Applies geometric relationships between entities, on entities, and on valid constraint points. Constraints keep entities in a fixed position, such as perpendicularly or vertically.
Note: Geometric constraints can be applied to the following entities and their constraint points:
Entity Type |
Valid Constraint Points |
Lines |
Endpoints, midpoint |
Arcs, elliptical arcs |
Endpoints, center point, midpoint |
Circles, ellipses |
Center point |
Polyline segments |
Endpoints, vertices, midpoints |
Polyline arcs |
Endpoints, vertices, midpoints, center points |
Splines |
Endpoints |
Inserted entities: blocks, xrefs, text, mtext, attributes, tables |
Insertion points |
Accessing the Command
command bar: geomconstraint
: GeomConstraint
Prompts you in the command bar:
Enter constraint type [Horizontal / Vertical / Perpendicular / PArallel / Tangent / SMooth / Coincident / CONcentric / COLlinear / Symmetric / Equal / Fix] <Coincident>: (Enter an option).
Command Options
Option |
Description |
Horizontal |
Constrains entities or pairs of points to lie parallel to the X-axis of the current coordinate system. See the GcHorizontal command. |
Vertical |
Constrains entities or pairs of points to lie parallel to the Y-axis of the current coordinate system. See the GcVertical command. |
Perpendicular |
Constrains two entities to lie perpendicularly to each other. See the GcPerpendicular command. |
PArallel |
Forces two entities to be parallel to one other. See the GcParallel command. |
Tangent |
Constrains two entities to maintain a point of tangency to each other or their extensions. See the GcTangent command. |
SMooth |
Forces a spline to maintain fluid geometric continuity with another spline, line, arc or polyline. See the GcSmooth command. |
Coincident |
Applies a coincident geometrical constraint to two points or constrains a point to an entity. See the GcCoincident command. |
CONcentric |
Constrains the center points of circles, arcs, ellipses or elliptical arcs to coincide .See the GcConcentric command. |
COLinear |
Forces entities to be collinear. See the GcCollinear command. |
Symmetric |
Constrains two entities or points to lie symmetrically with respect to a selected line. See the GcSymmetric command. |
Equal |
Constrains circular entities to the same radius, or linear entities to the same length. See the GcEqual command. |
Fix |
Constrains points and entities at a fixed position. See the GcFix command. |
Related Commands
AutoConstraint - automatically applies 2D geometric and dimensional constraints to selected 2D geometry.
Dimconstraint - applies a dimensional constraint to an entity or between constraint points on entities; converts associative dimensions to dynamic dimensions.
GcCoincident - applies a coincident geometrical constraint to two points or constrains a point to an entity.
GcCollinear - forces lines to be collinear.
GcConcentric - constrains the center points of circles, arcs, ellipses or elliptical arcs to coincide.
GcEqual - constrains arcs and circles to the same radius, or lines to the same length.
GcFix - constrains points and entities at a fixed position.
GcHorizontal - constrains lines or pairs of points to lie parallel to the X-axis of the current coordinate system.
GcParallel - forces two lines to be parallel to each other.
GcPerpendicular - constrains two lines to lie perpendicularly to each other.
GcSmooth - forces a spline to maintain fluid geometric continuity with another spline, line, arc or polyline.
GcSymmetric - constrains two entities or points to lie symmetrically with respect to a selected line.
GcTangent - constrains two entities to maintain a point of tangency to each other or their extensions.
GcVertical - constrains lines or pairs of points to lie parallel to the Y-axis of the current coordinate system.