Object Snap, Geometric
Constructions and Multiview
Drawings
Sacramento City College
EDT 310
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Objectives
 Use
OSNAP to create precision drawings
 Use object snap overrides for single point
selections
 Set running object snap modes for
continuous use
 Describe the Quick object snap mode
 Adjust aperture size based on point
selection needs
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Objectives
 Use
the AutoSnap features to speed up
point specifications
 Use the OFFSET command to draw parallel
lines and curves
 Divide existing objects into equal
distances using the DIVIDE command
 Use the MEASURE command to set
designated increments on an existing
object
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Objectives
 Use
Tracking to locate points relative to
other points in a drawing
 Use construction lines to assist in drawing
multi-view and auxiliary views
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OSNAP
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OSNAP
 The
OSNAP feature of AutoCAD
 Means
object snap
 Refers to the ability to “snap” exactly to a
specific point or place on an object.
 Endpoint
of line
 Midpoint of line
 Centerpoint of circle
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AutoSnap
 Visual
cues indicate when AutoCAD has
selected an OSNAP.
 Endpoint Cue
 A square
when the cursor is placed near the
object.
 Midpoint
Cue
 A triangle
when the cursor is placed near the
object.
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The Object Snap Modes
 Object
snap modes determine the point to
which the cursor snaps.
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Setting Running Object Snaps
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Setting Running Object Snaps
 Set
the running object snaps.
 “Preset”
object snap modes
 AutoCAD
automatically activates them at
all point selection prompts.
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Setting Running Object Snaps
 Set
by
 1.
OSNAP at Command: prompt
 2. Pick Object Snap Settings button from the
Object Snap toolbar
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Object Snap Modes
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Object Snap Modes
 Endpoint
- finds the nearest endpoint of a
line, arc, elliptical arc, spline, ellipse, ray,
solid or multiline.
 Midpoint
- finds the middle point of any
object, having two endpoints, such as a
line, arc, elliptical arc, spline, ellipse, ray
solid, xline or multiline.
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Object Snap Modes
 Center
- locates the center point of a
radial object, including circles, arcs,
ellipses, elliptical arcs, radial solids.
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Object Snap Modes
 Quadrant
- picks the closest of the four
quadrant points that can be found on
circles, arcs, elliptical arcs, ellipses, and
radial solids.
 Intersection
intersection.
- picks the closest
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Object Snap Modes
 Apparent
Intersection - selects a visual
intersection between two objects that
appear to intersect on the screen, but may
not intersect in 3d space.
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Endpoint Object Snap
 Endpoint
Object Snap
 This
snap setting is often selected as a
running object snap
 Type END at the prompt
 Pick the Endpoint button
 Select Endpoint from the cursor menu
 Prompt is a small square
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Midpoint Object Snap
 Midpoint
 Finds
and picks the midpoint of a line,
polyline, or arc.
 Type MID at the prompt
 Pick the Midpoint button
 Select Midpoint from the cursor menu
 Position cursor near the midpoint of the object
 Prompt is a small triangle marks the midpoint
where the line will snap
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Center Object Snap
 Center
option
 Snaps
to the center point of a circle,
doughnut, ellipse, elliptical arc or arc
 Type CEN
 Pick Center button
 Pick Center from the cursor menu
 Locate the cursor near the object whose
center is to be located
 Prompt is a small circle
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Quadrant Object Snap
A
quadrant is a quarter section of a circle,
doughnut, ellipse, elliptical arc or arc.
 The Quadrant object snap mode finds the
0o, 90o, 180o and 270o positions on these
objects.
 Move cursor near one of these locations to
snap to them
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Intersection Object Snap
 The
Intersection Option is used to snap to
the intersection of two or more objects.
 Type
INT
 Pick Intersect Button
 Pick Intersection from the cursor menu
A
small ‘x’ marks the intersection
 Only
appears when the cursor is close to the
intersection point of the two objects
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Intersection Object Snap
 If
the cursor is near an object but not
close to an actual intersection, the
SnapTip reads Extended Intersection
 AutoCAD
finds a projected intersection
point of the two objects.
 Very
useful when two objects do not intersect.
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Apparent Intersection OSNAP
 The
apparent intersection is the point
where two objects appear to intersect
based on the currently displayed view.
 Three-dimensional objects that are far
apart may appear to intersect on the
screen.
 This is a valuable option when working
with 3D drawings.
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Perpendicular Object Snap
 Allows
you to draw one object
perpendicular to another object
 Type
PER at the selection prompt
 Pick Perpendicular button
 Pick Perpendicular from the cursor menu
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Perpendicular Object Snap
A
deferred perpendicular means the
calculation of the perpendicular point is
delayed until another point is picked.
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Perpendicular Object Snap
 Perpendicular
is calculated from points
picked, not as a relationship between
objects.
 Perpendicularity
is measured at the point
of intersection so it is possible to draw a
line that is perpendicular to a circle or an
arc.
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Tangent Object Snap
 Tangent
Object Snap is similar to the
Perpendicular Object Snap
 Aligns
objects tangentially.
 Type TAN at the selection prompt
 Pick Tangent from the cursor menu
 Pick Tangent button
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Tangent Object Snap
 When
creating an object that is tangent to
another object, multiple points may be
needed to fix the tangency point
 Until
both points have been specified, the
object snap specification is for deferred
tangency
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Parallel Object Snap
 Allows
you to find any point along an
imaginary line that is parallel to an
existing line or polyline.
 Type
PAR at the selection prompt
 Pick Parallel from the cursor menu
 Pick Parallel button
 Parallel
OSNAP is similar to Extension
because it requires more than one
selection point.
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Node Object Snap
 Point
objects can be snapped to using the
Node object snap mode.
 The
point must be in visible display mode
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Nearest Object Snap
 Use
to specify a point on an object but
which cannot be specified from any of the
other snap modes.
 Use
when you want an object to touch an
existing object, but the location of the
intersection is not critical
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Fast Object Snaps
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Using Fast Object Snaps
 AutoCAD
searches the entire drawing
database when using OSNAP’s
 On
a small drawing this occurs quickly.
 On a large drawing, it may require a lot of
time.
 You
can speed up the process using the
Quick Object Snap Mode
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Using Fast Object Snaps
 Select
Quick mode by
 Picking
the Quick button from the Object Snap
toolbar
 Typing in QUI
 The
Quick mode directs AutoCAD to pick
the first point that satisfies the object
snap mode
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Using Fast Object Snaps
 Command:
L or LINE
 From point: QUI, TAN
 To point: (pick a point on the first circle
near the intended point of tangency)
 To point:(pick a point on the second circle
near the intended point of tangency)
 Command:
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Using the From Option
 The
From point selection mode allows you
to establish a relative, polar coordinate or
direct distance entry from a specified
reference base point.
 Access by:
 Selecting
snap from button on OSNAP toolbar
 Select From in the cursor menu
 type FRO at the point selection prompt
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OSNAP Overrides
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Object Snap Override
 An
object snap override can be obtained
from
 The
Object Snap Override menu activated by
[Shift-Right-Click].
 The Object Snap toolbar.
 Typed in from the keyboard.
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Object Snap Override
 OSNAP
Overrides
 Is
the entry of an object snap mode at a point
specification prompt.
 Are active for one point specification only,
 Override any previously set object snap
modes for that entry.
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Overriding Running Object Snaps
 Running
object snap
 Is
always active if OSNAP is ON.
 is suspended with an object snap override.
 To
make a single point selection without the
effects of any running object snap, enter the
None object snap mode
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OSNAP ON/OFF
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OSNAP ON/OFF
 Object
 The
snap On/Off
button at the bottom of the screen
 F3
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Multiple OSNAPs
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Using Multiple Object Snaps
 More
than one object snap mode can be
made active at once.
 When more than one is active, AutoCAD
picks the closest point.
 This
can cause conflicts !
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Using Multiple Object Snaps
 OSNAP
 CEN
Conflict Example
and QUA conflict with each other.
 No
matter where you pick a circle, the closest
quadrant point is always closer than the
center of the circle.
 So
 When
quadrant and circle are both set active,
a quadrant point is always picked.
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Using Multiple Object Snaps
 OSNAP
Conflict Example
 NEA (Nearest)
 Conflicts
with almost every other mode.
 Nearest mode always locates the point
closest to the current cursor location.
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Using Multiple Object Snaps
 The
Tab key can be used to cycle through
available snap points.
 Press
the Tab key repeatedly until the desired
point is marked.
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Changing the Aperture Size
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Changing the Aperture Size
 When
selecting a point with OSNAP, the
cursor must be within a specific range to a
point before it is located.
 This
square area is called the aperture and
is invisible by default
 To
display the aperture, pick the AutoSNAP
tab and activate the Display aperture box
check box
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Changing the Aperture Size
 The
aperture size can also be set from the
Command prompt
Command: APERTURE
Object snap target height (1-50 pixels)
Command:
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AutoSnap Settings
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AutoSnap Settings
 AutoSnap
options
 Additional
visual cues can be turned off
 The appearance of AutoSnap and
functionality can also be changed
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AutoSnap Settings
 Marker
- toggles the AutoSnap marker
 Magnet - toggles the AutoSnap magnet
 When
active, the magnet snaps the cursor to the
object snap point.
 SnapTip
- toggles the SnapTip display
 Display aperture box - toggles the display of
the aperture box
 Marker color - changes color of marker
 Marker size - changes marker size
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Tracking
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Tracking
 Tracking
allows you to visually locate
points in a drawing relative to other points
 To activate Tracking
 Pick
the Tracking button from the Object Snap
toolbar
 Type TK or TRA at the point selection prompt
 Pick Tracking from the cursor menu
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Tracking - Example
 Tracking
allows you to visually place a
circle at the center of a rectangle
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Tracking - Example
 Command:
C or CIRCLE
 3P/2P/TTR/<Center point>: TRA
 First tracking point: MID (pick one of the
vertical lines and move the cursor
horizontally)
 Next point: (pick one of the horizontal lines)
 Next point: (press Enter to end tracking)
 Diameter/<Radius><0.2500>:
 Command:
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Tracking
 Once
started, Tracking remains active until
you press [Enter] at a Next point: prompt
 The
cursor locks to the axis you first move
along.
 If you desire to select another axis, move
back to the first point, then move in the
perpendicular direction
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Polar Tracking
 Polar
tracking works similar to ORTHO but
has a wider range of options.
 ORTHO
and Polar cannot be used at the
same time.
 The
cursor snaps to preset incremental
angles when a point is being located.
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Draw Commands
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The OFFSET Command
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Drawing Parallel Lines/Curves
 The
OFFSET command can be used to
draw concentric circles, arcs, curves
polylines or parallel lines
 Select OFFSET by:
 Picking
Offset in the Modify pull-down menu
 Pick the Offset button in the Modify toolbar
 Typing O or OFFSET at the Command:
prompt
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Drawing Parallel Lines/Curves
 Typing
O or OFFSET at the Command:
prompt
 Command: O or OFFSET
 Offset distance or Through <current>
 Type a distance or pick a point for the parallel
object to be drawn through
 The last offset distance is shown in brackets
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Drawing Parallel Lines/Curves
 When
the Select object to offset: prompt
first appears the screen cursor turns into a
pick box
 After the object is picked, the screen
cursor turns back into crosshairs.
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Drawing Parallel Lines/Curves
 Object
snap modes can be used to assist
in drawing an offset.
 Example:
a
existing circle and a line.
 You desire to draw a concentric circle that is
tangent to the line.
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Drawing Parallel Lines/Curves
 Command:
O or OFFSET
 Offset distance or Through <current>: QUA
 of (pick the existing circle)
 Second point: PER
 to (pick the existing line)
 Select object to offset: (pick the existing circle)
 Side to offset?: (pick between circle & line)
 Select object to offset:
 Command:
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The DIVIDE Command
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Dividing an Object
 The
DIVIDE command divides objects into
an equal number of segments.
 The
DIVIDE command does NOT
physically break an object into multiple
parts.
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Dividing an Object
 Select
DIVIDE by:
 Selecting
DIVDE from the Point cascading
menu of the Draw pull-down menu
 Type DIV or DIVIDE
 It
places point objects or blocks at the
locations where the breaks would occur
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Dividing an Object
 Command:
DIV or DIVIDE
 Select
object to divide: (pick the object)
 <Number of segments>/Block: (enter the
number of divisions and press [Enter]
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Dividing an Object
 The
Block option of the DIVIDE command
allows you to place a block at each
division point.
A
Block is a previously drawn symbol or
shape.
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The PDMODE System Variable
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PDMODE System Variable
 The
PDMODE system variable controls the
appearance of the dots.
 Values range from 0 to 4.
0
= point.
 1 = nothing drawn.
 2 = cross is drawn.
 3 = x is drawn.
 4 = | is drawn.
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The MEASURE Command
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Dividing Objects at Specific Points
 The
MEASURE command places points a
user-specified distance apart.
 The
MEASURE command does NOT
physically break an object into multiple
parts.
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Dividing Objects at Specific Points
 Select
by:
 Picking
Measure from the Point cascading
submenu of the Draw pull-down menu
 Typing ME or MEASURE at the Command:
prompt
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Dividing Objects at Specific Points
 Command:
ME or MEASURE
 Select
object to measure: (pick an object)
 <Segment length>/Block:
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The Block Option
 The
Block option of the MEASURE and
DIVIDE commands allows you to place a
block at each division point.
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The POINT Command
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Drawing Points
 CIRCLE
command – draws circles
 LINE command – draws lines
 POINT command – draws points
 Select
POINT command by:
 Draw
Toolbar - Point button
 Draw pull-down menu – Point suboption
 PO or POINT at the Command: prompt
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Drawing Points
 Command:
PO or POINT
 Point:
(type point coordinates or pick with
pointing device)
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Setting Point Style
 Two
ways to set Point appearance.
 PDMODE
system variable.
 DDPTYPE at the Command: prompt.
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Setting Point Style
 Use
the PDMODE system variable at the
Command: prompt.
 32
= circle
 64 = square
 96 = circle and square
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Setting Point Style
A
combination of square and circle can be
produced.
Circle
Square
Both
 32
+ 0 = 32
 32 + 1 = 33
 32 + 2 = 34
 32 + 3 = 35
 32 + 4 = 36
64 + 0 = 64
64 + 1 = 65
64 + 2 = 66
64 + 3 = 67
64 + 4 = 68
96+ 0 =96
96+ 1 =97
96+ 2 =98
96+ 3 =99
96+ 4 =100
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Setting Point Style
 DDPTYPE
and Point Style dialog box
contains 20 different point types.
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Construction Lines and Rays
(Xlines)
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Drawing Construction Lines
 Construction
purposes.
lines are used for layout
 They
are not part of the drawing.
 In manual drafting, they are drawn very lightly
or removed so they do not reproduce.
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Drawing Construction Lines
 AutoCAD
has construction lines; XLINES
and RAYS.
 Both
commands can be used for similar
purposes.
 XLINE has more options and flexibility.
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The XLINE Command
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The XLINE Command
 XLINE
command creates XLINE objects.
 An
XLINE object is an infinite length line
designed for use as a construction line.
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The XLINE Command
 XLINES
do not change the drawing
 XLINES
do not affect zooming operations.
extents.
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The XLINE Command
 XLINES
can be modified by moving,
copying, trimming and other editing
operations.
 TRIM
and FILLET change the object type.
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XLINES
 If
one end is trimmed, an XLINE becomes
a RAY.
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XLINES
 To
access XLINES
 Pick
Construction Line button in the Draw
toolbar.
 Pick Construction Line in the Draw pull-down
menu.
 type XL or XLINE at the Command: prompt.
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Drawing Construction Lines
 The
following XLINE Options are available:
 From
point
 Hor
 Ver
 Ang
 Bisect
 Offset
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Drawing Construction Lines
 XLINE
Options: From Point
 Specify
two points that the construction line
passes through.
 The first point = the root point.
 After the root point is picked, the Through
point prompt allows you to pick as many
points as you like.
 XLINES are created between every point
picked and the root point.
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Drawing Construction Lines
 XLINE
Options: Hor - horizontal line
 Draws
a horizontal construction line through a
single specified point.
 The line is automatically drawn horizontal and
you only have to pick one point.
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Drawing Construction Lines
 XLINE
Options: Ver - vertical line
 Draws
a vertical construction line through the
specified point.
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Drawing Construction Lines
 XLINE
Options:
 Ang - line at a specific angle
 Draws
a construction line at a specified angle
through a specified point.
 The default lets you specify an angle and
then pick a point for the construction line to be
drawn through.
 You can also pick two points to describe the
angle
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Drawing Construction Lines
 XLINE
Options:
 Bisect
- draws a construction line that bisects
a specified angle
 Offset
- draws a construction line at a
specified distance from a selected line object
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Using XLINES Special Considerations
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XLINES Layer
 XLINES
and RAYS
 Are
drawn on the current layer.
 Plot the same as other objects.
 It
is best to set up a special layer for
construction lines.
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XLINES Color
 Set
construction lines to a color that is
“background”.
 Recommended
color: RED
 A little
difficult to see, makes them “stay out of
your way.”
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Rays
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XLINES to RAYS
A
RAY is considered to be semi-infinite
because it is infinite in one direction only.
 If
the infinite end of a ray is trimmed off it
becomes a LINE object.
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RAY Command
 The
RAY command is limited compared to
the XLINE command.
 The
command allows you to specify the point
of origin and a point the ray passes through
 Ray extends in one direction only
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RAY Command
 The
RAY command can be accessed by:
 Picking
RAY in the Draw pull-down menu.
 Typing RAY at the Command: prompt.
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XLINES and RAY Commands
 Neither
the XLINE or the RAY command
allow you to UNDO a construction line that
you have already drawn.
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