Draws polylines (short for "polyline").
Note: A polyline is a multi-segment entity that can contain lines, arcs, and have segments of variable width, as well as be edited to have curves and splines.
Accessing the Command
command bar: pline
aliases: pl
polyline
menu bar: Draw | Polyline
ribbon: Draw | Draw | Polylines
toolbar: Draw |
: PLine
- The first time the command is used in a drawing, prompts you in the command bar:
Start of polyline: (Pick a point)
- Subsequent times the the first prompt changes to
Select start of polyline or [Follow] <Last point>: (Pick a point or enter an option)
Set next point or [draw Arcs/Distance/Follow/Halfwidth/Width]: (Pick a point, or enter an option)
Set next point or [draw Arcs/Distance/Follow/Halfwidth/Width/Undo]: (Pick a point, enter an option, or press Enter to exi.)
Set next point or [draw Arcs/Close/Distance/Follow/Halfwidth/Width/Undo]: (Pick a point, enter an option, or press Enter to exit)
Command Options
Option |
Description |
Start of polyline |
Specifies the start point of the polyline's first segment:
|
Last point |
Starts the polyline at the last point picked in the drawing, which is useful for continuing from an existing polyline. |
Next point |
Specifies the next point (endpoint for the current segment); each next-point becomes a vertex in the polyline. |
Arc |
Switches to arc-drawing mode; draws arc segments; prompts you: Set end of arc or [draw Lines/ Angle/ CEnter/ CLose/ Direction/ Halfwidth/ Radius/Second point/Width/Undo] - (pick a point or choose an option.)
See the Arc command. |
Close |
Closes the polyline; the program automatically draws a segment from the current next-point to the starting point. |
Distance |
Specifies the length and angle of the next segment; prompts you:
Distances are measured from the last vertex. Angles are measured counterclockwise from the positive x-axis. |
Follow |
Draws the next segment at the same angle; move the mouse to indicate the length. |
Halfwidth |
Specifies the halfwidth for the current segment, as well as all segments that follow -- until you change the width or halfwidth. You can specify different starting and ending halfwidths, which creates tapered segments; prompts you:
|
Width |
Specifies the width for the current segment, as well as all segments that follow -- until you change the width or halfwidth. You can specify different starting and ending widths, which creates tapered segments; prompts you:
When you specify 0 as the width, the polyline is drawn to look like a line. |
Undo |
Undoes (undraws) the last segment. |
Grips Editing
Depending on the value of the GRIPS system variable polylines have grips on its endpoints and vertices and/or at the midpoint of each segment.
The value of GRIPS can be 0, 1 or 2
Value |
Grips display |
0 |
No grips |
1 |
Endpoint grips only |
2 |
Endpoint and midpoints grips |
Polylines can be edited directly through grips:
1. Select the polyline. Notice that it has a square grip at each vertex (1) and a triangular grip at the midpoint of each segment (2).
2. Do one of the following:
- Drag the midpoint grip of a line segment to move the segment.
- Drag the midpoint grip of an arc segment to modify its radius.
- Drag a vertex grip to move the selected vertex.
- Splined polylines have a grip at each control point, which can be stretched:
Cubic or Quadratic splined polyline.
Curve fit splined polyline.
Procedures
Related Commands
3dPoly - draws polylines with x,y,z coordinates.
Boundary - creates a polyline that forms a boundary inside a closed area through a dialog box
-Boundary - creates a polyline boundary inside closed areas through the command bar.
ConvertPoly - converts lightweight polylines to classic polylines (2D polylines) and vice versa.
Helix - creates a 2D spiral or a 3D helix.
MLine - draws multilines.
PEdit - edits polylines.
Donut - draws fat circles out of polylines.
Polygon - draws regular polygons out of polylines.
Rectang - draws rectangles out of polylines.
Solid - draws solid-filled entities with 3 and 4 sides.
Trace - draws wide lines.