Drawing lines

A line consists of two points: a start point and an endpoint. Using the LINE command you can draw single lines or a series of connected lines, but each line is considered a separate Line entity.

The Line tool is available on:

  • The Draw menu.
  • The Draw toolbar.
  • The Draw ribbon panel.
  • The Draw tab of the No Selection Quad.

General procedure

  1. Launch the LINE command.

    Prompts you: Start of line or [Follow] <Last point>:

  2. Specify the start point.

    The line displays dynamically.

    Prompts you: Set end point or [Angle/Length/Follow/Undo]:

  3. Specify the end point.

    The line is created. A new line displays dynamically.

    Prompts you: Set end point or [Angle/Length/Follow/Undo]:

  4. Specify the end point.

    The line is created. A new line displays dynamically.

    Prompts you: Set end point or [Angle/Length/Follow/Close/Undo]:

  5. Do one of the following:

    • Keep specifying end points for each new line segment.

    • Choose the Close option to connect to the start point of the first line.

    • Press Enter or right click to stop.

Specifying the angle and the length

The options are:

  • Use the Angle and Length command options.

  • Use dynamic dimensions (DYNDIVIS = 1 or 2).

    Press the TAB key to switch between the Angle and Length fields.

Specifying the angle to another linear entity

Right click the DUCS field in the Status bar, then choose DUCS on other entities to set the Enable for 2D Entities option of the UCSDETECT system variable.

  1. Launch the LINE command.

  2. Hover over the reference line or linear polyline segment.

    A temporary UCS aligns with line or polyline segment.

    The UCS icon displays at the nearest midpoint or endpoint of the entity under the cursor.

  3. Press the Shift-key to lock the temporary UCS.

  4. Specify the start point of the line.

    Angles are now relative to the selected line or linear polyline segment.

Note: The WCS is restored when you conclude the LINE command.