Rotating entities

The ROTATE command rotates entities at a specified point along a specified rotation angle or by an angle referenced to a base angle. The default method rotates the entities using a relative rotation angle from their current orientation.

By default, angles start at 3 o'clock (East) and increase in a counter-clockwise direction. If you want to rotate in a clockwise direction, you can enter a negative value.



Note:
  • The Angular Base is controlled by the ANGBASE system variable, which in turn refers to the current UCS.
  • The Angle Direction is controlled by the ANGDIR system variable, which sets the positive angle direction from angle 0 with respect to the current UCS.


General procedure

  1. Launch the ROTATE command.

    You are prompted: Select entities to rotate [selection options (?)]:

  2. Select an entity.

    Entities in set: 1

    You are prompted: Select entities to rotate [selection options (?)]:

  3. Select more entities or press Enter to stop selecting.

    You are prompted: Rotation point:

  4. Specify a point.

    You are prompted: Rotation angle or [Base angle/Copy] <0>:

  5. Do one of the following:
    • Specify a point.
    • Type a value and press Enter.

    The selection set is rotated.

Rotating a selection set relative to a base angle

  1. Launch the ROTATE command.

    You are prompted: Select entities to rotate [selection options (?)]:

  2. Select an entity.

    Entities in set: 1

    You are prompted: Select entities to rotate [selection options (?)]:

  3. Select more entities or press Enter to stop selecting.

    You are prompted: Rotation point:

  4. Specify a point.

    You are prompted: Rotation angle or [Base angle/Copy] <0>:

  5. Choose the Base angle option.

    You are prompted: Base angle <0>:

  6. Do one of the following:
    • Type a value and press Enter.
    • Click two points to specify the base angle.
  7. You are prompted: New angle <30.84>:
  8. Do one of the following:
    • Type a value and press Enter.
    • Click a point.

    The selection is rotated.

Rotating in 3D



  1. Launch the ROTATE3D command or 3DROTATE command.

    You are prompted: Select entities to rotate [selection options (?)]:

  2. Select an entity.

    Entities in set: 1

    You are prompted: Select entities to rotate [selection options (?)]:

  3. Select more entities, or press Enter to stop selecting.

    You are prompted: Specify first point on axis or define axis by [Xaxis/Yaxis/Zaxis/2Points/Object/Last/View] <2Points>:

  4. Press Enter to accept the 2points method to select the rotation axis.

    You are prompted: Specify start point of axis:

  5. Specify a point.

    You are prompted: Specify end point of axis or <use axis parallel to view direction>:

  6. Specify a point.

    You are prompted: Specify rotation angle or [Base angle/Copy]: 45

  7. Type a value and press Enter.

    The selection is rotated.