Circles

Command: CIRCLE, AI_CIRCTAN

The default method for drawing a circle is to specify a center point and radius.

Other methods to draw circles can be found in the Circle submenu of the Draw menu and in the Circles toolbar.

The Ai_CircTan command draws circles tangent to three entities.

General procedure to draw a circle

1. Do one of the following.
   • Click the Circle tool button () on the Draw toolbar.
   • Type circle in the command bar, then press Enter.
   • Type C in the command bar, then press Enter.

   You are prompted: 2Point/3Point/RadTanTan/Arc/Multiple/<Center of circle>:

   A prompt menu displays:

   

2. Specify the center point of the circle.
   You are prompted: Diameter/<Radius> <current radius>:
   The prompt menu changes:

   

3. Do one of the following:
   • Press Enter to accept the current radius.
   • Type a new radius and press Enter.
   • Click to define the radius graphically.

Drawing a circle tangent to three entities

1. Type ai_circtan in the command bar.
   You are prompted: Enter Tangent spec:
2. Click a linear entity.
   Lines, arcs, circles, polyline segments, xlines and rays are accepted.
   You are prompted: Enter second Tangent spec:
3. Click the second linear entity.
   You are prompted: Enter third Tangent spec:
4. Click the third linear entity.
   A circle tangent to the three selected entities is created.

Editing a circle

1. Select the circle.
   The properties of the circle display in the Properties bar.

   

2. Type a new value in the Center , Radius , Diameter , Circumference or Area field, then press Enter.
3. Press the Esc key to stop editing the circle.