline and click "Edit."

6. Click "Edit Vertex," then click "Insert."

7. Drag the cursor. AutoCAD will extend a new line segment from the existing segments to your mouse cursor.

8. Click the mouse to complete the new segment.

References

• "AutoCAD 2008 and AutoCAD LT 2008 Bible"; Ellen Finkelstein; 2008