One more question...

How do you draw a line by turning off angles from another reference line???

There's a number of ways, here's a couple

Use Polar Tracking with Relative to Last Segment on. You need to set the angle prior, and snap to the reference line.

Use UCS > OBject and select the reference line. This will rotate the UCS to be alligned with the reference line, then you can enter the angle directly. The UCS can be returned to its previous state with UCS > Previous.

Can you elaborate on that? Do you just need a line at an angle from another line?

Edit: Never mind, lpseifert appears to understand what you require.

Can you elaborate on that? Do you just need a line at an angle from another line?

 

 

Edit: Never mind, lpseifert appears to understand what you require.

Yes. Part of the trouble is of course the layout of AutoCAD 2010 is quite different to the old 2005 that I used a while ago. Not to mention CivilCAD 2005 is another kettle of fish...

There's a number of ways, here's a couple

 

Use Polar Tracking with Relative to Last Segment on. You need to set the angle prior, and snap to the reference line.

 

Use UCS > OBject and select the reference line. This will rotate the UCS to be alligned with the reference line, then you can enter the angle directly. The UCS can be returned to its previous state with UCS > Previous.

Cheers, but is there another easier way to do the what I want? I can't imagine how many times you need to do such a thing just to draw multiple lines. All I'm currently doing is a 2D traverse, and having to set the UCS everytime can be a pain. Just using internal angles, and distances...

Cheers, but is there another easier way to do the what I want? I can't imagine how many times you need to do such a thing just to draw multiple lines. All I'm currently doing is a 2D traverse, and having to set the UCS everytime can be a pain. Just using internal angles, and distances...

2D traverse? That's surveyor speak.

I am a little confused at why you need a line at an angle relative to the prior line. Usually the angles in a survey drawing are all absolute angles expressed in compass bearings deviating from north or south to the east or west. Once the units format is set properly, just enter them by picking the end of the last line - @distance

2D traverse? That's surveyor speak.

 

I am a little confused at why you need a line at an angle relative to the prior line. Usually the angles in a survey drawing are all absolute angles expressed in compass bearings deviating from north or south to the east or west. Once the units format is set properly, just enter them by picking the end of the last line - @distance

 

Nah, I've only got measurements of internal angles, not bearings...

Considering you may be called upon in the future to do the same thing invest a little time now and create two macros and assign each to a button. One for UCS > Object and one for UCS > Previous.

Nah, I've only got measurements of internal angles, not bearings...

Oh, OK. "nevermind".:wink:

At least I got fresh batteries before I opened up a drawing.

Is that what makes it a traverse? I dunno. I'm not a surveyor, but I have shlepped the rod from corner to corner on many occasions.

Hmmmmmmm. You could do a little geometry to discover the absolute angle.

Thing is, based on my rusty knowledge of AutoCAD from a few years ago, there was a function to draw a line, whereby it will first ask you to specify the start point, and on top of that, have the option to specify with line the angles are turning from, which you can easily left click on the existing line on screen. Sorry if I can't make myself any clearer. I'm AutoCADretarded...

Along the lines of Remark's suggestion, try adding this to your acaddoc.lsp file

(defun c:ue ()(command "ucs" "e"))
(defun c:up ()(command "ucs" "p"))
(defun c:uw ()(command "ucs" "w"))
(defun c:uv ()(command "ucs" "v"))

UE = UCS > Object (Entity)

UP = UCS > Previous

UW = UCS > World

UV = UCS > View

Along the lines of Remark's suggestion, try adding this to your acaddoc.lsp file

(defun c:ue ()(command "ucs" "e"))
(defun c:up ()(command "ucs" "p"))
(defun c:uw ()(command "ucs" "w"))
(defun c:uv ()(command "ucs" "v"))

 

UE = UCS > Object (Entity)

UP = UCS > Previous

UW = UCS > World

UV = UCS > View

Ok. Cheers...

there was a function to draw a line, whereby it will first ask you to specify the start point, and on top of that, have the option to specify with line the angles are turning from,

Civil 3D has similar commands, but none that I know of in vanilla Acad.

Civil 3D has similar commands, but none that I know of in vanilla Acad.

If fairly sure there is one function that does it, cause I used to use AutoCAD 2005 at work, unless it's like an add-on command or something...

I'm betting that it was an add-on.

Here's a simple one I wrote a while back that will toggle between previous and world. I never need more than one rotated UCS, so I always save it as "A", so it has a check to see if "A" exists and if so, sets it instead of previous (could easily be modified/removed).

(defun c:UT (/)
 ;; toggle between ucs world and previous ucs (if "A" exists, it will be set as current)
 ;; alan thompson 4.23.08
 (if (eq (getvar 'worlducs) 1)
   (if (tblsearch "ucs" "a")
     (command "ucs" "r" "a")
     (command "ucs" "p")
   )
   (command "ucs" "world")
 )
 (princ)
)

Cool. Cheers for all the help. I went and calculating all the bearings on each traverse leg, so all is well...