Hi all:
So we set up and sight, and turn a couple of angles and shoot a couple of distances.
How do I draw that? I want to draw polar relative to one line segment, and I want to do it without re-drawing the base line every time. Does Autocad even do that? I can find it in any instruction book or online help or nothing. It seems like such a basic thing.
I'm using 2004 vanilla. Not sure how important that is.
Thanks in advance,
Mark.
on your command line type "l" (for line) then hit enter..
then either enter the coords you want the line to start at (x,y), or snap to a point..
then type "@(distance)<N(bearing)W" then hit enter...
> Does Autocad even do that?... I'm using 2004 vanilla.
Yes, it does, after a fashion. But it's not very easy. That is why Autodesk gets the big money for LDT. For instance, out of the box AutoCAD uses angles to the left expressed in decimal degrees. You can set it to angles to the right and "Surveyor units" but the format you have to use is very long and inconvenient.
Probably much easier to reduce your data to coordinates using a calculator, spreadsheet, etc, then build a script file to insert (Autocad) points, then draw your linework.
I learned something new today - Thanks Paden
For what it's worth, you will need to enter your bearings in the format n45d20'12"w otherwise acad will assume you are using decimal degrees. You can also use azimuths with the format @(distance)<45d20'12"
> on your command line type "l" (for line) then hit enter..
> then either enter the coords you want the line to start at (x,y), or snap to a point..
> then type "@(distance)<N(bearing)W" then hit enter...
To expand a bit.
@235.55<N08d30'30"W
This will give you a line at the desired Bearing
@235.55<N08.3030W
This will give you a line using decimal degrees.
There may be some settings to change and modify the way you like it but for vanilla cad commands using the 00d00'00"....(..d..'..") forces it to read as degree minutes seconds
I always use dms format. But hey, the young'ns gotta piddle with it a little if they're gonna learn anything.;-)
Autocad was first developed in the 1980's for a mechanical drafting format which explains a lot.
In vanilla form it "goes back to mama". I haven't used it for two or three years, but Paden's explanation matches my memory. I used it a lot to input and analyze deeds.
As I recall, it helps a lot to set it to surveyor's units up front.
I think what he is looking for is a 'copy-rotate' ability. You want to rotate the same line multiple times from the same end. Then you draw a circle of your recorded distance to find the point you want to show.
yes Holy Cow
The copy-rotate thingy sounds like what I need. But the help file doesn't have it under copy or under rotate. Or I should say I can't find it. How do you copy-rotate?
Mark
Try "array" on the command line. When your dialog box comes up make sure to pick "Polar" and "Angle to fill & Angle between items" in the Method pull-down.
Negative angle values are angle right and positive are angle left. See if that works for you.
Using the copy or the default short-cuts of "co" or "cp" pick your line (endpoint) then end point, Type rotate or short-cut of "ro" type "last or "short-cut of "l" pick the correct end point enter correct angle XXd xx' xx" -"angle left with the default units setting (CCW) or - angle right for (CW) enter, next type lengthen or "len" type "t" , enter total distance, pick your last line.
If you are using included angles or deflection angles, you will have to decide which end point of the line, that you copy.