Sketch in AutoCAD

Thanks for every ones help on my previous post I have another question more out of curiosity than necessity.

I draw basic floor plans, pretty much just the outline of buildings. I have a Tablet PC also.

Is there a function or something in AutoCAD 2002 where I can sketch the building and enter the size of the line in feet and it would snap to the correct dimensions?

Or does anyone know of a free or cheap program like that?

Thank You.

Once you sketch out the building, you can use the 'SCALE' command (and the reference sub-command) to scale the sketch to your specified dimension.

Example, sketch the whole drawing, and use one side of the building (at a known length) as your reference. Run the 'SCALE' command and after that, select the 'building', set a basepoint (a point along that wall) and then right-click or enter 'R' for reference.

The 'Reference' sub-command you will use to select the endpoints of that wall and then it will prompt you for a length, enter the length and it will scale your sketch up so that it'll be at that length.

Hope this helps you out, if not, post back.

Thanks for every ones help on my previous post I have another question more out of curiosity than necessity.

 

I draw basic floor plans, pretty much just the outline of buildings. I have a Tablet PC also.

 

Is there a function or something in AutoCAD 2002 where I can sketch the building and enter the size of the line in feet and it would snap to the correct dimensions?

 

Or does anyone know of a free or cheap program like that?

 

Thank You.

Only in 2010.

So I sketch the basic layout, SCALE, in this case 2 points would equal 2 feet. It'll automatically scale the drawing for me?

Sorry, I'm too knew and this program is too detailed but it's great.

Thanks.

If all your lines are orthogonal, i.e. horizontal or vertical, set the ortho on, drag the cursor to show the direction of the line, and type in the length on the keyboard.

If all your lines are orthogonal, i.e. horizontal or vertical, set the ortho on, drag the cursor to show the direction of the line, and type in the length on the keyboard.

That's what I do know but I was wondering if I could just draw the basic shape and then have it snap to the correct dimensions.

I'm trying Cadologist's suggestion now. I'll let everyone know how it works.

That's what I do know but I was wondering if I could just draw the basic shape and then have it snap to the correct dimensions.

You will have to know length, width, height. I don't see any way around the basic's.

If you scale but have the, i.e.: width wrong, it too will scale wrong.

I would not suggest "drawing the basic shape" then scaling it unless you are striving for inaccuracy. In that case unplug your computer and draw everything by hand on an unlined piece of paper.

Look, if you want to "sketch" something and have it be roughly accurate (2 points = 2 feet) then use GRID and SNAP and set your grid and snap increments accordingly. Treat it like a piece of graph paper.