How to Draw a Line Using an Angle and Distance in Autocad 2007

AutoCAD 2007 automatically updates a line's coordinates as your mouse defines them.

AutoCAD 2007 offers several options for drawing a line. Some of these options let you define the line's points precisely by typing coordinates of the points from the keyboard. The coordinates you enter can take two different forms: one form involves specifying the horizontal and vertical distances from a point called the origin and form involves specifying the angle and distance of a point from a previous point. You might use this second form when designing a ramp, for example, if the ramp's specification calls for a specific angle between the structure's horizontal bottom surface and sloped top surface.

Instructions

1. Type "line" and then press "Enter." AutoCAD will prompt you to enter the line's first point. This point will be in Cartesian coordinates, which indicate the horizontal and vertical position of the point. The line's second point will be in polar coordinates, which let you specify the angle and distance from the first point.

2. Click the mouse anywhere on the screen to plot the line's first point. AutoCAD will prompt you to enter the second point or to undo the first point.

3. Type any number, which will tell AutoCAD how long you want the line to extend from the first point. For example, type "10" to extend the line 10 units from the first point you plotted.

4. Press "<" to indicate that you're entering an angle for the next number. Typing a "," instead of the "<" would tell AutoCAD that the next number you enter will be in Cartesian coordinates.

5. Type any angle in degrees, such as "45," and then press "Enter." The application will plot the point you specified with the polar coordinates and then prompt you to enter another point or undo the previous point.

6. Repeat the previous step for each new segment you want to add to the line. After creating two segments, AutoCAD will add another option besides those for undoing the last point or drawing another point: closing the set of lines to form a shape.

7. Press "C" and then press "Enter." The program will create a final line segment extending from the last point you entered to the first point, which you plotted in step 2.

References

• "AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007 Bible"; Ellen Finkelstein; 2007