Drawing traces

Traces are 4-sided filled entities, created with two parallel sides. When you create a series of traces, they are L-connected to each other.

The Trace tool is available on

  • the Draw menu.
  • the Draw ribbon panel

The default trace width is saved through the TRACEWID system variable.

General procedure

  1. Launch the TRACE command.

    Prompts you: Width of trace <current width>:

  2. Do one of the following:
    • Right click to accept the current width.
    • Type a value, then press Enter.
    • Define a new current width graphically by clicking two points.

    Prompts you: Start of trace:

  3. Specify the start point of the trace.

    Prompts you: Next point:

  4. Specify the end point of the first trace.

    A line indicates the direction of the first trace.

    The direction of the second trace displays dynamically.

  5. Do one of the following:
    • Right click to create the trace.
    • Specify the endpoint of the next trace.
  6. Do one of the following:
    • Repeat step 5 to keep adding traces.
    • Right click to stop.
Note: When the FILLMODE system variable is turned off, all filled entities, such as traces, display and print as outlines.