LINE

Creates straight line segments.

Access Methods

Button

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Line

Menu: Draw Line

Toolbar: Draw

Summary

With LINE, you can create a series of contiguous line segments. Each segment is a line object that can be edited separately.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Specify first point / next point

Specify points to draw line segments.

Continue
Continues a line from the endpoint of the most recently drawn line.

If the most recently drawn object is an arc, its endpoint defines the starting point of the line, and the line is drawn tangent to the arc.

Close
Ends the last line segment at the beginning of the first line segment, which forms a closed loop of line segments. You can use Close after you have drawn a series of two or more segments.

Undo
Erases the most recent segment of a line sequence.

Entering u more than once backtracks through line segments in the order you created them.
PLINE

Creates a 2D polyline, a single object that is composed of line and arc segments.

Access Methods

Button

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Polyline

Menu: Draw Polyline

Toolbar: Draw

Summary

A 2D polyline is a connected sequence of segments created as a single planar object. You can create straight line segments, arc segments, or a combination of the two.

Note
A temporary plus-shaped marker displays at the first point. This marker can be useful when you create long and complicated polylines. It is removed when you complete the polyline.

The PLINEGEN system variable controls the linetype pattern display around and the smoothness of the vertices of a 2D polyline. Setting PLINEGEN to 1 generates new polylines in a continuous
pattern around the vertices of the completed polyline. Setting PLINEGEN to 0 starts and ends the polyline with a dash at each vertex. PLINEGEN does not apply to polylines with tapered segments.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Specify start point: Specify a point
Current line-width is <current>
Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]: Specify a point or enter an option

Next Point

Draws a line segment. The previous prompt is repeated.

Arc

Adds arc segments to the polyline.

Specify endpoint of arc or
[Angle/CEnter/CLose/Direction/Halfwidth/Line/Radius/Second pt/Undo/Width]: Specify a point (2) or enter an option

Note For the Center option of the PLINE command, enter ce; for the Center object snap, enter cen or center.

Endpoint of Arc

Draws an arc segment. The arc segment is tangent to the previous segment of the polyline. The previous prompt is repeated.

Angle

Specifies the included angle of the arc segment from the start point.
Specify included angle:

Entering a positive number creates counterclockwise arc segments. Entering a negative number creates clockwise arc segments.
Specify endpoint of arc or [Center/Radius]: Specify a point or enter an option

Endpoint of Arc
 Specifies the endpoint and draws the arc segment.

Center
Specifies the center of the arc segment.
Specify center point of arc:

Radius
Specifies the radius of the arc segment.
Specify radius of arc: Specify a distance
Specify direction of chord for arc <current>: Specify a point or press ENTER

Center

Specifies the center of the arc segment.

Specify center point of arc: Specify a point (2)
Specify endpoint of arc or [Angle/Length]: Specify a point (3) or enter an option

Endpoint of Arc
Specifies the endpoint and draws the arc segment.

Angle
Specifies the included angle of the arc segment from the start point.
Specify included angle:

Length
Specifies the chord length of the arc segment. If the previous segment is an arc, the new arc segment is drawn tangent to the previous arc segment.
Specify length of chord:

Close

Draws an arc segment from the last point specified to the starting point, creating a closed polyline. At least two points must be specified to use this option.

Direction

Specifies a starting direction for the arc segment.

Specify the tangent direction from the start point of arc: Specify a point (2)
Specify endpoint of arc: Specify a point (3)

Halfwidth

Specifies the width from the center of a wide polyline segment to one of its edges.
Specify starting half-width <current>: Enter a value or press ENTER
Specify ending half-width <starting width>: Enter a value or press ENTER
The starting half-width becomes the default ending half-width. The ending half-width becomes the uniform half-width for all subsequent segments until you change the half-width again. The
starting and ending points of wide line segments are at the center of the line.

Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide polyline segments are beveled. No beveling is performed for nontangent arc segments or very acute angles or when a dot-dash linetype is used.

Line

Exits the Arc option and returns to the initial PLINE command prompts.

Radius

Specifies the radius of the arc segment.

Specify radius of arc: Specify a distance
Specify endpoint of arc or [Angle]: Specify a point or enter a

Endpoint of Arc
Specifies the endpoint and draws the arc segment.

Angle
Specifies the included angle for the arc segment.
Specify included angle:
Specify direction of chord for arc <current>: Specify an angle or press ENTER

Second Pt

Specifies the second point and endpoint of a three-point arc.

Specify second point on arc: Specify a point (2)
 Specify end point of arc: Specify a point (3)

Undo

Removes the most recent arc segment added to the polyline.

Width

Specifies the width of the next arc segment.

Specify starting width <current>: Enter a value or press ENTER
Specify ending width <starting width>: Enter a value or press ENTER

The starting width becomes the default ending width. The ending width becomes the uniform width for all subsequent segments until you change the width again. The starting and ending
points of wide line segments are at the center of the line.
Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide polyline segments are beveled. No beveling is performed for nontangent arc segments, very acute angles, or when a dot-dash linetype is used.

Close

Draws a line segment from the last point specified to the starting point, creating a closed polyline. At least two points must be specified to use this option.

Halfwidth

Specifies the width from the center of a wide polyline line segment to one of its edges.
Specify starting half-width <current>: Enter a value or press ENTER
Specify ending half-width <current>: Enter a value or press ENTER
The starting half-width becomes the default ending half-width. The ending half-width becomes the uniform half-width for all subsequent segments until you change the half-width again. The starting
and ending points of wide line segments are at the center of the line.

Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide polyline segments are beveled. No beveling is performed for nontangent arc segments or very acute angles or when a dot-dash linetype is used.

Length

Draws a line segment of a specified length at the same angle as the previous segment. If the previous segment is an arc, the new line segment is drawn tangent to that arc segment.
Specify length of line: Specify a distance

Undo

Removes the most recent line segment added to the polyline.

Width

Specifies the width of the next line segment.

Specify starting width <current>: Enter a value or press ENTER
Specify ending width <starting width>: Enter a value or press ENTER

The starting width becomes the default ending width. The ending width becomes the uniform width for all subsequent segments until you change the width again. The starting and ending points of
wide line segments are at the center of the line.
Typically, the intersections of adjacent wide polyline segments are beveled. No beveling is performed for nontangent arc segments or very acute angles or when a dot-dash linetype is used.
CIRCLE

Creates a circle.

Access Methods

Button

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Circle drop-down Center, Radius

Menu: Draw Circle Center, Radius

Toolbar: Draw

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Center Point

Draws a circle based on a center point and a diameter or a radius.

Radius
Defines the radius of the circle. Enter a value, or specify a point.
For example:

Diameter
Defines the diameter of the circle. Enter a value, or specify a second point.
For example:

3P (Three Points)

Draws a circle based on three points on the circumference.

For example:

Tan, Tan, Tan

Creates a circle tangent to three objects.

For example:

2P (Two Points)
 Draws a circle based on two endpoints of the diameter.
For example:

TTR (Tangent, Tangent, Radius)

Draws a circle with a specified radius tangent to two objects.

Sometimes more than one circle matches the specified criteria. The program draws the circle of the specified radius whose tangent points are closest to the selected points.
For example:
ARC

Creates an arc.

Access Methods

Button

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Arc drop-down 3-Point

Menu: Draw Arc

Toolbar: Draw

Summary

To create an arc, you can specify combinations of center, endpoint, start point, radius, angle, chord length, and direction values.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Start Point

Draws an arc using three specified points on the arc's circumference. The first point is the start point (1).

Note If you press ENTER without specifying a point, the endpoint of the last drawn line or arc is used and you are immediately prompted to specify the endpoint of the new arc. This creates an
arc tangent to the last drawn line, arc, or polyline.

Second Point
Specify the second point (2) is a point on the circumference of the arc.

End Point
Specify the final point (3) on the arc.

You can specify a three-point arc either clockwise or counterclockwise.

Center

Starts by specifying the center of the circle of which the arc is a part.

Start Point
Specify the start point of the arc.

End Point
Using the center point (2), draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to an endpoint that falls on an imaginary ray drawn from the center point through the third point (3).

The arc does not necessarily pass through this third point, as shown in the illustration.

Angle
Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) using a center point (2) with a specified included angle. If the angle is negative, a clockwise arc is drawn.

Chord Length
Draws either a minor or a major arc based on the distance of a straight line between the start point and endpoint.
If the chord length is positive, the minor arc is drawn counterclockwise from the start point. If the chord length is negative, the major arc is drawn counterclockwise.

End

Starts by specifying the endpoint of the arc.

Center Point
Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to an endpoint that falls on an imaginary ray drawn from the center point (3) through the second point specified (2).

Angle
 Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to an endpoint (2), with a specified included angle. If the angle is negative, a clockwise arc is drawn.

Included Angle
Enter an angle in degrees or specify an angle by moving the pointing device counterclockwise.

Direction
Begins the arc tangent to a specified direction. It creates any arc, major or minor, clockwise or counterclockwise, beginning with the start point (1), and ending at an endpoint (2). The direction is
determined from the start point.

Radius
Draws the minor arc counterclockwise from the start point (1) to the endpoint (2). If the radius is negative, the major arc is drawn.

Center

Specifies the center of the circle of which the arc is a part.

Start Point
Specify start point of arc.

End Point
Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (2) to an endpoint that falls on an imaginary ray drawn from the center point (1) through a specified point (3).

Angle
Draws an arc counterclockwise from the start point (2) using a center point (1) with a specified included angle. If the angle is negative, a clockwise arc is drawn.

Chord Length
Draws either a minor or a major arc based on the distance of a straight line between the start point and endpoint.
If the chord length is positive, the minor arc is drawn counterclockwise from the start point. If the chord length is negative, the major arc is drawn counterclockwise.

Tangent to Last Line, Arc, or Polyline

Draws an arc tangent to the last line, arc, or polyline drawn when you press ENTER at the first prompt.

End Point of Arc

Specify a point (1).
RECTANG

Creates a rectangular polyline.

Access Methods

Button

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Rectangle

Menu: Draw Rectangle

Toolbar: Draw

Summary

Creates a rectangular polyline from the specified the rectangle parameters (length, width, rotation) and type of corners (fillet, chamfer, or square).

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Current settings: Rotation = 0
Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/Thickness/Width]: Specify a point or enter an option

First Corner Point

Specifies a corner point of the rectangle.

Other Corner Point

Creates a rectangle using the specified points as diagonally opposite corners.

Area
Creates a rectangle using the area and either a length or a width. If the Chamfer or Fillet option is active, the area includes the effect of the chamfers or fillets on the corners of the rectangle.

Dimensions
Creates a rectangle using length and width values.

Rotation
Creates a rectangle at a specified rotation angle.

Chamfer

Sets the chamfer distances for the rectangle.

Elevation

Specifies the elevation of the rectangle.

Fillet

Specifies the fillet radius of the rectangle.

Thickness

Specifies the thickness of the rectangle.

Width

Specifies the polyline width of the rectangle to be drawn.

POLYGON

Creates an equilateral closed polyline.

Access Methods

Button

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Polygon

Menu: Draw Polygon

Toolbar: Draw

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Enter number of sides <current>: Enter a value between 3 and 1024 or press Enter
Specify center of polygon or [Edge]: Specify a point (1) or enter e

Center of Polygon

Defines the center of the polygon.

Enter an option [Inscribed in circle/Circumscribed about circle] <current>: Enter i or c or press Enter

Inscribed in Circle
Specifies the radius of a circle on which all vertices of the polygon lie.
Specify radius of circle: Specify a point (2) or enter a value

Specifying the radius with your pointing device determines the rotation and size of the polygon. Specifying the radius with a value draws the bottom edge of the polygon at the current snap
rotation angle.

Circumscribed about Circle

Specifies the distance from the center of the polygon to the midpoints of the edges of the polygon.
Specify radius of circle: Specify a distance

Specifying the radius with your pointing device determines the rotation and size of the polygon. Specifying the radius with a value draws the bottom edge of the polygon at the current snap
rotation angle.

Edge

Defines a polygon by specifying the endpoints of the first edge.

Specify first endpoint of edge: Specify a point (1)
Specify second endpoint of edge: Specify a point (2)

You can specify the different parameters of the polygon including the number of sides. The difference between the inscribed and circumscribed options is shown.
ELLIPSE

Creates an ellipse or an elliptical arc.

Access Methods

Button

Ribbon: Home tab Draw panel Ellipse drop-down Center

Menu: Draw Ellipse Center

Toolbar: Draw

Summary

The first two points of the ellipse determine the location and length of the first axis. The third point determines the distance between the center of the ellipse and the end point of the second axis.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Specify axis endpoint of ellipse or [Arc/Center/Isocircle]: Specify a point or enter an option

Axis Endpoint

Defines the first axis by its two endpoints. The angle of the first axis determines the angle of the ellipse. The first axis can define either the major or the minor axis of the ellipse.

Distance to Other Axis

Defines the second axis using the distance from the midpoint of the first axis to the endpoint of the second axis (3).

Rotation
Creates the ellipse by appearing to rotate a circle about the first axis.
Move the crosshairs around the center of the ellipse and click. If you enter a value, the higher the value, the greater the eccentricity of the ellipse. Entering 0 defines a circular ellipse.

Arc

Creates an elliptical arc.

The angle of the first axis determines the angle of the elliptical arc. The first axis can define either the major or the minor axis depending on its size.
The first two points of the elliptical arc determine the location and length of the first axis. The third point determines the distance between the center of the elliptical arc and the endpoint of the
second axis. The fourth and fifth points are the start and end angles.

Axis Endpoint
Defines the start point of the first axis.

Rotation
Defines the major to minor axis ratio of the ellipse by rotating a circle about the first axis. The higher the value from 0 through 89.4 degrees, the greater the ratio of minor to major axis. Values
between 89.4 degrees and 90.6 degrees are invalid because the ellipse would otherwise appear as a straight line. Multiples of these angle values result in a mirrored effect every 90 degrees.

Start Angle
Defines the first endpoint of the elliptical arc. The Start Angle option toggles from Parameter mode to Angle mode. The mode controls how the ellipse is calculated.
 Parameter
Requires the same input as Start Angle, but creates the elliptical arc using the following parametric vector equation:
p(u) = c + a ACR_Commands ACR_Sysvars body.xml chunkingACR.ksh chunkingACR.xsl current.xml files header.xml tmp.xml utf.xml cos(u) + b ACR_Commands ACR_Sysvars body.xml
chunkingACR.ksh chunkingACR.xsl current.xml files header.xml tmp.xml utf.xml sin(u)
where c is the center of the ellipse and a and b are its major and minor axes, respectively.

End Parameter: Defines the end angle of the elliptical arc by using a parametric vector equation. The Start Parameter option toggles from Angle mode to Parameter mode. The mode
controls how the ellipse is calculated.
Angle: Defines the end angle of the elliptical arc. The Angle option toggles from Parameter mode to Angle mode. The mode controls how the ellipse is calculated.
Included Angle: Defines an included angle beginning at the start angle.

Center

Creates an ellipse using a center point, the endpoint of the first axis, and the length of the second axis. You can specify the distances by clicking a location at the desired distance or by entering a
value for the length.

Distance to Other Axis

Defines the second axis as the distance from the center of the ellipse, or midpoint of the first axis, to the point you specify.

Rotation
Creates the ellipse by appearing to rotate a circle about the first axis.
Move the crosshairs around the center of the ellipse and click. If you enter a value, the higher the value, the greater the eccentricity of the ellipse. Entering 0 defines a circle.

Isocircle

Creates an isometric circle in the current isometric drawing plane.

Note The Isocircle option is available only when you set the Style option of SNAP to Isometric.

Radius
Creates a circle using a radius you specify.

Diameter
Creates a circle using a diameter you specify.
Specify diameter of isocircle: Specify a distance
-HATCH

Uses command prompts to fill an enclosed area or selected objects with a hatch pattern, solid fill, or gradient fill.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Internal Point

Determines a boundary from existing objects that form an enclosed area around the specified point.

Pick Internal Point

While specifying internal points, you can right-click in the drawing area at any time to display a shortcut menu that contains several options.

If you turn on Island Detection, objects that enclose areas within the outermost boundary are detected as islands. How HATCH detects objects using this option depends on which island
detection method is specified.

Note Red circles are displayed at unconnected endpoints of boundary objects to identify gaps in the hatch boundary. These circles are temporary and can be removed with REDRAW or
REGEN.

Properties

Specifies new hatch pattern properties to apply.

Pattern Name—Predefined or Custom

Specifies a predefined or custom pattern in the PAT file format such as acad.pat or acadlt.pat.
Enter the pattern name followed by an optional hatch style code. Precede the pattern name with an asterisk (*) to fill the area with individual lines instead of a hatch object.

?—List Pattern Names

Lists and describes the hatch patterns defined in the PAT file.

Solid
Specifies a solid fill and redisplays the first HATCH prompt, where you can define a boundary.

User Defined
Specifies a user-defined pattern. Enter u, followed by an optional hatch style code. Precede the u with an asterisk (*) to fill the area with individual lines instead of a hatch object.

Double Hatch Area

Specifies a second set of lines to be drawn at 90 degrees to the original lines.

Select Objects

Determines a boundary from selected objects that form an enclosed area.

Select Objects
Interior objects are not automatically detected. You must select the objects within the selected boundary to hatch or fill those objects according to the current island detection style.

Each time you click Select Objects, HATCH clears the previous selection set.

While selecting objects, you can right-click at any time in the drawing area to display a shortcut menu. You can undo the last selection or all selections, change the selection method, change the
island detection style, or preview the hatch or fill.

Draw Boundary

Uses specified points to define the boundary of a hatch or fill.

The options that are available as you specify points are also available in PLINE. When you complete the polyline boundary, press Enter. You can then create additional polyline boundaries, or
press Enter to twice to apply the hatch.

Note
To enclose an area completely, use the Close option. Do not make the first and last points coincident.

Remove Boundaries

Removes from the boundary definition any of the objects that were previously added.
 Select Objects
Removes objects from the boundary definition.

Add Boundaries
Adds objects to the boundary definition.

Advanced

Sets the method used to create the hatch boundary.

Boundary Set

Specifies a limited set of objects, called a boundary set, for evaluation by the pick point of the hatch

New
Creates a boundary set from the selected objects.

Everything
Creates a boundary set from everything visible in the current viewport. Selecting this option discards any current boundary set and uses everything visible in the drawing or in the current
viewport.

Retain Boundary

Creates an object that encloses each hatch object.

Island Detection

Specifies whether to use objects within the outermost boundary as boundary objects.
Specifying no island detection prompts for the ray casting method.

Nearest
Runs a line from the point you specify to the nearest object and then traces the boundary in a counterclockwise direction.

+X
Runs a line in the positive X direction from the point you specify to the first object encountered and then traces the boundary in a counterclockwise direction.

-X
Runs a line in the negative X direction from the point you specify to the first object encountered and then traces the boundary in a counterclockwise direction.

+Y
Runs a line in the positive Y direction from the point you specify to the first object encountered and then traces the boundary in a counterclockwise direction.

-Y
Runs a line in the negative Y direction from the point you specify to the first object encountered and then traces the boundary in a counterclockwise direction.

Angle
Runs a line at the specified angle from the point you specify to the first object encountered and then traces the boundary in a counterclockwise direction.

Style

Specifies the method used to hatch or fill objects within the outermost hatch boundary. If you have selected no internal objects, a hatching style has no effect. Because you can define a
precise set of boundaries, it's often best to use the Normal style.

Ignore
Ignores all internal objects and hatches or fills through them.

Outer (Recommended)
Hatches or fills inward from the outer boundary. HATCH turns hatching or filling off if it encounters an internal island. This option hatches or fills only the outermost level of the structure and
leaves the internal structure blank.
 Normal
Hatches or fills inward from the outer boundary. If HATCH encounters an internal island, it turns off hatching or filling until it encounters another island within the island.

Associativity

Specifies that the new hatch pattern is updated when its boundaries are modified.
A new hatch pattern's associativity is set by the HPASSOC system variable. Changing the associativity setting here also changes the setting in the HPASSOC system variable.

Gap Tolerance

Sets the maximum size of gaps that can be ignored when objects are used as a hatch boundary. The default value, 0, specifies that the objects must enclose the area with no gaps.
Any gaps equal to or smaller than the value you specify in the gap tolerance are ignored, and the boundary is treated as closed.

Separate Hatches

Controls whether the command creates a single hatch object or multiple hatch objects when several separate closed boundaries are specified.

Draw Order

Assigns the draw order to a hatch or fill. You can place a hatch or fill behind all other objects, in front of all other objects, behind the hatch boundary, or in front of the hatch boundary.

Origin

Controls the starting location of hatch pattern generation. Some hatches, such as brick patterns, are meant to be aligned with a point on the hatch boundary. By default, all hatch origins
correspond to the current UCS origin.

Use Current Origin

Sets the value of the HPORIGINMODE system variable. The last 5 options listed below correspond to the values 1-5.

Set New Origin

Specifies the new hatch origin point directly.

Default to Boundary Extents

Calculates a new origin based on the rectangular extents of the hatch. Choices include each of the four corners of the extents and its center. You can also store the value of the new hatch origin
in the HPORIGIN system variable.

Annotative

Specifies that the hatch is annotative. This property automates the process of scaling annotations so that they plot or display at the correct size on the paper.

Hatch Color

Overrides the current color with a specified color for hatch patterns and solid fills. The color value is stored in the HPCOLOR system variable. When Hatch Type is set to Pattern, you can also
specify a new background color. The background color value is stored in the HPBACKGROUNDCOLOR system variable.
To set the hatch color back to the current color for objects, enter “.” or Use Current. To turn off the background color, enter “.” or none.

Default Object Color

Enter the color number (1 through 255) or the color name (the names for the first seven colors). For example, you can specify the color red by entering the ACI (AutoCAD Color Index)
number 1 or the ACI name red. You can also set the hatch color to ByLayer or ByBlock.

Truecolor
Specify an RGB color expressed as values from 0 to 255, such as 210,155,95.

Colorbook
Specify a custom color from a color book installed on your system.

Layer

Assigns new hatch objects to the specified layer, overriding the current layer. Enter Use Current or “.” to use the current layer. (HPLAYER system variable)

Transparency

Sets the transparency level for new hatches or fills, overriding the current object transparency. Enter Use Current or “.” to use the current object transparency setting. (HPTRANSPARENCY
system variable)